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 Dr. Kathy Svoboda, professor of biomedical sciences at
Baylor College of Dentistry, is the new president-elect of the American Association of Anatomists. Her two-year term will begin in April, followed by a two-year term as president and
another two-year term as past president.
Svoboda, a BCD employee for nearly five years, recently was appointed associate editor of Anatomical Record. In addition, she was appointed to the editorial board of Developmental Dynamics. She makes her home with
Shane Hartman, her soul mate and partner in life for 14 years.
Pets: Three Maine Coon cats named Princess, Lt. Com. Worf and Gowron
Hometown: Hershey, Neb.
Place I'd like to live/retire: An island with a wonderful reef
Role models: Drs. Mina Bissell, Marilyn Farquhar, Elaine Fuchs, Marion (Emmy) Gordon, Elizabeth D. Hay, Mary Hendrix, Sandra Masur, Mina Mina, Lynne
Opperman, K Sue O'Shea, Vickery Trinkaus-Randall and Zena Werb are all excellent scientists. They also have international reputations for integrity, honesty and standing up for their convictions.
Personal motto: "To thine own self be true" (Shakespeare) or carpe diem – Seize the day!
Best thing about my job or BCD: I enjoy working with the students and seeing them succeed.
Career highlight: Having my images on the cover of a national journal
If I wasn't at BCD, I'd …: be somewhere else warm. I love giving up winter and having daffodils blooming in February – instead of shoveling snow.
Life philosophy: Set goals ... long-term goals for overall direction and short-term goals that help achieve the long-term goals. Once a goal is achieved, celebrate and reset the goals.
Pet peeves: Experiments that don't work due to technical problems
Favorite vacation destination: Scuba diving in the South Pacific
Dream car: Red convertible sports car – I have two, a 62 XKE and a 02 CLK 430.
Favorite hobby: Underwater photography – it's a magical and peaceful world.
Word that best describes me: Determined
Something you might not know about me: I have six step-children, nine grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Top three passions: Kitties, friends and scuba diving
What my colleagues say about me: "Kathy is an excellent biomedical scientist who has maintained independent, funded research programs on extracellular matrix biology
and signal transduction for the past 20 years," said Dr. David Carlson, Regents professor and chair of biomedical sciences and associate dean for research and
advanced education. "Not only is she an excellent scientist, Kathy is a mainstay of the graduate program in biomedical sciences and is director of the Cell-Molecular Biology Core Facility.
"Her activities with the American Association of Anatomists over the past several years and now her position as associate editor of the Anatomical Record indicate the esteem
in which she is held by scientific colleagues and provide significant prominence to the research and training programs in the Department of Biomedical Sciences," he
continued. "We are very fortunate to have Dr. Kathy Svoboda on the faculty of Baylor College of Dentistry."
Dr. Bob Hinton, associate professor of biomedical sciences, agreed. "Kathy is a cornerstone for the research efforts of the department. With her extensive and
longstanding track record in publishing and extramural funding, she has been invaluable as a role model for our young faculty and in the management of our core cellular/molecular biology laboratory," he explained.
"Kathy also is a team player, authoring and obtaining funding for several NIH equipment grants that enrich the research of all faculty, not just her own research,"
Hinton said. "She is demanding with students, but she's also patient and caring about their development as scientists and as people."
Dr. Lynne Opperman, assistant professor of biomedical sciences, respects Svoboda as well. "Kath is a very generous person and sets an excellent example of how to
mentor both students and fellow faculty," Opperman said. "She is goal-oriented and puts a lot of energy into everything she tackles, including recreational activities. Kath has
a good sense of fun, and I enjoy being around her because there is never a dull moment with her around."
Hinton added, "Kathy is passionate about science, but also about her cats. One look in her office hints at the TLC that she lavishes on them. And most important of all, Kathy has a great lake house for parties!"
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