Tiffany Schwasinger-Schmidt, M.D., P.h.D., F.A.C.P

Professional Background

Dr. Tiffany Schwasinger-Schmidt received her PhD in Genetics, Genomics, and Bioinformatics at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 2010. Her doctoral research focused on the investigation of the genetic determinants of obesity and the effects of dietary manipulations. She completed her Medical Degree at the University of Kansas School of Medicine in 2014 and went on to complete her Internal Medicine Residency at the University of Kansas School of Medicine-Wichita in 2017. Dr. Schwasinger-Schmidt joined the Internal Medicine Department at the University
of Kansas School of Medicine-Wichita following the completion of her residency and is currently an Associate Professor of Medicine.

Dr. Schwasinger-Schmidt has served as a Co-Clerkship Director for the 3^rd year Internal Medicine Clerkship, Neurology Clerkship Director and is the current Assistant Director of the 3rd year Neurology Clerkship. She is actively engaged in medical student education and has served as a Case Based Collaborative Learning (CBCL) Instructor, PBL Instructor, Medical Student Academic coach, and an Assistant Director for the Jager Academic Society. She also serves as a simulation educator for the Internal Medicine and Neurology Clinical Clerkships.

Dr. Schwasinger-Schmidt continues to pursue her research endeavors in General Internal Medicine as a member of the faculty and is actively engaged in the promotion of student and resident research projects through mentorship. As the Director for the Center for Clinical Research at the University of Kansas School of Medicine-Wichita, Dr. Schwasinger-Schmidt and is actively engaged in clinical trials in the areas of Psychiatry, Neurology, Infectious Diseases, Vaccine Development, and General Internal Medicine.

Dr. Schwasinger-Schmidt is a board-certified Internist and maintains an active General Internal Medicine Primary Care practice. She also serves as a Hospitalist at Wesley Medical Center in Wichita, Kansas.

• MD, Internal Medicine, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS
• PhD, Genetics, Genomics, & Bioinformatics, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE
• Residency, Internal Medicine, University of Kansas Medical Center - Wichita, Wichita, KS

• Board Certified Internal Medicine Physician, American Board of Internal Medicine
• Fellow of the American College of Physicians, American College of Physicians
• Medical License, Kansas Board of Healing Arts

• Society for Clinical Trials, Member, 2020 - Present
• American Society of Clinical Psychopharmacology, Member, 2019 - Present
• Alliance for Academic Internal Medicine, Member, 2017 - Present
• American College of Physicians, Member, 2014 - Present
• Endocrine Society, Member, 2014 - Present
• Medical Society of Sedgwick County, Member, 2014 - Present
• American Medical Association, Member, 2010 - Present

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Research

Overview

Dr. Schwasinger-Schmidt has completed multiple research projects with an emphasis on translational research and genetic contributions to disease development. During her undergraduate education, Dr. Schwasinger-Schmidt conducted research on the investigation and identification of genes that confer resistance or susceptibility to Bacillus cerius, which was used as a model for Bacillus anthraces. Mutations that enhanced or reduced survival following bacterial infection were obtained to identify potential gene targets for reducing bacterial spread. Dr. Schwasinger-Schmidt’s graduate work focused on identifying the effects of genetic variations on lipid composition in an obese phenotype. Dr. Schwasinger-Schmidt utilized Drosophila melanogaster to produce model organisms with a heritable obese phenotype and increased lipid deposition. Comparative functional genomics were used to analyze metabolic networks to determine the contribution of individual metabolites to the obese phenotype through mass spectrometry lipid profiling, analysis of body composition including quantification of energy rich metabolites, determination of activity levels, measurements of longevity and fecundity, determination of metabolic rate and the effects of dietary alterations, and the determination of transcript abundance of metabolic genes.

During medical school, Dr. Schwasinger-Schmidt studied the effects of liraglutide treatment on insulin release and islet cell composition in a rat models of type II diabetes mellitus. This project included isolation of islet cells with measurement of insulin secretion, immunohistochemical staining of tissue to measure islet content per cell and determine islet density, and electron microscopy to evaluate beta cell size and morphology in treated and control animals. Results obtained from this study revealed an increased islet density in liraglutide treated animals with increased beta to alpha cell ratios resulting in increased insulin secretion in response to glucose stimulation.

