4. Course in Charge 2015 Summer Internship.doc
Program Director
Course Coordinators
Rakesh Sharma, Ph.D. Research Coordinator
Andrology Center & Reproductive Tissue Bank
Center for Reproductive Medicine
Glickman Urological & Kidney Institute
Associate Professor, Lerner College of Medicine
Cleveland Clinic, X11
10681 Carnegie Avenue
Cleveland, Ohio 44195
Tel: (216) 444-4350
Fax: (216) 445-6049
E-mail: [email protected]
Sajal Gupta, M.D. Assistant Research Coordinator
Supervisor, Andrology Center
Center for Reproductive Medicine
Glickman Urological & Kidney Institute
Assistant Professor, Lerner College of Medicine
Cleveland Clinic, X11
10681 Carnegie Avenue
Cleveland, Ohio 44195
Tel: (216) 444-8182
Fax: (216) 445-6049
E-mail: [email protected]
Ashok Agarwal, Ph.D., HCLD Director, Andrology Center & Reproductive Tissue Bank
Director, Center for Reproductive Medicine
Professor, Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine
Glickman Urological & Kidney Institute
Cleveland Clinic, X11
10681 Carnegie Avenue
Cleveland, Ohio 44195
Tel: (216) 444-9485
Fax: (216) 445-6049
E-mail: [email protected]
Sindhuja Tatagari Assistant Coordinator, Summer Internship
Program
Center for Reproductive Medicine
Glickman Urological and Kidney Institute
Cleveland Clinic, X11
10681 Carnegie Avenue
Cleveland, Ohio 44195
Phone: (302)943-5422
Fax: (216) 445-6049
E-mail: [email protected]
Damayanthi Durairajanayagam, Ph.D. Coordinator, Summer Internship Program
Center for Reproductive Medicine
Glickman Urological and Kidney Institute
Cleveland Clinic, X11
10681 Carnegie Avenue
Cleveland, Ohio 44195
Phone: +60 12 284 6403
Fax: (216) 445-6049
E-mail: [email protected]
2015 Summer Mentorship Course Faculty
Ashok Agarwal, PhD, HCLD Director, Center for Reproductive Medicine
Rakesh Sharma, PhD Research Coordinator, CRM
Sajal Gupta, MD Supervisor, Andrology Center
Stefan du Plessis, PhD Fulbright Fellow, CRM
Anthony Kashou, BS Asst. Coordinator, SI 2015
Dama D., PhD Coordinator, SI 2015
Meaghanne Caraballo, MT Med Tech, Andrology Center
Carmen Caraballo, MT (ASCP) Med Tech, Andrology Center
Debra Garlak, MT (ASCP) Med Tech, Andrology Center
Shubhadeep Roychoudhury, PhD Research Fellow, CRM
Ahmet Ayaz, PhD Invited Faculty, SI 2015
Gulfam Ahmad, PhD Fulbright Fellow, CRM
Avraham Harlev, MD Research Fellow, CRM
Luna Samanta, PhD Research Fellow, CRM
Sindhuja Tatagari Lead Asst. Coordinator, SI 2015
Joseph Vitale, BS Asst. Coordinator, SI 2015
63. Cover Sheet Guest Speakers Bio 2015 Summer Internship.doc
64. Guest Speaker Bios 2015
2015
SUMMER INTERNSHIP
PROGRAM
Guest Speakers Bios
64. Guest Speaker Bios 2015
GUEST FACULTY
1. BUKAVINA, LAURA, M.D. – M.P.H.
2. DISBROW, JOSH, M.B.A.
3. LY, KIM DAO, M.B.A.
4. PAREKATILL, Sijo J, M.D.
5. RIZK, Botros, M.D., Ph.D.
6. SALLAM, Hassan N., M.D., Ph.D.
7. SIKKA, Suresh, Ph.D
64. Guest Speaker Bios 2015
BUKAVINA, Laura, M.D.-M.P.H.
Dr. Laura Bukavina is a Case Western Reserve University/University Hospital Urological
Surgery Resident. Laura was an Intern with the Cleveland Clinic’s American Center for
Reproductive Medicine in 2010. She graduated with an MD from the Northeastern Ohio
Medical University in 2013 and a MPH from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public
Health (anticipated 2014). Laura recently completed a Research Fellowship with the
National Cancer Institute. She has published 9 research articles (and has 2 more
submitted), as well as 5 poster presentations at various research meetings. Laura is a
member of the American Public Health Association and of the NEOMED MD Program
Admission Committee. Laura was awarded the Arnold P. Gold “Humanism and
Excellence in Teaching” Award in 2014 and Ukrainian Medical Association of North
America Women in Science Award in 2013.
64. Guest Speaker Bios 2015
DISBROW, Josh, M.B.A.
Josh Disbrow is the Chief Executive Officer of Aytu BioScience, Inc. and has been in the
life sciences industry for over eighteen years across pharmaceuticals, diagnostics, and
medical devices. Prior to forming Aytu BioScience, Josh was the Chief Operating Officer
of Ampio Pharmaceuticals (NYSE MKT: AMPE) and led the Luoxis Diagnostics subsidiary.
Luoxis was merged into Aytu in April 2015. Prior to joining Ampio in 2012, he served as
Vice President of Commercial Operations at Arbor Pharmaceuticals. Josh began as
Arbor’s second employee and oversaw the commercialization of the company’s first
product, scaling the commercial organization to over 150 people across sales,
marketing, payer markets, distribution, commercial operations, and national accounts. In
less than four years, Arbor grew from a company without any product revenues to a
company with net sales in excess of $127 million. When Arbor was sold to a private
investment group in 2010, Josh maintained his position and continued to build the
company’s commercial infrastructure and capabilities. Prior to Arbor Josh held positions
in sales and marketing at Cyberonics, LipoScience, and GlaxoSmithKline. He has a
Master of Business Administration from Wake Forest University and Bachelor of Science in
Management from North Carolina State University.
64. Guest Speaker Bios 2015
LY, KIM DAO, BS, MBA
Kim Dao Ly is a fourth year medical student at the Texas A&M Health Science Center
College of Medicine and completing her rotations at Baylor Scott & White in Dallas, TX.
She obtained her Bachelor of Science in Biology with a minor in Chemistry from Baylor
University, Waco, TX in 1998. She later obtained her Masters in Business Administration
from the University of North Texas, Denton, TX in 2000. She joined the Center for
Reproductive Medicine Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH as a researcher for the 2009
Summer Internship. She earned the Best Volunteer Award and first place for the Best
Intern Award. She has written and published four research articles in the area of
embryology: implantation failure after IVF, pre-implantation genetic screening, blastocyst
transfer, and the developmental competency of the oocyte and embryo.
64. Guest Speaker Bios 2015
PAREKATILL, Sijo J, M.D.
