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Claudia C. Zacharek, M.D.
4200 Fashion Square Blvd.
Saginaw, MI 48603
(409) 939-1182
Claudia_zacharek@yahoo.com
LANGUAGES:
proficient in Spanish and English
CURRENT POSITION in private practice
October 2008 - present
Nephrology
Private Clinical Practice, physician
Saginaw, Michigan
PREVIOUS POSITIONS
Regulatory medicine in Rockville, Maryland,
Academic Medicine, August 2005 – July 2008
Assistant Professor of the Department of Internal Medicine
University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas
APPOINTMENTS
March 2010 – present
Nephrology Clinical Clerkship Coordinator
Synergy Internal Medicine Residency
Saginaw, Michigan
May 2011 - present
Medical Review Committee, member
End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) Network 11
St. Paul, Minniapolis
Physician Leadership Academy 2009 - present
Covenant Hospitals, Saginaw, Michigan
Infectious Disease Committee, 2010 - present
Covenant Hospitals, Saginaw, Michigan
Infectious Disease Committee, 2010 – present
St. Mary’s of Michigan, Saginaw, Michigan
EDUCATION
July 2002 - June 2004
Nephrology fellowship
University of Texas Medical Branch
Galveston, Texas
June 1999 - June 2002
Internal Medicine Residency
University of Texas Medical Branch
Galveston, Texas
Claudia C. Zacharek, M.D.
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August 1995 – June 1999
Medical School
University of Texas Health Science Center - Houston
Houston, Texas
August 1991 - May 1993
University of St. Thomas
Houston, Texas
B.S. Biology - Summa cum laude
BOARD CERTIFICATION AND LICENSURE INFORMATION
American Board of Internal Medicine, Certified in 2002
Subspecialty Nephrology, Certified 2004
Texas State Board of Medical Examiners, L7540
Michigan State Medical License
RESEARCH ACTIVITIES
October 1999
Collaborated in the PCR amplification of mitochondrial DNA of patients who presented to
the Texas Heart Institute in Houston with chest pain and were scheduled for cardiac
catheterization. Results are to be compared with catheterization findings in an attempt to
correlate mitochondrial DNA damage and coronary artery disease.
Cardiology Department, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas
June 1993 - May 1995
 Collaborator. Performed UVA light exposures and intravitreal injections on rats; extracted
rhodopsin from rat retinas for the study of rod outer segment rate renewal in the retina.
 Analyzed transgenic mice through genomic DNA isolation, PCR, and restriction digestions.
Screened cDNA libraries, cloned, and sequenced extensively for the analysis of plasmids;
used PCR for chromosomal localization and direct sequence of genomic templates; isolated
mRNA from bovine retina to be used in Northern blot analysis to study the guanylate
activating protein (GCAP) involved in the visual cycle of various animal species.
Ophthalmology Department, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
January 1992 - April 1993
Isolated chromosomal DNA, set up PCR, ran electrophoretic gels, grew and harvested
bacteria, prepared buffers and media.
Pathology Department, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
May - August 1992
Summer Medical And Research Training (SMART)
Studied Streptococcus pyogenes strains of recurrent pharyngitis
Pathology Department, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
June - August 1992
Space Life Science Training Program (SLSTP)
 Cardio/muscle atrophy: studied the effects of weightlessness on the human cardiovascular
system; performed human electromyostimulation as an alternative to muscle atrophy.
 Flight development: studied gravity as a stress factor on plant growth and development.
 Controlled ecological life support systems (CELSS): examined potential nutrient recycling
in plant growth systems; examined potential use of plant tissue culture as a seed source.
Claudia C. Zacharek, M.D.
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
Life Science Overview: studied treatment disinfection of orbiter potable water; studied
factors influencing induction of space motion sickness.
NASA Kennedy Space Center, Cape Canaveral, Florida
PUBLICATIONS AND ABSTRACTS
Ruiz CC, Agraharkar M (2003). Unusual Marine Pathogens Causing Cellulitis and Bacteremia in
Hemodialysis patients: Report of Two Cases and Review of the Literature. Hemodialysis
International 7(4):1-4.
Howes K, Bronson JD, Dang YL, Li N, Zhang K, Ruiz CC, Helekar B, Lee M, Subbaraya I,
Kolb H, Chen J, Baehr W (1998). Gene array and expression of mouse retina guanylate cyclase
activating proteins 1 & 2. Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science 39(6):867-75.
Surguchov A, Bronson JD, Banerjee P, Knowles JA, Ruiz CC, Subbaraya I, Palczewski, Baehr
W (1997). The human GCAP1 and GCAP2 genes are arranged in a tail-to-tail array on the short
arm of chromosome 6 (p21.1). Genomics 39(3):312-22
Semple-Rowland SL, Gorczyca WA, Buczylko J, Helekar BS, Ruiz CC, Subbaraya I, Palczewski
K, Baehr W (1996). Expression of GCAP 1 and GCAP 2 in the retinal degeneration (rd) mutant
chicken retina. FEBS Letters 385(1-2):47-52
SubbarayaI, Ruiz CC, Helekar BS, Zhao X, Gorczyca WA, Pettenati MJ, Rao PN, Palczewski K,
Baehr W (1994). Molecular characterization of human and mouse photoreceptor guanylate
cyclase activating protein (GCAP) and chromosomal localization of the human gene. J. Biol.
Chem. 269(49):31080-9
Palczewski k, SubbarayaI, Gorczyca WA, Helekar BS, Ruiz CC, Ohguro H, Huang J, Zhao X,
Crabb JW, Baehr W (1994). Molecular cloning and characterization of retinal photoreceptor
guanylyl cylclase activating protein (GCAP). Neuron 13(2):395-404
Semple-Rowland S, Helekar B, Ruiz CC, Zhao X, Palczewski P, and Baehr W (1995). Normal
and rd/rd mutant chicken retina guanylate cyclase activating protein (GCAP). Submitted to
ARVO meeting, Ft. Lauderdale, FL
Baehr W, Subbaraya I, Dang YL, Ruiz CC, Helekar B, Banerjee P, Knowles JA, Gilliam TC,
Vandenburg K, and Stone EM (1995). Characterization of the genes encoding human and mouse
retina guanylate cyclase activating protein (GCAP). Submitted to ARVO meeting, Ft.
Lauderdale, FL.
HOBBIES
Playing piano, dancing, exercising, spending time with family, listening to music, and gardening.
Claudia C. Zacharek, M.D.