Introducing Our 2024 Commencement Speakers!
We’re about five weeks away from Spring 2024 Commencement, where the Graduate Medical Sciences community will come together to celebrate this year’s graduating students. With the date fast approaching, we’d like to take a moment to highlight the four students selected to speak at this year’s GMS Commencement exercises. Three students were chosen to speak at the Master’s Ceremony, and one student was chosen to represent GMS at the MD & PhD Ceremony. All speakers were nominated by their programs, and finalists were selected by a committee of GMS representatives. Meet each speaker below: ARIS DESAI Master of Science in Anatomy & Neurobiology – Vesalius... More
GMS Celebrates Graduate & Professional Student Appreciation Week with 5 Days of Events
Graduate Medical Sciences Student Affairs and the Community Catalyst Center celebrated our students during 2024 Graduate & Professional Student Appreciation Week (GPSAW), celebrated from April 1 to 5. Throughout the week, we hosted a variety of events that brought students together for community building, social interaction, academic enrichment, wellness, and professional development. Read our full GPSAW week recap below: Monday, April 1: Mindful Movement Yoga with Student Health Services GPSAW week kicked off with a well-deserved self-care break in Hiebert Lounge from noon to 1 p.m. Melissa Paz, assistant director of health promotion for Student Health Services, joined us to lead a Mindful Movement Yoga Session. More
GMS PhD Spotlight: Gian Sepulveda
Gian Sepulveda is a PhD candidate in the Graduate Program in Genetics & Genomics (GPGG). His research in the lab of Associate Professor of Biochemistry & Cell Biology Alla Grishok focuses on the interaction between the sole H3K79 methyltransferase, DOT1L, and the proto-oncogene c-MYC. He is also a Community Catalyst Center mentor in the gPLUS and gGLOBAL affinity groups. Gian defended his dissertation in March 2024 and will graduate in May 2024. Read more about Gian below! What did you complete your dissertation research on and how did you settle on that topic? My dissertation focuses on the interaction between the sole... More
GMS PhD Spotlight: Táchira Pichardo
Táchira Pichardo is a PhD candidate in the Graduate Program in Molecular & Translational Medicine (MTM). Her research in the lab of Assistant Professor of Medicine Sarah Mazzilli, PhD, studies the progression of premalignancy in lung squamous cell carcinoma. Táchira defended her dissertation in March 2024 and will graduate in May 2024. Read more about Táchira below! What did you complete your dissertation research on and how did you settle on that topic? My dissertation research focused on using a mouse model of carcinogen exposure to understand the immune contribution to the progression of premalignancy in lung squamous cell carcinoma. I have... More
PhD Program in Biomedical Sciences Hosts Third-Annual Accepted Applicant Visit Day
On Friday, March 22, the Graduate Medical Sciences Program in Biomedical Sciences (PiBS) hosted its third-annual Accepted Applicant Visit Day. The event brought close to 50 accepted applicants from across the country to the Medical Campus, where they learned more about the academic, research, and professional development opportunities offered by PiBS. Accepted applicants began the day by attending a networking breakfast with peers and Boston University faculty members. Following breakfast, applicants explored Boston on an Old Town Trolley Tour through the city, which highlighted the BU campus and other important sites close by. Students returned to the Medical Campus for a busy afternoon... More
Four GMS Faculty Named Recipients of Edward Avedisian Professorships
Four Graduate Medical Sciences faculty have been named recipients of Edward Avedisian Professorships, funded from the $100 million gift made in 2022 by the late Edward Avedisian (CFA'59,'61, Hon.'22) and his wife Pamela (Hon.'23). The four GMS faculty members are: Rachel Fearns, chair of virology, immunology, and microbiology. Dr. Fearns was named the Ernest Barsamian, MD, Professor. Hee-Young Park, professor and chair of medical sciences and education, professor of dermatology, and associate dean for faculty affairs. Dr. Park was named the Carolann S. Najarian, MD, Professor. Andrew Taylor, associate dean of research and professor and vice chair of research in ophthalmology. Dr. Taylor was... More
Mark Your Calendars for Graduate & Professional Student Appreciation Week!
Graduate Medical Sciences and the Community Catalyst Center are thrilled to celebrate the invaluable contributions of our graduate and professional student community during this year’s Graduate & Professional Student Appreciation week! We have planned a week full of social events, academic and professional development opportunities, food and swag pickups, and more to mark the occasion. Check out a full list of GPSAW week events at GMS below! Monday, April 1 Mindful Movement Yoga with Student Health Services Noon to 1 p.m. in Hiebert Lounge Kick off Graduate & Professional Student Appreciation Week with a well-deserved self-care break! Melissa Paz, assistant director of health promotion for... More
GMS PhD Spotlight: Todd Dowrey (MTM)
Todd Dowrey is a PhD candidate in the Molecular and Translational Medicine Department who matriculated into the Program in Biomedical Sciences (PiBS) in 2020. His current research in the lab of Associate Professor of Medicine George Murphy, PhD, studies healthy aging and longevity. As part of his work, Todd collaborates with aging-focused researchers on campus like Professor of Medicine Tom Perls, MD, MPH, FACP, the founding director of the New England Centenarian Study. Todd’s work in the Murphy Lab was recently highlighted in an article by The Brink. Read our interview with Todd below! Tell me a bit about your educational... More
C3 Mastering Self-Advocacy in Graduate School Panel Fills INS-401 Classroom
Twenty-five Graduate Medical Sciences community members attended the Community Catalyst Center's "Mastering Self-Advocacy in Graduate School" event, almost filling the INS-401 classroom space. Part-presentation and part-panel, the event was designed to discuss tips for navigating the graduate school experience by communicating effectively, negotiating confidently, being mindful of mental health and wellbeing and ultimately, using your voice to advocate for yourself and your community. The event began with a presentation from Rachel Levy-Bell, PhD, the program director for the Master of Arts in Mental Health Counseling & Behavioral Medicine program and a clinical associate professor of psychiatry at the Chobanian & Avedisian School... More
Art Days Returns to Medical Campus for 34th Year
The creativity of several Graduate Medical Sciences students, faculty and staff was on display at the 34th annual Art Days event, held Feb. 20 and 21 in Hiebert Lounge. Art Days was started by Dean Emeritus Aram Chobanian to foster the support and growth of the creative arts at BUMC. The exhibition is mounted by the Creative Arts Society and facilitated by Associate Professor of Biochemistry Keith Tornheim, PhD. The BUMC community was encouraged to submit artwork of any medium to the event, sponsored by the Provost’s Office. The two-day event showcased artwork in several media types from across the Medical Campus... More