Academic Associate
<!--StartFragment-->
NS-LIJ Department of Emergency Medicine
Academic Associate Program
Academic Associates in Action at the NY symposium on Health Policy
Back row (left to right): Dr. Mukherji, Andrew Loftus, Alvin Lomibao, John Pizzuti, Dr. Sama
Front row (left to right): Jessica Mounessa, Mae Ward, Danielle Gurr, Kathryn Bailey, Jill Castaneda,
Megan McCullough, and Dr. Naderi
The Academic Associate Program is a one-year, full-time, paid position in the Department of Emergency Medicine designed for post-undergraduate, pre-medical students interested in clinical and translational research.
Academic Associates help emergency medicine faculty with academic and scholarly activity and support the department by performing administrative duties.
Since the program’s inception in 1999, research output has increased, with the Academic Associates involved in several aspects of the research process, including IRB proposal preparation, patient recruitment, grant application preparation, data management, scholarly writing support, and identification of potential funding opportunities. Additionally, Academic Associates lead Research Committee meetings to develop new studies and frequently correspond with local industry sponsors to ensure regulatory compliance.
Academic Associates are responsible for recruiting individuals for the Volunteer Research Internship Program. Their responsibilities also include managing day-to-day activities of the Program and planning educational days for research interns.
In an administrative capacity, Academic Associates prepare Continuing Medical Education modules, plan conferences, and conduct quality assessments within the health system, among other projects. They also write departmental reports, reviews, and newsletters.
Finally, Academic Associates have the opportunity to attend and participate in professional meetings, keeping abreast of emergency medicine developments and trends.
2011-2012 Emergency Medicine Academic Associate Team
Rahela Aziz-Bose, BA. Rahela, originally from Lexington, Massachusetts, graduated from Yale University in 2010 with a degree in Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology. Through the university, she taught health education workshops in local high schools, volunteered as a counselor for freshman, and served as a copy editor for the Yale Daily News. Additionally, Rahela worked for the Integrated Refugee and Immigrant Services program in New Haven, Connecticut, whose mission is to help refugees navigate the health care system. At the University of California, San Francisco, she conducted research on the role of lactate in the fracture healing process. Rahela spent the past year teaching high school-level International Baccalaureate biology classes at Oakham School in the United Kingdom. In her free time, she enjoys traveling, reading, cooking, and riding the subway. Rahela is currently applying to medical school for matriculation in the fall of 2012.
Kathryn Bailey, BA. Kathryn, originally from Massachusetts, graduated from Princeton University in 2010 with a degree in Anthropology and certificates in Global Health & Health Policy and African Studies. She spent time abroad in Tanzania, and conducted her ethnographic thesis research with HIV/AIDS- and TB-positive ex-mineworkers in Lesotho and South Africa. Last year, Kathryn worked with Children’s Health Watch at Boston Medical Center, where she conducted research on the impact of food and housing insecurity on pediatric health. She loves being outdoors, and in college worked as an EMT for the local first aid and rescue squad, taught wilderness first aid, trained students to lead backpacking trip, played lacrosse, and won two broomball championships. Kathryn is currently applying to medical school for matriculation in the fall of 2012.
Jill Castaneda, BS. Jill, originally from Orange County, New York, graduated from the State University of New York College at Oneonta with a bachelor’s degree in Biology and minor in Chemistry. She was elected into two National Societies – Tri Beta Biological Honor Society and Omicron Delta Kappa Leadership Honor Society – during her junior and senior year, respectively. In addition to serving as a teaching assistant for an undergraduate biology lab, Jill volunteered in her genetics lab, and tutored students in anatomy & physiology. Since graduation, Jill has worked in the Department of Emergency Medicine at Long Island Jewish Medical Center, and, in the fall of 2010, became a Volunteer Research Intern in the Department of Emergency Medicine at North Shore University Hospital. Jill enjoys reading, baking, cooking, and traveling, most recently to Paris. She plans to apply to medical school for matriculation in the fall of 2013.
Jessica Gatt, BS. After working last year as an Academic Associate, Jessy continues to work for the department per diem, as a Research Associate, while pursuing her master’s degree in Human Nutrition at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons. Originally from Birmingham, Michigan, Jessy graduated Phi Beta Kappa from the University of Michigan, with a concentration in Philosophy and a minor in Biochemistry. She was awarded three fellowships as an undergraduate to fund her research in the Pharmacology Department, where she used a knockout mouse model to investigate the role the sodium channel beta1 subunits in cardiac myocytes. At U-M, Jessy was an academic writing tutor for the university’s Sweetland Writing Center, and also led study groups for organic chemistry. During her free time, she enjoys writing, live music, and practicing yoga regularly. Jessy is applying to medical school for matriculation in fall 2012.
Danielle Gurr, BA. Danielle, originally from Long Island, recently graduated summa cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa, from Brandeis University with a major in Health: Science, Society and Policy (HSSP). She completed a senior honors thesis for which she investigated the beliefs and opinions of Brandeis undergraduates on the personal and societal effects of genetic and genomic testing. Danielle also minored in French and Francophone Studies, and, during a semester abroad in Paris, completed an internship at Act Up-Paris, a political activist organization working to combat the HIV/AIDS epidemic. During the summer of 2009, Danielle participated in the Department’s Volunteer Research Internship Program, and has spent her last three summers in Washington, DC at the National Student Leadership Conference, teaching high school students about leadership and conducting mock trials. In her spare time, Danielle loves to dance and choreograph, and, at Brandeis, performed with the Adagio Dance Company. In the future, she plans to pursue a Masters in Public Health and find her niche in the public health sector.
