LEARN by HEART Meet Jennifer Pollock: Cardiovascular Researcher, Collaborator, Optimist and 94Th President of APS

MAY 2021

SCIENTISTS AND INSTITUTIONS ADAPT OUTREACH PROGRAMS DURING PANDEMIC LOCKDOWN 22

HOW TO OVERCOME IMPOSTER SYNDROME 28

LEARN BY HEART Meet Jennifer Pollock: cardiovascular researcher, collaborator, optimist and 94th president of APS. Make Valuable Connections The American Physiological Society member directory is now available to you. Exclusive to members, this tool allows you to link up with physiologists around the globe.

Start exploring your new benefit. physiology.org/member-directory

Membership Directory Ad 9x11 4-2021.indd 1 3/9/2021 3:53:17 PM CONTENTS FEATURES

16 22 28

16 Learn by Heart Meet Jennifer Pollock: cardiovascular researcher, collaborator, optimist and 94th president of APS. BY MELANIE PADGETTT POWERS

22 Science To Go Researchers bring science to the people, even amidst the limitations of lockdown. BY GLORIA J. CHANG

28 Do I Belong Here? How to overcome imposter syndrome, a common mental roadblock.

Cover photo by Randal Crow Randal by photo Cover BY CANDACE Y.A. MONTAGUE

MAY 2021 | THE PHYSIOLOGIST MAGAZINE 1 CONTENTS THANK YOU TO OUR DEPARTMENTS 2020 FOUNDERS CIRCLE! BASELINE 4 Springing into the Future Your gift has contributed to a year

IN REVIEW of excellence. 8 STEM Rocks The celebration of science continues, along with some fun and cheekiness $250–499 Peter Igarashi Harry Rossiter from researchers. Janice H. Urban Charles Bowden Stephen H. Loring Robert S. Bowen Alfred Goldberg 8 Arthur Beyder LAB NOTES Al Yurvati Robert J. Mason Mark M. Knuepfer John Bissonnette Susan Wall MENTORING Q&A Mordecai P. Blaustein 10 Let’s Get It Started TRANSPORT Gary Sieck 14 E. Fiona Bailey How to transition to a faculty member 33 Career successes and milestones $500–999 and build your own lab. of APS members. Josephine C. Adams Rafael Rubio Linda C. Samuelson $1000–2500 POLICY IQ J. Thomas Cunningham My Nga Helms Mary Ann Baker 12 Thinking big for science in 2022; NOTABLE PASSING STEM legislation would advance 33 Remembrance: Paul C. Johnson, Elise Gomez-Sanchez William F. Jackson Susan M. Barman federal diversity initiatives; APS PhD, FAPS. Ernest M. Wright T. Richard Nichols William H. Dantzler endorses research relief. Juanita L. Merchant David H. Ellison Barbara Goodman UNDER THE MICROSCOPE NEWS FROM THE FIELD Douglas C. Eaton Timothy I. Musch James A. Spath 14 Rapid Fire Q&A 34 APS launches a new member John M. Johnson Usha Raj Peter S. Aronson Damian G. Romero, PhD, shares directory and a new Hubs community; John A. Williams William J. Welch Annette Beyer-Mears techniques he’s mastered, his favorite Kentucky Physiological Society parts of his job and Twitter accounts develops virtual teaching modules. Michael Sturek Tracy Baynard we should all follow. David P. Brooks David Alpers $2500–5000 Thomas R. Kleyman Richard Carlsen 36 DATES & DEADLINES Dennis Brown Helena Parfenova Lawrence W. Raymond 35 Calls for awards and papers and Y. S. Prakash upcoming webinars. Charles Her Johnny R. Porter Robert W. Gore Eric Lazartigues Syed Saiduddin Yumei Feng Earley Ann M. Schreihofer THE LAST WORD >$5000 36 Make a Difference— James Goldenring Patricia E. Molina Get Involved Heinrich Taegtmeyer Jerrold R. Turner Jerome A. Dempsey David Mattson, PhD, FAPS, points Cedric R. Bainton Larissa Akimi Shimoda out that involvement in APS provides James Arthur Will Robert C. Speth 10 opportunities to influence matters in our larger society. Catherine S.H. Sassoon Lisa Michelle Satlin Tetsuo Nakamoto Susan June Henning Michael J. Caplan Celso E. Gomez-Sanchez Michael S. Hedrick Martin Rodriguez-Porcel 2 THE PHYSIOLOGIST MAGAZINE | MAY 2021 physiology.org/donate

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$250–499 Peter Igarashi Harry Rossiter Janice H. Urban Charles Bowden Stephen H. Loring Robert S. Bowen Alfred Goldberg Arthur Beyder Al Yurvati Robert J. Mason Mark M. Knuepfer John Bissonnette Susan Wall Mordecai P. Blaustein Gary Sieck E. Fiona Bailey Josephine C. Adams $500–999 Rafael Rubio Linda C. Samuelson $1000–2500 J. Thomas Cunningham My Nga Helms Mary Ann Baker Elise Gomez-Sanchez William F. Jackson Susan M. Barman Ernest M. Wright T. Richard Nichols William H. Dantzler Juanita L. Merchant David H. Ellison Barbara Goodman Douglas C. Eaton Timothy I. Musch James A. Spath John M. Johnson Usha Raj Peter S. Aronson John A. Williams William J. Welch Annette Beyer-Mears Michael Sturek Tracy Baynard David P. Brooks David Alpers $2500–5000 Thomas R. Kleyman Richard Carlsen Dennis Brown Helena Parfenova Lawrence W. Raymond Y. S. Prakash Charles Her Johnny R. Porter Robert W. Gore Eric Lazartigues Syed Saiduddin Yumei Feng Earley Ann M. Schreihofer >$5000 James Goldenring Patricia E. Molina Heinrich Taegtmeyer Jerrold R. Turner Jerome A. Dempsey Cedric R. Bainton Larissa Akimi Shimoda James Arthur Will Robert C. Speth Catherine S.H. Sassoon Lisa Michelle Satlin Tetsuo Nakamoto Susan June Henning Michael J. Caplan Celso E. Gomez-Sanchez Michael S. Hedrick Martin Rodriguez-Porcel

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by engaging more international physiologists in the governance of the Society, building out Springing into our virtual offerings to enable participation of overseas researchers, and strengthening the Future partnerships and collaboration with other international physiology and related science BY SCOTT STEEN, CAE, FASAE organizations, to name just a few strategies.

An Expanded Focus on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in STEM With Experimental Biology 2021 behind us, Realizing that creativity, innovation and theW APS staff is shifting focus to a host of new research are better when all voices are programs and initiatives now underway. Driven represented, we want the principles of diversity, by our 2020 strategic plan (www.physiology.org/ equity and inclusion (DEI) to be weaved into the strategicplan), these efforts will benefit nearly fabric of APS. We are working with leading DEI every part of the physiology community. Here’s a experts to help us examine the state of diversity, sneak peek of what’s to come: equity and inclusion within the Society and our broader community, and we are making APS Career Gateway changes to our processes and policies to ensure In late fall, we will introduce the APS Career that DEI is intrinsic to the way we operate. This Gateway—a suite of curated, high-quality tools starts with our leadership. Voting is underway and courses focused on helping you better to make a bylaws change that would make navigate career transitions and refine your the chair of our DEI Committee an ex officio professional skill set. Components will include member of the APS Council. resources and content that address critical issues affecting physiologists at every career A Transition to Open Science stage, with resources focusing on topics such Over the past few years, the scientific as leadership development, personal branding, publishing and funding landscape has moved career advancement, team-building and rapidly toward increasing open science, personnel management. generally, and toward open access publishing, in particular. APS has long offered open access Center for Physiology Education options such as Author’s Choice, but as funder Physiology educators are central to APS and the mandates continue to change across the globe, future of the discipline. In 2022, APS will launch we will need a more dramatic shift. Because the Center for Physiology Education—a dynamic of this, we are increasingly likely to transition new home within the Society for undergraduate to a completely open access publishing model and postgraduate physiology educators. APS within the next five years. The implications of members and staff are collaborating with the this move are great, and we are already making wider physiology educator community to create the necessary strategic moves to prepare us for and curate resources and learning experiences growth in the future. that will inform and support the vital work of this community. You can learn more about these and other upcoming initiatives by reading our strategic Greater Outreach to International Physiologists plan. As always, I invite you to share your With nearly 25% of our members living thoughts and suggestions with me or with your and working outside the U.S., APS is, colleagues on the APS Council. You are at the unquestionably, an international society. We are center of our efforts, and we truly value your committed to reducing barriers and expanding feedback. Happy spring! opportunities for our international community Scott Steen, CAE, FASAE, is executive director of the of members and researchers. This will be done American Physiological Society.

