University of Miami Miller School of Medicine Student Earns ASCO Conquer Cancer Merit Award
Second-year M.D./M.B.A. student Diya Jayram presents two studies at the American Society of Clinical Oncology Annual Meeting, examining pregnancy-related outcomes.
When Diya Jayram entered the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, she arrived with a clear sense of purpose.
“I knew I wanted to do cancer research on financial toxicity and health disparities,” she said.
What she didn’t anticipate was that, midway through her medical training, that focus would lead her to present two research studies at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting, the world’s largest and most influential oncology conference.
Jayram, a second-year M.D./M.B.A. student in the Class of 2028, has been selected for a 2026 Conquer Cancer Merit Award from the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO). She is one of 140 recipients chosen from thousands of abstract submissions from medical students, residents and fellows across the country. The national recognition supports students and trainees who are first authors on abstracts selected for presentation at ASCO.
The ASCO Annual Meeting draws more than 40,000 oncology professionals from 100 countries. At this year’s Chicago meeting, Jayram presented two posters that examine gaps in cancer outcomes and visibility, asking a fundamental question. Who is being left behind in America’s search for cancer cures?
Cancer During and After Pregnancy
Both projects grew out of Jayram’s own academic interests and independent engagement with national cancer research efforts. With her early academic training and research exposure at UM during medical school, she began closely following the emerging literature on health gaps, pregnancy-associated cancers and understudied populations in oncology research.
Jayram’s curiosity led her to connect with collaborators across multiple institutions, resulting in two studies accepted for presentation at ASCO, an uncommon accomplishment for a second-year medical student.
One of Jayram’s studies examines cancer-related mortality among pregnant and postpartum patients using national data. While cancer outcomes have improved overall in recent years, the analysis highlights that progress has not been uniform for patients diagnosed during or shortly after pregnancy.
The research identified concerning trends in advanced disease and deaths occurring months after delivery, pointing to gaps in continuity of care and long-term follow-up for this population. The findings underscore the need for more coordinated, pregnancy-specific cancer care and continued research attention.
“More research and advocacy work to optimize care for pregnant patients with cancer is essential,” Jayram and her research team concluded.
Making Invisible Trends Visible in Lung Cancer
Her second study focuses on lung cancer outcomes in populations that are frequently grouped in national datasets. By examining trends at a more granular level, the research reveals that certain communities are experiencing outcomes very different from those suggested by national averages.
The findings reinforce a growing recognition in oncology that more precise data, paired with genetic and environmental research, is essential to understanding cancer risk and improving outcomes across diverse populations.
Presenting two accepted abstracts as a Conquer Cancer Merit Award recipient places Jayram among a small group of early-career researchers recognized for scientific promise and impact.
She is quick to note that the recognition is less about individual achievement than about what the work represents.
“When you see the data laid out on a poster, you start seeing the people behind it,” she said.
Jayram was also recently awarded the 2026 AOA Carolyn L. Kuckein Student Research Fellowship, which will support her ongoing research.
More from the Miller School of Medicine
Miller School Class of 2026 speaker Nicholas DeLuca reflects on the transformative, unpredictable journey into medicine.
The Miller School of Medicine celebrates the Class of 2026, honoring 220 graduates prepared to lead the future of health care.
A Miller School of Medicine student shares how clinical exposure, global health, and genomics shaped a people‑first approach to medicine.
As she graduates from the Miller School of Medicine, Kaylie Cullison, M.D./Ph.D, applies imaging science to personalize brain cancer care.
Tags: ASCO 2026, Department of Medical Education, dual degrees, M.D./M.B.A. program, medical education, pregnancy, Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center