Emily Gong Collaborates on MCC Research in France with Dr. Mahtab Samimi
Emily Gong, a former undergraduate research assistant with the MC3 Institute, recently traveled to France to continue working on Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) research under Mahtab Samimi, MD, PhD, Head of the Dermatology Department at the University Hospital of Tours.
In the following Q&A, Emily reflects on her experience abroad and shares how the MC3 Institute champions global collaboration and trainee development.
What brought you to France and how did your collaboration begin?
This was an idea that came up while I was brainstorming how I wanted to spend my gap year before starting medical school. I had a couple of different goals — broadening my research and clinical experience, challenging myself to step out of my comfort zone, and travelling. My collaboration with Mahtab was the perfect way to combine all of these goals. This started by an email, and then a few Zoom calls! We met for the first time in person at the international MCC conference in Hamburg.
What was the focus of your paper/project and what do you anticipate the impact will be?
The focus of our project was to complete an effort that was started around 5 years ago. The goal was to compare AMERK with the French version of this blood test, which we coined the French Merkel Elisa Test (FMET). As blood tests are not currently recommended for MCC in the European guidelines, we hope that our work will provide insight into the value of blood surveillance.
How did your time in France shape your research and professional goals?
My time in France was invaluable in many ways! I was truly immersed in the language, which has been a dream of mine since elementary school. It was an incredible experience shadowing physicians in various specialties in such a different healthcare system. With my public health background, I was also very excited to learn about care delivery and how cultural differences can influence patient interactions.
In terms of my research goals, I gained an appreciation for how international collaboration can be impactful, especially for rare skin cancers such as MCC. Being able to access different patient databases and compare patient care practices across countries provided helpful information - I’m very excited to see how the MC3 institute can further propel future collaborative efforts.
Any other memorable moments or reflections you'd like to share?
During my time there, I became great friends with my roommates, who were local college students in Tours. They spoke very little English, and I am so grateful to have been able to practice my language skills. This experience also challenged me to be independent through solo travelling, navigating life in a foreign country, and learning to be comfortable in uncomfortable situations.
I gained so much confidence in terms of continuously meeting new people, breaking language barriers, and even mastering complicated public transit (which will be highly useful for my move to New York. I was fortunate to travel to London, Rome, the Amalfi coast, Vienna, and Strasbourg.
