UTHSC College of Graduate Health Sciences Magazine - Spring 2020

GRADUATE

HEALTH SCIENCES THE UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE HEALTH SCIENCE CENTER SPRING 2020

Shaping the Future of Scientific Research

INSPIRE YOUNG SCIENTISTS! The College of Graduate Health Sciences works with White Station High School and others in Memphis to excite young minds about science and biomedical research. As a part of their community service requirement, our students conduct professional-level research studies and experiments in collaboration with high school students. For our students, this is an opportunity to hone presentation and socialization skills. For high school students, this program opens the world of discovery and introduces the concept of careers in science. These advanced sessions use research tools and materials found only in specialized STEM kits.

As more students participate in the program, additional STEM kits are needed.

Help us sow the seeds for future research! Please contribute to the STEM Kit Fund. For more information or to give, please visit giving.uthsc.edu/STEM.

< Creating Community

UTHSC Chancellor Steve J. Schwab, MD Executive Vice Chancellor and Chief Operations Officer Kennard Brown, JD, MPA, PhD, FACHE Dean, College of Graduate Health Sciences Donald B. Thomason, PhD Associate Dean, Student Affairs Isaac O. Donkor, PhD

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International Student Association eases adjustment to campus life

Associate Dean, Postdoctoral Affairs Monica M. Jablonski, PhD, FARVO Associate Dean, Academic Affairs John V. Cox, PhD Assistant Dean, Academic Affairs Larry L. Tague Assistant Dean, Graduate Programs and Services Felicia Washington, MHSA

Speaking â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Kiddoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; >

PhD candidate helps kids communicate

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Program Coordinator Elizabeth Webb, MA Program Coordinator Lyncie Crawford, MS Administrative Coordinator Jeddie Maxwell Vice Chancellor for Development and Alumni Affairs Love Collins, III, MBA Associate Vice Chancellor for Development Bethany Goolsby, JD Assistant Vice Chancellor, Alumni Affairs Chandra Tuggle Assistant Vice Chancellor for Development Services Jada Williams

< Student Organizers

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Grad students mount major biomedical symposium

Senior Director of Development Greg Harris Director of Alumni Affairs Natassha Works Assistant Director of Alumni Programs Terri Catafygiotu

Assistant Vice Chancellor for Communications and Marketing Sally Badoud, MBA Editor Peggy Reisser Contributing Writers Peggy Reisser Amber Carter Jackie Denton Designer Adam Gaines Photographer Allen Gillespie

Congrats! >

Snapshots of our Class of 2019

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All qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for employment and admissions without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, pregnancy, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, physical or mental disability, or covered veteran status.

Eligibility and other terms and conditions of employment benefits at The University of Tennessee are governed by laws and regulations of the State of Tennessee, and this non-discrimination statement is intended to be consistent with those laws and regulations.

In accordance with the requirements of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, The University of Tennessee affirmatively states that it does not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, or disability in its education programs and activities, and this policy extends to employment by the University.

Inquiries and charges of violation of Title VI (race, color, national origin), Title IX (sex), Section 504 (disability), ADA (disability), Age Discrimination in Employment Act (age), sexual orientation, or veteran status should be directed to the Office of Equity and Diversity (OED), 910 Madison Avenue, Suite 826, Memphis, Tennessee 38163, telephone 901-448-7382 (V/TTY available). Requests for accommodation of a disability should be directed to the ADA Coordinator at the Office of Equity and Diversity. E073101(006-201310)

From the Dean There are no borders to learning, teaching, and dissemination of ideas. The scholastic guilds that pre-dated universities, and the universities into which these guilds often condensed, have always attracted and dispersed scholars across broad expanses. So what is different today compared to 1,000 years ago? The speed of physical and virtual co-location.

In a fraction of a second, we can communicate with a colleague anywhere on our globe. In a matter of hours, we can be on the other side of the earth standing side-by-side with colleagues. A university can be a recipient of this rapid interaction, and indeed, the College of Graduate Health Sciences and the University of Tennessee Health Science Center have always been attractive to students and scholars from around the world. However, this speed can also transform a university, if it wishes, into a global entity, as it takes a strategic and active approach to its in-state, national, and global relationships.

