The Alpha Omega Alpha (AOA) Honor Medical Society named Heba H. Qaissi as a 2026 Carolyn L. Kuckein Student Research Fellowship recipient.
Qaissi, now a third-year medical student, will explore how bone density may affect long-term outcomes for patients through her project, “The Role of Bone Density in Long-Term Outcomes After Critical Illness.”
She will conduct the research under the guidance of Esther Dupont-Versteegden, Ph.D., a professor in the UK College of Health Sciences and College of Medicine whose research focuses on skeletal muscle, aging, muscle atrophy and recovery from severe illness. Qaissi also worked closely with Todd Cheever, M.D, who recently completed his term as councilor for the UK College of Medicine AOA chapter.
The research fellowship provides funding to support student research and opportunities to present findings at national meetings. Qaissi was selected from a competitive national pool of nominees and is among more than 60 students who received the fellowship in 2026. Click here to view the full list of 2026 recipients.
About AOA: Alpha Omega Alpha, founded in 1902, is the national medical honor society. Election to Alpha Omega Alpha is an honor signifying a lasting commitment to professionalism, leadership, scholarship, research and community service. A lifelong honor, membership in the society confers recognition for a physician's dedication to the profession and art of healing.