Former Trainees
Former Trainees
The Alcohol Research Program at Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine has been a launching point for dozens of careers in academics, research and medicine. Here is a listing of our graduates:
Pegah Abbasnia, DVM, PhD
Degree: D.V.M., Urmia Univeristy, Iran; Ph.D., University of Tehran, Iran
Research: Alcohol related effects on stem cells migration to the site of injury following bone fracture.
Mentor: John J. Callaci, Ph.D.
Current Position: Post Doctoral, John Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD
Suhail Akhtar, PhD
Degree: PhD, A.M., University, Aligarh, India
Research: Effect of alcohol intoxication and burn injury on gut epithelial barrier function and immunity.
Mentor: Mashkoor A. Choudhry, PhD
Current Position: Research Associate, Loyola University Chicago, Maywood, IL
Joslyn M. Albright, MD
Degrees: BA, Augustana College, Rock Island, IL; M.D., University of Kentucky, College of Medicine, Lexington, KY
Residency: General Surgery, Loyola University Medical Center, Maywood, IL
Research: Alcohol, injury and the lung.
Mentor: Elizabeth J. Kovacs, Ph.D., Carol R. Schermer, M.D., M.P.H.
Position(s): 2007-2009. M.S. Program, Clinical Research Methods, Preventive Medicine and Epidemiology, Loyola University Chicago, Maywood, IL; Fellowship, Surgical Oncology, John Wayne Cancer Institute, Santa Monica, CA
Current Position: Lab Manager, Loyola University Chicago, Maywood, IL
Angeline Antonio Giangreco, PhD
Degrees: BS, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC.; PhD, Loyola University Chicago, Maywood, IL
Research: Protective effects of anti-oxidents on fetal rhombencephalic neurons exposed to ethanol.
Mentor: Mary Druse Manteuffel, Ph.D.
Position(s): Ph.D. Fellow, Pathology, University of Illinois, Chicago, IL
Current Position: Post Doctoral, University of Illinois, Chicago, IL
Melanie D. Bird, PhD
Degree: PhD, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX
Research: Effects of alcohol and sex differences on viral clearance following burn injury.
Mentor: Elizabeth J. Kovacs, PhD
Position(s): Research Associate (Post Doctoral), Loyola University Chicago, Maywood, IL
Current Position: Adjunct Associate Professor, Division of Science, Johnson County Community College, Overland Park, KS Clinical Policies Strategist, American Academy of Family Physicians, Overland Park, KS
James C. Brown, PhD
Degrees: BS, Midland Lutheran College. Ph.D., University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE. Postdoctoral Fellowship
Research: Binge alcohol-induced neurotoxicity.
Mentor: Michael A. Collins, PhD
Current Position: Managerial Assistant, Icon Identity Systems, Elk Grove Village, IL
John Callaci, PhD
Degree: MS, Loyola University Chicago, Chicago, IL; PhD, Chicago Medical School, North Chicago, IL.
Research: Mechanisms of alcohol-induced bone loss.
Mentor: Frederick Wezeman, PhD
Position(s): 2005-2005. PhD Fellowship, Loyola University Chicago, Stritch School of Medicine, Maywood, IL
Current Position: Associate Professor, Orthopaedic Surgery, Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine, Maywood, IL
Stewart Carter, MD
Degrees: BS, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY; MD, University of Louisville, School of Medicine, Louisville, KY, Residency, General Surgery, Loyola University Medical Center, Maywood, IL
Research: Inflammatory response of alcohol intoxication and smoke inhalation injury in burn patients: Combined effects of burn and radiation on intestine in a murine model.
Mentor: Elizabeth J. Kovacs, PhD
Current Position: General Surgery Resident, Department of Surgery, Loyola University Chicago, Maywood, IL
Brenda Curtis, PhD
Degrees: PhD, Loyola University Medical Center, Maywood, IL
Research: Histone deacetylase control of inflammatory and fibrotic responses in the lungs after burn injury, radiation exposure, alcohol intoxication , or combined insults.
Mentor: Elizabeth J. Kovacs, PhD
Position(s): Research Associate, Loyola Univeristy Chicago, Maywood, IL
Current Position: Research Assistant Professor, University of Colorado, Denver, CO
Christopher S. Davis, MD
Degrees: BA, University of Colorado, Boulder CO; MD, University of Cincinnati, College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH
Residency: General Surgery, Loyola University Medical Center, Maywood, IL
Research: The inflammatory effects of alcohol initoxication and smoke inhalation injury in the burn patient.