Over the years, the College of Graduate Health Sciences has actively moved to develop relationships throughout the state, the United States, and abroad. Ultimately, our goal is to enhance the quality of the research training experience for our students, postdoctoral fellows, and faculty. Reaching toward this goal is multifaceted, affecting research quality, diversity of participants (trainees and faculty) who provide interdisciplinary perspectives, the opportunity to enhance research through collaboration, and the skills developed to be successful in a diverse and changing environment.

As you will see in the pages that follow, our college continues to develop a talented and diverse group of trainees, who not only enhance their own and our research training efforts, but also are helping to build global relationships. In the coming years, we will work to further develop these relationships to help ensure everywhere and everyone the college touches is an ambassador for the excellence of which we are so proud.

The sun truly never sets on our graduates, trainees, and faculty of the College of Graduate Health Sciences!

Sincerely,

Donald J. Thomason, PhD Dean of the College of Graduate Health Sciences

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From the Chancellor I am proud to tell you that the past academic year was a challenging, but record-breaking one for the University of Tennessee Health Science Center.

Last year, UTHSC awarded more than 1,000 degrees (more than 90 percent of them graduate degrees) and more than 400 specialty certificates (surgery, pediatrics, orthodontics, etc.). Both UTHSC records were achieved while keeping overall graduation and first-attempt board pass rates at more than 95 percent. We did this while limiting increases in tuition and fees. We generated record sponsored program revenue (all-source non-clinical grants and contracts) of over $300 million, the largest of any public institution in the state, as well as record clinical revenues. In research, we achieved record grant awards of more than $100 million.

This has been a year of great accomplishments. Our partner hospitals were nationally and regionally ranked as the best. This is a major source of pride for the university and reflects the excellent work of the faculty and staff. Our College of Graduate Health Sciences has reached across the globe to cement partnerships with institutions to bring students here to complete their PhD training. This collaboration will certainly benefit all involved.

Our Campus Master Plan is moving ahead to bring the campus â&#x20AC;&#x153;best-in-classâ&#x20AC;? facilities with the renovation of our Historic Quadrangle, the recently completed Center for Healthcare Improvement and Patient Simulation, and the renovation of our Dental Building, which is poised to begin this year.

The four-campus (Memphis, Nashville, Knoxville, Chattanooga), six-college, one UTHSC model has served the university and the state well. Our strategic plan requires us to meet the needs of the state with outstanding graduates. We continue to perform in all metrics as the stateâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most-outstanding public health science center.

We are committed to becoming a top-rated research university and we are spending the time, effort, and money to get there.

I am so pleased to say that last year was likely the most successful in the history of our institution.

This could not have happened without the generous support and engagement of our outstanding alumni. I invite you to take pride in the strides made by your college and your university, and to join us as we move into the future.

Sincerely,

Steve J. Schwab, MD Chancellor The University of Tennessee Health Science Center

Collaboration Extends Reach Across the Globe

By Peggy Reisser

When education leaders from the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in the United States traveled to the University of Tennessee Health Science Center last November, their visit represented a major step in the College of Graduate Health Sciences’ mission to expand its global footprint.

The college has long had exchange relationships with university partners in China that brought students to the Memphis campus for the summer or for limited-time training.

However, the November visit helped to cement a much stronger alliance that extends the reach of the college and supports a true global perspective.

The college recently announced it was successful in obtaining funding from the China Scholarship Council to support a partnership that will allow cohorts of 15 students each year from institutions in China to come to UTHSC to complete their PhD training. In the future, the students will come from Harbin Medical University, Peking University Cancer Hospital, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, and the First Hospital of Qiqihar City.

“This is quite an accomplishment for our partners, UTHSC, and the College of Graduate Health Sciences,” Dean Donald Thomason said. “The awards are not only based upon the educational goals of the partners, but also on the reputation and quality of the education that is provided by the U.S. collaborator. The competition is very stiff for these awards, and we are proud to be part of this project.”

Visiting students will enter UTHSC having already obtained advanced degrees. They are expected to focus on their research and complete their PhD requirements in

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approximately three years. The primary areas of research will be those related to diseases associated with aging.

“This is a very good focus that would have a lot of impact,” Minister Counselor of Education Yang Xinyu said when she visited UTHSC in the fall.

