Residency Program Staff
Residency Faculty
Generalists
- Frederick Bright, MD, Assistant Professor
Faculty Profile
Email: fbright@msm.eduDr. Frederick Bright received his Bachelors Degree in Chemistry from San Francisco State University in 1986 and his M.D. Degree from Howard University College of Medicine in 1991. He went on to complete his post graduate Residency training in Obstetrics & Gynecology at Howard University Hospital in 1995. Following completion of his Residency Training he joined the faculty of Morehouse School of Medicine (MSM) where he was instrumental in helping establish and maintain the MSM’s Residency Program in the Department of OB/GYN with its primary site at the Historical Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta, Georgia. Dr Bright was board Certified by the American Board of Ob/Gyn in 2001 and currently serves as Assistant Professor with the MSM Department of OB/GYN with his focus providing indigent patient care and Quality Improvement services at Grady Memorial Hospital.
- Kimberly Carroll, MD, Assistant Professor
- Cheryl Franklin, MD, Associate Professor
Faculty Profile
Email: cgfranklin@msm.eduDr. Cheryl G. Franklin serves as President and CEO of La Femme Care, Women’s Health Care Specialists and Consultants. She combines her skill in the provision of women’s health care services with a passion for the public health and concern for health care policy. Dr. Franklin serves on the faculty of the Morehouse School of Medicine (MSM) as Clinical Assistant Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology and is a practicing gynecologist with the Morehouse Medical Associates. She is also an Instructor in the Women and Children’s Center of the Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University.
Dr. Franklin was educated in the Houston public schools and is a distinguished alumnus of Stanford University (A.B., 1980), Columbia University School of Public Health (M.P.H., 1984), and Harvard University School of Medicine (M.D., 1985). She was trained in Obstetrics and Gynecology both at the Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX and at the University of Rochester, Rochester, NY from 1985 to 1989. Having had the honor of practicing OB/GYN in the greater Atlanta area since 1989, she currently concentrates her medical skill in Gynecology.
Dr. Cheryl Franklin is married to the Rev. Dr. Robert M. Franklin, Jr., President of Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia and proudly and passionately serves in the official capacity as Presidential Spouse of Morehouse College. The Drs. Franklin are the proud parents of three children, Imani, Robert III and Julian. Dr. Cheryl Franklin enjoys the theater and travel.
- Christina Hamilton, MD, Assistant Professor
Faculty Profile
Email: cmhamilton@msm.eduDr. Christina Hamilton is a general OB/GYN faculty member at Morehouse School of Medicine. She is a Georgia native and grew up on the southeast coast. Dr. Hamilton graduated from Georgia College and State University in 2012 with a Bachelors of Science in Chemistry and a minor in dance. She earned her medical degree from the Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University, graduating in 2016. Dr. Hamilton completed her obstetrics and gynecology residency at Spectrum Health/MSU in Grand Rapids, Michigan. As a resident she was recognized with two awards for excellence in vaginal surgery. She is excited to have returned to Georgia for practice. Her clinical interests include high risk obstetrics care, vaginal surgery and contraceptive care.
- Gloria Hughes, MD, Assistant Professor
Email: ghughes@msm.edu
Dr. Gloria Hughes is a native of Augusta, Georgia. After graduating from Georgia Tech, she earned her medical degree from the Medical College of Georgia. She completed her residency training in Obstetrics and Gynecology at Morehouse School of Medicine.
Dr. Hughes clinical interests include the treatment of abnormal uterine bleeding and fibroids, pelvic pain, contraception, and well-woman preventative care. She is also proficient in minimally invasive gynecologic surgery and received multiple awards, including the “Top Hands” Award for Distinction in Surgical Skills Technique and Technology and The Society of Laparoendoscopic Surgeons Award for Outstanding Minimally Invasive Surgery.
Dr. Hughes enjoys traveling in her free time and experiencing different cultures, including various cuisines! She loves music, Zumba classes, and spending time with her family and friends. She hopes to become more involved in medical mission work in the future.
- Shalandra Ross, MD, Assistant Professor
Faculty Profile
Email: sross@msm.eduDr. Shalandra R. Ross was born and raised in Chicago, IL. She attended Whitney M. Young Magnet High School in Chicago before matriculating to Southern Illinois University Edwardsville for her undergraduate studies. There she majored in chemistry and minored in biology, and was very active in community service. After graduating SIUE cum laude, she attended Southern Illinois University School of Medicine for medical school. Match Day then brought Dr. Ross to Morehouse School of Medicine (MSM) in Atlanta, GA for her residency in obstetrics and gynecology.
Dr. Ross has a passion for serving the underserved. After completing residency, she worked for a Federally Qualified Health Center in Dekalb County serving a largely uninsured patient community. In 2014, Dr. Ross joined the MSM department of Obstetrics and Gynecology faculty, where she currently serves in the role of Assistant Professor. When not working, Dr. Ross enjoys life at home with her husband, son, and daughter.
- Hedwige Saint Louis, MD, Associate Professor, Third Year Clerkship Director
Faculty Profile
Email: hsaintlouis@msm.eduDr. Hedwige Saint-Louis consults women on personal health and in various stages of mothering. She created Healthy Mommy Happy Baby so moms of color would have access to credible information addressing the issues unique to them. Her experience as a private practitioner and public health advocate has shown her how critical the early stages of motherhood are for setting a firm foundation for mom and child, as well as the entire family. She joined Morehouse School of Medicine’s (MSM) Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology in 2012, after six years in private practice.
She earned her medical degree from the University of Miami, then completed her surgical internship at the University of Missouri and her Obstetrics and Gynecology residency at New York Medical College/St. Vincent Catholic Medical Center. After residency, Dr. Saint-Louis served as an assistant professor at the University of Alabama at Birmingham and earned a Master’s of Public Health in Maternal and Child Health.
She joined MSM's Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology in 2012, after six years in private practice. Dr. Saint-Louis currently serves in the capacity of Associate Professor in the department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Morehouse School of Medicine where she also serves the Clinical Scholar for its Clerkship program.
- Barbara Simmons, MD, Assistant Professor
Faculty Profile
Email: bjsimmons@msm.eduDr. Barbara Simmons was born and raised in New York City. She completed her undergraduate education at Cornell University with a B.A. in Biology. She completed her medical school education at SUNY Down-state Medical Center and her residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology at NYU/Bellevue Hospital in New York City in 1991.
Dr. Simmons also received a Masters of Business Administration from Kennesaw State University in 2005. She spent several years as a Clinical Instructor and Assistant Professor at Morehouse School of Medicine (MSM), then private practice for 20 years, returning to MSM in April of 2015. She has a special interest in the management and treatment of uterine fibroid disease and office gynecology. Dr. Simmons considers herself an avid traveler, a classically trained pianist and a patron of the arts.
- Madeline Sutton, MD, Adjunct Clinical Assistant Professor
Email: msutton@msm.edu
Dr. Madeline Y. Sutton is a medical epidemiologist and board-certified obstetrician/gynecologist who is an Assistant Clinical Professor at the Morehouse School of Medicine (MSM) Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology. She served as the Lead for the Minority Health and Health Equity Research Activity in the Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for 12 years. Dr. Sutton’s main research areas include racial/ethnic disparities in HIV, and other sexually transmitted infections, mentoring historically underrepresented scientists, women’s health issues, and adolescent sex health issues. She has presented at scientific meetings, published over 110 peer-reviewed papers and book chapters and was the lead editor for a book: “Our Communities, Our Sexual Health.” In 2016, Dr. Sutton also received CDC’s highest honor for leading workforce diversity and mentoring early-career scientists for future careers in public health. She recently retired as a Captain after over 21 years of service with the United States Public Health Service/Commissioned Corps. Currently, Dr. Sutton provides direct patient care at Grady Hospital and Emory Decatur Hospital. After receiving her B.S. in Psychology/Pre-med from Georgetown University, she obtained her M.D. and M.P.H. as dual degrees from Columbia University’s College of Physicians and Surgeons and Mailman School of Public Health. She completed her residency training at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey-New Jersey Medical School.
- Vonda R. Ware, MD, FACOG, Assistant Professor
Email: vware@msm.edu
Vonda R. Ware, MD, FACOG is a board-certified obstetrician and gynecologist that considers herself blessed with the opportunity to serve wholeheartedly in women’s healthcare. Sharing over 25yrs of expertise and validating each women’s unique concerns, Dr. Ware addresses the holistic needs during every aspect of a women’s life. Supporting and advocating for women on their personal journeys to better health, through challenges and triumphs, and helping each patient maximize her well-being is Dr. Ware’s passion. Minimally invasive surgery, comprehensive OB and GYN care, in-office procedures and consultations regarding puberty to menopause and beyond comprise the full scope of services offered by Dr. Ware.
An alumna of Spelman College, member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc, and advocate for the rights of women and children, Dr. Ware devotes her life to empower the family unit through strengthening women for their intentional purpose and power to transform communities promoting health and wellness.
Leisurely, Dr. Ware enjoys reading, traveling, and women’s empowerment/ministry conferences. The wife of the late Reverend Pastor Roderick Ware and mother of two adult daughters has given Dr. Ware great joy giving her personal mantra, ‘through His Love and for His Glory.’
Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery
- Carla Crawford, MD, FACOG, Adjunct Clinical Assistant Professor
- Donald Culley, MD, Adjunct Clinical Assistant Professor
- Shenelle N. Wilson, MD, Assistant Professor
Email: swilson@metroatlurology.com
Dr. Shenelle N. Wilson is a urologist in Kennesaw, GA who provides reconstructive surgery for individuals of all backgrounds with a wide range of pelvic health concerns. As an extensively trained and well-educated medical professional, she received the Young Urologist of the Year Award from the American Urological Association where she has been a member since 2013. Dr. Wilson has a special interest in diagnosing and treating pelvic organ prolapse, neurogenic bladder, and sexual dysfunction in both men and women. Fluent in both Spanish and English, she takes great pride in providing exceptional patient-centered care as she works one-on-one with individuals to address their unique needs. Dr. Wilson has a passion for increasing diversity in urology, and as a result, she founded the nonprofit organization Urology Unbound, which focuses on the recruitment, retention, and promotion of underrepresented minority urologists.
Gynecology Oncology
- Giuseppe Del Priore, MD, Adjunct Clinical Professor
- Regina Leonis, MD, Assistant Professor
Faculty Profile
Email: rleonis@msm.eduDr. Regina Leonis is a Gynecologic Oncologist who joined the Morehouse School of Medicine Obstetrics and Gynecology department in August 2019 after graduating her fellowship at SUNY Downstate. She is a native to Atlanta who attended Georgia Tech for her undergraduate degree and received a Bachelor of Science in Applied Biology. She completed medical school at Medical College of Georgia followed by her residency at Morehouse School of Medicine. Dr. Leonis is very interested in the education of medical students and residents as well as research involving disparities in healthcare. She also enjoys Latin dancing, spending time with her family and her dog.
- Roland Matthews, MD, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Chairman, Professor
Faculty Profile
Email: rmatthews@msm.edu
Dr. Roland Matthews is a board-certified gynecologic oncologist and Chairman of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the Morehouse School of Medicine. Dr. Matthews graduated from Columbia College. He earned his MD degree, with a distinction in research, from the State University of New York at Stony Brook.
Dr. Matthews completed his residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology and a fellowship in Gynecologic Oncology at SUNY Downstate Medical Center. Dr. Matthews' research interests include pre-invasive gynecologic malignancies, uterine, ovarian and cervical cancers. He currently serves as the Director of the Georgia Cancer Center for Excellence at Grady.
