Romeo Mays (DO ’27) recently co-authored an academic journal article with researchers from Stanford University and the University of Michigan. It’s impressive company for a PCOM Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine student aiming for a competitive specialty and seeking to distinguish himself through published research when applying to residency programs.
Equally remarkable: The opportunity can be traced back to a lunch Mays had with the paper’s senior researcher when Mays was in grade school.
Through a family member, Mays met Matthew Smuck, MD, chief of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation (PM&R) and a professor of Orthopaedic Surgery at Stanford. Over lunch when Mays was in ninth grade, they discussed where Mays might go to college and his emerging interest in sports medicine (Mays played basketball in college).
Years passed before Mays reached out to Smuck again, emailing him about a year and a half ago to reconnect. After a short conversation about Smuck’s work, his daily responsibilities, and advice for the new medical student, the two stayed in touch.
During one of their talks, Smuck emphasized his passion for advancing the field through conducting research. This led Mays to ask if there were any projects he could assist with, which raised the prospect of contributing to research on the level of pain patients experience during common lumbosacral spine injections. The resulting article, titled in part “Is this injection going to hurt?”, appeared in the September 2025 issue of Interventional Pain Medicine.
“I didn’t have a lot of physician contacts, so whether it was my primary care doctor or just asking for connections in the field, I advise other students to really reflect on who they’ve met along the way and reach out for potential mentors,” Mays said. “Plenty of people have said no, but it just takes that one doctor.”
Being from Vallejo, California, Mays didn’t have any existing connections on the East Coast, where he ended up attending medical school. He encourages students in a similar position to look back on relationships they may have formed before medical school, noting that those ties can sometimes open unexpected doors.
“Something I did not realize before is how small the medical field can be,” he said, noting that he recently met a local physician Smuck trained. “You never know who may prove to be a valuable connection along the way.”
As those connections took shape, Mays found himself stepping into unfamiliar territory. Research was new to him, and at first he felt intimidated by his limited experience. To get up to speed, he read through previous projects and aimed to exceed expectations by turning assignments around well and quickly. Friday deadline? Turn it in on Wednesday.
The experience shifted his perspective on research. He now sees it not only as a résumé builder but also as a way to stay current in the field, help advance clinical care, and maintain connections with fellow medical professionals. He has also been involved in mentorship opportunities and community engagement, such as volunteering for Opportunities Academy at PCOM.
By pursuing PM&R, Mays can balance hands-on medicine such as procedural work and long-term patient interactions—both skills that DOs value. He applied to PCOM sight unseen, drawn to the osteopathic philosophy.
“This sounds exactly like what I want for my life,” he recalled thinking.
Established in 1899, Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (PCOM) has trained thousands of highly competent, caring physicians, health practitioners and behavioral scientists who practice a “whole person” approach to care—treating people, not just symptoms. PCOM, a private, not-for-profit accredited institution of higher education, operates three campuses (PCOM, PCOM Georgia and PCOM South Georgia) and offers doctoral degrees in clinical psychology, educational psychology, osteopathic medicine, pharmacy, physical therapy, and school psychology. The college also offers graduate degrees in applied behavior analysis, applied positive psychology, biomedical sciences, forensic medicine, medical laboratory science, mental health counseling, physician assistant studies, and school psychology. PCOM students learn the importance of health promotion, research, education and service to the community. Through its community-based Healthcare Centers, PCOM provides care to medically underserved populations. For more information, visit pcom.edu or call 215-871-6100.
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