Dean Thomason, Monica Jablonski, PhD, associate dean for Postdoctoral Affairs and a professor in the Departments of Ophthalmology, and Anatomy and Neurobiology, and Jeddie Maxwell, administrative coordinator, traveled overseas to further the collaboration and help lay the groundwork for the hospital in Qiqihar City to establish its own postdoctoral office.

“The administration of the hospital in Qiqihar invited us to share our experiences with them on running the postdoc office, so they could be better informed when they establish their own,” Dr. Jablonski said. This summer, an administrator from the hospital will come to UTHSC to spend a year with the college to better understand its programs.

Dr. Jablonski said the international ties would not have been possible without the professional contacts of Weikun Gu, assistant vice chancellor for Research and a professor of orthopaedic surgery. “He has been an incredible force behind the relationships we have developed,” she said.

“UTHSC is expanding our global reach and building strong ties and bridges with other universities around the world,” Dr. Jablonski said. “This is a very exciting time for us and our campus and we should all be proud of what UTHSC and UTHSC alumni have established over the years to make this possible.”

Increasing the Sense of Community Among International Students

By Jackie Denton

A student group in the College of Graduate Health Sciences is aiming to help international students better adjust to life in Memphis.

The International Student Association (ISA) has been active at UTHSC for several years, but has recently increased efforts to promote a friendly environment among students from diverse cultures.

“There are so many international students in our college and it becomes absolutely necessary to establish interactions among national and international students,” said Geetika Singh, who is from India. She is the immediate past president for ISA. “I came together with my husband. I didn’t come alone,” said Violeta Pellicer Morata, who is from Spain and serves as ISA vice president. “But when you come alone to Memphis, which is a very different city than where you are from, different language, different culture, it’s a shock for you.

You don’t know where to go. You don’t know where to buy groceries. You don’t know where to rent a house. We feel alone, away from our families and friends, and that’s hard.”

“One faculty member came up to our table and said he wanted to accept an international student in his lab and connected with us,” Haque said. “He didn’t know who to reach out to and she didn’t know who to reach out to. Then he got to us, and I asked where is she from, and he said Bangladesh, and I was so excited, another Bangladeshi girl.”

The group plans to continue showcasing ISA during orientation and Graduate Research Day, and to the campus with future events.

A positive transition experience helps encourage international students to stay in Memphis or in the United States, once they complete their studies.

“The beauty of this is that I never knew I would have friends from Bangladesh, India, and Venezuela,” said Pellicer Morata.

“We may be isolated in the labs, but we don’t need to be.”

Resources are available to members including accommodation, transportation, and general transition tips, such as how to open a bank account, information on taxes, and where to shop for groceries. The group also hosts social events throughout the year.

When ISA president Sanjana Haque, who is from Bangladesh, was accepted to the Pharmaceutical Sciences program, she knew only one student at UTHSC, Arif Rahman, ISA’s president at the time. A student in the Pharmaceutical Sciences program, he later became her husband.

Since she was not familiar with the city, she didn’t want to live by herself. Through involvement with ISA, Haque was able to find a roommate and an apartment.

“Our goal is to create a platform to interact with each other,” Singh said.

A recent Lunch and Talk event hosted in the Student-Alumni Center was well received, allowing the group to network with students from other colleges and programs, as well as with faculty.

The members of the International Student Association get together socially at Memphis Grizzlies games and other events in order to foster a sense of community for students who are far from home.

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PhD Candidate Speaks ‘Kiddo’ to Win 3MT® Competition

By Jackie Denton

While she was an undergraduate student, Amanda Simmons spent most of her time taking center stage as a vocal performance major.

At the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, she performed and studied music and vocal pedagogy. Now, as a PhD candidate in the Speech and Hearing Science Program in the Department of Audiology and Speech Pathology, she is using her skills to help patients.

However, it wasn’t until a stint in Cameroon and Zambia as a health education volunteer with the Peace Corps, that she learned she could combine her background in the musical arts with patient care. “It kind of tied the voice and the medical side of things for me,” said Simmons, MS, CCC-SLP. Working in a foreign country with non-English speaking residents, she had to learn to communicate in different ways. “I did a lot of pantomiming when I first moved,” she said. “I think a lot of what I’m doing now is very influenced by my life experience for sure. Communication is something we take for granted, until we have a communication breakdown. Imagine being a kid and you can’t get the words to come out like you’d want them to. How terrifying is that?”

