Alumni Profiles

2022
Daniel Pike M.D., Ph.D
What sparked my interest?
I was always interested in science, especially biochemistry since high school, and knew I wanted to be a scientist involved in research. In college, though, I realized that I wanted any science that I was involved in to be focused on improving the lives of those around me. Medicine and biomedical research seemed like an obvious path in which I could treat patients directly and also help treat patients I would never meet personally, either in the future or around the country/world through research.
How did I decide on what lab to join?
I was extremely fortunate to join Dr. Dave Ford's lab in Biochemistry. My lab selection was based on a combination of doing research I was interested in, personality fit (with the mentor and with all the people in the lab), and mentor's experience with training Ph.D. and M.D./Ph.D. students. Dr Ford was a great intersection of all three of those criteria, and I loved being in his lab. I rotated through his lab the first summer, and I had a great experience and knew that it would be a good fit. My advice to incoming or early-year M.D./Ph.D. students is that the personality and mentor experience are just as important as interest in the research.
What did I do in lab?
My project was exploring the role of myeloperoxidase-derived chlorinated lipids in sepsis. I adapted a rat model of sepsis in the lab and characterized the timing and localization of these lipid species in plasma and other organs. I also determined the effect of exogenous chlorinated lipids in healthy rats. Additionally, the Ford lab provides plenty of opportunities to collaborate with other labs at SLU and across the country, so I was able to participate in many collaborative lipidomic studies.
My plans for the future
I am thrilled that I just matched into the Pediatric Residency at WashU/St. Louis Children's Hospital. I will participate in their Pediatric Physician Scientist's Training Program where I will be able to receive additional research time and training throughout residency and fellowship.
My experience at SLU
If you include undergrad, I've been at SLU for 12 years, and I've loved every bit of it. The SLU M.D./Ph.D. program has provided me with the clinical training I need to succeed, the research training and opportunities that will give me a leg up in starting my career as a physician-scientist, and relationships that I'll treasure for a lifetime. Go Bills!

2022
Nick Steinauer M.D., Ph.D.
What sparked your interest to become an M.D./Ph.D. student?
While I entered undergraduate training with the strong notion I wanted to one day be a physician, I found myself attracted more to the basic sciences, especially molecular biology and chemistry. I got involved in biochemistry research developing deoxyribozymes and felt a lot of excitement in the process of experimenting, troubleshooting, and contributing some small piece to new knowledge. I didn’t think I’d be satisfied with the traditional career in medicine and wanted to pursue something more mechanistic than clinical research.
How did you decide which lab to join?
I chose to work in Jinsong Zhang’s lab, which studies both wild-type and mutant transcriptional/epigenetic regulators in hematopoiesis and leukemia. The lab combined very mechanistic “wet-lab” methods with high-throughput sequencing methods (especially ChIP- and RNA-Seq). I believe high-throughput sequencing will play an increasingly important role in biomedicine, so I made a very conscious decision to join a lab where I could learn these skills.
What did you do in the lab?
Initially, made a lot of very ugly western blots and designed bad PCR primers. My thesis project characterized the functional effects of a transcriptional corepressor called ETO2, which serves as a linker between many hematopoietic transcription factors and the enzymes required to condense surrounding chromatin. We found that a unique transcriptional isoform was strongly correlated with relapse and stem cell signatures in many subtypes of acute myeloid leukemia. We also showed that ETO2 promotes closed chromatin at many genomic sites that must be open to fully bind the retinoic acid receptor, and thereby decreases retinoic acid responsiveness and differentiation in myeloid precursors.
What are your plans for the future?
I will be moving to Rochester, MN to begin combined Internal Medicine/ Hematology/Oncology training at Mayo Clinic. The program offers protected research time to complete post-doc training and establish an independent research career. I’ like to research how intratumoral epigenetic heterogeneity contributes to disease phenotypes and resistance in hematologic malignancies.
What has been your experience at SLU?
Counting both undergraduate and M.D./Ph.D. training, I’ve been at SLU for 12 years – an equivalent amount of time spanning kindergarten to high school senior, and I can say the amount of personal change has been roughly equivalent as well. I started medical school thinking I knew a lot of things and being scared to ask about what I didn’t. Now, I know how much I don’t know, with the ability to ask dumb questions and form relationships in the process.

