|
|
alum notes Winter 2002 - Volume 13, No. 1 |
|
current issue | past issues | scribe | contact info | home |
|
|
|
alum notes Winter 2002 - Volume 13, No. 1 |
|
current issue | past issues | scribe | contact info | home |
|
|
Alumni Association Welcomes New Officer
Career Night Provides Insight, Direction for Medical Students
The Fraibergs Celebrate Family Ties to WSU
Graduate School Alumni Profile: Dr. Charlie Szekeres Carries WSU's Reputation to Boston, Hungary and Beyond
Dermatology Celebrates New Endowed Chair
Where are These Missing Members of the 2002 Reunion Class?
Planning to Give: Consider a Bequest to the WSU School of Medicine
Celebrating the Spirit of Generosity: Obstetrics and Gynecology Endowed Chairs
Graduate School Alumni Profile: Bacterial Genomics Reveals MS Trigger
Annual Telefund Campaign Kicks Off
WSU Represented at MSMS Meeting
|
Graduate School Alumni Profile Dr. Szekeres Carries WSU’s Reputation To Boston, Hungary and Beyond
This should not come as too much of a surprise when you consider where Dr. Szekeres first heard of WSU himself -- in his hometown of Budapest, Hungary, where a supervisor recommended that he apply to WSU’s graduate program. Taking the advice, he left Europe for Detroit and graduated from the WSU’s cancer biology PhD program in 2000. One reason for the School of Medicine’s widespread reputation can be attributed to the relationships many of the students develop while at the university. Dr. Szekeres still keeps in touch with many of his fellow graduates. “Although we have scattered around the country since graduation, many of us are in regular contact with each other. This is a testament to the camaraderie and sense of family at the School of Medicine. Things are centralized [at WSU]. When important events happen, you know about them. Unlike at some larger institutions, at Wayne, everything is right there for you. It’s more like a big family.” Earning a PhD in cancer biology led Dr. Szekeres to Children’s Hospital in Boston, where his current research deals with cell-extra cellular matrix adhesion. “I am trying to find answers to the very basic questions of biology.” The city not only provides him with a place to continue his work, but also allows him to pursue his many hobbies. The Charles River in Boston may seem like an unlikely place for windsurfing; however, the city annually ranks as one of the nation’s windiest. It’s also an ideal location for other sports. It is only a short drive away from some of the East Coast’s finest ski resorts and hosts the prestigious Boston Marathon each spring. Dr. Charlie Szekeres knows these things very well and is taking full advantage of his location. He has an impressive athletic resume. In addition to windsurfing, he is an avid snowboarder and skydiver. He is also training for the Boston Marathon. “I need to be about 10 minutes faster to qualify,” he said. “My time is three hours and 20 minutes and I’ll have to meet the qualifying time of three hours and 10 minutes to be eligible.” Although Dr. Szekeres realizes that he has work to do, he is confident that he can achieve his goal. His sense of confidence is something that his time at Wayne State helped provide. When asked why he chose to pursue further education in medicine, he responded: “ When you’re doing research within a field for a few years it just hits you and you say ‘I’m ready.’ My degree has given me a feeling of pride and a sense that I can take up any kind of challenge.” |
|
Dr. Charlie Szekeres is often pleasantly
surprised at Boston’s Children’s Hospital when people tell him that
they’ve heard of his alma mater. He explained, “I tell people where I have
come from and they are familiar with Detroit and Wayne State University
and the important research conducted there.” 