Karna Sura
3024 West Queen Lane, Apartment A2B ▪ Philadelphia, PA 19129
Phone: (410) 428-2696 ▪ Email: Kts26@drexel.edu ▪ AAMC ID# 12814149
EDUCATION
M.D. Drexel University College of Medicine, May 2013 (anticipated)
Philadelphia, PA
B.S.
Biological Sciences
Drexel University, May 2009
Philadelphia, PA
HONORS & AWARDS
Clerkship Honors - Pediatrics, Radiation Oncology, Medicine, Family Medicine
Medical Humanities Scholar, 2009-2013
Bachelor of Science: Magna Cum Laude (GPA 3.81), 2009
EXAMINATIONS
USMLE Step 1
USMLE Step 2 CS
USMLE Step 2 CK
June 2011/Passed
July 2012/Passed
August 2012/Passed
WORK EXPERIENCE
Test Weapon
Philadelphia, PA
August 2011-Present
Job Title: Question Writer
Description: Wrote over 200 questions for a new question bank. Included questions for USMLE
Step 1 mostly focused on cancer.
Pendragon Entertainment
Philadelphia, PA
January 2011 - Present
Job Title: Owner
Description: Published self-help books and medically-relevant cell phone (Android, Apple iOS,
Blackberry) applications. Sold over 500 books and 500 Android applications currently.
Drexel University College of Medicine
DUCOM, Philadelphia, PA
May 2010 - June 2011
Job Title: Technical researcher for Office of Student Affairs
Description: Worked improve multiple websites on the Drexelmed server. Learned and
implemented new languages such as PHP and Flash to create a modern website.
Bridge to ReBIO
University of Penn, Philadelphia, PA
Job Title: Mentor
August 2008 - March 2011
Description: Helped Philadelphia high school students work on college-level science projects for
the high school science fair. Included projects such as disinfectants on transformed E. coli with
GFP and phenol on fruit flies. Managed 4 students project each year over 3 years.
RESEARCH EXPERIENCE
Comparison of Clinical Outcomes for Operable Stage III NSCLC treated on Phase II
Trimodality Protocol with Out-of-Protocol Patients/Results of Intensity Modulated
Radiation Therapy for Extranodal Lymphoma of the Head and Neck: A report of 14 cases
Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia,PA
September 2012 - Present
Preceptor: Dr. Aruna Turaka, Radiation Oncology
Description: Updated multiple studies on comparing patients treated off- and on-protocol using
trimodality therapy for lung cancer as well as IMRT for extranodal lymphoma of the head and
neck. Re-analyzed and wrote these studies for publication.
Comparison of quality of life to toxicities after receiving radiation therapy for breast
cancer
University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia,PA
August 2012 - Present
Preceptor: Dr. Gary Freedman, Radiation Oncology
Description: Worked on constructing a database of patients with quality of life surveys and
demographics. Analyzed these patients for significant correlation between toxicities and quality
of life to suggest improvement on radiation methods.
Re-irradiation using the Cyberknife for multiple sites
DUCOM, Philadelphia, PA
May 2012 - Present
Preceptor: Dr. Luther Brady, Radiation Oncology
Description: Analyzed patients who were re-irradiated at the same site of previous treatment
using the Cyberknife to determine outcome and toxicities related to treatment.
Mucositis prevention in head and neck/accelerated partial breast irradiation/choroidal
metastasis from breast cancer
DUCOM, Philadelphia, PA
March 2012 - Present
Preceptor: Dr. Lydia Komarnicky and Dr. Jaganmohan Poli, Radiation Oncology
Description: Retrospective reviewed charts for multiple projects that included mucositis
prevention in head and neck cancer, accelerated partial breast irradiation, choroidal metastasis
from breast cancer.
Effect of environment on the properties of neural precursor transplants in the CNS
DUCOM, Philadelphia, PA
June 2010 - August 2010
Preceptor: Dr. Itzack Fischer, Neurobiology & Anatomy
Description: Worked on analyzing brain and spinal cord tissue with transplanted neural
precursors to determine migration and differentiation pattern in vivo. Used immunofluorescence
stains for specific markers and then analyzed using microscopy. Wrote the entire poster as well
as results section of the paper.
Analysis of Disease Progression and Severity in the Tsk2 Mouse Model of Scleroderma
DUCOM, Philadelphia, PA
October 2008 - December 2010
Preceptor: Dr. Elizabeth Blankenhorn, Microbiology & Immunology
Description: Developed multiple protocols to further characterize a mouse model of scleroderma,
including western blot to analyze anti-nuclear antibodies and hydroxyproline assay to determine
amount of collagen. Worked on optimizing each protocol to differentiate scleroderma versus
wild mice.
Determination of an in vitro correlate of in vivo wound healing
DUCOM, Philadelphia, PA
June 2008 - September 2008
Preceptor: Dr. Elizabeth Blankenhorn, Microbiology & Immunology
Description: Developed a technique to extract fibroblasts from mice ear pieces and then using
scratch assays to analyze healing potential.
Development of an Alternative to the Chromium Release Natural Killer Cell Cytotoxicity
Assay Using a Florescent Dye
Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA
September 2007 - May 2009
Preceptor: Dr. Barry Ritz, Biological Sciences
Description: Developed a new technique to use florescent dyes to determine natural killer cell
cytotoxicity. Involved a new green technique that decreased the use of radioactive substances in
the lab.
Molecular Characterization of Bone Marrow Derived CD34+ Stem Cells and Their
Differentiation Potential
VA Hospital, Baltimore, MD
June 2007 - September 2007
Preceptor: Dr. Tapas Makar, Neurology
Description: Characterized a new stem cell line after discovering a novel differentiation
technique using protein analysis, flow cytometry, and mRNA analysis. Researched and
developed the method of characterization alone.
