Saluda (Abby) Stapleton

I was born and raised in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. Having scientifically trained parents and attending a small high school that valued experiential learning gave me the freedom to explore and develop a passion for scientific discovery at an early age. Physician mentors guided my path toward medicine and the opportunity to attend an event with Francis Collins, who grew up thirty minutes from my hometown, introduced the idea of pairing a career in clinical practice with scientific research that would allow me to directly impact patient healing while also being a part of medical innovation.

An interest in the biological sciences and a future in a fast-paced career that would require lifelong learning originally drew me to medicine, and my drive to understand the intricate systems of the human body was satisfied in the research laboratory.  I began clinically relevant research in the laboratory of Dr. Ray Enke at James Madison University during my sophomore year of high school. My first project investigated the role of methylation in the developing chicken retina which allowed me to explore bioinformatics and learn advanced molecular laboratory techniques.  I then served as a research assistant on an NIH-funded project that focused on isolating the role of hydroxymethylation in the process of demethylation within retinal tissue with a goal of understanding the role of epigenetic processes in macular degeneration. At Furman University, I began my undergraduate research in the lab of Dr. Linnea Freeman in the Department of Biology to study the effects of sex, diet, and antibiotics on body weight, gut microbiota composition, and circulating hormone levels. Upon declaring my Chemistry Major, I joined the lab of Dr. Meghan Breen in the Department of Chemistry working to elucidate the mechanism of fluconazole resistance in the human pathogenic yeast species Candida glabrata. My continued defining of my future career path led me to determine that my life goal is to leave a positive legacy by combining my passions for medicine and research in clinical treatment of patients and engagement in translational research that advances medical knowledge and practices.

While I find great joy in the hours I spend learning in the classroom and laboratory, I do enjoy some other outside interests. You can often find me competing in a game of volleyball or pickleball, enjoying a Pilates class, grabbing a meal with friends and family, or spending time with my two cats, Ziva and Zahra. I am grateful for the chance to be a part of the UA COM-T MSTP family and look forward to my continued training in this program.