Dr. Matthews is the author of several publications on pre-invasive disease and gynecologic cancers. Throughout his medical career, Dr. Matthews has demonstrated an unyielding commitment to improving women's health in underserved communities. He continues to devote significant time to the advancement of minority health care issues. he has had an excellent career as an investigator, clinician and educator.
Maternal Fetal Medicine
- Franklyn H. Geary, Jr., MD, FACOG, Professor
Faculty Profile
Email: fgeary@msm.eduDr. Franklyn H. Geary, Jr., a native Atlantan, attended Northside High School. He received a B.A. degree in Chemistry from Emory College of Emory University and participated in many extracurricular activities. Dr. Geary earned his medical degree from Emory University School of Medicine. He was a founding member of the Student National Medical Association (SNMA) Chapter at Emory and served as President. He was Secretary of the Medical Student Advisory Council and the Medical School Representative to the Student Government Association. After medical school graduation, he attended the Emory-Grady Affiliated Residency Training Program in Gynecology and Obstetrics at Grady Memorial Hospital. Upon completion of residency, Dr. Geary joined the Emory faculty and served as the co-course director of the junior student clerkship and was the Director of the Gynecology Emergency Clinic. He completed a fellowship in Maternal Fetal Medicine also at Emory and is double boarded in General Obstetrics and Gynecology as well as in Maternal Fetal Medicine.
Upon completion of fellowship in 1993, Dr. Geary joined Dr. Nelson McGhee at the Morehouse School of Medicine in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology. He served as the Chief of Service at Grady Hospital and Division Director of Maternal Fetal Medicine. In addition, he served as Interim Chair of the Department from 1998 to 2001.
One of Dr. Geary’s most outstanding accomplishments was being instrumental in establishing the residency-training program in Obstetrics and Gynecology at Morehouse School of Medicine. As Interim Chair and Program Director, he graduated his first group of residents in 2001. During his academic tenure, he received numerous teaching and service awards. His research interests include intimate partner violence and HIV in pregnancy.
- Myah Griffin, MD, FACOG, Assistant Professor
Email: mmgriffin@msm.edu
Dr. Myah Griffin, MD, FACOG, is a native of Columbia, SC. She received a B.S. degree in Biology from the University of South Carolina. Dr. Griffin was a member of the charter class at the University of South Carolina School of Medicine Greenville where she earned her medical degree. She was a founding member of the Student National Medical Association (SNMA) Chapter at USC-SOMG and served as Co-President. After medical school, she completed her OB/GYN Residency at Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte, NC where she served as Administrative Chief Resident. She then completed a fellowship in Maternal-Fetal Medicine at NYU-Langone Health in New York, NY. Dr Griffin was board-certified by the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology in 2021. Her clinical and research interests include hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, fetal growth restriction, and anemia in pregnancy.
Reproductive Endocrinology & Infertility
- Dorothy Mitchell-Leef, MD, Clinical Associate Professor
Dr. Dorothy E. Mitchell-Leef has been a Clinical Associate Professor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Morehouse School of Medicine (MSM) since July 2017 as a Reproductive Endocrinologist and Infertility specialist since retirement. She has lived in Atlanta for over 42 years. She received her Obstetrics and Gynecology residency at the University of Louisville and then did her Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility (REI) fellowship there. Dr. Mitchell-Leef came to Atlanta to initiate the Division of REI at Emory University’s OB/GYN Department in 1981. At that time she was an Emory Clinic partner caring for patients as well as teaching residents and medical students at Grady. She was an Associate Professor there for the last five years of her ten-year tenure there. She assisted residents with related research for those seeking REI fellowships.
Dr. Mitchell-Leef joined Reproductive Biology Associates, a private REI practice in Atlanta, in 1991. There she cared for patients for 24 years doing extensive surgery, endocrine evaluations and treatments. The majority of her practice was In Vitro Fertilization care with egg donation, egg cryopreservation for patients with cancer before chemotherapy or radiation, genetic testing for pregnancy loss as well as inherited abnormalities. One of her babies was the first ICSI baby in the Western Hemisphere and did the first 2 surrogate pregnancies in Georgia in 1992 and 1994. She ran the private practice OR as well for 24 years.
