Program Leadership and Staff
Program Director
Gurjit Khurana Hershey, MD, PhD
gurjit.hershey@cchmc.org
BS: University of Iowa, 1985
PhD: Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, 1990
MD: Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, 1992
After completing pediatric residency and an allergy/immunology fellowship at St. Louis Children’s Hospital, Dr. Hershey joined the faculty at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center. Her research is focused on identifying the genetic and environmental factors that promote asthma pathogenesis and dissecting the mechanisms by which they confer risk.Aside from serving as director of the Medical Scientist Training program, she directs the the Division of Asthma Research at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center.
Associate Directors
Rocky Ellis, MD
Graduate & Medical Studies
robert.ellis@uc.edu
BS: University of Cincinnati, 1997
MD: University of Cincinnati,
College of Medicine, 2002
Dr. Ellis is Board Certified in Family Medicine and is a Fellow of the American Academy of Family Physicians. He has a strong interest in medical education and is the Family Medicine Clerkship Director. As part of the MSTP, he coordinates academic and specialty choice advising.
Tim Le Cras, PhD
Admissions & Recruitment
tim.lecras@cchmc.org
BS: Brunel University, UK, 1987
PhD: Cambridge University, UK, 1992
Dr. LeCras's research focuses on the pathogenesis of chronic lung diseases, including asthma, pulmonary hypertension, pulmonary fibrosis and bronchopulmonary dysplasia. He has also worked on the regulation of pulmonary vasculature development, the early life origins of lung diseases, and is especially interested in developing new therapeutic targets for lung diseases. As a part of the MSTP, he oversees the Admissions and Recruitment process.
Kathryn Wikenheiser-Brokamp, MD, PhD
Curriculum Development
kathryn.wikenheiser-brokamp@cchmc.org
BS: University of Mary, 1988
PhD: University of Cincinnati, 1994
MD: University of Cincinnati, 1996
Following her residency at the Washington University Hospital in St. Louis, Dr. Wikenheiser-Brokamp returned to her alma mater as an Assistant Professor in the divison of Pediatric Pathology. Her research interests focus on pediatric and adult lung diseases. As part of the MSTP, she focuses on curriculum and professional development opportunities for students.
Senior Physician Scientist Advisor Program Directors
Melanie Cushion, PhD
Professor
Melanie.Cushion@uc.edu
BS: St. Joseph’s College
PhD: St. Thomas Institute
Fellowship: University of Cincinnati College of Medicine
Dr. Cushion serves as professor of Internal Medicine and Senior Associate Dean for Research at the UC College of Medicine. Dr. Cushion oversees all research areas, core research facilities, and doctoral training programs within the medical school. She presides over the College of Medicine Research Council and works closely with research leadership across the university and its clinical and research partners. Dr. Cushion’s laboratory focuses on fungi in the genus Pneumocystis and pre-clinical drug development.
Arnold Strauss, MD
Professor
arnold.straus@cchmc.org
MD: Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis
From 2007 through 2014, Dr. Strauss served as chairman of the Department of Pediatrics at the UC College of Medicine, chief medical officer of Cincinnati Children's and director of the Cincinnati Children's Research Foundation. He is the seventh B.K. Rachford Memorial Chair in Pediatrics. A respected scientist, Dr. Strauss' research focuses on understanding the molecular basis of disorders of mitochondrial fatty acid oxidation and the genetic causes of congenital heart disease and cardiomyopathies.
Program Staff
Jennifer Rindler Fridrich, MBA
Program Director
jennifer.rindler@uc.edu
Jenny received her Bachelor of Business Administration, specialization in marketing from The Ohio State University Fisher College of Business. She has experience in program administration and development at academic medical centers. After working for a few years, she returned to Ohio State and earned her MBA through the Working Professionals MBA program at the Fisher College of Business. Today she manages the MSTP office including program recruitment, finance and daily operations.
Sara Cohen
Program Coordinator
sara.cohen@uc.edu
Sara received her Bachelor of Science in Business from the Indiana University Kelley School of Business, graduating with highest distinction with a major in marketing and minors in theatre and dance. She brings an eclectic background with seven years of marketing and advertising experience working in account/client service and project management. Today, she serves as the Program Coordinator for the MSTP, planning events and handling day-to-day communications and operations.