Welcome to the Fall 2014 edition of the College of Health Sciences e-newsletter. We're happy to welcome students back and to welcome our new freshmen after what has been a busy summer, and I'm pleased to share some recent updates with you.
Our research faculty continues to excel, most notably with two large NIH R01 grants. The first was a $2.6 million award to Dr. John Mantsch that will fund research on the effects of stress in drug addiction relapse. Marquette is the lead institution on the grant, and Dr. Mantsch will work with Dr. David Baker, professor and associate chair of biomedical sciences, as well as colleagues at the Medical College of Wisconsin to complete the work.
The second is a $1.85 million NIH R01 grant awarded to Dr. Paul Gasser, in collaboration with his colleagues in biomedical sciences including Drs. Mantsch, Baker and Robert Wheeler. The team will examine a novel neurotransmitter clearance mechanism called the organic cation transporter 3 (OCT3) that shows great promise in understanding a range of neuropsychiatric disorders including depression and PTSD, and may ultimately become a target for new therapies.
We are also excited about the grant success of two new faulty members: Dr. Marike Gilmartin, assistant professor of biomedical sciences, has received a $225,000 grant award from the Whitehall Foundation to study the formation of fear-induced memory, and Dr. Abiola Keller, clinical assistant professor in the physician assistant studies program, received a $100,000 grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation to examine the role non-physician providers in improving depression treatment.
I'd also like to congratulate Dr. Sandra Hunter on her most recent accomplishments. She received the prestigious John P. Raynor, S.J., Faculty Award for Teaching Excellence. the university's highest award for teaching. In addition, Dr. Hunter was awarded the Way Klingler Fellowship in science this year, providing $150,000 to expand her research program. She has also been garnering much national and international attention for her research on gender differences in neuromuscular fatigue in marathon runners and with space flight.
I am also pleased to announce that Dr. April Harkins has been named chair of the clinical laboratory science department. Dr. Harkins, a 1998 graduate of the program, returned as an assistant professor in 2005. She succeeds Dr. Linda Laatsch, who retired this past year after 38 years of service to the department, college, and university.
Our students also continue to gain recognition for their work. Doctoral candidate Stacy Stolzman, MPT, a graduate student researcher in Dr. Marie Hoeger-Bement's lab, received a fellowship from the American Association of University Women. DPT student Kathleen Schaefer completed an internship with the Foundation for Physical Therapy. Her account of her summer, shared here, will also be featured on the Foundation's website.
Our physician assistant studies students continue to outperform their peers, and have maintained a 100 percent first time pass rate on the national certification (PANCE) exam.
All of this is but a sample of the outstanding ongoing work throughout the college, of course. A more complete description was summarized at our recent convocation, which included a guest appearance and inspirational remarks from our new president, Dr. Michael R. Lovell.
For more information on upcoming events, or to remain current on news in the College of Health Sciences, please visit our website, join us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter. As always, I invite your feedback on our college at any time at: william.cullinan@marquette.edu
William E. Cullinan, Ph.D.
Dean, College of Health Sciences
Marquette University
william.cullinan@marquette.edu
Coming up
RSVP for the Dr. Robert C. Olsen Lectureship Oct. 4
Gabriel Brooks, PT, DPT, MSPT, MTC, will be the featured lecturer at the physical therapy program's upcoming Dr. Robert C. Olson Lectureship in the College of Health Sciences. The free lecture and lunch is Saturday, Oct. 4 from 10am-2pm in Cramer 087, and the topic is Upper Quarter Pediatric Sports Injuries. Please RSVP to olsonlectureshipmupt@gmail.com.
Inagural Health Profession Programs Fair - October 30
The department of Biomedical Sciences' Career Advising and Internship Committee will host the inaugural Health Profession Programs Fair for students this fall semester. It will be held on Thursday, Oct. 30, from 5:00 - 7:00 p.m. in Cramer Hall, Room 087
All pre-health students at Marquette University and local to the area, are welcomed to come and meet representatives from many different health programs and institutions.
Learn more and register today.
Dr. Paul Gasser and a group of collaborators has been awarded a $1.85 million NIH grant to examine a novel mechanism that may hold a key to understanding the link between stress and drug addiction. 
Dr. Sandra Hunter, professor of exercise science, received the Rev. John P. Raynor, S.J., Faculty Award for Teaching Excellence at the 56th annual Père Marquette Dinner. Dr. Hunter also received this year's Way Klingler Fellowship in Science.
Dr. Marieke Gilmartin, assistant professor of biomedical sciences, was recently awarded a $225,000 research grant from the Whitehall Foundation. According to its website, the foundation “assists dynamic areas of basic biological research that are not heavily supported by federal agencies or other foundations with specialized missions.”
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF), the nation’s leading philanthropy working to build a Culture of Health in America, has awarded Abiola Keller, Ph.D., MPH, clinical assistant professor of physician assistant studies, a $100,000 grant through the New Connections program.
