Discovery Drive News from the Roseman University College of Medicine
2 0 1 5 SUMMER 2015 PUBLISHING SEMIANNUALLY VOLUME 2, ISSUE 1
INSIDE:
• Summerlin Campus Expansion - pg 4 • Path of a Roseman Medical Student - pg 6 • Roseman's Women in Science - pg 10
Join us on our journey as we build a premier College of Medicine in Southern Nevada Donate today at www.roseman.edu/donate
LEARN MORE Join us Monday, May 18 at 4:00 p.m. or Wednesday, June 17 at 11:30 a.m. at Roseman’s Summerlin campus for special presentations about the impact the College of Medicine will have on Southern Nevada. Please register or request more information by emailing medicine@roseman.edu or calling (702) 822-5330.
PUBLISHER Jason Roth EDITOR Rachael Wadley GRAPHIC DESIGNER Rachael Wadley PHOTOGRAPHERS Francia Garcia Chase Schmidt Jason Roth Discovery Drive is published two times per year
by the Roseman University College of Medicine, 10530 Discovery Drive, Las Vegas, NV 89135. Medicine@Roseman.edu (702) 822-5330 Š 2015
On the cover: Roseman acquires flagship building of the former Nevada Cancer Institute. Read more on page 4.
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Greetings from the Dean
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elcome to our summer 2015 issue of Discovery Drive, which is designed to keep you up-to-date with the newest developments at Roseman University’s College of Medicine and its education and research endeavors. As our Southern Nevada weather transitions from the coolness of spring to the warmth of summer, things are heating up at Roseman’s College of Medicine as well. I am delighted to have welcomed five new faculty members over the past few months, with responsibilities ranging from biomedical sciences and academic affairs to curriculum development, student affairs, and clinical affairs. The College of Medicine is currently housed in the Engelstad Cancer Research Building, located at 10530 Discovery Drive in Summerlin. Of course, Roseman University’s recent acquisition of the flagship building of the former Nevada Cancer Institute is another tremendously positive development, and will greatly enhance the operations and scope of the College. We are proud to bring the flagship building at One Breakthrough Way back online, to the benefit of the people of Southern Nevada. The College of Medicine is growing, and we are continuing to create a strong foundation for this new enterprise, guided by our College mission. The mission for the College of Medicine is to improve the health of the communities in Southern Nevada and the Intermountain West by: • Educating competent, caring and ethical physicians from diverse backgrounds, with a focus on primary care and other needed specialties • Conducting biomedical, translational, and clinical research that advances solutions to the healthcare needs of the communities that Roseman serves • Providing quality patient-centered care and service to our partner communities
To fulfill this important mission, the support and involvement of the Southern Nevada community will be vital. I invite you to reach out to me and get involved with Roseman’s College of Medicine. Please join us by sharing your expertise, becoming a volunteer, or supporting the College as a benefactor. You can learn more at Roseman.edu/medicine, and request more information by sending an email to medicine@roseman.edu. With appreciation for your interest and advocacy,
Mark A. Penn, MD, MBA Founding Dean College of Medicine www.roseman.edu/medicine | 3
College of Medicine Secures Second Facility
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ong viewed as the jewel of the former Nevada Cancer Institute, the state-of-theart patient care building is now being reborn as the flagship facility of Roseman University’s Summerlin campus, and home to its College of Medicine. The iconic building had been vacant for over two years when Roseman acquired it from the University of California, San Diego on April 13. Located at One Breakthrough Way, near Town Center Drive and the 215 beltway, the four-level, 143,290 square-foot building almost doubles the size of Roseman’s Summerlin campus, which already includes the Ralph & Betty Engelstad Cancer Research Building located right across the street on Discovery Drive. The facility features 12 laboratories, 14 patient exam rooms, a chemotherapy infusion suite with 16 chairs and five private rooms, an imaging suite, a radiology suite with six patient exam rooms, and a patient pharmacy. From a community and administrative perspective, the building also contains a 100-seat auditorium, multiple conference rooms, and a full service café, as well as additional office and other functional space. Special amenities in the flagship building include a three-story lobby highlighted by a 30-foot waterwall and an 18-foot, 1,000-pound glass chandelier from the studio of renowned artist Dale Chihuly. Roseman University President Renee Coffman noted the acquisition of the building 4 | Discovery Drive Summer 2015
