ISSUE 1 Spring/Summer 2011 VOLUME 2 UP,UP AND AWAY ........1

RESEARCH DAY ........ 2

BIOTECH

CONFERENCE…………….7

KEEPING ST UD ENT S AN D PO ST D OC S O F T H E GR A DU AT E

SCHO OL U P-T O-D AT E AT W AKE F OR EST U NI VER S IT Y!

Up, Up and Away! By Bryan Wilson

bryawils@wakehealth.edu

hen vexed with numerous responsibilities such as class work, presenta-tions, proposals and grant submissions, it’s easy for graduate students to forget their superhero strength. The heavy load of graduate education can eat away at us, causing feelings of emptiness and sometimes overwhelmed emotions. How-ever within each of us lies an innate superhero with the power and ability to persevere through times of difficulty. These endogenous skills are indeed birth rights granted to all students who seek to advance upon their knowledge through post-baccalaureate studies. Equally important, these superhero skill sets are of the same type that enabled us to get into the graduate student roles we now fill. In this issue of ―The Graduate‖, we rekindle the notion that graduate students are superheros with talents that span several discipline areas. We see that stu-dents at Wake Forest are busy planning and participating in various symposia and chairing biotechnology events. In addition we take a look into the personal lives of student soldiers who are not only fighting their way through the text-books, but combatting for a better country in which we live. Interestingly, graduate students are breaking down barriers everyday and making their mark on society, which should constantly prompt us to remember that the talents that have brought us to this point will ultimately lead to our fu-ture success.

Suggestions?

Have ideas or suggestions for the newsletter? Want to submit an article or an event? We want your feedback! Please contact Bryan Wilson at bryawils@wakehealth.edu.

Insurance Matters…….10

Newsletter of the Wake Forest University

Graduate The

W

Graduate Students and Postdocs Display Talents at the 11th Annual Graduate Student/Postdoc Research Day

The Eleventh Annual Wake Forest University Graduate Stu-

dent & Postdoc Research Day was held on Tuesday, March 22, in

Bridger Field House at BB&T Field. The event was hosted by the

WFU Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, and was jointly spon-

sored by Targacept and the WFU Office for Technology and Asset

Management.

More than 120 posters were presented, in research fields ranging

from Psychology to Regenerative Medicine. A Hot Topics Com-

munity Forum presented by the graduate program in Bioethics

followed the poster session.

Category Place Name Department

Analytical 1st Tanya Pinder Chemistry

2nd Jeremy Ward Physics

3rd Michael Crouse Computer Science

Basic 1st Lawrence Blume Phys/Pharm

2nd Bhavani Krishnan Molecular Genetics

3rd David Burmeister Phys/Pharm

Integrative 1st Crystal Vechlekar Neuroscience

2nd Lauren Pace Neuroscience

3rd Sandeep Mannava Neuroscience

Social 1st Kara Clissold Psychology

2nd Jon Bougher Documentary Films

3rd Tiffany Waddell Liberal Studies

Translational 1st Jennifer Jordan Biomedical Engineering

2nd Kerry Danelson Biomedical Engineering

3rd Austin Stone Molecular Medicine

Post Doc 1st John Johnson Microbiology/Immunology

2nd Sarman Hindo Chemistry

3rd Johannes Plate Orthopedic Surgery

MCB: The Scoop on Track 4

The face of graduate education is chang-

ing here at Wake Forest University. All graduate

programs have been reorganized into seven dif-

ferent ―tracks‖ on both the Reynolda and Bow-

man Gray campuses. On Reynolda, there is now

Track 1 (Physics), Track 2 (Chemistry) and

Track 3 (Biology). On Bowman Gray, four other

tracks were formed: Track 4 (Molecular & Cel-

lular Biosciences, or MCB); Track 5 (Integrated

Physiology & Pharmacology); Track 6

(Neuroscience); and Track 7 (Biomedical Engi-

neering). The most rigorous reorganization took

place in Track 4, which now combines six bio-

medical graduate programs, including Molecular

Medicine & Translational Science, Biochemis-

try, Molecular Pathology, Cancer Biology, Mo-

lecular Genetics, and Microbiology and Immu-

nology. MCB will be directed by Dr. Roy Hant-

gan of Biochemistry. Dr Purnima Dubey will

head up recruiting for the program, while Dr.

