Doris Duke
Clinical Research Fellowship
for Medical Students
Perelman School of Medicine
at the University of Pennsylvania
Fellows
This page provides information on the fellows and their projects since the Penn DDCRF program began in 2002:
2012-2013 | 2011-2012 | 2010-2011 | 2009-2010 | 2008-2009 | 2007-2008 |
2006-2007 | 2005-2006 | 2004-2005 | 2003-2004 | 2002-2003
2012-2013
Anandita Agarwala
Medical School: University of Texas Southwestern, Dallas
Mentors: Dr. Dan Rader, Medicine
Project: Characterization of an unusual phenotype: elevated HDL cholesterol and coronary heart disease
Catherine Auriemma
Medical School: Penn
Mentor: Dr. Scott Halpern, Medicine
Project: Patient- and surrogate-centered outcomes for comparative effectiveness research
Rebecca Davis
Medical School: Penn
Mentors: Dr. Joseph Dalmau, Neurology and Dr. Scott Kasner, Neurology
Project:
Immune-mediated Status Epilepticus in Paraneoplastic Disorders
Charlotte Lawson
Medical School: Penn
Mentor: Dr. Karin Rhodes, Emergency Medicine
Project: Role of Percent Predicted Peak Expiratory Flow Rate in the Management of Asthma Patient in the Emergency Department
J. Thomas Paliga
Medical School: Duke
Mentor: Dr. Jesse Taylor, Surgery
Project: Incidence and Long-term Outcomes of Single Suture Craniosynostosis
Katherine Riva (International)
Medical School: University of Massachusetts
Mentor: Dr. Elizabeth Lowenthal, Pediatrics
Project: Factors Affecting Alcohol and Drug Use Among Secondary School Students in Botswana
Sunny Tang
Medical School: State University of New York, Downstate
Mentor: Dr. Raquel Gur, Psychiatry
Project:
Psychopathology in 22q11.2 Deletion Syndrome
Martha Tesfalul (International)
Medical School: Johns Hopkins
Mentor: Dr. Carrie Kovarik, Dermatology
Project: Evaluation of Impact of Telemedicine on Medical Management and Outcomes of Patients in Botswana with Dermatologic and Oral Lesions
Mathew Thomas
Medical School: Duke
Mentor: Dr. Andrew Maidment, Radiology
Project:
Comparison of Contrast-Enhanced Digital Breast Tomosynthesis with Contrast-Enhanced Breast MRI in the Characterization and Staging of Breast Cancer; Comparison of Contrast-Enhanced Digital Breast Tomosynthesis with Contrast-Enhanced Breast MRI in the Characterization and Staging of Breast Cancer in a Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy Population
Kathryn Zagrabbe
Medical School: Penn
Mentor: Dr. Deborah Kim, Psychiatry
Project: Fetal Adrenal Gland Volume in Pregnant Women With and Without Stress
2011-2012
Program Leaders, Dr. Angela DeMichele and Dr. Rachel Kelz; Program Administrator, Amy Nothelfer; and 2011-2012 Fellows
Katherine Dillon
Medical School: Penn
Mentor: Dr. Clarisa Gracia, Obstetrics and Gynecology
Project: Fertility in Female Cancer Survivors
Emily Greenberger (International)
Medical School: Dartmouth
Mentors: Dr. Michelle Haas, Medicine and Dr. Andrew Steenhoff, Pediatrics
Project: Validation of CRB-65 severity of index score in predicting mortality among patients with pneumonia Gaborone, Botswana
Ron Li
Medical School: Northwestern
Mentor: Dr. Stephen Kimmel, Medicine
Project:
The Effects of Plasma Vitamin K on Warfarin Dosing
Claire Mulvey
Medical School: Penn
Mentor: Dr. Muredach Reilly, Medicine
Project: Fenofibrate's effect on the physiological response to endotoxemia
Sarah Puryear (International)
Medical School: Johns Hopkins
Mentors: Dr. Andrew Steenhoff, Pediatrics and Dr. Greg Bisson, Medicine (Infectious Disease)
Project: Assessment of the TB case detection rate using 3 different contact tracing approaches in Gaborone, Botswana; Effect of HIV infection on tuberculosis treatment outcomes in patients with CD4 >= 250
Kelly Quinley
Medical School: Penn
Mentor: Dr. Courtney Schreiber, Obstetrics and Gynecology
