Division of Physiology



Susan R. Hopkins, M.D., Ph.D.

Associate Professor of Medicine

Department of Medicine, University of California, San Diego
9500 Gilman Dr.  La Jolla, CA 92093-0623
tel: (858)534-2680, fax: (858)534-4812, email: shopkins@ucsd.edu



 
 
Primary Interests

*Functional lung imaging.
*The pulmonary system as a limiting factor in maximal exercise in health and disease states.
*Gender issues in gas exchange. 
*Response of the lung to physiological stress such as  maximal  exercise and high altitude. 
*High altitude pulmonary edema. 
*Comparative pulmonary physiology.
*Physiological responses to endurance exercise. 
*Athlete preparation for high performance sport. 




Education

Undergraduate

1974-1976   Pre-medicine.  Memorial University of Newfoundland.
1978     Bachelor of Medical Science.  Memorial University of Newfoundland.

Graduate

1980     Doctor of Medicine.  Memorial University of Newfoundland.
1988     Master of Physical Education, Exercise Physiology, University of British Columbia. Supervisor: D.C. McKenzie MD, PhD.
1993     Doctor of Philosophy, Exercise Physiology, University of British Columbia. Supervisor: D.C. McKenzie MD, PhD.

Postgraduate

1993-1996   Post-Doctoral Research Fellow, Department of Medicine, Division of Physiology University of California, San Diego.  Supervisors: P. D. Wagner MD and John B West MD, PhD, DSc

Professional and Clinical

Rotating Internship.  Royal Columbian Hospital, New Westminster, BC.
1985-1987   Sports Medicine Fellowship, University of British Columbia. Supervisors: J. E. Taunton MD, D. B. Clement M D.

Professional Experience

1981-1983  General Practice, Active Staff, Port McNeill and District Hospital, Port McNeill BC.

1983-1985   General Practice Locums, British Columbia.

1986-1993   Primary Care Sports Medicine, Division of Sports Medicine University of British Columbia, Medical Staff Health Sciences Center Hospital, University of British Columbia.

1989-1993   Clinical Instructor, Department of Family Practice, University of British Columbia.

1993   Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Family Practice, University of British Columbia.

1993-1996   Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Medicine, Division of Physiology, University of California, San Diego.

1996- 2002   Assistant Professor of Medicine, Division of Physiology, University of California,  San Diego.

2002-present   Associate Professor of Medicine, Division of Physiology, University of California,  San Diego.
 
 
Honors and Awards

Responsible Government Scholarship, (1974-1976, Memorial University of Newfoundland).
University Graduate Fellowship (1986, 1887, University of British Columbia).
University Summer Graduate Fellowship (1986,1988, University of British Columbia).
UBC  Post Secondary Scholarship (1987, University of British Columbia).
Killam Predoctoral Fellowship (1988, 1989 (relinquished),  University of British Columbia).
Medical Research Council Predoctoral Fellowship (1988-1992, University of British Columbia).
Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology Graduate Student Award (1993).
British Columbia Medical Association Rick Hansen Sports Medicine Award (1993).



Teaching Experience

Family Practice 480 & 481, University of British Columbia, Occurrence, Diagnosis and Management of Athletic Injuries (1988).
Physical Education 565, Exercise Physiology, University of British Columbia (1989, 1990). 
Family Practice Residents, Medical Students, Physicians, Division of Sports Medicine, University of British Columbia (1986-1993).
Continuing Medical Education, Sports Medicine Symposia, University of British Columbia (1987-1993).
Organ Physiology SOMC 206 and SOMC 206L (First Year Medicine), University of California, San Diego (1994-present).
Introduction to Clinical Medicine SOMC 201A (First Year Medicine), University of California, San Diego (1995-1998).
Sports Medicine and Exercise Physiology, MED 270 University of California, San Diego (1996-1999). 
Clinical Skills Enhancement Elective, SOM 272 (Second Year Medicine) University of California, San Diego (1998-present)
Lung Physiology and Biology SOM 435   (Pulmonary Fellows) University of California, San Diego (1997-present). 
Professional Development for Pulmonary Fellows and Postdoctoral Research Fellows (2000-2001).

Professional Committees etc.

1986-1990               Sport Medicine Council of British Columbia, Physiology Consultant, High Performance Sport Science Committee.
1987-1990               Medical Advisor, Canadian Outward Bound Mountain School.  Board of Trustees, Canadian Outward Bound Mountain School, Vancouver, BC.
Sports Medicine Consultant, Canadian Association of Sports Science, High Performance Sport Science Committee.
1992-1995               Chair, Canadian Society of Exercise Physiology, (formerly Canadian Association of Sports Science) High Performance Sport Science Committee.
1996-Present         Human Subjects Advisory Committee- General Clinical Research Center-UCSD.
1997-Present         American Thoracic Society Assembly on Respiratory Structure and Function Program Committee.
1999-Present         Editorial Board Journal of Applied Physiology
2000-2001               American Thoracic Society Assembly on Respiratory Structure and Function Nominating Committee.
Chair American Thoracic Society Assembly on Respiratory Structure and Function Nominating Committee.
Associate Editor Exercise and Sport Sciences Review.
American Thoracic Society Membership Committee


Recent Selected Articles

N. Garcia, S.R. Hopkins, and F.L. Powell. Effects of intermittent hypoxia on the isocapnic hypoxic ventilatory response and erythropoiesis in humans. Respir Physiol 123: 39-49., 2000.

