Lauren Zawacki

I am currently a MS3 and my current interest for residency is Med-Peds, primarily due to my love for hospital medicine and my work with Special Olympics, which is developed my love for working with and treating congenital health conditions throughout a lifetime. I have volunteered, interned and worked in a variety of different settings, as shown on my resume, that only further solidified my love and excitement for the future of healthcare, as well as working with people in general. I’ve been fortunate enough to experience firsthand a range of differing healthcare systems, including those outside of the US. Through these experiences, I’ve continued to develop leadership, communication and organization skills.

WSU APPL & PRISM Research, Spokane, WA January 2023- Present

I am currently with the WSU APPL lab to conduct clinical research in substance dependence, particularly in the overlap of smoking cessation and alcohol use disorder. I see participants in clinic to collect data on how the medication, therapy, etc., is going. I work with the project's PIs to enter and analyze the data, to eventually better help patients experiencing substance use disorders. 

Washington Physicians for Social Responsibility, Seattle, WA November 2019 – October 2021
As the nuclear weapons abolition intern and later as a board member, I helped WPSR organize the organization's Washington Against Nuclear Weapon Coalition to support two joint memorials that aimed to prevent nuclear war, HJM 4008 and SJM 8006. As I worked to grow support for the memorials by leveraging the trusted voice of healthcare professionals, I realized that some of the greatest threats to human health are not disease. From mining to production, testing, use, accidents, and miscalculation, nuclear weapons can damage human health. I used this understanding to continue to build the grassroots movement by targeting policy and clinical practices to improve health outcomes.

SORCE at the University of Washington Medical Center, Seattle, WA August 2018 – September 2019
I extracted data from bariatric surgery records to verify that the information was entered into the national MBSAQIP database correctly, which aims to improve surgical outcomes. I was also asked to complete two literature review projects, which included a research paper and oral presentation that was presented to our multidisciplinary team. I used the data from the database and peer-reviewed papers to suggest the ACOG change their current recommendations for pregnant mothers with a history of bariatric surgery to improve maternal and neonatal outcomes. This emphasizes the power of data and that different facilities and areas of medicine must work together to improve patient outcomes.

Lead Mentor, PRIDE Prep Mentorship Program, October 2024- present

President, Pediatric Interest Group, Spokane August 2023- October 2024

West C.A.R.E. Territory Director, Seattle Panhellenic Alumnae Association, West Coast June 2021- December 2022

Vice President, University of Washington Panhellenic Association, Seattle, WA November 2018 – 2019

President, Alpha Xi Delta Sorority, Seattle, WA September 2017- November 2019

Travel Lesion, Global Brigades, Seattle, WA October 2016 – October 2018

Leadership Certificate- Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine

CITI Program Research Certificates

Gold Humanism Honor Society (GHHS) Nominee

A top 25% nominee selected through peer nominations

Carlson Endowment Scholarship Recipient (2023-2024)

Scholarship for exemplary academic performance and exhibition of values shared by Dr. Chris and Geri Carlson including compassion, patient-centered care, and passion for serving.