Category: Homepage Spotlights
Faculty Spotlight: Dr. R. Jarrett Rushmore III
R. Jarrett Rushmore III, PhD
Assistant Professor
Graduate Director for the Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology
A faculty member, active researcher, student mentor, husband and recent father, Dr. Jarrett Rushmore, Assistant Professor in the Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, balances all of his responsibilities with enthusiasm and grace.
What brought you to BUSM?
I started at Boston University as a laboratory technician in 1995 after graduating from Trinity College with a background in Neuroscience. I joined the doctoral program in the Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology and performed research about how brain circuits in the visual system respond to damage. After completing my doctoral degree, I was recruited to stay at BUSM as a faculty member.
Are you involved in any research at the moment?
I’m really interested in how the brain responds to damage, and then recovers from damage. Most recovery after brain damage is quite limited, and so we have been using non-invasive brain stimulation to train the brain circuits that mediate recovery and improve function after brain damage.
You have many roles within GMS. Can you tell me about some of them?
Sure. I serve on a variety of committees, but most of my time revolves around teaching or advising students. In the medical school, I teach in the Medical Histology and Medical Neuroscience courses. I also teach to graduate students in the Cellular Organization of Tissues. I serve as the director of the graduate programs in the Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology. I’m also an advisor for the Master of Arts in Medical Sciences students, and also serve on the Academy of Advisors in the medical school.
Can you tell me about the Anatomy and Neurobiology Masters and PhD programs?
The Master’s degree in Anatomy and Neurobiology is called the Vesalius program after Andreas Vesalius, the father of Anatomy. Vesalius was remarkable not only for his anatomical drawings, but because he was one of the first people to actually teach Anatomy. As part of their first year curriculum, our students take medical gross anatomy, medical neuroscience and medical histology, and come back in their second year and teach medical and graduate students in these very same courses. The students find this experience transformative – both in their understanding of the discipline, and in the development of their confidence to become first-rate academicians.
The doctoral program is also unique. We tailor the curriculum to the individual doctoral student, and have three curricular tracks to reflect the interests of the students (Anatomy, Neurobiology, or Anatomy and Neurobiology). These students are outstanding, particularly in their cutting edge research in the neurosciences or in the anatomical sciences. However, what really distinguishes these students is that they also become expert educators in the discipline. They are closely and intensively trained to teach biomedical sciences to medical, graduate, and dental students. As a result, our students have had great success in a tight job market, and many are offered faculty positions in academic medical centers directly upon receiving their degree.
What is the most challenging part of your job?
The most challenging part of my job is balancing the different aspects of the job. There are a lot of different aspects of a faculty member, and thinking about how best to solve a scientific problem is a very different way to think from how to best teach a particular concept, or to produce an effective policy. It’s a challenge, but it also helps me understand how my brain works, which as a neuroscientist is something I like to think about.
What is the best part of your job?
Well, I love science and I really enjoy teaching – these are the hallmarks of this job. One thing I didn’t expect was discovering that one of the best things about my job is the students. The medical and graduate students I advise and teach and work with in the lab are simply outstanding people. They are incredibly accomplished people, they are clever and smart, they have explored the world, they think about their place in the world and actively think how to make the world a better place. They are unique, interesting, passionate, and inspiring.
How do you like to spend your time outside of BUSM?
My time outside BU is mostly spent with my family. My wife and I have a nine-month-old daughter who has just started to crawl. We have also recently experienced the joy of new home ownership, so I’ve recently spent some time killing hornets, chasing groundhogs, and realizing that I’m a really bad carpenter.
Do you have any advice for current students or prospective students?
I think that what really sets BU apart from other research programs is the level of engagement by the faculty. I think the faculty at BU have a culture in which they go to extraordinary lengths to mentor, help, and support graduate students. All the faculty I know have an open-door policy, and they spend a tremendous time mentoring, teaching and just talking to students. They always have time for questions, regardless if they are in the middle of a grant or preparing a lecture, and go out of their way to make sure students are doing well. I’m very proud to be a part of this. This level of engagement and commitment amazes students who have been undergraduates or graduate student in other institutions, and they are quite simply taken aback by how much the faculty really care about how they are doing. My advice is that students should take advantage of this really unique and special environment.
Spotlight on Students: Ridda Hasnain
Medicine is not only about healing—it is about prevention. Ridda Hasnain, a Ph.D. student in the Medical Nutrition Program, understands this concept and hopes to use her BUSM education to establish preventative health measures around the globe.
When did you first know you wanted to pursue science?
From a very young age, I was interested in human health. Throughout my undergraduate education, I planned to pursue a career as a medical physician. When I arrived at Columbia University for my Master’s, however, I grew a specific interest in human nutrition. As I completed my degree, I realized that I wanted to prevent, rather than treat, medical conditions. When I understood how my research in nutrition could prevent diseases, I decided to pursue a doctoral degree.
What brought you to BU?
When I started searching for the right doctoral program, Boston University School of Medicine stood out. BUSM was different from a lot of other schools because it offered an integrative and collaborative experience. Graduate students, regardless of what program they were in, worked with multiple departments and multiple investigators from different labs. Students interact with faculty and peers outside of their own program. I thought this interaction would be a valuable part of my graduate education and prepare me for a career where there is much collaboration and interaction. Also, BUSM has a diverse student body. My peers and I come from all different backgrounds, and we all have varying research interests. I believe that this diversity and transfer of ideas will help me in the long run.
