What exactly is the Medical Scientist Training Program?

The MSTP is a dual-degree program leading to the MD and PhD. We start out by completing half of medical school, then earn a PhD usually in the natural sciences, and finally finish up the MD. Graduates of the program tend to work at academic medical centers running a biomedical research lab and practicing clinical medicine, but industry is another option.

How would you describe your research in one sentence?

Our lab studies the importance of adhesion between cells, which is crucial to hold together tissues that endure mechanical stress, such as the epidermis (skin) and the heart.

Can you explain that a little further?

More specifically, we study adhesive organelles called desmosomes, which are basically spot-welds that link neighboring cells together. The proteins that make up desmosomes are targeted in humans through genetic mutations, auto-antibodies, and bacterial toxins, resulting in human diseases affecting the skin and the heart. Adhesive structures like desmosomes are also known to be down-regulated in cancer, which allows malignant cells to detach from their neighbors and metastasize to distant sites. In the lab, we primarily grow skin cells (keratinocytes) collected from human samples and use various methods to manipulate the adhesive proteins needed to form desmosomes. We have utilized these cells in a three-dimensional model to re-create the multi-layered structure of the epidermis, essentially growing skin in a Petri dish. Our results indicate that the adhesive proteins we study are necessary for normal development and integrity of this model epidermis. Through studying the cellular pathways operating up- and down-stream of these adhesive organelles in the skin, we hope to find novel ways to treat diseases targeting desmosomes.
 
How did you decide to enter your program?

I wanted to be a physician from a young age, but I was first introduced to biomedical research when I was an undergraduate at Washington University. My advisor there encouraged me to look into MD/PhD programs, which would allow me to combine my desires to practice medicine and conduct laboratory research advancing medical knowledge. Upon coming to Northwestern, I did a summer rotation in the Green Laboratory , which I found to be an enjoyable environment offering excellent scientific training and an exciting research agenda focused on the science underlying human skin disease.

Who is your advisor?

I work in the laboratory of Prof. Kathleen Green in the Departments of Pathology and Dermatology on the Chicago campus.

What are your interests outside of research?

I really enjoy traveling. Most recently I’ve been on two medical aid trips to Nicaragua and Guatemala and I’ll travel to Japan in May of 2008 for a dermatology conference. I also volunteer at the Community Health Clinic, where I assist with medical interviews and physicals and serve as a translator for Hispanic patients, which allows me to put my Spanish skills to use. As well, I love running. I am most comfortable with middle distances of 4-6 miles but I’m currently training for a half marathon. Finally, I enjoy following professional golf and American politics.

What are your future plans?

Upon completing my PhD, I will finish up the rest of medical school, then it’s time to apply for residency for specialized clinical training. Dermatology would fit really well with my research interests, but I’m also considering pathology and oncology. Someday, I hope to work at an academic medical center running a research lab, seeing patients, and teaching students. I’m also interested in governmental research policy and administration at the National Institutes of Health and I might even like to spend some time with Doctors without Borders.