Biography
My doctoral research studies into neurophysiological circuitry of the invertebrate brain using electrophysiological techniques led to a postdoctoral position here at Oakland University in 1974 where I received a 3 year National Institutes of Health (NIH) fellowship to study electrical and transport properties of epithelial cells at the Institute of Biological Sciences. The next 25 years of research focused on pathological aging mechanisms of degenerative diseases whose primary risk factor is age. The long-term goal of this research has been to develop strategies aimed at preventing or delaying the onset of human cataract which ranks as a leading cause of blindness. The majority of my 50 publications and 100 national presentations concerned the role of intracellular calcium in regulating and disturbing cellular homestatic processes in epithelial cells, particularly as influenced by environmental oxidants such as selenium, hydrogen peroxide and ultraviolet light. Research funding has come from 6 NIH grant awards and several smaller awards from NATO and Fight for Sight. Up to 1999, dozens of undergraduate and graduate students were trained in my laboratory and taught fundamental research skills, with a dozen publications.
The next 25 years began in 2000 in the School of Health Sciences at Oakland University where I serve as Dean and have contributed to the planning process that will shape OU and the School of Health Sciences for 2020. My goal at Oakland University, while Dean of the School of Health Sciences, is to continue to lead us towards greatness, to help transform us into a school that community leaders and professionals come to for solutions, ideas and new developments. We are moving forward towards becoming a place to enrich the lives of students who will go out and serve as ambassadors in their communities to health and wellness and to be the best health care professionals. I want us to have a stellar reputation that says if you’re interested in a health care career, we probably have something for you in one of our ten distinct areas of study, all of which provide theory in the classroom and real-world, clinical experiences in numerous intern sites throughout the state. Through leadership, collaboration, planning, commitment and dedication, we have already begun to experience an exciting time of growth and development.
Degrees
BS, Physics, Southern Illinois University (1969)
MS, Solid State Physics, Southern Illinois (1970)
PhD, Biophysics/Molecular Science, Southern Illinois University (1974)
Interests
As Professor of Health Sciences I enjoyed preparing and presenting lectures on various health and disease concerns and the underlying science that so often impedes our understanding of mechanisms and interventions. In particular, I enjoyed teaching undergraduates and graduates Health Science courses such as Pathology or Exercise Science courses, including "Introduction to Research," where students learn the anatomy of research and develop sufficient confidence to pursue thesis research activities. I have recently developed new curricula for our exercise science course, "Health and Disease," in which specialized topics of a multidisciplinary nature are discussed in order to more fully appreciate the delicate balance between and health and disease. Topics such as stress & immune function; sleep deprivation and immune function; addiction…a disease and a risk factor for opportunistic diseases; are some of the lecture topics which often fall between the cracks of other health science and biology courses. It is exciting to unravel the mysteries of science and eliminate the jargon of complex scientific fields for health science students truly impassioned to learn more of the human body and its interaction with a potentially toxic environment of stress and pathogens. Future goals include developing more courses with the emphasis on understanding the cellular basis of neurological deficits that so often accompany the aging process. My primary research interest is the role of oxidants such as peroxide and UV light on calcium signaling, an area I have pursued mostly at the University of East Anglia in England with Professor George Duncan, one of the pioneers in the field. Extracurricular activities include participating in the OHEP Center for Medical Education functions such as judging their medical research projects or speaking at Research Workshops.
A New Course in Neurobiology
A new course, cross-listed in Health Sciences and Exercise Science, is The Brain and Disease, first offered in Spring of 2003. This course brought a needed neuroscience component to Health Sciences. Designed for both undergraduates and graduates, HS/EXS 406/506 focused on detailed findings from current research studies of the leading experts in fields of neuroscience, psychology and medicine that focus on the brain. The course addressed timely issues concerning the need for stem cell research as applied to neurological disorders such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s Disease or even alcoholism and depression or drug addiction. New intervention strategies involving exercise and nutrition based on clinical studies are also explored in detail.
I enjoy conducting analytic research on a new, emerging disorder that is creeping into epidemic proportions world-wide, called
Metabolic Syndrome. In my last presentation at our Oakland University health symposium, we presented some of our own findings from health/assessment fitness center participants over a 20 year period, entitled “
Metabolic Syndrome: An Emerging Pandemic Threatening all Ages.” Today, in the U.S., it is estimated that 50,000,000 adults have the syndrome, a unique constellation of abnormalities, including hypertension, low HDLs, high triglycerides and high blood sugar, with or without signs of obesity. The disorder greatly enhances the likelihood of heart attack, stroke and diabetes. The disorder increases rapidly with increasing age, but adolescents today are the fastest growing group of new patients.