MD-Ph.D. Class of 2012 - Harvard Medical School - Harvard University

Harvard Medical School M.D.-Ph.D. Class of 2012 Harvard Medical School M.D.-Ph.D. Class of 2012 HarvardMedical School M.D.-Ph.D.HARVARDClass of 2012 HarvardMEDICALMedicalSCHOOLSchool M.D.-Ph.D. Class of 2012 HarvardMedical School M.D.-Ph.D. Class of 2012 Harvard Medical School M.D.-Ph.D. Class of 2012 Harvard MedicalSchool M.D.-Ph.D. Class of 2012 Harvard Medical School Class of 2012 Harvard MedicalM.D.-Ph.D.School M.D.-Ph.D. Class of 2012 Harvard Medical School Class of 2012 Harvard Medical SchoolM.D.-Ph.D. Class of 2012 HarvardClassMedical School M.D.-Ph.D.of 2012Class of Harvard Medical School M.D.-Ph.D. Class of 2012 Harvard Medical School M.D.-Ph.D. Class of Harvard Medical School M.D.-Ph.D.Class of 2012 Harvard Medical School M.D.-Ph.D. Class of 2012 Harvard Medical School M.D.-Ph.D. Classof 2012 Harvard Medical School M.D.-Ph.D. Spring Class of 2012 Dinner Harvard Medical School M.D.-Ph.D. Class of2012 Harvard Medical School M.D.-Ph.D. Class May of 2012 22, 2012 Harvard Medical School M.D.-Ph.D. Class of 2012Harvard Medical School M.D.-Ph.D. Class of 2012 Harvard Medical School M.D.-Ph.D. Class of 2012 Har-

WelcomeWelcome to the M.D.-Ph.D. Program’s Annual Spring Dinner in honor of the M.D.-Ph.D. Class of 2012at Harvard Medical School (HMS)! We are especially delighted to welcome the family members andsignificant others who are joining the graduates, faculty, students and staff to recognize our graduatestonight.This year, fifteen students will graduate from our program with both M.D. and Ph.D. degrees. This bookshowcases the accomplishments of all the individuals among this select group. Together, these students,who matriculated at HMS between 2002 and 2007, collectively spent about 189 years of academic study,including undergraduate and graduate degrees. While at Harvard they spent 8.60 years on average perstudent, to complete 15 Ph.D. degrees and 15 M.D. degrees. This year’s class of four women and elevenmen reflects the diversity of graduate training available to M.D.-Ph.D. trainees at Harvard MedicalSchool. In all, they carried out their graduate studies in 11 different programs located within HarvardUniversity’s Graduate School of Arts & Sciences and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Whilethe majority of students pursued their dissertations in the basic sciences, three of our graduatescompleted their dissertations within the MIT/HST Medical Engineering Medical Physics program.Please spend a moment to read the individual biographies written by each of the students. Many spenttheir early years in cities and towns across the United States: Arizona, Illinois, Indiana, Massachusetts,Missouri, Montana, New Jersey, New Mexico and New York. They went on to complete theirundergraduate degrees at 12 different colleges and universities including Brandeis University, BrighamYoung University, Georgetown University, Harvard College, Johns Hopkins University, Mississippi StateUniversity, Stanford University, Swarthmore College, University of Arizona, University of Chicago,Washington University and Yale University. While at HMS, 11 enrolled in the London Health Sciencesand Technology (HST) curriculum, while 4 joined the New Pathway, representing three of the foursocieties (2 Cannon, 1 Castle, and 1 Peabody).While these students are meeting the joint challenges of graduate and medical study, the M.D.-Ph.D.Program endeavors to provide a nurturing and cohesive environment for them. The program isfortunate to be able to provide financial support for the majority of the graduates under the sponsorshipof the NIH-Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP) Grant and other sources, and wishes it couldprovide full funding for all. Program offerings including special courses, advising sessions, retreats,dinners, symposia, lunches, poster sessions and thousands of emails, help us to bring diverse groups oftraining together in fulfilling our mission to “educate and inspire the leading physician-scientists of thefuture.”We congratulate the 2012 graduates on their numerous achievements and accomplishments towards thecompletion of the M.D. and Ph.D. degrees and send our most heartfelt wishes for continued discovery,success and happiness into the future.Best wishes,

