Students

Theresa Willis

BA in Cultural Anthropology,
University of Texas

I am a 3rd year medical student at Baylor, interested in Pediatrics and Neonatology. I received my BA in Cultural Anthropology from UT. My background is in education and speech pathology, but I am now attending medical school. Most importantly, I am a mom to 3 school-age kids.

Penni Hicks

BS, Human Nutrition & Foods, University of Houston, 1999
In progress: Ph.D., Nutrition, University of California - Davis

After graduating from University of Houston, I completed a dietetic internship at Texas Woman’s University. Currently I am pursuing a Ph.D., through University of California – Davis. I worked at the CNRC for 3 years (from undergrad – through my dietetic internship) then left to attend UC Davis. After 2 years of course work, I have returned to the CNRC to complete my dissertation projects. I will be evaluating Ca and Fe absorption in infants consuming formula or breast milk and also evaluating Ca, Fe and Zn absorption using an in vitro digestion/Caco-2 cell culture model.

Denisse Cotes, M.D.

Denisse Cotes, M.D.
Universidad Autónoma de Guadalajara, México

I was born in Panama City, Panama but live in Bocas del Toro, Panama. I finished my Medicine studies in Guadalajara, Mexico, and did my internship in Panama at “Complejo Hospitalario Metropolitano Dr. Arnulfo Arias Madrid”. I moved to Houston in August and I am working at the CNRC as a post-doctoral associate with Dr Abrams on several different studies. While studying I read many of Dr. Abram’s articles so it is quite an honor to be working with him and his team.
This is a picture of me volunteering at the George R. Brown Convention Center during the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

Leslie Cruz

Major: Nutrition
University of Houston

I’m a junior at the University of Houston. I recently joined Dr. Abrams team in April 2005 as a student intern. I’m currently learning all there is to know about research studies. I am frequently interacting with the children who are part of the studies and am able to see first hand how the studies come together. After graduating I plan to pursue pediatric dietetics. This is a picture of me inputting a food diet recall into the Nutrition Data System (NDS).

Courtney Edwards

Major: Spanish/Sociology (pre-med)
Rice University

Started in Abrams Lab: Summer 2000

I graduated from the Michael E. DeBakey High School for Health Professions and currently am a junior student in the Rice University/Baylor College of Medicine Medical Scholars Program. I would describe my position as the general student “Jack of all trades” because I originally began as a student intern hired mainly to help with patient volunteers; however, my responsibilities have expanded to laboratory work and general study data entry and bookkeeping.

Jennifer Grant

BA(H), Human Biology, Stanford University, 2003
In Progress: MD, Emory University School of Medicine

As a participant in BCM’s Summer Medical and Research Training (SMART ) Program, I am working in Dr. Abrams’ lab and assisting Keli Hawthorne with a Cystic Fibrosis & Zinc study. In the fall, I will begin my senior year at Rice University, where I am majoring in biological sciences. My most influential experiences in the world of medicine have come form my work as an EMT, and I hope to attend medical school in 2007.

Maria Hamzo

After graduating from the University of Saint Thomas in May 2005 with a degree in Chemistry, I came to work for Dr.Abrams as a research technician. I very much enjoy my job as I find myself continuously learning something new working on so many different studies. I mainly perform sample preparation in the lab and I am training to run the mass spectrometer. I am also currently in the process of applying to medical school.

Natalia Khalaf

As a participant in BCM’s Summer Medical and Research Training (SMART ) Program, I am working in Dr. Abrams’ lab and assisting Keli Hawthorne with a Cystic Fibrosis & Zinc study. In the fall, I will begin my senior year at Rice University, where I am majoring in biological sciences. My most influential experiences in the world of medicine have come form my work as an EMT, and I hope to attend medical school in 2007.

Rachel Wolfson

This is my second summer working in the lab. I have mainly worked on calcium studies and am responsible for a variety of lab tasks such as running iron columns and precipitating calcium. Next fall I will begin my senior year at Rice University, where I am majoring in biochemistry and biology. On campus I enjoy being a volunteer EMT with Rice EMS and gaining exposure to the world of medicine. I hope to attend medical school in 2005 and eventually become an emergency medicine physician.

Lab Alumni

Ashley Stanley

Dana McDonald

I am currently a senior at the University of Houston. I am majoring in the field of Nutrition with intentions of becoming a Registered Dietitian. I am also the Secretary of the Student Nutrition Association. I am very happy to be working with Dr. Abrams and Keli Hawthorne because the experience and knowledge I am gaining will further my education in nutrition. This is a picture of me preparing the isotopes for our Mighty Minerals Study!

Linda Lee

I graduated from Rice University as a chemical engineer, and then worked for a few years as a business consultant. I helped Dr. Abrams with the beverage study in Peru during the summer of 2001. Right now, I'm just finishing my first year of med school at Baylor. My favorite sport is lacrosse.

Lora Plumlee

B.S. Biology, Chemistry minor
University of Redlands , 2004

I started working in Dr. Abram's lab as a summer intern in 2002. I graduated in May 2004 and have returned to the lab to work full-time. In the lab I prepare samples to be analyzed by mass spectrometers and help run the ICP-MS (inductively coupled plasma mass spec). I also help entertain the children who enroll in our studies. I am hoping to attend medical school in the fall of 2005.

Gina Gubitosa

I will be a senior at the University of Pennsylvania majoring in Biological Basis of Behavior with a minor in Nutrition. I am from Houston and I'm excited to be working in Dr. Abram's lab for the summer. I play water polo at Penn and enjoy swimming and traveling in my free time. I plan to apply to medical school after I graduate.

Anh Mai

Major: Biology (Pre-Med)
Houston Premedical Academy

I just graduated from DeBakey High School for Health Professions and will pursue a college career in the Fall of 2004. I have been working as a student intern for Dr. Abrams since the summer of 2003. I am currently helping him with the Bone Max study. I am excited because this summer I turn 18 therefore I am able to work in the Lab. It will be a great experience.

Jessie Zhao

I was born in Beijing, China and have spent most of my life moving around. I finally realized what I wanted to do with my life when I was thrust into Michael E. DeBakey High School for Health Professions and realized how interesting the health professions really are. I am currently a senior there and will attend college next fall, and hopefully medical school after that. Working here at the CNRC has been a great and enlightening experience for me.

Yana Kriseman

B.S. in Biology, University of Houston, 2002

I began working in the lab in the summer of 1999 as part of the Val/Sal program. Now four years later, I have done everything from entertaining our study subjects, to preparing samples for the TIMS, to running the ICP. I am responsible for pretty much everything that needs to be done in the lab as well as training the new recruits. I think the most memorable part of working here were the several dozen students, fellows, post-docs, international visitors, dietitians, recruiters and others who have made their way through the lab in the last four years.

However, all good things must come to an end. I will be leaving the lab in July to start medical school right here at Baylor.

Holly Endris RD, LD

BS, Human Nutrition & Foods, University of Houston, 2002

I have worked with Dr. Abrams for the past 4½ years on several different studies, including Bone Max, the Juice study, 188 Calcium study, the Kix study, and the Crohns study. During this time I graduated from the University of Houston with a Bachelors degree in Human Nutrition and Foods. I went to Texas Woman's University for my dietetic internship and master's degree. I am currently a full time Registered Dietitian at Memorial Hermann Southwest Hospital.

Michelle Precourt

BS, Sociology & Health Policy, Rice University, 2003

I started in the lab in the summer of 2002 after discovering that my interests in international medicine and public health would be fulfilld with the work we do here. My main duties include preparing isotope-ridden samples for analysis with the mass spec.

In the daytime I masquerade as a recent Rice University graduate with degrees in sociology and health policy – by night I sing, act, and dance my way into the hearts of millions. I don’t really mind the more mundane parts of my job because I get to travel to exotic locales in order to see health care in action around the world – and hang out with all the great people who work for Dr. Abrams. I plan to go to medical school in the fall of ‘04 where I’ll pursue an MD/MPH. But don’t expect to find my name in the directory – I’m changing it when I get married in July ‘04.

Melissa Knox

B.S. in Human Nutrition & Foods, University of Houston, 2003

I began working at the CNRC in January 2001, part-time during school and full-time in the summers. I’ve been here since the inception of our Bonemax study, and have participated in most aspects of it, including lab work, study coordination, and gathering dietary data. In addition, as part of the Subject Distraction Team, I have learned the art of diverting attention away from needles with stickers and random conversation.

I have enjoyed working here the past 2½ years, and now my adventures in nutrition are taking me to San Francisco where I will complete a dietetic internship at UCSF.

Ana Beatriz Pérez-Expósito

BS, Nutrition and Food Science
Masters Degree, International Health

I am researcher at the National Institute of Public Health in Cuernavaca, Mexico. I worked with Dr. Abrams during my first participation in an iron bioavailability study. After that study, I had the opportunity to spend five months in Dr. Abrams’ Lab. I was trained in the use of stable isotopes to assess iron bioavailability in children. It was a great experience that gave me the privilege to share and learn with wonderful people!

I am going to start a PhD program in International Nutrition at the University of California, Davis in Fall 2003. After my experience at the CNRC, I am interested in working in the area of micronutrient bioavailability in children for my doctoral research work.

Malika Shah

I worked with Dr. Abrams’ team in 2002, primarily on a study involving the iron absorption in children from orange juice versus apple juice. Thanks to Dr. Abrams and Dr. Ian Griffin, I just got my first paper accepted! I am currently a neonatal-perinatal fellow at Northwestern University/Children's Memorial Hospital in Chicago, IL. I will finish in June 2005. I have two projects: the role of PAF in necrotizing enterocolitis and risk factors for iron-deficiency anemia in preterm children at follow-up.

My husband, Jay, is a management consultant with The Advisory Board in Chicago.