MSTP Blog
VUSM volunteer efforts led by students
Mar. 30, 2020—by Ayesha Muhammad (G2) As people undergoing undergraduate medical and predoctoral scientific training, we are in a unique position: we have the know-how to appreciate the magnitude of the COVID-19 problem, while also being unable to join our mentors, loved ones and people who were once our peers (looking at you class of 2020! –...
Op-Ed: Marathon, not a sprint…
Mar. 29, 2020—by Ayesha Muhammad (G2) These days, there are a lot of feelings going around: anger, disbelief, fear, frustration, cabin fever, and even grief. Anger at the lack of supplies and tests… Disbelief at people who are still ignoring social distancing guidelines, or think this is all a hoax Fear for our loved ones, and our...
Preparing for the fight: Vanderbilt Vaccine Center’s efforts to find a COVID-19 treatment
Mar. 29, 2020—By Ben Fowler (G2, Crowe Lab) Across the world, scientists and physicians have been called to the front lines of the fight against the pandemic novel coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, that causes COVID-19. Here at Vanderbilt, the Crowe Laboratory, part of the Vanderbilt Vaccine Center, is working around-the-clock to rapidly develop SARS-CoV-2 antibodies that might be deployed...
The “Two-body Problem” in academic medicine: Match 2020 edition
Mar. 29, 2020—by Ayesha Muhammad (M2) Whether in the midst of a pandemic, or during a 7-8 year-long MSTP, life happens, which might involve finding a long-term partner. For some of our graduates this year, finding their partners did not happen in the most logistically convenient way. This leads to the “two-body problem,” i.e. when two partners...
Vanderbilt’s Own Dr. Mark Denison Delivers Grand Rounds on COVID-19 Antiviral Remdesivir
Mar. 29, 2020—COVID Medicine Grand Rounds Summary: Title: Learning from SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19): Emergence, Disease Biology and Antivirals Dr. Mark Denison, Director of Pediatric Infectious Diseases at Vanderbilt 3/5/2020 by Riley Bergman (M2) On March 5th, 2020, as news about COVID-19 started to become widely disseminated in the media, the Vanderbilt community was lucky enough to attend a...
We’re all #MSTPstars!
Mar. 29, 2020— Yasminye Pettway (M2) achieved crispy corners on her quilt blocks. Allie Lake (M1) fell down while on a run and kept going. Submit your #MSTPstar here
Life in the MSTP – March 2020
Mar. 29, 2020—Pre-Social Distancing Congratulations to John Shelley (M2) and Anthony Aldrich on their engagement! Joey Elsakr (G5) ran in the Olympic Trials Marathon in Atlanta, GA! Swapping stories, wisdom and pizza at the Vanderbilt MSTP’s M1-M4 party on March 7, 2020! Post-Social Distancing Michael Rudloff (G1) presents his journal club for our first ever virtual MSTP Seminar...
MSTPublications: March 2020
Mar. 29, 2020—Lipopolysaccharide Induced Opening of the Blood Brain Barrier on Aging 5XFAD Mouse Model. Barton SM, Janve VA, McClure R, Anderson A, Matsubara JA, Gore JC, Pham W. J Alzheimers Dis. 2019;67(2):503-513. doi: 10.3233/JAD-180755. The development of neurotherapeutics for many neurodegenerative diseases has largely been hindered by limited pharmacologic penetration across the blood-brain barrier (BBB). Previous...
Honors and Awards – March 2020
Mar. 28, 2020— Congratulations to David Wu (G3) and Duncan Smart (G2) for receiving NRSA F30 Fellowships! Congratulations to Danny Sack (G2) for winning the Robert F. Miller Award for Community Service and Engagement! Additional congratulations to Alex Sundermann (M4) and Rachel Brown (G3) for being named finalists for the award! Congratulations to Stephanie Dudzinski (G5)...
Congratulations to the graduating class of 2020 on their Match!
Mar. 28, 2020—Congratulations to the graduating class of 2020 on their Match! Watch the video of Jonathan Knowlton finding out his Residency Match!
MSTPets: Part 14
Feb. 28, 2020—Here’s an ode to our furry (and not-so-furry) friends who help us study for anatomy practicals, keep us company while we write our papers and thesis dissertations, and welcome us home after a long shift on surgery. MSTPets: Bo (German Shepherd) & Gypsy (Aussie / Lab / Catahoula mix) Ages: 11 years old...
Meet the new Sutherland faculty advisor: Heather Pua, MD, PhD
Feb. 28, 2020—by Ayesha Muhammad (G2) Heather Pua MD, PhD, is an Assistant Professor of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, and the new Faculty Adviser for Sutherland College. She did her B.S. in biology, and MD/PhD from Duke University, where she also completed her clinical rotations prior to entering her PhD, just like in Curriculum 2.0. She then...
Focus on Fellowships
Feb. 27, 2020—From the desk of Julie Gannon, MSTP Grants Manager NIH recently updated their published success rates to include fiscal year 2019. The combined F30/F31 success rate for fiscal years 2013 – 2019 is 28%. In comparison, the MSTP combined overall success rate for our current G2 – M4 classes is 64%. Even more impressive: 83%...
MSTPastime: Rachel Brown’s (G3) and Matt Stier’s (‘19) feral cat colony
Feb. 27, 2020—by Rachel Brown (G3) Current Members (pictured top left to bottom right): OG Gray Kitty, Mama, LBK (Little Brown Kitten), Rex, Pumpkin, Sylvester (not pictured), and Frank Former Colony Members (have been adopted!): Gullible Cat, Tortoiseshell Cat, Chatty Kathy, and Mallard Reducing Pet...