|
MSTP celebrates large class, many firstsby Cindy AbolePublic Relations By participating in today’s 176th commencement exercises, the 11 graduates of MUSC’s Medical Scientist Training Program’s (MSTP) Class of 2005 will make campus history. If not only for their class size—the largest ever in the history of the program—but also for their own accomplishments and achievements that helped each individual evolve into the mature, independent physician-scientists and close comrades they are today.  Members of the MSTP
core graduates include: Drs. Vijay Rao, Michelle and Chris Crosby,
Kevin Becker, Ron Feldman, and Ben Pettus.“This has been a banner year for MSTP graduates,” said Perry Halushka, M.D., Ph.D., dean of the College of Graduate Studies and MSTP director. Since the program’s inception in 1982, it has continually prepared and produced some of the country’s brightest physician-scientists. Their 44 predecessors grew to become a cadre of leaders in their respective fields of clinical science and academic research working at national and international institutions and in private industry. Due to the program’s length and curriculum design, the average time for participants to complete the program is 7.5 years. By contrast, this year’s MSTP graduates finished their studies within an average of 8.3 years—a reflection of their intense study and research experiences. During this period, MSTP students saw and experienced a lot when it came to campus changes. Since 1998, MUSC has more than doubled its research capability, adding research space with new building projects and renovations. About the same time, research funding support was on the rise. By 2004, MUSC reported more than $175 million in total research dollars. Throughout this time, MSTP students gained from this explosion of research. “We’ve seen a perspective of campus that few people get to experience,” said Vijay Rao, one of this year’s MSTP graduates. “We’ve seen the campus transform over a course of time spanning from eight to nine years and can reflect on that.” But the program’s lengthy duration and structure can also have adverse effects on students and student life. Because of their rigid curriculum, MSTP students begin and end their studies with different medical school classes—creating bonding and social issues plus other challenges. That’s one reason why most MSTP students naturally turn to one another for fellowship and rapport. “There’s a spirit of camaraderie and continuity that’s present throughout the years,” said graduate Nicole Redmond, who began her studies in 1997. She spoke positively about the program’s efforts to assemble students, the creation of student mentoring relationships between advanced and beginning year students and other activities. This fellowship evolved into other opportunities for students to prepare for the National Medical Boards Exam, research dissertation preparation and support to sharing insights in applying to medical residencies. “The value of communication and interaction is a common and important benefit,” she said. At the heart of this 11-member class is a core of special friends that affectionately refer to each other as family. They include Kevin Becker, Chris and Michelle Crosby, Ron Feldman, Ben Pettus, Joshua Hubbard, Rao and Redmond. The clan began meeting beyond the program’s monthly progress meetings and gatherings with MSTP students. They began spending more time with each other dining out, marked family and holiday events together or shared in other informal activities. Like a family, they’ve celebrated weddings, births and other life occasions. In 2002, many can fondly remember the birth of the Crosbys' daughter, Katherine. “We recognize that each of us is different because of our backgrounds, interests and way we approach things,” said Becker. “In a way, it’s similar to our own family experiences. No one’s perfect, but you learn to accept each individual’s gifts and qualities. Everyone can be loved and respected on any level.” After 23 years, the program is still celebrating many firsts. Beyond this year’s large class size, the MSTP program recognizes its first husband and wife graduates, Michelle and Chris Crosby; first student-mom, Michelle Crosby; the first MSTP student to receive an MUSC Gives Back Individual Award for Most Volunteer Hours, Ben Pettus; first MSTP student to receive the Center for Academic Excellence’s Outstanding Tutor Award, Michael Bernard, plus numerous other academic awards and research recognitions. Aside from their sound research attributes, MSTP students are also proven leaders who participated in active leadership roles throughout campus. Program students have been members of MUSC Student Government Association, Presidential Scholars, the Alpha Omega Alpha Medical Honor Society, College of Medicine Student Council, MUSC Graduate Student Association, Multicultural Graduate Student Association, plus editorial roles with Medicine’s Crucible and Graduate Studies’ Vector newsletters. “Our MSTP students are role models within the campus community and are noted for their excellence and leadership skills,” Halushka said. “These students have an infinite ability to multi-task their jobs and duties so they can effectively balance their work. It is what’s required of them. It’s these traits that distinguish them and lead to our high expectations and one of the reasons they’re chosen for this program.” As for recognizing the program’s strengths, students praise the continuing leadership of Halushka, assistant program director Lina Obeid, M.D., other faculty, staff and participating mentors. “Our choice of MUSC and the MSTP was a great one,” said class graduate Chris Crosby. “The experience provided Michelle and I with great training and wonderful clinical practice experiences that prepared us for our next step in clinical and scientific specialities. I’d also like to acknowledge the leadership and guidance of Dr. Halushka. He has helped each of us reach and achieve our personal milestones.” “It’s our hope that each of these individuals can someday look back on this experience and appreciate what they’ve accomplished,” Halushka said. “It’s what the program tries to cultivate among students. Whether they realize it or not, each individual is building lifelong relationships with current classmates, predecessors and successors to the program at a time they have the potential to do this. In the future, they’ll come to appreciate that and hopefully continue to build upon these relationships, which will last on a professional level and beyond.” And like a loving family, the ability to let go can be bittersweet. The fatherly Halushka and program staff can’t be prouder of the residency matches of this year’s MSTP group to premiere programs at Emory, Vanderbilt, Duke, UCLA, Virginia, the University of Chicago and Cleveland Clinic to name a few. “Of course, I’d love for each of these students to stay at MUSC,” Halushka said. “But for the benefit of their own careers, they’re better off going out and trying new things. New experiences will bring something to themselves as practitioners and scientists and the new institutions they affiliate with, which is what we want. And when they are finished with their training, we would love for them to join our faculty. It’s been great having them around. We’ll miss them.” Pettus named 2005 CGS Distinguished Graduate of the Year Medical Scientists Training Program (MSTP) graduate Ben Pettus, M.D., Ph.D., was named the 2005 College of Graduate Distinguished Graduate of the Year. Pettus was among 15 nominees and seven finalists. Each year, senior graduate students are nominated by mentors and faculty. The award is judged by a committee which reviews letters and considers scientific publications, abstracts of dissertation research and academic transcript. Pettus was nominated by research mentor Yusuf Hannun, M.D., chairman of the Department Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. Friday, May 20, 2005
|