RAMA REPORT
Russian American Medical Association Founded and Incorporated in 2002 by the Russian Physicians of North America
The 8th Joint National Medical and Scientific Conference October 13-16, 2011 Las Vegas, Nevada USA Research and Clinical Experience Reports, News and Projects Missions to Russia
RAMA Conference 2011 The 8th Joint National Medical & ScientiďŹ c Conference RAMA - www.russiandoctors.org RADA - www.russiandentists.org RASA - www.dumaem-po-russki.com
MARK YOUR CALENDARS: October 13-16, 2011 REGISTER TODAY: www.russiandoctors.org/conference-registration
Enjoy the Event and Wynn Las Vegas! www.wynnlasvegas.com
ROOM RESERVATION INFORMATION For discount room rates, please call the hotel: (702) 770-7100
Reservation code: 8RSS1011
For general conference information, please contact Olga Osipoff at info@russiandoctors.org For information about speaking opportunities, please contact: Lyuba Varticovski, MD - varticol@mail.nih.gov
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Featured RAMA Conference Famous Keynote Speakers
Dr. Roald Sagdeev is a Distinguished Professor of Physics at the University of Maryland, Director Emeritus of the Space Research Institute, and former director of the Space Research Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences. William Novick, MD is the Founder and Medical Director of the International Children’s Heart Foundation, University of Tennessee Professor of Surgery and International Child Health, RAMA partner and leader in the Siberian Pediatric Heart Project. Dr. Leonid Gozman is an associate professor at the Department of Social Psychology of the Moscow State University. He authored 8 books, including Psychology of Emotional Relationships (1987) and Political Psychology (1996). He has PhD in psychology and is the head of laboratory for political psychology research at the MSU.
Dr. Crous is the Founder and President of the ISI - International Success Institute, United Kingdom. He is an internationally recognized professional success coach, consultant, mentor, speaker, and published author specializing in life, business, and executive coaching and helping individuals and organizations achieve their personal and business goals. For the past 9 years, the Russian American Medical Association (RAMA) jointly with RADA and RASA has held its conference on an annual basis. RAMA is the nation’s only professional medical association uniting Russian-speaking medical and other health care professionals. RAMA is devoted to medical science and pursuing its noble cause of saving patients’ lives and sharing knowledge. This year the RAMA Annual Conference will take place in Las Vegas, NV on October 13-16, 2011. The Conference will provide a great venue to interact with diverse group of Russian-speaking physicians, educators and scientists as well as other healthcare professionals. At the conference you will be able to attend scientific and educational sessions as well as numerous exhibits. Your participation in the joint RAMA-RADARASA 2011 Annual Conference is important for all RAMA members’ professional development and the association’s growth. Register today and join your colleagues for this enriching and empowering event. Enjoy Wynn!
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Contents The 8th Joint National Medical & Scientific Conference
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2011 RAMA Journal Call for Abstracts
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2011 RAMA-RADA-RASA Conference
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Dr. William Novick
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Dr. Roald Sagdeev
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Dr. Leonid Gozman
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Dr. Martin Crous
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Dr. Boris Vinogradsky Meets with Russian Foreign Minister
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RAMA Mission to Kemerovo
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Northwest Chapter of RAMA Report
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ARM-UK Report The Association of Russian-speaking Medics in UK
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RAMA News
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New RAMA members
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New RAMA Observership Programs
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KAPLAN/RAMA Service Agreement
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RAMA Neuroscience Project Update
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RADA News
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RASA News
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New book by RAMA member: Peripheral Nerve Stimulation
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Observership Reports
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2011 RAMA Journal Call for Abstracts Dear Colleagues, We are closing abstract submission for the next issue of the RAMA Journal. Abstract submission deadline: August 31, 2011. Any abstracts received after that date will be used in the RAMA e-mail communication distributed to the audience of 8000 professionals. To ensure that the abstract receives proper consideration, please make sure that the abstract is submitted to the appropriate category: Clinical Science; Dentistry; Public Health; Basic Science; Nursing; Appropriate health allied fields. Editorial language assistance will be available for additional cost of $25/abstract. Please, send the abstract as an attached Microsoft Word file. Authors’ photo must accompany submission. All photos MUST be a separate JPEG file with resolution at least 300 dpi to bartperlman371@gmail.com and olga.osipoff@gmail.com According to the Copyright Act of 1976, all abstracts must be accompanied by the Copyright Transfer and Author Declaration Statement. The Copyright Statement is available online: www.russiandoctors.org/journal/ copyright.pdf All authors must sign this statement and send or fax to: Russian American Medical Association Inc. 36100 Euclid Avenue, Suite 330-B Willoughby, OH 44094 USA FAX: (+1) 440-953-0242 *Do not send abstracts to this address, the fax is for copyright transmission only. The previous issues of the RAMA Journal are available online: www.russiandoctors.org/journal/index.shtml The 8th issue of RAMA Journal will be published online by October 31, 2011. For more information please contact Dr. Bart Perlman - RAMA Journal Editor-in-Chief, at bartperlman371@gmail.com and visit www.russiandoctors.org/forum/showthread.php?t=8196&highlight=call+abstracts
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2011 RAMA-RADA-RASA Conference Dr. William Novick to speak at the 2011 RAMA-RASA-RADA Conference Dr. William Novick, founder and medical director of the International Children’s Heart Foundation, received his MD from the University of Alabama, did his general surgical training at the University of Pennsylvania, and returned to the University of Alabama for his cardiac and congenital heart surgery fellowship. While there, he had the opportunity to treat a number of children from third world countries. Of special note was a 12-year old girl from Nigeria with Tetralogy of Fallot with pulmonary atresia who was deemed inoperable because of her age. An operation was performed to improve the quality of her life, but nothing could be done to extend it. “I struggled with this child following the discharge,” recalled Dr. Novick, “literally thinking daily about this child.” After several weeks of seeing him struggle, two colleagues from Colombia suggested that he should accompany them to Bogotá in Colombia to help set up their two pediatric heart surgery programs. After spending two weeks there, Dr. Novick remembered saying “You have found the root of my problem and you have found the solution. When I get out I am going to give some of my time away to kids in third world countries.” Living up to his promise, he invited children from the third world countries for free operations when he went into private practice with a group of eight cardiac surgeons in Orlando, and even organized a mission to Croatia for pediatric cardiac surgery. Following this trip, Dr. Novick decided to do this on a regular basis and chose the University of Tennessee as the site do develop his program in 1993. Since the establishment of the International Children’s Heart 6 | RAMA Report
Foundation (ICHF), there have been over 240 trips across 27 countries with over 5000 operations, and the foundation actively expands. “Last year we made 36 trips and operated on 727 children, and this year we’ve set our goal of 40 trips and 900 children.” A number of years ago, even before finishing his medical training at UCLA, Dr. Yakov Elgudin contacted Dr. Novick about the possibility of organizing help in Russia, specifically in Kemerovo. Over the last four years this idea has become a reality through the combined missions of the ICHF and RAMA to the Kemerovo Heart Institute. With six trips to date and over 100 operations, this mission has been a huge success. But more importantly this mission has recently acquired advanced pediatric cardiac surgeons, allowing the local medical staff to perform an increasing number of difficult operations that were previously impossible. With another trip scheduled for September, Dr. Novick and Dr. Elgudin are excited about the progress that has already been made, with local professionals now performing over half of the operations. “I think it speaks to the benefits of this program that the roles have switched over time and now they are performing a substantial number of the operations themselves”, remarked Dr. Novick. “What we are looking to do is to establish this program so that they can care for literally any child that is sent to them with a heart disease, so nobody has to be sent to Moscow or St. Petersburg, so that everything is within their reach.”
