Nicholas Fried: Top of his class and headed into medicine and research

Nicholas Fried of Millerstown, Pennsylvania has been named the 2016 University of Maine valedictorian.

This fall, Fried will be an M.D./Ph.D. student at the Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, Schools of Medicine and Graduate Studies in New Orleans. He plans to become a primary care physician in a medically underserved community and conduct research in zoonotic epidemiology.

Fried is an honors student who majored in animal and veterinary sciences, with a minor in chemistry. His numerous academic honors include a J. Franklin Witter Undergraduate Research Grant from UMaine, the Helen Louise Stinchfield ’18 Memorial Scholarship from the University of Maine Foundation, and the Inez Boyd Environmental Research Award from the Penobscot Valley Chapter of Maine Audubon.

As an undergraduate, Fried collaborated on two research projects. In the laboratory of Professor of Chemistry Howard Patterson, Fried assisted Patrick Sheldon, a master’s student in chemistry, in research on the degradation of pharmaceutical contaminants in water.

In addition, Fried collaborated with veterinarian and associate professor James Weber on his honors thesis research to determine the genetic relatedness of Haemonchus contortus, a parasitic worm of small ruminants, found in domestic sheep and wild white-tailed deer in Maine.

In 2013–14, Fried spent two summers as a biological field technician stationed in northeastern Montana, participating in the United States Geological Survey’s testing of a sylvatic plague vaccination for prairie dogs. In addition, during one of his spring breaks, he worked at the USGS National Wildlife Health Center in Madison, Wisconsin, assisting in the lab work associated with that project.

Fried participated in Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine’s Summer Undergraduate Physician-scientist-training Education & Research (SUPER) program. In SUPER, he conducted Lyme disease research with professor Jean Tsao and Ph.D. student Seungeun Han, and shadowed physicians in multiple disciplines.

Fried also has job-shadowed with physicians at Newport Family Practice near his hometown in Pennsylvania.

On campus, Fried was a tutor of student-athletes in biology, physics, chemistry, organic chemistry, biochemistry and medical physiology. He was a member of the UMaine Health Professions Club and the service organization Operation H.E.A.R.T.S. Fried also helped found and serve as vice president of EWE-Maine Icelandics sheep club.

More about Fried’s UMaine student experience follows in a Q&A:

What difference has UMaine made in your life and in helping you reach your goals?
Prior to attending the University of Maine, I was a reserved individual from a small, rural high school. The opportunities afforded to me by the university allowed me to come out of my shell, develop lifelong relationships and transition into a budding professional.

Have you had an experience at UMaine that has changed or shaped the way you see the world?
The Honors College’s Civilizations sequence has greatly shaped my perspective. Through close reading of the texts and thoughtful discussion with my peers, I have developed a greater appreciation for the spirituality, art and culture of peoples from all corners of the world.

Why UMaine?
The University of Maine offers the best of both worlds. It is small enough to create the atmosphere of a liberal arts college and a strong sense of community, while also providing the plethora of opportunities for research and extracurricular activities that come with a public land grant university. I chose to attend the University of Maine because of the Honors College and the wonderful professors in the Animal and Veterinary Sciences Department. I could not be happier about my decision.

How would you define the opportunities for student success at UMaine? Is there any particular initiative, program or set of resources that helped you succeed?
The University of Maine has countless resources to assist student success. I, personally, would not be where I am today without the health professions staff at the Career Center. I also advise students to take advantage of campus programs such as work-study, the Tutor Program and the Writing Center.

Have you worked closely with a professor or mentor who made your UMaine experience better?
Many individuals at the University of Maine have positively affected my experience. The most notable of these, however, is Dr. Jim Weber. His teaching, guidance in research, and support throughout my coursework and the medical school application process have been unmatched. I am very thankful for the bond that we formed during my sophomore year in his animal diseases course.

What advice do you have for incoming students to help them get off to the best start academically?
Make an effort to form strong connections with your peers and professors. Find meaningful experiences (research, shadowing, internships, etc.) in your field as quickly as possible. And last, but certainly not least, do not get so engulfed in your studies that you forget to live. Get out and take part in the wide range of clubs and activities on campus, and form memories that will last a lifetime.