Contact US
University of Louisville
Department of Physiology & Biophysics Health Sciences Center, A-1115 500 South Preston St. Louisville, KY 40292
Email: jcfalc01@louisville.edu
Phone: 502-852-5384
 OUR TEAM MEMBERS

Team Leader:

Jeff C. Falcone, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor of Physiology & Biophysics at the University of Louisville’s Health Sciences Center in Louisville, KY.
Dr. Falcone received a B.S. in Chemistry from Indiana University Northwest in Gary, IN, an M.S. in Physiology & Biophysics from Indiana University, Bloomington, IN and his Ph.D. from Indiana University, Purdue University at Indianapolis. more

Team Coordinator:

Jason Cox, is a Science Teacher at New Albany High School in New Albany, IN. Jason received Bachelor’s Degree in Biology from Indiana University Southeast and his Masters in Education from the University of Louisville. Jason has held positions as a research assistant and adjunct college professor at various institutions around the Kentuckiana area.  more
Margaret E. Shain teaches integrated, physical and life sciences (6th–8th grade) at Our Lady of Perpetual Help School (http://www.olphna.org/school.htm) in New Albany, Indiana. Margaret has taught junior high for 13 years and as she says she "...would never go back to high school!" She earned her BS in Education from Indiana University and recently returned to IU and completed her Masters in Education. more
John T. Fleming, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor at the University of Louisville’s Department of Physiology & Biophysics where he has served for many years as Course Director for the Dental Physiology course. He now participates in multiple venues of teaching in the Departmental courses.
Cynthia Corbitt, Ph.D., is an Assistant Professor at the University of Louisville’s Department of Biology. Cynthia earned her B.S. in Biology from The University of Texas at Arlington and her Ph.D. in Biology with a concentration in Neurobiology from the University of Alaska Fairbanks. Dr. Corbitt has excellent post-doctoral training under an NIH-NRSA at Tufts University and Tulane University. more
Gary L. Anderson, Ph.D.,is a Professor at the University of Louisville’s Department of Physiology & Biophysics where he serves as Associate Chair for Educational Programs. Dr. Anderson has been involved in the development of web based physiology instruction geared towards high school aged young persons.
Irving G. Joshua, Ph.D., is Professor and Chair of the University of Louisville’s Department of Physiology & Biophysics. Dr. Joshua has also been extremely active in the American Physiological Society, and currently serves on the Council. Dr. Joshua also has participated in teaching experiences within professional, graduate, undergraduate, high school and the elementary arenas.
John C. Passmore, Ph.D., is a Professor at the University of Louisville’s Department of Physiology & Biophysics. John has served as educator in many Departmental courses especially educator in many Departmental courses especially those centered on graduate and research experiences.
Greg McCurdy, is Science Teacher and Chair at Salem High School in Salem, IN. Greg teaches a number of courses including Anatomy & Physiology, Biology I Honors, Microbiology, and Genetics, and is the Science Club Sponsor. Greg has been teaching at Salem High School for over 30 years with additional teaching experience at Indiana University Southeast and Indiana State University. more
Skip (Glen E.) Zwangig, is a Science Teacher in the Jefferson County Public Schools serving the Greater Louisville Metro. Skip graduated with a BA in Biology/Chemistry from Illinois Wesleyan University with an M.S. from Illinois State University. Skip has completed a number of Continuing Education Workshops with many under his belt as leader. He has organized the Louisville regional science fair offered through Manual High School. more
Mesia Moore Steed is from a family of health professionals, and although she admires their work, she knew that taking care of sick people was not her passion. "I was interested in wellness," recalled Steed, who instead found her niche in physiology, a career that allows her to help the sick by doing biomedical research. more

Falcone then moved to Texas A&M University’s School of Medicine where he conducted post-doctorate research for two years in the Department of Medical Physiology . Dr. Falcone continued at Texas A&M as a Research Assistant Professor for an additional 3 years. He then took a regular research faculty position in the Department of Physiology at the University of Kentucky. Dr. Falcone joined the faculty at the University of Louisville in January, 1996.

Dr. Falcone has always had a desire to help others understand the sciences. While still an undergraduate himself he was hired to “tutor” Human Anatomy and Physiology (120 to 140 students). While a graduate student, Jeff was asked to teach in student laboratories and regularly lectured in the Physical Therapy Program. Dr. Falcone has continued to teach at both Texas A&M and UK at the medical and graduate levels. When Jeff arrived at the University of Louisville he brought many innovative teaching pedagogies into light and has been honored with his introduction of Team Based Learning by being selected as one of four presentations at the University’s Celebration of Teaching event in October, 2006. Currently, Dr. Falcone participates in teaching Dental Physiology, Medical Physiology, Methods in Physiology, Integrated Physiology and a new Summer Medical and Dental Educational Program for young undergraduates from across the country sponsored by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

Dr. Falcone has hosted three APS Frontiers Fellows: Margaret E. Shain (2000), Gregory M. McCurdy (2005) and Jason Cox (2006). In addition, Dr. Falcone has participated in leading two other LST training sessions: Indiana University School of Medicine and the University of South Dakota School of Medicine. Dr. Falcone also served as the “Physiologist in Residence” at the Summer Teaching Forum retreat for teacher fellows in the Frontiers program.

Dr. Falcone’s area of research expertise is centered on regulation of the microcirculation and digital imaging. Most of his studies revolve around the use of micro vessels from skeletal muscle, kidney and intestine as a function of hypertension, diabetes or aging. Additional information on Dr. Falcone’s research may be found at his website located at: http://www.louisville.edu/~jcfalc01

Cox is co-leader for the Science Olympiad team in his position as high school science teacher and has developed and maintained a new course – Marine Biology. Jason was most recently chosen for the 2006 Frontiers Program and worked in a microcirculation laboratory at the University of Louisville. Specifically, he was responsible for measurements of Nitric Oxide in intact micro vessels (approx. 100 microns in diameter) from skeletal muscle of the rat. Jason will be part of the presentation at the Experimental Biology Meeting held in the Spring of 2007.

Margaret was a Frontiers in Physiology Summer Research Teacher in 2000. During her fellowship, Margaret developed "Exploring the Elasticity of Blood Vessels" lab activity.

Margaret was a Mentor/Instructor for the 2002, 2003, and 2006 Research Teachers and one of the 2002 Curriculum Development Fellows. She and Kris Clements (2001 RT) are working on a Project WISE unit about vision and perception.

Margaret states that her work with APS "is my most important professional development because it allows me to interact with other teachers who are equally active in trying to make their students' science experiences the most they can be." It's a good thing that Margaret feels that way because we ask her to participate in lots of APS activities. In the winter and spring of 2006, Margaret facilitated two major workshops with the APS Education Office - one was a training workshop on the "It's a Matter of Taste" Project WISE unit for the Indianapolis Local Site Team and the other was an Explorations in Biomedicine Teacher Leadership Summit.

Cynthia has taught numerous courses with one of her long term missions in bringing science to children. In 1994 she participated in a “How to talk to children in schools” workshop and is currently leading outreach activities in her department. Cynthia has numerous publications centered on neuroendocrine behavioral mechanisms, avian song control, environmental signals and novel techniques to teach neuroscience in the K-12 classroom. Dr. Corbitt receives many invitations to speak at conferences, departments and institutions.

Greg received his Bachelor Degree in Biology and his M.S. in Secondary Education from Indiana University Southeast.

Greg has participated in a number of workshops and institute learning initiatives. His memberships include the: National Science Teachers Association, National Association of Biology Teachers, Hoosier Association of Science Teachers, Indiana Association of Biology Teachers, National Education Association, Indiana Academy of Sciences and the Indiana State Teachers Association. Greg is currently President of the Hoosier Association of Science Teachers and has been active in its governance for a number of years.