RAMA conference keynote speakers Dr. Roald Sagdeev to speak at the 2011 RAMA-RASA-RADA Conference Dr. Sagdeev: expert in plasma physics and former director of the Space Research Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences. Former science advisor to russian president Mikhail Gorbachev, he has worked at the University of Maryland since 1989. He is also currently a Senior Advisor at Albright Stonebridge Group, a global strategy firm, where he assists clients with issues involving Russia and countries in the former Soviet Union. At one time, Dr. Sagdeev was married to Susan Eisenhower, granddaughter of the late American President Dwight Eisenhower, and in 2003, received the Carl Sagan Memorial Award. In 1955, after graduating from the Moscow State University with a bachelor’s in nuclear science and a doctorate in Physics and Mathematics, he worked at the Kurchatov Institute of Atomic Energy as a member of the controlled fusion team with director Igor Kurchatov from 1956 to 1961. From 1961 until 1970, he worked as the head of the laboratory at the Institute of Nuclear Physics of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences in Novosibirsk. At the age of 35, he was the youngest person ever to be elected as a full academician of the Academy of Sciences of the USSR. From 1970 until 1973, he worked at the Institute of Physics of high temperatures of the USSR Academy of Sciences. His work on the behavior of hot plasma and controlled thermonuclear fusion in both the Institute of Atomic Energy and later at the Institute of Nuclear Physics has won international recognition. Upon his return to Moscow, he was appointed as the director of the
Space Research Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences from 1973 until 1988. After the USSR lost the race to the Moon, he supervised several research projects such as the Cosmos, Forecast, Intercosmos, Meteor, and Astron programs. He managed and was a principal participant in many space projects, including the Venera probes to Venus, the joint Soviet-U.S. Soyuz-Apollo Test Project and headed the International Space Project VenusHalley (Vega and Phobos projects). He is the author of studies on plasma physics and magnetofluid dynamics. In 1984, he was awarded the highly prestigious Lenin Prize for his outstanding achievements in the founding of neoclassical theory of transport processes in toroidal plasma.
Dr. Leonid Gozman to speak at RAMA-RADA-RASA Conference Dr. Gozman has served as deputy chairman of the Union of Right Forces. He is also a professor of the Social Psychology Department at the Moscow State University. He has served as a researcher for the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars and a professor of Psychology and Russian Research at Dickinson College.
Martin Crous, PhD To Address RAMA-RADA-RASA Conference Martin Crous, PhD specializes in Life, Business and Executive Coaching and gives direction to individuals and organizations to help them achieve their personal and business goals.
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2011 RAMA-RADA-RASA Conference
From left to right: Pavel Astakhov, Boris Vinogradsky, MD, Svetlana Sokolova, Marina Adamovich, Sergey Lavrov, Tatyana Bobrinskaya, Regina Khidekel, Igor Baboshkin, Yuri Zaytsev
RAMA Chairman – Dr. Boris Vinogradsky Meets with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in Washington On July 12, 2011, Dr. Vinogradsky along with several other people met with the Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov at the Russian Embassy in Washington, DC. They discussed the state of Russian Healthcare and the role RAMA can play in medical reforms planned by the Russian Government. Mr. Lavrov was briefed on the work RAMA is doing in Russia right now and about plans for the future. He was very interested in potential participation of RAMA members in the process of adoption of Russian children by American families. This meeting was a round-table discussion of potential participation of the Russian diaspora in the modernization of Russia. The meeting was organized by the Russian Embassy in cooperation with the Council of Russian Compatriots in America and included Sergey Kislyak - Russian Ambassador to the United States, Pavel Astakhov - Children’s Rights Commissioner for The President of Russia, Igor Baboshkin - Presi-
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dent of the Compatriots Council, Tatyana Bobrinskaya - representative of the Russian Order of Hospitaliers, Sergey Ryabkov - Deputy Foreign Minister of Russia, Yuri Zaytsev - Head of the Russian Cultural Center in Washington, DC, Svetlana Sokolova - President of the American Association for Russian Language, Culture and Education, Marina Adamovich - Editor-in-Chief of the “New Review” Journal and Regina Khidekel - Director of the Russian American Cultural Center in New York City. Later that day Dr. Vinogradsky also met with Mr. Chang Suh from the US Library of Congress and discussed opportunities for collaboration with RAMA in the future.
