MUSC Catalyst 5-15-2015

Commencement: Special Issue

May 15, 2015

MEDICAL UNIVERSITY of SOUTH CAROLINA

Vol. 33, No. 37

photo by Sarah Pack, Public Relations

Having overcome many obstacles, from poverty to single-motherhood, Georgina Dukes will graduate May 15 with a master’s degree in health administration. Today, she celebrates with her son, Romeo, age 3.

MHA grad defies odds to achieve her dreams

By J. Ryne Danielson Public Relations

W

hen Georgina Dukes was 11 years old, her world crumbled.

“Our house burned down and my dad left a month later,” she said. “I think that was my turning point. That was when I really started focusing on school.

I felt like school was my safe place. It was something I could be good at.”

From Monetta, South Carolina, a small town in rural Aiken County, Dukes’ path to MUSC has been uphill, but this week she will graduate with a master’s in health administration from the College of Health Professions.

“We cleared the debris from where the house was and put a trailer on the land,”

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I want people to know I didn’t give up, and I want to inspire others not to give up either.

Nurse Superstar Graduate is a speaker, motivator and new health care provider.

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Georgina Dukes

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she said. “And that’s where we lived.”

Growing up, Dukes was very close to her father. She never realized he was abusive, until he left. “I just thought that was the way things were supposed to be. If mama made him mad, he’d get physical with her. I became numb to it.

I still don’t understand why he chose to leave then, but he did. We didn’t hear from him for months. He tried to come back once we got back on our feet, but my mom was through. She wasn’t going to put her kids through that. She is an amazing woman, and she decided she could make it on her own.”

After losing her house and her father within a month of each other, Dukes devoted herself almost entirely to school.

“I never missed a day,” she said. “I was a

nerdy little kid.”

When schoolwork began to fill less and less of her time, she picked up extracurricular activities. “I played softball in the spring. I was in band in the summer and in the fall. And during the winter season, I was the scorekeeper for basketball. I tried to do as much as I could.”

Not surprisingly, Dukes graduated as class valedictorian and received a scholarship to Clemson University, where she decided to study microbiology.

“College was a rude awakening,” Dukes said, “but I guess it’s like that for everyone. My first semester was horrible.

I needed to maintain a 3.0 to keep my

See Graduate on page 12

Transitions

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Meet Emory

Former NFL player trades helmet for otoscope.

9

Graduate Excellence

10

Dual-Degree Dentist

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2 The CaTalysT, May 15, 2015

Doctoral nurse aims to make world a better place

By Mikie hayes Public Relations

“Love has no boundaries,” said Michael Johnson, R.N., who this week earns his Ph.D. from the College of Nursing. And while Johnson is known for putting his entire heart into all aspects of his life and work, in this case he was actually referring to Mason James, the son he and husband, Matthew Roell, recently adopted.

The past three years have been a bit of a whirlwind, Johnson said. During the time he was earning his Ph.D., he was also teaching full time on the nursing faculty at the University of Nevada Las Vegas; conducting research studies; publishing papers; doing clinical work in the community; and attending conferences as far away as London. And on Nov. 29, 2014 he added raising a newborn to the list. No easy feat. But because Johnson was enrolled in the distance education doctoral program, he never had to leave his family and relocate to Charleston to study at MUSC. The Ph.D. in nursing science program was specifically designed to be done at a distance and prepare graduates to pursue a career of externally funded research, scholarly publication and professional leadership. The program focuses on the care of vulnerable populations and innovative ways to promote health equity for individuals and communities.

Johnson’s unique research seemed a perfect fit for the college. He aimed to examine predictors of cervical cancer screening among lesbian, gay, bi-sexual and transgender women.

“I was trying to identify why some

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843-792-4107 Fax: 843-792-6723 Editor: Cindy Abole catalyst@musc.edu Catalyst staff: Mikie Hayes, hayesmi@musc.edu Dawn Brazell, brazell@musc.edu J. Ryne Danielson, daniejer@musc.edu Helen Adams, adamshel@musc.edu Sarah Pack, packsa@musc.edu Jeff Watkins, watkinsj@musc.edu

Dr. Michael Johnson and his nursing students go into the community around Las Vegas to help vets who are homeless and those with substance abuse problems. photo provided

LGBT women get pap screening and others don’t. A lot of research shows they do not get regular screening, and there are many reasons why. Some are the same as those of heterosexual women, such as income or lack of health insurance. But unique to this population is whether or not a woman has ‘come out’ to her provider.”

According to Johnson, LGBT woman will get screened more regularly if they are in an environment that is welcoming and if the providers display a positive attitude to them.

One the other hand, if a physician, nurse, or the staff in a practice displays, prejudices about the patient’s sexual orientation, women can become fearful of going back and being discriminated against.

“After interviewing nearly three dozen lesbian women over the past few years about their health care experiences, I have found that many women encounter providers and nurses who are The Catalyst is published once a week.

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sensitive toward their sexual identity.

Unfortunately, it is not uncommon for some sexual minority women to experience discrimination in the health care setting.”

In his studies, he said many women described how disclosing their sexual orientation would cause providers and nurses to become uneasy. “One woman in particular described an appalling scenario that occurred while her female provider was performing a pelvic exam.

During the exam, the patient disclosed her sexual orientation as lesbian which caused the provider to immediately stop the exam. The provider exclaimed that she was uncomfortable and would find a male provider in the office to complete the exam.”

Although this may be an extreme case, according to Johnson, many other women in his study described scenarios where they were either denied services or were made to feel so uncomfortable that they left. “Some women in my studies were so fearful of experiencing more discrimination that they decided to avoid future health care visits completely.”

As a researcher, Johnson knew that health interventions, programs and services that are culturally sensitive and appropriate for all women must be designed.

During his time in the program, in addition to other required times he needed to be on MUSC campus, he came to Charleston once a year for week–long intensive residency sessions, which offered opportunities for him to present research, immerse himself in science and socialize with peers and

professors in person.

Johnson quickly made an impact as his competencies across the board were recognized by many, including Dean of the College of Nursing, Gail Stuart, Ph.D., R.N., who said, “Michael represents the best example of our how our Ph.D. students excel in that he combines expert clinical skills, teaching ability, research acumen and community service. The world will be better in so many ways as his career builds and propels him in the days ahead.”

Lynne Nemeth, Ph.D., R.N., associate professor in the College of Nursing, was Johnson’s mentor, advisor and dissertation chair and has the highest praise for him: “He is thoughtful, well respected by all, and has demonstrated his leadership in many ways during his three years at MUSC.” She also gave high marks to his research and work ethic.

“Michael is especially motivated and committed to becoming a nurse scientist and focused on an area of research with many gaps — health disparities in the LGBTQ population,” she said. “He is very self-directed, rigorous and open to feedback. He knows how to integrate critiques from his mentors to improve his research.”

Although earning a Ph.D. is something he’s extremely proud of, he’ll tell you he’s really just a good Midwestern boy, with good family values. “I’m loyal, dependable, and someone you can trust,” he said, sounding an awful lot like the Boy Scout he had been much earlier in his life. “That’s who I am and what was built into my character. I value community and integrity, and I put my heart into everything I do. I’m told that I am that way in every aspect of my life: family, friends, work, school. People take notice of that — when you bring that character to whatever you’re doing.”

Johnson came from a loving, closeknit family living in a small rural town in upper Michigan with not a lot of opportunity. He attended a small community college and there he met Roell, who was from an even smaller town in Michigan, one with only 100 people. The two, with big hopes and aspirations, packed up everything they owned and drove halfway across the

See Doctoral on page 11

The CaTalysT, May 15, 2015 3

Former MMA fighter transitions to professional role

By J. Ryne Danielson Public Relations Alter egos are for comic book characters, not students in pharmacy school. Mild-mannered student by day, merciless fighter by night—it might make for a great movie, but it’s not the stuff of real life. Or is it?

Meet Mike Corvino, PharmD graduate, MMA fighter.

“I always knew I wanted to do something in the medical field,” Corvino said. “I was thinking medical school at first, and then pharmacy came into the picture. I was going back and forth, but I liked the fact that with pharmacy you can jump into a lot of different things pretty easily, and there are so many job opportunities in so many different fields with a pharmacy degree. I didn’t want a career where I felt stuck. I get bored if I stay in one place too long.”

It’s ironic, then, that someone afraid of being stuck is so willing to step into a cage and go one–on–one in a brutal, full-contact sport like mixed martial arts.

“I’ve done martial arts my whole life,” Corvino said, explaining that he started at the age of four with Shotokan, an Okinawan style of karate focusing on balance and efficiency, before moving on to other forms such as wrestling, Brazilian jujitsu, and muay Thai.

Eventually he earned a black belt in Shaolin Kempo,

photo by Action Fighter Media

Mike Corvino lands a strong kick to his opponent at an MMA fight in October 2012.

a versatile martial art that emphasizes grappling in addition to striking.

At that point, his career shifted. “I started fighting as an amateur toward the end of undergrad and, during my first year of pharmacy school, I got an offer to go pro.”

His classmates often joked that he was just fighting to

drum up business, Corvino said, so that his opponents would have to come to him afterward to get patched up.

For his first years in pharmacy school, Corvino’s schedule was as grueling workout routine. “I was training 30 to 40 hours a week, on top of school,” he said.

Always exhausted at the end of a long day, he made sure to study before going to the gym, not having the energy to even open a book by the time his workout was finished.

“It was life–consuming,” he added. “But it helped me develop time management skills.”

Corvino eventually realized that, as much as he wanted to, he could not do both. “I had to pick one or the other,” he said. “It was a hard decision, but it got easier. I got to spend a lot more time with my wife.”

Corvino’s wife, Jennifer, whom he met at pharmacy school, graduated a year ahead of him from the same program. They bought a house in Charleston and plan to remain in the area. “I love Charleston,” he said. “I grew up here.”

Corvino has signed a contract with Walgreens and plans to go to work as a pharmacist right away. “I’m also looking into part-time hospital pharmacy work and maybe even trying to teach at an undergraduate level,” he said.

See Fighter on page 15

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4 The CaTalysT, May 15, 2015

Nurse practitioner is a role model for success

By Mikie hayes Public Relations

Dean of MUSC’s College of Nursing Dr. Gail Stuart, left, and Cameo Green attended the Sept.

25, 2014 screening of the PBS Frontline documentary, “Ebola Outbreak” and panel discussion outlining the struggles containing and managing the Ebola crisis in West Africa.

W

hen Cameo Green turned 7, her parents bought her a medical bag.

“I still remember what was in it,” she said. “An otoscope, stethoscope, ophthalmoscope, and a thermometer.”

Destined even then to be a health care provider, she loved using her instruments and doing assessments on any willing “patients.” She laughed, “I didn’t know anything about aseptic technique. My parents told me, ‘Cameo, you have to wash your hands in between patients.’

I always tell people, that was my first introduction to aseptic technique.”

On this day, the dreams of a little girl to take care of patients are certainly coming true as she walks across the MUSC stage to accept her Doctor of Nursing Practice degree. Soon, as a result, she will be providing primary care for an entire community, hopefully, she said, either in the Lowcountry or the Orangeburg area.

The DNP program prepared Green to practice nursing at the highest clinical level. The program consists of three post-baccalaureate clinical specializations to choose from, all with a primary care focus. Green went the family nurse practitioner (FNP) route. With many counties in South Carolina in desperate need of health care providers, doctorallyprepared FNPs have the necessary skills to work independently treating patients, prescribing medications and performing diagnostic tests and procedures.

Green is excited about the prospects of providing primary care in a rural South Carolina town. Perhaps because she too grew up in a rural town, she has a burden in her heart for people who don’t have access to health care or resources.

“People in rural towns don’t have a CVS to get their blood pressure checked. I might be the only way they can receive care. It’s actually an honor for me to go to any rural area of South Carolina. I love every part of this entire state.”

Whitney Smith, R.N., was one of Green’s clinical instructors at the College of Nursing — Green also considers her one of her mentors and an enthusiastic supporter who encouraged her to do her very best. That affinity goes both ways, and Smith believes Green will be

photo provided

successful in any endeavor she chooses to pursue. “Cameo is a true leader within the field of medicine, her community, and the nursing profession. She is a pleasure, and it has been a privilege to share in and witness her professional growth as she progressed through our program. With her intelligence, integrity, compassion, strong leadership skills and volunteerism, I know that she will be an outstanding nurse practitioner and an asset to the community in which she decides to live and practice.”

Personally driven as a little girl to succeed, Green was an overachiever her entire life. This was especially true if someone told her she couldn’t do something, which was practically a recipe for success. The person who said she’d never be drum major in high school had to eat those words, but they also made Green work that much harder to achieve that goal.

Green grew up in the Columbia area, eventually as a child moving to Hopkins where she still lives today. “Even though it’s close to Columbia, she said, it is still a very rural community.” And one she loves. “My community drives me.”

She started her college education at the University of South Carolina, Columbia, and later transferred to USC Spartanburg to complete her Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree. Her parents

had both received degrees from USC the first in their families to do so. Green decided she would thank them for their example by continuing her education.

“I’m trying to carry on their legacy and take it a step farther,” she said. “It’s my responsibility to carry on and do the best I can.”

Her family has always played the most important role in her life, instilling in her values that have kept her on the right track. Whether it was encouragement or support, her mom, dad, and grandparents were always there for her.

“I have very supportive parents,” she said. “I was an only child. Instead of investing in fancy things, they invested in me, so I always wanted to do my best.”

As a child, she spent time crabbing, fishing and doing yardwork with her paternal grandfather. They had a very close bond. “We would talk for hours and hours on the phone about everything,” she said. “And although I didn't understand the purpose, he began teaching me military time at a young age. No one exactly knows why he was so persistent, but I’m glad he was - I ended up using military time in my documentation in clinical settings.”

Even though she was emotionally devastated at the time, she still recalls reporting to take her nursing boards only two days after her grandfather died. “I

had to do it for him,” she said. At his funeral, an announcement was made: “Cameo is an R.N.” It was an extremely meaningful moment for her as his pride in her was boundless. She spoke in front of a very large group at his wake.

That difficult event may have been a turning point in her life, as from it two things emerged. She went on to become a confident public speaker, and she learned how to press on in the midst of challenging circumstances, something she would have to do again later in life.

Confidence, however, hadn’t always been part of her nature, she said.

“My teachers kept telling me I needed to develop more confidence.” She stepped out of her comfort zone and began working at Palmetto Health as a technician. In short order, she became a floor nurse. Showing a capacity for leadership, she was made an assistant nurse manager responsible for 55 nurses, payroll, scheduling, working on the floor and developing the hospital’s clinical leadership program track. She was only 24 years old when she accepted that demanding position.

Wanting to go further in her education, in 2010, she applied to the MUSC master’s program. During her time at MUSC, she was inducted into the student leadership society for her contributions to the university. She also received the Herman Green Memorial scholarship. She placed in the MUSC campus-wide essay contest honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and was one of only six students chosen to receive the extremely competitive Advanced Nursing Education Expansion award.

She was also named a Presidential Scholar, a prestigious interprofessional program that explores complex social, political and human issues of broad interest to health care professionals and biomedical researchers. Working in a women’s clinic for underserved minority patients, as part of the scholar’s program, she learned a great deal about compassion and respectful care.

She finished her master’s with a 3.99 grade point average and was recognized as the First Honor Graduate – the top student in the class, the graduate equivalent to being class valedictorian.

See Nurse on page 14

The CaTalysT, May 15, 2015 5

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6 The CaTalysT, May 15, 2015

Power couple carves out careers in dentistry, pharmacy

By Mikie hayes Public Relations

S

he wore Lilly Pulitzer and pearls, he, a bow tie and khakis. It just doesn’t get much more South Carolina than Emily and Daniel Hall. Born and bred in the Upstate, both high school class valedictorians got into their dream school, Wofford College, and there began the journey of a lifetime for the perfectly matched couple.

This week their journey culminates with a particularly special shared experience as they each receive a degree in a field they love: Emily from the South Carolina College of Pharmacy and Daniel from the James B. Edwards College of Dental Medicine.

Emily grew up in Pelzer and Daniel in Easley. While they lived in towns only 15 miles away from each other, their paths never crossed. “It’s crazy that we never met before undergrad,” Emily said.

“We still can’t believe that,” he added.

Even though their high schools were key rivals, somehow Daniel missed the Wren High School cheerleader with the sweet Southern drawl on the other side of the field from the Easley Green Wave. That is, until their second year at Wofford.

As their sophomore years ended, both decided independently to enroll in summer semester and get ahead on their science requirements: Emily, a chemistry major, and Daniel, biology. “Everyone normally stays on campus if they’re taking a lab course, and I was living with some girls from his good friend group.”

