Video online: 'The Future of Health Begins with You'

Jillian Bowers, MPH, program manager for the All of Us Research Program at USA Health, and Shemika Brown, navigator/coordinator for the All of Us Research Program, presented “The Future of Health Begins with You” during a recent Med School Café. 

Bowers and Brown gave an overview of the All of Us Research Program at USA Health – a nationwide research program administered by the National Institutes of Health that seeks to advance individualized prevention, treatment and care for people of all backgrounds. They also discussed the types of health information participants can expect to receive by taking part in the program and gave an overview of the participation steps.

Watch the video below or on YouTube at https://youtu.be/5UXnVJWzt-Y

Researcher seeks to determine root cause of Alzheimer’s disease

Amy R. Nelson, Ph.D., assistant professor of physiology and cell biology, is investigating if pericyte dysfunction may cause reduced blood flow in Alzheimer’s disease. 

As a basic, translational and clinical research scientist, Amy R. Nelson, Ph.D., searches for answers that will improve the lives of people with debilitating neurological diseases. 

“I absolutely love research. It brings hope,” said Nelson, who joined the University of South Alabama College of Medicine last year as an assistant professor of physiology and cell biology. “I have a curious mind that wants to know how things work and why they break. I enjoy determining how the brain works and believe it is timely and important to determine why it dysfunctions, especially as we age and with Alzheimer’s disease.”

The impetus to find better treatment for Alzheimer’s began as a personal one for Nelson. She lost several family members to the disease, including her father at age 57. After being involved in Alzheimer’s disease research, outreach and advocacy for more than a decade, her fight continues for the 5.8 million Americans currently living with the disease and the caregivers and family members deeply affected.

Although Alzheimer’s disease was first recognized more than 100 years ago, the root cause remains elusive, Nelson said. Research shows the buildup of two proteins in the brain – amyloid beta and tau – may be contributing factors. When these proteins are no longer adequately cleared from the brain, the accumulation leads to neurodegeneration. 

“There is growing appreciation that brain vasculature damage happens in normal aging and worsens in Alzheimer’s disease, and precedes these pathological hallmarks,” she said. “It is my goal to systematically determine the initial cause(s) of Alzheimer’s disease with the overarching goal of being able to prevent or help those suffering from this devastating disease.” 

Nelson received undergraduate and graduate degrees in biology, followed by a Ph.D. in neurobiology, from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. She completed postdoctoral studies in neuroscience at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles where she worked on basic, translational and clinical research related to brain aging and Alzheimer’s disease. 

A native Alabamian, Nelson said the opportunity to further her Alzheimer’s research, the supportive and collaborative faculty at USA, and the potential to make a positive impact in her home state influenced her decision to move “from L.A. to L.A.” (Los Angeles to lower Alabama). 

The USA College of Medicine and the Department of Physiology and Cell Biology provided state-of-the-art equipment essential for her research. Although the COVID-19 pandemic created many challenges for starting a new research lab, Nelson said her lab is gaining momentum.  

“I have formed many new collaborations both in basic and clinical research, have several research funding opportunities in the pipeline, and the lab is starting to grow and generate data,” she said. “I am incredibly grateful for and impressed by the willingness of the faculty at South to work together towards new scientific discoveries. As a team, we will be able to make greater strides at correcting health disparities and improving human health and wellbeing.” 

Funded by the National Institute on Aging, Nelson’s lab is studying cells called pericytes, which wrap around and support the smallest blood vessels in the body, known as capillaries. Pericytes are critical for regulating blood flow and keeping blood and toxins from the bloodstream from entering the brain. Nelson is investigating if pericyte dysfunction may cause reduced blood flow in Alzheimer’s disease; and if so, how and why this is happening. 

In collaboration with other USA College of Medicine faculty members, Nelson and her lab team are exploring lung infection links to Alzheimer’s disease with Troy Stevens, Ph.D., Ron Balczon, Ph.D., and Mike Lin, Ph.D.; and the impact of pH on the brain in Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias with Xiangming Zha, Ph.D.

In addition, Nelson is collaborating with Joshua Keller, Ph.D., in USA’s Department of Health, Kinesiology and Sport, Center for Healthy Communities, Center of Excellence for Health Disparities, along with several other faculty members, to start a clinical trial to investigate whether specific exercise modalities improve brain vascular functions and cognition in middle-aged adults.

What does ‘anti-racist’ look like for medical schools?

Lynn Batten, M.D., Felicia Wilson, M.D., and Franklin Trimm, M.D.

Faculty and students at the USA College of Medicine planned and facilitated a workshop for medical educators that explored ways to make the learning environment more welcoming to minority students. Discussions included questions such as: How can microaggressions affect students? How can professors avoid bias in grading? 

The four-hour workshop preceded the virtual annual meeting of the Council on Medical Student Education in Pediatrics (COMSEP), which focused on the theme “Promoting Anti-Racism Through Pediatric Education” on April 6-9.

“When they told us the theme, we decided we would focus on minority students and what specific things we can do for them,” said Lynn Batten, M.D., a pediatric cardiologist at USA Health and professor of pediatrics at the USA College of Medicine. Batten also is a member of COMSEP’s Wellness Collaborative.

Sydney Brown and Kasey Grant Andrews

Batten and colleagues from other medical schools including Vanderbilt, New York Langone, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, the University of Toronto and others performed a literature review on the topic. Students and faculty including fellow professor Felicia Wilson, M.D., and Franklin Trimm, M.D., associate dean for diversity and inclusion at the USA College of Medicine, volunteered to help with the presentation and work with virtual breakout groups.

“There were things we’ve never thought about before,” Batten said. “For example, in the cases we present to first- and second-year students, are we presenting stereotypes?” The literature review brought up the importance of bias training for faculty, including how it can affect grading, and the need to hire a more diverse faculty that is representative of the population.

Another topic was “microaggressions,” which are daily verbal, behavioral or environmental indignities that communicate hostile or negative attitudes toward marginalized groups. “We looked at how microaggressions can affect how students perform, how they take care of patients and whether they remain in medicine,” Batten said.

Sydney Brown, a second-year medical student at the USA College of Medicine, volunteered to help facilitate small groups. “Prior to the workshop, any microaggression I’ve experienced in the classroom or clinical setting, I attributed that behavior as a characteristic of that person,” said Brown, who is Black. “However, by listening to my group’s experiences, I realized just how important it is to extend grace and to create a dialogue.”

Along with her class, Brown will begin clinical rotations in July. She said it was a relief to learn that clerkship directors are working to create a comfortable environment for all patients, students and colleagues at their respective institutions. “I look forward to being in their shoes and doing the same for future underrepresented minorities in medicine,” she said.

Second-year medical student Kasey Grant Andrews worked behind the scenes preparing material to be presented. Andrews, who is white, said she learned a great deal from the literature review. 

“The numerous articles addressing microaggressions faced by URM groups within educational settings – be it actual things said to them, curriculum material or simply a lack of representation – were astounding and definitely made me reflect on my own wording choices in various interactions,” Andrews said. “Helping to prepare the program gave me insight into challenges my URM colleagues face on a daily basis, how I can better be an ally and, overall, how I can be an anti-racist in my own professional and personal interactions.”

Meet a Med Student: Nkemdi Agwaramgbo

Nkemdi Agwaramgbo

Age: 26

Class of: 2021

Hometown: New Orleans, La.

Undergrad/grad institution: The Xavier University of Louisiana

Degrees earned: Bachelor of Science in biology

Interests, hobbies: Boxing, chess and sociology

Something unique about me: I’m a burger connoisseur. 

Three of my favorite things: Music, food and watches

Ovarian cancer research at MCI wins awards for medical student

Jennifer Scalici, M.D., professor of interdisciplinary clinical oncology, and Luciana Madeira da Silva, Ph.D., research assistant professor of oncologic sciences, work in the gynecologic oncology lab at the Mitchell Cancer Institute.

Research on an anti-cancer compound at the USA Health Mitchell Cancer Institute has landed a California medical student three awards for findings showing that the compound decreased ovarian cancer cell growth in cell lines and in egg-laying hens. 

Rebecca Borneman

Rebecca Borneman, a fourth-year medical student at the University of California San Francisco School of Medicine, won the Best Medical Student Oral Presentation at the Mid-Atlantic Gynecologic Oncology Society meeting, a Doreen J. Putrah Cancer Research Foundation Scholar-in-Training Award from the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) and a Dean’s Award for long-term research at the UCSF School of Medicine. 

“I am thrilled to have received these awards for my research,” said Borneman, who spent the past year in the MCI gynecologic oncology lab directed by Jennifer Scalici, M.D. “MCI was a wonderful place to work and learn for the year that I was there.” 

Last year, Borneman took a gap year from her studies and relocated to Pensacola, Fla., where her husband is stationed in the Navy. She looked around for opportunities to conduct basic research and discovered the gynecologic oncology group at MCI. “It seemed like a wonderful group to work with and had a lot of interesting research going on,” Borneman said. 

She joined the lab’s project to study the new anti-cancer compound, a novel NSAID-derived phosphodiesterase inhibitor. Luciana Madeira da Silva, Ph.D., research assistant professor of oncologic sciences, leads the basic science and biomarker aspects of the projects and oversaw Borneman’s work. 

“I studied this compound in ovarian cancer cell lines and further investigated the phosphodiesterase it targets – phosphodiesterase 10A or PDE10A – as a therapeutic and chemo-preventive target for ovarian cancer,” Borneman said. “We found that inhibiting PDE10A decreased ovarian cancer cell growth and its migratory and invasive potential as well as induced cell cycle arrest and cell death.” 

The researchers found that these activities occurred through down regulation of key oncogenic pathways, including the beta-catenin pathway and the RAS/ERK and AKT pathways. They also studied the anti-cancer compound in egg-laying hens. “We found that the same oncogenic pathways were inhibited and that a number of immune and inflammatory pathways were down regulated in the ovarian cancer of hens by the compound,” she said. 

Borneman gave an oral presentation at the Mid-Atlantic Gynecologic Oncology Society meeting in October and submitted abstracts to the Society of Gynecologic Oncology (SGO), the AACR and UCSF School of Medicine. She recently learned that she won a Dean’s Award at UCSF after having been named one of 11 finalists. Borneman will start her OB/GYN residency training at Yale University this summer. 

Scalici said that the lab continues to play a key role in training physician-scientists, including future trainees in USA Health’s new Gynecologic Oncology Fellowship Program. 

“The awards are a huge reflection on the work being done in our lab, and she has been a pioneer in terms of the integration of a dedicated trainee into our work,” Scalici said. “She came in, learned about our hypothesis and really took ownership of developing this project, following the science where it led her. We are so excited that she is seeing her hard work catch the eye of the AACR.” 

Scalici said Borneman’s research validates the research team’s hypothesis and direction in terms of understanding the origins of ovary cancer and how to prevent it. “She has been integral in this work and has a bright future ahead of her!” she said. 

Phung named treasurer of Asian Society of Dermatopathology

Thuy Phung, M.D., Ph.D., associate professor of pathology at the University of South Alabama College of Medicine and director of molecular genetic pathology and dermatopathology at USA Health, was elected treasurer of the Asian Society of Dermatopathology (ASD) for the 2021-2022 term. 

ASD is an international organization of 13 countries in the Asia Pacific region, whose mission is to advance the clinical practice of dermatopathology (skin pathology) in Asia. 

Phung, who has served as secretary-general of the ASD in previous years, said she is honored to represent the USA Department of Pathology at an international level.

“My long-term involvement and commitment to the ASD have enabled me to be an integral part of the development and growth of the society that includes members representing over 12 countries in the Asia Pacific region, including Japan, India, China and Vietnam,” she said. “I am honored to have the privilege to oversee the financial aspects of the society so we can all work together to put it on firm financial ground, which is critical for the continued growth of the society.”

Phung’s duties include overseeing and managing the ASD’s financial affairs to ensure sufficient funds are available to meet the ongoing operation requirements and that it has adequate financial support for major initiatives. She also is responsible for maintaining official records of the society’s financial activities. 

Save the Date: Medical Alumni Association to host social June 12

In response to alumni concerns about travel and the possible spread of COVID-19, the USA Medical Alumni Association Board of Directors has decided to postpone the 2021 reunion. Instead, the MAA will host a social on the evening of Saturday, June 12, 2021, at The Roosevelt Hotel in New Orleans.

All active members of the MAA – whether an annual graduate, a lifetime graduate, or an associate member (USA Health and College of Medicine faculty and staff) – are eligible for a 50 percent discounted room rate the evenings of Thursday, June 10; Friday, June 11; and Saturday, June 12.

Those who automate their annual gift of $600 or more (or $50+/month) by placing their annual support on auto-renewal will be eligible for 75 percent off the room rate. Make an annual gift to support the MEDFund. 

“This is our way of saying thanks for your support and to provide an avenue for alumni who would like to attend to do so,” said Ann Eleece Kouns, M.P.A., associate director of medical alumni relations at the USA College of Medicine.

Book your room at The Roosevelt Hotel by May 20 to take advantage of the discounted rates.

 Join the USA Medical Alumni Association. 

Details will follow as the event gets closer.