RAMA Mission to Kemerovo RAMA Mission to Kemerovo, New Projects Developments by Yakov Elgudin, MD This RAMA mission was a part of the ongoing RAMA Siberian Heart Project that began in 2007 and organized in close collaboration with the International Children’s Heart Foundation. The first of two pediatric cardiac missions to Kemerovo took place on April 16th through 30th of this year. The second took place on June 17th through 26th. This mission has been very productive and successful. It further improved skills of the local team of pediatric cardiologists and cardiac surgeons and expanded the expertise of other team members taking care of children with congenital heart disease. The 3rd RAMA-ICHF pediatric cardiac surgery mission to Kemerovo is scheduled to take place in September of 2011. Over the last four years, both, pediatric and adult components of the RAMA’s Siberian Heart Project have been occurring simultaneously at every mission we undertake. Given the great difficulty in having simultaneous highly intensive operating schedules on both children and adults during such missions, this year we decided to separate them and dedicated one week in June to performing only
new, advanced, and complex surgeries on adult patients in the Kemerovo Center of Cardiology and Cardiac Surgery. During this mission we had a number of meetings and conversations with hospital administrators and physicians interested in opening and developing similar RAMA projects in their hospitals/regions.
Meetings and new developments. 1. On June 18th, immediately after my arrival in Moscow, I met with a group of doctors and businessmen from Yaroslavl (a regional center about 4 hours north of Moscow): Anna Bogacheva, MD - a Chief Pediatric Cardiologist of Yaroslavl Region and her colleagues who are interested in starting a congenital heart surgery program in Yaroslavl
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RAMA Mission to Kemerovo
similar to the one RAMA-ICHF has run in Kemerovo since 2007. During our two-hour meeting, we discussed many issues and questions concerning this project. We formulated a plan for the immediate future, particularly to have one of the doctors, and possibly one of the hospital administrators from Yaroslavl, go to Kemerovo in September during our next mission to meet with the group. We will use this to see how the mission’s work is arranged, how patients are treated etc. Meanwhile, further important steps in Yaroslavl will have to be made in order to create a coherent plan and identify a specific group of individuals, and a specific hospital that would serve as a clinical base for the mission.
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2. On June 19th I spoke to Prof. Alexey Maschan – Deputy Director of the Republican Center of Hematology, Oncology, and Immunology in Moscow, Russia. This center is working in close alliance with Chulpan Chamatova’s fund, providing financial support for the most critical and urgent needs of the center in pediatric hematology and oncology. During an hour-long conversation we discussed several topics that were of particular interest to him and his institution. First, professor Maschan expressed great interest in cooperating with RAMA in nursing education and training for the new hospital that will start accepting patients in October of 2011. Some potential ways for RAMA to help them with nursing education and training will include sending nursing educators to Moscow for periods of 2-3 weeks at a time on a continuous basis. Such educators will provide didactics as well as bedside training and supervision for nurses at the ICU, training on chemotherapy and bone marrow transplant units, guidance on general medical procedures, and so forth. There is a nursing school on the clinical base of the hospital that can help formalize such nursing education project. Another topic of great interest for professor Maschan and his center: pediatric hematological and oncological surgery, and, in particular,
RAMA Mission to Kemerovo neurosurgery. There is a serious potential for cooperation with RAMA in this field as well. In summary, these two main programs of RAMA cooperation with the Moscow Center of Hematology, Oncology, and Immunology are now under development. 3. In Leninsk-Kuznetzky – a town of about 250,000 people located about 90 miles south of Kemerovo there is a large multispecialty hospital mainly built and designed to provide care for coalminers and industrial workers with work-related traumas and injuries. Over the years, this institution has become a premier regional tertiary care center for trauma, orthopedics, and neurological surgery as well as critical care and other related specialties such as general surgery and ob-gyn. Director of this Center – Professor Vagram Agadganyan invited me to visit the center on June 25th. Professor Agadganyan and his colleagues gave me a tour of the hospital after which we discussed ways of RAMA cooperation with their institution. Out of many potential areas of interest, the trauma/orthopedics and neurosurgery were chosen as pilot specialties for a new RAMA project. Currently, we are communicating with the Leninsk-Kuznetzky’s hospital, working on the mission specifics and developing a plan.
