Research is a major part of the program at the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine. And this year, one student's project is shedding light on a serious problem in southwestern Virginia.

Christopher McLaughlin has spent four years studying lawnmower accidents in southwestern Virginia. He found that not only are lawnmower accidents more severe in this region, but they are happening at a higher rate than the national average.

"We actually found that the patients in our region are injured overwhelmingly in rollover accidents by their lawnmowers," McLaughlin says, "so we always tell people to be careful on hills especially."

McLaughlin is one of eight students at Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine who received letters of distinction for their research projects. Fourth year students presented their work Friday during the school's Medical Research Symposium.

McLaughlin hopes his research on lawnmower accidents will lead to an injury prevention program here in southwestern Virginia.