Dr. Sijo Parekattil is Co-Director of The PUR Clinic (Personalized Urology & Robotics) at
South Lake Hospital & Orlando Health. He was an Electrical Engineer (University of
Michigan) prior to his medical training and thus has interests in surgical techniques
incorporating technology, robotics and microsurgery. He completed his urology
residency training at Albany Medical Center and then went onto complete dual
fellowship training from the Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland in
Laparoscopy/Robotic Surgery and Microsurgery/Male Infertility.
Dr. Parekattil has received numerous awards including two Annual Innovator Awards
from the Cleveland Clinic Foundation and the Golden Garland Award in Medicine in
2012. He has published several articles in the field of robotic microsurgery. He is an editor
on a few textbooks on Male Infertility and a surgical textbook on Robotic Microsurgery.
He has performed some pioneering work in the arena of robotic microsurgery and has
performed well over 1000 such procedures. He has developed a multi-disciplinary
program dedicated to the treatment of male infertility and groin/testicular pain. He is
also a Visiting Professor at the University of Zambia, Lusaka, Africa.
He is one of the founding Board members of the Robotic Assisted Microsurgical &
Endoscopic Society (RAMSES), a group focused on the evidence based development of
tools and platforms for robotic assisted microsurgery and the International Microsurgical
Simulation Society (IMSS), a group focused on developing more standardized and
effective microsurgical training techniques. He is on the foundation board for Florida
Polytechnic University, Lakeland, FL.
64. Guest Speaker Bios 2015
RIZK, BOTROS, MD, PhD,
MA, FRCOG, FRCS, HCLD, FACOG, FACS
Botros Rizk is Professor and Head of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility and Medical and
Scientific Director of USA In vitro fertilization and assisted reproduction at the University of South
Alabama. Mentored by Nobel Laureate Professor Robert Edwards, who was awarded the nobel
prize in Medicine for achieving the first successful In Vitro fertilization in the world, Dr Rizk started his
career in Reproductive Medicine in London and Cambridge where most of the current scientific
developments and medical protocols where invented. He joined the prestigious University of
Cambridge for three years from 1990 to 1993. Dr Rizk is board certified by the American Board of
Obstetrics and Gynecology and the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada and the
Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologist in England, as well as, the American Board of
Bioanalysts in Embryology and Andrology.
Dr. Rizk’s areas of clinical and research interests have been ovarian stimulation including the
development of the long agonist protocol inspired by his colleagues Professors Howard Jacobs
and Seang Lin Tan and Dr Charles Kingsland. He is internationally considered a leading authority on
ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome and made original contributions to the pathophysiology and
prevention of the syndrome. Dr Rizk authored a book solely dedicated to ovarian hyperstimulation
syndrome that is considered the standard reference for OHSS. Dr Rizk is an authority on
endometriosis; its novel medical management and robotic surgery.
Professor Rizk published twenty medical textbooks embracing different aspects of infertility and
assisted reproduction, as well as, ultrasonography and robotic surgery. Dr. Rizk is one of the early
members of European Society for Human Reproduction and a founding member of Middle East
Fertility Society.
64. Guest Speaker Bios 2015
SALLAM, HASSAN NOOMAN, MD, DGO,
DrChO&G (Alex), FRCOG (England), PhD (London)
Dr. Hassan Sallam is a Professor and former Chairman of Department of Ob-Gyn in Alexandria
University, Egypt and Clinical Director of the Alexandria Fertility and Assisted Reproduction
Center. He was a founding member of the IVF unit at King’s College Hospital (London, UK) in
1981 and St-Luke’s Roosevelt Hospital Center of Columbia University in New York City in 1984.
He is former vice-dean and director of research at the Alexandria University Faculty of
Medicine. He is also the Director of the Alexandria Regional Center for Women's Health and
Development, a training and research Center active in all areas of women's health.
He has published over 100 papers in national and international refereed journals in three
languages as well as three books. He is the co-author of “Infertility and Assisted
Reproduction”, the reference textbook published in 2008 by Cambridge University Press. Dr.
Sallam serves or has served on the editorial boards of many journals including Human
Reproduction (2000-2004), Reproductive Biomedicine Online (2002-2008), the Middle East
Fertility Society Journal and Facts, Views and Visions in OB/GYN since their inception. He is a
founding board member of the Middle East Fertility Society, the founding chairman and past
president of the Mediterranean Society for Reproductive Medicine and a board member of
the International Society of IVF.
His current research interests include biochemical approaches for embryo selection,
optimizing embryo transfer, prediction of OHSS, endometriosis-associated infertility and
repeated implantation failure. He is also active in the fields of infertility for developing
countries and combating violence against women.
64. Guest Speaker Bios 2015
SIKKA, SURESH PhD, HCLD
Dr. Suresh C. Sikka is currently Professor and Research Director of Urology and Director of
Andrology Clinic and Research Laboratories at Tulane University in New Orleans. After
obtaining his doctorate (Ph.D.) degree in 1978 from PGI, Chandigarh, India, he joined AIIMS,
New Delhi, India as research officer and soon moved to University of Southern California
(USC), Los Angeles as PDF. In 1982 he joined Dept. of Urology to direct Andrology Research
Laboratory at Harbor-UCLA and was soon promoted to Assistant Professor at UCLA. In 1988,
Dr. Sikka moved to Tulane University, New Orleans as Full-time faculty and rose to the rank of
Professor in Urology and Adjunct Professor in Departments of Pharmacology, Biochemistry, &
Human Genetics.
Dr. Sikka is board Certified High-complexity Clinical Lab Director (HCLD), Clinical Consultant
(Andrology) and Clinical Laboratory Scientist (CLS)-Specialist and directs CLIA/HCFA certified
Andrology laboratory of Tulane University Hospital. Dr. Sikka at Tulane has been responsible for
establishing many clinical diagnostic procedures in male infertility and erectile dysfunction
(including penile Doppler ultrasound). His current research interests focus on understanding
the role of oxidative stress and aging as related to many Urological disorders (mainly erectile
dysfunction, infertility, GUI); their early detection and prevention employing specific molecular
markers, stem-cells, in-vivo and in-vitro models. He has authored over 180 peer reviewed
manuscripts, book chapters, and review articles, and over 400 abstracts. He has made many
presentations and lectures at various National and International scientific and professional
meetings. He has served reviewer of reproductive toxicology study section and PI/ Co-I of
many federal/privately funded research grants.
At Tulane he has established a comprehensive standardized semen analysis training program,
trained 170 technicians from USA, Canada, Germany, and South Africa. This program caters
to the needs of many major pharmaceutical companies for their sperm safety studies as per
FDA requirements. He has also served as expert panel member on Standardization of Penile
Doppler Ultrasound and published SOP on such standardization. He is actively involved in
teaching/training of Urology residents, medical students, research fellows and is an active
reviewer of manuscripts/grants. He is currently Chief Editor of “Handbook on Environmental
Toxicology: Men’s Reproductive and Sexual Health” soon to be published by Elsevier Press.
65. Cover Sheet Cleveland Clinic Speakers Bios 2015 Summer Internship.doc
2015 SUMMER MENTORSHIP
PROGRAM
Speakers & Preceptors Bios
66. Speakers and Preceptors Bios 2015
SPEAKERS AND PRECEPTORS
1. AGARWAL, Ashok, Ph.D., HCLD 2. AHMAD, Gulfam, Ph.D. 3. AYAZ, Ahmet, M.Sc. (Ph.D. candidate) 4. BERGFELD, John, M.D. 5. DARK, Officer Derrick 6. DU PLESSIS, STEFAN, Ph.D., MBA 7. DURAIRAJANAYAGAM, Damayanthi, Ph.D. 8. GUPTA, Sajal, M.D., TS (ABB) 9. HARLEV, Avraham, M.D. 10. KACZYNSKI, Sgt. Stanley 11. KASHOU, Anthony H. 12. KINGSBERG, Sheryl, Ph.D. 13. KLEIN, Eric, M.D. 14. MCKENZIE, Margaret, M.D. 15. MEHTA, Adi, M.D.
16. MODLIN, Charles, M.D. 17. MOORE, Amy, B.A. 18. MORRISON, Sylvia, B.A. 19. POPTIC, Earl, Ph.D. 20. ROIZEN, Michael, M.D. 21. ROYCHOUDHURY, Shubhadeep, PhD 22. SABANEGH Jr, Edmund, M.D. 23. SAMANTA, Luna, Ph.D. 24. SHARMA, Rakesh, Ph.D. 25. SIROT, Laura, PhD 26. SKURZAK, Donna, M.A., LSW, CDP 27. STAMP, Sarah, MBA 28. TATAGARI, Sindhuja 29. VITALE, Joseph 30. YOUNG, James, M.D.
66. Speakers and Preceptors Bios 2015
AGARWAL, Ashok, Ph.D., HCLD
Dr. Agarwal received his Ph.D. in 1983 from Banaras Hindu University, India. He did his post-doctorate training in Reproductive Biology under a fellowship from The Rockefeller Foundation at Harvard Medical School in Boston, Massachusetts. He was an Instructor in Surgery and then an Assistant Professor of Urology at Harvard Medical School from 1988 to 1992. He is board certified as a Clinical Laboratory Director in Andrology by the American Board of Bioanalysis and an Inspector for the College of American Pathologists “Reproductive Laboratory Program” for accreditation of Andrology & IVF Laboratories. Ashok served as the Chairman of Board of the American College of Embryology from 2009 to 2012. He is included in a number of biographical reference directories such as “International WHO’S WHO Historical Society”, “International WHO’S WHO of Professionals”, “Marquis who’s who” and “Strathmore’s Who’s Who”. He was the recipient of the 2011 Innovator Award for the development of “Remote Sperm Banking Kits” from the Cleveland Clinic Innovations, a recipient of the 2011, 2012 and 2013 Star Award from the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, and the 2011,2013 and 2014 “Scholarship in Teaching Award” for the annual Summer Internship Course and the 2013 and 2014 Teaching Award for the Training Program in Advanced Reproductive Techniques from the Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine. Dr. Agarwal has published over 515 scientific papers and review articles in peer reviewed scientific journals, authored over 150 book chapters, and presented over 700 papers at both national and international scientific meetings. His Hirsch index (h-index) is 90 (Google Scholar) and 62 (Web of Science and Scopus), while his citation count is 28,000 on Google Scholar. According to ResearchGate, Ashok has an RG score of 51.33 on 1413 publications. Ashok is ranked as the #1 Author in andrology/male Infertility and ART-related research, based on a Global Ranking of Authors Publishing in Andrology or Male Infertility report employing exhaustive searches on the Scopus database. Ashok is an editor of over 26 medical text books/ manuals related to male infertility, ART, fertility preservation, DNA damage and antioxidants. He is the guest editor of 4 special journal issues. He is a member or office bearer of several professional societies including the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, American Society of Andrology, American Urological Association, Society for the Study of Male Reproduction and Society for the Study of Male Reproduction and Urology. Dr. Agarwal serves on the Editorial Board of Andrology, Andrologia, Asian Journal of Andrology, Bulgarian Medicine, Clinics, European Urology Review, Fertility and Sterility, Human Andrology, Human Fertility, Indian Journal of Experimental Biology, International Brazilian Journal of Urology, International Journal of Biotechnology and Bio Sciences, Journal of Clinical Embryology, Journal of Reproductive and Stem Cell Biotechnology, and the National Journal of Andrology, Reproductive Biology & Endocrinology & Translational Andrology, and Urology. He is the Chief Editor of the Open Reproductive Science Journal and a Section Editor for Reproductive Biomedicine Online. He is also an ad hoc reviewer for over 50 scientific journals. Ashok is active in basic and clinical research and his laboratory has trained more than 500 basic scientists and clinical researchers from the United States and more than 50 countries. Ashok has been invited as a guest speaker at important international meetings in over 25 countries. He has directed more than a dozen ART and Andrology Laboratory Workshops and Symposia in recent years. His laboratory has provided hands on training in Embryology and Andrology techniques to over 150 candidates from more than 40 countries. Ashok is the Program Director of a unique and highly successful Summer Internship Course in Reproductive Medicine. In the last 7 years, over 150 pre-med and medical students from across the United States and overseas have graduated from this highly competitive program. Dr. Agarwal is the recipient of 90 research grants. His current research interests are identifying biological markers of oxidative stress, DNA damage and apoptosis using proteomic research tools and bioinformatics analysis as well as preserving fertility in patients with cancer. Dr. Agarwal is actively involved in laboratory and clinical studies assessing at the efficacy of certain antioxidants in improving the fertility of male patients.
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66. Speakers and Preceptors Bios 2015
AHMAD, Gulfam, MCE, MRD, DIU, Ph.D.
Dr. Gulfam Ahmad is an Assistant Professor of Physiology, University of Health Sciences, Lahore, Pakistan. He
obtained his Master in Clinical Embryology from University of Paris and PhD in Reproductive Physiology from the
University of Toulouse, France. Gulfam received a Fulbright Research Scholar Award to conduct advanced
research at the Center for Reproductive Medicine, Cleveland Clinic. He is a Research Fellow in Andrology at
CRM since Oct 2014. Gulfam’s research interests are in the area of male infertility and andrology with a focus
on the proteomics of male reproductive cancers. Using cutting edge research techniques, Gulfam aims to
identify protein biomarkers and elucidate their role in the pathophysiology of male fertility.
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66. Speakers and Preceptors Bios 2015
AYAZ, Ahmet, M.Sc. (Ph.D. candidate)
Ahmet Ayaz is a PhD candidate at the Department of Bioengineering, Yildiz Technical University, Istanbul.
Ahmet was a Research Fellow in Andrology at the Center for Reproductive Medicine from May 2013 to Aug
2014. He came to Cleveland Clinic on a scholarship from the Scientific and Technological Research Council of
Turkey. Ahmet studied the effect of increasing presence of ROS in the seminal ejaculate on the human
spermatozoa proteome in male infertility patients. His findings were recently published in Clinical Proteomics.
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66. Speakers and Preceptors Bios 2015
BERGFELD, John, M.D.
John Bergfeld is the former Head of Sports Medicine, Senior Surgeon, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery Cleveland Clinic and now is the Director of the Operating Rooms at the Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio, USA. He is a graduate of Bucknell University where he played football. After graduation, he obtained his Medical Doctor degree at Temple University. Dr. Bergfeld served as Team Physician for the Cleveland Browns NFL 1976-2003, Cleveland Cavaliers NBA 1986-2001, Physician to Cleveland Ballet-1976–1990, Baldwin Wallace University 1996-present and the Cleveland Metropolitan Schools 1976-present. He presently serves as consultant to the Cleveland Browns, Cleveland Cavaliers and is a member of the NFL Injury and Safety Panel. He has served as visiting professor and presented multiple named endowed lectureships, both in the USA and internationally. Dr. Bergfeld served in the US Navy as Chief of Orthopaedics of the United States Naval Academy, US Naval Hospital, Annapolis, MD and aboard the USS Dubuque (1970-1973) with rank- Commander MC USNR. He served as a Board member of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons -1997-2003; President of the American College of Sports Medicine - 1984-85; President of the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine - 1992-93, President of the International Society of Arthroscopy, Knee Surgery and Orthopaedic Sports Medicine 2005-2007, Chairman, International Anterior Cruciate Ligament Study Group. As the Head of the Section of Sports Medicine 1976 to 2002, he has trained over 50 post graduate fellows (known as the Warthog Society); several are team physicians for professional teams, Division I colleges and Chairmen of their Departments of Orthopaedics. He has published over 90 articles for international/national publications, books and chapters. Awards of Significance American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine • Thomas A Brady Community Service Award – 2011 • Mr. Sports Medicine – 2009 • Hall of Fame – 2009 • George Rovere Award for excellence in education - 1996 City of Cleveland • Five Star General Award – Cleveland Metropolitan School District – August, 2013 • Lifetime Achievement Award - Greater Cleveland Sports Commission, February, 2011 • Cleveland Metropolitan School District – Recognition Award for Service to the School District – April, 2011 • Cleveland Metropolitan Football Coaches Lifetime Service Award – 1999 Cleveland Clinic • Nightingale Physician Collaboration Award - 2013 • Master Educator Award – 2002 • Outstanding Alumnus - 2001 Honorary Memberships • American Medical Society for Sports Medicine - May, 2011 • European Federation of Orthopaedic Sports Traumatology - 2011 • International Society of Arthroscopy, Knee Surgery and Orthopaedic Sports Medicine – May, 2011 National Football League (NFL) • NFL Trainers Jerry Rhea Award for dedication and service to NFL Players and Athletic Trainers – 1999 • Lifetime Achievement Award - 2007 Miscellaneous • American College of Sports Medicine – Legacy Award – June, 2011 • Best Doctor in America – continuous since 1993 • Outstanding Alumnus - Temple University Medical School - 2013 - Bucknell University - 1994 - Valley Forge Military Academy High School – 1991
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66. Speakers and Preceptors Bios 2015
DARK, Officer Derrick
Officer Derrick Dark is the Assistant Crime Prevention/Community Outreach Officer at the Crime
Prevention/Community Outreach Unit of the Cleveland Clinic. He has 28 years of service in the Cleveland Clinic
Protective Services Department. He is a Certified Crime Prevention Specialist (Ohio Crime Prevention
Association). Officer Dark is the 2011 recipient of the Sam and Maria Miller Award as Police Officer of the Year.
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66. Speakers and Preceptors Bios 2015
DU PLESSIS, Stefan S., Ph.D., M.B.A. Dr. Stefan S. du Plessis is a Professor and Head of the Division of Medical Physiology, Faculty of Medicine and
Health Sciences, at Stellenbosch University, South Africa. Stefan heads the Stellenbosch University Reproductive
Research Group in the Department of Biomedical Sciences, responsible for basic research on male gametes
and post graduate student training. He has published more than 50 peer reviewed scientific articles. Twenty of
these articles were published in collaboration with the Cleveland Clinic. Stefan received a Fulbright Research
Scholar Award to conduct advanced research at the Center for Reproductive Medicine, Cleveland Clinic.
Stefan is currently a Research Fellow in Andrology at CRM since Sept 2014. Stefan’s present research is on sperm
protein modifications and proteomic profiles in certain reproductive pathologies.
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66. Speakers and Preceptors Bios 2015
DURAIRAJANAYAGAM, Damayanthi, Ph.D.
Dr. Damayanthi Durairajanayagam is a Senior Lecturer in Physiology at the Faculty of Medicine, MARA
University of Technology, Malaysia. Dama received a Fulbright Research Scholar Award to conduct advanced
research at the Center for Reproductive Medicine, Cleveland Clinic. She was a Research Fellow in Andrology
at CRM from Sept 2012 to Sept 2013. Her research at Cleveland Clinic examined the sperm protein profiles of
infertile men with either unilateral or bilateral varicocele. Dama has published over 10 scientific papers and
review articles in peer-reviewed scientific journals, presented 9 meeting abstracts, authored 2 book chapters
and co-authored a book on Strategies to Ameliorate Oxidative Stress during Assisted Reproduction in the
SpringerBriefs in Reproductive Biology series, in collaboration with the Center for Reproductive Medicine. Her
current research interests include the oxidative stress-related pathophysiology of male infertility and its effects
on the proteomic profile of the infertile male.
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66. Speakers and Preceptors Bios 2015
GUPTA, Sajal, M.D., TS (ABB)
Dr. Gupta holds the position of Assistant Professor in the Lerner College of Medicine and serves as the Assistant
Coordinator of Research at the Center for Reproductive Medicine since 2006. Dr. Gupta is the Manager of the
Andrology Laboratory since 2008. Dr. Gupta completed her Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery from
the Lady Harding Medical College, University of Delhi. She then went on to complete her Residency in
Obstetrics and Gynecology in 1994 from University of Delhi. She did a Research Fellowship in Reproductive
Medicine at the Center for Reproductive Medicine from 2004 through 2007. She has earned several awards
during her career including one for Highest Productivity in Female Infertility Research, an NIH travel award
(2006), Research Fellow of the Year (2007), and, most recently, the 2010 Tommaso Falcone Award for
Excellence in Female Infertility and Women’s Health”, Scholarship in Teaching Award at Case Western Reserve
Medical School (2011 & 2013) and 2012 Innovator Award.
