Featured Alumni Spotlight

Each Spring, we’ll interview a featured alumni of the Stony Brook MSTP about their time at Stony Brook, their career since, and any personal wisdom they were willing to share with our community. Our inaugural Featured Alumni is Dr. Oladapo Yeku, Class of 2012, who received doctorate in Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology researching with our own Dr. Mike Frohman. Dr. Yeku tells us about his choice to pursue a research-oriented residency, his transition to junior faculty, some personal hobbies outside of the program.

Career/Training:

Where did you complete residency training and what led you to choose that specialty?

I completed my residency training at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC). I was part of the ABIM Research Pathway program (AKA short track). For those who might be considering a career in Internal Medicine or its related subspecialties, UPMC is a fantastic program. I ended up choosing medical oncology as my subspecialty because it represented an area where I could practice clinical medicine while synthesizing my expertise in cell biology, pharmacology and immunology in the lab. Medical oncology is one specialty (among several) that has served as a model for the “bench-to-bedside and back to the bench” model that attracted me to the MSTP program.

Who is a role model in your field (research or medical) and what makes them stand out to you?

For the same reasons I think it is helpful to have several different mentors, I also believe in having several difference role models. It’s rare that one single person encapsulates every ideal you aspire towards. That said, I have to say that Dr. Michael Frohman (SBU) is my research role model and my clinical role model is Dr. Greg Bump (UPMC). One thing they both have in common is being seasoned, savvy and well-respected problem-solvers. All with the approachability and humility that often challenges many accomplished scientists/physicians with their stature. My physician scientist mentors are too numerous to list.

What has been the hardest part of balancing clinical and medical work at the residency and fellowship level? What has been the easiest?

Sometimes, working hours could be harsh- very harsh. On paper, being in the clinic and the lab at the same time sounds awesome. In reality, it sometimes gets annoying when you’re trying to focus on patient care during your clinic days and you get calls from the animal facility because your animals are freaking out. It also works vice versa when you have to delay or modify your awesome multi-day experiment because one of the critical read-out days falls on a clinic day. Even as a fellow, this was a source of frustration for me. On the amazing side, there is no feeling like telling a patient that you were the scientific investigator behind a clinical protocol they are considering. Or when you rush clinical samples back to your lab and find that the mechanisms you predicted/ worked out in your preclinical models is what you are finding in patients. Those experiences make everything worth it.

What aspect(s) of your training at Stony Brook did you find the most useful for moving into residency and fellowship?
I learned a lot of resiliency at Stony Brook. Although not explicitly taught, I learned a lot of clinical reasoning from my Attendings and fellows while I was a medical student. During my training, I spent a lot of time at the VA hospital and Winthrop and many of the faculty I worked with were master clinicians. In the same way that I dove into all aspects of conducting research during my PhD training, I fully immersed myself in every rotation – even my 4th year Neurology and Anesthesiology rotations. Learning how to communicate, ask questions, take responsibility and lifelong learning, are core skills that I took away from Stony Brook.

As you move into your next academic faculty position, what challenges do you predict you will face? How do you think your training has prepared you for this?
Every time you complete one aspect of your training as a physician scientist, there is often an uncomfortable, anxiety-provoking, night sweat-inducing period. This happens when you transition to graduate school after step 1, it happens when you go back to medical school and even when you go from the clinical aspect of your fellowship to the research part of your fellowship. Transitioning to junior faculty brings out the worst of all those feelings. What research questions will you work on? Are they important questions? Does anyone care? How will you fund your work? Are your clinical skills up-to-date? Are you a good team manager? For me specifically, in addition to all the above, it will be getting my research program off the ground while building my clinical practice.

