Julian E. Stelzer, PhD

Program Director

Dr. Stelzer is the director of the Medical Physiology program. He received his PhD from Oregon State University and is a Professor in the Department of Physiology and Biophysics. His research is focused on the molecular mechanisms of contractile dysfunction in genetic and acquired cardiomyopathies. Dr. Stelzer teaches cardiovascular physiology in courses within the MSMP curriculum. At CWRU he is serving on several School of Medicine steering committees including the Medical School Admissions Committee (MSAC) and the Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP). He is currently the chair of the MSAC.

George R. Dubyak, PhD

Professor

Dr. Dubyak received his PhD from the University of Pennsylvania and specializes in signal transduction by extracellular nucleotides and inflammasomes in innate immunity and inflammation.

Corey Smith, PhD

Professor, Graduate Program Director for Doctoral Program

Dr. Smith is the Graduate Program Director for PhD education for the Physiology and Biophysics training program and leader of Block 2 – Neurology for the Medical Physiology program. He has served as course director for PhD-level courses, as the admissions director for the Physiology and Biophysics training program, and as a member of the admissions committee for the Biomedical Sciences Training Program (BSTP). Dr. Smith is currently a member of the Graduate Advisory Committee for the School of Medicine PhD training programs and teaches courses within the PhD training program, the MSMP program, and the School of Medicine MD curriculum. He has served as an academic advisor for the MSMP program since its inception and has hosted several MSMP students for independent study research projects. His research interests include peripheral nervous systems, synaptic physiology, and neuromodulation of cardiovascular function.

Jessica Taylor, PhD

Assistant Professor, Associate Director of Medical Physiology

Dr.Taylor received her PhD in Biomedical Sciences from the University of Missouri. She teaches in multiple blocks of the MSMP core curriculum - spanning cardiovascular, gastrointestinal core and exercise physiology - in addition to leading activities for Block 8. Dr. Taylor is the course director tor the Exercise Physiology course (second year elective) and she also teaches respiratory and gastrointestinal pathophysiology in the Physiological Bais for Diseases electives. Prior to joining the department, Dr. Taylor taught at William Carey University College of Osteopathic Medicine and served on their Admissions Committee for five years. She has advised both the pre-professional and professional students over the past six years and currently serves as a member of the Admissions Committee and the Committee for Medical Education here at CWRU's School of Medicine.

Patrtck Osei-Owusu, PhD, FAHA

Associate Professor

Dr. Osei- Owusu's info  is coming soon.

PhD, Cardiovascular Pharmacology, Stritch School of Medicine, Loyola University Chicago

Dr. Osei-Owusu received his PhD from Loyola University Chicago, Stritch School of Medicine. He teaches several courses in the Biomedical Sciences Training Program (BSTP) – including cytoskeletal proteins in Cell Biology, cardiovascular physiology and pharmacology, and GPCR and G-protein signaling in Cell Signaling. He serves as Co-Director of the Physiology and Biophysics of Molecules and Cells course in the Physiology and Biophysics PhD program. He also participates in teaching multiple blocks of the MSMP core curriculum, including renal and signaling blocks, and the School of Medicine MD curriculum. Dr. Osei-Owusu is currently a member of the Graduate Education Committee for the Physiology and Biophysics PhD program and serves as an academic advisor to several students in the MSMP program. His overarching research interest centers on investigating the role of signal transduction regulation and dysregulation in normal physiology and the development of cardiovascular disease including hypertension, hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, and dilated cardiomyopathy.

Erica Allen, PhD

Assistant Professor, Director of the Curriculum

Erika N. Allen, Ph.D., is an assistant professor of Physiology and Biophysics.
She is responsible for teaching physiology to graduate students in the Master’s in
Medical Physiology program and first- and second-year medical students. She
also serves as a facilitator for the Case Inquiry program in the School of
Medicine. Dr. Allen is a graduate of Allegheny College with a Bachelor’s degree
in Biochemistry and Duquesne University with a Ph.D. in Pharmacology. Her
current research interests involve innovation in teaching methods and the effect
of well-being and mental health on student success.                                                                                             

Jeffrey R. Schelling, MD

Professor

The Schelling laboratory utilizes in vitro molecular and cellular methods, animal models
and human samples to investigate glomerular and tubulointerstitial pathophysiology in
the context of CKD, especially diabetic kidney disease. We made the initial discovery
that proximal tubule cell apoptosis leads to tubular atrophy, which strongly predicts CKD
progression. We have continued to build on that theme, with many publications that
characterize the cellular pathways that impact on tubular epithelial cell survival, most
recently the role of filtered fatty acid uptake by fatty acid transporter-2 (FATP2) in
proximal tubule glucolipotoxicity (PMC5748912, PMC7455077, PMC12486159,
PMC12646670). We are actively pursuing projects which explore the pathophysiology of
FATP2-mediated cytotoxicity, as well as the development of FATP2 inhibitors as a
potential treatment for diabetes and diabetic kidney disease (PMC10527240).