Commemorating Graduation 2014

COM OutlookSummer-Fall 2014 Nova Southeastern University College of Osteopathic Medicine

Getting to Know Dr. Elaine Wallace Commemorating Graduation 2014

IN THIS ISSUE..Carisa Champion-Lippmann Wins NSU Student of the Year STUEY...Research Highlights...Medical Outreach in Brazil Dean’s Message COM Outlook By Anthony J. Silvagni, D.O., Pharm.D., M.Sc., FACOFP dist., FACPP Summer-Fall 2014 Volume 15, Number 3 Throughout the year, I have recognized the achievements of our COM Outlook is produced by students and alumni as well as our faculty and staff members. As Nova Southeastern University we celebrate the 50th anniversary of NSU and the 35th anniversary College of Osteopathic Medicine 3200 South University Drive of NSU-COM, I would like to commend all those who represent the Fort Lauderdale, FL 33328-2018 continuing success of our college. http://medicine.nova.edu Due to space constraints, it is impossible for me to name every in- https://www.facebook.com/novaosteopathic/ dividual who has made—and continues to make—a contribution to our NOVA SOUTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY college, so the following is only a small sampling of our dedicated team’s recent achievements. George L. Hanbury II, Ph.D. th NSU-COM walked away with two big wins at the 15 Annual NSU Student Life Achievement President and Chief Executive Officer Awards (STUEYS). Carisa Champion-Lippmann was chosen NSU Student of the Year and the NSU-COM Student Government Association won for Student Government of the Year. Cham- HEALTH PROFESSIONS DIVISION pion-Lippmann was also elected chair of the national Council of Osteopathic Student Govern- Frederick Lippman, R.Ph., Ed.D. ment Presidents. HPD Chancellor Fourth-year student Britani Kessler and second-year student Kelly Thibert were elected to COLLEGE OF OSTEOPATHIC MEDICINE the American Medical Student Association Board of Trustees for 2014-15, representing nearly Anthony J. Silvagni, D.O., Pharm.D., M.Sc. 40,000 physicians-in-training. First-year student Katia Jean Baptiste won a Terry G. Smith, M.D., Dean Memorial Primary Care Medicine Preceptorship. Fifteen COM students observed the American Osteopathic Association’s annual D.O. Day and MANAGING EDITOR/GRAPHIC DESIGNER the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine’sCOM Day on Capitol Hill in March Scott Colton, B.A., APR and April. Three NSU-COM Biomedical Informatics Program students and alumni are among the COM/HPD Director of Medical first group of physicians nationwide to become board certified in clinical informatics. Communications and Public Relations Dr. Nicole Cook was named as our delegate to the U.S. Pharmacopoeial Convention. Dr. ASSOCIATE EDITOR Doris Newman became a Fellow of the American Academy of Osteopathy (AAO) and was des- Debra R. Gibbs, B.A. ignated president elect of the AAO. Dr. Howard Neer received the American College of Osteo- Medical Communications Coordinator pathic Family Physicians’ Lifetime Achievement Award. Dr. Elaine M. Wallace was featured on the cover of Leaders Across America and profiled EDITORIAL CONTACT as an innovator of medical techniques. Scott Colton won a Best Feature Story or Article Award Debra Gibbs (954) 262-1545 (phone) from the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine. (954) 262-3887 (fax) The Department of Medical Education’s prominent feature in a news story on the col- [email protected] lege’s use of Second Life garnered national attention when WPLG Local 10 shared the news with syndicated ABC News stations. Dr. Janet Hamstra won the Florida Osteopathic Medical EDITORIAL BOARD Association’s (FOMA) Presidential Achievement Award for her dedication to the annual FOMA Lynne Cawley, M.Sc. Poster Competition. This year, 48 of 56 poster entries were from NSU-COM and our associates. Scott Colton, B.A., APR Dr. James T. Howell was honored at the celebration of 125 years of public health in Florida and was recognized as the founding secretary of the newly reestablished Florida Department Marti Echols, Ph.D. of Health and for having served three times as Florida’s state health officer. Dr. Nancy Klimas Debra R. Gibbs, B.A. received the 2014 Perpich Award from the International Association for Chronic Fatigue. Robin Jacobs, Ph.D. Dr. Joshua D. Lenchus (’00), president of the Jackson Health System medical staff, was Ken Johnson, D.O. named Humanitarian of the Year by the Soref Jewish Community Center. Dr. Jeffrey S. Grove (’90) is the immediate past president of the American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians. Jennie Q. Lou, M.D. Dr. Gregory James (’88) is the immediate past president of the Florida Osteopathic Medical Alina Perez, J.D., M.P.H. Association (FOMA), while Dr. William Stager (’89) is FOMA’s president elect. Clinical faculty Delfina Wilson, Ph.D. member Dr. Jorge Luna is FOMA’s current president. I am also grateful for my honors—the Robert A. Kistner Award and becoming a Fellow of the American College of Physicians of Philadelphia. As we end another academic year as leaders in our profession, I would like to thank every- one, especially the frequently unrecognized heroes who give so much and remain dedicated to building a future that empowers our graduates to offer patients the best quality health care that can be delivered.

2 COM Outlook . Summer-Fall 2014 In This Issue - Summer-Fall 2014 Champion-Lippmann Named NSU Student of the year 5 The College of Osteopathic Medicine walked away with three wins at the 15th Annual NSU Student Life Achievement Awards (STUEYS), including the most coveted award of the night: NSU Student of the Year for Carisa Champion-Lippmann.

NSU-COM Commemorates NSU’s 50th Anniversary 8 In April, NSU-COM proudly joined Nova Southeastern University’s 50th anniversary celebration by offering a week of planned events that showcased the college’s history and success.

5 Dr. Elaine Wallace Savors Life on Her Terms 20 In this enlightening profile of Dr. Elaine Wallace, she explains how her humble beginnings served as a catalyst to fashion a life that has been replete with spiritual enrichment, professional achievement, and bountiful fulfillment.

The Power of Perseverance: Dr. Jennifer Wellington 44 Some of us know early in our lives the person we want to be. Dr. Jennifer Wellington, a class of 2014 graduate, serves as an example of that special individual who has a dream and resolutely perseveres to realize it.

AREAS OF INTEREST 8 Dean’s Message – 2 Chancellor’s Communiqué – 4

COMmunications – 6

Student Awards Ceremony – 10

Health Care Legal Eagle – 12

Research/Scholarly Activity – 13

Faculty/Staff Focus – 16

NSU Overview – 18

Medical Outreach Trip to Brazil – 28 20 Graduation 2014 – 30

Alumni Corner – 41

NOTICE OF ACCREDITATION Nova Southeastern University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to award associate’s, baccalaureate, master’s, educational specialist, doctorate, and professional degrees. Contact the Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, Georgia 30033-4097 or call 404-679-4500 for questions about the accreditation of Nova Southeastern University. NONDISCRIMINATION STATEMENT Nova Southeastern University admits students of any race, color, sex, age, nondisqualifying disability, religion or creed, sexual orientation, or national or ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school, and does not discriminate in administration of its 44 educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other school-administered programs.

COM Outlook . Summer-Fall 2014 3 HPD Chancellor’s Communiqué...Frederick Lippman, R.Ph., Ed.D.

We’re at the have been part of my family for a long time. that over 95 percent of them were here time of year They’re like children to me, so when I see from their very first day of class—it makes again when we them leave, it’s bittersweet.” you feel proud because that’s a remarkable say goodbye to Graduation, however, also brings to mind retention rate. It also relates not only to our the many dis- the fact that we have a whole new group of graduates’ capabilities, but also to the fact tinguished stu- students coming into the Health Professions that the eight NSU core values our president, dents who have Division each summer after our graduates Dr. George Hanbury, always talks about are gained their depart. The beauty of Nova Southeastern not just words on a page but are instead an knowledge and University is seeing all the new faces and outcomes-based reality. honed their pro- the essence of what this nation is really all During the past few months, I met with fessional skills about—multiple ethnic groups, races, gen- several class presidents from our colleges. I while being taught by the dedicated faculty ders, styles, issues, and relationships. told them I possessed a “Chipsonian” person- and staff members here at NSU’s Health I recently had a conversation with several ality, to which one of the students quizzically Professions Division (HPD). of our HPD deans, who shared their thoughts asked, “What do you mean?” They had never For me, graduation season often brings regarding what an incredible value system seen the movie Goodbye, Mr. Chips, which is back memories of the HPD’s founder, Dr. we have here and how this has allowed us to about a headmaster at a school who would Morton Terry, whose vision and understand- establish an esteemed reputation through- get out of his office and walk the hallways ing of what the future of health care would out the United States. This is reflected in the during class breaks and recesses just to talk entail both impressed and inspired me. He re- quality students we are attracting, who truly to the students. alized that truly effective health care required have a desire to be enrolled in our programs. I usually find myself doing this once or both the understanding and willingness of It also speaks to the dedication and compas- twice a day because our students are ex- the general public to accept the precepts sion of our faculty and staff members, who tremely responsive and communicative. In of wellness and prevention, as well as gain truly care about the students. general, people hear about the so-called ills respect for all the health care professionals I believe very strongly that the individuals and warts that are voiced at the university’s involved in their care. In fact, it was these our students come into contact with daily various town hall meetings and in similar concepts that led to the establishment of at NSU’s Health Professions Division—from venues. But the reality is that an overwhelm- the Health Professions Division. those staffing the reception desks within ing number of our students feel respected, When Southeastern College of Osteo- each of our seven schools to the various nurtured—and embraced. pathic Medicine was established in 1979, support people, all play an integral role in Dr. Terry’s goal was not to create a medical enhancing our reputation. If they convey to school that would become the 800-pound our students the traits of being courteous, gorilla; it was to have it serve as a shining respectful, and gracious, then we’ve done example to the other health professions of our job. respect and professionalism as we added ad- Academic achievement is a noble attri- ditional schools prior to the merger in 1994 bute, but I don’t think we want to measure with Nova University. our quality simply by this one standard of Because of the evolution that has oc- excellence. We want to say, “This is a good curred in my 28 years with this institution, I human being.” That’s why I feel a bit melan- really view graduation as a point in time that cholic as I watch our new graduates leave. is a bit sad because it represents the last time But in the same sense, there’s happiness and I will see many of the bright, eager faces I’ve a state of jubilation in seeing all the bright gotten to know over the years. That’s why I new faces begin their professional journeys always have this to say to the parents dur- a few months later. ing my comments at the graduation dinner When you recognize that over 800 banquet: “You’ll have to excuse me for feel- graduates walked across the stage at the ing a bit melancholy because these students HPD graduation ceremony on May 18—and

4 COM Outlook . Summer-Fall 2014 Carisa Champion-Lippmann Snares STUEY Win as NSU Student of the Year

included heading up the graduation resolution that helped accommodate the students’ schedules. She also helped to orchestrate and design the HPD Student Lounge renovation and other projects central to student life. Her efforts and successes as a leader include serving as PanSGA HPD Committee chair, a President’s 64 member, Omega Beta Iota Political Action Honor Society national director, NSU’s Relay for Life Education Subcommittee member, and A Day for Children graduate student director. Carisa also serves on multiple American Osteopathic Association state and national boards and committees as the one student representative for all osteopathic medical students and the COSGP Executive Board. Carisa lives NSU’s core value of innovation as she helped create NSU’s The College of Osteopathic Medicine student centered, opportunity, D.O./J.D. pilot program and is its th walked away with three wins at the 15 scholarship/research, integrity, inaugural student. She is now the first Annual NSU Student Life Achievement diversity, innovation, and community person in the world to pursue D.O., J.D., Awards (STUEYS) held April 2 in the within the university community. and M.P.H. degrees at the same time. Miniaci Performing Arts Center on Excerpts from Champion- She excels at juggling each program, campus, including the most coveted Lippmann’s nomination entry clearly performing at the top in her classes in award of the night: NSU Student of illustrate why she was selected as NSU’s all three disciplines. In addition, her the Year for the indefatigable OMS-III Student of the Year. passion for the underserved prompted Carisa Champion-Lippmann. “As a four-year member of the SGA her to establish a student-led free clinic In addition to Champion-Lippmann’s Executive Board, student doctor Carisa for the Broward County homeless.” significant triumph, the NSU-COM Champion-Lippmann proves more than Other nominees representing NSU- Student Government Association was capable of handling the daunting tasks COM with distinction were the recipient of the university’s Student of managing her personal life and her Government of the Year STUEY, while academic career. In fact, her record of Executive of the Year John the Baker, which was nominated the highest-ever recorded commitment Margaret Wilkinson, Ph.D. by NSU-COM’s Student Government to community service—around 700 Association, was named Corporate hours—has helped both the NSU Alumni of the Year Partner of the Year. community and neighborhoods in need Kenneth Johnson, D.O. For those who are unfamiliar with across the world. Staff Person of the Year the STUEY Awards, the event was Under her leadership, the NSU-COM Donna Chase, M.B.A. created in 2000 to honor the people SGA thrived in advocating for students and organizations that best exemplify and their interests. Carisa worked Co-Curricular Adviser of the Year the core values of academic excellence, on many important causes, which Doris Newman, D.O.

COM Outlook . Summer-Fall 2014 5 Bal Fantastique Raises Funds to Support NSU’s Health Professions Division

next generation of health care practitioners,” said Frederick Lippman, R.Ph., Ed.D., HPD chancellor. “As Nova Southeastern University continues to celebrate its 50th anniversary this year, it is fitting that we recognize an individual who has helped us get to where we are today and is helping us pave the path to our future.” Funds raised from the Bal Fantastique support programs both within the classroom and in practical settings. In an effort to provide a well-rounded and community-focused educational experience, HPD students have the opportunity to participate in medical outreach trips to the Caribbean, South America, and Asia, see patients at NSU’s Health Care Centers, and volunteer their time at numerous free health Pictured (from left) are Jacqueline Travisano, fairs the university holds for the public. M.B.A., CPA, NSU executive vice president and COO; award recipient Joel Wilentz, M.D.; and Frederick Lippman, R.Ph., Ed.D.

On March 29, more than 325 community leaders, philanthropists, and NSU faculty members, students, and administrators attended the Health Professions Division’s 29th Annual Bal Fantastique at the Hyatt Regency Pier 66 in Fort Lauderdale. Over the years, the black-tie event has raised a significant sum of money that helps support educational and community programs in areas such as medicine, optometry, pharmacy, dental medicine, health care sciences, nursing, and medical All seven HPD deans were in attendance at this year’s Bal Fantastique. sciences. In addition, HPD Board of Governors’ member and Pictured (from left) are Dr. Anthony J. Silvagni (Osteopathic Medicine), dermatologist Joel Wilentz, M.D., was honored with the HPD Linda Niessen, D.M.D., M.P.H., M.P.P. (Dental Medicine), Irv Rosenbaum, D.P.A., Ed.D., M.P.A., HPD executive dean for administration, Distinguished Service Award for his numerous contributions Stanley H. Wilson, Ed.D., PT, CEAS (Health Care Sciences), Marcella to the health care field and NSU in particular. M. Rutherford, Ph.D., M.B.A., M.S.N. (Nursing), Lisa Deziel, Ph.D., “It is my pleasure to honor Dr. Wilentz for his continued Pharm.D. (Pharmacy), David S. Loshin, O.D., Ph.D., FAAO (Optometry), service and dedication to helping us educate and develop the and Harold E. Laubach, Ph.D., M.S. (Medical Sciences).