Her research, which focused on solving that problem, netted her a win in the 2019 Three-Minute Thesis (3MT®) competition that took place in November. Her winning presentation was appropriately titled, “How to Speak Kiddo.”

Using her life experiences, Simmons’ research focused on how education support for alternative communication can be provided to nurses in pediatric hospitals. Alternative communication includes everything from facial expressions, to gestures, to advanced technology, such as an iPad app that can speak for you.

“Sometimes patients who use alternative communication who get sick get to the hospital and their communication system is gone,” Simmons said. “So, not only are they sick,

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but then they can’t tell the nurses and the doctors what they’re thinking, what they’re feeling, or what they need.”

Alternative communication encompasses a huge variety of communication support tools that are available but are not well known outside the audiology and speech pathology fields. Through surveys and interviews, Simmons learned that nurses think using them is important, but have not received adequate training.

Her research has provided training modules for nurses. Her ultimate goal is to expand and implement communication support tools for pediatric nurses, so they do not have barriers in communicating with patients.

“We really need to create something that provides all nurses with basic education, so they know what to do while they wait for a speech therapist to come and evaluate the patient.”

About the 3MT® Competition Since 2015, the international Three-Minute Thesis (3MT®) competition has helped graduate students hone their communication skills by challenging them to share their research in three minutes in a way anyone could understand. In the recent 3MT® competition three presenters were chosen by a panel of judges as having the best presentations. In addition to Simmons, Angela Taylor, was named runner-up, and Zaid Temrika, was named people’s choice. The winner will participate in the regional 3MT® competition in Birmingham.

As an opportunity to continue to practice presentation skills, CGHS’s three winners will travel to Boston. Alumni will be invited to an event to hear and critique the students’ presentations. In addition to meeting alumni, students will have the opportunity to tour some of the bio, pharma, and biotechnology companies located in Boston. This is a great connection for students and alumni. Special thanks to alumnus Justin Boyd (’06 PhD) for securing Pfizer in Cambridge, Massachusetts, as host of the event.

Outstanding Science on Display at 2019 Postdoctoral Research Day The 2019 Postdoctoral Research Day in December was a showcase for the excellent scientific work being done at UTHSC. The day featured eight platform presentations and 17 poster presentations.

“The quality of the science was outstanding and all who presented should be proud of their accomplishment,” said Monica Jablonski, PhD, FARVO, associate dean of the

Postdoctoral Office and professor in the departments of Ophthalmology, and Anatomy and Neurobiology.

Keynote speaker Christopher Dillon, PhD, addressed a full house, sharing his career journey from academics to industry.

2019 WINNERS OF THE SCIENTIFIC PRESENTATIONS AND TRAVEL AWARDS PLATFORM PRESENTATIONS First Place Dr. Laura Sipe, Department of Medicine - Hematology, Dr. Liza Makowski, mentor Second Place Dr. Erin Stephenson, Department of Pediatrics, Dr. Joan Han, mentor Third Place Dr. Roberto Cordero, Department of Genetics, Genomics and Informatics, Dr. Claire Simpson, mentor

POSTER PRESENTATIONS

TRAVEL AWARDS

First Place Dr. Meenakshi Tiwary, Department of Pediatrics, Dr. Amali Samarasinghe, mentor

Dr. Hadi Hosseini, Department of Ophthalmology, Dr. Monica Jablonski, mentor

Second Place (tie) Dr. Saufudeen Ismael, Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Dr. Tauneed Ishrat, mentor

Dr. Daron Yang, Department of Pediatrics, Dr. Guoyun Chen, mentor Dr. Seyed Hajjati, Department of Pediatrics, Dr. Abbas BabjaniFeremi, mentor

Second Place (tie) Dr. Jennifer Cordero, Department of Genetics, Genomics and Informatics, Dr. Claire Simpson, mentor

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Outstanding Junior Postdoc Eun Kyong Shin Researcher Takes Innovative Approach to Study Social Determinants of Health HOMETOWN: Gumsan, South Korea UNDERGRADUATE: Bachelor of Arts in Sociology, Korea University, Seoul, South Korea GRADUATE: Master of Arts in Sociology, Columbia University, New York DOCTORATE: PhD in Sociology, Columbia University, New York POSTDOCTORAL FELLOW: Dr. Shin was a postdoctoral fellow in the laboratory of Arash Shaban-Nejad, PhD, assistant professor in the Department of Pediatrics at UTHSC. Dr. Shinâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s research focused on bringing unconventional data sources to various sociological investigations. Her goal is to gain better understanding of how relational networks and social conditions influence social behaviors, health outcomes, and human development.

