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MSTP Blog

Annual MSTP Retreat

Jul. 30, 2023—by Victor Borza (G3) We had a wonderful MSTP retreat last month at Henry Horton State Park, where we introduced the new M1 class, reflected on successes and challenges from the past year, discussed our research with each other, and engaged in some fun-spirited competition. Congratulations are in order for Edwards-Goodpasture college, winners of the...

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National MD-PhD Student Conference 2023

Jul. 30, 2023—by Emily Chu (G4) In early July, MSTP students Natalie Bennett (G5), Emily Chu (G4), Matthew O’Neill (M4), Yasminye Pettway (G4), Clara Si (G3), and Duncan Smart (M4) attended the 38th Annual National MD/PhD Student Conference held at the Copper Mountain Resort in Colorado. Over 100 MSTP students and faculty from across the country convened...

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MSTPublications: July 2023

Jul. 30, 2023—Unified tumor growth mechanisms from multimodel inference and dataset integration. Beik SP, Harris LA, Kochen MA, Sage J, Quaranta V, Lopez CF. PLoS Comput Biol. 2023 Jul 5;19(7):e1011215. doi: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1011215. eCollection 2023 Jul. Mechanistic models of biological processes can explain observed phenomena and predict responses to a perturbation. A mathematical model is typically constructed using...

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ADI Highlights

Jun. 27, 2023—As June comes to a close, we would like to share two documentaries for continued learning about Juneteenth (Juneteenth: Faith and Freedom) and Pride Month (State of Pride).   Juneteenth: Faith & Freedom  

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Reflections from the Outgoing Student Advisory Committee (SAC) Chair

Jun. 26, 2023—by Emilie Fisher (G4) The MSTP Student Advisory Committee (SAC) is a group of representatives from each class that acts as a liaison between the student body and the MSTP Leadership Team. Through the monthly SAC survey, committee presentations to SAC, and discussion topics raised by class representatives, we aim to collect student ideas, feedback,...

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New Publications: June 2023

Jun. 26, 2023—Exploratory Multisite Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopic Imaging Shows White Matter Neuroaxonal Loss Associated with Complications of Type 1 Diabetes in Children. Cai LY, Tanase C, Anderson AW, Patel NJ, Lee CA, Jones RS, LeStourgeon LM, Mahon A, Taki I, Juvera J, Pruthi S, Gwal K, Ozturk A, Kang H, Rewers A, Rewers MJ, Alonso GT, Glaser...

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Honors and Awards – June 2023

Jun. 24, 2023—   Riley Bergman (G4), Evelyn Kandov (G2), and Thomas Li (G3) all received F30s this month!     Ayaka Sugiura (M4) and Camille Wang (M4) received highly competitive P.E.O. Scholar Awards. Recipients of the $20,000 awards from P.E.O. International, a philanthropic organization based in Des Moines, Iowa, are women from the United States and Canada pursuing...

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Life in the MSTP – June 2023

Jun. 24, 2023—New MSTP student, Katie Burelbach (M1) became Mrs. Katie Caja when she married Steve Caja on May 20, 2023. Congratulations Katie and Steve!   Congratulations to Thomas Li (G3) and Aiwei Yan on their recent wedding!     Sutherland-Watkins went to brew at the zoo for an advising college trip!   MSTP students, friends, and...

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Alumni Corner

Jun. 24, 2023—2022 Graduates Dr. Joe Luchsinger (Psychiatry Resident at Yale) and Dr. Ben Reisman (Internal Medicine Resident at Johns Hopkins) met up in Connecticut and went for a bike ride just like old times on the Natchez Trace – and for the first time Joe’s 3 year old son Axel joined the club! We’re sure Axel will earn...

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Alumni Profile: Sungjune Kim, M.D., Ph.D. (’10)

Jun. 24, 2023—by Neil Chada (G2) Dr. Sungjune Kim, MD, PhD is a 2010 graduate of the Vanderbilt MSTP and is currently the section chief for hematologic malignancy in the department of radiation oncology at the Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa, Florida. He will soon be transitioning to a position at the Mayo Clinic in Florida to...

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Meet the Vanderbilt MSTP Incoming Class of 2023!

Jun. 24, 2023—The Vanderbilt MSTP is excited to introduce the incoming class of 2023, who started the program orientation on June 12th. We are delighted to have such a diverse group of people join our program. Welcome, new M1s!   Cassandra Atzrodt (she/her) Hometown: Bradenton, FL Undergraduate: Vanderbilt University Major: Biochemistry and Chemical Biology, French Hobbies: Go to a concert, Outdoors...

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Meet the 2023 MSTP Summer Scholars

Jun. 24, 2023—This summer the Vanderbilt MSTP is hosting 6 undergraduate MSTP Summer Scholars. This summer program is designed to expose students from diverse backgrounds to the career of a physician-scientist and help prepare them to apply to MD/PhD programs. These students are on campus for 9 weeks completing a research project and gaining clinical shadowing experience. In...

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I graduated yesterday…

Jun. 1, 2023—by Ayesha Muhammad (’23) I graduated yesterday, with an MD and a PhD. It still feels surreal, but you know what’s crazy? While everyone persistently said it was a celebration of the graduates, there were some people who I wanted to recognize even more. Like the friends that I’ve made in the MSTP, medical school...

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ADI Highlights

May. 31, 2023—On May 2nd, Kirsty Clark, MPH, PhD and Tara McKay, PhD discussed their research on mental health disparities and suicidality among LGBTQ+ adolescents and health, aging, and social networks among older LGBTQ+ adults, respectively, during a recent lunch session focused on transgender health jointly hosted by Pride in Medicine and the MSTP ADI council. On...

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Mini-MSTP with Dickson County Schools

May. 31, 2023—by Drew Kittleson (G1) and Ericka Randazzo (G1) The Mini-MSTP returned for another day of fun and learning! On Tuesday, May 9, the MSTP Outreach Committee invited middle school children from across Dickson County elementary schools to participate in our annual event highlighting the experiences of physician-scientists. Over 65 children attended and participated in stations...

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