4 THE PHYSIOLOGIST MAGAZINE | MAY 2021 THANK YOU to our 2021 Experimental Biology award sponsors!

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APS EXECUTIVE CABINET

Jennifer Pollock, PhD, FAPS Dee Silverthorn, PhD, FAPS Linda Samuelson, PhD, FAPS President President-Elect Past President University of Alabama at Birmingham University of Texas at Austin University of Michigan

APS COUNCILORS Lacy Alexander, PhD, Pennsylvania State University; Sue Bodine, PhD, FAPS, University of Iowa; Jason R. Carter, PhD, Montana State University; Margarita Curras-Collazo, PhD, FAPS, University of California, Riverside; Michael S. Hedrick, PhD, FAPS, California State University, East Bay; Carmen Hinojosa-Laborde, PhD, FAPS, U.S. Army Institute of Surgical Research; William F. Jackson, PhD, Michigan State University; Dexter Lee, PhD, Howard University; Ann M. Schreihofer, PhD, FAPS, University of North Texas Health Science Center

6 THE PHYSIOLOGIST MAGAZINE | MAY 2021

IN REVIEW | STEM ROCKS

The celebration of science continues, along with some fun and cheekiness from researchers. Enjoy these tweets and let us know what you’re up to in physiology.

Share your story with us and it may appear in the next issue of The Physiologist Magazine. Email your thoughts—and links to your tweets and posts— to [email protected].

Rajan Pandit JDr. Peying Fong @Pandit_Physiol @PeyingFong Physiologist at high altitude: 3842m Seen during today’s walk through from sea level, Kalinchowk Bhagawati The Gardens @KState. Temple, to explore and feel the physiological changes at extreme environment.

7:33 AM · Mar 1, 2021

Julie Bastarache @JulesBass6 How come I still remember every lyric to every single 80s song but I can’t 7:25 PM · Mar 8, 2021 remember the difference between the RTAs no matter how many times I try?!? Dave Blake, PhD @_stah #MedTwitter #NephrologyIsHard 8:53 PM · Mar 11, 2021 My best guess is that before May is out, the US NATION will have a WEEK of fewer than 1000 new COVID positives. (140 per day or so). 10:31 AM · Mar 12, 2021

8 THE PHYSIOLOGIST MAGAZINE | MAY 2021

Edelblum Lab Zam Kassiri, PhD @EdelblumLab @ZamKassiri

Rocking our while processing How awesome is it when an #gut biopsies! #IBD #crohnsdisease ASTRONAUT thanks the SCIENTISTS for #ulcerativecolitis @RutgersResearch the vaccine?! @nbgolovchenko

3:06 PM · Mar 15, 2021

Jaclyn Welles, PhD 3:51 PM · Mar 11, 2021 @JaclynE_x8 I can't believe that this was 5 Ruffin NeuroLab years ago! I know hindsight is 20/20 but @RuffinNeuroLab I can't believe I'm finally finished with my #dope #representationmatters PhD! What a journey! Meet a Scientist: #Diversity #STEM #stemeducation Jaclyn Welles https://lions-talk-science. #Hartford #science #neuroscience org/2015/07/14/meet-a-scientist-jaclyn- #blackinneuro #blackinphysiology welles/… via @wordpressdotcom. #RuffinNeuroLab

1:05 PM · Mar 16, 2021

Follow APS on Twitter @APSPhysiology @SciPolAPS @APSPublications

8:01 AM · Feb 26, 2021

MAY 2021 | THE PHYSIOLOGIST MAGAZINE 9 MENTORING Q&A YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED POLICY IQ PHYSIOLOGY ON THE HILL AND IN THE HALLS RESEARCH FIZZ BUZZ-WORTHY RESEARCH STATS & FACTS PHYSIOLOGY BY THE NUMBERS UNDER THE MICROSCOPE OUR MEMBERS, UP CLOSE LABNOTES PUBLISH WITH POLISH BUILD A BETTER RESEARCH PAPER

STATS & FACTS 60% The portion of APS presidents over the past 10 years who were women.

American Physiological Society Governance webpage

RESEARCH FIZZ

Pregnancy and COVID-19 This review explores current knowledge of COVID-19 in pregnancy and highlights MENTORING Q&A | EARLY CAREER areas for further research to minimize its impact during pregnancy and childbirth. Physiological Reviews, January 2021 Let’s Get It Started https://doi.org/10.1152/physrev.00024.2020 How to transition to a faculty member and build your own lab.

STATS & FACTS Each issue, we’ll ask a trainee to pose their career questions to an established 1975–1976 investigator and mentor. Here, Bryce Balmain, PhD, a postdoctoral research The administration of fellow at the Institute for Exercise and Environmental Medicine in the the first woman Department of Internal Medicine at the University of Texas Southwestern president of APS, Bodil Schmidt-Nielsen. EMedical Center, asks Keisa W. Mathis, PhD, assistant professor at the University History of the American Physiological Society: of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth, for advice on a critical The First Century, 1887–1987

moment for early-career researchers: starting your own lab. iStockphoto left: far McLeod; Kagan by llustrations right: iStockphoto Above

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Q: During the transition considered. That may recommend to others, or RESEARCH FIZZ from postdoctoral fellow be because it is now alternatively, are there to a faculty position, somewhat expected. I things that you wish you there is likely going to be still think it is OK to had done differently? a significant decrease or remind them about this A: Before purchasing halt in research output/ somewhat unavoidable equipment, decide if productivity. How is this delay, so this is why I there is equipment you typically viewed when put the information in can save money on by applying to major grant my biosketch. sharing with someone else. Minireview: funding bodies? Do you Don’t be impressed by effect of the have any strategies to Q: Are there any tips or the “bells and whistles” ketogenic diet in help mitigate the impact suggestions you could that some companies offer excitable tissues of this? offer to early-career on their products. For This mini review summarizes A: My strategy was to state researchers who are example, I purchased a recent knowledge about how the transition period as a looking to start their own plate reader with a touch ketone bodies affect the heart, delay in productivity in independent laboratories screen because I thought muscles and nervous system. the personal statement in the near future? it would be cool to have. American Journal of Physiology-Cell Physiology, Well, the touch screen, January 2021 which was a basic Surface, https://doi.org/10.1152/ajpcell.00458.2020 went out within three “I had about an eight-month delay in getting my years of purchase. The lab up and running because I literally had to start company wanted to charge STATS & FACTS from scratch. … It was a process, but in the end, so nearly $5,000 to replace it, although it was worth rewarding.” less than $1,000. Needless to say, I had to settle for 70% attaching a laptop to The portion of people of my biosketch. Briefly, A: Take pictures of the plate reader and expected to experience I had about an eight-month everything! Visit as many having a non-functional delay in getting my labs as you can. Take touch screen! at least one episode of imposter syndrome lab up and running pictures of equipment Got a career question you'd because I literally had you use and would like like to submit? Email it to during their lifetime. to start from scratch. I had to buy for your own lab. [email protected]. Journal of Behavioral Science We may use it in an upcoming to work with architects; Document company Mentoring Q&A. I had to purchase every names, product numbers, bit of furniture, from lab etc. Also, take pictures of RESEARCH FIZZ benches to chairs. I had different setups in the lab Is GLUT4 to order all equipment, just in case you want to translocation the stock the lab and obtain use a similar setup in your answer to animal research approval. own lab. There is no use exercise-stimulated It was a process, but in the in reinventing the wheel, muscle glucose uptake? end, so rewarding. Now, I especially if you already have so much pride in the know what works. You Glucose transporter type 4 intrinsic activity increases in lab because I know I built can print the pictures and the muscles during exercise, it from scratch. make a photo album for which could be due to I have applied for many easy access. increased muscle temperature. grants, and although my American Journal of Physiology-Endocrinology productivity has been Q: Are there things from and Metabolism, February 2021 debated, I don’t think your own experience https://doi.org/10.1152/ajpendo.00503.2020 llustrations by Kagan McLeod; far left: iStockphoto left: far McLeod; Kagan by llustrations right: iStockphoto Above the transition period is that you would highly

MAY 2021 | THE PHYSIOLOGIST MAGAZINE 11 LABNOTES

budget increase for NIH was STATS & FACTS relatively modest. Therefore, APS joined other advocacy partners in requesting $46.1 ~400 billion for NIH in FY 2022 The number of agency to provide a 7.4% increase citizen science over FY 2021. This would allow the agency’s budget and crowdsourcing to keep pace with the rate coordinators—these of inflation for biomedical are federal employees research while also responsible for providing resources to take advancing crowdsourcing advantage of new scientific and citizen science. POLICY IQ | FUNDING INCREASES opportunities. Office of Science and Technology Policy Thinking Big for Science NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION (NSF) RESEARCH FIZZ in 2022 Despite its critical role in the nation’s scientific enterprise, budget growth Even as the nation continues to deal with the at NSF has been modest for several years. Advocates coronavirus pandemic and the aftermath of political E for NSF are hoping to take upheaval earlier this year, attention in Washington, DC, advantage of the current has turned to the regular budget and appropriations spotlight on science to make Neuropathic pain: process. Traditionally, the president submits a a bold recommendation for from mechanisms the agency. The community to treatment budget request to Congress in early February, and is recommending $10 This review highlights recent this becomes the starting point for congressional billion for NSF in FY 2022, advances in understanding deliberations through the spring and summer. But an increase of 18% over FY 2021. This funding boost neuropathic pain, including with a new administration and Congress in place in clinical presentation, physiological will enable NSF to maintain mechanisms and treatment. 2021, this process was significantly delayed. and expand current Physiological Reviews, January 2021 programs while also moving https://doi.org/10.1152/physrev.00045.2019 Despite the delay in the making requests for regular in new directions envisioned release of the president’s appropriations, advocates by its newly appointed budget, advocates for science continue to make the case director, Sethuraman have been making the case for Congress to provide Panchanathan, PhD. STATS & FACTS for robust funding levels at additional funds to address federal research agencies. urgent needs in the VA MEDICAL AND APS endorsed the following scientific community as a PROSTHETICS RESEARCH 133,425 fiscal year (FY) 2022 result of COVID-19–related PROGRAM The number of social funding recommendations disruptions. (See “APS The VA Medical and media engagements for that were developed in Endorses Research Relief” Prosthetics Research articles about imposter cooperation with other on next page.) Program supports research syndrome published research advocacy groups. into problems that between March 28, 2018, These recommendations NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF disproportionately affect and March 18, 2019. will feature prominently in HEALTH (NIH) the nation’s veterans, but

Journal of General Internal Medicine the APS advocacy agenda Following a period of the results of this cutting-

this year. In addition to strong growth, the FY 2021 edge research benefit all Reviews Physiological left: iStockphoto.com; Top: right: iStockphoto Above

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Americans. In FY 2022, APS recommends that POLICY IQ | STEM DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION the program receive $902 million, an increase of STEM Legislation Would Advance Federal 10.7% over FY 2021. This level of funding Diversity Initiatives is needed to support and expand research To address longstanding inequities in the scientific workforce, U.S. House of Representatives efforts while also making Science, Space and Technology Committee Chair Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX) and ranking necessary investments in T member Frank Lucas (R-OK) introduced the STEM Opportunities Act (H.R. 204) in January 2021. physical infrastructure and The legislation seeks to increase diversity, equity and inclusion information technology. through a multi-pronged approach that includes: Comprehensive collection and reporting of demographic NASA LIFE SCIENCES information about applicants for merit-reviewed research RESEARCH AND HUMAN grants from federal agencies. RESEARCH PROGRAM Reporting on the demographics of STEM faculty by field and Life sciences and human type of institution. research activities are Funding research to analyze this demographic data and study funded from various parts the impact of policies intended to improve recruitment and of the NASA budget. For retention of scientists from underrepresented groups. that reason, APS broadly Implementing recommendations for reducing implicit bias recommends that the in merit review from “Reducing the Impact of Bias in the STEM agency increase funding Workforce,” a 2016 report from the Office of Science and for its various programs Technology Policy. that support life sciences APS has joined other scientific organizations in supporting this legislation and urging research and efforts to Congress to provide the necessary funding to accomplish the stated goals. ensure the health and safety of humans during spaceflight.

POLICY IQ | RESEARCH DISRUPTIONS highly qualified early-career researchers. APS Endorses Research Relief In February, a bipartisan group of lawmakers introduced the Research Researchers at institutions provided funds for urgently disproportionate impact on Investment to Spark the Racross the country have needed COVID-19 research early-career researchers. In Economy (RISE) Act experienced significant delays and development efforts, but January, Committee Chair (H.R. 869/S. 289), which and disruptions due to the to date it has not provided Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX) would provide $10 billion COVID-19 pandemic. Without funds to help researchers and ranking member Frank for research relief at the additional funds to extend recover from these Lucas (R-OK) introduced the National Institutes of Health research and training grants, unprecedented disruptions. Early-Career Researchers and another $3 billion for many scientists will face The House Science, Act (H.R. 144), which would research relief at NSF. difficulty renewing their grants Space and Technology authorize a two-year $250 APS endorsed both pieces or moving on to their next Committee has recognized million pilot program at the of legislation and continues position. Congress has passed that coronavirus-related National Science Foundation to remind Congress why a number of bills that have disruptions have a (NSF) to provide grants to research relief is necessary. Physiological Reviews Physiological left: iStockphoto.com; Top: right: iStockphoto Above

MAY 2021 | THE PHYSIOLOGIST MAGAZINE 13 LABNOTES

RESEARCH FIZZ UNDER THE MICROSCOPE A: My pipettes, just because I knew for sure that they Rapid Fire Q&A were clean. Q: Best “MacGyver” moment in Damian G. Romero, PhD, shares techniques he’s the lab? mastered, his favorite parts of his job and Twitter A: More than “MacGyver,” it was accounts we should all follow. “Mission: Impossible.” Doing laser capture microdissection (LCM) 200 miles from my lab. Carrageenan Q: Ever had a “eureka” with colleagues, even the ones Bringing samples and reagents containing moment? with offices close to mine, for in tens of pounds of dry ice to over-the-counter A: When I learned that amino months. The good: attending last for four days. Capturing nasal and oral sprays acids are synthetized within and delivering seminars at cells with a manual LCM (serial inhibit SARS-CoV-2 the cells when I was an institutions all around the world. #3, one of the first in the U.S.) undergraduate student. After that, using a joystick to fire the laser infection of airway Q: Most challenging I wanted to study biochemistry where a misfire means starting epithelial cultures laboratory technique you’ve and molecular biology. the process all over again. After This article recommends learned to use? four days, put everything again further study of the suggested Q: Who inspired you to A: Old fashioned cDNA- in the car and drive back to finding that nasal and become a scientist? spotted microarrays. Wet-lab the lab before running out of mouth sprays containing the A: My late father, Bernardo, who was challenging, working dry ice. seaweed-derived additive did not attend college, inspired for days in a row without carrageenan may reduce the me to become a scientist. He knowing if the experiment was Q: If you could meet any risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection. always told me: “Ask whatever working. However, that was scientist (living or dead) who American Journal of Physiology-Lung Cellular you want. Almost surely I will nothing compared to manually would it be and why? and Molecular Physiology, February 2021 not know the answer, but I will placing tens of thousands of A: Louis Pasteur, one of the https://doi.org/10.1152/ajplung.00552.2020 help you to find it.” My mother spot identifiers by hand. The greatest scientists to ever walk always supported me and never “automatic” software usually on Earth. pushed me to be a physician misplaced a large number of STATS & FACTS like her. the spots so they have to be Q: Favorite musician? corrected one by one. A: Taylor Swift. In 2018, we went Q: How has the pandemic to her concert in New Orleans— changed the way you work? Q: Items on your lab all parents were accompanying 1,200+ A: The bad: not having face- bench that you were most their kids, but I made my kids The number of scholarly to-face scientific discussion possessive of? accompany me! publications returned in Google Scholar for impostor phenomenon since the term was first described in 1978.