And after 20 years of likely passing each

other at grocery stores and gas stations, they finally met through mutual friends.

They dated the rest of the way through college.

Both valedictorians arrived at Wofford thinking they would become doctors and attend the MUSC College of Medicine.

Interestingly, however, both had similar experiences during interim semesters, a time where students concentrate on a single study project they choose for the month of January. It turned out their hearts weren’t in the field of medicine at all.

In his sophomore year, Daniel chose the introduction to dental medicine and had the opportunity to spend time in dental, orthodontic and periodontal practices, as well as a week in Charleston at the MUSC College of Dental Medicine. It opened his eyes to an area he’d not previously considered, but one he enjoyed immensely. “Dental only had 10 spots, and I pushed hard to go as a sophomore. I loved it. I knew. It really planted the seed hard.”

The next year, during his junior year interim, he selected the clinical internship in medicine. When the experience just didn’t resonate, he had his validation that dentistry was indeed the right fit.

Similarly, Emily, in her junior year tried the medicine internship and didn’t find what she was looking for. However, in her senior year, she chose the prepharmacy internship and was exposed to several local pharmacies and certified pharmacists. She, too, found exactly what she was interested in. “I just related really

Daniel Hall and colleages in Quito, Ecuador provided dental care to the community.

photos by Anne Thompson, Digital Imaging

photos provided

Emily and Daniel Hall got married July 27, 2013, as both were still completing their studies at MUSC. Emily Hall graduates today from the South Carolina College of Pharmacy and Daniel Hall receives his DMD from the James B. Edwards College of Dental Medicine. well to pharmacy. Chemistry is a really good fit for a career as a pharmacist,” she said.

Emily applied to the College of Pharmacy, Charleston campus and Daniel to the dental school. Because she had done early admission, Emily heard right away she’d be heading to the Lowcountry. Since dental school didn’t have an early decision application process, Daniel didn’t hear until December, which was nerve-wracking for the couple. Finally, it all worked out.

“We feel blessed that we both got into MUSC,” he said. “I’m a South Carolina girl, I wasn’t leaving the state,” Emily reminded Daniel, who laughed.

Charleston bound Soon they headed to Charleston and each found a residence near campus.

After growing up in a small town, there were transitions. “I hated going to the grocery store and not seeing any one I knew,” Emily said. “Now we go, and we know just about everyone.”

Going through rigorous graduate programs at the same time could have added stress to the relationship, but it actually worked out better for them.

Daniel said, “It’s been a comfort to have

each other; it was good to go through it together. You need a bedrock support system, and we were able to do that for each other. It helped that we were both going through something hard at the same time.”

Emily agreed, “We had empathy toward each other and what we were going through. We’re a good team – we help each other succeed.”

While they worked hard in classes and rotations, it was important to them to be involved in student events. Whether it was MUSC-sponsored oyster roasts, wine tastings or back-to-school parties, or activities with their student organizations – spring banquets, the dental school’s Snow Ball, or dental fraternity Psi Omega’s Casino Nights – they were front and center.

Emily was involved in the pharmacy fraternity, Phi Delta Chi, and served as the alumni liaison. She was also a member of the American Pharmacy Association Academy of Student Pharmacists (APhA-ASP) and worked on a number of special projects, such as chairing Operation Diabetes and helping Meeting Street Academy and Junior

See Couple on page 7

The CaTalysT, May 15, 2015 7

Couple

Continued from Page Six

Doctors of Health.

To say Emily is a people person is an understatement, according to Daniel.

She, however, refers to herself as a “talker” and admits to not knowing a stranger. The faculty immediately took notice of her friendliness and willingness to help with anything.

Emily’s professor, Ronald Nickel, Ph.D., PharmD, outreach coordinator for the Center for Medication Safety, said, “My first encounter with Emily was in her first semester in my compounding lab course. In a class of 81 students, she stood out for her perkiness, bright personality and cheerfulness. That aspect never changed over the next four years. In her capacity as president of the student group for which I serve as faculty advisor she demonstrated reliable leadership, cheerfulness, and humility.

She was always ready to bring ‘goodies’ to any social event we held. She embodies all of the positive characteristics of a charming Southern young woman. I wish her and Daniel all the best.”

During their third year, they both assumed demanding leadership positions. Daniel was president of the American Student Dental Association (ASDA), and Emily served as president of Christian Pharmacists Fellowship International (CPFI).

How they found time to do as much volunteer work as they did is still a mystery to them, but it was in their genes - both came from families that valued giving back. Emily helped coordinate sending care packages to Haiti for two years, and compounded and sent sulfur ointment that could be used for a variety of diseases commonly observed in the area. She also helped with Hotdog Ministries, where they served dinner to the homeless in downtown Charleston and prayed with anyone who requested prayer.

Both Emily and Daniel volunteered for more MUSC health fairs than they can count and enjoyed doing the Sugar Free Fall Festival for kids with Type 1 diabetes. Daniel frequently worked at free and low-cost dental clinics, offering care to those who could least afford it.

Daniel stayed busy with Psi Omega during his four years and did a mission trip to Ecuador, in the suburb of Quito, after his third year. “We set up a dental unit and triaged, cleaned teeth, pulled

photos provided

Dr. Ron Nickel, fourth from left, Emily Hall, center, and members of the Christian Pharmacists Fellowship International prepare care packages

The Halls take a walk on the Battery in Charleston. teeth and filled cavities. I was relieved that I could still speak semi-functional Spanish,” he joked. It was a remarkable experience, one that had a lasting effect on how he practices. “We work with a mouth mirror and indirect vision which is needed in certain locations of the mouth where direct visibility is difficult or impossible. The patients would sit in a Coleman camping chair, cocked up on cinder blocks, so we were a world away from our usual A-DEC clinic chairs.

Indirect vision was our only option, and I quickly realized that my mirror was now one of my most valuable instruments.

It was a lightbulb moment and changed how I did everything in clinic.”

Early on, Daniel caught the attention of the dental faculty, who knew they had someone special amongst their ranks.

Charles Ferguson, DMD, associate professor and director of the Division of Oral Medicine in the Department of Stomatology, said, “Daniel Hall is indeed a very special individual who exemplifies all those personal values and traits that define professionalism in dentistry; namely competence, respect, fairness, integrity, responsibility and servicemindedness. There is absolutely no doubt in my mind that he will become a most valued addition to the South

Carolina community of dentists because of his willingness to fully embrace the special obligation to others that our profession demands.”

WelCome to married life After their first year at MUSC, with things solidly moving along, they got engaged. With so much on their plates, they had initially planned to wait until they finished their four-year programs to tie the knot. Instead, they decided to get married after their second year, and it turned out to be the right decision.

Moving in together did bring the need for a few compromises. “I’m a girly–girl, and my room has always been some shade of pink. But I didn’t want to put him through pink.”

“Bless you,” Daniel said gratefully.

They love living and being together.

After a long day of classes and clinics, they can’t wait to get in the kitchen and cook something together. “I kid him because he doesn’t like to dance in public. Me, I love weddings and dances.

But he will dance in the kitchen when we’re cooking, just not at a wedding.”

“I don’t like to be a spectacle,” Daniel reminded her.

Those who know them say they are a match made in heaven. Their easy relationship is close, respectful and charming. Emily talks a mile a minute and Daniel, the measured one, doesn’t mind a bit. “We went to Mexico on our honeymoon. Emily knew all the TSA

agents by the time we got home,” he said, absolutely loving that story.

Faith is a cornerstone of their relationship and perhaps another reason they’re so close. “It’s a big deal,” Daniel said. Emily agreed, “To be on the same page with things is really important for us. In fact, it was a requirement for both of us for dating somebody.”

Both are relieved that they have a plan for their future after graduation. Daniel will be doing a residency in General Dentistry at Palmetto Health Richland, in the Columbia area. But Emily won’t be going to Columbia for the year his residency lasts. She decided to pursue community pharmacy and will be in Anderson working at a new Wal-Mart Neighborhood Market pharmacy. “I just love community pharmacy and counseling patients, seeing patients on a regular basis and getting to know them and their families on a personal level.”

She explained that in retail, pharmacists often have to float between stores. Her choices boiled down to either floating in Columbia or having her own store in Anderson, which is the area they ultimately wanted to be. She’ll put down roots, and then he’ll come back and join an established practice in Powdersville.

