Lauren Gillespie is a third-year medical student at the University of Missouri-Columbia School of Medicine. She has been actively involved in multiple research fields, including neurology, ophthalmology, and health psychology and decision making with project efforts ranging from designing therapeutics for rare neurodegenerative disorders and developing novel research measurement methods evaluating functional vision in animal models, to creating and evaluating interventions for modification of risky health behaviors in young adult populations. She has received several scholarships and awards to present research, including multiple awards from the AAN, as well as ACTRIMS. She serves as a student representative to the Dean's Advisory Committee on Medical Student Research, as well as in the leadership of a student-run group focused on facilitating medical student research. Lauren regularly connects with the local community through volunteering at the student-run community health clinic for uninsured populations and other additional activities.