HARVARD MEDICAL SCHOOLANNUAL SPRING DINNER IN HONOR OF THEM.D.-Ph.D.Class of 2012May 22, 2012The Joseph B. Martin Conference Center6:00 PMCocktail ReceptionClassic Jazz by Tal Shalom-Kobi Trio7:00 PMSeating for Dinner in the RotundaDirector’s Welcome and introducion of graduates and mentorsDr. Stephen C. BlacklowDean’s Champagne Toast to the GraduatesDr. Jeffrey S. FlierDinnerAfter Dinner Special RemarksDr. Stephen C. BlacklowMs. Amy I. CohenDr. Salil GargCONTENTSPages 2-3Match Day PhotoGalleryPages 4-5The Class of 2012Pages 6-20Graduates’ BiosPage 21Mentors & CreditsPages 22-26Photo GalleriesFormal Group Photo of the Graduates(in dining room at conclusion of remarks)The M.D.-Ph.D. Program welcomes the families and friends of the graduates1

1GRADUATES CELEBRATEMATCH DAY ONMARCH 16, 2012:1 (L-R) Divya Bolar, Thomas Rogers,Salil Garg, Ilya Leskov, Mai Anh Huynh,Craig Mermel, Matthew Greenblatt,Scott Raymond, Allen Bryan, JonathanAbraham, Amy Cohen2 Mai Anh Huynh, Divya Bolar3 Ilya Leskov, Liz Rossin4 Dr. Richard Mitchell, Salil Garg5 Divya Bolar, Jonathan Abraham6 Mai Anh Huynh7 Scott Raymond8 (L-R) Salil Garg, Craig Mermel,Allen Bryan, Matthew Greenblatt,Jonathan Abraham223

456873

HARVARD MEDICAL SCHOOClass of 20124Jonathan AbrahamA.B., Harvard College (2005)Ph.D., Harvard University in Biophysics (2010)DISSERTATION: Host Cell Recognition by New WorldHemorrhagic Fever ArenavirusesM.D., Harvard Medical School (2012)RESIDENCY: Internal Medicine at Brigham & Women’sHospital, Boston, MAPage 6Quentin Joseph BacaB.S., Stanford University (2004)Ph.D., Harvard University in BBS-BCMP (2010)DISSERTATION: Adaptor proteins regulate cellular functionsin the context of a dynamic membrane interfaceM.D., Harvard Medical School (2012)RESIDENCY: Anesthesiology at Stanford UniversityPrograms, Stanford, CAPage 7Divya Sanam BolarB.S., Johns Hopkins (2000)M.S., Massachusetts Institute of Technology in ElectricalEngineering and Computer Science (2007)Ph.D., Massachusetts Institute of Technology inHST MEMP/Biomedical and Electrical Engineering(2010)DISSERTATION: Magnetic Resonance Imaging of theCerebral Metabolic Rate of Oxygen (CMRO 2 )M.D., Harvard Medical School (2012)RESIDENCY: Preliminary Medicine at Steward CarneyHospital, Dorchester, MARadiology at Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MAPage 8Allen Wayne Bryan, Jr.B.S., Mississippi State University (2000)Ph.D., Massachusetts Institute of Technology inHST MEMP/Bioinformatics (2009)DISSERTATION: Prediction of Parallel In-Register AmyloidogenicBeta-Structures In Highly Beta-Rich ProteinSequences By Pairwise Propensity AnalysisM.D., Harvard Medical School (2012)RESIDENCY: Pathology at Beth Israel Deaconess MedicalCenter, Boston, MAPage 9Christy Ann ComeauxB.S., Johns Hopkins University (2003)Ph.D., Harvard University in BPH (2009)DISSERTATION: Epigenetic regulation of virulence geneexpression in Plasmodium falciparumM.D., Harvard Medical School (2012)RESIDENCY: The NetherlandsPage 10Gillian Lynapp FellB.S., Georgetown University (2004)Ph.D., Harvard University in BBS-BCMP (2010)DISSERTATION: The role of the endogenous opioid betaendorphinin systemic and behavioral responses toradiation exposureM.D., Harvard Medical School (2012)RESIDENCY: General Surgery at Brigham & Women’sHospital, Boston, MAPage 11Salil GargB.S., M.S., University of Chicago (2003)Ph.D., Harvard University in Immunology (2010)DISSERTATION: Arl8b directs lysosomal trafficking inantigen presentation and microbial defenseM.D., Harvard Medical School (2012)RESIDENCY: Pathology at Massachusetts GeneralHospital, Boston, MAPage 12Matthew Blake GreenblattB.S., M.S., Yale University (2004)Ph.D., Harvard University in Immunology (2010)DISSERTATION: TAK1 in Skeletal HomeostasisM.D., Harvard Medical School (2012)RESIDENCY: Pathology at Brigham & Women’s Hospital,Boston, MAPage 13

