Pearl Sutter is a 5th year MD-PhD student at the University of Connecticut School of Medicine with research interests in neuroimmunology. She is currently completing her graduate thesis research in the Crocker neuroscience lab, where she has been investigating the role of T-cells in Globoid Cell Leukodystrophy, a rare pediatric neurological disease. Pearl has received multiple awards including a prestigious National Institutes of Health (NIH) F30 fellowship from the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) in July 2022.

In addition to her thesis work, Pearl co-founded and is the current Chief Research Scientist for the Orphan Mimics of Multiple Sclerosis (ORMS) Clinic at UConn Health. This clinic specializes in evaluating and treating adult patients with rare neurological white matter diseases and providing education to other providers on recognizing these disorders.

Pearl is passionate about advocating for underrepresented populations in medical education. She currently serves as the National Delegate for Medical Education for the AAMC Organization of Student Representatives as well as the MD/PhD representative for UConn’s local American Medical Women’s Association chapter.

Pearl plans to pursue a career as a physician-scientist specializing in the research, patient care, and advocacy for patients with neuro-immunological and neurological white matter diseases.