2020 Faculty Awards Recipients and Years of Service Recognition

Farah Masood, D.D.S.,
Professor of Diagnostic and Preventive Sciences, College of Dentistry

Dr. Farah Masood joined the University of Oklahoma, College of Dentistry, July 1, 2000, and has served as Director of Oral Radiology since that time. She has developed the entire radiology curricula for the undergraduate dental hygiene students, predoctoral dental students, and graduate students, and serves as the Course Director for all radiology courses at the College of Dentistry. These courses include didactic, preclinical and clinical teaching and oral and maxillofacial radiology; she also teaches residents in four postgraduate programs. Dr. Masood actively participates in research and serves on several committees at the College, University, state and national levels.

Thubi H.A. Kolobe, Ph.D.
Professor of Rehabilitation Sciences, College of Allied Health

Thubi H.A. Kolobe, PT, PhD, is a Professor and The Ann Taylor Chair for Developmental Disabilities in the Department of Rehabilitation Sciences at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center. Her research centers on early identification and treatment of Cerebral Palsy (CP). She co-developed the Test of Infant Motor Performance (TIMP) now used worldwide for early diagnosis of CP. Her current research examines the effectiveness of human-robotic movement learning and brain-behavior connection in very young infants during the development of crawling. She is nationally and internationally known for her invention and use of the Self-Initiated Prone Progression Crawler (SIPPC) to uncover early movement learning.
 

Marie H. Hanigan, Ph.D.
Professor of Cell Biology, College of Medicine

Dr. Hanigan was recruited to the faculty in the Department of Cell Biology at OUHSC in 1999. She is a basic scientist with an active NIH-funded cancer research program. She has taught medical, dental and graduate students. She has made major contributions to the university serving two terms as Chair of the Faulty Senate, championing many issues including faculty salary equity. She has chaired numerous departmental, college and campus committees including the College of Medicine Promotion and Tenure Committee. She has mentored students and faculty at OUHSC and at national level. She has won the OUHSC Faculty Governance Award twice.
 

Patsy R. Smith, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Nursing Academic Programs, College of Nursing

An associate professor in the College of Nursing, Dr. Smith’s personal and professional services involve promoting healthy behavior changes among aging residents of northeast Oklahoma City (OKC). Coordinating faith-based, multidenominational volunteers, her group organizes health education seminars encouraging health improvement through healthful choices. Experts explain self-care actions to control chronic conditions including cardiovascular diseases, cancers, smoking-related illnesses, and obesity. Dr. Smith’s unique perspectives as academic researcher and community partner 1) establish HSC interaction with the underserved, 2) study e-health technology, and 3) directly contribute to effective engagement in northeast OKC. University service involves roles as Faculty Senate chair, Secretary, and Standing Committees.

JoLaine R. Draugalis, Ph.D.
David Ross Boyd Professor of Pharmacy Clinical and Administrative Sciences, College of Pharmacy

JoLaine R. Draugalis is Dean and David Ross Boyd Professor at the OU College of Pharmacy. Prior to arriving in Oklahoma in 2007, she served on the faculty at the University of Arizona College of Pharmacy for 20 years after receiving her PhD there. She was the 2004-2005 President of the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy. Dean Draugalis earned the 2019 AACP Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of significant contributions to AACP and pharmacy education through instruction, leadership/service, and research/scholarship over a minimum of 25 years. In the 12 years she has led the OU College of Pharmacy, productivity metrics have substantially increased, including doubling of the annual operations budget. 

Rachel M. Franklin, M.D.
Professor of Family and Preventative Medicine, College of Medicine

Rachel Franklin, MD, FAAFP is Professor of Family and Preventive Medicine, and Medical Director of the Family Medicine Center on the Health Sciences Center Campus in Oklahoma City. She is a past nominee for the Aesculapian Award for Outstanding Teaching and achieved national recognition for achievements as director of the third-year clerkship in family medicine. She is internationally recognized for her work in primary care pain management education and clinic process improvement and is a five-time consecutive winner of the OU Medicine Award for Outstanding Patient Service. Dr. Franklin practices full scope family medicine, including obstetric care. 

Denise G. Bender, J.D.
Associate Professor of Rehabilitation Sciences, College of Allied Health

Denise G. Bender, JD, PT, M.Ed., is a tenured Associate Professor in the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, College of Allied Health where she serves as Program Director for the Doctor of Physical Therapy program in the Department of Rehabilitation Sciences. Her clinical practice occurs at the OU Physicians Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Interprofessional Clinic at the Harold Hamm Diabetes Center. Since 2012, Denise has served as core faculty in the campus wide Interprofessional Educators and Practitioners Association (IEPA). As current IEPA Chair, and Curriculum Co-Chair, she serves as a campus champion for the development of innovative didactic and clinical interprofessional opportunities.

Molly Hill, Ph.D.
Professor of Microbiology and Immunology, College of Medicine

Dr. Molly Hill is a Professor in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology. She joined the department in 2007 and has become a leader in medical and graduate student education in the College of Medicine. Dr. Hill was chair of the Academy of Teaching Scholars from 2017-2018 and is the past recipient of the Stanton L. Young Master Teacher Award, Aesculapian Award, and Regents’ Award for Superior Teaching. She is director of the IMI course for first year medical students. Dr. Hill is recognized for her high level of commitment to medical and graduate student education and innovations to enhance student learning.
 

Melissa S. Medina, Ed.D.
Professor of Pharmacy Clinical and Administrative Sciences, College of Pharmacy

Dr. Melissa Medina is a Professor & Associate Dean at the OUHSC College of Pharmacy since 2000. Dr. Medina teaches pharmacy students in all 4 years of the pharmacy curriculum, pharmacy residents as the Teaching Certificate Director, graduate students & post-doctoral fellows as the Director of Preparing Future Faculty, & faculty across campus & nationally in teaching, leadership, & educational research workshops. Dr. Medina has delivered 100+ national presentations & published 50+ peer reviewed articles. She chaired the national committee to revise the Pharmacy Education Program Outcomes, was the College’s self-study chair, & is implementing 3 online teaching certificate programs for OUHSC faculty & graduate students.

Julie A. Stoner, Ph.D.
Professor of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, College of Public Health

Dr. Stoner received her Ph.D. in Biostatistics from the University of Washington in 2000. She joined the faculty of the Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology (BSE) as an Associate Professor in 2007 after an early successful career at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. In 2011 she was named Chair of BSE, and in 2019 she was appointed Associate Dean for Research at the Hudson College of Public Health (HCOPH) and The Edward E. and Helen Bartlett Chair in Public Health. The influence of Dr. Stoner’s leadership, vision and skills in educational program development are apparent within the HCOPH and extend across campus. Her contributions have strengthened the quality and quantity of public health and clinical research. In addition, she is a nationally recognized scholar and has consistently engaged and mentored students, clinical residents, fellows and junior faculty across campus towards success in their chosen career paths.

Beverley Greenwood-Van Meerveld, Ph.D.
Professor of Physiology, College of Medicine

Dr. Beverley Greenwood-Van Meerveld is conducting innovative research in neurogastroenterology that is fully financed by continuous grant support from federal agencies, foundations, and industry. Her long-term research objective is to understand how the brain regulates the gastrointestinal tract. This research will advance basic scientific knowledge and have direct relevance to the diagnosis and treatment of veterans and patients with functional gastrointestinal disorders. She has achieved an international reputation and a proven track record with over 30 years of research experience. She has received numerous, very prestigious scientific awards and a promotion from the Veterans Administration to demonstrate her prodigious stature in the scientific world.
 

Lucila Garcia-Contreras, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy

Dr. Garcia-Contreras is an Associate Professor in the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences at OUHSC. Her research is on the design, formulation and evaluation of therapeutic compounds administered by the pulmonary route for the treatment and prevention of respiratory infectious diseases. She has also developed novel approaches to treat gynecological and lung cancers with minimal drug doses and no side effects. She has published multiple papers and book chapters in the pharmaceutical and biomedical literature and is regularly invited to speak at international meetings. Dr. Garcia-Contreras is internationally known for her work on pulmonary administration to laboratory animal models of tuberculosis.

Thomas A. Teasdale, Dr.P.H.
Professor of Health Promotion Sciences, College of Public Health

Dr. Teasdale (Professor and Chair, Department of Health Promotion Sciences) is an interdisciplinary health workforce educator with 35+ years in the fields of gerontology, mental health, and public health. He was recruited to OUHSC in 2003 after 20 years at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center and Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX. At OUHSC, he led the OKC VA Mental Illness Research Education and Clinical Center, directed HRSA-funded Oklahoma Geriatric Education Center, was associate director of the Oklahoma Healthy Aging Initiative, and led OUHSC’s Geriatric Department’s education mission as vice chair. Transferring to Health Promotion Sciences in 2015, he directs four graduate degree programs; manages and recruits for a team of faculty, staff, and students; and currently leads or co-leads grants/contracts totaling about $1.3 million per year.