“It’s a short-term sacrifice for long-term gain,” Emily said.

They look forward to being back together, paying student loans, singing in

See Couple on page 13

8 The CaTalysT, May 15, 2015

Medical student meets goal as athlete, physician

By CinDy aBole Public Relations Four years ago, Samkon Gado, M.D., had arrived at a crossroads in his life. Today, he is fulfilling another extraordinary accomplishment: finishing medical school at MUSC. Gado is both proud and humbled to have had the opportunity to accomplish two goals so far in his life: playing football, a sport he loves, at an elite level, and becoming a doctor.

“It really is a dream come true,” said Gado, 32, who is originally from Nigeria but grew up in Columbia. “I’ve gone through an amazing experience accomplishing all that I’ve set out to do.

This in itself is truly rewarding.”

So how did Gado muster the courage to reinvent himself at 28 years old or top a six–year career playing in the National Football League? Gado said that interestingly, there are many similarities between playing sports at an elite level and being a medical student. “And both activities, he said, “require lots of time, dedication and commitment. Similar to professional athletes preparing for certain situations in a game, the more you practice or review the material, the better you are able to perform when the moment comes.

And comparing the preparation needed to play in the NFL and completing medical school? Gado can only smile. He feels there are more similarities than dissimilarities.

“In the NFL, it was easy to think that you’d reached life’s ultimate goal. But in reality the NFL was only a means to an end and needed to be treated as such.

Medical school is the same way. Also the temptation to feel like I didn’t belong was great, but I had to consider that there was so much scrutiny involved in my selection on the team that someone believed in me enough to put me on the squad. Similarily, in medical school, I had to remind myself that I worked hard and met the requirements and I belonged here.”

Defying the odds was something Gado was already used to doing. He was a standout football player at Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia, and successfully signed as a free agent with the NFL. From 2004 to 2010, he played

football for some of the NFL’s most successful franchises, wearing jerseys for the Chiefs, Packers, Texans, Dolphins, Rams and Titans.

When his football career ended, Gado returned to South Carolina. It was time to turn the page on another chapter in his life.

He contacted long-time friend and MUSC alumnus Tim Kallgren, M.D. Both men had followed similar paths.

They were good students who excelled in biology and other subjects at Ben Lippen High School in Columbia but went their separate ways for college.

Both men felt unsure about their futures until Gado suggested that his friend try medical school. For Gado, it was easy to see that Kallgren was smart and gifted.

“Tim was someone I could always talk to,” said Gado. So when Kallgren applied and started at MUSC, he was able to then guide his friend through the medical school admission process and introduced him to staff and faculty on campus. “Having Tim’s help really made the difference and led me to want to be here at MUSC,” he said.

One day, he accompanied Kallgren to MUSC and attended classes and observed. He remembers this as an eye opening and intimidating experience.

“I didn’t know if I could do this,” he said, reflecting about some of the classes.

“Much of the material was way over my head. I had already been out of school for six years, and I had never seen classes that required the amount of detailed reading and study. It was foreign to me.”

Not giving up on him, Kallgren remained encouraging and much like a coach, urged him to press on.

Gado was accepted to MUSC and began classes in August 2011. Looking back he fondly recalled his first day at medical school. “I came home and did not sleep. I stayed up all night reading to make sure I had a good grasp of the material before I went to bed. I realized later that I wasn’t going to make it through medical school without sleeping, so I knew I had to find another way. It was a rude awakening to say the least.”

Eventually, things began to click for Gado. He got help from his classmates and guidance from the College of Medicine’s Office of Student Affairs.

Columbia native Dr. Samkon Gado spent six years in the NFL before returning to South Carolina.

He played on several professional football teams but knew in his heart he had more to offer to people.

Medicine was his true calling. photo by Anne Thompson, Digital Imaging

They referred him to the staff at the Center for Academic Excellence which provides an array of services for all students from note–taking, and taking practice tests to good study techniques, time management and writing help. “I knew medical school would be difficult. I didn’t possess the framework to compare the level of difficulty medical school was from what I experienced in the past.”

During his pre–clinical years, he enjoyed classes in biochemistry, anatomy and physiology, as early on, he was interested in surgery. During his clinical years, he enjoyed his rotations with the departments of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine and Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery.

He was introduced to the Department of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery through his friend and former roommate Jay Cline, M.D., a fifth–year resident in the program. It was through Cline that Gado was introduced to Otolaryngology director Paul Lambert, M.D., and head and neck specialists Boyd Gillespie, M.D., and Eric Lentsch, M.D. As a result, he added otology and facial plastics and reconstruction to the list of subspecialties in which he was interested.

“I like the idea of restoring lost function for a patient. It can be hearing with a new cochlear implant or reconstructive surgery for a recovering head and neck cancer patient. Providing solutions for them is really what intrigues

me,” Gado said.

“Surgery has always attracted me,” he continued, “but I genuinely grew to love the work and people in OtolaryngologyENT. I found that I had more things in common with them than in any other department with which I worked. Plus it seemed like a good fit for me. All of them were instrumental in bringing me to this point in my medical education,” Gado said.

Gillespie, who is a professor of Head and Neck Surgery, describes Gado as a person who is undaunted.

“Sam has an inner strength and peace that allows him to take on and succeed in challenges that naysayers would say are impossible. He was told that he was too small to play in the NFL, yet he proved people wrong. He was told that he may not match in the competitive field of otolaryngology, yet he did this too. His strength resides in his faith, family and work ethic more than in his athletic physique. Patients will recognize these strengths and will trust him with their lives. He will succeed as a surgeon if he continues to apply the same intensity that served him so well in the NFL and in medical school.”

Reflecting on his experiences, Gado felt there were so many directions he could have taken in medicine, but Otolaryngology–ENT was what caught his interest the most. As part

See Athlete on page 13

The CaTalysT, May 15, 2015 9

Distinguished graduates make strides in research successes

By CinDy aBole Public Relations

T

o describe this year’s top graduates in the College of Graduate Studies, the words extraordinary, innovative and leader are some of the words used by faculty and mentors in describing Joseph J. Taylor, M.D., Ph.D., and Jacqulyne Robichaux, Ph.D. Both graduates were honored as co-winners of the College of Graduate Studies Distinguished Graduate of the Year Award. The awards were presented May 14 at the college’s hooding ceremony held at St. Luke’s Chapel. In addition to the award, each recipient received a $500 award and an invitation to return Aug. 25 to give the Liz Chesterman Memorial Lecture addressing incoming doctoral students.

Despite their different journeys to get to MUSC, both recipients shared several similarities that have helped set them on a parallel path of success as distinguished researchers and clinicians in their specialty fields. a neurosCienCe foCus A native of Youngstown, Ohio, Taylor came to MUSC via Davidson College after completing a specialized neuroscience degree in the school’s Center for Interdisciplinary Studies in 2006. His undergraduate thesis research inspired him to continue studying neuroscience after graduation. Prior to starting at MUSC, he also completed a one-year post-baccalaureate intramural research training fellowship at the NIH, working specifically with the National Institute for Neurological Disorders and Stroke.

When asked about his early motivation that guided him toward neuroscience, Taylor recalled his experiences with his grandfather following a stroke. “I was only about age 5 or 6,” he said. “I didn’t know what was going on, but I saw how the stroke changed who he was as a person and that fascinated me.” Taylor searched for answers in religion and philosophy before deciding to pursue neuroscience.

In searching for a Medical Scientist Training Program, Taylor applied to

several programs across the country with the intention of becoming a neurosurgeon and working with invasive brain stimulation technologies.

In researching MUSC, he learned about a number of notable research faculty, including Mark George, M.D., distinguished university professor of psychiatry, radiology and neuroscience and director of the Brain Stimulation Laboratory.

Taylor knew that MUSC offered residencies in neurosurgery, neurology and psychiatry. And the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science was heavily funded — already among the top five programs in NIH funding. But what “sold” him on the institution was the amount of collaborative work that was going on.

After completing his first–year laboratory rotations, the time came for him to choose a research mentor, and he considered George. “I didn’t know I’d have an opportunity like this. MUSC is known as the mecca for brain stimulation work thanks to the work of Dr. George and the researchers associated with him. Dr. George was not listed as an option to serve as a graduate advisor to students. I contacted him, and he was incredibly warm and welcoming to me. He asked me what I wanted to do in the lab and gave me tremendous flexibility to pursue my own ideas.”

