wichita medical research & education foundation

Wichita Medical Research & Education Foundation

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• 3306 E Central Wichita KS 67208
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WMREF Healthcare Ethics Conference

• March 8, 2021
• Community Health , Meetings/Events

The 8th annual Kansas Healthcare Ethics Conference will take place on March 10 in a new virtual format.

Topics range from COVID-19 issues to self-care. The conference cost is $60 if registration is postmarked on or before March 8, and $75 if after that date. Cost is $100 for day-of registration. The general public can attend for $5 and no CEUs.

The Medical Society of Sedgwick County is accredited by the Kansas Medical Society to provide continuing medical education for physicians. MSSC designated this live webinar activity for a maximum of 7.5 AMA PRA Category 1 credits.

Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity. The Wichita Medical Research & Education Foundation has a limited number of student scholarships available.

Please call (316) 686-7172 for scholarship information.   Click to Register Online

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LaDonna Hale PharmD

LaDonna Hale is a tenured Professor in the Department of Physician Associate at WSU.  She joined the College of Health Professions in 1998.  Professor Hale earned a Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the University of Kansas in 1995 and Master of Theological Studies from Newman University in 2022.  She has several years clinical experience in independent retail, hospital pharmacy, and nursing home consulting.  She is actively involved in teaching, research, and professional and community service and volunteers at Guadalupe Clinic (JayDoc).  Her research interests include interprofessional education/practice and improving the health of older adults.  She teaches advanced pharmacotherapy and research and evidence-based practice courses to students in a variety of health disciplines and has received College and University teaching awards.  Her goal is to energize students’ enthusiasm and passion for learning and to give them essential tools necessary to transition into life-long learners and colleagues who will use their knowledge to improve patient care.  “I feel honored and blessed to be an educator.  I love learning alongside my students every day."

Information

• PA710 Advanced Pharmacotherapy I (3 hr, Fall) - for PA & DNP students
• PA711 Advanced Pharmacotherapy II (3 hr, Spring) - for PA & DNP students
• PA834 Interprofessional Evidence-Based Practice (1 hr, Spring) - for PA, SLP, & AUD students
• PA800 Research Methods for Evidence-Based Practice - for PA students
• PA896 & PA897 Directed Studies in Research I & II - for PA students

* Indicates student co-author

• Hale LS , Hanneman RJ, Brown GR. Family medicine preceptors meeting learning outcomes in rotation shortage areas [abstract]. J ournal of Physician Assistant Education 2023; in -press.
• Hale LS .  Book chapter, “Concepts of Orthopedic Pharmacology”; review questions and appendix “Commonly Used Medications in Orthopedics”; Shankman GA, Manske RC. Fundamental Orthopedic Management for the Physical Therapist Assistant, 5th ed .  Elsevier Publishers: St. Louis, MI.  Copyright 2022; 4th ed in 2014; 3rd ed in 2011.
• Porter B, Zaeem M, Heyes P, Hale LS , Jones CMC, Gestring M, Acquisto NM. Pharmacist involvement in trauma resuscitation across the United States: A 10-year follow-up survey . American Journal of Health-System Pharmacy 2019;76(16);1226-1230.
• Hale LS , Votaw LL, Mayer J, Sobota KF.  Nurses’ knowledge, perceptions, and self-confidence regarding evidence-based antibiotic use in the long-term care setting .  Consultant Pharmacist 2017;32(11):700-706. 
• Hale LS , Brown GR.  Similar findings regarding predictors of PANCE performance [letter to the editor]. Journal of Physician Assistant Education 2017;28(3):124. 
• Hale LS . Book chapter, “The effects of medications on communication in older adulthood” in Hull RH (ed) Communication Disorders in Aging . Sage Publications: Los Angeles, CA. Copyright 2017.
• Hale LS , DiLollo A.  Immersive interprofessional education using an evidence-based practice course .  Journal of Physician Assistant Education 2016 ; 27(3):117-125.
• Hale LS , Wallace M, *Adams CR, *Kaufman ML, *Snyder CL.  Considering point-of-care electronic medical resources in lieu of traditional textbooks for medical education .  Journal of Physician Assistant Education  2015;26(3):161-166.
• Hale LS , *Fraser SJ, Keuter KR, Lee FA, Berg GM.  A survey assessing Kansas physician assistants’ attitudes/beliefs and current practices regarding implementation of fall prevention strategies in older adults .  Kansas Journal of Medicine 2015;8(4):135-142.  
• Brown GR, Hale LS , *Britz MC, *Schrader MJ, *Sholz SL, *Unruh MJ.  A survey of Kansas physicians’ perceptions of physician assistant education and qualifications .  Kansas Journal of Medicine 2015;8(1):18-25.
• Brown GR, *Imel B, *Nelson A , Hale LS , *Jansen N.  Correlations between PANCE performance, physician assistant program grade point average, and selection criteria .  Journal of Physician Assistant Education  2013;24(1):42-44.
• Lamis RL, Kramer JS, Hale LS , Zackula RE, Berg GM.  Fall risk associated with inpatient medications .  American Journal of Health-System Pharmacy 2012;69(21):1888-94.  
• Hale LS , *Morton JM, *Albers JN, *Pham GT.  Physician assistant student exposure to the long-term care setting by working with a consultant pharmacist .  Journal of Physician Assistant Education  2012;23(2):31-35.
• Manske RC, Hale LS .  At home study course book chapter, “Pharmacology in Sports Physical Therapy” in Sports Certified Specialist Examination Preparatory Course.  Sports Physical Therapy Section of American PT Association: Indianapolis, IN.  Copyright 2012.
• Hale LS , *Calder CR.  Book chapter, “Managing Medication Nonadherence” (pg 41 – 46) and digital PowerPoint slides in Muma RD, Lyons BA. Patient Education: A Practical Approach , 2 nd ed .  Jones and Bartlett Learning: Sudbury, MA. Copyright 2012.
• Radebaugh TS, Bahner CA. Ballard-Reisch D, Epp M, Hale LS , Hanley R, Kendrick K, Rogers ME, Rogers NL ( alphabetical ).  Falling less in Kansas: Development of a fall risk reduction toolkit .  Journal of Aging Research  2011;2011:532079. Epub 2011 Sep 19.
• Radebaugh TS, Bahner CA, Ballard-Reisch D, Epp M, Hale LS , Hanley R, Kendrick K, Riley S, Rogers M, Rogers N ( alphabetical ).  The Falling Less in Kansas Toolkit: A self-care intervention .  Visibility  2011;5(3):11-13.
• Berg GM, Vasquez DG, Moran DA, Hale LS , Nyberg SM. Evaluation of process variations in non-compliance in the implementation of evidence-based sepsis care .  Journal for Healthcare Quality  2011;2011:doi:10.1111/j.1945-1474.2011.00168x.
• *Kelly DM, *Frick EM, Hale LS .  How the medication review can help to reduce risk of falls in older patients .  Journal of the American Academy of Physician Assistants  2011;24(4):30-35.
• Self TS, Hale LS , *Crumrine D.  Pharmacotherapy and children with Autism spectrum disorder: a tutorial for speech language pathologists .  Language, Speech, and Hearing Services in Schools  2010;41(3):367-375. 
• Hale LS , Nyberg SM, *Mohr AM, *Wegner-Busch EK.  Preliminary national survey of pharmacist involvement in trauma resuscitation .  American Journal of Health-System Pharmacy 2009;66(9):797-798.  
• Hale LS , *Mirakian EA, Day DB.  Online vs. classroom instruction: student satisfaction and learning outcomes in an undergraduate allied health pharmacology course .  Journal of Allied Health 2009;38(2):36e-42e.
• *Wilkin RT, Hale LS , Claiborne RA.  Poor medication history plus slow symptom onset delays a diagnosis . Journal of the American Academy of Physician Assistants  2009;22(10):39-41.
• Hale LS , Griffin AE, *Cartwright OM, *Moulin J, *Alford SJ, *Fleming RM.  Potentially inappropriate medication use in hospitalized older adults: a DUE using the full Beers criteria .  Formulary 2008;43:326–327,332-336.
• Kramer JS, Hopkins PJ, Rosendale JC, Garrelts JC, Hale LS , Nester TM, Cochran P, Eidem LA, Haneke RD.  Implementation of an electronic system for medication reconciliation .  American Journal of Health-System Pharmacy 2007;64(4):404–422.  Winner of the American Society of Health-system Pharmacists Research & Education Foundation Award for Innovation in Pharmacy Practice in Health Systems, 2008. 
• Hale LS , *Shrack JS, *Stump EK, Berg-Copas GM.  Statewide emergency contraception survey: preliminary findings.  Journal of Kansas Pharmacy  2007;81(4):58–60,62.
• Hale LS , Wilson CM, Lewis DK, Eckert RM, Smith B.  Standardized patients and multidisciplinary classroom instruction for physical therapist students to improve interviewing skills and attitudes about diabetes .  Journal of Physical Therapy Education  2006;20(1):22–27.
• Hale LS , Durham CR.  A simple, weight-based extended-interval gentamicin dosage protocol for neonates .  American Journal of Health-System Pharmacy  2005;62(15):1613–1616.
• Day DB, Hale LS .  Promoting critical thinking in online physician assistant courses .  Perspective on Physician Assistant Education  2005;16(2):96–102.
• Quigley TF, Hale LS .  Questions and answers about emergency contraception.  Advance for Physician Assistants  2004;12(1-2):38–47.
• Hale LS .  Pharmacist-obtained medication histories .  Hospital Pharmacy Europe  2003;9:81–83.
• Hale LS , Goehring M.  A multidisciplinary approach to managing osteoporosis.  Annals of Long-Term Care: Clinical Care and Aging  2003;11(8):40–47.
• Nester TM, Hale LS .  Effectiveness of a pharmacist-acquired medication history in promoting patient safety .  American Journal of Health-System Pharmacy  2002;59(22):2221–2225.
• Quigley TF, Hale LS .  Be alert to sleep disorders: diagnosis and management of common problems of sleep .  Journal of the American Academy of Physician Assistants  2001;14(6):16–47.
• Hale LS .  Treating transient insomnia in older patients.  Patient Care 2001;35(5):91–97. 
• 10 years experience as a Clinical Pharmacist - Hospital Setting
• 8 years experience as a Clinical Pharmacist - Long-Term Care / Skilled Nursing Unit settings
• 2023 WSU Professor Incentive Review (PIR)
• 2022 Alpha Alpha Alpha First-Generation Student Honor Society
• 2019 & 2020  JayDoc Outreach at Guadalupe Clinic – Pharmacist of the Year
• 2017  WSU Professor Incentive Review (PIR)
• 2009  WSU Leadership in the Advancement of Teaching Award
• 2008  American College of Clinical Pharmacy, Poster Competition, 3 rd place award
• 2008  ASHP Research & Education Foundation Award for Innovation in Pharmacy Practice in Health Systems  
• 2008  College of Health Professions Rodenberg Award for Excellence in Teaching
• 2007  Kansas Board of Pharmacy Clinical Research Award
• 2005  WSU Academy of Effective Teaching Award ( see reflection in the WSU Handbook of Reflections on the Art of Teaching, p 51 )
• 2003  Kansas Board of Pharmacy Clinical Research Award
• 2000  College of Health Professions Rodenberg Award for Excellence in Teaching
• 1999  Kansas Board of Pharmacy Innovative Clinical Practice Award

