[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":157},["ShallowReactive",2],{"/stories/mentorship-is-everything":3,"processed-html-6eca390d":141,"processed-html-d1b021bd":142,"processed-html-d562f4cb":143,"processed-html-429f4556":144,"processed-html-72789600":145,"processed-html-bfbfa8ff":146,"processed-html-0fe51dcd":147,"processed-html-9d30a419":148,"processed-html-9aaa7eb1":149,"processed-html-a208887b":150,"processed-html-87a4b346":151,"processed-html-a77ea929":152,"processed-html-8204cfbd":153,"processed-html-5632b814":154,"processed-html-31063d56":155,"processed-html-2cb96c13":156},{"id":4,"type":5,"path":6,"published":7,"publishDate":8,"author":9,"taxonomy":10,"headerType":13,"image":14,"video":18,"title":20,"subtitle":11,"hideFromSearchEngines":11,"social":21,"bodyBlocks":25,"slug":11,"description":127,"metaDescription":128,"metaTitle":11,"relatedStories":129,"created":130,"changed":131,"breadcrumbs":132},"3739999a-7f4c-4ba3-b967-8f43b5424515","story","stories/mentorship-is-everything",true,"March 12, 2026","Ross Bishoff",{"name":11,"slug":12},null,"","image",{"url":15,"alt":16,"caption":17},"https://editing.intcomm.osu.edu/sites/default/files/styles/widescreen/public/media/image/2026/03/25_6065830_11841_0.jpg","Emanuel Tewolde talks with his professor Min-Ae Song.","Emanuel Tewolde, left, with his professor and mentor Min-Ae Song (photo: Corey Wilson).",{"url":11,"transcript":19},{"text":11},"‘Mentorship is everything’",{"title":22,"description":23,"imageUrl":24},"Emanuel Found His Future Through Research at Ohio State","From presenting nationally to earning publication credit, Emanuel Tewolde discovered his passion for public health research through supportive mentors and opportunities that shaped his path toward medical school.","https://www.osu.edu/images/ohio-state-social-generic.jpeg",[26,33,39,45,55,61,67,73,79,85,91,97,103,109,115,121],{"blockName":27,"attrs":28,"innerBlocks":30,"innerHTML":31,"innerContent":32},"core/paragraph",{"uuid":29},"6eca390d",[],"\u003Cp class=\"bux-paragraph\">Emanuel Tewolde didn’t have a second to relax. From the moment he set up his research poster at the \u003Ca href=\"https://ugresearch.osu.edu/present-publish/denman-undergraduate-research-forum\" class=\"bux-link\">Denman Research Forum\u003C/a>, a steady stream of visitors came to him with questions.\u003C/p>",[31],{"blockName":27,"attrs":34,"innerBlocks":36,"innerHTML":37,"innerContent":38},{"uuid":35},"d1b021bd",[],"\u003Cp class=\"bux-paragraph\">He handled it all like a pro and was awarded a \u003Ca href=\"https://cph.osu.edu/announcements/emanuel-tewolde-wins-second-place-denman-undergraduate-research-forum\" class=\"bux-link\">Denman runner-up honor for his research\u003C/a>, which examined awareness gaps in central Ohio African American smokers to a proposed menthol cigarette ban.\u003C/p>",[37],{"blockName":27,"attrs":40,"innerBlocks":42,"innerHTML":43,"innerContent":44},{"uuid":41},"d562f4cb",[],"\u003Cp class=\"bux-paragraph\">Following that experience, he jetted to the International Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco Conference in New Orleans, where he presented about two research studies he took part in as a student in the \u003Ca href=\"https://cph.osu.edu/people/msong\" class=\"bux-link\">Min-Ae Song Lab\u003C/a>. He then successfully defended his research thesis capstone project.\u003C/p>",[43],{"blockName":46,"attrs":47,"innerBlocks":52,"innerHTML":53,"innerContent":54},"media-text/bux-quote",{"quote":48,"author":49,"source":50,"uuid":51},"\u003Cmeta charset=\"utf-8\">“The research wasn’t just for herself and the furtherance of her lab, but for my future and the future of my career.”","\u003Cmeta charset=\"utf-8\">Emanuel Tewolde","\u003Cmeta charset=\"utf-8\">Ohio State student in public health","429f4556",[],"\u003Cbux-quote class=\"wp-block-media-text-bux-quote\">\u003Cspan slot=\"quote\"><meta charset=\"utf-8\">“The research wasn’t just for herself and the furtherance of her lab, but for my future and the future of my career.”\u003C/span>\u003Cspan slot=\"author\"><meta charset=\"utf-8\">Emanuel Tewolde\u003C/span>\u003Cspan slot=\"source\"><meta charset=\"utf-8\">Ohio State student in public health\u003C/span>\u003C/bux-quote>",[53],{"blockName":27,"attrs":56,"innerBlocks":58,"innerHTML":59,"innerContent":60},{"uuid":57},"72789600",[],"\u003Cp class=\"bux-paragraph\">All in all, an impressive spring before he graduates in May. But instead of taking credit, Emanuel gives it all to his Ohio State mentors.