Congrats Dr. Kelly Reveles: New Translational Science PhD Graduate
Dr. Christopher Frei, Kelly’s mentor in the program, had the following to say:
” Dr. Reveles has been an exceptional trainee and treas
ured asset for the four
institutions involved in the new Translational Science (TS) PhD program. She is
a strong researcher and prolific writer, and her work holds great potential to
transform the care for patients with healthcare associated infections,
including Clostridium difficile infection. The faculty and leaders of the TS PhD program are very proud of her and her many accomplishments.”
We asked Dr. Lichtenstein to comment about Kelly as well as the impact on the Translational Science PhD Program.
“Kelly Reveles’ successful dissertation defense is an exciting milestone for the Translational Science PhD program, as she is the first graduate student to earn the degree. Kelly positioned herself to move through the program quickly, fin
ishing in the third year of this new joint degree program. I am very proud of her, her Supervising Professor Christopher Frei, and the multi-disciplinary dissertation committee for the quality of Kelly’s work and the defense preparation. The UT College of Pharmacy and UT Austin continue to be pacesetters for the Translational Science PhD program, a novel collaboration among four UT System components.”
And of course, the Pipette Gazette (PG) asked her the three questions:
[PG] What did you learn?
[Dr. Reveles] I learned that Clostridium difficile infections are a major public health problem in the United
States, specifically in the Veterans Health Administration. These infections are associated with morbidity and mortality, as 
well as high resource utilization. Importantly, our study found that the incidence of these
infections, as well as all-cause mortality, decreased in recent years. This
suggests that we have made progress in preventing and treating these
infections. Finally, we developed a clinical prediction rule to identify patients at risk for disease recurrence. With further study, this rule might be used in clinical practice to guide preventative and treatment decisions for patients with Clostridium difficile infections, and ultimately improve the health of patients
[PG] What’s next?
[Dr. Reveles] I have accepted a tenure-track Assistant Professor position with the University of Texas at Austin College of Pharmacy. I will also have an adjoint Assistant Professor position with the UT Health Science Center San Antonio School of Medicine. My research program will focus on reducing the incidence and improving the outcomes of Clostridium difficile infections by designing, testing, and implementing effective clinical & translational strategies. I chose this position to maintain affiliations at two elite research institutions, to continue my research collaborations, and to mentor the next generation of pharmacists and translational scientists.
[PG] Any advice for your fellow graduate students?
[Dr. Reveles] Begin with the end in mind. Early in graduate school, work to develop a vision for your future research program and take as many opportunities as you can to develop the skills needed to succeed. Graduate school can be overwhelming at times, so always remember to take time for yourself and your family. Most importantly, always believe in yourself.
Sage advice, Dr. Reveles. And congrats again to you, to Dr. Frei, and to Dr. Lichtenstein!