Grants are used to fund research, community-service projects, equipment for the Program, curriculum development, and other endeavors.  

• 2022. Dudley C, Hanneman R, Hale LS . Improving Ophthalmology Instruction and Clinical Learning Opportunities for PA Students.  WSU CHP Clifford & Leah Gaulter Memorial Fund.  Funded $6,569.
• 2017. Wallace M (PI), Frizzel H, Hartke R, Huntley A, Kyllo J, Russel A, Hale LS . The Risk of Recreational Trampoline Use in the Pediatric Population: A Retrospective Study .  Wichita Medical Research & Education Foundation Grant (WMREF).  Funded $ 3,000 .
• 2017. Rogers C (PI), Hale LS . Incorporation of Smiles for Life: A National Oral Health Curriculum into PA Education Curriculum . Physician Assistant Oral Health Research Integration Grant, NCCPA Health Foundation.  Funded $3,000 .
• 2015. Hale LS (PI), Drassen-Ham A, Rogers N.  Falling Less in Kansas Toolkit (Spanish Version) Distribution & Education .  Riverside Health Foundation Development Fund.  Funded $500 .
• 2015. Hale LS (PI), Drassen-Ham A, Rogers N.  Dissemination of the Falling LinKS Toolkit throughout Kansas .  WSU CHP Clifford & Leah Gaulter Memorial Fund.  Funded $2,919 .
• 2014. Rogers NL (PI), Hale LS , Radebaugh TS.  Falling Less in Kansas: Spanish Translation.  WSU CHP Interprofessional Education Fund.  Funded $3047 . 
• 2014. Wallace M (PI), Hale LS .  Increasing accessibility of the audience response system .  WSU CHP Technology Fund.  Funded $2,400 .
• 2013. Hale LS .  Funding for development and improvement of online instruction in the interprofessional evidence-based practice and research methods graduate course .  WSU CHP Interprofessional Education Fund.  Funded $10,000 .
• 2012. Hale LS .  Development and improvement of online instruction in the interprofessional evidence-based practice and research methods graduate course .  WSU CHP Technology Fund Application.  Funded $9,000 .
• 2011. Rogers NL (PI), Hale LS , Rogers M, Radebaugh TS, Falling LinKS: Development of training materials for home health aides . WSU Multidisciplinary Research Project Award (MURPA).  Funded $4,962 .
• 2010. Hale LS (PI) , Keuter KR, Rogers NL, Regional Institute on Aging Falling LinKS Research Team.  Readability, usability, and practicality of a locally developed fall prevention toolkit for older adults .  WSU University Research / Creative Projects Award.  Funded $4,500 . 
• 2009. Elder BL (PI), Hale LS , Bahner CA, Regional Institute on Aging Falling LinKS Research Team.  Readability and suitability of falls related health information for older adults with age-related low vision .  WSU CHP Clifford & Leah Gaulter Memorial Fund.  Funded $3,500 .
• 2008. Hale LS (PI) , Nyberg SM, Keuter K.  Kansas health care providers’ knowledge/attitudes regarding falls prevention .  Gridley-Hoover Pilot Research Program, WSU Regional Institute on Aging.  Funded $20,000 .
• 2008. Radebaugh TS (PI), Regional Institute on Aging Falling LinKS Research Team . Falling Less in Kansas (Falling LinKS) toolkit development .  United Methodist Health Ministry Fund.  Funded $41,250 .
• 2007. Hale LS .  Evaluation of the effectiveness of a sepsis response team in the treatment of severe sepsis in older persons and possible ageism .  WSU Regional Institute on Aging.  Funded $10,000 .
• 2006. Day DB (PI), Hale LS , Hermes K, Griffin A, Manske RC, Reiman M, authors listed alphabetically.  Growth in critical thinking dispositions in health professions students and the relationship with learning styles .  WSU University Research / Creative Projects Award.  Funded $3,515 .
• 2004. Kramer J(PI), Hopkins P, Cochran P, Garrelts J, Hale LS , Nester TM, Eidem L, Haneke R, Rosendale J.  Collaborative pharmacist and nurse before/after study to evaluate patient safety using electronically standardized admission and discharge medication reconciliation in a tertiary care hospital .  American Society of Health-System Pharmacist Foundation.  Funded $40,000 . 
• 2003. Hale LS , Eckert R, Lewis K, Wilson C. Multidisciplinary instruction designed to enhance interface between physical therapists and persons with visual impairment and diabetes .  WSU CHP Clifford & Leah Gaulter Memorial Fund.  Funded $10,000.
• 2002. Lewis K (PI), Eckert R, Hale LS , Wilson C.  Multidisciplinary instruction on interviewing and screening using standardized patients . WSU CHP Clifford & Leah Gaulter Memorial Fund.  Funded $8,682 .
• JayDoc Outreach at Guadalupe Clinic , Wichita, KS, Volunteer
• Wichita Academy of Pharmacists Foundation , Board of Directors, Treasurer
• Research Consultant, Robert J. Dole VA Medical Center, Wichita KS, Volunteer
• Lights for Christ , Zacapa, Guatemala, Medical Mission Pharmacist Volunteer
• WSU Chapter Alpha Eta National Honor Society, president
• Interprofessional Education Opportunities :  CLARION coach/coordinator, TeamSTEPPS facilitator/coordinator
• Editorial Service for Journals (Manuscript Refereeing): Journal of Physician Associate Education, Journal of Allied Health, Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, American Journal of Health-System Pharmacists, et al.

