Envision practicing medicine in the harshest conditions, whether high in the Himalayas or orbiting miles above Earth. For Simran Sarin, a fascination with such environments is about to become a reality through a coveted opportunity with NASA.
Exclusive NASA Program
Simran Sarin, a medical student in her final year at the University of Iowa, has been chosen among just 20 students nationwide to participate in NASA’s Aerospace Medicine Clerkship. Starting October 5, this intensive four-week program will immerse Sarin in the intricacies of space medicine, including expert discussions and the development of a student-led space medical research initiative.
“It’s going to be really fun to be on the ground and getting a sense of what’s going on, like how they organize and optimize the medical tools they need in space,” Sarin remarked, expressing her enthusiasm for the upcoming experience.
Discovering the Opportunity
Sarin stumbled upon the clerkship serendipitously while browsing Instagram, where a video by an ophthalmology resident at the University of Southern California caught her attention. Despite her limited exposure to space medicine, Sarin was inspired to apply, driven by a newfound interest in the impacts of space on vision.
“I didn’t have much exposure to space medicine,” Sarin noted. “But something about the opportunity and the ophthalmology connections related to it created this internal spark where I decided, ‘I need to know more.’”
Focus on Space Medicine
During the clerkship, Sarin plans to explore how essential bodily functions, like vision, adapt to the microgravity of space environments such as the International Space Station. A particular condition of interest is spaceflight-associated neuro-ocular syndrome (SANS), a vision issue identified by NASA in 2011 that results from fluid shifts in the body due to low gravity.
SANS, while not causing permanent vision damage yet, poses potential risks for extended space missions, such as journeys to Mars. Sarin has been researching this condition since 2026 under the guidance of Edward Linton, an assistant professor at Iowa involved in similar studies.
Research and Development
In collaboration with Linton, Sarin’s research utilizes machine learning to predict SANS susceptibility by examining patients with conditions like idiopathic intracranial hypertension, which shares similarities with SANS.
“It’s a really great time to be involved with this kind of research,” Sarin stated, highlighting the excitement and novelty in the field of ophthalmology and space medicine alike.
Before her focus on space, Sarin developed an interest in ophthalmology through research at labs led by Mark Greiner and Christopher Sales. Her work on the cornea, particularly in addressing surgical errors and studying conditions like Fuchs’ endothelial corneal dystrophy (FECD), has been pivotal. Moreover, she contributed to the creation of GuttEye, a software facilitating the analysis of FECD cells to estimate disease impact.
Her curiosity about space medicine was further piqued by a study examining how spaceflight influences the cornea, leading her to explore the unique challenges faced by eyes in space.
Path to Space and Beyond
Sarin holds a bachelor’s degree in precision healthcare and AI from the University of California-Berkeley. Returning to her roots in Iowa City for medical school, she was drawn by the prestigious ophthalmology program at Iowa.
“I was tentatively interested in ophthalmology at the time, and it didn’t hurt that Iowa’s ophthalmology program is one of the best in the world,” Sarin commented on her decision to return.
Post-NASA clerkship, Sarin will further her understanding of medicine in extreme environments through rotations in the Himalayas and a Wilderness Medicine clerkship at the Carver College of Medicine.
“Challenging yourself to think through these scenarios allows you to become more creative and apply fundamental questions to patient care,” Sarin reflected. “It helps you to be the best possible advocate for your patients.”
Read More Here
