(Far left) Donald J. Dudley, M.D., professor in the department of obstetrics and gynecology and board member of the Medical Alumni Association, presents Nabilla Porbandarwalla, MS-II, (third from left) with the Dean James J. Young Alumni Association Award. (L-R) Jan E. Patterson, M.D., professor in the department of medicine-infectious diseases; Anthony J. Infante, M.D., Ph.D., associate dean for research in the School of Medicine; and Ronald M. Stewart, M.D., associate professor in the department of surgery, congratulate Porbandarwalla on her award. Drs. Patterson and Stewart served as faculty mentors to Porbandarwalla.
Printer Friendly Format

At this year’s fourth annual Medical Student Research Day on Sept. 14, six students received awards from the more than 30 students who presented research posters.

“I was amazed by the incredible diversity of student research posters,” said Anthony Infante, M.D., Ph.D., associate dean for research in the School of Medicine. “It was a thrill to see students engaged in stimulating discussions with our distinguished speaker Dr. Mayberg.”

Helen S. Mayberg, M.D., distinguished speaker, presented “Towards a Neural Systems Model of Depression: Strategies Using Functional Imaging.” Dr. Mayberg is a former Health Science Center faculty member who served from 1991 to 1998 as assistant professor and later as associate professor in the departments of psychiatry, radiology and medicine, in the division of neurology. During those same years she also served as a senior scientist with the Research Imaging Center.

William R. Galey, Ph.D., director of the Graduate Science Education and HHMI-NIH Research Scholars Programs at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute presented outcome data on HHMI’s two medical students programs of interest to students who are considering a career that involves research.

Derek Dombroski, MS-IV, also made a presentation. Initially selected for a one-year fellowship as part of the HHMI-NIH Research Scholars ‘Cloister’ Program, Dombroski was among a small group asked to stay for an additional year of research at the NIH campus in Bethesda, Md. After returning to the Health Science Center last year, he then qualified for continued fellowship support that has funded his last two years of medical school.

Of the 34 students who presented, 27 were recipients of summer research stipends through the School of Medicine’s Dean’s office. The stipends have been augmented by funds from the Health Science Center’s Hispanic Center of Excellence, Audie L. Murphy Memorial Veterans Hospital and the Biomedical Research Foundation of South Texas, Inc.

Awards were presented by the Medical School Alumni Association, along with other cash prizes funded by the medical dean's office. For the third consecutive year, the Medical Alumni Association awarded the Dean James J. Young Alumni Association Award of $1,000 to the top winner of the research poster competition. A total of $4,250 was awarded this year.


Honorees


2004 Dean James J. Young Alumni Association Award

Nabilla Porbandarwalla, MS-II
“Community Onset Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (CO-MRSA) Infections Presenting to the Surgical Service (1993-2003): A Model Study to Evaluate Epidemiology and Management of CO-MRSA”
Mentors: Daniel L. Dent, M.D.; Jan E. Patterson, M.D. and Ronald M. Stewart, M.D.


Extensive Prior Research Experience

1st place: Clifton David Fuller, MS-III
“Evaluative Indices for Simulated Annealing Optimized Plan Parameters of Sequential Tomotherapeutic Intensity Modulated Radiosurgery (IMRS) for the Treatment of Glioblastoma Multiforme”
Mentors: Britta Forthuber, M.D., and Martin Fuss, MD., Ph.D.

2nd place: Emily Y. McLaurin, MS-III
“Predictors of Cognitive Functioning in Patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus”
Mentors: Stephen L. Holliday, Ph.D.; Paul Williams and Robin L. Brey, M.D.

3rd place: Jeffrey Russell, MS-II
“Retroviral-Mediated Delivery of Gene Constructs Containing Macrophage-Specific Prometer Sequences”
Mentors: M. Qiao, Senlin Li, M.D., Robert A. Clark, M.D.


Limited Research Experience

1st place: Adam Bruggeman, MS-II
“Nitric Oxide Regulation of Matrix Metalloproteinase Expression in Diabetic Wound Healing”
Mentors: Robert R. Hardin, David D. Dean, Ph. D.; and Victor L. Sylvia, Ph.D.

2nd place: Alexandra Boske, MS-II
“Neuropsychiatric Lupus (NPSLE) Syndromes in Predominantly Mexican American Lupus Patients”
Mentor: Robin L. Brey, M.D.