Featured class notes

A happy accident in the lab leads to incredible advances in cancer and dementia treatment. This MUSC and Hollings Cancer Center researcher, Steven, a PhD from the University of Toronto and former faculty at Yale Medical School, provides more. Steve lost both his parents to cancer; his mother when he was nine and his father ten years later. Consequently, when he began his career as a researcher, cancer became a focus of his work. Steve’s first exposure to research occurred when he was a senior in college, which was his entryway to scientific research leading to a Master’s degree in Physiology from Wayne State University School of Medicine and a Ph.D. in Physiology/Molecular Endocrinology from the University of Toronto. Steve was appointed Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology and Cell Biology at Yale University School of Medicine after completing three years of postdoctoral training in the Department of Cell Biology. In 1991 he was recruited to the Department of Cell and Molecular Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics at the Medical University of South Carolina, where he is currently a Professor and the Associate Director of Shared Resources at Hollings Cancer Center. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx

Elected president of Jordan Oncology Society -2015-2018- first woman to elected president for oncology society not only in Jordan but also in the region of middle east. Currently, Chair of International Affairs Committee of ASCO - American Society of Clinical Oncology Served as Co-Chair of the Resource Stratified Guidelines Advisory Group of ASCO. Served on the Global Policy Committee of ESMO-European Society of Medical Oncology. Received “The distinguished woman physician leader” award from SIGI under patronage of HIVOS & Ministry of Affairs in Netherland, May 20th, 2017. “Arab Medical Association Against Cancer -AMAAC Recognition Award”, for supporting oncology education and cancer awareness in the Arab region, Beirut, April, 2014. “Women in Oncology- MENA” for pioneering oncology work in the region, from Emirates Oncology Society, Sep. .2020.

Patricia Petrella Nouhan, MD, FACEP completed her five-year EM/IM residency training at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit. She is a WSUSOM Clinical Associate Professor through her clinical work at Ascension-St John Hospital since 1994. Dr. Nouhan has been the EM Residency Program Director at St. John since 2009 after 12 years as their Assistant Program Director. Dr. Nouhan is committed to the training of EM residents and medical students in a high volume, Level 1 Trauma setting. She is actively involved in the Medical Executive Committee at Ascension-St John Hospital as well as Ascension’s Human Trafficking Committee. Dr. Petrella Nouhan is an ABEM Oral Board Examiner and has been an item-writer for the EM Qualifying Board Exam. Her academic and publication interests include the care of sexual assault/human trafficking victims as well as medical education and residency training.

The National Institutes of Health’s All of Us Research Program has selected Karriem Watson, DHSc, MS, MPH, as the program’s next chief engagement officer. Dr. Watson received his Master of Science in Basic Medical Science from Wayne State University's School of Medicine in 2004.

I retired from my solo pediatric ophthalmology practice after 34 years. As the president of the board, I assisted dissolution of the Maryland Society for Sight -a 110 year old organization. Our $400,000 in remaining assets were donated to the Maryland School for the Blind community outreach programs. This continued the original mission of our Society.

2017 received Fellowship in the American College of Radiology. After 36 years of practice now part time and anticipating retirement. I will always cherish both the undergraduate and medical education I received at the University and the many doors it opened to me in my career.

Dr. Newkumet is the current President of the Medical Staff at UCSF Benioff Childrens Hospitals- Oakland and a UCSF Clinical Professor of Pediatrics. She is the longest serving member in the division of Pediatric Cardiology at the Oakland, CA hospital, practicing and teaching there for over 27 years, with a focus on Critical Care cardiology and General cardiology. She lives in Berkeley, CA with her husband, having recently launched 2 young adult children into independence. A native of Detroit, she remains a proud graduate of WSU.

Retiring on Dec 31, 2019. Relocating from Honolulu, Hawaii to Toledo, OH

Dr. Carl Morton recently retired and moved from Honolulu, Hawaii, to Toledo, Ohio. He is a past associate clinical professor at the University of Hawaii, School of Medicine and past chief of staff at Kapi‘olani Medical Center for Women and Children.

Dr. Ronald Grifka has been appointed chief medical officer of Metro Health - University of Michigan Health. Grifka, a renowned pediatric cardiologist, will also serve as the organization's chief clinical quality officer. Grifka, who is known for his patient-focused approach, was chief of cardiology at Helen DeVos Children's Hospital before joining the University of Michigan as professor of pediatrics and an attending cardiologist at C.S. Mott Children's Hospital in 2012. He is a published author and has received many teaching awards and has been named to the "Best Doctors" list for more than 20 years.

Wow! 65 years ago I graduated from WSU medical school. 1954. Going to the Reunion in May. Still working at Washington University Sch of Med as a Pediatric Radiologist including call. Loving it! Still publishing- 12 so far this academic year including our 7 year experience with Asfotase Alfa in Hypophosphatasia in Lancet. Better to "wear out than rust out". Our daughter Diane Petersen, a WSU graduate(1998) is OB/GYN Program Director at Saint Louis U Sch of Med.

It is with sadness that I inform you of the passing of Robert S. Cooper, M.D. (Class of 1952) on 31 March 2020 at the age of 95. Bob lived a long and full life and always spoke fondly of his years at Wayne and his many friends from those days. A memorial service will be held at a future date, once gatherings are permitted again. (Covid19 was not involved). Thank you.

Martin "Marty" C. Zonca, M.D., died in October 2018. He was a gastroenterologist at Henry Ford Hospital where he dedicated his entire medical career. Zonca, a U.S. Army veteran who earned the Bronze Star medal for valor, was know for his incredible work ethic and compassion for his patients. He never retired, continuing to work until the time of his death. He enjoyed fishing, gardening and travelling to more than 20 countries around the world with his wife of 52 years, Barbara, whom he met at Wayne State when they were students. In addition to Barbara, he is survived by his children David and Mary and brothers Charles (Barbara) and Norbert (Maryann).