PhD student wins prestigious Robert and Kay Schattner Award

The Dr. Robert and Kay Schattner Award is given annually at the American Academy of Oral Medicine meeting, which took place in May in New Orleans.

This year’s award for best oral presentation by a student went to Augusta University’s own Linah Shahoumi, a PhD graduate student in oral biology who studied under Dr. William Andrew Yeudall.

Her presentation was on the effects of the oncoprotein EPS8 on head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. Oncoprotein is encoded by oncogenes, which have the potential to cause oral cancers.

“I am very honored and grateful to have been selected for this award. Getting this award motivated me a lot, and I think this award could add to my career, now that I’m recognized in my field,” Shahoumi said. “As a student and researcher this experience will accelerate my professional development.”

As a dentist, Shahoumi has an interest in oral cancers, which inspired her to do this research. She hopes this research could lead to designing a drug that could target specific cancer cells.

Shahoumi thanked Yeudall for encouraging and supporting her on the project.