Spotlights

Students, Faculty & Alumni

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... More

GMS Faculty Spotlight: Aaron W. Young, PhD

Aaron W. Young, PhD, is an assistant professor in the Department of Pharmacology, Physiology & Biophysics at the Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine. He is also the assistant director of the Graduate Medical Sciences Masters in Oral Health Sciences program. Dr. Young has played a significant role in curriculum design and course directorship across several programs within the medical school. A first-generation undergraduate, graduate, and PhD student, Dr. Young also enjoys mentoring students with... More

GMS Student Spotlight: Maxine Slattery (BMFS ’24)

Maxine Slattery is a second-year student in the Graduate Medical Sciences (GMS) Biomedical Forensic Sciences master’s program with an eye for forensic biology, crime scene investigation and advocacy.  Slattery was born in San Diego and spent her childhood summers between Boston and Cape Cod, where her parents grew up and met. Her older siblings moved to Boston and New York when she was a teenager. For Slattery, who already felt rooted on the East Coast, following suit... More

GMS Staff Spotlight: Patty Jones

Patty Jones is the Program Administrator for the Graduate Medical Sciences masters programs in Biomedical Forensic Sciences, Forensic Anthropology, Bioimaging, and Healthcare Emergency Management in the Department of Anatomy & Neurobiology. Patty joined GMS in 1999 and will celebrate her 25th work anniversary in December 2024. We interviewed Patty about her time at Boston University, her favorite parts of her job, advice she would give to students and more. Read more about Patty below! Tell me... More

PhD Student Spotlight: Kara Vasilew

In her four years in Graduate Medical Sciences, Kara Vasilew has used both her scientific acumen to perform novel research and her voice to advocate for wide-reaching change across the Medical Campus and beyond. Vasilew entered Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine in 2020 under the PhD Program in Biomedical Sciences (PiBS). Vasilew was born in California to parents from Scotland. When it came time to attend college in 2014, Vasilew took the jump and... More

GMS Alumna Chadene Tremaglio, PhD, Talks Careers in Science, Teaching, and Balancing with Parenthood

Boston University Broadening Experience in Scientific Training (BU’s BEST) hosted GMS alumna Chadene Tremaglio, PhD, for a lunchtime Alumni Career Talk with Graduate Medical Sciences students. The event, hosted on Tuesday, Dec. 5, in L-403, filled the classroom with 36 registrants for Tremaglio’s visit. Tremaglio’s presentation, titled “My Adventures in Balancing a Career in Science and Motherhood,” discussed her assistant professor position at USJ, her career path from her own undergraduate years until now, and advice... More

GMS Faculty Spotlight: Andrew Henderson, PhD

Andrew Henderson, PhD, has spent the last 16 years at the Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, during which time he has both performed groundbreaking research and been a part of developing two innovative PhD-training pathway programs in Graduate Medical Sciences (GMS). Henderson is professor of medicine/infectious diseases and virology, immunology & microbiology . He also serves as the assistant dean of research for Graduate Medical Sciences. Henderson completed his PhD training at the University of California, More

Carryl Navalta, PhD, Receives HRSA Grant for Project EDUCATE

Carryl Navalta, PhD, a core faculty member in the Mental Health Counseling & Behavioral Medicine Program at Graduate Medical Sciences, was recently awarded a Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Grant for Project EDUCATE (Education to Deliver and Utilize Child and Adolescent Treatment Effectively). Dr. Navalta is also a clinical associate professor of psychiatry within the Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine. Project EDUCATE aims to train the next generation of mental health counselors... More

Student Spotlight: Ciara Coger (MHCBM ’24)

Ciara Coger is a second-year student in the Master of Arts in Mental Health Counseling & Behavioral Medicine program at Graduate Medical Sciences. Ciara’s research studies lay beliefs and lay theories surrounding COVID-19 health disparities in the United States. She hopes to continue her pursuit of both clinical work and multicultural psychological research. Learn more about Ciara below! Tell me about your journey to Boston University. Are you from the Boston area? I spent most of my... More

First-Gen Student Spotlight: Valeria Oller (MAMS ’24)

Valeria Oller is a second-year student in the Master of Science in Medical Sciences (MAMS) program at Graduate Medical Sciences. Valeria is a first-generation student and a Community Catalyst Center mentor in the gFIRST (First-Generation) and gSOC (Students of Color) affinity groups. She is currently completing her thesis research at Mass General Hospital. Read more about Valeria below! Graduate Medical Sciences is publishing this Spotlight as part of the BU-wide First-Generation College Celebration Week, which recognizes... More