SIU School of Medicine News Release Office of Public Affairs • P.O. Box 19621• Springfield, IL 62794-9621• (217) 545-2155

September 19, 2005

SIU Med Students Complete Mentored Research Experiences

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

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

“The program provides 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 –

Naurin Ahmad, Family History as a Predictor of Pediatric Vitiligo Characteristics: A Case Control Analysis, Dr. Amy Paller, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine ( Chicago ). Ahmad is the daughter of Matlub and Ferdaus Ahmad of Moline .

Katie Guignon, The Effective Dose of Curcumin that Prevents Cisplatin Produced Ototoxicity, Dr. Leonard Rybak, Ph.D., professor of surgery, SIU School of Medicine (Springfield). Guignon is the daughter of Mike and Patty Guignon of Belleville .

Rebecca Hook, Estrogen and the Brain: The Effect of Estrogen on Neuroglial Activation Following Long Term Estrogen Deprivation, Mary McAsey, Ph.D., professor of obstetrics and gynecology, SIU School of Medicine (Springfield). Hook is the daughter of Rod and Rita Hook of Abingdon.

Susie Ireland, Carrier Frequency for the IVS14+1 G>A Mutation Among Unaffected Individuals of Puerto Rican Ancestry, Dr. Michael Schneider, assistant professor of pediatrics, SIU School of Medicine (Springfield). Ireland is the daughter of Michael and Donna Ireland of Quincy .

Joshua Knolhoff, A Cry for Help, the Children of South Africa, Dr. William Hamilton, associate professor of education and curriculum, SIU School of Medicine (Carbondale). Knolhoff is the son of Bruce and Linda Knolhoff of Centralia .

Sarah Linn, Ultrasonic Measurement of Diabetic Foot Ulcers, Peter Cavanagh, Ph.D., Lerner Research Institute (Cleveland). Linn is the daughter of Edward and Joyce Linn of New Memphis.

Sapa Pham, Increased Inflammatory Mediators in Patients with Dry Eye Syndrome, Dr. Stephen Pflugfelder, Baylor College of Medicine ( Houston ). Pham is the daughter of Nhat Pahm and Ngoi Van of Pearland, Texas .

Gwen Redwood, CT Characteristics of Benign and Malignant Thyroid Nodules, Dr. Kevin J. Coakley, professor of radiology. SIU School of Medicine ( Springfield ); Redwood is the daughter of David and Sue Griffen of Springfield .

Susie Rhee, A Modified Lip Shortening Procedure: Technique and Outcomes, Dr. John Kim, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine ( Chicago ). Rhee is the daughter of Miran Rhee of Algonquin.

Jonathan C. Roberts, Determination of Cytokine and Fc Gamma Receptor Gene Polymorphism Distribution Among Children with Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP) to Identify Genetic Markers for Prediction of Treatment Reponse, Dr. Michael Tarantino, University of Illinois College of Medicine (Peoria) and Comprehensive Bleeding Disorders Center (Peoria). Roberts is the son of Roy and Helen Roberts of Peoria .

James Rybak, The Role of EGR-1 in Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury, Dr. Michael Neumeister, professor of surgery, SIU School of Medicine (Springfield). Rybak is the son of Dr. Leonard and Constance Rybak of Springfield .

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