Adam Alder, MD, Research Fellow in Surgery, received his medical degree from Tulane School of Medicine. His current research focus is concerned with defining the relationship between kidney functions and surgical outcomes while developing therapies for risk factor modification.
Amy Becker, MD, Assistant Professor in Pediatrics, earned her medical degree from UT Southwestern. Her current areas of research include testing the current model of sickle cell nephropathy to validate or disprove long held assumptions. Additionally, she is interested in developing and testing therapeutic interventions for the multiple stages of the disease's progression.
Anna Brandon, PhD, MSCS, Assistant Professor in Psychiatry, recently received her degree from UT Southwestern. In 2007, she received a UT Southwestern Department of Clinical Sciences Pilot Award for a pilot study on the identification and treatment of mood and anxiety disorders during the perinatal period, particularly in women who experience high risk of maternal or fetal demise during pregnancy.
Shelley Crary, MD, MSCS, Assistant Professor in Pediatrics, received her medical degree from Tulane Medical School. She aims to evaluate the role of the spleen in vascular homeostasis in individuals undergoing splenectomy for hematologic conditions. It is increasingly recognized that individuals who have undergone splenectomy are at increased risk of vascular complications, including pulmonary arterial hypertension and arteriothrombosis. She received a Summer 2008 NCTCTSI Pilot Award for a pilot study titled Biomarkers of Vascular Complications Following Splenectomy in Hereditary Spherocytosis.
Michael Dowling, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor in Neurology, received both his medical and his doctorate degrees from Columbia University. His area of particular interest is the field of pediatric stroke in patients with sickle cell disease.
Ronald Hall, PharmD, MSCS, Assistant Professor at Texas Tech School of Pharmacology, earned his degree at the St. Louis College of Pharmacy. Dr. Hall is focused on the effects of obesity on pharmacokinetics of antimicrobial agents. He received a Summer 2008 NCTCTSI Pilot Award for a pilot study titled Effect of Body Mass Index on the Pharmacokinetic Variability of Cefoxitin in Patients Undergoing Colorectal Surgery
Anne Hudak, MD, MSCS, Assistant Professor in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, earned her medical degree at the State University of New York. Her current research will target the subpopulation of traumatic brain injury (TBI) patients with diffuse axonal injury (DAI). Dr. Hudak proposes to isolate the subpopulation of patients with DAI. She received a Summer 2008 NCTCTSI Pilot Award for a pilot study titled Depression in Traumatic Brain Injury: a Feasibility Trial.
Michael Limerick, PhD, RN, Assistant Professor in Clinical Nursing at the University of Texas at Austin, earned his degrees from the University of Texas, Austin. The aim of his research is to further the field of ethical decision making that is embedded in clinical practice. Additional fields of interest include palliative health care and ethical issues at the end of life. He received a Fall 2008 NCTCTSI Pilot Award for a pilot study titled Human Immunodeficiency Virus Acquired Lipodystrophy (HAL); Classification, Measurement, Y Fat Response to a Thiazolidinedione (TZD) in Differing Adult Phenotypic Presentations.
David Markham, MD, MSCS, Assistant Professor in Internal Medicine/Cardiology, received his medical degree from Emory University School of Medicine. He is specifically interested in the further development of biomarkers for use in predicting the development of disease, predicting responses to therapy, and predicting the total outcome, as well as how proteomics can be applied to the field of heart failure.
Adam Miller, MD, MSCS, Assistant Professor in Surgery, earned his medical degree from the University of the State of New York. His current research interests are primarily focused on the use of ultrasound technology to improve patient care and reduce complication and error rates in emergency medicine. He received a Summer 2008 NCTCTSI Pilot Award for a pilot study titled Coronary CT Angiography is Cost Effective when Performed to Risk-Stratify Acute Chest Pain: a Prospective Randomized Trial.
Kim Perry, DDS, Assistant Professor in Restorative Sciences at Baylor College of Dentistry earned her dental degree at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. Her current research interests involves utilizing community engagement in determining the affects of oral health case management (patient centered/patient tailored counseling) on dental caries, knowledge, behaviors, and ultimately reducing disparities among children school age to 14 years.
Maria Ramos-Roman, MD, MSCS, Assistant Professor in Internal Medicine, earned her medical degree from the University of Puerto Rico. In 2007, she received a UT Southwestern Department of Clinical Sciences Pilot Award for a pilot study on the mechanisms of diabetic ketoacidosis in type 2 diabetes.
Geetha Shivakumar, MD, Assistant Professor in Psychiatry, earned her degree from Bangalore Medical College, India. Her current research interests include the role of reproductive hormones in bipolar disorder. In 2008, she received two NCTCTSI Pilot Awards for a pilot study titled Exercise Therapy for the Treatment of Major Depressive Disorder During Pregnancy: A Feasibility Trial.
Arthur Westover, MD, Assistant Professor in Psychiatry, received his medical degree from Baylor College of Medicine. In 2007, he received a UT Southwestern Department of Clinical Sciences Pilot Award for a pilot study on the medical and psychiatric sequelae of amphetamine abuse; comparison of managed care versus traditional care in Texas public mental health.