Mentor: Elizabeth J. Kovacs PhD, Richard L. Gamelli, MD, P. Marco Fischella, MD
Position(s): 2009-2011. MPH Program, Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of Illinois at Chicago, School of Public Health, Chicago, IL
Current Position: Fellowship, Pediatric Surgery Critical Care, Ann and Robert Lurie Children's Hospital, Chicago, IL
Daniel Fitzgerald, MS
Degree: BS, Loyola University Chicago, Maywood, IL
Research: Ethanol impairs the inflammatory response during dermal wound healing.
Mentor: Elizabeth J. Kovacs, PhD
Position(s): 2003-2005. M.S. Program, Cell Biology, Neurobiology and Anatomy, Loyola University Chicago, Maywood, IL
Current Position: Medical Student, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA
Joanna Goral, PhD
Degree: MS, Wroclaw University, Poland
Research: Mechanisms responsible for alteration of immune response upon burn and alcohol exposure.
Mentor: Elizabeth J. Kovacs, PhD
Position(s): 2001-2005. PhD Program, Cell Biology, Neurobiology and Anatomy, Loyola University Chicago, Maywood, IL
Current Position: Associate Professor, Midwestern University, Downers Grove, IL
Sara Hlavin, MS
Degree: BA, Augustana College, Rock Island, IL
Research: Effect of ethanol and infection on the innate immune response after wound injury.
Mentor: Elizabeth J. Kovacs, PhD
Position(s): 2010-2012. M.S. Program, Infectious Disease and Immunology, Loyola University Chicago, Maywood, IL
Current Position: Nursing Student, University of Illinois, Chicago, IL
Kathleen Jaeger, MD, PhD
Degrees: BA, Miami University Oxford, OH; MD/PhD, Loyola University Chicago, Maywood, IL
Research: Effects of alcohol exposure on human Treg induction.
Mentor: Makio Iwashima, PhD
Position(s): MD/PhD Student, Microbiology and Immunology, Loyola University Chicago, Maywood, IL
Current Position: OB/Gyn Resident, Barnes Jewish Hospital Washington University, Saint Louis, MO
John Karavitis, PhD
Degree: BS, University of Illinois, Chicago, IL
Research: Mechanisms by which acute alcohol exposure suppresses macrophage phagocytosis.
Mentor: Elizabeth J. Kovacs, PhD
Position(s): 2005-2010. PhD Program, Cell Biology, Neurobiology and Anatomy, Loyola University Chicago, Maywood, IL; PhD Fellow, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL
Current Position: Sr. Scientist, Abbott, Molecular Companion Diagnosis, Green Oaks, IL
Kristen Lauing, PhD
Degree: BS, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC
Research: The effects of alcohol on the Wnt signaling pathway in bone fracture healing.
Mentor: John J. Callaci, PhD
Position(s): 2008-2012. PhD Program, Cell Biology, Neurobiology and Anatomy, Loyola University Chicago, Maywood, IL
Current Position: Research Laboratory Manager 11, Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL
Xiaoling Li, MD
Degrees: MD, Lanzhou University Medical School, Gansu, China
Research: Intestine immune and barrier function after alcohol and burn injury.
Mentor: Mashkoor A. Choudhry, PhD
Current Position: Research Assistant Professor, Loyola University Chicago, Maywood, IL
Eva Murdoch, PhD
Degree: BA, St. Xavier University, Chicago, IL
Research: Pulmonary bacterial clearance after acute ethanol exposure and burn injury.
Mentor: Elizabeth J. Kovacs, PhD
Position(s): 2004-2009. PhD Program, Cell Biology, Neurobiology and Anatomy, Loyola University Chicago, Maywood, IL
Current Position: Assistant Professor, Joliet Junior College, Joliet, IL
Eileen O'Halloran, MD
Degrees: BS, Vanderbelt University, Nashville, TN; MD, Loyola Univeristy Chicago, Stritch School of Medicine, Maywood, IL
Research: 2013-2015. The pulmonary response to burn trauma, including the effects of alcohol and the utility of exhaled breath condensate as a marker of clinical outcomes.
Mentor: Elizabeth J. Kovacs, PhD
Position(s): Surgical Research Resident, Surgery, Loyola University Chicago, Maywood, IL
Current Position: Surgical Resident, Surgery, Loyola University Chicago, Maywood, IL
Sarah A. Prins, PhD
Degree: BS, University of California, Santa Cruz
Research: Alcohol abuse and the HPA axis.
Mentor: Toni R. Pak, PhD
Position(s): Ph.D. Student, Integrative Cell Biology, Loyola University Chicago, Maywood, IL
Current Position: Biomedical Scientist, Chicago, IL
Katherine A. Radek, PhD
Degree: M.S., Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, IL
Research: Effects of acute ethanol exposure on angiogenesis and the extracellular matrix in healing wounds.