She used multiple analytical tools, including social network analysis, statistics, Geographic Information Systems, and machine learning.

WHY DID YOU CHOOSE UTHSC FOR YOUR FELLOWSHIP? With my background in computational sociology, I wanted to expand my expertise in artificial intelligence for medical research and the social determinants of health.

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WHAT WAS YOUR BIGGEST TAKEAWAY? My biggest takeaway was to not be afraid to be a bit idiosyncratic.

That has been the first step for me to become an innovative investigator.

WHY IS YOUR RESEARCH SIGNIFICANT? My time at UTHSC shaped my research in an innovative direction.

Merging computational sociology with biomedical informatics has been a fruitful endeavor. Collaborative networks with UTHSC colleagues are still alive and I look forward our remote teamwork for the future as well.

WHAT IS YOUR CURRENT POSITION? I am an assistant professor in sociology at Korea University. I am continuing my research in social epidemiology, expanding my study area to South Korea and other Asian countries. Currently, I am working on projects for understanding epidemic network study and investigating social determinants of pain among breast cancer patients.

Outstanding Senior Postdoc Avtar Meena Meena Honored a Second Time for Outstanding Postdoctoral Work HOMETOWN: Bissau, Rajasthan, India UNDERGRADUATE: Bachelor of Science in biochemistry, University of Delhi, New Delhi, India GRADUATE: Master of Science in biotechnology, Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, Vadodara, India DOCTORATE: PhD in Biotechnology, National Centre for Cell Science, University of Pune, Maharashtra, India POSTDOCTORAL FELLOW: Dr. Meena has worked in the lab of Radhakrishna Rao, PhD, professor in the Department of Physiology at UTHSC, since 2015. His research is focused on the role of calcium channels in alcohol-induced gut permeability, endotoxemia, and liver damage. His current area of research study involves understanding the mechanism of alcohol-induced disruption of intestinal epithelial tight junctions and endotoxemia. Dr. Meena was honored in 2017 as the Outstanding Junior Postdoc.

WHY DID YOU CHOOSE UTHSC FOR YOUR FELLOWSHIP? After completing my PhD, I decided to focus my research on alcohol-induced disruption of tight junction, barrier dysfunction, and liver damage.

I chose Dr. Rao`s lab because his research expertise overlapped my future research interest. In addition, UTHSC is the leading state institution for research on the causes, treatment, and prevention of diseases.

The university helps all researchers in proposal development services and resources to maximize competitiveness of grant application and scientific manuscripts.

WHAT WAS YOUR BIGGEST TAKEAWAY? During my postdoctoral studies, I have acquired a strong interest in alcohol research and would like to pursue my research career in understanding the mechanisms involved in alcohol-induced tissue damage. I plan to continue my research in this field and gain the skills to pursue an independent academic investigator position in the field of cellular and molecular mechanisms of alcoholic tissue damage.

WHY IS YOUR RESEARCH SIGNIFICANT? Disruption of intestinal epithelial tight junctions and endotoxemia play a crucial role in the pathogenesis of alcoholism-related diseases. Understanding the mechanism of alcoholinduced disruption of intestinal epithelial tight junction is important to develop novel therapeutics to treat alcoholic tissue injury.

WHAT IS YOUR CURRENT POSITION? I am a research instructor in the UTHSC Department of Physiology. I plan to develop a federally funded research project, train and mentor students/fellows, and publish research articles.

Additionally, I would like to participate in the administration and activities of professional organizations related to basic research and teaching curriculum activities.

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Biomedical Symposium a First for Graduate Student Executive Council

By Amber Carter

Last fall, the Graduate Student Executive Council (GSEC) took a major step forward in hosting the inaugural UTHSC Biomedical Symposium at Memphis Bioworks. More than 200 people attended, including representatives from UTHSC, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, the Memphis Medical District Collaborative, and the University of Memphis.