Dr. Gupta has published over 55 review articles and scientific papers in peer-reviewed scientific journals,
authored a dozen book chapters, and has presented 50 abstracts at both national and international scientific
meetings. She is an invited reviewer for several journals such as Fertility Sterility, Human Reproduction, Urology
and Reproductive Biomedicine Online. Dr Gupta was a Guest Editor for a Special issue of the Current Women’s
Health Reviews. She is an investigator on 25 research grants. Her current research interests include proteomics in
female infertility, endometriosis associated infertility, assisted reproductive techniques and gamete cryobiology.
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66. Speakers and Preceptors Bios 2015
HARLEV, Avraham, M.D.
Dr. Avraham Harlev is a Senior Physician in the Fertility and IVF Unit, Soroka University Medical Center, Israel. He is
a Lecturer in the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva,
Israel, from where he graduated as an MD in 2004. Avi is currently a Research Fellow in Andrology at the Center
for Reproductive Medicine since Sept 2014. Avi is currently conducting advanced research in male infertility
and andrology at CRM. Avi is also researching the role of smoking on male infertility, using an evidence based
approach. He has been invited to submit this article to Nature Urology.
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66. Speakers and Preceptors Bios 2015
KACZYNSKI, Sgt. Stanley
Sgt. Stanley Kaczynski is the Crime Prevention / Community Outreach Sergeant at the Cleveland Clinic and is in
charge of the Crime Prevention / Community Outreach Unit. He is a Certified Master Criminal Investigator
(OPOTA Police Association) and a Certified Crime Prevention Specialist (Ohio Crime Prevention Association). He
has been serving the Cleveland Clinic Police Department for 15 years. He has spent 7 years in the Patrol
Division, 6 years in the Detective Bureau and a year as the Third Shift Patrol Sergeant. Sgt Kaczynski is the 2007
recipient of the Sam and Maria Miller Award as Police Officer of the Year.
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66. Speakers and Preceptors Bios 2015
KASHOU, Anthony H.
Anthony Kashou, 26, is a medical student at SUNY Upstate Medical University. He graduated Summa Cum
Laude from the State University of New York at Binghamton, earning a B.S. Degree and Distinguished Honors in
Biochemistry in May 2011. Kashou has published over ten manuscripts in peer-reviewed medical journals and
books, has contributed short articles, posters and a thesis on his research, and has reviewed scientific papers
prior to publication. Involvement over the years with the Cleveland Clinic has earned him invitations to attend
international medical conferences as well as contribute articles to medical journals. Kashou is also actively
involved in many business ventures. He currently resides in Syracuse, NY and also spends time in his hometown
of Binghamton, New York.
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66. Speakers and Preceptors Bios 2015
KINGSBERG, Sheryl, Ph.D.
Dr. Sheryl A. Kingsberg is the chief of behavioral medicine at University Hospitals Case Medical Center and
professor in Reproductive Biology and Psychiatry at Case Western Reserve University. Her areas of clinical
specialization include sexual medicine, female sexual disorders, cognitive behavioral psychotherapy,
menopause, pregnancy and postpartum mood disorders, psychological aspects of infertility, and
psychological and sexual aspects of cancer.
Dr. Kingsberg’s primary research interests are in treatments for female sexual disorders and the psychological
aspects of infertility and menopause. She has numerous publications in many national and international
journals, sits on the editorial board of Menopause and has authored numerous chapters on topics including
perimenopause and sexuality, oocyte donation, infertility and aging, the treatment of psychogenic erectile
dysfunction and sexuality after cancer.
Dr. Kingsberg received her PhD from the University of South Florida in Tampa and completed her fellowship in
sexual medicine at University Hospitals Case Medical Center. She is an active member in a number of national
and international organizations including the American Psychological Association and the American Society for
Reproductive Medicine. She currently sits on the Board of Trustees of The North American Menopause Society,
and serves as the current treasurer of the Society for Assisted Reproductive Technologies. Dr. Kingsberg is a past
president of The International Society for the Study of Women’s Sexual Health
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66. Speakers and Preceptors Bios 2015
KLEIN Eric, M.D.
Eric A. Klein is the Head of the Section of Urologic Oncology in the Urological Institute and a staff member in the
Cancer Center at Cleveland Clinic. His clinical interests are all aspects of urologic oncology, with a focus on
cancers of the prostate. For several years, including the current edition, Dr. Klein is listed in Best Doctors in
America.
Board-certified in urology, Dr. Klein is a frequent lecturer and visiting professor at numerous national and
international universities. He was a National Medical Study Coordinator for the National Cancer Institute
sponsored Selenium and Vitamin E Cancer Prevention Trial (SELECT). Dr. Klein is the editor of Urology and has
been the recipient of numerous awards from the American Cancer Society, the University Of Pittsburgh School
Of Medicine, and the Cleveland Clinic.
Dr. Klein received his medical degree from University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine in Pennsylvania. He
completed his residency in urology at Cleveland Clinic and a fellowship in urology at the Memorial Sloan
Kettering Cancer Center in New York.
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66. Speakers and Preceptors Bios 2015
McKENZIE, Margaret, M.D. FACOG
Margaret McKenzie is an Obstetrician-Gynecologist on the faculty of the Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine of Case Western Reserve University (CCLCOM of CWRU), Cleveland, Ohio, where she serves as Assistant Professor of Surgery in the Division of Surgery. She is the Director for Medical Student Education and the Clerkship Director in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the Cleveland Clinic. Dr McKenzie received her MD degree from the Washington University School of Medicine in St Louis and her M.S. degree in Biochemistry from Howard University College of Medicine. Her internship and residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology was at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine/University Hospitals of Cleveland. After being in private practice at University Hospitals, Cleveland, she joined the Faculty of the Cleveland Clinic Foundation Regional Medical Practice in 1995. She received the 2001 Association of Professors in Gynecology (APGO) teaching award for outstanding teaching effort to medical students. In 2004 she received Ohio State University College of Medicine Distinguished Educator Award for Excellence in Teaching. Also in 2004 she received the 2004 Harvard Macy Educational Scholar and was inducted as a member of the 2004-2005 class of the APGO-Solvay Educational Scholars. In 2007 she was awarded the Maria and Sam Miller Professional Excellence Award: Master Educator at the Cleveland Clinic. This award recognizes individuals who have demonstrated an outstanding sustained commitment to education at Cleveland Clinic. Dr. McKenzie has been featured by Cleveland Magazine as one of Cleveland’s “Top Docs” for the last 8 years and has been nationally recognized in the “National Top Docs” list. In June 2003 she served as a member of the national task force assigned by APGO Education Program and American Association of Medical Colleges to develop competencies for medical students. Currently, Dr. McKenzie is Head of the Benign Section in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology. She serves as the Chair of the Physician Advisors Council for the innovative competency-based portfolio assessment system at the Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine. Her main interests include reform of medical student education and understanding how adult learning styles can impact the trend of this reform. In addition, her passion is patient care of the mid-life patient and maintaining long term wellness as we age. She has given many national lectures to other doctors in her field including the National Medical Association, The Cleveland Clinic Panel on Menopausal Care and The Association of Professors in Gynecology and Obstetrics. Dr. McKenzie has also had a couple of appearances on the Dr. Oz show.