L M.D.-Ph.D. PROGRAMHonor HsinA.B., Harvard College (2005)Ph.D., Massachusetts Institute of Technologyin Biology (2010)DISSERTATION: Roles of GSK-3beta and PYK2 signalingpathways in synaptic plasticityM.D., Harvard Medical School (2012)RESIDENCY: Psychiatry at Stanford University Programs,Stanford, CAPage 14Mai Anh HuynhA.B., Harvard College (2004)Ph.D., Harvard University in BBS-Pathology (2010)DISSERTATION: Role of Cdh1-APC-SnoN Pathway inNeuronal MorphogenesisM.D., Harvard Medical School (2012)RESIDENCY: Preliminary Medicine at MassachusettsGeneral Hospital, Boston, MARadiation Oncology at Brigham & Women’s Hospital,Boston, MAPage 15Ilya LeskovB.A., Swarthmore College (2001)Ph.D., Massachusetts Institute of Technologyin Biology (2010)DISSERTATION: Modeling hematologic malignancies andtheir treatment in humanized miceM.D., Harvard Medical School (2012)RESIDENCY: Internship in Medicine at Mt. AuburnHospital, Cambridge, MAResidency in Ophthalmology at Massachusetts Eye and EarInfirmary, Boston, MAPage 16Craig Harold MermelA.B., Washington University (2004)Ph.D., Harvard University in BBS-Genetics (2010)DISSERTATION: The Analysis of Somatic Copy NumberAlteration in Human CancersM.D., Harvard Medical School (2012)RESIDENCY: Pathology at Massachusetts GeneralHospital, Boston, MAPage 17Scott Bruce RaymondB.S., Brigham Young University (2004)Ph.D., Harvard University inHST MEMP/Biophysics (2010)DISSERTATION: Molecular Imaging Tools for StudyingAlzheimer’s DiseaseM.D., Harvard Medical School (2012)RESIDENCY: Transitional Residency at Steward CarneyHospital, Dorchester, MARadiology at Massachusetts General HospitalBoston, MAPage 18Thomas Francis Rogers, Jr.B.S., University of Arizona (2002)Ph.D., Harvard University in Virology (2010)DISSERTATION: Intrinsic Immune Response to ViralReplication in PrimatesM.D., Harvard Medical School (2012)RESIDENCY: Internal Medicine at Brigham & Women’sHospital, Boston, MAPage 19Sol SchulmanB.S., M.S., Brandeis University (2004)Ph.D., Harvard University in BBS-Cell Biology (2010)DISSERTATION: Secretory Protein Biogenesis: from MembraneTranslocation to Vitamin K-Dependent DisulfideBridge FormationM.D., Harvard Medical School (2012)RESIDENCY: Internal Medicine at Brigham & Women’sHospital, Boston, MAPage 20Key:BBS: Biological and Biomedical SciencesBCMP: Biological Chemistry & Molecular PharmacologyBPH: Biological Sciences In Public HealthHST: Health Sciences and TechnologyMEMP: Medical Engineering and Medical PhysicsMIT: Massachusetts Institute of Technology5

HARVARD M.D.-Ph.D. PROGRAM Class of 2012Jonathan AbrahamI was born in Montreal, and raised in a nearby suburb called Laval. Myfamily moved to Queens, New York, when I was fifteen years old. There, I attendeda local public high school. My high school’s principal of science, JaniceSutton, had a lasting impact on me. She got me excited about science research,and worked late hours to help me prepare posters for a number a sciencefairs. I then attended Harvard College, where I majored in Biochemistry. Ifound another important mentor there – Steve Harrison. In his lab, I becameenthralled by how Ebola virus latches onto and enters cells. After graduation,I worked at the National Institutes of Health for one year to continue somerelated work.I joined the M.D.-Ph.D. program in 2006. In the lab of Hyeryun Choeat Children’s hospital, we studied a group of viruses that cause Ebola-likedisease, but are endemic to South America. We discovered that these virusesbind the iron-uptake protein transferrin receptor 1 to infect cells. I was reallyexcited about this finding, because the lab of my undergraduate lab mentor,Steve Harrison, had previously determined the X-ray crystal structure oftransferrin receptor. I returned to Steve’s lab to complete my Ph.D., and usedX-ray crystallography to study how these viruses bind to transferrin receptor.My experience in the Harvard-MIT M.D.-Ph.D. program has beenamazing. Throughout my journey, I have been blessed with amazing mentorsand surrounded by supportive friends.6

