M.D./Ph.D. Alumni Outcomes

Monica Goodland, M.D., Ph.D.

Ph.D. focus: Pharmacology and physiology
Career plans: Psychiatry residency with SSM Health/Saint Louis University School of Medicine, including scholarly and research activities in the second half of intern year

My Research and Journey
My training at SLU exposed me to rigorous, highly collaborative academic research with opportunities to write grants, publish manuscripts and present at several local and national meetings. My dissertation examined the impact of adenosine 3 receptor activation on memory impairment following traumatic brain injury and the implications for the development of dementia later in life. Our studies not only highlighted the importance of early intervention to prevent memory impairment but identified key molecular contributors to the disease processes of concussion and age-related dementia. Inflammation seems to be a potent driver of multiple complex pathologies that interact with genetic and environmental factors to cause memory impairment.

SLU is special because of the mission-aligned people who come together to make the seemingly impossible happen. My program’s small size and its emphasis on cura personalis and biopsychosocial justice ensured an individualized, meaningful course of study. My mentors cared just as much about the WHY as the HOW when we conducted research — values I find non-negotiable.

Alexander Piening, M.D., Ph.D.

Ph.D. focus: Molecular microbiology and immunology
Career plans: Transitional year at Missouri Baptist Medical Center followed by a radiation oncology residency at Washington University in St. Louis

My Research and Journey
For my Ph.D., I studied how obesity impacts CD8+ T cell function, cancer immunosurveillance, and responses to immunotherapy — work that strengthened my interest in translating basic science findings into better cancer treatments. During medical school, I became interested in radiation oncology because of its combination of cancer biology, technology, imaging and multidisciplinary care.

My current research includes radiation and immunotherapy, stereotactic radiation and artificial intelligence in cancer care. Most recently, I have been studying how large language models form radiation oncology treatment decisions and how their recommendations change when clinical or nonclinical details of a case are altered. Long-term, I hope to combine clinical radiation oncology with translational research and the development of AI tools that can improve cancer treatment decisions. 

My time at SLU gave me the foundation and skills to begin pursuing each of these goals. What I valued most was the mentorship and the opportunity to grow as both a physician and a scientist. The program not only taught me how to evaluate evidence, but to develop research questions independently and approach clinical problems from multiple perspectives. Those skills continue to shape the radiation oncologist and investigator I hope to become.

Jessica Bourque, M.D., Ph.D.

Ph.D. focus: Molecular microbiology and immunology
Career plans: Internal medicine/Stanbury Physician-Scientist Pathway at Massachusetts General Hospital, allergy and immunology fellowship

My Research and Journey
When I came to SLU, I was interested in the intersection of infection and immunology. I studied how a subset of dendritic cells respond to inflammation and how this contributes to effective adaptive immune responses, with my findings being published in multiple first-author primary research and review articles.

SLU was such a wonderful place to spend the many years of M.D./Ph.D. training! The clinical and research environments were very supportive throughout all phases of our training, and my PhD mentor was very invested in my success.

Emily Cybulla, M.D., Ph.D.

Ph.D. focus: Biochemistry and molecular biology
Career plans: Internal medicine/Physician Scientist Training Program at The Ohio State University Medical Center, oncology fellowship, post-doctoral research

My Research and Journey
When choosing a lab for my Ph.D. studies, I prioritized the lab culture, opportunity for team science, PI leadership style and engagement, and available resources/funding. During my graduate training, I was awarded an NIH F30 predoctoral fellowship for my primary project. 

I was looking for an M.D./Ph.D. program that was a true community, and I was drawn to SLU's because of its size, Jesuit mission and values — especially its commitment to cura personalis. This training path was long and often challenging, but I would do it again. My network of students, faculty and administrators were bright, thoughtful, kind and driven to cultivate gifts that meet a need in the world.

Meghan Murray, M.D., Ph.D.

Ph.D. focus: Pharmacology and physiology
Career plans: Psychiatry residency at Washington University in St. Louis

My Research and Journey
I joined a nuclear receptor pharmacology lab, and my dissertation, "Synthetic Ligands Targeting ROR and REV-ERB to Treat Inflammatory and Metabolic Disease States," was earned with distinction. The professional highlight of my graduate school experience was publishing a first author paper in Nature Communications. The paper investigated the structural basis of synthetic agonist activation of the nuclear receptor REV-ERB.

The greatest assets of SLU's M.D./Ph.D. Program are the people affiliated with it. It was an absolute joy to have my group of students accompanying me on the journey, and I’m grateful for our program leader, Dr. Jane McHowat, who is a powerful student advocate who is supportive of us both personally and professionally. 

Valerio Rasi, M.D., Ph.D.

Ph.D. focus: Molecular microbiology and immunology
Career plans: MeRIT physician-scientist track at Baylor College of Medicine, hematology and oncology fellowship, practicing as an oncologist focusing on the role of the immune system in cancer biology

My Research and Journey
My project looked at the protein Granzyme A and its interaction with human macrophages infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis. During my Ph.D., I received the prestigious predoctoral fellowship F30 from the NIH through the National Heart Lung Blood Institute (NHLBI) that funded part of my Ph.D. and M.D. degrees. My discoveries culminated in multiple first-author publications in high impact factor peer-reviewed journals, multiple presentations at local and national conferences, and a utility patent.

I feel fortunate to have obtained my M.D./Ph.D. education at SLU School of Medicine. The wealth of amazing professors helped me grow in confidence, and I now feel prepared for my next steps in research and medicine. My mentor, Dr. Daniel Hoft, was instrumental in my earning numerous achievements. 

Michelle Bach, M.D., Ph.D.

Ph.D. focus: Healthcare ethics
Career plans: Psychiatry research track at Emory University, studying public trust in neuromodulation and interventional psychiatry technologies

My Research and Journey
As a microbiology intern at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, I worked on a project that brought meningococcal vaccines to parts of Africa, where bacterial meningitis is endemic. It was an amazing experience, but I was frustrated that the vaccine had been available for decades before it was made widely available to patients. That’s when I pivoted to work in medical ethics. 

SLU’s rigorous healthcare ethics coursework allowed me to explore many different facets of bioethics. I discovered a passion for postmodern philosophy and the philosophy of medicine, and I spent my dissertation time developing expertise in psychiatric ethics and the philosophy of psychiatry.

I think it’s fair to say the Department of Healthcare Ethics is one of the best in the country! My clinical training was excellent, and I felt well prepared to be a true physician-scholar. I also loved that the program was small — no one fell through the cracks, and every trainee was valued. 

Daniel Pike, M.D., Ph.D.

Ph.D. focus: Biochemistry and molecular biology
Career interests: Pediatric residency at Washington University in St. Louis/St. Louis Children’s Hospital, participating in the Pediatric Physician Scientist's Training Program to receive additional research time and training throughout residency and fellowship

My Research and Journey
My project explored 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, and I participated in many collaborative lipidomic studies across campus and the country. 

I want any science I’m involved in to focus on improving the lives of those around me, and SLU’s M.D./Ph.D. Program gave me the training and research opportunities I needed to be a successful physician-scientist. I loved every bit of my time at SLU, and I’ll treasure the relationships for a lifetime.