Can you tell me a little about the program you are in?
I am in the Medical Nutrition Sciences Program. Compared to other nutrition programs in the country, this program is relatively new. Because it is new, the current students really have an opportunity to shape the future of the program. There are three tracks in the program tailored to meet the needs of each individual in Medical Nutrition Sciences program: molecular/biochemical nutrition, clinical nutrition, and nutritional epidemiology.
The basic sciences track explores the biochemistry behind nutrition and how nutrients interact with the body while the clinical track is designed to educate students on how nutrition research can be applied to preventative measures in the clinic. The third track, epidemiology of nutrition, is the track that I am pursuing and examines causes of disease and their association with nutrition.
What do you hope to do after you earn your degree?
In a general scope, I want to research and find components of the human diet that prevent diseases, but I also want to have clinical exposure to teach patients that there are wholesome and natural approaches to preventing disease. I hope to be able to impact the community and improve public health policy. In Pakistan, where I am from, there is little awareness of how diet can affect lifestyle, and I hope to develop a program here and abroad to fill this gap in knowledge.
You recently presented at the 2012 Future of Food and Nutrition Conference and won the award for best presentation. Can you tell me a little about your research and that experience?
The Future of Food and Nutrition Conference is a student-led conference at Tufts University. I presented a poster on dietary protein and its impact on body composition and risk of obesity. Overall, it was a great experience because it gave me the opportunity to learn about the research my colleagues from other institutions were performing, and to think of novel questions related to my own research based on my presentation and discussion with other scientists.
Are you involved in other activities on campus?
I am involved in the admissions and recruiting process for the Medical Nutrition Sciences program. This is an interesting and rewarding role because it really does help to shape the future of the program. I get to meet with prospective and incoming students to advise them in any areas they may need help.
What do you enjoy doing outside the walls of BU?
I love trying new cuisines! Given my field of study, it’s not secret that I absolutely love food. I also enjoy traveling whenever I can. And I love to just spend time with my family and friends and take advantage of all that Boston has to offer.
What advice can you give other postdocs, or GMS students?
I think it may be helpful to many students if they start a PhD program with a general interest, rather than a highly specialized goal. PhD students will go through many rotations in different labs with different principle investigators, and these experiences will help them develop their general interest while finding a lab environment they can work in. Also, rotations are a time to apply your knowledge to novel questions.
Students should take advantage of all the BU campus has to offer. For instance, taking a class that is unrelated to your field may help you in some way later on in your career. Also, talk to your peers. These discussions will help shape what it is you want to accomplish while here are BUSM.
Spotlight on Students: Whitney Thomas
Graduating on Friday, May 18th at the GMS M.A./M.S. Commencement Ceremony, Whitney Thomas reflects on her two years as a MAMS student.
When did you first know you wanted to pursue science?
When I was in grade school, I remember telling my parents that I wanted to be an ambulance driver when I grew up. Not the EMT in the back helping the patient on the way to the hospital; the actual ambulance driver. When I entered high school, I started volunteering for the local rescue squad. I think it was then that I knew I wanted to go to medical school. At Bates College I majored in neuroscience, which exposed me to the unique interplay between mind and body, and had various shadowing experiences which solidified my decision to study medicine.
What brought you to BU?
After I graduated from Bates, I took two years off from school to work at the NIH in a lab that studied Pediatric Bipolar Disorder. I heard about the MA in Medical Sciences program here at BUSM and thought it would be a great stepping stone back into academia and help prepare me for medical school. I looked at some other similar Masters programs, but BU seemed to have the best one, and the best location. I really enjoy living in Boston.
Can you tell me a little about the MAMS program you are in?
I am currently finishing up my second year and just completed my thesis. The first year is class-driven and focused on academics, which I really enjoyed. It gave me a realistic glimpse to what medical school will be like. I have definitely gained confidence in my capability to succeed in medical school based on my success in this program. The greatest adjustment for me in the MAMS program was the class size. I remember on the first day of class in Bakst Auditorium, I suddenly felt very hot. The room was filled with 200 people! That was a huge difference from Bates, where the class size was much smaller. Despite these large classes, however, MAMS and GMS create a small community, and if you put in the effort, you will realize that the professors do want to get to know the students.
What are your plans after completing the MAMS program?
I applied to medical school last year, and will be attending the University of Vermont College of Medicine. Right now, I am considering primary care, specifically obstetrics and gynecology. I really enjoyed the research I did for my thesis, but I am mostly interested in clinical medicine. Eventually, as a practicing physician, I would hope to participate in research as it fits in with my practice.
You have helped to organize a Sarcoma Awareness event for this Friday. Can you tell me a little about that?
In January 2012, the MAMS community lost a member to sarcoma. As a member of the GMSSO, I helped organize an awareness talk in her honor to help raise money for sarcoma research. Sarcoma is a type of cancer that originates in bone or connective tissue. It is relatively uncommon and is very difficult to treat. Dana-Farber Cancer Institute is performing innovative and interesting research on this cancer, and the speaker we invited is a member of the sarcoma team there. Approximately 40 people attended the event.
