A Northeastern University alumnus is helping future researchers advance in the field of medicine.

Dr. Andrew Schafer, LA’69 Biology, recently established the Andrew I. Schafer, M.D. Co-op Research Fund, which provides a co-op scholarship to a students conducting laboratory medical research at Northeastern under the guidance of a faculty mentor for six-months.

Dr. Schafer visited campus on March 23 to meet the inaugural Schafer Scholar, Peter Georgiev. A junior with a double major in biology and philosophy, Peter is conducting research in Dr. Michail V. Sitkovsky’s laboratory this spring.

Sitkovsky’s research explores further techniques of in-vivo manipulation of animals, surgery, anesthesia, supplemental oxygen protocols, as well as immunological procedures to evaluate the state of anti-pathogen immunity in septic animals.

Dr. Schafer also met with a group of pre-med students in Northeastern’s Shillman Hall to mentor and advise them as they prepare for applying to medical school. Dr. Schafer offered these students valuable advice for their future in medicine, including the importance of mentorship. He urged students to seek out mentors throughout out their education and careers. Dr. Schafer says his passion for conducting laboratory medical research come from the guidance and mentorship of the late Dr. Charles Gainor, Northeastern professor of Biology.

It is his hope that through his co-op research scholarship, students will kindle that same passion to become physician-scientists. Dr. Schafer serves as Chairman of the Department of Medicine at Weill Cornell Medical College and physician-in-chief at New York-Presbyterian Hospital. He also serves as the E. Hugh Luckey Distinguished Professor of Medicine at Weill Cornell Medical College.

Photo: (From left to right) Dr. Michail V. Sitkovsky, Peter Georgiev, Dr. Andrew Schafer