Meet our Postdoctoral Clinical Genetics Trainees
Current Medical Genetics Residents | |
Regina | I was born, raised and attended Medical School in Barranquilla, Colombia. After obtaining my MD degree from Universidad del Norte, I moved to the United States to pursue a career in Pediatrics and Medical Genetics. I completed my Pediatrics residency training at LSUHSC in New Orleans, Louisiana. Early in life I decided to become a physician, and becoming a Clinical Geneticist has been my goal ever since. My main interests are dysmorphology, birth defects, and the significance of minor congenital anomalies in the healthy child, prenatal diagnosis and newborn screening programs. I am very excited to be a part of the Medical Genetics training program at JHU, and I am looking forward to work hard towards becoming a skilled clinical geneticist. |
Vinayak | My educational experience began with schooling in the Midwest followed by the study of molecular biology at Vanderbilt University then to the cosmopolitan city of Bangalore, India where a fascinating medical as well as cultural education ensued. Most recently, I have completed a 4 year Internal Medicine and Pediatrics residency in Saint Louis and an additional year as Chief Resident of Pediatrics. Following upon these mind-broadening life experiences, the pleasure of interacting with a multitude of teachers (including my patients) and an abiding desire throughout to ‘make a difference’, I am looking forward to strengthening my educational foundation in the Medical Genetics program at Johns Hopkins University. My interests are broad with my clinical experiences thus far having motivated me to the area of complex genetics and the interplay of genetic predisposition and environmental variables and newer avenues for intervention. As clinical genetics evolves from determining destiny to finding ways to modify it, I feel privileged to be a part of this increasingly relevant field. 2009-2010 Dr. Kottoor was appointed Chief Resident |
| I grew up in Belleville, Illinois, which is just outside of St. Louis, Missouri. As an undergraduate at Washington University in St. Louis, I majored in Biology and worked in the laboratory of Arnold Strauss, MD, on the characterization of genes involved in mitochondrial fatty acid oxidation. I then accepted a position at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine in the MD/PhD program in 1998. After completing the first two years of medical school, I transferred to the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine for the PhD part of my training. At Hopkins I was a part of the Cellular and Molecular Medicine graduate training program, and I completed my PhD in the laboratory of Stephen Baylin, MD, in 2004. For my PhD thesis research I worked on epigenetic gene silencing in cancer. In particular, my work focused on how DNA methylation and post-translational histone modifications function together to silence genes in human colorectal cancer. After completing my PhD, I returned to the University of North Carolina School of Medicine to complete my MD degree in 2006. I then went on to complete my Pediatrics residency training at Duke University Medical Center in June 2009. |
| I was born in Germany and graduated from medical school at the University of Freiburg. I trained in pediatrics at the Children’s Hospital of the University of Freiburg and in internal medicine at the University Hospital in Göttingen, Germany, before recently completing a residency at the Sioux Falls Family Medicine Residency Program in South Dakota, and a brief fellowship in obstetrics with Family Medicine Spokane in Washington. My interest in infectious diseases and genetics led to a fellowship in the lab of Patricia Rosa at the Rocky Mountain Laboratories, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, and a position as assistant professor at the Institute of Microbiology and Hygiene at the Charité University Hospital in Berlin. In the past, my research focused on the molecular genetics of Borrelia burgdorferi, the infectious agent of Lyme disease. In the broadest sense, I am interested in the interaction of genes with their environment, particularly the genetic basis of the human host response to infections. The study of human genetic susceptibility to infections is an emerging field with considerable public health implications. I decided to join the medical genetics residency program at Johns Hopkins because it offers ideal conditions and the necessary support to combine the aspects of medicine I especially care about – clinical care, research and public health |
Current Combined Pediatric/Genetics Residents | |
