NSU MD SPOTLIGHTS Read spotlights on a student and a faculty member. HCA COLLABORATION NSU MD and HCA partner on integral event. RISE AWARDS Research efforts presented and awarded at symposium. The sky is not the limit. RISE AWARDS issue Nova Southeastern University Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Allopathic Medicine NSU MD Research V2.3
FAST FACTS: Ravindran, who hails from Mumbai, India, earned her Master of Science in Biochemistry degree and Ph.D. in Life Sciences from the University of Mumbai. She serves as a senior research scientist in the NSU Cell Therapy Institute and as a clinical assistant professor in the NSU MD Department of Medical Education. Her area of focus is on the application of pluripotent stem cells for neurodegenerative disease modeling and therapy. RESEARCH RIGOR: Ravindran began her research career in the Regenerative Medicine Group of Reliance Life Sciences (RLS)—a biotech industry in Mumbai. She also worked as a visiting scientist in the Department of Biological Sciences at the National University of Singapore, where she conducted research on the functional role of the nuclear receptor superfamily in stem cell renewal, pluripotency, and reprogramming. ACADEMIC SHIFT: Ravindran soon moved to academia and joined the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, Sweden, where she collaborated with leading researchers in the field of stem cells and neurobiology. In the ensuing years, she led safety and efficacy studies for proofof-concept testing in preclinical models of degenerative diseases. NSU INITIATIVE: Her current research, in collaboration with Deborah Mash, Ph.D., an NSU MD research professor, focuses on the in vitro disease modeling of ALS—a progressive neuromuscular disease—using pluripotent stem cells derived from ALS patients. Their long-term goal is to fully optimize this cell-based platform for ALS biomarker discovery. DID YOU KNOW? Ravindran has mentored and trained undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral students about stem cells and their potential applications to neurodegenerative diseases. Additionally, she has played a pivotal role in initiating various technological advances that have contributed to the development and validation of several proprietary methodologies/granted patents/publications that study the regenerative capability of pluripotent and adult stem cells. GEETA RAVINDRAN PH.D. FACULTY SPOTLIGHTS LEXI FRANKEL CLASS OF 2023 STUDENT LOCAL ROOTS: Although she was born in upstate New York, Frankel grew up in Davie, Florida, earning her undergraduate degree in biology at the University of Miami, where she spent a few years working as a research assistant in a surgical oncology lab before realizing she was more interested in clinical research. MASTERFUL MENTORING: Once she began her NSU MD education, Frankel searched for a clinical oncology research position. She was soon introduced to her mentor—Omar Rashid M.D., J.D., a surgical oncologist whose research focused on clinical oncology and its relationship with several other fields, including surgery, gastroenterology, and dermatology. FOCUS AREAS: In her research assistant role, Frankel’s work centered on dermatologic cancers and their associations with commonly prescribed medications, including aspirin, beta-blockers, and ACE inhibitors. She also studied how several infectious diseases were associated with the prevention or causation of certain cancers. OB-GYN INTEREST: Frankel, who was eventually promoted to the role of senior research fellow, gained a passion for obstetrics-gynecology (OB-GYN) while participating in her clinical clerkships. As a result, she chose to merge the oncology-based research she was conducting with OB-GYN. With the help of a junior fellow, Frankel designed several projects that linked endometriosis, polycystic ovary syndrome, and gynecologic cancers to various infectious and environmental risk factors. PERSONAL PERSPECTIVE: The projects Frankel has collaborated on this year, such as “Oral Contraceptives Decrease Risk of Colorectal Cancer” and “Endometriosis and Leukemia: An Inflammatory Modulator as a Potential Diagnostic Target,” are close to her heart as someone who was diagnosed with endometriosis. “These projects are especially meaningful to me, because in doing this research, I hope to contribute to research that will help others obtain timely diagnoses, access treatments, and further understand pathophysiology and risk factors,” Frankel explained. Nova Southeastern University admits students of any race, color, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, military service, veteran status, and national or ethnic origin. • Nova Southeastern University degrees. Questions about the accreditation of Nova Southeastern University may be directed, in writing, to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southe
