Grant Stoltman

Education: Case Western Reserve University
MD Mentor: Dr. Kevin Harris
Staff Mentors: Katie Johnson & Abhishek Chandra
Projects: 

• Long term follow-up of patients in the MHI Aortic Dissection Registry with Imaging and Clinical Predictors of Adverse Outcomes
• Aorta size in marathon runners

How did you hear about the MHIF internship and why did you want to participate?

Following my sophomore year, I was looking for research opportunities that felt more closely connected to medicine and the broader healthcare landscape, which led me to MHIF. My experience last summer was incredibly impactful and helped me grow both personally and professionally, so the opportunity to return, deepen that experience, and help lead a new cohort felt like an exciting next step!

What sparked your interest in the field of research, medicine and cardiology?

I love food way too much not to have it be part of my daily life, which is one of the many reasons I am studying nutrition. Following my freshman year, I worked in community outreach for a food bank, and it was here I first saw how many barriers exist between people and the health knowledge or resources that could improve their well-being. That experience shaped how I think about medicine and made me realize how much impact exists outside of the clinic. It made me appreciate research not just as a way to answer unanswered questions, but as a way to shape how we approach care in ways that can actually reach and benefit the most people. Cardiology has felt like a really natural extension of all of that, sitting at the intersection of prevention, deeply researched clinical care, and community impact in a way that aligns with what excites me.

What is your desired career in medicine?

I see myself as an academic-physician balancing clinical care with research to help answer questions about how care is delivered and accessed. At the same time, I want my impact to extend beyond the clinic through things like community outreach, health education, and advocacy. What I really want is a career that blends patient care, discovery, and community impact.

What are you most looking forward to this summer?

I’m really excited to go through the program again! Having already experienced many parts of the internship once, I’m looking forward to seeing them through a completely different lens the second time around and picking up on things I probably missed the first time.

What do you hope to gain from this experience?

I want to keep building the kinds of relationships that contribute to both my professional and personal growth. Everyone I worked with last year was incredibly open to questions and generous with their time, and I’m excited to keep learning by picking people’s brains even more this year. I’m also really looking forward to a new intern class. One of the coolest parts of the experience was getting close with a group of driven students all at similar stages in their journeys toward medicine, and I’m excited to build another set of those connections this summer.

What are your plans after the summer?

A big part of what’s ahead for me is applying to medical school this cycle. In the fall, I’ll be a part-time student finishing my degree at Case while continuing to work with the Exercise Nutrition Research Group. I’m also currently training for an Ironman that I’ll be doing during my senior year, alongside fitting in some travel with friends.

What is a fun fact about you?

I used to be a competitive chef, won a state competition, and competed at the national level!