What advice would you give MS1s and MS2s to consider as they choose their PhD labs?
Pick a well-funded lab and a mentor who you like and think you can get along with (a mentor who likes and is invested in you is also a big deal). I once met a PI (at Stony Brook) who was convinced that it takes 10 years to properly train and educate a PhD candidate. That blew my mind. A lab like that is not where you need to be, even if it’s a Howards Hughes lab. Although not generally discussed, I think personality compatibility also is very important. If you like being micromanaged, you might not thrive in a lab with a hands-off PI who is more interested in big picture experiments and discussions. Also, don’t necessarily pick the field you think you will be working in for the rest of your life during graduate school if there are no suitable mentors in that department. Learning how to think, design experiments, and write are far more important than joining a lab in any particular discipline. For instance, I graduated from the Pharmacology program even though I wanted to be an Immunologist. I picked an immunology lab during fellowship and I have done well because I learned the fundamentals.

How did you decide on your fellowship topic area? Was this a difficult decision?

It was a methodical process that involved a lot of false-starts, dead ends and even mild disappointment. I started out by narrowing down the big subdivisions; I didn’t want to do Neurology, Anesthesiology, Pediatrics, OB/GYN, etc. Then I thought about what the clinical activity of each field was like; inpatient vs outpatient, acute vs chronic illnesses vs consults etc. Then I thought about which of those fields had questions/objectives that could be addressed by a cell biologist/immunologist. Medical oncology came into focus for me after that process.

If students are interested in pursuing your training pathway, what advice would you give them for after completing the MSTP?
Be persistent and settle in for a prolonged campaign. If you want to stay in academic medicine, go to residencies and fellowships at academic centers. Seek out mentors and get advice early and often. Regularly refine your professional goals and objectives to bring them in line with reality. Try to cultivate friends and colleagues in your department or field who are also interested in academic medicine and research.

Personal Interest

What top three things powered you through the program?
I used to have regular coffee breaks with my fellow MSTP classmate, Iehab Talukder. We would come to lab around 6-7 am, work till around 10 am and then have coffee at the back of the CMM building. It was always nice to sit and chat about our research/ politics/ hopes and dreams, etc. I was also into mixed martial arts and practiced seriously for about 3-4 years. I also started a book club and read a whole bunch of classic novels with my friend (1984, Brave New World, Rabbit Run).

What is your favorite Stony Brook study cafe, restaurant or bar?

There is (or used to be) a Starbucks on 347 road. I studied there almost exclusively during medical school. John Harvards was also a go-to place for after-hour hangouts. There was nothing magical about the place, I guess it was just convenient, and there was always a good chance you would run into somebody you knew from Stony Brook on any given night.

Did you develop any fun hobbies or go on any remarkable adventures during your MSTP years?
I got into some serious Kayaking during my MSTP years. I can’t swim so I always went with a friend, presumably to keep me from drowning, call for help or at least notify my next-of-kin. I highly recommend it to anyone who hasn’t tried.

What will you miss most about Long Island?

I think I will miss the people the most. I met some truly incredible and interesting people while I lived out there and I still keep in touch with many. I also formed a lot of connections with faculty members, some of whom I run into from time to time at meetings.

MSTP Graduation

With the sun setting across a stunning ocean vista the Stony Brook MSTP program gathered for our favorite event of the year-the MSTP Graduation Dinner. Each May, we come together to celebrate the profound achievements of our graduating students. While our graduates are the main cause for celebration, the dinner offers a chance for each MSTP student to honor their own year of achievements and milestones.  MS1s have survived anatomy and are now flourishing as systems course superstars. MS2s breath easy knowing they have slain the Step1 beast. GS1&2s have passed qualifiers and proposals. GS3s have published papers and generated mountains of data. We celebrate the persevering GS4&5s who have defended their theses earning their first doctoral degrees. MS3s rejoice the end of a year of early mornings and recurring shelf exams. Even for just an evening, an end becomes both visible and attainable for students in every phase of the program as we share a meal and reflect on the past. Our graduates this year are Dr. Ioana Rus, Dr. Anand Bhagwat, Dr. Hiren Patel, Dr. Sean Kelly, Dr. Benjamin Newcomb, Dr. Tomoki Nomakuchi and Dr. Glenn Werneburg. Our newest physician-scientists are pursuing diverse medical specialties at renowned institutions across the country. After glasses were toasted and bread was broken Dr. Frohman delivered his annual graduate roast, sharing stories of the grads during their time at Stony Brook. Throughout the event students of all years mixed and mingled with one another and faculty, sharing advice and strengthening our community. The event was beautifully photographed by Ki Oh and Allen Yu. We wish our graduates good luck and are very grateful for their contributions to Stony Brook MSTP.