Project: Predictors of physical and psychological wellbeing in the immediate post-abortion period
Rachel (Schoenfeld) Yang
Medical School: Penn
Mentors: Dr. Rachel Kelz, Surgery and Dr. Brian Czerniecki, Surgery
Project:
Assessing the phenotype of DCIS present in BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutation carriers as a way to predict vaccines that can be developed to prevent disease recurrence or invasive breast cancer
Sarah Wallace
Medical School: Johns Hopkins
Mentor: Dr. Benjamin Abella, Emergency Medicine
Project: Identification and analysis of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest in Philadelphia using a geographic information system
2010-2011
2010-2011 Fellows
Aileen Chang
Medical School: Penn
Mentor: Dr. Victoria Werth, Dermatology
Project: Treatment Outcomes in Cutaneous Lupus Erythematosus
Samira Farouk
Medical School: UMDNJ
Mentor: Dr. Daniel Rader, Medicine
Project: Cxcl12 Levels in Controls vs Acute Coronary Syndrome
Lindsay Griffin
Medical School: University of Wisconsin
Mentor: Dr. Mary Beth Leonard, Pediatrics
Project: Pediatric Nephrologists' Use of Vitamin D in Pediatric Renal Patients
Michael Kelly-Sell
Medical School: Penn
Mentor: Dr. Alain Rook, Dermatology
Project: Systemic immune effects of Resiquimod (a toll-like receptor 7,8 agonist) in CTCL patients
Christopher Morse
Medical School: Penn
Mentor: Dr. Kurt Barnhart, Obstetrics and Gynecology
Project: Defining The Relationship Between Early beta-hCG Levels And Birth Outcomes
Adam Schwartz (International)
Medical School: Mount Sinai on NYU
Mentor: Dr. Greg Bisson, Medicine (Infectious Disease)
Project: Risk factors for delayed initiation of antiretroviral therapy (ART) among HIV-infected adults with active tuberculosis (TB)
Paul Sonenthal (International)
Medical School: Duke University
Mentor: Dr. Robert Gross, Medicine (Infectious Disease)
Project: Coping, Symptoms and Adherence in Patients Starting ART
Julie Yu
Medical School: UMDNJ
Mentor: Dr. Graham Quinn, Ophthalmology
Project: Quantitative Analysis of Retinal Vascular Changes in Retinopathy of Prematurity
YiDing Yu
Medical School: Duke University
Mentor: Dr. Nehal Mehta, Medicine and Dr. Sandy Schwartz, Medicine and Health Care Systems
Project: Evaluation of Immune Cellular Composition of Vascular and Skin Inflammation in Psoriasis Utilizing FDG PET/CT
2009-2010
Program Leader Dr. Angela DeMichele and Administrator Amy Nothelfer & 2009-2010 Fellows
Katrina Abuabara
Medical School: Harvard University
Mentor: Dr. Joel Gelfand, Dermatology
Project: Clinical epidemiology in dermatology
Jessica Cataldi (International)
Medical School: Northwestern University
Mentor: Dr. Gregory Bisson, Medicine (Infectious Disease)
Project: Alcohol use and early virologic and immunologic responses in adults with active TB and advanced HIV
Christopher Favilla
Medical School: University of Florida
Mentor: Dr. Scott Kasner, Neurology
Project: Optical measurement of cerebral hemodynamics during induced hypertension for acute stroke management
Claire Friedman
Medical School: New York University
Mentors: Dr. Jun James Mao, Family Medicine & Community Health and Dr. Angela DeMichele, Medicine
Project: Hypovitaminosis D and Aromatase Inhibitor-associated Arthralgia
Jonathan Ludmir (International)
Medical School: Penn
Mentors: Dr. Andrew Steenhoff, Pediatrics and Dr. Joshua Metlay, Medicine
Project: Vitamin D levels in Batswana HIV-Infected Children with and without Active TB: A Pilot Study
Kathleen McKeegan
Medical School: Penn
Mentor: Dr. Richard Rutstein, Pediatrics
Project: Evaluation of the Clinical Effectiveness of a Pilot Modified-Directly Observed Therapy Program for Nonadherent, Perinatally Infected, HIV-1 positive Children and Adolescents
Jarrod Predina
Medical School: Penn
Mentor: Dr. Joel Cooper, Surgery
Project:
An ethical and methodologic evaluation of the National Emphysema Treatment Trial
Debra Yeboa
Medical School: Penn
Mentor: Dr. Justin Bekelman, Radiation Oncology
Project: The adoption of active surveillance national guidelines and its relation to prostate cancer specific survival in older men with localized prostate cancer
2008-2009
2008-2009 Fellows
Rachael Bonawitz (International)
Medical School: Penn
Mentor: Dr. Gregory Bisson, Medicine (Infectious Disease)
Projects: Immunology and Outcomes in Adults with HIV TB starting HAART
Laura DiNardo
Medical School: Penn
Mentor: Drs. Stephan Grupp and Valerie Brown, Pediatrics
Projects: The PIM-1 Inhibitor SGI-1776 alone and in combination with the mTOR inhibitor rapamycin is efficacious in preclinical models of pre-B ALL
Annemarie Fernandes
Medical School: UMDNJ
Mentor: Dr. Ramesh Rengan, Radiation Oncology
Projects: Patterns of Failure and Toxicities in Patients with Locally Advanced Non Small Cell Lung Cancer Treated with Elective Nodal Irradiation versus Involved Field Radiation Therapy
Devon Ghodasra
Medical School: Medical College of Georgia
Mentor: Dr. Graham Quinn, Ophthalmology
Projects: Digital Image Vessel Analysis in Retinopathy of Prematurity
Rebecca Hackell
Medical School: Penn
Mentor: Dr. Ronald Litman, Anesthesiology and Critical Care
Projects: The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Difficult Airway Registry
Aaron Koenig
Medical School: Penn
Mentor: Dr. Michael Thase, Psychiatry
Projects: Determinants of Long Term Recovery Following Cognitive Behavior Therapy of Recurrent Depression: Clinical and Genetic Factors
Jonas Nelson
Medical School: University of Maryland
Mentor: Drs. Seema Sonnad and Liza Wu, Surgery
Projects: Breast Reconstruction in Patients Who Elect Prophylactic Mastectomy
Timothy O'Meara
Medical School: Penn
Mentor: Dr. Samir Shah, Pediatrics and Epidemiology
Projects: National Trends in Community-Acquired Pneumonia and
Pneumonia-Associated Complications in Children, 1993-2006
Abiona Redwood (International)
Medical School: Duke University
Mentor: Dr. Robert Gross, Medicine (Infectious Disease)
Projects: Vitamin D levels in TB patients in Botswana: A pilot study
Hilary Smolen
Medical School: Drexel University
Mentor: Dr. Maureen Maguire, Ophthalmology
Projects: Development and progression of early geographic atrophy; Inflammatory cytokines in the tear film of Sjögrens Syndrome patients
2007-2008
Program Leaders Dr. Angela DeMichele and Dr. Josh Metlay & 2007-2008 Fellows
Naeema Ginwala
Medical School: PCOM
Mentor: Dr. Muredach Reilly, Medicine
Project: Candidate gene associations with CAD
Jillian Mongelluzzo
Medical School:
Penn
Mentor: Dr. Samir Shah, Pediatrics
Projects: 1) Steroids and meningitis; 2) Pseudomonas bloodstream infection
Shweta Motiwala
Medical School: NYU
Mentor: Dr. Keith Flaherty, Medicine
Project: Polymorphisms in angiogenesis-associated genes, toxicity, and response to sorafenib in renal cell carcinoma
Deepika Nemani
Medical School:
Penn
Mentor: Dr. Graham Quinn,
Pediatric Ophthalmology, and Dr. Laura Balcer, Neurology
Projects: 1) Quadrant specific differences RNFL thickness using OCT and GDx in MS patients; 2) Semi-automated digital imaging for eyes with ROP and without ROP
Jennifer Swails
Medical School:
Cornell
Mentor: Dr. George Coukos,
Obstetrics and Gynecology
Project: Modeling and targeting ovarian cancer vasculature
2006-2007
Kevin Downes
Medical School:
Penn
Mentor: Dr. David Rubin, Pediatrics
Projects:
1) The impact of kinship care on behavioral well-being among children in foster care; 2) The children's stability & well-being study (CSAW)
Sarah Dubner
