BioSynthesis

The Husky Awards Banquet held at Nelson Field House on April 26 celebrated the accomplishments of BU's scholar athletes. Award recipients maintained a GPA of 3.25 during the past two semesters. Congratulations to the following BAHS scholar-athletes who were honored at the banquet: Nathan Feiertag , biology, pre-medicine (basketball); David Carney , biology (football); Blake Remensnyder, health sciences, pre-pharmacy (football); Christian Whiteside , health sciences, pre-physical therapy (football); Eleanor Kirby , medical imaging (field hockey); Erin Smith, biology, pre-medical sciences (softball); Mallory Tomaschick , health sciences, pre-physician assistant (softball); Olivia Falko , biology (soccer); Nicholas Angeny , health sciences (pre-physical therapy); Samantha Campbell , health sciences, pre-physician assistant (swimming)l Danielle DelGiorno , health sciences, pre-physical therapy (swimming); Rachel Sullivan , health sciences, pre-physical therapy (track and field). 

The Health Sciences Symposium celebrated its 25th anniversary this year! For the past 25 years faculty, students, staff, and the greater community have gathered each April to consider trending topics in healthcare. The symposium is a collaborative effort of departments in the College of Science and Technology and the Health Science Living and Learning Community. The symposium is supported by the Provost's office and the Berwick Health and Wellness Fund. Serving on the 2016 Health Sciences Symposium Committee were Dr. Jennifer Venditti, Committee Chair, Biological and Allied Health Sciences; Dr. Robert Aronstam, Dean, College of Science and Technology;  Dr. Michael Borland, Chemistry and Biochemistry;  Ms. Debbie Chamberlain, Living and Learning Communities; Dr. Kelly Dauber, Exercise Science;  Ms. Jennifer Hunsinger, Living and Learning Communities;  Dr. Judith Kipe-Nolt, Biological and Allied Health Sciences;  Dr. Joan Miller, Nursing Faculty Emeritus...

The Pre-professional Advisory committee sends its heartiest congratulations to students who successfully gained admission to professional schools in medical fields. You did it! Congratulations to the following students who will head  to the Philadelphia College of  Osteopathic Medicine as part of BU’s new affiliation agreement: Sarah Hay, Julianne Heater, Erik Rahner, Blake Shoemaker , and  Timothey Shuey . We hope to hear more good news and details when decisions are finalized. The committee wishes all pre-professional students a rewarding, relaxing, and rejuvenating summer. Remember summer is a great time to job-shadow.  Many students also choose to do their volunteer work during the summer. Students applying to medical school for the current cycle are reminded to submit their completed application packets to the committee as early as possible, preferably by July 1 for an early fall letter. 

Congratulations to Jessica Baker who successfully defended her thesis entitled "Ecological feeding niche overlap between three species of sympatric sea cucumbers: Sclerodactyla briareus, Thyonella gemmata, and Leptosynapta tenuis." Jessica's research on sea cucumbers was conducted at the Chincoteague Bay Field Station. Dr. Thomas Klinger was Jessica's mentor and Drs. Amber Pitt and Clay Corbin served on her thesis committee. Jessica's undergraduate degree is from Radford University, Radford, Virginia.  Following graduation, Jessica has accepted a position as Naturalist at the Assateague Island State Park, Maryland. 

Phi Kappa Phi is the nation's oldest, largest and most selective honor society that recognizes academic achievement in all fields of higher education. Only the top 7.5% of juniors and the top 10% of seniors are eligible to join the society.   The following BAHS undergraduates were inducted on April 17, 2016 at a ceremony attended by faculty, administrators, and family members:  Carrie-Anne Barry , Biology, pre-medicine; Hanan Ben Nacef , Health Sciences, pre-physical therapy; Allison Bleistein , Biology; Gabriella Bonchack , Health Sciences; Mikala Britt , Health Sciences, pre-physician assistant; Emily Broadbent , Health Sciences; Aubrey Cole , Health Sciences; Kayla Lavella , Health Sciences; Natalie Mayo , Health Sciences, pre-physical therapy; Dominick Policare , pre-physical therapy, Stephanie Serafin , Medical Imaging; Matthew Swift , Biology; Mallory Tomaschik , Health Sciences pre-physical therapy; Brittany Underkoffler , Health Sciences, medical lab science; A...

Justin VanDerMolen Recipient of the Outstanding senior in Biology Award and the Margaret Till Physiology Award Justin VanDerMolen , a senior biology, pre-medical sciences major, has been named the Outstanding Senior in Biology by the Department of Biological and Allied Health Sciences. Justin has also received the Margaret Till Physiology Award. This award was established by Dr. Margaret Till ,  professor emerita and former department chairperson, is granted to a junior or senior who is currently enrolled or has successfully completed at least one senior physiology course and integrated physiology lab. Candidates must write an essay describing the impact of physiology on their career. The recipient of the Margaret Till Physiology Award  receives a  $250 cash prize and a plaque that is presented at the College of Science and Technology Honors Symposium. Justin will graduate spring 2016 summa cum laude and plans to attend medical school. He has gained healt...

Katie Greene, Rebecca Proce and Andrew King  present posters on Type 2 Diabetes BAHS students enrolled in Current Topics in Biology: Type 2 Diabetes (Biology 390) during fall semester 2015 presented the results of their epidemiology research projects at the annual meeting of the Pennsylvania Academy of Sciences at Delaware Valley University recently. Master's students Andrew King and Rebecca King presented a poster on the "Geodemography of Type 2 Diabetes in Pennsylvania." Andy and Becky also presented this work at the Health Sciences Symposium.   Katie Greene, a Health Science major in the pre-physical therapy option, presented a poster that addressed the question " Is the prevalence of Type 2 Diabetes related to income in Pennsylvania counties?" This work was a collaborative effort with BAHS majors Hayley Sparks and Iane Charles . The posters generated a great deal of interest and discussion from conference attendees.