Garcia N, Hopkins SR, Powell FL. Intermittent vs continuous hypoxia: effects on ventilation and erythropoiesis in humans.  Wilderness Environ Med. 2000 Fall;11(3):172-9.

S.R. Hopkins, R.C. Barker, T.D. Brutsaert, T.P. Gavin, P. Entin, I.M. Olfert, S. Veisel, and P.D. Wagner. Pulmonary gas exchange during exercise in women: effects of exercise type and work increment. J Appl Physiol 89: 721-30., 2000.

N. Garcia, S.R. Hopkins, A.R. Elliott, E.A. Aaron, M.B. Weinger, and F.L. Powell. Ventilatory response to 2-h sustained hypoxia in humans. Respir Physiol 124: 11-22, 2001.

Yamaya Y, Bogaard HJ, Wagner PD, Niizeki K, Hopkins SR.Validity of pulse oximetry during maximal exercise in normoxia, hypoxia, and hyperoxia.  J Appl Physiol. 2002 Jan;92(1):162-8.

S.R. Hopkins, and F.L. Powell. Common themes of adaptation to hypoxia. Insights from comparative physiology. Adv Exp Med Biol 502: 153-67, 2001.

G.S. Mitchell, F.L. Powell, S.R. Hopkins, and W.K. Milsom. Time domains of the hypoxic ventilatory response in awake ducks: episodic and continuous hypoxia. Respir Physiol 124: 117-28., 2001.

X. Bao, B.P. Kennedy, S.R. Hopkins, H.J. Bogaard, P.D. Wagner, and M.G. Ziegler. Human autonomic activity and its response to acute oxygen supplement after high altitude acclimatization. Autonomic Neuroscience 102: 54-59, 2002.

H.J. Bogaard, S.R. Hopkins, Y. Yamaya, K. Niizeki, M.G. Ziegler, and P.D. Wagner. Role of the autonomic nervous system in the reduced maximal cardiac output at altitude. J Appl Physiol 93: 271-9., 2002.

S. Hopkins. Nahe am Limit: Die Lunge Bei maximaler korperlicher Bleastune  (Close to the edge: the lung during maximal exercise). Deutsche Zeitschrift Fur Sportsmedizin 53: 277-284, 2002.

P.M. Schmitt, F.L. Powell, and S.R. Hopkins. Ventilation-perfusion inequality during normoxic and hypoxic exercise in the emu. J Appl Physiol 93: 1980-6., 2002.

Y. Yamaya, H.J. Bogaard, P.D. Wagner, K. Niizeki, and S.R. Hopkins. Validity of pulse oximetry during maximal exercise in normoxia, hypoxia, and hyperoxia. J Appl Physiol 92: 162-8., 2002.

S.R. Hopkins, H.J. Bogaard, K. Niizeki, Y. Yamaya, M.G. Ziegler, and P.D. Wagner. Beta-adrenergic or parasympathetic inhibition, heart rate and cardiac output during normoxic and acute hypoxic exercise in humans. J Physiol 550: 605-16., 2003.

A. Kleinsasser, D.L. Levin, A. Loeckinger, and S.R. Hopkins. A pig model of high altitude pulmonary edema. High Alt Med Biol 4: 465-74., 2003.

M. Pronk, I. Tiemessen, M.D. Hupperets, B.P. Kennedy, F.L. Powell, S.R. Hopkins, and P.D. Wagner. Persistence of the Lactate Paradox over 8 Weeks at 3800 m. High Alt Med Biol 4: 431-43., 2003.

I.M. Olfert, J. Balouch, A. Kleinsasser, A. Knapp, H. Wagner, P.D. Wagner, and S.R. Hopkins. Does gender affect pulmonary gas exchange during exercise? J Physiol 27: 27, 2004.

F.L. Powell, and S.R. Hopkins. Comparative physiology of lung complexity: implications for gas exchange. News Physiol Sci 19: 55-60., 2004.

S.R. Hopkins, and C.A. Harms. Gender and pulmonary gas exchange during exercise. Exerc Sport Sci Rev 32: 50-6, 2004.

S. Hopkins. Function magnetic resonance imaging of the lung: a physiological perspective. J Thoracic Imaging (accepted), 2004.

M. Hupperets, S. Hopkins, M. Pronk, I. Tiemessen, N. Garcia, P. Wagner, and F.L. Powell. Ventilatory acclimatization in humans during 8 weeks at 3,800m altitude. Respir Physiol  Neurobiol (In press), 2004.