Select awards

Surgical Honor Society Award | George McClellan Honor Society, Sidney Kimmel Medical College | 06/2024 

• Recognition of clinical and academic excellence during surgical rotations. 

Research Fellowship Award, Art of Science | Rinn Lab | Research Fellow & Grant Recipient | 2021 - 2022

• Awarded to students breaking down barriers to science through creative media. 

3rd Place Student Poster Presentation | American Society of Microbiology, Rocky Mountain Chapter | 2021

• “Sci-Art: Inclusive Scientific Communication” exploring creative media to provide accessible education to diverse patient populations and break down barriers to health information.

Best in Studio Award | University of British Columbia | Vancouver, BC | 05/2014

• Awarded to the top student design proposal for design solutions enabling socially and environmentally sustainable urban development. 

Design Excellence Award | University of British Columbia | Vancouver, BC | 05/2014

• Head of class award granted to one student for demonstrated excellence in the design process, conceptual design, and design resolution. In addition, the student has the highest possible GPA.

GRANTS 

National Multiple Sclerosis Society | Massachusetts General Hospital & Brigham and Women’s Hospital | Boston, ma | 06/2023 - Grant Award & Clinical Mentorship Program award for medical students

Research Fellowship Award, Art of Science grant | Rinn Lab | Colorado University | Boulder, CO | 2021 - 2022

Presentations / Media

Abstracts

Futz M [student researcher, proposal design, presenter], Edwards J. MD, FHM [faculty mentor]. Enhancing Primary Care Navigation for d/Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Patients: A Wayfinding Intervention Proposal. Poster presented at the 2025 Health Equity and Quality Improvement (HEQI) Summit; May 2025.

Futz M [student research, proposal design, presenter], Edwards J. MD, FHM  [faculty mentor]. Enhancing Diabetes Management with Visual Tools: A Multimodal Approach for High-Risk Urban Populations. Poster presented at the 2025 Health Equity and Quality Improvement (HEQI) Summit; May 2025.

futz, M; Ver Eecke, H PhD  [faculty mentor]. SciArt: Viral Art, Microbiology, + Inclusive Scientific Communication. Poster presented at the National Council on Undergraduate Research (NCUR) Annual Conference; 2021.

Futz, M [student researcher, presenter]. COVID-19 in Comics: The Visual Arts as a Mechanism of Science Communication. Poster presented at Metropolitan State University,  Undergraduate Research Conference; April 22, 2022 - Faculty mentors: Anil Rao, John Rinn (CU Denver), Catherine Musselman (CU Anschutz),Megan Filbin, Megan Lazorski, and Helene Ver Eecke, PhD. 

Podium Presentations

Futz M, Pugliese R PharmD [faculty mentor]. Health Design Lab. Bridging the Gap: Addressing Healthcare Disparities and Improving Outcomes for d/Deaf and Hard of Hearing Patients through Inclusive Communication Design. 02/2025

Davis P MS2, Futz M MS2, Yun B MS2, Pugliese R PharmD [faculty mentor]. The Effects of Visual Food Models on Nutrition Education for Uninsured Asian Immigrant Populations. 01, 2024. 

Davis P MS2, Futz M MS2, Yun B MS2, Zhang L MS2, Pugliese R PharmD [faculty mentor]. Scholarly Inquiry Research Symposium, Design Research Track: Rethinking Communication Flows: Emergency Rooms Designed with Considerations for Neurodivergent and Non-Verbal Patients. 04/2023. 

Futz M, Ver Eecke, H PhD [faculty mentor]. American Society of Microbiology, Rocky Mountain Chapter. Sci-Art: Inclusive Scientific Communication. 2021

• 3rd Place Student Poster Presentation “Sci-Art: Inclusive Scientific Communication.”

Futz, M [presenter, student designer], Sszeleckzy, O [co-presenter, student designer], Alissam R PhD [faculty mentor], Neumann, O [faculty mentor] Centre for Sustainable Food Systems, UBC Farm Symposium. Vancouver, BC; 2014.

• Showcased student research and design proposal before community stakeholders and policy-makers to discuss land management, food justice, and food system sustainability of the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territory of the Musqueam people.

Publications

Pending submission - BTK-iNHIBITORS AND OUTCOMES IN PATIENTS WITH CLL AND COMORBIDITIES. 

submitted abstract -Kingella kingae polyarticular septic arthritis in an immunocompetent adult.

Medical Illustration + Data Visualization: 

Cover Illustration. Molecular Oncology. Volume 19, Issue 3. Focus on Neurological Malignancies. Federation of European Biochemical Societies; March 2025. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1002/1878-0261.70018 

Cover Illustration. Molecular Oncology. Volume 18, Issue 12. Thematic Issue: Brain Cancers. Federation of European Biochemical Societies; December 2024. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1002/1878-0261.13466

Green-Fulgham SM, Lacagnina MJ, Willcox KF, et al. Voluntary wheel running prevents formation of membrane attack complexes and myelin degradation after peripheral nerve injury. Brain, Behavior, and Immunity. 2024;115:419-431. doi:10.1016/j.bbi.2023.10.027 

Illustration featured. Metrosphere Magazine. Volume 39, Issue 02 – The Vitality Issue. Adsorption. May 2021.

• Awarded Student Art Submission: 2nd Place — COVID-19 exposed significant challenges and disparities in how information is shared, accessed, and interpreted. The pandemic also revealed opportunities to improve upon science communication and education. In response, this project was developed to combat barriers to knowledge. Here, science fiction and comic-book culture are used to reach diverse populations, merge boundaries, and bridge gaps in knowledge.