further demonstrates Roseman’s commitment to meeting the healthcare and educational needs of the people of Southern Nevada. “This new College of Medicine facility will greatly expand Roseman’s opportunities for medical education, patient care, and research. This will allow the University to increase its already significant contributions to healthcare, as well as to the economies of Clark County and the state, without taxpayer dollars,” she said. As a non-profit university, Roseman is in turn inviting philanthropic support from the community. Benefactors can fund endowed chairs and scholarships, and provide additional operational support to help underwrite the development of the College of Medicine. Such support would provide important startup needs, including bridge funding to hire accomplished clinical and research teaching faculty and to retrofit facilities with critical spaces such as Roseman’s signature “in the round” classrooms, a medical library, a simulated patient care center, and an anatomy lab. The acquisition of the patient care building offers Roseman’s College of Medicine greater flexibility as it continues to refine its plans for medical education, biomedical research, community outreach and public education programs, and clinical care. The building will also allow the University to offer its medical students, along with its pharmacy, dental medicine and nursing students, enhanced inter-professional learning and simulated patient care opportunities. The College of
Medicine continues to progress through the accreditation process toward the goal of enrolling 60 medical students in the fall of 2017. “It is gratifying and exciting to know that the spectacular flagship building, as part of Roseman University’s College of Medicine, will once again help to advance medical education and research for the benefit of the people of Las Vegas and Nevada,” said Heather Murren, founder of the Nevada Cancer Institute. "This facility is a unique and important asset to our community that benefited thousands of patients, scientists and scholars, and I am happy to see it once more deployed to serve a critical purpose.” Almost 30 College of Medicine faculty, researchers, and staff are currently housed in Roseman’s Engelstad Cancer Research Building, working on curriculum development, the accreditation process, and biomedical research. With the new space the flagship building affords, many of those faculty and staff will be relocating to the flagship building to continue their efforts to develop Roseman’s College of Medicine. Interested in supporting the University or taking a tour of Roseman’s College of Medicine facilities? Visit www.roseman.edu/ medicine to make a gift, and email medicine@ roseman.edu or call (702) 822-5330 for more information about public events and private tours.
Creating a Lasting Legacy
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ounding the College of Medicine at Roseman University of Health Sciences requires significant financial investment. Quality medical education technology, student resources and support, community healthcare clinics, faculty and research are all areas where funding is needed. It is an excellent time to become a donor, or increase your giving to Roseman University. You can show your support of our mission by participating in a naming opportunity. This is a unique way to attach your name, or the name of a loved one, to Roseman University’s history - and Southern Nevada’s future. You are creating a tangible legacy of your personal connection to our community for years to come. The College of Medicine offers naming opportunities for individuals, families, corporations, and foundations, ranging from $25,000 to $6,000,000+. For more information, please call (702) 822-5330.
Simulation Clinic Surgical Suite
Classroom
Auditorium
Research Lab
Simulation Clinic Exam Room
Anatomy Lab
www.roseman.edu/medicine | 5
PATH OF A ROSEMAN MEDICAL STUDENT
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Pre-med Studies MCATs Roseman Admits Students According to College of Medicine Values
2013 - 2017
Y E A R
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Fall 2018
EDUCATIONAL BLOCKS Reproductive & Endocrine Systems Neuroscience Infection & Immunity Oncology Behavior & Health Human Life Cycle
Classes begin & white coat ceremony
Fall 2017
EDUCATIONAL BLOCKS Introduction to Medicine Molecular & Cellular Foundations Basic Disease Mechanisms Anatomy Foundations Musculoskeletal & Dermatology Cardiovascular System Pulmonary System Gastrointestinal System Renal System
USMLE Step 1 Preparation & Exam*
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Y E A R
Fall 2019 6 | Discovery Drive Summer 2015
*“The United States Medical Licensing Examination ® (USMLE®) is a three-step examination for medical licensure in the U.S., sponsored by the Federation of State Medical Boards and the National Board of Medical Examiners.”
