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Label Pineda, DO2026 Student DO of the Month

“I’d like to nominate Lazel Pineda for SDOM. Since the first year, I’ve known Lazel to be one of our cohort’s most kind-hearted and altruistic members. She is someone who goes above and beyond, not just for her classmates but also for her future patients. Lazel goes the extra mile to learn clinical skills thoroughly and competently; because of that, I know she will be an amazing physician. She, furthermore, does not shy from sharing that knowledge whenever any of our peers has a question. But just as thorough as she is in her studies, she is equally as generous. As a previous anatomy TA, Lazel would come in on days outside allotted lab time to help others understand concepts and ensure we performed well. She has frequently come into the OMM lab during conference weeks or stayed after class to help classmates with techniques. Though time becomes a luxury in medical school, I’ve never known Lazel to hesitate to give hers when someone reaches out for help. I’m sincerely thankful to have met Lazel, and I know her future patients will be so lucky to experience her positivity and thoughtfulness, too.”

“Lazel is the kindest person in the whole class. She is always willing to help out in anything you need. Whether it’s help in omm or lectures, she will always be there to give a helping hand. Everyone needs a Lazel on her life.”
“Lazel is a leader and advocate for other students. She has unwavering compassion and empathy towards others. She goes above and beyond to support fellow students, offering a helping hand and a listening ear whenever needed.”
“Lazel is amazing, and there really is not enough good things I can say about her. In our first year, she helped us study anatomy whenever she could, and I know we couldn’t have done it without her. She’s always the first to lend a hand or volunteer. She kindly offers to help students study for OMM makeups and retakes during Conference Weeks. Lazel is incredibly kind and generous, always lifting her friends’ spirits, especially around exam time. She is truly, truly deserving of this recognition.”
“Lazel is an incredibly hardworking student and an excellent friend. She goes out of her way to support anyone she comes across. She is an incredible resource in OMM and CMR and her willingness to help is without comparison. She always has a positive attitude and is one of the most dependable people I know!”
“I am so glad to have met Lazel the first week of school. She has always been so kind and helpful. She goes above and beyond to help everyone. She has such an amazing heart and is truly a wonderful person. I had to do an anatomy retake and she came into anatomy lab every day to help me study. I am so grateful for her.”
“Lazel is such a joy to be around and her positivity helps uplift those around her. She is such a bright light and getting to know her over these last 2 years has been an honor. She is very supportive whenever her classmates need anything, and her infectious laugh always puts a smile on our faces!”
“Lazel is one of the hardest working and sweetest people I know! She is always willing to share her knowledge with others from anatomy to OMM. Her positive attitude and willingness to uplift others creates a supportive environment and I would not have survived med school without her. She goes out of her way to ensure that everyone feels valued and included and for that plus all her other stellar qualities she deserves recognition as SDOM :)”
“I would like to nominate Lazel for SDOM because she has been an incredible classmate to me and many others in our class. She always takes time to listen and provide support when a peer has a question or is worried about something. This month alone, she took time out of her schedule to help some of us with OMM, even though she had already practiced and probably had many other things to do leading up to finals. She encourages us to succeed and lifts us up in difficult times. Her enthusiasm and joy are infectious and her perseverance and dedication inspire me to keep trying. My medical school experience would not have been the same without her. She is a compassionate, responsible, and loyal classmate and one that every med student would hope to have in their class. We are so very lucky to count her among the Class of 2026.”

Faculty Spotlight: Matthew Wedel, PhD

Dr. Matt Wedel holds a joint appointment in COMP and in the College of Podiatric Medicine, where he teaches lower extremity anatomy. In addition to being an anatomist, he is also a paleontologist, and every summer he digs for fossils in Utah and Oklahoma. Although much of his research deals with the evolution of dinosaurs and birds, Dr. Matt also mentors student research in anatomy and co-coordinates the Applied Anatomy Track.
Dr. Matt especially enjoys projects that bridge anatomy and paleontology, and his favorite is the discovery of a respiratory infection in a dinosaur that was so severe it left traces in the fossilized bones (, , ). In the summer of 2024, Dr. Matt will be the keynote speaker at the Tate Museum Conference on Jurassic dinosaurs in Casper, Wyoming.