HWS News
1 July 2024 • Alums • Athletics Jackson '24 joins Rochester's Neurology Movement Disorders Division By Zachary Koons
Lauren Jackson ‘24 uses personal experiences with injury and disease to land a position as a human research specialist in the University of Rochester’s Neurology Movement Disorders Division.
Since graduating cum laude with a bachelor of science in biology and psychology this May, Lauren Jackson ’24 is set to join the Neurology Movement Disorders Division at the University of Rochester as a human subjects research specialist. Working with a team of principal investigator neurologists, she will coordinate and manage face-to-face patient interactions for research studies focused on movement disorders such as Parkinson’s disease, Huntington’s disease, dystonia, tremor/essential tremors, ataxia and more.
“I am so excited to join this team and to help to contribute to the body of research being done on these movement disorders and others,” says Jackson, a five-year member of both the William Smith field hockey and ice hockey teams. “Hopefully, I will help the scientific community provide better qualities of lives, and even finding a cure one day.”
Jackson says real-life experiences spurred her desire to initiate a pre-med track at HWS. In addition to struggling with several injuries herself, Jackson’s father was diagnosed with cancer in the spring of her junior year and after extensive and aggressive treatments was diagnosed as Parkinson’s disease.
“I want the opportunity to have a positive impact on someone’s life, the same way doctors did for me and my family. I want to bring more compassion and comfort to medicine while growing our knowledge about conditions like chronic exertional compartment syndrome that disproportionately affects female athletes,” she says. "Continuing to grow the body of research on Parkinson's disease and cancer will also continue to help people and families just like mine, and that's all i could ever dream to do."
During her time at HWS, Jackson studied abroad in Wales and worked on campus developing an exercise physiology class with Professor of Biology Mark Deutschlander, Strength and Conditioning Coach Chris Gray and Sports Medicine Coordinator Stephanie Habecker. Jackson also conducted research on the synthesis, deprotection, dying, and fouling of peptides with Assistant Professor of Chemistry Elana Stennett while also shadowing Dr. Ethan Healy ’99 at New England Orthopedics.
“On campus, I found that Dr. D (Mark Deutschlander) and Professor Graham were huge supporters of my interests,” says Jackson. “They both acted as my advisers, and I am thankful for their care and support and excitement both in and out of the classroom. Being educated in a multidisciplinary approach has allowed me to see different perspectives and will only help me as I provide quality care and help others.”
As a Heron, Jackson appeared in 75 games on the field, starting 70. She recorded 21 points on 10 goals including three game-winning goals and one assist. Jackson currently holds the William Smith field hockey career defensive save record with 18. On the ice, she made 81 appearances for the Herons, recording 10 points on six goals and four assists.
The Natick, Mass. native’s athletic career came with several accolades. She was a five-time NFHCA National Academic Squad member, a four-time Liberty League All-Academic selection, a three-time All-Liberty League honorable mention selection and a two-time NEHC All-Academic. Jackson was named to the All-Liberty League second team once as well as the UCHC All-Academic team once. She received the Melissa Mulliken ’80 Award and the Joseph N. Abraham Memorial Athletic Training Award in 2023 and the Susan Bassett Award in 2022.