Mentor: Luisa A. DiPietro, DDS, PhD
Positions(s): 2002-2005. PhD Program, Cell Biology, Neurobiology and Anatomy; Division of Biochemistry, Loyola University Chicago, Maywood, IL
Current Position: Assistant Professor, Surgery, Loyola University Chicago, Maywood, IL
Juan Rendon, MD, PhD
Degree: BSN, Georgetown University, Washington, D.C.,
Mentor: Mashkoor A. Choudhry, PhD
Research: Effects of acute alcohol intoxication on post burn intestinal immune response.
Position(s): 2007-2014. MD/PhD Program, Medicine, Integrative Cell Biology, Loyola University Chicago, Stritch School of Medicine, Maywood, IL
Current Position: Plastic Surgery Resident, Ohio State Universtiy Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH
Vikas Saini, MD, PhD
Degrees: MD, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Rohtak, India; PhD, University of Illinois at Chicago
Mentor: Matthias Majetschak, MD, PhD
Research: Extracellular ubiquitin and receptor interactions.
Position(s): 2008-2011. Fellow, Surgery, Loyola University Chicago, Maywood, IL
Current Position: Emergency Medicine at University of Illinois Hospital and Health Sciences, Chicago, IL
Jill Shults, PhD
Degree: BS, DePaul University, Chicago, IL, PhD, Loyola University Chicago, Chicago, IL
Mentor: Elizabeth J. Kovacs, PhD
Research: Mesenchymal stem cells and tissue repair after ethanol and burn injury.
Position(s): 2010-2015. Graduate Student,Integrative Cell Biology
Current Position: Account Executive, Prescott Medical Communications Group
Magdalena Szymanska, PhD
Degrees: BS, Loyola University Chicago; M.S., Loyola University Chicago, Maywood, IL; Ph.D., 2011, Loyola University Chicago, Maywood, IL
Mentor: Toni Pak, PhD
Research: Neurobiological effects of binge alcohol exposure during puberty.
Position(s): PhD Program, University of Chicago, Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience, Chicago, IL
Current Position: Research Associate, Neurological Surgery, Loyola University Chicago, Maywood, IL
Matthew Thompson, PhD
Degree: PhD, University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago, IL
Research: Effects of gender on the ability of dendritic cells to stimulate the immune system.
Mentor: Stephanie Watkins, PhD
Position(s): 2014-2015. PhD Fellow. Oncology Institute, Loyola University Chicago, Maywood, IL
Current Position:
Son Ton
Degree: BS, Loyola University Chicago, Maywood, IL
Research: The effect of alcohol and traumatic brain injury on neural stem cell responses.
Mentor: Gwendolyn Kartje, MD
Current Position: 2014-2015- PhD Candidate, Neuroscience, Loyola University Chicago, Maywood, IL
Ian Vaagenes, PhD
Degree: BA, St. Olaf College, Northfield, MN
Research: Alcohol and traumatic brain injury.
Mentor: Gwendolyn Kartje MD, PhD
Position(s): 2009. PhD Program, Neuroscience, Loyola University Chicago, Maywood, IL
Current Position: Research Associate, Edward Hines Jr. VA Hospital, Maywood, IL
Anita Zahs, PhD
Degree: BA, Simpson College, Indianola, IA
Research: Effect of acute ethanol and burn injury on intestinal permeability and the role of myosin light chain kinase.
Mentor: Elizabeth J. Kovacs, PhD
Position(s): 2008-2012. PhD Program, Cellular and Molecular Biochemistry, Loyola University Chicago, Maywood, IL
Current Position: Research Associate, University of Colorado, Denver, CO
Mike M. Chen, BS
Degree: BS, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI
Research: Kupffer cell activation and hepatic injury after intoxication and burn.
Mentor: Elizabeth J. Kovacs, PhD
Current Position: 2012-date. MD/PhD Candidate, Integrative Cell Biology, Loyola University Chicago, Maywood, IL
Email: mmchen@luc.edu
Jonathan Eby, B.S.
Degree: B.S., North Central College, Naperville, IL
Research: Heteromerization of G-protein-coupled receptors regulating vascular reactivity
Mentor: John Callaci, Ph.D.
Current Position: 2016-date. Graduate Student (M.D.), Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Loyola University Chicago, Maywood, IL
Email: jeby@luc.edu
Adam Hammer, BS
Degree: BS, University of Wisconsin, La Crosse, WI
Research: Examining the effects of autophagy on the gut following alcohol intoxication and burn injury.
Mentor: Mashkoor A. Choudhry, PhD
Current Position: 2014-date. Graduate Student, Integrative Cell Biology, Loyola University Chicago, Maywood, IL
Email: ahammer@luc.edu
Niya Morris, BS
Degree: BS, Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago, IL
Research: The role of microRNAs in gut bamie disruption after alcohol and burn injury.
