Scientific discovery isn’t confined to the labs of Steadman Philippon Research Institute — it’s sparking curiosity in classrooms across western Colorado, where a new generation of students is stepping into the world of evidence-based medicine and research.

This past month, Steadman Philippon Research Institute’s Education and Public Outreach Committee kicked off the 2025–26 school year by welcoming a new cohort of students into its High School Science Club. The reach of the program this year is bigger than ever, as the Steadman Philippon Research Institute has expanded west with its offerings.

Established in 2012, the Education and Public Outreach Committee provides science enrichment for students from fifth grade through high school. Since its founding, the Education and Public Outreach Committee has reached more than 5,400 students and collaborated with 38 schools across six Colorado counties. Its impact reaches students in the Vail Valley and Summit County, and now engages with students in Aspen and the Roaring Fork Valley, including communities like Basalt, Glenwood Springs and Carbondale. These engaging programs are designed to help encourage future careers in medicine, research and other science, technology, engineering and mathematics fields.

Held earlier this spring, the program’s annual capstone — the High School Science Club research presentations — celebrates outstanding student-led projects and honors excellence in scientific inquiry. At the 2025 ceremony, Dr. Marc J. Philippon, Steadman Philippon Research Institute chairman and managing partner of The Steadman Clinic, commended the students for their evidence-based approach to science as he welcomed them prior to the student teams’ presentations.

“This program has not only introduced science to young minds across Colorado, it has inspired them to pursue their dreams and go on to make meaningful contributions to medicine and research,” said Marc J. Philippon, an avid supporter of the program since its founding. “Understanding evidence-based medicine is key to driving innovation and improving lives. EPOC is helping students build the foundation to do just that.”

Nine student teams presented to a panel of Steadman Philippon Research Institute staff, led by Dr. Thomas Clanton, a renowned foot and ankle specialist and recently retired physician at The Steadman Clinic and the Steadman Philippon Research Institute. The Basalt Science Club made an immediate mark. One of its inaugural teams — Olivia Miernicki, Ella White, and Aurelia Tunte Stuck — earned top honors for their project, “How Cell Signaling Affects Muscle Formation: A Preliminary Model for Hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome.”

Joining them in top honors was Eagle Valley High School’s Luna Acosta Garcia and Maria Papadopoulos, recognized for their research on “The Effectiveness of KT Tape on the Flexor Carpi Radialis During Pitching.” Both award winners presented their research at the annual Steadman Philippon Research Institute Fellows Presentations, where graduates from the institute’s post-residency clinical fellowships and international scholars program present their research to a panel of physicians and scientists. This is the first year that Education and Public Outreach Committee students had the honor of participating in these high-level presentations and sharing their research with this distinguished audience.

Steadman Philippon Research Institute Chief Operating Officer Lee Jones emphasized the importance of cultivating local talent when he addressed the students attending the Science Club presentations. “EPOC was started to help excite students about the STEM field and to create a pipeline,” Jones said. “For those that grew up here and go to school here, we want them to know they can pursue world-class careers right here in their mountain communities.”

Expansion into Basalt marks a milestone

In 2025, the Education and Public Outreach Committee reached a major milestone with its westward expansion into Aspen, Basalt and the Roaring Fork Valley, made possible by a generous gift from Soledad and Bob Hurst. The new programming hub at the Steadman Philippon Orthopaedic Center in Basalt opens doors for students to explore careers in science and medicine.

“We recently held our inaugural SPRI Summer Scholars Program in Basalt,” said Greta Gohring, Basalt laboratory operations coordinator and administrator of the Basalt/Roaring Fork Valley Education and Public Outreach Committee programs. “High School students were selected by their science teachers from across the Roaring Fork Valley to come to our center and explore everything from biomechanics and biomotion to clinical research and surgery alongside our world-class physicians.

There were 20 participants in Steadman Philippon Research Institute’s first Summer Scholars Program in Basalt, 13 of whom will graduate this spring. Eleven of these students shared that the week-long program had an impact on their career path.

Glenwood Springs High School senior Ximena Penuela-Duarte shared, “I enjoyed being able to explore new areas of health care through presentations and hands-on experiments and games. My understanding of orthopaedics has broadened and given me a new outlook of careers that I find most applicable to me.”

Of the inaugural program, Maya Lindbloom, a senior from Roaring Fork High School, said, “I learned about many different professions and how each unique individual path is and the resources available to me to find my own path.”

With the success of this new program offering, Gohring credited Senenne Philippon, the Education and Public Outreach Committee’s founder, for championing the expansion.

“We are deeply grateful to Senenne for her unwavering support of public education and outreach. Her vision and determination to push boundaries and expand access has opened doors for so many students, and it’s been truly inspiring to watch them grow, explore and thrive through this program.”

‘Spark for STEM has grown’

Senenne Philippon envisioned this impact when she launched EPOC more than a decade ago.

“In 2012, we launched EPOC to help spark an interest in STEM for Colorado students, helping to shape a future generation of scientists, physicians and medical professionals,” said Philippon. “Several of our alumni have received generous college scholarships; others are currently enrolled in medical schools and clinical programs. Many alumni have begun their professional careers in the medical and research fields, several of whom have returned to serve their communities in local hospitals, clinics and research centers. It’s wonderful to see how an initial spark for STEM has grown for so many of our alumni.”

For further information, contact Marianne Kipp at mkipp@sprivail.org or 970-401-8734