New...Noteworthy Larkin organizations, hospital health systems, and Community service systems. Larkin was the only hospital On June 4, Hospital, in Florida to incorporate the program’s the college’s which is a principles hospital-wide in 2012-13 and was Project HOPE member of selected due to its continuing success in (Homelessness the college’s incorporating trauma-informed principles. in Osteopathic Consortium Predoctoral for Excellence in Medical Education, has According to MedScapes’s 2014 Physician Education been chosen as one of the five organizations Compensation Report, most specialties program) was selected nationwide to participate in the reported income increases ranging from the subject of National Center for Trauma Informed modest to significant. Rheumatology showed a report by WPLG-MIA (ABC) – Local 10 News. Care (NCTIC) initiative sponsored by the the highest annual increase at 15 percent, In the broadcast, OMS-IV Aaron Fisher shared Substance Abuse and Mental Health while nephrology had the largest decline at his experience about providing health care to Service Administration. The program 8 percent. Orthopedics topped the list at the homeless at Camillus Health Concern in aims at successful implementation of $413,000, followed by cardiology ($351,000), Miami, Florida. trauma-informed practices in government urology ($348,000), and gastroenterology

6 COM Outlook . Summer-Fall 2014 COMmunications NSU-COM Donors Honored at is accompanied by a $500 cash award. Both public health scholarships are provided due to the generosity of Marie Big Thank You Luncheon Morris—the widow of Morton Morris, D.O., J.D., FAOAO, who served as executive dean for professional affairs at the NSU Health Professions Division prior to his death in May 2008. To be eligible for the scholarship, nominees must be NSU-COM students or have already achieved their D.O. degree, showcase high academic achievement, be currently enrolled in the college’s Master of Public Health Program, and demonstrate financial need. Pictured (from left) are Katia Jean Baptiste Honored Summer Jones, Marie Morris, with Humana Award and Earl Gerald Carlos.

NSU’s Third Annual Big Thank You Scholarship Lun- cheon, which was held on March 24 in the Don Taft Univer- sity Center Arena, provides NSU administrators and students an opportunity to honor scholarship donors who continually make a difference in the students’ lives. OMS-III Diondra Burney (pictured below with Dr. Silvagni) received the Beth and Joel L. Rush, D.O., Endowed

Scholarship, which is accompanied by a $1,000 cash award Pictured are Jill Sumfest, M.D., Humana vice president; Delfina Wilson, Ph.D., and is provided to NSU-COM students who are in good aca- director of student services; Katia Jean Baptiste; Dr. Anthony J. Silvagni; demic standing and are in extreme and/or urgent financial Dianna Silvagni, J.D., clinical assistant professor of medical education; and Stephanie Petrosky, M.H.A., RD, director of administrative services. need at any juncture during their NSU-COM education. OMS-III Summer OMS-I Katia Jean Baptiste is one of three South Florida Jones received the Mor- medical students who received a paid summer preceptor- ton Morris Public Health ship at a Humana-owned primary care medical center. Hu- Endowment Scholarship, mana presented the Terry G. Smith, M.D., Memorial Primary which is accompanied by Care Medicine Preceptorships at a reception held March 26 a $1,000 cash allocation, at Florida International University in Miami. while OMS-II Earl Gerald Jean Baptiste, who was chosen based on recommenda- Carlos received the Judy tions and her interest in primary-care medicine, will com- Morris Endowment Me- plete a four- to six-week paid summer preceptorship at a Hu- morial Scholarship, which mana-owned primary care medical center in South Florida.

($348,000). The bottom-earning specialties Transplantation Area 2, which comprises 13 in the 2014 survey were HIV/infectious counties and is expected to be operational in disease ($174,000), family medicine 2015. Largo Medical Center is one of only eight ($176,000), and pediatrics ($181,000). hospitals statewide approved to provide kidney transplant services. In addition, Largo will Largo Medical expand access to emergency care in Clearwater Center, which in the fall of 2014 with the opening of a is a member freestanding emergency department in central of NSU-COM’s Pinellas County called Clearwater ER. Consortium from NSU’s Pre-Medical Society and Pre-SOMA, for Excellence As part of its outreach efforts for National were invited to attend classes and participate in Medical Osteopathic Medicine Week, the college’s in various activities with the NSU-COM Education, received approval in March to Student Osteopathic Medical Association students. Activities included a vitals workshop offer one of the most highly specialized adult (SOMA) chapter hosted ShaDO Day on April in the Simulation Lab, attending the OMM Lab, kidney transplant programs on Florida’s West 17. As part of the festivities, 30 undergraduate and having lunch with the college’s inimitable Coast. The program will serve the state’s students from various schools, including some dean, Dr. Anthony J. Silvagni.

COM Outlook . Summer-Fall 2014 7 NSU-COM Commemorates NSU’s 50th Anniversary with Tour, Exhibits, and Reception

In April, NSU-COM proudly joined Nova highlighted by a special award being presented Southeastern University’s 50th anniversary to those individuals who have been with the celebration by offering a week of planned events college since its merger with Nova University in true collegial fashion. Activities coordinated in 1994. The week’s festivities culminated with by the 50th Anniversary Taskforce provided several NSU-COM hosting “Coffee and Conversation” in interactive activities showcasing the history and the Alvin Sherman Library, which included an success of the college. impressive display of archives and memorabilia. The celebration and open house initiated with The personal reflections of select members of tours and hands-on demonstrations of the medical the faculty and student body on the positive simulation laboratory for NSU faculty and staff contributions the college has made to NSU, members. The Terry Atrium—bustling at midday the community, and the legacy of osteopathic when foot traffic peaks—was filled with a large medicine were exhibited at the gathering and exhibition displaying unique contributions such as added to the enjoyment of the morning. research, educational materials, clinical services, Although many individuals contributed to program attributes, and accomplishments hosted the success of the weeklong commemoration, by NSU-COM centers and departments. Participants special thanks are extended to the college’s received small gifts and helpful information along 50th Anniversary Taskforce members: Hilda De with friendly greetings and refreshments in the Gaetano D.O., FAAP, FACOP; Johneta Goodwin; high-energy venue. Kenneth Johnson, D.O., FACOOG; Stephanie Among the events was an evening reception Petrosky, M.H.A., RD; Cecilia Rokusek, Ed.D., RD; to honor the employees of NSU-COM, which was and Mark Sandhouse, D.O., M.S.

8 COM Outlook . Summer-Fall 2014 COM Outlook . Summer-Fall 2014 9 Student Awards Ceremony Celebrates Success

On May 9, a number of awards and scholarships were presented to both students and faculty members at the annual OMS-I and II Student Awards Ceremony. Students were honored in areas such as research, academic excellence, and community service, while several faculty members were presented with Golden Apple Awards for their outstanding teaching abilities.

Azad, Martinez Receive Dr. Drs. Boesler and Sprague Earn Matthew Terry Scholarships Golden Apple Awards OMS-I Hasan Azad and OMS-II Zophia Martinez were the recipients of the Dr. Matthew A. Terry Scholarship Endowment. The academic accolade, which is accompanied by a $500 cash award, was established in 1999 to honor first- and second- year medical students who epitomize virtues such as scholastic excellence, service to David Boesler, D.O., M.S. (left), associate professor and the school, empathy, and congeniality. The Dr. Matthew A. chair of the Department of Neuromusculoskeletal Medi- Terry Scholarship Endowment, which was the brainchild cine, and Peter A. Sprague, D.P.T., PT, OCS (right), assis- of the Department of Family Medicine, serves as a fitting tant professor of osteopathic principles and practice in the tribute to NSU-COM students who embody the true spirit Department of Sports Medicine, were the recipients of this of an osteopathic practitioner. (Pictured are Hasan Azad year’s Golden Apple Awards for their outstanding teach- and Dr. Anthony J. Silvagni, NSU-COM dean.) ing skills. Dr. Boesler received his award from the class of Student Trio Wins Dr. Bradley I. 2017, while Dr. Sprague was honored by the class of 2016. (Pictured are Dr. Boesler with OMS-I Marco Casanova Silverman Scholarship and Dr. Sprague with OMS-II Chelsea Wells.)

Griswold Receives Klein Academical Society Endowment Scholarship OMS-I Ashley Griswold was the recipient of the Robert Klein Academical Society Endowment Scholarship, which is an annual scholarship accompanied by a $1,500 award. To be OMS-II Paul Malczak, OMS-II Kruti Yagnik, and OMS- eligible, nominees must I Angela Kim were the recipients of the Eighth Annual be an NSU-COM stu- Dr. Bradley I. Silverman Memorial Scholarship, which dent in good standing, was established in 2006 to honor outstanding NSU-COM be actively involved in students who participate in cancer-related community the Klein Academical service and showcase compassion, commitment, and Society, and submit an application and essay. The award other laudable traits exemplified by Dr. Silverman. In ad- is named after former NSU-COM faculty member Robert dition to earning well-deserved recognition, the award- Klein, D.O., who passed away in October 2004. (Pictured ees each received $1,500 cash awards. (Pictured (from are Kenneth Johnson, D.O., FACOOG, associate professor left) are Paul Malczak, Marilyn and Stanley Silverman, and chair of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecol- Angela Kim, and Kruti Yagnik.) ogy, and OMS-I Ashley Griswold.)

10 COM Outlook . Summer-Fall 2014 Four Students Honored with to fellow society members. They are as follows: Lloyd Burnell Research Awards Petty (William G. Anderson, D.O.), Nicole Shovlin (Louisa Burns, D.O.); Victoria Comeau (Robert Klein, D.O.); Sabrina Melekson (Fred Lippman, Ed.D.); Nikita Donti (Anthony J. Silvagni, D.O.); Ricky Patel (Bradley I. Silverman, D.O.); Rebecca Drucker (A.T. Still, M.D., D.O.); Rita Zeidan (Morton Terry, D.O.); Amanda Jurvis (James Turner, D.O.); and Michael Haynes (Ross Zaf- onte, D.O.). In addition, Jasmine Nebhrajani and Justin Nippert received peer executive awards. All winners are nominated by their peers as being supportive and involved society members who exemplify the attitudes regarding COM participation, community service, and professionalism within their society. The honor is accompanied by a $1,500 cash award for each winner. Pictured (left bottom photo) are Jasmine Nebhrajani, Nikita Donti, Nicole Shovlin, and Victoria Comeau. Four NSU-COM students—OMS-II Naveen Dhawan, OMS-III Logan Huff, OMS-II Magui Mikhail, and OMS- TOUCH Community Service Awards III Steven Fan Zhang—were named the winners of the Dr. Kenneth Burnell Student Research Awards, which are presented to NSU-COM students who conduct outstanding research in either clinical medicine or biomedical science. The scholarship was established in 2001 through an endowed gift from the late Dr. Burnell to stimulate student research at NSU-COM. This year, more students participated in the program than ever before. In addition, the quality of the submissions resulted in the college pre- senting cash awards to a record number of individuals. All students received credit on their NSU-COM transcripts for having completed a course in research and a $500 cash award. (Pictured (from left) are Naveen Dhawan, Magui Mikhail, Cecilia Rokusek, Ed.D., RD, assistant dean for Fifty-five students were honored with TOUCH Commu- education, planning, and research, Steven Fan Zhang, nity Service Awards for their extensive community service and Logan Huff.) work during their first or second years at NSU-COM. These humanistic individuals were honored for their hard work Peer Mentors Garner Attention and dedication toward improving the NSU, local, national, and international communities. The awards, which are divided into platinum, gold, and silver categories, are based on the following criteria: The platinum honor is presented to the student that logged the greatest number of TOUCH community service hours in the current academic year. Gold status is granted to applicants that logged at least 110 TOUCH community service hours, while silver status is accorded to applicants that logged at least 60 hours. Below are the TOUCH honorees in the platinum and gold categories: Platinum: Dustin Benyo (OMS-I). Gold: Kristi Ray and Tiffany Crider (OMS-Is); Amy Williams, Nhi-Kieu Nguyen, Christopher Scholten, Chelsea Wells, David Kim, Mariam Ten conscientious second-year students were honored Viqar, Richard Fong, Nicole Shovlin, Lloyd Petty, and Tyler for their contributions to their individual academical Gombash (OMS-IIs); and Konstantin Alekseyenko and Alek- societies (listed in italics) as well as their commitment sey Alekseyenko (OMS-IIIs).

COM Outlook . Summer-Fall 2014 11 HEALTH CARE LEGAL EAGLE The Importance of Coding

By Fred Segal, Esq.

While they may not have imagined it, physi- go through the headache of appealing the Choosing to become a cians begin to realize very quickly into their insurer’s decision. medical career that they have to oversee cer- In addition, inaccurate or false informa- medical professional tain administrative functions related to their tion on a claim for payment to a government practice of medicine that are neither fun nor benefits program (e.g., Medicare/Medicaid) most likely stems from exciting. Most of these administrative func- could subject a physician to extremely harsh tions, however, are essential for maintaining penalties. First, the government program a successful physician practice. Carelessness may treat the inaccurate claim as an overpay- a desire to help fellow in the performance of such tasks could subject ment and demand a refund of the amounts a physician to a suspension or loss of his or received. Also, if it believes it can prove citizens, save lives, and her medical license. that a physician intended for a government Medical coding, for example, is one of the payment to be made from a claim that was make a difference in most important administrative functions a falsely coded, the United States Department physician will face. In most instances, the ma- of Justice could bring charges against the the world. When aspir- jority of a physician’s services are reimbursed physician, which could result in prison time, by a third party payor, such as an insurance or the Office of Inspector General can bring ing physicians go to company or a government-funded program a lawsuit against the physician and his or her like Medicare. Medical coding, generally, is practice that could result in exorbitant fines. medical school, more the process taking a physician’s documenta- A wise man once said, “What you put in with tion of the services he or she performs and the pen you can’t take out with the sword.” often than not they matching it to a specific clinical code. This Everything a physician writes down, or every- process is performed by a medical coding thing that is sent out on his or her behalf, must are solely focused on professional, who then creates a claim for be accounted for and be accurate. If not, major payment that is presented to a payor. problems could be on the horizon. Proper coding depends on the medical learning how to physi- professional to assign the appropriate code to a procedure performed, as well as the physi- cally practice medi- cian to accurately document the procedure performed. Some of the more common cod- cine; that is, consulting ing violations are upcoding (assigning a code for a similar but different procedure that pays with patients, diag- a higher reimbursement) and unbundling (coding a procedure as a single service when nosing illnesses, and such procedure should be treated as part of another bigger procedure). prescribing treatment. Inaccurate coding can create numerous problems for a physician and his or her practice. If a private payor (e.g., a health insur- Fred Segal is a health law attorney ance provider) finds inaccuracies in the claim in the Miami office of the law firm Broad and Cassel and is a graduate for payment, it may deny payment, and the of NSU’s Shepard Broad Law Center. physician or his or her practice will have to

12 COM Outlook . Summer-Fall 2014 Research/Scholarly Activity - Faculty and Student Achievements

OMS-III Ca- Relational Homelessness” at the 2014 & Spirituality in Social Work, risa Champi- Suicide As- National Health Care for the and “Social Media in Pharmacy: on-Lippmann, sessment: Homeless Conference and Poli- Analysis of Pharmacists’ Use who is also Risks, Re- cy Symposium held May 28-30 of Twitter” in the April edition pursuing a sources, and in New Orleans, Louisiana. The of the American Journal of J.D. degree at Possibilities poster summarized the results Health-System Pharmacy. NSU’s Shepa- for Safety. He of a student-led research rd Broad Law Center, was part also presented a workshop on project in collaboration with OMS-IV Bri- of a team that won first place the topic at the annual confer- NSU-COM’s Project HOPE. tani Kessler as the overall champion at the ence of the American Associa- Elliot Sklar, Ph.D., and Kristi (pictured left) L. Edward Bryant, Jr., National tion of Suicidology held April Messer, M.P.H., M.S.W., and OMS-II Health Law Transactional 9-12 in Los Angeles, California. served as faculty advisers. Kelly Thibert Competition held March 21 were elected at Loyola University School of Mark Gabay, T. Lucas to the Ameri- Law in Chicago, Illinois. The D.O., FAAP, Hollar, Ph.D., can Medical Student Associa- competition required the team FACOP, assis- assistant tion (AMSA) Board of Trustees to advise the physician owners tant professor professor of for 2014-15. Kessler became of a specialty hospital about of pediatrics, public health, national president on May 1, their options for the future, served as authored while Thibert assumed the vice taking into account complex one of the “Healthcare president for internal affairs legal and business consider- moderators for the 17th Annual Spending and Prevention position. As board officers, they ations. In May, she was recog- Pediatric Board Review Course Within the Affordable Care Act: are representing nearly 40,000 nized for her outstanding ac- hosted by Miami Children’s Contrasting Public Health and physicians-in-training, maintain complishments by the Florida Hospital that took place May Medical Models of Prevention,” alliances with other organiza- State University (FSU) Alumni 15-18 in Miami Beach. In ad- which is a chapter in a book tions, and visit AMSA chapters Association, which honored dition, Dr. Gabay played a key entitled The American Election across the country. her with the Reubin O’D. role in the development of 2012: Contexts and Conse- Askew Young Alumni Award. the inaugural Internet-based quences. Dr. Hollar was also in- Nancy Kli- Champion-Lippmann, a 2008 nationwide pediatrics resi- vited to serve as a peer reviewer mas, M.D., FSU alumna, received double dency in-service examination for the Journal of the American professor accolades from the association in with the American Osteo- Osteopathic Association and of internal by winning a Thirty Under 30 pathic Board of Pediatrics that was appointed to the American medicine and Award—highlighting the ac- is entering its second year of Association of Colleges of Os- director of complishments of 30 of FSU’s administration in August 2014. teopathic Medicine Council of NSU-COM’s outstanding young alumni who Osteopathic Researchers. Institute for Neuro-Immune are age 30 or younger. Then— OMS-IV An- Medicine, was featured on from that already impressive drew R. Gar- Robin J. Ja- Oprah Winfrey’s Web site group—she was one of six rett, M.S., had cobs, Ph.D., Oprah.com in an article en- chosen to receive the coveted his coauthored M.S.W., titled “Not Feeling Well? This Askew Award—the highest article en- director of Could Be Why” that discussed honor bestowed upon young titled “A Novel international the symptoms of chronic fa- alumni by the FSU Alumni Method for medicine, tigue syndrome. Association. The Askew Award Predicting Antioxidant Activity presented a is named in honor of the late Based on Amino Acid Structure” lecture coauthored with Elaine OMS-IV Milla Reubin O’D. Askew, who published in Food Chemistry. M. Wallace, D.O., M.S., M.S., Kviatkovsky, started his political career at M.S., NSU-COM’s executive as- who present- FSU as student body president OMS-IIIs sociate dean, entitled, “Identifi- ed her case before going on to become Britta Gray cation of Musculoskeletal Disor- report entitled one of America’s most respect- (pictured ders in Medically Underserved “The Bloody ed governors from 1971-79. left), Andrew Regions of Rural Vietnam” at Aortic Stenso- Garrett, and the Second International Con- sis: A Case of Heyde Syndrome” Douglas Flemons, Ph.D., Samantha ference on Health and Medical at the national American Col- LMFT, professor of family ther- Berr present- Sciences held May 6 in Athens, lege of Physicians Internal Medi- apy, clinical professor of family ed a poster entitled “A Survey Greece. She also authored cine Meeting held April 10-12 in medicine, and co-director of of Medical School Curricula “Charity and Competence of Orlando, Florida, also received NSU’s Office of Suicide and Addressing Interprofessional- Charitable Gift Givers,” which first-place honors in the sympo- Violence Prevention, recently ism and the Health Care Needs was published in the May edi- sium’s Medical Student Clinical coauthored a book entitled of Individuals Experiencing tion of the Journal of Religion Vignette Competition.

COM Outlook . Summer-Fall 2014 13 Research/Scholarly Activity - Faculty and Student Achievements

Linda Mau- at supporting innovative and Caused by thored a rice, M.A., transformative approaches to Adolescent response ar- director of increase the diversity of the Anorexia ticle entitled the Lifelong biomedical workforce. Nervosa” as “Serious Ara- Learning Insti- a research bic Meaning, tute, recently Deborah A. poster pre- Grammatical, completed Mulligan, sentation at and Study her master’s degree in cross- M.D., FAAP, the American College of Os- Design Flaws in the study disciplinary studies at the NSU FACEP, direc- teopathic Pediatricians Spring “Faxed Arabic Prescriptions: Graduate School of Humani- tor of NSU’s Conference held April 25-27 A Medication Error Waiting ties and Social Sciences. At the Institute for in Kansas City, Missouri. to Happen?” with Raed H. American Society on Aging’s Child Health AlHazme, M.S.B.I. (’12) and Annual Aging in America Con- Policy and clinical professor of OMS-III a College of Pharmacy student ference held March 11-15 in pediatrics, spoke at the Ameri- Alexandros that was published in the June San Diego, California, she pre- can Academy of Pediatrics Pappas pre- issue of the International sented a roundtable discussion Annual Leadership Forum held sented his re- Journal of Medical Informat- entitled “It’s Not Your Grand- March 13-16 in Chicago, Il- search poster ics. Dr. Rana also received his parents’ Retirement—The New linois. The forum was attended entitled Master of Science degree in Reality of ‘Mature’ Adults.” by 250 executive leaders who “Success of Medical Education from NSU’s support the Human Trafficking Intraocular Pressure Control Abraham S. Fischler School of Heather C. Education as a Component of in Glaucoma Patients Under- Education in May. McCarthy, Medical Education and Pediat- going Canaloplasty with and D.O., assistant ric Training Resolution. Without Cataract Extraction Robin I. professor in a Single Center Setting” at Shecter, of medical Doris New- the Association for Research D.O., FACOD, education man, D.O., and Vision in Ophthalmology clinical assis- and osteo- FAAO, associ- (ARVO) Annual Meeting in tant professor pathic principles and practice, ate professor Orlando, Florida on May 6. He of dermatol- director of the Simulation/ of osteopath- was awarded the ARVO/Vision ogy and resi- Standardized Patient Lab, and a ic principles Research Minority Fellowship dency director at West Palm faculty member of the National and practice Award and Travel Grant to Hospital in West Palm Beach, Board of Osteopathic Medical and director of the Depart- present at the meeting. Florida, has created a new and Examiners, recently partici- ment of Rural and Urban innovative children’s cotton pated in the Level 2 Final Exam Underserved Medicine, suc- OMS-III Eliza- candy-scented sunscreen gel Review meeting held June cessfully completed all the beth Potter named Lickady-Split. Fueled 16-17 in Chicago, Illinois. In requirements to become a was selected by the need for a safe and July, she was involved with the Fellow of the American Acad- as the East protective product that kids key validation of items for the emy of Osteopathy (FAAO). Florida Physi- will want to use, Dr. Shecter COMLEX-USA Level 2-CE. This honor, which makes her cians Alli- spent two years developing the 81st living FAAO, was con- ance Scholar, the product with a chemist. Mariana Mor- ferred during the AAO’s Con- which came with a $2,500 ris, Ph.D., vocation held March 19-23 in scholarship for her to attend Peter A. professor Colorado Springs, Colorado. the 66th American Academy of Sprague, and director She also presented a two-day Neurology (AAN) Annual Meet- D.P.T., PT, of Gulf War pre-convocation workshop for ing on April 26 in Philadelphia, OCS, assistant research at the AAO entitled “The Osteo- Pennsylvania. Potter was se- professor of NSU-COM’s pathic Approach to Common lected because of her educa- osteopathic Institute for Neuro-Immune ENT Complaints in Children,” tional goals, leadership skills, principles Medicine, was recently ap- was invited to judge the and academic potential. She and practice in the Depart- pointed to the review panel Louisa Burns Osteopathic also was among a hand-picked ment of Sports Medicine, for the National Institutes Research Poster Competition, group of individuals who were authored a paper entitled of Health’s (NIH) National and was designated as presi- invited to attend the AAN’s “Changes in Functional Move- Research Mentoring Network. dent elect of the AAO. Women in Leadership course. ment Screen Scores Over a The network is a new and im- Season in Collegiate Soccer portant initiative from the NIH OMS-III Andrea Palestro pre- Arif M. Rana, Ph.D., Ed.S., and Volleyball Athletes” that Common Fund’s “Enhancing sented a case report entitled M.S., assistant professor of was published in the June edi- Diversity in the NIH-Funded “Dying to Be Thin: Superior biomedical informatics and tion of the Journal of Strength Workforce” program aimed Mesenteric Artery Syndrome medical education, coau- and Conditioning Research.

14 COM Outlook . Summer-Fall 2014 Research/Scholarly Activity - Faculty and Student Achievements

Drs. Marriott, Thomas-Purcell Gabriel Suciu, Ph.D., Receive Kenyon Cancer Research Grant M.S.P.H., associate professor of public health, coauthored an article with a number of NSU-COM alumni and residents entitled Wikipedia Vs. Peer-Reviewed Medical Litera- ture for Information About the 10 Most Costly Medical Con- ditions” in the May issue of the Journal of the American Osteopathic Association.

Elliot Sklar, Ph.D., M.S., director of Project HOPE (Homeless- ness in Osteopathic Predoctoral Education), Kristi Messer, M.S.W., M.P.H., executive director of Project HOPE, and Nadine Chipon-Schoepp, D.O., assistant professor of family medicine, presented “Chronic Disease Management Strate- gies in Persons Experiencing Homelessness for Student Providers” at the National Oneka B. Marriott, D.O., M.P.H., as- provided by an endowment created by the Health Care for the Home- sistant professor of pediatrics and public late Franklin Kenyon and Frances Kenyon less Conference and Policy health and assistant director of medical Agneski. The program helps support fac- Symposium held May 28-30 in education for the NSU-COM/Palm Beach ulty members who engage in primary care New Orleans, Louisiana. County Health Department Preventive cancer-related research with an award of OMS-II Medicine Residency Program, and Kamilah up to $15,000 for one year. Khasim Syed B. Thomas-Purcell, Ph.D., M.P.H., CHES, Dr. Thomas-Purcell also received a presented director of the Interprofessional Primary $5,000 grant from the American Associa- his poster Care Education Program and assistant pro- tion of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine entitled fessor of public health, received the 2014-15 to conduct a study with Cyril Blavo, D.O., “Impaired Akt NSU-COM Kenyon Cancer Research Grant. M.P.H. and T.M., FACOP, director of the Phosphory- lation in Response to High Dr. Marriott will conduct a study en- college’s Master of Public Health Program, Insulin in Human RPE Cells” titled “Situational Analysis and Needs As- entitled “Interprofessional Education: at the Association for Research sessment in Children’s Cancer in Rwanda,” Impact of M.P.H. training on D.O. Inter- in Vision and Ophthalmology while Dr. Thomas-Purcell will assess “Gre- professional Collaboration.” Annual Meeting on May 4 in nadian Women’s Perspectives on Screen- Pictured (above from left) are Dr. Orlando, Florida. ing for Breast and Cervical Cancer.” Thomas-Purcell, Leonard Levy, D.P.M., Since 2001, NSU-COM has offered the M.P.H., associate dean for education, Kenyon Cancer Research Grant, which is planning, and research, and Dr. Marriott.

COM Outlook . Summer-Fall 2014 15 Research/Scholarly Activity - Faculty and Student Achievements

Faculty Members Receive “Epigenetic Modulation of Viral Infection: Role of DNA Meth- ylation in Recovery” - Paula Waziry, Ph.D., and President’s, QOF Grants Lubov Nathanson, Ph.D. On May 13, a number of NSU-COM faculty members, in col- “A Novel Immune Fingerprint for mTBI Diagnosis and Recov- laboration with other NSU faculty researchers, were awarded ery Prognosis” - Travis Craddock, Ph.D., Mary Ann Fletcher, cash endowments in the university’s 15th Annual President’s Ph.D., and Stephen Russo, Ph.D. Faculty Research and Development Grant (PFRDG) and 12th “Effect of Baseline Platelet Count on Healing After Platelet-Rich Annual Quality of Life Awards ceremony. Plasma Injection” - Melissa Tabor, D.O., and During the event, 39 research projects received PFRDG Logan Huff (OMS-III) awards up to $10,000 each for fiscal year 2015. The ceremony also served to recognize the dedication and innovation of the “Port Everglades Inlet Microbiome Analysis Using High- 56 faculty members and 54 students from the 13 academic Throughput DNA Sequencing” - Jay Fleisher, Ph.D. units that submitted a total of 65 PFRDG proposals. Please “Detailed Molecular Profiling of Sporadic Stage I note that although other NSU faculty members and students Breast Cancer” - Stephen Grant, Ph.D. were involved in several of the award-winning projects listed below, only NSU-COM participants are listed. Following are “Effects of Type 2 Diabetes on Antiretroviral Adherence in the projects that feature NSU-COM participation: Older Adults with HIV” - Robin Jacobs, Ph.D.

President’s Faculty Research and Development Grants Quality of Life Grant “Explorative Gene Expression and Pathway Analysis for Innova- “Community Gardens for Special Needs and Nursing Home tive Cancer Treatment” - Lubov Nathanson, Ph.D., and Communities” - Elizabeth Hames, D.O., and Paula Waziry, Ph.D. Kristi Ray (OMS-I)

Faculty/Staff Focus - Activities, Achievements, and Awards (Non Research)

Scott Colton, nonprofit organization that is Health Department Preventive of medical B.A., APR, the official pharmacopeia of Medicine Residency Program. education at COM/HPD the United States. Dr. Marriott is also a fellow in Largo Medi- director of the Ohio University Heritage cal Center, medical com- Marie Flo- College of Osteopathic Medi- was named munications rent-Carre, cine Health Policy Fellowship president of and public D.O., M.P.H., for the 2013-14 year. the American relations, received a Best assistant Osteopathic Foundation (AOF) Feature Story or Article Award professor of Howard Neer, Board of Directors. in the AACOM Communica- family medi- D.O., FACOFP, tions Awards Competition held cine, joined associate dean Anthony J. during the American Associa- NSU-COM in May. A 2004 of alumni Silvagni, tion of Colleges of Osteopathic alumna, Dr. Florent-Carre affairs and D.O., Medicine (AACOM) Annual worked as a family medicine HPD executive Pharm.D., Conference, which took place residency preceptor in Belle associate dean M.Sc., FA- April 2-5 in Washington, D.C. Glade, Florida, before becom- for professional affairs, was COFP dist., ing a faculty member. the recipient of the American FACPP, NSU- Nicole College of Osteopathic Family COM dean, was the recipient Cook, Ph.D., Oneka B. Physicians’ (ACOFP) Lifetime of the Robert A. Kistner Award M.P.A., assis- Marriott, Achievement Award during the during the AACOM Annual tant profes- D.O., M.P.H., organization’s annual conven- Conference. In addition, he sor of public assistant tion held March 13-16 in Phila- was named a Fellow of the health, was professor of delphia, Pennsylvania. American College of Physicians chosen to pediatrics and of Philadelphia and was reap- represent NSU-COM as one of public health, Anthony Ottaviani, D.O., pointed to a three-year term approximately 300 voting del- was named assistant director M.P.H., MACOI, FCCP, clinical on the American Osteopathic egates of United States Phar- of medical education for the professor of internal medicine, Association’s Consultants on macopeia (USP), a scientific NSU-COM/Palm Beach County regional dean, and director College Accreditation List.

16 COM Outlook . Summer-Fall 2014 High-Profile Presence at AACOM Conference

During the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine (AACOM) Annual Conference, held April 2-5 in Washington, D.C., a number of NSU-COM faculty and staff members and students provided lectures, made poster presentations, won awards, and served as AACOM council chairs.

ORAL PRESENTATIONS “Curriculum Mapping—Operationalizing the Core Competencies” and “Candidate Interview Experience Using Simulation” Marti Echols, Ph.D., M.Ed.

“Innovations in Faculty Development: Interprofessional Merging of Education and Medicine (A Model Program Developed by the Colleges of Education and Osteopathic Medicine)” Cecilia Rokusek, Ed.D., RD

“Video Reviews of Clinical Encounters: Can Authentic Feedback Improve Third-Year Student Physicians’ Interpersonal Skills?”

Heather McCarthy, D.O. Janet Roseman, Ph.D., R-DMT

“Implementation of an Online Faculty Development Program on Interprofessional Education, Practice, and Research” Stacey Pinnock, M.S.W., and Cecilia Rokusek, Ed.D., RD

POSTER PRESENTATIONS “Admissions—The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly”

Jacqueline Thomas, D.O. David L. Thomas, M.D., J.D., Ed.D.

“Evaluating the Impact of an Educational Presentation About Osteopathic Medicine on the Knowledge and Attitudes of Future Health Care Professionals Toward Osteopathic Physicians”

OMS-III Carisa Champion-Lippmann OMS-III Elyse Julian OMS-IV Jessica Wilbur Peterson Janet Hamstra, Ed.D., M.S.

“Impact of Interprofessional Health Fairs on Students’ Willingness to Work Together on Interprofessional Projects: Implication for Future Practice”

OMS-III Carisa Champion-Lippmann OMS-IV Eric Chung Cecilia Rokusek, Ed.D., RD Researchers Receive Patents...Give Kids a Smile Day...Glass Ceiling Award

Three NSU Researchers Audiology Students Help Children Receive Patents Hear for the First Time

Doctor of Audiology students from the College of Health Care Sci- ences’ Department of Audiology partnered with Phonak to donate hearing aids and other supplies valued at more than $50,000 to Los Pipitos—a Nicaraguan nonprofit facility for 21 children with disabilities. As part of NSU’s Hearing Aids for Nicaraguan Students service program, six audiology students and a faculty adviser traveled to the Central American country to provide audiograms and other necessary tests and fit the children for their new hearing aids. They also conducted information sessions on how to use and care for the devices for the children and their families. Pictured (from left) are George L. Hanbury II, Ph.D., NSU One child spoke for the first time after receiving his hearing aids. He president and chief executive officer, Dr. Rathinavelu, Dr. had previously only mouthed words without making a sound. Thompson, Dr. Harbaugh, and Gary Margules, Sc.D., NSU vice president for research and technology transfer.

Three NSU professors from three different colleges recently secured patents for their innovations. Appu Rathinavelu, Ph.D., associate dean for institutional planning and development at the College of Pharmacy and executive director of NSU’s Rumbaugh-Goodwin Institute for Can- cer Research, received a Japanese patent for developing a novel cancer treatment. The small organic molecule called JFD that he and his team discovered is anti-angiogenic, meaning it starves tumors and other can- Doctor of Audiology students Melissa Cordova and Lola cer cells by preventing blood flow that supplies the tumors with oxygen Zaka testing 10-year-old Jorge Mercado’s hearing prior to and nutrients that would otherwise help them to grow and survive. programming his hearing aids. Jeffrey Thompson, Ph.D., professor of prosthodontics and director of the Biosciences Research Center in the College of Dental Medicine, secured a U.S. patent for developing a surface modification technology to NSU Executive Vice President promote chemical bonding between high-performance ceramic materials Receives Glass Ceiling Award like alumina and zirconia and biological materials, such as tooth struc- tures, and synthetic materials, such as dentures and crowns. Jacqueline A. Travisano, M.B.A., CPA, NSU’s executive vice presi- Joseph Harbaugh, LL.M., professor of law and dean emeritus at the dent and chief operating officer, has been named a 2014 recipient of the Shepard Broad Law Center, received a U.S. patent for developing a com- Glass Ceiling Award presented by the Florida Diversity Council. puter-based system called AAMPLE®—the Alternative Admissions Model Travisano is one of 13 women who were recognized during the Fourth Program in Legal Education. The program reviews students’ outcomes Annual Florida Women’s Conference held at NSU’s main campus on in a small number of classes to predict their likelihood of excelling in law March 7. The National Diversity Council seeks to recognize and honor school and passing the state bar exam. This differs from the widespread women who not only achieved personal success but have made it pos- practice of heavily weighing students’ LSAT scores and GPAs to deter- sible for others to more easily follow in their footsteps. mine admission to law school. Recipients of the Glass Ceiling Award were honored for meeting cer-

18 COM Outlook . Summer-Fall 2014 NSU OVERVIEW

tain criteria, including, but not limited to: demonstrated lead- Tampa Cardiovascular Sonography ership excellence; maintained Program Receives a steady increase in responsibility throughout their ca- National Accreditation reer; established a record of accomplishments in areas of expertise; provided a positive influence in the workplace; and demonstrated integrity and high ethical standards.

NSU College of Dental Medicine Celebrates Gives Kids A Smile Day

Approximately 325 children were given a reason to smile thanks to volunteer NSU dental students and faculty members. Nearly 300 volunteers from the College of Dental Medicine provided limited pro bono dental services valued at more than $100,000 to South Florida children ages 2 to 18 on March 8 as part of Give Kids a Smile Day. In addition, the more than 1,000 attendees, including the children and their family members, enjoyed a fun carnival atmosphere with Mi- ami Dolphins’ player Marcus Thigpen and cheerleaders, face painters, a clown, magicians, music, and Timmy the Tooth. The College of Health Care Sciences’ Cardiovascular Sonog- (Pictured below is Miami Dolphins’ player Marcus Thigpen signing auto- raphy Program received national accreditation by the Commission graphs for children at the College of Dental Medicine’s Give Kids a Smile Day.) on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs upon the recom- mendation of the Joint Review Committee on Education in Cardiovas- cular Technology. The new accreditation is effective from March 21, 2014, through March 31, 2019. NSU’s Bachelor of Science in Cardiovascular Sonography degree program is designed to prepare students for entry-level positions in the field of cardiovascular sonography. Students take a series of online courses at the undergraduate level accompanied by on-campus lectures integrated with ultrasound labs to prepare them for a clinical externship during their second year. Graduates of the NSU Tampa Cardiovascular Sonography Program are eligible to apply for both the adult echocardiography and the noninvasive vascular technology professional registry exams offered by the American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography (ARDMS) and/or the corre- sponding credentials offered by Cardiovascular Credentialing International.

COM Outlook . Summer-Fall 2014 19 By Scott Colton, B.A., APR, COM/HPD Director of Medical Communications and Public Relations Dr. Wallace during a guided tour of the Mekong River in Cambodia and Laos.

D.O. OF DISTINCTION: Dr. Elaine Wallace Savors Life on Her Terms eople watching—the act of observing individuals and humble beginnings served as a catalyst to fashion a life that their interactions—is a pastime most of us indulge in has been replete with spiritual enrichment, professional from time to time when we’re in a public venue. achievement, and bountiful fulfillment. PThe appeal of this activity is universal because human beings are a fascinatingly complex and diverse species Humble Start Leads to Lifelong Quest that exhibits both curious and compelling behaviors. A hunger to learn and a passion to heal are not attri- Consequently, while there are over seven billion people butes most children possess, but then Dr. Wallace has al- inhabiting this planet we call Earth, it can be said with ways been anything but ordinary. As a child growing up in the utmost certainty that each person comprising this Bloomfield, New Jersey, Dr. Wallace was keenly influenced massive population is inherently unique despite certain by her parents, who exhibited a strong work ethic and in- shared characteristics. ner drive to provide a happy, balanced life for Dr. Wallace How else can you explain the rise to greatness of some and her younger brother. individuals who come from incredibly humble back- “My parents were very modest-means people,” she grounds, while others who seem to have every advantage explained. “My father was born in Louisiana and spent the and opportunity to succeed stumble and fail? majority of his life in Mississippi in a house that had a dirt In the case of Elaine M. Wallace, D.O., M.S., M.S., M.S., floor and no running water, so as soon as he was able to who serves as the college’s executive associate dean, her leave home, he joined the military and traveled the world

20 COM Outlook . Summer-Fall 2014 Envisioning a bright future...... Adorable in a dress...... With her high school prom date.....Enthusiastic research assistant to have a better life. My mother, who her parents at a very early age that high school, so Ole Miss was the only is one of nine children, was also from becoming a physician was her career place my mother would let me attend a very poor family.” goal. “When I was six, I decided I out of state because my grandparents Despite the lack of financial re- wanted to become a doctor, but I have lived in Mississippi,” she admitted. sources, “I had a really good life,” Dr. no idea why,” she said. “I think it was “My mother thought it would be a safe Wallace stated. “I was extremely active because I hated getting shots from my place for me to be, but I soon discov- in school and played on a number of pediatrician. I figured out at an early ered that the University of Mississippi sports teams. In fact, I would say the age that if I was a doctor, I wouldn’t was, and still is, one of the top-three two things that were most influential have to take the shots anymore.” party schools in the United States. It in relation to who I became as a per- With her medical mindset firmly in was a party every day.” son were being in the Girl Scouts and place, Dr. Wallace looked forward to Having lived in New Jersey from being a goalie in field hockey on my the day when she would leave home birth, where a more progressive junior and senior high school teams, and embark on the college phase of attitude prevailed on most social and later on the state of New Jersey’s her educational journey. When it came issues, becoming a student at the team. Being in the Girl Scouts was very time to select an undergraduate univer- University of Mississippi in the early important because it shaped values sity, her mother offered up two choic- 1970s provided Dr. Wallace with a such as philanthropy, honesty, kind- es—live at home and go to college in dissimilar dose of reality. “It was a ness, and community service, while be- New Jersey or attend the University of very interesting time and place to be ing a goalie shaped the fact that you’re Mississippi (Ole Miss) in Oxford. in Mississippi,” explained Dr. Wallace, the last person there—and it’s your “I was a little bit of a wild child in who is board certified in family medi- responsibility to get the job done.” Because she came from a working- class background where putting food on the table trumped pursuing higher education, no one in her family ever had the opportunity to earn a college degree. In fact, many of her aunts and uncles never had the chance to fin- ish high school. “My father’s siblings were almost all in the military, and my mother’s family all worked blue-collar jobs,” said Dr. Wallace, who would make augmenting her education a lifelong pursuit. “They had a sense of what hard work really meant.” Performing OMM on Early Medical Mindset a patient during an Although no one in her family had international medical any vocational experience in the health outreach trip. care field, Dr. Wallace announced to

COM Outlook . Summer-Fall 2014 21 cine, medical was the only place in the United States her research, Dr. Wallace’s profes- acupunc- at the time that was allowed to legally sional trajectory suddenly shifted ture, sports grow marijuana,” she said. “In fact, the from Mississippi to the Midwest. “I medicine, and university’s marijuana fields were pro- met Dr. Henry Pace, a pharmacology neuromusculo- tected by the U.S. Army. My lab was professor at the University of Missis- skeletal medi- filled with marijuana, and it was my sippi who had made a connection cine. “When I job to extract the THC (tetrahydrocan- with the University of Health Sciences got there, the nabinol), feed it to bacterial cultures, College of Osteopathic Medicine in Dixie flag was and conduct gas chromatography on Kansas City, which is now called the flying above the genetics of the subsequent genera- Kansas City University of Medicine the American tions to see whether it affected the and Biosciences (KCUMB) College of flag. We also had strict curfews, and bacteria’s genetic makeup. Our stud- Osteopathic Medicine,” she stated. the 100 or so African American stu- ies showed it did not.” “And his intention was to take some dents all ate in a segregated area and It would prove to be an interesting prospective medical students from were not allowed to play on any of the experience for a number of reasons, Ole Miss to interview in Kansas City. university’s sports teams.” including one that was both amusing That was the first time I ever heard In addition to pursuing her Bach- and abhorrent at the same time. “In about osteopathic medicine. I al- elor of Science degree in Biology at Mississippi the cockroaches are large, ways planned to go into allopathic Ole Miss, Dr. Wallace maintained her and here I was working with bacterial medicine, but when I heard about athletic interests by lettering in basket- medium that was primed with nutri- osteopathic medicine, I was hooked. ball, softball, and volleyball. As for her ents,” she explained of the unwelcome Because I had been an athlete my medical school intruders. “Each night, I would turn whole life, the fact that osteopathic ambitions, Dr. on the ultraviolet lights to make sure medicine involved biomechanics Wallace had ev- I killed any other bacteria. And each spoke to who I was as a person.” ery intention of morning when I returned, I would turn For years, Dr. Wallace had antici- matriculating at on the office lights and watch these pated the day when she would attend the University nutrient-enhanced, ultraviolet-irradiat- medical school and begin working to- of Mississippi’s ed cockroaches fall off the counter and ward her goal of becoming a pediatri- School of stagger around on the floor because cian. But after being accepted into the Medicine until they were stoned from eating little bits Kansas City school and doing her ini- she discovered of marijuana. They loved my lab.” tial pediatrics rotation, her interest im- she had to be mediately dimmed. “I realized I didn’t a Mississippi resident to earn admis- A Career in Kansas want to be a pediatrician when I did sion. To make it happen, Dr. Wallace City Beckons my first pediatrics rotation because I completed the majority of her under- Thanks to a chance meeting that liked children, and it bothered me to graduate coursework in three years occurred while she was conducting see them that sick,” said Dr. Wallace, and spent her fourth year working in one of the university’s research labs, which allowed her to establish her Mississippi residency. Unlike most bench research, which is of little interest to those working outside the medical realm, Dr. Wallace’s college research fasci- nates because it involved Dr. Wallace in her role as acting dean working with at what is now called the Kansas City marijuana. University of Medicine and Biosciences (KCUMB) College of Osteopathic Medicine. “The University of Mississippi

22 COM Outlook . Summer-Fall 2014 who was 1 of 10 women comprising her class of 165 students. Because the medical school had an affiliated hospital located across the street, Dr. Wallace was able to im- merse herself in a field of interest related to pediatrics. “We had to deliver three babies in our second year, and I loved it,” she revealed. “In fact, it is the number one thing I have loved most in my career, and it is the only activity I miss from my practice days. I ended up delivering a significant number of babies before I graduated, so I thought I might become an OB/GYN.” Once she earned her D.O. degree, Dr. Wallace completed a rotating internship at Lakeside Hospital in Kansas City—an experience that allowed her Dr. Wallace to deliver many more babies. As she performing holistic delved deeper into the OB/GYN spe- healing during a cialty, however, she realized it wasn’t a medical outreach trip. lifestyle choice she embraced. “I wanted to have my own kids, so I decided baffling the world’s greatest scientific virus that was killing my patients. As a I didn’t want to be on call at 3:00 a.m. minds. What would come to be known result, I became the de facto expert in It wasn’t until almost the last month as HIV/AIDS was ravaging its victims, Kansas City on HIV because there was of my internship that I decided family which seemed to include a dispropor- a big gay male population—and I had medicine was what I really wanted to tionately large percentage of gay men. the most hands-on experience.” do because I got to see sick—but not Experienced physicians who had dealt In addition to working with HIV/ gravely ill—kids. Plus, I would be able with everything from polio to cancer AIDS patients, Dr. Wallace had de- to deliver babies and do manipulation, were at a loss to explain the unknown veloped a reputation as a rape care which is an immediate gratification epidemic that was claiming thousands specialist due to her successful estab- discipline in medicine.” of lives. So imagine how it felt to Dr. lishment of a rape crisis center while After working in a private family Wallace, a compassionate physician doing her internship training at Lake- medicine practice with a husband- who had only completed her intern- side Hospital. “During my internship, and-wife team for about two years, ship training several years earlier. I worked with one of the hospital’s Dr. Wallace ventured out on her own, “During that time, a quarter of my nurses to establish a rape crisis center opening a solo practice that brought practice consisted of gay men even at the hospital, which became one of her great fulfillment. “I delivered two though I wasn’t doing any special re- two rape crisis centers in Kansas City. or three babies every week, did office cruiting for that population,” said Dr. “Between the HIV and rape pa- surgery, and practiced OMM,” she Wallace of that devastating stretch of tients, a large portion of my practice explained. “At that time a family prac- time. “In 1983-84, my patients began involved extremely traumatic cases,” titioner did a fuller scope of practice, to get very sick, but I had no idea what added Dr. Wallace, who served as the and since Kansas City was semi-rural was going on. Being a new physician, center’s director. “Early on, my gay where I was located, I did my own I really questioned whether it was male patients died, with about a third tonsillectomies, dilation and curettag- me who was killing them. But then I of them committing suicide, while the es, and numerous other procedures.” read an article in the science fiction other two thirds often died of ane- journal Omni about this mysterious mia—not HIV. At that time, physicians Grappling with HIV/AIDS disease that had been identified in the did not want to touch the patients and Rape gay bars and baths in San Francisco. because they didn’t know if it was con- As the early 1980s progressed, a That was the first time I was informed tagious or how it was transmitted. We new and catastrophic scourge was of the potential of HIV and AIDS, so had to gown and glove, give the pa- terrifying the global landscape and I quickly came to recognize it as the tients plastic utensils, and treat them

COM Outlook . Summer-Fall 2014 23 decisions. “My malpractice premiums In 2013, Dr. Wallace received the inaugural began to rise to a level that made it NSU President’s Excellence in Community Service Award (faculty category). almost prohibitive for me to continue to do obstetrics,” she explained. “With obstetrics fading from my practice, the HIV and rape-crisis patients predomi- nated because I was no longer delivering babies. As a result, the flavor of my practice changed from the cycle of life to an overwhelming tone of trauma.” After months of deliberation, and with continued overtures from her alma mater echoing in her ears, Dr. Wallace finally agreed to become chair of the OPP department—if the college accepted her stipulations. “I finally Dr. Wallace with Jacqueline acquiesced and said, ‘Okay, I will A. Travisano, M.B.A., CPA, NSU executive vice president leave my practice under two condi- and chief operating officer, tions. Number one, you will allow me and George L. Hanbury II, to bring my practice to the school, Ph.D., NSU president and and number two, you will allow me to chief executive officer. continue delivering babies.’” Wisely, the college accepted her like pariahs. Looking back, it seemed An Administrator Is terms. But after serving as OPP chair like a draconian thing, but it was Born…Reluctantly for only six scant months, a sizable borne out of fear and the unknown.” Happy both personally and profes- scandal rocked the college to its Dealing with a seemingly unend- sionally, Dr. Wallace wasn’t looking core—and transformed Dr. Wallace ing barrage of human misery never to make any major life transitions; from faculty member to top admin- seemed to shake Dr. Wallace, who however, the winds of change were istrator almost overnight. “At that relies on her deep-rooted spiritual- in the air. Because she had become time I knew nothing about structured ity to contend with life’s thorniest locally renowned as a skilled practi- academics, and I still had my private issues. “My philosophy about being tioner of manipulative medicine, her practice,” Dr. Wallace recalled. “Then an osteopathic physician is that you osteopathic alma mater began making we found out the president of the help people live…you help people impassioned pleas for her to become college had bankrupted the medical die…and you help them in between,” chair of its Department of Osteopathic school, which resulted in all the clini- she explained. “I’m a very spiritual Principles and Practice after the exist- cians being let go with the exception person, so death doesn’t bother me. ing chair passed away. of the dean and me, because you “I think the gifts I possessed were With a thriving and fulfilling family need to have an academic dean and the ability to understand, connect practice taking up most of her time, you need to have a chair of the ma- with people, and move them to Dr. Wallace had no desire to take on a nipulation department. another place, be it the afterlife or full-time faculty position at the Kansas “I arrived at a school that had a healing from rape,” she added. “Most City school, but she did agree to teach robust osteopathic faculty and soon people are born and die between in the OMM lab a few hours each became one of just two D.O.s left,” 2:00 and 3:00 in the morning, so week on Tuesdays and Thursdays. she added. “And since I was the only often there were deaths or rape vic- Around the same time, medical other D.O. on staff, I was named dean tims I had to deal with at that time of malpractice premiums began skyrock- of clinical education even though I night. I’d come home from a trou- eting due to changes in the health had no specific experience. It certainly bling incident like that and wouldn’t care system, with specialties such as was not in any way what I thought I sleep, but then I’d get up, go to obstetrics no longer being performed would be doing with my life.” work, visit a baby I had delivered, by general practitioners under the Blessed with a gift to adapt swiftly and feel renewed by the cycle of life. same malpractice guidelines. As a to change, Dr. Wallace flourished as a I’ve always kept the perspective that solo practitioner, Dr. Wallace knew high-level administrator at the Kansas God put me here to do something.” it was time to make some difficult City school and began making an in-

24 COM Outlook . Summer-Fall 2014 novative mark both in the college and was using his considerable persuasion Throughout her 14-year NSU- throughout the osteopathic profes- skills to convince Dr. Wallace to join COM career, Dr. Wallace has used sion. In the neuromusculoskeletal him in sunny South Florida. her forward-thinking philosophy and medicine realm, Dr. Wallace originat- “A year earlier, when Dr. Silvagni impressive work ethic to mastermind a ed a method of osteopathic diagnosis left Kansas City to work at NSU, he number of unique administrative and and treatment called Torque Unwind- began to harass me on a regular basis programmatic additions and enhance- ing—a diagnostic modality that uses about coming down to Florida, just as ments working in tandem with Dr. physics to calculate the location of I had been harassed on a regular basis Silvagni. So what makes their 23-year somatic dysfunctions in the body and to work at the osteopathic medical partnership so alchemically successful? to calculate the influence of strain pat- school in Kansas City,” she explained. “We work extraordinarily well terns in the soma. “I told him, ‘Tony, I hate Florida, so together because he is excellent at During her lengthy career at Kansas I’m not coming.’ But he would con- external politics and I’m the internal City College of Osteopathic Medicine, tinue to call. As you know, Dr. Silvagni worker,” she said. “The thing that Dr. Wallace served in numerous leader- can be quite persistent, and eventually impresses me most about working with ship capacities, earned an impressive he wore me down.” Dr. Silvagni is that I believe in the kind- nine Professor of the Year awards Although Dr. Wallace was willing ness of his heart. We have a collegial from the first- and second-year classes, to come to South Florida to work at relationship that allows us to trust one and received the Missouri Governor’s NSU-COM and become chair of its another, which has really been em- Award for Excellence in Teaching. In Department of Osteopathic Principles powering. The things I’ve been able to the early 1990s, however, a momen- and Practice, she was not about to achieve at NSU have occurred because tous event occurred when she chaired totally forego her bucolic existence in Dr. Silvagni had the vision and trust to the committee charged with hiring a Maryland. “I said, ‘Listen, I have two say to me, ‘Go ahead and do them.’” new academic dean. The eventual se- requirements. I’ll come to Florida if I In an NSU-COM career overflowing lectee—a charismatic character named can work four days a week and can fly with achievement, Dr. Wallace takes Dr. Anthony J. Silvagni—would eventu- back and forth to Maryland each week specific pride in one significant en- ally set in motion a chain of events that because I’m not moving to Florida.’ hancement. “Of the things I’ve accom- profoundly altered Dr. Wallace’s life, And for the first seven years I worked plished here, from starting our Sports both personally and professionally. here, that’s exactly what I did. I flew in Medicine Fellowship, to promoting the every Monday morning and flew out student requirement for community Reunited…and it every Thursday night to go home to service and medical Spanish, to inter- Feels so Good my farm and six dogs and horses.” national medical outreach programs, Drs. Silvagni and Wallace worked side by side for eight years, developing a strong and effective partnership. During the late 1990s, however, philo- sophical changes at the Kansas City school convinced both Drs. Silvagni and Wallace the time had come to pursue new professional vistas. Dr. Silvagni masterminded his exit first, becoming dean of NSU’s College of Osteopathic Medicine in July 1998— leaving Dr. Wallace as acting dean of KCUMB. In the ensuing year, Dr. Wal- lace followed suit, relocating to Mary- land with the objective of creating an innovative niche medical business. “I had been working on establishing a company in Maryland that would do house calls in hotels,” said Dr. Wallace, who had purchased a 10-acre farm in FAMILY PORTRAIT: Pictured (clockwise from left) are daughter Raven, Dr. Wallace, the area. At the same time, however, a Dr. Jill Wallace-Ross, and twin sons Hawk and Jagger at the Florida Osteopathic Medical Association Convention NSU-COM alumni reception in February 2014. colleague from her not-too-distant past

COM Outlook . Summer-Fall 2014 25 term plan was Chichen Itza in Mexico because of all the pyramids I’ve been to around the world, Chichen Itza is my favorite. So every 5 or 10 years I return to Chichen Itza, sit down with my journal, and think about what I want to accomplish over the next decade.” In terms of her annual contempla- tion site, Dr. Wallace selected Am- sterdam, which she has visited over 20 times. “I’m sure I’ve spent many a lifetime in Amsterdam because there’s Dr. Wallace something about the way the light collaborating on a bounces off the water in the canals research project during that does something to my brain,” she her fourth year as an Ole Miss student. revealed. “It really attracts me.” Interestingly, the last time she visited Amsterdam at the end of 2012, Dr. Wallace experienced a power- to faculty educational programs, to most rewarding group of colleagues I ful epiphany that brought her to a being the first recipient of the NSU have ever been involved with.” place all enlightened human beings President’s Excellence in Community Along with attaining professional hope to reach. “The last time I visited Service Award in the faculty category, happiness at NSU-COM, Dr. Wal- Amsterdam, I flew over by myself with I think the thing that touches me most lace found personal fulfillment as my journal and enough money in my is our Chairs Didactic Program,” she well when she met her partner, Jill pocket to deal with my living expenses stated. “One of the things about being Wallace-Ross, D.O., who serves as as- for a week,” she explained. “But as I a physician in academics is that no sistant professor of family medicine. sat on the bench I usually sit on and one trains you to be an academician. Their union has produced three won- prepared to write, I thought to myself, Who teaches the doctors how to be derful children—six-year-old Raven ‘What do I want to do with my life in educators, department chairs, and and three-year-old twins Hawk and the next year?’ It only took me one administrators? When I came here, Jagger, who bring much joy to her life. paragraph to realize I had gotten to there were a lot of new department “I always wanted to have children, so the point where I had achieved ev- chairs, so I created the Chairs Didactic I’m truly grateful to be a parent now erything I wanted in life—a great job, Program, where the department chairs at this stage of my life,” said Dr. Wal- a wonderful partnership, and three are required to attend a training pro- lace of her three precocious offspring. beautiful children. So I took the mon- gram twice a month. They remind me every day what life is ey I had in my pocket, bought a return “Initially, it was not a warmly truly all about.” ticket, and returned home the next day embraced program because we were without even staying in Amsterdam 24 mandating that the chairs attend Living for Today…Planning hours. I have not been back since. training from 8:00-9:30 two Thursday for Tomorrow “I’ve hit a place in my life where mornings a month. But what has hap- One trait that makes Dr. Wallace so I’m really happy,” she concluded. “I pened with the program has been one intrinsically interesting is her commit- am, however, planning my next de- of the most rewarding in my career, ment to setting both short- and long- cade. And I think the thing on the top specifically because this nidus of term goals, which is a practice she has of my list is to write a book because I individuals has been together for four maintained religiously throughout her feel I have some unique and esoteric years. We’ve dealt with areas such as adult life. “Early on, I decided I wanted experiences to share because I’ve what it takes to deal with HR and legal to continually reflect on my life,” she lived a life that is really four or five issues, to become good administra- explained. “Once a year, I would go lives rolled into one.” tors, to deal with difficult faculty mem- someplace and compose my plan for When Dr. Wallace publishes her bers, and to be encouraging to other the next year. And then once every 5 collection of life experiences, there’s faculty members. More importantly, to 10 years, I would go somewhere no doubt it will be a must-read for we’ve become a very tightknit group and write up my long-term goals. The all who know her—as well as the of colleagues and friends. It is the first place I chose to go for my long- world beyond.

26 COM Outlook . Summer-Fall 2014 Global Travels, Lifelong Learning Broaden Dr. Wallace’s Worldview

or a person as accomplished began by going to all the ancient I worked with did manipulation,” as Dr. Wallace, she continues pyramid areas to learn more about she said. “I believe there’s a kind of to possess an innate hunger to ancient cultures such as the Incas, worldwide knowledge, a collective un- Flearn more about life and human Mayans, and Aztecs. Then I went consciousness of healing that certain behavior, which is evidenced by her through the religions of the world people know about. Of all the teach- expansive—and growing—list of and visited those areas.” ers I’ve had in my life, the two great- academic degrees, which includes According to Dr. Wallace, who est have been travel and books. I’ve master’s in higher education teach- made it a goal to be in Russia the day it learned more about people and life ing and leadership, criminal justice, became a democracy and visited China and possibilities from travel and books and brain research. “One of the the first year it was open to Western- than I ever learned in medical school, great benefits we get from working ers, her diverse travels spurred in her my undergraduate studies, or in earn- at NSU is the ability to receive ad- an interest in learning more about ing three master’s degrees. Honestly ditional education for free or for a shamanism—the ancient traditions of though, I may soon add a third—my nominal amount of money,” said Dr. medicine men. “One of my hobbies children. They are teaching me things Wallace, who is currently pursuing is studying ancient medicine and its I didn’t even know I didn’t know.” a fifth academic degree—an Ed.D. traditions, so I’ve studied in places in Organizational Leadership. “I like such as Thailand, China, Mexico, the education because I’m very diverse in American Southwest, Peru, and other my interests.” places in South America to work with Dr. Wallace is equally as passionate medicine men,” she revealed. “I even when it comes to learning more about lived in Peru for two months and spent the world, which is epitomized by her a month of that time living in a tree having visited 75 countries on all 7 with a shaman who lived deep in the continents. “Not only do I feel like I’m jungle and was keeping HIV patients a child of God; I feel like I’m a child of alive a year longer than we were in the the world,” she explained. United States by using poultices and “When I moved out on my own, I herbs he grew in his garden. made a vow that I was going to take “One of the other fascinating things one vacation a year,” she added. “I I discovered was that every shaman

COM Outlook . Summer-Fall 2014 27 GLOBAL OUTREACH NSU-COM Coordinates Inaugural Medical Outreach Trip to Brazil

By OMS-I Courtney O’Brien and OMS-I Karen Muschler

Rightfully so, Brazil is a country that is very proud of its history and distinct Latin flare, which sets it apart from the rest of South America. Part of Brazil’s uniqueness lies in During the week of the fact that it is the only country in South America that speaks Portuguese. Regard- less of the number of stamps we each had on our passports, we shared one common March 22-29, a group of pitfall—none of us could speak the language. Fortunately, our preceptor Rogerio 12 first-year students Faillace, M.D., grew up in Niteroi and received his medical education at the local university. Our other preceptors included Almos Trif, Ph.D., who has served on previous participated in the inau- medical outreach trips, and Daniel Murchison, D.O., a 2013 NSU-COM graduate. gural NSU-COM Medical Following a long red-eye flight, the first and the Christ the Redeemer statue. We Outreach Trip to Brazil. day of the trip began with an early Saturday strolled along the infamous black-and-white morning arrival into Rio de Janeiro. The mosaic streets of Rio, absorbing the bustle While this was our first desire to nap—a well-known habit of medi- of the city, taking pictures, and interacting cal students—soon dissipated as our bus with the locals. After a full day of walking, we medical outreach trip, drove over the bridge to Niteroi, where we sipped from fresh coconuts on the beach and would be staying and working at the clinic. drank in the serenity as the waves collapsed some of us were world Niteroi is Rio’s sister city across the bay that onto the shore. We had worked up quite is known for having the most breathtak- the appetite and concluded the weekend travelers, while others ing views of Rio de Janeiro. With our faces with a group dinner at a traditional Brazilian pressed against the window, we were mes- churrasco steakhouse that served us enough had only been out of the merized by the beauty of this ethereal city. delicious meat to last the entire week. Rio was a perfect juxtaposition between a During the dinner, Dr. Faillace, an country a few times. De- big metropolitan city and a tropical paradise, NSU-COM pediatrician, prepared us for the nestled among jungle-inhabited mountains following morning at the clinic and shared spite these differences, that jutted out of the Atlantic sea and stretch- with us the story of his medical education es of sandy white beaches. The Christ the in Brazil. It was an eventful and pleasant the destination of our Redeemer statue stood pristinely on a high weekend of tourism, but we were ready to mountaintop in the background of the Tijuca finally work in the clinic we had heard so medical outreach to rainforest, overlooking the entire city and much about. When we returned to the ho- serving as a protector of its people. Although tel, we ended the night by relaxing on the Niteroi/Rio de Janeiro, slightly drained from traveling and our Fri- rooftop, where we soaked in the panoramic day microbiology exam, we looked forward view of the lit-up city and mentally pre- Brazil, was unlike any to discovering the hidden gems of this city pared for the week ahead. the moment we arrived. The first day of clinic work consisted of The first two days of our trip included introductions to the staff, the translators, foreign place most of us a tour around Rio’s many recognized sites, and several medical students from Niteroi’s including the Rio de Janeiro Cathedral, the medical university. Two Brazilian medical have traveled to before. Municipal Theater, the market of Ipanema, students helped us with translation through-

28 COM Outlook . Summer-Fall 2014 “To no surprise, one of the favorite specialties we shadowed was physical therapy because we were able to help patients using our beloved osteopathic techniques.” out the week and taught us a great To no surprise, one of the favorite to the sick children, and the Brazilian deal of clinical knowledge we had specialties we shadowed was physical parents were just as pleased as their not yet encountered. In the clinic, we therapy because we were able to help children when we paraded through had our choice to shadow and partici- patients using our beloved osteopath- the door dressed as animals and pate in several specialties, including ic techniques. In addition, we were clowns. It definitely gave them some- nutrition, internal medicine, physi- fortunate to observe new techniques thing to laugh about. The joy on the cal therapy, neurology, dermatology, performed by the Brazilian physical children’s faces was the perfect last cardiology, and endocrinology. Our therapist that could be incorporated souvenir to a memorable week. group also attended several lectures into our knowledge base of manipula- We will continue to integrate in- on important topics impacting Brazil’s tive medicine. Each of us was enthu- ternational medicine into our future health care, specifically on Dengue fe- siastic to lend a hand and yearned to careers. As future osteopathic physi- ver, tuberculosis vaccination, tobacco gain exposure to a different type of cians, we are instilled with the duty cessation, and stress management. As health care management so we could to give back to the community and to we learned, the Brazilian public health return to the United States as more- use our skills to help as many people care system manages its minimal holistic student physicians. as possible. Many of the students funds by advocating for preventive At the end of the week, Dr. Fail- agreed that this trip was an experi- health—a subject well familiar to us lace surprised us with a visit to the ence to remember because it filled D.O. student physicians. It was inter- children’s hospital ward at the large in a piece of the puzzle of our long esting to see the similarities between public hospital where the medical journey to become physicians. We our health care systems and also to students did their rounds. Dressed are fortunate that NSU-COM offers appreciate the differences. up in quirky costumes with props and one of the few D.O. programs in the Throughout the week, the precep- tambourines, we followed Dr. Faillace country that coordinates medical tors were always by our side to serve while he played his guitar through the outreach trips, allowing students to as educators and teach us the skills we quiet halls, singing children’s songs experience the endless possibilities had not yet learned. Dr. Trif, a pathol- for all to hear. A parent of one of our the profession of medicine and the ogy professor in the NSU College of students donated small toys to give world hold in store. Medical Sciences, joined the students in the patient rooms and was able to elaborate on a number of infectious diseases. In dermatology, several students had the opportunity to observe conditions not commonly seen in the U.S. hospitals, which included patients with leprosy and tropical fungal diseases. Dr. Murchison, a first-year ER resident in West Virginia, assisted students in wound care with the patients’ dressings, willingly answered students’ questions, and elaborated on the conditions we encountered in the clinic. In pediatrics, Dr. Faillace was able to use his expertise to demonstrate the steps involved in doing physical exams on children—something most of us had only recently encountered in class. While doing a children’s eye screening, several students proclaimed, “I finally saw the red reflex!”

COM Outlook . Summer-Fall 2014 29 Graduation 2014

Senior Week Celebrates Major Milestones Senior Week provided an abundance of opportunities for the class of 2014 to get reacquainted while participating in a range of fun-filled activities that included a jovial dining experience at Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. in Fort Lauderdale and a festive awards banquet at the Westin Diplomat Resort and Spa in Hollywood.

The week culminated on Sunday, May 18 when 238 D.O., 78 Master of Public Health, 29 Master of Biomedical Informatics and 3 Master of Disaster and Emergency Preparedness degrees were conferred during the NSU Health Professions Division (HPD) Commencement Ceremony at the BB&T Center in Sunrise.

During the ceremony, graduates from the various HPD colleges were acknowledged for their accomplishments in front of an enthusiastic audience filled with family, friends, and faculty members. John H. Armstrong, M.D., FACS, Florida’s surgeon general and secretary of health, served as the keynote speaker.

30 COM OutlookCOM Outlook . Summer-Fall . Summer-Fall 2014 2014 30 Graduation 2014: Awards of Excellence

Chancellor’s Award Dean’s Award (D.O. Program) (D.O. Program) Exemplifies the Presented for academic characteristics of a fine excellence to the student osteopathic physician—a graduating with the combination of scholarship, highest scholastic leadership, integrity, achievement in the humanity, and loyalty to Doctor of Osteopathic the profession Medicine Program Recipient Recipient Parul Cham, D.O. Cara Swintelski, D.O. Presenter Presenter Anthony J. Silvagni, D.O., Anthony J. Silvagni, D.O., Pharm.D., M.Sc. Pharm.D., M.Sc.

Morton and Matthew A. Terry, Geraldine Terry D.O., Memorial Award Internal Presented to the Medicine Award student chosen by his Presented to the student or her peers as the for the highest achievement exemplary osteopathic in the study of internal medical student medicine, both academic Recipient and clinical Manuel Portalatin, Recipient D.O., M.P.H. Sharien Mahtani Presenter (Amarnani), D.O. Anthony J. Silvagni, D.O., Presenter Pharm.D., M.Sc. Samuel Snyder, D.O.

Dean’s Community Dean’s Government Award and Public Awarded to that member Policy Award of the graduating class Presented to that member who, by personal and of the graduating class professional conduct, and by who has shown unique contributions to the general interest in developing program of NSU-COM, an understanding of has been deemed worthy of governmental and public special recognition health care policies Recipient Recipient Erik Adair, D.O. Britani Kessler, D.O. Presenter Presenter Debbi Cohn Steinkohl, James Howell, M.H.S.A. M.D., M.P.H.

COM Outlook . Summer-Fall 2014 31 Graduation 2014: Awards of Excellence

Chancellor’s Award Dean’s Award (M.P.H. Program) (M.P.H. Program) Presented to the student Presented for academic who best exemplifies excellence to the student the characteristics of graduating with the a fine public health highest scholastic professional—a combination achievement in the of scholarship, leadership, Master of Public integrity, humanity, and Health Program loyalty to the profession Recipient Recipient Shoshana Levy, M.P.H. Ludmilla Paul, M.P.H. Presenter Presenter Cyril Blavo, D.O., Cyril Blavo, D.O., M.P.H. and T.M. M.P.H. and T.M.

Chancellor’s Award Dean’s Award (Biomedical (Biomedical Informatics Program) Informatics Program) Exemplifies the Presented to the student characteristics of a fine graduating with the biomedical informatics highest scholastic professional—a combination achievement in the Master of scholarship, leadership, of Science in Biomedical integrity, humanity, and Informatics Program loyalty to the profession Recipient Recipient Anthony Meglino, April Green, M.S.B.I. M.S.B.I. Presenter Presenter Jennie Q. Lou, Jennie Q. Lou, M.D., M.Sc. M.D., M.Sc.

Dean’s Award (Disaster/Emergency Alumni Association Preparedness) Award Presented for academic Presented to the student excellence to the student who, by his/her leadership, graduating with the highest has done the most to scholastic achievement in maintain the cohesiveness, the Master of Disaster unity, and esprit de corps and Emergency within his/her class for Preparedness Program all four years Recipient Recipient Christina Ortiz Tara Nowakhtar, D.O. M.S. DEP Presenter Presenter Lynne Cawley, M.Sc. Kelley Davis, Ph.D.

32 COM Outlook . Summer-Fall 2014 Graduation 2014: Awards of Excellence

Morton and Mary Florida Chapter, Smith Achievement American Academy Award of Osteopathy Award Presented to the student in OMM exhibiting the highest Presented to the student quality of service and who, in the opinion leadership, combined with of the Department of scholarship, integrity, and Osteopathic Principles personal worth and Practice, has achieved the highest proficiency in Recipient osteopathic therapeutics Katherine Leicht, D.O. Recipient Presenter Robert Kawa, D.O. Elaine Wallace, D.O., M.S., M.S., M.S. Presenter David Boesler, D.O., M.S.

Albert L. Weiner, Excellence in D.O., Memorial Emergency Medicine Psychiatry Award Award Presented in memory of Presented to the graduate Dr. Albert Weiner to the who has demonstrated student achieving the outstanding proficiency in greatest proficiency emergency medicine in psychiatry Recipient Recipient Burr Fong, D.O. Jessica Wilbur, D.O. Presenter Presenter John Pellosie, Jr., Raymond Ownby, M.D., D.O., M.P.H. Ph.D., M.B.A.

Samuel J. Salman, Clinical Service D.O., Award in Award Family Medicine Presented to the student Presented by the judged to be outstanding FSACOFP to the student in clinical service whose scholarship, patient Recipient empathy, dedication, Jennifer Alexander, concern, and goals D.O., M.P.H. epitomize the osteopathic family physician Presenter Joseph De Gaetano, Recipient D.O., M.S.Ed Kiyomi Goto, D.O. Presenter Barbara Arcos, D.O.

COM Outlook . Summer-Fall 2014 33 Graduation 2014: Awards of Excellence

Dean’s Research Award Organizational Award (D.O. Program) Presented to the senior Presented to a member who demonstrated of the graduating class organizational skills and who performed student leadership and received research at a level worthy recognition from his/her of recognition among peers peers during a productive and faculty members academic career Recipients Recipients Nathan Maltezos, D.O. Allison Amore, D.O. Aditya Vora, D.O. Louis Michaelos, D.O. Presenter Presenter Leonard Levy, David Thomas, D.P.M., M.P.H. M.D., J.D., Ed.D.

Research Award Research Award (Biomedical (M.P.H. Program) Informatics Program) Presented to the student Presented to a member who demonstrated an of the graduating class effort to contribute to new who performed student knowledge in public health research at a level worthy through research of recognition among peers Recipient and faculty members Uwayemwen Aideyan, Recipient M.P.H. Clarissa Alexander, Presenter M.S.B.I. Rosebud Foster, Ed.D. Presenter Jennie Q. Lou, M.D., M.Sc.

Rose Community A. Alvin Greber, D.O., Service Award Cardiology Award Presented to the student Presented to the student who demonstrated demonstrating outstanding sincere interest in aptitude academically community service or with recognized clinical community projects application of knowledge Recipient in patients with Jeremiah Robison, cardiovascular disease D.O Recipient Presenter Vianka Perez, D.O. Steven Zucker, Presenter D.M.D., M.Ed. Samuel Snyder, D.O.

34 COM Outlook . Summer-Fall 2014 Graduation 2014: Awards of Excellence

Outstanding Student Excellence in in the Study Geriatrics Award of Pediatrics Presented for aptitude and Presented to an outstanding interest in geriatrics as well student who is in the upper as clinical competency and quarter of the class in rank superior performance in and possesses honor grades the geriatrics rotation in pediatric ambulatory and Recipient hospital rotations as well as Holly Munson, one elective in a pediatric D.O., M.P.H. area with an honor grade Presenter Recipient Naushira Pandya, Scott Terry, D.O. M.D., CMD Presenter Edward Packer, D.O.

Outstanding Student in Pediatric Service Endocrine Society Awarded to a student in Award the upper third of class in Presented to the student rank who organized and who has demonstrated participated in at least outstanding achievement three children’s projects and in the area and/or study motivated children-related of endocrinology projects at NSU-COM Recipient Recipient Parul Cham, D.O. Brittany Stutzman, Presenter D.O., M.P.H. Naushira Pandya, Presenter M.D., CMD Rogerio Faillace, M.D.

Donna Jones Daniel R. Barkus, Moritsugu Award D.O., Outstanding Presented to the spouse of Achievement in the a graduating student who Study of OB/GYN best exemplifies the role Ranked in the top 25 of a professional’s partner percent of the class, is in being an individual pursuing OB/GYN in his or her own right residency training, and while being supportive has obtained the highest of mate, family, and the academic grade in the osteopathic profession women’s health course Recipient Recipient Lance Rogers Allison Amore, D.O. Presenter Presenter Marti Echols, Ph.D. Kenneth Johnson, D.O.

COM Outlook . Summer-Fall 2014 35 Graduation 2014: Awards of Excellence

Student Service Award (Biomedical Informatics Program) Student Service Award Presented to the (M.P.H. Program) student who demonstrated Presented to the Master of sincere interest in Public Health student who community service or demonstrated commitment community projects to community service Recipient Recipient Troy Rubizovsky, Claude Vertus, M.P.H. M.S.B.I. Presenter Presenter Cyril Blavo, D.O., Steve Bronsburg, M.P.H. and T.M. Ph.D., M.S., M.H.S.A.

ACOG District Research Fellowship XII Outstanding Award Achievement in the Presented to the Service of OB/GYN members of the graduating For demonstrated intention class who successfully of pursuing residency completed the training in OB/GYN and NSU-COM Predoctoral organized/participated Research Fellowship in the greatest number of Recipients women’s health activities Nathan Maltezos, D.O. Recipient Aditya Vora, D.O. Tara Nowakhtar, D.O. Presenter Presenter Raymond Ownby, M.D., Kenneth Johnson, D.O. Ph.D., M.B.A.

Golden Apple Award Golden Apple Award (D.O. Program) (M.P.H. Program) Presented by the class Presented by the class of 2014 to a faculty or of 2014 to the M.P.H. staff member deemed faculty member deemed most outstanding by the most outstanding by the graduating class graduating class Recipient Recipient David Boesler, Alina Perez, J.D., D.O., M.S. M.P.H., LCSW Presenter Presenter Louis Michaelos, D.O. Matthew McDiarmid, M.S. DEP, M.P.H.

36 COM Outlook . Summer-Fall 2014 Graduation 2014: Awards of Excellence

Golden Apple Award Golden Apple Award (Biomedical (Disaster and Informatics Program) Emergency Presented by the class Preparedness of 2014 to the M.S.B.I. Program) faculty member deemed Presented by the class most outstanding by the of 2014 to the IDEP graduating class. faculty member deemed most outstanding by the Recipient graduating class David Hays, D.P.A., M.A. Recipient Kelley Davis, Ph.D. Presenter Vanessa Hawrylak, Presenter M.S.B.I. Christina Ortiz, M.S. DEP

The Gold Humanism Honor Society honors senior medical students, residents, role-model physician teachers, and other exemplars that have demonstrated excellence in clinical care, leadership, compassion, and dedication to service and was organized to elevate the values of humanism and professionalism within the field of medicine and its constituent institutions. Following are the individuals who earned membership in the Gold Humanism Honor Society: Erik Adair, D.O., Allison Amore, D.O., Michael Appelbatt, D.O., Katherine Beditz, D.O., Kacie Bhushan, D.O., M.P.H., Charles Cevallos, D.O., M.P.H., Belinda Collias, D.O., Jacob Flury, D.O., Katie Gesch, D.O., Ashley Guthrie, D.O., Naomasa Hase, D.O., M.P.H., Taylor Hathaway, D.O., Britani Kessler, D.O., Milla Kviatkovsky, D.O., Mark Liwanag, D.O., Tara Nowakhtar, D.O., Eric Pitts, D.O., Manuel Portalatin, D.O., M.P.H., Jeremiah Robison, D.O., Brittany Stutzman, D.O., M.P.H., Jennifer Wellington, D.O., Jessica Wilbur, D.O., and Serena Wong, D.O.

COM Outlook . Summer-Fall 2014 37 Graduation 2014: Awards of Excellence

NSU-COM was proud to host its annual Promotion Commissioning Ceremony for graduating seniors who will be entering the U.S. armed services. The event, which was established in 2005 to honor and showcase support for graduates who will be doing medical tours of duty in the armed services, is held annually to facilitate the promotion of these young officers from the rank of second lieutenant (army and air force) or ensign (navy) to the rank of captain (army/air force) or lieutenant (navy). These young men and women have attended NSU-COM via the armed services Health Professions Scholarship Program.

The graduates have committed to serve in the U.S. armed forces for a minimum of eight years as part of their scholarship obligation. Most will be pursuing graduate medical education opportunities within the armed services after leaving NSU- COM. This year’s ceremony was presided over by Patricio Bruno, D.O., FAAFP, FHM, who currently holds the rank of lieutenant colonel in the United States Air Force Reserve. Following are the graduates who were recognized at the ceremony:

United States Army Carlin Corsino, D.O., Emilio Marzan, D.O., Michael Morrison, D.O., Sandeep Saran, D.O., Pulkit Saxena, D.O., and Nicholas Weiss, D.O.

United States Navy Tyler House, D.O., and Bradley Yingst, D.O.

United States Air Force Melissa Chrites, D.O., Mark Hotchkiss, D.O., and Andrew Pan, D.O.

38 COM Outlook . Summer-Fall 2014 Graduation 2014: Awards of Excellence

Leonard Tow Humanism in Medicine Awards Osteopathic Principles and Practice The Leonard Tow Humanism in Medicine Awards, which Fellowship Certificates are presented by the Arnold P. Gold Foundation, recognize Presented to the students who completed a predoctoral clinical and one graduating medical student and one outstanding faculty teaching fellowship in osteopathic principles and practice from member judged to be exemplary in their compassion and July 2009 to May 2012 sensitivity in patient care. These individuals consistently Recipients demonstrate compassion and empathy, act as role models for Nicholas Camposeo, D.O. professional behavior, and demonstrate cultural sensitivity in Randal Davis, D.O. working with people of diverse backgrounds. Robert Kawa, D.O. Recipients Tara Nowakhtar, D.O. Jennifer Wellington, D.O. (graduating student) and Meighan O’Connor, D.O. Edward Packer, D.O. (faculty member) Brandon Parker, D.O. Presenter Presenter David Boesler, D.O., M.S. David Boesler, D.O., M.S.

Interprofessional Leadership Award Biomedical Informatics Program Director’s Award Presented to the student who represents exceptional leadership Presented to a student who has overcome significant challenges in and dedication to collaborative learning through research of the pursuit of his/her degree of M.S. in Biomedical Informatics interprofessional concepts and the practice of team-based care Recipients Recipients Clarissa Alexander, M.S.B.I. Anna Lowell M.S. DEP, M.P.H. Stephen Amoah, M.S.B.I. Matthew McDiarmid M.S. DEP, M.P.H. Presenter Presenter: Cecilia Rokusek, Ed.D., RD Jennie Q. Lou, M.D., M.Sc.

COM Outlook . Summer-Fall 2014 39 Graduation 2014: Awards of Excellence

Sigma Sigma Phi is a national honorary osteopathic service fraternity that was established in 1921 in Kirksville, Missouri, by seven students from the American School of Osteopathic Medicine. The fraternity’s main objectives include furthering the science of osteopathic medicine and its standards of practice as well as promoting a higher degree of fellowship among its students. To earn membership consideration, Sigma Sigma Phi members are required to have a minimum grade point average of 80 percent; however, selection is based primarily upon service and leadership in the osteopathic community. Following are the individuals who earned membership in Sigma Sigma Phi: Sharien Mahtani, D.O., Kacie Bhushan, D.O., M.P.H., Charles Cevallos, D.O., M.P.H., Eric Chung, D.O., M.P.H., Michael Dalla Betta, D.O., Joslyn Gober, D.O., Charee Howard, D.O., John Howard, D.O., Alice Lin, D.O., Eric Pitts, D.O., Jeremiah Robison, D.O., Christiana Roselli, D.O., Kristina Skinner, D.O., Jessica Staller, D.O., Brittany Stutzman, D.O., M.P.H., Erica Turse, D.O., Lena Virasch, D.O., Jennifer Wellington, D.O., and Serena Wong, D.O.

Membership in the Theta Chapter of the Psi Sigma Alpha National Osteopathic Scholastic Honor Society is based on laudable traits such as academic achievement (placing in the top 10 percent of their class), high moral character, and integrity. This year’s inductees are Jacob Flury, D.O., Kiyomi Goto, D.O., Shaakir Hasan, D.O., Jonathan Hussain, D.O., Przemyslaw Iwaniwski, D.O., Milla Kviatkovsky, D.O., Gareth Mcgee, D.O., Louis Michaelos, D.O., Nickolas Poulos, D.O., Dustin Price, D.O., Jetter Robertson, D.O., Aaron Shady, D.O., Brittany Slagle, D.O., Cara Swintelski, D.O., Scott Terry, D.O., Jennifer Wellington, D.O., Kyle White, D.O., Tiffanie Wong, D.O., and E. Quinn Ziatyk, D.O., M.P.H.

40 COM Outlook . Summer-Fall 2014 Alumni Corner - Activities, Accomplishments, and Awards

Ronee Aaron, D.O. (’99) Michael J. Friedman, D.O. Amber Nash, Watertown, South Dakota, as recently joined the medical (’94), assistant professor in the D.O. (’09) re- a hospitalist. Prior to joining staff at Lourdes/Mercy Medical Rowan University School of cently joined Prairie Lakes, Dr. Swartz was Associates in Paducah, Ken- Osteopathic Medicine Depart- Borgess a hospitalist at Presbyterian tucky. Dr. Aaron, who previ- ment of Psychiatry and director Women’s Hospital in Matthew, North ously worked at Our Lady of of consultation and liaison Health in Carolina, and provided hos- Bellefonte Hospital in Ashland, psychiatry services at Ken- Portage, pitalist coverage at hospitals Kentucky, is certified by the nedy Memorial Hospitals, was Michigan. Dr. Nash, who com- in North Carolina as well as at American Board of Psychiatry named a Top Doc in Psychiatry pleted her OB/GYN residency Prairie Lakes. and Neurology and the Asso- in South Jersey Magazine for at Bayfront Medical Center in ciation for Convulsive Therapy. 2011, 2012, and 2013. St. Petersburg, Florida, is a Matt Stringer, D.O. (’10), junior fellow of the American who is a captain in the U.S. Theresa Cao, Tyeese Congress of Obstetricians Air Force, traveled to Belize in D.O., FAOCD Gaines, D.O. and Gynecologists. May as part of his fourth-year (’05) was ap- (’06) was urology residency training at pointed clini- named assis- Carlos the San Antonio Military Medi- cal assistant tant medical Sanchez, cal Center in Texas. During professor in director of D.O. (’94), his time in Belize, Dr. Stringer the Depart- Raritan Bay who is board served as a key component of ment of Dermatology and Medical Center in New Jersey. certified in a surgical team collaborating Cutaneous Surgery/Division of emergency with urology medical providers Melanocytic Tumors and Mohs Kendra Hall, D.O., M.P.H. medicine, at the Karl Heusner Memorial Surgery at the University of Mi- (’98), who is board certified serves as medical director of Hospital in Belize City that pro- ami Miller School of Medicine. in family practice and hospice the North Shore Medical Cen- vided urology procedures and Prior to her affiliation with the and palliative care medicine, ter Emergency Department surgeries for a program called University of Miami, Dr. Cao was named medical director in Miami, Florida, and is the New Horizons Belize 2014. completed a procedural der- of Good Shepherd Hos- owner of Medistation Urgent matology/Mohs micrographic pice and will split her time Care in Miami Shores. Zaheed Tai, D.O. (’95), an surgery fellowship through the between its Florida offices in interventional cardiologist, re- State University of New York Lakeland and Sebring. Tiffany cently opened a medical prac- Medical Center in Brooklyn. Sizemore- tice in Davenport, Florida. Dr. Dr. Cao, who specializes in Michele J. Ruiz, D.O. Tai is certified by the American Mohs micrographic surgery, is Lapayowker, (’09) and Board of Internal Medicine in board certified in dermatology D.O., FA- Camilo A. cardiovascular disease, nuclear and family medicine and is a COOG (’90) Ruiz, D.O., medicine, interventional cardi- Fellow of the American Osteo- recently FACOI (’07) were named Top ology, and internal medicine. pathic College of Dermatology. relocated her Docs in Concierge Medicine gynecology across America by Concierge Adam Wie- Harold L. Dal- practice to Plantation, Florida. Medicine Today for 2014. In ner, D.O., ton, D.O. (’96) Dr. Lapayowker returned to addition, Choice Physicians FAOCD (’03) was inducted South Florida in 1995 after Sleep Center received a pres- was appoint- on May 17 completing her rotating in- tigious five-year accreditation ed chairman as president ternship at Doctor’s Hospi- from the American Academy of of dermatolo- of the Florida tal in Columbus, Ohio, and Sleep Medicine. The D.O. duo gy for Holmes Society of graduating from the Philadel- co-owns Choice Physicians of Regional Medical Center in Interventional Pain Physicians. phia College of Osteopathic South Florida, which is located Melbourne, Florida, which This is Dr. Dalton’s fifth active Medicine’s OB/GYN residency. in east Fort Lauderdale. is Brevard County’s premier role with the society, which has Because she believes in giv- tertiary referral hospital. included previous stints as a ing back to the college, Dr. Matthew board member, carrier adviser Lapayowker happily allows Swartz, D.O. Elise Zahn, council member, secretary, and NSU-COM students to rotate (’04), who D.O., M.B.A., president elect. His presidency through her practice. served 10 FACOEP-D goals include effecting positive years with (’96) was regulatory change and helping Michelle R. Mendez, D.O. the U.S. Navy named a to ensure that Florida citizens (’96) currently serves on before be- Distinguished continue to have greater access the Florida Department of ing honorably discharged in Fellow by the to the highest level of quality Health’s Wholesale Drug Dis- 2011, joined the staff at Prairie American Osteopathic College pain management care. tribution Advisory Council. Lakes Healthcare System in of Emergency Physicians.

COM Outlook . Summer-Fall 2014 41 Alumni Corner - Activities, Accomplishments, and Awards

Dr. Panero (left) during his heartfelt reunion with Sullenberger.