The Wichita Beacon

In Depth. Independent. In Wichita.

Wichita’s biomedical campus aims to build tech and variety into health care training

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A $300 million project about to be built downtown will give Wichita State University a unique opportunity to give students the most modern training possible in a health care world that is undergoing “tectonic” changes, says Gregory Hand, WSU dean of the College of Health Professions.

As health care becomes more about teamwork among doctors, nurses, physical therapists and social workers, the biomedical campus will be a space where students from WSU, WSU Tech and the University of Kansas can practice that kind of collaboration, he said. In the process, they’ll have an up-to-date floor plan that puts the university’s technical equipment to best use while providing room for expansion.

“I’ve been doing this a long time,” he said. “This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”

Space with a purpose

Groundbreaking is set for May 8 with move-ins expected for the fall of 2026 on the two-building project on the blocks east of the corner of Broadway Avenue and East William Street.

The first building to go up in the $300 million project will be an eight-story structure on what is now a parking lot. WSU and WSU Tech will have the first four floors, with KU on the top three and a shared space for medical simulation training.

The new space is less about research and lab equipment than practical experience and applied learning for the students, most of whom will be upperclassmen and graduate students, Hand said.

“More important than the increase in square footage is the fact we’re building this building specifically to address our disciplines,” Hand said. Nursing, physical therapy and physician assistants, for example, will have specially designed facilities.

The nursing school, for instance, has spent over $1.5 million over the past two years upgrading its robotic mannequins and simulation centers. The high-tech mannequins can talk, follow students with their eyes and even vomit. Hand said the new facility isn’t so much about the mannequins, though, as having space where students can use them most effectively. 

“Most universities, the spaces you are in are the spaces you inherit. We have this relatively unique opportunity to create our own space for our needs, and it’s really going to be quite impressive.”

Having that kind of space will allow WSU to expand some programs and provide some specialties that haven’t been available before, he said.

The space opens up possibilities for nurses, physical therapists, speech pathologists and others to focus on pediatrics or health care for older people. 

It also will help the college keep up with how the health care industry is changing, Hand said, by offering more clinical rotations where students can work with patients under supervision to learn how to treat them in their homes. 

New and expanded programs

There will also be more freedom to expand existing programs and open new ones, Hand said. WSU is getting ready to launch a licensed mental health technician program in the college of nursing, possibly as early as January, he said. Though a lot of it will be online, he said he doubts it could happen without the new space for clinical training.

The university also expects to expand its space for physical therapy education by 50 percent.

All that will happen against a backdrop of collaboration with the University of Kansas, the Kansas College of Osteopathic Medicine and COMCARE, which is consolidating its Community Crisis Center and other programs in a space next door. 