Mr. McCurdy has received a number of awards including the Science Teacher of the Year from the Indiana Chapter of Sigma Xi, Outstanding Biology Teacher Award for Indiana from the National Association of Biology Teachers and a Frontiers in Physiology Fellowship from the American Physiological Society. Greg has also published a number of articles on learning and teaching science.

Skip has been awarded a number of monetary as well as recognition classroom grants, as well. He is a member of the National Science Teachers Association, National Association of Biology Teachers, KY Science Teacher’s Association, Louisville Regional Biology Alliance, Louisville Regional Chemistry Alliance and the Louisville Technology Alliance.

Mesia Moore Steed is from a family of health professionals, and although she admires their work, she knew that taking care of sick people was not her passion.

"I was interested in wellness," recalled Steed, who instead found her niche in physiology, a career that allows her to help the sick by doing biomedical research. Steed is now in the doctoral program at the University of Louisville’s Department of Physiology & Biophysics where her aim is to advance knowledge about diseases that have a high incidence among minorities, including hypertension, high cholesterol, diabetes, cardiovascular disease and obesity.

Steed discovered physiology with a bit of luck, and now wants to tell other minority students in elementary, middle, and high school about the interesting things physiologists do. The American Physiological Society recently named Steed its first K-12 Minority Outreach Fellow.

In the coming year, she will encourage pre-college minority students who are underrepresented in science -- African Americans, Native Americans, Hispanics and Pacific Islanders -- to think about becoming biomedical researchers.

As the APS Fellow, Steed will visit classrooms to tell students about her career path and to model for minority students what they can achieve. As the K-12 Minority Outreach Fellow, Steed will:

  • Serve as a physiologist-in-residence at the APS science teaching forum, a week of hands on science training for middle school and high school teachers
  • Visit two minority student classrooms to do career presentations and hands-on activities
  • Attend the 2006 Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minority Students (ABRCMS) to reach out to undergraduate students and present APS research awards
  • Conduct outreach activities for high school teachers and students at Experimental Biology 2007
The fellowship pays Steed’s registration and travel costs to the 2006 and 2007 Experimental Biology meeting and to the 2006 ABRCMS meeting. The fellowship also includes travel costs to the science teaching forum in Virginia and travel, material and supply costs for her two visits to minority student classrooms.

“Mesia’s enthusiasm for sharing the excitement of doing science makes her an ideal Outreach Fellow,” said APS Director of Education, Marsha Matyas.

The Henderson, Kentucky native did her undergraduate studies at the University of Louisville, where she majored in Exercise Science and Sport Medicine. She especially enjoyed her exercise physiology classes, but didn’t really think about physiology as a career.

She worked at the North West Area Health Education Center in Louisville after graduation, first as the assistant health education coordinator and later as the activity coordinator. During this time she met Irving G. Joshua, the chairman of the Department of Physiology & Biophysics at the University of Louisville. Joshua encouraged her to take a physiology course. She did, and was hooked.

Steed is now a doctoral student in the department and was the lead author of two research projects that she presented at Experimental Biology conferences in 2005 (“Differential role of eNOS, iNOS and nNOS in vascular remodeling”) and in 2006 (“Mechanisms of vascular remodeling in eNOS knockout mice”). The conference attracts about 12,000 scientists from around the world.

In addition to her research and work as a health educator, Steed has extensive experience as a tutor and graduate assistant. She has been a head cheerleading coach, personal trainer and fitness instructor. Steed also has done extensive volunteer work.

Steed earlier received the APS NIDDK Minority Travel award, second place in the “Research Louisville” graduate PhD competition, the University of Louisville Integrated Programs in Biomedical Sciences Fellowship, and the M. Celeste Nichols Professional Development Award. She has tutored graduate level physiology and cell biology students and taught small animal surgical techniques, protein analysis and research proposal development to undergraduate summer research students.