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Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology

School of Medicine
Creighton University, Omaha, Nebraska

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Detailed Information

Programs of Study

Programs are offered leading to M.S. and Ph.D. degrees. Students are encouraged to acquire a breadth of knowledge in the major disciplines of microbiology and then concentrate in a research area such as HIV; cellular, molecular, and clinical immunology; microbial pathogenicity; infectious diseases; antimicrobial agents and chemotherapy; microbial and molecular genetics; microbial physiology; and epidemiology, prions, and multiple sclerosis.

The minimum required curriculum for the M.S. degree, which is usually completed in two full years, consists of 30 semester hours of graduate credit, including both formal courses and thesis research. For the Ph.D., an additional 60 hours are required. Postdoctoral positions are also available.

Research Facilities

The Department occupies 12,000 square feet of space in modern buildings. More than three quarters of the available space is used for research laboratories, which are completely equipped with all essential facilities, including a BSL-3 biocontainment facility. There is also a centrally located Departmental pool of major equipment. Ample space is provided for each student. Well-appointed animal quarters and an animal operating room are available. The Clinical Microbiology Laboratory at Creighton University Medical Center is well equipped for extensive instruction in diagnostic microbiology, immunopathology, and viral serology. The Health Sciences Library has more than 230,000 volumes and currently receives over 2,500 print and electronic serials.

Financial Aid

Financial aid is generally available in the form of stipends and/or remission of tuition. Graduate assistantships that are financed by the University and other related sources are available. The assistantship appointee assists in clerical and other duties performed in the student’s major department. These appointments require no less than 10 and no more than 20 clock hours of the student’s time per week.

Cost of Study

Graduate tuition is $650 per semester hour for 2009–10. Students typically enroll for 8 to 12 hours of course work each semester.

Living and Housing Costs

Creighton University offers limited on-campus housing facilities for unmarried students who are not residents of Omaha. In addition, students can find adequate low-rent housing off campus. Information on housing may be obtained from the Housing Office.

Student Group

All states and fifty-four countries are represented in the Creighton student body. The University enrolls nearly 7,000 students, of whom more than 500 are members of the graduate division. There are usually between 10 and 20 graduate students in the Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology.

Student Outcomes

The spectrum of graduate alumni extends into all facets of society and the professions, including scientists who have entered the fields of medicine, pharmacy, and allied health and individuals who have joined microbiology departments, pharmaceutical companies, industrial corporations, and clinical microbiology laboratories. The list includes, but is not limited to, former students and postdoctoral fellows employed at Pfizer, Inc.; Abbott Laboratories; National Aeronautics and Space Administration; Yale University; Wyeth-Ayerst Pharmaceutical Laboratories; Medical College of Virginia; Rocky Mountain National Laboratory; the U.S. Food and Drug Administration; the University of Nebraska Medical Center; and the United States Centers for Disease Control.

Location

Centered in the heart of Omaha, Nebraska, Creighton’s campus spans over 130 acres. A dynamic city in the heart of the nation, Omaha has grown to be a modern city of commerce and industry, and it is a major distribution center serving the expanding markets of mid-America. The population of Omaha and the urban areas surrounding it is more than 700,000. Educational and cultural institutions of a high order include the Joslyn Art Museum and the Omaha Symphony Orchestra. Omaha is also well represented in both professional and collegiate athletics and is the home of the College World Series. Public recreation opportunities are provided by Omaha’s parks, golf courses, swimming pools, and the Henry Doorly Zoo. Omaha has outstanding religious, educational, and medical facilities and is truly a place for all people.

The University

Creighton is an independent Catholic university operated by the Jesuits that enrolls approximately 7,000 students. The School of Medicine and the Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology are all part of one allied health administrative structure. With respect to graduate research, the mission of Creighton University School of Medicine is to develop and promote an understanding of human health and the causes, treatments, and prevention of disease. To accomplish this, the School of Medicine promotes scholarship and research dedicated to improve the practice and teaching of medicine and to enhance the quality of human life.