Andrew Loftus, BS. Andrew, originally from North Babylon, New York, completed his degree in Biology from Brown University in 2011 with a focus on Biotechnology and Immunology. During his senior year, he studied the molecular epidemiology of Clostridium difficile at Memorial Hospital of Rhode Island. Andrew also designed functional neurosurgery experiments to investigate psychiatric and movement disorders at the Neurosurgery Foundation. He also worked as an EMT in municipal, private, and university EMS systems, and vaccinated school children against H1N1 influenza with the Rhode Island Medical Reserve Corps. In his spare time, Andrew is a freelance web designer for clients ranging from musicians to researchers. Andrew enjoys mixed martial arts, football, and grilling.
Alvin Lomibao, BS. Originally from Canton, Connecticut, Alvin received his degree in Biomedical Engineering from the University of Rochester. His senior design project comprised two components: using FDA and ISO standards to evaluate the biocompatibility of a novel polymer for lumbar disc replacement, and inventing a device to implant the prosthetic into the spine. Alvin's other research involved developing a photonic biosensor from porous silicon to screen for targeted molecules in vitro. Outside of these projects, Alvin served as a MATLAB teaching assistant, implemented a free newspaper service to campus undergraduates, and managed a $900,000 budget as student government president. For fun, Alvin follows politics and current events, goes to concerts, and likes watching re-runs of Mad Men. He is currently applying for master's and doctoral programs in biomedical engineering.
Megan McCullough, BA. A native of Springvale, Maine, Megan graduated from Bowdoin College with a major in Biology and a minor in Chemistry. She earned biology departmental honors upon completion of her senior thesis titled, “Mutational Analysis of the Extracellular Domain of Wall-Associated Kinase 2 (WAK2).” Megan’s research culminated in the discovery that on the extracellular regions of WAK2, only two of the four conserved cysteine residues are required for protein function. During the spring of 2009, Megan spent a semester in Copenhagen, Denmark where she studied medical practice and policy and developed a passion for traveling. While in college, Megan competed every year on Bowdoin’s varsity field hockey team, winning back-to-back NCAA National Championships in 2007 and 2008. Off the field, Megan enjoys playing basketball, watching the latest television series, and relaxing with family and friends.
Jessica Mounessa, BS. Jessica, from Great Neck, New York, graduated from Cornell University in 2011 with a major in Biology and Society and a minor in Nutrition and Health. Jessica has been a part of the North Shore-LIJ Health System since high school, when she served as a Junior Volunteer. As Vice President of Cornell University’s Residential Student Congress, she organized events to foster student well-being, implemented changes in the residential community, and fundraised for local organizations. She also participated in forums, discussions, and tours as a Student Ambassador to the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. Jessica has conducted research in the Ethnobotanical Medicine Laboratory at Cornell, studying the anti-leukemic properties of plants in the Asteracea family. Additionally, through the Imaging Sciences Laboratories in The Mount Sinai School of Medicine, she has researched atherosclerotic diagnostic and treatment methods. Jessica is now eagerly applying to medical school for matriculation in the fall of 2012.
John Pizzuti, BS. Originally from Bethpage, New York, John graduated from Boston College with a major in Biology and a minor in Theology. John’s previous research experience includes the Children’s Environmental Health Elective at The Mount Sinai School of Medicine, where he aided in research concerning exposure effects of flame retardants on children. He has also spent time working for the New York City Department of Health, researching indoor air quality, and pollutant exposure levels on homes and parks. He has also worked as a scrub technician in a private practice. As an undergraduate, John participated in several volunteer programs and was active in service trips to Belize and North Carolina. He enjoys being outdoors, reading, and all sports – especially the New York Jets. John is currently applying to medical school for matriculation in the fall of 2012.
Paula Pellegrini. Paula, originally from Santiago, Chile, moved to the United States in 1999. She worked as a paralegal for nine years before enrolling in Nassau Community College where she finished her associate’s degree summa cum laude and was inducted into Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society. She joined the North Shore-LIJ Health System in the fall of 2009 as a Volunteer Research Intern and has been with the department ever since. While working per diem as a Research Associate, Paula is currently attending Hofstra University where she is working towards her bachelor of arts degree in Biology. Paula has a passion for animals, and has recently adopted four cats. When she is not busy working, she is busy caring for her pets as well as for her husband and son. Recently, Paula discovered an interest in action sports, including rappelling and white water rafting, in which she would love to get more involved.
The following is the contact information for the Academic Associates:
Rahela Aziz-Bose, BA: razizbose@nshs.edu 516-562-1248
Megan McCullough, BA: mmccullough@nshs.edu 516-562-2928
If you are interested in the program contact John Pizzuti (jpizzuti@nshs.edu)
or Rahela Aziz-Bose (razizbose@nshs.edu)
<!--StartFragment--> <!--EndFragment--> <!--EndFragment--> <!--EndFragment-->