Lisa Cain, Ph.D.

EDUCATOR, NEUROSCIENTIST, ADMINISTRATOR AND ARTIST

Lisa D. Cain, Ph.D., is a native of Canton, Mississippi and a graduate of Holy Child Jesus High School, Canton, Mississippi. A distinguished Honors College graduate of Jackson State University, she received a Bachelor of Science degree in biology in 1984. As a student at Jackson State University, Dr. Cain was an exemplary leader. She was chosen Miss Jackson State University 1983-84. She was elected Miss Freshman and Sophomore Class representative to the Student Government Association and she served as editor of the Jacksonian yearbook.

In 1989, Cain earned a doctoral degree in anatomy from the University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, Mississippi. She was the first African American to receive a Ph.D. from the Anatomy Department at the University of Mississippi Medical Center. She was a postdoctoral fellow in the Department of Anatomy at Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Piscataway, New Jersey from 1989-90 and was a postdoctoral fellow in the Center for Advanced Biotechnology and Medicine at Robert Wood Johnson Medical School from 1990-1992.

Presently, Dr. Cain is an Associate Professor in the Department of Neurosciences and Cell Biology at the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) at Galveston, where she teaches medical and graduate students. She is an Associate Member of the Institute for Medical Humanities. She is a course director for the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences Cell biology Course and holds an administrative position as the Director of Medical School Enrichment Programs in the Office of Student Affairs. She is also Vice Chair of the Curriculum Committee of the School of Medicine, an Osler Student Society Mentor and Vice President of the Minority Faculty Administrative Professional Council. Cain is a neuroscientist. Her research at UTMB has involved investigating agents that protect spinal cord neurons against the effect of glutamate toxicity and other insults. She has mentored students and published papers in peer reviewed journals. She is 2007 graduate of the Scholars is Education Program at UTMB, a program designed to develop leaders in the area of medical education.

Dr. Cain realizes the importance of service. She served as chairperson of the Committee for Diversity in Graduate Education and was the organizer of the UTMB's Annual Undergraduate Research Symposium from 1993-1998. She has served on numerous committees and councils including, the Graduate School Recruitment, Affirmative Action, Kempner Scholarship, Executive Graduate, Faculty Evaluation, Science Education, Cell Biology Program Admissions and Examination committees; the Minority Faculty and Faculty Coordinating councils, and the Core Committee for Minorities. She is an executive review committee member for the RISE program at Jackson State University. She has served as an advisor to graduate, postdoctoral fellows, and junior faculty and freshman medical students. Presently she is an elected member of the Admissions Committee of the School of Medicine and a member of the Education Research Committee. In the community Cain served on the executive board of directors of Communities in Schools in Galveston, Texas. She was a volunteer lab instructor at Heritage Christian Academy in 1998 and a volunteer in the children's hospital at UTMB. She is also the founder of the Marion Davis, Jr. Scholarship Fund at the Mt. Hope Missionary Baptist Church in Canton, Mississippi. She has also reached out on an international level and is assisting with efforts to develop educational programs and centers in Africa.

The recipient of many honors and awards, Dr. Cain was chosen in 1998 as one of four individuals at UTMB who portray the ultimate in professionalism and has received such awards as the Outstanding Achievement in Medical Research Award, the award for Excellent Acumen and Leadership in Research and the Undergraduate Symposium at UTMB-Galveston. In March 1999 she received a plaque and recognition for 5 years of dedication as Chair of the Committee for Diversity in Graduate Education at UTMB. She received the Harris L. Kempner Award in May 1999 for her significant contribution to the recruitment, retention and graduation of underrepresented medical students at UTMB. She was the recipient of the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Award on January 14, 2000 for her work in promoting diversity in the graduate school at UTMB. She received the “Unsung Hero Award” on March 19, 2000 from Congressman Nick Lampson for her contributions to the community of Galveston. In October of 2003 she was nominated for the “Class of 1947 Excellence in Education Award” for her contributions to the Gross Anatomy and Radiology Course. On April 2, 2004 she received the Outstanding Citizen of the Year Award from the Galveston Council of the Greeks for her contributions to science and education and for her service to the community. Recently in October 2005, she received the honor of being elected by faculty colleagues to serve on the Medical School's Admission Committee at UTMB.

Dr. Cain is affiliated with numerous scientific, educational, community and social organizations. She is a member of the International Society for Neuroscience; the Sigma XI Scientific Research Society; the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Beta Phi Omega Chapter; the Heroines of Jericho; the Order of the Eastern Star; the Daughters of Isis and the Order of the Golden Circle. Cain is a folk artist whose work is presently exhibited at several galleries throughout the United States and has been exhibited in New York, City for the past three years. She was featured in the March 2006 issue of Southern Living Magazine for her achievements in art, science and education. She was also featured in the March 2006 Issue of the American Association Medical Reporter Magazine for her science and art.