Geisinger School of Medicine student wins prestigious AOA fellowship

SCRANTON – Joaquim Diego Santos, Geisinger School of Medicine class of 2028, has received a highly competitive Alpha Omega Alpha (AOA) Carolyn L. Kuckein Research Fellowship. 

About 50 awards are made annually “to foster the development of the next generation of medical researchers.” AOA, the national medical honor society, aims to promote scholarship and research in medical schools, encourage high standard of character and conduct among medical students and graduates, and recognize high attainment of goals in medical science, practice and related fields. 

Joaquim Diego’s winning proposal is entitled Validation and Integrated Analysis of a New Mitochondrial Myopathy Patient-Reported Outcome Measure. His research will explore whether a new Mitochondrial Myopathy Patient-Reported Outcome Measure (MM-IMPACT) will be feasible and more meaningful as compared to generic quality of life (QoL) scales in the assessment of Mitochondrial Myopathy (MM) in clinical trials. 

Mitochondrial myopathy is a type of mitochondrial disease that primarily affects muscles. It occurs when mitochondria, the powerhouses of cells, don't produce enough energy due to genetic mutations, leading to muscle weakness and fatigue. 

Before he began medical school, Joaquim worked at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia in its mitochondrial medicine frontier program, and it has become one of his central interests. He’s even running the Chicago Marathon with the United Mitochondrial Disease Foundation's “Team Activate” in October 2025. The fellowship will enable Joaquim to continue his research on mitochondrial disease, a condition that is underfunded due to its rarity. "People with mitochondrial disease have decreased motor function and exercise intolerance. My research focuses on creating patient outcome measures for upcoming clinical trials," he explained. 

His project aims to develop a quality-of-life survey specific to mitochondrial disease, addressing issues like dexterity, muscle fatigue and vision clarity. "I've been working on this project for the last 2 years," he said. "The award means so much because it feels like both a culmination of my previous work and the beginning of my research career as a future clinician." 

Joaquim is currently in his second year at Geisinger, which he chose for its focus on community immersion and caring for underserved populations. "I knew I wanted to stay in the state and give back to the community, especially those in rural areas with limited resources," he said. "I really want my work to be about providing greater access to medical care. That's my most important concern right now.”

Currently, Joaquim is torn between anesthesia and pediatrics. "For anesthesia, I love being hands-on while providing medical care. I'm currently president of the clinical skills club and have enjoyed the operating room experiences I've had," he said. His interest in pediatrics is closely tied to his research on mitochondrial disease.

According to AOA, the fellowships are extremely competitive — only one candidate from a school can be nominated — and are meant to provide support for clinical investigation, basic laboratory research, epidemiology, social science/health services research, leadership or professionalism.

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