Class of 2012 HARVARD M.D.-Ph.D. PROGRAMQuentin Joseph BacaQuentin Baca grew up in New Mexico as the second of five kids. There hespent his time playing on his grandfather’s farm, damaging the kitchen tablewith science experiments, and learning how to cook—a survival skill in analways busy house. He enjoyed homeschooling through elementary schoolwhere he gained a love for science and began spending far too much timereading science fiction. Despite his love of all things New Mexico, he headedto the west coast for his undergraduate work in chemistry at Stanford University.Most importantly, at Stanford, he met his wife Megan.Megan is the beautiful, strong and confident person who keeps Quentinsane and laughing. Quentin is grateful that Megan tolerated being married toan eternal student who at times, may have given little evidence of his work inlab as he often sat on the couch doing “data analysis.”During his PhD work in the department of Biological Chemistry and MolecularPharmacology at HMS, Quentin used biophysical tools to examine themobility and regulation of transmembrane signaling molecules. He enjoyed along-term collaboration with his fellow M.D., Ph.D student Zach Morris andlearned about cancer biology and the merits of late-night Chinese food. DavidGolan, Quentin’s advisor taught him much about biophysics, pharmacology,running a lab, and how to build fun and productive friendships and collaborations.More importantly, Quentin had David as a role model who showedhow one can excel as a doctor, researcher, and educator, yet still always prioritizethe time for family and friends. Quentin looks forward to years of sageadvice from his advisor and friend.Now, Quentin and Megan are returning to the California sun for Quentin’sresidency in Anesthesia at Stanford and Megan’s opportunity to work from anew office of her law firm.7

HARVARD M.D.-Ph.D. PROGRAM Class of 2012Divya Sanam BolarMy initial aspirations to enter medicine were the result of frequenttrips to my parents’ childhood home of Mangalore, India. Even at a youngage, I was struck by scenes of sickness and poverty, so contrary to my experiencegrowing up in suburban NJ. These images had a profound, lastingimpression, and I felt a responsibility to help those in need lead healthy andproductive lives.This desire, combined with interests in science and mathematics, ledme to pursue Biomedical Engineering at Johns Hopkins University. The firstglimpse of my future came via a course called “Magnetic Resonance in Medicine.”I was mesmerized by how spinning protons could be manipulated toproduce images of the human body, providing a powerful tool to investigatedisease.As a doctoral student at MIT and the Martinos Center for BiomedicalImaging, my fascination with imaging grew. Under the guidance of ElfarAdalsteinsson and Bruce Rosen, I developed a novel MRI method calledQUIXOTIC to image cerebral oxygen metabolism. I hope to apply QUIXOT-IC to image stroke and brain tumor and provide new diagnostic and prognosticinformation.Through my journey as an MD/PhD student, I realized that I couldfulfill my desire to help patients by embarking on a career in Radiology. Followingan Internal Medicine internship at Steward Carney Hospital, I willtrain as a Radiology Resident at the Massachusetts General Hospital. I lookforward to a career developing cutting-edge imaging technologies and applyingclinical imaging skills to further patient care.My time as a student has been incredibly rewarding. Through it all, Ihave had the unwavering love and support of my wonderful parents, Glynnand Indira. They have been with me on every leg of this journey, and I amforever grateful to have them by my side.8

Class of 2012 HARVARD M.D.-Ph.D. PROGRAMAllen Wayne Bryan, Jr.Allen Bryan is a native of Columbus, Mississippi, an origin he shareswith the playwright Tennessee Williams. He grew up helping with the familybusiness-- an eclectic music, pet, and hobby store. He first came to Bostonin 1995 for a summer program (RSI) between semesters at the MississippiSchool for Mathematics and Science. He received the sole John M. Stalnakerscholarship in 1996, the only award made directly by the National MeritScholarship Corporation. Allen returned for more summer research at MITduring his undergraduate years at Mississippi State University, where heearned a bachelor’s in physics. He came to Boston to stay in 2000, when hebegan the Harvard/MIT MD-PhD program; he earned his PhD in Bioinformatics(an HST subspecialty) from research at MIT in 2009. After graduation,Allen will start his clinical pathology residency this summer at BIDMC.Along the way, he has picked up hobbies ranging from astronomy, to ringingthe multi-ton church bells that Paul Revere once rang in Old North Church,to cooking from his grandmother’s cookbook of Southern favorites. He hashelped design live solar system demonstrations, spacecraft for mice, and acompetition to hike up Mt. Fuji with exoskeleton-powered legs. None of thiswould be possible without the support of his parents, history and music professorsat East Mississippi Community College, and his brother Dan, studyingsensory nutrition at the University of Arkansas. At present, Allen’s chief goalis an affordable, cat-friendly apartment.9

