Dean honored with research day
endowment
When
Perry V. Halushka, M.D., Ph.D., arrived at MUSC in 1974, the
Chicago native didn’t expect to be in Charleston very long. Thirty-two years later, however, Halushka still calls MUSC home. Now, his three children are honoring him and his lifelong devotion to research and teaching at the institution where he has made so many significant scientific contributions.
The children of
College of Graduate Studies Dean Dr. Perry V. Halushka are Suzanne
Halushka Friedman, second from left, and husband Robert Friedman,
left; Dr. Marc Halushka, third from left, and wife, Amy Halushka,
third from right, and Francine Halushka Katz, second from right, and
husband, Bruce Katz.In honor of Halushka’s 65th birthday this past June, his three children, Francine Halushka Katz, Marc Halushka, M.D., Ph.D., and Suzanne Friedman and their families surprised him by establishing the Dr. Perry V. Halushka Student Research Day Endowment. It was established through the MUSC Foundation.
Halushka, who is dean of the College of Graduate Studies, has actively supported MUSC’s annual Student Research Day activities since the mid-1980s.
This endowment will help provide funds needed by the organizers to attract world-class scientists as guest speakers and assist with the monetary awards for the presenters, plus refreshments, lunch and a reception. The foundation has already launched several initiatives and raised more than $170,000 toward a goal of $250,000 to permanently endow the fund. This summer, employees were able to donate to the endowment through the Yearly Employee Support (YES) Campaign.
“Our father spent his entire career promoting and improving educational programs at MUSC,” said Halushka’s son, Marc, assistant professor, Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions. “He has few professional passions that exceed his love of educating future scientists and physicians.”
MUSC Student Research Day has grown to attract hundreds of students, post-docs, residents and fellows annually, and campuswide has attracted faculty and research colleagues who are interested in learning about the wealth of basic, clinical, social, and behavioral research conducted through a collaborative environment. Formal classes are cancelled to facilitate maximum participation and attendance. This year’s event is scheduled for Nov. 3 and will include 200 presentations.
Organized under the guidance of chairman Eric James, Ph.D., associate professor of ophthalmology, and a 12-member Student Research Day Committee, the event is considered a career stepping stone for young researchers beginning to present their research at local, national and international meetings. There are four categories of presentation for undergraduates, for clinical professionals and masters students, for doctoral students, and for post-docs, residents and fellows. The presentations are judged by university faculty and alumni in a critical, constructive format. The event has gained an outstanding reputation and following among students and visiting scientists.
Although the event is primarily funded annually by the deans of the six colleges and Provost’s Office, it continually struggles to secure sufficient funding from other resources. A large proportion of the event budget is allocated towards cash prizes. Last year, 34 participants won first- and second-place awards.
Halushka, a University of Chicago graduate, began his career at MUSC as an assistant professor in the departments of Pharmacology and Medicine. He rose through the ranks and was named dean of the College of Graduate Studies in 2000. As dean, Halushka has also helped foster an increase in the number of training slots for graduate students from two to 64 by adding 13 new training grants.
In 1987, he was appointed director of the M.D./Ph.D. program (MSTP) and, since then, he has built and steered MUSC’s MSTP from six to 50 students and achieved National Institutes of Health funding, making it one of the more elite programs in the United States.
“Perry’s involvement in Student Research Day has been remarkable,” said Rosalie Crouch, Ph.D., distinguished university professor, former MUSC provost and graduate studies dean. “It’s very appropriate to create and support this endowment that commemorates the outstanding services he’s given us and this institution to benefit Student Research Day activities on campus.
“Having an established endowment for Student Research Day will provide continued funding and participation,” Crouch added. “It will definitely enhance the event and assure its continuity, which I believe is truly important.”
Donations to the Dr. Perry V. Halushka Student Research Day Endowment Fund may be sent to MUSC Foundation, 18 Bee St., P.O. Box 250450, Charleston, SC, 29425
Checks should be made payable to the MUSC Foundation. For questions or additional information, contact Leigh Manzi or Beth Brewer, 792-4275 or (800) 810-6872.
Friday, Oct. 6, 2006
Catalyst Online is published weekly,
updated
as needed and improved from time to time by the MUSC Office of Public
Relations
for the faculty, employees and students of the Medical University of
South
Carolina. Catalyst Online editor, Kim Draughn, can be reached at
792-4107
or by email, catalyst@musc.edu. Editorial copy can be submitted to
Catalyst
Online and to The Catalyst in print by fax, 792-6723, or by email to
catalyst@musc.edu. To place an ad in The Catalyst hardcopy, call Island
Publications at 849-1778, ext. 201.