In describing his mentee, George uses words like talented, driven yet compassionate and unique. He went on to say that among Taylor’s strengths are his ability to work well with a team and having a critically thinking mind.

He also praised Taylor’s skillfulness and thoroughness in designing a tight experiment and ability to carry it through to completion.

For his dissertation research, Taylor chose to study the same pain circuitry that fascinated him at Davidson. He chose to study pain perception using the tools that George and the Brain Stimulation Lab use, such as transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and other technologies. His goal is to apply these tools in different ways to study and evaluate the circuitry of pain both in the lab and clinic. Taylor also collaborated

Joseph J. Taylor, M.D., Ph.D. Medical Student Training Program, College of Graduate Studies and College of Medicine with clinical psychologist Jeffery Borckardt, Ph.D., assistant professor, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, using TMS to map and modulate circuits to reduce pain.

As part of his work, Taylor is asking questions like: “How does TMS affect brain circuits to alleviate depression or reduce pain?” His idea was to explore the possibility that brain stimulation releases natural substances in the brain, like endogenous opioids.

“Researchers are still trying to determine if we can use TMS for pain, but we need to conduct larger studies.

We’re just scratching the surface in terms of understanding brain stimulation and what we can do with it,” Taylor said.

He’s anxious to continue work at Yale University–New Haven Hospital in Connecticut where he’ll begin a fouryear psychiatry residency as a physician scientist in the Neuroscience Research Training Program.

“It was challenging to find a place comparable to MUSC in terms of brain stimulation,” said Taylor. “Yale does not have a superstar of the same caliber of Dr. Mark George, but it does have a lot of big talent doing this work and applying it in different ways. Yale offers tremendous resources and flexibility.”

Following completion of his graduate research work, Taylor returned to his medical training. He realized after completing his surgery rotation that he would rather spend time writing research grants and talking with patients than

Jacqulyne Robichaux, Ph.D. Cell and Molecular Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics College of Graduate Studies operating on patients. He was impressed by the time that George spent time tweaking the patterns of stimulation for his patients as well as following their progress. For Taylor, the level and challenges of this type of work drew him to psychiatry as his medical specialty.

Aside from his research work and clinical studies, Taylor found time throughout his eight years at MUSC to give back in community service.

He has volunteered at the Alzheimer’s Association since 2008 and Pet Helpers since 2010. He also was a student volunteer since 2013 at the Dream Center Neurology Clinic, a free health care clinic that offers services to low income North Charleston and Hanahan residents who suffer from nervous system disorders.

Clinic director Jonathan Edwards, M.D., worked closely with Taylor and other student and clinical volunteers.

“Joe has led the student effort for the volunteer neurology clinic for unfunded patients who are in poverty. He has almost never missed a clinic in two years despite the demands of medical school. He also took the lead in a recent manuscript about the creation of the clinic, a publication that was recently accepted for the journal Neurology Clinical Practice,” said Edwards.

He hopes to continue doing this type of volunteer work in the New Haven community.

See Research on page 14

10 The CaTalysT, May 15, 2015

Dental research graduate assured of her future

By J. Ryne Danielson Public Relations

U

ntil her aunt suggested she shadow a dentist during her second year of college, that thought had never crossed her mind. Haley Lindner just assumed that once she graduated from the College of Charleston, she would be headed either for medical school or graduate school, continuing down the path she had started when made the decision to major in biology. But when her aunt arranged the opportunity, it changed her entire perspective.

“I loved it,” Lindner said. “I liked working with people and being able to help people. The dentist I shadowed was a cosmetic dentist, so it was very artistic.

It was a nice combination of art and science. At that time I was considering medical school, but I also wanted to go into research. This was a nice combination of those two interests.”

Before applying to MUSC, Lindner worked as a full-time laboratory technician at the College of Charleston, refining her research skills while she applied for South Carolina residency.

Lindner came to MUSC as a dental student, but at the end of her first year decided to transition to a DMD/Ph.D. program, which she felt was a better match with her research background.

The first year of dental school was difficult, Lindner said. Though she did well, it wasn’t easy. “It was a very big transition from college,” she said. “There are a lot of tough courses, so you have to be dedicated. You really have to learn to study, and you have to learn time management.”

Transitioning to the Ph.D. program from dental school was an equally big change. “It was a completely different way of thinking,” she said. “It was a lot more critical thinking. It’s not regimented the way dental school is.

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That was difficult.”

A key to her success, Lindner said, was choosing the right mentor: Robin MuiseHelmericks, Ph.D., an associate professor in the College of Medicine. “Personalitywise, we got along really well,” she said.

“When you have to spend four years working with someone, that’s important.

She’s very driven, very smart, and most importantly, she loves what she does.

She’s very passionate.”

Muise-Helmericks said Lindner’s work in her lab, which consisted of studying the role of marine nanofiber in cutaneous wound healing, resulted in photo by Anne Thompson, Digital Imaging two published manuscripts and launched a whole new avenue of research. “Haley Haley Linder is a dual-degree was one of the best students I have had graduate with a DMD/Ph.D. from the pleasure to train,” she said. “She is the College of Dental Medicine. intuitive, smart and a great team player.

She will be sorely missed, but we expect With dental school, you have a class great things from her in the future.” schedule, you go to those classes, and Muise-Helmericks was more than just everybody does the same thing. With the a mentor in the lab, she was a mentor in Ph.D., you don’t have that at all. It’s very other aspects of Lindner’s life as well. “I self-driven.” had a baby while I was working on my That was a challenge, Lindner said.

Ph.D.,” Lindner said. “She’s a mom, so “Because of the way the program was set she really helped me balance those two up, I will still taking one or two dental aspects of my life.” classes to prepare for the board exams.

See Dental on page 15

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country to Las Vegas, Nevada. They’ve been there now 10 years. “It’s different,” he said, “Quite the unique place to live.”

While they live about 30 minutes from the Las Vegas strip, the glitz and high roller lifestyle of that side of town couldn’t be farther from theirs. Fun for them isn’t playing blackjack; they prefer cribbage, a game they both grew up playing with their families. They also love to play board games. And instead of watching headliners like Celine Dion or Wayne Newton, they’d rather be watching action movies, trying new restaurants, and visiting farmers markets.

Mostly, though, they just enjoy spending their time together and exploring cities like San Diego, where they got married in 2010, right on the beach. For the past eight years, the quaint waterfront city has hosted the couple five times a year. Needless to say, it captured their hearts.

Today, a new little bundle has captured those hearts.

In 2014, they decided to expand their family and worked with a private adoption agency to find the right match. Not long into the process, a birth mom fell in love with them and chose them to love and raise the baby she would give up. She just had a feeling they were special. That was October. She gave birth on Nov. 26 and little Mason James went home on the 29th with his dads.

Since it was an open adoption, the birth mom is involved, but she’s not an active parent. They have welcomed her whole family into the mix and her stepfather and sister are also a part of Mason’s life. “There’s never too much love that a child can have. What I’ve learned through this process, above

Dr. Michael Johnson, left, and husband, Matthew Roell, and baby, Mason. everything else, is that love knows no boundaries. Some people might question that, but I say, ‘What’s wrong with raising a child with all these people who love and support him?’”

Roell knows that’s just who Johnson is. “Michael is very trusting, caring and loving. He works hard to provide a good life for our family. He has a special place in his heart for children, and he is extremely caring and protective. He can’t wait to help our child with his homework and do science experiments with him. He loves to sing to him. He is an awesome dad.”

That wide open heart makes its way into his teaching and the community too. With students in tow, Johnson sees patients — the homeless and veterans who are recently homeless — out in the community. He and his students also work once a week with veterans who have substance abuse problems. “That is my practice,” he said. “I teach mental health, and we go to into psychiatric hospitals and places like homeless day shelters where they can get out of heat or cold. We bring water and Gatorade and do health screenings. It’s important to meet people right where they are.”

He cares deeply for people. Whether it’s a woman who can’t tell her gynecologist she’s gay or a vet living on the street, he just wants to make the world a better place for them.

While he feels that family comes first, he can’t discount the great need there is. “Especially since my son has been born, interpersonal relationships with family and friends, they have to come first. But at the same time, it’s important to put a lot of time and energy into things that do good for the rest of the world. We need to leave this place a better place,” he said.

He considers what’s going to matter when he’s on his death bed. “It’s not going to be a big house or a nice car. It will be the impact I made throughout my life.

The impact I make on my family is of course important.

