Contact

Kathryn S. Robinett, MD
Associate Professor of Medicine
Associate Dean for Student Research and Education
Associate Program Director for the Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine Fellowship
Email: KRobinett@som.umaryland.edu

Dr. Robinett graduated from Virginia Tech with a degree in Chemistry and Biochemistry. She went on to complete her M.D. at the University of Maryland School of Medicine. At the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill she completed an internship and residency in Internal Medicine. After that, she returned to the University of Maryland School of Medicine for fellowship training in Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine and after fellowship she stayed on as faculty with a specific clinical focus on severe asthma. In addition to her clinical work, she has experience in basic science and clinical research. She also attends in the Medical Intensive Care Unit at both the UMMS Downtown and Midtown. In addition to her clinical work, she is the Assistant Dean for Admissions of the School of Medicine and the Interim Associate Dean for Student Research and Education.

Gregory B. Carey, PhD
Associate Professor of Microbiology and Immunology
Assistant Dean for Student Research and Education
Executive Director of Student Research and Community Outreach, OSR
Director of PRISM, UM Scholars and STAR-PREP Student Research Programs
Email: GCarey@som.umaryland.edu

As the Executive Director of Student Research and Community Outreach, Dr. Carey oversees and is responsible for medical student research activities, including electives, summer and year-off activities. He oversees recruitment to and advising for the School of Medicine's summer research programs for health professional, undergraduate and high school students. In his outreach roles within the OSR and as a co-chair on the President's Outreach Council, Dr. Carey explores research, mentoring and STEM (Science Technology Engineering and Math) educational opportunities for students at all levels and from broad backgrounds, on and off the UMB campus. In addition, Dr. Carey is the leader (P.I.) of an NIH/NCI-funded research program focused on increasing the understanding of factors that determine life and death decisions in lymphoma and in other cancers. His teaching activities cover both basic and special topics in immunology and oncology in the Graduate School and the Schools of Medicine and Dentistry. Dr. Carey is a member of the Center for Vascular and Inflammatory Diseases (CVID) and of the Greenebaum Cancer Center.

Dave Riedel, MD
Professor of Medicine
Institute of Human Virology
FRCT Director
Email: driedel@ihv.umaryland.edu

Dr. Riedel serves as the course director for the Foundations of Research and Critical Thinking (FRCT) course. The FRCT course was launched in the Fall of 2013 under Dr. Rick Matteson (retired). Within the Office of Student Research, Dr. Riedel provides guidance on FRCT requirements and supports students in refining their research interests, identifying potential mentors, and exploring available funding opportunities. He also serves as the co-PI for the M4I: Maryland Infection, Immunization, Intervention, and Impact Training Program.

He serves as Professor of Medicine in the Division of Infectious Diseases within the Department of Medicine at the SOM. He has a longstanding research interest in HIV-related cancers and international HIV care and treatment.

Shannon Takala Harrison, PhD
Professor, Medicine, Epidemiology and Public Health 
FRCT Advisor
Email: STakala@som.umaryland.edu 

Dr. Takala Harrison is a Professor of Medicine and of Epidemiology and Public Health at University of Maryland School of Medicine who has >20 years of experience conducting multi-disciplinary translational research. She leads the Genomic Epidemiology Unit within the Malaria Research Program in the Center for Vaccine Development and Global Health and serves as the Associate Director of the Research Training Tracks within the Center for Advance Research Training and Innovation (CARTI). 

Within the Office of Student Research, Dr. Takala Harrison provides research advising to first-year medical students. She reviews the FRCT requirements and helps students consider their research interests, find potential mentors, and explore possible funding opportunities. 

Fiama Romero, MS
Program Manager
Email: FRomero@som.umaryland.edu

Fiama oversees the day-to-day operations of the OSR and supports OSR faculty in developing, implementing, and promoting new OSR initiatives, with a focus on improving operational efficiency and enhancing the research support students receive. Fiama manages the FRCT course, dual degree programs, student awards and events, and a growing list of summer research and training programs, including PRISM, UM Scholars at SOM, MPower/MDH, and M4I. She’s also the project manager for R-HEALE and assists with operations management for the broader Undergraduate Medical Education. 

Fiama is passionate about advocating for employee needs and improving access to healthcare and education, particularly among underserved communities. Her commitment to advocacy and promoting equity, diversity, and inclusion motivated Fiama to run for UMB Staff Senate, where she currently serves as senator and Communications Officer.