Medical School: Penn
Mentors: Drs. Mary Beth Leonard and Jon Burnham, Pediatrics
Projects:
1) Juvenile idiopathic arthritis and the functional muscle-bone unit: Effects of a chronic inflammatory disease on body composition, muscle mass, and muscle function in children; 2)
Chronic Diseases of Childhood and the Functional Muscle-Bone Unit: Effects of Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis, Crohn's Disease and Other Chronic Illnesses on Muscle Mass and Function in Children; 3)
Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis and Assessment of Bone Health: Impact of Imaging Techniques on Identification of Bone Mineral Density Deficits
Ana Flores
Medical School: Penn
Mentor: Dr. Evaline Alessandrini, Pediatrics
Projects:
1) The effect of continuity of care on receipt of health screening services; 2) Health related quality of life after an acute illness
Sean Heffron
Medical School: Duke
Mentor: Dr. Muredach Reilly, Medicine
Project:
Inflammation-induced protein and lipid modifications – biomarkers of metabolic and atherosclerotic disease
Shanu Kohli
Medical School: Jefferson
Mentor: Dr. Joel Gelfand, Dermatology
Project:
A phase II open label study of the safety and efficacy of curcuminoids C3 complex in patients with chronic psoriasis vulgaris
Sarah Wood
Medical School: Drexel
Mentor: Dr. Richard Rutstein, Pediatrics
Projects:
1) Change in incidence and risk factors for varicella and herpes zoster among HIV-infected children from 1989-2006; 2) Clinical and psychosocial outcomes of long-term survivors of perinatally-acquired HIV
Cooper Wriston
Medical School: Duke
Mentor: Dr. Michael Ming, Dermatology
Project:
Elastosis is not associated with melanoma metastases
2005-2006
Program Leader Dr. Josh Metlay & 2005-2006 Fellows
Nitya Abraham
Medical School: New York University
Mentor: Dr. Katrina Armstrong, Medicine
Project: Racial differences in the evaluation of prostate cancer
David Bajor
Medical School: Case Western Reserve
Mentor: Dr. Robert Vonderheide, Medicine
Project: 1) Molecular and genetic determinants of breast cancer outcome; 2) Molecular and genetic determinants of bone loss in breast cancer survivors receiving adjuvant chemotherapy
Whitney Bowe
Medical School: Penn
Mentor: Dr. David Margolis, Dermatology
Project: Upper respiratory tract infection in household contacts of acne patients on antibiotics
Jeremy Brauer
Medical School:
Penn
Mentor: Dr. Michael Ming, Dermatology
Project: Development of prognostic model for recurrent melanoma
Aaron Brown
Medical School: Penn
Mentor: Dr. Judd Hollander, Emergency Medicine
Project: Acute myocardial ischemia risk assessment using B-type natriuretic peptide
Jessica Kagen
Medical School: Penn
Mentor: Dr. Samir Shah, Pediatrics
Project: Epidemiology and risk factors for surgical site infections in children following median sternotomy
2004-2005
Jennifer Fisher
Medical School: Penn
Mentor: Dr. Maureen Maguire, Ophthalmology
Project: 1) Relation of visual function to retinal nerve fiber layer thickness in multiple sclerosis; 2) Development and validation of an eye surgical skills assessment test for ophthalmology residents; 3) Prevalence of glaucoma in African-American patients with sleep apnea syndrome
Jesse Goldstein
Medical School:
Penn
Mentor: Dr. Flora Winston, Pediatrics
Project: Cost-effectiveness of a Medicaid-based child safety seat disbursement and education program
Ryan Murray
Medical School:
University of Iowa
Mentor: Dr. Murray Grossman, Neurology
Project: Lexical acquisition in progressive aphasia and frontotemporal dementia
Tonya Walker
Medical School:
Johns Hopkins University
Mentor: Dr. Katrina Armstrong, Pediatrics
Project: Reproductive health distrust and health literacy—Are they related?
