SIU Med Students Complete Mentored Research Experiences

Nine sophomore medical students from Southern Illinois University School of Medicine recently completed their Mentored Professional Enrichment Experiences (MPEE) with presentations to the medical school community in September.

The summer program is an elective between the first and second year of medical school designed as an opportunity for students to work with physicians or researchers at SIU or other medical campuses. The program concludes with a formal presentation by each student to the SIU medical school community.

"The program was established four years ago in order to provide new opportunities for students to explore clinical and basic science research and help them learn how to conduct effective research," explains Eric C. Niederhoffer, Ph.D., associate professor of biochemistry and molecular biology in Carbondale and director of the MPEE program.

The students, their project titles and their mentors are -

Nicole Collins, Effects of N-Acetylcysteine on Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury in Renal Transplantation, Dr. Timothy P. O’Connor, associate professor of general surgery, SIU School of Medicine (Springfield); Collins is the daughter of Terry and Susan Collins of Effingham.

John Frisbee, Artificial Vision for Macular Degeneration, Dr. Harvey Fishman, Ph.D., Stanford University; Frisbee is the son of Sara J. Frisbee of San Leandro, Calif.

Todd Gerberi, Does Oral D-methionine Provide Otoprotection from Cisplatin as Effectively as Intraperitoneal D-methionine?, Kathleen C.M. Campbell, Ph.D., professor of otolaryngology, SIU School of Medicine (Springfield); Gerberi is the son of Michael and Kathleen Gerberi of Sterling.

Lisa G. Harris, The Effects of Radiation on the Rat Bone, Ted Bateman, Ph.D., Clemson University; Harris is the daughter of Paul and Evelyn Harris of Modesto.

Brett Jones, Clinical Predictors of Mild Traumatic Brain Injury, Dr. Demetrios Kyriacou, Ph.D., Northwestern Memorial Hospital; Jones is the son of Debby Jones of Springfield and John Jones of Springfield.

Karla Kossler, Prenatal Tobacco Exposure: Perinatal Risks, Kimberly A. Espy, Ph.D., associate professor of family and community medicine, SIU School of Medicine (Carbondale) and the National Institutes of Health; Kossler is the daughter of Loren and Deanna Moshier of Normal.

Michael A. Morris, The Prevalence of Chloroquine-Resistant Malaria in The Gambia, West Africa, Ruth Woods, physician’s assistant at Ndungu Kebbeh Medical Center in Ndungu Kebbeh, The Gambia, and Sandra L. Shea, Ph.D., associate professor of family and community medicine, SIU School of Medicine (Carbondale); Morris is the son of Alan and Fran Morris of DuQuoin.

Jeremiah Smith, The Role of A20 in Diabetic Vasculopathy, Dr. Gautum Shrikhande, Harvard Medical School; Smith is the son of John and Mary Smith of Clinton.

Gregg Sydow, Estrogen Modulation of Apolipoprotein E (ApoE): Cell-Specific Expression of apoE In Vitro, Mary E. McAsey, Ph.D., assistant professor of obstetrics and gynecology, SIU School of Medicine (Springfield); Sydow is the son of David and Paula Sydow of Brimfield.

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