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DDC welcomes gastroenterology researcher by Maggie Diebolt Public Relations Having traveled a long way from his native Guatemala, Marcelo Vela, M.D., has found a new home in his current position as practicing doctor, assistant professor and researcher at MUSC.   Dr. Marcelo Vela Vela, who joined MUSC’s Gastroenterology and Hepatology team in the Digestive Disease Center, was drawn to gastroenterology early in his studies due to its combination of clinical procedures and office-based work.   He received his bachelor of science and his medical degree from the Universidad Francisco Marroquin in Guatemala City, Guatemala. He recently received his master of science in clinical research from MUSC.   “I wanted to be in an academic environment and be able to do research,” he said, “MUSC is a terrific institution, a very good environment for someone to begin their career.”   Vela currently is working on two research projects. The first, dealing with endoscopic plication to treat non-acid reflux, is funded by the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy. He also is supported by the American Gastro-enterological Association to study patients with reflux disease who do not respond to medical treatment. Vela is incorporating two novel diagnostic approaches into this investigation: one utilizing combined impedance and pH measurements, and the other assessing esophagus biopsies using electric microscopy.   Vela has been a reviewer for the American Journal of Gastroenterology, Journal of American Medical Association and the Digestive Diseases and Sciences, and received the MUSC Faculty Excellence Award from the fourth year medical students this year.   He resides in Charleston with his wife Stacie, also working at MUSC as a gastroenterology and hepatology fellow; and their 18-month-old daughter, Penelope. In his spare time he likes to read, go for bike rides and spend time with his family.     Friday, July 21, 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.