Type Of Business:
Medical School
Expertise:
Dr. Park’s expertise is in the production of images for the examination of body morphology, magnetic resonance spectroscopy for biochemical analyses, enzyme production of high energy phosphate compounds, adenosine triphosphateand phosphocreatine required for muscle contraction, pathological and metabolic abnormalities in muscle diseases, and new therapies.
Major Product/SVS:
Higher Education for Medical Students, Clinical Residents, and Graduate Students, Scientific Research, Medical Student and Young Investigator Instruction, Clinical Investigations
Hobbies/Sports:
Reading History and Literature, Traveling, Attending Operas and Symphonies, Swimming, Walking
Education Degrees:
Ph.D. in Biochemistry, Washington University, St. Louis (1952); Bachelor's Degree in Chemistry and Biology, Washington University (1946)
Affiliations Awards:
Treasurer and Reviewer of the Journal of Biochemistry, Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology; American College of Rheumatology; American College of Sports Medicine; American Association for the Advancement of Science; American Chemical Society; Board Member, Reviewing Panels, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD; International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine
Industry:
Science Education
Date of Distinction:
9/4/2009
What has been the most outstanding thing you have done thus far in your career?:
Dr. Park's greatest career achievement thus far has been her contribution to the coordination of basic biochemical findings in muscle contraction and physical activities to the possible treatment of serious muscle diseases, which can be very incapacitating and life-changing.
How would you like to be remembered by your peers?:
Dr. Park would like to be remembered by her peers as a person truly interested in basic science and clinical applications for muscle diseases.
If you could solve one problem in the world today, what would it be?:
Dr. Park would like to solve the problems of peace and promote harmony in the world.
Expanded Biography:
In high school, Dr. Park’s father told her that she should take physics and mathematics because he thought women should learn to think accurately. He pointed out the happy state of her teachers, and he believed she could be an educator. In college at Washington University she was lucky to be the laboratory assistant for a brilliant refugee from Germany, Dr. Hamburger. He was engrossed in his embryological investigations but also had a real talent for excellent lectures and discussions with students. Dr. Park’s father was right—she would enjoy such a life. In her predoctoral studies, she worked in the laboratory of Drs. Carl and Gerty Cori, two Nobel Prize winners. This couple believed that clinical medicine would advance through basic biochemistry studies which could then be translated into medical treatments. They turned out to be quite accurate as a large number of medical diseases are basically due to biochemical defects and treatable. This laboratory had a wonderful set of young investigators, who all felt the inspiration of the leading couple. In these years still at Washington University, she was really fortunate to work on an enzyme, glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase, which was prepared from rabbit muscle. This enzyme produced high energy phosphate compounds required for running and muscle function. Over the years they collaboratively worked on the chemical mechanisms for energy production, and with time moved to more advanced instrumentation, including electron paramagnetic resonance. Finally, the team had the opportunity to use magnetic resonance machines, the MRI, and headed toward clinical studies of muscle diseases. During all these years, their results from many experiments were published in scientific and clinical journals and also reported at national and international meetings.
Throughout the duration of your career, what was the one highlight that stood out the most?:
The most outstanding accomplishment in her career has been the coordination of basic biochemical findings in muscle contraction and physical activities to the possible treatment of serious muscle diseases which can be very incapacitating and life-changing.
Charity:
Medical School Research Programs, Vanderbilt University; Arthritis Society; Muscular Dystrophy Association; Scleroderma Society; Habitat for Humanity; New York Metropolitan Museum; Nashville Symphony Orchestra; Frist Center for the Visual Arts, Nashville, TN
Number Of Years In Profession:
56
Number Of Years In Current Position:
54
What Does He/She Attribute Success To:
She attributes her success to her enthusiasm for her academic profession and the support she receives from the university, scientific collaborators and her family.
Why did you become involved in your profession or industry?:
She became involved in her profession because her father encouraged her to take physics and mathematics as he felt women should learn to think accurately. While in high school, her science teachers reinforced these ideas with their interesting class work.
Extended Bio Profile:
Dr. Park began working with crystals and enzymes that produce high-energy phosphates for muscles and then promoted advanced research to a place where muscle diseases were studied with MRI, spectroscopy and electron paramagnetic resonance procedures. Dr. Park has also served on Boards and Reviewing Panels at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, MD. Dr. Park had worked on numerous occasions and on several projects with her husband, Charles R. Park, who had served as chairman of the Physiology Department. She is the proud mother of Professor of Pharmacology, Dr. Edwards A. Park. His loving wife, Vicki, serves as professor of pediatrics. Dr. Park is also the grandmother of two grandchildren named Ellen Amanda and Rebecca Jane.
Position Responsibilities and Duties:
Attending and Conducting Local Seminars, Researching Muscle Metabolism, Rendering Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Teaching Biochemistry, Researching in the Laboratory, Conducting Seminars, Reading Journals, Writing Results for Publication in Books or Journals, Attending Meetings Domestically and Internationally