2021
Catherine Cai, M.D., Ph.D.
What sparked your interest to become an M.D./Ph.D. student?
I started working in a genetics lab at Emory University for my undergraduate research
thesis and realized that I loved this new method of learning. I was drawn to the idea
that I could figure out how to test and answer my own questions. Scientific discovery
also seemed like one of the widest-reaching ways to positively impact patients, even
though that impact can sometimes feel abstract.
How did you decide which lab to join?
I had been interested in infectious diseases and how they burden communities both
locally and globally for quite some time, so I was naturally interested in the vaccine
development work that Dr. Hoft and his group were doing, as well as Dr. Hoft's strong
training record for M.D./Ph.D. students.
What did you do in the lab?
I studied the role of CD4+ T cells in generating protective immunity versus immunopathology
during infection with Trypanosoma cruzi, the parasitic cause of Chagas disease, in
the context of vaccine. At some point, I even did EKGs on mice.
What are your plans for the future?
I will be working hard at becoming the best internist that I can be through the Internal
Medicine residency training program at New York Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical
Center. After that, I will be doing an Infectious Diseases fellowship. Long term,
I look forward to a career that integrates translational research, patient care, and
global health.
What has been your experience at SLU?
I am proud of the work that we do here, both in terms of patient care and research.
The M.D./Ph.D. community is a small but intimate one.

2019
Anit Behera M.D., Ph.D.
What sparked your interest to become an M.D./Ph.D. student?
My interest to become an M.D./Ph.D. student began during my final year in college
when I was working in a research lab. I was excited/committed to complete medical
school (as I was already involved with the combined B.S./M.D. pre-medical scholars
program at SLU) and decided to add a Ph.D. to satisfy my passion in research and teaching.
Dr. Andrew Lechner was the director at that time and he encouraged me to join SLU's
M.D./Ph.D. program.
How did you decide which lab to join for your Ph.D.?
I worked at the Center for Health Outcomes Research which conducts-and translates-research
into practices that improve health outcomes across patient populations. My area of
expertise in health outcomes primarily falls under applied biostatistics and research
methodology/design with a focus in clinical research. I decided to join SLUCOR as
I was interested in becoming a clinical physician-scientist and utilizing my skills/knowledge
as an outcomes researcher to directly impact my future ambitions as a clinician.
What did you do in the lab?
My responsibilities included providing professional scientific services at every stage
of the research project life-cycle, including study design and protocol development,
data collection, database design and management, statistical programming and analysis,
interpretation and reporting, and communication of results, and teaching courses provided
by the department.
What are your plans for the future? short term, long term?
I will be joining the University of Chicago as a resident-physician in Neurology.
Afterward, I am interested in completing a post-graduate fellowship in neuro-critical
care, vascular neurology, or interventional neurology. I eventually would like to
practice at an academic medical center.
What has been your experience at SLU?
Overall, my experience at SLU has been wonderful. I am grateful to the institution
for providing me the continuity from my undergraduate experience to my M.D./Ph.D.
training.

2019
Ray Kreienkamp, M.D., Ph.D.
What sparked your interest to become an M.D./Ph.D?
I was always interested in science, and I knew, going into medicine, that I wanted
to be a physician-scientist. I was interested in exploring the molecular basis behind
disease pathology and hoped that I eventually could help move us closer to cures for
various diseases.
How did you decide which lab to join?
I loved the department of biochemistry at SLU. They have an amazing group of faculty,
and Dr. Di Cera is an excellent chair. I had two great rotations in the department,
and I eventually chose to work in Susana Gonzalo's lab because she is a fantastic
mentor, and I thought it was an environment in which I could excel. She had some excellent
people in the lab, so I knew it would be a place where I could learn to do science
well.
What did you do in the lab?
I studied the molecular mechanisms driving Hutchinson-Gilford Progeria Syndrome (HGPS).
This devastating disease causes patient death in their early teenage years. This disease
is fascinating to study, because it is also thought that some of the things we learn
about HGPS might also be applicable to the normal aging process. When I came into
the lab, people were studying the role of vitamin D in being able to improve the phenotype
of HGPS cells, and we found that vitamin D was able to improve HGPS phenotype, particularly
DNA damage. Interestingly, our studies with vitamin D allowed us to uncover that replication
stress plays a significant role in generating the DNA damage that occurs in this disease,
and this DNA damage activates a cell-intrinsic interferon-like response which drives
inflammation and contributes to the detriment of these cells. This finding is significant
for the field, and opens a cascade of new pathways to target to improve cell and patient
phenotype. Further, I worked with a mouse model of disease. While previous researchers
had been unable to elucidate the reason for mouse death, we demonstrated that these
mice die from metabolic dysfunction, and supplementing these mice with a high-fat
diet extended lifespan more than any treatment to date. Further, these mice developed
phenotypes, previously unseen, that mirrored phenotypes seen in humans. As a result,
our studies opened the door for further exploration of the pathways driving these
problems in mice to determine if they have application to humans.
What are your plans for the future?
I will be a resident at St. Louis Children's Hospital in the department of pediatrics.
I love working with kids, and I hope to one day become a pediatric endocrinologist.
I hope, there, I will be able to see patients and also do research.
What has been your experience at SLU?
I have loved my experience at SLU. During my Ph.D. years, I felt incredible support
from my mentor, Susana Gonzalo, and my thesis committee. I learned a ton, and I feel
like I am well-equipped for a career in science. During my M.D. years, I felt like
I learned the skills necessary to be a great physician, and specifically a great pediatrician.
I love the pediatrics department at SLU, and there are a ton of great people there.
The M.D./Ph.D. program is strong, and I always enjoyed knowing everyone in the program.
We are a tight-knit group, and Dr. McHowat and Nicole were always there to help us
succeed.

