Former SPIRE Participants

For over a decade, the SPIRE program (formerly known as the Faaiza Ansari Internship) has supported the development of our clinical scientists.

Cultivating Leaders in Child and Maternal Health Research

The Summer Pediatric Internship Research Experience (SPIRE) program at the University at Buffalo’s Child & Maternal Health Research Institute offers medical students and undergraduates an immersive, mentored introduction to research. Participants not only build critical skills in scientific inquiry, writing, and presenting, but also develop meaningful mentorship relationships that guide their future academic and clinical paths. Many SPIRE students present their work at conferences, publish their results, and continue pursuing research throughout medical school and residency. For over a decade, SPIRE has fostered early engagement in pediatric scholarship, cultivating the next generation of clinician-scientists.

Program Impact

  • Build core research and clinical skills.
  • Strengthen writing and presentation abilities.
  • Connect with faculty mentors.
  • Conference presentations and publications.
  • Gain interest and confidence in academic research.
  • Expand understanding of child & maternal health issues.
Faces & Voices
Rachel Engelberg.
The summer research internship was a great opportunity for me between my first and second years of medical school. The program offered me the chance to present and publish research, which greatly helped my applications for residency.
12/31/24

Rachel Engelberg, MD ’18
Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences