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APS Members to Host Summer
Research Experience for Science Teachers
APS Supports 24 Undergraduate Researchers APS Professional Skills Training Course Rated a Success APS Presents Awards for the Best Physiology Project at Local School Science Fairs |
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APS Members to Host Summer Research Experience for Science Teachers |
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This spring 11 teachers from across the nation
were selected to participate in the year-long 2008 Frontiers in Physiology
Professional Development Fellowship Program. One component of the fellowship
is a local partnership between the science teacher and an APS member, who
jointly applied to the program and committed to contributing a portion of
the fellow’s stipends. APS members serve as hosts and mentors to the
teachers by providing each teacher fellow with a physiology-based laboratory
research experience for seven-eight weeks this summer. Through this
opportunity, the Research Teachers (RTs) learn first-hand how the research
process works allowing them to enhance their own science teaching with their
students in the classroom. In July, the RTs will attend the “APS Science Teaching Forum,” an intensive workshop week focused on student-centered teaching methods at the Airlie Center in Warrenton, VA. The 2008 APS K-12 Outreach Fellows, TanYa Gwathmey (Wake Forest Univ. School of Medicine) and Keisa Mathis (Louisiana State Univ. Health Sciences Center), will serve as Physiologists-in-Residence. A leadership team of past RTs will serve as Mentor/Instructors. Together they will facilitate sessions using APS curriculum units and exploring inquiry- and equity-based teaching strategies, how to integrate technology into their classroom, and equity issues in science education. As part of the fellowship in the fall, the RTs will develop and refine their own inquiry-based lab activity for the science classroom. Finally, the RTs conclude their fellowship year by experiencing a scientific meeting at Experimental Biology 2009. The APS Council is funding this fellowship year with additional support from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases at the National Institutes of Health. The following are the Teacher/Research Host teams for the 2008 Frontiers in Physiology Professional Development Fellowship Program: Darrell Coston, Dillard Middle School, Goldsboro, NC Mildred Pointer, North Carolina Central Univ. Jennifer Davis, Triad Middle School, St. Jacob, IL Jonathan Fisher, Saint Louis Univ. Jessica Elam, Forest Park Senior High School, Woodbridge, VA Pedro Jose, Georgetown Univ. Monica Erwin, Upper St. Clair High School, Pittsburgh, PA Bill Yates, Univ. of Pittsburgh Michael Griffin, Brogden Middle School, Durham, NC Jo Rae Wright and Amy Pastva, Duke Univ. Medical Center Regan Lawson, Grandview High School, Aurora, CO Celia Sladek, Univ. of Colorado School of Medicine Terri Mitton, Highland High School, Pocatello, ID Curt Anderson, Idaho State Univ. Jennifer Reis, Kutztown Middle School, Kutztown, PA Leonard Jefferson, Penn State Univ. College of Medicine Chandra Stork, Forest Hill High School, Jackson, MS Robert Hester, Univ. of Mississippi Medical Center Jonathon Tuttle, Granite Technical Institute, Salt Lake City, UT Bellamkonda Kishore, Univ. of Utah Health Sciences and VA Medical Centers Karen Walton, Chapin High School, Chapin, SC Gregory Brower, Univ. of South Carolina School of Medicine |
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The American Physiological Society’s
Undergraduate Summer Research Fellowships (UGSRF) program is sponsored by
the APS Career Opportunities in Physiology Committee and funded by the APS
Council. Last year, APS doubled the number of fellowships. In 2008, we will
again be funding 24 undergraduates for the summer. The program was
established in 2000, making this the eighth year of the program. These fellowships are to support full-time undergraduate students to work in the laboratory of an established investigator. The intent of this program is to excite and encourage students to pursue a career as a basic or clinical research scientist. Faculty sponsors/advisors must be active members of the APS in good standing but do not have to be US residents. Past awardees include students from Canada and South America. These Fellowships provide a $3,000 summer stipend to the student (10 weeks of support), a $300 grant to the faculty sponsor/advisor, and up to $1,000 to the student so that he/she may attend and present their data at the APS annual meeting (Experimental Biology) or an APS fall Conference. |
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In January 2008, the American Physiological
Society conducted its fifth live professional skills training course for
graduate and postdoctoral students. This was the first time both courses,
“Writing and Reviewing for Scientific Journals,” and “Making Scientific
Presentations: Critical First Skills,” were run concurrently. It was also
the first time the courses were subsidized by the APS with the remaining
costs paid by attendees. Additionally, 26 minority students were given
travel fellowships through NIGMS that covered course registration and travel
expenses. The writing and reviewing course provided upper level graduate students and postdoctoral students with training on the skills needed for writing and reviewing their first author manuscript for scientific journals in biomedicine. The presentation skills course was geared toward early career graduate students and the skills needed to create and present their first author posters at meetings. The instructors for the “Writing and Reviewing” course were: Dale Benos, Univ. of Alabama, Birmingham; Mark Knuepfer, Saint Louis University; Patricia Molina, Louisiana State Univ.; Kim Barrett, Univ. of California, San Diego; Robert Hester, Univ. of Mississippi; L. Gabriel Navar, Tulane Univ.; Susan Barman, Michigan State Univ.; and Jane Reckelhoff, Mississippi State Univ. The instructors for the “Presentation Skills” course were: Carole Liedtke, Case Western Reserve Univ.; Rob Carroll, Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina Univ.; Ann Schreihofer, Medical College of Georgia; Thomas Schmidt, Univ. of Iowa Students completed a pre-course survey and a post-course survey. The overall mean rating for the usefulness of the Writing and Reviewing course was 4.8 out of 5. The overall mean rating for the Presentation Skills course was 5.0 out of 5. Students also rated their skills before and after the workshops. The Writing and Reviewing students rated their writing and reviewing skills as 3.0 on average out of 5 at the beginning of the course (where 5 = “excellent” and 1 = “very weak”). At the completion, students rated their skills as 4.3 on average out of 5. The Presentation Skills students rated their overall presentation skills as 2.8 on average out of 5 at the beginning of the course and at the end of the workshop they rated themselves as 4.6 on average. Therefore, in both courses, students felt they had improved their overall skills. Following the course, students completed a final “test,” critiquing a standard abstract to assess student skills in applying what they learned at the course. Overall, the courses were highly successful. Next year’s courses are set for January 14-17 at Disney’s Contemporary Resort in Lake Buena Vista, FL. The focus for the Writing and Reviewing course in 2009 will be cell and molecular physiology, comparative physiology, endocrinology, GI physiology, and respiration. However, all students are encouraged to apply. The Presentation Skills course is open to any student in physiology. (http://www.the-aps.org/education/ profSkills2007/index.htm) |
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APS Presents Awards for the Best Physiology Project at Local School Science Fairs |
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APS members continue to judge and present
Science Fair Awards for the best physiology project at local or regional
science fairs for precollege students. More than 17 requests for award
packages have been made this winter and spring. Each student received an APS
“Physiology: Life, Logic Study” t-shirt, an APS researcher pin, and a
certificate for the best physiology project. The student’s teacher received
the “Women Life Scientists” book and a K-12 resource packet. Any APS member who participates as a judge in a local or regional science fair at an elementary, middle, or high school is eligible to apply and receive an APS award packet. For more information, visit http://www.the-aps.org/education/sciencefair or contact Scarletta Whitsett (swhitsett@the-aps.org) in the APS Education Department. As of April 2008, the following high school students have received the APS Science Fair Award as judged by an APS member in their local community: Christian Owers, a freshman at Rufus King High School in Milwaukee, WI, received an APS award for the best physiology project at her school’s science fair. Owers is the second student to receive a science fair award packet from the APS. APS member Caron Dean-Bernhoft of the Medical College of Wisconsin was a judge on behalf of the APS and presented Christian with her award. The title of Christian’s project is “Reducing Torque at the Knee using a Flexible Sole.” Her teacher and sponsor is Doug Glaseknapp. Yi Wu, a sophomore at Little Rock Central High School received an APS award for the best physiology project at the Central Arkansas Regional Science Fair. Wu was also selected by other independent judges to be the first in her category which was Medicine and Health. She competed in the state fair which was held on April 4, 2008 at the University of Central Arkansas at Conway. The title of her abstract was “Apoptotic Effects on Multiple Myeloma Cells: Effects of Arsenic Trioxides.” Her teacher and sponsor is Melissa Donham. APS member Parimal Chowdury of the University of Arkansas Medical Sciences was a judge on behalf of the APS and presented Yi with her award. Ann Cooper, a junior at Lafeyette High School received an APS award for the best physiology project at the Intel affiliated Regional Science and Engineering fair in Lexington, KY. Cooper also received best overall high school student at the fair and went to the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) to present her research project. Ann was also awarded 2nd best overall high school student as a freshmen. Cooper’s teacher and sponsor is Jeanne Robinson. APS member Robin Cooper of the University of Kentucky was a judge on behalf of the APS and presented Ann with her award. Venetra King, a senior at Ramsey High School received an APS award for the best physiology project at the University of Alabama, Birmingham’s Regional Science Fair. King also received best project in her category and presented at the Intel ISEF being held in May. The title of her abstract is “Binge-Eating Rats Cross Aversive Footshock for Junk Food.” Her teacher and sponsor is Dasi Price-Mosley. APS Councillor J. Michael Wyss of The University of Alabama at Birmingham was a judge on behalf of the APS and presented Venetra with her award. Nayana Ghosh-Choudhury, a junior at Health Careers High School received an APS award for the best physiology project at the Alamo Regional Academy of Science and Engineering Science Fair. The title of Nayana’s project is “Benefits of Statins in Preventing Breast Cancer Growth and Metastasis.” Her teacher and sponsor is Nandini Ghosh-Choudhury. APS members Merry Lindsey, Lourdes Fortepianai, and Carmen Hinojosa-Laborde from the University of Texas Health Science Center were judges on behalf of the APS and presented Nayana with her award. Michelle Kay Chu, a senior at Fort Lee High School received an APS award for the best physiology project at the North Jersey Regional Science Fair. The title of Chu’s project is “The anti-Infammatory A2A Adenosine Receptor Modulates ERK Phosphoylation via cAMP PKA and cAMP Epac Pathways.” Her teacher and sponsor is Phyllis Citrin. APS member Sue Shapses of Rutgers University was a judge on behalf of the APS and presented Chu with her award. Mike Beeler of West Central Valley High School received an APS award for the best physiology project at the 22nd Annual South Central Iowa Science and Engineering Fair. Beeler’s project was titled “Nocturnal Color Vision.” His teacher is Larry Schwinger. Shelby Behrendt and Lydia Payne of Woodbine Elementary School also received an award for the best physiology for their group project title “Lung Capacity.” Their teacher is Don Groff. APS member Jacqueline Brittingham of Simpson College was a judge on behalf of the APS and presented the awards. Stephanie Simpson, a junior at Noblesville High School received an APS award for the best physiology project at the Central Indiana Regional Science Fair. The title of her project is “Cardiovascular and Weight Exercise: How Both Affect Blood Sugar Levels.” Her teacher and sponsor is Charles Emmert. APS members Steven J. Miller and C. Subah Packer of Indiana University School of Medicine were judges on behalf of the APS and presented Simpson with her award. |
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William S. Spielman, President of the
Association of Chairs of Departments of Physiology (ACDP), presented the
ACDP’s highest award, the Distinguished Service Award, to William H.
Dantzler, MD, PhD, Univ. of Arizona College of Medicine, during the
organization’s 2007 fall meeting in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. Dantzler was selected to receive the ACDP Distinguished Service Award for his long and illustrious service to ACDP, to science, and to physiology. Dantzler was born in Mt. Holly, NJ. He graduated from Princeton Univ. in 1957 and then continued on to Medical School at Columbia Univ. After finishing his MD degree in 1961, he did his internship at the Univ. of Washington Hospital for a year. He then moved to Duke Univ. for his PhD where he studied under Bodil Schmidt-Nielsen. He was awarded his PhD in 1964. Dantzler was recruited to the College of Physicians & Surgeons at Columbia Univ. as an Assistant Professor of Pharmacology. In 1968, he moved to the Univ. of Arizona when Paul Johnson hired him as an Associate Professor in his brand new Department of Physiology in the new medical school. Dantzler was promoted to Professor, then Acting Head, and became the permanent Chair of the Department in 1991. He stepped down from the chairmanship and became Professor Emeritus in 2005. Dantzler’s career includes a number of stints as a visiting professor at the Physiologisches Institut of the Univ. of Wurzburg in the Federal Republic of Germany and one at the Institut fur Physiologie of Innsbuck Univ. in Austria. Dantzler continues his research on two main fronts, both focused on the kidney: 1) the relationship of the three-dimensional functional and structural organization of thin limbs of Henle’s loops, vasa recta, and collecting ducts in the mammalian inner medulla to the urine concentrating mechanism; and 2) the cellular and molecular mechanisms and regulation of organic anion and cation transport in proximal tubules of mammals, birds, and reptiles. As an ACDP member, Dantzler served as Councillor from 1996-1998 before being chosen as President-elect in 1998. He served as ACDP President in 1999-2000. He was also very active in The American Physiological Society, serving as President in 1993-1994. In addition, he served as a member of the Membership, Finance, and Daggs Award Committees and the Committee on Committees. He has also served as Secretary and Chairman of the Renal Section, as Councillor and Chairman of the Water and Electrolyte Homeostasis Section, and as Councillor and Treasurer of the Comparative Physiology Section. Dantzler has played a particularly active role with the APS’s publications, serving as Associate Editor for many years for both News in Physiological Sciences and American Journal of Physiology: Regulatory, Integrative and Comparative Physiology. He served as Editor of the latter journal from 1990-1995 and also as Editor of the Handbook of Comparative Physiology from 1990 to 1997. He was a long-time representative to the AAMC’s Council of Academic Societies, serving on the Administrative Board, Nominating Committee, and Executive Council. He was elected Chair-elect in 2001, serving as Chair in 2002-2003. As a result of his outstanding service, he was named a Distinguished Service Member (honorary) of the AAMC in 2005. Nationally, Dantzler has served on many scientific and educational advisory and review groups for National Institutes of Health, National Science Foundation, and National Kidney Foundation, as well as a myriad of institutional and program evaluations. Internationally, Dantzler served the International Union of Physiological Sciences (IUPS) on the US National Committee, on the Committee on Scientific Commissions, and on the Organizing Committee for the 2005 IUPS meeting held in San Diego. Dantzler has been recognized at the Univ. of Arizona College of Medicine numerous times for his teaching, including Basic Sciences Educator of the Year, Spotlight of Excellence Award for Outstanding Teaching and Outreach to Medical Students, Top Ten Contributors to Basic Sciences Curriculum, and Dean’s List for Excellence in Teaching in the Basic Sciences. His research has also been recognized by many awards, including the Alexander von Humboldt Senior US Scientist Award and Univ. of Arizona’s Founders Day Award. Because of his scientific endeavors, his mentoring and teaching abilities, and his service to ACDP and physiology, the ACDP was proud to present its 2007 Distinguished Service Award to William Dantzler. H. Lee Sweeney, PhD, Univ. of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, was named the first Arthur Guyton Lectureship recipient. As the Arthur Guyton Lecturer, he presented the major scientific talk at the 2007 ACDP Fall Meeting in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. Sweeney spoke on his efforts to find and characterize a member of the myosin superfamily that moves in the reverse on actin and his work to create a therapy for patients with genetic diseases in which the disease-causing mutation is a point mutation that results in a premature stop codon. The Guyton Lectureship was established in 2006 when then ACDP President Richard Bergman suggested that a named lectureship be established to bring an outstanding researcher to the ACDP fall meeting to participate in the program. The membership unanimously approved the suggestion and proposed naming it after the late Arthur C. Guyton, MD, a giant in the world of physiology. William S. Spielman, 2007 ACDP President, had the honor of selecting the first Guyton Lecturer. Sweeney is the William Maul Measey Professor and Chair of Physiology at the Univ. of Pennsylvania School of Medicine. He has been chair since 1999. He received his undergraduate education at MIT and received his PhD in physiology from Harvard Univ. Sweeney’s research program has both basic research and translational research components. The translational work is focused on the muscular dystrophies involving the dystrophin-glycoprotein complex. His recent efforts have focused on the development of pharmacological strategies for the treatment of Duchenne muscular dystrophy. His basic research efforts address the structure and function of members of the myosin superfamily of molecular motors. Recent efforts have mostly focused on the unconventional myosins, myosin V and myosin VI.  ACDP President William S. Spielman presenting the Distinguished Service Award to William H. Dantzler. |
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H. Lee Sweeney, PhD, Univ. of Pennsylvania
School of Medicine, was named the first Arthur Guyton Lectureship recipient.
As the Arthur Guyton Lecturer, he presented the major scientific talk at the
2007 ACDP Fall Meeting in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. Sweeney spoke on his efforts to find and characterize a member of the myosin superfamily that moves in the reverse on actin and his work to create a therapy for patients with genetic diseases in which the disease-causing mutation is a point mutation that results in a premature stop codon. The Guyton Lectureship was established in 2006 when then ACDP President Richard Bergman suggested that a named lectureship be established to bring an outstanding researcher to the ACDP fall meeting to participate in the program. The membership unanimously approved the suggestion and proposed naming it after the late Arthur C. Guyton, MD, a giant in the world of physiology. William S. Spielman, 2007 ACDP President, had the honor of selecting the first Guyton Lecturer. Sweeney is the William Maul Measey Professor and Chair of Physiology at the Univ. of Pennsylvania School of Medicine. He has been chair since 1999. He received his undergraduate education at MIT and received his PhD in physiology from Harvard Univ. Sweeney’s research program has both basic research and translational research components. The translational work is focused on the muscular dystrophies involving the dystrophin-glycoprotein complex. His recent efforts have focused on the development of pharmacological strategies for the treatment of Duchenne muscular dystrophy. His basic research efforts address the structure and function of members of the myosin superfamily of molecular motors. Recent efforts have mostly focused on the unconventional myosins, myosin V and myosin VI.
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H. Lee Sweeney