Conferral of Degrees and Certificates

Master of Science in Medical Education

Anna Donovan
Department of Medicine, Division of General Internal Medicine
Education: 2001, BA in Biology, Grinnell College; 2008, MD, West Virginia University
Capstone Project: "Use of a web-based module for faculty development in communication and opioid prescribing"
Future Plans: Anna accepted a position as an assistant professor at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine in the Division of General Internal Medicine.

Michelle Freeman*
Department of Medicine, Division of General Internal Medicine
Education: 2005, BS in Biology, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute; 2008, MD, Albany Medical College
Capstone Project: "Determining Priorities for Pediatric Palliative Care Fast Facts for the Education of Pediatric Interns: A Modified Delphi Technique Study"
Future Plans: Michelle accepted a position as an assistant professor of Pediatrics and Medicine at Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center where she will be a clinician educator in palliative care.

Cara King*
Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences
Education: 2004, BS in Physiology; Michigan State University; 2008, DO, Michigan State University
Capstone Project: "Development and Validation of a Laparoscopic Simulation Model for Suturing the Vaginal Cuff"
Future Plans: Cara accepted a position as an assistant professor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health.

Carolyn Lefkowits*
Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences; Division of Gynecologic Oncology
Education: 2001, BS in Life Science and BPHE in Physical and Health Education, Queens University; 2007, MPH and MD, Harvard University
Capstone Project: "Teaching Opioid Management in Gynecologic Oncology Using Virtual Patient Simulation"
Future Plans: Carolyn will finish her gynecologic oncology fellowship in 2015.

Mary Lovegreen*
Department of Medicine, Division of General Internal Medicine
Education: 2004, BS in Biochemistry, Virginia Tech University; 2008, MD, Eastern Virginia Medical School
Capstone Project: "Umbilical Vessel Cannulation: A Curriculum for Pediatric Residents"
Future Plans: Mary accepted a position as an assistant professor in the Department of Neonatology at the University of Texas, Houston. She will continue her research in medical education and curriculum design.

Lisa Podgurski*
Department of Pediatrics
Education: 2003, BS in Biology-Psychology and Medical Anthropology, Carnegie Mellon University; 2009, MD, Harvard University
Capstone Project: "A Brief Mindfulness-Based Self-Care Intervention for an Interprofessional Group of Palliative Care Providers"
Future Plans: Lisa will continue as a faculty member in the Section of Palliative Care and Medical Ethics providing inpatient and outpatient palliative care and serving as the medical director for the palliative care service at Magee-Womens Hospital.

Christopher Schott
Department of Critical Care Medicine
Education: 2004, BA in Anthropology, University at Buffalo, SUNY; 2008, MD, University at Buffalo, SUNY
Capstone Project: "The Development and Implementation for a Medical School Elective in Point of Care Ultrasonography (POCUS)"
Future Plans: Christopher is an assistant professor of Emergency and Critical Care Medicine and assistant director of Emergency Medicine Ultrasonography at the University of Pittsburgh and is the director of the Critical Care Elective and Point of Care Ultrasound Elective student rotations.

Certificate in Medical Education

Alena Lira
Department of Critical Care Medicine
Education: 2000, BS in Neuroscience and Behavior, Columbia University; 2007, MD, SUNY Downstate Medical Center
Future Plans: Alena is taking a faculty position as an intensivist with Surgical Critical Care at MedStar Washington Hospital Center, Washington, DC.

Sara Poff
Department of Pediatrics
Education: 2001, BA in Biology, Taylor University; 2007, MD, University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Medicine
Future Plans: Sara accepted a position in the Pediatric Rheumatology Division within the Greenville Health Systems Children's Hospital in Greenville, SC.

Sara Sakamoto*
Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences
Education: 1998, BA in Psychology, Whitman College; 2007, MD, University of Pittsburgh
Future Plans: Sara accepted a position as an assistant professor in the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, Division of Maternal Fetal Medicine at the University of Pittsburgh.

Mai Vo
Department of Critical Care Medicine
Education: 2004, BS in Biology, University of North Florida; 2009, MD, Florida State University
Future Plans: Mai is returning to Florida to continue her career in critical care medicine.