HARVARD M.D.-Ph.D. PROGRAM Class of 2012Christy Ann ComeauxRaised in a small town in Texas that could have served as the inspirationfor the book Friday Night Lights, I was eager to do the unimaginablewhen I graduated high school—leave Texas. Mother set a radius around EastTexas, limiting how far I could move away for college. I forced her to stretchit and enrolled at Johns Hopkins in Baltimore. At Hopkins I found my homein the laboratory, doing genetics research within a small group that wouldbecome my new family. Without realizing that Boston would be colder thanBaltimore, I subsequently started the MD-PhD program at Harvard MedicalSchool.After a summer teaching in Tanzania, I returned wanting to completemy PhD studying the genetics of the causative parasite of malaria. Whileporing over Petri dishes of parasites, I somehow managed to meet my futurehusband, who was a visiting scientist in the lab next door. There was one bigcomplication: he was a British scientist working and living in The Netherlands,and I had years of study left. Countless frequent flyer miles later, wemarried in May 2009 while still separated by the Atlantic. Late in 2010, wewelcomed our daughter Nadia in The Netherlands after I made a trans-Atlanticjourney at 35 weeks to rejoin my husband for her birth.More than six years since meeting, Shahid and I have decided thatliving an ocean apart is just too impractical, and we will be making our homein Leiden, The Netherlands, where he is on faculty. I look forward to thechallenges of academic medicine in a foreign country. I am also eager fortime with my family all in one place. Meanwhile, my mother has had to makeserious compromises on how far I can move away-- and just flies over to seeus often.10

HARVARD M.D.-Ph.D. PROGRAM Class of 2012Gillian Lynapp FellI am the daughter of two vibrant teachers who are my heroes. As a child,they exposed me to everything enriching in education, athletics, music, andculture they could, and gave me freedom and support in discovering whatI love to do. I learned two rules from their example: “focus is vital in eachendeavor,” and “pursue passions with full enthusiasm and effort.” I neverdreamed that these life lessons would facilitate such a spectacular journey!Until high school, I adored everything French, and foresaw collegiate studiestherein and a life abroad. Through an inspiring biology teacher, I saw thelight. She facilitated my first research experience in an endocrinology lab atStony Brook University Hospital, where I learned how medicine inspires importantscience, and how science furthers patient care. I was hooked.In college, I studied Biology and French, and worked in the lab of a biochemistwho taught me how to design experiments, learn lab techniques, readcritically, and write scientifically. I became fascinated with cancer biology,and after volunteering in Georgetown University Hospital’s Pediatric OncologyDepartment, I set aim to become a practicing and researching pediatriconcologist.At HMS, I had the privilege of Dr. David E. Fisher as a PhD advisor. Istudied the role of endorphins in systemic effects of radiation exposure, whichperfectly satisfied my desire to research clinically-inspired phenomena. Alongthe way, I met the love of my life, Bryan. Returning to the wards, I felt mostat home on surgical teams, interacting with surgical patients, and in the OR.In June, I will embark on general surgery residency at Brigham and Women’sHospital. I aim to complete a fellowship in pediatric surgery and focus ontreating and driving research on behalf of children with surgical diseases,especially solid tumor malignancies.11

HARVARD M.D.-Ph.D. PROGRAM Class of 2012Salil GargI grew up in Cincinnati, Ohio and have been a Bengals fan ever since.Nothing could be better preparation for a career in the research lab. I learnedendless toil in the face of futility from an early age as I watched my Bengalscompete against other superior NFL teams. I sought like minded folks, so Iattended the University of Chicago and felt comfortable around Cubs fans.Naturally, when I got the opportunity to learn and train in the MD-PhDprogram in Boston (2003, pre-championships) I thought nothing could be abetter fit than empathetic Red Sox fans.It’s had solid results in the most unexpected ways. The Red Sox wonthe World Series twice, and along with them I’ve had the chance to grow andlearn from peers and faculty alike. First and foremost I must thank my thesisadvisor, Dr. Michael Brenner, for teaching me how to do science and givingme the space to love it. We’ve had fun trying to chase down the mysteries ofantigen presentation and microbial killing in the immune system. I’ve madelifelong friends in the MD-PhD program through conversations academicand otherwise and look forward to the years of friendship as colleagues ahead.Lastly, I want to thank my wife Agya and my mother. Both have been supremelysupportive of any woes lab or sports related. Tonight is their night.12

HARVARD M.D.-Ph.D. PROGRAM Class of 2012Matthew Blake GreenblattI was born in Kansas, and spent most of my childhood in Missourinear Kansas City. For college, I went to Yale where I received a combined MS/BS in Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, working in the laboratory ofSankar Ghosh. In 2004 I enrolled in the HST MD program at Harvard MedicalSchool and in 2006 I joined the Immunology PhD program, performingmy thesis work in the laboratory of Laurie Glimcher studying bone biology. Iwill be starting a residency in clinical pathology after graduation.Anything that I’ve been able to accomplish is due to the support of myparents Paul and Mary, my wife Kara, son Ethan, and my brother Wes. I amalso grateful for the support from my gradparents Donald and Mary Ellen andmy parents-in-law Cher and Kevin.13

