Research News

University where PhD was obtained: I obtained my PhD at Cleveland State University through the Cleveland Clinic Foundation and Cleveland State University’s Joint Program.

Duration of training and lab: From 1995-2003, I worked in the Department of Cardiovascular Medicine and the Department of Anesthesiology Research. I was a graduate student (1995-2001) and a Postdoctoral Research Fellow (2001-2003) under Dr. Christine Moravec.

Work at Lerner: As a graduate student, I studied inotropic mechanisms in human atrial and ventricular muscles. Then, as a postdoc, I studied the effect of anesthetics on contractility in the failing and non-failing human heart as well as the recovery of beta adrenergic responsiveness and calcium cycling following mechanical unloading in the failing human heart.

Successes while at Lerner:

Grants

• NIH-NRSA Minority Individual Predoctoral Fellowship – 1998-2001
• AHA (Ohio Valley Affiliate) Postdoctoral Fellowship – 2001-2003

Publications

• McTiernan CF, Frye C, Lemster B, Kinder EA, Ogletree-Hughes M, Moravec CS, and Feldman AM. The phospholamban gene: structure and expression. J Mol Cell Cardiol 1999;31:679-692.
• Sprung J, Ogletree-Hughes ML, and Moravec CS. The effects of etomidate on the contractility of failing and non-failing human heart muscle. Anesth Analg 2000;91:68-75.
• Ogletree-Hughes ML, Stull LB, Sweet WE, Smedira NG, McCarthy PM, and Moravec CS. Mechanical unloading restores b-adrenergic responsiveness and reverses receptor downregulation in the failing human heart. Circulation 2001;104:881-886.
• Sprung J, Ogletree-Hughes ML, McConnell BK, Zakhary DR, Smolsky SM and Moravec CS. The effects of propofol on the contractility of failing and non-failing human heart muscles. Anesth Analg 2001;93:550-559.
• Ogletree ML, Sprung J, and Moravec CS. Effects of Remifentanil on the contractility of failing human heart muscle. J Cardiothoracic Vasc Anesth 2005;19(6):763-7.
• Ogletree ML, Smedira NG, McCarthy PM, and Moravec CS. Long-term LVAD use fails to reverse abnormal Ca2+-cycling in the severely failing human heart. Intern J Heart & Lung Trans 2010;29(5):554-561.

Awards

• NIDDK Minority Travel Award (Experimental Biology) 1997
• Lower Award for Clinical Research, Honorable Mention (Cleveland Clinic Foundation) 2001

Invited Talks

• Department of Anesthesiology Research, Weekly Seminar Series, CCF, 1998
• International Society of Heart & Lung Transplantation, San Francisco, CA, 1999
• International Society of Heart & Lung Transplantation, Vancouver, Canada, 2001
• Heart Failure Research Seminar Series, CCF, 2001
• American Heart Association Conference 2001
• International Society of Heart & Lung Transplantation, Washington DC, 2002
• Department of Anesthesiology, Weekly Seminar Series, Houston, Texas, 2003

New position title: Currently, I work as an Instructional Associate Professor of Biology and Biochemistry at the University of Houston, Main Campus. I also hold the titles of Faculty Advisor, Faculty Director of Undergraduate Programs, and Joint Admissions Medical Program Faculty Director.

New role description: I teach several courses including Human Biology, Anatomy & Physiology 2 for undergraduate non-majors, Human Physiology for undergraduate majors, Integrated Anatomy & Physiology for graduate students, and Survey for Health Professions as an interest course. I also advise students and initiate programing to help at-risk students and those that want to go to pre-professional school. My favorite part is helping students reach their full potential.

Preparations provided at Lerner: I had a wonderful PI, Dr. Christine Moravec, and mentor that supported my career interest. She allowed me to get involved in innovative and competitive research, while also allowing me to experience teaching and partake in different community outreach initiatives. Everything I did in her lab prepared me for the future

Reflecting on time at Lerner: I miss the teamwork and camaraderie in the Department of Cardiovascular Medicine between both the Clinical Departments and the Basic Science Research Labs. There was deliberate partnership which is unique to Cleveland Clinic.

Advice for current Lerner postdocs: Make sure you select a PI that still enjoys the science and genuinely cares about the success of his/her trainees. Work hard and do not accept less than your best each day you show up in the lab.