Lou Cortina
About Nicol Tugarinov
Tugarinov is a fourth-year student who has made her mark at the University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM) through her research, volunteer, and leadership endeavors and dedication to exploring the intersection of clinical medicine, leadership, research, humanism, and advocacy. She received honors in her pre-clerkship courses and clinical rotations, was recognized as a UMSOM PRISM Scholar in 2022 for an outstanding research initiative that earned her a competitive eight-week funded summer externship, and has attended conferences across the country to present impactful work. Tugarinov has devoted countless hours to UMSOM’s Admissions Committee as an interviewer and screener, the Liaison Committee on Medical Education as a subcommittee member, and is involved in many extracurricular activities. She is applying for a residency in internal medicine to begin after graduation in May 2025.
Impact
Tugarinov aims to foster a diverse population in the medical field, advocating for women in medicine and students with disabilities. She was instrumental in organizing the Peer Support Network, which aids fellow students during their medical school journey. The group launched in August 2023, and she has been co-president since May 2024. She has promoted reproductive rights as co-president of Medical Students for Choice, been a hospice volunteer at the Jewish Social Service Agency, and focused on mental health as a wellness representative to UMSOM’s Student Government Association. She has authored or co-authored eight journal articles, made 15 poster or oral presentations, and participated in research projects on topics such as benign gastric outlet obstruction, prenatal neurological abnormalities and postnatal outcomes, and the impact of accountability with mindfulness practices in medical students.
Quotes
“Physician burnout is a prevalent and devastating issue in the medical field that I am deeply passionate about addressing. Recognizing the emotional challenges inherent in medicine, including difficult patient outcomes and unanswered questions, I became a wellness representative early in medical school. In this role, I advocated for my classmates’ well-being and served as a confidant during tough times.” — Tugarinov
“Nicol is an incredibly compassionate and driven student. It has been a true joy to see her passion and dedication to the medical field blossom. Her dedication to improving other’s lives through supporting their health is evident through her work, research, volunteer work, and leadership. She has demonstrated a strong desire to make the medical community and world more diverse, inclusive, and equitable.” — Marissa Flaherty, MD, assistant professor, Department of Psychiatry, and assistant dean of student affairs, UMSOM
