News from Alumni
Visit the newsletter website, http://www.bio.fsu.edu/newsletter/feedback.html, for the full stories and original wording.
1970s
Roy Abarbanel, B.S. 1977: I began my biology career with BSC 201 taught by Dr. Fox and Dr. Tschinkel. My enduring memories are with Dr. Wiese, Dr. Stuy, Dr. Roeder, and Dr. Freeman. Eventually, I found my way in the field of physical therapy, where I have practiced, taught in various schools, delivered talks, and acquired certification in manual therapy. Through it all, I've never forgotten that I have a BS in BS! I hope my work "Non-steroid feedback mechanisms in castrate and cryptorchid rats" has helped the greater good. Very much looking forward to visiting the new teaching and research center.
Jeffrey R. Keim, B.S. 1975 (M.D.): I was a graduate student in Neuroscience under Dr. Graziadei and then went on to obtain my MD degree from the University of Miami. I was an intern at the Mayo Clinic and then completed a general surgery residency and plastic surgery fellowship in the Army. I am board certified in general surgery, plastic surgery and hand surgery. I practice plastic surgery in Minot, North Dakota, and fish or hunt whenever I can.
Hoyt Matthai, B.S. 1977: Since I last wrote to BioFeedback, I have left MetriGenix and am now the VP of Manufacturing and Logistics Operations at the American Type Culture Collection (ATCC) in Manassas, Virginia. ATCC is the world's leading biological repository and has been in business for over 80 years.
1980s
John R. Fernandez, B.S. 1980 (M.D., J.D.): Emergency Medicine Physician USF 1988. Attorney FSU 2002. Pilot; musician; author; living in Stuart, Florida.
1990s
Paul M. Edwards, B.S. 1990: One of my fondest memories of attending FSU was taking Organic Chemistry from Dr. Delos Detar. I credit Dr. Detar’s commitment to instilling in me the concept of diligence and preparation in everything that you do in life and business. I have many wonderful memories of the biological sciences department at FSU and today I still think about the commitment to education and research. Since leaving FSU, I have completed two years of medical school, helped start and manage an orthopedic clinical practice, completed a graduate degree in business at the University of Minnesota, and currently work in Silicon Valley as Vice President of Marketing & Business Development for a medical device start-up (Endotex Interventional Systems) focusing on the prevention of stroke. I currently live in Mill Valley, CA (next to Sausalito), and love spending most of my free time in the vast Bay Area outdoors with my family. I have two boys who both are in Boy Scouts, and we love hiking, camping, skiing, hitting the beach, traveling and hopefully making a positive difference in others’ lives. I thank FSU, its dedicated faculty and diverse student body for helping me reach this point in my life.
David L. Fitzgerald, B.S. 1990: I am currently President & CEO of Central Florida Real Estate Ventures, Inc. We are a commercial & residential real estate development company in the Central Florida area. I credit my vision and ability to create, develop, and run this well respected Central Florida corporation to my years at FSU. Being a Biological Science major is much more relevant than many people may think. The analytical and scientific skills and thought processes learned at FSU are directly transferable to running a real estate development corporation. In addition, by being a Bio. major, I feel my corporation is much more sensitive to “Smart Growth” and respects biological and environmental issues much more than traditional developers. We are currently developing two residential subdivisions and one small office building here in the Metro-Orlando area. Thanks to FSU for great memories, sharp skills, and an entrepreneurial spirit to succeed! I always look forward to visiting campus every Fall for kickoff! [Congratulations to Mr. Fitzgerald, who was also recently appointed a Commissioner on the Planning, Zoning, and Appeals Board.]
Eric E. Dueno, B.A. 1993 (M.S., Ph.D.): Eric Dueno’s interest in botany was sparked while studying at FSU. After completion of his undergraduate degree, he then went on to earn an M.S. in natural products chemistry at the University of Central Florida, Orlando, in 1996. He then returned to Tallahassee, where he taught biology, chemistry and math for two years at the Tallahassee Community College. In 1999 Eric enrolled in the Chemistry Ph.D. program at the University of South Florida, Tampa. In the spring of 2004, he completed his doctorate in synthetic organic chemistry. In the fall of 2004 he accepted a tenure-track faculty position at Eastern Kentucky University near Lexington, KY. His teaching duties include sophomore organic chemistry and spectrophotometric identification of organic molecules. Eric has published over twenty scientific publications and two lab manuals. His current research involves the synthesis of heterocyclic compounds for medicinal purposes and the isolation and elucidation of naturally occurring compounds. He is particularly grateful to Dr. Ellen Granger and Dr. Siwo deKloet for their outstanding guidance and support during his studies at FSU.
Laura E. Ocker (formerly Laura Somervill), B.S. 1993: In 2003 I completed my Masters of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine from the Oregon College of Oriental Medicine and obtained my license to practice acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine from the Oregon Board of Medical Examiners. I currently work as the resident acupuncturist at Virginia Garcia Memorial Health Center in Hillsboro, Oregon. Virginia Garcia Memorial Health Center (VGMHC) is a primary care facility with a 30-year history of providing high quality culturally appropriate healthcare to families and individuals who otherwise would not have access to health care. It is rewarding to help others, to witness the positive changes my clients experience with acupuncture treatment, and to work side-by-side with the fantastic team of medical professionals at VGMHC.
Justin Burokas, B.S. 1995: After graduating from FSU, I became an orthopedic tech, then an X-ray technician. Then I became an orthopedic physician's assistant. I am currently employed with an orthopedic surgeon working in the operating room as a first assist two days per week, and we see patients the other three days of the week. Go Noles!
Kristin (Borden) Kraus, M.S. 1995: For three years after finishing at FSU, I was the Production Editor for the journals published at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press: Genes & Development, Genome Research, and Learning & Memory. After we moved to Salt Lake City, I was hired by Ovid Technologies, a company that offers online subscription access to medical books, journals, and databases. As Manager of the Journals Full-Text Development group, I served as a liaison between Ovid's Journal division and publishers around the world. About three years ago, I left Ovid to become the Medical Editor for the Department of Neurosurgery here at the University of Utah.
The Real BioFeedback: Please let us know what you're doing now and how you've passed the time since you left Florida State. Please don't let space limit you. Add more sheets or send an e-mail. We want to hear from everybody! As usual, a monetary contribution would be nice (perhaps you would even consider underwriting an issue of the newsletter!) but is certainly not required. (Checks can be made out to "FSU Foundation Biological Science General Development Fund" or can be earmarked for a particular scholarship or other purpose.) Be sure to let us know whether we can post your remarks on our website and/or include excerpts in the next issue of BioFeedback. Thank you!
Editorial board: Anne B. Thistle (chair, thistle@bio.fsu.edu), Joanna Carter (carter@bio.fsu.edu), and Judy Bowers (bowers@bio.fsu.edu).
As part of its current Pathways of Excellence program, Florida State University plans to hire 200 new faculty members in the next few years. These positions will be clustered, that is organized into groups intended to attack particular research problems. In 2006, in the first round of competition, Biological Science was awarded one of the two inaugural clusters—eight positions, at both junior and senior levels, for molecular and evolutionary geneticists working to understand the relationship between genotype and phenotype. The initiative was kicked off during a planning workshop, 2–3 February 2007, at which eight eminent scientists were invited to present their thoughts on this interdisciplinary effort. They addressed two questions: "How do we get molecular biologists to listen to evolutionary biologists and vice versa?" and "Once we're listening, what can we do together that we can't do alone?"
