GSBS Commencement 2015

Program
1. Introductions By Dr. David Weiss, Dean, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences
2. Dr. William Henrich, President, UTHSCSA
3. Dr. Bettie Sue Masters, Robert A. Welch Distinguished Professor In Chemistry and Professor of Biochemistry
4. Dr. Patrick Davis, Senior Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, College Of Pharmacy, UT-Austin
5. Dr. Francisco Gonzalez-Scarano, Dean, School of Medicine and Vice President for Medical Affairs
6. Dr. David Shelledy, Dean, School of Health Professions
7. Dr. Eileen Breslin, Dean, School of Nursing
8. Dr. Jacqueline Mok, Vice President for Academic Faculty and Student Affairs
9. Dr. Reto Asmis, Senior Associate Dean, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences
10. Dr. Birgit Glass, Associate Dean For Academic Affairs, Dental School
11. Dr. Sara Gill, Director Of Doctoral Studies, School of Nursing
12. Dr. Nicquet Blake, Associate Dean, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences
13. Dr. Sophie Piña, Assistant Dean, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences
14. Dr. Jose Cavazos, Assistant Dean for the M.D./Ph.D. Program

Masters of Science Class of 2015

Mohammed Barayan
Master of Science in Dental Science
Dissertation Title: The Efficacy of Image
Enhancement Tools in The Diagnosis of Root
Fractures
Research Interests: Dentistry
Mohammed will be teaching Oral and Maxillofacial
Radiology at King Abdulaziz University in Jeddah, Saudi
Arabia.
Mentor Name: Hassem Geha D.D.S., M.S.

Damian Black
Dissertation Title: An evaluation of the sealing
capability of the internal conical connections of
implants with titanium and zirconia abutments placed
under different screw torque values
Research Interests: Prosthodontics
Damian will start an assignment at Langley Air Force Base, VA
this summer. His best memories of graduate school were
socializing and learning with the UTHSCSA prosthodontic
residents!
Mentor Name: Chol H. Chong, D.M.D., M.S.

Tyler Dale Borg
Dissertation Title: Histological Comparison of Healing
Following Tooth Extraction with Ridge Preservation
using Mineralized Freeze Dried Bone Allograft Alone
versus a Combined Mineralized-Demineralized Freeze
Dried Bone Allograft
Research Interests: Alveolar Ridge Preservation
Notable Awards: John F. Prichard Research Award,
Dental Science Symposium Research Award
Tyler will be entering private practice in Denver, Colorado.
Mentor Name: Brian L. Mealey, D.D.S., M.S.

Enas Bsoul
Dissertation Title: Maxillary palatal canine
displacement in subjects with congenitally
missing maxillary lateral incisors
Research Interests: Orthodontics, Radiology
Notable Awards: Jordan Medical Board Certificate
Enas will be practicing Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology after
graduation. Her best memory was her thesis defense.
Mentor Name: Marcel Noujeim D.D.S., M.S.

Bradley S. DeGroot
Dissertation Title: Short-Term Dimensional
Changes Following Buccal Contour Augmentation
In Conjunction With Immediate (Type 1) Implant
Placement: A Case Series.
Research Interests: Immediate Implant Esthetics
Bradley will be joining a private periodontal practice in
Chicago, Illinois after graduation. His best memories of
graduate school are the meaningful personal and
professional relationships with brilliant and talented
faculty and residents.
Mentor Name: Guy Huynh-Ba D.D.S., M.S.

Kayleigh Eaves
D.D.S./M.A. Program
Thesis Title: Buccal Plate Thickness of Posterior
Dentate Areas: A Prospective Cone Beam
Computed Tomography (CBCT) Study
Research Interests: Periodontics
Kayleigh has truly enjoyed my training in the graduate
periodontics program here at UT. The faculty have been a
wealth of knowledge and have invested fully in her future as
a periodontist. Her co-residents have become some of her
best friends and a pillar of support through thick and thin.
Mentor Name: Brian Mealey D.D.S.,

Ashley Hoders
Dissertation Title: Esthetic, clinical,
patient-centered, and radiographic outcomes
of immediately placed implants (Type 1) and
early placed implants (Type 2): A randomized
controlled clinical trial
Ashley will enter a private practice in Tacoma, Washington.
Her best memories include establishing relationships that
will be long-lasting.
Mentor Name: Guy Huynh-Ba, D.D.S., M.S.

