December 18, 2024

Class of 2024 graduates earn master’s and doctoral degrees at fall commencement

Master of Public Health graduate Brandon Crittenden is greeted by School of Medicine Dean Wael Sakr, M.D., at commencement.

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

 

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