LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ -- Several Rider University biology graduates, who received their diplomas in May, are headed to medical schools or allied health programs in the fall.

Buoyed by the opportunity to conduct cutting-edge scientific research with their professors as undergraduates and a pre-medical studies committee that works closely with students interested in medical careers, six members of the Class of 1997 received 22 medical school or allied health program acceptances.  Others in this class will begin Ph.D. programs shortly.

The recent graduates and their success rates are as follows:

• Kristina Tocce of Washington, NJ, has been accepted at six medical schools to include Albert Einstein Medical School; University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey/Robert Wood Johnson Medical School; UMDNJ/New Jersey Medical School in Newark; UMDNJ/School of Osteopathy in Stratford; New York Medical College, and is awaiting word from Columbia College of Physicians and Surgeons.  She will most likely attend Albert Einstein Medical.  Tocce assisted Dr. James Riggs, associate professor of biology, for more than two years in his autoimmunity research in the areas of neonatal tolerance and HIV/AIDS mouse models.

• Rannette Camacho of Absecon, NJ, also received six acceptances.  Camacho will attend the MCP/Hahnemann School of Medicine of Alleghany University in Philadelphia under a full tuition scholarship.  Her other acceptances included Mt. Sinai Medical School; UMDNJ/Robert Wood Johnson Medical School; UMDNJ/New Jersey Medical School; Temple University Medical School, and Penn State Medical School (the latter on the spot).  Camacho worked for more than two years with Dr. Jonathan Yavelow, professor of biology, in his cancer research, particularly in the area of proteases, growth factors and breast cancer.

• Barry Cymerman of Colonia, NJ, will attend the University of Pennsylvania Dental School under a four-year U.S. Navy Health Professions Scholarship (a full scholarship plus stipend).  Following completion of dental school, he will serve as a Navy dentist for four years.  He was also accepted at the University of Pittsburgh, University of Maryland, University of Connecticut, and the University of Medicine and Dentistry in Newark.  Cymerman assisted Dr. Michael Benner, assistant professor of biology, in his genetics research.

• Amir Javid of Hasbrouck Heights, NJ, will attend the New England College of Optometry in Boston.  He was also accepted at State University of New York School of Optometry and the Pennsylvania College of Optometry.  Like Camacho, Javid served as one of Dr. Yavelow's student assistants for 2 1/2 years.  His work involved genetically engineering breast and tumor cells with the gene for alpha 1 antitrypsin.

• Michael Snyder of Yardville, NJ, who received a degree in biochemistry, will attend UMDNJ, New Jersey Medical School in Newark.  He conducted independent research in the area of breast cancer under Dr. Yavelow's supervision.

• Jeffrey Smith of Yardley, PA, will attend the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine.

In addition to these students, Scott Ficarro of Hallstead, PA, who assisted Dr. Riggs' in his AIDS research, will enroll in the Ph.D. program in biochemistry at the University of Virginia.  Daniel Griffin of Beachwood, NJ, who assisted Dr. Benner in plant genetics research, will enroll in the Ph.D. program in plant biology at the University of Minnesota.

All of the students credit the small class sizes, the close relationship with their professors, and the opportunity to conduct research as undergraduates as reasons for their success in gaining medical school or professional school acceptances.

The long hours of laboratory research paid the largest dividends. Tocce noted, "The lab work gives you something different to talk about in your interviews for med school acceptance.  My research in building HIV/AIDS mouse models and neonatal tolerance was very helpful in getting accepted at Albert Einstein.  There you have to do a research project to graduate, and the interview committee was interested in exactly what I had done at Rider."

Cymerman echoed Tocce's feeling.  He said a directed research project where he read and critiqued articles from the Journal of Dental Research really paid off.  During his interviews, each committee at the various schools focused on this particular project.

Javid and Snyder, while also agreeing with the importance of research, cited the role Rider's pre-medical studies committee played in helping them with the application process.  Javid said both Dr. Riggs and Dr. John Sheats, professor of chemistry, worked closely with him and answered all his questions.  He also noted that Dr. Dominick Iorio, retiring dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Science, and Dr. Gary Barricklow, professor of English, proofed and critiqued his application essays.

Snyder, who said Dr. Barricklow and other science did the same with him, pointed out, "The pre-medical studies committee really starts working with students who express an interest in the medical profession right after their freshman or sophomore years."

Tocce discussed another mark of distinction in her application process.  All letters of recommendation from her professors were written on a personal level.  With students applying from other college or universities, "it was obvious professors didn't know their students.  The letters I had written for me made a difference too," she said.