Frontiers in Psychology

Romero out of the escape room (with some help!) with his wife, Licy, and their daughters, Emma and Patricia. Top left: iStockphoto; Under the Microscope photos, courtesy Damian G. Romero, PhD, Romero, G. Damian courtesy photos, Under the Microscope iStockphoto; left: Top

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to keep track of the COVID-19 PUBLISH WITH POLISH | JOURNAL UPDATES pandemic research and public health status. I also follow APS Twitter accounts, including APS APS Journals Change journals—it’s a great way to get Romero with his wife and updated with the Society and Reference Ordering daughters at the Holi Hindu the science. festival (Festival of Colors). As many readers of APS journals may have noticed (and Q: How would you describe as discussed in previous Publish with Polish articles), APS Q: If you were a model your job to a child? journals have undergone some significant stylistic changes organism, which model A: Understanding how our in 2021. Among these changes, and perhaps the most organism would you be? body works when we are significant for authors, is the updating of reference lists A: A mouse or a rat, to be fair healthy or sick, to try to make to be arranged by order of in-text citation and numbered with them. everybody healthier. serially, instead of being arranged alphabetically by author name. The change is in effect for all APS in-house journals, Q: What do you wish the Q: Go-to snacks to get you including the Journal of Neurophysiology. The former general public understood through long days working style was actually atypical and created some technology about science or research? from home? issues. By introducing this change, we hope to make future A: That science is a learning A: Cheese and salami— updates to our proofing system to provide enhanced process and our knowledge greatest humankind inventions! features to authors. changes over time. There is no Q: City, suburb, country? For example, for an article where Villalbos is the first clearer example than COVID-19, (Favorite place to live) cited reference and Ruebel is the second cited reference, where scientific knowledge is A: Suburb. I lived for 30 years the reference list would begin: literally changing week by week. in a big city (Buenos Aires, Q: Favorite book about Argentina). It was nice to have 1. Villalobos AR, Parmelee JT, Renfro JL. Choline science (fiction or non- many options just in one block, uptake across the ventricular membrane of fiction)? but I do not miss the three- neonate rat choroid plexus. Am J Physiol Cell A: “Microbe Hunters” by hour commute to the lab! Physiol 276: C1288–C1296, 1999. doi:10.1152/ Paul de Kruif. It is a general ajpcell.1999.276.6.C1288. Q: The question we didn’t ask audience book on the history 2. Ruebel ML, Zambelli F, Schall PZ, Barragan that we should have? of microbiology. After reading M, VandeVoort CA, Vassena R, Latham KE. A: Are you proud and happy to it, it is impossible to not get Shared aspects of mRNA expression associated be an APS member? YES!!! inspired to change the world with oocyte maturation failure in humans and doing your best science. Damian G. Romero, PhD, is a rhesus monkeys indicating compromised oocyte professor of cell and molecular quality. Physiol Genomics. In press. doi:10.1152/ biology at the University of Q: Favorite science-related physiolgenomics.00155.2020. Mississippi Medical Center. He is TV show or movie? the chair of the APS Endocrinology A: “Hidden Figures.” A truly & Metabolism Section, a member A link to download the revised APS 2021 EndNote inspirational story about of the APS Diversity, Equity template—as well as more information on the changes to minority scientists; it’s difficult & Inclusion Committee and a reference ordering with examples of formatting styles for member of the editorial board not to be touched by such an various different source types (e.g., books, articles, online of the American Journal of amazing story. Physiology-Endocrinology and content, etc.)—is available in the “References” section of the Metabolism. He has been an APS Instructions for Authors at https://journals.physiology.org/ Q: Favorite part of your job? member since 2004. author-info.references. A: A thrilled trainee making an exciting discovery. The best APS’ experienced publishing staff share their tips and know-how to help you improve the polish of your scientific manuscripts. Got a of both worlds, science scientific publishing or style question that you want us to weigh in and mentoring. on? Email it to [email protected].

Q: Notable scientists you follow on Twitter? A: Drs. Eric Topol and Ashish Jha. Both are a “must” to follow Top left: iStockphoto; Under the Microscope photos, courtesy Damian G. Romero, PhD, Romero, G. Damian courtesy photos, Under the Microscope iStockphoto; left: Top

MAY 2021 | THE PHYSIOLOGIST MAGAZINE 15 LearnHeart by Meet Jennifer Pollock: cardiovascular researcher, collaborator, optimist and 94th president of APS.

BY MELANIE PADGETT POWERS

In April 2021, Jennifer Pollock, PhD, FAPS, became the 94th president of the American Physiological Society (APS). IShe holds an endowed professorship in nephrology in the Department of Medicine, Division of Nephrology, at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB). She is also the co- director of the Department of Cardio- Renal Physiology and Medicine and co-director of the Center for Clinical and Translational Sciences TL1 Predoctoral Training Program at UAB. She is also the director of the Kidney Pipeline Programs, which include the PRIME T32 training program, UAB KURE R25 summer undergraduate research training program and UAB PROmoTE R25 team science research training program. The Physiologist Magazine interviewed Pollock about her career, the collaborations that she loves and what

Photo by Randal Crow Randal by Photo she is focused on as APS president.

Heart MAY 2021 | THE PHYSIOLOGIST MAGAZINE 17 career. My mother was a secretary “All my PhD work was strictly at an elementary school, and my biological chemistry, but when father was a salesman at Sears. I was the aberration. I started my postdoc, doing How did you get interested in research with a focus on physiology physiology? I was a biology major, chemistry was more exciting, and I gravitated minor. Then, my husband, David, toward physiology moving and I met in undergrad and decided to get married after graduation. I forward in my career.” was always going to get my PhD in biological chemistry, and he was getting a PhD in physiology. We had absolutely no money, so we had to live on our stipends, and it became very clear that we could not live How did you become interested an ant farm. I had a garden and on two graduate school stipends— in science? experimented with where to put the stipends were about $3,000 a year at I cannot remember a time when seeds. I was always fascinated with that time. So, I decided to quit the I wasn’t interested in science. anything about science. Nobody in PhD program and took a position When I was little I wanted to have my family had a medical or science as a research assistant, which

Pollock and her husband, David, second from right, with students in the UAB KURE R25 summer undergraduate research training program.

18 THE PHYSIOLOGIST MAGAZINE | MAY 2021 happened to you early in your life can change your susceptibility to different diseases later in life. We look at how early-life stress can influence your risk for cardiovascular disease. We use an animal model to decipher mechanisms, but we also have translational collaborations to determine the consequences of early-life stressors in adolescents and young adults on the risk for cardiovascular disease and hypertension. We found that individuals exposed to childhood adversities have elevated blood pressures much earlier in their life course. We are now deciphering mechanisms for how the long-term Above, Pollock and her husband on their 40th wedding anniversary trip to Paris. detrimental effects of early-life stress may occur. One thing we found was that it has something to do with abnormal function of their blood surprisingly helped me to focus on Tell me about your current research. vessels. We found that young adults what I wanted for a career. I have several collaborative and adolescents exposed to childhood In the meantime, the university projects. Science is more fun with adversity have blood pressure changes had a non-thesis master’s degree collaborations when you bring and aortic stiffness compared to program in chemistry at night for different perspectives to the same individuals with no exposure to those working full time. So, I worked question. My personality is such that adversity. Those are major risk factors full time as a research assistant and I don’t want to do science by myself. for cardiovascular disease later in life. completed the requirements for a That is absolutely no fun at all. If you’re already having those risk master’s in chemistry at night. Then, One of the projects I’ve been factors when you’re an adolescent, David accepted a postdoc position working on, going on 20 years now, we want to know what we can do to at the University of North Carolina is this concept of how things that try to prevent it. So now, that’s a big (UNC) at Chapel Hill, so I decided to apply to the PhD program in the chemistry department at UNC. I was very focused on chemistry and “Science is more fun with biological chemistry, not physiology at the time. All my PhD work was collaborations when you bring strictly biological chemistry, but when I started my postdoc, doing different perspectives to the same research with a focus on physiology was more exciting, and I gravitated question. My personality is such that toward physiology moving forward I don’t want to do science by myself. in my career. So, I was coming from a very basic science background and That is absolutely no fun at all.” moving into biomedical science, if you will, for physiology, and I really connected with this more.

MAY 2021 | THE PHYSIOLOGIST MAGAZINE 19 While attending a U.K. physiology conference, Pollock and her husband took a side trip to Harlaxton Manor, the British campus for the University of Evansville, the Pollocks’ alma mater. question we hope to answer. If you’re Murad, MD, PhD, won the Nobel Prize tubules to mediate sodium excretion, a person that has exposure to early-life for this, so I’ve always maintained that but a high salt diet also disrupts stress, could we influence you then to as a major research interest of mine. nitric oxide production in the change your lifestyle? This project combines my interest in endothelium of blood vessels. Another project stems from my nitric oxide signaling, blood pressure We are now studying the different postdoc work, which was related regulation and the kidney. We have pathways for nitric oxide production to nitric oxide and whether it’s a found that a high salt diet activates in the kidney tubules versus the vasodilator. My postdoc adviser, Ferid nitric oxide production in kidney endothelium. It’s very exciting. The other big project is focused on circadian rhythms and time of day feeding. While my laboratory is focused on the blood vessels, we also have collaborations with labs focused on the kidney, liver and brain. We fed mice a long-term high-fat diet for five months, but in the last two weeks of that treatment, we allowed them to have food only during their active period. When we took out their blood vessels, the ones that had been eating high-fat for five months had fatter aortas and other vascular problems along with a lot of fibrosis in the kidneys. Then when we compared those animals to the ones that had two weeks of the time- restricted feeding, it was striking. The mice with two weeks of time- restricted feeding had normal aortas and kidneys with very little fibrosis. Pollock with her daughter, Michaela, far right, and her two daughters-in-law, Kristin and Blair, It’s really something. The timing of at a family wedding reception. when these mice eat is a big deal.

20 THE PHYSIOLOGIST MAGAZINE | MAY 2021 What about your work fascinates you? What do you do for fun? to have that during the pandemic. The excitement of learning or Pre-pandemic, David and I traveled I was vigilant to make sure I did discovering new knowledge, quite a bit and have many great not somehow get exposed to the but also being a part of all these friendships from our travels to coronavirus because I didn’t want to collaborations. The other part of conferences. The fun part was that miss visiting my granddaughter. what fascinates me is working with we would always take an extra day students and fellows—how a student or two of personal time to absorb the What’s on your bucket list? will come up and you chat about local culture. So, I miss this fun part Definitely on my bucket list for science the research and then the lightbulb since the pandemic. is that I want to know the answer to goes off. That is the coolest thing to Now, I have a new granddaughter some of the research questions I’ve happen, to be a part of that. Or they and a grandson on the way, so that been working on for so long. It drives bring an idea and it flourishes. Or has changed my priorities a little bit. my husband crazy. He tells me that they get so excited about the research. Luckily, our kids like us to come and there’s no way I will retire because I I just love being a part of that—where visit, and we’ve enjoyed being able keep asking more questions! they are all excited for their careers and being scientists themselves. Tell us how you got involved with FASTFACTS APS and what it has meant to you.

After I got involved in physiology, Legacy of APS Service & Physiology Leadership a colleague in another department, APS member since 1997 maybe 30 years ago, asked me to Fellow of APS since 2016 get involved in their APS section. Fellow of the American Heart Association (AHA) and the Council for High Blood It was someone coming and talking Pressure Research since 2001 to me about getting involved in the APS Council, 2016–2019 Society. That’s the lesson I learned— APS Bodil Schmidt-Nielsen Distinguished Scientist and Mentor Award that people just want to be asked. APS Ernest Starling Distinguished Lecturer Once I got involved in APS, it was AHA Lewis K. Dahl Memorial Award and Lecture an amazing adventure because I AHA Harriet Dustan Award for Outstanding Hypertension Research learned so much about leadership AHA Established Investigator Award opportunities. I was able to fine-tune Medical College of Georgia School of Graduate Studies Outstanding Faculty Award those skills. I learned how to motivate Medical College of Georgia School of Medicine Distinguished Faculty Award for Basic folks and get people involved in Science Research career development. I’m also involved University of Arkansas Biomedical Graduate Student Choice Speaker Award in other scientific societies, but no Georgia Health Sciences University College of Graduate Studies Distinguished other society has been so welcoming. Teacher Award American Journal of Physiology-Regulatory, Integrative and Comparative Physiology, As APS president, how do you current editorial board member want to advance and expand American Journal of Physiology-Renal Physiology, current editorial board member the community? Physiology , current editorial board member The major thing for my year as APS Science Policy Committee, former member president is to make sure that we APS Education Committee, former member have a well-structured, organized APS Water & Electrolyte Homeostasis Section, past chair physiology meeting; that’s going to be Education premiered in 2023. And, of course, there’s the pandemic and “post- PhD, Chemistry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill pandemic” transition for our Society. MS, Chemistry, University of Cincinnati I want to make sure the membership BS, Biology, University of Evansville in Indiana is involved, that members feel like the Society is working for them.

MAY 2021 | THE PHYSIOLOGIST MAGAZINE 21 iStockphoto.com SCIENCE

Researchers bring science to the people, even amidst the limitations of lockdown.

BY GLORIA J. CHANG

Liz Roth-Johnson, PhD, was only two months into her new role as curator of life sciences at the California Science Center in Los LAngeles when the coronavirus pandemic shut down the center. Normally, the state-funded center—the largest science center west of the Mississippi—welcomed 2.2 million visitors a year, seven days a week with no admission fees. Quick action was required to

iStockphoto.com reach the grade schoolers that normally came to visit.

MAY 2021 | THE PHYSIOLOGIST MAGAZINE 23 used before. She spearheaded Ever Wonder?, a podcast delving into the world of science. She started with interviews with staff members, who presented their hands-on exhibits as audio experiences. The podcast later expanded to interviewing scientists outside the science center. “None of us had made a podcast,” she says. “None of the staff creating ‘Stuck at Home Science’ were professional video creators.” Her takeaway? “Don’t be afraid to just try things.”

“We had to rethink hands-on Across the U.S., the pandemic ‘MORE THAN JUST A PHYSICAL exhibits,” says Roth-Johnson, the forced scientists and institutions to BUILDING’ 2014 APS-sponsored AAAS Mass reach their audiences in unexpected In the Midwest, Frederic Bertley, Media Fellow. Her role is to design, and new ways. As the entire world PhD, CEO of Ohio’s Center of develop and build exhibits for the seemed to go virtual in 2020, so Science and Industry (COSI), was World of Life Gallery, which covers too did museums, learning centers under added pressure in the weeks the science of humans and other and universities. But with a little leading up to the center’s pandemic living things. “We pivoted to online creativity and brainstorming, the shutdown. “We were going from content like many others.” scientists were able to provide millions in revenue to zero. How the With a mission to stimulate curiosity “science to go” and meet families heck are we going to survive?” he and inspire science learning, the center where they were—at home. remembers thinking. created “Stuck at Home Science” For Roth-Johnson and her As a science center that depended (https://californiasciencecenter.org/ colleagues, that meant figuring mostly on ticket sales for its budget, funlab/stuck-home-science), a series out technology they had never a shutdown threatened its very of videos for children and families existence. As a physiologist and who were, well, stuck at home. immunologist who researched vaccines These YouTube videos ran the gamut at Harvard Medical School before of live DNA extractions to balloon shifting his primary focus to public rockets to animal visits—all with outreach, Bertley knew the virus wasn’t an activity that children could going away soon. After laying out a do at home. As reopening delays strategy to decrease operating expenses continued, the center built on its and increase revenues independent online offerings, which now include of physical visits, he then ramped up blogs, virtual field trips and sold-out plans already underway. virtual summer camps (the center “Prior to the pandemic, we launched distributed 2,100 summer camp kits our new strategic plan,” he says. With to participants last summer). the spread of cellphone use and digital everything, “we knew we had to be more than just a physical building.” Above, Liz Roth-Johnson, PhD, films a DNA Like the work on the coronavirus extraction video from her house for a “Stuck vaccine, the pandemic only accelerated at Home Science” video from the California what was already in the works. Science Center. She’s using a chopstick to show a small glob of DNA she extracted from a lemon. COSI launched a variety of programs Right, a mom raves on Instagram about the independent of physical visits. COSI

center’s pandemic videos. Connects (https://cosi.org/connects) Center Science California courtesy this page, Photos, Ohio Columbus, and Industry, Science of Center courtesy PhD; top, Mueller, J. Patrick courtesy Right,

24 THE PHYSIOLOGIST MAGAZINE | MAY 2021 GRASSROOTS OUTREACH Detroit in 2017, he invited them to a Nine years ago, after meeting with the Michigan chapter explaining what he did of APS. One of the students is now as a physiologist at his about to enter a postbaccalaureate daughter’s fifth grade class program at the National Institutes of on Career Day, Patrick J. Health doing research. Mueller, PhD, associate “It’s a two-way street,” Mueller says. professor of physiology at “They get introduced to areas they love. Wayne State University’s You get the reward and satisfaction of School of Medicine in seeing someone find their niche.” Detroit, decided to continue making annual visits. In UNDERSTANDING YOUR AUDIENCE 2021, that visit went virtual Alicia Schiller, PhD, associate professor after the cancellation of and director of combat casualty care last year's visit. “What is medicine at the University of Nebraska includes a suite of online activities such science? What is a scientist? This is Medical Center in Omaha, learned early as videos, virtual visits to an exhibit the question to answer and to show how to connect with young students. and a variety of hands-on STEM kits people,” he says. In 2017, she and colleague Bryan that contain five experiments. Families “Outreach to me is about making Becker, PhD, published a study on an waited in a line of more than 300 cars people aware of opportunities for outreach event that specifically targeted to pick up the popular kits. themselves, but also how certain Native American middle and high Partnerships with various things work, which all lends to schoolers, who are underrepresented governments, associations and a better society,” says Mueller, in STEM. They brought in 275 local corporations were another key to who describes his outreach efforts students to participate in a day-long, success, allowing the center to exceed as grassroots and believes any 10-station event that taught them fundraising goals that had been set interaction is a chance to do outreach. about physiology. before the pandemic. “We showed our As just one example, after meeting a “It’s easy to say, ‘I’m a professor, donors what exactly their dollars were group of students while participating a postdoc student, a physiologist,’ doing and their impact on the end at Brain Day at the Science Center in but students connected none of user,” Bertley says. There’s also a new TV show called “QED with Dr. B” made in partnership with a PBS affiliate, with plans to develop accompanying online educational content. COSI is now gearing up for its third annual science festival in May 2021, which will be virtual two years in a row. “The pandemic has forced everyone to be innovative in real time,” Bertley says.

Above, Frederic Bertley, PhD, became “Dr. B” in his center’s new TV show called “QED with Dr. B.” Right, former Wayne State University graduate students Anthony Anzell, left, and Timothy Bryson, right, teach elementary students about the brain-heart connection at a pre-pandemic Physiology Understanding Week event. In 2021,

Photos, this page, courtesy California Science Center Science California courtesy this page, Photos, Ohio Columbus, and Industry, Science of Center courtesy PhD; top, Mueller, J. Patrick courtesy Right, the researchers took their outreach virtual.

MAY 2021 | THE PHYSIOLOGIST MAGAZINE 25 PANDEMIC SPOTLIGHTS NEED FOR SCIENCE OUTREACH No doubt, the pandemic created challenges, but it has offered some improvements that will continue long after it’s over. “It’s really been an opportunity to expand our offerings, to grow and create new ways to fulfill our mission to stimulate curiosity and inspire science learning,” Roth-Johnson says. these roles with being a scientist,” “It went so well it looks like we’re The podcast, for example, will continue Schiller says. “That was incredibly going to do it virtually instead of after the center reopens. And the online useful for us because all we had to face-to-face moving forward after the content expanded the center’s audience do was change how we introduced pandemic,” he says. “El Paso is so far nationally and internationally. “Stuck ourselves: ‘I’m a scientist and I do away from everything, so doing it face- at Home Science” had participation research on the heart or the lungs.’” to-face, we had 100 people showing up, from all over the world, including Italy, The most interactive activities making their way from areas up to eight Germany and the Middle East. Roth- were also the most effective. “One of hours away. When we did it virtually, Johnson has also been working on a the fun things we did was an activity we had 300-plus people attending via new COVID-19 exhibit that will open we called ‘What does a scientist look Zoom because it was more accessible.” when the doors do. like?’ We provided a skeleton, clothes In fall 2021, a student from Australia If anything, the pandemic has and miscellaneous costume items. will join the virtual program. shined a light on the importance of The schoolchildren dressed it up and To ensure the event was both science literacy and competence. took selfies to share.” engaging and relevant, the four-hour “I think if it wasn’t clear to people, Their study assessing the impact session started with an icebreaker it made it very clear that science of their outreach event showed an and included a video created by matters in our everyday lives,” Bertley increased understanding of what current students in the program to says. “The pandemic has shown us a physiologist is and increased appeal to their own age group and an science really affects and influences enthusiasm toward scientific career informal question period with them. our daily lives in ways we don’t realize, opportunities. They can take the Then faculty had breakout rooms for and it can offer solutions to get out of knowledge with them as they get back prospective students to ask questions. this pandemic. To see all the scientists to outreach post-pandemic. With his lab now open again— from around the world get together with restrictions—Gurovich is with such incredible speed to come up WHEN VIRTUAL BEATS IRL focused on returning to his K–12 with several candidate vaccines, and at At the University of Texas, El Paso, student outreach, but also virtually. least four in clinical use that have high Alvaro N. Gurovich, PT, PhD, turned “Now that we know how to deal efficacy, that’s exciting. And science twice-yearly informational in-person with the pandemic, we can start made it happen.” visits for the physical therapy doctoral thinking outside the program into an online visit during box to bring science to the pandemic. middle schoolers next academic year,” says Gurovich, who believes Above, a physical therapy doctoral student this is the perfect age and members of the Clinical Applied Physiology to do outreach. “A lot (CAPh) Lab at the University of Texas, El Paso, of studies show that teach and assess middle schoolers’ reaction middle school, grades time during a 2018 outreach program. Right, students learn about skeletal muscle 5 to 7, is when kids recruitment and electromyography from a make the decision to go

CAPh Lab member. to college.” PhD PT, Gurovich, N. Alvaro courtesy this page, Photos,

26 THE PHYSIOLOGIST MAGAZINE | MAY 2021 Photos, this page, courtesy Alvaro N. Gurovich, PT, PhD Illustration by Dan Page HERE?DO I BELONG How to overcome imposter syndrome, a common mental roadblock.

BY CANDACE Y.A. MONTAGUE

Ninette Shenouda, PhD, had some awkward moments during her time in graduate school. She quietly examined the achievements of Nher fellow classmates and had a feeling that she just didn’t belong. “It started as soon as I got to grad defined as a collection of feelings of school,” she says. “All of a sudden, inadequacy that persist despite evident you’re in an environment with all these success. ‘Imposters’ suffer from chronic very intelligent people, mentors and self-doubt and a sense of intellectual colleagues. And there were several fraudulence that override any feelings different factors that gave me the feeling of success or external proof of their that somehow I snuck through the competence. They seem unable to cracks. Like somehow they must have internalize their accomplishments, made a mistake letting me in.” however successful they are in their But there was no mistake. Shenouda, field. High-achieving, highly successful now a postdoctoral researcher in people often suffer, so imposter the Vascular Physiology Laboratory syndrome doesn’t equate with low at the University of Delaware, was self-esteem or a lack of self-confidence. experiencing imposter syndrome. In fact, some researchers have linked According to Harvard Business it with perfectionism, especially in

Illustration by Dan Page Dan by Illustration Review, “Imposter syndrome can be women and among academics.”

MAY 2021 | THE PHYSIOLOGIST MAGAZINE 29 “In science you’re taught to be a critical thinker. What that means is you look for the gaps and flaws. You focus on what is not working, which means you’re very critical about everything, including yourself. So, you turn that back on yourself and you say, ‘I’m not as clever as I should be.’ … So, in scientists it’s quite common because that’s the way your brain is working.” —Hugh Kearns

In science, imposter syndrome can including many in scientific careers— your colleagues for publications, grow swiftly due to the competitive and what steps can be taken to keep it scholarships and grants. It’s very nature of the field. People who from interfering with growth. easy to see someone’s successes, experience imposter syndrome tend their publications and funding and to overlook their achievements and ‘IT THRIVES IN SILENCE’ see your own rejections and struggles undermine their qualifications and Imposter syndrome can erode and feel like you don’t measure up.” thus pass up opportunities for career confidence and cause people to shy Hugh Kearns, a researcher at advancement. away from golden opportunities that Flinders University in Adelaide, It’s rare for people to reveal that they are more than suited to get. It Australia, says science fields are they feel out of place, but imposter happened to Gia Storms, founder a breeding ground for imposter syndrome has affected some of the and executive coach in leadership syndrome. Kearns is also director of most successful people, including development at Storms Coaching and ThinkWell, an organization based in scientists, from time to time. The Consulting in Los Angeles. Storms Australia that provides coaching for syndrome was first dubbed “imposter found those inner voices chipping away PhD students and professionals. phenomenon” by two clinical at her when she changed career paths. “In science you’re taught to be psychologists, Pauline Rose Clance, “When I left the corporate space a critical thinker,” he says. “What PhD, and Suzanne Imes, PhD, when to start my own business, there was that means is you look for the gaps they explored it in 1978 at Georgia a lot of critic activity and imposter and flaws. You focus on what is not State University during a study of syndrome that told me I had no working, which means you’re very high-achieving women. business being a coach,” she says. “I critical about everything, including Recent studies have estimated had no business being out there on yourself. So, you turn that back that at least 20% of college students my own or charging certain fees for on yourself and you say, ‘I’m not and approximately 70% of the my work. And, of course, I knew at as clever as I should be.’ You’re U.S. population wrestle with this the time that it was a signal that I was constantly finding fault. So, in syndrome. It robs talented, qualified moving bravely beyond the realm scientists it’s quite common because people of the chance to not only of the known. It thrives in silence. that’s the way your brain is working.” explore new opportunities but also Like most shame-based behaviors, Ultimately, Shenouda confronted the chance to relish in their own imposter syndrome thrives when you her feelings and found ways to success. So, how can highly qualified don’t speak it out loud.” move beyond this obstacle. “As I people defeat this problem and Shenouda says that much of the progressed through my graduate advance in their careers? We tapped syndrome comes from comparison. studies and career, I came to a few experts to break down how this “A lot of it is a comparison game. realize that the people I looked issue holds back so many people— In science you’re compared against up to, whether it was my mentor

30 THE PHYSIOLOGIST MAGAZINE | MAY 2021 or colleagues, also had their own already contending with oppression, struggles and weaknesses,” she says. underrepresentation and being “Nobody gets to the top in a direct underestimated. In turn, that can path. And the more I became aware affect school admissions, of that, the more I felt at ease with academic performance and my own struggles.” recruitment efforts of companies trying to diversify and be more THE GENDER DIVIDE inclusive. In a study conducted at Data on imposter syndrome often point the University of Texas at Austin in to women experiencing it more often 2017, at least 70% of the minority than men. But imposter syndrome is students surveyed experienced not a construct that affects one gender imposter syndrome. In addition, more than the other, according to a imposter syndrome can exasperate 2021 Harvard Business Review article preexisting depression and anxiety (see https://hbr.org/2021/02/stop- that some minority students are telling-women-they-have-imposter- already dealing with in isolation. syndrome). Behind the scenes, many In the workplace, imposter people suffer from it. The difference is syndrome can be rubberstamped by Shenouda credits her “phenomenal” that women talk about their experiences comments and microaggressions. mentor for showing her how to while men largely go silent. In a 2019 HuffPost article, Jolie internalize accomplishments. “If you look at the background Doggett, a Black journalist, explains “She found a way to celebrate our of impostor syndrome as it’s first that many Black Americans already achievements. If someone completed described in the ’70s in the U.S., it was experience negative thoughts of not their data analysis or data collection or really looking at women in academia belonging in certain workspaces. got a scholarship, she would find a way because that’s where the researchers And then, negative workplace to celebrate in the lab. By celebrating were looking. But if you look deeper, interactions seem to confirm their our achievements, she taught me to you’ll see many men were included as doubts. “Imposter syndrome isn’t just celebrate the milestones along the way.” well,” Kearns says. “For men, it's not an imaginary voice in our heads,” Shenouda also notes that taking cool to talk about it. You’re supposed Doggett writes. “We can hear it loud time to understand imposter to be this confident, successful person. and clear when we receive almost syndrome is a way for leaders and Yet, you feel inadequate in some ways. daily messages from society that we supervisors to show compassion. So, men are more likely to bottle it up.” truly don’t belong.” “When that student or employee Storms confirms that men are comes to you about their feelings, often reluctant to share their feelings GETTING OUT OF YOUR OWN WAY you’re going to be a little more in competitive spaces. “In my Imposter syndrome can be defeated understanding,” she says. “You experience working with men, it’s a so it doesn’t continue to derail a can at least assure them that this lot harder for them to share openly person’s success. Experts agree that is normal and they shouldn’t let it about feelings of inadequacy—those talking about imposter syndrome hinder their career advancement feelings being out of their depth. And more; finding support through or performance.” the way men are socialized, they coaches, mentors and affinity groups; Focusing on the endgame and not can be incredibly criticized about and writing down accomplishments the failures and setbacks is crucial feeling vulnerable and admitting they and celebrating successes can help for warding off imposter syndrome. were nervous. So, generally those terminate those awkward feelings. It will come back again and again, feelings exist in men; they are just less “Role models and mentors are but as Kearns suggests, don’t let it encouraged to talk about it.” essential,” Storms says. “They can rule you. “Have a goal; don’t let it provide a safe space to say out loud, hold you back, because that’s the HOLDING BACK RACIAL MINORITIES ‘I’m not sure I can do this’ and admit real scary thing about imposter Imposter syndrome’s negative the scary thought. They become your syndrome—it stops people from effects can be more pronounced network who can reflect back at you doing things. If you think you can do for non-white people, who are that you can absolutely do this.” it, off you go and do it.”

MAY 2021 | THE PHYSIOLOGIST MAGAZINE 31 DISCOVER CONFERENCES AND WEBINARS Our lineup of live and on-demand virtual events covers crucial tools and timely topics.

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Paul C. Johnson, PhD, FAPS Severin Receives Physical Therapy Association Emerging Leader Award BY WILLIAM H. DANTZLER, MD, PHD, FAPS, AND NICHOLAS A. DELAMERE, PHD Richard Severin, PT, DPT, is a 2021 recipient of the American Physical Therapy Association Paul C. Johnson, PhD, distinguished cardiovascular (APTA) Academy of Cardiovascular & Pulmonary physiologist and APS Fellow, passed away at the age of 93 Physical Therapy Emerging Leader Award. on February 21, 2021. Dr. Johnson was professor emeritus The award recognizes Severin’s “passion, and founding head of the Department of Physiology at the expertise and dedication to the Academy and University of Arizona College of Medicine in Tucson. cardiovascular and pulmonary physical therapy,” Dr. Johnson studied physics along with his well-established research and service to APTA. and physiology at the University Severin is a visiting clinical instructor in the Department of Physical of Michigan and received his Therapy at the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) and part- PhD in 1955. After two years as time clinical assistant professor in the doctor of physical therapy an instructor at Case Western program at Baylor University in Waco, Texas. He is pursuing a PhD Reserve University, he joined in rehabilitation science at UIC. the physiology faculty at Indiana University. He was recruited to the University of Arizona in 1967 as a professor when the dean of Gonzales Recognized with University the newly established College of Arizona Mentoring Award of Medicine charged him with creating a Department of Physiology. Dr. Johnson recruited faculty members with Rayna Gonzales, PhD, an associate professor research interests in neurophysiology, muscle physiology, and block director in the Department of Basic renal and transport physiology, endocrinology and Medical Sciences at the University of Arizona comparative physiology. Under his leadership, the faculty College of Medicine-Phoenix, has been awarded established a tradition of excellence in research and teaching the Excellence in Graduate Student Mentoring that continues to this day. Award. This award recognizes exceptional Dr. Johnson studied the microcirculation and mechanisms dedication and work as a faculty mentor in a that regulate flow in small vessels. He helped develop the graduate program. Gonzales’ research lies in the field of vascular dual-slit method for measuring blood flow and was a pioneer physiology and sex steroid biology. She has been an APS member in studies on autoregulation and myogenic regulation. His since 1992 and is a past Porter Fellow. contributions were recognized by the Eugene M. Landis Award of the Microcirculatory Society, the APS Carl Wiggers Award and an honorary MD from the University of Limburg in the Netherlands. The Arizona microcirculation group thrived, Wehrwein Honored with and Tucson became home to leading figures in the field. Dr. Undergraduate Teaching Award Johnson led the Department of Physiology for 20 years. He retired in 1994, moved to San Diego and continued research Erica A. Wehrwein, PhD, associate professor of at the University of California, San Diego. physiology at Michigan State University (MSU), Dr. Johnson was active in APS throughout his career. He is the 2020 recipient of the Donald F. Koch served as councilor and Publications Committee chair and Quality in Undergraduate Teaching Award. The was elected to the first class of APS Fellows. He is survived by award recognizes educators who are committed a daughter, Ciri; sons Philip and Christopher; and a grandson. to quality undergraduate teaching and show His wife, Genevieve (Genny), passed away in 2017. continued involvement in undergraduate education. Wehrwein is honored for her use of a progressive William H. Dantzler, MD, PhD, FAPS, is professor emeritus and learning style and active, hands-on participation. Her capstone former head of the Department of Physiology at the University of in physiology course has received recognition as a best course at Arizona College of Medicine. Nicholas A. Delamere, PhD, is professor MSU. She has been a member of APS since 2000. and current head of the department.