Master of Science in Clinical Research

Jayshiv Badlani
School of Medicine
Education: 2009, BA in Economics, Northwestern University; 2014, MD expected, University of Pittsburgh Capstone Projects: "The Effects of Meniscus Injury on the Development of Knee Osteoarthritis: Data From the Osteoarthritis Initiative" and "Predictors of Knee Osteoarthritis Using Data From the Osteoarthritis Initiative"
Future Plans: Jayshiv will be starting a residency program in internal medicine at the University of Miami.

Nitya Bakshi
Department of Pediatrics
Education: 2007, MBBS, Christian Medical College, Vellore, India Capstone Projects: "Psychological Factors Associated with Quality of Life in Pediatric Patients with Sickle Cell Disease" and "Validity, Development and Preliminary Usability of a Multi-Dimensional Pain Diary for Adolescent and Young Adults with Sickle Cell Disease"
Future Plans: Nitya accepted a position as Senior Associate in the Department of Pediatrics at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia.

Alexandra Dreyzin
School of Medicine
Education: 2009, BS in Chemistry, Brown University; 2015, MD expected, University of Pittsburgh Capstone Projects: "Parent perspectives on decisions to participate in a phase I hepatocyte transplant trial" and "Long-term outcomes and predictors in pediatric liver retransplantation"
Future Plans: Alexandra will return to her fourth year of medical school at the University of Pittsburgh and she plans to apply for a residency in the Department of Pediatrics in the fall.

Shawn Farrokhi
Department of Physical Therapy
Education: 2000, BS in Sports Medicine, Pepperdine University; 2003, DPT, University of Southern California; 2009, PhD in Biokinesiology, University of Southern California Capstone Projects: "Association of Pain Location with Symptoms, Functional Limitations, and Knee Related Quality of Life in Patients with Knee Pain: Data from the Osteoarthritis Initiative" and "Altered Gait Characteristics in Patients with Knee Osteoarthritis and Self-reported Complaints of Instability"
Future Plans: Shawn will continue as a faculty member in the Departments of Physical Therapy and Bioengineering where he performs clinical translational research to determine the biomechanical risk factors and intervention strategies for knee osteoarthritis.

Kelly Kantartzis
Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences
Education: 2003, BS in Biochemistry, Pennsylvania State University; 2007, MD, University of Pittsburgh Capstone Projects: "Apical Support at the Time of Hysterectomy for Uterovaginal Prolapse" and "Cost-effectiveness of test phase implantation strategies for Interstim Sacral Neuromodulation"
Future Plans: Kelly will be joining a urogynecology practice in Phoenix, AZ.

Michael Lee
School of Medicine
Education: 2009, BS in Biology, Georgetown University; 2014, MD expected, University of Pittsburgh Capstone Projects: "Evaluating the Acute Abdomen in Critically Ill Patients: DPL is Associated with Reduced Operative Intervention and Mortality" and "Risk of In-Hospital Complication and Mortality for Patients Sustaining Isolated Orthopaedic Injury: A Comparison of Trauma vs. Orthopaedic Admitting Services using the National Trauma Data Bank."
Future Plans: Michael will continue his education as a general surgery resident at Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School.

Lynn Malec
Department of Pediatrics
Education: 2001, BS in Zoology and Spanish, University of Wisconsin; 2006, MD, University of Wisconsin Capstone Projects: "Validation Study of the Composite Score to Identify Von Willebrand Disease in Children" and "Postpartum Hemorrhage in Women with Von Willebrand Disease and Other Bleeding Disorders"
Future Plans: Lynn will continue as a faculty member in the Division of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology at Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh and the Hemophilia Center of Western Pennsylvania providing clinical care for individuals with bleeding and clotting disorders and performing clinical research in the diagnosis and management of hemophilia and Von Willebrand disease.