Hans | Graduated from the University of Iceland medical school in June 2001. Graduated with his PhD from the Human Genetics Predoctoral Program at Johns Hopkins University in March 2007. 2007-2008 Margaret Ellen Nielsen Fellowship in Genetic Medicine |
Michael | I feel very privileged to be a part of the Johns Hopkins Combined Pediatric/Genetics Program. My post secondary school path started off with an Economics Degree from Boston College. I then went straight to the National Universtiy in Ireland, where I earned my Medical Degree. Over the course of my medical school training I focused my elective time and summer research breaks toward Pediatric Cancer. Specifically at St. Jude Children's Hospital, I worked on projects related to Rhabdomyosarcoma and Germ Cell Tumors. My reason for coming to Johns Hopkins is centered around the University's dedication to teaching, patient care and breakthrough. My particular interest is in Pediatric Oncology, however, I believe in order to truly understand this subspecialty a firm understanding in Genetics is crucial. Ultimately, my goal is to merge the training I undergo in these various areas into cancer prevention trials. |
Hilary | In January of 2004 I completed my PhD in Molecular Genetics from Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ and in May of that year graduated from the Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, UMDNJ, Piscataway, NJ. 2006-2007 Margaret Ellen Nielsen Fellowship in Genetic Medicine |
Current Combined MFM Fellow/Genetic Resident | |
Teresa Martino,DO | I am the first trainee in the combined Maternal Fetal Medicine/Genetics Residency at Johns Hopkins University. I graduated from the New York College of Osteopathic Medicine in 2001. I recently completed my Obstetrics and Gynecology residency at the Bronx Lebanon Hospital Center of The Albert Einstein College of Medicine, in New York. My goal is to become a highly skilled prenatal geneticist/diagnostician. Training at Johns Hopkins University will give me the opportunity to study with leaders in both MFM and genetics. I am thrilled to be in an institution that strives to provide a breadth and depth of knowledge while excelling in clinical medicine and research. |
Natini | After finishing my medical training from Mahidol University in Thailand, I worked as a general practitioner for 2 years before joining a Ph.D. program in molecular pathology at the Graduate School of Medicine, the University of Tokyo, Japan. My Ph.D. project was to identify the novel molecular diagnostic/therapeutic targets for diffuse-type gastric cancer using a cDNA microarray platform. I continued my postdoctoral training in molecular oncology/cancer genetics field at the Department of Pathology, JHMI, where my works focused on chemoresistant and cancer recurrent phenomenon in ovarian cancer as well as the study of DNA copy number changes using SNP array. During the course of my trainings, I have become more interested in how to use the new technology platforms to directly help patients in a clinical setting, and felt that further training in clinical cytogenetics may help me accomplish my goal. I am thrilled to be a part of medical genetics community at Hopkins and look forward to advancing my education here. |
| Current Clinical Molecular Fellow | |
Ying | I graduated from Zhengzhou University School of Medicine in 2003 with an M.D. and completed my Ph.D. training in the University of Maryland in 2008. Currently, I am the first year fellow in the Clinical Molecular Genetics Training Program at Johns Hopkins University. My special interest in clinical molecular genetics was developed from learning about the clinical aspects of various genetic disorders and birth defects in my first two years’ graduate study at University of Maryland. My Ph.D. research project mainly involved the identification of hypertension susceptibility genes in the Old Order Amish, a closed founder population, by first utilizing candidate gene and positional cloning strategies, followed by a genome-wide association approach. With the facilitation of this new powerful tool, we discovered a novel blood pressure-regulating gene, STK39, initially in the Amish and then confirmed the finding in four non-Amish Caucasian populations. Through follow-up in vitro functional studies of this gene, I identified a potential casual variant for increased blood pressure. My lifetime career goal is to apply the exciting new discoveries in genetics to the development of diagnostics and prevention for human diseases. I believe my training at the DNA diagnostic lab here will greatly improve my knowledge and qualification in the genetic testing field, and I am looking forward to a challenging and rewarding fellowship at Johns Hopkins Medicine. |
