ECU medical school celebrates research, innovation during Medical Education Day

Published May 08, 2026 by

Kelly Rogers Dilda

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The Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University celebrated its 12th annual Medical Education Day on April 30, recognizing research and innovations that impact medical education — and the school’s commitment to ongoing improvement in that arena.

Medical Education Day offered an opportunity for participants to join a community of educators, leaders, scholars and learners to promote exciting changes in medical education. Podium, poster and “shark tank” presentations provided attendees the opportunity to learn more about ongoing educational initiatives at the Brody School of Medicine.

“Brody Medical Education Day is an important annual event that provides a venue for recognizing and celebrating the work of faculty, staff and students across the pre-clinical and clinical curriculum,” said Dr. Allison Flowers, director of the school’s Office of Faculty Affairs and Leadership Development. “Their innovative projects and educational scholarship reflect a strong commitment to ongoing improvement in medical education.”

A man stands on a stage presenting to an audience.

Dr. Taj Nasser, a 2018 Brody alumnus and medical director at Tylock Nasser Vision in Dallas presented the keynote address at the 12th annual Medical Education Day on April 30.

The event also included a keynote address by Dr. Taj Nasser, a 2018 Brody alumnus and medical director at Tylock Nasser Vision in Dallas, where he leads initiatives to advance surgical excellence, optimize patient outcomes and incorporate the latest advancements in ophthalmic care.

“Bringing alumni back to Brody as keynote speakers adds significant value to Medical Education Day,” Flowers said. “The alumni serve as relatable models who can speak authentically to the medical school journey as well as provide powerful examples of growth, accomplishment and impact in their current clinical practice and communities.”

Born to parents who could not complete even elementary education, Nasser carries the vivid memories of growing up in a third-world country – an upbringing that fuels his purpose today. Dedicated to eliminating preventable blindness, he regularly participates in global mission work providing cataract surgery to underserved communities, and he serves on multiple nonprofit boards focused on expanding access to vision care. Blending innovation with deep compassion, Nasser is driven by a philosophy of process improvement and patient-centered care. He is committed to pioneering projects that enhance the experience of both patients and providers, while restoring what he calls one of life’s greatest gifts: sight.

Nasser said returning to Brody to deliver the keynote address was meaningful.

“This is where so much of my foundation was built — not just clinically, but personally,” he said. “Brody is where I learned what it truly means to serve, to lead with compassion and to care for patients beyond the diagnosis. To come back and stand in front of the next generation of physicians is both humbling and deeply full circle. It feels less like giving a talk and more like coming home and sharing a piece of the journey with people who are just beginning theirs.”

Nasser drove home that the path to a career in medicine is very personal and based on individual strengths, talents and calling.

“Medicine will challenge you, stretch you and at times make you question yourself — but those moments are often where the most growth happens,” he said. “I want students to embrace discomfort, to find their voice even when it feels easier to stay quiet, and to lead with both excellence and empathy.”

Nasser said the greatest impact of a physician is how he or she makes patients feel.

“Our greatest impact isn’t just in the procedures we perform or the knowledge we carry — it’s in how we make people feel, how we lift others up and how we stay grounded in why we chose this profession in the first place,” he said. “This year was especially meaningful for me because I was able to dedicate the keynote speech to my father, which made the experience deeply personal. It served as a reminder that none of us get to where we are alone.

“Behind every physician is a network of support — family, mentors, friends — who believed in us, sacrificed for us, and helped shape who we become.”

As the event’s agenda pivoted, the podium and poster presentations gave students and faculty the chance to share their ideas with peers.
“It’s really cool to participate today; I’ve loved it,” said third-year medical student Elizabeth Ollila, who worked on a project to provide health screenings and completed health forms for school requirements for public school students and to connect local families with resources to help with social determinants of health that challenge their access to healthcare. “I feel really strongly about the project, especially going off of a project that was started before me, and I get to hop on and expand it. Our children are our future, and they deserve healthcare. The public school system is a great way for them to get it, but they’re still not getting it. So it’s neat to be able to intervene at this point to improve both their education and their health.”

Winners of Medical Education Day by category include:

Outstanding Podium Presentation

The Addition of a Pathology Afternoon to the Obstetrics and Gynecology (OB/GYN) Clerkship: A Review of Preclinical Concepts

Madison M. Kendrick, M3
Hunter J. Geneau, M3
Jill Sutton, MD
Ashley D. Atkinson, MD
Philip J. Boyer, MD, Ph.D.

1St Place Poster Presentation

Required Completion of Curated ScholarRx Qmax Questions During the Pre-Clerkship Phase of a Medical School Curriculum: Utilization of a Third-Party Resource Provided to Students