My first position as a biomedical engineer at Yale is
what inspired me towards neuroscience. I assisted in the image acquisition and
planning for image-guided stereotactic neurosurgery. It was a tremendous
learning experience. I also performed hippocampal volumetric measurements in
epileptic patients. My love for quantitative and functional MRI began at that
time. The ability to measure pathology and disease progression using imaging
fascinated me.
2. Why stroke?
My next significant position was as the director of
Central Nervous System at an imaging CRO, focusing on clinical trials. We were
responsible for the image processing and analyses for the majority of
neuroprotective agents in ischemic stroke studies. During that time I traveled
to hospitals around the world and learned a great deal from both an imaging and
clinical perspective. My interest in being an imaging scientist formed during
this experience. As a result I finished my doctorate in biomedical engineering
with my dissertation focusing on quantitative MRI in stroke.
3. What have been the highs so far?
The highs are finishing research studies, getting
papers published and presenting at international meetings. However, the biggest
high by far is teaching engineering and medical students and having a positive
impact on their careers.
4. What have been the lows?
The lows are getting papers rejected, especially after
putting in an enormous amount of time and effort.
5. How do you balance work life with the needs of home
life?
I think I have dedicated, albeit by sheer luck, each
decade to one life goal. First was an emphasis on travel and gaining work
experience, next was finishing my academic goals and establishing myself as an
imaging scientist, which coincided with becoming a mother. Over the last
several years my drive has helped me to focus on two goals, raising my daughter
and advancing the science in stroke imaging.
6. Who are your most important mentors and how did you
find them?
My most important mentors are: Dr. Greg McCarthy,
neuropsychologist at Yale who taught me a tremendous amount; Dr. John Enderle,
my advisor from my doctoral studies at UCONN, who encouraged me throughout my
academic career and hired me as an adjunct professor for the BME department;
and Dr. Steven Warach, my life long mentor and friend, who I met during my time
at the imaging CRO. I have been fortunate enough to continue to work with Dr.
Warach for almost two decades.
7. What are your most important collaborations and how
have you built them?
My most important collaborations have been through my
current position at the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and
Stroke\National Institutes of Health and becoming involved in STIR and VISTA
Imaging, two worldwide collaborative groups focused on the advancement of
stroke research. I have built these collaborations by helping others in their
research, being meticulous in my own research, being dedicated with my feedback
to others, and being open to all ideas and approaches that my colleagues put
forth.