Dr. Mitchell-Leef has been President of many societies and is a member of ACOG, ASRM, SAOOG, and Medical Association of Atlanta. She enjoys lecturing residents and medical students and doing REI clinics at Grady with MSM residents as well as private patients at Morehouse at Howell Mill for the last 3 years.
Certified Nurse Midwives
- Terri Chambers, Certified Nurse Midwife
Email: tchambers@msm.edu
Mrs. Terri Chambers was born in Kansas and grew up in the Midwest. She started her career in Nursing as an LPN in 1976. Terri received her Bachelors of Science in Nursing, at Old Dominion University, Master in Community Health Administration at Old Dominion University, Masters of Science in Nursing from Frontier School of Midwifery and Family Nursing, Post Graduate Degree as an OB GYN Nurse Practitioner at Hampton Institute, and Post Graduate Degree as a Nurse Midwife.
Terri created Parenting and Childbirth Association of Tidewater, where she developed patient education programs for Breastfeeding, Parenting, Lamaze and Infant Stimulation. Terri has been a Nursing Instructor for both RN and LPN students. Over the past 10 years she served as a preceptor for Nurse Practitioner students, Physician Assistant students and is currently one of the ACNM preceptors for Nurse Midwives.
Mrs. Chambers is married and lives in metro Atlanta with her husband. They have five children, all grown with several grandchildren. Her hobbies include quilting, fishing, camping and motorcycles.
- Yvonne Hewitt, MSN, RN, Certified Nurse Midwife
Email: yhewitt@msm.eduMrs. Yvonne Hewitt is a certified Nurse-Midwife. She received her MSN and BSN from Emory University in Atlanta. Prior to coming to Grady, Ms. Hewitt worked in a community clinic with delivering privileges at Northside Hospital. Before becoming a nurse-midwife Ms. Hewitt worked in natural resource management both internationally and in the US. At Grady Ms. Hewitt is a facilitator in the Centering Pregnancy Program and has started the first Centering Program to cater to Spanish-speaking patients. She enjoys caring for women and is especially interested in nutrition and gastrointestinal health. She is married and mother to a 1-year old son as well as several furry creatures.
- Joline Milord, Certified Nurse Midwife
Email: jmilord@msm.edu
Joline Milord was born and raised in Brooklyn, NY and moved to Georgia in 2003. As a young, single mother of two small daughters, she put herself through nursing school at Georgia Perimeter College where she obtained her Associates Degree in Science and Nursing to become a Registered Nurse. Upon graduating, she worked as a Postpartum Nurse at Dekalb Medical and later went on to becoming the Clinical Director at Feminist Women's Health Center for five years. Her passion for women's health and advocacy led her to receive additional training as a Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) for both Pediatrics and Adults and she currently works as a SANE for Dekalb Rape Crisis Center and Southern Crescent Sexual Assault and Child Advocacy Center.
She attended Frontier Nursing University and obtained her Master of Science in Nursing degree to become a Certified Nurse Midwife and has recently joined Morehouse School of Medicine's OB/GYN team at Grady Hospital.
She believes in the importance of laughing and spending time with family, especially with her 3 children. When she finds free time she enjoys embracing her Caribbean culture and love for all things carnival related, dancing, and exploring new restaurants.
- Trisha Roberts, Certified Nurse Midwife
Email: troberts@msm.eduTrisha Roberts is a Certified Nurse Midwife. She was born in Brooklyn New York and moved to Atlanta GA in 2007 to attain her bachelor’s degree in biology from Clark Atlanta University. After graduation she took a year off to explore the world and do neuroscience research at CAU. Following her instincts deeply rooted in science she then went onto complete her bachelor’s degree in nursing from Clayton State University in 2013. Trisha worked in the Hematology/Oncology unit at Grady Hospital for two years as a new graduate nurse. There, she learned the art of providing culturally competent patient care. After a mission trip to Haiti, she was wildly inspired to pursue a career in women’s health and transferred to the Family Birthing Center Unit where she worked as a labor nurse for four years. In December 2019, she received her master’s degree in nursing from Georgetown University and became the newest midwife at Morehouse School of Medicine’s Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology.
