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A L U M N I S P M T L I G H T The Impact of a Mentor ARGARET HEITKEMPER, PHD '81, HAD SOME DOUBTS when she arrived at UIC to study for a PhD in physiology and biophysics in the late 1970s. True, she had a master's degree in nursing from the University of Washing- ton, but she'd never been to the Midwest, and the studies seemed daunting. "I didn't have a biochemistry back- ground, I didn't have a biology background," Heitkemper says. "But my family said, 'Just go and give it a shot. You want to do this.'" Heitkemper not only excelled at UIC, she discovered her life's work. Chairperson of the department of biobehavioral nursing and health systems at the University of Washington, as well as director of the Center for Women's Health and Gender Research at the school, Heitkemper is a leading researcher in the impact of stress and hormones on the gastrointestinal system. The National Institutes of Health has funded her research since 1983, and she has written two nursing textbooks and won the University of Washington's Distinguished Teaching Award. Heitkemper credits her mentor at UIC, Sabath Marotta, MD, for launching her to success. "My time in Chicago was extremely pivotal for my career; it was profound," she says. "Dr. Marotta was the most incredible mentor that any student could have. He was a classic physi- ologist in terms of experimental design. He was creative and innovative and really focused on training students. I've tried to be the type of mentor that Dr. Marotta was." When Heitkemper began publishing her studies, often conducted with her collaborator, Monica Jarrett, PhD, she sent them to Marotta first. That practice continued until Marotta's death in 1996. "Whenever I had a question, I would turn to him," she says. "I'm sure any number of his former students would say the same thing." '95 Garry L. Brake, MD, Res '95, recently an- nounced the opening of the Beach Plum Med Spa, a new medical spa and laser center at the Cape Codder Resort in Hyannis, Mass., and the John Carver Inn in Plymouth, Mass., of which he is the medical director. The spa offers noninvasive and minimally invasive cosmetic medical treatments. Brake is a surgeon with a private prac- tice based out of Falmouth Hospital since 1995. He has served on the board of Cape Cod Healthcare and as chief of staff at Falmouth Hospital. He is currently a board member of Physi- cians of Cape Cod. Lawrence C. Tsen, MD, Res '95, has been a faculty member at Harvard University for 14 years. He is an associate professor in anesthesia at Harvard Medical School and vice chair of the department of anesthesiology, perioperative and pain medicine at Brigham and Women's Hospital. Tsen serves as president of the Society for Obstetric Anesthesia and Perinatol- ogy and is the co-editor in chief of the International Journal of Obstetric Anesthesia. He and his wife, Paulita, are the proud parents of two toddlers. proud parents of four children. '93 Steven H. Dayan, MD '93, Res '98, of Highland Park, started his own foundation several years ago, the Enhance Educational Foundation, to help high school students considering careers in medicine. A plastic surgeon, he awards scholarships, hosts a summer internship in his practice, works with Starbucks on a special photography program and is financing construction of a classroom building in Cambodia for about 200 students. He has combined his medical interests with writing and is the author of Instant Beauty: The Complete Consumer's Guide to Quick, Safe and Effective Cosmetic Procedures. The proceeds help support his foundation, which can be reached on the Web at enhancefoundation.org. Joseph B. Garber '89, MD '93, Res '97, provides comprehensive ophthalmology care and cataract and refractive surgery to patients at Eye Physicians and Surgeons, which has offices in Chicago and Skokie. In addition, he is also an as- sistant professor at Rush University Medical Center. Garber and his wife, Leslie, have two daughters. In his free time, Garber enjoys working out, watching the Chicago Cubs play baseball and spending time with his family. Kerstin Stenson, MD, Res '93, married Jerry Latherow. They have two children, 7-year-old twins, Brandon and Alessandra. She is an associate professor of surgery, fo- cusing on head and neck cancers at the University of Chicago. In her free time, she enjoys reading, exercising and trying new restaurants. '04 Scott M. Harter '00, MD '04, Res '08, joined the Ministry Medical Groups' de- partment of anesthe- siology at Saint Michael's Hospital in Stevens Point, Wis. He completed a fellowship at Stanford University in obstetric anesthesiology, is a member of the American Society of Anesthesiology and is board-eligible for the American Board of Anesthesiology. Paul E. Loethen '99, MD '04, Res '04, of Edwardsville, recently joined the Saint Anthony's Health Center medical staff. His main interests include minimally invasive and laparoscopic surgical techniques. Originally from Troy, Loethen and his wife, Jennifer, a pedia- trician, have three children. '07 Rizwan Ahmad, MD, Res '07, recently joined a private practice in Streator. His areas of specialty include rectal prolapse, fecal incontinence, rectal, anal and colon cancer, diverticular disease and inflammatory bowel diseases. Ahmad is board-certified in both colon and rectal surgery and general surgery. He is a fellow of the American College of Surgeons and the American College of Colon and Rectal Surgeons. He has been awarded the University of Glasgow's Pediatric Surgery Prize and the Internal Medicine Prize. Alicia-Maria Fernandez, DO, Res '07, recently joined Ripon Medical Center's Primary Care Services Clinic. Fernandez specializes in both internal medicine and pediatrics. She is espe- cially interested in preventive medicine, diabetes, obesity, hypertension, dys- lipidemias, nutrition and cardiovascular disease in women. Tell us what you're up to! Your classmates are curious about what you are doing. Fill them in by sending your latest news and accomplishments to medcomm@uic.edu, and we'll be sure to include it in the next issue of Illinois Medicine. 46 | SPRING 2 010