Email

andrew.bergemann@bcm.edu

Positions

Senior Faculty

Curriculum Office
Baylor College of Medicine

Professional Statement

As part of my doctoral studies at the University of Melbourne, I developed tools to address Mycoplasma genetics. I identified and characterized the first plasmid from a Mycoplasma, and contributed to efforts in the laboratory to create complete restriction maps of Mycoplasma genomes. In my first post-doctoral fellowship, in the laboratory of Dr. Edward M. Johnson, I identified and characterized a novel mammalian single-stranded DNA binding protein, PUR alpha. Subsequent work by others in the field has demonstrated the pathogenic role of PUR alpha in a congenital neurological disease (PUR alpha syndrome). In a second post-doctoral fellowship, in the laboratory of Dr. John G. Flanagan, I pursued studies of the interactions of a family of axon guidance molecules, the ephrins, with their receptors, leading to multiple publications in respected journals. As a junior faculty at Mount Sinai School of Medicine, I created a screen for genes displaying differential expression in the dorsal-ventral axis of the developing brain. The screen led to the identification of the novel Fam53A gene which maps within a small genomic region critical for the pathogenesis of Wolf-Hirschhorn Syndrome.

I have a long history in education, including teaching in a biomedical graduate school, and teaching in three medical schools. A notable aspect of my teaching history is the fact that I have participated as part of the founding faculty of two new medical schools. I have led successful efforts in course design at three Medical Schools. At Baylor College of Medicine, I have taken on a leadership role in developing the PBL program, providing guidance in case writing, and overseeing facilitator training. I have become a nationally known figure as a PBL expert, providing consultation to multiple schools on establishing PBL programs.
My publications can be viewed at:
https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=VmvJsc8AAAAJ&hl=en