Anil Menon, PhD

Associate Dean of Undergraduate Programs & Program Director
anil.menon@uc.edu | (513) 558-5534

PhD: University of Cincinnati
Post-Doc: Harvard University

Dr. Menon is a molecular geneticist by training and has a special interest in human genetics, human health, wellness, and human disease. He was a member of the team that identified the genes for two different cancer syndromes and, more recently, is one of the founding members of the medical sciences program. His interests outside science include philosophy, education, classic rock, and motorcycles.

David Wieczorek, PhD

Director of Admissions
david.wieczorek@uc.edu| (513) 558-0058

PhD: Rutgers University
MS: Rutgers University
BA: University of California

erkeleyDr. Wieczorek is a molecular geneticist whose research focuses is on understanding cardiac function and disease. More specifically, he explores the molecular pathways in the development of hypertrophic and dilated cardiomyopathies. He teaches in the Fundamentals of Molecular Genetics course and the Human Medical Genetics course. Outside of work, he enjoys reading and cooking, especially preparing the vegetables that he grows in his garden.

David Askew, PhD

Director of Community Service Experiences
david.askew@uc.edu| (513) 558-2395

PhD: University of British Columbia
BSc: University of British Columbia

As a microbiologist, Dr. Askew is fascinated with the entire microbial world and has a lab dedicated to understanding how some species of fungi cause human disease. His unplaceable accent is a result of living in three countries: England, Canada, and the United States. He’s a big fan of cooking and enjoys studying Italian and French. Each fall, Dr. Askew leads undergraduate students on a study tour to Paris, France where they visit the Institut Pasteur and get to know the city.

“In the fields of observation chance favors only the prepared mind.” – Louis Pasteur

Bryan Mackenzie, PhD

Director of Research Experiences
bryan.mackenzie@uc.edu| (513) 558-3627

PhD: University of Dundee
BSc: University of Aberdeen

A physiologist, Dr. Mackenzie was educated in Scotland and trained as a postdoctoral fellow at UCLA and Harvard. Dr. Mackenzie’s research program revolves around iron transport and homeostasis—the processes by which the human body regulates systemic iron levels to ensure a sufficient supply for red-blood cell production and other vital roles that iron plays. Iron deficiency is the most prevalent micronutrient deficiency worldwide. Meanwhile, several common hereditary conditions (including hereditary hemochromatosis and beta-thalassemia) are associated with iron overload, which leads to toxic damage to vital organs. Research in the Mackenzie lab is focused on the molecular physiology of iron transporters (DMT1, ferroportin, ZIP14) that are responsible for iron absorption, iron uptake into specific cell types, and iron recycling from aging red-blood cells. These transporters are potential drug targets for the treatment of iron disorders. Work in the Mackenzie Lab utilizes transport assays in RNA-injectedXenopusoocytes expressing iron transporters, and examining iron transport and homeostasis in genetically modified mouse models. Dr. Mackenzie oversees undergraduate research experiences for MSBP students who have access to cutting-edge biomedical research labs at UC College of Medicine and Cincinnati Children’s Hospital. He directs the Biomedical Research Rotation course, the two-semester senior Biomedical Research Capstone course, and Statistics & Experimental Design for the Biomedical Sciences. Dr. Mackenzie is the deputy editor-in-chief ofAdvances in Physiology Education, a leading international journal that promotes and disseminates educational scholarship in order to enhance teaching and learning of physiology and medical sciences.

Michael Lieberman, PhD

Co-Director of Curriculum
michael.lieberman@uc.edu| (513) 558-5645

PhD: Brandeis University
SB: MIT

Dr. Lieberman grew up on the east coast – born in New York City and raised outside of Philadelphia. Dr. Lieberman did a post-doctoral fellowship at Washington University in St. Louis, had his first faculty position at the Harvard School of Public Health, and came to UC College of Medicine in 1983. While at UC, Dr. Lieberman has served as the Dean of Instructional Computing, the Interim VP and CIO of the University, and is now the Chair of the Department of Molecular Genetics, Biochemistry, and Microbiology.

Kevin Haworth, PhD

Director of Data and Analytics
kevin.haworth@uc.edu| (513) 558-3536

PhD: University of Michigan - Ann Arbor
MS: University of Michigan - Ann Arbor
BS: Truman State University

Having always enjoyed science and teaching, Dr. Haworth went to college with the goal to become a high school physics teacher. He ended up loving his physics classes so much he continued on to a PhD. With a dual interest in research, Dr. Haworth got his degree in applied physics while doing research in a radiology department. At UC, Dr. Haworth enjoys working in a clinical department (Internal Medicine- Cardiology) where he pursues interdisciplinary research and brings a unique perspective into the classroom. Outside of the lab, Dr. Haworth spends time with his wife and two young girls. He’s a big Michigan Wolverine sports fan and enjoys downhill skiing and trail running.

“Research is what I’m doing when I don’t know what I am doing.” - Wernher von Braun

Danny Wu, PhD, MS

Director of SURF-MedEx and Informatics Experiences
wutz@ucmail.uc.edu| (513) 558-6464

PhD: University of Michigan - Ann Arbor
MSI: University of Michigan - Ann Arbor
BBA: National Taiwan University

Originally from Taiwan, Dr. Wu received his masters and doctoral degree from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. His research draws on human-computer interaction, machine learning, information retrieval, natural language processing, and visual analytics to maximize the value of clinical data stored in electronic health records and further improve care quality and outcomes. Dr. Wu was inaugurated as a fellow of the American Medical Informatics Association (FAMIA) in 2021. He enjoys mentoring students and creating informatics experiences for future clinicians.

Jenny Benkert, MSE

Senior Academic Advisor
benkerjm@ucmail.uc.edu| (513) 558-9897

MSE: University of Wisconsin-Whitewater
BBA: St. Norbert College

Jenny grew up in southeastern Wisconsin, where most of her family still resides. She attended St. Norbert College in De Pere, WI, where she enjoyed competing as a NCAA student-athlete in basketball (1 year) and cross country and track and field (4 years). Upon graduating, she competed professionally with a post-collegiate Olympic development program sponsored by Brooks Running, Inc., in Michigan. Following a decision to end her professional running career, Jenny pursued her Masters in Higher Education Leadership and Athletic Administration at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, where she also helped coach the cross country and track and field teams. She found her way to the University of Cincinnati in 2019, working in Student-Athlete Support Services for two years, and she looks forward to calling Cincinnati home for the foreseeable future. She’s passionate about helping/empowering students to be at their best in all facets of their lives. In her spare time, Jenny still enjoys running half and full marathons, as well as weight lifting, yoga, coffee, traveling, watching sports (go Packers, Brewers, Bucks, and Bearcats!), and spending time with friends and family (including her husband Mike, who’s a Cincinnati native).

“Only when we are brave enough to explore the darkness will we discover the infinite power of our light.”– Brene Brown

Maddy Kramer, BS

Academic Advisor
kramermd@ucmail.uc.edu| (513) 558-9897

BS: University of Cincinnati

Maddy is originally from Columbus, Ohio, where most of her family still resides. She attended the University of Cincinnati for her undergraduate studies where she majored in Neurobiology and minored in Entrepreneurship and Family Business. Maddy was involved in competitive swimming from age 7 until graduating from UC and still enjoys swimming on her own. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with family, friends, and cat. She is also an avid baseball fan. Her favorite baseball teams are the Milwaukee Brewers, the San Diego Padres and of course, the Cincinnati Reds.

“Happiness can be found even in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light.”— Albus Dumbledore,Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban

Michele Glassmeyer, BIS

Assistant Director of Experiential Education
glassmme@ucmail.uc.edu| (513) 558-7333

BIS: University of Cincinnati

Michele grew up in the suburbs of Cincinnati. She was a student athlete most of her life and still enjoys athletics. Previously, Michele worked at Cincinnati Children’s in several divisions including Graduate Medical Education where she found her passion for higher education. She is a self-proclaimed DIY'er and enjoys working on projects in her free time. Michele also enjoys walking her dogs and spending time with friends and family.

“Know what sparks the light in you. Then use that light to illuminate the world.” - Oprah Winfrey