Jason Grayson will oversee the curriculum.

In an interview with Dr. Hantgan, I

learned that the motivation for the restructuring

of the graduate school stems from two primary

sources: (1) students and (2) consults at other

academic institutions. Recently, Wake Forest

has experienced graduate students applying to

multiple programs simultaneously, indicating a

desire from applicants for options. When con-

sulted, professors and administrators at other

institutions indicated that an interdisciplinary

design had benefited the overall quality of their

graduate education.

In the new MCB track, incoming stu-

dents will all take one large master course, bro-

ken into two semesters and worth a total of

twelve credits. This series covers topics in bio-

chemistry, molecular biology, cellular biology,

and the pathology/physiology of organ systems.

Further, the ten-day course originally offered as

Biochemical Techniques is being revamped into

Analytical Skills to cover a broader range of

laboratory training. In addition to these courses,

students will take three electives in their first

year, worth two credits each. At the end of the

first year, students will join one of the six gradu-

ate programs in the MCB and fulfill any addi-

tional coursework requirements from their de-

partment in the second year.

Feelings about MCB from graduate stu-

dents are mixed. When asked for comments

about MCB, one graduate student responded

that ―the common coursework will not be that

much more beneficial than what is in place

now.‖ Certainly, some students feel that the

ability to go ahead and begin work on their area

of interest was an advantage of the previous

structure—and a somewhat unique finding in the

realm of academic institutions today. Overall,

however, students seem to be warming up to the

idea of an interdisciplinary track of study. One

student remarked that the restructuring of the

curriculum would ―maximize educational bene-

fit,‖ while another said it would ―prevent stu-

dents from being stuck with a limited choice of

mentors with funding."

By Daniel Stovall

dastoval@wakehealth.edu

1st Annual African Americans in Science Symposium (AAISS)

By Ricquita Pollard

rpollard@wakehealth.edu

In celebration of Black History Month, the Black Graduate Student

Association (BGSA), hosted its first African Americans in Science

Symposium (AAISS). The event included posters highlighting key

African American scientists who have made contributions to the

science field. The BGSA plans to adopt this concept as an annual

event. In the future, they hope to include a guest speaker as well

incorporating other disciplines and interactive components in the

celebration of Black History Month. Below are some of the investi-

gators/topics chosen for this year’s symposium.

Percy Julian

The first African-American chemist inducted into the Na-tional Academy of Sciences, Percy Julian was a pioneer in the synthesis of plant-based drugs. His work would lay the foundation for the steroid drug industry's production of cortisone, other corticoster-oids, and birth control pills.

HeLa Cells

This commonly used cell line was derived from cervical cancer cells taken from Henri-etta Lacks, a patient who eventually died of her cancer on October 4, 1951. This cell line was found to be remarka-bly durable and prolific in research and was the first human cell line to prove suc-cessful in-vitro.

Ernest Just

A pioneering African Ameri-can biologist and science writer, Just's primary legacy is his recognition of the fun-damental role of the cell sur-face in the development of organisms. He advocated the study of whole cells under normal conditions, rather than simply breaking them apart in a laboratory setting.

“Key Scientists/Topics Highlighted”

From Soldier to Law Student

Miranda’s résumé reads like a how-to guide on suc-

ceeding in the military. After graduating from college

in 2004, Miranda enlisted as a Military Police Officer

in the United States Army. During his five years in the

Army, he was promoted from Platoon Leader to Battal-

ion Training Officer to Assistant Operations Officer.

