Inducted into the Johns Hopkins University Society of Scholars

Dr. George A. Spirou is the director of the Center for Neuroscience and director of Research in the Department of Otolaryngology.

Dr. Spirou studies the structure and function of neural circuits that underlie binaural hearing, with a particular interest in how sound is localized in space. He also investigates the formation of those neural circuits during early development.

Research in Dr. Spirou’s laboratory is supported by grants from the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communicative Disorders entitled “The Role of Inhibition in Binaural Processing” and “Development of the Calyx of Held”.

Dr. Spirou also serves as principal investigator of the CoBRE in Sensory Neuroscience grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH)/National Center for Research Resources, to support growth of neuroscience research at WVU.

Dr. Spirou’s scientific and administrative achievements have been recognized nationally by his induction into the Johns Hopkins University Society of Scholars and by his appointment as chair of the NIH grant review panel on which he serves.

Still Going Strong: 38 Year Career as a Clinical Microbiologist

Dr. John Thomas has been a clinical microbiologist since 1969 and a faculty member at WVU for the past 16 years. He recently received his 40 Year Membership Recognition from The American Society for Microbiology.

Dr. Thomas’s clinical interests are focused on his function as director of Microbiology and Virology, Clinical Laboratories, at WVU Hospitals. In 1998, Dr. Thomas was encouraged to expand his unique role in translational research and became director of the Clinical Research Laboratory of Microbial Pathology, focusing on the integration of dental, medical and environment diseases through four linked pathways: biofilms, antibiotic resistance, clinical and financial outcomes, and global oral hygiene. Dr. Thomas has research collaboration with CollaGenex Pharmaceuticals (Periostat®), which led to the establishment of the Mountain State Oral Facial Laboratory, one of only seven dental laboratories in the United States.

Dr. Thomas is a graduate of Syracuse University, initially trained in virology and cell culture from 1964 to 1969.

Mother, Wife, Dedicated Student, and Future Leader

Julie Balch Samora is five years into her seven year combined M.D./Ph.D. program. In addition to school, Julie is a mother of two children, under the age of three, and a wife of a WVU Orthopaedic resident.

In 2007, Julie received the American Medical Association’s Leadership award, which was presented to only 15 students. Julie received the leadership award because of her outstanding non-clinical leadership skills in advocacy, community service, and education. Julie is able to do many things because in her words she “doesn’t waste time” and tries to be efficient by prioritizing her life.

Julie picked WVU School of Medicine because of the Ph.D. degree program. Julie said, “Dr. Charles Craig, former Director of the M.D./Ph.D. program, was a big reason in my decision to come to school here.”