Applying

Completed applications must be on file with the Graduate School on or before February 1 for consideration for admission in the fall semester. Applications should include transcripts; Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) scores; TOEFL scores, if applicable; and three letters of recommendation.

The Faculty and Their Research

Devendra K. Agrawal, Professor; Ph.D. (biochemistry), Lucknow (India), 1978; Ph.D. (medical sciences), McMaster, 1984. Transcription/translation of cell-adhesion molecules; mechanisms of restenosis/intimal hyperplasia; apoptosis of vascular smooth-muscle cells; allergy/asthma.
Jason C. Bartz. Associate Professor; Ph.D. (veterinary science), Wisconsin–Madison, 1998. Prion diseases; pathogenesis of neurodegenerative disorders; neurovirology.
Michael Belshan, Assistant Professor; Ph.D. (molecular, cellular, and developmental biology), Iowa State, 1999. Virus–host cell interactions; virus replication and pathogenesis in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) replication.
Marvin J. Bittner, Associate Professor; M.D. (infectious diseases), Harvard, 1976. Clinical infectious diseases; travel medicine; hospital epidemiology.
Stephen J. Cavalieri, Associate Professor; Ph.D. (medical microbiology), West Virginia, 1981. Clinical microbiology; antimicrobial susceptibility testing; mycobacteriology; rapid diagnostic testing for infectious diseases; clinical virology.
Edward A. Chaperon, Associate Professor; Ph.D. (immunology), Wisconsin, 1965. Cellular immunology.
Archana Chatterjee, Associate Professor; M.D., Ph.D. (pediatric infectious disease), Nebraska Medical Center, 1993. Maternal-fetal transmission of cytomegalovirus infection; the role of cytomegalovirus in atherosclerosis; antibiotic utilization by physicians; antibiotic resistance; vaccine development.
Xian-Ming Chen, Associate Professor; M.D. (parasite pathogenesis and antiparasite (host) defenses), Hubei Medical (China), 1985. Molecular basis underlying microbe/parasite-epithelial interactions, in particular, the role of microRNAs in epithelial antimicrobial defense, as well as its relevance to mucosal innate and adaptive immunity in general.
Kristen M. Drescher, Associate Professor; Ph.D. (molecular microbiology and immunology), Johns Hopkins, 1996. Pathogenesis of demyelinating diseases; multiple sclerosis.
Paul Fey, Assistant Clinical Professor of Medicine; Ph.D. (medical microbiology), Creighton, 1995. Molecular epidemiology and characterization of Staphylococcus species.
Martha Gentry-Nielsen, Professor; Ph.D. (infectious disease), Oklahoma State, 1984. The effects of ethanol ingestion and liver cirrhosis on susceptibility to pneumococcal infection.
Richard V. Goering, Professor and Chair; Ph.D. (microbiology), Iowa State, 1972. Molecular techniques for the epidemiological analysis of nosocomial pathogens; genetics of antibiotic resistance.
Gary L. Gorby, Associate Professor; M.D. (infectious disease), Northeastern Ohio College of Medicine, 1983. Pathogenesis of Neisseria gonorrhoeae infections.
Venkatesh Govindarajan, Assistant Professor; Ph.D. (developmental/molecular biology), Houston, 1997. Fibroblast growth factor (FGF) signaling during ocular and skeletal development.
Nancy D. Hanson, Associate Professor; Ph.D. (medical microbiology), Nebraska Medical Center, 1991. Regulation of inducible beta-lactamase expression in Serratia; molecular mechanisms of antimicrobial resistance; antivirals.
Edward A. Horowitz, Associate Professor; M.D. (infectious disease), Creighton, 1978. Clinical aspects of antimicrobial efficiency and resistance.
Floyd C. Knoop, Professor; Ph.D. (medical microbiology/biochemistry), Tennessee Medical Center, Memphis, 1974. Mechanisms of NAD-dependent ADP-ribosylation and receptor-mediated transmembrane signaling by microbial toxins; basis of adenyl and guanyl cyclase/protein kinase activation.
Philip D. Lister, Associate Professor; Ph.D. (medical microbiology), Creighton, 1992. In vitro and new dosing strategies relating to development of antibiotic resistance and treatment of drug-resistant bacteria; molecular mechanisms of antibacterial resistance.
Laurel C. Preheim, Professor; M.D. (infectious disease), Northwestern, 1973. Host-parasite interactions; microbial virulence factors; host defense mechanisms; effect of alcohol ingestion and alcoholic liver disease on resistance to pneumococcal pneumonia.
Mark E. Rupp, Associate Clinical Professor; M.D. (infectious disease), Baylor College of Medicine, 1984. Pathogenesis of prosthetic device infections; adherence of coagulase-negative staphylococci; infection control/hospital epidemiology.
Patrick C. Swanson, Associate Professor; Ph.D. (chemistry), Michigan, 1995. V(D)J recombination and other processes underlying antigen receptor diversity.
Kenneth S. Thomson, Professor; Ph.D. (microbiology), Tasmania (Australia), 1988. Antibiotic resistance mechanisms in bacteria; clinical relevance of antibiotic susceptibility tests; beta-lactam antibiotics; quinolone antibiotics.
Zhaoyi Wang, Assistant Professor; Ph.D. (molecular genetics), Washington (St. Louis), 1994. Tumorigenesis of breast cancer; estrogen signaling.