It was her ultimate dream to be able to grow as a provider in the same place that prepared her to become a nurse. She takes pride in teaching others, motiving students to conquer their dreams and researching new ways to implement cultural diversity within our healthcare system.
When she is not at Grady, you can find her spending quality time with her friends, traveling across the country and watching movies at home with her 10-year-old Pomerianian named Prince.
Research
- Indrajit Chowdhury, PhD, Assistant Professor
Faculty Profile
Email: ichowdhury@msm.eduDr. Indrajit Chowdhury earned his Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry, Botany with Honors in Zoology; and Master’s degree with specialization in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India. Dr. Chowdhury completed his Ph.D. in the field of Reproductive Endocrinology at Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India in 1999. After the completion of his Ph.D., he continued his studies as a post-doctoral fellow in the field of molecular reproductive endocrinology at Academia Sinica in Taipei, Taiwan.
In 2003, Dr. Chowdhury joined the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Morehouse School of Medicine (MSM) in Atlanta, GA as a research fellow to continue his research. He is currently a faculty member in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, at MSM. The overarching goal of research in his laboratory is to gain molecular insights of ovarian folliculogenesis and ovulation, developing future prevention and intervention strategies of more effective and efficient treatment of endometriosis and ovarian cancer. His research studies are supported by the National Institute of Health.
Dr. Chowdhury is a member of several national and international scientific societies, editorial boards and is a managing editor. Dr. Chowdhury’s presentations were published as original full-length manuscripts in top scientific international and national journals. Dr. Chowdhury is the author of several books. In addition to research, Dr. Chowdhury teaches molecular reproductive endocrinology, proteomics and genomics at Morehouse School of Medicine.
- Natalie Hernandez-Green, PhD, MPH, Executive Director, Center for Maternal Health
Equity, Community Health & Preventive Medicine
Faculty Profile
Email: nhernandez@msm.edu
Dr. Hernandez-Green is an Associate Professor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and the founding Director of the Center for Maternal Health Equity at Morehouse School of Medicine. Dr. Hernandez-Green received her Master of Public Health from Emory University’s Rollins School of Public Health and a Bachelor of Arts in anthropology from Stony Brook University in New York. She earned her Ph.D. in public health and a graduate certificate in interdisciplinary women’s health from the University of South Florida.
Dr. Hernandez-Green’s previous research experiences and contributions to science have been dedicated to rigorous methodology using community engagement approaches to advance health equity through research and practice. She has more than 17 years of experience implementing population health that engages diverse stakeholder groups. Dr. Hernandez-Green is an NIH-funded researcher who has obtained diverse extramural funding to develop multiple lines of research to advance science toward eliminating women’s health inequities, specifically with Black and Latinx populations. The research approach in these local and nationally funded initiatives encompasses community-based participatory research frameworks and takes a multi-sectoral and multi-level translational research approach. Additionally, her research explores the integration of technology to advance women’s health. It provides easy access to maternal and women’s health through patient navigation, mobile health interventions, telehealth approaches, and remote monitoring. Dr. Hernandez-Green sits on various boards and coalitions on maternal health, including Georgia’s Maternal Mortality Review Committee. Dr. Hernandez-Green has presented her work at various international, national, state, and local conferences. - Veena Rao, PhD, Professor and Co-Director of the Cancer Biology Program
Faculty Profile
Email: vrao@msm.eduDr. Veena N. Rao is a Professor and the Co-Director of the Cancer Biology Program, in the Department of OB/GYN at Morehouse School of Medicine (MSM). She did her Ph.D. work at the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB), at Osmania University, Hyderabad, India. Dr. Rao took up postdoctoral fellowship at the University of California, Berkeley. She then continued her postdoctoral work on SV40 DNA tumor virus under Professor Sherman Weisman in the Department of Human Genetics at Yale University School of Medicine under whose mentorship she flourished and embarked on a distinguished cancer research career. She spent two years at the National Cancer Institute as a Forgarty International fellow at the Molecular Oncology lab of the late Dr. Takis Papas where she and her colleague, Dr. Reddy, identified the ERG gene.
