Katie Garman, MD, MHS, Associate Professor of Medicine at Duke,

Garman Lab PI

Katie grew up in Nyack, NY and she developed an early interest in science that was inspired by curiosity about marine biology and her 7th grade science teacher, Patricia Beck, at Nyack Middle School. As an undergraduate at Yale, she was a biology major and participated in Alzheimer’s research with Dr. Chris van Dyck at Yale New Haven Hospital.

She moved to North Carolina to attend Duke for medical school and completed research with Harvey Jay Cohen related to outcomes in older cancer patients. Katie remained at Duke for residency training in internal medicine, a chief resident year at Duke, and gastroenterology fellowship.

Katie has been mentored by many people over the years with special gratitude to Dr. Dawn Provenzale and Dr. Susan J. Henning (UNC). Dr. Henning has played a particularly important role as Katie transitioned to a more basic and translational research program.  Katie is inspired by the many knowledge gaps related to injury and repair in the gastrointestinal tract, particularly in relation to cancer development and how deeper understanding of that underlying biology can lead to new strategies for cancer prevention.  The Garman lab remains firmly committed to diversity and has a strong interest in disparities research. As a woman in gastroenterology, Katie has also developed a strong interest in ergonomics of endoscopy and she is a proud Fellow of the American Gastroenterological Association. Katie now serves as the Vice Chief for Research in the Division of Gastroenterology at Duke and she co-leads Cancer Risk, Detection, and Interception for the Duke Cancer Institute. Mentorship is an important part of Katie’s job and it is a privilege to work with the talented students and trainees in the lab.

Outside the lab, Katie loves running, gardening, cooking and spending time with her family and their animals in Hillsborough, NC.

 

 

Thomas Becker, PhD

Tom is a molecular biologist in the Newgard Lab at DMPI who also works with the Garman Lab. He has a long track record of research related to endocrinology. His focus in the Garman Lab is a collaboration targeting specific porcine genes using siRNA. Outside the lab, Tom is an avid cyclist and he recently re-kindled his bread baking skills during the pandemic.

 

Paula Scotland, PHD – Laboratory Analyst II

Paula is a native to Massachusetts but has lived in North Carolina since 1992, which she now considers home.  She attended University of Massachusetts at Lowell obtaining a BS in Clinical Laboratory Sciences, and then Dartmouth College where she obtained a PhD in biochemistry. Paula has been a member of the Duke community since 1995 when she first began a postdoctoral position in Dr Vann Bennett’s laboratory. She has enjoyed working in several different areas of research over the years, including biology of the brain and neuromuscular junction, leukemia, lymphoma, and most recently in translational work focusing on clinical treatments for demyelinating conditions. Paula has two adult children that she is very proud of, both of whom are students at UNC-CH. When Paula isn’t in the lab or spending time with her family, she typically can be found either biking on the greenways or backpacking in the mountains. Paula is very pleased to be joining the Garman Laboratory!

 

 

Joyce Hogue – Laboratory Analyst I

Joyce grew up in Pullman, WA and completed her undergrad in her hometown at Washington State University. She received her Bachelor’s of Science and studied biology. Joyce has worked at Duke University in medical research in one form or another for several years and she specializes in microscopy, histology and cell culture techniques. In her free time, Joyce enjoys reading, painting and walking her dog, Miles.

 

 

 

Hannah Sofia Brown, Duke Internal Medicine Resident – Began as a Medical Student  in the lab (affiliation 2020 – ongoing)

Hannah is from Minneapolis, MN and moved to Nashville for undergrad. She received a B.A. in Neuroscience from Vanderbilt University. After her first taste of the mild Southern winters, she couldn’t go back to the Minnesota blizzards and stayed in the South for medical school .She started medical school at Duke in 2018 and is currently a third-year medical student. Outside of school and research she loves spending time with her cat, Charles. She is teaching him how to walk on a leash, and has dreams of him becoming an “adventure cat.” She also enjoys running, hiking, and doing anything outdoors!

 

Priya Alagesan, Duke Medical Student (lab affiliation 2021 – ongoing)

 

Rachel Zuzul, Duke Medical Student (lab affiliation 2022 – ongoing)

 

 

 

Caroline Labriola, Duke Medical Student (lab affiliation 2021 – ongoing)

 

 

 

Omar Martinez-Uribe, Duke Internal Medicine (spent two years in the lab as a medical student, including with NIH T32 Medical Student Research Training supplement)

Omar has graduated from medical school at Duke, completed medicine residency through  the Duke Internal Medicine Program and he is currently a GI Fellow at Duke. He is still working on projects with the Garman Lab.

 

 

Alumni and former Garman Lab Members: 

 

Apoorva Kandakatla, Duke Medical Student (lab affiliation 2019 – 2022) Stead Scholarship for research and NIH T32 Medical Student Research Training supplement

Apoorva is originally from Columbus, OH and is currently a third-year medical student at Duke University School of Medicine. She completed her undergraduate education at the University of Pittsburgh, where she studied Neuroscience and Gender Studies. Outside of research and studying medicine, she likes to spend her time reading books, listening to podcasts, drawing/painting, and finding new locations to hike.

 

 

Norah Karlovich, Duke Medical Student (lab affiliation 2019 – 2021) supported by Stead Scholarship for research

Norah is originally from Pittsburgh, PA and first moved to Durham for her undergraduate education.  She received a B.S. in Biology and B.A. in Spanish from Duke University.  She is currently a resident at UCSF.  Outside of medicine and research, she enjoys spending time outside, playing field hockey, and cheering on the Duke men’s basketball team.

 

Christina Stolarchuk, Clinical Research Coordinator

Christina was a clinical research coordinator and worked closely with the Garman Lab and the  GI Tissue Repository.

Richard J von Furstenberg, MS, Associate in Research

Rich was instrumental in building the Garman Lab’s research program and working with Katie to develop many new techniques and approaches for the Garman Lab. Rich is a talented artist and was a beloved member of the team. We celebrate Rich as he embarks on a new phase of his career; he started a PhD program at NCSU in the summer of 2020.

 

Stephanie King, MS, Laboratory Analyst

Stephanie King, MS joined us in the Garman Lab 2019-2020 to help with new human intestinal culture protocols. She also helped with cell culture and tissue processing. At this time, Stephanie has moved on to new opportunities and we are grateful for all of her efforts in our lab.

 

 

Bhavya Allena, Duke NUS Medical Student (now graduated and in residency in Singapore)

 

 

Farah Hussain, MD, Duke GI Fellow (graduated July 2020)

 

 

Leandi Krüger, MBA; PhD Student at NC State (now graduated) and now working in industry