Learn more about the accomplishments of our School of Medicine family.
Meera Narasimhan, M.D., professor and chair in the Department of Neuropsychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the Floyd School of Medicine and Prisma Health Midlands, was awarded the Order of the Palmetto on Sept. 22, in a ceremony at the South Carolina State House. The award, South Carolina's highest civilian honor, was presented by Governor Henry McMaster at an event attended by friends, family, and colleagues of Dr. Narasimhan.
Philip Brandon Busbee, PhD (Contact PI, PMI) and Austin Worden, PhD (MPI, CBA) were recently awarded an NIH R03 (R03ES037766) award titled "Microplastic biodistribution and impact on mental health during inflammatory bowel disease". This is a 2-year grant awarded by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS).
Colin Evans, PhD, FAHA, an assistant professor for the Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy, received an IDeA Co-Funding R01 award from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS) and the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI) for his Research Project entitled: “Inhibiting Endothelial Apoptosis in Sepsis-Induced Lung Injury."
Kimberly Smith, Ph.D. (PPN), received an NIH R01 award as PI entitled: “The Role of Salivary Proteins in Modulating Taste Perception in Humans.” The goal of this project is to determine if a person’s diet alters the proteins in saliva to shape human taste perception (detection/sensitivity, acceptance, preference) as demonstrated in preclinical models.
Joseph McQuail, Ph.D. (PPN), has received a new two-year R03 award from the National Institute on Aging of the National Institutes of Health for “Modulation of Brain D-Serine Metabolism and Signaling in Aging and Alzheimer’s Disease.” The award supports new research on brain mechanisms of memory in aging and Alzheimer’s disease.
Congratulations to several of our Floyd School of Medicine tenure-track and professional-track faculty who have received a promotion, which is effective Aug. 16, 2026. Tenure and Promotion: Aaron Jasnow (PPN, awarded tenure at the rank of associate professor); Fiona Hollis (PPN, awarded tenure and promoted to associate professor); Joseph McQuail (PPN, awarded tenure and promoted to associate professor); Forest Lowe (neurology, awarded tenure and promoted to associate professor) Professional-Track Promotions: Kari-Claudia Allen Harrington (Prisma, Family and Preventive Medicine, clinical associate professor); Matthew Nodelman (Prisma, Family and Preventive Medicine, clinical associate professor); Barry Feldman (Prisma, Internal Medicine, clinical associate professor); Divya Ahuja (USC, Internal Medicine, clinical professor); James Ampadu (Prisma, Internal Medicine, clinical associate professor); Subash Regmi (Prisma, Internal Medicine, clinical associate professor); Stephanie Paolini (Prisma, Neurology, clinical associate professor); Patricia M. Seal (Prisma, Obstetrics and Gynecology, clinical associate professor); Alexander Pogrebniak (Prisma, Ophthalmology, clinical associate professor); Duncan Norton (USC, Pediatrics, clinical associate professor); Melanie Blackburn (USC, Pediatrics, clinical professor); Scott Carney (Prisma, Pediatrics, clinical associate professor); Michael Walsh (USC, Neuropsychiatry - Rehab Counseling, clinical professor); Taryn Richardson Booth (USC, Neuropsychiatry - Rehab Counseling, clinical associate professor); Roham Moftakhar (Prisma, Surgery - Neurosurgery, clinical professor); Thomas Cook (Prisma, Surgery - Emergency Medicine, clinical associate professor); Troy Privette (Prisma, Surgery - Emergency Medicine, clinical associate professor).
In April, School of Medicine faculty member Dr. Shilpa Srinivasan began an elected term as President of the American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry. The AAGP has a membership of geriatric psychiatrists and other healthcare professionals in the United States, Canada, and internationally. Congratulations to Dr. Srinivasan on this tremendous accomplishment, we wish you well as you take on this important role!
Dr. Ioulia Chatzistamou and Dr. Brian Keisler were awarded a MedEd Research Innovation Grant through the Medical Education Research Incubator (MEDRI) Program at the USC School of Medicine Greenville. The funded project is titled "Assessment of AI-Assisted Learning of Medical Student Self-Directed Learning in Undergraduate Pathology Education.”
Pharmacology, Physiology & Neuroscience’s Dr. Norma Frizzell’s VA Merit award was selected for funding! The VA award is entitled “Mitochondrial Metabolites Drive Adipose Tissue Dysfunction in Diabetes.”