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66. Speakers and Preceptors Bios 2015
MEHTA, Adi, M.D.
Dr. Adi Mehta was born in Nairobi Kenya. He completed his medical degree at the University of Western
Ontario, in London, Ontario, where he also did his Internal Medicine residency. He then completed his
Endocrinology fellowship at McGill University in Montréal, Canada where he also did a clinical and research
fellowship. He then joined the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Manitoba, in Winnipeg, Manitoba as an
Assistant and subsequently Associates Professor. He then moved to the USA and joined the Faculty at the
Cleveland Clinic in the Department of Endocrinology.
He is a member of numerous societies in both the U.S. and Canada including the American Association of
Clinical Endocrinologists, the Endocrine Society and the American Diabetes Association. He is listed in “Best
Doctors in America” 2003-2004 and 2005-2006. His extensive research career includes over 160 scientific
presentations and over 200 publications mostly in peer-reviewed journals. His scientific interests include studies
in diabetes mellitus, thyroid diseases and reproductive physiology and medicine.
Among his numerous accomplishments, is his ability to teach at all levels including clinical, basic science and
research. He is a well-traveled lecturer. In particular, he excels as a role model for residents and fellows. Dr.
Mehta sees himself, most importantly, as a clinician. What gives him the most pleasure is the day-to-day
interaction with patients, whom he treats with care and respect and is considered frequently by them not only
as a respected clinician but also as a friend and confidante.
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66. Speakers and Preceptors Bios 2015
MODLIN, Charles S, M.D., MBA
Dr. Modlin is a Kidney Transplant Surgeon and Board-Certified Urologist. He founded and directs the Cleveland Clinic
Minority Men’s Health Center (MMHC). He graduated from Northwestern University in 1983 (Chemistry degree) and
Northwestern University Medical School in 1987 and was inducted into the Alpha Omega Alpha National Medical
Honor Society. He completed a six-year residency in Urological Surgery at New York University in 1993, completed a
three-year fellowship in kidney transplantation in 1996 (Cleveland Clinic), then joined the Cleveland Clinic Staff. He is
one of only roughly 20 African-American transplant surgeons in the U.S. and a recognized national leader for the
Elimination of Minority Health Disparities. In 2004, Dr. Modlin established a dedicated Cleveland Clinic Minority Men’s
Health Center to address the specific healthcare needs of minority men. The center provides direct hands-on patient
care, patient education, outreach, conducts research into the elimination of minority healthcare disparities and
provides mentorship to students in order to promote the health professions as career options. Dr. Modlin’s annual
MMHC Health Fair provides free health screenings for thousands of minority men.
Dr. Modlin was appointed to Governor Strickland’s and Governor Kasich’s Commissions on African American Males
and the Ohio Commission on Minority Health. He chairs the health committees of the Cleveland NAACP and the
Cleveland 100 Black Men. Honors include several awards (2007 Greater Cleveland Partnership MLK Community
Award, Northwestern University Alumni Medal Award in 2003, Ohio Commission on Minority Health Leadership Award,
National Technical Association Physician of the Year Award, SCLC Excellence in Medicine Award, Cleveland Black
Nurses Recognition, and the Cleveland Clinic Bruce Hubbard Stewart Humanitarian in Medicine Award, among
others.
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66. Speakers and Preceptors Bios 2015
MOORE, Amy Slugg, B.A.
Amy Slugg Moore is the Manager of Medical Editing Services at Cleveland Clinic, which is part of the
Department of Scientific Publications in the Education Institute. In her current position, she edits papers written
by researchers who would like editorial help before submitting their work for publication. In addition, she
teaches classes on scientific writing. Before joining the Clinic, she was an Editor at Medical Economics Co. and
at Slack Inc.—both publishers of medical information in New Jersey.
Amy received her bachelor’s degree in journalism from Ohio University in 1992 and earned her certificate in
Editing and Writing from the American Medical Writers Association in 2003. She is a past president of the Ohio
Valley Chapter of the American Medical Writers Association.
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66. Speakers and Preceptors Bios 2015
MORRISON, Sylvia, B.A.
Sylvia Morrison is the Senior Director of Database Marketing at the Cleveland Clinic. Prior to joining the health
care sector ten years ago, Sylvia was President of Wolf Direct Marketing, a full service ad agency with offices in
6 cities. She has spent over 20 years in advertising and direct marketing, developing campaigns for clients like
Progressive Insurance, Things Remembered stores, and DRTV commercials for Chase and Sears Optical. She has
conducted focus group research for consumer and business-to-business products. Sylvia has taught customer
service training and telemarketing for companies with in-house departments. She was Senior Vice President
and a partner at Liggett-Stashower Advertising for 12 years, and earlier in her career, served as Entertainment
Editor at Cleveland Magazine.
A New York native, she earned a BA in French from Ohio State University, where she graduated with honors.
Sylvia is a winner of the prestigious Gold Echo, the Direct Marketing Association’s highest award.
Sylvia is active in the community as a volunteer and fund raiser, serving as marketing chair for non-profit
organizations. Her most gratifying volunteer endeavor is mentoring aspiring communicators to break into
advertising and marketing.
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66. Speakers and Preceptors Bios 2015
POPTIC, Earl, Ph.D.
Earl Poptic is the Manager at the Hybridoma Core and Molecular Screening Core at the Lerner Research
Institute.
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66. Speakers and Preceptors Bios 2015
ROIZEN, Michael, M.D.