A new psychiatric hospital set to open in southwest Wichita in 2026 will also be a chance for collaboration, he said, adding that it and the crisis center will be opportunities for students and grad students to help staff as part of their training.

A new way of sharing space

Right now, WSU health sciences are spread out over five locations in Wichita. The new facility will allow them to consolidate not only with one another, but with KU and other institutions, Hand said.

Sharing space with other institutions and disciplines will help students learn interprofessional education, which emphasizes teams of health care professionals rather than one provider and one patient. Hand called that the “future of health care.”

Interprofessional collaboration has been an ongoing health care trend, especially since the staffing crunch of the pandemic. With this type of care, a team of professionals from a variety of disciplines works with a patient. Nurses, physicians, social workers and pharmacists may coordinate patient care plans, rather than making them individually. This type of teamwork has been shown to decrease mortality rates, lower medical errors and improve other patient outcomes.

“There are tectonic changes happening in health care,” he said of interprofessional care. “Health care education is now catching up to that.” 

The biomedical campus collaboration between WSU, WSU Tech and KU will open up opportunities for those interprofessional interactions “that we just simply have not had before, and frankly, nobody else has either. There is no such place like this, where multiple institutions share space,” Hand said. “It just doesn’t exist.” 

“This is a wonderful experiment.”

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Roxie Hammill

Roxie Hammill is a freelance news reporter based in Lenexa, Kansas. She regularly covers local government and politics. More by Roxie Hammill

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by Roxie Hammill, The Wichita Beacon May 1, 2024

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Suspenders4Hope, public health sciences educator recognized at conference

Wichita State was recently recognized at the 10th annual Kansas Health Ethics Conference sponsored by the Wichita Medical Research & Education Foundation.

WSU’s Counseling and Prevention Services (CAPS) and the Suspenders4Hope program were awarded the Jiggs Nelson Quality of Life Award. Drs. Jessica Provines and Marci Young were present to receive the award, and they shared information about Suspenders4Hope and other services provided by the Student Wellness Center with the audience.

Sonja Armbruster, educator of public health sciences, received the Health Educator of the Year award.  Previous recipients include Carolyn Harrison, Dr. Francie Eckengren, Robert Miller and Deb McArthur.

It was the first time the conference was held in person since 2020, and it was an opportunity to reconnect with physical and mental healthcare providers across the community.

• Philanthropy News Digest

Richard and Helen DeVos Foundation sunsets after 54 years

The Richard and Helen DeVos Foundation has sunset after 54 years and $1.1 billion in giving to more than 1,000 nonprofits. 

The foundation had been winding down its activities since the deaths of founders Richard and Helen DeVos in 2017 and 2018, respectively, and was in the final stages of fulfilling multiyear pledges. Richard made his wealth as co-founder of Amway in 1959, and the couple launched the foundation in 1970, giving primarily to religious institutions. Over the years, the couple expanded their giving portfolio to support several other Michigan institutions, including partnerships with Grand Valley State University , the Grand Rapids Symphony , and Spectrum Health . 

“The legacy has encouraged all of us here to continue to be givers, and that there’s joy in that giving,” said Doug DeVos, one of the couple’s four children and co-chair of Amway’s board of directors. “It can happen in so many ways.” 

(Photo credit: Flickr/Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park)

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DeVos family awards $50 million in Michigan for children’s health

Helen devos children's hospital receives $15 million gift, devoses have given more than $35 million toward education since 1989, michigan state receives $15 million for medical research center, search news.

Power-building intermediaries have the potential to hold billionaire climate solutions accountable to impacted communities, a case study from the National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy finds.

How important are community-led efforts to large-scale climate solutions?

• Very; Communities should have a central role in shaping climate funding decisions
• Somewhat; While community effort is valuable, funders still have the final say
• Not much; Climate funders should primarily rely on expert guidance rather than community input

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Nine School of Medicine researchers receive Longer Life grants 

Nine researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have received funding from the Longer Life Foundation — a cooperative effort between the School of Medicine and the Reinsurance Group of America. The foundation supports research aimed at improving human health, wellness and longevity. The researchers are: 

