K30 Master's Program

Current Students


	Heather Agazzi, Ph.D., NCSP Assistant Professor Department of Pediatrics B.A. – University of South Florida Ph.D. – University of South Florida Research Interests Early identification and treatment of Autism spectrum disorders and behavioral interventions for children with challenging behavior and developmental disability. Health disparities in accessing mental health services for Hispanic and Latino families.	Top
	Jamie Winderbaum Fernandez, M.D. Assistant Professor Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Medicine B.S. – Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia M.D. – Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York, New York Residency in Adult Psychiatry – Stanford University Hospital and Clinics, Stanford, California Research Interests: Basic and translational research focusing on mechanisms of amyloid precursor protein signaling in Alzheimer’s Disease and Down’s Syndrome.	Top
	Ramon A. Fonseca, M.D. Fellow, General Academic Pediatrics Department of Pediatrics B.Sc. – Instituto Central Vicente Caceres, Tegucigapa, Honduras M.D. – Autonomous University of Honduras Residency in Pediatrics – University of South Florida College of Medicine, Tampa, Florida Pediatric Residency – University of South Florida Research Interests: To detect early abnormal laboratory parameters for potential development of coronary artery abnormalities in Kawasaki Disease patients and determine the role of steroids in initial therapy.	Top
	Valerie M. Gironda, M.D. Research Intern, Radiation Oncology H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center B.S. – University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida M.D. – St. Matthews University Medical College, Grand Cayman, British West Indies Research Interests: Develop approaches to assessing quality of care and health outcomes as applied to the fields of radiation oncology and aerospace medicine.	Top
	Monique Hartley-Brown, M.D. Fellow, Hematology/Medical Oncology Department of Internal Medicine and H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center B.S. – Florida International University, Miami, Florida M.D. – New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York Residency in Internal Medicine – New York Presbyterian Hospital-Weill Cornell, New York, N.Y. Research Interests: To improve the treatment of multiple myeloma through innovative therapeutic approaches utilizing integrin inhibitory agents that affect the bone marrow microenvironment combined with novel agents and traditional chemotherapies.	Top
	Raquel G. Hernandez, M.D., M.P.H. Assistant Professor Department of Pediatrics B.S. – Binghamton University, Binghamton, New York M.D. – Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland Residency in Pediatrics – Johns Hopkins University School of MedicineFellow, Academic General Pediatrics – Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine M.P.H. – Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health Research Interests: Investigate the determinants of early childhood obesity and improve current provider communication tools related to behavior change and obesity counseling.	Top
	Joseph W. Nimeh, M.D. Fellow, General Academic Pediatrics Department of Pediatrics B.A. – University of Rochester, Rochester, New York M.M.S. – Allegheny University of the Health Sciences, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania M.D. – Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, New York Residency in Pediatrics – Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, New York Research Interests: Clinical research focused on improving patient safety, specifically with regard to medical communication. Also, improving medical outcomes for pediatric patients with complex medical problems.	Top
	James Palmer, M.D. Instructor Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology B.A. – Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas M.D. – University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas Residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology – University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida Research Interests: To explore the role of BRCA mutations on telomere length in ovarian cancer to determine the potential for intervention in ovarian carcinogenesis.	Top
	Joseph Pidala, M.D. Fellow, Hematology/Medical Oncology Department of Internal Medicine and H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center B.S. – University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida M.D. – University of South Florida, College of Medicine, Tampa, Florida Residency in Internal Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School Fellow, Clinical Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts Research Interests: Clinical and translational research in prevention and treatment of graft vs. host disease after allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation.	Top
	Lauren Rosen, M.P.T. Program Coordinator, Motion Analysis Center St. Joseph's Children's Hospital B.S. – Tulane University M.P.T. – Emory University Research Interests: Evaluate manual wheelchair propulsion of adults with cerebral palsy to test and develop strategies to assist these individuals to maintain as high a functional state as possible throughout their lifespan.	Top
	Bijal Shah, M.D. Fellow, Hematology/Medical Oncology Department of Internal Medicine and H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center B.S. – University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida M.D. – University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida Residency in Internal Medicine and Pediatrics, Duke University, Durham, N.C. Research Interests: Vaccination strategies in Lymphoma.	Top
	Celso Silva, M.D. Assistant Professor Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology M.D. – Jundiai Medical School, Brazil Residency – Brown University, Providence, R. I. Fellowship – University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Research Interests: Interested in researching germ cell and stem cell biology, biomarkers of oocyte and embryo quality, novel non-invasive assays for oocyte and embryo developmental potential, the impact of aging on gamete quality.	Top
	Xiaohong (Mary) Zhang, Ph.D. Assistant Professor Department of Pathology and Cell Biology B.S. – Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China Ph.D. – University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston Research Interests: Interested in how posttranslational modifications of phosphorylation and acetylation influence biological functions such as gene expression, cell motility etc., in normal and aberrant settings with an emphasis on histone/protein deacetylases (HDACs) to apply to the cure of human diseases.	Top

K30 PhD Program

Current Students


	Brian N. Giunta, M.D., M.S.M.S. Assistant Professor Department of Psychiatry B.S. – University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida M.D. – University of South Florida College of Medicine, Tampa, Florida Residency in Psychiatry, Duke University Medical Center, Durham N.C. M.S.M.S. – University of South Florida Research Interest: Translational research leading to clinical trials on the interactions between the immune, neuroendocrine and nervous systems in various psychiatric disorders including HIV-1 dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease. Research Support: 5K08MH082642-02 (NIH/NIMH)- The Role of HIV-1 Tat in Alzheimer’s Disease	Top
	Stephanie Hart-Hughes, P.T., M.S.M.S., N.C.S Director, Gait and Balance Laboratory HSR&D/RR&D Center of Excellence Maximizing Rehabilitation Outcomes James A. Haley Tampa Veteran's Hospital B.Sc. – McGill University M.S.M.S. – University of South Florida Research Interest: Evaluation and treatment of postural control mechanisms in the elderly and neurologically impaired adults.	Top
	M. Jason Highsmith, D.P.T., C.P., M.S.M.S., F.A.A.O.P. Visiting Assistant Professor School of Physical Therapy & Rehabilitation Sciences, College of Medicine B.S., M.S.P.T.- University of South Florida D.P.T.- University of St. Augustine C.P.- Northwestern University M.S.M.S. – University of South Florida Research Interest: Clinical trial of new prosthetic components in improving function in persons living with limb loss or deficiency as well as new design of prosthetic interfaces and components.	Top
	Jeannie Stephenson, P.T., M.S., M.S.M.S., N.C.S. Instructor School of Physical Therapy & Rehabilitation Sciences B.S. – University of Connecticut M.S. – Virginia Commonwealth University M.S.M.S. – University of South Florida Research Interest: The effect of rehabilitation interventions (such as exercise and Locomotor training) on recovery and plasticity in patients with stroke and other movement disorders.	Top

SIGNATURE PROGRAMS

Allergy, Immunology and Infectious Diseases Cancer Biology Cardiovascular Research Neuroscience Research

Emerging Areas
of Interest

Biomedical Engineering Nanomedicine Pharmacogenomics Regenerative Medicine Sports Medicine, Orthotics & Prosthetics Women's Health

COM Approved
Centers/Institutes

Cardiac Hormone Center Center for Aging & Brain Repair Center for Hospice, Palliative Care & End of Life Studies Diabetes Center Florida Infectious Disease Center Joy McCann Culverhouse Center for Swallowing Disorders Pediatrics Epidemiology Center Archie A. & Mary-Louise Silver Child Development Center Suncoast Gerontology Center on Health & Longevity Other Centers...