Brain derived neurotrophic factor treatment reduces inflammation and apoptosis in
experimental allergic encephalomyelitis / Stem cell based delivery of IFN-B reduces
relapses in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis
University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD
January 2006 - October 2006
Preceptor: Dr. Tapas Makar, Neurology
Description: Analyzed samples from mice model of multiple sclerosis using protein analysis
using ELISA, flow cytometry, and histology. Wrote parts of the results and discussion section
for all three papers.
PUBLICATIONS
▪ J. Ying, K. Sura, I. Fischer (2012) Differential Effects of Distinct CNS Regions on Cell
Migration and Axonal Extension of Neural Precursor Transplants. Journal of Neuroscience
Research. Epub ahead of print.
▪ A. Sethi and K. Sura (2010) Unofficial Guide to Accelerated, Combined, BA/MD, and BS/MD
programs. CreateSpace.
▪ T.K Makar, C.T. Bever, I.S. Singh, W. Royal, S.N. Sahu, T.P. Sura, S. Sultana, K.T. Sura, N.
Patel, S. Dhib-Jalbut, D. Trisler (2009) Brain-derived neurotrophic factor gene delivery in an
animal model of multiple sclerosis using bone marrow stem cells as a vehicle. J. Neuroimmunol.
210, 40-51.
▪ T. K. Makar, D. Trisler, K. T. Sura, S. Sultana, N. Patel, C. T. Bever (2008) Brain derived
neurotrophic factor treatment reduces inflammation and apoptosis in experimental allergic
encephalomyelitis. J. Neurol Sci. 270,70-76.
▪ T. K. Makar, D. Trisler, C. T. Bever, J. E. Goolsby, K. T. Sura, S. Balasubramanian, S.
Sultana, N. Patel, D. Ford, I.S. Singh, A. Gupta, R. M. Valenzuela, S. Dhib-Jalbut (2008) Stem
cell based delivery of IFN-B reduces relapses in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis J.
Neuroimmunol 196, 67-81.
▪ K. Sura (2008) Stem Cells: The Totipotent Truth. The 33rd: Drexel Publishing.
PRESENTATIONS
▪ N. Patel, K. Sura, M. Wong, S. Joyce, J. Poli (2012) "Cost-effective means to reduce highgrade mucositis for patients treated with Head & Neck cancer" RSNA Annual meeting,
Chicago, IL.
▪ N. Patel, K. Sura (2012) "Treatment outcomes of plaque brachytherapy and external beam
radiation for breast chorodial metastases." RSNA Annual meeting, Chicago, IL.
▪ A. Turaka, K.T. Sura, T. Li, M.M. Millension, M.R. Smith (2012) "Results of Radiation
Therapy for Primary Extranodal Lymphoma of the Head and Neck: A Report of Case Series."
ASTRO annual meeting, Boston, MA.
▪ K. Sura and B. Bobrin (2012) "Minocycline Use in Patient with Multi-Drug-Intolerant
Neuropathy." American Neuropsychiatric Association 23rd Annual Meeting, New Orleans, LA.
▪ K.T. Sura, Y. Jin, I. Fischer (2010) "Effect of environment on the properties neural precursor
transplants in the CNS." Discover Day 2010, Drexel College of Medicine
▪ K.B. Long, J. Merkt, K. Sura, C.M. Artlett, and E.P. Blankenhorn (2010) "Analysis of Disease
Progression and Severity in the Tsk2 Mouse Model of Scleroderma." Discover Day 2010, Drexel
College of Medicine.
▪ K.B. Long, C. Kreutzberger, K. Sura, C.M. Artlett, and E.P. Blankenhorn (2010) “Developing
Pathology in a Mouse Model of Scleroderma, Tsk2/+.” 19th Annual Infection and Immunity
Forum, Eastern PA Branch of ASM, Drexel University College of Medicine
▪ K. Sura, E. Wong, and B. Ritz (2009) "Development of an Alternative to the Chromium
Release Natural Killer Cell Cytotoxicity Assay Using a Florescent Dye" Drexel COAS Research
Day, Philadelphia, PA.
▪ K. Sura, S. Sultana, D. Trisler, C. Bever and T. Makar (2006) "Molecular Characterization of
Bone Marrow Derived CD34+ Stem Cells and Their Differentiation Potential" VA Research
Day, Baltimore, MD.
▪ T. Makar, D. Trisler, C. Bever, K. Sura, S. Sultana, D. Ford, S. Dhib- Jalbut (2006)
"Retrovirus-mediated CNS delivery of IFN-beta enhances therapeutic potential in mouse model
of Multiple Sclerosis" Society for Neuroscience, October 14-18, Atlanta, GA.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
▪ B.W Ritz et. al. (2008) Energy Restriction Impairs Natural Killer Cell Function and Increases
the Severity of Influenza Infection in Young Adult Male C57BL/6 Mice. Journal of Nutrition,
138 (11), 2269-2275.
Extracurricular & Leadership Activities
SGA Executive Technical Officer, 2010-2012
Pediatrics Interest Group Co-President, 2009-2011
Webmaster of PIL 2013 website, 2009-2011
HOBBIES & INTERESTS
Computer programming , modern movies, travel, trivia, video games, and website design
LANGUAGE FLUENCY
Conversational Hindi
PROFESSIONAL MEMEMBERSHIP
American College of Physicians, 2010-present
American Medical Association, 2009-present
Association for Computing Machinery, 2009-2011