Mazal Tov to Jeffrey Bubley (2017) for his recent journal publication. The article, Lineage Tracing of Stem and Progenitor Cells of the Murine Corneal Epithelium was conducted concurrently while serving as class liaison and successfully completing his first year of study.
On a daily basis we are surrounded by hundreds of clichés. Whether it’s a status update on Facebook, a picture on Instagram, a quiz on Buzzfeed, or a pep talk from our families and friends, we are bound to hear something along the lines of: “There’s a light at the end of the tunnel” … “Don’t focus on the destination, enjoy the journey”… “You’re living your dream”… Or one of my favorites, “Take time to breathe and smell the flowers.” As medical students, we’ve all experienced moments where we’ve lost site of the light at the end of the tunnel, the journey seems paved with impossible multiple choice questions, dreams are a memory since we’ve broken up with proper sleep, and breathing seems like a waste of time. I don’t think it would be too much of a stretch to say that we usually feel this way around finals season and if (Gd forbid!) we get a mark below average. Sure enough, that’s how I felt around the time I flew to present my research at the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology 2014 Annual Meeting in San Diego. The conference took place one week after finals. But let’s pause and rewind for one second. I was introduced to my research mentor, Dr. Moshe Ben-Shoshan, through my life mentor, Dr. Phil Gold. I conducted my research with Dr. Moshe Ben-Shoshan and his team at Montreal’s Children’s Hospital throughout the previous summer. Our research focuses on Anaphylaxis Cases Presented to Primary Care Paramedics in Quebec. The summer was incredible. I loved working with Dr.Ben-Shoshan and his team, conducting research, putting together results, and ultimately seeing all our hard work come to fruition. I returned to my second year as a medical student ready to take on the year. However before I knew it, finals season had crept right back up again. I felt and still feel so lucky to have received our dean’s, Dr. Andrew Levy’s, blessing to attend the conference and present my research. Moreover, the night before my flight, I received numerous e-mails from the administration wishing me luck which meant the world to me! Ok, we can press play again. Upon my arrival to the conference, I was excited, nervous, and still slightly exhausted. However, within 5 minutes, I was filled with adrenaline. I presented my part of the research on the first day of the conference, and the adrenaline rush was greater than any kind of rollercoaster I had ever been on. Throughout the rest of the conference and the presentations of my colleagues, I met physicians, researchers, students, pharmacists, pharmaceutical representatives, and the list goes on. I learnt about new medications and could say to myself, “Oh my Gd! I get how that works!” With every interaction and passing moment I was reminded of why I always dreamt of practicing medicine: It is the one profession which includes so many others, is continuously evolving, and involves everything from the love of our fellow man to science to the arts. I realized one more thing during my time at the conference: I am attending a medical school which celebrates this! I did not take it for granted when I went to ask for a week off immediately following finals that I would be permitted to miss a week of school. To my surprise, the entire staff supported me and wished me success. Moreover, I was astounded to find out just how many people knew about our program! Professors were asking me to talk to students from their labs who are interested in our program, others were saying that they have a resident from the TeAMS program, and of course, one out of every two people asked me if I’ve met any of the Nobel Laureates and how amazing it must be to be studying at the Technion. I was also told on more than one occasion, by doctors who are currently training TeAMS’ physicians that they find we come with a little something extra in terms of our skill set. In that one week of the conference, the light at the end of the tunnel shone brighter, I was reminded that we are all on a journey, that this is the definition of living our dream, and that breathing can be synonymous with studying and doing what we love. The American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology Annual Meeting is definitely the highlight of my 26 years as of now, but it happened in the TeAMS framework. I do not know how my life as a medical student would have looked like if TeAMS hadn’t chosen me and if I hadn’t chosen TeAMS, but I do know that it is thanks to the TeAMS’ administration and my mentors’, Dr. Phil Gold and Dr. Moshe Ben-Shoshan’s, unrelenting faith in me, that I finally do believe in clichés and know that there is no other place I would rather be and no other profession I would rather pursue. Nofar Kimchi (2016) Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine confirmed their commitment with the Technion American Medial Program by increasing the number of students every year participating in the student exchange program. The program allows Technion students the opportunity to participate in clinical training and hospital rotations at Johns Hopkins. "The life changing experience I had this year at Hopkins, happened only because of our affiliation" said Alexis Steinberg (2014) who recently returned from a neurology rotation. The Technion maintains several international collaborations with