Ask-A-Grad

On May 18, 2018 seven Stony Brook MSTP Graduates proudly walked across the Wang Center stage for the

ir second doctoral hooding at the medical school graduation. Stony Brook MSTP proudly presents our graduates Dr. Glenn Werneburg (Urology at Cleveland Clinic), Dr. Sean Kelly (Neurology at NYU), Dr. Tomoki Nomakuchi (Pediatrics/Medical-Genetics at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia), Dr. Benjamin Newcomb (Internal Medicine at Barnes Jewish Hospital – Washington University School of Medicine), Dr. Ioana Rus (Anesthesia at Johns Hopkins), Dr. Hiren Patel (Urology at Rutgers), Dr. Anand Bhagwat (Pediatrics at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia). Before our newly minted physician scientists departed from Stony Brook to embark on the next phase of their training we asked them to respond to a few student generated questions about their time in the program. Read on in the newsletter to find out more about their future endeavors, advice for current students and favorite Stony Brook memories. Congrats Grads!

What are some important things for MS1s and MS2s to consider as they choose their labs?

Dr. Werneburg: Consider the dynamic between among the rest of the team members. Is it a collaborative environment, a competitive environment, or a mix? In which of these environment(s) do you thrive? Also, consider the success of previous graduate students in the lab. Did they publish well? In the context of their productivity (grants, papers, etc.), was their time to graduation reasonable?

Did you develop any fun hobbies or go on any remarkable adventures during your MSTP years?

Dr. Werneburg: I developed an affinity for the study of wine and have become a Certified Sommelier. To do so, I acquired knowledge of wine theory and developed analytical tasting skills, as well as an expertise in formal wine service. Requirements such as transpo

rting full champagne flutes to a table of Master Sommeliers, or effectively decanting and describing an aged wine to them, have presented me with learning opportunities in maintaining professionalism, composure, and clear thought processes while performing high-pressure and time-sensitive tasks.

Who were your favorite faculty (research or medical) and why?

Dr. Rus: Dr. Markus Seeliger! who was on my committee and had the most practical and interesting suggestions. Dr. Joseph Sorrento-the surgery clerkship director who has an encyclopedic knowledge of everything and is a probably one of the best educators, along with my own mentor Dr. Giuca. My mentor, Dr. Matthew Giuca is probably my most admired role model, he is an awesome anesthesiologist and it is both helpful from a learning perspective but also motivating to watch him think prepare for his cases and take care of his patients. Every case feels like he is ready for anything! One of my favorite things about working with him is to see his ability to read his patients’ needs and his response to make them comfortable and ameliorate their concerns.

What will you miss most about Long Island?

Dr. Rus: The people I met and the lifelong friends I have made, many of whom are from there or have stayed there after training. If I’m being honest, I’ll also miss the amazing pizza and bagels.

How did you decide on your clinical specialty? Was this a difficult decision?

Dr. Kelly: Some people know long before they ever reach the wards what type of doctor they want to become. For more of us, including myself, it is not so obvious at first and it was difficult initially because I honestly found every rotation to be exciting and eye opening in a new way. However, over time it became easier and more evident which specialties were at the top of my differential diagnosis. In some cases you will know you could not stand doing X or Y for more than a few weeks, so eliminate those things when you’re sure of them. On the other hand, in considering what you do like, think about what the day-to-day is like for a resident and for an attending (not for a medical student) because that is what you will ultimately be doing when you enter the specialty. Consider that some specialties are about solving the clinical riddle and making a diagnosis before recommending a treatment, while others are about taking direct action to abate a problem. Others are about improving patient’s quality of life or guiding them through surgeries, or having a sharp eye while looking at a microscope slide or film. Which one fits you? As you move through the later part of third year, consider these types of questions in the back of your mind, but mostly just focus on learning the core concepts of medicine. I promise by the end of third year you will naturally be better equipped to decide on a clinical specialty.