Speakers from across the country presented on topics centered around the social determinants of health and translational medicine. UTHSC students attended as their schedules allowed and were given the opportunity to network with speakers after the symposium at a social event in Downtown Memphis.

The symposium was designed to serve as a vehicle for students from the College of Graduate Health Sciences to gain leadership experience and to tailor a program that catered to their needs and interests.

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“As a busy graduate student with a full schedule, it was very challenging to organize such a large-scale event,” said GSEC secretary Angela Taylor, who is a thirdyear student in the PhD Biomedical Sciences program, Neuroscience track. “However, I gained professional skills that I can take with me for the rest of my career. We had to communicate with the college’s administration, plan advertising and marketing, coordinate the schedules of eight visiting speakers, keep a careful budget, and acquire additional sponsorship, all while promoting student interests and working as a team.”

Planning for the 2020 symposium is underway. It will be held in the fall as two-day event. It will include a partnership with Charles Snyder, PhD, director of Health Disparities Education and Community Engagement at UTHSC and his team. Opportunities for engagement from all six colleges at UTHSC and the surrounding community will be incorporated.

The College of Graduate Health Sciences Advisory Board The College of Graduate Health Sciences Advisory Board has been engaged in helping Dean Thomason develop opportunities that support career development for students and postdoctoral fellows. This work ties directly into the dean’s priorities for the college. We are grateful for the time, talent, and financial support provided by our advisory board members.

ADVANCING STEM

THEY ARE:

A story about this program in our Spring 2019 magazine reported that more professional-level research-based STEM kits are needed. Advisory Board Chair Lisa Jennings recalled that a similar program greatly influenced her thinking about science and research, so she stepped up to make a difference.

Her family made a generous contribution to provide the program with funds to purchase 10 new kits. These kits will be used beginning with this academic year.

See Page 2 for more details.

• Bahram Dahi (’09 MS), senior research and development engineer, Facebook •C harles Handorf (’77 MD, ’81 PhD), president, Handorf Laboratory Consultants •L isa Jennings (’83 PhD), board chair and CEO/founder, CirQuest Labs •J ames William (Bill) Lester (’97 PhD), senior regional medical liaison in Cardiovascular Therapeutic, Amgen •B ailey Lipscomb (’79 PhD and PHRMD), retired, formerly with Medtronic •C hikezie Madu (’12 MS), advanced placement/dual enrollment biology instructor, Shelby County Schools •A shwin Raj (’96 MS), vice president Pay, Integrity, Identify, Lyft •R ose Stiffin (’95 PhD), associate professor of chemistry and chair of the Department of Health and Natural Resources, Florida Memorial University

The CGHS collaboration with Shelby County Schools’ STEM education program is directed by Advisory Board member Chikezie Madu, PhD. Dr. Madu’s work at White Station High School in Memphis has been recognized by CGHS, Shelby County, and STEM programs throughout Tennessee.

CAREER INSIGHTS A new Career Insights program brings representatives from a variety of organizations (industry, academia, government, nonprofit) to the UTHSC campus to talk with graduate students. The first seminar kicked-off in November with a panel experienced in launching startups and promoting entrepreneurship. The panel included: •L isa Jennings, PhD, CEO/founder of CirQuest Labs, alumna, and advisory board chair

• Warren Tayes, Hospital/Federal/Subacute, Merck & Co.

•K ayla Rodriguez Graff, MBA, CEO/co-founder of SweetBio

LINK WITH US

•R ichard Magid, PhD, vice president of the UT Research Foundation

CGHS Alumni! We encourage you to learn more about your college by linking to: linkedin.com/showcaseuthsc-graduate-health-sciences We appreciate the guidance of Advisory Board members Bahram Dahi and Ashwin Raj for their advice in strengthening the communication between the college and alumni. This is just the beginning!

Special thanks goes to Advisory Board members Bahram Dahi and Bailey Lipscomb for financially supporting the launch of the program. Additional funds are needed to ensure the program’s longevity.

