Participants in the Doris Duke Clinical Research Fellowship Program

2009–2010 Academic Year
Lara Cox
Lara Cox graduated from Kenyon College in Gambier, OH in 2006 with a B.A. in neuroscience and psychology. While an undergraduate, she worked on various independent research project including a comparison of implicit and explicit attitudes about gay men and a study of the effects of methylphenidate on social behavior in rats. She entered the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine that fall, and began work with Dr. David Brent on a prospective examination of non-suicidal self-injury in the summer thereafter. Due to her interest in clinical research, she joined the Clinical Scientist Training Program in the fall of 2007. During her year as a Doris Duke Clinical Research Fellow and Clinical and Translational Science Institute Predoctoral Fellow, she plans to complete work on a master’s degree in clinical research. She will continue to work with Dr. Brent on an analysis of the temporal relationships between mood disorder, non-suicidal self-injury, and suicide attempt, as well as beginning work with Dr. Brent, Dr. Mary Phillips, and Dr. Lisa Pan that will examine neurocognitive changes in adolescents with non-suicidal self-injury and major depression.
Anthony Deo
Anthony Deo graduated from Boston College in 2001 with a BS in biology. He then completed a PhD in Biology from New York University in 2007. Tony’s dissertation research involved developing a new methodology for identifying genes associated with particular subsets of symptoms in schizophrenia under the supervision of Dr. Fatemeh Haghighi, Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University and Dr. Rob DeSalle, Institute of Comparative Genomics, American Museum of Natural History. In 2007, Tony entered the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine as a member of the Physician Scientist Training Program. As a Doris Duke Clinical Research Fellow, he plans to complete the requirements for the Certificate in Clinical Research. During the fellowship year, Tony will be conducting a study to identify changes in the molecular signaling components of the long term potentiation pathway in the primary auditory cortex of individuals with schizophrenia under the supervision of Dr. Robert Sweet, Department of Psychiatry and Neurology, University of Pittsburgh school of Medicine.
Anna Evans
Anna Evans graduated from Harvard University, Cambridge, MA in 2004 with a BA in history. She worked with Dr. Frank Sacks in nutrition research at Brigham and Women’s Hospital before attending the post-baccalaureate pre-medical program at the University of Pennsylvania in 2005. Anna entered the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine in 2006 with an interest in gastroenterology. For her longitudinal scholarly project, Anna has been working with Dr. David Hackam of the Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh in basic science research focused on the disease of necrotizing enterocolitis. She became more interested in clinical research after working with patients during her third year of medical school, and maintains her interest in gastroenterology. During her time in the Doris Duke Clinical Research Fellowship Program, Anna will be working with Dr. David Whitcomb in the division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition. She will be inspecting genetic variation and adipokine levels in patients with severe acute pancreatitis.
Elizabeth Genovese
Elizabeth Genovese graduated from the University of Notre Dame in 2006 with a Bachelor of Science, with a major in Preprofessional Studies and a minor in Gender Studies. While attending Notre Dame, she studied for 2 years under Dr. JoEllen Welsh, researching the use of natural and synthetic vitamin D as a treatment for breast cancer. Elizabeth matriculated at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine in 2006. In addition to earning her MD, Elizabeth will pursue the Master of Science in Clinical Research. Her primary research mentor is Dr. Mary Amanda Dew, professor of psychiatry, psychology, and epidemiology, and her co-mentor is Dr. Robert Kormos, professor of cardiothoracic surgery and medical director of the McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine and UPMC Artificial Heart and Thoracic Transplant Program. Their research focuses on the predictors of survival and adverse events that occur during the acute period following the implantation of ventricular assist devices in patients with end-stage heart failure.