Have you attended any interesting academic conferences you would recommend to others?

Dr. Kelly: The Combining Research and Clinical Careers in Neuroscience course was extremely worthwhile. The travel is paid for and it has a large variety of useful sessions geared toward fostering young physician scientist careers in Neurology. I recommend going during the later stages of the program (possibly early MS4). Attending any basic science conference where you present and meet others in your field is a must as well.

Tell us about one of your role models in your research or clinical field and what makes them stand out to you.

Dr. Sean Kelly’s Answer: My former research mentor Elizabeth McNally comes to mind because she was the first physician scientist I ever worked with who truly balanced clinical duties and the role of running a large successful basic science lab on a weekly basis. Over time having direct interactions with Dr. McNally led to many special insights into how she accomplished such a delicate balance. To my surprise, it really came down to two simple habits – focusing singly on key tasks and using time strategically each day. For example when it came to lab meeting, it was a time to focus on the nuts and bolts of the science without distraction, with a special mind on identifying the concrete changes needed to advance the significance of the project. Similarly, in terms of time management she scheduled dedicated times for meeting with lab members, writing grants, and even specific hours for checking email. Finally, maintaining a highly specialized clinical focus on the cardiac problems associated with Marfan’s syndrome and muscular dystrophies allowed her to be engaged in exciting and rare clinical cases regularly while still leaving enough time to be productive in research. Today, Dr. McNally is the director of the Center for Genetic Medicine at the Northwestern Feinberg School of Medicine. She continues to run a successful lab while also seeing patients and spearheading a clinical data collection program investigating the genetic causes of sudden unexplained death.

What top three things powered you through the program?

Dr. Kelly: Without a doubt I could not have survived this program without the support of my wife, who went through a PhD program herself and has been living with me through most of the past 9 years hearing what I have had to say about it. Second, I think I benefit from regular involvement in team sports such as basketball or ultimate frisbee. CSHL has a great biweekly game for anyone interested. I find that these activities wake me up a lot and elevate the mood, even if I am dead tired from a rotation. And finally, the occasional visit with classmates to Checkmate or Country Corner after journal club have helped sustain many great friendships and memories from my time in the program.

What one accomplishment over the last 8 years are you most proud of?

Dr. Kelly: It is always nice to be recognized by fellow members of the MD/PhD program. For me, writing a successful F30 that could be passed on to others in the program as an example felt like the first thing I had accomplished while in the program, and I always appreciated being asked to share it. It’s a small thing, but even after finishing the proposed project and writing the dissertation, I am still proud of the F30, which was really a struggle to complete at the time.

If you could have gone back and done one thing differently during any stage of your MSTP training, what would it be and why? / If you could go back in time and tell yourself 3 things at your white coat ceremony, what would they be?

Dr. Nomakuchi: I’m mostly happy with the ways I did things. I probably should have tried to go to bigger conferences related to my field earlier on in my PhD, and not let the fact that I didn’t have much to present stop me. If I could go back to my white coat ceremony, I would stress the fact that you’re in charge of your own learning and choose freely but wisely who and what to learn from.

How did you decide on your clinical specialty? Was this a difficult decision?

Dr. Nomakuchi: I stayed open to anything during my 3rd year, and enjoyed most clerkships. I enjoyed pediatrics because kids are fun and cute, and you get the chance to really make a difference in their lives. I enjoy talking to the parents too, because for the most part they are very motivated for their children. The specialty of medical genetics ties in nicely with my research interest, and it’s also a relatively new and evolving field. The practice and scope of medical genetics will be different by the time I finish my training, and that prospect is pretty exciting.

What are some of your go-to pick-me-ups after a rough day in the hospital/lab?

Dr. Nomakuchi:I joined a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu gym in Huntington right before I started my first year. No matter how mentally or emotionally exhausted I was, wrestling people and trying not to get choked out for an hour would always reset my mind and prepare me for the next day. But once I had to give a talk at Cold Spring Harbor with a black eye. I also like to run and go to the gym, and I always made time for some of these activities regardless of how busy I might be .I also enjoy cooking and eating. I spend too much time each morning cooking my favorite breakfast and waking up my housemates with the smell of bacon, but it definitely gets my spirits up before a long day.

