BU medical student honored by the Massachusetts Medical Society

(Boston)—Kayra Cengiz, a second-year medical student at Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, won third place for her poster search, “Visual Proficiency in Medicine: A Rubric-Based Educational Video for Physician-Patient Communication,” at the Massachusetts Medical Society (MMS) 15^th  research poster symposium held in conjunction with its signature education event, Future Health: Best Practices for Advancing Care held on March 22 at the MMS.

Approximately 100 abstracts submitted by residents, fellows and students were considered in in three categories: clinical and basic research, health policy/medical education and clinical vignettes. Cengiz’s poster won in the health policy/medical education category.

Effective communication is crucial for conveying complex medical concepts to patients, ensuring the highest standards of healthcare. “Visual aids like clinical illustrations are key to improving patient understanding and engagement with healthcare providers. However, many physicians lack formal training in artistic concepts, which can affect the quality and effectiveness of their visual communication,” said Cengiz. Her poster addresses this issue by developing and evaluating instructional videos designed to enhance physician skills in creating clinical sketches.

Originally from Southern Turkey, Cengiz completed her bachelor’s degree in architecture at Cornell University in 2020. While gaining professional experience in architecture, she decided the medical field was a better fit for her. She plans to integrate her background in design to make meaningful contributions to healthcare delivery and patient outcomes. 

In addition to her medical studies, Cengiz serves as the lead administrator for Healthcare Educator Art (HEART)—a collaborative effort that brings together medical, premedical, and art students to create a diverse array of visual materials aimed at enhancing healthcare education—where she oversees the content of the platform. Furthermore, she is an active participant in the Learn, Experience, Advocate, Discover, and Serve (LEADS) curriculum at the school. In this role, she is involved in research that focuses on the utilization of visual aids in clinical settings to improve patient understanding, particularly in environments where linguistic barriers exist. Additionally, Cengiz is involved in investigating adverse effects related to immune checkpoint inhibitors.