by Dawn Brazell
Public Relations

In person, Khaled Moussawi, M.D., Ph.D., exudes a certain buoyancy, an innate happiness born of a grateful heart.

The co-recipient of this year's College of Graduate Studies Distinguished Graduate of the Year recognizes the gifts he has received have helped him to be where he is today. He has Lebanese friends who weren't as lucky as he to escape the difficult and war-torn past that they shared, he said.

Drs. Khaled Moussawi and Russ Jenkins, co-recipients of the College of Graduate Studies Distinguished Graduate of the Year Award.

Receiving his top choice of residency, Moussawi will be heading to Boston for a residency in neurology at Harvard. His internship will be at the Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) department of internal medicine with his friend and the co-recipient of the graduate award, Russ Jenkins, M.D., Ph.D. The remainder of his neurology residency will be carried out at both MGH and Brigham and Women's Hospital.

His research mentor, Peter W. Kalivas, Ph.D., research chair of the Department of Neurosciences and Distinguished University Professor, said Moussawi is highly deserving of the award.

"Khaled has three characteristics in abundance that collaborate to make him one of the most promising people in his emerging generation of young clinician scientists – high native intelligence, abundant curiosity and optimism about what is possible, and a highly collegial approach to research."

His parents had much to do with his success, said Moussawi. Living through a civil war during his childhood was very difficult. Safety was a major issue. "There was all this bombing and shelling happening around us all the time, so we couldn't enjoy our childhood. Our parents were always worried and wouldn't let us go out."

Even though the capital city Beirut was just over an hour away, they could never visit because of the danger. His parents, who were teachers, ran a bookstore to supplement income. They also insisted Moussawi spend his time reading.

"It broadened my horizon and understanding. My parents taught me that education is my only way out. That was what made me feel free. My mind was pouring over all these books and novels – just everything, which expanded my perspective and imagination, and eventually forged my identity and helped me decide who I wanted to be."

One book in particular dramatically affected his life, Sophie's World, a history of philosophy. He saw how ideas could change humankind, and it began a lifelong fascination for him of how the brain affects the way people think and feel, what motivates them, and even how they perceive beauty. He was drawn to the fields of neuroscience and medicine. Seeing the impact of the war and the suffering it caused birthed in him a desire to help people, he said.

Attending the American University of Beirut (AUB), he also found he loved research. AUB had established a collaborative relationship with MUSC that allowed him to transfer to MUSC's Medical Scientist Training Program, a move that was just right for him.

Moussawi said he was fortunate to have Kalivas as his mentor while here.

"Peter has been an amazing mentor. He's always thinking outside the box. Every meeting with Peter is a friendly intellectual challenge. He's always passionate about what he's saying. He's one of the world leaders in addiction. On a personal level, he's supported me at every stage of my journey. I've needed a lot of support as a foreigner. He's been available to give me the extra push."

Their research identified cocaine-induced neuroadaptations that happened in animal models in the brain, in particular in the cortico-striatal circuits controlling goal-directed behaviors. These brain pathways were being changed.

"Specifically, I found that after prolonged exposure to cocaine, changes in extracellular glutamate levels contribute to changes in synaptic strength and synaptic plasticity in these pathways, which control drug seeking. I also showed that reversing some of these neuroadaptations inhibits relapse to cocaine seeking."

These findings resulted in a provisional patent and 11 research publications.

"This captivating experience allowed me to directly witness how insight into mental faculties and illnesses could be gathered at the bench side and translated into potential interventions at the bedside. This only strengthened my resolve to pursue studies in clinical neuroscience," he said.

Another experience that brought this home to him happened during a psychiatry rotation where he was at a North Charleston nursing home and met a 95-year-old woman whose parents were from Lebanon. She saw Moussawi, and they shared their stories, her face lighting up as she cried tears of joy. Then Moussawi watched as everything went blank, and she could remember nothing, not even meeting him, he said.

"She was losing her identity. She was losing her biography. It was so devastating to be talking to her and then she forgets everything despite the huge emotional reaction she had. Imagine how devastating that is for the family. That was Alzheimer's disease in action."

Moussawi said he feels very privileged for the opportunity to participate in what he sees as an exciting 'brain era.' He wants to continue to study the connection between brain pathology and behavioral and cognitive changes, including personality, executive functions and memory.

Despite the medical-scientist training being a long journey, Moussawi said he has loved it all. "I would do it again."
Moussawi said he enjoys living in America and identifies with the culture and the values of freedom that are embodied here. He likes being in a position where he can give back.

"I'm a dreamer, with big ambitions. With hard work and a bit of luck, I believe nothing is impossible. At the same time, I try to enjoy my every day. Life is not necessarily easy, but it is beautiful."