Oladipupo Olafiranye
Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiology
Education: 2001, MBChB, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria Capstone Projects: "Long-term Safety and Efficacy Outcomes after Drug-Eluting and Bare-metal Stent Use Across Racial Groups: Insights from NHLBI Dynamic Registry" and "Sleep Apnea and Endothelial Dysfunction: Do Race and Obesity Matter?"
Future Plans: Oladipupo will continue as an assistant professor in the Division of Cardiology at the University of Pittsburgh Heart and Vascular Institute performing clinical translational research that focuses on early vascular dysfunction in sleep apnea and remote ischemic conditioning in acute myocardial infarction.

Kristin Ray
Department of Pediatrics
Education: 2002, BA in Biology, Harvard University; 2006, MD, University of Pennsylvania Capstone Projects: "Supply and Utilization of Pediatric Subspecialists in the United States" and "Time-Costs Associated with Seeking Ambulatory Medical Care"
Future Plans: Kristin accepted a position as an assistant professor in the Department of Pediatrics within the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine where she will continue to explore mechanisms to improve the access, use, and outcomes of health care for children.

Lora Reineck
Department of Medicine; Division of Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care Medicine
Education: 2002, BS in Biology and Mathematics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology; 2006, MD, Johns Hopkins University
Capstone Project: "Empirical Classifications of the Typologies of Hospital Deaths"
Future Plans: Lora accepted a faculty position as an instructor of medicine in the Division of Pulmonary, Allergy, and Critical Care with a combination of research and clinical responsibilities.

Juleen Rodakowski
Department of Occupational Therapy
Education: 2005, BS in Kinesiology, University of Minnesota; 2008, MS in Occupational Therapy, University of Illinois at Chicago; 2009, DrOT in Advanced Occupational Therapy and Education, University of Illinois at Chicago
Capstone Project: "A Randomized Pilot Study of Strategy Training to Promote Independence in Daily Activities among Individuals at-risk for Disability"
Future Plans: Juleen accepted a position as an assistant professor in the Department of Occupational Therapy at the University of Pittsburgh.

Pamela Smithburger
School of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmacy and Therapeutics
Education: 2007, PharmD, University of Pittsburgh Capstone Projects: "A Multicenter Evaluation of Off Label Medication Use and Adverse Drug Reactions in Adult Medical Intensive Care Units" and "Identification of Patient Predictors for Dexmedetomidine Effectiveness for ICU Sedation"
Future Plans: Pamela will continue as a faculty member in the Department of Pharmacy and Therapeutics at the University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy performing comparative effectiveness and outcomes research in the critically ill patient population.

Holly Thomas
Department of Medicine, Division of General Internal Medicine
Education: 2005, BA in Renaissance Studies, Yale University; 2009, MD, University of Pittsburgh Capstone Projects: "Sexual Activity in Midlife Women: Importance of Sex Matters" and "Sexuality and Aging in Midlife and Older Women: Results from a Population-Based Survey"
Future Plans: Holly will continue her third year of her women's health fellowship and continue her research in female sexual function.

Regina Triplett
School of Medicine
Education: 2010, BS in Biology, Hobart and William Smith Colleges; 2015, MD expected, University of Pittsburgh Capstone Projects: "Investigating Inhibitory Control in Children with Epilepsy: An fMRI Study" and "Brief Cognitive and Behavioral Screening in Children with New-Onset Epilepsy: Acceptability, Feasibility, and Preliminary Results"
Future Plans: Regina will return to medical school with an expected MD graduation of 2015.

Victor Yazback*
Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology and Oncology
Education: 2004, MD, Saint Joseph's University, Beirut, Lebanon
Capstone Project: "Targeting Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma with the BCL-2 Inhibitor Obatoclax as a Single Agent and in Combination with the EGFR Inhibitor Cetuximab"
Future Plans: Victor accepted a position as an assistant professor in the Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology/Oncology and Experimental Therapeutics at the Virginia Commonwealth University, where he will be performing clinical and translational research in lymphoid malignancies.

Certificate in Clinical Research

Jaime Bastian
Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences
Education: 2003, BS in Psychology and BA in English Literature, University of Florida; 2012, PharmD, University of Florida
Future Plans: Jamie will continue as a faculty member in the College of Pharmacy performing clinical and translational research in the areas of mental health and substance abuse disorders during pregnancy.

