Mary “June” Iruthayanathan, MBBS, PhD

Associate Professor, Clinical Academy for Teaching and Learning (cATL)
Graphic text of "Faculty"
Contact Information

miruthayanathan@rossu.edu

Biography

Dr. Mary “June” Iruthayanathan MBBS, PhD, is a physician-scientist, educator, author, and entrepreneur with over 29 years of experience in medicine, research, and medical education. She earned her medical degree from Madras Medical College in Chennai, India, and completed her PhD in Neuroendocrinology at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS), Little Rock, USA, where she graduated at the top of her class. She also completed a post-doctoral fellowship at the University of Iowa, where she authored several peer-reviewed publications in Molecular Endocrinology and Aging, earning recognition as one of the leading contributors to the field globally.

Dr. June is the founder of Target USMLE, a company she established in 2009 that has trained medical students and graduates from over 100 countries in clinical skills for the USMLE Step 2 CS exam, with a 97% pass rate. She also established the first Clinical Skills Center for USMLE preparation in Chennai, India. Dr. June has authored multiple books, including First Aid for the USMLE Step 2 CS (Co-author), Target USMLE Clinical Skills Handbook (author), and Steps to Victory for USMLE: 101 Inspirations for Medical Students (author). She also served as reviewer for the international Journal of Histochemistry and Cytochemistry.

In addition to her work with Target USMLE, Dr. June served as Head of the Department for International Exams at Sri Ramachandra Medical College, India, and was a leader and task force member for a collaboration with Johns Hopkins University. Prior to her role at RUSM, she served as a Professor of Internal Medicine at IUHS, St. Kitts. She was also involved in the Endocrine Society’s initial task force for mentoring students.

Dr. June is dedicated to advancing medical education through student-centered curricula that not only enhances theoretical knowledge but also fosters clinical competence and compassionate care. Her passion for mentoring the next generation of healthcare professionals continues to inspire and influence aspiring doctors worldwide. 

Education

Medical/Doctoral Degrees:  

  • MBBS, Madras Medical College and Research Institute, Chennai, INDIA 1996
  • PhD, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas 2004
  • Post Doctoral Fellowship:  
  • University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (2005-2006)  
  • University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa 2006-2009 
Areas of Expertise

Clinical skills training, USMLE, Medical education, Endocrinology 

Honors and Awards
  • Endocrine Scholars Award, 2006 by Endocrine Society - ranked 8th Worldwide( Postdoctoral fellows) for contribution to the field of Endocrinology  
  • Travel Awards to Endocrine Society, San Deigo, California (2005), Toronto, Canada (2007), San Francisco, California (2008)
  • Best Student in Anatomy, India 1990
  • Best poster - Post-doctoral category (2005), 2nd Best graduate student poster (2004), UAMS, LR, Arkansas 
Research Interests

Molecular Neuroendocrinology, Aging, Steroid hormone signaling, Medical Education

Publications

BOOKS 

  • FIRST AID FOR THE USMLE STEP 2 CLINICAL SKILLS – Co-author (2008)  
  • TARGET USMLE STEP 2 CS HANDBOOK – Author (2016) 
  • STEPS TO VICTORY FOR USMLE: 101Daily Inspirations for Medical Students (2024) 
  • Restoration of Aging Growth Hormone Cells by Dehydroepiandrosterone via Estrogen receptors (2004) PhD Thesis 

ONLINE VIDEO COURSE: Creator of the Target USMLE ONLINE SELF-STUDY CLINICAL SKILLS COURSE  

RESEARCH PUBLICATIONS:  

  • Childs GV, Iruthayanathan M, Akhter N, Whitehead-Johnson B Estrogen mediated cross talk between ovary and pituitary somatotrope – Pre-ovulatory support for reproductive activity. Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology 2006 Mar 9;247(1-2):60-3. Epub 2006 Jan 27. Invited Review Article 
  • Iruthayanathan M, Zhou YH, Childs GV Dehydroepiandrosterone restoration of growth hormone gene expression in aging female rats, in vivo and in vitro: evidence for actions via estrogen receptors. Endocrinology. 2005 Dec;146(12):5176-87. 
  • Iruthayanathan M, O’Leary, Paul. G, Dillon JS Hydrogen peroxide signaling mediates DHEA induced vascular endothelial cell proliferation Steroids. 2011 Dec 11;76 (13):1483-90. 
  • Dongmin Liu, Mary Iruthayanathan, Laurie Homan, Joseph Dillon. Dehydroepiandrosterone stimulates endothelial proliferation and angiogenesis through ERK 1/2-mediated mechanisms. Endocrinology 2008 ar;149(3):889-98. The article was published with an editorial note commending our pioneering findings in the field of DHEA actions. 
  • Velarde M, Iruthayanathan M, Xhang L, Eason R, Simmen RCM Progesterone Receptor Transactivation of the Secretory Leukocyte Protease Inhibitor Gene in Endometrial Epithelial Cells Involves Recruitment of Krüppel-like Factor 9/Basic Transcription Element Binding Protein-1 Endocrinology 2006 Apr; 147(4):1969-78. Invited Cutting Edge Essay by the Editors of MCE 
  • Olivo HF, Perez-Hernandez N, Liu D, Iruthayanathan M, O'Leary B, Homan LL, Dillon JS. Synthesis and application of a photoaffinity analog of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) Bioorg Med Chem Lett. 2009 Dec 6. 
  • Christopher Crane, M.S,.Noor Akhter, Ph.D., Brandy W. Johnson,, Mary Iruthayanathan, Farhan Syed, Gwen Childs, Ph.D Fasting and glucose effects on pituitary leptin expression. Is leptin a local signal for nutrient status? Journal of Histochemistry and Cytochemistry 2007 Oct;55(10):1059-73. 
  • Noor Akhter., Brandy W. Johnson, Christopher Crane, Mary Iruthayanathan, Yi-Hong Zhou, Akihiko Kudo, and Gwen V. Childs Anterior Pituitary Leptin Expression Changes in Different Reproductive States: Stimulation, in vitro, by Gonadotropin Releasing Hormone (GnRH) Journal of Histochemistry and Cytochemistry : J Histochem Cytochem. 2007 Feb;55 (2):151-66. 
  • Childs GV, Iruthayanathan M, Akhter N, Whitehead-Johnson B Estrogen mediated cross talk between ovary and pituitary somatotrope – Pre-ovulatory support for reproductive activity. Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology 2006 Mar 9; 247(1-2):60-3. 
  • Childs GV, Iruthayanathan M, Akhter N, Unabia G, and Whitehead-Johnson Bipotential Effects of Estrogen on Growth Hormone Synthesis and Storage, in vitro. Endocrinology. 2005 Apr;146(4):1780-8. 
Affiliations and Memberships
  • Founder and Chief Educator at Target USMLE (www.targetusmle.com) 
  • Member of Endocrine Society  
  • Reviewer for international Journal of Histochemistry and Cytochemistry