Dennis Sullivan, M.D.
Director, Center for Bioethics at Cedarville University
Dr. Sullivan serves as Professor of Biology and has been at Cedarville since 1996. He received his B.S. from Youngstown State University (1974) and his M.D. from Case Western Reserve University (1978). More recently, he completed an M.A. in Bioethics from Trinity University (2004). He has been honored as a Diplomate by the American board of Surgery (1985) and as Fellow by the American College of Surgeons (1996). Before coming to Cedarville, Dr. Sullivan served as a medical missionary with Baptist Mid-Missions for three years in Haiti and three years in the Central African Republic. He is a member of several organizations, including the American Medical Association, the Christian Medical Association, and the Center for Bioethics and Human Dignity. His research and writing interests include biomedical ethics, cross-cultural medicine, and exercise physiology. Dr. Sullivan is actively involved in his church as a Sunday School teacher. He has also taken groups of students to Chad, Africa and to Central African Republic through Cedarville's Missions Involvement Service. In his spare time, Dr. Sullivan enjoys woodworking and racquetball. He and his wife, Barbara, have three daughters, Julie, Jenny, and Joy, and a dog, Rascal.
Charles Dolph, Ph.D.
Department of Psychology, Center Scholar
Dr. Dolph serves as Professor of Psychology. He heads the psychology internship program and teaches Orientation to Psychology, Intimate Relationships, Human Sexuality, Literature Seminar, and Social Psychology. He received his Ph.D. from Georgia State University in 1982 and has taught at Cedarville since 1979. His primary interests are spiritual and social contributors to health and illness. Dr. Dolph works with long-term care facilities and hospices to meet the psychological needs of ill and dying persons. He is the advisor to Psi Kappa Theta, the student psychology club.
Shawn Graves, Ph.D.
School of Biblical and Theological Studies, Center Scholar
Dr. Graves is an Assistant Professor of Philosophy. He earned a B.A. in Philosophy and English from Cedarville University (2000), an M.A. in Philosophy from Ohio University (2002), an M.A. in Philosophy from the University of Rochester (2007), and a Ph.D. in Philosophy from the University of Rochester (2010). He has been at Cedarville since 2007.
His research interests include theories of epistemic justification, the effect of disagreement on the epistemic justification of one's beliefs, philosophical theology, the concept of personhood, the nature of moral perfection, consequentialist theories of morally permissible action, consumerism and moral complicity, animal ethics, and the ethics of killing (particularly at the margins of human life). He has presented his work at a number of professional societies and conferences, including meetings for the Society of Christian Philosophers, the Society for the Study of Christian Ethics, the Evangelical Philosophical Society, the Central States Philosophical Association, the Ohio Philosophical Association, and the Knowledge, Belief, and Normativity Project.
His wife, Marlena, is both a writer and the residence director for Murphy Hall, a women's dorm at Cedarville University. Together, they live in an apartment in Murphy with their little girl, Iliana. They enjoy good long walks with each other and spending time together with students and good friends.
Jeffrey Lewis, Pharm. D.
School of Pharmacy, Center Scholar
Dr. Lewis received his Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy from Ohio Northern University and Doctor of Pharmacy from the University of Cincinnati. After completing a specialized residency in hospital pharmacy administration at the Medical College of Virginia Hospitals he returned to his home state of Ohio to assume the role of Clinical Coordinator at Timken Mercy Medical Center in Canton, and subsequently the Manager of Clinical Pharmacy Services at Summa Health System in Akron. While in these roles, Dr. Lewis was responsible for developing and maintaining many of the systems and processes that affect quality institutional drug use (e.g. formulary management, hospital staff education, Continuous Quality Improvement efforts related to safe medication use). Through this work he developed a special interest and expertise in medication error reduction strategies.
After several years in clinical pharmacy management, he turned his attention to the ambulatory arena, including home care, and progressive community pharmacy services with Ritzman Pharmacies of northeast Ohio. During this period of time he also built upon his interest in worship, earning a Master of Arts in Christian Ministries from Malone College in Canton, Ohio.
In October of 2000, he accepted an invitation to join medical information publisher Lexi-Comp, Inc. (Hudson, Ohio) as a pharmacotherapy specialist with primary responsibility for developing and maintaining the organization's envisioned drug interactions database (Lexi-Interact™ was quickly recognized as an industry standard by healthcare leaders across the nation), and concluded his tenure there as Director of Product Development. In 2007 he completed a course fellowship in medical informatics sponsored by the National Library of Medicine and Marine Biological Laboratory in Woods Hole, Maryland.