Dr. Alberto Panero Reunites with Miracle on the Hudson Pilot at NSU Undergraduate Commencement Ceremonies

he date January 15, 2009, will the Airbus A320 when the plane’s that, even for the briefest of moments, forever be etched in the minds engines lost thrust following a bird have the ability to profoundly impact of Chesley B. (Sully) Sullenberg- strike. At the time, Dr. Panero was a your life,” said Dr. Panero, who had Ter III and the 155 people whose lives fourth-year NSU-COM student who not seen Sullenberger since 2009. he saved when he and his crew safely used his medical training to assist in- “This would be the obvious under- guided U.S. Airways Flight 1549 to an jured passengers and help them safely statement when referring to the brief emergency water landing in New York exit the plane. Today, he is a physical yet undeniably powerful impact Cap- City’s frigid Hudson River. medicine and rehabilitation physi- tain Sullenberger has had on my life,” As a result, the Miracle on the cian in Sacramento, California, who he added. “Because of the gifted skills Hudson became a defining moment in is wholeheartedly devoted to helping he had as a pilot, I am able to use the history, with Sullenberger becoming patients recover from injuries. skills I developed through my educa- an international hero. He has since Dr. Panero surprised Sullenberger tion and training from Nova Southeast- dedicated his career to improving at NSU’s undergraduate commence- ern University to directly impact lives.” airline safety, but Sullenberger is not ment ceremonies on May 10 by When it came time for Sullenberger the only one who survived that fateful introducing and thanking his hero for to speak, he joked, “Who knew that event to focus on saving and improv- saving his life. “One thing I learned on January 15, 2009, there would be ing the lives of others. through the experience of being on a shark in the Hudson River?” he said, Alberto Panero, D.O., a 2009 NSU- that plane that day is that sometimes referring to the NSU mascot as the COM alumnus, was a passenger on in life you will encounter individuals crowd laughed and cheered.

42 COM Outlook . Summer-Fall 2014 Alumni Reunion Weekend Rekindles Relationships

On April 11-13, the college held its 17th Annual President: Annette Da Silva, D.O. (’96) Alumni Reunion and CME Weekend, which kicked off with a welcome reception at the Museum of Art/Fort President Elect: William Stager, D.O. (’89) Lauderdale that allowed the 120 or so attendees to mingle on the second-floor patio and enjoy a moonlit Vice President: Donald Howard, D.O. (’89) evening of fun, food, and camaraderie. The event offered a mix of activities, ranging from five hours of continuing medical education courses Secretary: Tyler Cymet, D.O. (’88) and an on-campus family picnic to a festive evening of dining and dancing aboard the Lady Windridge Treasurer: Jack Goloff, D.O. (’85) yacht as it navigated its way around the Intracoastal Waterway. During the cruise, the 170 attendees, Immediate Past President: Andrew Gross, D.O. (’93) which included alumni, faculty and staff members, and family and friends, honored and applauded the Trustees at large for 2015 are Bruce Rankin, classes of 1989, 1994, 1999, 2004, and 2009. D.O. (’85) and Mayrene Hernandez, D.O. (’01). 2016 During the reunion weekend, the following officers trustees are Jim Turner, D.O. (’88) and Glenn Moran, were elected to the 2014-15 Alumni Association D.O. (’88), while 2017 trustees are Linda Delo, D.O. Executive Committee: (’86) and Michael Gervasi, D.O. (’87). By Debra R. Gibbs, B.A. Medical Communications Coordinator

Portrait of the Power of Perseverance: Dr. Jennifer Wellington ome of us know early in our lives the person we externship program that allowed undergraduates to join want to be. We choose our paths and forge ahead, physicians in the community to shadow and experience demonstrating an amazing ability to strive and suc- what it meant to practice medicine. Sceed. Jennifer Wellington, D.O., a class of 2014 gradu- “I shadowed every kind of physician I could find and de- ate, is a fine example of that special individual who has a cided that medicine was what I was born to do,” she said. dream and perseveres to realize it. Meeting V. Alin Botoman, M.D., FACG, FACP, a gastroenter- Born in Des Moines, Iowa, Dr. Wellington grew up in ologist who has been her mentor for nine years, further en- South Florida with family members close by. Her lov- couraged her interests and skills toward a life in medicine. ing grandparents sparked and nurtured her interest in Dr. Wellington’s pursuit of many clinical research projects health care. “I decided to become a doctor at the age fed her fascination for the field of gastroenterology. of six,” she said. “My family isn’t full of doctors; in fact, Once she completed her FAU education, Dr. Welling- my parents never finished college. My grandfather—a ton followed an untraditional road to earn a spot in medi- Cuban-Spanish trained surgeon—and my grandmother—a cal school. “After many unsuccessful attempts and unbe- retired nurse—have been my guiding light, and it was my lievable heartache, I was lucky enough to be accepted into parents’ hard work and encouragement that helped shape the Master of Biomedical Sciences program at NSU—my me into who I am today.” After attending high school lo- last attempt at making my childhood dream of becoming cally, she went to Florida Atlantic University (FAU), where a physician come true,” she said. The unique program the College of Biological Sciences pioneered a medical allows students to take the first-year basic science curricu-

44 COM Outlook . Summer-Fall 2014 lum of medical school and matricu- late into the upcoming medical class Dr. Wellington with her if the students have achieved 80 husband, Sausaun, at their 2012 wedding. percent or higher in each class. “The program gave me the tools I needed to master efficient study hab- its, hone my time-management skills, and build a strong foundation of medical knowledge necessary for success in medical school. Through the program, I’ve learned there’s no limit to the amount of effort I will exercise to reach my goals,” Dr. Wellington explained. “I’ll never forget the day I got the phone call of acceptance. I’ve never been more excited in my life.” NSU-COM prides itself on a holis- her life. “I met my husband Sausaun her research, and attending medi- tic practice of choosing candidates. just before I began medical school,” cal conferences. She also served as The vetting process has led the col- she said. “From our first few dates, it an academical society peer mentor lege to accept students that may not was clear to us that we were meant and tutor for her classmates and have been selected anywhere else be- for each other. Halfway through underclassmen. Her devotion to cause it knows such candidates often medical school, we got married on giving back to the community led make wonderful doctors—and that the beach in a small, intimate cer- her to serve as clinic coordinator for their experiences often build them emony. He’s been through every step the student-run HIV testing clinic into leaders who do great things. Dr. of this journey with me as my rock on campus—expanding the clinic’s Wellington was one of those stu- and greatest supporter.” outreach to offer testing and HIV dents. Her dedication to her dream of Once Dr. Wellington joined her awareness at community centers and being a caring physician resulted in classmates at NSU-COM, she further events throughout South Florida. personal and professional rewards as developed her great passion for Logging more than 300 hours of she worked with her fellow students teaching and mentoring others—a community service, she won a TOUCH and members of the community. tradition that started when she was Community Service Award. After As she triumphantly welcomed the an undergraduate. She flourished as her induction into the Sigma Sigma demanding life of a medical student, a leader among her peers, participat- Phi National Honorary Osteopathic Dr. Wellington also considered the ing in the traditional medical school Service Fraternity, Dr. Wellington importance of the personal side of activities of studying, publishing redesigned COMPals—a program that brings undergraduate students from various universities to NSU to learn about the medical school curriculum, listen for sounds made by internal or- gans on the Harvey simulation device, and study cadaver specimens. A few examples of recognition for her strong sense of purpose and social responsibility include membership in the Gold Humanism Honor Society and Psi Sigma Alpha National Osteopathic Scholastic Honor Society, being recognized as a Sigma Sigma Phi Grand Chapter physician member, During her time at NSU-COM, Dr. Wellington participated winning the Leonard Tow 2014 Hu- in the college’s medical outreach trip to Jamaica. manism in Medicine Award, receiving

COM Outlook . Summer-Fall 2014 45 the David Spector Addiction Medicine David Boesler, D.O., assistant pro- challenging thing I’ve ever done, and Award in research and education, and fessor of osteopathic principles and having people around me to talk to graduating in the top three percent of practice, and former faculty member really made a difference.” the NSU-COM class of 2014. Robert Hasty, D.O., FACOI. Her optimistic tenacity targets a fu- Through all the achievements, “Dr. Boesler worked with me on ture in gastroenterology. “Ever since I there was one thing Dr. Wellington several outreach projects, many times was 15, I’ve wanted to become a gas- missed—a little more time with her staying late to teach college students troenterologist,” revealed Dr. Welling- loving family. Even though she is about osteopathic manipulative ton, who said her favorite aspects of from South Florida and has some medicine or to offer advice, stating the profession are the complexity and family members close by, she man- ‘I’m always happy to help,’” she said. variety of patients she will be treating. aged “the challenge of trying to Such outstanding mentoring inspired “I decided this while volunteering at spend time with all of them while Dr. Wellington to adopt Dr. Boesler’s a hospital near home, and I haven’t maintaining my focus on the rigorous always happy to help philosophy. been able to change my mind.” requirements of my studies. I think “Because of his mentorship, I dedi- She realizes it’s pretty unusual to fourth year was especially demand- cated many hours to help others at make such a focused career choice ing, as I was away from home and NSU and in the wider community.” that young, but she has remained en- my husband for six months while As Dr. Wellington envisioned her grossed with the field’s many opportu- auditioning and interviewing for my life in a new community beyond nities for research and discovery and residency—a common experience for NSU-COM, she shared some advice plans to continue to train in hepatol- fourth-year medical students across for incoming students. “When I was ogy. “When I was young and set my the nation,” she explained. a sophomore in college, I was fortu- sights on becoming a physician, my Her pride and appreciation in nate to have a great mentor, Dr. Bo- grandfather told me that ‘It’s not the attaining her goal seem to outweigh toman, who has helped me along the ship; it’s the sailor.’ In other words, any major regrets. Dr. Wellington way to achieve my goals,” she said. no matter where life’s circumstances warmly reflected on “the opportunity “I decided to pay that forward by be- put you, the only thing that matters is to be a part of many community out- coming a peer mentor at NSU-COM. what you do once you’re there.” reach projects and work with incredi- I strongly urge new medical students Dr. Wellington is proud to be an ble physicians, including, but not lim- to reach out to upperclassmen, ask osteopathic physician, whose passion ited to, Samuel Snyder, D.O., FACP, questions, seek advice, and learn how to envision and accomplish her dreams FACOI, FASN, professor and chair of to stay focused to achieve their goals. will no doubt continue to intensify— the Department of Internal Medicine, Medical school is definitely the most and make her a leader in her field.

46 COM Outlook . Summer-Fall 2014 Alumni Association Fund Honor Roll

In the spring of 1999, NSU-COM launched an alumni-based fund-raising effort to generate dollars that would be used to create an endowment fund to reduce future tuition costs for NSU-COM students and produce a funding pool that would be utilized for discretionary purposes as determined by the Alumni Association Executive Committee. Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the following list of donors; however, if you notice an error or omission, please contact Lynne Cawley in the Office of Alumni Affairs at (954) 262-1029.

2014 Donors Ms. Ashley Sharp Dr. David Sarkarati (’00) Dr. Albert Whitehead Dr. Theodore Schock (’85) Founder’s Circle Dr. Paul Schneider/Michigan ($25,000+) 500 Club ($500 - $999) Osteopathic Association Mr. Ronald Assaf Broward County Osteopathic Dr. Todd Silberstein (’96) Doctor’s Hosp. Foundation/Dr. Howard Neer Medical Association Dr. Joseph Spaulding (’98) Dr. Gary Heller Dr. Annette Da Silva (’96) Dr. Joshua Steiner (’00) Dr. Jeffrey Grove (’90) (pledge) Dr. Michael P. Heid (’93) Ms. Susan Talpins Ms. Cynthia Hill Mr. Robert Tischenkel NSU-COM Society Dr. Soling Li (’00) ($10,000 - $24,999) Friends/Young Alumni Broward College Foundation 250 Club ($250 - $499) (up to $99)

The Detweiler Family Dr. Elizabeth Biggers (’06) and Ms. Carol Adlestein (in memory of Julian Blitz) Dr. Joel Biggers (’06) Endowed Scholarship Fund Mr. Howard and Ms. Eleanor Bloch Mr. Dominic Bortot (in memory of Victor Bortot) Dr. Roberto Patarca Dr. David Buczkowske (’12) Broward Coalition on Aging, Inc. Dr. Donnell Bowen (’07) Chancellor’s Council Dr. Andrew Gross (’93) Dr. David Cislo (’88) Dr. Karen Oldano (’89) ($5,000 - $9,999) Dr. Michael Dekker (’09) Dr. Mallard Owen Dr. Jack Goloff (’85)/Medical Help Family Dr. Sruthi Devarinti (’13) Practice, Inc. Dr. Stuart Shalit (’90) Ms. Betty Friedman Ms. Debbie Milam Dr. Sylvan Goldin (in memory of Julian Blitz) Mr. William Oberlink Century Club ($100 - $249) Mr. Kenneth Hurewitz Barry and Judy Silverman Foundation Dr. Eric Alboucrek (’92) Dr. Aaron Klein (’01) Dr. Elaine Wallace Dr. Michael Baron (’88) Dr. Ragasri Kumar (’06) Mr. Frank Zappala Dr. Terry Carstensen (’97) Dr. Chad Lee (’13) Dr. Nicole Cook Dean’s Council Ms. Carisa Champion-Lippmann Dr. Ronnie Derrwaldt (’99) Dr. Benjamin Lippman (’12) ($2,500 - $4,999) Dr. Benjamin DiJoseph (’94) Dr. Melchiorra Mangiaracina (’08) Dr. Jamal Haddad (’91) Paul Foo Foo Salomom Foundation Dr. Etan Marks (’13) Dr. Glenn Moran (’88) Dr. Robert Hand (in memory of Julian Blitz) Ms. Linda Maurice Dr. Chad Frank and Dr. Yasmin Qureshi Frank Dr.Ilana Glderman-Neidenberg (’99) Dr. Donald McCoy (’86) Dr. Diana Graves (’86) Ms. Suzanne McKellips Clock Tower Society Dr. Cheryl Kohn (’04) Ms. Janice Orlando ($1,000 - $2,499) Dr. Michael J. MacDonald (’90) Ms. Alaine Perry Dr. Steven Beljic (’95) Dr. Gladys Martinez (’90) Ms. Anne Quinn Dr. Marlene Carbonell (’95) Ms. Deborah Meline Dr. Lincoln Ropp (’12) Dr. Leonardo Cisneros, Jr. (’96) Dr. Joseph Morelos (’97) Dr. Paul Smith (’07) Dr. John and Ellen Geake, Jr. (’93) Dr. Jessica Okun (’10) Dr. Noelle Stewart (’10) Dr. John N. Harker (’89) Ms. Brenda Roberts Dr. Lucia Szabo (’13) Dr. Mayrene Hernandez (’01) Dr. Jill Wallace Ross (’07) Ms. Lisa Wintter(in memory of Julian Blitz) Dr. Barry Karpel (’89) Dr. Michael Ross (’88) Dr. Joanna VanVleet (’04)

COM Outlook . Summer-Fall 2014 47 College of Osteopathic Medicine 3200 South University Drive Fort Lauderdale, FL 33328-2018

Calendar of Events

August 10, 2014 Class of 2018 White Coat Ceremony 10:00 a.m. – NSU Don Taft University Center in Davie, Florida

September 18-21, 2014 FOMA Mid-Year Seminar Grand Hyatt Tampa Bay in Tampa, Florida

October 25-29, 2014 OMED/AOA Osteopathic Medical Conference and Exposition Washington State Convention Center in Seattle, Washington Alumni Reception on October 27 at the Seattle Aquarium – 6:30-9:00 p.m.