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Teaching Excellence John Cox, PhD, associate dean of Academic Affairs and an associate professor in the Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Biochemistry, and Kristin Hamre, associate professor in the Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, were among six outstanding faculty members honored by students with Excellence in Teaching Awards at the annual Student Government Association Executive Council (SGAEC) Banquet. The awards are vetted by the SGAEC representative for each college, as well as by students from each college. They are among the highest honors given to faculty on campus. Two faculty members are selected from each college through a nomination and voting process, with winners being given a plaque of recognition, along with a $2,500 stipend at the banquet.

BSA Award Winner Dr. Michael Anthony James, who is pursuing a Master in Dental Science degree, was among six outstanding students honored at the 2019 Black Student Association (BSA) Awards and Recognition Banquet. After graduating from Morehouse College, he initially pursued a career in health care management working with Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield in Manhattan. He obtained a masterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s degree in public health from Hunter College in New York City, where his research focused on health care disparities between whitecollar and blue-collar workers. Dr. James and his family moved to the Mid-South when he was accepted into the UTHSC College of Dentistry in 2009 and completed his studies in 2013. Dr. James returned to New York and completed a general practice dental residency at Montefiore Hospital/Albert Einstein College of Medicine. He served as chief resident in the endodontic fellowship at Montefiore Hospital. He practiced general dentistry in New Paltz, New York, for two years before enrolling in the graduate endodontic program at UTHSC, which he completed in 2018.

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Research Winner Pradeep Lukka, PhD, postdoctoral fellow in the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences in the College of Pharmacy, received the Wayne A. Colburn Memorial Award from the American College of Clinical Pharmacology (ACCP). Presented during the organization’s Annual Meeting in Chicago, the award is the highest trainee award given by the ACCP. Dr. Lukka works in the lab of Bernd Meibohm, PhD, FCP, FAAPS, associate dean for Research and Graduate Programs, and professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences. Dr. Lukka had already been selected as one of eight 2019 ACCP Student and Trainee Abstract Award winners for his abstract submission, “Pediatric Exposure of Lacosamide Adjunctive AntiEpileptic Therapy in Children under Four Years of Age,” which discusses the characterization of an anti-epileptic drug used to treat seizures in children. He and the other award winners went on to compete in poster and podium presentations before an onsite judging team to win the Colburn Memorial Award.

Meet & Eat The UTHSC Postdoc Meet & Eat event was part of National Postdoc Appreciation Week, September 16-20.

Postdocs brought dishes from their country, region, or culture to share. Prizes were awarded for the best dishes.

In addition to a great meal, the event offered an opportunity to come together in a social setting and network.

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Congratulations to Our 2019 Graduates!

SPRING COMMENCEMENT DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY Xizhi Guo Kevin Andrew Hope Sonam Kumari Karen Ann Martin Sarah Marie Neuner Hong Ha Rosa Nguyen Andrew T. Nishimoto Jeffery Michael Rybak David Michael Thornton

MASTER OF DENTAL SCIENCE Angela Gullard Ashley M. Hutchison Grant Thomas King Eric R. Linkous Jared Lewis Moffett Michael J. Rasmussen David Wong

MASTER OF SCIENCE Patrick Joseph Gavigan Tristan L. Hayes Leah Elizabeth Hendrick Ein Lee Kumar Kulldeep Niloy

MASTER OF SCIENCE Najah Ghazi Albadari Taylor Ayala Michael Barats Paige Jaanai Bates Winter S. Bruner Nalan Ross Callonas Nirnoy Dan Daniel Gene Darnell Jordan Edward Davis John J. Delaney V Theresa Dinh Evan A. Fenyves Rachel Elizabeth Fowler Griffin McVay Heise Daniel Scott Hoyer

Jessica DeeAnn Hoyer Edward James Hughes Gene Gerard Lamanilao Nicolas Rolando Leal Corey Lin Grace E. McCarthy Natalie Morghan Nontaporn McDonald Christopher Eduardo Montes-Sabino Gabriela Jocelyn Quirzo Rachel Schultz Aidan Marie Shea David M. Templeton Lucas Jefferson Wilkins Yi Zhang

WINTER COMMENCEMENT DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY Jesse Jones Michael Scott Kuefner Alex Kagabo Mugengana Christina Oikonomou Catherine Kelley Pantik Mohammad Arifur Rahman Jordan Marie Ross Miranda J. Wallace MASTER OF DENTAL SCIENCE Emily A. Grisham Sarah Karnish John D. Pate Christopher W. Wilson

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Thank You for Your Membership in the 1911 Society The 1911 Society recognizes the generosity of UTHSC financial supporters who are critical to our mission of educating some of the best minds, conducting innovative research, and improving health throughout our community.

the year. Whether we connect via mail, telephone, or email giving opportunities, please take a moment to make a difference for our students, faculty, and researchers through a donation to the Annual Giving Program.

Membership in the 1911 Society is granted across levels: Annual Giving Partners, who make a donation of $100 or more to our Annual Giving Program in any given fiscal year; Sustaining Partners, who give annually at any amount for five or more consecutive years; and Lifetime Partners, who make cumulative commitments of $25,000 or more during their lifetime.

Please make your secure online gift today by visiting giving. uthsc.edu/give. Your support is critical to strengthen our impact here in Memphis, across the state, and throughout the world. UTHSC is grateful for your partnership. For more information, please contact the Office of Development and Alumni Affairs at (901) 448-5516 or visit online at uthscalumni.com/1911.

To retain membership in the 1911 Society, simply renew your annual gift!

The University of Tennessee Health Science Center offers a number of vehicles through which you can make a gift. Cash gifts can be made online, through mail, or over the phone.

Other ways to give include: matching gifts, gifts of stocks or bonds, real estate, gifts in kind, and various planned giving options, which can be incorporated into your overall estate plan. Each is an excellent way to support UTHSC!

Donating to UTHSC every year gives you the continued satisfaction of helping us provide scholarships, laboratory equipment, travel grants, and many other benefits that would not be available using state or tuition-provided dollars alone.

Thank you for being a partner with our campus, our colleges and our programs. There are many opportunities to renew your giving â&#x20AC;&#x201D; or make your first gift â&#x20AC;&#x201D; throughout

Why Make an Annual Gift to UTHSC? Donating to UTHSC every year helps us provide scholarships, laboratory equipment, travel grants, community outreach initiatives, and many other benefits that would not be available using state or tuition-provided dollars alone!

Thank you for being a partner with our campus, our colleges, and our programs.

Your gift in any amount will make a difference.

Donate $100 or more and become a member of our 1911 Society!

For details, go to giving.uthsc.edu/1911.

Make your gift today! giving.uthsc.edu/give | 901.448.5516

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UTHSC COLLEGE OF GRADUATE HEALTH SCIENCES | SPRING 2020

Leave Your Legacy Have you thought about the legacy you will leave behind?

With a Planned Gift, you can: • Simplify your estate for your family • Reduce the tax burden applied to your assets • Benefit causes you hold dear

Legacy donors become members of the Hershel “Pat” Wall Legacy Society Dr. Wall’s 50 years of dedication as a student, faculty member, and administrator at UTHSC are unsurpassed. His legacy will live forever, as will the impact made by our donors.

For more information about planned gifts to UTHSC and Legacy Society membership, contact Bethany Goolsby at 901.448.5516 or estateplans@uthsc.edu.

THANK YOU FOR BEING A LEGACY SOCIETY MEMBER! Drs. Wells and Helen C. Moorehead

Show Your UTHSC Pride by ordering a license plate supporting educational outreach!

Order Now and Save $35!

uthsc.edu/license-plate

Nonprofit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Memphis, TN Permit No. 4026 Office of Development and Alumni Affairs 62 S. Dunlap, Suite 500 Memphis, TN 38163 CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED

SAVE THE DATE! 2020 GOLDEN GRADUATE HOMECOMING OCTOBER 28–30 | MEMPHIS, TN Honoring graduates of 1970 from all six UTHSC colleges.

THIS YEAR’S EVENTS INCLUDE: Welcome Reception at the Peabody Hotel

Welcome Dinner at Charlie Vergos Rendezvous

College Open Houses and Tours

Tour of the Center for HealthCare Improvement and Patient Simulation (CHIPS)

Breakfast with classmates

Golden Graduate Reception, Ceremony, and Dinner at the Peabody Hotel All class years prior to 1970 are invited to attend.

Once a Golden Graduate, always a Golden Graduate!

Please watch your mailbox and email for the event brochure!

For more information, contact Terri Catafygiotu, Assistant Director for Alumni Programs, at tcatafyg@uthsc.edu or 901.448.8580.