Carolinas

The main goal of my laboratory is to investigate the hematopoietic bone marrow-derived Common Connective Tissue Progenitor Cells (CCTPCs) in the heart valves and big vessels. After initially discovering the CCTPCs during chicken embryo heart valve development, and both embryonic and adult murine heart valves, we have validated the existence of these cells in human heart valves too.

We are isolating the CCTPCs from human bone marrow and using them to repopulate/seed bovine and porcine decellularized heart valve matrices. We are investigating the fate of these cells after seeding in vitro, both static and dynamic conditions.

We are also using the CCTPCs to seed decellularized pig blood vessels creating tissue engineered aortas, which are implanted into rats for various lengths of time before they are explanted and histologically evaluated.

Using the cadaveric material from the Anatomy Lab, we are researching the anatomical variation of the common carotid artery origins, with special attention to the formation of endothelial intimal thickening. We were able to show that when the left common carotid artery originates from the brachiocephalic trunk instead from directly off the aortic arch, then presents increased intimal thickening. This intimal thickening is the result of the engrafting CCTPCs originating from the bone marrow.

To explain the cause of the intimal thickening in case of the anatomical variations of the common carotid artery origins, we are using computational fluid dynamics simulations and calculations of the flow and shear stress.

Capabilities:

I am able to provide expertise in histological sample collection and processing, as well as light- and laser confocal microscopy. Classical and immunological labeling of cells and tissue samples is a routine in my lab, also I am already advising multiple PIs in setting up multiple immunofluorescent experiments.

Currently working on my Ph.D. in Health Care Genetics. I plan to create a training module to prepare medical students for productive interactions with patients wielding direct to consumer genetic testing (DTC-GT) results. By giving the students relevant communication points pertinent to DTC-GT situations and compounding on knowledge and competencies learned in previous years, family physicians trained at VCOM will be able to work with genetically informed patients to make better medical management decisions.

Dr. Foushee received her Doctor of Pharmacy from the University of South Carolina. Following graduation, she completed two years of postgraduate residency training, initially in pharmacy practice and subsequently in critical care pharmacy. Upon completion of her training, she joined the Presbyterian College School of Pharmacy where she served on faculty in the Department of Pharmacy Practice for 9 academic years before joining the VCOM-Carolinas Faculty. She is board certified in Pharmacotherapy and in Critical Care Pharmacy.

Education

Dr. Foushee’s research interests are related to two primary areas: 1) the scholarship of teaching and learning and 2) patient outcomes related to pharmacotherapy. She is passionate about interprofessional education (IPE) and the delivery of healthcare in a team-based fashion. Incorporating IPE into undergraduate medical education and assessing outcomes are areas of strong interest. Her particular clinical expertise is related to appropriate medication management in critically ill adult patients. She is also an advocate for ensuring access to medications for underserved populations. She has experience with survey research, chart reviews and retrospective cohort studies, and has provided clinical supervision of bench-to-bedside collaborative research regarding medication compatibility. She brings a collaborative spirit to projects, and feels strongly that interprofessional representation within research improves quality, just as it does to patient care.