College: Youngstown State University, Youngstown, Ohio
Medical School: Northeastern Ohio Universities College of Medicine, Rootstown, Ohio
Residency: University of Miami/Jackson Memorial Hospital, Miami, Florida
Current Research: I am interested in infectious diarrhea, a significant cause of global childhood deaths and traveler’s diarrhea, and am engaged in a research project on enterotoxigenic E. coli (ETEC). The focus of my research is to further determine the role of Longus, a Type IV pili or fimbriae, in the pathogenesis of ETEC. I am particularly interested in elucidating the role of two regulatory genes and putative promoters encoded in the Longus DNA cluster. These genes share homology with other well known global regulators of bacterial virulence. My long term goal is to identify new virulence factors that when activated by Longus regulators may be used as vaccines candidates to protect against ETEC diarrhea. I have gained knowledge in the fields of molecular microbiology, research data management, and research writing and am looking forward to further advancements in the project.
Comments: The pediatric gastroenterology fellowship at the University of Iowa has provided me with a strong academic environment for both clinical and research work. We see a wide variety of patients and disease processes, since we are the only tertiary referral center for the state of Iowa. Our education is enhanced by practicing evidence based medicine, didactic lectures, journal clubs, attending national meetings, and numerous procedures. Some other unique aspects of our program are our close affiliations with all of the other pediatric fellowships, including a core curriculum program. We also have regular conferences with the pediatric surgeons. All of the faculty and staff have been very kind, helpful, and have a sincere interest in the advancement of the fellows’ careers. The faculty each has a wide range of expertise and backgrounds both clinically and with basic/clinical research, and therefore provide the mentoring we need during fellowship.
College: University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan
Medical School: University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan
Residency: University of Iowa Children’s Hospital, Iowa City, Iowa
Having completed my residency here at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics has given me an additional insight and a unique perspective on our GI fellowship program. For me, this was one of the most enjoyable rotations as a resident and one of the main reasons I was attracted into this field. The division's atmosphere of camaraderie was inviting and the enthusiasm about patient care was quite contagious!
I am currently active in clinical research. I am interested in studying different gastrostomy tubes and their use in children. I am focusing on prospectively comparing gastrostomy tubes, evaluating feeding tube durability, complications and parent satisfaction. There is very little if any literature published in children about this topic which makes it more interesting. I am also studying the practices of pediatric gastroenterologist in North America towards gastrojejunal tubes, specifically their experience with placing these feeding tubes in children, different techniques being used, G-J tube indications and complications. I have been attending multiple classes offered in the area of clinical investigations and Biostatistics which has tremendously affected my learning of how to perform good clinical studies.
College: Jordan University of Science & Technology, JUST, Amman, Jordan
Medical School: Jordan University of Science & Technology, JUST, Amman, Jordan
Residency: University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City, IA
I moved to Iowa City, IA one year before my residency started. I was working on my research at that time in the genetics lab here. Coming from across the Atlantic, it was a very smooth transition. Then, I started my residency and I was so thrilled to stay in Iowa. I met my husband toward the beginning of the second year here in Iowa City. We both love this place. Iowans are amazing, very helpful and welcoming. Moreover, they make me feel I am home. We like the fact that there is a wide diversity of people in Iowa. We enjoy lots of activities here like swimming, boating, dining or even just walking downtown.
My family raised me and my siblings to grow with ambitions, so that our limits could only be the sky. Being a resident here, gave me a lot of a feel on how the pediatric GI at the University of Iowa is. I enjoyed seeing that they handle all sorts of diseases from the bread and butter of GI to complex diseases like liver transplant, etc. The faculty are so nice and helpful to all fellows. Their expertise and wide knowledge gives us a strong base and their encouragement for us helps us excel and grow in this field. There is a lot of interesting opportunities for basic and clinical science research, which will make my decision to go in a direction or the other hard enough I am guessing. All of that makes me look forward to the coming three years and the fun times during my fellowship. |
Fellow Perspectives and Department Head Interview
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