Patient Care
- Find a Doctor
  Find a doctor by specialty or location.
- Care Locations
  Find primary and specialty care near you.
- Departments and Centers
  New knowledge driving discovery to advance the health of our communities.
- Research
  Every discovery advances academic medicine and improves the vitality of our communities.
- Pay a Bill
  Pay a a bill for services performed by MCW.
- Contact
  Let us help you find an answer to your question.
- MyChart Login
  MyChart user? Log in to make an appointment.
- Request an Appointment Online
  Or call Adult Specialties (800) 272-3666 or Pediatric Specialties (877) 607-5280.
Education
- Medical School
  Choose from a three or four-year MD program at various campus locations, our anesthesiologist assistant, physician associate, or a number of dual degree programs.
- Residency and Fellowship Programs
  Choose from more than 140 specialties and sub-specialties for advanced medical training at MCW.
- Graduate School
  Designed to provide a unique, specialized learning experience.
- PA/NP Fellowship and Residency Programs
  Innovative 12-month PA and NP transition to practice programs in a variety of specialty clinical tracks.
- Pharmacy School
  An innovative three-year PharmD program designed for the expanding pharmacist role in patient care.
- Continuing Professional Development (CME)
  Develops applied learning experiences and supports continual education of the healthcare professional beyond graduation.
- Commencement
  MCW Commencement Events – All Campuses
Research
- Basic Science Research
  Our scientists are discovery-drivers, working to develop cutting-edge treatments.
- Clinical Trials
  Clinical trials are invaluable in testing new treatments, drugs and technologies.
- Project Wonder
  Project Wonder: the Art of Science at the Medical College of Wisconsin partners basic and translational scientists with local artists and writers to elevate and amplify their innovative, life-changing research.
- Translational Research
  Translational scientists turn science and research into improved treatments.
- Centers
  Through collaboration with the brightest minds in science and medicine MCW’s Centers are at the forefront of discovery and innovation.
- Continuing Professional Development (CME)
  Develops applied learning experiences and supports continual education of the healthcare professional beyond graduation.
Community
- Community Connection
  We have the power to advance the health and vitality of all. We invite you to reach out, connect and work with us as we strive towards this vision.
- Advancing a Healthier Wisconsin Endowment
  Through research, health care education, workforce development, and community health initiatives, AHW drives change.
- Community Engagement
  Enhancing learning, research, patient care and the health of the community.
- Continuing Professional Development (CME)
  Develops applied learning experiences and supports continual education of the healthcare professional beyond graduation.
- Institute for Health & Equity
  A hub focused on population health, biostatistics, bioethics and epidemiology research.
- Thrive On Collaboration
  Imagine a Milwaukee that is equitable, healthy and thriving for all.
Giving
- Advance Research
  We’re driving research that leads to improved diagnoses, more effective treatments, and new cures.
- Create Healthier Communities
  We work closely with partners to redefine health beyond healthcare and with a bold vision of achieving health equity for all.
- Healthcare Education
  We’re committed to meeting the needs of our changing population, and solving the significant healthcare provider shortage.
- Annual Fund For Excellence
  The flexibility of unrestricted funds allows MCW to continue addressing our most urgent priorities.
- Donate Now
  Your gift today makes tomorrow’s breakthroughs possible.
Find a Doctor

Medical Scientist Training Program

Medical Scientist Training Program

Shana Terai Lara

G3 Student

Faculty Advisor

Kirsten Beyer, PhD, MPH, Public & Community Health

Locations

Medical Scientist Training Program

Contact Information

stlara@mcw.edu

Education

BA, Philosophy-Neuroscience-Psychology, Washington University in St. Louis, 2012
BS, Biomedical Engineering, University of Illinois at Chicago, 2018

Research Interests

I am interested in combined quantitative and community engagement methods to investigate children's mental and physical health disparities.

Research Experience

Medical College of Wisconsin, 2021-present
Advisor: Kirsten Beyer, PhD, MPH, MS
Project: Children's Mental Health Disparities

Publications

Vickstrom CR, Snarrenberg ST, Friedman V, Liu QS. Application of optogenetics and in vivo imaging approaches for elucidating the neurobiology of addiction. Mol Psychiatry. 2022 Jan;27(1):640-651. doi: 10.1038/s41380-021-01181-3. Epub 2021 Jun 18. PMID: 34145393; PMCID: PMC9190069.

Vickstrom CR, Snarrenberg ST, Friedman V, Liu QS. Application of optogenetics and in vivo imaging approaches for elucidating the neurobiology of addiction. Mol Psychiatry. 2021 Jun 18. doi: 10.1038/s41380-021-01181-3. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 34145393.

Vickstrom CR, Liu X, Zhang Y, Zhang Y, Mu L, Kelly TJ, Yan X, Hu MM, Snarrenberg ST, Liu QS (2020). T-type calcium channels contribute to burst firing in a subpopulation of medial habenula neurons [published online ahead of print, 2020 Jul 27]. eNeuro. 2020;ENEURO.0201-20.2020. doi:10.1523/ENEURO.0201-20.2020

Waas M, Snarrenberg ST, et al, SurfaceGenie: A web-based application for prioritizing cell-type specific marker candidates, Bioinformatics, 2020, PMID: 32053146.

Meeting Abstracts

Snarrenberg S, Sevak BN, Patton JL. Modeling Nerve Compression in Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. In: PubMed (July 2018).

General Interests

I enjoy pretty much all outdoor activities like hiking, camping, biking, being on a boat, and if I’m indoors I like to climb and swim. I also enjoy playing music with people (violin) and listening to all kinds of music. Cooking, baking, gardening, sewing… I probably have too many interests for my own good. Working towards improving access to quality education and health care is very important to me as well and I love teaching science!