HARVARD M.D.-Ph.D. PROGRAM Class of 2012Honor HsinAs I reflect on my student life, I am immensely grateful to manyindividuals who have supported and inspired me throughout this journey. Ithank my mom and dad, who first motivated my path by our family visits tonatural history and cultural art museums in San Francisco. In a sense, mylife has never left this corridor between the natural sciences and the humanexperience. I am also grateful to Cynthia Kenyon and the faculty at UCSF,who taught me the logic of scientific experimentation. In September 2001 Icame to Harvard for college, and from many faculty and classmates I learnedthe value of social responsibility.I joined the MD-PhD program hoping to integrate my interests inneurobiology and psychiatry. I thank Morgan Sheng for giving me the toolsto pursue this goal, and my colleagues at MIT for a dynamic research environment.I hope to bring a molecular approach to translational neuroscience,applying insights from synapse biology to the future of psychopharmacology.I also thank the physicians at Harvard Medical School who guided my clinicaltraining, and I will be eternally grateful to the patients and their families whogave me the privilege of participating in their care.I am also very grateful to my sisters, Heart and Happy, for their unwaveringsupport, and to my husband, Ben, for his persistent encouragementand inspirational ideas. After 10 years in the Harvard community, I amthrilled to be in the Bay Area again for a whole new adventure.14

HARVARD M.D.-Ph.D. PROGRAM Class of 2012Mai Anh HuynhI was born and raised in Evansville, Indiana, exactly one year after myfamily fled Vietnam by boat. I have been blessed with the unwavering supportof my parents—former science teachers—as well as my two older siblings,now also doctors, whose huge footprints I strove to fill as I made my own waythrough school.Biochemistry was a natural choice when I first arrived in Cambridgetwelve years ago. I spent my undergrad summers in the “real” Cambridge,UK, working on crystallizing a complex of the bacterial ribosome with tRNAwith Venki Ramakrishnan. The experience showed me how addictively funscience could be and opened my eyes to the impact of biomedical research.In the Harvard MDPhD program, I found yet another wonderful mentor,Azad Bonni, who nurtured my scientific development as I investigated thetranscriptional regulation of axon growth and neuronal migration. Despite aterrifying transition to the wards after my hard-won maturation as a scientist,I fortuitously stumbled onto my clinical niche, and I am thrilled to be joiningMassachusetts General for preliminary medicine and the Harvard RadiationOncology Program for residency.I thank the MDPhD program and my mentors—both scientific andclinical—for believing in and nurturing my potential. My life has been enrichedthrough my wonderful friends in HST and Kirkland House. Most ofall, I wish to thank my family, and especially my mother, whose shared spiritof joie de vivre has inspired and motivated me along every step of this incrediblejourney.15

HARVARD M.D.-Ph.D. PROGRAM Class of 2012Ilya LeskovMy mother always treated me as an adult, and one of my earliestmemories is her asking me to which magazine I would like to subscribe. Iwas born in Moscow, where choices were limited; choosing for myself struckme as a particularly grown-up thing to do, requiring careful consideration.Two journals seemed especially appealing: the “Young Naturalist” (bear cubphotos; cells described as tiny communist factories) and the “Young Technician”(sci-fi stories; projects to build rubber-band-powered submarines). Inthe end, I subscribed to both – thanks mom! – and years later also decided tobecome both a doctor and a scientist.Getting here has been challenging at times, but also a great deal of fun,and several people were particularly inspiring. When I was 12, my motherand I immigrated to the United States, where she soon met and married mywonderful stepfather; truly, I could have never finished this endeavor were itnot for their unconditional love and unwavering support!It was through my parents, in fact, that I met my first PI and mentor inscience, Dr. Vadim Arshavsky, a visual biochemist then at the MassachusettsEye and Ear Infirmary (MEEI). His wicked sense of humor and enthusiasmfor science were clearly infectious, and I am grateful to him for encouragingme to combine my interest in vision with my growing desire to develop newtreatments for human disease.I joined the MD-PhD program at Harvard in 2003 and completed myPhD in immunology at the laboratory of Dr. Jianzhu Chen, at MIT. Using“humanized” mice – immune-deficient animals engrafted with human hematopoieticstem cells – I modeled human leukemias and tested human-specificimmunotherapies in mouse models for the first time. Throughout graduateschool, Jianzhu’s excellent advice and numerous ideas were instrumental inhelping me grow and mature as an independent scientist.Returning to the wards, I found that the aspects of medicine I lovedthe most – interacting with patients, making diagnoses visually, and workingwith my hands – were perfectly combined in the discipline of ophthalmology.Since the immune system mediates many aspects of eye disease, my immunologybackground should prove invaluable in my future research. I am thrilledto have the opportunity to continue my clinical training at MEEI, the sameinstitution where I had started on my path as a physician-scientist many yearsago.16

