Impact

Cody Stothers

Cody Stothers was born in a prison hospital just shy of Christmas day. “I was born on December 23, so I actually was brought home in a stocking because that is the only thing she had to keep me warm,” said Stothers.

Stothers is talking about his grandma Francis Taylor, the woman who raised him like a son while on disability and needing government assistance. “She was always just incredibly supportive,” said Stothers. “One thing that my grandma, who I call mom, told me was to get an education, but do what you want to do. Be successful, but do what you want, and so I think that was inspiration to keep doing both medicine and research and try to find a way to make them both work together.”

While a junior in high school, Cody was selected to participate in the first Aspirnaut™ summer research program in 2009. He was a rising senior at Sheridan High School in rural Sheridan, Arkansas. Cody would ultimately participate in multiple years of research and serve as a resident counselor to other high school research interns.

The year before recruiting Cody, Dr. Billy Hudson, who faced hardships in his own life, returned to the tiny community of Grapevine, near Sheridan, Arkansas, where he grew up in the 1940s and 50s. “I had set out to find a boy or girl in need and to help with his or her education, just like I had been helped,” said Hudson. “We found Cody.”

Research wasn’t on Stothers’ radar before Aspirnaut™, but neither was applying to Vanderbilt University for college the following year. Stothers received a full-ride scholarship to the undergraduate program at Vanderbilt– receiving a dual degree in Molecular Biology and Philosophy. He also accepted a merit-based full-ride scholarship for the M.D./Ph.D. program at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine and graduated in 2022. He will complete his residency at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center in emergency medicine.

Along the way, Cody met Caley. “She is one of the smartest people I have met in my whole entire life,” said Stothers. “We met on the debate team.” Caley effortlessly juggled three majors from Vanderbilt University and pursued a career as an actuary for Cigna.

“Cody is extremely observant and has a very caring ethos,” said Caley, Cody’s wife. “It is really crazy to think that just because someone saw something in this one person in a very small town in Arkansas, he found this love of research, he found this love of medicine, and he found a love of me because I was in the right place at the right time,” said Caley. “If you trace it back to its source, a lot of it is due to the Aspirnaut™ program getting him started on that path.”

Amy Rushing

Growing up in rural Arkansas, Amy Rushing did not imagine that her pathway to medical school would take her to Yale University School of Medicine. She could hardly believe it when the email notification came through. “When I saw ‘Congratulations!’ I was taken aback, and I read through the email twice.  I still wasn’t sure it was real, so I logged onto my Yale application portal and confirmed I had really been accepted.  I called my mom, and as soon as I said the words out loud, I started sobbing.  It is a dream come true to get into my top choice program, and it’s impossible to describe how excited I am.”

Her high school did not offer many advanced STEM courses. But the lack of resources and opportunity didn’t deter Amy. On the contrary, it fueled her passion for a quality education. Although resources were scarce, Amy had the support of her mom and her science teacher, Mrs. Amanda Jones, who encouraged her to apply to the Aspirnaut™ program in Nashville in 2013.  Amy took the opportunity Aspirnaut™ was offering and never looked back.

Her summer experience created a seismic shift in her education and career journey. Amy learned what conducting research meant in Dr. Ela Knapik’s genetic research lab. And she decided to apply to Vanderbilt University.

“At the end of my first summer, Dr. Billy Hudson stood by me on the last night and said, ‘I want you to come back next year.’ I replied, ‘Yeah, I’ll think about coming back to Aspirnaut™ next summer.’  He looked at me and said, ‘No. I want you to come back in the fall.’  When I realized he was telling me to apply to Vanderbilt, that I had a shot of getting in, I decided to go for it.  That conversation changed my life.”

Amy had numerous hurdles to overcome after her acceptance to Vanderbilt in 2014.  Her original plan was to double major in biology and psychology. She decided to switch to biomedical engineering after her freshman year.  Amy had an extremely demanding course load her 2^nd semester of sophomore year.

Amy turned to Dr. Julie Hudson for some advice after realizing she was failing Physics II.  “I called Julie, and I was terrified to tell her I was failing and didn’t know what to do. Many people had invested so much in me, and I felt like I was letting them all down. Julie didn’t make me feel like I was a failure for struggling. She asked if it were possible to finish the semester with a ‘C’, and I said yes. We went over the steps it would take to help me pass. And I did—barely. Julie told me to shake it off and do better in higher level physics courses.” And, she did.

Throughout the summers, Amy continued to participate in Aspirnaut™ as an undergraduate and continued her work in Dr. Knapik’s research lab.  Along the way, Amy decided to pursue a dual M.D./Ph.D. degree. She thrived on clinical care and basic science research. She took two gap years to prepare for medical and graduate school while working as a research assistant. “By taking two gap years, I had time to dive deeper into my project and truly think for myself. Plus, I worked in the same lab for a total of six years and was able to build enough trust with the lab to push a project along myself. My gap time built my confidence in science, gave me the chance to develop my scientific writing abilities, and allowed me to ground myself outside of a classroom before starting my next step.”

Her hard work paid off.  Amy Rushing was accepted into the M.D./Ph.D. program at Yale School of Medicine, where she is in her second year.

Amy aspires to be a physician-scientist, spending most of her time conducting research. At this point, she is unsure of what field of medicine but is excited to start her training to find her big scientific question.

Tyrone Gamble

Tyrone Gamble grew up in Helena, Arkansas, a small rural town located in southeastern Arkansas with a population of roughly 12,000 people. He knew from a young age he wanted to make something of himself, but his path was not always easy. “Growing up without my biological father in my life, I had to adjust socially and emotionally to his absence. Helena is often known for its high crime rates, poverty, and low educational attainment, but it has a lot of great untapped potential, especially in the younger generations.”

Tyrone attended KIPP Delta Collegiate High School and graduated as valedictorian of the Class of 2016. “I heard about Aspirnaut™ through my high school counselor, at the time, Amy Charpentier. She told me about all the great things that Aspirnaut™ was doing and the experiences of two former students from my school who had previously attended. I was ultimately sold on the opportunity to do research, something that I previously had not considered.”

Through his summer experience, Tyrone became more motivated and learned that not all paths to success are the same. “Aspirnaut™ opened my eyes to endless possibilities. Through the Distinguished Speaker sessions, I met a variety of individuals from different career paths. What I liked most about each person was that they each had a unique story about their life’s journey and how their path was not always linear.”

After his high school graduation, Tyron decided to attend Hendrix College and major in health science.  “I did not have as much of a science background as some of my peers, so I had to adjust to the pace. Luckily, I had a great advisor and support system that enabled me to succeed and do well in my studies. Also, the Aspirnaut™ program gave me a head start when it came to lab experiments.”

Motivated by the guidance he received during his internship with Aspirnaut™, Tyrone wanted to give back and help others achieve success. “My proudest contribution to science would have to be me being a mentor for the Increasing Retention and Inclusion in STEM (IRIS) program at Hendrix. Being a mentor taught me what it truly means to pay it forward, which was instilled in me during the Aspirnaut™ program. I love helping people realize their potential and reach their goals, especially younger people interested in STEM.”

Tyrone graduated from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences with a masters in public health in epidemiology.

And then? “The Aspirnaut™ program also made me fall in love with the kidney. My ultimate goal is to become a nephrologist, serving rural communities like my hometown of Helena, where there are few options for accessible, quality renal care. Continuing my education will enhance my career as a nephrologist by providing the necessary background and training to promote preventive care and help target populations suffering from kidney disease and other illnesses to adopt healthy lifestyles.”

Esther Huffman

When Esther Huffman was three years old, police broke down the door to her childhood home, raided the residence, and removed her and her eight siblings. The children, ranging in age from infant to middle school, never saw a doctor or attended school. When evidence of physical and sexual abuse of her older siblings was found, Esther’s biological father received a life sentence plus eighty years in prison. “It’s not something my family talks about. I know what my older siblings have told me, and I don’t need to know more.”

After being placed in foster care, the children were sent to different homes. “I was in foster care from when I was three years old until I got adopted at the age of six.  We were all split up in the foster care system because nobody could house all the siblings together.  I remember moving from house to house, sometimes being with one or two of my siblings. I went to so many houses, so many schools. It was a really confusing time in my life.”

As bad as things seemed, they got even worse. One specific incident while in a foster home ended with a visit to the emergency room. “I remember going to Walmart and ‘A Bug’s Life’ was the new movie that was out that year, and I wanted some ‘Bug’s Life’ stickers, so I just took them and put them in my coat pocket.  At the time, I don’t remember knowing that wasn’t right.  I just didn’t have adults in my life  to teach me; I didn’t have that kind of structure.” When Esther’s foster parent found out what she had done, he was furious. “He dragged me up the stairs to my room and threw me against the wall and broke my collar bone. I was still just so young; I didn’t understand what was happening.  I was crying and couldn’t lift my arm.” When the ER doctors asked what happened, Esther didn’t say anything, and her foster parent said she had fallen down the stairs.

After three long years of foster care, Esther and her siblings finally found the love that would change their lives forever. When Esther was six, she and her seven siblings were adopted into a loving home. Her new parents had a total of 15 kids, with nine living in the house at the time. “I then had a very different kind of upbringing.”

Esther’s adoptive parents valued education and were involved in all the children’s activities. When an opportunity to be involved with Aspirnaut™ was presented, Esther was excited to try something new. “For me, it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that I otherwise would not have had. My career, education, and future were always felt to be very important. My parents taught me to have a strong work ethic. I know they wanted me to create a better life and future for myself.”

Aspirnaut™ had a significant impact on Esther’s life and was the first time she had any experiences outside her hometown of 165 people. “I was exposed to the idea of bigger cities, opportunities, and endless possibilities. I built good friendships. I learned a lot not only in the classroom, but about life, and it’s an experience I love to share with others.” Esther explored career options and, in addition to work in the lab, she was connected to people within the journalism department.

Ultimately, Esther focused her educational efforts on graphic design. “I fell in love with the clean, elegant lines I was able to create.” Her drive and passion for design propelled her to start her own business, Esther Huffman Design, LLC. These days she finds herself designing various companies’ websites, working on political campaigns, and chasing a two-year old around the house.

So, what does the future hold?  Esther’s goals are simple. “Moving forward, my husband and I will have another child soon. Family is huge.” The business is growing, opportunities are all around, and Esther appreciates those that helped her along her journey. “I am forever grateful that the Hudsons allowed my family to join this program. It really helped direct the trajectory of my life.”

And, when we needed a redesign of our website, we hired Esther. Embedded in every page is heart. We think it is spectacular and hope that you do too.

Isi Ero-Tolliver, Ph.D.

Isi Ero-Tolliver, Ph.D., grew up the oldest of five children of a single mom, who is Nigerian. At a very young age, she and her family lived for years in low-income, government housing in Mississippi. In her neighborhood of high crime and violence, she and her family did the best they could until they were able to move to something better.

She was born in Jackson, Mississippi and then her family moved to Nigeria when she was three years old and stayed until she was nine.  Isi was in elementary school when the family moved back to Jackson.  “It took some time to adjust when we returned from Nigeria. I had a hard time understanding people’s accents.” Despite the initial barrier, Isi realized the quality of education and wanted to learn to help herself and assist some of her friends.  “My family is full of teachers and educators, so it came naturally.  I liked teaching others what I was learning and this helped solidify my learning of concepts because, through this process, it helped me identify voids in my knowledge  when I couldn’t explain and it meant I needed to go learn some more.”

As Isi moved through her undergraduate studies, she felt a sense of belonging and was encouraged by having a supportive community at Jackson State University. “I felt like I could be successful despite my initial lack of research experiences. I was intrigued by science during my first internship, where I was able to work on novel research. Nobody had the answers to the questions I was working on and this was very exciting to me.” Dr. Ero-Tolliver earned a B.S. in Biology at Jackson State University under the research mentorship of Dr. Huey-Min Hwang and completed her M.S. there as well under the research mentorship of Dr. Ernest Izevbigie. Her thesis research was conducted in the Life Sciences Division at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory under the mentorship of Dr.Priscilla Cooper and Dr. Eric Campeau.

Isi dreamed of becoming a research scientist and a teacher. She was accepted into the Ph.D. program in Biological Sciences as a direct admit at Vanderbilt University. At the time, she and her husband had four children under the age of 5. “It wasn’t easy; I had so many challenges to overcome during the first year. I knew I wasn’t getting the training I needed, but nobody really knew about it. I was so stressed and scared, but I knew failure was not an option.” The turning point occurred when Isi did not pass her first qualifying exam during her third year. “I knew I never wanted to feel like that again, so I reached out to some people who could help and many did help me.” That is when she met Dr. Billy Hudson, Professor of Medicine.

“He gave me an opportunity and was a person with whom I could talk through my past struggles. He reminded me how to smile again.” Isi joined his laboratory for her dissertation under the mentorship of Dr.Billy Hudson and Dr. Gautam Bhave. “I felt like I was part of a community again. Dr. Hudson will believe in you until you believe in yourself. It was an environment where anybody could grow and everybody did grow.”

Isi made major contributions to discoveries about the molecular glue (the sulfilimine bond) that holds collagen IV molecules together and directs cell behavior in tissues and organs. She earned a Ph.D. degree in Interdisciplinary Studies in Biological Sciences and Science Education and was awarded an NIH postdoctoral fellowship to further explore her discoveries. Her work was published in several top-tier scientific journals. In parallel with dissertation research, Isi served as a science educator for the Aspirnaut summer research program.  She taught chemistry to high school interns, mentored both high school and undergraduate students in biological experimentation, and served as an inspirational role model.

In 2015, armed with a Ph.D. degree and exceptional success in both research and mentoring of students, Isi was appointed to the position of  Assistant Professor of Biological Sciences at the prestigious Hampton University. In 2018, the Pentagon awarded Hampton University a 4-million-dollar grant to enhance research and strengthen STEM educational programs. She also serves as co-PI of the DoD Center of Excellence in STEM scholars program. “We are in our 3rd year in supporting students from different STEM majors in their training. It’s exciting to see their maturity as they engage in our unique learning environment.”  Isi, now a single mom, was promoted to Associate Professor, and in 2020, was named Interim Dean of the School of Science at Hampton University.

It’s no wonder Dr. Ero-Tolliver was named by Cell Mentor as one of the top 1000 Inspiring Black scientists in America in 2020. “I don’t feel more deserving than other scientists. I just feel the need to give back and influence the next generation.” And Dr. Isi Ero-Tolliver is doing just that. She created an outreach tutoring program within the Organization of Black Graduate and Professional Students (OBGAPS) at Vanderbilt University, and as the Dean, her focus is to build a great foundation for scientists in training.  “We are working together for our common goal to keep Hampton University one of the top HBCUs in the nation to produce the best and brightest students.”

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