As a faculty member, Dr. Schwasinger- Schmidt continues to pursue research focused on the translation of new therapies into clinical practice. As the Director for the Center for Clinical Research on the KU Wichita campus, her research is aimed at testing novel medications and biologics for use in Psychiatry including depression, personality disorders, and schizophrenia; Neurology including Alzheimer's Disease, Muscular Dystrophy, and ALS; Infectious Diseases including COPD, and Vaccine studies for emerging infectious diseases; and General Internal Medicine including obesity and diabetes treatment and prevention.

• Placebo-Controlled, Double-Blind, Parallel-Group, Bayesian Adaptive Randomization Design and Dose Regimen-Finding Study with an Open-Label Extension Phase to Evaluate Safety, Tolerability and Efficacy of BAN2401 in Subjects with Early Alzheimer's Disease, Eisai, Inc., PI
• A Placebo-Controlled, Double-Blind, Parallel-Group, 18-Month Study with an Open-Label Extension Phase to Confirm Safety and Efficacy of BAN2401 in Subjects with Early Alzheimer’s Disease, Eisai, Inc., PI
• A multi-center, randomized, 36-month, parallel- group, non-inferiority, phase III study to compare the effectiveness of roflumilast (Daliresp, 500 mcg quaque die (QD) or alternate regimen) therapy versus azithromycin (250 mg QD, 500 mg QD three times per week, or alternate regimen) to prevent hospitalization or death in patients at high risk for COPD exacerbations., Patient Centered Outcomes Research Institute, Supporting
• Walking a Day in Their Shoes: Implementation of a Virtual Reality Curriculum to Improve Dementia Care and Assess Medical Student Empathy, Medical Alumni Innovative Teaching Fund at the University of Kansas School of Medicine, PI
• A Phase 2, Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study Evaluating the Safety, Efficacy, and Pharmacokinetics of Miricorilant (CORT118335) in Obese Adult Patients with Schizophrenia and Recent Weight Gain While Taking Antipsychotic Medications, Corcept Therapeutics Incorporated, PI
• Phase II, 6-Week, Multicenter, Randomized, Double-Blind, Double-Dummy, Placebo-Controlled, Parallel Group Trial with A Quetiapine Arm to Evaluate the Efficacy, Tolerability and Safety of Oral BI 1358894 In Patients with Major Depressive Disorder with Inadequate Response to Antidepressants, Boehringer-Ingelheim, PI

• Schwasinger-Schmidt, T., E, Macaluso, M. 2019. Other Antidepressants.. Handbook of experimental pharmacology, 250, 325-355
• Williams, S., J, Schwasinger-Schmidt, T, Zamierowski, D, Stehno-Bittel, L. 2012. Diffusion into human islets is limited to molecules below 10 kDa.. Tissue & cell, 44 (5), 332-41
• Schwasinger-Schmidt, T., E, Kachman, S., D, Harshman, L., G. 2012. Evolution of starvation resistance in Drosophila melanogaster: measurement of direct and correlated responses to artificial selection.. Journal of evolutionary biology, 25 (2), 378-87
• Schwasinger-Schmidt, Tiffany., E., Elhomsy, Georges, Paull-Forney, Bobbie., G.. 2020. Impact of a Community-Based Weight Loss Program on Renal Function. CUREUS, 12 (5). https://www.cureus.com/articles/31176-impact-of-a-community-based-weight-loss-program-on-renal-function
• Schwasinger-Schmidt, T, Robbins, D., C, Williams, S., J, Novikova, L, Stehno-Bittel, L. 2013. Long-term liraglutide treatment is associated with increased insulin content and secretion in β-cells, and a loss of α-cells in ZDF rats.. Pharmacological Research, 76, 58-66
• Schwasinger-Schmidt, T., E, Schrage, J., P, Moore, J., B, Drees, B., M. 2017. The State of Diabetes in Kansas: A Community Centered Approach to the Treatment of Diverse Populations.. Kansas Journal of Medicine, 10 (4), 96–101