Alumni Miller School of Medicine

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Alumni Spotlight

Student Stories and Accomplishments

From Dropout to Neuroscientist

A once-reluctant undergrad turned national science prize winner is challenging Alzheimer’s disease

	2025 Graduates
	Tate Pollock, Ph.D. Mentor: Luis Tuesta, Ph.D. Dissertation: Profiling Changes in the VTA Dopaminergic Transcriptome During Cocaine Intravenous Self-Administration and Craving Current Position: Teacher, Univ. Oklahoma Barbara Marin, PhD. Mentor: Courtney Dumont, Ph.D. Dissertation: Biomaterial Strategies for Facial Nerve Repair Following Injury Current Position: Consultant Danielle Antoine, Ph.D. Mentor: Sabita Roy, Ph.D. Dissertation: Role of the Gut Microbiome in Prolonged Pain Hypersensitivity Following Neonatal Morphine Exposure Current Position: Postdoc, Univ. Florida (Jupiter) Jack Stahl, Ph.D. Mentor: Claes Wahlestedt, M.D., Ph.D. Dissertation: Developing Oligonucleotide Combinations for Neurological Disorders Current Position: Postdoc, Univ. Miami
	2024 Graduates
	Jessica Dennison, Ph.D. Mentor: Claes Wahlestedt, M.D., Ph.D. Dissertation: Investigating Female-Specific Risk Factors of Alzheimer’s Disease Current Position: Analyst, Collage Venture Partners Mary Tapia, Ph.D. Mentor: Kevin Park, Ph.D. Dissertation: AAV-retro-mediated Gene Modulation and Real Time Retinal Imaging to Examine RGC Survival Christopher Yanick, Ph.D. Mentors: Mario Saporta, M.D., Ph.D. & Stephan Zuchner, M.D., Ph.D. Dissertation: Exploration of Cellular Phenotypes in iPSCderived Motor Neurons Containing Mutations Linked to a Recessive Neuropathy Current Position: Postdoc, Univ. Central Florida Maureen Ascona, Ph.D. Mentors: Daniel Liebl, Ph.D. Roberta Brambilla, Ph.D. Dissertation: A Deep Learning-Based Approach for Unbiased Kinematic Analysis in CNS Injury MSL, Astrazeneca Markus Spurlock, Ph.D. Mentor: Valery Shestopalov, Ph.D. Dissertation: Role and Regulation of Inflammasome in Acute Pressure-induced Injury of Retinal Ganglion Cells Brittni Walker, Ph.D. Mentor: Carlos Moraes, Ph.D. Dissertation: Gene Replacement Therapy in Mouse Models of Mitochondrial Encephalopathy Current Position: Postdoc, Harvard University Brianna Cyr, Ph.D. Mentor: Juan Pablo de Rivero Vaccari, Ph.D. Dissertation: The Role of the Inflammasome in Inflammaging Current Position: Postdoc, Univ. Oklahoma Dena Arizanovska, Ph.D. Mentor: Daniel Liebl, Ph.D. Dissertation: Microglial D‐serine Mediates Synaptic Damage After Traumatic Brain Injury Current Position: Postdoc Janelia Research Campus Bianca Graziano, Ph.D. Mentor: Laura Bianchi, Ph.D. Dissertation: Glial KCNQ K+ Channels Control Neuronal Output by Regulating GABA Release from Glia in C. elegans Current Position: Applying for medical residency Julian Dallmeier, Ph.D. Mentor: William Scott, Ph.D. Dissertation: Evaluating Mechanisms Underlying Resistance in Alzheimer’s Diseas Current Position: Data scientist Bridget Truitt, Ph.D. Mentor: Sabita Roy, Ph.D. Dissertation: The Contributions of the Gut Microbiome in Somatic Morphine Withdrawal
	2023 Graduates
	Ryan Gober, Ph.D. Mentor: Regina Vontell, Ph.D. Dissertation: Inflammasome Assembly as a Potential Mechanism of Micro-glial Mediated Neuroinflammation in Schizophrenia Current Position: MSL Samara Vilca, Ph.D. Mentor: Luis Tuesta, Ph.D. Dissertation: Role of Microglia in Methamphetamine Reinforcement and Seeking Current Position: Postdoc UMass Iris Escobar, Ph.D. Mentor: Miguel Perez-Pinzon, Ph.D. Dissertation: Resveratrol Preconditioning Protects Against Cerebral Ischemia-Induced Synaptic Dysfuntion Current Position: Yale University Post-Doc Charlie Jackson, Ph.D. Mentor: Miguel Perez-Pinzon, Ph.D. Dissertation: Preconditioning Regulates PARP1 to Induce Ischemic Tolerance Against PARP1-Mediated Neuronal Death Current Position: Ohio State University Post-Doc
	2022 Graduates
	Matt Rybin, Ph.D. Mentor: Zane Zeier, Ph.D. Dissertation: Inhibiting Glioblastoma Cell Proliferation and Invasion in Brain Organoids, Current Position: Process Development Scientist, Recursion Pharmaceuticals
	2021 Graduates