Phebe M. Tucker, M.D.
Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, College of Medicine 

Phebe Tucker, M.D. is a tenured professor, Vice Chair of Education, and The Ungerman Endowed Chair of Psychiatry. Her dedication to teaching and mentoring medical students and residents over her 30+ year career has earned award recognition. Dr. Tucker has for many years been course director and teacher for medical student courses, teacher and supervisor for psychiatry residents, faculty sponsor for the OU College of Medicine Student Interest Group, and director of Psychiatry Grand Rounds and local and national CME programs. She has mentored more than 40 trainees in published research and scholarly activity as editor of the Journal of Oklahoma State Medical Association and is Medical Director of OCMS Physicians Wellness Program. 

Marvin Williams, Jr., D.O.
Associate Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology, College of Medicine

As an Associate Professor in the Section Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Dr. Marvin Williams is a gifted teacher with a passion for sharing knowledge with others. He is a strong role model for his peers and trainees and excels as a clinician and team researcher. Dr. Williams strives to make those around him better and in particular, continues to champion healthcare for the underrepresented. He has developed a reputation for excellence regionally and nationally. His contributions to the University of Oklahoma have led to significant quantitative and qualitative transformations. His dedication to services fulfills a personal commitment to excellence and is a testament to his fervor for the dissemination of knowledge and personal expertise to all involved in his profession.

Ying Zhang, M.D., Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, College of Public Health 

Dr. Ying Zhang is a tenure-track Associate Professor of Biostatistics in the Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology (BSE) at OUHSC. She holds a M.D. (1991) and M.S. and Ph.D. (Health Statistics, 1994/1998) from China. She joined the BSE faculty in 2005 as an Assistant Professor of Research and transitioned to a tenure-track position in 2017. Dr. Zhang’s research focuses on vascular complications of diabetes. She is the PI and Co-Investigator on multiple NIH-funded grants. She regularly teaches introductory graduate biostatistics/applied analysis methods, is a sought-after research mentor, and Faculty Advisor for the Biostatistics and Epidemiology Student Association at OUHSC.

 
Amanda E. Janitz, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, College of Public Health

Dr. Amanda E. Janitz began her faculty career as an Assistant Professor of Research in 2015 in the Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, and was appointed Assistant Professor in that department in 2019. Dr. Janitz’s research portfolio focuses on three interrelated topics: environmental exposure, childhood cancers, and cancer risk in American Indian populations. Her research is truly collaborative, including partners such as the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma, the Oklahoma State Department of Health, the Tribal Epidemiology Center, and the Stephenson Cancer Center. Dr. Janitz is recognized both locally and nationally as an expert in childhood cancer and specifically cancer in tribal communities.  She has secured grant funding for multiple projects as the PI, including, from the National Institute of Environmental Sciences and the Native American Research Center for Health as Core Co-Director and a Co-Investigator.  She has 34 peer reviewed publications with 11 as first author.  She actively mentors students, ensuring a well-trained cadre of scientists to address public health priorities. 
 

Fernando Esteban Florez, D.D.S.
Assistant Professor of Restorative Sciences, College of Dentistry

Dr. Fernando Esteban Florez joined the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center College of Dentistry as a Postdoctoral Fellow from 2012 – 2015 before being appointed an Assistant Professor in 2015. Dr. Esteban Florez’s main area of research is the development of antibacterial dental biomaterials that can limit the progression of dental caries under existing resin composite dental restorations.  His main research focus in on the development of a range of doped and co-doped titanium dioxide nanoparticles that are capable of antibacterial behavior, remineralization of tooth structure and binding to the organic and inorganic components to tooth structure. He is co-inventor on two international pending patents for these antibacterial nanoparticles. Dr. Esteban Florez has received nine extramurally and intramurally-funded awards since 2012, including two in-kind user proposals from the Center for Nanophase Materials Sciences at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory.  Dr. Esteban Florez has published 29 peer-reviewed articles in leading, high impact factor or highly cited journals. He is the senior or first author on 21 of these publications. He has mentored six undergraduate students, pre-doctoral dental students and graduate students. Dr. Esteban Florez currently serves on the Editorial Boards of two highly cited journals, and he has given invited presentations at 7 international conferences.

