Titans and Prospective Titans, Detroit Mercy invites you to explore “How Drugs Work” with Dr. Mara Livezey. Dr. Livezey, Assistant Professor for the Chemistry & Biochemistry Department here at Detroit Mercy has created a Chemistry course that is open to Non-Chemistry Majors. She sat down with Pre-Health Advisor Carmen Gamlin to give an outline of the course, topics of discussions and her hopes for students to be aware of this amazing course that is being offered.
“That’s really why I love this class because it provides me the opportunity to combine chemistry and medicine and impact on real humans.”
The course is broken down into five modules in which students are learning basic Biology and Chemistry. The modules then advances to how drugs impacts the body and the brain and how drugs are used to treat diseases. Dr. Livezey explains that during the CHM 1030 course, each week a new drug is introduced.
“Generally in those weeks, we learn about the history of the drug, the chemistry of the drug and the impact of the drug on society.”
What’s amazing is, there are no pre-requisites for this course!! Dr. Livezey expresses that this course is designed in a way that those who do not have a science background can come in and learn and follow alone! This class is for everyone!
“I love this class and I just want students to know it exist!”
Assistant Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry, teaches biochemistry and organic chemistry. Livezey’s research and publications focus on understanding the molecular mechanisms of a protective and pro-growth pathway in breast, ovarian, and uterine cancers. Additionally, her lab is interested in drug development and acquiring a deeper understanding of a pre-clinical anti-cancer drug that lethally targets Estrogen Receptor-positive cancers. Livezey is a recipient of a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship and served as a Fulbright Scholar in Macedonia. Livezey received her B.A. in Chemistry from Kalamazoo College and Ph.D. in Biochemistry from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. She joined the University in 2018.