Prior to joining the faculty of Cedarville University in 2009 as Assistant Dean of the School of Pharmacy, Dr. Lewis worked with The University of Findlay College of Pharmacy and Giant Eagle Pharmacy to develop a unique, clinical training for Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experiences.
A proven leader and educator, Dr. Lewis joins the Cedarville University School of Pharmacy Leadership Team with over 20 years of pharmacy experience. Dr. Lewis has authored numerous publications and professional presentations in addition to editing hundreds of published drug monographs. He also brings more than 15 years of clinical faculty and teaching experience with The University of Cincinnati, Virginia Commonwealth University, The University of Toledo, Ohio Northern University and The University of Findlay.
Beginning his work as assistant dean in July of 2009, Dr. Lewis oversees external relations, admissions and student life for the School of Pharmacy.
Elisha Injeti, Ph.D.
School of Pharmacy, Center Scholar
Dr. Injeti earned his B.S. degree in pharmacy and his M.S. degree in pharmacology from Andhra University in Visakhapatnam, India. After three years teaching pharmacology and physiology at St. John's Pharmacy College in Bangalore, India, he pursued advanced studies at Loma Linda University in southern California, earning a post baccalaureate certificate in biomedical and clinical ethics as well as a Ph.D. in pharmacology. During this period, Dr. Injeti also served as a predoctoral fellow at the Center for Perinatal Biology at Loma Linda University School of Medicine. Upon completing his doctorate, he returned to teaching, accepting a visiting Assistant Professor position at the University of Toledo in Ohio. Dr. Injeti currently serves as the Director for Research and Development at the Cedarville University School of Pharmacy.
Dr. Injeti's research interests, of which he has several publications, include vascular pharmacology, drug interactions, and pharmacokinetics. He is actively involved in engaging current bioethical issues from a Christian world view, and also enjoys tennis and biking.
Heather Kuruvilla, Ph.D.
Department of Biology, Center Scholar
Dr. Kuruvilla serves as professor of biology and has been at Cedarville since 1997. She received her B.S. in biology from Houghton College (1992) and her Ph.D. in biological sciences from the State University of New York at Buffalo (1997). She is a member of the American Society for Cell Biology, where she presents data at their annual conference and serves on the Congressional Liaison Committee. Dr. Kuruvilla and her students continue to publish scientific articles and abstracts on aspects of chemorepellent signaling in Tetrahymena. Dr. Kuruvilla and her husband, Saju, have two daughters, Debbie and Julia. In addition to jumping on the trampoline with Debbie and Julia, Dr. K enjoys writing and playing music, reading, exercise, and watching professional football (Go, BILLS). Dr. Kuruvilla received a Cedarville University Faculty Teaching Effectiveness Award in 2004 and was named the Cedarville University Faculty Scholar of the Year during the 2006–2007 academic year. She has also received a number of other teaching awards, including the Southwestern Ohio Council for Higher Education Faculty Excellence in Teaching Award (2005), Ohio Magazine's Excellence in Education Award (2003) and Who's Who Among America's Teachers (2003–2004, 2004–2005).
Sharon Christman, Ph.D.
Department of Nursing, Professor of Nursing
Dr. Christman serves as Professor of Nursing. She received her B.S.N. from Cedarville College in 1992, and her M.S. (1995) and Ph.D. (2003) from Ohio State University. Dr. Christman has been at Cedarville since 1997.
Jessicah Zehring serves as research assistant for the Center for Bioethics. She is a 2008 Cedarville University graduate with a B.A. degree in Biology. Her passion is for environmental issues, having studied under Center Associate John Silvius. Specific interests include the challenges faced by arctic and boreal ecosystems, and Christian environmental ethics. Her undergraduate research included the effects of disturbance on prairie restoration in SW Ohio, and landowner attitudes towards prairie remnant preservation. She is a recipient of the Austin Elmore Award in Plant Biology, and presented her research at the 21st Annual North American Prairie Conference in Winona, MN. Her previous employment experience included positions with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, and as a Cedarville University biology laboratory assistant.
Jessicah and her husband Kevin enjoy many outdoor activities, including hiking, paddling, and skiing. A snow lover, she trains and races sled dogs, and gives presentations to church and school groups about the sport of mushing.