Academic Departments I Chemistry & Biochemistry I Where Are They Now?

Uei Lei, MPH, EMT-P - 2002

Uei Lei is working at Loyola University Medical Center as the Regional Emergency Preparedness Coordinator working on HRSA Grants for bioterrorism and general all hazards preparedness. 

“Since I left Rockford College, I started and finished graduate school at Benedictine University with a Master of Public Health with an emphasis on Disaster Management; inducted into the Sigma Beta Delta in June 2004. I worked at Cook County Department of Public Health as an Emergency Response Coordinator doing projects such as the Strategic National Stockpile Distribution Plan, BioWatch, Biohazard Detection System (with the US Post Office), and numerous others. I then did some consulting work between that and when I got this position at Loyola. And I will be starting a Ph.D. program in Public Policy and Administration emphasizing on Homeland Security and International NGOs starting this Fall with Walden University Emergency Preparedness Coordinator for Loyola University’s Emergency Medical Services System in Chicago.”

Dr. Ria Westergaard, 2002

Dr. Ria Westergaard has finished her doctoral work in pharmacy at Midwestern University – Chicago College of Pharmacy. She now is in a residency with Medco.

She writes, “My residency is an optional full time postgraduate training opportunity that provides about three years of work experience within one year. I chose to do a managed care residency because I really enjoyed my time at Caremark during a six-week rotation and wanted to get a broader scope of experience in the field. Areas of focus include: drug information and formulary management, appeals decision coverage, and education and program development. I will have the opportunity for travel and will complete a research project over the course of the year.”

Matt Sheets, 2003

Matt Sheets is nearing completion of his doctorate in chemistry at NIU. He just published a paper in the Journal of Organic Chemistry on the catalysis of allylation of aldehydes. He will also present three posters at the national ACS meeting in San Francisco in September.

Ramune Sileikis, 2003

Ramune Sileikis is in dental school at the University of Manitoba in Canada.

She writes: “It has been a busy summer for me. At present I’m doing my second year of summer research with Network for Oral Health Research (NORTH) and decided to get a B.S.C. Dentistry which I’ll finish this coming fall. As far as dentistry goes — it’s been as enjoyable and rewarding as I imagined it to be, but also very busy and challenging. As far as my future plans go, I would like to further specialize in Orthodontics and currently am applying to various postgraduate schools here in Canada and in the U.S. I do miss the great people that were able to be professors and friends at the same time. When you’re in grad school these things are a bit harder to come by.”