Academic Leadership

Michael J. Bouchard, Ph.D.

Dean and Professor, College of Graduate Studies

Michael J. Bouchard, Ph.D., serves as Dean of the College of Graduate Studies, overseeing graduate education and postdoctoral training programs. He supports students and trainees in advancing their research, fostering meaningful mentorship relationships, and preparing for impactful careers in science and academia. He is also a professor in the Department of Pharmacology and Immunology.

boucharm@musc.edu 843-876-2408 View Faculty Profile View Research Profile Visit the College of Graduate Studies

Office of the Dean

Laura M. Kasman, Ph.D.

Associate Dean, Postdoctoral Affairs Director, MS in Medical Sciences Program Professor, Department of Pharmacology & Immunology

kasmanl@musc.edu 843-876-2404 View Faculty Profile Visit the Office of Postdoctoral Affairs

Chris Brothers, MBA

Associate Dean, Finance & Administration

milch@musc.edu 843-876-2406

Rachel Penrod-Martin, Ph.D.

Assistant Dean, Academic Affairs, College of Graduate Studies Director, Mouse Behavioral Phenotyping Core Associate Professor, Department of Neuroscience

penrodam@musc.edu 843-792-8262 View Faculty Profile

Christian Ambrose, MA

Instructional Designer & eLearning Specialist

ambrochr@musc.edu

Josh Boyle

Administrator, Clemson/MUSC Bioengineering Program

dakin@musc.edu

Cathy Butler, MS

Director, Industry Partnerships and Career Development

butlecat@musc.edu

Sandra Catlett

Executive Support and Director, Strategic Initiatives

catletsa@musc.edu 843-876-2408

Jeannie Colson

Manager, Marketing & Communications

colsonj@musc.edu

Maritza Dawkins-Holnes

Manager, Senior Graduate Program ADA Liaison, College of Graduate Studies

dawkin@musc.edu 843-876-2216

Kristine DeLeon-Pennell, Ph.D.

Assistant Dean, Student Affairs Associate Professor, Cardiology

deleonky@musc.edu View Faculty Profile View Provider Profile

Dr. DeLeon-Pennell was trained in cardiovascular sciences at Baylor University, University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio, and the University of Mississippi Medical Center. She has >10 years’ experience with all aspects of the inflammatory and fibrotic components of cardiac remodeling following a heart attack. Her current research projects focus on the role of the adaptive immune system and how it interplay with the innate immune system to regulate cardiac wound healing. This includes evaluating how existing confounding variables such as gender or aging changes these processes.

Research Profile

The DeLeon-Pennell Lab focuses on all aspects of the inflammatory and fibrotic components of cardiac remodeling following a heart attack (myocardial infarction; MI). This includes evaluating how existing variables such as gender or aging changes these processes. Our major research focus is on the role of the adaptive immune system and the interplay with the innate immune system to regulate cardiac wound healing. These changes include cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions, which both affect and react to processes involved in tissue repair.

Overall our goal is to:

Develop multidimensional approaches to examine the mechanisms whereby the innate and adaptive immune system influences cardiovascular remodeling
Understand the dynamics and function of bio-molecules involved in cardiac remodeling
Improve current therapeutic strategies to prevent, slow, or reverse the progression to heart failure

Recently our lab has identified new mechanisms implicating CD8+ T-cells as regulators of the post-MI wound healing process. Our data indicated without functional CD8+ T-cells there was a decrease in left ventricular dilation and improved mortality post MI. In addition CD8+ T-cells were found to facilitate removal of necrotic tissue and the development of the fibrotic scar. The DeLeon-Pennell laboratory has been supported by grants from the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, the American Heart Association, the Medical University of South Carolina, and the US Department of Veterans Affairs.