Aiken native earns UMA/MSTP
scholarship
by Mary Helen Yarborough
Public Relations
The fifth South Carolina-bred scientist selected as this year’s UMA/MSTP scholarship recipient is Thomas Beckham, a first-year M.D./Ph.D. student from Aiken.
Beckham, who scored a cumulative 37 of a maximum 45 on his Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT), could have gone to any medical school in the country. Instead, after graduating from Clemson University with a 4.0 GPA and a degree in genetics, the devoted Tiger fan stayed near home, and began a summer research rotation under James Norris, Ph.D., chair of the Department of Microbiology and Immunology. Norris has been working on combining Fas Ligand gene therapy with radiation as a therapy for prostate cancer. Fas Ligand is a type II transmembrane protein that belongs to the tumor necrosis factor family.
Congratulating
Thomas Beckham (center) from left are Drs. Jerry Reves, Bill Heuston,
Lina Obeid, Jack Feussner, Perry Halushka, Bruce Elliot and David Habib.Beckham said he does not know what medical field he plans to pursue, but he said he looks forward to working with MUSC’s dedicated and brilliant faculty members.
“I am inspired by anyone who devotes himself to making things better,” Beckham said. “That includes nearly everyone involved with research at MUSC.”
The UMA Scholarship Program, funded by academic physicians through the UMA practice plan, is rare among medical schools, said MSTP director Perry Halushka, M.D., Ph.D., dean of the College of Graduate Studies.
“We are delighted that the UMA has continued to sponsor this very prestigious scholarship,” said Halushka. “It is truly unique that a faculty practice plan sponsors a scholarship for an M.D./Ph.D. program. In my 20 years of experience directing our program, I am unaware of any other program in the country that has a scholarship funded by its university’s practice plan.”
He also expressed his gratitude to the UMA, and praised the support of the physicians who have helped prepare South Carolina’s finest for the challenging world of medical science.
This endorsement of excellence by the UMA is particularly important, since the National Institutes of Health looks at the institution’s financial commitment to its M.D./Ph.D. program as one of their criteria for funding programs, Halushka explained.
Meanwhile, Halushka praised Beckham for his academic achievements. “Thomas Beckham exemplifies the fine students from South Carolina who have been recipients of this prestigious award,” Halushka said.
Rooted in a simple request
The UMA Scholarship started six years ago when Halushka asked then-UMA president, Bruce Elliot, M.D., senior associate dean for Clinical Affairs, if UMA would fund a scholarship for M.D./Ph.D. students from South Carolina. Elliot complied and the UMA executive committee endorsed it. Thus, the program was developed to help support a student for a year with a $22,000 stipend.
Once the student finishes the year, that individual is designated as a UMA scholar for his/her tenure as a student at MUSC, Halushka said.
Four students have completed the scholarship since it began in 2001. All of them still are at MUSC and include:
- Loretta Hoover, studying under Steve Kubalak, Ph.D., in Cell Biology and Anatomy;
- Kyle Strickland, studying under Sergey Krupenko, Ph.D., in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology;
- Anna Maria Clark, a second-year medical student; and
- Ryan Rhome, studying under Maurizio Del Poeta, M.D., in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology.
Friday, Aug. 24, 2007
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