Education
Ph.D. Program
Program Direction/Administrative Structure
- Graduate Program Director
- Steering Committee
- Curriculum Evaluation and the Education Executive Committee
- Teaching and Leadership Committee
Graduate Program Director
The current Graduate Program Director (GPD) is Dr. Louis J. De Felice. Dr. De Felice recently succeeded Dr. George Ford in the position of GPD in Physiology and Biophysics. Dr. De Felice has had an impressive career both as a research scientist and a graduate mentor at the Emory and Vanderbilt Schools of Medicine. Dr. De Felice receives administrative support from Ms. Christina Meliagros in the Department of Physiology and Biophysics. This support extends to the admissions process and all administrative needs of students (stipends, insurance, tracking of graduate student deadlines, keeping the student academic folders updated, international student office matters, etc.). A work study student is also available to the GPD 10 hrs per week to help with daily administrative tasks.
Steering Committee
A Steering Committee for the Graduate Program meets once per year to review all aspects of Training in Physiology and Biophysics during the preceding academic year, to identify strengths and weaknesses and develop strategic future plans. The Steering Committee also serves as a promotions committee and reviews each Ph.D. student every year with regard to performance in their course work, laboratory work, and advancement in the Program. The members of this committee are: Drs. Linda Costanzo, Louis De Felice, Diomedes Logothetis and Scott Ramsey.
Curriculum Evaluation and the Education Executive Committee
The Department of Physiology and Biophysics evaluates all courses every two to three years. In the year of the evaluation and at the conclusion of the course, a committee is formed to review course objectives, content, delivery, rigor and effectiveness. The review committee appointed by the GPD makes recommendations to the faculty for final approval and implementation. In this way the quality and appropriate rigor are maintained. The Executive Education Committee (EEC) oversees, plans and evaluates all departmental courses. The EEC plans and approves the review of each course and reports its findings and recommendations to the Graduate Program Director. The EEC developed a standard questionnaire and report form that is used for all course reviews. Each course review is conducted by the EEC with participation of expert faculty outside the Department, as needed. The EEC requests a written report and supporting documents from the course director and then meets with the course director, course faculty, doctoral students and the GPD. Based on the written materials and meetings, the EEC prepares a course summary report, describing the course’s strengths and weaknesses and proposed recommendations for change. The EEC submits the report to the GPD, who makes final recommendations for changes and improvements to the Department Chair and the Teaching Leadership Committee (TLC), comprised of all course directors in the department of Physiology and Biophysics.
The current membership of the EEC is:
- Dr. Louis J. De Felice, Chair
- Dr. Linda Costanzo
- Dr. Clive Baumgarten
- Dr. Joseph Feher
- Dr. Murthy Karnam
- Dr. Roland Pittman
- Dr. Raphael Witorsch
- Doctoral Student Representative (elected yearly)
Teaching and Leadership Committee
Any changes to be implemented in the Curriculum of the Physiology and Biophysics Training Program must have majority approval by the Teaching Leadership Committee (TLC), which oversees the teaching element of the Training Program. The membership is comprised of all current course directors and a doctoral student representative elected by the student body on a yearly basis. After TLC approval, the Chair and the GPD meet with the director(s) of the evaluated courses to discuss plans for recommended changes.