I want to raise a good child and have good relationships with my husband and family. But there is so much need and so much work that has to be done in this world.

That’s why I do the work I do. I am fortunate to have a good life and many people are not. It’s the least I can do is be out there in the community working with other people and make impact through my research, service and practice. I wish everyone lived their life like that. It would be a better place.”

MUSC Commencement Day Parking Guidelines On Friday, May 15, MUSC will hold its 186th Commencement at the Horseshoe beginning at 9 a.m. A total of 600 students from all six colleges will receive their diplomas at the morning ceremony.

Valet parking services will operate as usual at Rutledge Tower, Hollings Cancer Center and Ashley River Tower.

In order to accommodate extra traffic on campus during this time, the Office of Parking Management reminds employees to park in their assigned personal parking locations to accommodate patients, visitors and Commencement guests.

For information, call 792-3665 or visit 792-3665.

12 The CaTalysT, May 15, 2015

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scholarship, and I had to get it together. I just didn’t know what to expect.”

Though she liked math and science, Dukes said microbiology wasn’t clicking.

“I just wasn’t passionate about it.”

Passion is important to Dukes — something she learned from her mother.

“My mother is a certified nursing assistant for Hospice. She’s been doing it for 22 years, and she is so passionate about what she does. She used to let me volunteer with her and sit with these patients that have six months or less to live. It was amazing to me how I could brighten up these patients’ days just by sitting with them, listening to their stories. That’s what first got me interested in health care.”

In choosing microbiology, Dukes’ goal was modest. “I wanted to cure cancer,” she said. “But, I realized my aptitudes was not for research. I switched to public health science with a minor in business, and I really excelled.”

Things should have been downhill from there, but that wasn’t the case.

Soon after changing her major and settling into her new program, Dukes found out she was pregnant.

“It was my sophomore year of college, and I didn’t know what do to. I did not know what to do. My mama was enraged.

Many of my professors were telling me to drop out. But, I didn’t want to do that.

This was my chance to make it. I knew if I didn’t take it, there probably wouldn’t be another.”

Instead of giving up, Dukes doubled down. “I went to Oconee Medical Center and applied for a position in the emergency room. And they gave it to me.

So, while I was in school, I worked third shift as a patient access representative all the way through my pregnancy.

“My son was due on December 14, and I knew that was exam week. I said, ‘Lord, just let me make it through exams.’ And Romeo ended up coming the Friday after I finished my exams.”

Instead of taking time off from school, Dukes’ sorority sisters took shifts watching Romeo while she went to class and work. “I had a leadership position in my sorority,” Dukes said. “And they would hold meetings at my house so I wouldn’t have to take my son out at night. It was a village effort to make sure I could still be successful. That’s why I appreciate so much my sorority

photo provided

Georgina Dukes accepts an MLK Jr. award from Dr. Willette Burnham. and the people I met at Clemson. They cared about me and wanted me to be successful. And they didn’t bash me for making a mistake.”

Dukes graduated from Clemson not only on time, but with honors. “They let me be the class speaker,” she said. “I got to tell my story to almost 10,000 people.

It was a liberating feeling. I made it. I did something that a lot of women do, but I really thought I was weaker than that. I didn’t know how strong I was.”

Though she was accepted to several master’s programs, Dukes said she chose MUSC because she thought it set a higher standard.

“MUSC has been very welcoming,” Dukes said. “At first, I was a little surprised by the lack of diversity. Out of a program of 50 people, only three were black. And all my professors were white.

But, my professors went out of their way to make me feel welcome and to connect me with people I could identify with, who could give me advice and share their own experiences with me.”

One of those professors was Michael Meacham, J.D., associate professor in

the Department of Health Sciences and Research. “He was always there for me from day one,” Dukes said. “He was my saving grace. He encouraged me to volunteer and apply to internships and really build my resume.”

“Georgina is a remarkable, courageous person,” Meacham said. “She is as focused and passionate about serving others as anyone I have ever known. She has not only been an excellent student, but she has also been an outstanding leader in her class. It has been a joy and a privilege to have been a small part of her growth from student to young professional.”

Cory Robinson, who graduated from MUSC in 2014, is the project manager for Environment of Care and Special Projects in the Department of Institutional Relations. He is another mentor Dukes cited. Robinson warned Dukes that she might face discrimination — not because she was black, but because she was overweight.

Robinson, who lost 175 pounds as part of the Healthy Charleston Challenge, encouraged Dukes to make her own health a priority. “He said, ‘How can you help other people become healthier if you’re not taking care of yourself?’”

Dukes said she had always had a problem with her weight, but it wasn’t until college that it got out of hand. “It’s hard to leave your comfort zone and food was my comfort zone.”

Dukes lost 20 pounds in the Healthy Charleston Challenge and another 20 working with Cory one on one. “It’s a process,” she said. “But, it’s about being committed and holding yourself accountable.”

“Georgina is one of the most sincere people I have ever met,” Robinson said.

“From the moment I first met her, I knew I would assist her in any way I could to ensure her success. It is rare that you find a person so genuine, able to have a profound effect on everyone they encounter.”

Matt Wain, MUSC chief operating officer, has also been important to Dukes. “Because of him, I’ve become a better leader and young professional.

I was a horrible presenter. He really knocked me on my speech — my southern accent. He’d say, ‘Stop, start over’ every time I slipped back into that accent. I needed that. He gave me constructive criticism. When I was applying for fellowships, he helped me

with my resume and my interviewing skills. And he’s helped me with my personal life too, getting me to read to Romeo every night. He really cared about not only my professional life, but about me as a person.”

“Georgina is very eager to learn and succeed,” Wain said. “Her internal drive to excel results in a tremendous work ethic, diligent efforts and collaborative approach to problem solving. I enjoyed working with and getting to know her.

She will always be successful in whatever she strives to accomplish.”

Dukes said that Daniel Williams, patient transport services coordinator, was also critical to her success. Williams was Dukes’ supervisor in her job at MUSC. “He let me work weekend hours and let me come in after class. He knew that I needed to make money for my son, but he respected that I was a student first. He encouraged me to go above and beyond.”

Dukes finds it ironic that the most important mentors to her during her time at MUSC have been men. Growing up without a father, first because of her parents’ divorce, then later, because her father found himself in prison, she felt she needed men she could look up to. “I’ve always been around powerful, brilliant women,” she said. “But I’ve never had men that were willing to reach out and help me. And, I don’t look anything like them. They’re older and white, and I’m a young black woman. I think that’s incredible, and it meant a lot to me.”

During her time at MUSC, Dukes was recognized many times for her volunteer work, including her work as a sexual health educator and as an ambassador in partnership with South Carolina’s Coalition for Healthy Families, pushing for women–centered reproductive health policy at the state level.

Dukes stressed the importance of medically accurate sex education.

“Abstinence, Abstinence, Abstinence,” Dukes said. “But abstinence doesn’t always work.”

Every Thursday, Dukes spent four hours at the Carolina Teen Center in Dorchester County teaching sex education. Because she had no one to babysit, she brought her son with her.

Dukes has also advocated for reforms

See Graduate on page 13

The CaTalysT, May 15, 2015 13

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Continued from Page Eight

of his student training, Gado spent one month completing an Otolaryngology–ENT rotation in Louisville, Kentucky, and two months at Washington University— St. Louis Hospital in St. Louis.

These experiences were influential as he chose a specialty.

“ENT, although it’s a surgical specialty, requires so much mentally.

And I’m drawn to that complexity and felt like this was a specialty I could never quite tame. I can see most of my life trying to figure this out. It’s something that really had me committed to medicine and this specialty.”

In preparation for residency, he got plenty of advice from the ENT faculty. He strongly considered MUSC’s Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery Residency Program, which is ranked second in the South in a 2014 national residency evaluation. The choice to stay at MUSC was very enticing, according to Gado, but he successfully matched in one of two positions at St. Louis

GRaDuaTe

University School of Medicine’s Department of Otolaryngology training program. For Gado, the move was the best thing for Gado’s son, Judah, and wife, Rachel, who is from St. Louis.

Looking ahead, Gado would like to some day apply his skills to helping people in his native Nigeria. He envisions finding a way to work with his father, a pastor and president of an evangelical organization. Gado also isn’t ruling out teaching in academia.

“Within my residency, I’m hoping to discover more about what my strengths and weaknesses are. From there, I think I can determine if I want to pursue work in academia or work in Nigeria.”

