V. Jane Horak

2022-2023 SMERF Scholar

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"This year has been instrumental in refining my skills in all aspects of a research project. I am confident in navigating the nuanced requirements of being a researcher, from the first brainstorming session for a project to its ultimate publication. Working with Dr. Jeffrey Raskin has been a motivating and joyful experience; he is a fantastic mentor. He has made me feel like a part of the research team as a medical student and has given me guidance ranging from CV edits to direction I want to grow my medical career. I am so grateful to have found SMERF and gotten the strong support and foundation that I will need to propel myself forward as a researcher. I cannot recommend this fellowship enough to aspiring neurosurgical and neurological researchers."

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Victoria Jane Horak is a member of the Chicago Medical School Class of 2024. She has been studying the brain since her undergraduate years at the University of Notre Dame. Jane loved working with Dr. Raskin's patients as a SMERF scholar, especially those with movement disorders, so much so that she decided to pursue Child Neurology to continue to treat and learn about this patient population. She is particularly interested in improving the quality of life for these patients and their families. When she is not doing research or tutoring in French, Jane spends time with her family, friends, and pets (two dogs - Baby and Penny; and two cats - Stella and Hobbes) and goes to Lake Michigan as much as possible. 

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Jane published one journal article, four abstracts, and gave two oral presentations at the North American Neuromodulation Society.