Christy Boraas
Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences
Education: 2001, BA in Biology and English, St. Olaf College; 2004, MPH, University of Minnesota; 2008, MD, University of Minnesota
Future Plans: Christy is pursuing a joint faculty appointment at the University of Minnesota Medical School; Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Women's Health as well as the School of Public Health, Maternal and Child Health.

Becky Brott*
Department of Medicine, Division of Geriatric Medicine
Education: 2003, BA in Psychology, Trinity University; 2009, MD, University of Texas
Future Plans: Becky will continue as an Advanced Geriatrics Research Fellow in the Veterans Affairs Pittsburgh Healthcare Systems' Geriatrics Research Education and Clinical Center (GRECC) performing feasibility and quality improvement studies focused on the impact of hearing amplification on health outcomes in the elderly.

James Byrd*
Department of Otolaryngology
Education: 2003, BS in Chemistry, University of South Carolina; 2007, MD, Medical University of South Carolina
Future Plans: James accepted a faculty appointment in the Department of Otolaryngology at Georgia Regents University.

Dina Chamsy
Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences
Education: 2003, BS in Biology, American University of Beirut; 2007, MD, American University of Beirut
Future Plans: Dina accepted a position as an assistant professor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the American University of Beirut Medical Center in Beirut, Lebanon.

Amanda Ecker
Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences
Education: 2005, BS in Microbiology, Oregon State University; 2009, MD, Oregon Health Sciences University
Future Plans: Amanda will complete the last year of her minimally invasive gynecology fellowship at Magee-Womens Hospital and continue to develop improved teaching tools for resident education in laparoscopy as well as continuing to conduct clinical trials involving pelvic pain and abnormal bleeding.

Diana Edwards*
School of Medicine
Education: 2005, BSIS in Information Science, University of Pittsburgh; 2009, MSIS in Information Science, University of Pittsburgh
Future Plans: Diana is a candidate for the position as research coordinator at the Allegheny-Singer Research Institute (ASRI) of the West Penn Allegheny Health System performing clinical translational research.

Jonathan Elmer
Department of Critical Care Medicine and Department of Emergency Medicine
Education: 2004, BA in Biochemistry, Swarthmore College; 2008, MD, Mount Sinai School of Medicine
Future Plans: Jonathan will continue his work at the University of Pittsburgh as junior faculty in the Departments of Critical Care Medicine and Emergency Medicine on a K12 grant researching the mechanisms of neurological injury after cardiac arrest and novel neuroprotective strategies.

Meghan Fitzpatrick
Department of Medicine; Division of Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care Medicine
Education: 2002, BS in Biochemistry, Indiana University of Pennsylvania; 2006, MD, Temple University
Future Plans: Meghan will continue as a faculty member in the Pulmonary and Critical Care Division at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.

Karen Florio
Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences
Education: 2002, BS in Biology, University of Missouri; 2005, MS in Nutrition, New York Institute of Technology; 2007, DO, New York College of Osteopathic Medicine
Future Plans: Karen accepted a position in a private practice group in Kansas City, MO, and will be an adjunct clinical professor at the University of Missouri, Kansas City.

Cynthia Grady
School of Medicine
Education: 2010, BS in Molecular Biology, Winston Salem State University; 2015, MD expected, University of Pittsburgh
Future Plans: Cynthia will be returning to the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine for her final year of medical school. She plans to match into a residency in obstetrics and gynecology.

Melissa Hogg
Department of Gastrointestinal Surgical Oncology
Education: 2000, BS in PreProfessional Studies, Notre Dame University; 2004, MD, Northwestern University
Future Plans: Melissa will continue as a faculty member in the Division of Gastrointestinal Surgical Oncology at the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute performing clinical outcomes research and surgical education research. She is also pursuing a Master of Science degree in Medical Education at the ICRE.