He has been awarded two Bronze Stars, an Army Com-

mendation Award, four Army Achievement Medals, a

Combat Action Badge and an Air Assault Badge.

Of all his achievements, Miranda says it is the Senior

Parachutist Badge that he is most proud of:

―In general, when officers receive service awards, like

a Bronze Star or Army Commendation, it is in recogni-

tion of some sort of overall accomplishment…I feel

like those service awards of mine are really recognizing

that I had the privilege of leading an exceptional team

that made me look good. On the other hand, to earn my

Senior Parachutist Badge, I had to complete the Army’s

Advanced Airborne School and perform a number of

―Jumpmaster‖ duties where I had to assume responsi-

bility for the safety and effectiveness of Army Para-

t r o o p e r s d u r i n g A i r b o r n e O p e r a t i o n s

(parachuting). This was one of the few truly individual

awards that I earned and one that less than 1 percent of

the Army will ever have the opportunity to wear.‖

Miranda is not just an exemplary soldier. His

achievements stretch beyond the urban battlefields of

Iraq and Afghanistan. Upon being accepted to Wake

Forest law school, Miranda was named as the recipient

of one of the school’s most prestigious scholarships,

based on his academic achievements and personal at-

tributes.

By Jenny Hutcherson

hutcheja@wfu.edu

Preparing our Troops

Serving this country and saving lives doesn’t require

seeing active combat. Soldiers must be conditioned and

disciplined before they leave for overseas missions, and

the responsibility of training them is a heavy one.

Dustin Hillsley is a first-year law student, Wake Forest

University graduate and the recipient of one of the Uni-

versity’s most esteemed awards. He is also a Second

Lieutenant and Infantry Platoon Leader in the Army.

Before being injured and honorably discharged, Hillsley

was responsible for more than 200 soldiers, training

them in infantry tactics, regulations, and garrison disci-

pline. His influence and guidance helped prepare the

young men and women for the tasks and trials ahead of

them. Hillsley says that experience has served him well

in law school.

―Military training emphasizes (among other attrib-

utes) respect and integrity,‖ Hillsley said. ―…I’m confi-

dent a lot of lawyers would benefit from thinking of

judges as I think of Sergeant Majors.‖

Hillsley also makes clear that he had always planned to

go to law school, and had in fact already been accepted

to Wake Forest law school when he decided to enlist.

His motivation was multi-fold:

―I believe in citizenship through service. The United

States is free and affluent; the grace of living in such a

society should come with the burden to protect it. …I

wanted to challenge myself in a different way. The In-

fantry requires physical strength and stamina, endur-

ance, will power, determination, commitment and disci-

pline… Also, I think it’s hard to know what you’re

really made of unless you push yourself until you find

your limit. For most people, it vastly exceeds their ex-

pectation.‖

By Jenny Hutcherson

hutcheja@wfu.edu

Clark Kent’s Fitness Corner The first part of your journey into your new body

is to look at your past. Make a list of the eating patterns

you have had over the past month. After writing your en-

tire intake down, you will be surprised when you see that

simple changes in your diet can dramatically influence

your shape. Take notice of not only what you eat, but

when you eat it. When you wake up in the morning, your

blood glucose is very low and you crave the simple sugars

that will spike your blood sugar in a short time. This is

the time to realize that your first meal should prepare you

for the rest of the day. Almost all nutritionists and train-

ers recommend foods that will be broken down slowly

throughout the day such as eggs and foods with high

bioavailability in protein. In addition, foods such as com-

plex carbs like oatmeal or whole wheat cereals are also

great options. Don’t be fooled by the front of the box

though, look at the first few ingredients, they should be

whole grain oats/wheat, and make sure they are un-

bleached. Also, the morning is the time to take a simple

multivitamin, and also Omega-3 Fish Oils. Your fats

should come from some sort of healthy oil like Krill, Flax-

seed, Almonds, Borage, or any supplements that contain

only Omega 3 fatty acids, which are beneficial at improv-

ing the cardiovascular system.

