Daniel Kaplan, associatie professor in Biomedical Sciences, published "An Mcm10 mutant defective in ssDNA binding shows defects in DNA replication initiation" in the Journal of Molecular Biology. The primary research manuscript was co-authored with Kaplan's former postdoctoral student, Patricia Perez-Arnaiz, Ph.D.

"Mcm10, a DNA replication protein, binds single-stranded DNA to melt origins during the process of replication initiation," said Kaplan. "Origin melting by Mcm10 is required for assembly and activation of the replication fork helicase."

Ken Brummel-Smith, founding chair of the College of Medicine’s Department of Geriatrics, and a tireless advocate for older adults and universal health insurance, is retiring. Soon.

“Ken has been instrumental in creating the infrastructure that has allowed for the development and implementation of a novel geriatric curriculum across all four years of training,” current Department of Geriatrics Chair Paul Katz said in making the announcement.

“Under his leadership, the Department of Geriatrics and its faculty have achieved national prominence. Ken is a superb clinician and educator and has been a powerful role model for the hundreds of trainees he has mentored since joining the faculty in 2003.”

Brummel-Smith, who stepped down as chair of the geriatrics department in 2015, isn’t leaving right away. His last day will be in June.

The College of Medicine will find an opportunity to celebrate Brummel-Smith’s contributions as his retirement date draws near. Meantime, his planned departure is fresh news for many, including the more than 1,000 College of Medicine alumni impacted by his teaching, and at least as many grateful patients impacted by his patient-focused care.

In his own words, here is why Brummel-Smith is ready for a change:

“A lot of people have asked why I decided to retire now and what I plan to do. I’m 67 and in great health, and still very active in my career. So it’s kind of natural to ask, ‘Why now?’

“Like everything in human life – it’s complex. One, one of my best friends (same age) retired four years ago and loves it. He’s still doing a lot to advance geriatrics through the American Geriatrics Society, but he’s in complete control of how he chooses to spend his time.

“Two, after 30 years in geriatrics I can’t tell you how often I heard the story of someone pushing themselves and then finally retiring, only to have some health problem begin shortly afterwards.

“There are so many things I want to do in my life ahead, I want to start them while I’m able. And finally, the demands of academics are mostly around time. Lots of things have to get done – teaching in a course, working on a grant, developing and conducting a clinical program. Not that much time for yourself. I’ve always believed that new challenges – getting scared – is a good way to maintain health. So I’m looking at things I’ve always wanted to do – learn Tai Chi, woodworking, take a Spanish immersion course in Panama, ride the length of the Blue Ridge Parkway. A venture into the unknown.

“I will keep my hand in medicine – I’ll remain as medical director of Trulieve, the medical cannabis dispensary. I’ll keep representing the AGS on the Forum on Aging, Disability and Independence at the National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine. I’ll remain involved in the service learning trips to Panama with the medical students. But I want to start learning more about, writing about, and advocating for improvements in two areas – the role of racism and bias in medicine and person-centered care.

“My time at FSU College of Medicine has been amazing. I’ve worked longer here than anyplace I worked before. I’m so proud of our mission and I hope that we will stay true to it. But retirement from a place like FSU is also about trust – trust that 14 years of students and faculty and staff that I have been fortunate to work with will keep the ideal of patient-centered care in their hearts. I’m confident they will.”

Professor Marshall Kapp co-authored "Medical Malpractice in Dermatology—Part I: Reducing the Risks of a Lawsuit" published in the American Journal of Clinical Dermatology.

Professor Marshall Kapp published "Teaching Legal Competencies Through an Individualized Elective in Medicine and Law" in Gerontology and Geriatrics Education.

Associate Professor Nancy Hayes gave a presentation on, Brain Function Across the Lifespan: A User's Guide for the Sandwich Generation, during the second annual President's Club College. The event held on September 30 was hosted by the FSU Foundation, which created the President's Club in 1977 to recognize donors of distinction through their outstanding support. Biomedical Sciences Chair Richard Nowakowski assisted Hayes during her presentation. 

Four College of Medicine faculty members received three seed grants as part of the OneFlorida Clinical Research Consortium in partnership with UF’s Clinical Translational Science Institute:

• Branko Stefanovic, biomedical sciences professor, received a seed grant for suppression of fibrosis of keloid fibroblasts and validation of a novel antifibrotic compound and analysis of prognostic markers.
• Lloyd N. Werk, clerkship faculty with the Orlando Regional Campus, received a seed grant for assessing risk progression of T2DM/NASH in obese pediatric patients.
• Yi Zhou and Hengli Tang, biomedical sciences professors, received a seed grant to test anti-Zika therapeutic candidates in human brain organoid and animal models.

The college's seed grant program is supported by the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences of the National Institutes of Health. Awards are intended to support faculty members whose research aims specifically at collecting preliminary data involving the college's Clinical Research Network. 

Biomedical Sciences Assistant Professor Yuan Wang received $12,695 from the Northwestern University Knowles Foundation to study the "Structure and Function of Low Frequency Neurons in the Avian Cochlear Nucleus." These are auditory neurons located in the brainstem.

"My research interests are brain development and regulation," reads Wang's faculty profile. "We are particularly interested in roles of the fragile X mental retardation protein (FMRP) in developing auditory circuits for sound localization and scene analyses. Loss of FMRP results in abnormal neurons in the brain and the fragile X syndrome, the leading known genetic cause of autism. We apply genetic, molecular, and cellular approaches to investigate neuronal structure and function in normal and abnormal brains."

The Transformation Through Teaching program honors faculty members across the university for their transformative influence on the lives of their students inside and outside of the classroom. This year, Michael Nair-Collins, assistant professor of behavioral science and social medicine, was selected by Samantha Mahon for helping to spark her passion for bioethics. 

“Not only has Dr. Nair-Collins’ mentorship made me realize my passion for bioethics," said the first-year student, "he has also helped me grow as an individual. Dr. Nair-Collins makes me want to be a better person, a better student and a better future physician. He embodies bioethics in every way, looking out for others, especially those who don’t have a voice; minimizing harm, which is as simple to him as being kind; being open-minded to others, so he can truly listen to every perspective.”

Honorees are nominated by their students for their dedication to helping students find their authentic selves and pursue their dreams.

Mahsheed Khajavi, assistant professor of clinical medicine, was also nominated by Alexandra Lackey for going out of her way to help motivate and teach students.

“It’s easy to forget that our purpose in medical school is to dedicate ourselves to the service of others," said Lackey, a second-year student, "but Dr. Khajavi always brings our focus back to eventually being able to touch others’ lives. She gets to know her students on a personal level, and always generously spends extra time to make sure we are doing okay both academically and personally. FSU COM is all about treating patients using a biopsychosocial model, and Dr. Khajavi treats us with the love and compassion we hope to be able to give our future patients.”

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Professor Marshall Kapp, J.D., M.P.H., recently published a chapter entitled, "Legal Aspects of Oncology Care for Dying Patients," in the book Dying and Death in Oncology.

The FSU Council on Research and Creativity notified Drs. Angelina Sutin, Michelle Arbeitman, Antonia Nemec and Yanchang Wang that they received $13,000, one-year research awards:

• Michelle Arbeitman, associate professor of biomedical sciences, will study "Genomic Analysis of the Mammalian Maternal Brain."
• Biomedical Sciences researcher Antonia Nemec will study "DNA Repair Gene Mutations as Biomarkers for Breast Cancer."
• Angelina Sutin, assistant professor in the Department of Behavioral Sciences and Social Medicine, will study "Parent Perception and Child Weight Gain: Identifying Potential Mechanisms."
• Yanchang Wang, associate professor of biomedical sciences, will study "Identification of Cdc48-involved Pathways that Promote the Degradation of Misfolded Proteins."