What is Maeflowers?
Maeflowers is the most recent manifestation of my website that began as a personal homepage in 1997. It is evolving into a web portal of the Life Sciences and Medicine. Its goals are stated in the mission statement, put bluntly, to enhance life and expand the possibilities of science through an interaction between the general public and the trained scientific professional. This portal is to be a liaison that can be non-biased and honest, making information accessible to everyone and offering explanations that can be understood by those untrained in the vocabulary and techniques of the sciences. Its existence is based on the fact that a person can not make confident decisions about their health and their loved one's health unless they have all of the available information. We'd like to leave decisions to the trained professionals, like doctors, but they're only human and with the almost unimaginable volume of medical advances in the past century they can not be expected to know everything about every disease and treatment. So Maeflowers is here, to assist you, your family, your doctor, and the scientists working on the treatments your doctor can use, in finding up-to-date information and services. Ultimately, to enhance life by offering the general public more knowledge and control over their own lives.
Who am I? And what makes me think I'm qualified for this??
My name is Alicia M Prater. I received a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry (with a minor in Business) from Indiana University in 2002. I successfully defended my dissertation on the underlying genetic mechanisms of hypertension on Nov 16, 2006. I will receive my PhD in Experimental Pathology from New York Medical College officially in May 2007. My work was done in an NIH funded lab and I have practice in many molecular biology techniques as well as exposure to cell culture and animal models. Part of my degree requirement included the medical school Pathology/Pathophysiology course with a Clinical Pathology subrequirement. I have been teaching the graduate level courses for about two years, lecturing on the basic morphology and function of biological systems as well as general pathology and systemic disorders. Although I have experience researching one disorder in one field, I pay attention and I have seen around me many things that are not accessible by the general public, knowledge that perhaps should be. I believe that my exposure to these things, as well as the knowledge I have obtained and will continue to obtain can assist me in offering up the hidden doors and rabbit holes to others.
My interest in science, especially the medical research aspects, stems from an innate curiosity in all things complex and from personal loss. Some losses are not preventable, but I believe there are some that we could do more to prevent simply by better communication and information access, especially in today's world of global networks.
Sometimes doctors aren't fully aware of newer technologies. Sometimes people aren't aware of all the risks despite the doctor's best efforts. Sometimes we are capable of more, but are unable to attempt because the access is not there. I want to offer the world more than the answer "I don't know". I want to offer the world "here's where to find it". The rest is their choice, but at least it's a choice!