Throughout the day you should split your lunch up

into two or three separate meals. This will ensure your

blood sugar stays constant and you get a steady supply of

nutrients. During my day, I try to get in complex carbo-

hydrates, like whole grains (brown rice), vegetables or

vegetable supplements (like Low-Sodium V8 Juice), and

fruits. Don’t be fooled though, fruits are beneficial to

your health but they do contain simple sugars that are bro-

ken down very quickly in the GI system, so spread them

out, and I try to center them around my workouts for a

quick source of energy.

Night time is the best time for slow-releasing pro-

teins (like egg or casein) and ―good‖ fats, like almonds,

fish oils, olive oil, etc….. If you do feel the need to eat

carbohydrates please feel free to eat slow releasing carbs

like black beans, whole wheats, spinach, or various other

carbohydrates that will be released steadily throughout the

night. I would like to emphasize that your diet (i.e. what

you intake throughout the day) is more than half the battle

in getting your body into the

shape you desire.

As far as workouts

go, you are the one that

needs to decide what is suit-

able for yourself. There are

many personal trainers out

in the area, but not all certi-

fications are the same. NSCA, ACE, ISSA, and ACSM

are the nationally recognized certifications. The mini-

mum requirements to even take the exam are a BS in Ex-

ercise Science (or related field) and a CPR/AED certifica-

tion. I would question any other certifications, since any-

one can get certified over the internet for around $30. Be-

fore starting a workout regimen you should be evaluated

by a qualified instructor or M.D. for your current health.

Also, in order to stick to your workout regimen it is most

likely better to slowly integrate your workout into you

daily regimen instead of going all out the first day. If you

are intense the very first day you will most likely be sore

the next day and have less motivation to continue.

After a fitness evaluation, you should first learn

how to correctly perform lifts that will be incorporated

into your program. One correct lift is worth ten incorrect

movements. Most programs start at the definition phase

for gathering endurance and work down to the strength

phase over a few months.

To add as much definition in a limited amount of

time I recommend performing 3 full-body workouts a

week. Start with exercises that work many muscles (like

deadlifts, squats, and bench press) and working down to

the exercises that seem to focus on certain muscles, like

curls for biceps. Also, it is better to go slow and con-

trolled with a lesser weight than to cheat on exercises with

a higher weight. By integrating healthier eating habits

(like cutting out unnecessary sugars and fats) and starting

a well-planned out workout regimen you should be on

your way to a better self-image. Lastly, don’t put all your

hopes on the scale, I only weigh myself once a month, I

judge my improvements by increases in strength and bet-

ter images in the mirror instead!

An example of a full body circuit to be preformed 3 times

Leg Extension – 3x15

Leg Curls – 3x15

Tricep Pressdown – 3x15

Barbell Curl – 3x10

Core Work – V-Ups 3x10; Arm Bridges 3x30 seconds

Leg Lifts - 3x15 seconds

Deadlift/Squat – 3 sets of 12 reps

Pull-ups/Lat Pulldowns – 3x15

Bench Press (Dumbells or Barbell) – 3x10

Compound Row (Machine for Back) – 3x12

Dumbell Military Press – 3x10

Biotechnology Case Competition “A Chat With Erik Welker” - Conference Co-Chair

By Bryan Wilson

bryawils@wakehealth.edu

This spring marked the 2nd year of the Wake Forest University Bio-

technology Conference. The event featured seminars, a panel discus-

sion on biotechnology and case competition presentations that were

streamed live. Some of the universities participating included Uni-

versity of Texas at Austin, who won first place Massachusetts Insti-

tute of Technology (MIT), who came in second place and the Uni-

versity of California Berkley who won third place. While at the

event, I ran into conference co-chair Erik Welker, a MBA student at

the School of Business. We discussed his thoughts and excitement

for the conference:

Bryan: How are you enjoying yourself at the conference thus far?