Student Research Spotlight

Each issue, we’ll interview an upperclassman (GS3+) about their dissertation research. Our inaugural Student Research Spotlight features Bryce Schroeder (MS3), who successfully defended his dissertation this past spring, earning his doctorate in Biomedical Engineering. Bryce tells us about his choice to specialize in bioengineering and optics. He shares about building fruitful collaborations—such as his joint project with fellow MSTP MS3 Greg Kirschen—and credits much of his success at the bench to cultivating a rich, varied personal life outside the lab.

Name: Bryce Schroeder

Hometown: Marysville, CA

Dissertation Lab: Shu Jia Lab, Biomedical Engineering Department

Clinical Interests: Peds or IM. Pulm or GI. Keeping an open mind.

You chose to do your dissertation on super-resolution fluorescence microscopy – a pretty unique subject to study amongst MSTP students. What drew you to this field?

I’ve always been interested in engineering and technology, and that’s the main reason. Also, I didn’t want to do cell culture work for four years. Engineering research is nice because, while it can admittedly get pretty rigorous and mathematical, it generally doesn’t die if you leave it alone for a long weekend.

Coming from a hard engineering perspective, how did you and Greg [Kirschen] in Neuroscience end up putting a paper together between the two of you? What was it like collaborating with someone in a different field?

I did some electronics and software work for his project on hippocampal neurogenesis. The Ge lab had made an excellent decision to base their mouse virtual reality system on open-source software—GNU/Linux and Blender Game Engine—so I was able to integrate an inexpensive Arduino-based electronic system to dispense rewards for the mice. That saved the project a lot of money, and provided flexibility. It’s good to do collaborations across department lines.

Through your graduate years, you managed to juggle a few different projects—for starters, your thesis and a side project with Greg and the Ge lab. What did you do that opened the door to more than one topic, and what advice do you have for folks planning to execute multiple projects?

Watch for opportunities, and network with other MD-PhD students. Also, don’t establish a precedent of working so much on your primary project that you have no time to do anything else. That’s a recipe for misery, because besides missing out on side projects, helping the undergrads in your lab, etc, you will miss having a personal life. You can’t go eight years like that. You need to work hard, but not like the anatomy final is two days away.

Did you have any mentors who were major influences or role models for you during your research years? What did you admire about them or their work?

I had a lot of support from my advisor and from Dr. Frohman. I also kept up occasional correspondence with some of my mentors from my undergraduate days. I admire people who are able to maintain diverse interests, and who are able to balance their career with a healthy family life.

Science research and PhDs generally require resilience and persistence. Twice now you’ve hinted at the virtues of a healthy personal life.

Having a life outside of science helped get me by when the science was not going so well. Have a personal life, have scientific interests outside your thesis project.

Speaking of things outside of science, I have heard that you are an accomplished amateur linguist, with a particular interest in the Hmong Mein language family. How did you pick up this hobby? What is something you think everyone should know about Hmong, or something unique to this language?

The Hmong people came to the US mostly as refugees after the Vietnam War. They were farmers in Southeast Asia, mostly, but the government just sort of dropped them in semi-urban areas instead of giving them land to farm. Many members of the older generation had trouble adjusting, especially in regard to the English language, which is very different from Hmong. It has more tones than Mandarin and about twice as many consonants as English. I started gathering resources for people who wanted to learn the language because some friends and I got the idea that we were going to learn it and there was almost nothing out there at the time. I believe the PDF of “Hmong Language Lessons” is the most popular file on my website, still, because Wikipedia linked it.

Anything else you’d like to tell the community about yourself? General warnings or advice?

Never forget that Nature is not divided up according to the titles on textbooks or the signs on walls in universities. Everyone should be interdisciplinary to some extent. Cultivate diverse interests, and let those interests suggest approaches and techniques to you in other fields.

Many thanks to Bryce Schroeder for his time and for his thoughtful responses.