Pete Holden
Dissertation Title: Periodontal Pathogens
in Whole Saliva Are Associated with
Cardiovascular Disease Markers in a San
Antonio Mexican American Cohort
Research Interests: Basic Science
The best memory of graduate school that Pete has are of the
people that he worked with daily. Marcia Grayson and Dr.
Theresa Johnson are incredible people and he was fortunate
to have them as mentors at UTHSCSA. At the base, Eirleen
Hyun, Lisa Shoff, and Yong Suh made it so every day was an
OUTSTANDING Air Force day.
Mentor Name: Robin Leach, Ph.D.

Eirleen Hyun
Dissertation Title: Maternal Nutrient
Restriction: Effects on the Oral Microbiome
in Baboon Offspring
Notable Awards: Prichard Award
Eirleen will be moving to Dayton, Ohio for active duty service
in the US Air Force to practice periodontics. She would like to
thank UTHSCSA perio staff, Dr. Kraig, and all the great friends
she met along the way, especially Pete Holden, Lisa Shoff, and
Caroline Hall who made the this journey possible.
Mentor Name: Ellen Kraig, Ph.D.

Ketu P. Lincoln
Dissertation Title: Comparative Accuracy of
Facial Models Fabricated
using Traditional and 3D Imaging Techniques
Research Interests: Prosthodontics
Ketu will be stationed at Lackland AFB-
Prosthodontics Flight. He will miss the graduating UT
Prosthodontics residents. Good luck with your future
endeavors Drs. Fortmann, Johnson, and Sutton!
Mentor Name: Richard Batzer, D.D.S., MS.

Scott Makins
Dissertation Title: Proximal caries detection using
digital radiographs – a comparison of proprietary
standard images and enhancement filters versus a fifth-
degree polynomial regression algorithm
Research Interests: clinical radiography and
endodontics
Scott will be continuing his academic career and clinical
practice. His best memories of graduate school are his
classmates and TODAY!
Mentor Name: Hassem Geha, D.D.S., M.S.

Robert McKenzie
Master of Science in Cell and Structural Biology
Dissertation Title: The Role of Grp75 in
Mitochondrial Respiratory Complex Quality
Control
Research Interests: Mitochondrial Pathology,
Neuroscience, Anatomical Sciences
Robert will attend medical school at University of Texas
Health Science Center at San Antonio.
Mentor Name: Yidong Bai, Ph.D.

Ashley Reyes
Dissertation Title: Accuracy of surgical guides
made from conventional and a combination of
digital scanning and rapid prototyping
techniques
Research Interests: Prosthodontics, Dental
Materials
Ashley’s next duty station is Offutt AFB in Omaha, NE.
Go Huskers!
Mentor Name: Col Richard Batzer, D.D.S., M.S.

F. David Settles
Master of Science in Medical Physics
Dissertation Title: An MR Compatible Exercise Device
for Measuring PCr Recovery as an Index of
Mitochondrial Metabolism
Research Interests: Diagnostic Medical Physics,
Pancreatic Beta Cell Quantification
Notable Awards: Julio C. Palmaz Academic Grant
David is continuing at UTHSCSA in the new Doctorate of
Medical Physics program. His best memory of graduate school
was the day Dr. Ralph DeFronzo referred to his work as
“clever” in front of my mentor and peers.
Mentor Name: Geoffrey D. Clarke, Ph.D.

Lisa J. Shoff
Dissertation Title: A Domain of Dentin
Sialoprotein (DSP) Regulates Dental Cell
Differentiation Via its Receptor Occludin
After graduation, Lisa is moving to Northern California for
active duty service in the USA Air Force to practice
Periodontics. She really loved working with and getting to
know everyone in Dr. Chen’s lab. She enjoyed the exceptional
mentorship of the UTHSCSA Periodontics staff and the
comradery of the Air Force and UTHSCSA Perio residents.
Mentor Name: Shuo Chen M.D., Ph.D.

Xi Tan
Master in Biomedical Engineering
Dissertation Title: Modeling Brain Volumes by
Chromosomal Deletion Size and Age in 18
Individuals
Research Interests: Neuroimaging
Mentor Name: Jack L. Lancaster, Ph.D.

Lakshmi Vishwanat
Master of Science in Clinical Investigation
Dissertation Title: Clinical Trial of Toothpastes For
Treating Dentin Hypersensitivity
Research Interests: Dental Research
Being an international student, after graduation, Lakshmi
wishes to gain admission into the International Dentists
Program to be able to practice dentistry in the United States.
Mentor Name: Bennett T. Amaechi BDS, MSc, PhD, FADI

Doctorate of medical physics
Class of 2015

Wilbert F. Cruz
Doctor of Philosophy in Medical Physics
Thesis Title: A Comparison of Continuous Versus Discrete
Data Acquisition For Linear Accelerator Dosimetric
Characterization
Research Interests: Radiation Therapy, Radiological
Sciences, Radiation Measurements
Notable Awards:
Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation
GSG Scholarship
TRS Travel Grant
Wilbert’s next step is to pay his student loans. His best memories are
the wonderful friendships.
Mentor Name: Sotirios Stathakis, Ph.D.

Doctor of Pharmacy Class of
2015

Kalyn Marie Acker
Doctor of Pharmacy
Notable Awards:
TPA Luther and Mary Ann Parker Scholarship for
leadership, merit, & need
Courageous Leader Award, Phi Lambda Sigma
Texas Pharmacy Foundation Scholarship
Next year, Kalyn will be completing a 2-year Health-System Pharmacy
Administration Residency (PGY1/PGY2/MPH Program) at Allegheny Health
Network in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Her favorite memory of pharmacy school is the white coat ceremony because
once she got my white coat, she felt like she had superpowers!

Jacqueline Argamany
Doctor of Pharmacy
Notable Awards: Graduating with High Honors;
San Antonio Pharmacy Student Research Award
After graduation, Jacqueline will be continuing her
studies as a graduate student and resident in our college’s
Pharmacotherapy Division.
Mentor Name: Kelly Reveles, Pharm.D., Ph.D.

Dana Gayle Boeck
Doctor of Pharmacy
Notable Awards:
Texas Society of Health-System Pharmacists Student Poster
Presentation Winner
Davila Endowed Scholarship Recipient,
Generations Club Endowment Recipient
University of Texas Financial Aid Committee Scholarship
Recipient
Phi Lambda Sigma National Pharmacy Leadership Society
Dana plans to be a PGY-1 Pharmacy Resident at the University Health
System, San Antonio, Texas. Her best memory of graduate school are at the
National Convention Meetings.

Chia-Lin Chang
Doctor of Pharmacy
What she is doing next: PGY-1 at
Methodist San Antonio
She is thankful for: Her husband, family
and faculty at UTHSCSA
Best memory of pharmacy school:
Finding time to hang out with family
and friends in the midst of chaos!

Julie Chinn
Doctor of Pharmacy
Julie’s best memory is leading education
classes to patients on diabetes and
psychiatric medications.

Christina Brooke Dorman
Doctor of Pharmacy
Notable Awards:
Baptist Health Foundation Scholarship
Abbott Laboratories Endowed Presidential Scholarship in
Pharmacy
NACDS Foundation Endowed Presidential Scholarship in
Pharmacy
Eckerd Endowed Presidential Scholarship in Pharmacy
Rho Chi Academic Honor Society in Pharmacy
Phi Lambda Sigma Pharmacy Leadership Society
After graduation, Christina will be a PGY-1 Pharmacy Practice Resident –
South Texas Veterans Health Care System, San Antonio, TX. Her best
memory of graduate school were supportive, lasting relationships.
Mentor Name: Christopher Frei, Ph.D.

Laura Gordon
Doctor of Pharmacy
Pharmacy school has been a wonderful
experience and I have especially enjoyed
my time in San Antonio!
After graduation, Laura will be moving to Alabama
and working at Walgreens.

Amber Gossett
Doctor of Pharmacy
Career Interests: Ambulatory Care
Notable Awards: Texas Society of Health
Systems Pharmacists Student Poster Winner-
2014
Amber will be joining the South Texas Veterans Health Care
System PGY1 Pharmacy Residency Program in San Antonio,
Texas. Her best memories are with the friends she gained
during the last four years!

Philip Edward Graves
Doctor of Pharmacy
Notable Awards:
UTCOP APhA-ASP Distinguished Member
2011-2012
James Franklin Beran Endowment in
Pharmacy Scholarship 2011-2012
After graduation, Philip will begin a career in infusion
pharmacy at Healix, Inc. in Houston, TX.

Jose Guzman
Doctor of Pharmacy
Research Interests: Antisense Oligonucleotide
Anticoagulants
Notable Awards: Intern of the Summer
After graduation, Jose will be joining a community
pharmacy practice. His best memories of school are
weekend jogs along Lady Bird Lake.
Mentor Name: Jessica Morales, Pharm D

Justin Horowitz
Doctor of Pharmacy
Research Interests: Heme/Onc
Notable Awards: Published in Biology of
Blood and Marrow Transplantation; member of
Rho Chi
In the future, Justin will be a PGY-1 Pharmacy Resident at
Methodist Dallas Medical Center.
Mentor Name: Tony Dasher, PharmD.

Crystal Howell
Doctor of Pharmacy
Research Interests: Infectious Disease, Transplant
Notable Awards: ACCP Infectious Disease PRN
Student Travel Award
After graduation, Crystal will be a Pharmacy Practice
Residency at Emory University Hospital. Her best memory of
graduate school is the misfit crew.

David Huggar
Doctor of Pharmacy
After graduation, David will
be a resident in the College of
Pharmacy’s Masters of
Pharmacotherapy program.

Steven Lee
Doctor of Pharmacy
Notable Awards:
1st Place: ACCP 2014 Clinical Pharmacy
Challenge Local Competition
Honorable Mention: Clinical Skills Competition
University Health System Silver Achievement
Award
After graduation, Steven will be pursuing a PGY-1
Pharmacy Practice Residency at Huntsville Hospital.

Elaine Lo
Doctor of Pharmacy
The University of Texas at Austin/UTHSCSA
Fondest Memories: Experiencing happiness with
family, mentors and friends
After graduation, Elaine will be a PGY1 at VA North
Texas Health Care System.

Travis Smith
Doctor of Pharmacy
Professional Interests: Emergency Medicine
After graduation, Travis will be a University Health
System PGY1 Pharmacy Practice Resident.

Teresa Irene Wise
Doctor of Pharmacy
Notable Achievements:
Midi Grant Recipient: Center for Medical Humanities
and Ethics
Excellence in Community Service Learning
Team Lead – Project IMPACT
Publications:
TSHP Bulletin: Drug Information Service – Public
Health Alert
After graduation, Teresa will be entering practice as a
community pharmacist in the Greater Houston area.

Sara Woods-Yakhin
Doctor of Pharmacy
Project Title: Raising Awareness about Hypertension
in the HIV/AIDS Community in Bexar County
Research Interests: Health Literacy
Notable Awards:
Midi Grant Recipient: Center for Medical
Humanities and Ethics
Outstanding Community Service Learning Project:
Center for Medical Humanities and Ethics
Award for HIV Outreach: Student Government
Association
Community Service Learning Award: College of
Pharmacy

Linda Yang
Doctor of Pharmacy
The University of Texas at Austin/UTHSCSA
After graduation, Linda will be a PGY1 Residency at Central
Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System.
Most memorable part of pharmacy school:

Elizabeth Frances Yu
Doctor of Pharmacy
Notable Awards:
Project IMPACT CSL Team Midi-Grant
James Franklin Beran Endowment in Pharmacy
After graduation, Elizabeth will be a staff pharmacist at
University of Texas Medical Branch John Sealy Hospital in
Galveston.

Doctor OF Philosophy
Class of 2015

Kendra J. Alfson
Doctor of Philosophy in Microbiology and
Immunology
Dissertation Title: Characterizing and understanding the
biological consequences of filovirus genome plasticity
Research Interests: Virology
Notable Awards: Student travel awards from ASV, ASM,
and UTHSCSA M&I Department
Kendra will become a postdoctoral researcher at Texas Biomedical
Research Institute.
Mentor Name: Anthony Griffiths, Ph.D.

Xin Bao
Doctor of Philosophy in Molecular Medicine
Dissertation Title: Ubiquitin Mediated Proteolysis In Yeast
Research Interests: Proteolysis, Biochemistry
In the future, Xin will be looking for a postdoctoral position.
Mentor Name: Hai Rao, Ph.D.

Izhar Singh Batth
Doctor of Philosophy in Cellular and Structural
Biology
Dissertation Title: New roles for RON in Prostate Cancer
Research Interests: Prostate Cancer
Notable Awards:
AACR Scholar-in-training (2014)
Travel Award – CPPS (2013)
Young Investigator Award (2012)
Scholarship – David P. Green Family Endowment (2012)
Best Presentation – Annual South Padre Conference (2012,
2013)
Izhar is currently a postdoctoral fellow at MD Anderson Cancer Center in
Houston. His best memories of graduate school are all the fun and laughs
with his labmates.
Mentor Name: A. Pratap Kumar, Ph.D.

Danielle Callaway
Doctor of Philosophy in Cellular & Structural Biology
Dissertation Title: The Roles of Caspase-2 and Connexin 43 in
Osteoclast Differentiation
Research Interests: Bone, Oxidative Stress
Notable Awards:
David Carillo Memorial Fellowship Award 2012
F30 Fellowship from the National Institute on Aging
Danielle will graduate from Medical School in May 2016 and plans to go
into a pediatrics residency followed by a fellowship in neonatology.
Mentor Name: Jean Jiang, Ph.D.

Yanan Chen
Biology
Dissertation Title: Impact of the Calcineurin b Isoform on the
Unfolded Protein Response in Astrocytes After Acute Brain
Injury
Research Interests: Neuroscience
After graduation, Yanan will be a postdoctoral scholar at the University of
Chicago.
Mentor Name: James D. Lechleiter, Ph.D.

Huai-Chin Chiang
Dissertation Title: Crosstalk Between BRCA1
and a Transcription Elongation Factor in
Mammary Gland Development
Research Interests: Breast Cancer Research
Notable Awards:
TST Scholar for 2012-2013
Mentor Name: Rong Li, Ph.D.

Doo Eun Choi
Doctor of Philosophy in Cancer Biology
Dissertation Title: c-Abl kinase targets tight
junction ZO-2 in regulation of cell migration
and morphology.
Research Interests: Cancer Biology, Translational
Research
After graduation, Doo will be a postdoctoral fellow. Her best
Memory of graduate school were moments with her good friends.
Mentor Name: Zhi-Min Yuan, M.D., Ph.D.
Patricia Dahia, M.D., Ph.D.

Dewayne Defoor
Doctor of Philosophy in Radiological Sciences
Dissertation Title: Development of An End-to-End Patient
Specific Dose Monitoring System Using the Epid and MLC Log
Files
Research Interests: In-vivo dosimetry, IMRT QA
After graduation, Dewayne will be staying at CTRC for residency.
Mentor Name: Sotirios Stathakis, Ph.D.

