Staci DumoskiAs a student studying biochemistry and molecular biology at Chapman, Adam Kalawi ’14, MD, was always fascinated by the extra sections in his textbooks, where the author would describe emerging technologies and how they might impact the future of science.
“I never in my wildest dreams thought that many of these technologies would be available within my lifetime, let alone that I would have the opportunity to use them in my career,” said Kalawi, who today is a pediatric neurologist at Children’s Hospital of Orange County (CHOC).
In his 2024 Homecoming master class, “Gene Therapy in Pediatric Neurology,” Kalawi presented an overview of gene therapies that are used in clinical neurology practice today, focusing on Spinal Muscular Atrophy as a case study for the potential for this powerful technology to transform medical care.
“Put simply, gene therapy has already started a revolution in my field,” Kalawi said. “Previously incurable genetic conditions have become treatable within my training years, and more and more treatments are on the horizon. I do not exaggerate when I say that many of these patients would not be here without these technologies.”
In the years to come, Kalawi hopes to see more gene therapy solutions for the myriad of genetic diseases that have yet to find treatment. Most promising is the prospect of “N of 1” therapies, where tailored gene therapies may be used to treat novel or ultra-rare genetic conditions for patients who would otherwise have no feasible option for a cure.
Kalawi’s interest in pediatric neurology began when he shadowed Dr. Sharief Taraman at CHOC.
“Over the years my perspective and understanding have matured, and now I often like to tell people that I chose pediatric neurology because it has afforded me the opportunity to study the most dynamic object in the known universe (the human brain) during its most dynamic time (childhood development),” he said.
Kalawi is thankful for the opportunity to present a master class at Chapman, which he says gave him the strong foundation he needed to pursue his medical career. He’s the fourth member of his family to attend Chapman, following in the footsteps of his siblings Sarah (Kalawi) Day ’01 (MA ’04), Sophia Kalawi ’05 and Joseph Kalawi ’06. His wife, Jessica Rabalais ’14, is also an alumna, and they are priming their 6-week-old daughter to eventually attend Chapman, too.
“It is an honor to be able to come back home to the community that raised me academically and be able to share how I have been employing the knowledge I gained while at Chapman. The Chapman community has had a large presence in my family, and it is exciting to know that sharing my work may be the spark that sets a new young Chapman student on a path toward a career in medicine,” he said.
His advice for current Chapman students who might be thinking about a career in pediatric medicine?
“When you are having a hard time studying the week before finals, remember that a decade from now a child and their family may be grateful for the long hours you put in. If you focus on those you may be able to help someday, the challenges of the present may seem smaller, and the path may be more rewarding.”
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