In front of a full house of students, faculty and staff, Chestnut Hill College welcomed Dianne R. Soprano, Ph.D., for the 24th Annual Fall Biomedical Distinguished Lecture Series on October 4.

Dr. Soprano is the Professor of Medical Genetics and Molecular Biochemistry, Professor of Fels Institute for Cancer Research and Molecular Biology, Associate Dean of the Graduate and M.D./Ph.D. programs in the Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University.

She gave a lecture titled “Vitamin A: Two Sides of the Same Coin—Essential Nutrient and Potent Therapeutic Agent” and discussed vitamin A nutrition, metabolism and function in human health and disease along with current therapeutic applications of vitamin A and several synthetic retinoids in things such as skincare products.

Soprano mentioned the top foods to eat to get vitamin A, including a medium-sized sweet potato, which contains approximately 5 times our daily dose of the vitamin. She also talked about vitamin A deficiencies and what happens when one doesn’t get enough of the vitamin in their diet.

Following the lecture, Soprano spoke with several of the college’s science students to give advice on graduate school, M.D./Ph.D. programs, surgical internships and more.

—Marilee Gallagher ’14