Shahrzad Zamani (DO '25) will graduate as a doctor of osteopathic medicine next month from PCOM South Georgia in Moultrie before entering an internal medicine residency at Florida State University in Tallahassee.

In addition to her usual medical school curriculum and clinical rotations, Zamani has also been on the frontlines as a cancer researcher. She recently received the Barbara Campbell Carrington American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Scholar-in-Training Award. The award is especially significant because it is rarely awarded to current medical school students.

Zamani is also the recipient of the Edith Peterson Mitchell Health Equity Travel Scholarship, which funded her participation in the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group-American College of Radiology Imaging Network (ECOG-ACRIN) Group Meeting in October 2023 in Washington, DC, as well as the Medical Student Rotation (MSR) grant from Conquer Cancer, the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Foundation.

“It was never for the awards,” Zamani said. “I have just been doing it because I'm passionate about healthcare access, health equity, underserved communities and cancer screenings, such as mammograms and colonoscopies. These awards are fantastic, but it was never the destination. It's nice to be recognized.”

Zamani's passion for cancer research is deeply personal. As a child she lost family members to the disease. Those early experiences stayed with her, driving her to study cancer’s complexities and to seek a deeper understanding of how and why it develops.

“Cancer is part of our own biology—our own cells, our own chemistry—but somehow it turns against us,” she explained. “It's heartbreaking, but also fascinating to study. I knew early on that if I could help unravel some of its mysteries, I might be able to change the outcomes for others.”

Zamani has long considered health equity challenges surrounding cancer care, particularly in rural areas. She understands that cancer screenings and preventive services are often difficult to access. This is the basis of the research Zamani has been conducting through the Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa, Florida, since the start of her second year of medical school.

“I focus on uncovering disparities in cancer care within underrepresented communities,” she noted. “Our research aims to better understand how demographic factors influence access to— and uptake of— cancer screening and early diagnosis.”

Through this work, Zamani integrates research directly into her medical training.

“Research is not just a complement to my clinical work, it's a foundational part of how I approach medicine,” she said. “Whether through developing surveys, analyzing outcomes or presenting at national conferences, I view research as a tool to better understand my patients' needs and improve the quality of care they receive. I am committed to continuing this work throughout residency and beyond, particularly in addressing cancer disparities in underserved areas, where evidence-based advocacy remains urgently needed.”

Zamani credits much of her success to the mentors and faculty who have supported her journey.

“I am especially grateful to Dr. Kristie Petree and Dr. Jennifer Shaw at PCOM South Georgia for their unwavering support and encouragement, and to my research mentor, Dr. Matthew Schabath at Moffitt Cancer Center, for his invaluable guidance and dedicated mentorship.”