Dr. Roizen is the Chief Wellness Officer at the Cleveland Clinic and the J Gorman and Family Chair of the Cleveland Clinic Wellness Institute. The Wellness programs have helped Cleveland Clinic employees lose more than 396,000 pounds, reduce blood pressures and smoking rates substantially, and increase engagement by 45%, as well as flatten the cost curve for Employee health. He is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Williams College and Alpha Omega Alpha graduate of the University of California, San Francisco, School of Medicine. He performed his residency in internal medicine at Harvard's Beth Israel Hospital and completed a tour of duty in the Public Health Service at the National Institutes of Health. He is certified by both the American Board of Internal Medicine and the American Board of Anesthesiology. Dr. Michael Roizen has founded twelve companies, co-invented a drug approved by the FDA and has published a series of highly popular and #1 New York Times bestsellers: YOU: The Smart Patient, YOU: The Owner's Manual, YOU: On A Diet, and YOU: Staying Young - all co-authored with Dr. Mehmet Oz. Dr. Roizen co-founded RealAge Inc. and his first general-audience book, RealAge: Are You as Young as You Can Be? Became a New York Times #1 bestseller and was awarded the Best Wellness Book of 1999 by the Books for a Better Life Awards. Dr Roizen’s RealAge and the YOU books have been translated into more than 44 languages and have resulted in 4 #1 NY Times Bestsellers (more than any other physician) and have been #1 in five other countries. He chaired the United Way Fund Raising effort at the Cleveland Clinic in 2006, and has served on the boards of five non-profit foundations. He served as President of the Society of Cardiovascular Anesthesiologists in 1997-8, and has won over 75 trophies in class A squash competition. His wife is a developmental pediatrician also listed in the Best Doctors in America. The Roizens have two children: Jenny, a PhD graduate of the California Institute of Technology, soon completing a post-doc in organic chemistry at Stanford and starting a faculty career at Duke, and Jeffrey, an MD/PhD graduate of Washington University, and a fellow in Pediatric Endocrinology at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. Dr. Roizen has given over 1,500 lectures to professional medical groups and has been recognized with over 25 professional lectureships. He has appeared more than 18 times each on The Oprah Winfrey Show, The TODAY Show, Good Morning America, Canada AM, the 700 Club, and the Dr Oz show. He and Dr Oz write a column syndicated to 134 newspapers worldwide. He hosts a 2 hour radio show (5-7p Saturday live, or archived anytime) on RadioMD.com. He and Dr Oz shared an Elle in 2008, a lifetime achievement award from Books for Better Health, and the Paul Rodgers award for best medical communicators by the National Library of Medicine.
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66. Speakers and Preceptors Bios 2015
ROYCHOUDHURY, Shubhadeep, Ph.D.
Shubhadeep Roychoudhury received his Ph.D in Biotechnology from Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra,
Slovak Republic. He is an Assistant Professor at Department of Life Science & Bioinformatics, Assam University,
India. He has won several awards, including the NSP Scientist (Slovakia 2014), Visiting Scientist (Czech Republic
2013) and INSA Scientist (Poland 2013). Shubhadeep has edited 3 books, authored 5 book chapters and
authored 23 research papers published in international peer reviewed journals. He has delivered plenary
lectures in 6 international and national conferences, and presented abstract in various international and
national conferences, symposia and seminars. His research interests lie in the areas of environmental health &
biotechnology, and biodiversity & conservation.
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66. Speakers and Preceptors Bios 2015
SABANEGH, Edmund, M.D.
Edmund S. Sabanegh, Jr. is Chairman of the Department of Urology, leading one of the top ranked Urology Departments in
the United States. Dr. Sabanegh is the Professor of Surgery at the Lerner College of Medicine of Case Western Reserve
University. He is also Director of the Section of Male Fertility for the Glickman Urological and Kidney Institute at the Cleveland
Clinic. Dr. Sabanegh received his medical degree from the University of Virginia College of Medicine in 1985. He received
his urology residency at Wilford Hall Air Force Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas. In 1994, he completed an
infertility/microsurgery Fellowship at the Cleveland Clinic in Cleveland, Ohio. Following that, he returned to San Antonio,
Texas where he served in the United States Air Force until 2006. In 2006, Dr. Sabanegh returned to Cleveland and assumed
his current position. In addition, he is the Program Director for the Male Infertility Fellowship, leading one of the few Male
Infertility Fellowship programs in the United States, which combines basic research with extensive clinical experience.
His surgical interests include microsurgical reconstruction of the male reproductive tract and advanced sperm harvest
techniques. His research interests include complex reconstructions for obstruction of the reproductive tract, fertility
preservation in cancer patients, varicoceles, and environmental influences on fertility.
Dr. Sabanegh has published more than 100 scientific articles and chapters in peer-reviewed journals and textbooks and has
authored two books. Dr. Sabanegh is board certified by the American Board of Urology. He is a past chief consultant for
the Surgeon General of the U.S. Air Force. He holds active membership in the American Society for Reproductive Medicine,
the American Urologic Association and the Society for the Study of Male Reproduction and Urology. He is the Assistant
Editor for UROLOGY and has served as a reviewer for the Journals of Andrology Urology, British Journal of Urology and
Fertility and Sterility.
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66. Speakers and Preceptors Bios 2015
SAMANTA, Luna, Ph.D.
Dr. Luna Samanta is a Professor and Head of the Department of Zoology, Ravenshaw University, Cuttack, Orissa,
India. Luna recently completed a Commonwealth Academic Staff Fellowship 2012 at the Imperial College of
London, United Kingdom. Luna was then awarded a Raman Fellowship for Post Doctorate Research to do
advanced research at the Center for Reproductive Medicine. She is a Research Fellow in Andrology at
Cleveland Clinic from Dec 2014. Luna’s current research interests include research in proteomics and male
infertility. She is validating the proteomic results by studying the localization and levels of expression of
candidate proteins in spermatozoa and seminal plasma of varicocele patients. These results will be used as
biomarkers of pathophysiology.
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66. Speakers and Preceptors Bios 2015
SHARMA, Rakesh, Ph.D.
Dr. Rakesh Sharma is an Associate Professor at the Lerner College of Medicine of Case Western Reserve
University and is the Coordinator of the Andrology Center and the Center for Reproductive Medicine. Dr.
Sharma received his Masters of Science in 1983 and his Ph.D. degree in 1992 from Panjab University,
Chandigarh, India. He completed his postdoctoral training at the Cleveland Clinic. He is the recipient of the
American Foundation for Urologic Disease (AFUD) Fellow Award.
Dr. Sharma has published over 175 scientific papers and 25 reviews in peer-reviewed scientific journals,
authored two dozen book chapters and presented 350 abstracts at both national and international scientific
meetings. He is a member of several professional societies, including the American Society of Reproductive
Medicine, American Society of Andrology, and the Society for the Study of Male Reproduction. Dr. Sharma is
an investigator on 55 research grants. He is the recipient of the Cleveland Clinic Innovator Award, the 2011 and
2013 Scholarship in Teaching (SIT) Award from the CASE Medical School for the innovative Summer Internship
Course and the 2012 Star Award from the American Society for Reproductive Medicine.
His current research interests include the role of free radicals in the pathophysiology of male and female
infertility, oxidative stress and DNA integrity, alterations in oxidative stress-related proteins, sperm proteomics
and fertility preservation.
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66. Speakers and Preceptors Bios 2015
SIROT, Laura, Ph.D.
