Wayne State University’s fall 2024 Commencement included three ceremonies Dec. 14, held at the Wayne State University Fieldhouse in Detroit, including one at 2 p.m. for the School of Medicine’s master’s and doctoral degree candidates.
The ceremony included congratulatory remarks from WSU Provost and Senior Vice President of Academic Affairs Laurie Lauzon Clabo, Ph.D., the Board of Governors, faculty, and the deans of participating schools and colleges, as well as President Dr. Kimberly Andrews Espy, who directly addressed the graduates in celebrating their achievements as first-generation college graduates, student athletes, active and retired military members, and those who earned professional experience at internships and community-based projects.
“Remember, you may be graduating today, but you will always be Warrior Strong. Graduates, go out and find your way. Make your own path and impact your community. But most of all, we’re counting on you to make our world a better place. Congratulations to each of you,” Dr. Espy said.
Graduates affiliated with the School of Medicine included eight candidates for Doctor of Philosophy degrees, as well as 22 candidates for Master of Public Health degrees, 11 candidates for Master of Science degrees and 13 candidates for Master of Science in Basic Medical Sciences degrees.
Graduates and their degrees include:
DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY
August 2024
Claire McCarthy-Leo
Dissertation: “Functional Evaluation of CHEK2 Single Nucleotide Variants in Hereditary Cancer Predisposition”
Dissertation Advisor: Professor Michael Tainsky
Molecular Genetics and Genomics
Avery Peterson
Dissertation: “Improving the Accuracy and Practicality of Patient-Specific Dosimetry in 177Lu Radiopharmaceutical Therapies”
Dissertation Advisors: Professors Otto Muzik and Yuni Dewaraja
Medical Physics
Mizumi Setia
Dissertation: “Impact of Differential Localization of Immune Cell Subsets in Two Prominent Layers of HSV-1 Infected Cornea on the Development of Herpes Stromal Keratitis”
Dissertation Advisor: Professor Susmit Suvas
Anatomy and Cell Biology
December 2024
Manisha Agarwal
Dissertation: “Polychlorinated Biphenyl 126 Triggers Oxidative Stress and Reshapes the Gut Microbiome Across the Life-Span”
Dissertation Advisor: Professor Michael Petriello
Pharmacology
Isabella Cubillejo
Dissertation: “Zebrafish Gut Microbiome Structure and Swim Behavior After Vibrio Cholerae Colonization”
Dissertation Advisor: Professor Jeffrey Withey
Immunology and Microbiology
Rebecca Culcasi
Dissertation: “Skin Reaction Diagnosis in Breast Radiotherapy”
Dissertation Advisor: Professor Michael Snyder
Medical Physics
Ashten Stambersky
Dissertation: “Adjunctive TB4 Treatment Promotes Nerve Regeneration and Functional Recovery in Pseudomonas Aeruginosa-Induced Keratitis”
Dissertation Advisor: Professor Elizabeth Berger
Anatomy and Cell Biology
Taylor Vensko
Dissertation: “The Way Out: Human Cytomegalovirus Multi-Ome and Virion Egres”
Dissertation Advisor: Professor Philip Pellett
Immunology and Microbiology
MASTER OF PUBLIC HEALTH
August 2024
David Clancy
Josie Dehaan
Stephanie Kastely
Taqwa Khalaff
Jonathan Porcerelli
Sreemathi Ramesh
Avery Rudnick
Klaudia Vushaj
December 2024
Sureya Ahmed
Grace Brooks
Pranav Chalasani
Brandon Crittenden
Juhi Deshmukh
Juhi Devliyal
Olivia Furlow
Maggie Graham
Zara Khan
Evangelia Korogiannis
Maryam Mufti
Asiimwe Najjuma
Aya Sherif
Rayshawnda Temple
MASTER OF SCIENCE
August 2024
Charam Kuntamukkala
Sushmita Patil
Alexander Prince
Apoorva Rao
Andrew Voloshin
December 2024
Shaima Jawarneh
Hawraa Alromdhan
Alan Carbajo
Congxiao Cheng
Jui Gope
Danny Hammo
MASTER OF SCIENCE IN BASIC MEDICAL SCIENCES
August 2024
Rabe Al-Silwadi
Osman Faridi
Noor Ismail
Iveta Kopil
Dennis Smythe
Nolan Underwood
December 2024
Ashish Duvvuru
Sarah Gill
Zachary Hart
Catherine Hofley
Brandon Kowatch
Laura Mclellan
Tazia Miah