HARVARD M.D.-Ph.D. PROGRAM Class of 2012Craig Harold MermelMy interest in medical science began in a decidedly self-interestedway: at the age of 12, I was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia.I’m grateful to my doctors at for not only keeping me alive, but for givingme a very practical first course in Hematology. During my first week of highschool, I met two people that would have a profound impact on my life. Infirst period, I met Tom Koenigsberger, my Biochemistry teacher; “Mr. K”(himself a cancer survivor) took me under his wing and resolved to mold meinto a future physician-scientist. Later that week, in English class, I met LaurenNagel, my High School Sweetheart. I would never look back.As an undergraduate at Washington University, I worked with DanielLink on the molecular mechanisms of normal white cell development. Aftergraduating in 2004 with a degree in Biochemistry and Mathematics, I came toHarvard eager to combine these two passions. I met Matthew Meyerson whowas then course director of the first year Medical Genetics course and joinedhis lab the following year. My dissertation work centered on the developmentof analytical methods for dissecting the complex genetic changes that fuelcancer development; the four years I spent in his lab were the most intellectuallyrewarding years of my life. In addition to having tremendous scientificinstincts, Matthew is a wonderful role model for how to initiate and maintainproductive scientific collaborations. I am proud to be following in Matthew’sfootsteps by pursuing residency training in the Department of Pathology atthe Massachusetts General Hospital.Outside of my academic interests, I enjoy playing the guitar and aman extremely amateur marathon runner; I won the bronze medal in my agegroup in the 2001 Anchorage Marathon (out of 3 runners). Of course, mytwo greatest accomplishments of the past 8 years were convincing Laurento marry me in 2005 and the birth of our amazing son Henry on December30th, 2011. Along with our two Beagles Lily and Molly, I am so proud of mygrowing family; their love and support has made everything seem possible.17

HARVARD M.D.-Ph.D. PROGRAM Class of 2012Scott Bruce RaymondI moved to Boston 8 years ago after a lifetime in the West, growing upin Montana and going to college in Utah. It’s been an unbelievable 8 years:1 thesis, 2 labs, 2 degrees, too many experiments, 16 papers. 2 kids, Phoebeand Bruce, both born at Brigham and Womens, 1 mortgage, and 1 incrediblespouse, Emily, who supported me through all of it. We love to ski, hike thePresidentials, camp, go to the many Northshore beaches, and walk throughthe woods around Walden Pond.I am interested in the blood-brain barrier and its role in stroke andneurodegenerative disease. This grew from my graduate work on molecularimaging in Alzheimer’s disease and hopefully will continue during radiologyresidency and beyond.18

HARVARD M.D.-Ph.D. PROGRAM Class of 2012Thomas Francis Rogers, Jr.I was born the fourth son of an Irish- Italian family in Bronx, NewYork. My memories of family expeditions to the Bronx Zoo, the AmericanMuseum of Natural History, Shakespeare in the Park, summer camping trips,and long hikes with my father through the Sonoran desert birthed my desirefor knowledge. My parents’ ceaseless commitment to social justice transformedmy desire for knowledge into an aspiration to become a physician/scientist.After graduating from the University of Arizona with a degree inMolecular and Cellular Biology, I began the Harvard MD/PhD program withan eagerness to work on HIV vaccine development. I joined the laboratoryof Dr. Norman Letvin for my PhD candidacy in Virology. Over the last eightyears, he has dedicated himself tirelessly and selflessly to instilling in me aninfatigable fervor for scientific inquiry and has continuously demonstratedthe tremendous importance of diligence, detail, collaboration, professionalism,and mentorship. His scientific service is an ideal of what can be achievedthrough a lifetime of hard work, long hours and dedication to social action.Any of my future professional accomplishments, I will forever dedicate to hisscrupulous training. My thesis project in the laboratory examined how hostgenetics contribute to the early containment of HIV in humans and simianimmunodeficiency virus (SIV) replication in rhesus monkeys. My researchfocused on studying human and primate genetics in order to identify novelcandidate genes whose expression impacts host susceptibility to viral infection.As my medical and scientific training progressed at Harvard stepwise,a different passion in my life progressed much more rapidly. As an innocentfirst year medical student, I was seduced by a worldly second year student andwe have subsequently built a joy-filled marriage with two cackling daughters,Kaia and Elymie. Leonie has given so much to this journey that I may neverbe able to repay her in kindnesses and hope she knows the depth of my gratitude.My daughters are my strength, my purpose, and my best friends, thankyou for all your grins.Throughout medical and graduate school, I have become aware ofour responsibility as a scientific community to pursue preventative strategiesfor our world’s most pervasive infectious diseases. I am eager to enhance mycurrent clinical knowledge through the completion of an internal medicineresidency at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. Following residency, I hopeto pursue a fellowship in Infectious Disease, with a lifelong commitment toacademic medicine and vaccinology.19