Correspondence and Information

Creighton University
Philip D. Lister, Ph.D.
Director of Graduate Program
Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology
School of Medicine
Omaha, Nebraska 68178
Telephone: 402-280-2921
Fax: 402-280-1875
Email: cumedmicro@creighton.edu

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Enter Username Enter Password: Forgot Username/Password? New User? Register Now!	Jump To: Graduate Search > Institution > College/School > Department/Program My Saved Schools \| Print Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology School of Medicine Creighton University, Omaha, Nebraska Admissions Student Body Financial Aid Programs and Degrees Faculty Research Contact Info Detailed Information Others also viewed: Albany Medical College, Center for Immunology and Microbial Disease Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, Department of Microbiology and Immunology Temple University, Department of Microbiology and Immunology View full list Detailed Information Programs of Study Programs are offered leading to M.S. and Ph.D. degrees. Students are encouraged to acquire a breadth of knowledge in the major disciplines of microbiology and then concentrate in a research area such as HIV; cellular, molecular, and clinical immunology; microbial pathogenicity; infectious diseases; antimicrobial agents and chemotherapy; microbial and molecular genetics; microbial physiology; and epidemiology, prions, and multiple sclerosis. The minimum required curriculum for the M.S. degree, which is usually completed in two full years, consists of 30 semester hours of graduate credit, including both formal courses and thesis research. For the Ph.D., an additional 60 hours are required. Postdoctoral positions are also available. Research Facilities The Department occupies 12,000 square feet of space in modern buildings. More than three quarters of the available space is used for research laboratories, which are completely equipped with all essential facilities, including a BSL-3 biocontainment facility. There is also a centrally located Departmental pool of major equipment. Ample space is provided for each student. Well-appointed animal quarters and an animal operating room are available. The Clinical Microbiology Laboratory at Creighton University Medical Center is well equipped for extensive instruction in diagnostic microbiology, immunopathology, and viral serology. The Health Sciences Library has more than 230,000 volumes and currently receives over 2,500 print and electronic serials. Financial Aid Financial aid is generally available in the form of stipends and/or remission of tuition. Graduate assistantships that are financed by the University and other related sources are available. The assistantship appointee assists in clerical and other duties performed in the student’s major department. These appointments require no less than 10 and no more than 20 clock hours of the student’s time per week. Cost of Study Graduate tuition is $650 per semester hour for 2009–10. Students typically enroll for 8 to 12 hours of course work each semester. Living and Housing Costs Creighton University offers limited on-campus housing facilities for unmarried students who are not residents of Omaha. In addition, students can find adequate low-rent housing off campus. Information on housing may be obtained from the Housing Office. Student Group All states and fifty-four countries are represented in the Creighton student body. The University enrolls nearly 7,000 students, of whom more than 500 are members of the graduate division. There are usually between 10 and 20 graduate students in the Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology. Student Outcomes The spectrum of graduate alumni extends into all facets of society and the professions, including scientists who have entered the fields of medicine, pharmacy, and allied health and individuals who have joined microbiology departments, pharmaceutical companies, industrial corporations, and clinical microbiology laboratories. The list includes, but is not limited to, former students and postdoctoral fellows employed at Pfizer, Inc.; Abbott Laboratories; National Aeronautics and Space Administration; Yale University; Wyeth-Ayerst Pharmaceutical Laboratories; Medical College of Virginia; Rocky Mountain National Laboratory; the U.S. Food and Drug Administration; the University of Nebraska Medical Center; and the United States Centers for Disease Control. Location Centered in the heart of Omaha, Nebraska, Creighton’s campus spans over 130 acres. A dynamic city in the heart of the nation, Omaha has grown to be a modern city of commerce and industry, and it is a major distribution center serving the expanding markets of mid-America. The population of Omaha and the urban areas surrounding it is more than 700,000. Educational and cultural institutions of a high order include the Joslyn Art Museum and the Omaha Symphony Orchestra. Omaha is also well represented in both professional and collegiate athletics and is the home of the College World Series. Public recreation opportunities are provided by Omaha’s parks, golf courses, swimming pools, and the Henry Doorly Zoo. Omaha has outstanding religious, educational, and medical facilities and is truly a place for all people. The University Creighton is an independent Catholic university operated by the Jesuits that enrolls approximately 7,000 students. The School of Medicine and the Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology are all part of one allied health administrative structure. With respect to graduate research, the mission of Creighton University School of Medicine is to develop and promote an understanding of human health and the causes, treatments, and prevention of disease. To accomplish this, the School of Medicine promotes scholarship and research dedicated to improve the practice and teaching of medicine and to enhance the quality of human life. Applying Completed applications must be on file with the Graduate School on or before February 1 for consideration for admission in the fall semester. Applications should include transcripts; Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) scores; TOEFL scores, if applicable; and three letters of recommendation. The Faculty and Their Research Devendra K. Agrawal, Professor; Ph.D. (biochemistry), Lucknow (India), 1978; Ph.D. (medical sciences), McMaster, 1984. Transcription/translation of cell-adhesion molecules; mechanisms of restenosis/intimal hyperplasia; apoptosis of vascular smooth-muscle cells; allergy/asthma. Jason C. Bartz. Associate Professor; Ph.D. (veterinary science), Wisconsin–Madison, 1998. Prion diseases; pathogenesis of neurodegenerative disorders; neurovirology. Michael Belshan, Assistant Professor; Ph.D. (molecular, cellular, and developmental biology), Iowa State, 1999. Virus–host cell interactions; virus replication and pathogenesis in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) replication. Marvin J. Bittner, Associate Professor; M.D. (infectious diseases), Harvard, 1976. Clinical infectious diseases; travel medicine; hospital epidemiology. Stephen J. Cavalieri, Associate Professor; Ph.D. (medical microbiology), West Virginia, 1981. Clinical microbiology; antimicrobial susceptibility testing; mycobacteriology; rapid diagnostic testing for infectious diseases; clinical virology. Edward A. Chaperon, Associate Professor; Ph.D. (immunology), Wisconsin, 1965. Cellular immunology. Archana Chatterjee, Associate Professor; M.D., Ph.D. (pediatric infectious disease), Nebraska Medical Center, 1993. Maternal-fetal transmission of