MSTP students in the Sahoo lab
Medical Scientist Training Program
Gopika Senthilkumar

Gopika SenthilKumar

G3 Student

Faculty Advisor

  • Julie Freed, MD, PhD, Physiology

Locations

  • Medical Scientist Training Program

Contact Information

Education

BS, Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 2019

Research Interests

Cardiovascular physiology, health education, surgical outcomes and quality improvement

Research Experience

Medical College of Wisconsin, 2021-present
PhD Advisors: Julie Freed, MD, PhD and David Gutterman, MD
Project: The necessary role of ceramide formation and its regulation by estrogen in the human microcirculation (AHA)

University of Wisconsin, Madison, 2017-2019
Advisors: Randall Kimple MD PhD
Projects: Inhibition of fibroblast growth factor receptor using AZD4547 radiosensitizes Head and Neck Cancer and Lung Cancer. Autophagy's role in Head and Neck Cancer’s therapeutic resistance to radiation and cetuximab.

University of Wisconsin, Madison, 2015-2016
Advisors: Gillian McLellan BVMS PhD
Project: 3D reconstruction of retinal histology images to track patterns of ganglion cell loss

Publications

SenthilKumar G, Verhagen NB, Wang TS, Dream SY, Kothari AN. Bridging the Gap: Trainee Reflections About Navigating Otherness in Academic Surgery. J Surg Res. 2023 Nov;291:A1-A3. doi: 10.1016/j.jss.2023.04.006. Epub 2023 May 20. PMID: 37217382.

SenthilKumar G, Mathieu NM, Freed JK, Sigmund CD, Gutterman DD. Addressing the decline in graduate students' mental well-being. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol. 2023 Oct 1;325(4):H882-H887. doi: 10.1152/ajpheart.00466.2023. Epub 2023 Aug 25. PMID: 37624099.

SenthilKumar G, Sommers KC, He Y, Stark K, Craig T, Keval A, Shah N, Patel K, Meurer J. Student Leadership Development Initiative for Medical Students: Lessons Learned From Transitioning to Virtual Modalities. J Med Educ Curric Dev. 2023 Sep 7;10:23821205231200731. doi: 10.1177/23821205231200731. PMID: 37692559; PMCID: PMC10486220.

SenthilKumar G, Merrill J, Maduekwe UN, Cloyd JM, Fournier K, Abbott DE, Zafar N, Patel S, Johnston F, Dineen S, Baumgartner J, Grotz TE, Maithel SK, Raoof M, Lambert L, Hendrix R, Kothari AN. Prediction of Early Recurrence Following CRS/HIPEC in Patients With Disseminated Appendiceal Cancer. J Surg Res. 2023 Sep 2;292:275-288. doi: 10.1016/j.jss.2023.06.054. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 37666090.

SenthilKumar G, Kothari AN, Maduekwe UN, Fournier K, Abbott DE, Wilson GC, Patel SH, Greer J, Johnston F, Dineen SP, Powers BD, Baumgartner J, Veerapong J, Leiting J, Grotz TE, Maithel SK, Staley C, Raoof M, Lambert L, Lee A, Kim A, Cloyd JM, Mogal H. ASO Visual Abstract: Validation of the AJCC 8th Edition Staging System for Disseminated Appendiceal Cancer Patients Treated with Cytoreductive Surgery and Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy-A Multi-institutional Analysis. Ann Surg Oncol. 2023 Sep;30(9):5756-5757. doi: 10.1245/s10434-023-13829-1. PMID: 37423927.

SenthilKumar G, Cloyd JM, Mogal H. ASO Author Reflections: AJCC 8th Edition Performs Well in Predicting Outcomes Among Patients with Disseminated Appendiceal Cancer Undergoing CRS/HIPEC. Ann Surg Oncol. 2023 Sep;30(9):5754-5755. doi: 10.1245/s10434-023-13740-9. Epub 2023 Jun 15. PMID: 37322281.

