On this week’s The Sci-Files, your hosts Chelsie and Danny interview Jose Rodrigues.

Jose is a DO-PhD candidate in the Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics through the College of Osteopathic Medicine. Jose is training as a third-year medical student and completing his dissertation work which focuses on antibiotic resistance, evolution and molecular epidemiology of the bacterial pathogen Campylobacter jejuni, under the direction of Dr. Shannon Manning Ph.D., M.P.H.

C. jejuni is a bacterial foodborne pathogen that is the #1 cause of bacterial gastroenteritis in the United States. This disease is generally self-limited, lasting 24-72 hours and patients experience nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain generally after consuming undercooked chicken or coming into contact with colonized poultry or livestock. Jose’s research focuses on understanding antibiotic-resistant (difficult to treat) strains of C. jejuni, particularly in Michigan. By partnering with four different hospitals in Michigan bacterial isolates from patients infected with C. jejuni were collected and are the subject of Jose’s research.

Jose is also passionate about physician-scientist training and does service-leadership work with the American Physician Scientists Association (APSA). The association is a national trainee organization focused on supporting physician trainees who are pursuing a career in research. Jose is the current Chair of the Diversity Ad-hoc committee, where he helped to spearhead the development of Physician Scientist Trainee Diversity Summit. The committee and summit were created to help diversify the physician scientist workforce and support diverse voices in academic spaces.

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