Student Ambassador Updates
The Stem for Life Foundation is proud to share some updates about the important work being done around the globe by our Student Ambassadors for the Cellular Age. Our Student Ambassador program aims to inspire the next generation about the potential of and advances in adult stem cell science and the role cellular therapy will play in medicine and in alleviating human suffering. Many of our Student Ambassadors participated in the Second International Vatican Adult Stem Cell Conference and have since returned to their schools and universities where they are raising awareness about regenerative medicine among their peers. For more information about becoming a Student Ambassador please email studentambassadorprogram@stemforlife.org.
Dr. Joseph Bernard, Jr.
University of Notre Dame, Haiti
Joseph delivered a well-received presentation during the annual scientific conference, Journées Scientifiques, at University of Notre Dame, Haiti. He presented to a group of physicians, nurses and students on the topic of regenerative medicine entitled: “Regenerative Medicine: Current Perspectives and Opportunities for Haiti” (La médicine regenerative: Persepectives actuelles et opportunités pour Haiti). Joseph practices medicine in the area of infectious diseases.
Humberto Mestre Payne
Universidad Anáhuac, Mexico
Humberto is helping to organize a national conference at the Universidad Anáhuac in celebration of the 50th anniversary of the University. In partnership with the National Transplant Center and Mexican Academy of Medicine, the conference will be held in Mexico City in March 2014. One of the themes will be regenerative medicine, with a special emphasis on cell-based and organ-based transplants. Humberto is a 2014 candidate for a Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery at the Universidad Anáhuac.
Angela Chlebowski
Fairfield University, Connecticut
Angela and her experience at the second Adult Stem Cell Conference were featured in an article for The Pulse, the publication of the School of Nursing at Fairfield University. Angela will present about her areas of interest in regenerative medicine, as well as her experience at the Vatican Conference at a nursing conference later this year. Angela is a graduate student at Fairfield University where she studies Integrated Healthcare Leadership.
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ebecca Marton and Kristin Springer
Universityof Notre Dame, Indiana
In the spring, Notre Dame seniors Rebecca Marton and Kristin Springer and their experiences at the Vatican Conference were featured in an article for The Observer, their campus newspaper. They are also planning to write an article for Scientia, their campus undergraduate science journal, as well as to give a presentation of what they learned in Rome at both a Scientia meeting and a biology club meeting.
Rebecca and Kristin are both majoring in Biology. Rebecca studies retinal regeneration in zebrafish and will be soon be presenting her findings at the Midwest Society for Developmental Biology meeting at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri. Kristin is performing her undergraduate research on kidney regeneration in the zebrafish, and presented her work this summer at the Midwest Zebrafish meeting in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Raquel Diaz
Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Colombia
Raquel has been teaching a lecture course on the uses of the human body in biotechnological research from a bioethical perspective, which is also the topic of her Masters’ dissertation. Although the main topic of her research is genetic transformation and liberal eugenics, she has incorporated discussions of adult stem cell research into some of her focus groups, as well as her bioethics and medical ethics lectures. Raquel is a graduate student at Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, and a faculty member in the Department of Political Science at La Universidad Icesi in Colombia.
Samuel Velásquez Serrrano
Pontifica Universitá Gregoriana,Italy
Samuel wrote an editorial response to Nature’s International Weekly Journal of Science’s editorial “Smoke and Mirrors”. His response promoted the virtues of the Vatican Conference and its focus on ethical and responsible science. In May, Samuel gave a presentation about the Vatican Conference to all Ph.D students and the Faculty of Moral Theology. In July, Samuel made a presentation about adult stem cells and regenerative medicine to a group of Seminarians (youth who are preparing for the priesthood) in the Archdiocese of San Juan in Puerto Rico. Samuel is a graduate student at Universitá Gregoriana where he studies Moral Theology and Bioethics.
Nikhil S. Bardeskar
St. Xavier’s College-Autonomous, India
Nikhil is scheduled to make a presentation about adult stem cell research to some convent schools in Mumbai this October. He has also shared his experience from the Vatican Conference through an active Facebook group he started “Adult Stem Cell Awareness Group” where he regularly posts articles and other information to spread awareness about adult stem cells. Nikhil is a candidate for a Masters of Science in Biotechnology at St. Xavier’s College- Autonomous in Mumbai.