Student Research Spotlight: Jacob Fay

Third-year medical student Jacob Fay was one of more than 200 NEOMED students to present their scholarly work at the 2025 Student Research Symposium. Fay shared with The Pulse the inspiration for his work, what he learned and next steps for his research, titled “Missed Notes in Clinical Recognition: The Hidden Burden of Dermatoses in Youth Brass Musicians.

What was your inspiration to study dermatoses in youth brass musicians?

My inspiration to study this topic stems from both my passion for music and dermatology. I have played the tuba for over 10 years and have always enjoyed ensemble music, including bands and orchestras. Throughout my time as a musician, I noticed that both I and my peers frequently complained of skin irritation, often coinciding with periods of active instrument use. Additionally, perhaps unsurprisingly given the habits of many adolescents, teenagers’ instruments are often quite unhygienic. This observation led me to question whether there was a legitimate, addressable issue that could explain why youth brass musicians experience recurrent dermatologic symptoms.

What were your main findings?

The major finding from our research was that youth brass musicians did not understand proper instrument hygiene. Many participants cited that they only cleaned their instrument/mouthpiece several times a month, while the recommended cleaning frequency is before and after every playing session. Also, the majority of the subjects in our population never sought out professional medical guidance when tackling their symptoms. Most musicians would adhere to taking time off from playing or using over-the-counter medications. 

How will your research improve health?

I think overall, this research will benefit the public by shedding a light on the common dermatoses in this population and getting us to think more about how we can approach this problem. Many of our lifelong habits happen in our youth. If we are not exposed to what could really be causing these symptoms, the cycle of symptoms without treatment will continue. 

What are your next steps for this research?

The next step for this project is direct community impact. I plan on traveling to several high schools in the Northeast Ohio area to speak with them about this topic and raise more awareness for both educators and healthcare workers.