Are you involved in other activities on campus?
I serve on a small committee as a liaison between the MAMS students and Dr. Gwynneth Offner, the director of the program. We meet with her every month to discuss issues and ideas that my peers may have. Additionally, I volunteer with the GMSSO for events such as orientation, commencement, Project Gratitude, and blood drives, and I tutor three first-year MAMS students in Physiology and Endocrinology. Last summer I volunteered for the Outreach Van Project and enjoyed spending time with community members from East Boston who are in need of food and/or medical support.
What do you enjoy doing outside the walls of BU?
I like to stay active, whether I am hiking, biking, or riding one of my horses when I go home to Vermont. I also enjoy baking, and I love going out to eat when I can. Boston is such an exciting city, and I love to explore all the opportunities it provides. Traveling is another fun hobby, and I visit my friends in different parts of the country whenever I can. I also work part-time in retail.
What advice can you give other GMS students?
My two years went by so quickly. It is important to take advantage of all the opportunities BU and the city of Boston have to offer, whether it be playing squash at FitRec or visiting a museum. Also, the professors are very knowledgeable, not only about the subject they teach, but about medical school, and life in general. Importantly, they are always willing to help, so don’t hesitate to contact them. Finally, don’t forget to have fun and meet new people. GMS provides a great community that you will want to participate in.
Madeline Brisotti and Tanaya Kunnenkeri
Student Spotlight
Balancing a job and a earning a Master’s degree can be a daunting task. Madeline Brisotti and Tanaya Kunnenkeri, both in the Mental Health Counseling and Behavioral Medicine program, make it look easy. Working in the GMS Division Office a little every week, they find numerous ways to help their graduate and Boston community.
Why did you decide to pursue a degree in Mental Health Counseling?
Tanaya: I started my undergraduate education at the University of Toronto in Biomedical Engineering. By my third year, I was more interested in a human-oriented field rather than working with machines. After switching my concentration to Life Sciences, I ended up earning a Psychology degree. This eventually led me to pursue an internship in a day treatment center for an orphanage in Bolivia.
Maddy: I received my undergraduate education from BU, and after I graduated, I worked for a behavioral neuroscience lab at Boston University. After a couple of years in this position, I realized that I really wanted to work with people, rather than animal subjects in a laboratory.. As I was working on projects focused on drug research, I could see how my experience could be translated to substance abuse counseling.
What brought you to BU?
Maddy: I chose BU for my undergraduate education, and I loved the community. When a job became available after I earned my Bachelor’s, I jumped on the opportunity to stay here. After deciding to go back to school, I did consider other programs, but BU had the exact program that I wanted. BU has given a lot to me because I have been able to stay in the University community, both on the Charles River Campus and the Medical Campus.
Tanaya: After completing my undergraduate studies in Psychology, it soon became very clear to me that I would need to further my degree in order to move forward in my profession. I applied to the Mental Health Counseling and Behavioral Medicine program because this program included the behavioral medicine component, and it provided ample opportunity to get hands-on clinical experience. Another factor that led me to Boston was that I was dating my now husband who is a Bostonian.
Can you tell me a little about the program?
Maddy: The Mental Health Counseling and Behavioral Medicine is a two-year program that incorporates the new direction mental health is going. What I like most about the program is the small class size. One of my favorite parts about the program has been getting to know my peers and faculty. What is particularly unique about BU’s program is that it is situated on a medical campus.
Tanaya: The program is completely different from my undergraduate experience. University of Toronto has 60,000 students, and I was unable to have valuable interactions with all my professors. Here at BUSM, all the faculty in my program are very involved in our growth as students and budding clinicians. BUSM offers an intimate educational environment, where your peers have passions similar to yours. This passion among my classmates and teachers is contagious, and is really motivating.
What is your second year internship like?
Tanaya: My program provides you with the opportunity to complete a full year internship in your second year along with a first-year practicum in the Spring or Summer semester. Currently, I am placed at Boston Medical Center at the Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Department. I have always been interested in working with children, and working at BMC has given me more of a clinical experience than my time interning at the orphanage in Bolivia.
Maddy: I am doing my internship at South Boston Collaborative Center, which is a substance abuse outpatient center sponsored by the Boston Public Health Commission. I primarily work with adults at the clinic, but I do have the opportunity to work in a South Boston high school once a week to work with adolescents as well. Overall, the experience has been incredibly rewarding, though some days are extremely challenging. In addition to my internship, I am also taking a full course load.
What do you hope to do after you earn your degree?
Maddy: I like working with adolescents more than I thought I would. Initially, I had thought about working with adults around substance abuse, but now I think it would be nice to work with adolescents as well, either from a home based or school based setting. It would be really great if I could find a site that offers both.
Tanaya: Though I love working with children, I am open to gaining more experience with the adult population. After graduation I am looking to pursue a career working with children and families in an outpatient setting.
You both are student workers in the GMS Division office. What is that like?