Y E A R
RESIDENCY LENGTHS FOR SELECTED SPECIALTIES Family Medicine 3 years Emergency Medicine 3 or 4 years General Internal Medicine 3 years Pediatrics 3 years Obstetrics & Gynecology 4 years Anesthesiology 4 years Psychiatry 4 years Orthopedic Surgery 5 years
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Fall 2020
USMLE Step 2 Preparation & Exams* National Resident Match Program Match Day – March 2021 Capstone & Transition to Residency
EDUCATIONAL BLOCKS - CLERKSHIPS Family Medicine Internal Medicine Neurology Psychiatry Ob-Gyn Surgery Pediatrics
Step SMLE
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* 3 exam
HELLO my name is
RESIDENCY BEGINS Graduation June 2021
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Innovative Model Supports Student Success
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he foundation of any college of medicine has several pillars: an accomplished and dedicated faculty, well-prepared students committed to providing excellent patient care, and a strong up-to-date curriculum. The curriculum for Roseman’s College of Medicine will incorporate the University’s innovative academic model, which since 1999 has produced highly competent graduates in the University’s other colleges and programs: pharmacy, nursing, dental medicine, and an MBA program with a healthcare focus. The components of Roseman’s innovative and highly effective academic model, include: • block curriculum • active, small group learning and collaboration • mastery learning • frequent assessments, and • high levels of attainment (passing grade is 90%) A traditional medical school curriculum, for example, might have students taking four separate classes in the first semester, focused on different subjects: biochemistry, gross anatomy, cell biology, and medical genetics. These students would go from class to class,
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switching their attention and areas of study as they do so. Students would have separate exams on these different subjects, further fragmenting the learning process. Rather than utilizing that model, Roseman’s medical students will use the University’s block curriculum system. In a block curriculum, students learn broad, integrated “content areas” rather than single subjects. Roseman’s medical students will begin with an “Introduction to Medicine” block, followed by several weeks dedicated to study of the “Molecular and Cellular Foundations of Medicine,” and then turn their focus to “Basic Disease Mechanisms.” The remaining blocks in students’ first two years will be focused on organ systems, from Foundations of Anatomy to the Musculoskeletal System and Dermatology, the Cardiovascular System, Neuroscience, etc. Further enhancing the learning process, a typical Roseman student attends class from 8:00 a.m to 3:00 p.m. each day. Classes involve periods of lecture alternating with active learning in small groups. For example, a faculty member may lecture for 45 minutes on infectious disease, then students break into their assigned group of 6-8 classmates to research how the standard of care or treatment
protocols for infectious disease have changed. Following the small group learning time, students return to the main class to present their findings. This model touches all learning styles, and requires active participation rather than simply passive listening. The block curriculum also allows faculty members ample time to cover all aspects of the topic without repetition. Having consecutive days to teach means that faculty members do not have to spend time on reviewing material covered in past classes, as is often the case in a class that meets once a week. This active learning model is strengthened by Roseman’s signature classrooms, which are built “in the round.” In these classrooms, students are highly engaged with the learning process, for no student is seated more than four rows from the professor. Other signature components of Roseman’s academic model are its assessment process and grading methodology. Traditional universities test students at infrequent intervals – perhaps three or four times per semester, including final exams. Roseman assesses students every two weeks on their mastery of the material that has been presented. Every other Friday, Roseman students take an individual exam. After handing their exam in, they immediately break into their small groups and take the same exam – conferring with their classmates on the answers they believe to be correct. This enables an additional layer of learning as the group debates and comes to consensus on the correct answers. When groups have completed their exams, they hand them in, and then proceed directly into an exam review session. In this session, every faculty member involved in teaching in the previous two weeks reviews the questions relevant to their areas, and discusses the correct answers and why they are correct. This delivers immediate feedback and layers on yet an-
other level of learning and understanding for students. Roseman’s grading methodology is unique as well. Because Roseman students are in the health sciences, University founders Dr. Harry Rosenberg, Dr. Renee Coffman, and Dr. Charles Lacy felt standard grading practices (where grades of B of C are acceptable) did not adequately prepare students for their professions and treatment of patients. At
Roseman, students are graded on a pass/fail system, where the passing grade is 90%. Roseman also values early clinical experiences for students. It is anticipated that our medical students will be in hospital/clinical settings early in their studies, following a twelve-week block concurrent with their earliest academic foci, on “Understanding Patient Care.” Roseman’s academic pedagogy is geared
toward enabling student success and superior patient care in the health sciences professions, and the College of Medicine will utilize and build on these foundational tenets for its students. There are many other aspects of Roseman’s innovative instructional model that ensure student success, and we encourage visits to our campuses to learn more details about the University, our programs, and our students.
College of Medicine Values - Competence
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he College of Medicine is rooted in its VALUES, which were created to reflect our deep understanding that patients, within the context of their community, are at the center of everything that we do. Each value is equally important, and when viewed comprehensively, our values demonstrate the type of students, faculty, and staff that the College seeks to attract. Competence, our first value, can be defined as the ability to do something well. This value has had a long history at Roseman University. When the University's founders created Roseman in 1999 as the Nevada College of Pharmacy, they built into the foundation of the Institution a sharp focus on competence. They understood that the Institution’s graduates must be highly competent because their judgments would impact patients’ lives. They knew quality healthcare demanded a rigorous educational standard. This focus on competence led to the development of Roseman’s renowned and highly successful educational model, which sets a high standard for all students. The University’s high standard is reflected in its mastery learning and grading philosophy. Roseman does not provide students with standard letter grades; rather there is a pass/fail system, where the passing grade is 90%. Through our learner-focused process students are required to “master” information before they move to
the next level. This requires frequent assessments and reassessments that embrace students to help them master the content and
College of Medicine VALUES
COM PETENCE COMPA SSION INT EGRITY D I VERSITY RESP E CT COMMU N ICATION COMMUNI T Y DI SCOVERY
be successful. The process encourages learning through increased dialogue among students and with teachers as teammates. This translates to better understanding of material and use of this information for practical application to patient care. Mastery learning, the requirement for attaining passing at a higher standard, frequent
assessment, and team based collaboration all combine to support the University’s commitment to high achievement by all students. Roseman has had excellent outcomes in its short 16 years of existence – including student success on national licensure exams and alumni contributions to their professions. Such excellent outcomes support student and faculty satisfaction, as well as lead to greater impact on the community. Of course, a strong emphasis on competence is not only necessary for the safety and quality experiences of patients, it is also a critical component of the accreditation process for medical schools. Roseman’s high standards and focus on competence, implemented in our pharmacy, nursing, dental medicine and MBA programs, will be replicated for our medical students. Our growing medical college faculty are currently putting together the curriculum for our future medical students and we anticipate great interest in our program and expect excellent outcomes similar to our other health professions programs. As the University continues to make progress on the accreditation process through the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME), we take great pride in our past accomplishments, and we look forward with great anticipation to enrolling our inaugural class of medical students. www.roseman.edu/medicine | 9
Women in Science Roseman researchers making an impact locally and globally By Brian Sodoma
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omen have long been under-represented in the sciences. But it’s a reality that is slowly changing for the better. In 2014, a National Science Board study noted that women made up half of all the college-educated workers in the U.S. But they only represented 28 percent of the science and engineering workers. That is, however, an increase from 21 percent in 1993. More recently, the National Science Foundation found that women have earned 57 percent of all bachelor’s degrees and half of all science and engineering bachelor’s degrees since the late 1990s. It’s a slow-moving improvement, for sure, and there is plenty of work still to be done to both encourage girls in their elementary school years to pursue science careers and to create programs that foster the development of female scientists and researchers on the secondary and post-secondary levels. Roseman University has been fortunate to tap some of the finest women researchers and scientists on the globe. They are creative, energetic and making their mark in their respective fields. These four scientists, in particular, are helping to close the gender gap while moving the needle on medical research. They are making a difference at Roseman, in the Las Vegas Valley, and beyond.
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Johlfs was also heavily involved in promoting Roseman’s acquisition of the NanoPro 1000, an instrument that allows researchers to better study the chemical modalities of certain proteins found in diseased cells. Her extensive training with the NanoPro 1000 has helped research teams generate data that has contributed to the acceptance of Roseman research in numerous peerreviewed publications, including Molecular Cancer Research, Neurochemistry International and PLoS One, an online journal.
Our women researchers have some suggestions
“Stay focused and stay positive. Think questions through thoroughly. Basically, science centers around identifying a problem and finding a solution. Keep your focus on that and don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t do it.” - Mary Johlfs “Start young. Even in high school or middle school, you have to seek out opportunities to get into the lab. Learning about science is different from having practical experiences. You have to have hands-on experience in the lab. … As a researcher, you face a lot of failures due to the experimental nature of the work. You can’t be afraid of that.” - Olivia Chao
Mary Johlfs Director of Research Operations/Scientist
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ohlfs’ professional career began in the biotech arena, where she developed engineered antibodies with longer serum half-lives, which have incredible potential for promoting the development of advanced therapeutics for multiple diseases. In 2006, she transitioned to the Nevada Cancer Institute, where she partnered with Dr. Ronald Fiscus, whose team was studying protein kinases and their roles in lung, mesothelioma and ovarian cancers. In 2010, with the Nevada Cancer Institute in financial jeopardy, she and Fiscus moved their research efforts to Roseman University of Health Sciences. Johlfs and Fiscus expanded Roseman research to include diabetes and obesity, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases, adult stem cell research and regenerative medicine, among others. “He is unequivocally positive and productive. He works extremely diligently to ensure the success of our research programs,” Johlfs said of Fiscus. Last year, Johlfs was part of the team that filed a patent for the Roseman-developed NIRF (near-infrared-fluorescence) technology, which allows for a clearer, more sensitive study of the catalytic activity of kinase proteins. Johlfs is also studying the connections among diabetes/obesity and various cancers, such as mesothelioma, lung, ovarian, breast and prostate cancers. “There are higher rates of those diseases in diabetics and we want to look more closely, on a molecular level, at that link,” she added.
CONSIDERING THE SCIENCE FIELD?
Olivia Chao Post-doctoral Research Associate
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hao is part of Dr. Oscar Goodman, Jr.’s research team, where her work focuses on targeting DNA damage response in the treatment of advanced prostate cancer. Her team studies how tumors with underlying defects in DNA repair capabilities can be targeted more effectively with specific DNA damaging agents or inhibitors. “Normal cells have a robust network of DNA repair pathways with an inherent redundancy enabling them to effectively repair the damage. Cancer cells, on the other hand, are often addicted to a particular DNA repair pathway. Finding this Achilles heel is key to designing effective therapy,” she said. Chao is working to create a therapy that targets this weakness. The researcher has been at Roseman since 2012 and is a member of the American Association of Cancer Research, where she has also presented some of her findings. In December 2014, her work was
“It’s fun and tough. Getting your Ph.D. is really the starting line. … You learn about something really deeply, a special modality, then you find more connections. … It’s a long journey and I’m still in the middle of it.” - Yasuyo Urasaki “You have to be really dedicated to science, like live, breathe and think about science all the time. It requires a lot of dedication; so you have to be passionate about what you are working on.” - Ranjana Mitra
published in the peer-reviewed journal, Molecular Cancer Research. Chao studied the combined use of histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor and poly-ADP ribose polymerase (PARP) inhibitor drugs to decrease prostate cancer cell viability. Her research findings supported the use of the two drug combinations for metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC), the most advanced form of the disease. Originally from Malaysia, Chao received her Ph.D. from the Faculty of
continued on page 12 www.roseman.edu/medicine | 11
Women in Science Medicine in the National University of Singapore. She chose science because of an intense interest in biology as a child and she always enjoyed learning about the human body. After her mother lost her cancer battle in her late-40s, Chao focused on cancer research. "That was a turning point in my life. I had a lot of questions,” she added. Going forward, Chao is more committed than ever to her DNA damage repair research, and sees a place for it in Roseman’s College of Medicine. “I just want to continue doing good research. I’m transitioning from post-doctoral work to independent work and need to find research grants. … I hope to have my own lab and a faculty position in the future,” she added.
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cal researcher who is developing advanced imaging systems that study the role of lipids in cancer and other obesity-related diseases. Urasaki is part of a team that has been in the process of filing two patent applications for its circulating tumor cell work and advancements with capillary electrophoresis, an advanced ion-separating analytical technique. She has used the technology to help her understand the potential impacts of uridine, a pyrimidine nucleotide found in DNA, to prevent the side effect of fat accumulation in the liver when Tamoxifen, a widely-used breast cancer drug, is administered. Her work on this topic was published last year in the peer-reviewed journal, BMC Pharmacology and Toxicology. Urasaki started her research career in 2007 at the Nevada Cancer Institute and briefly worked at the Desert Research Institute before coming to Roseman a year ago. “I’m very interested in aging, metabolism, diabetes, and ways to maintain your health. … It’s a very new and fresh field and there are many possibilities, if you want to make it happen,” she added.
Yasuyo Urasaki Post-doctoral Research Associate
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rasaki admits to being curious about many different scientific fields as a child. The Japanese-born researcher eventually gravitated towards the study of immunology after taking an internship with a professor at the University of Tokyo. “He saw I had potential and really encouraged me to go into research,” Urasaki said. Today, she works with Dr. Timothy Le, a Roseman assistant professor and biomedi12 | Discovery Drive Summer 2015
Ranjana Mitra Assistant Professor
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itra spent eight years researching breast and lung cancer at the University of Minnesota before coming to Southern Nevada in 2010. She says she feels most at
home in the science lab. “I love it; it relaxes me. Even on Saturday and Sunday, when I go to the lab to take care of some experiments I prefer to plan for the next week as it is so quiet and helps me focus,” she added. At Roseman, Mitra’s work touches on several research areas. One involves isolating and culturing circulating tumor cells (CTC’s) using advanced microscopy and fluorescent labeling techniques. These CTC’s are continuously shed by the primary tumor into the blood stream and are the major cause of metastasis and death in cancer patients. CTCs have a way of hiding and avoiding the immune system as well as different cancer treatments by continuously changing their genetic makeup and thus gaining resistance to therapy. Mitra has been studying these cells to create personalized therapies with specific drugs that can target these cells and prevent further cancer growth and metastasis. Another research focus for Mitra is the CYP3A5 enzyme, which she recently demonstrated plays a major role in the growth of prostate cancer cells by regulating the androgen receptor, an important gene in prostate cancer development. CYP3A5 is also a major liver enzyme involved in processing about 50 percent of all commonly used medications, Mitra explained. She is exploring ways some medications for epilepsy, headaches and even anti-depressants can potentially affect cancer treatment through drug-drug interactions. “I was always interested in science as a kid, but I wanted to become an engineer,” she said. “But during my undergraduate program I was exposed to techniques of genetic engineering where you could modify genes and put in good traits. Learning those techniques and understanding how genes function and how those molecular biology techniques can help find a cure for different diseases altered my passion and I ended up becoming a biologist instead of an engineer.”
Research Investigations and Discoveries
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oseman University’s research team at the Summerlin campus includes researchers, research associates, post-doctoral associates, and technicians organized into laboratories focusing on diabetes and obesity, cancer, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and other neurodegenerative diseases. Below are some recent highlights from their investigations. Dr. Oscar Goodman and members of his team were recently published in two high quality peer reviewed journals. Dr. Olivia Chao has successfully published her work in Molecular Cancer Research, putting forth a potential new therapeutic approach to treating prostate cancer, combining two nontoxic therapies, histone deacetylase inhibitors and PARP inhibitors. Dr. Ranjana Mitra has published her groundbreaking work in Prostate, linking CYP3A5, an enzyme involved in the metabolism of approximately 50% of prescribed drugs, in the activation of androgen receptor, the key therapeutic target in almost all prostate cancers. The implications of this are broad, notably including the concept that prescription drugs used for other purposes appear to impact the effectiveness of hormonal therapy. Mary Johlfs, Director of Research Operations/Scientist, has recently completed a three-year project, in collaboration with Dr. Ronald Fiscus’ lab and Dr. Timothy Le’s lab, which developed a new ultrasensitive methodology for measuring and characterizing proteins in bone marrow stem cells, immune cells and differentiating fat cells. This new technology uses a combination of Nanotechnology and Proteomics, termed “Advanced Nano-Proteomics” based on capillary isoelectric focusing (cIEF) immunoassay (NanoPro 1000), possessing a sensitivity that is 1,000-times better than conventional Western blots and 100,000-times better than 2D-gel/Mass Spec, used by other laboratories for protein analysis. The resulting ground-breaking data has been documented in a manuscript “Capillary isoelectric focusing immunoassay for fat cell differentiation proteomics” by Johlfs MG, Gorjala P, Urasaki Y, Le TT and RR Fiscus (2015).
and rapidly metastatic breast cancer cells present a higher number of protrusions on their external cell membrane in contrast to slowgrowing and slow-metastasizing breast cancer cells. These protrusions, called invadopodia, lamellipodia, filopodia and magnupodia, have important pro-metastatic functions, including cell migration, cell invasion, cell-cell fusion and intercellular communication. Interestingly, these membrane protrusions contain the CD9 protein, and blocking CD9 or antibodies genetically blocks the capacity of breast cancer cells to invade other cells. Roseman Cancer Research Center is actively pursuing the clinical translation of these discoveries, with the aim to develop novel strategies to prevent the formation of metastases or to inhibit their growth. Drs. Germana Rappa, Timothy Le and Aurelio Lorico, in collaboration with Drs. Corbeil and Fargeas of the University of Dresden, Germany have recently published a manuscript in the Stem Cells journal, where they propose for the first time that the cancer stem cell marker CD133 interacts with cellular lipids and with the cancer-associated "wnt" pathway to drive cancer formation. Janica Wong, former Research Associate and Postdoc in Dr. Fiscus’ lab, has published the research article “Resveratrol Human breast cancer cells (purple) are able at anti-angiogenesis/anti-cancer conto invade with their protrusions normal centrations suppresses protein kinase G “stromal” cells (arrows). This image was taken signaling and decreases IAPs expression with a live-cell microscopy imaging system, in HUVECs," Wong JC and RR Fiscus, present in Roseman laboratories, that allows AntiCancer Research 35: 273-282 (2015). This article describes the mechanism of acresearchers to follow in 3-D the interaction of tion of resveratrol (a natural product found different types of cells. in grapes, berries, peanuts and red wine) in preventing tumor angiogenesis and the progression of cancer, via its ability to cell duplication. Based on these novel findinhibit protein kinase G catalytic activity that ings, the Roseman Cancer Research Center upregulates the expression of “cell survival is currently testing the anti-tumor activity of proteins," the Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins anti-CD9 molecules in human breast cancers (IAPs) c-IAP1, c-IAP2, Livin and XIAP, in transplanted in experimental mice. human endothelial cells. Janica is currently a The second article, published in Oncotarget Postdoc in the Department of Pediatrics (Enby Germana Rappa, Toni Green and Aurelio docrinology) at Stanford University School of Medicine. Lorico, in collaboration with Denis Corbeil and Jana Karbanova, shows that aggressive Drs. Aurelio Lorico and Germana Rappa, Co-Directors of the Cancer Research Center, have recently published the results of their research on breast cancer in two top research journals. The first article, published in Molecular Cancer Research, in collaboration with Dr. Toni Green, from Roseman University and Dr. Denis Corbeil, from the Technische Universitat in Dresden, Germany, reports that the breast cancer-associated protein CD9, previously considered a surface protein present only in the external membrane of breast cancer cells, is able to penetrate into the nuclei of breast cancer cells, where it directly interferes with the process of cancer
www.roseman.edu/medicine | 13
Introducing the Newest Roseman Team Members Vicky VanMeetren, MBA, RN Special Advisor to the Dean for Community Engagement The College of Medicine has a strong commitment to community engagement as it continues to develop its curriculum and clinical programs centered on the needs of Southern Nevada’s diverse communities. In January, to help Founding Dean Dr. Mark Penn connect with the local healthcare and business communities, the College appointed Vicky VanMeetren as Special Advisor to the Dean for Community Engagement. “VanMeetren is a tremendous resource to the College of Medicine, bringing extensive leadership experience, healthcare expertise and active involvement in the local healthcare community,” said Penn. “Since she began her new role, she has greatly helped the College of Medicine share its mission, vision and values to many Southern Nevadans, particularly those in the healthcare community, who are excited about what the College of Medicine will do to transform medical education and healthcare in the region.” Before joining Roseman, VanMeetren was CEO of the San Martin campus of St. Rose Dominican Hospitals from 2006 to 2014, serving in the role during the hospital’s construction and growing operations. During her tenure, the hospital received J.D. Power and Associates Distinguished Hospital Inpatient Award in 2011. The San Martin Campus also received certification as a stroke hospital, as well as for its chest pain and headache programs, through The Joint Commission. Under VanMeetren’s leadership, the hospital was also ranked number one by U.S. News & World Report in the specialty areas of neurology and neurosurgery. Previously, she served in a variety of administrative roles for Dignity Health and was responsible for development of a medical office building, two ambulatory surgical centers, a rehabilitation center, urgent care clinic, and the St. Rose Dominican Hospitals, Siena Campus. “Roseman University is a truly innovative institution, and the College of Medicine has a remarkable vision for the future of medical education in Nevada. Its ongoing development is a truly venerable endeavor that will help to further elevate the quality of healthcare in our region,” said VanMeetren. “I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to help leverage Roseman’s significant strengths to further advance curricular and clinical aspirations and engender support among its most important audiences.” Rebecca A. Dukes, BA Vice President for Advancement Rebecca Dukes brings to Roseman University expertise in development, strategy and execution. She has worked in fundraising and leadership positions for more than 30 years. At San Jose State University, she was responsible for all major fundraising activities including major gifts, annual gifts, alumni affairs and corporate and foundation relations. Additionally, she served as chief executive officer for the San Jose State University's Tower Foundation to advance the 14 | Discovery Drive Summer 2015