	Jin Yop (Stephano) Chang, M.D., Ph.D. Mentors: James Guest, M.D., Ph.D., and Brian Noga, Ph.D. Dissertation: Enhancing Locomotor Recovery through Combined Mesencephalic Locomotor Region Stimulation and Epidural Stimulation in a Large Animal Model or Thoracic Spinal Cord Injury Current Position: Neurosurgery Resident, Vancouver General Hospital Austin Choi, Ph.D. Mentor: Antonio Barrientos, Ph.D. Dissertation: Role of MRPL18 in the Biogenesis and Function of Mitochondrial and Cytosolic Ribosomes in Response to Proteotoxic Stress Current Position: Medical student, University of Miami Haritha Desu, Ph.D. Mentor: Roberta Brambilla, Ph.D. Dissertation: Role of TNFR2 Signaling in Oligodendrocyte Precursor Cells during Remyelination and Neuroinflammation following CNS Disease Current Position: Postdoctoral fellow, University of Montreal Hospital Sarah Gough, M.S. Mentor: Abigail Hackam, Ph.D. Dissertation: Investigating the Effect of Ketogenic Diet and Wnt3a Treatment on Retinal Ganglion Cell (RGC) Survival and Optic Nerve Regeneration after Optic Nerve Crush (ONC) Lindsay Milich, Ph.D. Mentor: Jae Lee, Ph.D. Dissertation: Single-Cell Analysis of the Innate Immune Response after Acute Spinal Cord Injury Current Position: Postdoctoral Fellow, UCSD Melanie Plastini, Ph.D. Mentor: Roberta Brambilla, Ph.D. Dissertation: Investigating the Role of Mitochondrial Dysfunction in Oligodendrocytes in the Etiopathogenesis of Multiple Sclerosis Current Position: Postdoctoral fellow, Stanford University Hannah Radabaugh, Ph.D. Mentors: Helen Bramlett, Ph.D., and Dalton Dietrich, Ph.D. Dissertation: Utilizing Computational Approaches to Identify Synergistic Treatment Combinations for Traumatic Brain Injury Current Position: Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Miami and UCSF Stephen Alexander Tapanes, Ph.D. Mentor: Dan Liebl, Ph.D. Dissertation: Regulation of Astrocytic D-serine in the Traumatically Injured Brain Current Position: Scientist, 149 Bio Anddre Valdivia, Ph.D. Mentor: Sanjoy Bhattacharya, Ph.D. Dissertation: Protein Deamination and Lipid Complexation in Demyelinating Diseases Current Position: Medical Student, University of Minnesota
	2020 Graduates
	Elena Buglo, Ph.D. Mentor: J. Dallman, S. Zuchner Dissertation: Establishing CRISPR Models of Rare Hereditary Neurodegenerative Diseases Current Position: Neurosurgery Resident, Vancouver General Hospital Jeffrey Lowell, Ph.D. Mentor: Eleonore Beurel, Ph.D. Dissertation: CCR6, CXCR5, and IL-23R: The infernal trio in Th17 cell-mediated depressive-like behavior Current Position: Medical student, University of Miami Ryan Worthen, Ph.D. Mentor: Eleonore Beurel, Ph.D. Dissertation: Regulation of Mouse Learning and Mood by the Anti-Inflammatory Cytokine Interleukin-10 Current Position: Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Miami Jing Xu, Ph.D. Mentor: M. Perez-Pinzon Dissertation: Mechanisms Behind the Regulation of NAD+ by the Ischemic Neuroprotectants PKC Epsilon and Resveratrol Current Position: Postdoctoral Fellow, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Research Institute
	2019 Graduates
	Tyler Huff, Ph.D. Mentor: G. Wang Dissertation: The Epigenetic Role of Pro-Myelination Factors in Schwann Cell Myelination Current Position: Research Scientist/Project Manager, Massachusetts Institute of Technology Alexander Kreymerman, Ph.D. Mentor: J. Goldberg Dissertation: The Diverse Roles of Mitochondrial Dynamics in Retinal Ganglion Cell Development and Regeneration Current Position: Postdoctoral Fellow, Stanford University Joun Park, Ph.D. Mentor: G. Zhai Dissertation: MicroRNAs Regulate the Neuroprotective Efficacy of NMNAT Current Position: Postdoctoral Fellow, Virginia Tech Andrea Ruetenik, M.S. Mentor: A. Barrientos Dissertation: Role of NAD Salvage Pathway Proteins in Proteotoxic Suppression Kristen Sanders, Ph.D. Mentor: T. Akiyama Dissertation: Characterization and Optogenetic Manipulation of the Affective Itch Circuit in Mouse Models of Itch Current Position: FCB Health Michael Watson, M.S. Mentor: D. Liebl Dissertation: The Role of TMEM97 in Cell Death Following Traumatic Brain Injury Current Position: High School Science Teacher Stephanie Yahn, Ph.D. Mentor: J. Lee Dissertation: The Role of Fibrosis after Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis
	2018 Graduates
	Eric Bray, Ph.D. Mentor: K. Park Dissertation: The Role of Retinal Ganglion Cell Subtype in Survival and Regeneration Following Axonal Injury Current Position: Medical Student, University of Miami Nadine Kerr, Ph.D. Mentor: D. Dietrich, R. Keane Dissertation: Traumatic Brain Injury-Induced Acute Lung Injury: Evidence for Activation and Inhibition of a Neural-Respiratory-Inflammasome Axis Current Position: Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Miami Nathalie Khoury, Ph.D. Mentor: M. Perez-Pinzon Dissertation: Resveratrol Preconditioning Induces Bioenergetic Efficiency in the Brain Within the Long-Term Window of Cerebral Ischemic Tolerance Current Position: Postdoctoral Fellow, Stanford University Stephanie Lee, Ph.D. Mentor: D. Dietrich, R. Keane Dissertation: Microglial Inflammasome Activation in Penetrating Traumatic Brain Injury Current Position: Medical Student, University of Miami Nadee Nissanka, Ph.D. Mentor: C. Moraes Dissertation: Mitochondrial DNA Fate and Deletion Formation Following Double-Strand Breaks Current Position: Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Miami Jennifer Roebber, Ph.D. Mentor: N. Chaudhari Dissertation: Salt Detection and the Influence of Anorectic Drugs of Abuse in the Taste System Current Position: Postdoctoral Fellow, Cardiff University, Wales
	2017 Graduates
	Zachary Balmuth-Loris, Ph.D. Mentor: D. Dietrich Dissertation: The Neuroprotective Compound P7C3-A20 Promotes Neurogenesis and Improves Functional Outcomes after Focal Cerebral Ischemia Current Position: Medical Science Liaison, Sage Therapeutics Matt Danzi, Ph.D. Mentor: J. Bixby, V. Lemmon Dissertation: c-Jun DNA Binding During Axon Regeneration Current Position: Assistant Scientist, University of Miami Kevin Koronowski, Ph.D. Mentor: M. Perez-Pinzon Current Position: Postdoctoral Fellow, University of California, Irvine Cristina Matthewman, Ph.D. Mentor: L. Bianchi Dissertation: Functional Features of Hyperactive DEG/ENaC Channels Involved in Cell Death Current Position: Research Scientist, Life Extension Saloni Mehta, Ph.D. Mentor: J. Bixby, V. Lemmon Dissertation: A Combinatorial Approach to CNS Regeneration Using Activated Transcription Factors Current Position: Senior Technical Specialist, IPD Analytics Michelle Rudman, M.D., Ph.D. Mentor: N. Ayad, J. Lee Dissertation: Bromodomain and Extraterminal Domain-Containing Protein Inhibition Decreases Inflammation after Spinal Cord Injury Current Position: Neurology Resident, Washington University Holly Stradecki-Cohan, M.D., Ph.D. Mentor: M. Perez-Pinzon Dissertation: A Brief Period of Exercise Improves Cognitive Function After Cardiac Arrest Current Position: Neurology Resident, Jackson Memorial Hospital/University of Miami Hospital Nicole Wilson, Ph.D. Mentor: C. Atkins Dissertation: The Role of Phosphodiesterase 4B in Inflammation after Traumatic Brain Injury Current Position: Medical Student, Florida International University
	2016 Graduates
	Alex Abrams, Ph.D. Mentor: J. Dallman, S. Zuchner Current Position: Postdoctoral Researcher, Yale University Poincyane Assis-Nascimento, Ph.D. Mentor: D. Liebl Current Position: Assistant Professor, Barry University Lucy Freer, M.D., Ph.D. Mentor: J. Lee Current Position: Psychiatry Resident, University of California, Davis Han Gao, Ph.D. Mentor: R. Brambilla Current Position: Research Assistant Professor, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University Amber Hackett, Ph.D. Mentor: J. Lee Current Position: Postdoctoral Fellow, Washington University Enmanuel Perez Martinez, M.D., Ph.D. Mentor: D. Liebl Current Position: Neurology Resident, Barnes Jewish Hospital at Washington University Praseeda Venugopalan, Ph.D. Mentor: J. Goldberg, K. Muller Current Position: Manager, Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical An Wu, Ph.D. Mentor: S. Roper Current Position: Postdoctoral Fellow, University of California, San Diego
	2015 Graduates
