Recent Graduates
2024
Hannah Bell, M.D., Ph.D., M.S.
Adviser: Michelle Dziejman, Ph.D.
Thesis: The Function of Type Three Secretion System Protein VopZZ in Vibrio cholerae Infection
Udaysankar "Uday" Chockanathan, M.D., Ph.D.
Adviser: Krishnan Padmanabhan, Ph.D.
Thesis: Variations in neuronal population activity across behaviors, brain regions, and disease
Ian DeAndrea-Lazarus, M.D., Ph.D.
Adviser: Edward Freedman, Ph.D. & John Foxe, Ph.D.
Thesis: Anticipatory Biasing of Visuospatial Attention in Deaf Native Signers
Karl Foley, M.D., Ph.D., M.S.
Adviser: Houhui Xia, M.Sc., Ph.D.
Thesis: Protein phosphatase 1 isoforms differentially regulate synaptic transmission and plasticity
Howard "Mark" Kenney, M.D., Ph.D., M.S.
Adviser: Edward Schwarz, Ph.D.
Thesis: Elucidating the Mechanisms of Lymphatic Muscle Cell Dysfunction in Arthritic Flare
Shuyang "Sue" Qin, M.D., Ph.D.
Adviser: Peter Prieto, M.D., M.P.H. & Scott Gerber, Ph.D.
Thesis: Effects of Intertumoral Heterogeneity on Immunosuppresion and Immunotherapy Resistance in Synchronous Melanoma
Keshov Sharma, M.D., Ph.D.
Adviser: Lizabeth Romanski, Ph.D. & Julie Fudge, M.D.
Thesis: Amygdala-Prefrontal Circuits Implicated in Expression Perception
Farangis "Fara" (Tolibzoda) Zakusilo, M.D., Ph.D., M.S.
Adviser: Vera Gorbunova, Ph.D.
Thesis: Protective mechanisms in Naked Mole Rat CNS: roles of extracellular matrix and astroglia
2023
Ranran "Annette" French, M.D., Ph.D
Adviser: Greg DeAngelis, Ph.D.
Thesis: Perceptual Processes Underlying Depth Judgement of Moving Object During Self-Motion
Adwiteeya "Aditi" Misra, M.D., Ph.D.
Adviser: Eric Small, Ph.D.
Thesis: Transcriptomic Analysis of Neonatal Cardiac Regeneration and Scar Resolution
Keshia Mora, M.D., Ph.D.
Adviser: Mark Buckley, Ph.D. & Alayna Loiselle, Ph.D.
Thesis: Multiaxial and multiscale strain assessment of the impinged Achilles tendon insertion
Jerry Saunders, M.D., Ph.D.
Adviser: James Palis, M.D.
Thesis: A novel combination therapy enhances recovery following radiation exposure
Arun Venkataraman, M.D., Ph.D.
Adviser: Jianhui Zhong, Ph.D.
Thesis: How fast can we go? Optimizing Diffusion MRI (dMRI) Acquisition
Brendan Whitelaw, M.D., Ph.D.
Adviser: Ania Majewska, Ph.D.
Thesis: Mechanisms of ATP-dependent microglial process motility
2022
Jonathan Bartko, M.D., Ph.D.
Adviser: Marc Halterman, M.D., Ph.D.
Thesis: Characterizing Context-Specific Roles for CHOP in ER Stress Signaling and Neurodevelopment
Michael-John Beltejar, M.D., Ph.D.
Adviser: Cheryl Ackert-Bicknell, Ph.D.
Thesis: Understanding the Genetic Basis for Bone-Matrix Quality
Booyeon Han, M.D., Ph.D.
Adviser: David Linehan, M.D. & Scott Gerber, Ph.D.
Thesis: Characterizing and Targeting the Pancreatic Tumor Draining Lymph Node to Enhance Antitumor Responses in Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma
Laura Owlett, M.D., Ph.D.
Adviser: M. Kerry O'Banion, M.D., Ph.D. & John Olschowka, Ph.D.
Thesis: Modulation of acute inflammation and Alzheimer’s disease pathology by Gas6-Axl interaction
Rohith Palli, M.D., Ph.D.
Adviser: Juilee Thakar, Ph.D.
Thesis: Executable models of signaling pathways and application to HIV
Resident: Internal Medicine, University of Rochester Medical Center
Elizabeth Saionz, M.D., Ph.D.
Adviser: Krystel Huxlin, Ph.D.