Lorri Wilson
Medical School:
Penn
Mentor: Dr. Graham Quinn, Ophthalmology
Project: The relation of axial length and intraocular pressure fluctuations in human eyes
2003-2004
2003-2004 Fellows
Jamie Alton
Medical School:
Temple
Mentor: Dr. Angela DeMichele, Medicine and Epidemiology
Project: 1) Molecular and Genetic Determinants of Ovarian Dysfunction and Bone Loss in Breast Cancer Survivors; 2) Living Well After Cancer Program, Prospective Outcomes in Survivors of Solid Tumors (POST) - Breast Protocol
Elizabeth McCann Rickerson
Medical School:
Columbia
Mentor: Dr. David Casarett, Geriatrics
Project: The role of hospice in long-term care
Alison Niebanck
Medical School:
Duke
Mentor: Dr. Leslie Raffini, Pediatrics
Project: 1) Incidence of Neutropenia following IVIG therapy in Pediatric Patients with Immune Mediated Thrombocytopenia (ITP); 2) Evaluation of Abnormal Coagulation Studies in Pediatric Patients with Sickle Cell Disease, Prevalance and Causes of Headaches in Children with Sickle Cell Disease
Jim Ulager
Medical School:
Penn
Mentor: Dr. Ken Ginsburg, Pediatrics
Project: Factors that Affect Homeless Youths' Trust in Helping Professionals
Brian Wills
Medical School:
Penn
Mentor: Dr. John Dormans, Orthopaedic Surgery
Project: Outcomes following occipitocervical arthrodesis in the pediatric population
2002-2003
David Chao
Medical School:
Penn
Mentor: Dr. Richard Rutstein, Pediatrics
Project: 1) Incidence and implications of psychiatric symptomatology amongst urban children perinatally infected with HIV; 2) Epidemiology of GB virus coinfection and correlation with disease markers in an urban perinatally-infected pediatric HIV+ population
Sumeet Garg
Medical School:
Harvard
Mentor: Dr. John Dormans, Orthopaedic Surgery (CHOP)
Project: Outcomes following modern management of spine and spinal cord tumors in children
Kitty O’Hare
Medical School:
Penn
Mentor: Dr. Martin Keane, Medicine
Project: Endothelial and diastolic function in normotensive offspring of African-American essential hypertensive patients.
Manisha Shanbhag
Medical School:
Duke
Mentor: Dr. Richard Rutstein, Pediatrics
Projects: 1) The impact of HAART on neurocognitive outcomes in perinatally HIV infected children; 2) Baseline resistance-associated mutations in perinatally HIV-infected children
Mercedes Torres
Medical School:
Penn
Mentors: Drs. Kathleen Brady, Medicine and Sandy Schwartz, Medicine and Health Care Systems
Project: Relationship between use of complementary/alternative medicine and adherence to conventional medicine among HIV/AIDS patients
Updated January 31, 2013