Publications

  • Kormos RL, Teuteberg JJ, Siegenthaler, MP, Marc SA, Kay J, Genovese EA, Bermudez CA, Toyoda Y, Lockard KL, Winowich S. Pre-VAD Implant Risk Factors Influence the Onset of Adverse Events (AE's) while on a VAD. Journal of Heart and Lung Transplantation, 2009.
  • Rayappa S, Teuteberg JJ, Siegenthaler MP, Kay J, Genovese EA, Simon MA, Dew MA, Bhama JK, Lockard KL, Kormos RL. Pre-Implant Risk for VAD s and VAD AE s Influences the Onset of Adverse Events (AE s) Following Cardiac Transplantation (CTX) and Ultimate Survival. Journal of Heart and Lung Transplantation, 2009.
  • Genovese EA, Dew MA, Teuteberg JJ, Simon MA, Kay J, Siegenthaler MP, Bhama JK, Bermudez CA, Lockard KL, Winowich S, Kormos RL. Incidence and Patterns of Adverse Event Onset During the First 60 Days After Ventricular Assist Device Implantation. The Annals of Thoracic Surgery 2009;88:1162-70.
Erin Ohmann
Erin Ohmann graduated from Cornell University in 2004 with a Bachelor of Science. She worked for two years as a research assistant and coordinator of genetic studies of movement disorders at Albert Einstein College of Medicine and Beth Israel Medical Center in New York. She entered the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and the Clinical Scientist Training Program in 2006. As a Doris Duke Clinical Research Fellow and NIH CTSI T32 Pre-Doctoral Trainee, she plans to pursue a Master of Science in Clinical Research and participate in the Effectiveness, Outcomes, and Quality Research Track. Her primary research mentor is Dr. Steven A. Webber, Professor of Pediatics, Chief of the Division of Cardiology, Co-Director of the Heart Center, and Medical Director of Pediatric Heart and Heart-Lung Transplantation at Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC. Their research focuses on optimizing outcomes after pediatric heart transplantation and role of genetics in pediatric heart transplantation outcomes.
David Panczykowski
David Panczykowski graduated in 2005 from Clemson University. During his undergraduate years he was a career fire fighter with the City of Clemson Fire Department and performed sleep deprivation research with June Pilcher, PhD in the Department of Psychology. David continued as a firefighter until matriculating to the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine in 2006. Since then, he has performed basic science and clinical research at the Miami Project to Cure Paralysis under Alan Levi, MD, PhD, and was the Campagna Scholar in Neurological Surgery at Oregon Health and Science University, where he conducted clinical research in subarachnoid hemorrhage under Nathan Selden, MD, PhD, Valerie Anderson, PhD, and Stan Barnwell, MD, PhD. As a Doris Duke Fellow, David is currently working under David Okonkwo, MD, PhD, on projects concerning both surgical and nutritional treatment of traumatic central nervous system injury.

Publications

  • Panczykowski DM, Nemecek AN, Selden NR. Traumatic type III odontoid fracture and severe rotatory atlanto-axial subluxation in a three-year-old. Case report. Journal of Neurosurgery: Pediatrics. February 2010. In press.