HARVARD M.D.-Ph.D. PROGRAM Class of 2012Sol SchulmanI grew up in Buffalo Grove, IL as the fortunate son of loving, nurturing,and selfless parents. Often to their dismay, I spent my childhood reconstructingskeletons from retrieved animal carcasses and hatching brineshrimp in my family’s kosher home. In high school, I worked at Abbott Laboratories;giving me an ultrasound machine was a poor decision, as I frequentlystayed late to film myself from eye to toe. I went on to Brandeis Universityand studied the enzymology of purine nucleotide biosynthesis under the inspirationalguidance of Lizbeth Hedstrom.I was initially paralyzed by the volume of research opportunities atHarvard. A lab is the second most important decision after choosing a spouse(see below), and so I am grateful to have found my thesis advisor, Tom Rapoport.Tom cultivated my diverse interests and ultimately we made contributionsto protein translocation, glycogen metabolism, vitamin K-dependentdisulfide bridge formation, and blood coagulation. I am forever indebted forthe mentorship, training, and friendship Tom has and continues to provide.My years at HMS have been both productive and reproductive. Ibegan dating my lovely and supportive now wife Ro as a second year (mostimportant decision). Although her first impression was that I lacked joie devivre, she has come to regret this statement after requiring rescue from a classIV rapid and being dragged across the Norwegian tundra. Last May we welcomedour daughter Yael, who has enriched our lives with unimaginable joyand a Q1 call schedule. Yael’s rigor will serve me well as I internal medicineresidency training at Brigham and Women’s Hospital.20

Class of 2012 Thesis Advisors23a3b157849a69b101 Dr. David Fisher (Gillian Fell)2 Dr. Norman Letvin (Thomas Rogers)3a Dr. Bruce Rosen (Divya Bolar)3b Dr. Elfar Adalsteinsson (Divya Bolar)4 Dr. Azad Bonni (Mai Anh Huynh)5 Dr. Tom Rapoport (Sol Shulman)6 Dr. Brian Bacskai (Scott Raymond)7 Dr. Matthew Meyerson (Craig Mermel)8 Dr. David Golan (Quentin Baca)9a Dr. Stephen Harrison (Jonathan Abraham)9b Dr. Hyeryun Choe (Jonathan Abraham)10 Dr. Manoj Duraisingh (Christy Comeaux)11a Dr. Bonnie Berger (Allen Bryan)11b Dr. Susan Lindquist (Allen Bryan)12 Dr. Michael Brenner (Salil Garg)13 Dr. Laurie Glimcher (Matthew Greenblatt)14 Dr. Morgan Sheng (Honor Hsin)15 Dr. Jianzhu Chen (Ilya Leskov)11a11b1213141521

1 23 4225 6

7889 101 Sol Shulman’s Wedding, 20082 Srinivas Viswanathan and Sol Schulman in Belize, 20063 Sol Schulman and Mai Anh Hunh on the Charles River, 20064 Hike on the Retreat, 20045 Daniel Herman, Sol Schulman, Srinivas Viswanathan and Vikram Pattanayakon the T heading to HST Forum, 20046 Matthew Greenblatt, Retreat, 20057 Sol Schulman, Craig Mermel, Vikram Pattanayak, Matthew Greenblatt,SrinivasViswanathan and Daniel Herman at the HST Forum, Harvard Club, 20048 Mai Anh Huynh Defense Day, 20109 MD-PhD Entering Class, 200310 Quentin Baca, Dr. Joel Hirschhorn and Sylvan Baca, Revisit, 20091123

1 231 Craig Mermel’s Defense Day, 20102 Retreat, 20043 White Coat Ceremony, 20044 Sol Shulman’s Defense Day, 20105 Quentin Baca, Retreat, 20066 MD-PhD Retreat, 20087 MD-PhD Retreat, 20088 Poster Session, 20069 New Student Orientation, 200510 Sol Shulman’s Wedding, 200811 Poster Session, 2007244

5678 910 1125

Congratulations from all of us to theM.D.-Ph.D. Class of 2012!www.hms.harvard.edu/md_phd