• Milan Chheda, MD , an associate professor of medicine in the division of oncology, who received $40,000 to study how the aging brain may promote the development and growth of brain tumors. 
• Gautam Dantas , the Conan Professor of Laboratory and Genomic Medicine, who received $25,000 to investigate how the gut microbiome influences neurodegeneration, especially during preclinical Alzheimer’s disease. 
• Leslie Gewin, MD , an associate professor of medicine in the nephrology division, who received $40,000 to study how the peroxisome — an organelle involved in generating energy for the cell — contributes to age-related kidney dysfunction. 
• Ali Javaheri, MD, PhD , an assistant professor of medicine in the cardiovascular division, who received $62,500 to study effects of dietary protein on cardiac function and muscle wasting in the setting of cancer chemotherapy. 
• Hrishikesh Kulkarni, MD , an assistant professor of medicine in the pulmonary and critical care division, who received $40,000 to study the role of complement — a component of the innate immune response — in protecting the lungs during acute respiratory distress syndrome. 
•   Laura Marks, MD, PhD , an assistant professor of medicine in the infectious diseases division, who received $40,000 to identify the bacterial and human factors that determine how sick a person will become upon infection with Staphylococcus aureus, a common skin bacterium that can cause anything from mild rashes to fatal bloodstream infections. 
• Natalie Niemi , an assistant professor of biochemistry and molecular biophysics, who received $40,000 to study why mitochondria, which generate energy for cells, decline in skeletal muscles as people age.  
• Elizabeth Pollina , an assistant professor of developmental biology, who received $40,000 to identify the molecular mechanisms that protect neuronal genomes from damage during periods of heightened neuronal activity. The findings will shed light on how genome protection mechanisms fail in aging and degenerative disease. 
• Jessica Silva-Fisher , an assistant professor of medicine in the oncology division, who received $40,000 to develop long non-coding RNA — segments of RNA that are not translated into proteins — for use as biomarkers for multiple myeloma progression. 

Comments and respectful dialogue are encouraged, but content will be moderated. Please, no personal attacks, obscenity or profanity, selling of commercial products, or endorsements of political candidates or positions. We reserve the right to remove any inappropriate comments. We also cannot address individual medical concerns or provide medical advice in this forum.

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• Gayle Shipp, PhD , received $259,882 from Robert Wood Johnson Foundation for “Increasing evidence around Innovative Maternity Care Model in Flint, Michigan” (2/15/2024 to 2/14/2026).
• Heatherlun Uphold, PhD , received $241,997 from Greater Flint Health Coalition for “Racial and Ethnic Approaches to Community Health (REACH)” (9/30/2023 to 9/29/2028).
• Maji Debena, PhD , received $239,996 from National Inst of Health for “MOthers' AdvocateS In the Community for Mothers with Experience of intimate partner violence” (9/1/2021 to 8/31/2024).
• Jennifer Johnson, PhD , received $225,643 from George Mason University for “Evaluation of Stepping Up Efforts to Improve MH Services and Justice Utilization” (9/3/2019 to 7/31/2024).
• Kent Key, PhD, MPH , received $112,110 from National Institute on Minority Health & Health Disparities for “Family Health Histories: Creating a culturally tailored tool to reduce health disparities in the African American Community” (5/1/2021 to 1/31/2026).
• Karren Campbell, PhD , received $60,000 from Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan Foundation for “Program Evaluation and Port-Huron Implementation Trial (PEPI) for SUD Pregnant and Postpartum Women” (12/1/2023 to 11/30/2025).
• Steven Ondersma, PhD , received $54,078 from National Institute of Health for “Accelerating collaborative, cumulative, and open intervention science with an e-intervention authoring platform” (8/16/2020 to 12/31/2024).
• Mona Hanna-Attisha, MD, MPH , received $50,000 from Children’s Foundation for “Rx Kids: Prenatal and Infant Allowances in Flint, MI” (1/1/2024 to 12/31/2024).
• Todd Lucas, PhD , received $50,000 from American Cancer Society Inc for “Choice, Implementation Intentions, and At-home Colorectal Cancer Screening” (7/1/2021 to 6/30/2026).
• Eric Finegood, PhD , received $25,000 from Community Foundation of Greater Flint for “Video Interaction Project” (3/1/2024 to 8/31/2024).
• Mona Hanna-Attisha, MD, MPH , received $25,000 from Max M & Marjorie S Fisher Foundation for “Rx Kids: Prenatal and Infant Allowances in Flint, MI” (1/1/2024 to 10/31/2024).
• Mona Hanna-Attisha, MD, MPH , received $15,000 from Community Foundation of Greater Flint for “Rx Kids: Prenatal and Infant Allowances in Flint, MI” (12/1/2023 to 11/30/2025).

Epidemiology and Biostatistics

• Honglei Chen, MD, PhD , received $500,773 from National Institute of Health for “Poor sense of smell and the health of older adults” (6/15/2022 to 2/28/2027).
• Mathew Reeves, PhD , received $59,381 from Massachusetts General Hospital for “Addressing Racial/Ethnic Disparities in Stroke Care Access Using Hospital Transfer Networks” (9/1/2023 to 4/30/2028).
• Dorothy Pathak, PhD , received $25,000 from Henry Ford Health System-Michigan State University Health Sciences for “Epigenetic effects of acculturation on increased breast cancer risk among Polish immigrant women to the U.S.” (10/1/2023 to 9/30/2024).
• Jean Kerver, PhD , received $23,884 from Munson Healthcare for “Rural Communities Opioid Response Program - Medication Assisted Treatment Access” (9/1/2023 to 8/31/2024).
• Gayle Shipp, PhD , received $7,997 from Michigan Council for Maternal & Child Health for “Collaborative support and training of Birth Equity and Maternal Health Policy Specialist” (1/1/2023 to 6/30/2024).

