University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey Volume 9 Number 1 Winter 2011 Q & a with the Dean
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University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey Volume 9 Number 1 Winter 2011 Q & A with the Dean Welcome to the winter 2011 edition of Pulse magazine, which showcases the tremendous ways students, faculty, investigators, and staff shine academically, scientifically and clinically. Their remarkable accomplishments and diverse inter- ests make NJMS everything a medical school should be and more. The pages that follow offer recent success stories, including an internationally endorsed diagnos- tic test for tuberculosis, a life-saving technology for heart patients and an array of published research. This Q&A focuses in particular on scholarships. What message would you like to share about How do donations for scholarships make a New Jersey Medical School? difference? Inya Chehade at the Foundation of UMDNJ The NJMS community commemorated the Every gift is essential. When one scholarship (973-679-4686). Ms. Mink can highlight the 50th anniversary of the inaugural class last recipient visited our Alumni Association benefits of Alumni Association membership, year. This May, I look forward to greeting office to express appreciation, he explained describe volunteer opportunities, arrange graduates during our alumni weekend (May that the award was worth much more than campus tours and offer other ways to help. 13 – 15) when the classes of ’61 and ’86 cele- the monetary value of the gift. It helped Alumni from GSBS at NJMS who are inter- brate their 50th and 25th anniversaries reduce his financial debt and also provided ested in donating are encouraged to contact respectively. Reunions are a wonderful oppor- relief from incurring additional interest. Elizabeth Ketterlinus at the Foundation of tunity for alumni to celebrate past and cur- Scholarships for books, supplies, and, of UMDNJ (973-679-4684). rent achievements at their alma mater. course, tuition make such a difference for Contributions can be designated to depart- In addition to my role as interim dean, our students. ments, programs or students entering a par- I enjoy my clinical work as a pediatrician. I ticular specialty. A donor who establishes a have always been an extremely proud graduate What is the first step towards making a scholarship can also choose to participate in of the NJMS class of ’72. Although medical donation? selecting a recipient. Gifts from Pulse maga- education has evolved, being able to pay for Establishing a scholarship is one way to sup- zine readers can be a source of encouragement it has always been on the minds of medical port a key mission of the school—education. to the next generation of physician-clinicians students. I know how important scholarships Financial support is also critically needed for and scientists. are to each recipient. As the economy slowly summer research programs, which provide rebounds, we are determined to expand opportunities for high school and college scholarship support for NJMS as well as the students to participate in rigorous scientific Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences research. (GSBS) at NJMS students. We extend our Anyone interested in making a donation to heartfelt appreciation to the alumni and NJMS should contact Dianne Mink, director Robert L. Johnson, MD, FAAP friends for their generous contributions. of the Alumni Association (973-972-6864) or The Sharon and Joseph L. Muscarelle Endowed Dean (Interim) pulse VOLUME 9 NUMBER 1 WINTER 2011 UNIVERSITY OF MEDICINE & DENTISTRY OF NEW JERSEY Interim Dean Senior Editor, NJMS Pulse President Keep In Touch… UMDNJ–New Jersey Medical School Maryann Brinley NJMS Alumni Association NJMS Pulse is published twice each year by the Robert L. Johnson, MD James M. Oleske, MD’71, MPH Contributing Writers UMDNJ– Department of University Advancement and Communications for New Jersey Medical School (NJMS). Director Tryon Baldwin AlumniFocus Director We welcome letters to the editor and suggestions for University Marketing Communications Christina Brown Dianne Mink future articles. Barbara Hurley Jen Doktorski Business Coordinators Eve Jacobs Executive Director for Administration Noreen Gomez Send all correspondence to: Lisa Jacobs Walter L. Douglas, Jr. Donna Perry Pulse Editor Mary Ann Littell University Advancement and Communications Acting Director Genene Morris Photo Editor University Heights –P.O. Box 1709, Room 1328 NJMS Marketing Communications Mary Kate Sheridan Doris Cortes-Delgado 65 Bergen Street Kaylyn Kendall Dines Jill Spotz Design Newark, NJ 07101–1709 or via email to [email protected] Sherer Graphic Design JOHN EMERSON pulse INSIDE INFORMATION 2 When Students Interview Students Kudos 3 Tough Mudder 4 NJMS News by the Numbers 4 Learning to Be Old Memory Boxes A CLOSER LOOK… 5 Top Discoveries of the Decade 7 The Healing Power of Creative Arts 5 9 The Language of Love 10 Road Trip Circa 1959 NJMS PEOPLE: DO YOU KNOW? 14 11 Elena Miriam Welt: A med student walks into a bar 12 The Eloy Dynasty, Via Haiti 14 Ana Natale-Pereira: Champion for the Community 16 Kenneth Maiese: Brain Scientist, Builder, Bold Leader 20 18 Patricia Fitzgerald-Bocarsly: 10 Questions FEATURES 20 Lives We Have Changed: Life & Death Matters of the Heart In the midst of a life-threatening heart attack, Anthony Bridges ended up in a very special medical trial. 23 Making Headlines, Saving Lives 24 Why Do People Get Sick? Exploring links between inflammation, infection and immunity 27 In Pursuit of the Wily Lyme Spirochete Stephen Schutzer has been hunting for secrets behind this critter, responsible for Lyme disease, for decades and he just took a giant step closer. 28 In The Lab with Padmini Salgame This gifted TB researcher learned to burn the midnight oil long ago and got hooked on studying “bugs” back in India. 28 29 To Give Students a Competitive Edge 30 Postcards from the Pozen Scholars For eight students, off-campus adventures were anything but ordinary. ALUMNI FOCUS 31 A Conversation with the New UMDNJ Chair 33 Alumni-Powered Scholarships Calendar, Save the Date 34 In the DaCosta Family, Medicine Matters 36 Marjorie Jones: Fifty Years Later, Plenty of Stamina 37 James Netterwald: Bringing Dead Science Writing to Life 38 In Memoriam: Remembering Rosemary Gellene 39 Class Notes FOCUS ON PHILANTHROPY 40 Paul Bonitz’s Excellent Surprise 36 COVER PHOTO BY JOHN EMERSON INSIDE INFORMATION KUDOS ANN CHUANG and ALOPI PATEL participat- ed in the Foundation for Anesthesia Education Research (FAER) Medical Students Anesthesia Research Fellowship program, working with MARCELINO POTIAN, MD, and MELISSA DAVIDSON, MD. DENARD COLEMAN, director, The Waiting Room Parents/Adolescent Youth Development Program, was selected for a When Students provided two to three times more written Robert Wood Johnson Foundation “Ladder to information about applicants’ personalities, Leadership” fellowship. Interview Students communication skills, extra-curricular inter- ests and motivation,” Fadem says. “In addi- JOEL DELISA, MD, MS, professor and founding director of the Kessler Foundation hristina Gutowski and Nikhil Thaker, tion, when it came to each applicant’s com- Research Center, is being honored for his 20 fourth-year students and founding munication skills and motivation, medical C years of leadership with a $50,000 annual directors of the NJMS Student Admissions student interviewers provided 60 percent award in his name to be given to a physician Interview Program, were very aware of the more specific examples.” These outcomes or scientist making an impact on physical challenges prospective students face when may be due to a student interviewer’s ability medicine and rehabilitation. The first winner applying to medical school. They established to relate to an applicant’s academic and will be announced in May. a program in 2007, with the support of the interpersonal experiences. Office of Admissions, to enhance the inter- The program now has 119 second- to Fourth-year med student ANDREW ELDEN viewing experience for prospective students, fourth-year student interviewers for this aca- co-authored a study on amyotrophic lateral to bring a personalized approach to the demic year and is being led by coordinator sclerosis which was published in Nature. process, and to provide additional informa- Leila Mady, a fourth-year MD/PhD/MPH tion to the Admissions Committee. student. Mady, in collaboration with the JOHN GREMBOWIEC, associate director, With the guidance of Barbara Fadem, Admissions Office, is developing a team of EMS, got a certificate of appreciation from PhD, professor, psychiatry, and George student interviewers with the kind of insight the New Jersey Office of Homeland Security. Heinrich, MD, associate dean, admissions, to pick the next generation of medical inno- Gutowski and Thaker conducted a study to vators and leaders. NIKHAT PARVEEN, PHD, assistant professor, evaluate what current medical student inter- microbiology and molecular genetics, viewers can add to the admissions process. received a one-year, $367,000 award from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to Their findings, which included the work of study syphilis. 22 student interviewers, were published in “I think there Medical Education Online. are a lot of CHUNXIANG ZHANG, MD, PHD, associate For the research, 36 medical school appli- clues… we just professor, and YUNHUI CHENG, PHD, cants were randomly selected. Both student need the right Sherlock research associate, anesthesiology, won a and faculty interviewers evaluated the candi- Holmes.” Best Manuscript Award from the American dates based on seven criteria: motivation, Heart Association. medical experiences, personality, communi- Eric Altschuler, MD, PhD, on the phenomenon and cation skills, outside interests, overall evalua- study of why one in every 300 HIV patients can XILIN ZHAO, PHD, Public Health Research tion, and overall numerical score. “Medical control the virus without medication, never getting Institute, received the NIH Director’s New student and faculty interviewers gave appli- AIDS Innovator Award. cants equal overall scores but the students 2 PULSE WINTER 2011 NEWS ABOUT NJMS EVENTS, FACULTY, GRANTS, RESEARCH AND MORE NJMS News by the Numbers 600+ Alumni, students, faculty, and supporters are now fans of the NJMS Facebook page.