Student Research Day 2006
Students
and pre-professionals trained in clinical or basic science and
translational research gathered Nov. 3 for a chance to showcase their
research work, met with others who shared similar interests, and
practice their presentation skills as part of the Perry V. Halushka
2006 MUSC Student Research Day (SRD) event.
Participants and
visitors gather in the Harper Student Wellness Center gymnasium during
the Perry V. Halushka 2006 MUSC Student Research Day Nov. 3.The annual event, renamed in honor of College of Graduate Studies dean and Pharmacology researcher Perry Halushka, M.D., Ph.D., provided a forum for more than 200 participants from MUSC, hospitals and institutions across the state to present their research findings or project to a multidisciplinary audience of faculty, staff and peers.
This year, a total of 208 abstracts were submitted for presentation during the Perry V. Halushka SRD event. Seventy-seven oral presentations and 131 in poster format were featured.
The inaugural Halushka Lecture was delivered by Garret A. FitzGerald, Ph.D., professor of medicine and Elmer Bobst Professor of Pharmacology at the University of Pennsylvania. FitzGerald, a long-time colleague and friend of Halushka's, gave the keynote address entitled, “Translational Therapeutics of the Arachidonic Acid Cascade.”
“It is a great pleasure for me to come to MUSC for several reasons,” said FitzGerald. “First, there’s no greater pleasure for any aging scientist than to address and talk to graduate students. It’s an invitation I treasure. Secondly, Charleston is a town that my family and I have long been associated with through our longstanding friendship with Perry and Joan Halushka and their children through the years. I’m also delighted to be here as part of the first inaugural Perry V. Halushka Lectureship and MUSC SRD. I think it gives extraordinary credit to Perry from his wonderful children to sponsor this idea. I can’t think of a more fitting and flattering tribute for his many accomplishments.”
As evidence-based research in medicine and interest in bio-medicine continues to grow, a desperate need exists for academic health institutions to produce more basic researchers and physician-scientists. Their knowledge and understanding of disease processes coupled with clinical experience will prompt researchers to develop newer therapies and treatments as part of the patient care process.
The Perry V. Halushka SRD was established as an endowment in June by his three children as a birthday tribute and career devotion to scientific research and education at MUSC.
“This year’s student research day was particularly special,” said Eric James, Ph.D., associate professor, College of Medicine and SRD chairman. “Through the generous and truly inspirational donation from his three children, the Perry V. Halushka Endowment was created to help fund MUSC Student Research Day into perpetuity. As this endowment grows, so will funding for this event and awards.”
Students were judged by faculty teams that evaluated each student’s presentation in comparison to other students within a particular session. The 75 judges evaluated presenters in three specific areas: scientific content/subject matter, delivery and handling of questions. They also provided useful constructive criticism and guidance for participants in regards to their presentation skills.
Funding for this year’s event was provided by the Office of the Provost and all six deans from MUSC's colleges, plus other organizations including the MUSC Graduate Alumni Association, Graduate Student Association and MUSC Library and scientific equipment and supplies companies that exhibited alonogside the posters. Other recognition goes to the MUSC Student Government Association, Harper Student Wellness Center and College of Health Professions for their support.
This event was coordinated by faculty, staff and students who comprise the SRD committee. They are: Thomas Dix, Hiroko Hama, Teri-Lynn Herbert, Teresa Kelechi, Leigh Manzi, Maralynne Mitcham, Sammanda Ramamoorthy, Susan Reed, Mike Schmidt, Debbie Shoemaker, Adrian Sproul, Thomas Waldrep and Eric James, chairman. Other recognition goes to College of Graduate Studies’ Karla Locklear and Keisha Brown.
Student Research
Day 2006 winners with Dr. Perry Halushka, far right, and Dr. Garrett A.
FitzGerald, far left.“For anyone who presented a poster or delivered a presentation, we thank you very much. We hope that if you were not among those who received a Student Research Day award, you would have found the experience rewarding and above all, useful,” James said.
Student Research Day Winners
Session 1: 1st—Alison Keenan; 2nd—James Lee
Session 2: 1st—Carisa Lebkicher and Lauren Harris; 2nd—Kara Grasso
Session 3: 1st—Jason A. Curry; 2nd—Jeff Basile
Session 4: 1st—John T. Lucas; 2nd—Eria M. Kemppa
Session 5: 1st—Tara Burns; 2nd—Rosanna Robertson
Session 6: 1st—Bethany Wolf; 2nd—Peter Hao Tang
Session 7: 1st—Amy Bardeen; 2nd—Cameron McIlwain
Session 8: 1st—Christine L. Keogh; 2nd—Christopher S. Potter.
Session 9: 1st—Amanda Galloway; 2nd—Lauren Willis
Session 10: 1st—Srinivasan Shanmugarajan; 2nd—Vijayalakshmi Sridharan
Session 11: 1st—Ravinder Pannu; 2nd—John R. Barbour
Session 12: 1st—Ching Zhu; 2nd—Audrina Mullane
Session 13: 1st—Mikell Rhett Kinard II; 2nd—Kay E. Self
Session 14: 1st—Amid Hamidi; 2nd—Alexis H. Lewis
Session 15: 1st—Melissa Davis; 2nd—Stephen R. Burch
Session 16: 1st place—Brian Snarr; 2nd—Danielle Thibault
Session 17: 1st—Andrew Sas Saeed Elojeimy
Session 18: 1st—Kristen Johnson Foster; 2nd—Kristy Lidie
Session 19: 1st—Christopher Robinson; 2nd—Ailsa J. Powell
Willard and Betty Peterson Award: Kristen Johnson Foster
Kinerd-Gadsden Alumni Award: Amanda Galloway
Library Bioinformatics: 1st—Adam J. Richards; 2nd—Matthew Shotwell
Sigma Xi: Srinivasan Shanmugarajan; 2nd—Shawn Polson
Interprofessional: Michelle Haynes and Brooks Chase
Charleston Research Institute: Ravinder Pannu; 2nd—Adam Mailloux
Health Disparities: Robert Campbell Jr; 2nd—Ashley Hambright; 3rd—Christine A. Walters
Friday, Nov. 10, 2006
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