U.S. based medical schools and hospitals. August 1st 2013 marked the end of my first year at Technion and I could not be happier. From the research I conducted in the cardiac surgery department to my travels inside of Israel, I have grown spiritually and have expanded my breadth of knowledge tremendously. I am thankful for the opportunity afforded to me by Technion and look forward to the years ahead. Josh Melamed (class of 2016) This is my second posting about my work in the research lab. We received great news. Our abstract got accepted to the AHA (American Heart Association). The international convention and presentation of our findings will take place November 2012 in Los Angeles. We are so excited, especially because we developed a unique technique evaluating mice atherosclerosis lesion in-vivo using micro-ultrasound. We were also testing the benefit of Vitamin E treatment as an antioxidant to prevent plaque growth to diabetic mice. To get this kind of recognition by the AHA is huge, since it hosts the top researchers from all over the world. It is a great chance to show our findings and get an objective critique and input from the best professionals in the field as well as to look at other colleague accomplishments, new discoveries etc. To be a part of this convention and this kind of a scientific atmosphere is such a privilege for me personally and I look forward to present our research and publicize the lab of Prof. Levy. Hilla Lee Viener, Prof. Andrew Levy's Lab The Rappaport Faculty of Medicine - Technion Should I or Should I not…… Should I study in Israel or stay in the USA? That’s a question I asked myself before coming to the PhD program at the Technion. I graduated from UF (University of Florida) were I was also working in break-through research with worldwide names in the field of Diabetes. Finally I decided….Yes, I will go to Israel. Although not at any cost. I was determined to go to Israel and be successful. My colleagues were shocked to find out about my plan to leave my research but I formulated a smart and calculated plan to attend the Technion. At UF, I was doing research in stem cells therapy working in an outstanding clinical/immunological study in T1D (type 1 diabetes). I fell in love with science, research and working with patients. I truly felt so rewarded when I got to interact with little children with T1D and adults (I didn’t care about the long hours in the lab). In order for my plan to work I needed to go to the best school Israel could offer. Coming from the States, I realized (from professors, doctors, students and others) that Technion has the best reputation worldwide. There! I want to go there! Accepted to the Technion….. the sky is the limit. YAY, I got accepted! Now part B of my plan was to look for a good research lab where I could grow academically and achieve my goals. As I said, it was important for me to know that I would be able to do both core and clinical research. It was also crucial to find a good mentor (since I had a very good experience before). After going on interviews and looking into lots of labs I came across an article by Professor Andrew Levy. Online, I read that Prof. Levy's lab deals with Diabetes and cardiovascular disease(CVD), they discovered a therapy with antioxidant and they found a protein called Haptoglobin as an indicator for risk for CVD in Diabetic patients. BINGO!!!!! This lab is dealing with everything that I'm looking for; clinical trials, animal model etc. So I wrote to him, and thought to myself: "please Prof. Levy just call me for an interview please please please" and" if I’d get the interview – I'm in for sure". He did. My first impression - Wow he is going to be a good mentor. In reality – he was not just a good mentor…..he is an amazing person and an excellent PI. Prof. Levy actually let me explore other interests in science (just the way I like). Although he is keeping me focused he listens to me and I feel I could come and talk to him anytime about anything! It felt so rewarding when he listened to my gut instinct, gave me full support and sent me to Holland to train on Micro-Ultrasound. He trusted me!! Today I have my own research model and I feel so content with my work and I love what I am doing in the lab! I came to a wonderful lab. Here, we are a family. And I think it makes all the difference between working and doing what you love to do. I can't believe how lucky I am. Hilla Lee Viener, Prof. Andrew Levy's Lab The Rappaport Faculty of Medicine - Technion The Technion American Medical Program Faculty are contributing to advanced research. Course Director Zeev Blumenfeld, MD has recent articles on Fertility Preservation and Ovarian Preservation http://www.rappinst.com/Rappaport/Templates/showpage.asp?DBID=1&TMID=111&FID=77&Action=1 Technion American Medical Program Director Andrew Levy, MD, PhD Just returned from an international conference in Alba, Italy and presented his research on Haptoglobin and diabetic complications. Dr Levy was recently published in Free Radical Biology and Medicine about the examination of renal damage as a function of Hp genotype. A post-doctoral student in Dr Levy's lab, Rabea Asleh recently awarded by international panel the prestigious young investigator prize. http://www.rappinst.com/Rappaport/Templates/showpage.asp?DBID=1&TMID=111&FID=77&Action=1 More medical conferences in conjunction with the Rappaport Institute can be found: http://www.rappinst.com/Rappaport/Templates/ShowPage.asp?DBID=1&TMID=10000&FID=78 |
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