Wayne State University School of Medicine student Myles Perry’s passion for the specialty of urology goes back to his time as an undergraduate student conducting research at a Virginia-based urology practice.

A first-year medical student, Perry was selected to attend the North Central Section of the American Urological Association’s PROSPECT Medical Student Summer Research Fellowship.

“I'm incredibly honored to have been chosen as one of this year's participants in the program. I am excited to engage with experts in the field and connect with fellow students who share a similar interest in urology,” he said.

The program involves both in-person and online segments that include shadowing, mentorship, research and virtual lectures. The program begins in March, and concludes with a presentation of research at the NCS AUA annual meeting, to be held Oct. 15-18 in Chicago.

“Urology interests me due to its vastness, opportunity to treat a diverse population and ability to form long-term relationships with patients. The PROSPECT program allows me the opportunity to learn from amazing mentors, gain invaluable experience in research and further explore my interest in the various subspecialties of urology,” Perry said.

The mission of the PROSPECT program is to increase the number of medical students who select urology as a career choice through early exposure and engagement through mentorship, clinical and research experiences, and match coaching. It is designed for medical students with a demonstrated commitment to research, improving health disparities and who may not otherwise gain exposure to urology as a specialty in medical school. PROSPECT is a North Central-sponsored program for medical students matriculating at an accredited medical school within the geographical boundaries of the American Urological Association.

Participating programs include urology departments at Henry Ford Hospital, Ohio State University, Cleveland Clinic, University of Michigan and the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

As part of the program, Perry will continue working in the lab of Clinical Associate Professor of Urology Firas Abdollah, M.D. The program will give him the opportunity to observe and learn from additional urologists at Henry Ford Hospital.