interests of the institution. Dukes joined the university in the final stages of its first comprehensive campaign, ending in June 2013 at nearly $9 million over the established goal of $200 million, and one year ahead of schedule. Under Dukes’ leadership, the university raised an additional $27 million in 2014. Previously, Dukes held vice president of university advancement positions for New Mexico State University and Westminster College in Salt Lake City. She also served as assistant vice president of development at Utah State University as well as various fundraising positions at hospitals and healthcare related non-profits. Dukes is also an accomplished financial advisor. From 2008 through 2012, Dukes worked at Armstrong Prickett &
Associates, a Merrill Lynch consulting team advising institutions with more than $50 million in assets. Stephanie Wragg, Ph.D. Assistant Dean for Curriculum and Assessment & Associate Professor of Biomedical Sciences Dr. Stephanie Wragg is playing a critical role in developing the College of Medicine curriculum and preparing for evaluation by the LCME. Before joining Roseman, Wragg served as associate dean of curriculum and
evaluation at Central Michigan University’s College of Medicine. There she was responsible for curriculum development, and evaluation and assessment of students, faculty, and the program. That College of Medicine was successfully launched in August 2013. Over the past decade, she has also served as associate dean for academic affairs at the University of Illinois at Chicago College of Medicine at Urbana-Champaign, assistant dean of medical curriculum and faculty development at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine at Florida Atlantic University and curriculum coordinator at the Medical College of Georgia. Wragg was also director of Women in Medicine and Science for the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) from 2009 to 2011. Additionally, Wragg has held numerous faculty appointments in biochemistry, molecular biology, microbiology and medicine, and is a member of the International Association of Medical Science Educators (IAMSE). A. Peter Eveland, Ed.D. Associate Dean for Student Affairs & Admissions and Professor of Family Medicine Dr. Peter Eveland is setting up the medical student admissions process and ensuring students will have support services to help them achieve academic and clinical success. Prior to joining Roseman, Eveland served as associate dean for student affairs, admissions and outreach, and professor of medical education, at California Northstate University College of Medicine, a private medical school in development in Elk Grove, California. Eveland previously held administrative and faculty positions at Bastyr University, University of Washington School of Medicine, Florida State University College of Medicine, and Mercer University School of Medicine.
Christopher Burns, Ph.D. Associate Professor of Biomedical Sciences Dr. Christopher Burns is assisting in the curriculum development. Before coming to Roseman, Burns helped develop and evolve medical and graduate education programs at Central Michigan University College of Medicine, University of Illinois College of Medicine, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Florida Atlantic University School of Biomedical Science and the Medical College of Georgia School of Medicine and School of Graduate Studies. With funding from the National Science Foundation and National Institutes of Health, Burns’ laboratories at Florida Atlantic University and Medical College of Georgia investigated molecular mechanisms of gene expression in pathogenic microorganisms. He now focuses on medical education and professional skill development including leadership training, student success, curriculum reform, peer evaluation, instructional technology, and inter-professional education. As a consultanttrainer for the Team-Based Learning Collaborative, he guides faculty adopting this powerful teaching strategy in schools of business, medicine, nursing, pharmacy, and veterinary medicine. Burns recently undertook emergency medical technician training to reconnect with the student experience and gain the perspective of a healthcare provider. Bruce Morgenstern, M.D. Associate Dean for Clinical Affairs and Professor of Pediatrics Dr. Bruce Morgenstern joins the College of Medicine to continue the work the College began last year to build relationships and
cultivate clinical partnerships with Southern Nevada hospitals and clinics. He most recently served as chief of the Division of Nephrology at Phoenix Children’s Hospital and the medical director of the hospital’s Department of Continuing Medical Education. He also served as associate professor of medical education and professor of pediatrics at the College of Medicine at the Mayo Clinic, clinical professor of pediatrics at Creighton University School of Medicine and professor of pediatrics at University of Arizona College of Medicine. Previously, Morgenstern held professional positions and appointments at Temple University School of Medicine, Tulane University School of Medicine, and the F. Edward Herbert School of Medicine of the Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences. Lisa J. Rosenberg, M.D. Director of Geriatrics and Assistant Professor of Medicine An internal medicine physician specializing in geriatrics, Rosenberg is assisting in the development of the College of Medicine’s clinical curriculum. Rosenberg joined the College of Medicine from Touro University Nevada, where she was a practicing physician and served as the institution’s director for the Nevada Geriatric Education Consortium, co-chair of the Active Aging Center Development Committee and chair of the Library Committee. She also served on the Program Review Committee and Student Promotions Committee of the university. Previously, Rosenberg was a geriatrician at Southwest Medical Associates and director of its House Call Program. She was also assistant director of the Geriatrics Fellowship Program and director of the Urinary Incontinence Research Lab at University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.
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