Presentations

  • Panczykowski D, Okonkwo D. Oral Anticoagulation Therapy as a Risk Factor for Recurrence of Subdural Hematomas. Poster Presentation, 2010 American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS) Annual Meeting. Philadelphia, Pa. May 2010.
  • Kostov D, Kanaan H, Jankowit B, Tormenti M, Panczykowski D, Horowitz M. Safety of Subcutaneous Heparin Prophylaxis for Deep Venous Thrombosis in Acute Subarachnoid Hemorrhage Patients. Poster Presentation, 2010 AANS Annual Meeting. Philadelphia, Pa. May 2010.
  • Kostov D, Panczykowski D, Jankowitz B, Kanaan H, Horowitz M. Incidence and Predictors of Seizure in Subarachnoid Patients Not Receiving Antiepileptic Drugs. Oral Presentation, 2010 AANS Annual Meeting. Philadelphia, Pa. May 2010.
  • Kostov D, Panczykowski D, Jankowitz B, Kanaan H, Horowitz M. Infarct Resection Improves Outcome in Malignant Supratentorial Artery Infarction. Oral Presentation, 2010 AANS Annual Meeting. Philadelphia, Pa. May 2010.
Anthony Paravati
Anthony Paravati graduated from Allegheny College, Meadville, PA in 2006 with a BS in Neuroscience. He then went on to Dartmouth Medical School where he took a strong interest in neuro oncology and radiation therapy. While at Dartmouth, he conducted research with Dr. Candice Aitken and Dr. Alan Hartford on the use of stereotactic body radiation therapy for early stage lung cancer and the use of stereotactic radiosurgery for brain metastases, respectively. He has presented his work at the 13th World Conference on Lung Cancer. Later this fall, he will present at the 51st meeting of the American Society of Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology (ASTRO) and at the 2009 Joint Meeting of the Society of Neuro Oncolgy (SNO) and American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS). As a Doris Duke Fellow, Anthony will conduct research under the guidance of Dr. Dwight Heron, vice chairman of the department of radiation oncology at the Hillman Cancer Center, UPMC. During his fellowship year, Anthony will be conducting a study to determine if changes to a previously developed prognostic index improve its predictive power for high grade glioma patients treated with Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT), +/- concurrent temozolomide. He will also study the use of CyberKnife radiosurgery as an adjuvant treatment modality in the corridor-based surgical management of complex base of skull tumors.
Roy Sriwattanakomen
Roy Sriwattanakomen graduated from Swarthmore College in 2005 with a BA in biology. As an undergraduate, Roy participated in basic science research involving fruitfly courtship and hamster food preference. After graduation, Roy spent a year as a research assistant investigating mental health access in underserved communities. He is currently working with Drs. Charles Reynolds, Bruce Rollman, and Steve Albert on the primary prevention of depression in subsyndromal elderly patients and the effects of depression and anxiety on post CABG patients.
2008–2009 Academic Year
Priya Gursahaney
Priya Gursahaney graduated from Miami University, Oxford, Ohio, in 2004 with a BS in biochemistry. She then worked for 1 year as a research associate in the laboratory of Dr. Josephine Adams at the Cleveland Clinic Lerner Research Institute. In 2005, Priya entered the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. As a Doris Duke Clinical Research Fellow, she plans to complete the requirements for a Master of Science in Clinical Research in the Effectiveness, Outcomes, and Quality Research Track. She will continue to work with her research mentor, Dr. Harold Wiesenfeld, associate professor in the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, with whom she completed a project on the factors associated with women's acquisition of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). During the fellowship year, Priya will be conducting a study to assess partner notification practices and preferences in patients with STDs.
Stephanie Machi
Stephanie Machi graduated from Cornell University in 2005 with a BA in biology. During her undergraduate years, she participated in various basic science research projects, including the study of nucleosomal stability in the Department of Biophysics and the study of the cysteine dioxygenase enzyme in the Department of Nutritional Sciences. She also had some exposure to clinical research during a summer in which she examined the effect of pneumatic compression devices on the prevention of deep vein thrombosis during air travel. In medical school, Steph was involved in some basic research, but she began to take interest in clinical research, and this led her to apply for the Doris Duke Clinical Research Fellowship Program. She is currently working under Dr. Aletha Akers on a qualitative research project to identify cultural issues that affect sexual health communication within African American families.
Arvind Raina
Arvind Raina is a second-year medical student at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine. During the 2008–2009 academic year, Arvind is conducting research in the laboratory of Dr. Naftali Kaminski, whose focus is on the pathophysiology of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Arvind's research interests include the clinical application of analytic techniques used in genomics and metabolomics.
Alison Goldberg Rubin
Alison Goldberg Rubin graduated from the University of California, Berkeley, in 2001 with a BA in English literature and psychology. She worked as a research associate for 3 years at the University of California, San Francisco, in the Division of Adolescent Medicine, where she focused on training pediatricians to screen and counsel teens about risky behavior and on increasing the rate of chlamydia screening in the Kaiser Permanente Adolescent Clinics. After completing a postbaccalaureate premedical program at Scripps College, Alison entered the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine in 2005. As a medical student, she has completed a research project on the association between depression and risky sexual behavior in female adolescents. During the Doris Duke fellowship year, she plans to complete the requirements for a Master of Science in Clinical Research in the Effectiveness, Outcomes, and Quality Research Track. Her research mentors are Dr. Melanie Gold, clinical associate professor of pediatrics, and Dr. Eleanor Bimla Schwarz, assistant professor of medicine, epidemiology, obstetrics, gynecology, and reproductive sciences. Alison will be studying access and barriers to emergency contraception in the adolescent population.

Publications

  • Rubin AG, Gold MA, Primack BA. Associations between depressive symptoms and sexual risk behavior in a diverse sample of female adolescents. Journal of Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology. June 2009. In press.
Nikhil Thaker
Nikhil Thaker graduated from the College of New Jersey in 2007 with a BS in biology. While at the college, he worked with Dr. Robert Nagele from the School of Osteopathic Medicine at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey (UMDNJ), where he investigated autoimmune mechanisms of Alzheimer disease. As a student in the 7-year accelerated combined BS/MD program, Nikhil entered the UMDNJ–New Jersey Medical School in 2006. He is currently a Doris Duke Clinical Research Fellow, and his mentors are Dr. John Lazo, Department of Pharmacology, and Dr. Ian Pollack, Department of Neurosurgery. Nikhil's projects focus on the use of small interfering RNA-based synthetic lethal screens of human glioma cells to identify novel drug combinations. During his fellowship, Nikhil plans to complete the requirements for the Certificate in Clinical Research.

Presentations

  • Thaker N, Lewen M, McDonald P, Pollack I, Lazo J. Short interfering RNA-based screen of human glioma cells to identify "survival genes" and novel drug targets. Poster presentation at University of Pittsburgh Science 2008, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, October 2008, and at the University of Pittsburgh Biomedical Graduate Student Association, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 2008.