2019
Andrew Jones, M.D., Ph.D.
What sparked your interest to become an M.D./Ph.D. student?
I enjoy many aspects of medicine. The puzzle of figuring out the diagnoses of an ill
patient and providing the correct treatment is both fun and challenging. Interacting
with and caring for patients in a person-to-person manner is very rewarding and is
the main reason I chose to pursue medicine. However, the excitement of new discoveries
in science and the challenge, intrigue and high level thinking involved process of
scientific research really drew me to pursue a PhD in addition to an MD.
How did you decide which lab to join for your Ph.D.?
I had done a summer rotation in the lab of Daniel Hawiger M.D., Ph.D. in between the
first and second year of medical school and really enjoyed studying immunology and
immune regulation. The topic sparked my interest and the lab's work atmosphere was
a great fit for me personally. My mentor and I got along very well and it seemed that
we would be able to work well together. This ended up being very true and something
that was very important for my success. My mentor was also was very invested in ensuring
that both the lab and his students succeeded.
What did you do in the lab?
Broadly, I worked on immune regulation trying to understand how the immune system
prevents response to self and instead remain "tolerant" to self-antigens. More specifically
I studied the role of a transcription co-factor called Hopx in regulatory T cells
that are induced in the peripheral immune system. I also studied a type of antigen
presenting cells, dendritic cells, and their role in inducing tolerance to self. I
worked to further understand tolerogenic dendritic cells and identified an important
pathway used by these dendritic cells to induce regulatory T cells and immune tolerance
to self-antigens.
What are your plans for the future?
Short term - I will be doing residency in internal medicine at Washington University
Barnes Jewish Hospital. I matched into the PSTP program so I will be doing a fellowship
at Washington University as well but am currently undecided on which sub-specialty
of internal medicine to pursue. Long term - I would like to run a lab doing basic
immunology research and also see patients in a related clinical field. I am hoping
for my time to be split at about 80% research and 20% clinical time.
What has been your experience at SLU?
At Saint Louis University I have grown tremendously as a person, as a scientist and
as a soon to be health care provider. The faculty for both science and medicine have
been great teachers who have helped to fully prepare me for the next step in my career.
Fellow students at SLU are highly motivated and have help to push each other to pursue
excellence but at the same time support each other through each step of training.
The wide range of clinical experience provided during medical training prepared me
well to work as an intern in the coming year.

2017
Robert Adams, M.D., Ph.D.
What sparked your interest to become an M.D./Ph.D. student?
In the med-school application process people would joke that M..D/Ph.D.s are for people
who can't decide what they want to do with their lives. There is some truth in this,
and during undergrad I was drawn toward caring for people, intrigued by the complexity
of the human brain and body, and in addition I felt a commitment to academia and research
(i.e. extending the sum of human knowledge). After my M.D.-Ph.D. training I better
understand the important role of a physician-scientist, which is more than just a
person who couldn't decide whether to do research or medicine.
How did you decide which lab to join for your Ph.D.?
Generally speaking, advice for picking a lab that is often given to students interested
in pursuing a Ph.D. is that you have to weigh 3 nearly equally important factors:
1) Interest in the current projects and direction of the lab, 2) Fit with the personality
and communication of the PI/mentor, and 3) Current and future funding for the lab.
Having all 3 is a perfect fit, and having 2 can lead to a successful and fulfilling
Ph.D., but will have certain challenges. Having only one of those things is not recommended.
I am interested in physiology and rehabilitation of the nervous system. Additionally I have a background in engineering. The lab I worked with focused on the neurophysiology of synaptic transmission, mechanisms of peripheral nerve regeneration, and neural engineering of regenerative approaches.
What did you do in the lab?
During my initial summer rotation I joined a project looking at vesicle release for
synaptic transmission. I published these findings in Biophysical Journal. I then joined
the lab full time for my Ph.D. and shifted my focus on the use of electrical stimulation
for affecting and improving neural regeneration. More specifically I studied the effect
of electrical stimulation on peripheral neurons, and I studied approaches to optimize
these effects.
What are your plans for the future?
Short term: I will be joining the neurology residency program at Case Western.
Long term: I continue to love and feel committed to both caring for patients and for performing original research. I plan to conduct neurological research, possibly in neural regeneration and rehabilitation, while continuing to care for patients.
What has been your experience at SLU?
My experience has been excellent and is too extensive to do it justice in a written
response. I grew academically (becoming fluent in the languages of medicine and science),
professionally (learning to function well in complex teams with many goals and interests),
personally (getting married, evaluating life goals and personal purpose), emotionally
(through structured wellness and mindfulness classes as part of the curriculum which
extended to further extracurricular activities), and humanistically (volunteering
in the community as well as working with and trying to understand patients from broad
walks of life), to name a few.

