Faculty Accomplishments

Women faculty are encouraged to send us news of you or your colleagues recent accomplishments to highlight in our next newsletter &on this page.

June 2021

Shannon Jones, MEd, MIS, MLS, professor in the Academic Affairs Faculty is leading MUSC Libraries as it takes on the role of regional medical library for the Network of the National Library of Medicine. After a competitive application process, MUSC Libraries was awarded a five-year, $6 million cooperative agreement from the National Library of Medicine to serve as one of seven regional medical libraries in the United States. The MUSC Libraries took on this responsibility on May 1, serving as the regional medical library for Region 2  of the Network of the National Library of Medicine. Region 2 comprises Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, South Carolina, Tennessee, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Heather Holmes, MLIS and Monique Hill, MSW were also instrumental in bringing the regional library to MUSC. MUSC Catalyst Article

Kristi L. Helke DVM, Ph.D., professor in the Department of Comparative Medicine has been selected as the Chair of the Department of Comparative Medicine and Director of the Division of Lab Animal Resources (DLAR). This was a unanimous decision of the incoming Vice President for Research, the Dean of the College of Medicine, and the Provost, who all interface significantly with the person in this position.

Hanna Epstein, DNP, CPNP, instructor in the College of Nursing was awarded the 2021 Ilene Beal Courageous Provider Award. This award annually honors a pediatric provider who provides exceptional family-centered care in circumstances of serious childhood illness. The award recipient must further demonstrate qualities of compassion, empathy, and the ability to accompany families during difficult phases of the illness journey. Finally, the recipient must demonstrate a willingness to collaborate with other pediatric specialists.

Mindy Engevik, Ph.D., assistant professor in the Department of Regenerative Medicine and Cell Biology was awarded The American Society for Investigative Pathology (ASIP) Dani and Erik Zander Junior Faculty Scholar Award. This award is offered to promote the participation of early-career investigators in scientific meetings and conferences. The award recognizes the outstanding research being conducted by ASIP Regular and Next-Generation Scientist members who are employed as Junior Faculty at institutions around the world. The awardee is selected on the basis of early-career productivity and the scientific merit of the submitted abstract.Dr. Engevik has also received a K01 titled "Identifying the Role of Serotonin Receptor 4 and Trefoil Factor 3 in Intestinal Wound Repair"

Whitney Marvin, M.D., assistant professor in the Department of Pediatrics won The Society of Critical Care Medicine's (SCCM) ICU Design Citation Award. Sponsored by SCCM, the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses, and the American Institute of Architects Academy on Architecture for Health, the ICU Design Citation is awarded to the entry that best resolves both functional and humanitarian issues in a unique and complementary manner. The focus is on planning and design characteristics rather than process or administrative features. Units are reviewed in a blinded fashion according to the following criteria:

• Demonstrates commitment to creating a healing environment
• Demonstrates commitment to promoting safety and security
• Demonstrates commitment to efficiency
• Demonstrates attention to innovative, unique aesthetic and creative design features
  The patient bedside area, overall units design, integration of technology, staff and support areas, and family waiting areas are also assessed

Kit Simpson, DrPH, professor in the College of Health Professions and Kathryn Cristaldi, M.D., assistant professor in the Department of Pediatrics received an R01 titled "Leveraging Health System Telehealth and Informatics Infrastructure to Create a Continuum of Services for COVID-19 Screening, Testing, and Treatment: A Learning Health System Approach"

Alana Rojewski, Ph.D., assistant professor in the Department of Public Health Sciences has received an R01 titled "Optimizing Tobacco Treatment Delivery for People Living with HIV" Eureka Alert

Jennifer Dahne, Ph.D., assistant professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences has received a K23 titled "Development and Testing of a Depression-Specific Behavioral Activation Mobile App Paired with Nicotine Replacement Therapy Sampling for Smoking Cessation Treatment via Primary Care"

Hainan Lang, M.D., Ph.D., professor in the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine has received a K18 titled "Peripheral Auditory System Defects and Autism-Like Behavior"

Anna-Liisa Nieminen, Ph.D., professor in the College of Pharmacy has received an R01 titled "Mechanisms of Mitochondrial Iron Uptake: New Therapeutic Targets in Hepatotoxicity"

Julianne Flanagan, Ph.D., associate professor, Lindsay Squeglia, Ph.D., associate professor, and Sudie Back, Ph.D., professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences have received an R25 titled "Preparing Trainees from Diverse Backgrounds for Alcohol Research Careers"

March 2021

Cristina Lopez, Ph.D., associate professor in the College of Nursing and the Mental Health Disparities and Diversity Program in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, the CON Diversity and Inclusion Officer, Assistant Director for the University's Office of Gender Equity, and Co-Director of SCTR's Integrating Special Populations program, was named the 2021 MUSC MLK Humanitarian Award winner. Dr. Lopez was selected based on the impact of her campus contributions in the areas of diversity, equity, and inclusion. 

Dee Ford, M.D., MSCR, professor of medicine, has been appointed director of the Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care, Allergy and Sleep Medicine in the Department of Medicine, effective Feb 1. Ford joined the MUSC pulmonary faculty in 2005 and has been serving as the interim division director since November 2019.

Susan Dorman, M.D., professor in the Department of Medicine, was recently awarded a 10-year, $9.9 million contract by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to run trials for the Tuberculosis Trials Consortium (TBTC). The TBTC is a collaboration of researchers whose goal is to improve the diagnosis, management and prevention of tuberculosis (TB) around the world. Dorman, who has dedicated her career to studying the disease, serves as a TB medical consultant for the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control and leads research efforts to improve TB treatment and prevention. MUSC Catalyst Article

Ozlem Yilmaz, Ph.D., DDS., professor in the College of Dental Medicine, was recently named Department Chair of Oral Health Sciences

Paula Ramos, Ph.D., assistant professor in the division of Rheumatology and Immunology, has volunteered as an American Society of Human Genetics DNA Day Essay Contest judge for seven years (and counting). Read ASHG's conversation with her about her experience over the years and why she continues to volunteer. 

Nandita Nadig, M.D., assistant professor in the division of Rheumatology and Immunology, received the American Thoracic Society Diversity Grant for a project titled “Inter-ICU Transfer Telehealth Tool (IITT)-Family Centered Care through Telehealth”.

December 2020

Melissa Hortman, Ed.D., Associate Professor, Academic Affairs Faculty, was recently accepted into the 2020-2021 cohort of Microsoft Innovative Educator Experts. This group is recognized as self-driven educators who are passionate about teaching and learning and who inspire students with creative thinking and work in a collaborative spirit to share their learning with the world. As one of only six awardees in South Carolina, Hortman joins a diverse and exciting global community of educators who are working together to change students’ lives and build a better world.

Nandita Nadig, M.D., Assistant Professor of Medicine, Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine wrote an article for The BMJ Opinion about surviving first few years on faculty, titled, "The evolutionary phases of a junior academic faculty physician"

Wendy Balliet, Ph.D., Associate Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, published in The American Journal of Transplantation along with her mentor from the 2017 ARROW JRR Mentor Fellowship. "Findings and recommendations from the organ transplant caregiver initiative: Moving clinical care and research forward"

Marvella Ford, Ph.D., Professor in the Department of Public Health Sciences, Associate Director for Population Sciences and Cancer Disparities in Hollings Cancer Center, Director for the Office of Community Outreach and Engagement in Hollings Cancer Center, and SmartState Endowed Chair in Cancer Disparities Research, was highlighted in the "Women as Biomedical Scientists" in the AAMC GWIMS (Group on Women in Medicine and Science) newsletter for Women in Medicine Month (September).  "It is critically important to increase the diversity of scientists in the US. The Millennial Generation, comprising 26% of the population, is the most diverse in US history. However, young adults are not entering science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) careers at commensurate rates, especially those who are racially and ethnically diverse, from rural areas, and from low-resource backgrounds. As an African American woman performing biomedical sciences research, I am leading several large NIH-funded research training grants to train underrepresented students from historically black colleges, universities, and high schools in South Carolina in state-of-the art techniques in cancer research."

Kristine Deleon-Pennell, Ph.D., Assistant Professor in the Division of Cardiology, was recently awarded a grant from American Heart Association - AHA. "X Inactivation Regulates Lymphocyte-Induced Cardiac Remodeling," Project start date: January 1, 2021.

Melissa Cunningham, M.D., Associate Professor in the Division of Rheumatology & Immunology was recently awarded a grant from Rheumatology Research Foundation - RRF. "The Role of Estrogen Receptor Alpha Variant Size and Localization in Modulating TLR7-Induced Inflammation," Project start date: November 1, 2020.

Chitra Lal, M.D., Associate Professor in the Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care was recently awarded a grant from NHLBI. "LOFT-HF The Impact of Low Flow Oxygen Therapy in Patients on Hospital Admissions and Mortality In Patients with Heart Failure and Central Sleep Apnea."  Project start date: May 1, 2020.

October 2020

A recent report published in Science Translational Medicine by Hollings Cancer Center investigator Sophie Paczesny, M.D., Ph.D., Professor and Chair of the Department of Microbiology and Immunology, sheds light on immune cell biomarkers that may reveal which patients are most at risk for graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), a life-threatening condition that can arise after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) for treatment of liquid cancers such as leukemia. Scienmag article: New Biomarker To Prevent Graft-Versus-Host Disease In Stem Cell Transplants Discovered

Debbie Chatman Bryant D.N.P., R.N., F.A.A.N., Associate Professor and Associate Dean for Practice in the College of Nursing is running for South Carolina Senate District 44

Victoria Findlay, Ph.D., Assistant Professor in the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, received an R01 from the National Cancer Institute. The grant, titled Lifestyle-Associated Reactive Metabolites and Their Negative Impact on Breast Cancer Risk, focuses on early life factors and their effect on mammary development during puberty and how they relate to increased breast cancer risk.

Peggi Angel, Ph.D., Assistant Professor in the Department of Cell and Molecular Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, received a $3 million grant from the National Cancer Institute to study how patterns of collagens can serve as biomarkers of breast cancer risk and potentially reveal clues to what might be driving health disparities. Catalyst article: Hollings researcher receives award to study collagen regulation in breast cancer health disparities

September 2020

Daria (Dasha) Ilatovskaya, MSc, PhD, FAHA, Assistant Professor in the Department of Medicine, Division of Nephrology, and Department of Regenerative Medicine and Cell Biology received an RO1 titled "Mitochondria-mediated effects and therapeutic potential of Atrial Natriuretic Peptide in Salt-Sensitive Hypertension" Dr. Ilatovskaya said that the external grant review program provided by ARROW was instrumental in terms of resubmitting a strong application.

Under the leadership of Chief Innovation Officer, Jesse Goodwin, PhD, MUSC ranked 3rd nationally in "pure" medical schools for innovation impact.

July 2020

DeAnna Baker Frost, M.D., Ph.D., Assistant Professor in the Department of Rheumatology and Immunology was featured as The Post and Courier: Lowcountry Parent "Mom of the Month." Article

Social Sciences journal article by Cristina Lopez, Ph.D., Assistant Professor in the College of Nursing and Assistant Director for MUSC's Office of Gender Equity, Cara Margherio, Latecia Abraham-Hilaire, M.H.A., D.H.A., Assistant Professor in Academic Affairs Faculty and Carol Feghali-Bostwick, Ph.D., Professor and Endowed Chair in the Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, titled "Gender Disparities in Faculty Rank: Factors that Affect Advancement of Women Scientists at Academic Medical Centers" has been viewed 1520 times, downloaded 2104 times, and cited 4 times so far.

Judy Dubno Ph.D., Professor in the Department of Otolaryngology has been named the recipient of the 2020 Acoustical Society of America (ASA) Gold Medal, which is awarded annually to a member of the Society “for contributions to understanding age-related hearing loss and for leadership in the acoustics community.” Award Encomium (PDF)

May 2020

Chanita Hughes-Halbert, Ph.D., Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences and Associate Dean for Assessment and Evaluation in the College of Medicine, has been named by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine to the National Cancer Policy Forum (NCPF).
Academies forums are designed to allow government, industry, academic, and other representatives to meet, confer, and plan on subject areas of mutual interest.
The objectives of the NCPF are to identify emerging high priority policy issues in the nation’s effort to combat cancer and to examine those issues through convening activities that promote discussion about potential opportunities for action. More information can be found on the NCPF website: https://www.nationalacademies.org/our-work/national-cancer-policy-forum.
Her three-year appointment begins in January 2021.

Kristi DeLeon-Pennell, Ph.D., Assistant Professor in the Department of Medicine, has been awarded the 2020 The Dale J. Benos Early Career Service Award by the American Physiological Society.

Jessica Thaxton, Ph.D., Assistant Professor in the Department of Orthopaedics and Physical Medicine, has been awarded two RO1 grants from the NIH NIC.
Targeting Chronic ER Stress in T Cells to Improve Cancer Immunotherapy
The major goals of this project are to measure the contribution of chronic ER stress to T cell exhaustion and response to checkpoint therapy in sarcomas with applicability for global cancer immunotherapy.
Exploitation of ER Stress Induced Immune Dysfunction to Improve Cancer Immunotherapy
The goal of this project is to study PERK-induced dysregulation of metabolism and proteostasis in CD8 TILs that undermines the success of cancer immunotherapy.

February 2020

Emily D. Gottfried, Ph.D., Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, has been appointed Director of the Sexual Behaviors Clinic and Lab, conducting evaluations of sexual behavior and provides expert testimony to the courts. Dr. Gottfried also currently serves as the Director of CPSPD Student Education & Research, providing clinical and research supervision and mentoring to students.

Ana Clara Bobadilla Asensio, Ph.D., Assistant Professor in the Department of Neuroscience, received a K99/R00 Pathway to Independence award from the National Institute of Drug Abuse (NIDA) to study the neurobiological differences between drug- and natural-reward processing. Dr. Bobadilla Asensio also received a Travel award from the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology (ACNP) to attend the 58th Annual Meeting in Orlando, Florida.

Suzanne Craig, D.V.M., Chair and Professor in the Department of Comparative Medicine, received the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) Joseph J. Garvey Management Award, which recognizes an individual for their outstanding accomplishments in administration, management, or the support of programs relating to the care, quality, or humane treatment of animals used in biomedical research.

Nancy DeMore M.D., FACS, Professor in the Department of Surgery and Endowed Chair in Cancer Research, was highlighted in the "Women as Physicians Spotlight" in the AAMC GWIMS (Group on Women in Medicine and Science) newsletter for Women in Medicine Month (October).
"Celebrating the accomplishments of women in medicine is important to instill in the younger generation that they too can achieve anything that they put their mind to with hard work and perseverance."

Sudie Back, Ph.D., Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science, is part of a team assessing the use of Zeriscope in veterans with PTSD in a clinical trial. This small camera, the size of a shirt button, allow patients with PTSD to show their physician what they see when going into a stressful situation. Read the MUSC Catalyst News article: "Veterans with PTSD may benefit from new innovations in technology"

Diann Krywko, M.D., Professor in the Department of Emergency Medicine, was awarded the American Association of Women Emergency Physicians (AAWEP) Outstanding Mentor of the Year. This award recognizes a female emergency medicine mentor who has significantly impacted/enhanced the career(s) of women mentee(s) in the workplace/circle of influence through research, education, advocacy, or administration. The award was presented in October 2019 at ACEP 19, in Denver, CO.

Lacey MenkinSmith, M.D., Assistant Professor in the Department of Emergency Medicine, has been appointed Deputy Ambassador - Guyana for the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP). The purpose of this program is to provide ACEP leaders and staff with access to a special network of internationally-oriented member experts who can provide advice and information on issues pertaining to the progress and status of emergency medicine in their assigned countries and serve as official representatives of the College to those countries.

Heather Shaw Bonilha, Ph.D., CCC-SLP, Director of Doctor of Philosophy in Health and Rehabilitation Science program and Associate Professor in the College of Health Professions, was awarded an R01 titled “Excess Radiation Exposure in Infants and Children from Videofluoroscopic Swallow Studies”. She was also appointed Program Director of the newly developed Masters of Science of Speech-Language Pathology program in the Department of Health Professions.

Lynn Schnapp, M.D., Director of and Professor in the Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, is currently serving as Vice President of the American Thoracic Society and will become President-elect in May 2020.

Barb Rohrer, Ph.D., Professor and Endowed Chair in the Department of Ophthalmology, received an R01 titled "Elastase and elastin peptide activity in age-related macular degeneration." The start date is January 1, 2020.

Tatsiana Beiko, M.D., Assistant Professor in the Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, was recognized as a fellow of the American Thoracic Society. The ATS Fellow designation is a mark of distinction, conferring recognition on members for their accomplishments, dedication, and contributions to the Society as well as to the fields of pulmonary, critical care, and sleep medicine.

September 2019

Kathleen Brady, M.D., Ph.D., Vice President for Research and Distinguished University Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science, has been awarded the Governor’s Award for Excellence in Science by South Carolina Governor, Henry McMaster.

Dr. Brady is among the top 10 NIH-funded psychiatric researchers in the United States for the last nine years. Dr. Brady has been awarded more than $70 million dollars as the principal investigator in research grants, has led several NIH-funded center grants, and has been the co-investigator on numerous additional grants. Read the MUSC Catalyst News article "Renowned addiction science researcher wins state's most prestigious honor"

Amy Bradshaw, Ph.D., Associate Professor in the Division of Cardiology, has been appointed by Dr. Kathleen Brady, Vice President for Research, as the Research Integrity Officer (RIO). Dr. Bradshaw succeeds Dr. Ed Krug who recently retired.

In her role as RIO, Dr. Bradshaw will be responsible for implementing MUSC’s research misconduct policies and procedures, as well as providing guidance, education, and oversight of allegations and investigations brought forth to the Research Integrity Committee.

Elisha Brownfield, M.D., Director, Strategic Leadership Development and Associate Professor in the Division of General Internal Medicine, received the Southern Society of General Internal Medicine Senior Leader in GIM Award at the 2019 Southern Regional Meeting in Houston, TX. This prestigious award is given in recognition of her academic medicine leadership skills.

Nandita Nadig, M.D., M.S.C.R., Assistant Professor in the Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care, Allergy, & Sleep Medicine, has been awarded the Parker B. Francis fellowship. The goal of the Parker B. Francis Fellowship Program is to exert a favorable and lasting influence on the field of pulmonary medicine by providing the means to support promising young physicians and scientists for a period of training in research. In 2020, Fellows will receive $225,000 over three years to support research with experienced mentors in many diverse areas of research related to lung biology, critical illness, and control of breathing. Past PBF Fellows have become international leaders in all aspects of Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine.

Suzanne Craig, D.V.M., chair of the Department of Comparative Medicine, has recently been installed as President of the Southeastern Branch of the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (SEAALAS).

Dee Ford, M.D., M.S.C.R., Professor in the Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care, Allergy, & Sleep Medicine, received the Research Faculty Mentoring Award at the 13th Annual Department of Medicine Research and Scholarship Symposium. Nominated by mentees, this award is intended to recognize a mentor for excellence in mentoring junior faculty researchers.

Melissa Cunningham, M.D., Ph.D., Assistant Professor in the Division of Rheumatology & Immunology, won second place in the Outstanding Junior Faculty Research Poster Presentation at the 13th Annual Department of Medicine Research and Scholarship Symposium for “Toll-like receptor 7/8 agonism accelerates disease and causes a fatal myeloproliferative disorder in lupus mice.”

Betty Tsao, Ph.D., Professor in the Division of Rheumatology & Immunology, received an R21 from NIH/NIAMS titled, "Pathogenic role of SAT1 variants in monogenic lupus."

Lindsay McDonald, Ph.D., Research Health Scientist at the Ralph H. Johnson VA, received a Career Development Award (CDA-2) from the Department of Veterans Affairs titled, “Targeting the myeloid lineage to inhibit exacerbation of pulmonary fibrosis due to chronic stress."

April 2019

Marvella Ford, Ph.D., Professor in Public Health Sciences, has been named as one of the YWCA’s Greater Charleston #WhatWomenBring honorees for 2019. Noted for her contributions in healthcare, Dr. Ford and nine other women will be honored during the second annual #WhatWomenBring program on Tuesday, May 21, at 11:00 a.m., at the North Charleston Convention Center.

Past recipient of the WSI John R. Raymond Fellowship, Wendy Balliet, Ph.D., Associate Professor in Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, was awarded a travel grant from the American Society of Transplantation to present at the American Transplant Congress in June.

Dr. Balliet also recently had a first-author publication in the Journal of Renal Care: The non‐directed living kidney donor: Why donate to strangers?

Bärbel (Barb) Rohrer, Ph.D., Professor and Endowed Chair in Ophthalmology, has been included in The Ophthalmologist’s Power List 2019 as one of 50 most influential researchers/clinicians in Ophthalmology this year. This year saw a record number of nominations – almost 2,000 – across five categories: Champions for Change, Inventors, Emerging Leaders, Mentors, and Surgical Pioneers.
Dr. Rohrer also recently received the Ernst H. Bárány Prize at a meeting of the International Society of Eye Research (ISER).

Kristine DeLeon-Pennell, Ph.D., Assistant Professor in the Division of Cardiology, received the 2019 S&R Foundation Ryuji Ueno award. The Ryuji Ueno Award is given annually to an individual demonstrating outstanding promise based on his/her research in wound healing, tissue remodeling, organ regeneration, or stem cell biology. The award of $30,000 is designated for use in the awardee’s research program in the area of interest to the S&R Foundation.

Deanna Baker-Frost, M.D., Ph.D., Assistant Professor in the Division of Rheumatology, was honored with the ACR Distinguished Fellow Award, which “recognizes up to ten clinical and research fellows who are in a rheumatology fellowship training program and who have performed meritoriously. The Distinguished Fellow Award is sponsored by the ACR and supported through the ACR Fellows Education Fund.”

Daria Ilatovskaya, Ph.D., Assistant Professor in the Division of Nephrology, was selected as the 2019 American Physiological Society (APS) Renal Section New Investigator Award. This is a very prestigious award given to an APS Renal Section member who is in the early stages of their career and recognizes outstanding investigators who have made meritorious contributions to the areas of research represented by the Renal Section.

Edith Williams, Ph.D., Assistant Professor in Public Health Sciences and the Division of Rheumatology, received an R01 from NINR entitled “The Peer Approaches to Lupus Self-management (PALS) study: A novel lupus peer mentorship intervention.” Her goal is to recruit 360 African American women with lupus to serve as mentors and mentees in her program.