cytomegalovirus infection; the role of cytomegalovirus in atherosclerosis; antibiotic utilization by physicians; antibiotic resistance; vaccine development. Xian-Ming Chen, Associate Professor; M.D. (parasite pathogenesis and antiparasite (host) defenses), Hubei Medical (China), 1985. Molecular basis underlying microbe/parasite-epithelial interactions, in particular, the role of microRNAs in epithelial antimicrobial defense, as well as its relevance to mucosal innate and adaptive immunity in general. Kristen M. Drescher, Associate Professor; Ph.D. (molecular microbiology and immunology), Johns Hopkins, 1996. Pathogenesis of demyelinating diseases; multiple sclerosis. Paul Fey, Assistant Clinical Professor of Medicine; Ph.D. (medical microbiology), Creighton, 1995. Molecular epidemiology and characterization of Staphylococcus species. Martha Gentry-Nielsen, Professor; Ph.D. (infectious disease), Oklahoma State, 1984. The effects of ethanol ingestion and liver cirrhosis on susceptibility to pneumococcal infection. Richard V. Goering, Professor and Chair; Ph.D. (microbiology), Iowa State, 1972. Molecular techniques for the epidemiological analysis of nosocomial pathogens; genetics of antibiotic resistance. Gary L. Gorby, Associate Professor; M.D. (infectious disease), Northeastern Ohio College of Medicine, 1983. Pathogenesis of Neisseria gonorrhoeae infections. Venkatesh Govindarajan, Assistant Professor; Ph.D. (developmental/molecular biology), Houston, 1997. Fibroblast growth factor (FGF) signaling during ocular and skeletal development. Nancy D. Hanson, Associate Professor; Ph.D. (medical microbiology), Nebraska Medical Center, 1991. Regulation of inducible beta-lactamase expression in Serratia; molecular mechanisms of antimicrobial resistance; antivirals. Edward A. Horowitz, Associate Professor; M.D. (infectious disease), Creighton, 1978. Clinical aspects of antimicrobial efficiency and resistance. Floyd C. Knoop, Professor; Ph.D. (medical microbiology/biochemistry), Tennessee Medical Center, Memphis, 1974. Mechanisms of NAD-dependent ADP-ribosylation and receptor-mediated transmembrane signaling by microbial toxins; basis of adenyl and guanyl cyclase/protein kinase activation. Philip D. Lister, Associate Professor; Ph.D. (medical microbiology), Creighton, 1992. In vitro and new dosing strategies relating to development of antibiotic resistance and treatment of drug-resistant bacteria; molecular mechanisms of antibacterial resistance. Laurel C. Preheim, Professor; M.D. (infectious disease), Northwestern, 1973. Host-parasite interactions; microbial virulence factors; host defense mechanisms; effect of alcohol ingestion and alcoholic liver disease on resistance to pneumococcal pneumonia. Mark E. Rupp, Associate Clinical Professor; M.D. (infectious disease), Baylor College of Medicine, 1984. Pathogenesis of prosthetic device infections; adherence of coagulase-negative staphylococci; infection control/hospital epidemiology. Patrick C. Swanson, Associate Professor; Ph.D. (chemistry), Michigan, 1995. V(D)J recombination and other processes underlying antigen receptor diversity. Kenneth S. Thomson, Professor; Ph.D. (microbiology), Tasmania (Australia), 1988. Antibiotic resistance mechanisms in bacteria; clinical relevance of antibiotic susceptibility tests; beta-lactam antibiotics; quinolone antibiotics. Zhaoyi Wang, Assistant Professor; Ph.D. (molecular genetics), Washington (St. Louis), 1994. Tumorigenesis of breast cancer; estrogen signaling. Correspondence and Information Creighton University Philip D. Lister, Ph.D. Director of Graduate Program Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology School of Medicine Omaha, Nebraska 68178 Telephone: 402-280-2921 Fax: 402-280-1875 Email: cumedmicro@creighton.edu
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