2016
Stephanie Jackson Cullison, M.D., Ph.D.
What sparked your interest to become an M.D./Ph.D. Student?
As a child, I always dreamed about becoming a doctor. I pursued an undergraduate degree
in biomedical engineering on a premed track to prepare me for this pathway. While
I was in undergrad, I had several research experiences that I really enjoyed, including
with physician scientists conducting both clinical and basic research. I really admired
and respected the work that my mentors did. I was fascinated by their ability to ask
basic questions and translate that knowledge for patient benefit. When I learned about
the M.D./Ph.D. track, I thought it provided the best option to prepare me for a career
in which I could become the physician I always dreamed of being, while also bringing
in my newfound interest in research to expand my ability to help patients.
How did you decide which lab to join for your Ph.D.?
I thought a lot about what research was interesting to me when deciding what labs
to rotate in. I also considered the reputation of the lab, the mentor, the department.
In selecting a lab, I was advised that your relationship with the mentor is more important
than the specific project that you work on, but I think the combination is important.
After completing my training, I now know that to get the most out of your training,
you want to look for a mentor with experience and a good track record of publication
and funding. You want to make sure that the department has experience successfully
training MD/PhDs. The productivity of current and former lab trainees (MD/PhD or otherwise)
can be enlightening.
What did you do in the lab?
I employed a murine model of CD8+ T cell tolerance to explore the molecular pathways
that dictate T cell fate after engagement of self-antigen. Understanding these pathways
has implications for both autoimmunity and eliciting anti-tumor CD8+ T cell immunity.
My lab experience involved a variety of techniques including in vivo and in vitro
studies, flow cytometry and a variety of molecular techniques. We published our findings
in The Journal of Leukocyte Biology, Immunotherapy, and PLOS One.
What are your future plans?
I am starting a Dermatology residency at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.
I currently plan to do a fellowship after I complete my General Dermatology training,
but am still reflecting on which subspecialty will be the best fit. After training,
I hope to remain at an academic center and have a career that offers opportunities
to be involved in teaching and research.
What has been your experience with SLU?
I found the training environment at SLU to be one of the most supportive environments
I've ever been in! The leadership of the medical school were dedicated to ensuring
that students not only learned the art and science of medicine, but also maintained
well-balanced lives outside of the classroom/hospital. I found this support to be
invaluable while navigating the challenging and stressful pathway of medical training.
I also found the M.D./Ph.D. program leadership and my colleagues to be incredibly
supportive. There was always someone keeping a close eye out to make sure I met my
my milestones, remained on track to graduate in a timely manner, and most importantly,
had a little fun doing it!
Alumni Placements
- Pediatrics - St. Louis Children's Hospital- Missouri
- Internal Medicine - St. Louis University SOM- Missouri
- Internal Medicine - Mayo Clinic School of Grad Medical Education- MN
- Pediatrics - Indiana University SOM- Indiana
- Internal Medicine - New York Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center
- Pediatrics New York Presbyterian Children's Hospital/Columbia University Physician- Scientist Program
-
Internal Medicine - Barnes-Jewish Hospital
-
Internal Medicine - University of Nevada Reno School of Medicine
-
Pediatrics - St. Louis Children's Hospital
-
Neurology - University of Chicago Medical Center
- Otolaryngology - University of California-San Diego
- Neurology - Case Western University
- Pediatrics - University of Michigan, Washington University
- Dermatology - University of Pittsburgh
- Psychiatry -Saint Louis University
- Radiation Oncology - Emory University
- Pathology - University of Utah
- Obstetrics/Gynecology - Saint Louis University
- Internal Medicine - Mayo Clinics, Rochester and Saint Louis University
- Anesthesiology - University of Colorado
- Pediatrics - University of California Los Angeles
- Surgery - Vanderbilt University
- Dermatology - University of Colorado
- Internal Medicine - Saint Louis University, Johns Hopkins University
- Radiation Oncology - University Texas Southwestern
- Obstetrics/Gynecology - Washington University
- Medicine/Pediatrics - Vanderbilt University
- Dermatologic Pathology -Saint Louis University, University of Texas Southwestern
- Radiation Oncology - Washington University
- Pediatric Hem/Oncology - Stanford University
- Anesthesiology - Columbia University
- Internal Medicine - Washington University
- Neurological Surgery - Cleveland Clinics
- Internal Medicine - Mayo Clinics, Rochester
- Duke University