News from the School of Graduate Studies
Nicholas D. Fried, MD/PhD Candidate, Department of Physiology
The LSUHSC - New Orleans Commencement Ceremony was held on May 19th, 2022, and in the School of Graduate Studies ten students were awarded the Doctor of Philosophy degree and four received a Master of Science degree. Additionally, on May 16th, the Graduate School held a pre-commencement celebration to honor these 14 graduates.
In the spring of 2022, LSUHSC-NO approved a new student organization, the Interprofessional Disability Advocacy Club, founded by graduate student Taylor Templeton in the Department of Physiology. The club aims to create a safe and welcoming space for students with disabilities at all LSUHSC schools, and to provide information regarding higher education opportunities for students with disabilities.
NIH Fellowship Awards:
Anna K. Whitehead and Brianna Bourgeois, both in the Department of Physiology, were awarded prestigious Ruth L. Kirschstein Individual Predoctoral National Research Service Award F30 Fellowships. Anna's fellowship, funded by the NIH/NHLBI, focuses on “E-cigarette Inhalation and Cardiopulmonary Dysfunction.” Brianna's fellowship, funded by the NIH/NIAAA focuses on “Alcohol-induced Skeletal Muscle Insulin Insensitivity in SIV/HIV: Myotube-derived Extracellular Vesicle-mediated Mechanisms.”
Student Publications:
Brianna Bourgeois published a first-author paper in Physiological Genomics.
Anna K. Whitehead published a first-author paper in Nicotine & Tobacco Research.
Hassan Yousefi in the Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology is an author on multiple papers published in Frontiers in Oncology, Frontiers in Bioscience-Landmark, Reports of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Oncogene, and Molecular Cancer.
Jacob Meariman, in the Department of Pharmacology & Experimental Therapeutics, published a first-author paper in Hypertension.
Conference Presentations:
Students have delivered oral and poster presentations at local, national, and international conferences:
Mona Elgazzaz in the Department of Pharmacology & Experimental Therapeutics presented at Experimental Biology and the American Diabetes Association 82nd Scientific Sessions.
Brianna Bourgeois gave oral presentations at Experimental Biology and Gordon Research Conference.
Nicholas D. Fried in the Department of Physiology presented at Experimental Biology and the International Experimental Biology and Medicine Conference.
Anna K. Whitehead presented a poster at Experimental Biology.
Callie Scull in the Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Parasitology presented at the North American Cystic Fibrosis Conference and University of Alabama at Birmingham Microbiome Symposium.
Hassan Yousefi presented at the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Annual Meeting and the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting.
Jacob Meariman presented at Experimental Biology.
Donnell White in the Department of Pharmacology & Experimental Therapeutics presented at Experimental Biology, the Southeastern Medical Scientist Symposium, the American Physician Scientist Association Northeast Regional Conference, and the American Diabetes Association 82nd Scientific Sessions.
Student Awards:
This year, students in the School of Graduate Studies have been the recipients of numerous awards:
Mona Elgazzaz received the Neural Control and Autonomic Regulation (NCAR) Steven M. Horvath Research Recognition Award from the American Physiological Society.
Jonquil Poret in the Department of Physiology received the Roheim Award of Excellence in Research.
Brianna Bourgeois received the American Physiological Society Endocrine & Metabolism Research Recognition Award and the Research Society on Alcoholism Student Merit Travel Award.
Nicholas D. Fried received the American Physiological Society Cardiovascular Section Research Recognition Award and Society for Experimental Biology and Medicine Young Investigator Award.
Taylor Templeton received the inaugural Michael G. Levitzky, PhD Excellence in Teaching Award.
Anna K. Whitehead received the Robert Gunn Award from the American Physiological Society Cell & Molecular Physiology Section.
Donnell White received 3rd place in the Graduate Oral Presentation Awards at the Southeastern Medical Scientist Symposium.
Brianna Bourgeois, Kyle LaPenna, and Donnell White were awarded a Certificate of Recognition by Governor John Bel Edwards for their service on the Covid-19 Student Wellbeing Task Force.
New Job Plans:
Mona Elgazzaz will begin a postdoctoral fellowship with Dr. Eric Lazartigues in the Department of Pharmacology & Experimental Therapeutics at LSUHSC - New Orleans this summer.
Eleanor Holmgren in the Department of Cell Biology & Anatomy will join the laboratory of Dr. Erin Calipari at the Vanderbilt Center for Addiction Research at Vanderbilt University for a postdoctoral fellowship in January of 2023.
Four students completing the MD portion of their combined MD/PhD degree recently matched
into residency programs. Congratulations to these MD/PhD graduates:
• Katelyn Gurley - matched into Mount Sinai Neurology Residency Program
• Katelyn Robillard - matched into LSU Otolaryngology Residency Program
• Nazary Nebeluk - matched into University of Maryland Internal Medicine Program
• Zachary Stielper- matched into LSU Psychiatry Residency Program.