\u003C/p>",[59],{"blockName":27,"attrs":62,"innerBlocks":64,"innerHTML":65,"innerContent":66},{"uuid":63},"bfbfa8ff",[],"\u003Cp class=\"bux-paragraph\">“Research changed the trajectory of my college career, it’s become the end-all for me,” says Emanuel, a \u003Ca href=\"https://cph.osu.edu/prospective-students/bsph\" class=\"bux-link\">public health major\u003C/a> on a pre-med track. “In undergraduate, mentorship is everything. Your mentor is the reason you fall in love with research or you don’t.”\u003C/p>",[65],{"blockName":27,"attrs":68,"innerBlocks":70,"innerHTML":71,"innerContent":72},{"uuid":69},"0fe51dcd",[],"\u003Cp class=\"bux-paragraph\">Emanuel spent the past two years in the Song Lab through the \u003Ca href=\"https://chemistry.osu.edu/undergrad/marc-osu\" class=\"bux-link\">Marc-T34 program\u003C/a>, which allowed him to become immersed in research, participating in the \u003Ca href=\"https://cph.osu.edu/news/2023/02/seed-grants-fund-two-new-public-health-studies\" class=\"bux-link\">Menthol Ban Project\u003C/a>, studying the effects of cigarettes and awareness.\u003C/p>",[71],{"blockName":27,"attrs":74,"innerBlocks":76,"innerHTML":77,"innerContent":78},{"uuid":75},"9d30a419",[],"\u003Cp class=\"bux-paragraph\">Within Song’s lab, Emanuel learned the rigors of research, participated in various studies and was given opportunities to present about the lab’s work while receiving a publication credit.\u003C/p>",[77],{"blockName":27,"attrs":80,"innerBlocks":82,"innerHTML":83,"innerContent":84},{"uuid":81},"9aaa7eb1",[],"\u003Cp class=\"bux-paragraph\">“It’s all because of Dr. Song, she very much she puts in the work for her undergraduates,” Emanuel says. “She didn’t just tell me what to do and I did it, she explained why we were doing it and how it would help me later. The research wasn’t just for herself and the furtherance of her lab, but for my future and the future of my career.\u003C/p>",[83],{"blockName":27,"attrs":86,"innerBlocks":88,"innerHTML":89,"innerContent":90},{"uuid":87},"a208887b",[],"\u003Cp class=\"bux-paragraph\">“She was definitely a very great mentor. Both of my mentors were great mentors, in fact.”\u003C/p>",[89],{"blockName":27,"attrs":92,"innerBlocks":94,"innerHTML":95,"innerContent":96},{"uuid":93},"87a4b346",[],"\u003Cp class=\"bux-paragraph\">His work in the Song Lab was a bit of a continuation of research from his sophomore year under the guidance of \u003Ca href=\"https://cph.osu.edu/people/aelhellani\" class=\"bux-link\">Ahmad El Hellani\u003C/a>, also part of the Menthol Ban Project. Tewolde found El Hellani’s lab through the \u003Ca href=\"https://cancer.osu.edu/for-cancer-researchers/education-and-training/for-undergraduate-students/creates\" class=\"bux-link\">CREATES Undergraduate Program\u003C/a> (Cancer Research Experience for the Advancement and Training of Emerging Scientists).\u003C/p>",[95],{"blockName":27,"attrs":98,"innerBlocks":100,"innerHTML":101,"innerContent":102},{"uuid":99},"a77ea929",[],"\u003Cp class=\"bux-paragraph\">“Dr. El Hellani did a lot to immerse me in the project and other projects in his lab,” Emanuel says. “Even when it came to presenting, I learned so much. He genuinely became a good friend, it was a great experience.”\u003C/p>",[101],{"blockName":27,"attrs":104,"innerBlocks":106,"innerHTML":107,"innerContent":108},{"uuid":105},"8204cfbd",[],"\u003Cp class=\"bux-paragraph\">Tewolde went on to gain a research internship at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston and recently was accepted to the American Cancer Society postbaccalaureate program for cancer researchers, which he will participate in during his gap years before attending medical school. His goal is to become a doctor who conducts public health-related research. \u003C/p>",[107],{"blockName":27,"attrs":110,"innerBlocks":112,"innerHTML":113,"innerContent":114},{"uuid":111},"5632b814",[],"\u003Cp class=\"bux-paragraph\">“Because I was gifted with such great mentorship early in my college career, it’s made me want to pursue it in the future as a doctor,” he says. “I want to be heavily involved in clinic but I also want to be working in public health-related research about issues that impact my patients.”