Erik: Its been excellent , the speakers were informative and interesting, I felt like they brought a lot of ideas that made you

stop and think in a lot of different view points so I was pretty happy with the turn out and speaker material.

Bryan: Do you come from a science background?

Erik: No I do not, im an MBA student, but I have been involved with it because I am the Healthcare Club President and I am

one of the co-chairs for the conference.

Bryan: So even though you do not possess a science background, you still have interests in healthcare, so do you see youself

wanting a career in healthcare?

Erik: Yes, my current job search is going in that direction.

Bryan: What have you learned at the conference that you feel you can take away?

Erik: Targacept is one of the companies we reached out to with this opportunity to be the case sponsor for our business compe-

tition, so in that regard we presented to them what we can do for them and they thought it was a geat idea to not only give back

to the community and Wake Forest, but to find a solution for a future issue of theirs, so its kind of killing two birds with one

stone. I think that’s one crucial thing, is to communicate to the case sponsor all of the benefits they are getting. Not only are

they getting possible solutions to problems they may be having, but they are getting to network not only with business execu-

tives in the community or in the industry but also with these students who are up and comers with new ideas and great amounts

of knowledge that potentially can be your future workforce. If they get to know your company, they may be more proactive in

trying to get hired by you and that’s just an asset, so companies kind of get a behind the screen look at all of the future employ-

ees.

Bryan: Right! The whole time I am viewing these presentations I have in the back of my mind, ―Oh wow‖ this is an interview.

Erik: Definitely, this is of no cost to them, they don’t have to fly them here and their creating solutions specifically for their

company. Here in the competition you have to be ready for everything, you may get a business question or science question.

Bryan: Thank you so much for giving your thoughts about everything and the conference as a whole

Erik: You’re welcome! Hopefully we can see you here next year!

“Spring Fling” - A Masquerade Affair!

By Bryan Wilson

bryawils@wakehealth.edu

This year’s spring fling entailed a ―masquerade‖ theme. The event held on

Saturday, April 16, 2011, took place at the Millenium Center in downtown

Winston-Salem. As a semi-formal event, students participated in the mas-

querade tradition by wearing various masks to compliment their attire. Par-

ticipating sponsors included the SGA, GSA and BGSA organizations.

Proceeds from the events were used to support the Susan G. Komen’s

―Race For The Cure Campaign‖

Proceeds will be use to support

the Susan G. Komen’s

Race for the Cure

“Mentoring” - Key to a Hero’s Success!

Growing up I always loved Greek mythology. One of

my favorite stories was Homer’s Odyssey, the epic tale

of Odysseus’s journey home from the Trojan War. For

years the hero outwits monsters, encounters spirits, is

driven off course by malevolent powers, and even de-

scends to the underworld. Since coming to Wake Forest

I have seen graduate school as a kind of personal Odys-

sey: rowing with and against steady currents of work,

being blown off course by academic and personal chal-

lenges, and attempting to find allies in my own depths.

In the Odyssey the gods are always picking sides in hu-

man affairs—some help the heroes, others cause trouble.

One who helps is Athena, the goddess of wisdom.

Sometimes she appears in the guise of Mentor, the wise

old man from whom we draw our word for an experi-

enced guide. By manifesting as Mentor, Athena shares

her wisdom with mortals and helps them find courage

for new adventures.

In graduate school I have been fortunate to connect with

wonderful mentors of my own. I can tell them apart

from other teachers and experienced people because

when I’m around them I often feel and think certain

things. What I feel is admiration, and what I think is, ―I

want to be just like them!‖ This may sound child-like,

but it helps me as an adult student, too. The myth (and

experience) tells us why.