GRADUATES 2009 | |
Maria | Maternal Fetal Medicine Fellowship/Genetic ResidencyI am a graduate of the University of South Dakota School of Medicine class of 2001. After completing a year of Family Medicine Residency, I transferred to the University of Kansas in Wichita to continue my education in Obstetrics and Gynecology. Through my obstetrical training I have witnessed the importance of genetics, especially when counseling patients with infertility, recurrent pregnancy loss, fetal anomalies and aneuploidy. I am very excited to be apart of the Medical Genetics Program at Johns Hopkins University. As I continue my education, I hope to focus my training in the areas of fetal dysmorphology and prenatal diagnosis. |
Feng Li, PhD | Cytogenetic FellowshipI received both my clinical training and PhD degree in Pathology at Beijing Medical University (currently Peking University Health Science Center). My PhD thesis consisted of developing a novel application of a molecular biological technique in prenatal diagnosis of chromosomal abnormality. During my postdoctoral training, I studied association of gene transcription with chromatin structure, regulation of mitochondrial biogenesis and glucose metabolism by transcriptional factor c-Myc and investigated the genetics of the imprinting gene H19 and its possible role in hepatocellular carcinoma. I am excited to join the medical genetics training program to strengthen my clinical cytogenetics diagnostic skill and broaden my knowledge on many facets of human genetics. I look forward to being a part of this fast growing field. After Graduation: Feng has accepted a position as the Assistant Director, Cytogenetics, Kaiser Permanente, San Jose, CA. |
Amr Al-Saif, PhD | Molecular GeneticistI graduated with an MBBS in 2001 from the College of Medicine, King Faisal University in Saudi Arabia, after which I spent one year as an intern. From 2002-2004 I was hired as an assistant scientist at the King Faisal State Hospital and Research Center, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Since 2004 Finally I am also working on a disease with possible complex inheritance pattern called Fuchs Endothelial Corneal Dystrophy. |
Veronica Mardo,MD | Medical GeneticistI was born and grew up in Mexico. After graduating from La Salle University School of Medicine in Mexico City, I moved to the United States to train in Medical Genetics. I completed my Family Medicine residency training at the Lutheran Medical Center in Brooklyn, NY, where in my final year I was chief resident. Awards and Honours 2005-2006 Margaret Ellen Nielsen Fellowship in Genetic Medicine AFTER GRADUATION: Dr. Mardo has joined the Florida Medical Clinic in Pasco Florida as a staff physician. |
Reem | Medical GeneticistI was born in Lebanon and grew up in Athens, Greece. I came to the U.S. for university where I attended Georgetown University as an undergraduate and medical student. I completed my residency in Pediatrics at NYU Hospitals in June 2004. My interests include craniofacial dysmorphology and population genetics, particularly for genetic diseases affecting people of Mediterranean descent. I am excited to be a part of the genetic medicine training program at Johns Hopkins University. Especially important to me, is the strength of JH’s metabolic service. I believe it is important that a geneticist be exposed to and become comfortable and confident in a wide variety of genetic subspecialties. Awards and Honours 2004-2005 Margaret Ellen Nielsen Fellowship in Genetic Medicine AFTER GRADUATION Dr. Saadeh has accepted a position as a clinical genetics at Sibley Memorial Hospital Washington, D.C. |
GRADUATE 2006 | |
Ronald Cohn, MD | Medical GeneticistI am the first combined pediatric/genetic resident at Johns Hopkins University. I attended medical school in Essen, Germany and completed two years of pediatric residency at the Children’s Hospital of the University of Essen, during which time I was responsible for the immunofluorescence diagnostics in the neuromuscular diagnostic laboratory. As a postdoctoral fellow with Dr. Kevin Campbell at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute and University of Iowa, I focused on the mechanism of cardiomyopathies associated with muscular dystrophies and the abnormal muscle regeneration in muscular dystrophies. I joined the five year combined program at Johns Hopkins because of the abundant teaching and research opportunities. This training will facilitate my goals of becoming a physician scientist, board-certified in clinical genetics as well as a highly capable pediatrician skilled in the application of scientific progress to clinical medicine. I also plan to continue my research in muscular dystrophy and aspects of muscle regeneration. Awards and Honours 06/2004 David M.Kamsler Award Outstanding Compassionate and Expert Care of Pediatric Patients, Johns Hopkins Children's Center Staff 05/2005 Award for best postdoctoral research presentation 2nd Annual Retreat of the McKusick-Nathans Institute of Genetic Medicine 09/2005 Young Investigator Award 7th International Symposium on Marfan syndrome, Ghent, Belgium 04/2006 Helen B. Taussig Award Johns Hopkins Young Investigators' Day AFTER GRADUATION: |
GRADUATES 2005 | |
Tyler 2002-2005 | Medical/Biochemical GeneticistI graduated from Rush Medical College in 1997 and completed my residency training in pediatrics and child neurology at Johns Hopkins Hospital. I am board-certified in neurology with special qualifications in child neurology. Currently, I am a member of the Ethics Service at Johns Hopkins Hospital and the Ethics, Law, and Humanities Subcommittee of the American Academy of Neurology. My areas of clinical interest include neurometabolic diseases, mental retardation, and the neurological manifestations of skeletal dysplasias. I am actively involved in research on Barth syndrome and nail-patella syndrome. One of the best aspects of training at Johns Hopkins is the opportunity to collaborate with faculty who are both excellent clinicians and preeminent researchers in their areas of expertise. AFTER GRADUATION: |
Michelle Nino, MD 2002-2005 | I graduated from Georgetown University School of Medicine in 1998 and completed my Internal Medicine/Pediatric Residency at the Medical College of Virginia Hospital. As a genetic fellow at Johns Hopkins I have had the opportunity to be educated by some of the most respected geneticists in the field of metabolic medicine. One of the most rewarding experiences in my clinical training has involved treating patients with Hurler-Scheie syndrome using enzyme replacement therapy. Currently, my laboratory training includes working with Dr. Nancy Braverman to improve the evaluation of patients with chondrodysplasia punctata, to offer molecular and biochemical verification for the clinical diagnosis of X-linked recessive chondrodysplasia punctata (CDPX1), and to evaluate the function of arylsulfatase E in normal bone and cartilage development. It is truly a remarkable educational experience. AFTER GRADUATION: Dr. Nino accepted a position with the National Institutes of Health, National Institute on Drug Abuse, Molecular Neurobiology Research Branch in Baltimore Maryland. |
Douglas Riegert-Johnson, MD | Medical GeneticistI was born and raised in Alabama where I also attended medical school at the University of Alabama School of Medicine. I completed my internal medicine residency training at the Mayo Clinic, in Rochester MN where in my final year I was chief resident. I was drawn to medical genetics because of the rapid pace of the field’s growth and the application of bench research to the bedside. My training at Johns Hopkins has exposed me to a large cross section of genetic diseases from methylmalonic aciduria to Marfan syndrome. My current research interests include stiff skin syndrome and congenital disorders of glycosylation.Awards and Honours 2003-2004 Margaret Ellen Nielsen Fellowship in Genetic Medicine AFTER GRADUATION: Dr. Riegert returned to the Mayo Clinic to pursue his studies as a Fellow in Gasteroenterology. |
| GROUP PHOTO 2009 | |
From left to right: Hans Bjornsson Abdallah Elias Regina Zambrano Hilary Vernon Jill Fahrner Teresa Martino Vinayak Kottoor Michael Walsh Sept 25, 2009 Program Director: |
Photo: Z. Kareem |
| GROUP PHOTO 2008 | |
From left to right: Hilary Vernon Regina Zambrano Michael Walsh Hans Bjornsson David Valle Ron Cohn Maria Palmquist Mark Zubriski Vinayak Kottoor Teresa Martino October, 2008 |
Photo: Z. Kareem |
GROUP PHOTO 2007 | |
From left to right: Garry Cutting, Program Director Reem Saadeh Maria Palmquist Hilary Vernon Veronica Mardo Teresa Martino Victor McKusick June 7, 2007 |
Photo: A.D. Gilbert |
GROUP PHOTO 2006 | |
From left to right: Maria Palmquist Reem Saadeh Ron Cohn Veronica Mardo Teresa Martino June 29, 2006 Back Picture includes: Victor A. McKusick & Garry R. Cutting (Program Director) |
Photo: A.D. Gilbert |
GROUP PHOTO 2005 | |
From left to right: Ron Cohn June 23, 2005 Program Director: |
Photo: A.D. Gilbert |
GROUP PHOTO 2004 | |
From left to right: Victor McKusick Tyler Reimschisel Michelle Nino Ron Cohn Douglas Riegert-Johnson Garry Cutting (Program Director) Back to top |
Photo: A.D. Gilbert |
