MSTP Blog
Life in the MSTP – January 2025
Jan. 31, 2025—Members of the M2 Class (Sara Stiens, Gabby Longway, Michael Valencia, David Nemoto, and Cassandra Atzrodt) making the most of the snow day! Snowy winter hike with Maddie Fowler (M1), Emma Fritsch (M2), and Bruno Lanca (G1) at Radnor Lake (left) and Laurel Snow State Park with Emma Fritsch (M2) and Gabby Longway (M2) (right).
This Month in Science and Medicine History: January 2025
Jan. 30, 2025—by Leigh Ann Gardner (MSTP Senior Grants Manager) January 1: Pioneering computer programmer and mathematician Grace Brewster Hopper died on January 1, 1992. Born in 1906 in New York City, she received her undergraduate degree from Vassar College and received a PhD in Mathematics from Yale University in 1934. Hopper began her career as a...
MSTPublications: January 2025
Jan. 30, 2025—Interpretable Deep-Learning pKa Prediction for Small Molecule Drugs via Atomic Sensitivity Analysis. DeCorte J, Brown B, Jeffrey R, Meiler J. J Chem Inf Model. 2025 Jan 13;65(1):101-113. doi: 10.1021/acs.jcim.4c01472. Epub 2024 Dec 30. PMID: 39801290 Free PMC article. Abstract: Machine learning (ML) models now play a crucial role in predicting properties essential to drug development,...
Meet the New PSTP Associate College Advisor for Sutherland-Watkins: Dr. Chelsie Sievers, M.D., Ph.D.
Jan. 30, 2025—by Cassandra Atzrodt (M2) Chelsie Sievers, M.D., Ph.D. is originally from Stillwater, MN, and attended Iowa State University where she majored in Genetics. Her undergraduate studies introduced her to the field of cancer genetics, which she would go on to study in graduate school. She received her PhD in Cellular and Molecular Pathology from University...
Meet the New Faculty College Advisor for Sutherland-Watkins: Dr. Celestine Wanjalla, M.D., Ph.D.
Jan. 30, 2025—by Hannah Giannini (G1) Dr. Celestine (Celly) Wanjalla M.D., Ph.D. is an Assistant Professor in the Division of Infectious Disease within the Department of Medicine. Now, she also serves as a College Faculty Advisor for Sutherland-Watkins College. After grabbing coffee at the Starbucks in Medical Center East, Dr. Wanjalla and I sat outside for her...
MSTP Fall Physician Scientist Speaker Series: Dr. Ciara Shaver
Nov. 25, 2024—by Yash Pershad (G2) The MSTP’s Fall Physician Scientist Speaker Series recently featured Dr. Ciara Shaver, physician-scientist and transplant pulmonologist. On the first floor of Central Library, students enjoyed a Thanksgiving-style dinner and Dr. Shaver’s career journey. Dr. Shaver kindly provided ten key takeaways from her journey: This is your life and it’s not just...
Meet the New PSTP Associate College Advisors for Avery-Cohen
Nov. 25, 2024—Maxwell Roeske, MD, PhD (’23) by Stirling Argabright (G1) Maxwell Roeske, MD PhD, is a Vanderbilt MSTP alum, PGY-2 psychiatry resident on the research track, and a new PSTP advisor for Avery-Cohen college. He grew up in the town of Wauwatosa, Wisconsin, and earned his bachelor’s degree in biology and psychology from the University of...
Life in the MSTP – November 2024
Nov. 25, 2024— Members of the MSTP Leadership Team and Vanderbilt MSTP and MD students recently attended the SACNAS/National Diversity in STEM and ABRCMS conferences where they were able to catch up with former participants in the MSTP Summer Undergraduate Research Program! Thank you to Ericka Randazzo (G3) and the MSTP Wellness Committee for working with the Vanderbilt...
This Month in Science and Medicine History: November 2024
Nov. 25, 2024—by Leigh Ann Gardner (MSTP Senior Grants Manager) November 7: Born on November 7, 1937, in Winchester, Kentucky, John E. Fryer was a notable psychiatrist and advocate for LGBT equality thanks to his work to have homosexuality removed as a classified mental illness in the APA Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM). Fryer...
Honors and Awards – November 2024
Nov. 25, 2024—Congratulations to Drew Kittleson (G3) who received the Medical Student Levi Watkins, Jr. Award! The Levi Watkins Jr. MD Awards recognize students, trainees, and faculty members who have made outstanding contributions to improve diversity, inclusion, and equity in healthcare, continuing the legacy of Dr. Watkins himself. Congratulations to Victor Borza (G4) for winning first place (the Martin Epstein...
MSTPublications: November 2024
Nov. 25, 2024—Sexual Trauma, Polygenic Scores, and Mental Health Diagnoses and Outcomes. Lake AM, Zhou Y, Wang B, Actkins KV, Zhang Y, Shelley JP, Rajamani A, Steigman M, Kennedy CJ, Smoller JW, Choi KW, Khankari NK, Davis LK. JAMA Psychiatry. 2024 Oct 30. doi: 10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2024.3426. Online ahead of print. PMID: 39475956 Importance: Leveraging real-world clinical biobanks to...
Honors and Awards – October 2024
Oct. 30, 2024—Vanderbilt University Medical Center recently held a Directorship Celebration to honor 17 leaders from across the enterprise in clinical care, research, education and administration. Our own MSTP Associate Director Ambra Pozzi, PhD, received the Thomas Golper Directorship. Congratulations, Ambra!
Life in the MSTP – October 2024
Oct. 30, 2024—Congratulations to Megan Tigue (G4) and her husband Sam on their wedding last month in Asheville, NC! For anyone interested in learning about ways to support the Western North Carolina community, here is a resource. Thank you to the MSTP Wellness Committee for organizing a hike at Percy Warner Park (left) and the First-Ever MSTP Dog...