\u003C/p>",[113],{"blockName":27,"attrs":116,"innerBlocks":118,"innerHTML":119,"innerContent":120},{"uuid":117},"31063d56",[],"\u003Cp class=\"bux-paragraph\">\u003Cstrong>Emanuel on his Ohio State experience:\u003C/strong> “It’s been nothing short of amazing. The opportunities on this campus are limitless, whether it’s internships, study abroad, whatever your interests are. And the faculty in the \u003Ca href=\"https://cph.osu.edu/\" class=\"bux-link\">College of Public Health\u003C/a> are very accessible, easy to talk to, always willing to help.\u003C/p>",[119],{"blockName":27,"attrs":122,"innerBlocks":124,"innerHTML":125,"innerContent":126},{"uuid":123},"2cb96c13",[],"\u003Cp class=\"bux-paragraph\">\u003Cstrong>His advice to students:\u003C/strong> “Never leave any stone unturned. Apply for everything you’re interested in, don’t hold yourself back because you might be nervous you won’t get in. You don’t necessarily need to do everything but give everything a chance. And when you find what you like, stick with it, and be consistent because that’s the key to everything. Stay consistent with what you love, push through the difficult times and in the end, you’ll love that you stuck with it.”\u003C/p>",[125],"Through mentorship and hands‑on research, public health student Emanuel Tewolde presented nationally, earned major honors and discovered his passion for public health research as he prepares for a future career in medicine.","Public health student Emanuel Tewolde advanced his passion for research at Ohio State through dedicated mentorship, major presentations and hands-on projects — preparing him for a future in medicine and public health.",[],"2026-03-12T19:52:50+00:00","2026-03-23T18:57:21+00:00",[133,136,139],{"title":134,"path":135},"Home","/",{"title":137,"path":138},"Stories","/stories",{"title":20,"path":140},"/stories/mentorship-is-everything","\u003Chtml>\u003Chead>\u003C/head>\u003Cbody>\u003Cp class=\"bux-paragraph\">Emanuel Tewolde didn’t have a second to relax. From the moment he set up his research poster at the \u003Ca href=\"https://ugresearch.osu.edu/present-publish/denman-undergraduate-research-forum\" class=\"bux-link\">Denman Research Forum\u003C/a>, a steady stream of visitors came to him with questions.\u003C/p>\u003C/body>\u003C/html>","\u003Chtml>\u003Chead>\u003C/head>\u003Cbody>\u003Cp class=\"bux-paragraph\">He handled it all like a pro and was awarded a \u003Ca href=\"https://cph.osu.edu/announcements/emanuel-tewolde-wins-second-place-denman-undergraduate-research-forum\" class=\"bux-link\">Denman runner-up honor for his research\u003C/a>, which examined awareness gaps in central Ohio African American smokers to a proposed menthol cigarette ban.\u003C/p>\u003C/body>\u003C/html>","\u003Chtml>\u003Chead>\u003C/head>\u003Cbody>\u003Cp class=\"bux-paragraph\">Following that experience, he jetted to the International Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco Conference in New Orleans, where he presented about two research studies he took part in as a student in the \u003Ca href=\"https://cph.osu.edu/people/msong\" class=\"bux-link\">Min-Ae Song Lab\u003C/a>. He then successfully defended his research thesis capstone project.\u003C/p>\u003C/body>\u003C/html>","\u003Chtml>\u003Chead>\u003C/head>\u003Cbody>\u003Cbux-quote class=\"wp-block-media-text-bux-quote\">\u003Cspan slot=\"quote\">“The research wasn’t just for herself and the furtherance of her lab, but for my future and the future of my career.”\u003C/span>\u003Cspan slot=\"author\">Emanuel Tewolde\u003C/span>\u003Cspan slot=\"source\">Ohio State student in public health\u003C/span>\u003C/bux-quote>\u003C/body>\u003C/html>","\u003Chtml>\u003Chead>\u003C/head>\u003Cbody>\u003Cp class=\"bux-paragraph\">All in all, an impressive spring before he graduates in May. But instead of taking credit, Emanuel gives it all to his Ohio State mentors.\u003C/p>\u003C/body>\u003C/html>","\u003Chtml>\u003Chead>\u003C/head>\u003Cbody>\u003Cp class=\"bux-paragraph\">“Research changed the trajectory of my college career, it’s become the end-all for me,” says Emanuel, a \u003Ca href=\"https://cph.osu.edu/prospective-students/bsph\" class=\"bux-link\">public health major\u003C/a> on a pre-med track. “In undergraduate, mentorship is everything. Your mentor is the reason you fall in love with research or you don’t.”