Gado hopes to lean on what he’s learned to value in medicine — the human touch. “At the end of the day, results matter the most. The practice of medicine requires one to go to all lengths to help the patient. As a physician, one has to do that job well. When dealing with human lives, there’s not much room for error,” he said.

Continued from Page Twelve

to the Comprehensive Health Education Act, passed in 1980 by the South Carolina legislature, serving as a “Tell Them” ambassador — a program designed to give a public voice to educators and health care professionals in South Carolina.

“We didn’t have a sex ed class in my high school,” she said. “The physical education teacher taught it one day. How does a P.E. teacher know about sex education? I’d like a health educator in every school to teach it, or at least I’d like a science teacher to teach it.

To decrease teen pregnancy rates, as well as HIV and AIDS and sexually transmitted infections, teens have to have access to medically accurate information. Facts matter.”

Duke has secured a two–year fellowship at Duke University Hospital, which starts this summer. “Duke took a chance on me,” she said. “I’m so thankful that they saw potential in me.”

Dukes said her long–term goal is to become the CEO of a rural hospital or a community health center.

“I don’t know the path I’ll take, step by step, to get there, but my heart is always going to come back to rural, low-income communities, because those are the people I want to help. I know what it’s like to be poor and have to drive an hour to get access to health care.”

Growing up, though, Dukes never realized she was poor. “My mom worked long hours at three jobs to

Couple

Continued from Page Seven

the church choir, having kids once they reach their 30s and continuing to dance the shag in the kitchen. Emily is a huge Kentucky fan, like her family, and loves Kentucky basketball. “I know basketball and sports much better than Daniel does.”

“Oh heck yeah,” he replied.

They plan to stay involved as alumni at MUSC, as Daniel is one of the class representatives for the alumni association — and also at Wofford where their hearts remain. “We love tailgating,” Emily said.

“I always tell her,” Daniel said, “if pharmacy doesn’t work out, she could be dean of students at Wofford.”

Ultimately, Daniel would like to get involved in the political sphere.

“The SCDA has a strong sense of how legislation impacts patients,” he said. He would like to see beyond the four walls of a practice, at some point, and can see himself doing something that benefits all of dentistry.

Emily shared that at the ASDA banquet, Daniel’s senior superlative was “Most likely to be ADA president or even president of the U.S. one day.”

a PoWer CouPle Theresa S. Gonzales, D.M.D., a professor in the Department of Stomatology in the Division of Oral Pathology, refers to the Halls as the power couple. Individually and as a couple she thinks the world of them.

“This professional couple represents absolutely the best of their generation: intelligent, hard–working and with a penchant toward patient advocacy and health care activism that is nearly palpable. Not only are Emily and Daniel destined to be community leaders, they are poised to become ‘thought leaders’ of a generation that is purported to be the most like the Greatest Generation.

Often, late in the afternoon, I have witnessed both Daniel and Emily engage in random acts of kindness to patients who need redirection or assistance or sometimes just a good listening to. Advocacy is in their collective DNA, and they seem to instinctively understand that sometimes who has the infirmity is as important as what condition the individual has. It is with near parental pride that I salute their accomplishments and wish them well in all future endeavors.”

going to have one day.”

Dukes started working at 16, not for money to spend on fun and games, like most teenagers, but to help pay the bills. “I learned responsibility at a young age,” she said. “And, I learned not to make excuses, not to sweat the little things. There are people — literally starving — I can’t sweat things like exams.”

Dukes said she wants to succeed. “I don’t want to go back to where I came from. I don’t want to go back to living like that — although there is nothing wrong with living in a trailer, I want better for my mom and for the rest of my family. It’s humbling coming from that background, but I know there’s nothing I can go through that is worse than what I’ve already been through.

“I want people to know I didn’t give up and I want to inspire others not to give up either.”

Dukes said graduating from MUSC will be her proudest moment. Her mother will be there. She hopes her father, who was released from prison in February, will be there as well.

Dukes said she is rebuilding a relationship with her father that she didn’t have when she was younger. “I photo provided feel like he’s turned over a new leaf,” she said. “He Monetta native Georgina Dukes, joins her didn’t come to my eighth grade graduation, he didn’t father, George, and brother, Michael Dukes. come to my high school graduation, he didn’t come to make sure we had what we needed,” she said. “And we my Clemson graduation — I said, you’re going to come to this one. still needed food stamps. But, we never talked about “I just want him there to say he’s proud of me.” what we didn’t have. We talked about what we were

14 The CaTalysT, May 15, 2015

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Cameo Green with her parents, Barry Green Jr., and Noel Green, joined her at the May 2012 College of Nursing’s Hooding Ceremony as she received her Master’s Degree in Nursing.

Continued from Page Four

As such, she was invited to dinner at then-MUSC President Ray Greenberg’s house to celebrate this distinction. “It was actually Dr. Greenberg,” she said, “who encouraged me to go back for my doctorate. I had a reputation for being involved in anything the school asked me to do, and he also was aware of my experience at Palmetto Health; he knew that I had built the clinical leadership track there.”

Green was also inducted into Sigma Theta Tau, an international nursing honor society that only the top 5 percent of a class qualifies to be part of.

In 2012, she started right back up – this time working toward her doctorate.

She was nominated to be a presidential scholar fellow and recently dined at the home of MUSC president, David Cole, M.D., FACS. Everything was going smoothly, until the untimely death of her beloved maternal grandmother following elective surgery a year before she completed the program almost waylaid her plans.

Green was inconsolable and almost left the program. Like she had been to her dad’s father, she was particularly close to her grandmother. At a time when many teenagers prefer not to be bothered with family, Green couldn’t have been more different – she couldn’t spend enough time with family. “When I was 16 years old, I was in a rush to get my driver’s license just so I could pick my grandmother up. I’d picked her up, and we went everywhere together, right up until her death. I took her to

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photo provided

stores, to the doctor, restaurants, even a prestigious banquet.”

While she was reeling from the loss, she couldn’t help but be taken with how supportive the nursing faculty was and how much they wanted her to succeed.

“MUSC really changed me as a person.

When my grandmother died, all the faculty were there for me. I can’t thank them enough. They constantly showed me what true leadership was all about.”

Again, in the face of adversity, she carried on, this time in her grandmother’s honor. “A few days prior to her death, I said to her, ‘Grandma, you're coming to my graduation, right? I will be Dr. Cameo Green.’ My grandmother said, ‘No, you will be Dr. Cameo Aleece Green.’ She loved my middle name."

During the DNP program, Green formed a bond with her advisor and mentor, Barbara Edlund, Ph.D., R.N., a professor in the College of Nursing.

“She’s a motivator, she’s an encourager.

She’s someone I can really talk to. I spent hours on the phone with her.”

Edlund said that Green is among the best graduate students she has

at Hunter College in New York City.

Both experiences introduced her to conducting molecular biology research. researCher finds suCCess But way before her experiences in the It took Louisiana native Jacqulyne lab, Robichaux was attracted to science Robichaux, Ph.D., 833 miles one way watching her grandmother battle after to travel from her home of Bayou ovarian cancer and a reoccurrence of Blue, Louisiana, in Lafourche Parish to breast cancer. Robichaux was only 13 relocate to Charleston and begin her years old when she began accompanying graduate training. her grandmother to chemotherapy The 2010 Nicholls State University treatments and later saw how she graduate got some early research participated in drug studies as part of a experience working in an undergraduate clinical trial at Tulane University Cancer research fellowship following her Center. The curious teen became so sophomore year at Louisiana State interested that she asked questions and University Health Science Center in learned about medications and the Shreveport, Louisiana. This was followed value of cancer treatments from her by another summer research fellowship grandmother’s oncologist. in biochemistry and molecular biology

ever have had the pleasure to work with in the DNP Program. “Cameo has an exceptional work ethic that was continually evident both in class and in the clinical area. She was a joy to work with as a student, and I am so proud of her and all that she accomplished.”

“At the College of Nursing,” Green said, “it’s easy to have role models. So if I can turn around and be someone else’s role model, maybe I can make the world a better place.”

She knows she has a lot to give and wants to make an impact. Recently she has done a good deal of public speaking.

This year she was the keynote speaker for an MLK event in Hopkins, where she lives. “I like to be motivational.

I’m down to earth, and I want to help people – especially the kids. I say, ‘Hey, you see me in the community, don’t just wave to me. Talk to me. If you want to get into health care, come to me, I can help you.’”