Illustration featured. SciArt Magazine. Vol. 44 – Movement. SciArt Initiative Inc.; April 2021.

• A publication dedicated to science-based art, third culture conversation, cross-disciplinary collaboration, and STEAM education.

Bennett, D. Ignagni, S. Renaud, D. King D. Moving to Minimum Force: Police Dogs and Public Safety in British Columbia. Pivot Legal Society; 2014. Canadian Policing Research Catalogue, Public Safety Canada. Available at: https://www.publicsafety.gc.ca/cnt/rsrcs/lbrr/ctlg/dtls-en.aspx?d=PS&i=80840909

• Created visual informatics and data visualizations to support public safety policy reform. 

• Work featured in the International Drug Policy Consortium (10/2014), The Canadian Institute’s Forum on the Law of Policing (10/2014), AND Pivot Legal Society press release (06/2014).

media & Non-peer-reviewed Publications

Marx, V. (Host). Futz, M. (Guest Speaker). Conversations with Neuroscientists. Society for Neuroscience (SFN). ‘Science and the Arts’ [Audio podcast episode]. Nature Journal. https://neurosciencecommunity.nature.com/posts/podcast-science-the-arts. 05/09/2023

Futz M [writer, illustrator]. Success Goes on an Adventure. Children’s book. Edited by Andy Huang. The Story Initiative; April 22, 2023. ISBN: 979-8392163632.

New Grant Funds Expand Educational Outreach Efforts for CU School of Medicine Researchers. CU Anschutz School of Medicine News. © 2024 The Regents of the University of Colorado. Published December 9, 2022. Available at: https://news.cuanschutz.edu/medicine/new-grant-funds-expands-educational-outreach-efforts-for-cu-school-of-medicine-researchers. 

CLINICAL EXPERIENCE

National Multiple Sclerosis Society | Massachusetts General Hospital & Brigham and Women’s Hospital | 06/2023

• Grant Award & Clinical Mentorship Program medical student recipient. Awarded to students seeking exposure to clinical evaluation, diagnostics, and MS management while encouraging greater awareness of health disparities and social determinants of health. 

Lead Patient Care Coordinator (06/2021–06/2022), Medical Intern (09/2020–06/2021) | Colorado Multiple Sclerosis Center | Denver, CO | 09/2020 - 06/2022

• Conduct comprehensive assessments of patients with neurodegenerative disorders to identify clinical, psychosocial, and logistical needs.

• Facilitate longitudinal care by coordinating multidisciplinary interventions, addressing barriers to treatment adherence, and optimizing care plans.

• Provide patient-centered education on disease progression and management strategies, empowering patients to navigate complex medical, physical, and financial challenges.

Behavioral Health Residential Counselor, CNA | Colorado Residential Solutions| Denver, CO                                                

• Collaborate with a multidisciplinary healthcare team to develop and implement individualized behavioral and psychiatric care plans for individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD).

• Monitor patients’ progress and provide direct support for activities of daily living, crisis management, and therapeutic interventions tailored to their unique needs.

SELECT PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Owner & Consultant | Meikah LLC | 2014 - 2022

• Transform complex technical information into compelling educational and marketing materials.

• Generate 3D building models for project visualization, creating graphics and photorealistic renderings to support interdisciplinary collaboration and stakeholder engagement.

Concept Team Lead, Project Designer | Craine Architecture | Denver, CO | 2015 - 2018

• Develop and execute design solutions as part of an interdisciplinary team. Responsible for conceptual design, research, and code analysis.

• Responsible for junior staff recruitment and development. 

• Create and lead an internal design cohort to enhance their problem-solving, critical analysis, and leadership skills.

VOLUNTEER & LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCE

Vaccine Hesitancy Workshop Co-organizer & presenter | SKMC, Jefferson University | Philadelphia, PA | 02/2025 - 04/2026

• Run monthly vaccine workshop lecture series to educate junior medical students on family medicine clerkship. 

• Drive discussions, run simulations, and share techniques for navigate challenging patient discussions regarding vaccine hesitancy - address common concerns, empathisze with parents and direct to appropriate literature. 

Manna | Food preparation Volunteer | Philadelphia, PA | 2023, 01/2025 - Present

• Aid in production, packaging and distribution of evidence-based nutrition plans prescribed 

•  improve health outcome and reduce healthcare burden for patients with chronic and terminal disease through preparation and delivery of “medically appropriate meals and provide nutrition counseling to neighbors who are battling serious illnesses such as cancer, renal disease, and HIV/AIDS.”                                       

Health Design Research Lab |Student Liaison | SKMC, Jefferson University | Philadelphia, PA | 01/2023–Present

• Serve as the key communication liaison in the Scholarly Inquiry Research Design Track, disseminating updates and maintaining consistent messaging of program objectives between program leaders, faculty, clinicians, and students.

• Solicit and aggregate medical student colleagues’ feedback and concerns, mediating with program leaders to inform program direction and supplementary curriculum.  

The Story Initiative | Writer/Illustrator | Philadelphia, PA | 2022–2023

Student Volunteer, Writer and Illustrator

• Develop, illustrate, and publish a children's novel personalized for a young patient with physical disabilities.  

• Diversify representations of ableness, providing a platform to amplify their stories and perspectives.