Family Medicine

• Bengt Arnetz, MD, PhD , received $50,000 from Michigan State Police for “Crisis Response and Intervention Training” (4/1/2023 to 9/30/2025).

Human Medicine Dean

• Joan Ilardo, PhD , received $41,698 from Michigan Coalition Against Homelessness for “Improving Health and Housing Outcomes for Older Adults in Oakland County” (12/18/2023 to 11/30/2024).

Institute for Quantitative Health

• Joshua Heyza, PhD , received $125,000 from National Institute of Health for “Molecular regulation of double-strand break repair by MDC1” (12/1/2023 to 11/30/2025).

Medical Education Research and Development

• Chi Chang, PhD , received $52,217 from US Department of Veterans Affairs for “Battle Creek VA Medical Center IPA agreement with Chi Chang (2023-2024)” (11/1/2023 to 9/30/2024).

Neurology and Ophthalmology

• Rajeel Imran, MD , received $13,260 from Janssen Research & Development LLC for “Janssen_Librexia protocol 70033093STR3001” (10/4/2023 to 12/31/2027).

Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Biology

• Asgerally Fazleabas, PhD , received $492,304 from National Institute of Child Health & Human Development for “Regulation of Endometriotic Lesion Development by NOTCH1” (4/1/2021 to 2/28/2026).
• Madhavi Kulkarni, PhD , received $312,998 from US Department of the Army for “A Longitudinal study of the epidemiology of endometriosis after menopause” (8/15/2024 to 8/14/2026).
• Asgerally Fazleabas, PhD , received $216,773 from Comanche Biopharma Corp for “S-Flt siRNA Therapy for Pre-eclampsia” (4/5/2022 to 8/31/2024).
• Barbara Luke, ScD, MPH , received $119,607 from Baylor College of Medicine for “A US-UK Collaborative Study of the Health of Children Born from In Vitro Fertilization: From Conception Through Young Adulthood” (9/1/2023 to 5/31/2028).
• Stacey Missmer, ScD , received $96,380 from Boston Children’s Hospital for “The Boston Center for Endometriosis / Women's Health Study: from Adolescence to Adulthood” (1/1/2022 to 12/31/2024).
• Ripla Arora, PhD , received $45,703 from University of Missouri for “The role of cholesterol biosynthesis in metastatic and recurrent endometrial cancer” (9/23/2022 to 1/31/2027).

Pediatrics and Human Development

• Andre Bachmann, PhD , received $611,302 from National Institute of Health for “Leveraging modulation of polyamine metabolism for therapeutic advantage in genetic disorders” (2/1/2023 to 1/31/2028).
• Jeffrey MacKeigan, PhD , received $120,067 from Spectrum Health - MSU Alliance Corp for “ALPHA vs. BETA: A Preclinical Study of Astatine-211-Labeled and Lutetium-177-Labeled Brentuximab Vedotin in the Treatment of Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma” (2/28/2024 to 8/27/2025).
• Robert Vaughan, PhD , received $103,474 from National Cancer Institute for “Characterizing genetic modifiers in tumor burden of Tuberous Sclerosis Complex” (3/1/2021 to 2/28/2025).
• Jeffrey MacKeigan, PhD , received $90,000 from Corewell Health for “Novel CD30 Radiopharmaceutical Development” (11/29/2023 to 7/31/2025).
• Jane Turner, MD , received $64,000 from Wayne State University for “Michigan Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and related Disabilities (MI-LEND)” (7/1/2023 to 6/30/2024).
• Ryan Thomas, MD , received $33,116 from Cystic Fibrosis Foundation for “Program for Adult Care Excellence (PACE)” (10/1/2023 to 9/30/2026).
• Bin Chen, PhD , received $21,846 from Henry Ford Health System Michigan State University Health Sciences for “Interrogating the phenotype and function of T cells in pancreatic cancer liver metastases” (1/1/2024 to 12/31/2024).
• Lucas Pozzo-Miller, PhD , received $15,494 from Virginia Tech for “T1 signaling in astrocytes” (12/1/2023 to 11/30/2025).
• Jane Turner, MD , received $5,248 from University of Michigan for “Training New Leaders in Developmental Behavioral Pediatrics” (7/1/2023 to 6/30/2024).

Pharmacology and Toxicology

• Jamie Bernard, PhD , received $11,958 from University of Michigan for “Obesity, body fat distribution, and breast cancer risk: is visceral fat the culprit after menopause?” (2/1/2023 to 1/31/2028).
• Jamie Bernard, PhD , received $10,000 from Society of Toxicology for “Adiposity Promotes Breast Cancer through Kynurenine-induced Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor Activity: Implications for Environmental AhR Agonists on Tumor Formation” (1/18/2024 to 5/30/2025).
• Brian Ahmedani, PhD , received $431,750 from National Institute of Health for “Implementation Strategies for Suicide Prevention among Youth in Nepal” (12/1/2023 to 11/30/2025).
• Morteza Mahmoudi, PhD , received $366,318 from National Institute of Health for “A Nanostructured Skin Patch to Heal Chronic Wounds” (2/1/2022 to 1/31/2027).
• Ming Chen, PhD , received $37,500 from Henry Ford Health System Michigan State University Health Sciences for “Targeting miR-10b to Induce PTEN Expression: A Novel Therapeutic Strategy for PTEN-deficient GBM” (1/1/2024 to 12/31/2024).
• Norman Scheel, PhD , received $11,921 from University of Michigan for “Michigan Alzheimer's Disease Research Center-Supplement” (7/1/2023 to 6/30/2025).

