University of South Florida

From Tampa to Thailand, from a hospital emergency room to a basketball court, Jordan Markel immerses himself in opportunities for learning, research and engagement at every turn. He’s as comfortable discussing health care with physicians in Asia as he is speaking about AIDS to students on campus.

As a freshman in USF’s Honors College majoring in biology, Markel participated in molecular biology research investigating Alzheimer’s disease. As a sophomore, he was involved in chemistry research focused on new drugs to fight deadly bacteria. Now a junior, he continues conducting research with distinguished USF mentors as a MARC U-STAR (Undergraduate Student Training in Academic Research) Scholar, a prestigious award funded by the National Institutes of Health.

Markel’s enthusiasm for health sciences began early. “My father is a registered nurse at Tampa General Hospital,” he says. “Beginning at a young age, he would call me to interpret between him, the medical staff and the Spanish-speaking patients. Soon, I was interpreting at the hospital and volunteering in every department I could.”

Courses at USF, such as Cellular Biology and U.S. Health Policy, increased Markel’s interest and desire to become more actively engaged in medicine — though he was still an undergraduate. So he took action.

He is working with a team of physicians to develop a new Honors College course to give undergraduates the opportunity to become involved in clinical research at Tampa General. Markel takes his work with physicians beyond the classroom; he is involved in a clinical trial that is testing new drugs to protect women from HIV infection.

Supported by the Honors College and the College of Medicine, he traveled to Thailand to conduct preliminary research into a future exchange program between USF’s College of Medicine and Srinakharinwirot University near Bangkok.  Markel will be presenting his research at the Education Without Borders Conference in Dubai.

As president of the USF Student Global Aids Campaign, he initiated and led the university’s first “Hoops of Hope” fundraiser for AIDS, which raised $4,800. He speaks to groups across campus about HIV/AIDS, volunteers at community HIV/AIDS relief agencies, and advocates for free HIV testing for students.

Markel tirelessly pursues laboratory health science research, international research and global health initiatives, advocacy for those with social and health disparities, fundraising campaigns for health treatment, and pursing changes in current health policy.

“I have found satisfaction in learning how to actively engage in the art of medicine,” he says. “USF allows me the opportunity to do virtually anything I choose.”

-- Mary Beth Erskine, University Communications & Marketing