David Ishizawar
Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiology
Education: 1997, BA in Biological Sciences, Columbia University; 2001, MD, University of Pittsburgh
Future Plans: David will continue as a faculty member in the Division of Cardiology in the UPMC Heart and Vascular Institute pursuing clinical research in physiology in pulmonary hypertension and patients with heart failure. He will also continue as director of the UPMC Advanced Heart Failure/Transplant Cardiology subspecialty fellowship program.

Jose Leone
Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology and Oncology
Education: 2005, MD, Universidad del Salvador, Buenos Aires, Argentina
Future Plans: Jose accepted a position as an assistant professor in the Division of Hematology and Oncology at the University of Iowa.

Sarah Lyons
Department of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism
Education: 2002, BS in Biological Sciences, University of Nebraska-Lincoln; 2006, MD, University of Nebraska Medical Center
Future Plans: Sarah accepted a position as an assistant professor in the Department of Pediatrics at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, TX.

Shruti Malik
Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences
Education: 2003, BS in Natural Sciences, University of Akron; 2007, MD, Northeastern Ohio University
Future Plans: Shruti is joining Shady Grove Fertility, a large private practice group, in the fall and launching a new office location in the Northern Virginia area in 2015 where she will continue her clinical research endeavors.

Craig Mayr
Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences
Education: 1992, BS in Biology, University of Wisconsin; 1997, PhD in Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Arizona; 2009, MD, Albert Einstein College
Future Plans: Craig will continue as a clinical fellow in the Division of Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery in the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences at Magee-Womens Hospital.

Eduardo Nunez
School of Medicine
Education: 2008, BS in Microbiology, University of Florida; 2010, MS in Biomedical Science, Tufts University; 2014, MD expected, University of Pittsburgh
Future Plans: Eduardo will be returning to the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine to complete his fourth year. After graduation, he will pursue a residency in the Department of Internal Medicine.

Octavia Palmer
Department of Pathology
Education: 2000, BS in Biology, Columbia College; 2005, PhD in Physiology, Medical University of South Carolina
Future Plans: Octavia will continue as a faculty member in the Department of Pathology, Division of Clinical Chemistry performing clinical translational research that focuses on identifying the biological mechanisms that mediate racial differences in infectious diseases.

Devon Ramaeker
Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences
Education: 2003, BS in Biology and BA Spanish, South Dakota State University; 2007, MD, University of South Dakota
Future Plans: Devon will remain as an assistant professor in the Maternal Fetal Medicine Division at Magee-Womens Hospital.

Jennifer Seminerio
Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition
Education: 2003, BS in Biology and Chemistry, Heidelberg University; 2008, MD, University of Toledo
Future Plans: Jennifer accepted a position as an assistant professor in the Department of Gastroenterology at the Medical University of South Carolina.

Sebastian Shtrental
School of Medicine
Education: 2008, BA in Math and Philosophy, Williams College; 2015, MD expected, University of Pittsburgh
Future Plans: Sebastian will be returning to the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine to complete his final year of medical school. He is planning to match into a general surgery residency.

Barbara Stadterman
Department of Epidemiology
Education: 1983, BS in Biology, Edinboro University; 2012, MPH in Epidemiology, University of Pittsburgh
Future Plans: Barbara will continue as a Phase 1 Regulatory Specialist in Clinical Research Services at the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute and will continue to pursue opportunities working in other aspects of clinical research as they arise.

Alveena Syed*
Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases
Education: 2003, BSc in Biology, Physics and Chemistry, Government College Multan, Pakistan; 2009, MBBS, King Edward Medical University, Pakistan
Future Plans: Alveena will continue doing research with the Department of Infectious Diseases with her primary focus being fungal infection in patients with lung transplants.

Certificate in Clinical and Translational Science for Doctoral Students in the Health Sciences

Fanuel Hagos
School of Pharmacy
Education: 2006, BcS in Pharmacy, University of Asmara, Asmara, Eritrea; 2010, MS in Oncological Sciences, University of Utah
Future Plans: Fanuel will complete his PhD in Clinical Pharmaceutical Sciences at University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy and continue his research endeavor with emphasis on translational science in academic or industry setting.

* Expected graduation August 2014.

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