Jason T. Yustein, MD, PhD is Professor and Director of the Solid Tumor Translational Research Program in the Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center in the Department of Pediatrics at Emory University School of Medicine. He is a member of the Discovery and Developmental Therapeutics Research Program at the Winship Cancer Institute and member of the Cancer Biology and Genetics and Molecular Biology Programs in the Graduate Division of Biological and Biomedical Sciences at Emory University.
Dr. Yustein earned his MD and his PhD in molecular biology and microbiology from Case Western Reserve University. He completed his residency in pediatrics at Johns Hopkins University and his clinical fellowship in pediatric hematology and oncology at Johns Hopkins University and the National Institute of Health. Prior to arriving at Emory in 2022, Dr. Yustein was a faculty member at Texas Children’s Cancer Center and the Baylor College of Medicine. He was an active member of the Cancer and Cell Biology Curriculum Committee and the BCM MSTP Admissions Committee. He was also an Associate Director for Education and Career Enhancement for the Dan L. Duncan Comprehensive Cancer Center. During his career Dr. Yustein has mentored numerous undergraduate and graduate students, post-doctoral and clinical fellows, and junior faculty members.
Dr. Yustein's laboratory integrates innovative novel murine models and patient-derived resources towards garnering molecular insights into sarcoma initiation and development along with mechanisms of therapeutic resistance and metastatic progression and translating these findings towards testing novel therapeutic interventions for these aggressive malignancies. His research has led to the development of clinical trials for the treatment of high-risk sarcomas. Besides being supported by numerous foundation grants, his research is actively being supported by the NIH/NCI. He has published over 80 original manuscripts, review articles and book chapters.
Joanna Bonsall, MD, PhD is an Associate Professor of Medicine in the Division of Hospital Medicine. She completed her undergraduate training at Emory University, and her medical training and graduate training at Emory University School of Medicine. She completed her Internal Medicine residency at Emory University and was hired as a hospitalist at Emory University Hospital Midtown in 2009, before transferring to Grady Memorial Hospital in 2017 where she is now Chief of Hospital Medicine.
Dr. Bonsall has a strong interest in medical education at all levels, from medical students to faculty, and has served on multiple committees and task forces for undergraduate and graduate education. She began her post-graduate involvement with the MD/PhD program in 2010 when she created a Clinical Refresher course, designed for MD/PhD students re-entering their clinical years. Since then, she has continued to expand her role in mentoring and supporting MD/PhD students, with a focus on with their clinical training. She completed a Masters in Health Professions Education at the MGH Institute of Health Professions in 2022 and has developed a particular interest in the integration of research and clinical training.
Dr. Faundez is a physician-scientist and professor in the Department of Cell Biology. He earned his MD and PhD in Biological Sciences at the Catholic University of Chile and completed postdoctoral training in Biochemistry and Biophysics at the University of California, San Francisco. He has been at Emory since 2000 and during his tenure he has been Director of Graduate Studies for the Neuroscience graduate program and he is presently the Vice Chair for the Department of Cell Biology. His research interests focus on neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative disorders, including Rett syndrome, 22q11.2 microdeletion, Menkes disease, and manganese-related neurotoxicity that has led to almost 130 publications.
During his academic career he has been recognized for his dedication to teaching and mentoring through numerous awards including twice the Emory School of Medicine Dean’s Teaching Award, Phi Beta Kappa Excellence in Teaching Award, the Graduates in Neuroscience Faculty of the Year Award (2019), and the Exemplary Lecturer of the Year Award in Neuroscience (2020). In 2025 he became an HHMI Gilliam Fellow Mentor, which recognizes his impactful scientific research while also fostering an inclusive training environment.
Mentorship is a true passion for Dr. Faundez. He has directly supervised 13 PhD students who have earned competitive federal fellowships and awards, and 16 post-doctoral fellows who have advanced into leadership roles in academia and industry. In addition, he has served on approximately 140 PhD thesis committees, reflecting a sustained, institution-wide commitment to mentorship.
Cheryl L. Maier, MD, PhD is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine and the Director of the Special Coagulation Laboratory within Emory Medical Laboratories. She is a member of the Center for Transfusion and Cellular Therapies, where she serves as both an Attending Physician in Transfusion Medicine and Staff Pathologist in Coagulation and Hemostasis.
Dr. Maier completed her undergraduate degrees in microbiology and classics at the University of Georgia, then joined the MSTP at Yale University School of Medicine. There she earned an MD and PhD in immunobiology, before returning to Georgia for Clinical Pathology Residency at Emory. As part of Emory’s Pathology Research Track program, she completed a combined clinical/research fellowship in Transfusion Medicine and successfully competed for an NIH/NHLBI K99/R00. She joined Emory’s faculty in early 2020 and now serves as Co-Director for the Pathology Research Track training program.
Dr. Maier’s research focuses on understanding diseases at the interface of the immune and hemostatic systems. Her laboratory investigates mechanisms (and mitigators) of thromboinflammation associated with a number of conditions, including acute viral infection, sepsis, stroke, obstetrical complications, and malignancy. Her research activities span from basic science wet-lab investigations to translational projects and clinical trials. Dr. Maier is delighted to participate as an Associate Director for Emory’s MSTP and finds leading the M1/M2 Journal Club to be the highlight of her week.
Dr. Quiñones focuses on program administration and student development. She has directed research-intensive programs for undergraduate and postbaccalaureate students, with an emphasis on developing content that furthers professional skill development. She works with all the co-directors to track student progress and along with our office staff, oversees admissions, program activities and student support.
Shelby Smith
Senior Program Coordinator
Ms. Smith has almost 20 years of experience working in higher education, providing program management and learner support at various levels. She coordinates all program scheduling and planning needed for recruitment, student activities and our annual retreat and works with Dr. Quiñones on various administrative tasks. She works closely with student leadership and manages our operating budget.
Enzo Cianelli
Financial Analyst
Enzo Cianelli is an economist and Emory University Alumni who now uses his knowledge and expertise to assist and collaborate predominately with the MD/PhD program’s Director and Senior Program Coordinator in all financial aspects of the program. Some of his work includes overseeing the monthly payroll of our students, budget and posting of Financial Aid, and administration of various grants and awards such as our program’s MSTP T32, F30/31s, etc. When he’s not at the School of Medicine, he still serves the Emory community as one of Emory’s Men’s Ultimate Frisbee coaches with his 13+ years of experience in the sport.