Mentor: Mashkoor A. Choudhry, PhD
Current Position: 2014-date. Graduate Student, Integrative Cell Biology, Loyola University Chicago, Maywood, IL
Email: nmorris@luc.edu
Maria Camargo, BS
Degree: Ph.D. State University of New York Upstate, Syracuse, NY
Research: Excessive alcohol consumption effects on antimicrobial peptides in lung transplant donors
Mentor: Erin Lowery, PhD
Current Position: Post-doctoral Research Associate, Pulmonary & Critical Care; Burn & Shock Trauma Research Institute, Loyola University Chicago, Maywood, IL
Email: mcamargo@luc.edu
Jennifer A. Schreiber, BS
Degree: BS, Illinois Wesleyan University
Research: Mechanism of omega-3 fatty acid protection from binge ethanol-induced neurodegeneration in rat hippocampal-entorhinal cortex organotypic slice culture
Mentor: Michael A. Collins, PhD
Current Position: 2015-date. Graduate Student, Neuroscience, Loyola University Chicago, Maywood, IL
Email: jschreiber2@luc.edu
Jennifer Chang, Ph.D.
Degree: Ph.D., Rosalind Franklin University, North Chicago, IL
Research: Effects if alcohol-induced induction of alternative splicing of the glucocorticoid receptor
Mentor: Mashkoor A. Choudhry, PhD
Current Position: Postdoctoral Research Associate, Toni Pak Lab, Department of Cellular and Molecular Physiology, Loyola University Chicago, Maywood, IL
Email: jchang8@luc.edu
Wei Lim, BS
Degree: B.S. Biomedical Science
Research: Pathophysiology of T-cell subsets in the context of alcohol-included inflammation
Mentor: Makio Iwashima, Ph.D.
Current Position: Graduate Student
Email: ylim1@luc.edu
McKenna Below, B.S.
Degree: B.S., Grande Valley State University
Research: Investigating the effects of ethanol in Estrogen Receptor positive Breast Cancer
Mentor: Clodia Osipo, Ph.D.
Marisa Luck, B.A.
Degree: B.A., Carleton College, MN
Research: Effect of alcohol and burn injury on intestines
Mentor: Mashkoor Choudhry, Ph.D.
Current Position: MD/PhD Student, Integrative Cell Biology, Loyola University Chicago, IL
Email: mluck@luc.edu
Gregory Malnassy, B.S.
Degree: B.S., Truman State Univeristy, Kirksville, MO
Research: Defining the role of focal adhesion kinase in alcoholic liver disease
Mentor: Erin Lowery, PhD
Current Position: 2016- date. Graduate Student (Ph.D.), Integrated Program in the Biomedical Sciences, Loyola Univeristy Chicago, Maywood, IL
Email: gmalnassy@luc.edu
Anita Ghosh, M.S.
Degree: B.S., Biology; M.S., Neuroscience
Research: Molecular mechanisms underlying the interplay between oxidative stress and inflammation in alcohol-induced ocular surface disease
Mentor: Simon Kaja, Ph.D.
Current Position: Ph.D. Candidate
Email: aghosh3@luc.edu
Caroline Johnson, B.S.
Degree: B.S., University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, IL
Research: MicroRNA and gut inflammation following alcohol and burn injury
Mentor: Mashkoor Choudhry, Ph.D.
Current Position: 2016-date. Graduate Student, Ph.D., Integrated Program in Biomedical Sciences, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Loyola University Chicago, Maywood, IL
Email: cjohnson31@luc.edu
Mikayla Newby, B.S.
Degree: B.S., Neuroscience, University of St. Thomas
Research: The Role of Alcohol on MicroRNA Biogenesis and Stability
Mentor: Toni R. Pak, PhD
Funding Source: NIH/NIAAA T32 Training in Neuoimmunoendocrine Effects of Alcohol
Program: Cell and Molucular Physiology
Email: mnewby1@luc.edu
Connor Guzior, MPH
Degrees: MPH, B.S.-Currently a second-year master's student in the Infectious Disease and Immunology Program.
Research: Investigating the Role of MicroRNAs in Lung Inflammation and Barrier Homeostasis After Alcohol and Burn Injury
Mentors: Mashkoor Choudhry, Ph.D; Richard Gonzalez, M.D.
Program: Burn & Shock Trauma Research Institute
Email: cguzior@luc.edu
Ryan Johnson, M.D.
Degree: M.D., B.S., B.A.
Research: Immunological Response in Burn and Trauma Patients
Mentor: Mashkoor Choudhry, Ph.D., John Kubasiak, M.D.
Funding Source: T-32
Program: Burn & Shock Trauma Research Institute
Email: rjohson36@luc.edu
Former Trainees
The Alcohol Research Program at Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine has been a launching point for dozens of careers in academics, research and medicine. Here is a listing of our graduates: