Focus On Students With Mahima Venkatesh

Mahima Venkatesh, a Strongsville, Ohio, native and UC undergraduate alumna, recently completed her graduate degree within the UC Master’s of Public Health Program, which is housed in the Department of Environmental Health at the UC College of Medicine. During her time in the program, she collaborated with Debabrata Ghosh, MD, a physician scientist at the Cleveland Clinic, to conduct research on evaluating the safety and efficacy of botulinum toxin injections for the management of lower limb spasticity (tightness) in children. These findings were presented at a national conference—the 19th International Congress of Parkinson's Disease and Movement Disorders—this summer. Venkatesh started her first year as a medical student at the UC College of Medicine Aug. 3.  

Why did you choose to get your master’s in public health at UC? What was your concentration?

"I chose to get the MPH from UC because of the quality of the program. I was very interested in global health, and there were many opportunities. I also wanted to be able to complete the degree in one year. The program was very flexible, and the professors were very invested in teaching. I also had the opportunity to take classes through the business school and explore various parts of public health. My concentration was health services management.” 

What led you to Dr. Ghosh’s lab and the Cleveland Clinic? Can you explain the research you conducted there and presented at the meeting?

"During my sophomore year of undergrad, I met Dr. Ghosh. He was my father's friend and worked at the Cleveland Clinic in pediatric neurology. When I told my dad that I was interested in doing research in pediatrics, my dad connected me with Dr. Ghosh. During that summer, I did a research and an observership program within the Cleveland Clinic pediatric neurology department. We submitted to the IRB, and I completed the necessary training. Then, I spent the summer reviewing patient charts and compiling data. I have been working to analyze the data, and I completed most of the analysis during my time as an MPH student. The MPH courses helped me with biostats and analysis to complete the research and submit an abstract to the International Congress Parkinson’s Disease and Movement Disorders meeting held in San Diego in June. My abstract was accepted, and the MPH program funded my travel to present my research. The research was a clinical study reviewing pediatric patients with lower limb spasticity, or tightness/stiffness of the muscles. Dr. Ghosh gave these patients injections of botulinum toxin as a treatment. The neuromuscular blocking activity of the botulinum toxin has been utilized to treat muscle hyperactivity in dystonia or spasticity. Though proven to be useful for spasticity based on a few small studies, the Food and Drug Administration has not yet approved botulinum toxin in children for spasticity. The safety, efficacy and dosage of botulinum toxins have not been well established for the treatment of limb spasticity in children with cerebral palsy or for use in any condition in children less than 12 years of age. This is one of the largest studies of efficacy and safety of botolinum toxin for lower limb spasticity in children. The study showed significant effectiveness and no safety issues related to the injections. Over a period of five years, the 159 children in the study received 904 injections with botulinum toxin, and in only one case was there an occurrence of distant spread of the toxin. One patient was unable to tolerate more than a single dose of the drug due to weakening of the trunk muscles.”

Now that you are starting medical school, how do you think that the MPH training will tie into the field of medicine? How do you think that extra training will help you with your career? What specialty do you want to explore?

"I think that an MPH helps me understand the preventive side of medicine. Many times, physicians are only ‘reactive’ to diseases and illnesses, but public health physicians can also be ‘proactive’ to help prevent diseases and educate their patients. I am also interested in public health policy and global health issues. I believe I will be a better-rounded physician and will also be able to have a population-based focus instead of just individual-based. I would like to go into pediatrics in the future.”

You probably don’t have much spare time, but what do you like to do when you aren’t being a student? Hobbies? Any interesting facts about you? 

"In my spare time, I like traveling and trying different foods. I also enjoy dancing and learning different dance forms and volunteering at local agencies.”