\u003C/p>\u003C/body>\u003C/html>","\u003Chtml>\u003Chead>\u003C/head>\u003Cbody>\u003Cp class=\"bux-paragraph\">Emanuel spent the past two years in the Song Lab through the \u003Ca href=\"https://chemistry.osu.edu/undergrad/marc-osu\" class=\"bux-link\">Marc-T34 program\u003C/a>, which allowed him to become immersed in research, participating in the \u003Ca href=\"https://cph.osu.edu/news/2023/02/seed-grants-fund-two-new-public-health-studies\" class=\"bux-link\">Menthol Ban Project\u003C/a>, studying the effects of cigarettes and awareness.\u003C/p>\u003C/body>\u003C/html>","\u003Chtml>\u003Chead>\u003C/head>\u003Cbody>\u003Cp class=\"bux-paragraph\">Within Song’s lab, Emanuel learned the rigors of research, participated in various studies and was given opportunities to present about the lab’s work while receiving a publication credit.\u003C/p>\u003C/body>\u003C/html>","\u003Chtml>\u003Chead>\u003C/head>\u003Cbody>\u003Cp class=\"bux-paragraph\">“It’s all because of Dr. Song, she very much she puts in the work for her undergraduates,” Emanuel says. “She didn’t just tell me what to do and I did it, she explained why we were doing it and how it would help me later. The research wasn’t just for herself and the furtherance of her lab, but for my future and the future of my career.\u003C/p>\u003C/body>\u003C/html>","\u003Chtml>\u003Chead>\u003C/head>\u003Cbody>\u003Cp class=\"bux-paragraph\">“She was definitely a very great mentor. Both of my mentors were great mentors, in fact.”\u003C/p>\u003C/body>\u003C/html>","\u003Chtml>\u003Chead>\u003C/head>\u003Cbody>\u003Cp class=\"bux-paragraph\">His work in the Song Lab was a bit of a continuation of research from his sophomore year under the guidance of \u003Ca href=\"https://cph.osu.edu/people/aelhellani\" class=\"bux-link\">Ahmad El Hellani\u003C/a>, also part of the Menthol Ban Project. Tewolde found El Hellani’s lab through the \u003Ca href=\"https://cancer.osu.edu/for-cancer-researchers/education-and-training/for-undergraduate-students/creates\" class=\"bux-link\">CREATES Undergraduate Program\u003C/a> (Cancer Research Experience for the Advancement and Training of Emerging Scientists).\u003C/p>\u003C/body>\u003C/html>","\u003Chtml>\u003Chead>\u003C/head>\u003Cbody>\u003Cp class=\"bux-paragraph\">“Dr. El Hellani did a lot to immerse me in the project and other projects in his lab,” Emanuel says. “Even when it came to presenting, I learned so much. He genuinely became a good friend, it was a great experience.”\u003C/p>\u003C/body>\u003C/html>","\u003Chtml>\u003Chead>\u003C/head>\u003Cbody>\u003Cp class=\"bux-paragraph\">Tewolde went on to gain a research internship at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston and recently was accepted to the American Cancer Society postbaccalaureate program for cancer researchers, which he will participate in during his gap years before attending medical school. His goal is to become a doctor who conducts public health-related research. \u003C/p>\u003C/body>\u003C/html>","\u003Chtml>\u003Chead>\u003C/head>\u003Cbody>\u003Cp class=\"bux-paragraph\">“Because I was gifted with such great mentorship early in my college career, it’s made me want to pursue it in the future as a doctor,” he says. “I want to be heavily involved in clinic but I also want to be working in public health-related research about issues that impact my patients.”\u003C/p>\u003C/body>\u003C/html>","\u003Chtml>\u003Chead>\u003C/head>\u003Cbody>\u003Cp class=\"bux-paragraph\">\u003Cstrong>Emanuel on his Ohio State experience:\u003C/strong> “It’s been nothing short of amazing. The opportunities on this campus are limitless, whether it’s internships, study abroad, whatever your interests are. And the faculty in the \u003Ca href=\"https://cph.osu.edu/\" class=\"bux-link\">College of Public Health\u003C/a> are very accessible, easy to talk to, always willing to help.\u003C/p>\u003C/body>\u003C/html>","\u003Chtml>\u003Chead>\u003C/head>\u003Cbody>\u003Cp class=\"bux-paragraph\">\u003Cstrong>His advice to students:\u003C/strong> “Never leave any stone unturned. Apply for everything you’re interested in, don’t hold yourself back because you might be nervous you won’t get in. You don’t necessarily need to do everything but give everything a chance. And when you find what you like, stick with it, and be consistent because that’s the key to everything. Stay consistent with what you love, push through the difficult times and in the end, you’ll love that you stuck with it.”\u003C/p>\u003C/body>\u003C/html>",1776431685496]