ART Awardees

Year-Out Program for Medical Students

2023-2024

Past ART Trainees

2022-2023

Marissa LoCastro
Project: Engagement in Advanced Care Planning Among Older Patients with Acute Myeloid Leukemia and Myelodysplastic Syndrome
Mentor: Dr. Melissa (Kah Poh) Loh

Caroline Maretz
Project: Infectious Keratitis: Epidemiology, Bacterial Virulence and Antimicrobial Resistance
Mentor: Dr. Rachel Wozniak

Ching-Wei Pan
Project: Molecular Mechanism of GATA1 Mutation Causing Transient Abnormal Myelopoiesis in Down Syndrome
Mentor: Dr. Laurie Steiner

2021-2022

Mariah Erlick
Project: Assessing Value in the Surgical Episode of Care: A Conceptual Model and Implementation Framework Aligning Patient and Provider Values in Gastrointestinal Oncologic Surgery
Mentor: Dr. Larissa Temple

Eleanor Pope
Project: Longitudinal Real World Changes in Skin Microbial Ecology in AD Patients
Mentor: Dr. Lisa Beck

Kevin Vo
Project: Targeting Beta-II Spectrin to Improve CAR-T Cell Therapy
Mentor: Dr. Minsoo Kim

2020-2021

Shireen Saxena
Project Title: "Sex and Race Differences in Outcomes for Patients with Primary Prevention Implantation of Cardioverter Defibrillators"
Mentor: Ilan Goldenberg, M.D.

Racquel Whyte
Project Title: "Investigating the Difference in Platelet Phenotypes in Patients with Acute Ischemic Stroke and Large Vessel Occlusion versus Non-Stroke Controls"
Mentor: Matthew Bender, M.D.

2019-2020

Fatima Bawany
Project Title: “Understanding the Relationship Between Skin Commensal Bacterial and S. aureus Burden in Patients with Atopic Dermatitis”
Mentor: Lisa Beck, M.D.

Alejandra Rodriguez
Project Title: “The Effects of Growth Hormone and IGF-1 on Retinal Nerve Fiber Layers Following Compression Injury”
Mentors: G. Edward Vates, M.D., Ph.D. and David Paul, M.D., M.S.

Victor Wang
Project Title: “Examining the Relationship of Cigarette Smoke and the Development of Proliferative Vitreoretinopathy”
Mentor: Ajay Kuriyan, M.D., M.S.

John Wilson
Project Title: “Envelope-Following Response (EFR) as a Modality for Assessing Cochlear Synaptopathy in the Budgerigar”
Mentor: Kenneth Henry, Ph.D.

2018-2019

Timothy Campbell
Project Title: Look Like an Expert: Gaze Training in Novices Enhances Rate of Skill Acquisition in a VR Simulated Robotic Suture Task
Mentor: Ahmed Ghazi, M.D., M.Sc.

Samuel Tomlinson
Project Title: Role of interictal spike activity in planning the resection margins for epilepsy surgery
Mentor: Eric Marsh, M.D., Ph.D. at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia

Kwanza Warren
Project Title: Early Post-surgical Temozolomide Therapy in Patients with High-Grade Gliomas Admitted to Acute Rehabilitation: A Feasibility Study
Mentor: Kevin A. Walter, M.D.

Justin Williams
Project Title: The Association Between Health Literacy, Health Outcomes, and Medication Adherence in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis
Mentors: Jessica Robb, M.D. and Andrew Goodman, M.D.

2017-2018

Asad Arastu
Project Title: Association of Financial Toxicity (FT) with Depression, Anxiety, and Quality of Life (QoL) in Older Patients and Caregivers with Advanced Cancer
Mentor: Supriya Mohile, M.D., M.S.

Shravani Gangidi
Project Title: Heart Rate Variability Among ECG and PPG Signals as predictor of Atrial Fibrillation Recurrence After Electrical Cardioversion
Mentor: Jean-Philippe Couderc, Ph.D., M.B.A.

Rachel Park
Project Title: Identification of Novel Small Molecules that Prevent Radiation-Induced Capsular Contracture
Mentor: Richard Phipps, Ph.D.

Michelle Shankar
Project Title: Depression among Urban Teens with Asthma: A Focus for Providers
Mentor: Jill Halterman, M.D., M.P.H.

Earlier Years

Jennifer Andreozzi
Project Title: Geriatric Assessment to Improve Outcomes of Elderly Cancer Patients
Mentor:Supriya Mohile, M.D., M.S.