HIGHLIGHTS y is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award associate’s, baccalaureate, master’s, educational specialist, doctoral, and professional ern Lane, Decatur, GA 30033-4097, by calling (404) 679-4500, or by using information available on SACSCOC’s website (www.sacscoc.org). RISE AWARDS HONOR STUDENT EXCELLENCE The Research, Innovation, Service, and Education (RISE) Conference was created as a platform to foster student research and help prepare students to present at national and international conferences. The symposium is organized by Kyle Bauckman, Ph.D., assistant dean of curricular affairs, and his team. Since its inception, the conference has seen a steady increase in the number of submitted abstracts and posters each year. In 2022, more than 75 posters and 9 oral abstracts were presented. In terms of recognition, three oral award winners (one per category) each received a $150 Amazon gift card. Poster winners (three per category) received $50 Amazon gift cards, while the best overall poster recipient earned a $150 Amazon gift card. Best Oral Presentation in Medical Education Research and Service Learning The Effect of Active Learning Sessions on Academic Performance in Physiology Course for Health Professions Students Alvin Nguyen, Class of 2025 Best Oral Presentation in Clinical Research An Analysis of the Association of Mononucleosis Infection and Multiple Sclerosis Brittany Nagel, Class of 2024 Best Oral Presentation in Basic Science and Translation Research Theoretical Evaluation of Exosomal miRNA Targets Tanner Blaylock, Class of 2025 Best MedEd and SLP Poster Presentations Breaking Bad News: A Case for Including the SPIKES Model of Communicating Unfavorable Information to Patients in Psychiatry Training Reed Wise, Class of 2023 Best MedEd and SLP Poster Presentations Correlation Between Preclerkship Medical Students’ NBME Exam Scores and Study Methods Used Gabriella Morey, Class of 2025 Best MedEd and SLP Poster Presentations Social Media as a Tool to Identify and Disseminate Evidence-Based Approaches to Mental and Behavioral Health Jaime Hawat, Class of 2025 Best Basic Science and Translational Research Poster Presentations 3D-Printed Sunglasses as a Proof-ofConcept for Designing Affordable, CustomMade Prescription Eyewear Adrian Alepuz, Class of 2024 Best Basic Science and Translational Research Poster Presentations Revisiting the Anatomy of the Brachial Plexus Autumn Pough, Class of 2025 Best Basic Science and Translational Research Poster Presentations The Role of E3 Ligase Hectd3 in MYD88 Ubiquitination Bryan Greenfield, Class of 2025 Best Clinical Poster Presentations The Role of Self-Regulation in Childhood Obesity Diti Patel, Class of 2025 Best Clinical Poster Presentations Mortality Markers and Cause of Death Among Patients with Pulmonary Embolism Heli Patel, Class of 2025 Best Clinical Poster Presentations Beating the Curve: A Multicenter Investigation into the Learning Curves of the Retroperitoneal Approach for RobotAssisted Partial Nephrectomies Madeleine Wilson, Class of 2025 Best Overall Poster Presentation Endometriosis and Leukemia: An Inflammatory Modulator as a Potential Diagnostic Target Lexi Frankel, Class of 2023 Logo Design Winner Andrew Stewart, Class of 2025
22-0437-2022RNK Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Allopathic Medicine 3200 South University Drive Fort Lauderdale, FL 33328-2018 HCA and NSU MD are providing integral opportunities for residents and students to present their research, which was evidenced on November 4 at the HCA-NSU MD Research Day event, where more than 150 residents and students displayed their research to the faculty and staff members of both HCA and NSU MD. The conference was established to inspire residents and students through stories imparted by accomplished clinical, translational, and basic science researchers. Through this sharing of anecdotes, accomplishments, and notable ideas, residents and students learn how to relate and adapt. Research Symposium Offers Key Collaboration
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