Dr. Rao has a long career beginning at Temple University and then at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia as an Assistant Professor where she and her colleague, Dr. Reddy, cloned the ELK-1 gene. She then moved to Kimmel Cancer Center as Associate Professor where she identified the BRCA1 isoforms. She advanced to the rank of Professor and Co-Director of the Division of Cancer Genetics at Allegheny University of the Health Sciences, Philadelphia and then at Drexel University. This led her to be recruited as the State of Georgia Cancer Coalition Distinguished Cancer Scholar at Morehouse School of Medicine (MSM) to initiate a Cancer Biology program. In 2003 she received the Georgia Cancer Coalition Distinguished Cancer Scholar Award from the Governor of Georgia for outstanding cancer research. She also received the Dean’s outstanding research award and distinguished mentor for the research initiative for scientific enhancement program at MSM. She was the advisor for the first M.D./Ph.D. student at MSM. Dr. Rao is a recipient of the 2005 Emerald’s Honor Senior Investigator award, 2006 Trail Blazer award by Minorities in Research, 2007 National Women of Color in Technology Research Leadership award and was also featured on the National Cancer Institute (NCI) website under the NCI Grantee Spotlights. She is the recipient of 2008 Research Excellence award at the NAKA convention held in California. In 2011 she received the ASIOA Mario Toppo Distinguished Scientist award for her work on BRCA1 (TNBC). She is the first woman scientist to receive this award. In 2012 she was selected to receive an Alumni Leadership Award by the Career Communications Group, Inc. In 2013 she obtained a patent on BRCA1 function based cellular assays for TNBC.
- E. Shyam Reddy, PhD, Professor and Co-Director of the Cancer Biology Program
Faculty Profile
Email: ereddy@msm.eduDr. E. Shayam Reddy is a Professor and the Co-Director of the Cancer Biology Program, in the Department of OB/GYN at Morehouse School of Medicine (MSM). Dr. Reddy received his Ph.D. in India. There he published his Ph.D. work as back to back papers in the prestigious journal Nature. He received the National Young Scientist award for his work. Later he received his postdoctoral training at Yale University. He joined as a scientist at NCI-Frederick where he identified ERG-1 and ERG-2 genes which are shown to be involved in the majority of prostate cancers and also shown to be responsible for Ewing sarcoma and certain leukemias (AML). In addition, Dr. Reddy identified several genes/gene functions which include C-ets-1, human Fli-1, ELK-1, EWS-Fli-1, EWSb, EWS-erg, TLS/FUS, TLS/FUS-erg, Brca2a, EWS-ATF-1, Brca1a and 1b involved in a wide variety of cancers. Dr Reddy's work revealed that aberrant fusion proteins target transcriptional co-factors and this may be in part responsible for cancer. Based on the function of these oncoproteins, Dr. Reddy developed a cell based assay and identified several small molecule therapeutic agents that target only cancer cells but not normal cells. These novel drugs can be used as targeted therapeutic agents to prostate, breast, ovarian and pancreatic cancers (patent pending). Dr. Reddy received several RO1, ACS and DOD grants to carry out this work. Dr. Reddy received several personal awards that include GCC Distinguished Cancer Scholar award, Lifetime Achievement award in Science and Medicine, London, Dean's recognition award for Research, MSM and Swebelius Cancer Research Award of Yale University.
- Winston Thompson, PhD, MS, Professor and Department of Physiology Chair, Director of Research, Obstetrics & Gynecology and Director, Mentoring Academy