 
Misty M. Miller, PharmD,
Associate Professor of Pharmacy Clinical and Administrative Sciences, College of Pharmacy

Dr. Miller was hired in 2012 in the area of infectious disease and HIV and was promoted to Associate Professor in 2018, with primary roles in clinical services and teaching. Specifically in teaching, she is responsible for coordination of three courses in the Doctor of Pharmacy professional degree program; precepting Doctor of Pharmacy students during experiential rotations; mentoring professional-degree students; and providing academic leadership for the professional degree and campus-wide programs. She is the recipient of multiple teaching awards including the Outstanding Preceptor of the Year in 2013 and the College of Pharmacy Professor of the Year in 2018. Dr. Miller maintains productivity in other areas of academic responsibility as an early career faculty member. She has a total of 14 peer-reviewed publications, one book chapter and 14 national poster or podium presentations. 
 

Lisa Michelle Landrum, M.D., Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology, College of Medicine

Dr. Landrum was appointed to the College of Medicine faculty and promoted to Associate Professor in 2016. She was appointed to serve as the Obstetrics and Gynecology Residency Program Director, resulting in the program’s sustained excellence. Dr. Landrum has been actively involved in teaching since her time in residency training, and these efforts and accomplishments have only intensified following the completion of fellowship training in Gynecologic Oncology. She has been an active participant in the OB/GYN clerkship experience, with her contributions including leading small groups in gynecologic oncology topics, teaching rounds, pelvic anatomy sessions, and mentoring student groups in general gynecology and obstetrical topics. Her teaching excellence is consistently recognized with local and national teaching awards including, Aesculapian Award in 2004, the CREOG teaching award in 2010 and 2016, and the Chairman’s Distinguished Teaching Award in 2012. From a research and scholarly activity standpoint, Dr. Landrum has published 44 peer-reviewed manuscripts, including 19 as primary or senior author. She has also authored numerous chapters in OB/GYN reference texts including Danforth’s Obstetrics & Gynecology and Clinical Gynecologic Oncology. In 2019, she was the recipient of the Society of Gynecologic Oncologists Legislative Ambassador Award and named ACOG District VII Mentor of the Year and most recently selected as the 2019 Leonard Tow Humanism in Medicine Award.
 

Tonie Metheny
Department of Nursing Academic Programs, Department of Nursing

Tonie Metheny is a Clinical Assistant Professor of Nursing at the Fran and Earl Ziegler College of Nursing at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center. Students consistently evaluate her teaching across didactic, clinical, and online courses as exemplary. Students nominated her for the Robert Margarian faculty award in 2016, 2017, and 2018. In 2018, she was awarded the Excellence in Academic Teaching Award by the College of Nursing. She was selected by the National Council in State Boards of Nursing to serve as an item writer for the NCLEX exam in 2018 and in 2019.

Eric Howard, PhD
Associate Professor in the Department of Cell Biology, Assistant Dean of the Biomedical Doctoral Programs in the Graduate College

Dr. Howard is well known for his many contributions to the OUHSC campus including founding the interdisciplinary Graduate Programs in Biomedical Sciences and founding the Office of Animal Welfare Assurance. He was recognized for his efforts as the winner of the 2018 Regents’ Award for Superior Professional and University Service and Public Outreach.  Dr. Howard’s long record of service includes one-on-one mentoring of students and faculty, multiple department and institutional level committees to national organizations. Dr. Howard was elected to the Faculty Senate in 2017 and has served as Secretary-Elect and Secretary. As a member of the Executive Board of the Faculty Senate Dr. Howard has drawn on his wide reaching involvement across the campus to be an advocate for faculty and to bring to the Faculty Senate and the OUHSC administration many issues of importance to the faculty. His active involvement in faculty governance has greatly benefited OUHSC and its faculty. 