	Sam Beckerman, M.D., Ph.D. Mentor: J. Bixby, V. Lemmon Current Position: Resident, University of Southern California Charlie Cohan, Ph.D. Mentor: M. Perez-Pinzon, C. Wright Current Position: Postdoctoral Research Fellow, University of Miami Srinivasan Narayanan, M.D., Ph.D. Mentor: M. Perez-Pinzon Current Position: Resident Physician, MD Anderson Cancer Center Veronica Peschanksy, M.D., Ph.D. Mentor: C. Wahlestedt Current Position: Neurology resident, Mount Sinai Health System Alleene Strickland, Ph.D. Mentor: S. Zuchner Current Position: Scientist, IPD Analytics Ben Yungher, Ph.D. Mentor: K. Park Current Position: Medical Science Liason, NS Pharma Yunjiao Zhu, Ph.D. Mentor: J. Lee Current Position: Postdoctoral Fellow, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute
	2014 Graduates
	Shervin Liddie, Ph.D. Mentor: Y. Itzhak Current Position: Senior Research Scientist/Study Director, Virscio Kahlilia Morris, Ph.D. Mentor: M. Perez-Pinzon Current Position: Scientist, University of Wisconsin Madison Meghan O’Connell Blaya, Ph.D. Mentor: D. Dietrich Current Position: Assistant Scientist, University of Miami Amit Patel, Ph.D. Mentor: A. Hackam Current Position: Postdoctoral Fellow, University of California, San Diego Ji Zha, Ph.D. Mentor: J. Bethea Current Position: Postdoctoral fellow, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
	2013 Graduates
	Akintomide Apara, M.D., Ph.D. Mentor: J. Goldberg Current Position: Resident, Louisiana State University Jonathan Hertz, Ph.D. Mentor: J. Goldberg Current Position: Medical Science Liaison, Aerie Pharmaceutical Yang Liu, Ph.D. Mentor: C. Thomas Current Position: Scientist, CallMiner Terrell Morton, M.S. Mentor: R. Rotundo Current Position: Assistant Professor, University of Missouri-Columbia Ephraim Trakhtenberg, Ph.D. Mentor: J. Goldberg Current Position: Assistant Professor, UConn School of Medicine
	2012 Graduates
	Stephanie Adamczak, M.D., Ph.D. Mentor: R. Keane Current Position: Resident, University of Florida Raul Corredor, Ph.D. Mentor: J. Goldberg Current Position: Scientist, BrainSIntegrative Health LLC Brandon Kitay, Ph.D. Mentor: Grace Zhai Current Position: Assistant Professor, Yale University Alicia Pickrell, Ph.D. Mentor: C. Moraes Current Position: Assistant Professor, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Michael Sinclair, Ph.D. Mentor: N. Chaudhari Current Position: Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Maryland
	2011 Graduates
	Yenisel Cruz-Almeida, Ph.D. Mentor: E. Widerstrom-Noga Current Position: Research Assistant Professor, University of Florida Andrea Johnstone, Ph.D. Mentor: J. Bixby Current Position: Director of Product Development, EpiCypher Joshua Johnstone, Ph.D. Mentor: J. Bethea Current Position: Pharmaceutical Independent Consultant Lana Jones Mawhinney, Ph.D. Mentor: H. Bramlett Current Position: Professor, Palm Beach State College Donald McCorquodale, Ph.D. Mentor: S. Züchner Current Position: Neurologist, Knight Neurology LLC Paul Morton, Ph.D. Mentor: J. Bethea Current Position: Assistant Professor, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Uzoezi Ozomaro, M.D., Ph.D. Mentor: S. Zuchner Current Position: Radiology Resident, University of California, San Francisco
	2010 Graduates
	Jonathan Kelley, Ph.D. Mentor: Yossef Itzhak Current Position: Medical Science Liason, Eisai US Darcie Moore, Ph.D. Mentor: J. Goldberg Current Position: Assistant Professor, University of Wisconsin Madison Alexander Peyser, Ph.D. Mentor: W. Nooner Current Position: Site Reliability Engineering Manager, Google Gillian Reierson, M.D., Ph.D. Mentor: M. Wong Current Position: Psychiatrist, Pacific Coast Psychiatric Associates Ryan Williams, M.D., Ph.D. Mentor: M. Bunge Current Position: Chief Medical Officer, SAFE Health

Alumni Profiles

Application Process

Alumni Spotlight

From Dropout to Neuroscientist

2025 Graduates

2024 Graduates

2023 Graduates

2022 Graduates

2021 Graduates

2020 Graduates

2019 Graduates

2018 Graduates

2017 Graduates

2016 Graduates

2015 Graduates

2014 Graduates

2013 Graduates

2012 Graduates

2011 Graduates

2010 Graduates