Colton Margus, 27, is a student at New York Medical College. It was just over a year ago that he decided to take a stand. Well, actually, he didn’t take one so much as he made one. Student Advocates for Neglected Diseases (STAND) is an association for medical students who have an interest in rare diseases. Margus organized the group in honor of some of the rare patients in his own life.
“Two of my three younger brothers suffer from a rare, fatal genetic disorder called Ataxia Telanglectasia (A-T)—the condition combines the worst aspects of muscular dystrophy, cycstic fibrosis, and cancer,” says Margus. “While I have been able to attend college and see the word, the mutation that spared me has confined my brothers to wheelchairs and given them a deteriorating quality of life, robbing the of friends and the potential for living satisfying lives of achievement.”
Notorious for being one of the most over-worked populations in the country, medical students often miss out on some of the rare disease education they’ll need in future years.
“Given the incredible healthcare burden of diseases like cancer, heart disease, and diabetes, less common diseases, especially the dauntingly diverse 7,000 rare diseases, are sometimes simplified to symptom, treatment, and prognosis,” says Margus. “While we do get exposure to some of these diseases in our studies, the information provided is often limited to bullet points that inadequately address the realities lived by these patient communities. “
That’s why Colton decided it was time to start recruiting compassion for the rare community. In partnership with Global Genes, he set forth to organize the David R. Cox Prize for Compassion—named after an extraordinary physician scientist, who became Professor of Genetics and Pediatrics at UCSF and later Stanford, as well as shepherding development of genomic medicine at Pfizer.
The 2015 David R. Cox Prize Information and Instructions
With support from Global Genes, Student Advocates for Neglected Diseases (STAND) presents the David R. Cox Prize for Rare Compassion, in recognition of the inspiring essays of student doctors who, like Dr. Cox, have most identified with and understood a rare or neglected patient community they have become close to. Selected submissions will be considered for publication online or in print, and winning authors will additionally receive a certificate and the following cash prizes:
- 1st Prize $1,500
- 2nd Prize $1,000
- 3rd Prize $500
Eligibility and Criteria
First and Second year medical students are invited to submit and essay for this prize. In preparation for a submission for the David R. Cox Prize for Rare Compassion, students in their first or second year of medical school are required to forge a relationship with a patient, family, or advocate affected by a rare or neglected disease in order to write about the experience, or to write about an experience with a patient with a rare or neglected disease that has occurred within the last 12 months.
Essays must be submitted online through the Global Genes website by August 3, 2015.
For help connecting with a person living with a rare disease and to submit an essay, visit https://globalgenes.org/david-r-cox-prize-for-rare-compassion/
About the Prize
David R. Cox, MD, PhD was an extraordinary physician scientist, becoming Professor of Genetics and Pediatrics at UCSF and later Stanford, as well as shepherding development of genomic medicine at Pfizer. In addition to his participation in the Human Genome Project and service on numerous national advisory boards, Dr. Cox showed uncommon compassion in his involvement with advocates for rare diseases. He was especially helpful to the A-T Children’s Project, an organization aiming to cure a rare and debilitating genetic disorder, ataxia telangiectasia (A-T). More here.
About STAND
Student Advocates for Neglected Diseases (STAND) is a student organization inspiring future clinicians to care about disease communities often neglected by the healthcare system. Engaging medical schools across the country, STAND connects students with neglected patient groups. STAND was started by Colton Margus, a medical student whose two brothers have a rare neurodegenerative disease. For more information on STAND or to get involved, please visit studentadvocates.org or email [email protected].
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