She understands the reward of building bridges with students. “In the rural areas,” she said, “they don’t always see people who are successful. It’s my job to let them know if I can do it, they It didn’t take long for Robichaux to realize that somebody had to be out there working hard to find a cure. She saw the need for scientists to work on drugs to help people feel better. “It was then that I discovered that that’s what I wanted to do,” she said.

Her commitment and determination led her to graduate school at MUSC. She began in the Department of Molecular and Cellular and Biopathobiology in 2010 and was connected to her research mentor, Ann F. Ramsdell, Ph.D., associate professor.

Ramsdell was immediately impressed by her mentee’s sharp intellect and commitment to scientific excellence.

Robichaux quickly learned to be

can do it. God requires me to do it.

Someone gave me an opportunity. It’s my responsibility to give back.” This from the girl who not so long ago didn’t have a computer and learned to type 90 words a minutes on a typewriter.

Gail Stuart, Ph.D., R.N., dean of the College of Nursing, thinks big things are in store for Green as she sets out on her path. “Everyone here in the College extols Cameo and the many contributions she has made. We are proud to call her one of our own DNP graduates and cherish the light she shines on the many ways nurses give back to patients, families, colleagues and the community. She makes us so very, very proud.”

It seems people agree that Green is going places. “I get a thrill out of coaching and mentoring people. People all the time tell me they see me traveling and speaking. Recently someone told me, ‘This is just the beginning - you’re going be speaking in Washington, DC.’” And while she contemplates those aspirations, she looks forward to working as a FNP in a community for a year or two and ultimately opening her own practice in Hopkins. She feels she owes a debt of gratitude to the College of Nursing for getting her to where she is today. “I’ve never met a faculty as supportive as the MUSC College of Nursing. Every time I get the opportunity to praise this faculty I do.

When you do an evaluation at the end of the year, if it is something you feel like there is room for improvement, you best believe they are going to improve it.

They truly care.” proficient working with mouse models at the bench. At the time, Ramsdell’s lab also was transitioning to a new area of research studying mammary gland biology from cardiovascular development. Robichaux led in the lab’s development of experimental techniques and mouse model husbandry skills and helped train other lab members in these techniques.

For Robichaux’s dissertation work, she chose to explore a different perspective of mammary gland biology by studying differences in left and right mammary glands, thus challenging the assumption that both glands are identical.

“Scientists have been studying breast

See Research on page 16

The CaTalysT, May 15, 2015 15

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Lindner feels she did just as well in school after having her son, Hayden, as she did before. “Having a child while working on my Ph.D. was difficult, but it was also very rewarding. I was nervous at first, but I just learned to manage my time better. It honestly didn’t affect my grades or my level of effort; I just learned to incorporate my son into my life, and I made it work. It was really an additional source of drive.”

Lindner said her husband, Jayson, was also critical to her success. “He is the polar opposite of me,” she said. “I’m very type A, and he’s just not, which has been great. When I come home, and I’m in a tailspin or a panic, he’s good at calming me down. He’s been very helpful with our son; he really does more than fifty percent. I don’t think I could have gotten through this without him.”

Lindner met her husband in Charleston, just before she started dental school. “As soon as I found out he was a big Duke Basketball fan, I knew he was okay in my book. But, knowing I was about to start school, I distinctly

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Corvino enjoys teaching and would like the opportunity to pass on some of the guidance his mentors gave him. “James Sterrett, Scott Bragg, Wayne Weart and Marc Lapointe – they were all very supportive of me throughout school and steered me toward becoming the pharmacist I want to be.”

“Mike is one of the most dedicated, caring, and hardworking students I’ve had in the last several years,” said Weart, PharmD, a professor in the College of pPharmacy. Weart said that even though his classwork is finished, Corvino still goes out of his way to learn all he can and become the best pharmacist he can be.

“He’s a class act – a fine, fine young man.”

James Sterrett, PharmD, assistant professor in the College of Pharmacy, said he has known Corvino for five years. Sterrett recently nominated Corvino for the Community Pharmacy/Natural Medicine Award, which Corvino won.

“I met him while he was working at Walgreens as

photo provided

Pharmacists Mike and Jennifer Corvino show off their new practice licenses.

a technician,” Sterrett said. “I quickly recognized him as a curious, dedicated and highly intelligent young man. I mentored him during his College of Pharmacy application process and, after his acceptance, I continued to follow his development as a professor, mentor, and friend.

“Although Mike finished in April, he has been back to campus on several occasions to attend voluntary sessions in evidence–based medicine and clinical patient reviews. Walgreens and our Charleston community are fortunate to have Michael joining them; he will be an exceptional pharmacist.”

Haley Linder examines a patient while on a mission trip. remember saying I wasn’t interested in any kind of relationship. And now we’re married.”

She continued: “Jayson has been very supportive in allowing me to pick the programs that I wanted to pick, even if means him having to move to a completely different state where he doesn’t know anyone.”

Next month, Lindner moves to Ohio to begin a two-year pediatric dental residency at the Cincinnati Children’s Hospital. “I’ve been in Charleston so long, it’s going to be a big transition, but I’m excited. I’m going to miss the food in Charleston and the fact that there’s so much to do here for kids and families. I won’t miss the traffic.”

Lindner is excited to work with children. “I like the educational aspect of it,” she said. “I’d like to be able to influence children from a young age, to establish a relationship and have an impact on their health early on, as opposed to when they’re 30 or 40.”

Lindner has two pieces of advice for new students: “First, pick the right mentor. Pursuing a Ph.D. is very difficult, but if you have the right mentor, you can get through it without too much crying.

“Second, don’t come in thinking that you know exactly what you want to do.

Be open. Some people come in and say ‘Oh, I know I want to do this specialty,’ but just be open to other things. I didn’t know what I wanted to do when I came in and sometimes you can pigeonhole yourself into one area. I hadn’t even heard of the DMD/Ph.D., and pediatric dentistry wasn’t even on my radar. But, once I started trying out the various specialties, and especially once I had my own child, it became very clear to me what I want to do. So, just be open.”

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development for decades, and no one asked if there were differences between the left and right breast. We were able to ask these questions in a very defined way that has led to further experiments and findings that have led to more detailed studies,” Robichaux said.

Using different cellular and molecular approaches combined with several in vivo and in vitro studies, Robichaux discovered that mammary glands in mouse models do have significant leftright differences in gene expression, cellular content and ductal epithelial network growth. She also discovered that the left-right differences are very relevant to oncogenesis, and that it can be used as a predictor for differences in breast cancer patient survival.

Robichaux’s work has allowed her to author two journal articles and features in three other publications. In 2012, her abstract was the only student abstract selected by the Cancer Genes and Molecular Regulation Program for oral presentation at the 2012 Hollings Cancer Center’s annual research retreat. She also won second place for her presentation on preliminary left-right differences in mammary stem and progenitor cell populations at the 2013 Perry Halushka Student Research Day event. In 2014, she was selected as a Southern Regional Education Board Dissertation Scholar.

Asked what she has learned working with Ramsdell through her graduate school experiences, Robichaux said she’s grateful to know how to ask good questions and stay focused on the goal.

“Keeping an eye on these questions will help drive science forward,” Robichaux said. “I also learned that the status quo isn’t good enough when it comes to maintaining scientific excellence.”

On a personal level, Robichaux learned through her mentor to always keep the patient in mind. “None of this matters if a patient cannot benefit.”

This resonated with both women as Ramdsell, herself, is a breast cancer survivor. Robichaux recalls that when she first began working with her mentor, Ramsdell sat her down and explained the uncertainty of her research work because of her cancer. Robichaux told her, “We can’t let a disease make decisions for us.” From that day forward both mentor and mentee shared a special bond that went beyond their

photo provided

Louisiana natives Jacqulyne and William Robichaux receive their degrees Friday from the College of Graduate Studies.

“Jackie has proven herself with her scientific excellence, her research accomplishments and ability to mentor the next generaton of scientists through her superb investigator skills and as a role model.”

Dr. Ann Ramsdell scientific successes.

“Jackie has proven herself with her scientific excellence, her research accomplishments and ability to mentor the next generation of scientists through her superb investigator skills and as a role model,” Ramsdell said.

Robichaux is anxious to take her skills and research experience to the next level as she begins her role working in the lab of John Heymack, Ph.D., at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas. Instead of mammary gland biology research she will conduct translational work ,studying the effects of a new drug that can be beneficial to lung cancer patients.

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