Victoria Sexton, PsyD

Dr. Shahryar Chowdhury completed undergraduate and medical school at the University of Florida. He went on to complete his pediatric residency at the University of South Carolina. His pediatric cardiology fellowship and advanced non-invasive imaging training were completed at the Medical University of South Carolina. He joined the staff at MUSC in 2014. Dr. Chowdhury has expertise in echocardiography and cardiac CT. In addition, he sees patients in our pediatric cardiology acute care unit in the Children's Hospital. Dr. Chowdhury currently serves as the associate director of the pediatric cardiology fellowship training program. Dr. Chowdhury’s research interests include determining the accuracy of non-invasive measures of ventricular function, investigating the ability of these measures to predict outcomes in children with heart disease, determining the pathophysiologic mechanisms behind heart failure in patients with single ventricle physiology, and investigating the effects of childhood obesity on the heart. He has presented his work at regional, national, and international meetings; has published numerous articles; and has been the recipient of awards and grants to support his research.

Heather Ryle is a distinguished healthcare professional with extensive neonatal care expertise and a strong leadership and clinical management background. With over two decades of experience at Cincinnati Children's Hospital, she served as a Neonatal Nurse Practitioner, offering comprehensive care to critically ill neonates. Heather's educational journey includes earning a Doctor of Nursing Practice from Bellarmine University, a Master of Science in Nursing from the University of Cincinnati, and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Cincinnati College of Nursing. Her dedication to advancing neonatal care is evident in her involvement in research, quality improvement projects, and her leadership in various initiatives to improve the quality of care in the NICU. Heather's interests extend to human milk banking, lactation support for mothers of hospitalized infants, health outcomes for infants with gastroschisis, and global health initiatives for high-risk infant populations. Her achievements include various poster presentations, publications, and involvement in quality improvement initiatives at Cincinnati Children's Hospital, showcasing her commitment to advancing neonatal care. Ryle's vast expertise, leadership, and dedication to neonatal nursing contribute significantly to the field.

Dr. Sudie Back received her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from the University of Georgia in 2004. She completed her clinical internship training with specialization in the treatment of substance use disorders at Yale University School of Medicine (2002 through 2003). She then completed her postdoctoral training at MUSC in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences (2004 through 2005). She joined the MUSC faculty in 2005 and is currently a professor and director of the NIH-sponsored Drug Abuse Research Training (DART) programs. Dr. Back is also a staff psychologist at the Ralph H. Johnson VA in the Substance Treatment and Recovery (STAR) program. Her primary research interests focus on the treatment of substance use disorders and co-occurring conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). She is involved in both psychosocial/behavioral and pharmacologic treatment trials, as well as laboratory-based and neuroimaging studies. Her research is funded through NIH, the Department of Defense, and the VA. She is the prior/current recipient of a career development award (K23), several R01s, an independent scientist award (K02), and a Fulbright Scholar award (Australia). Dr. Back is actively engaged in mentoring trainees, including current/previous psychology interns, psychiatry residents, postdoctoral fellows, and junior investigators.