Title
Professor
Ph.D.
Michigan State University
Post Doctoral Training
- Dept. of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX
- Dept. of Pharmacology, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ
- Dept. of Neurology, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA
Major Interests
Ongoing basic science research includes studies related to the contribution of intrinsic membrane properties & conductances to neuronal excitability especially as it relates to mechanisms of seizure generation and propagation and seizure-induced neurodegeneration.
Ongoing educational research include studies that investigate the effect of in person and virtual STEM outreach to increase interest and knowledge of high school students for STEM related fields and careers especially those in data science as well as effects of STEM outreach to increase health and data science knowledge of teachers and members of the community.
Publications
Phelan, K.D., U Thaung Shwe, H. Wu and F. Zheng (2024) Investigating Contributions of Canonical Transient Receptor Potential Channel 3 to Hippocampal Hyperexcitability and Seizure-Induced Neuronal Cell Death. Intern. J. Mol. Sciences: 25, 6260.
Griffin, H., J. Hanson, K.D. Phelan, and G. Baldini (2024) MC4R localizes at excitatory post-synaptic and peri post-synaptic sites of hypothalamic neurons in primary culture. Cells 13 (15): 1235. doi: 10.3390/cells13151235. PMID: 39120267
Phelan, K.D., M. Syed, N. Akhter, T.W. Huitt, G. R. Snead, B.R. Thomas, and K. L. Yanowitz (2022) Bridging the technology divide in the COVID-19 era: Using virtual outreach to expose middle and high school students to imaging technology. J. Vis. Exp. Sep 28 (187). Doi: 10.3791/64051.
Highlighted Roles
Teaching in Human Structure, Brain and Behavior, STEP I preparation course, and Longitudinal Ultrasound Curriculum for M1 and M2 students in COM as well as resident ultrasound teaching on NW campus; and faculty member of Compton Academic House (NW campus)
Service includes: Co-director Division of Clinical Anatomy, COM student promotions committee, COM Appeals board, COM committee for alleged discrimination against medical students, and Cancer Research Training and Education (CRTE) Committee at the UAMS Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute, Review board member for Medical Science Educator, and NIH study section reviewer.
Recipient of: Lutterloh Medical Education Excellence Professorship (2015-2018), 19 red sash and 5 golden sash teaching awards from students, Deans Education Excellence award (2011-2013), Chancellors Excellence in Education award (2019), Education Innovation award (2018), and Chancellors Community and/or Institutional Service award (2023).
Office
M18 COM suite, NW campus
Program Director, Arkansas Technology and Data Science in Health & Medicine NIAID funded R25 grant