Please help us in congratulating our 2020 graduates in the South Texas Medical Scientist Training Program and their Match Day results:

• Jeffrey Cooney, M.D., Ph.D. – Radiation Oncology – New York University
• Kathryn Hinchee Rodriguez, M.D., Ph.D. – Dermatology – University of Rochester
• Brett Ipson, M.D., Ph.D. – Pediatrics/Hem/Onc – U Texas Southwestern (Physician Scientist Training Program Track)

Our three MS4 trainees spent many months interviewing at top notch, research-intensive residency programs in the specialty of their choice. On Match Day, we received great news that all three graduating students matched to their first-choice residency program! We truly wish them the best of luck in their future careers as physician-scientists.

Jeffrey (Jeff) Cooney, M.D., Ph.D. – Radiation Oncology – New York University

Jeff joined the M.D./Ph.D. Program in fall 2012 after completing a bachelor’s from Boston College and a master’s degree at Boston University. During his graduate school years, Jeff worked in the lab of Ricardo Aguiar, M.D., Ph.D., culminating in his dissertation in April 2018 entitled, “The Cyclic AMP/Phosphodiesterase 4 Axis Regulates the Proximal B-cell Receptor, the Lymphoma cell, and its Microenvironment.” With this research, he also achieved a prestigious NIH F-30 award. Jeff is pictured here with fur-baby, Mr. Darcy, a labradoodle Jeff adopted in 2017. Jeff will first conduct a preliminary intern year at University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) and then move to NYU for the remainder of residency.

Kathryn (Katie) Hinchee Rodriguez, M.D., Ph.D. – Dermatology – University of Rochester

Katie began the M.D./Ph.D. Program in fall of 2012. Katie graduated with her bachelor’s degree from Duke University. During graduate school, Katie also achieved an impressive NIH F-30 award for her biochemistry research in the labs of Bettie Sue Masters, Ph.D. and Martin Adamo, Ph.D. Her dissertation defense in September 2017 was titled, “Regulation of Neuronal Nitric Oxide Synthase by Insulin in Skeletal Muscle.” Katie and her husband, Dr. Pavel Rodriguez became parents in February 2019 to son, Evan. Katie will conduct a preliminary intern year at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston before moving to the University of Rochester for a residency in Dermatology.

Brett Ipson, M.D., Ph.D. – Pediatrics/Hem/Onc – U Texas Southwestern (Physician Scientist Training Program Track)

Brett started the M.D./Ph.D. Program in the fall of 2012. Brett had previously grown up in Utah and graduated with his bachelor’s degree from Brigham Young University. At UT Health San Antonio, Brett was interested in molecular biology and worked in the lab of Alfred Fisher, M.D., Ph.D. Brett was awarded a NIH F-30 for his research in this lab. He ultimately defended his dissertation in May 2018, titled, “A novel role for tyrosine aminotransferase in the oxidative stress response.” Brett and wife, Hannah, have welcomed three daughters since Brett began the program in 2012! Brett was accepted into a Physician Scientist Training Program at UT Southwestern, a competitive research-track residency program that integrates both research and medicine. Within the PSTP, he will have the opportunity to pursue a fellowship in Hematology/Oncology.