MAY 2021 | THE PHYSIOLOGIST MAGAZINE 33 NEWS FROM THE FIELD

APS MEMBER BENEFITS CHAPTER NEWS APS Launches New Member Directory Kentucky Physiological Society On April 1, APS launched an enhanced member directory. This Develops Virtual Teaching Modules exclusive benefit is designed to allow members to find and network During the COVID-19 lockdown, members of the Kentucky with colleagues by institution, region, section affiliation(s) and interest Physiological Society were able to maintain outreach and group(s). The APS member directory will help you build lasting educational activities. The chapter ran two high school teacher professional and personal relationships with colleagues in your field. workshops with the National Science Teaching Association Log on to your My APS Dashboard at www.physiology.org/MyAPS that included an engaged group of teachers. to access the directory. Recordings of the sessions are available online. Access the video recording of the skeletal muscle session at http://bit.ly/ APS Hubs: A New Way to Connect KYSkeletalMuscle. The recording of the “Forensics for the Body Farm” session is available at http://bit.ly/KYForensics. with Your Community The modules were created by Robin Cooper, PhD, a chapter Your personalized My APS Dashboard contains new APS Section, board member and chapter co-director of professional Committee and Interest Group Hubs. development, program and education. Cooper is the Chellgren Features of the Hubs include: Endowed Professor at the University of Kentucky. threaded discussion forums that allow you to hold and reply to In addition, the chapter developed a few educational research virtual conversations (Note: You must subscribe to these forums modules with students in a neurophysiology course. All the students in to receive emails directly from the Hubs.); the class were engaged in the active learning of addressing authentic links to section award opportunities for APS members; research questions. The students published their findings in an full listings of award winners; undergraduate neuroscience research journal, IMPULSE. The students donation links so you can give directly to your section; and planned to present their educational modules at the APS annual document libraries, which contain meeting at Experimental Biology in April and at the Association for

¢ steering committee and leadership rosters, Biology Laboratory Education virtual conference in June.

¢ statement of organization and procedure documents to learn more about the governance of your section and interest group,

¢ and more! Check out your Hubs today at www.physiology.org/MyHubs and subscribe to stay in touch with your section and interest group communities.

34 THE PHYSIOLOGIST MAGAZINE | MAY 2021 DATES & DEADLINES

AWARDS WEBINARS

Solomon A. Berson Distinguished APS-MILTENYI BIOTEC WEBINAR SERIES Lectureship of the APS Endocrinology & CRISPR-Enhanced Adipocyte Browning: Metabolism Section (Deadline: May 15) A Cell Therapy Approach to Treat Metabolic Disease John F. Perkins Jr. Research Career May 11, 2021 Enhancement Awards (Deadline: May 31) APS-ADI WEBINAR SERIES Teaching Career Enhancement Awards (Deadline: May 31) Optogenetic activation of selective cardiac autonomic neurons Claude Bernard Distinguished Lectureship Award May 20, 2021 (Deadline: June 1) SCIENCE OF AGING WEBINAR SERIES Ernest H. Starling Distinguished Lecture of the APS Water & The Challenges of Sarcopenia: Definition, Underlying Electrolyte Homeostasis Section (Deadline: July 1) Mechanisms, Interventions and Outcomes Teaching Experiences for Bioscience Educators (TEBioED) May 19, 2021 Fellowship Program (Deadline: July 15) Experimental Muscle Mechanics in Aging and Disease June 2, 2021 Local Undergraduate Research Awards in Physiology (Applications accepted on an ongoing, year-round basis) DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION (DEI) WEBINAR SERIES

More details: www.physiology.org/awards DEI Town Hall May 25, 2021

Creating an Inclusive Work and Lab Environment June 22, 2021

More details: www.physiology.org/webinars

CALLS FOR PAPERS

American Journal of Physiology-Cell Physiology (June 30, 2021) • Vestibular and Oculomotor Function • Making Cell Culture More Physiological in Health and Disease: A Tribute to W. • Virus-host Cell Interactions and the Viral Life Cycle: Basic Michael King, PhD Science to Therapeutics • Visual, Vestibular and Somatosensory Interactions for Visuomotor Responses: A Tribute to Jerry Simpson American Journal of Physiology-Lung Cellular and Molecular Physiology (June 30, 2021) Physiological Genomics (June 30, 2021) • Lung Diseases in Reverse Translation: Bedside to the Bench • Extracellular Vesicles: Role in Physiology and Pathophysiology American Journal of Physiology-Renal Physiology (June 30, 2021) • Precision Medicine and Complex Disease • Neural Control of Renal Function in Hypertension and Kidney • Physiological Genomics of Cell States and Their Regulation Disease and Single Cell Genomics • Mechanisms of Renal Electrolyte Transport and Ion Channel Regulation in Honor of Dr. Gerhard Giebisch Physiological Genomics (July 1, 2021) • Comparative Physiological Genomics Journal of Neurophysiology (JNP) (June 30, 2021) • The Neurophysiology of Consciousness • Society for the Neural Control of Movement More details: www.journals.physiology.org/calls • Spinal Networks and Spinal Cord Injury: A Tribute to Reggie Edgerton

MAY 2021 | THE PHYSIOLOGIST MAGAZINE 35 THE LAST WORD

of change also presents each of us with the additional opportunity to engage in activities Make a Difference— that benefit our colleagues, our scientific discipline and ourselves. Importantly, we can Get Involved each be a force to effect positive change in the scientific community. Now is the time to act. BY DAVID MATTSON, PHD, FAPS While it is often easy to identify opportunities within our communities to participate in, the chance to influence matters on a wider scale may seem out of reach. However, for physiologists, As I write this, we are all hopeful a readily available outlet is participation Athat the worst of the COVID-19 as a member or member-leader in APS public health crisis will soon activities. As a champion of our be behind us. Many of us discipline, APS is committed have avoided the virus to creating an environment and appreciate our good where individuals can fortune, but too many exchange ideas and be safe, others have not been as accepted and respected. lucky. The loss of lives, Moreover, members who disruption of families, participate in Society economic insecurity and activities find that the other hardships resulting benefits far exceed the from this crisis will energy expended. The continue to resonate relationships that are for years. formed, the added None of us have insight into the world of remained unaffected, and science and the personal we all yearn for a sense of satisfaction from helping pre-2020 normalcy. It is therefore guide our field forward are well understandable that many of us are now worth the time and effort. For those disillusioned focused upon the opportunity to by our national political conversation, the Society reengage in personal activities and provides an ideal platform to make a positive “As a member-driven renew personal relationships. difference in the world. scientific society, We should also take time to reflect As we each evaluate our future professional participation [in APS] on our professional lives. More than activities, please consider participation in permits each of us to a year of isolation cannot help but the many opportunities available in the APS provide us with a broader perspective sections, interest groups and committees. As a serve our scientific and a consideration of the numerous member-driven scientific society, participation community and enact opportunities that we have previously permits each of us to serve our scientific change in our world.” taken for granted or put off until community and enact change in our world. a later time. As members of the APS members are asked to take a stand for physiology scientific and teaching change and commit to inclusion, respect and community, we have likely postponed or been equality and to foster the open-mindedness unable to complete the experiments we wanted that is the staple of discovery and creativity. to conduct, the papers we were going to write, Through APS participation, we can each help the courses we were going to develop and the shape the future. grants we wanted to submit. David Mattson, PhD, FAPS, is a professor and chair of Interestingly, the ability to participate in physiology at the Medical College of Georgia in Augusta. these everyday tasks was not fully appreciated He is an outgoing APS councilor. until they were out of our reach. This time Affrunti Brett by Illustration

36 THE PHYSIOLOGIST MAGAZINE | MAY 2021 ACCESS THE LATEST ANNOUNCEMENTS FROM YOUR SOCIETY AFFINITY GROUPS Your personalized My APS Dashboard contains new APS section and interest group Hubs. Stay up to date on award deadlines, upcoming events, topics related to your field at the APS annual meeting at Experimental Biology and so much more! Check out your Hubs today at physiology.org/MyHubs.

My APS Hubs 9x11 updated.indd 1 2/12/2021 8:32:53 AM You are on the leading edge of discovery. Stay connected to the resources and support you need. Renew today and continue your journey with the American Physiological Society.

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