Dr. Laura Sirot is currently an Assistant Professor of Biology at The College of Wooster in Wooster, Ohio. Dr. Sirot
received her MS and PhD in Zoology from the University of Florida, her MA in Anthropology at the University of
Michigan, and her BS in Anthropology and Mathematics at the University of Michigan. She received a National
Institutes of Health Ruth L. Kirschstein National Service Research Award Fellowship for her post-doctoral studies in
Molecular Biology and Genetics at Cornell University.
Dr. Sirot’s diverse training has equipped her to take an integrative approach to her main research question of
how males and females can influence each other’s reproductive success. Most of her research has been on
insects including damselflies, beetles, fruit flies, and, most recently, mosquitoes. She uses conceptual
frameworks and techniques from evolutionary biology, animal behavior, physiology, proteomics and molecular
biology. Currently, she is using these approaches to investigate the causes and consequences of variation in
ejaculate composition in both insects and humans. She has recently begun a collaboration with the Cleveland
Clinic to use evolutionary approaches to address questions about human fertility diagnosis and treatment.
Dr. Sirot is a member of the International Society for Behavioral Ecology and the Animal Behavior Society.
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66. Speakers and Preceptors Bios 2015
SKURZAK, Donna, M.A., LSW, CDP
Donna Skruzak is the director of Diversity & Inclusion department at Cleveland clinic. She anticipates and
creates strategies for the Cleveland Clinic system in alignment with health care reform, employee and patient
needs. She is an experienced leader possessing the valuable combination of clincial and business expertise
across the health care continuum resulting in postive organizational outcomes and bottom line. Cultivates and
applies vision, knowledge facilitation, diversity and inclusion to succeed in a competitive health care market.
She has the ability to anticipate, strategize, create and execute initiatives for successful results. She excels at
systems thinking/expertise, strategic planner, process improvement. Her specialties include: Strategic Planning
and Operations; Systems Expertise and Assessment; Diversity, Inclusion, Cultural Competency; Health Literacy;
Bioethics; Coaching and Consultation for Practitioners and Executives; Process & Performance Improvement.
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66. Speakers and Preceptors Bios 2015
STAMP, Sarah, MBA
Sarah has over 20 years in healthcare and is recognized for her expertise in practice management and
strategic and business planning. Prior to rejoining CCF, Sarah worked as a Consultant at The Gateway Group,
Vice President of Medical Operations at The MetroHealth System, and as an Administrator at CCF. Her work
centered on directing and managing medical group practices, developing and executing strategic initiatives,
front end revenue enhancement and improving the performance of existing product lines. Sarah received her
BS in business administration degree from John Carroll University and her MBA from Cleveland State University.
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66. Speakers and Preceptors Bios 2015
TATAGARI, Sindhuja
Sindhuja Reddy Tatagari is a sophomore at Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland where she is currently
pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Biology and Psychology with minors in Childhood Studies and Chemistry. Sindhuja
joined the Center for Reproductive Medicine in May 2015 as a Research Student. Her prior experience includes
working in a Fear and Anxiety Lab under Dr Amy Przeworski at CWRU and an Internship at the Children’s
Hospital of Michigan. Sindhuja aims to become a gynaecologist.
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66. Speakers and Preceptors Bios 2015
Vitale, Joseph
Joseph Vitale, 23, is a 2012 alumnus of the Center for Reproductive Medicine Summer Internship program.
Joseph graduated from The Ohio State University in Columbus Ohio, earning a Bachelor of Science in Health
Sciences and Chemistry in May 2014. While attending the summer internship, Joseph worked on projects such
as The Effects of Smoking on Male Fertility and The Definition of Personhood. He was awarded the Best Intern
Award and Mentor’s Choice for Bench Research and Scientific Writing. Joseph will be attending Northeast Ohio
Medical University in the fall of 2015.
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66. Speakers and Preceptors Bios 2015
YOUNG, James B., M.D.
Dr. Young is Professor of Medicine and Executive Dean, Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine of Case Western Reserve University and Chairman, Endocrinology and Metabolism Institute. He is also Physician Director of Institutional Relations and Development and a Medical Director of the Kaufman Center for Heart Failure. He holds the George and Linda Kaufman Chair and is the Study Chairman of the NIH, FDA, and CMS Interagency Registry for Mechanical Circulatory Assist Support (INTERMACS). He has a joint appointment to the Clinic’s Multi-organ Transplant Center. Dr. Young is certified as a Diplomat of the American Board of Internal Medicine as well as the subspecialty of Cardiovascular Disease and holds medical licensure from the states of California, Illinois, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Texas. Dr. Young spent his early years in the San Francisco Bay Area and then attended the University of Kansas, where he received his Bachelor of Arts degree with Honors in Biology and was a resident of Stephenson Scholarship Hall. He matriculated to Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas, where he was awarded his Medical Doctor degree with honors in 1974 and was elected to the Alpha Omega Alpha medical honor society. Dr. Young remained in Houston at the Baylor Affiliated Hospitals to complete his clinical training, joining the faculty, and becoming a Professor of Medicine with Tenure in 1992. He was the Clinical Coordinator and Scientific Director for Dr. Michael E. DeBakey’s Multi-organ Transplant Center at The Methodist Hospital and Baylor College of Medicine. He subsequently relocated to the Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio, in 1995 when he became Head of the Section of Heart Failure and Cardiac Transplant Medicine in the Department of Cardiovascular Disease. In 1998 Dr. Young, along with his surgical colleague Dr. Patrick McCarthy, created the Kaufman Center for Heart Failure at the Cleveland Clinic. Dr. Young’s research activities began during his residency and fellowship training when he was a Lipid Research Clinic (LRC) physician. He subsequently focused his efforts on heart failure, mechanical circulatory support, and cardiac transplant therapeutics including early experiences with dopamine receptor agonists, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, beta blockers, calcium channel blockers, angiotensin receptor blockers, many new immunosuppressants, and a variety of parenteral inotropes and vasodilators. He has collaborated extensively with his basic science research associates focusing on ‘translational’ research with respect to the molecular biology of cardiac remodeling, allograft arteriopathy, and transplanted heart rejection. Dr. Young served as the United States Principal or Co-Principal Investigator for the HOPE, RESOLVED, SPICE, VMAC, MIRACLE-ICD, RED-HF, ACCLAIM, ONTARGET, TRANSCEND, and CHARM multi-center clinical trials. He has participated in over 150 clinical trials as an investigator. Dr. Young has published almost 600 manuscripts and several textbooks. Professionally, Dr. Young is most proud of his contributions to the development and administration of donor organ procurement programs, his efforts to secure recognition for the newly emerging cardiology subspecialty of “Heart Failure and Cardiac Transplant Medicine”, his collaborations with basic and clinical scientists, his contributions to a unique medical school curriculum, and the programs that he helped develop in Houston and Cleveland.
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66. Speakers and Preceptors Bios 2015