Josef Bartels
Project Title: The Context, Structure, and Function of Silence in Doctor-Patient Communication
Mentor: Ronald Epstein, M.D.

Jon Black
Project Title: How We See It: Life through the Eyes of a Pediatric Cancer Patient
Mentor: Nancy Chin, Ph.D., M.P.H.

Jarrod Bogue
Project Title: Investigation of the fundamental biochemistry and conformational properties of a specific riboswitch
from Neisseria gonorrhoeae
Mentor: Joseph Wedekind, Ph.D.

Zachary Borus
Project Title: The Impact of Implementing a 'Collaborative Problem Solving' Approach to Care on an Inpatient Child Psychiatry Unit
Mentor: David Garrison, M.D.

Matthew Brown
Project Title: Molecular, Cellular, and Tissue Abnormalities Leading to Impaired Fracture Healing in C57BL/6J Marine Model of Type II Diabetes
Mentor: Regis O'Keefe, M.D., Ph.D.

Pedro Calderon-Artero
Project Title: The Effects of Potent Inflammation Resolving Lipid Mediators on Platelet Function in Healthy and Diabetic Blood
Mentor: Robert Block, M.D., M.P.H., F.A.C.P.

Amanda Carpenter
Project Title: Aldo-keto reductase (AKR1C3) Role in Basal & Squamous Cell Skin Cancer Diabetic Blood
Mentor: Alice Pentland, M.D.

Jennifer Cialone
Project Title: A Phase II, Randomized, Placebo Controlled Trial of the Safety & Tolerability of Mycophenolate (CellCept) in Children with Juvenile Neuronal Ceroid Lipofuscinosis (JNCL)
Mentor: Jonathan Mink, M.D., Ph.D.

Ian DeAndrea-Lazarus
Project Title: Early Life Lead Exposure and Executive Functions Using the Stroop Day-Night Task
Mentor: Todd Jusko, Ph.D.

Thomas Fugate
Project Title: Detecting LVH by ECG in African Americans, Jackson Heart Study
Mentor: Thomas Pearson, M.D., M.P.H., Ph.D.

Robert Fulton
Project Title: Resolvins as Novel Regulators of Alveolar Lung Epithelial Cell Inflammatory Responses
Mentor: Patricia Sime, M.D.

Michael Geary
Project Title: Modulation of the prostanoid receptor EP4 to reduce scarring during flexor tendon healing
Mentor: Regis O'Keefe, Ph.D.

Trevor Hansen
Project Title: Thy1 Expression as a Marker and Therapeutic Target for Scar Formation in Capsular Contracture following Reconstruction Mammoplasty
Mentor: Richard Phipps, Ph.D.

Christopher Hogan
Project Title: Mechanisms for Protecting Human Lung Fibroblasts from Cigarette Smoke-Induced Cell Death: Implications for COPD
Mentor: Patricia Sime, M.D.

Jing-Li Huang
Project Title: Autophagy in Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma
Mentor: Aram Hezel, M.D.

Brian Jenssen
Project Title: Dissemination of Best Practices to Promote Smoke Free Homes
Mentor: Jonathan Klein, M.D., M.P.H.

Evan Katzel
Project Title: The impact of Smad3 loss of function on TGF-beta signaling and the resultant scarring and adhesion formation during tendon healing
Mentor: Regis O'Keefe, M.D., Ph.D.

Angel Kirkham
Project Title: Belize: A Case Study of a Community Mental Health Program in a Developing Nation
Mentor: Nancy Chin, Ph.D., M.P.H.

Ryan Koehler
Project Title: Development and Validation of the Arthroscopic Surgery Skill Evaluation Tool (ASSET)
Mentor: Gregg Nicandri, M.D.

Sirish Kondabolu
Project Title: Development of siRNA to Prevent Scar Formation in Tendon Repair
Mentor: Regis O'Keefe, M.D., Ph.D.

Ajay Kuriyan
Project Title: Inhibition of corneal fibroblast differentiation to scar forming cells
Mentor: Richard Phipps, Ph.D.

Chase Kwon
Project Title: A Systems Biology Approach to Identify Determinants of Staphylococcus
Mentor: Lisa Beck, M.D.

Erika Levy
Project Title: Treatment of Anxiety and Obsessive Compulsive Behaviors in Tourette Syndrome
Mentor: Jonathan Mink, M.D., Ph.D.