Admiring a mentor is more than being impressed by an

experienced person: it is desire. We ―look up to‖ our

mentors because they seem to convey, like Mentor him-

self, the brilliance, skill, insight, or wisdom of an Olym-

pian, which we desire for ourselves. Our mentors are

themselves mortal, but they do show us Athena. Today’s

Athena is not a high and distant goddess, but the wis-

dom and potential waiting to be claimed by each of us.

Mentors mirror deep capacities into which we may

grow, simply by being themselves.

Whether or not you have a traditional mentor, I hope

that during your graduate school odyssey you find an

experienced person to admire. And in a quiet moment

between engagements, ask yourself, ―Why do I look up

to this person?‖ When the time is right, you may find

that in looking up, you also have been looking in.

By Joe Wilkerson

wilkjr0@wfu.edu

Salute to all Spring 2011 Graduates!!

The Price of Saving Our Health

By Ricquita Pollard - GSA Insurance Chair

rpollard@wakehealth.edu

Daily intakes of salads, foods rich in pro-

teins, and a daily dose of Vitamin C may not be

enough to combat nasopharyngitis or the over-

whelming influx of pollen seen this spring. Further

reliance is put into the hands of local health provid-

ers to diagnose the cause of constant sneezing,

runny noses, or simply to treat a mouse bite from

the lab. As students, it is difficult and often inop-

portune to take extra time away from our studies

and lab responsibilities especially for an inflamed

pinky toe or swollen

lymph node, therefore,

we put our trust in a

policy that will exam-

ine health conditions,

diagnose, and treat ac-

cordingly. Well, these

are the expectations

consistent with the

amount of money that

is invested either from

personal paychecks or a

close family member’s

paycheck.

As a Graduate School requirement, students

at the Bowman Gray and Reynolda campus are to

provide proof of insurance upon enrollment. Re-

cently, a survey was conducted that allowed stu-

dents to voice their opinions concerning the health

insurance policy either offered by Blue Cross Blue

Shield, UnitedHealthcare, or other sources. The par-

ticipation resulted in over 120 responses that con-

veyed the need for several changes in the health

care policy. Responses included management

strategies in order to afford the unexpected health

costs as well as concerns for the future of health

care as it relates to student care within the within

the Graduate School. Other results included 53% of

the students felt that the cost of insurance was aver-

age, while 28% felt that it was too high along with a

68% approval rating for the health insurance pro-

viders. There were several open ended responses

that illustrated the need to lessen or eliminate the

amount of co-pay and to make amends to the Health

Care provider list. All of the comments and con-

cerns included in the survey are helpful in determin-

ing the best policy to use for Graduate Students dur-

ing their matriculation at Wake Forest University.

Although the two campuses differ

in their options for Health Care

Providers, they are in sync with

the requirement that all students

must be insured upon enrollment.

Since having health insurance is a

requirement, it is in the best inter-

est of students that the policy is in

optimal condition. While it is im-

portant to maintain a healthy life-

style by eating nutritional foods,

getting proper rest, drinking wa-

ter, and exercising about 30 minutes daily, some

health conditions are unavoidable. Therefore, a

good health policy will further eliminate the stress

and burden of being ―under the weather.‖The

Health Insurance Committee would like to thank

those individuals who participated in the Insurance

Matters! survey which allows the Graduate School

and other administrators to have insight on the poli-

cies available and make amendments accordingly.

To make your Graduate School experience the best

possible, feel free to solicit your opinions at any-

time, as the survey resulted in less than 20% partici-

pation.

―Read a lot‖. Read everything you find in-

teresting, inside and outside your field,

and then read everything else. For creativ-

ity emerges from a combinatorial process

in which information is rearranged and ex-

trapolated at a s subconscious level‖

~Dr. Douglas Green~

Editor

Contributing Author

Contributing Author

Contributing Author

Contributing Author

Bryan Wilson

Ricquita Pollard

Joe Wilkerson

Daniel Stovall

Jennifer Hutcherson

EDITORIAL