Science in Action

Dr. Pastore was born and raised in San Salvador, El Salvador. She attended John F. Kennedy High School in Richmond, CA and obtained her B.S. degree in Biochemistry from San Francisco State University. Dr. Pastore obtained her Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin – Madison in the Endocrinology and Reproductive Physiology. She is currently an IRACDA- Postdoctoral Fellow at UC San Francisco where her research focuses on elucidating the development and progression of Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). NAFLD is characterized by accumulation of excess fat. Due to the increasing obesity rate in the U.S. we have also observed increased NAFLD prevalence. NAFLD can progress to steatohepatitis, cirrhosis or hepatocellularcarcinoma, which has a high mortality rate. The incidence of NAFLD in women after menopause increases from ~40% to ~60% of all diagnosed patients, suggesting that estrogen plays a role in protecting women from developing NALFD. Dr. Pastore is an avid gardener and long-distance runner, having completed several full and half-marathons in the last few years.

Nate Perry’s life has been full of transitions.  Starting with a bachelor’s degree in English, he spent ten years in the music industry, taught horticulture at a San Francisco non-profit, and is now making the leap to an advanced science degree.  He attended Skyline College from 2015-2016, and has worked in labs at UCSF and SFSU.  He will discuss the importance of networking, how to land a lab internship, and his current research with Dr. Zheng-Hui He (SFSU), in which he studies the role of UVB signaling and vitamin B6 in plant development.

Are you committed to addressing the health needs of your community? Learn about the ‘best kept secret’ in the health field – an area that encompasses science, culture, research, policy, advocacy, education, social media and much more – all with the overarching goal of helping people lead healthier lives! Also interested in medicine, nursing, dentistry or another health field? Learn about how getting an MPH will provide you with additional skills to be the best health professional you can be. Students with any undergraduate degree can be competitive applicants to graduate programs in public health; so all students are encouraged to attend. Come learn more about this amazing field at this special presentation by the D.R.E.A.M. Office from UC Berkeley's School of Public Health.

Egle Cekanaviciute, Ph.D., Stride Postdoctoral Fellow; UCSF
Topic: The connection between the microbiome and the development of autoimmune neurological disorders 

Jasmine To, former Skyline student, IND Safety Coordinator/Senior Regulatory Specialist; UCSF

Jasmine To attended Washington High School, then Skyline College for 3 years.   She then went on to Cal Poly and graduated in 2 years.  Her major was Animal Science, and she minored in Poultry Management.  She has been at UCSF since 2015, first starting in animal procurement. She will talk about how UCSF creates and has new drug candidates screened by the FDA.   She will also talk about the entry level position of Clinical Resource Coordinator.   If you are interested in drug discovery, med school, or wondering what you can do with your degree after college, this is the place to be.

Hector Gomez, B.S., Former Canada College student and UCSD Graduate; Current Research Assistant at Sandler Neurosciences Center; UCSF
Topic: Building the Brain, One Gene at a Time