Dr. Monica E. Burgett
Monica’s fondest memories stem from senior year and all the activities and special occasions she could share with her friends. This included senior banquet, senior picnic, prom, graduation, and her participation as a 2004 Lorain International Polish Princess. At AK, Monica was actively involved in Jazz Band, Marching Band, Orchestra, Leo Club, and the Academic Challenge Team. Throughout her high school tenure, she received yearly academic achievement awards, was inducted into the National Honor Society, received the Outstanding Musician in Jazz Band award, earned the LCCC Trustee Scholarship and the Ohio Academic Scholarship in her senior year, and graduated as class valedictorian.
Monica earned her Bachelor of Science, magna cum laude, from Eastern Michigan University in 2008, majoring in Professional Biochemistry and minoring in German Language and Literature. She was a three-time recipient of the Community Health Partners Regional Foundation Francis Patterson MD Memorial Scholarship. In 2009, she started her graduate training at Kent State University in the Biomedical Sciences PhD program, offered in consortium with the Cleveland Clinic. She spent six years at the Cleveland Clinic dissecting the molecular mechanisms involved in the promotion of angiogenesis (blood vessel formation). Monica graduated summa cum laude with her doctoral degree in Cellular and Molecular Biology with a concentration in Cellular Biology and Structure in August 2016.
The cutting-edge research she performed at the Cleveland Clinic led to the receipt of research awards at the 29th and 30th Annual Kent State University Graduate Research Symposium. In 2015, Monica was honored to receive the American Association for Cancer Research Scholar-in-Training Award in recognition for meritorious work in cancer research. That same year, she placed 3rd out of 60 competitors in the inaugural Three Minute Thesis (3MT®) competition held at Kent State University, which showcases one’s ability to effectively present research in three minutes to a nonspecialist audience.
Monica was propelled on a new journey to discover the application of this valuable training and education that had roots in Lorain. She started with a valuable experience teaching two years of Biology. The skillset she developed as an educator assisted her in embarking on a career in the medical communications industry. In her current role as an Associate Scientific Director, Monica oversees the development of education materials that raise disease awareness and inform patients and healthcare professionals on the latest advancements in clinical research and newly approved therapeutics.
Monica’s professional achievements have been recognized by company promotions, awards, and a certification as a Medical Publication Professional. She was nominated in 2023 as a “Rising Star” by the International Society for Medical Publication Professionals for significant contributions to medical publications and communications.
She is passionate about giving back to her community. In 2024, she was presented with the title of Dr. World® Poland in honor of my late mother who immigrated from Poland to Lorain in 1980. This yearlong title afforded her the opportunity to honor her mom’s legacy and support those who are battling diseases and other hardships through community causes. Last year Monica raised over $600 towards research and cures for inflammatory bowel disease for the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation, volunteered assembling early educational kits to support United Way of Greater Lorain, and volunteered with Main Street Lorain in their downtown clean-up efforts to support community resiliency and pride.
Monica is married to her loving and supportive husband, Marcin Oleksy, and they have a seven-year-old tabby, “Marco”. She and Marcin always look forward to events occurring in and around Lorain and love to travel. In her spare time, she also enjoys baking, crocheting, studying languages, reading literature, and being active.
Dr. Monica E. Burgett's Induction Speech