Alumni Stories & Spotlights
From undergraduate and graduate degrees to residencies and fellowships, MD Anderson's education and training programs are as diverse as the types of care we provide.
Here's a look at how our alumni are using the knowledge they gained here to make a difference in their chosen fields.
If you would like the opportunity to be featured in future alumni communications, share your updates with us via the online questionnaire.
What's Your Story?
Prashasnika Gehlot, Ph.D.
Director, Research Planning & Development
Applied Cancer Science Institute
The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
Houston, Texas
Dream the biggest dreams and follow them
After completing her postdoctoral fellowship in Cancer Biology and Translational Research at MD Anderson in 2016 and serving as a project scientist for The Jackson Laboratory in 2017, Prashasnika Gehlot, Ph.D., knew she would find her way back to the MD Anderson campus one day.
Read more about Dr. Gehlot.
Hussein Abbas, M.D., Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Department of Leukemia
The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
Houston, Texas
From trainee to faculty: For leukemia specialist and researcher, all roads lead back to MD Anderson
On a Saturday in late February, Hussein Abbas, M.D., Ph.D., celebrated becoming a U.S. citizen. It was nearly two decades in the making and the culmination of a journey that began when he fled a bombing in his hometown of Beirut to begin working toward his Ph.D. at MD Anderson in 2006.
Read the full story on Hussein Abbas, M.D., Ph.D. published on our Cancerwise blog
Brittany C. Parker Kerrigan, Ph.D.
Associate Director, Research Planning & Development
Department of Neurosurgery
The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
Houston, Texas
Connections: STEM for all and a passion for pitching
One of the earliest memories of Brittany Parker Kerrigan, Ph.D., is plucking bugs from her family's pool and trying to bring them back to life.
Read the full story on Brittany C. Parker Kerrigan, Ph.D. published on Inside MD Anderson
Peter C. Hu, Ph.D.
The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
School of Health Professions
Houston, Texas
Dr. Hu wears many hats at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center School of Health Professions. He oversees research initiatives for the School of Health Professions. He is responsible for providing strategic direction to grow school programs, including recruitment and retention of students and the teaching faculty. He also oversees the diagnostic molecular science-based school programs.
Marta M. Alonso, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Department of Pediatrics
Clinica Universidad de Navarra
Pamplona (Navarra), Spain
Dr. Alonso was raised in the small town of Lodosa (Navarra) in Spain. As a child, she described herself as a "happy camper" with a normal childhood. As she began to think about what she wanted to do with her life, she knew she wanted to be in a career where her work made a positive difference in the lives of others. She gravitated toward biological sciences, and it was a high school teacher who helped "spark her light" in deciding to pursue a research career.
Read more about Marta M. Alonso, Ph.D.
2022 Alumni Stories
Paul Kurywchak, Ph.D.
Executive Director
Skipper BioMed
Houston, TX
Marvell E. Seymour Major, BSc, ASCP CTCM, MBBS
Cytotechnologist and Medical Doctor
Neoplastic Cytology Laboratory
Nassau, Bahamas
Mark A. Healy, M.D., M.Sc.
Surgical Oncologist
Banner MD Anderson Cancer Center
Gilbert, AZ
Kishor Wasan, Ph.D.
The University of British Columbia
Vancouver, British Columbia
Canada
Gary Walker, M.D., M.P.H., M.S.
Radiation Oncologist and Reg. Section Chief
Banner MD Anderson Cancer Center
Adjunct Assoc. Professor, Radiation Oncology
MD Anderson Cancer Center
Houston, TX
Alem A. Belachew, Ph.D.
Director of Client Engagement
salesSEER, Inc.
Houston, TX
Amanda Bruegl, M.D.
GYN/Oncologist & Associate Professor
Oregon Health & Science University
Portland, OR
Michelle A.T. Hildebrandt, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Lymphoma/Myeloma
Adjunct Professor, Epidemiology, Human Genetics& Environmental Sciences
MD Anderson Cancer Center
Houston, TX
2021 Alumni Stories
Clayton Boldt, Ph.D.
MD Anderson Cancer Center
Houston, TX
Shailendra Mudhada, M.D., M.S.
Dhruv Pathology & Molecular Diagnostic Lab
Nagpur, Maharashtra, India
Ashutosh Rao, Ph.D.
United States Food and Drug Administration
Silver Spring, MD
Brett J. Theeler, M.D.
USUHS
Bethesda, Maryland
Paul Morris, M.D.
Queen's Medical Center
Honolulu, HI
Cameron Tharp, B.S., RT(T)
Texas Oncology
San Antonio, TX
Tracy J. Costello, Ph.D.
Coach4 Postdocs
Tampa, Florida
Robin Lacour, M.D.
Banner MD Anderson Cancer Center
Greeley, CO
2020 Alumni Stories
Kelsey Maxwell-Acosta, Ph.D.
Dallas, TX
Marites P. Melancon, Ph.D.
Houston, TX
Sara Sheppard, HTL
Houston, TX
Christopher Danos, M.Ed., CG (ASCP)
Houston, TX
Aaron Emfinger, M.S., RT (R)(CT)
Houston, TX
Anushree Sharma, Ph.D., MPH
Los Angeles, CA
Alejandro Tortoriello, M.D.
Houston, TX
Keri Schadler, Ph.D.
Houston, TX
Sarp Korcan Keskin, M.D.
London, UK
Katherine Caceres, HTL
Houston, TX
Kaleena Maria Ramirez, HTL
Houston, TX
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