Tanaya: The experience has been great. I have had the opportunity to work on various administrative projects, which has been a nice break from my courses and internship. Everyone in the office values the student workers, and the work we do. They try very hard to make us feel like part of the office, and part of the team, even though we only work a few hours a week. They are always available and open for questions.
Maddy: After I started the program, I was still working in the neuroscience lab. By the second semester of my first year, I was ready for a change. My advisor suggested that I work in the Division office. The GMS office gives me tasks that required organization and structure, and I enjoy that kind of work. These are qualities that are not always a part of counseling. I have helped with Admissions, and also helped develop a database for all GMS alumni.
Are you involved in other activities on campus?
Tanaya: Last summer I assisted as a peer mentor for the summer research program offered by GMS. It was a great experience, because even though all the summer students were researching biomedical sciences, I had the opportunity to learn about their projects and lab experiences. I also enjoyed the process of watching them grow and mature over the course of eight weeks.
Maddy: Classes, internship, and work take up most of my time.
What do you enjoy doing outside the walls of BU?
Maddy: I enjoy traveling home to Long Island and seeing my family. It is a great place to recharge my battery and just enjoy being out of the city. I don’t really have much free time right now, though I enjoy imagining what I can do if I ever do have some! Right now, I am focused mostly on completing my resume and applying to jobs.
Tanaya: I recently got married, and have had the privilege of experiencing the joys and new responsibilities that come as a newlywed. My husband has been extremely supportive of all my endeavors. I also really like yoga and dance, though these are the two things I have sacrificed from my schedule for the time being. I really hope to incorporate yoga into the future clinical work that I do, and I would love to take up dance again when I have the time. I am also involved with the youth at my church.
What advice can you give other GMS students?
Tanaya: I would highly recommend using the support system in the GMS Office, and taking an initiative to get to know the faculty members in your program. If I could do it all over again, I would join a student organization, or participate in dance as an outlet during my time as a student. Using the CRC campus, including the FitRec is a great idea.
Maddy: I would encourage students to get to know the faculty members in their program beyond their advisor. Take classes outside of the program. I took a class at the School of Social Work and gained a whole new perspective. It is good to see all the other courses that BU has to offer. Counseling and Social Work are female dominated careers. I would encourage men to apply to the program. They would definitely have an edge when it comes time to find a job.
Spotlight on Postdoctoral Fellows: Mohamed Jarraya
After growing up in Tunisia and moving to France to complete a Radiology internship, Mohamed Jarraya is no stranger to adventure. A Postdoctoral Fellow in the Department of Radiology at Boston University Medical Center, Mohamed compares his transition to American life to walking in a jungle. Navigating between cutting edge medical research and various opportunities through the Office of Postdoctoral Affairs at GMS, he finds ways to give back to the BUMC community, earning the respect and admiration of his colleagues.
What brought you to BUMC?
Originally I am from Tunisia, but right before coming to the United States, I was living in France completing a medical internship in radiology. I have a MD degree from the University of Sfax School of Medicine. When I decided to do a postdoctoral fellowship, I really focused on locations in the United States, a place I had never previously been. I wanted to complete a research project and really experience America. I found my current position in the BUMC Radiology Department, and I had to jump on it. I love Boston.
What kind of research are you involved in?
Right now I am working in clinical research within the Quantitative Imaging Center at the BUMC Radiology Department studying knee osteoarthritis. A lot of my work requires examining and reading MRIs of the knee. By studying these MRIs, lesions related to osteoarthritis can be scored depending on their severity. This information allows for an objective follow-up of patients with knee osteoarthritis, and helps for comparisons before and after special medical treatments.
Why did you choose radiology?
I have always been interested in architecture and the arts, which I initially planned to study in school. My father, who was physician, always encouraged me to pursue a career in medicine which I ultimately decided to do. When I took the residency exam, I only knew which specialties I didn’t want to practice, surgery being one of them. My sister, at that time was in her first year of radiology residency and I was curious about her specialty; I guess she is the one who pushed me in radiology!
How did you adjust to American life?
The only person I knew before moving to the United States was my PI, who had interviewed me for my current position. I viewed the move from France to the United States as an adventure, and I found Americans to be friendly and open to other people. My colleagues are spectacular.
When I first arrived in Boston, any time I had outside of the lab, I spent going to the gym and becoming acquainted with the city. It didn’t take me long to start meeting people, and now I am kept very busy with my research and my social life. I also spent the recent Thanksgiving holiday with an American family in the area. They were awesome, and the food was delicious!
Besides your research, how else are you involved in the BUMC community?
I am a member of Toastmasters International, a group recently established by the Office of Postdoctoral Affairs at GMS. It is a very interesting organization, and has been beneficial to me in many ways. Arabic is my first language, though I have been studying English for seven years. Since joining Toastmasters, I have been obligated to prepare a speech. Though there have only been six sessions, I feel my English has drastically improved. I am much more fluent, and my writing skills are enhanced. Additionally, I have met many great people through the organization. It is a very positive and friendly group. Besides Toastmasters, I also offer support for events sponsored by the Office of Postdoctoral Affairs, including the Ice Cream Social we had this past fall, and an the recent Holiday Party. The Office also sponsors career development luncheons I try to attend regularly.
What are your future goals?
I would like to acquire a clinical experience the United States and work as a Radiologist. Beyond that, I am not really sure what my long-term plans are. When I came to America, my goal was to dive into research, and I have come to discover that research is something I really enjoy. I think a combined medical and academic environment will provide me with the benefits of working both in the clinic and in research.
What do you enjoy doing outside the walls of BUMC?
I spend most of my time outside of BUSM with my friends. I have also traveled to New York City in the past six months of living in the country. There is a Tunisian consulate where I was able to participate in a vote back in Tunisia. The vote was for the constituent assembly who is drafting our new Tunisian constitution right now. That was the first democratic election in Tunisia for more than two thousand years!
What advice can you give other postdocs or GMS students?
Join Toastmasters, or other group activities, that will help you socialize. Most importantly, take advantage of working or studying here at BUMC; it is an opportunity and a great experience.
Spotlight on Students: Andrew Ferree
A challenging and rewarding program, the Boston University School of Medicine MD/PhD Combined Degree program produces exceptional physicians and researchers. Though only halfway through his time here, Andrew Ferree is no exception. An addict to research, Andrew has traveled internationally to present his scientific findings, and continues to investigate new ways to improve BUMC’s sustainability efforts here in Boston.
What made you decide to pursue both a MD and PhD in BU’s combined degree program?
You could say I have an addiction to research. I have spent the past ten years researching Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease, and I can’t stop. I initially earned a Master of Arts in Medical Sciences here at BUSM, working with Dr. Benjamin Wolozin in Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics on my thesis and various other projects. I knew I wanted to continue with research, but also wanted to experience the clinical side of medicine and see my research applied to people. When I was accepted into the MD/PhD program, it seemed like the most obvious choice for me because it combined the lab and the clinic.
What PhD program are you in here at BU?
I am completing my graduate research through the Department of Pharmacology but I also work extensively with the Departments of Neuroscience and Medicine.
I understand you will be defending your dissertation soon. What research have you been involved with?
My research has always been related to neurodegeneration. To date, most of my research at BU has been focused on studying the function of genes that are linked to Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s diseases. I will never lose interest in PD and AD, but I am broadening my horizons and beginning to be lured into the study of how mitochondria play a role in diabetes and peripheral neuropathies. Ultimately, I want to help cure these diseases.
You recently attended a conference in Sardinia. What was that experience like?
Blissful would not be an exaggeration. The conference was absolutely sublime; it was relatively small and packed with very prominent researchers in mitochondrial biology. I presented some recent data from experiments on a new potential therapeutic for Alzheimer’s disease. I tested how the drugs effect mitochondrial transport and function in hippocampal neurons. At the mitochondrial dynamics conference, I made some great contacts and got a lot of helpful feedback, encouraging comments, and new ideas. I would like to extend a very warm and appreciative thank you to all those that helped me with the travel expenses.
What have you found to be the most challenging part of your academic career as a MD/PhD student here at BU?
The MD years and the PhD years are very different from each other. Medical school is an inch deep and a mile wide; you learn lots of information across many areas. With research, the focus is narrow, and you try to learn everything there is to know about one topic. The learning approaches are very different as well. Medical school requires memorization and the retention of a lot of information to succeed. In research, the real value is placed on imagination and creativity.
Are you involved in other activities outside of research?
I spend a lot of time with my family, especially my son, Thomas, who will be turning two in February. They keep me laughing on the rough days and offer a lot of support. For the past few years, I have been very active in various sustainability projects here at BUMC. One quick plug, if anyone would like to join us in these efforts check out our website to get involved (www.bu.edu/sustainability/)! When time permits, I also enjoy playing a good game of basketball and teaching self-defense classes in Michael Galperin’s School of Combat Sambo.
What are your future plans/goals?
The best part about the MD/PhD program is that it allows you to explore your options by giving exposure to both the clinic and the lab. I am still not sure where my path will take me but I do know I will never escape the brain. If I practice medicine, I plan to specialize in neurology and focus on treating age related neurodegenerative diseases. It seems unlikely that I will be able to kick my addiction to research so that will definitely be part of the picture.
Do you have any advice for current GMS students?
Pay attention to what truly interests you and pursue it. If you find that the passion fades, then do not feel obliged to follow the current course just because you started it. If you enjoy what you are doing, then it is probably a good fit for you. Beyond that I would like to say something corny, such as, believe in yourself and in your efforts. Your hard work will pay off though sometimes not the way you expect.
Spotlight on Faculty: Dr. Gene Blatt
When faced with administrative meetings, teaching, laboratory research, and writing publishable articles and books on a daily basis, coming to work can seem daunting. For Dr. Gene Blatt, Professor of Anatomy and Neurobiology, multi-tasking is the key to perform at his exemplary level in all these areas. Making greats strides in autism research while participating in multiple facets of the Boston University community, Dr. Blatt easily earns the respect of his colleagues and students.
You recently attended a meeting in Washington, DC on autism. What was that experience like?
The meeting was over the course of three days, and there were approximately 300 attendees. Overall, the meeting presented a global view of the state of autism research. There was focus on genetics, animal models, cognition, and behavior from many different experts in the field through oral presentations as well as poster presentations.
You actively research autism. Can you tell me a bit about your research?
My research focuses on neuropathology and neurochemistry of autism using post mortem human tissue. Obtaining both frozen and fixed tissue from brain banks, including the one at McLean Hospital, we cut thin 20 to 40 micron sections and mount them on slides. With the formalin fixed sample, we stain the tissue to see the cellular cytoarchitecture of the brain using NISSL to determine if there are any abnormalities present within specific brain areas. With the fresh frozen samples, we dip sections of the tissue in radioactively tagged ligand solutions to label neurotransmitter receptors and transporters. The radioactivity on the slides is shown on film is then quantified. The neurotransmitter profile in brain regions in individuals with autism, are compared to age and gender matched controls of individuals without autism. Thus far, the research has shown that there is a profound defect in the inhibitory GABA system in the brains of people with autism.
How did you get into research on autism?
I earned my Ph.D. degree from Thomas Jefferson University studying the cerebellum, and then went to Salk Institute for two years for a post-doctorate position working in neurophysiology. When I came to BUSM, I worked with Dr. Rosene researching the limbic system. In the late 1990′s, I was completely inspired to change my research focus upon meeting Dr. Margaret Bauman, a pediatric neurologist, who showed me slides from autism cases that had similar abnormalities in the cerebellum and limbic system. Very few people have the opportunity to engage in significant research that combines every aspect of their education. Slowly, I made a transition from mainly animal research to pursue post-mortem human research. The transition was timely as autism research was just becoming a burgeoning field that was receiving much attention.
Do you think the research on autism has made significant progress, or do you think we still have a long way to go before we fully understand autism?
Autism is a heterogeneous disorder, which means that there are many different factors to consider, such as genetics, environment, immunology, and even a mother’s condition during pregnancy. The progress in the field is progressing as new technologies emerge. I am currently collaborating with a lab in London who is performing a three-year study on children with autism using a new imaging technique, Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (MRS). This technique allows for the sampling of a particular part of the brain in an MR scan, and MRS shows how the neurochemical levels of specific brain areas are impacted. This in vivo research with the London lab supplements my in vitro studies of the post mortem brains here are BUSM. Collectively, there is more awareness of autism today, and it remains unclear why the prevalence rates are increasing although better diagnosis may be a contributing factor.
As well as being a professor in Anatomy and Neurobiology, you are involved with a number of administrative committees, such as the Academic Policies Committee (APC). What pushed you to become so involved in such activities?
Participation on a department-wide, division-wide, campus-wide, and university-wide level is critical to understand the workings of the institution. All GMS faculty should participate to some degree, and I joined the APC about seven years ago. After a year, I was nominated by Dr. Franzblau and voted for by the committee to be the Chair. Mostly all of the current MA and MS programs were approved since then. It is a very busy committee. I also serve as the liaison to the Ph.D. Steering Committee, as Chair for the Faculty Appointments and Promotions Committee for the Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, as a member of the Department Qualifying Examination Committee, as a member of the department Faculty Search Committee, as a member of the GMS By-laws Committee, as a MA in Medical Sciences faculty advisor and conduct mock interviews for MA students, as an Advisor-At-Large for the Crumpler Academy of Advisors, and as an interviewer for potential M.D./Ph.D students.
What is your favorite part of your job?
Along with teaching lectures in some graduate-level courses in GMS, I also teach medical students in Neuroscience and Medical Histology. Teaching is very important to me, but I am also very committed to research. I am constantly working to keep up with current projects and new information on autism. The best part of my job is that there is a balance between teaching, research, and administrative duties. On top of that, I do a great deal of writing. Though it can be hard to find time to write in between everything else, my lab produces between three and five journal articles a year, as well as one or two book chapters a year. And there is always a grant to write. Last year I edited and contributed to a book, The Neurochemical Basis of Autism: From Molecules to Minicolumns with Springer Publishers.
What do you enjoy doing outside of your office, lab, and Boston University?
I am an avid golfer, and I love nature. My Master’s degree had an emphasis in Ornithology and Field Biology. Much of my time outside BU is spent outdoors hiking or bird watching. I spend a lot of time with my wife, and my son and daughter-in-law who recently had our first grandchild. I love being a grandpa!
Do you have any advice for GMS students?
I agree with the philosophy that I quickly learned from Dr. Deborah Vaughan in Medical Histology when I first came to BUSM in the 1980s: It is so important to be an active learner. Understand the material rather than just memorize it; work in study groups; ask your teachers questions because we are here to help you. From one of my mentors here, Dr. Douglas Rosene, I learned that if you plan to go into research, make sure you choose a productive talented lab team that will provide good training and involve yourself in many interesting and creative projects. Learning multiple techniques will allow you to build a repertoire of skills to tackle projects in many different ways. Finally, take the same active attitude to research as you do to teaching and learning: make it a priority to contribute to your field, through talks, collaborations, and publications. Receiving valuable feedback is essential to deepen your understanding of your research endeavors.
Spotlight on Students: Maria Vasilakos
Choosing a career is not always an easy task. A graduate from the M.A. in Medical Sciences – Oral Health Sciences track and a first year dental student at the Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine (BUGDM), Maria Vasilakos provides some insight on her unique path into the dental field.
What made you choose the field of dentistry?
Ever since I was a young child, I wanted to be a dentist. As I grew up and during college, the idea of dentistry disappeared, and I ultimately earned a degree in Biology, with a marine biology concentration, from Northeastern University. After graduation, I taught scuba diving but eventually wanted to further challenge myself. I decided on teaching. In my third year, as a high school biology teacher, a student sought me out for advice on class choice to better prepare her for dental school. As I was researching prerequisites for programs for my student, I rekindled my childhood interest in dentistry and began to look for dental schools for myself.
I understand you graduated from the M.A. in Medical Sciences (MAMS) Oral Health Track. How did you hear about the program, and how was your experience in the program?
I met my husband while I was studying for the DAT. As my husband was a graduate of the GMS MAMS program, he encouraged me to apply to the Oral Health track within MAMS in addition to dental schools. The MAMS Oral Health program was perfect for me, as it had been a while since I had been a student. Without the program, dental school would have been a struggle. I had to work hard to get my work done and earn the grades, but it prepared me for the heavier course work in dental school. The Oral Health track equipped me with study habits that have been critical for me to get through my current academic work. Because I took classes with BUGDM while in the Oral Health track, I am able to fully focus on elective courses that require the basic science knowledge for this first year. In one sense, I would definitely say I have an advantage over my classmates that did not graduate from the MAMS Oral Health track, or another similar program.
Congratulations on being elected Class President! What made you decide to run for office?
Entering BUGDM, I wanted to become more involved as a student representative. I am a different type of dental student – I am older than most of my classmates, I have a Master’s degree in Oral Health Sciences, and I have years of experience in a field other than medicine. I wanted to be able to use my unique situation to contribute to the first-year class. As President, I will be responsible for academic issues students face, such as the scheduling of exams and courses. I also will get to plan some social activities to unite the class, including a possible ski trip this winter.
What are your future plans once you graduate from the dental school?
I want to practice dentistry, but I also want to teach. My past experience as an educator was an influential aspect of my life, and is something I want to continue.
What advice can you give current GMS and/or MAMS students as they work to complete their degrees?
GMS offers very unique opportunities to its students. Particularly with MAMS, the program can make you, or break you. The MAMS program is a second chance for you if your undergraduate career was not as appealing as needed to get in to medical school. If you do well in the program, then you have a very good chance continuing on into medical, dental, or other professional school. If you do poorly, then you lose the second chance, and there may not be a third. It is so important to strive for success in the GMS programs, and to do that, you will have to study hard.
Balancing academics and a social life can be difficult, especially for students new to the Boston area. Set aside time both during the week and on the weekends for studies and extracurricular activities. I also surround myself with people who are passionate about their studies, who I can talk to about classes, and who are supportive of my goals. You can find many ways to combine your social and academic interests.
Spotlight on Students: Geunwon Kim
Not many people can say they enjoy waking up and going to work every day. Geunwon Kim may be an exception. A current MD/PhD student in her fourth PhD year, she mixes research with passion as she attends conferences and prepares for her MD years at Boston University School of Medicine.
Welcome back to Boston! I understand you were just at an International Conference?
Yes, the 2011 Gordon Conference “Stress Proteins in Growth, Development & Disease,” which was a six-day conference in Lucca, Italy focusing on the role of stress proteins as regulators of disease and life span. I had to forego an MD/PhD conference here in the States, but overall, it was worth it. The conference was small with approximately a hundred people, but there were some big name scientists, and the quality of research was outstanding. I was a bit star-struck actually, especially when I had to approach them. I’ve read about their research, and having the chance to talk to them was inspiring.
What was the research you presented?
I presented my research in a poster session on the mechanism behind the attenuation of heat shock factor in senescent cells. The experience gave me exposure, and many of the prominent scientists who were there came to see my poster. They commented and discussed my research with me, and they gave many ideas to further my research. More importantly, I found the more I talked about my project, the more familiar I became with it.
What PhD program are you in here at BU?
I am in the Molecular Medicine PhD program. I absolutely love my program. When I was considering PhD programs, I knew I wanted one with a diverse group of faculty with experience ranging from basic science to translational science. In addition, the Molecular Medicine Program at BU offers a variety of seminars that keep me engaged in other areas of science, besides my narrow field of research.
What made you choose the combined MD/PhD program?
I always knew that I would be a doctor. In college, a professor took me under her wings as a freshman and showed me what research was all about. After that, I wanted to incorporate research in my career and MD/PhD seemed like a good idea. Since starting this program, I have realized how important it is to understand how disease affects a person, but also to do so at the molecular level. Even though I am working with cells in the lab, I and other researchers are always thinking about how the bench work would translate to the clinics. The MD/PhD program facilitates this translational thinking and research.
What are your future plans/goals?
I love to balance the clinical and research work. I haven’t decided if I will go directly into clinical medicine or become a researcher. Right now, research makes me want to get up in the morning and go to work where I might find something new. My work in the lab is exciting, and I love when I can see the applications of my research in tangible ways.
What have you found to be the most challenging part of your academic career as a MD/PhD student here at BU?
I am in my 4th year as a PhD candidate, and it has been a very challenging experience. The education I am getting now is very different from all my past degrees. When you are a PhD student in a lab, there are no answers, you must find the answer yourself and back it up with your research. There are no right and wrong answers that can be verified with a textbook. You have to utilize what you already know to venture into the unknown, and this is definitely something I struggled with in the beginning. When I first started the program, I needed and wanted some validation that my research and progress was either right or wrong. But then I soon realized that it is okay not to know what will happen. I learned that the whole process of a PhD is about exploring your subject, building thinking skills, and learning how to get an answer to your question from your own work. This was the hardest part, and I am still getting used to it.
Are you involved in other activities outside of research?
I am also on the Volunteerism Committee for United Way Women’s Initiative. The purpose of this organization is to involve women in Greater Boston area to make a difference in the lives of other women and families. We recently compiled a demographic survey to better understand the volunteer pool in the area.
Do you have any advice for current GMS students?
Don’t give up. Be passionate and take pride in your work. Also, if you have the opportunity, present your research. For Masters students considering a PhD, make sure you love the research, which is a process – process of asking the right questions. Always be asking why/how, and then find a logical solution in any way you can. Boston University is a great school, so take advantage of the faculty and resources.
Spotlight on Students: Flavien Leclere
Balancing graduate school and all that comes with it—classes, research, exams—is not easy. We sat down with Flavien Leclere, President of the Graduate Medical Sciences Student Organization (GMSSO) and the recent recipient of the Robert F. Troxler Award in Biochemistry, to hear how he maintains a busy schedule, and has fun doing it.
Can you tell me a bit about GMSSO and how you got involved?
I was heavily involved in a lot of activities during undergrad and really wanted to participate. I initially wasn’t planning on becoming too involved. I kept receiving emails about the Executive Board, but it wasn’t until some of my peers convinced me to run that I ended up becoming the President of GMSSO. So far, things are running relatively smoothly. It’s a little hectic during this transition as we lose some members and gain new ones. But the old Executive Board members have been very helpful and supportive of the new board members and me.
As the newly elected President, do you have any plans for the upcoming year?
There is nothing set in stone as of yet. We hold an annual blood drive, and would like to add a second one. We also work with Project Gratitude by staffing collection booths and assembling leisure items, clothing, food, and personal hygiene products for troops overseas. A new organization we would like to begin working with is Freedom House. Part of its mission is to promote educational excellence in Boston’s most distressed urban neighborhoods. Freedom House has found that students are having a difficult time with the sciences, and we hope to participate by tutoring them in basic science subjects. We really want to tie the GMSSO to a charitable organization, and Freedom House might be it. We also want to host a screening for the film Life of a PhD Student, and we are currently very focused on the upcoming 2011 Fall Orientation.
What other activities are you involved in here on campus or in the Boston Community?
I am a member of the American Red Cross of the Massachusetts Bay area by participating on the Disaster Action Team. I had participated in the Disaster Action Team in Milwaukee and enjoyed it so much that I chose to participate here in Boston. It involves being on call for a certain time period and being part of the first response to fires. It has been hard being a graduate student and responding to those kinds of calls, especially when the call is at three in the morning and there is an exam the next day. Seeing people lose everything in a fire is very emotional, but the experience is extremely rewarding.
What program of study are you in?
I’m in the Master of Arts in Medical Sciences (MAMS) program. When I completed my undergrad, I was looking for a program that would help me in medical school, but I didn’t want to jump right into a PhD program. I chose BU because everyone I talked to was very straightforward and upfront. I knew what I could expect from the program, and I knew what BU expected from me. It seemed like the best decision I could make.
As a second year MAMS student, you must be putting a lot of though and work into your thesis. What is the most rewarding or the most difficult part about the research?
I will begin my thesis research this July in a laboratory at Harvard Medical School. My research will focus around p53 and the HPV virus. I completed previous research as an undergraduate, both with a mentor and independently. I have also worked in projects that involved organizing and analyzing years of data using statistical methods. Research can be very rewarding but it requires a lot of patience, especially in the laboratory. Things don’t always work, and tests can go wrong. It is a lot of repetition. But it is part of the bigger picture, and I am looking forward to beginning my thesis work.
You were recently awarded the Robert F. Troxler Award in Biochemistry. Do you have any advice for incoming or current students on how to set high academic standards while still maintaining involvement in other activities?
Balancing everything will be different for everyone. I was lucky that my undergraduate institution had a very rigorous biochemistry program, so I obtained a very significant background in the subject. But ultimately, you have to have fun while learning the subject. Hopefully everyone who is considering medicine as a career is doing so because they enjoy it. I also think it’s important to look at your studies from a practical aspect. Don’t study by memorizing everything in the syllabus. You have to understand how the material all fits together. Once you understand the bigger picture, then memorizing the little details becomes easy. But it all starts with enjoying the subject.
My advice for studying is to go outside and stay out of the library. I like to study somewhere I can talk to other people involved in other things, like at home. My roommates are not science majors, and I cannot talk to them about Biochemistry. That keeps me open and prevents me from thinking on one track. You have to split your studies up and, if need be, take a break to enjoy other things too. And definitely don’t cram for those tests.