Judy Liu
Project Title: Mutation specific risk stratification of Long QT Syndrome type 3 via measure of evolutionary conservation of amino acids expressed by the SCN5A gene
Mentor: Arthur Moss, M.D.

Jinno (Tony) Magno
Project Title: Increased Sensitivity of Poor-Prognosis Human MLL-Rearranged Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia to Proteasome Inhibition (Bortezomib) in Vitro
Mentor: Jessica Shand, M.D.

Kelly Makino
Project Title: Advance Care Planning in Early Dementia Study
Mentor: Anton Porsteinsson, M.D.

Andrew Marky
Project Title: Activated Protein C is Neuroprotective and Mediates New Blood Vessel Formation and Neurogenesis after Controlled Cortical Impact
Mentor: Berislav Zlokovic, M.D., Ph.D.

Alexi Matousek
Project Title: The Molecular Pathogenesis of Barrett's Esophagus
Mentor: Jeffrey Peters, M.D.

Ron Menorca
Project Title: Determining EPO's role in accelerating functional recovery of meme in a mouse chronic neuropathy model
Mentor: John Elfar, M.D.

Doran Mix
Project Title: Computer Assisted Surgery Tool for Hemodialysis Fistulas (CAST-HDF)
Mentor: Ankur Chandra, M.D.

Aimee Morris
Project Title: Clinical Characteristics, Musical Variables, and Pathophysiology of Focal Embouchure Dystonia: A Disabling Disorder of Musicians
Mentor: Jonathan Mink, M.D., Ph.D.

Gregory Ouellet
Project Title: Effect of Sex Hormones on Clinical Course of Patients with Congenital Long QT Syndrome
Mentor: Arthur Moss, M.D.

Allison Panzer
Project Title: Breastfeeding and Health Outcomes in Low and Very Low Birth Weight Infants at 9 Months of Age.
Mentor: Cynthia Howard, M.D., M.P.H.

David Paul
Project Title: Using DTI to measure changes in occipital lobe white matter after decompression of the optic chiasm
Mentors: Brad Mahon, M.D. and Edward Vates, M.D., Ph.D.

Salvador Peña
Project Title: Do Astrocytes Contribute to the Exceptionally High Computational Power of the Human Brain?
Mentor: Maiken Nedergaard, M.D., DMSc

Clifford Pierre
Project Title: The Role of Altered Cerebrospinal Fluid Dynamics after Brain Surgery
Mentor: Maiken Nedergaard, M.D., DMSc

Daniel Platt
Project Title: Phenotypic Variability in and Treatment of Episodic Ataxia Type 1
Mentor: Robert Griggs, M.D.

Michael Prucha
Project Title: Healthcare Worker's Role in Tobacco Control in the Dominican Republic
Mentor: Deborah Ossip, Ph.D.

Yaoli Pu
Project Title: P75 Neurotrophin Receptor Signaling and Trafficking
Mentor: Nina Schor, M.D., Ph.D.

Izad-Yar Daniel Rasheed
Project Title: The Kindling Model of Epilepsy and Wavelet-Based Seizure Detection Methods
Mentor: David Pinto

Jeffrey Reed
Project Title: The Effects of Erythropoietin on Healthy Bone
Mentor: John Elfar, M.D.

Kyle Rodenbach
Project Title: Crystatin-C-based renal reserve in children with history of hemolytic uremic syndrome-associated acute kidney injury
Mentor: George Schwartz, M.D.

Lauren Roussel
Project Title: Evaluating Upper Extremity Function Following Mastectomy in Reconstructed and Non-Reconstructed Women with Breast Cancer

Elizabeth Saionz
Project Title: Post-concussion progesterone decline in female athletes
Mentor: Jeffrey Bazarian, M.D., M.P.H.

Glenn Schneider
Project Title: Inner Ear Gene Therapy Steps to Treat Age-Related Hearing Loss
Mentor: Robert Frisina, Ph.D.

Jordan Schramm
Project Title: Maternal iron-deficiency and its impacts on auditory temporal processing and myelination in the offspring – translation of animal models into the human system
Mentor: Anne Luebke, Ph.D.

Erika Snow
Project Title: The Role of E-cigarettes as a Barrier to Smoking Cessation
Mentor: Scott McIntosh, Ph.D.

Melissa Squires
Project Title: Analysis of Inpatient Data on Patients with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities at Strong Memorial Hospital
Mentor: Stephen Sulkes, M.D.

Laurel Stevens
Project Title: Role of Plexin B1 receptor in Melanoma Tumor Progression
Mentor: Glynis Scott, M.D.

Brandon Stein
Project Title: The Relationship Between Subconcussive Head Trauma and Markers of Brain Injury
Mentor: Jeff Bazarian, M.D., M.P.H.

Leigh Sundem
Project Title: Erythropoietin for Compression Neuropathy: Preclinical Efficacy and Cellular Site of Action
Mentor: John Elfar, M.D.

Otto Thomas
Project Title: Characteristics, frequency, and implications of extranodal non-Hodgkin's lymphoma
Mentor: Louis Constine, M.D.

Heidi Thompson
Project Title: Research into Health Care in the Deaf Population
Mentor: Steven Barnett, M.D.

Lindsay Wahl
Project Title: One Protein, Multiple Functions: The Role of Tissue Transglutaminase in Pulmonary Fibrosis
Mentor: Patricia Sime, M.D.

Joanna Walker
Project Title: Central Venous Catheter Thrombosis in Children
Mentor: Norma Lerner, M.D.

Andrew Walters
Project Title: Identification and Deployment of a Novel Drug to Enhance Cardiac Ischemic Preconditioning
Mentor: Paul Brookes, Ph.D.

Adam Weis
Project Title: Corneal Wound Healing and Ocular Optics After Descemet's Stripping Endothelial Keratoplasty (DSEK)
Mentor: Holly Hindman, M.D.

Sam Weisenthal
Project Title: Predicting Acute Kidney Injury in Re-Hospitalized Patients
Mentor: Martin Zand, M.D., Ph.D.

Pamela White
Project Title: Evaluating the Impact of eRecord on Nursing Practice and Patient Outcomes
Mentors: Gail Ingersoll, Ed.D., R.N., FAAN, FNAP

Paul Youn
Project Title: Effect of Total Body Irradiation and Pre-Transplant Pulmonary Status on Non-Relapse Mortality after Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant
Mentor: Louis Constine, M.D.

Christine Zanghi
Project Title: Anticoagulation in the era of Heparin Induced Thrombocytopenia: Combination Therapy with Bivalirudin and Fondaparinux Versus Conventional Heparin During Cardiopulmonary Bypass
Mentor: Michael Eaton, M.D.

Past MD/PhD Trainees

Youngsun Cho
Project Title: Sources of Dopamine Input to the Amygdala-an Anatomic and Neurochemical Focus of Mood Disorders
Mentor: Julie Fudge, M.D.

Katherine Eisenberg
Project Title: Lead Exposure in Refugee Children
Mentor: Edwin Van Wijngaarden, Ph.D.

Laura Fornarola
Project Title: Determining the role of the prolyl isomerase Pin1 in neuronal programmed cell death
Mentor: Robert Freeman, Ph.D.

Natalia Golub
Project Title: Longitudinal Health Outcomes in Former Refugees
Mentor: Diana Fernandez, M.D., M.P.H., Ph.D.

Michael Jacob
Project Title: Cognitive Influences on Perception: Studies in the neurophysiology of human aging and single cell dynamics
Mentor: Charles Duffy, M.D.

Susan Lee
Project Title: Neural basis of audiovisual integration during language comprehension in autism
Mentor: Loisa Bennetto, Ph.D.

Kevin Makino
Project Title: An Exploration of the Role of Public Health Insurance in Moderating the Effects of Low Family Income on Children's Educational Success
Mentor: Bruce Friedman, Ph.D.

Kofi Mensah
Project Title: Myelopoiesis in Erosive vs. Non-erosive Inflammatory Arthritis
Mentor: Edward Schwarz, Ph.D.

Phillip Rappold
Project Title: The Therapeutic Potential of Targeting Mitochondrial Fission/Fusion Pathways in Parkinson's Disease
Mentor: Kim Tieu, Ph.D.

Christopher Richardson
Project Title: B-Cell Tolerance and Immunology
Mentor: Ignacio Sanz, M.D.

Adam Simning
Project Title: Mental Illness among Older Adult Public Housing Residents
Mentor: Edwin VanWijngaarden, Ph.D.

Mercedes Szpunar
Project Title: The Effects of Stress on Breast Cancer: Beta-Adrenergic Receptor Stimulation of Cell Lines In Vitro and In Vivo
Mentor: Edward Brown

Helen Wei
Project Title: Astrocyte regulation of the cerebral microcirculation
Mentors: Maiken Nedergaard, M.D., DM.Sc. and Edward Vates, M.D., Ph.D.