Thesis: Time is Vision: Properties of Vision Early after Occipital Stroke and Capacity for Recovery
Colleen Schneider, M.D., Ph.D.
Thesis: The post-stroke brain: A comprehensive, longitudinal assessment of vascular, neural, and perceptual changes
Matthew Tanner, M.D., Ph.D.
Adviser: Charles Thornton, M.D.
Thesis: mRNA splicing is a marker of molecular pathology and response to therapeutics in myotonic muscular dystrophy
2021
Dawling Dionisio-Santos, M.D., Ph.D.
Adviser: M. Kerry O'Banion, M.D., Ph.D. & John Olschowka, Ph.D.
Thesis: Ameliorating Alzheimer’s Disease tau pathology through immunomodulation: A novel role for interleukin 4 and glatiramer acetate
Scott Friedland, M.D., Ph.D.
Adviser: Aram Hezel, M.D.
Thesis: Arid1a, a subunit of the SWI/SNG chromatin remodeling complex, is a barrier to KrasG12D-driven tumorigenesis
Allison Li, M.D., Ph.D.
Adviser: Laura Calvi, M.D.
Thesis: Regulation of hematopoiesis in the bone marrow microenvironment
Hayley Martin, M.D., Ph.D.
Adviser: Ann Dozier, RN, Ph.D., FAAN
Thesis: Assessing the impact of Group Prenatal Care on Breastfeeding Behavior and Motivation
Andrew Smith, M.D., Ph.D.
Adviser: Stephen Dewhurst, Ph.D.
Thesis: Role of a polymerase defect in function of the live attenuated influenza A virus
Emily Wu, M.D., Ph.D.
Adviser: Edward Schwarz, Ph.D.
Thesis: The Role of TNF-α in the Genesis of Inflammatory Interstitial Lung Disease in Rheumatoid Arthritis
2020
Andrew Allbee, M.D., Ph.D.
Adviser: Benoit Biteau, Ph.D.
Thesis: Lmx1a is required for Drosophila ovary stem cell niche formation and organogenesis
Resident, Pathology-Anatomic and Clinical: Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania
Nicolas Goldstein, M.D., Ph.D.
Adviser: Peter Veazie, Ph.D.
Thesis: Disproportionate Premature Birth in Women of Low Socioeconomic Status: A Psychological and Physiological Stress Explanation of Financial Risk Removal
Resident, Pediatrics: Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia
Adnan Hirad, M.D., Ph.D.
Adviser: Jeffrey Bazarian, M.D., M.P.H. & Edwin van Wijngaarden, Ph.D., M.Sc.
Thesis: Midbrain Axonal Injury is the Signature Neurotrauma of Subconcussion and Concussion
Maxime Jean, M.D., Ph.D.
Adviser: Jian Zhu, Ph.D.
Thesis: The Dichotomy of Curaxin Compounds in HIV-1 Latency
Resident, Neurology: University of Rochester Strong Memorial Hospital
Irina Lerman, M.D., Ph.D.
Adviser: Stephen Hammes, M.D., Ph.D.
Thesis: Neutrophil Elastase and SERPINB1 are Critical Regulators of Prostate Cancer Progression
Resident Physician: Univ. Rochester, Rochester, NY
Aimee Morris, M.D., Ph.D.
Adviser: Jonathan Mink, M.D., Ph.D.
Thesis: Functional Brain Network Structure in Focal Embouchure Dystonia and Related Disorders
Resident, Child Neurology: St. Louis Children’s Hospital
Daniel Savage, M.D., Ph.D.
Adviser: Krystel Huxlin, Ph.D. & Wayne Knox, Ph.D.
Thesis: A Novel Non-Ablative Technique for Femtosecond Laser-Based Refractive Correction
Intern/Resident, Internal Medicine/Ophthalmology: University of Rochester Flaum Eye Institute
Stephanie Syc-Mazurek, M.D., Ph.D.
Adviser: Richard Libby, Ph.D.
Thesis: The Molecular Signaling Pathways Controlling Apoptotic Retinal Ganglion Cell Death after Axonal Injury
Resident, Neurology: Mayo Clinic School of Graduate Medical Education
Jomy Varghese, Ph.D.
Adviser: Danielle Benoit, Ph.D.
Thesis: Salivary Gland Radiation Protection
Resident, Anesthesiology: University of Michigan Hospital – Ann Arbor
Jimmy Zhang, M.D., Ph.D.
Adviser: Paul Brookes, Ph.D.
Thesis: Mitochondrial Metabolism in Cardiac Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury
Resident, Internal Medicine: Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY