Let me relay my feelings in a short story: I remember my interview for the University of Kansas M.D./Ph.D. program very clearly. One question in particular struck the core of why I chose to pursue both degrees. Dr. Stechschulte asked me in summary of my research experience, "So it sounds like you have a lot of passion for science?" I was stunned for a moment because he had summed up my feelings into one word, "passion".
I always wanted to know why something worked, how it came to work that way and whether it could be done in another, more efficient, process. I have always asked more questions than what could be answered by my professors and I have always enjoyed the pursuit of those answers on my own.
I knew research was right for me when I had my first experience in a research environment. I spent 10 weeks studying the development of the anterior chamber of the eye. I never knew an eye could be so interesting! Every aspect of science that I had learned in my undergraduate career could be applied to the eye, but it was more dynamic than a mere application. I had to use my knowledge in novel ways to shape the progress of our research.
Our lab studies the effects of hypoxia (low oxygen) on blood vessels in the microcirculation. We have demonstrated that hypoxia produces inflammation in venules of several microcirculations including mesentery, cremaster, brain and liver. Hypoxia-induced inflammation leads to increased leukocyte adherence to endothelium, leakage of albumin through blood vessels, and emigration of leukocytes into the interstitium.
My project focuses on exercise training. Exercise training protects the microcirculation from the damaging effects of hypoxia. I am characterizing the protection of exercise training on the microcirculation and how this protection develops.
I am originally from Kansas City, MO. I am a graduate of Northwest Missouri State University in Maryville. My interests outside of school include Iyengar yoga, horseback riding and instruction, hiking and making homemade smoothies. Please email me if you have any questions, torth@kumc.edu
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