Fangjian Gao
Dissertation Title:
MED12 Modulates SOX17 Transcriptional Activity In Early
Mouse Development
Research Interests: Development, Biochemistry
Notable Awards:
UT Health Science Center At San Antonio Research Prize
After graduation, Fangjian will be looking for a postdoctoral
position.
Mentor Name: Thomas G Boyer, Ph.D.

Gretchel Ajon Gealogo
Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing Science
Dissertation Title: “A Light in the Dark”: Development of
a Conceptual Model for Person- Engaged Dementia Care
Research Interests: Complex adaptive systems theory,
care engagement, health care policy
Notable Awards: U.S. Department of Education GAANN
Fellow; papers presented at the International Council of
Nurses and World Congress for Gerontology and
Geriatrics
After graduation, Gretchel will be telling the stories of the
participants in her dissertation study.
Mentor Name: Carrie Jo Braden, Ph.D., RN, FAAN

Caroline Hall
Immunology
Dissertation Title: Baboon T Cell Immunity Challenges
Conventional Paradigms of Immune Aging
Research Interests: Microbiology and Immunology
Notable Awards: NIH T32 Molecular Mechanisms in
Microbial Pathogenesis Training Grant
Caroline will be a postdoctoral fellow at the U.S. Army Institute of Surgical
Research in Fort Sam Houston, San Antonio. Her best memory of
graduate school was presenting a poster at her first national meeting.
Mentor Name: Ellen Kraig, Ph.D.

Kaitlyn Lewis Hardell
Biology
Dissertation Title: Contribution of Nrf2-signaling
to cytoprotection, cancer resistance, and longevity
in the naked mole-rat
Research Interests: Biology of Aging
Notable Awards:
Dean’s Award of Excellence
Biology of Aging Training Grant
Excellence in Women’s Health Scholarship
Diehlmaan Foundation AGE Meeting Travel Award
American Aging Association Walter R. Nicolai Award
After graduation, Kaitlyn is pursuing a postdoctoral fellowship with Dr.
Jonathan Gelfond.
Mentor Name: Rochelle Buffenstein, Ph.D.

Pei-Yin Hsu
Dissertation Title: Spatiotemporal control of estrogen-
responsive gene transcription in luminal breast cancer
cells
Research Interests: Epigenetics, Cancer biology
Notable Awards:
GRC Poster Award 2013
AACR-WICR Scholar Award 2014
GSBS Travel Award 2015
Mentor Name: Tim H.-M. Huang, Ph.D.

Raehannah J. Jamshidi
M.D./Ph.D. Program
Dissertation Title: “Peripheral Mechanisms of Opioid Analgesia:
Regulation of Kappa Opioid Receptor (KOR) Function.”
Research Interests: Pharmacology; drug efficacy; cell signaling; opioid
receptors; pain neurotransmission.
Notable Awards: Translational Scientist Training Award (UTHSCSA,
2013); Outstanding Oral Presentation Award at the Behavior, Biology
and Chemistry Conference (San Antonio, 2015).
Raehannah plans to complete her final two years of medical school and then begin a
medical residency program where she will practice medicine and conduct research.
Her favorite part of graduate school was working with an incredible group of
individuals in the Clarke/Berg Lab. Their enthusiasm, dedication, and team work
kept her challenged, “hungry” for science, and inspired everyday.
Mentors: William P. Clarke, Ph.D. and Kelly A. Berg, Ph.D.

Norberto González Juarbe
Immunology
Dissertation Title: A new mouse model of Serratia marcescens
pneumonia and the mechanisms of bacterial pore-forming toxin-
induced necroptosis and caspase-associated necroptosis
Research Interests: Pneumonia, Pore-forming toxins, Cell death
signaling
Notable Awards:
Keystone Symposia Travel Award
5 Best Poster Presentation Awards
Noberto will be doing a postdoc in Dr. Orihuela’s lab. His best memory of
graduate school was when he went to Brazil to present his research at a
Keystone meeting.
Mentor Name: Molly A. Bergman, Ph.D.

Sarah Junco Wong
Doctor of Philosophy in Biochemistry
Dissertation Title: Structure and Functional Studies
of the PRC1.1 Complex
Research Interests: Biochemistry
Notable Awards: NIH NIGMS F31
Sarah is currently an IRACDA postdoctoral fellow in medicinal
chemistry at the University of Texas at Austin.
Mentor Name: Chongwoo A. Kim, Ph.D.

Kevin Kauweloa
Mentors: Nikos Papanikolaou, Ph.D. & Panayiotis Mavroidis, Ph.D.
Dissertation Title: Practical aspects and applications of the biological
effective dose three-dimensional calculation for multi-phase
radiotherapy treatment plans
Research Interests: Biological effective dose modeling, radiobiology,
adaptive radiation therapy, deformable image registration, computed
tomography image reconstruction, magnetic resonance imaging guided
radiation therapy
Notable Awards: Third place oral presentation award for the Young
Investigator Symposium at the Southwest American Association of
Physicists in Medicine 2014 spring meeting.
Following graduate school, Kevin will be a resident in the radiation therapy, medical
physics residency program at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. His
favorite moment in graduate school is when he received his third first author
publication – first here at UTHSCSA – in the Medical Physics Journal.

Samaya Krishnan
Doctor of Philosophy in Cellular and Structural Biology
Dissertation Title: Role of PELP1 in the DNA damage
response pathway
Research Interests: Cancer Biology
Notable Awards:
WICR Scholar Award
AACR Annual meeting
2014 SABCS Scholar-In-Training Award
2012 SABCS Scholar-In-Training Award
After graduation, she will be joining Integral Molecular, Inc in
Philadelphia, PA as a Business Operations Associate. Her best memory
of graduate school was being part of a nerd softball team, day long
retreats, and grad school picnics.
Mentor Name: Ratna Vadlamudi, Ph.D.

Justin Alexander Long
Doctor of Philosophy in Biomedical Engineering
Dissertation Title: MRI characterization of mild TBI in rats and
evaluation of neuroprotection by Methylene Blue
Research Interests: Biomedical Imaging and Product
Development
Notable Awards:
2011 – Three SALSI Translational Science Awards – Surgical
Cooling Device, 3D Biopsy Guidance System, and Drainage
Catheter Fixation Device
2013 –ISMRM New Entrant Stipend
2014 – UTHSCSA TST Translational Science Trainee
Justin is currently a senior R&D engineer for Medtronic Cardiovascular
in Galway, Ireland.
Mentor Name: Timothy Duong, Ph.D.

Jorge L. Medina, Ph.D.
Immunology
Dissertation Title: The Impact of Mycoplasma
Pneumoniae Cards Toxin in Asthma Pathogenesis
Research Interests: Microbiology and Immunology
Notable Awards:
Translational Science Training Across Disciplines
Fellowship
Molecular Mechanisms of Microbial Pathogenesis
T-32 Training Grant
AAI Trainee Abstract Award
FASEB MARC Program Travel Award
Jorge will have a postdoctoral fellowship at the U.S. Army Institute of
Surgical Research, San Antonio, TX. His best memories of graduate
school are all the great friends that he made.
Mentor Name: Peter H. Dubé, Ph.D.

Sweta Mishra
Biology
Dissertation Title: Role of microRNA-21, estrogen and TGF beta
signaling in prostate cancer
Research Interests: Chromatin and Cancer Biology
Notable Awards:
Rennels Memorial Award for Excellence in Graduate
Studies
Translational Science Training Award
CSH Travel Award
AACR Travel Award
UTHSCSA Endowed Student Scholarship
After graduation, Sweta will be a postdoctoral research fellow at
Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School.
Mentor Name: LuZhe Sun, Ph.D.

Angela D. Pal
Dissertation Title: Getting a New Life: Women Living
with a Left Ventricular Assist Device
Research Interests: Cardiovascular Disease,
Communication between Nursing and Other
Healthcare Providers
Angela plans to focus on family and a faculty position in
cardiac surgery research.
Mentor Name: Sara L. Gill, Ph.D., RN, IBCLC

Kimberly Ray
Mentor Name: Angela R. Laird, Ph.D.
Dissertation Title: A graph theoretical analysis of human
intrinsic connectivity networks
Research Interests: Neuroscience Imaging
Notable Awards:
UTHSCSA Presidential Student Ambassador Scholar
2012
Malcolm Jones Student Award 2010 – 2014
Palmaz Academic Travel Award 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014
Kimberly is currently a postdoctoral fellow at the University of
California - Davis in the Psychiatry department.

Michael Riedel
Dissertation Title: Hierarchical Perspectives in Intrinsic
Brain Networks
Research Interests: Neuroscience, intrinsic brain networks,
altered connectivity in drug abuse
Notable Awards:
Palmaz Award
Invited Lecturer at International Conferences
Michael has accepted a postdoctoral fellowship at Florida
International University investigating dysfunctional connectivity
across substance use. His favorite memory of graduate school is the
opportunity to travel to Hamburg, Germany for the Organization for
Human Brain Mapping meeting to present his dissertation work.
Mentor Name: Angela Laird, Ph.D.

Therese Rizzo
Dissertation Title: Impact of an Advanced Cardiac Life Support Course
Enhanced with High Fidelity Human Simulation on Nurses’ Knowledge,
Megacode Performance, and Observed Clinical Reasoning Components
Research Interests: Health promotion, education, and the Wounded
Warrior
Therese will be doing research with the Sidra Medical Center in Qatar.
Mentor Name: Andrea Berndt, Ph.D.

Jamila Sanchez
Doctor of Philosophy in Cellular & Structural Biology
Dissertation Title: Mechanisms mediating age-associated
changes in AP endonuclease 1 abundance in spermatogenic
cells
Research Interests: Aging, DNA repair and reproductive
biology
Notable Awards:
Predoctoral Biology of Aging Training Grant Awardee
Walter R. Nicolai Award for AGE Meeting Poster
Dielmann Foundation AGE Meeting Travel Award
Jamila will be pursuing a postdoctoral fellowship with Dr. Rochelle
Buffenstein at The Barshop Institute for for Aging and Longevity
Studies.
Mentor Name: Christi A. Walter, Ph.D.

Rachel Smallwood
Doctor of Philosophy in Biomedical Engineering
Dissertation Title: The neurobiology of comorbid opioid
addiction and chronic low back pain: magnetic resonance
imaging-based regional and connectivity alterations
Research Interests: Neuroimaging
Notable Awards:
Valero Research Scholar
American Academy of Pain Management Abstract
Blue Ribbon
Rachel will be pursuing a postdoctoral research position in
neuroimaging.
Mentor Name: Donald A. Robin, Ph.D.

Sunil K. Valaparla
Dissertation Title: MRI and MRS of Skeletal Muscle
Lipids in Type2 Diabetes Mellitus
Research Interests: Medical Physics, Magnetic
Resonance Imaging and Spectroscopy
Notable Awards:
American Heart Association Predoctoral
Fellowship
After graduation, Sunil will be a Clinical Medical Physicist in
Lexington, Kentucky. His best memory of graduate school were his
friends and a warm San Antonio culture.
Mentor Name: Geoffrey D. Clarke, Ph.D.

Xiaowen Zhang
Dissertation Title: Functional Interaction Between
BRCA1 and Its Co-factor COBRA1 in Mammary
Gland
Research Interests: Breast cancer research
Mentor Name: Rong Li, Ph.D.

Congratulations class of 2015!

GSBS Commencement 2015

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