Translational Neuroscience

• Nicholas Kanaan, PhD , received $474,327 from National Institute of Health for “Tau-Mediated Regulation and Dysregulation of Protein Phosphatase 1” (4/1/2020 to 12/31/2024).

See research grants from 2023 .

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UT Tyler Health Science Center

Build a healthier tomorrow.

Home to the region’s only academic medical center, The University of Texas at Tyler Health Science Center is one of the five campuses of UT Tyler. Two of UT Tyler’s four health-related schools have a presence on this campus: the School of Health Professions and the School of Medicine.

Campus History

Our Beginnings

Joining the University of Texas System

A Name Change

New Programs

Campus Programs and Facilities

The UT Tyler Health Science Center facility offers an array of crucial medical and healthcare education resources, fostering an environment dedicated to excellence in education. From cutting-edge simulation labs to dedicated research spaces, every aspect of the UT Tyler Health Science Center is designed to enhance the educational experience. This dynamic campus is not just a hub for learning; it’s a catalyst for progress in healthcare education and a testament to UT Tyler's commitment to shaping the future of healthcare in the East Texas region.

Office of Health Affairs

School of Health Professions

School of Medicine

Center for Biomedical Research

Simulation in Medicine and Immersive Learning Experience Center

Watson W. Wise Medical Research Library

Public Health Laboratory of East Texas

UT Health North Campus Tyler (UTHET)

HOPE Cancer Center

A Regional Leader in Health Research

UT Tyler pioneers solutions to improve health. Several research centers, including the Center for Mycobacterial Treatment and Discovery and the Center for Biomedical Research, are housed on this campus. The centers build on our history of innovative treatments for lung disease and focus on the health concerns of rural populations through projects funded by agencies like the National Institutes of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Students benefit from hands-on research opportunities and instruction informed by the latest developments in the field. 

Dr. Maolin Lu

Assistant Professor of Cellular and Molecular Biology

Meet Professor Lu

Community Outreach and Engagement

Ut health east texas.

In its regional network of hospitals, clinics and other facilities, UT Health East Texas delivers world-class care to thousands of patients each year while conducting clinical trials and training the next generation of professionals through UT Tyler’s unique programs. The UT Tyler Health Science Center is home to UT Health North Campus Tyler .

Public Health Programs

Faculty, staff and students at the UT Tyler Health Science Center campus connect their expertise with local community needs to assist traditionally underserved populations through an array of health and outreach programs, including behavioral health telemedicine services for rural populations, cancer screenings, parental education, lifestyle changes and more.

Regional Health Resources

To strengthen regional healthcare, we train community health workers, promote healthcare careers in underrepresented communities and support community health education and development efforts.

Connect With Us

The university of texas at tyler health science center.

Phone:   903.877.7777

We’re pioneering the future of healthcare in East Texas. Find out how you can join us.

11937 U.S. Hwy. 271 Tyler, TX 75708-3154

Senior tennis champ cherishes Tar Heel friends

In this video, Reilly Tran shares the joys of tennis triumphs, Galapagos studies and lifelong relationships.

In four years at Carolina, Reilly Tran won a national championship, studied abroad in the Galapagos Islands and received a postgraduate scholarship to attend medical school. But she believes the lifelong friendships made in Chapel Hill will last beyond graduation.

As the tennis team prepares to chase another national championship, she’s still deciding whether to pursue a professional tennis career. She has many to thank for her time at Carolina, starting with her parents.

Press play above to watch a video about Tran’s Carolina experience.

Professor Jill V. Hamm named interim education dean

Since 2017, Hamm has led growth as the UNC School of Education’s associate dean for research and faculty development.

Gustavo Gonzalez built community through Mi Pueblo

The senior Carolina Covenant and Woods scholar also studied abroad and did behavioral research.

Historian named National Humanities Center fellow

John Wood Sweet is documenting the life of Venture Smith, who wrote an account of his enslavement and freedom.

NSF graduate research fellowships go to 16 Tar Heels

The prestigious National Science Foundation award supports education, professional development and research.

Coxswain steers toward career in sustainability

Senior Karen Jordan pursues a future in the food industry while also guiding rowers on a club crew team.

PhD candidate solves tough puzzles

With public health projects or his own medical issues, Mark Radin overcomes difficult challenges.

Lifelong learner finds personal renaissance

After years of working in the business world, Jennifer Wu earns a doctorate in art history from Carolina.

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