SenthilKumar G, Kothari AN, Maduekwe UN, Fournier K, Abbott DE, Wilson GC, Patel SH, Greer J, Johnston F, Dineen SP, Powers BD, Baumgartner J, Veerapong J, Leiting J, Grotz TE, Maithel SK, Staley C, Raoof M, Lambert L, Lee A, Kim A, Cloyd JM, Mogal H. Validation of the AJCC 8th Edition Staging System for Disseminated Appendiceal Cancer Patients Treated with Cytoreductive Surgery and Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy: A Multi-institutional Analysis. Ann Surg Oncol. 2023 Sep;30(9):5743-5753. doi: 10.1245/s10434-023-13697-9. Epub 2023 Jun 9. PMID: 37294386.

SenthilKumar G, Heisner JS, Schlaak R, Mishra J, Katunaric B, Pedersen LN, Lavine K, Javaheri A, Camara AKS, Bergom C. Targeted Cardiac Ionizing Radiation in Dahl Salt-Sensitive Rats Can Improve Recovery From Ischemic Injury. JACC Basic Transl Sci. 2023 Aug 28;8(8):1025-1027. doi: 10.1016/j.jacbts.2023.07.004. PMID: 37719423; PMCID: PMC10504396.

Verhagen NB, SenthilKumar G, Jaraczewski T, Koerber NK, Merrill JR, Flitcroft MA, Szabo A, Banerjee A, Yang X, Taylor BW, Figueroa Castro CE, Yen TWF, Clarke CN, Lauer K, Pfeifer KJ, Gould JC, Kothari AN; N3C Consortium. Severity of Prior COVID-19 is Associated with Postoperative Outcomes Following Major Inpatient Surgery. Ann Surg. 2023 Jul 21. doi: 10.1097/SLA.0000000000006035. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 37476995.

SenthilKumar G, Madhusudhana S, Flitcroft M, Sheriff S, Thalji S, Merrill J, Clarke CN, Maduekwe UN, Tsai S, Christians KK, Gamblin TC, Kothari AN. Automated machine learning (AutoML) can predict 90-day mortality after gastrectomy for cancer. Sci Rep. 2023 Jul 8;13(1):11051. doi: 10.1038/s41598-023-37396-3. PMID: 37422500; PMCID: PMC10329647.

SenthilKumar G, Katunaric B, Zirgibel Z, Lindemer B, Jaramillo-Torres MJ, Bordas-Murphy H, Schulz ME, Pearson PJ, Freed JK. Necessary Role of Acute Ceramide Formation in The Human Microvascular Endothelium During Health and Disease. bioRxiv [Preprint]. 2023 Jun 6:2023.06.02.543341. doi: 10.1101/2023.06.02.543341. PMID: 37333082; PMCID: PMC10274701.

SenthilKumar G*, Verhagen NB*, Sheriff SA, Yang X, Figueroa Castro CE, Szabo A, Taylor BW, Wainaina N, Lauer K, Gould JC, Kothari AN; N3C Consortium. Preoperative SARS-CoV-2 infection increases risk of early postoperative cardiovascular complications following noncardiac surgery. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol. 2023 Jun 1;324(6):H721-H731. doi: 10.1152/ajpheart.00097.2023. Epub 2023 Mar 17. PMID: 36930659; PMCID: PMC10151044.

SenthilKumar G, Katunaric B, Bordas-Murphy H, Sarvaideo J, Freed JK. Estrogen and the Vascular Endothelium: The Unanswered Questions. Endocrinology. 2023 Apr 17;164(6):bqad079. doi: 10.1210/endocr/bqad079. PMID: 37207450; PMCID: PMC10230790.

Verhagen NB, SenthilKumar G, Jaraczewski T, Koerber NK, Merrill JR, Flitcroft MA, Szabo A, Banerjee A, Yang X, Taylor BW, Castro CEF, Yen TWF, Clarke CN, Lauer K, Pfeifer KJ, Gould JC, Kothari AN. Severity of Prior COVID-19 Infection is Associated with Postoperative Outcomes Following Major Inpatient Surgery. medRxiv [Preprint]. 2023 Apr 17:2023.04.12.23288412. doi: 10.1101/2023.04.12.23288412. Update in: Ann Surg. 2023 Jul 21;: PMID: 37131614; PMCID: PMC10153306.

SenthilKumar G, Katunaric B, Bordas-Murphy H, Young M, Doren EL, Schulz ME, Widlansky ME, Freed JK. 17β-Estradiol promotes sex-specific dysfunction in isolated human arterioles. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol. 2023 Mar 1;324(3):H330-H337. doi: 10.1152/ajpheart.00708.2022. Epub 2023 Jan 6. PMID: 36607795; PMCID: PMC9925162.

SenthilKumar G, Peraci MMS. Leveraging Virtual Platforms to Overcome the Minority Tax Among International Medical Students and Professionals. WMJ. 2022 Dec;121(4):251. PMID: 36637832.

SenthilKumar G*, Gutierrez-Huerta CA*, Freed JK, Beyer AM, Fancher IS, LeBlanc AJ. New developments in translational microcirculatory research. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol. 2022 Dec 1;323(6):H1167-H1175. doi: 10.1152/ajpheart.00566.2022. Epub 2022 Oct 28. PMID: 36306213; PMCID: PMC9678417.

Katunaric B, SenthilKumar G, Schulz ME, De Oliveira N, Freed JK. S1P (Sphingosine-1-Phosphate)-Induced Vasodilation in Human Resistance Arterioles During Health and Disease. Hypertension. 2022 Oct;79(10):2250-2261. doi: 10.1161/HYPERTENSIONAHA.122.19862. Epub 2022 Aug 22. PMID: 36070401; PMCID: PMC9473289.

Buss R*, SenthilKumar G*, Bouchard M, Bowder A, Marquart J, Cooke-Barber J, Vore E, Beals D, Raval M, Rich BS, Goldstein S, Van Arendonk K. Geographic barriers to children's surgical care: A systematic review of existing evidence. J Pediatr Surg. 2022 Sep;57(9):107-117. doi: 10.1016/j.jpedsurg.2021.11.024. Epub 2021 Dec 3. PMID: 34963510.

SenthilKumar G, Rokkas CK, Sheinin YM, Linsky PL. Rare and complicated functional posterior mediastinal paraganglioma. BMJ Case Rep. 2022 Jun 7;15(6):e250500. doi: 10.1136/bcr-2022-250500. PMID: 35672059; PMCID: PMC9174829.

Jaber Chehayeb R, SenthilKumar G, Saade Z, Gallo Marin B, Aghagoli G, Virji AZ. Examining the First Peer-to-Peer Mentorship Program (F1Doctors) for International Medical Students. J Interdiscip Stud Educ. 2022 Apr 16;11(1):102-125. PMID: 36405890; PMCID: PMC9673072.

Cohen KE, Katunaric B, Schulz ME, SenthilKumar G, Young MS, Mace JE, Freed JK. Role of Adiponectin Receptor 1 in Promoting Nitric Oxide-Mediated Flow-Induced Dilation in the Human Microvasculature. Front Pharmacol. 2022 Apr 4;13:875900. doi: 10.3389/fphar.2022.875900. PMID: 35444544; PMCID: PMC9014203.

Cohen KE, Katunaric B, SenthilKumar G, McIntosh JJ, Freed JK. Vascular endothelial adiponectin signaling across the life span. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol. 2022 Jan 1;322(1):H57-H65. doi: 10.1152/ajpheart.00533.2021. Epub 2021 Nov 19. PMID: 34797171; PMCID: PMC8698498.

Nonarath HJ* and Hall AE*, SenthilKumar G, Abroe B, Eells JT, Liedhegner ES. 670nm photobiomodulation modulates bioenergetics and oxidative stress, in rat Müller cells challenged with high glucose. PLoS One. 2021 Dec 3;16(12):e0260968. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0260968. PMID: 34860856; PMCID: PMC8641888.

Schlaak RA, Frei A, SenthilKumar G, Tsaih SW, Wells C, Mishra J, Flister MJ, Camara AKS, Bergom C. Differences in Expression of Mitochondrial Complexes Due to Genetic Variants May Alter Sensitivity to Radiation-Induced Cardiac Dysfunction. Front Cardiovasc Med. 2020 Mar 5;7:23. doi: 10.3389/fcvm.2020.00023. PMID: 32195269; PMCID: PMC7066205.

Schlaak RA, SenthilKumar G, Boerma M, Bergom C. Advances in Preclinical Research Models of Radiation-Induced Cardiac Toxicity. Cancers (Basel). 2020 Feb 11;12(2):415. doi: 10.3390/cancers12020415. PMID: 32053873; PMCID: PMC7072196.

*co-first authors" 

Meeting Abstracts

SenthilKumar G, Cole KE, Ellinas E. Why are women underrepresented in healthcare leadership? Center for the Advancement of Women in Science and Medicine Symposium, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, USA. March 2022. Virtual. [Poster, AWSM Symposium Education Session Winner]

Cole KE, SenthilKumar G, Treat R, Farkas A, Ellinas E. Designing a Self-Directed, Online Module to Promote Student Leadership and Intentional Involvement. Innovations in Medical Education Online Conference, Keck School of Medicine of University of Southern California, CA, USA. February 2022. Virtual. [Poster Presenter]

SenthilKumar G, Cole KE, He Y, Stark K, Craig T, Meurer J. Student Leadership Development Initiative: A Model for Training Medical Students Around the World. Innovations in Medical Education Online Conference, Keck School of Medicine of University of Southern California, CA, USA. February 2022. Virtual. [Poster]

Cole K* & SenthilKumar G*. Designing a leadership curriculum for medical students that teaches students to be influencers. Innovations in Healthcare Education Research Conference, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, USA. September 2021. Virtual. [Poster Presenter]

Senthilkumar G, Cole, KE, Fritz JD. Does Emotional Intelligence Matter for Medical Professionals? How Can We Foster It? AAMC 2021 GSA-OSR Spring Meeting. April 2021. [Oral Poster Presenter].

Senthilkumar G, Rokkas CK, Linsky PL. A functional, subcarinal paraganglioma adherent to the left atrial wall and supplied by large branches of the coronary and bronchial arteries. American College of Physicians Wisconsin Chapter. September 2020. [Poster Presenter]. American College of Physicians National Abstract Competition Winner. May 2020. [Oral Presentation].

Senthilkumar G, Gamblin TC, Clarke CN, Kimbrough C, et al. Characteristics of Exceptional vs Poor survivors in Colorectal Cancer Patients undergoing Cytoreductive Surgery and Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy. Society of Surgical Oncology 2021 Annual Meeting. March 2021. [Oral Poster Presenter].

Senthilkumar G, Thalji SZ, Clarke CN, Kimbrough C, et al. Characteristics and Outcomes of Exceptional vs Poor survivors in Disseminated Appendiceal Cancer Patients undergoing CRS/HIPEC – A Multi-institutional Analysis. Wisconsin Surgical Society 2020 Annual Meeting. November 2020. [Oral Presentation]. 16th Annual Academic Surgical Congress. February 2021. [Quickshot Oral Presentation].

Senthilkumar G, Fernando D, Gamblin TC, et al. Validation of the AJCC 8th Edition Staging System for Appendiceal Cancer Using a Multi-institutional Cohort of Patients Treated with Cytoreductive Surgery and Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy (CRS/HIPEC). American College of Surgeons Clinical Congress 2020. October 2020. [Oral Presentation]

Fernando D, Senthilkumar G, Clarke CN, et al. Role of Cytoreduction and Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy (CRS/HIPEC) in the treatment of Peritoneal Carcinomatosis from Small Bowel Adenocarcinoma: A Systematic Review. American College of Surgeons Clinical Congress 2020. October 2020. [Poster]

Lee YS, Skiba J, Senthilkumar G, et al. Inhibition of radiation-induced autophagy improves control of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. International Journal of Radiation Oncology Biology Physics. March 2020. Abstract 323. [Poster]

Senthilkumar G, Miller M, Fisher MM, et al. Radiosensitization of head and neck cancer by FGFR inhibition. American Association of Cancer Research 2019 Proceedings. Abstract 2929. April 2019. [Poster]

Miller M, Fisher MM, Senthilkumar G, et al. Evaluation of the pan-FGFR inhibitor AZD4547 with radiation in non-small cell lung cancer. American Association of Cancer Research 2019 Proceedings. Abstract 2924. April 2019. [Poster]

Eckers J, Skiba J, Senthilkumar G, et al. Autophagy contributed to therapeutic resistance in head and neck cancer. American Association of Cancer Research 2018 Proceedings. Abstract 1344. [Poster]

General Interests

Running, drawing/painting, boxing, trying new local restaurants, guitar