About the Authors

Dr. Karen Wiles is originally from Southampton, New Jersey. She earned a B.S. in Chemistry from Salisbury University (Salisbury, Maryland) in 2003 and her Ph.D. from Vanderbilt University (Nashville, Tennessee) in 2010. Her graduate work in the Department of Pathology, Cellular and Molecular Pathology Program focused on the protein biochemistry of bacterial hijacking of hemostasis. Following her doctoral work, she taught biology and chemistry in an adjunct capacity while supporting her husband’s military career and caring for her young children. She has been teaching Anatomy and Physiology at the undergraduate level since 2016. Karen currently serves a Medical Educator in the Department of Physiology, and Program Director of the MS in Medical Physiology program at Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University. Karen and he husband Paul are the proud parents of three wonderful children.

Dr. Christina Wilson started her journey by earning her Bachelors of Science in Biology from the University of South Carolina Aiken in 2006. She then went on to earn her Ph.D. in Biomedical Sciences with an emphasis on Neuroscience from the Medical College of Georgia Graduate School (now part of Augusta University). After receiving her Ph.D. in 2012, she moved to Baltimore to continue research as a T32 Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the University of Maryland School of Medicine. Both Dr. Wilson’s graduate and postgraduate research focused on the development of an animal model of schizophrenia. The model was used to test pharmaceutical compounds designed to help patients with cognitive deficits, often associated with Schizophrenia. While she loved doing research, she found her true passion was educating the future generations of medical workers and research scientists. Therefore, she moved back to Augusta where she began teaching undergraduate courses in 2015. During her time as a Lecturer at Augusta University, she taught courses covering topics including: General Biology, Anatomy and Physiology, Genetics, and Neurobiology.  

Dr. Juan Manuel Ramiro-Diaz is originally from Ciudad Valles San Luis Potosi (Mexico). He obtained his bachelor’s degree in Biochemistry from Universidad Autonoma de San Luis Potosi and later his MS and PhD in Basic Biomedical Sciences (with a focus on Cardiovascular Physiology) from the same institution. Juan then came to the U.S. to pursue a research career. He completed postdoctoral fellowships at the University of New Mexico, the University of Iowa, and Augusta University which allowed him to publish a total of twenty scientific articles.

Juan’s record in academia started back in Mexico during his years as a graduate student. At that time he taught the subjects of Organic Chemistry, and Biochemistry at Universidad del Valle de Mexico. Since 2020 he has served as a Lecturer in the Department of Biological Sciences at Augusta University teaching Anatomy and Physiology I/II and Molecular Biology Laboratory.

Dr. Georgios Kallifatidis was born in Athens, Greece where he grew up. He moved to Germany at age 18. He earned his MS in Biology from Darmstadt University of Technology (Darmstadt, Germany) in 2004, and his Ph.D. in Cancer Research from Ruperto Carola University and the German Cancer Research Center (Heidelberg, Germany) in 2008.  In the following years, he conducted research as a Postdoctoral Fellow at Florida Atlantic University and University of Miami, and as an Assistant Research Scientist at Augusta University. His main research focused on cancer stem cells and metabolic reprogramming and resulted in 28 publications in peer-reviewed journals. During those years working in the laboratory, he mentored several graduate/medical students and through these interactions he quickly discovered his passion for teaching. He is currently working as a lecturer at Augusta University teaching courses in Anatomy & Physiology and Molecular Biology. He has also been fascinated with Marine Biology since his early childhood and never misses an opportunity to travel and explore the ocean while snorkeling, diving, and taking underwater photographs of marine creatures.

Dr Soma Mukhopadhyay is a professor by profession, a scientist by training and an educator by passion. In her free time, she is an elocutionist, singer, poet, writer, script writer, digital content creator, theater actor and producer.

Dr Soma Mukhopadhyay completed her BS and MS in Zoology and Ph.D. in Nuclear Medicine from Kolkata (aka Calcutta), India and subsequently did her Post-Doctoral research in Cellular Physiology at the College of Medicine, University of Cincinnati. She is currently a Senior Lecturer at the Department of Biological Sciences, Augusta University and also taught at Pennsylvania State University, University of Cincinnati, Xavier University, University of South Carolina, Cincinnati State College and Sinclair Community College. She has received seven teaching awards and was nominated for four others. Dr Mukhopadhyay’s current research focus includes the study of molecular genetics of human evolution and development of interactive courses on Anatomy, Physiology and Evolution.

She co-authored four academic books and a literary collection and recently published a poetry book in Bengali.

Samantha Kendrick is from Aiken, South Carolina. She is a Cell and Molecular Biology major at Augusta University who plans to pursue a graduate degree in Pathology.

Dr. Juan Manuel Ramiro-Diaz is originally from Ciudad Valles San Luis Potosi (Mexico). He obtained his bachelor’s degree in Biochemistry from Universidad Autonoma de San Luis Potosi and later his MS and PhD in Basic Biomedical Sciences (with a focus on Cardiovascular Physiology) from the same institution. Juan then came to the U.S. to pursue a research career. He completed postdoctoral fellowships at the University of New Mexico, the University of Iowa, and Augusta University which allowed him to publish a total of twenty scientific articles.

Juan’s record in academia started back in Mexico during his years as a graduate student. At that time he taught the subjects of Organic Chemistry, and Biochemistry at Universidad del Valle de Mexico. Since 2020 he has served as a Lecturer in the Department of Biological Sciences at Augusta University teaching Anatomy and Physiology I/II and Molecular Biology Laboratory.

Dr. Georgios Kallifatidis was born in Athens, Greece where he grew up. He moved to Germany at age 18. He earned his MS in Biology from Darmstadt University of Technology (Darmstadt, Germany) in 2004, and his Ph.D. in Cancer Research from Ruperto Carola University and the German Cancer Research Center (Heidelberg, Germany) in 2008.  In the following years, he conducted research as a Postdoctoral Fellow at Florida Atlantic University and University of Miami, and as an Assistant Research Scientist at Augusta University. His main research focused on cancer stem cells and metabolic reprogramming and resulted in 28 publications in peer-reviewed journals. During those years working in the laboratory, he mentored several graduate/medical students and through these interactions he quickly discovered his passion for teaching. He is currently working as a lecturer at Augusta University teaching courses in Anatomy & Physiology and Molecular Biology. He has also been fascinated with Marine Biology since his early childhood and never misses an opportunity to travel and explore the ocean while snorkeling, diving, and taking underwater photographs of marine creatures.

Dr Soma Mukhopadhyay is a professor by profession, a scientist by training and an educator by passion. In her free time, she is an elocutionist, singer, poet, writer, script writer, digital content creator, theater actor and producer.

Dr Soma Mukhopadhyay completed her BS and MS in Zoology and Ph.D. in Nuclear Medicine from Kolkata (aka Calcutta), India and subsequently did her Post-Doctoral research in Cellular Physiology at the College of Medicine, University of Cincinnati. She is currently a Senior Lecturer at the Department of Biological Sciences, Augusta University and also taught at Pennsylvania State University, University of Cincinnati, Xavier University, University of South Carolina, Cincinnati State College and Sinclair Community College. She has received seven teaching awards and was nominated for four others. Dr Mukhopadhyay’s current research focus includes the study of molecular genetics of human evolution and development of interactive courses on Anatomy, Physiology and Evolution.

She co-authored four academic books and a literary collection and recently published a poetry book in Bengali.

Edna was born in Mexico, and grew up in Las Vegas, Nevada. As an Augusta University Art major, Edna has also taken biology and anatomy classes. My goal is to become a medical illustrator, I will be applying to Medical Illustration Graduate programs in Spring 2025.

Jaylan is an Integrated Studies major at Augusta University, originally from Stockbridge, Georgia. He plans to become a certified medical illustrator (CMI) and eventually a creative director of medical illustration.

Aislin Sparrow is a senior Art student at Augusta University, looking to pursue a career in medical illustration —- combining my passion for art and science. My goal is to teach others about connective tissue disorders such as Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, and other invisible disabilities.