Patents:

• HIGH MOLECULAR WEIGHT HEPAROSAN POLYMERS AND METHODS OF PRODUCTION AND USE THEREOF
• METHODS OF PRODUCING TESTOSTERONAN POLYMERS USING TESTOSTERONAN SYNTHASE

Inventor
Paul L. DeAngelis, PhD
Biochemistry/Molecular Biology
 

Paul DeAngelis (Harvard, BA; Univ. of California, PhD) has studied the biosynthesis of complex carbohydrates utilizing biochemistry, chemistry and molecular biology for 3 decades leading to 80 publications.
His laboratory clones and harnesses the enzymes involved in the synthesis of polysaccharides like heparin, hyaluronan, and chondroitin.  Our biotechnological research has yielded 45 US patents (as well as corresponding international patents) for safer non-animal production sources, biocompatible coatings, stealthy drug delivery, novel designer polymers, and cell behavior-modulating therapeutic leads for cancer and inflammation. These endeavors have been or currently being commercialized by 4 OUHSC spin-off biotech companies with assistance by Dr. DeAngelis.
 

Patent: COMPOSITIONS FOR TREATING RETINAL DEGENERATION AND METHODS OF PRODUCTION AND USE THEREOF

Inventors:
Hongwei Ma, Ph.D.
Cell Biology

Xi-Qin Ding, Ph.D.
Cell Biology 
 

Dr. Ma is an Assistant Professor of Research at the Department of Cell Biology. He received his Ph.D. from the University of Southern Mississippi and pursued post-doctoral training at OUHSC. Working at Dr. Xi-Qin Ding laboratory, he investigates the mechanism(s) of retinal degeneration and novel therapeutic strategies. Specifically, he focuses on the regulation of thyroid hormone signaling in retinal degeneration and phototransdution deficiency-associated retinal degeneration. Dr. Ma has published over 30 research articles in peer-reviewed journals. 
 

Dr. Ding is Professor of Cell Biology and Joanne I. Moore Professor of Pharmacology at College of Medicine. She obtained her PhD from the University of Lund and received post-doctoral training at the Mayo Clinic and Foundation. The primary focus of Ding laboratory research is to understand the mechanism(s) of retinal degeneration in order to identify novel therapeutic strategies. Dr. Ding has published over 50 research articles in peer-reviewed journals, and her research has been supported by the National Institute of Health, the Foundation Fighting Blindness, and the BrightFocus Foundation. 

Patent: HIGH ISOMEROHYDROLASE ACTIVITY MUTANTS OF HUMAN RPE65

Inventors

Jian-Xing Ma, MD, Ph.D.
Physiology 

Yusuke Takahashi, Ph.D.
Physiology

Gennadiy Moiseyev, Ph.D.
Physiology

Jian-xing (Jay) Ma, completed his clinical medicine training from Jiangxi Medical College and received Ph.D. of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at Medical University of South Carolina. In 2003, he moved OUHSC as Laureate Professor in Department of Medicine. In 2007, he became Director of NIH-funded diabetes COBRE. He was appoint Chairman of Department of Physiology in 2010 and was awarded George Lynn Cross Professor in 2012. He has published 230 peer-reviewed papers and received approximately $50 million grants as PI. He is the founder of two biotechnology companies. He has trained many graduate students, postdoctoral fellows and junior faculty members. 

Dr. Yusuke Takahashi received his Ph.D. degree in Information Science at Tohoku University, Japan at year 2000. He joined in Professor Jian-xing Ma’s group at OUHSC at year 2004 and has greatly contributed in the first report that RPE65 is the isomerohydrolase in the retinoid visual cycle. Following this discovery, he further identified numbers of key residues enhancing catalytic activity in RPE65.
Dr. Takahashi is currently Associate Professor of Research in Department of Physiology at OUHSC, and mainly focusing on pathogenic pathways of retinal degenerative diseases including diabetic retinopathy and age-related macular degeneration.

 

Gennadiy Moiseyev is the Assistant Professor of Research at the Department of Physiology of OUHSC. He received his PhD degree in Chemistry from Engelhardt Institute of Molecular Biology in Moscow, Russia. He carried out postdoctoral studies in Biochemistry with Professor Jian-xing Ma at Medical University of South Carolina where he worked on the mechanism of regeneration of 11-cis retinal in retina. He continued with this investigations and established the chemical nature of the substrate as retinyl ester and RPE65 as the isomerase. For the past 20 years he has been investigating the biochemistry of vision focusing on the visual cycle.

Patent: SURGICAL CLEANING TOOL, SYSTEM, AND METHOD

Inventor
Nilesh R Vasan, MD
Otorhinolaryngology

Dr. Vasan is an Otolaryngologist – Head and Neck Surgeon in Oklahoma City at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center (OUHSC).  He was born and raised in New Zealand where he attended medical school and completed Residency. He is a Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons.  Dr. Vasan moved to Oklahoma City in 2002 where he completed a 2 year Head and Neck Fellowship at the OUHSC. He specializes in treating benign and malignant disease within the Head and Neck as well as General ENT disorders. Dr. Vasan is the only physician in the state performing Head & Neck Robotic surgery and is active in the field of medical device innovation.  Dr. Vasan is the Residency Program Director for the Department of Otolaryngology and holds the Jesus E. Medina Chair in Otolaryngology – Head & Neck Surgery
 

Patent: VARIANTS OF ADRENOMEDULLIN AND CALCITONIN GENE-RELATED PEPTIDE AND METHODS OF USE

Inventor
Augen A Pioszak, Ph.D.
Biochemistry/Molecular Biology 

Dr. Pioszak is a protein biochemist and structural biologist with a research program centered on elucidating the signaling mechanisms of clinically important human cell surface receptors.  His work seeks to define the molecular bases of ligand binding to the receptors and signal transduction across the cell membrane and to use the resulting knowledge to guide the design of novel therapeutics to treat human disease.
 

Patent: INHIBITORS OF RETINALDEHYDE DEHYDROGENASES AND METHODS OF USE

Inventor
Jody A. Summers-Wiechmann, Ph.D.
Cell Biology

Dr. Jody Summers received her Ph.D. from the University of North Dakota in 1989. She then carried out postdoctoral research  at University of Pittsburgh and, subsequently, served as Associate Professor and Professor at the University of North Dakota. Dr. Summers joined the Department of Cell Biology faculty at OUHSC in 2003. Dr. Summers has contributed greatly to the understanding of the scleral changes associated with myopia development and the role of retinoic acid in the regulation of ocular growth.  She is currently involved in the development of compounds that can specifically inhibit retinoic acid as potential anti-myopia therapeutics. 

Patent: GLUTAMATE TREATMENT OF CARDIOVASCULARE DISORDERS

Inventor
Sunny Po, MD, Ph.D. 
Internal Medicine, Heart Rhythm Institute
 

Patent: CARDIAC NEUROMODULATION AND METHODS OF USING SAME

Inventor
Robert D. Foreman, Ph.D.
Physiology
 

Robert D. Foreman PhD is George Lynn Cross Research Professor Emeritus in the Department of Physiology at The University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center. He published more than 230 articles in peer reviewed journals, and the National Institutes of Health supported his research program throughout his career. He received the Distinguished Service Award and the Lifetime Achievement award from the North American Neuromodulation Society. Presently, he is Acting Editor-In-Chief and Section Editor of Basic Science for Neuromodulation: Technology at the Neural Interface Journal. 

Patent: PNEUMOLYSIN MUTANTS AND METHODS OF USE THEREOF

Inventor
Rodney K Tweten, Ph.D. 
Microbiology and Immunology

The focus of Dr. Tweten’s research effort has been to unravel the basis by which pore-forming toxins function at the molecular level. This class of toxins contribute to the pathogenesis of a wide range of bacterial pathogens that are the causative agents of streptococcal pneumonia, necrotizing fasciitis, gas gangrene, listeriosis and many other diseases. His NIH-funded studies over 30 years (currently Dr. Tweten is an NIH MERIT awardee) have facilitated the development of vaccines based on these inactive toxin variants. Currently, one of these variants from Streptococcus pneumoniae is licensed and being developed as a next generation vaccine for streptococcal pneumonia, which is estimated by the WHO to cause 1.6 millions deaths per ye ar worldwide.

Jane Wilson, PhD
Associate Professor and Associate Dean for Student Affairs
Pharmacy Student Affairs

Dr. Jane Wilson began her time with the University in 1995 as a Clinical Coordinator and Assistant Professor, Department of Dental Hygiene  She currently serves at the Associate Dean for Student Affairs and Associate Professor in the College of Pharmacy.
 

Marcia M. Bennett, Ph.D., M.B.A.

Dr. Marcia Bennett, Vice Provost for Health Sciences, was a leader at the OU Health Sciences Center through its transformation over the past 30 years.  She recently retired on January 31, 2020.  Dr. Bennett has inspired generation after generation of faculty, staff, and student leaders at the HSC.  She is an exemplary and inspiring mentor, and single-handedly has nurtured mentor networks across our colleges and campus. In honor of her enduring legacy, she was the inaugural recipient of the Marcia M. Bennett, PhD, Health Sciences Center Leadership and Mentoring Award.