Siberian Heart Project clinical work During the week of June 20, we performed six operations in the Kemerovo Center of Cardiology and Cardiac Surgery. Two of them were performed for the first time in the Russian Federation. These cases introduced coronary bypass grafting performed through a small skin incision on the left side of the chest. This operative approach dramatically improves the rehabilitative potential for patients and shortens their recovery time. We were able to perform such operations in part because of excellent support provided by Medtronic, Inc. and Medtronic Foundation. Medtronic manufactures specific equipment and supplies that made this
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RAMA Mission to Kemerovo as the potential for Siberian doctors coming to the US for observership training programs.
surgical procedure possible. In an outstanding supporting effort by Medtronic, the company representatives delivered several critical disposable and reusable supplies to Kemerovo in addition to those we brought with us from the US. As a result of such support we were able to successfully perform two of these minimally invasive coronary bypass surgeries during our mission and had local surgeons learn the technique of the procedure. All patients did well and are either discharged or finishing their recovery at the hospital. Over the course of our mission we also saw and consulted 14 patients with complex heart disease for which the diagnostic and treatment plans were established. There were three meetings with the hospital administration related to our further research cooperation with Kemerovo Center of Cardiology and Cardiac Surgery as well
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In summary, the June’s 2011 RAMA Mission to Kemerovo was a rather intense and productive experience from clinical and developmental points of view. In fact, in one of our conversations Professor Leonid Barbarash – the head of the Kemerovo Center - said that this was extremely important and in many ways a “breakthrough” mission that opened up several new areas of cardiac surgery for development at the Kemerovo Center. Professor Barbarash who had also conceived of and supported RAMA Siberian Pediatric Heart Project, emphasized that the result of our mission ultimately yielded success and advancement of the pediatric and congenital heart surgery program at his institution, and that it exceeded his most optimistic expectations. We appreciate such recognition and will continue to expand our mission and do the best we can to help patients in different parts of the world.
Northwest Chapter of RAMA Report The Northwest Chapter of the Russian American Medical Association includes Russian-speaking medical professionals from the Former Soviet Union in the states of Washington, Oregon, Alaska, Idaho, Montana and Wyoming.
The goals of our Chapter are: 1. Representing the Russian American Medical Association (RAMA) in the Pacific Northwest. 2. Facilitating and enabling Russian physicians and other health care professionals of the Pacific Northwest to excel in patient care and pursue their aspirations in professional, humanitarian and community affairs. 3. Establishing communication between medical professionals of Russian descent by sharing experiences, memories, and helpful hints as well as advice and creating a tight knit community that will benefit each and every member. 4. Bringing to American medicine distinctive contributions from Russia. 5. Cooperating with and assisting other non-profit organizations in the Pacific Northwest sharing the same or similar goals of RAMA. 6. Conducting membership meetings at appropriate intervals with suitable agendas.
Letter from the President Dear Colleagues, My name is Larisa Raastad. I am a family physician at Olympia Family and Internal Medicine in Olympia, WA and the President of the Northwest Chapter of Russian American Medical Association (RAMA). Originally, I am from Vladivostok, Russia. I graduated from Vladivostok State Medical University and completed my residency training at St. Peter Family Residency Program in Olympia, WA. The Northwest Chapter of RAMA, which we started in November 2009, unites USMLE students, residents, and practicing physicians of Washington and Oregon, as well as Alaska, Idaho, Montana and Wyoming. We have a Board of Directors and hold regular meetings when we have the opportunity to discuss current business and to get to know each other well. We started an observership program for international medical graduates at Olympia Family Medicine in April 2010. Prospective observers residing in the US and republics of the former Soviet Union expressed great interest in taking part in our program. We would appreciate your help in supporting our Observership Program by offering mentorship in your offices, or at least occasionally accepting international medical graduates for an observership and offer guidance in your specialty. We are looking for practicing physicians who are interested in joining us in developing local and international projects, developing observership programs for international medical graduates, and establishing relationships with state teaching schools. To those who completed their training and successfully practice medicine in the US, we need your experience, expertise, and leadership.
7. Providing a meeting place for members.
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ARM-UK Report
The Association of Russian-speaking Medics in UK
Dr. Maria Ilina: on Sunday, July 10th we got together for the first time. “We” are the initiative group of Russian-speaking doctors who live and practice in the UK. The meeting was attended by 16 people: Nadezhda Barton (Cardiac Physiologist, Croydon University Hospitals NHS Trust, London), Olga Bezhaeva (SpR in Pediatrics, Alder Hey, Liverpool), Ekaterina Burova (Consultant Dermatologist, Bedford Hospital), Natalia Gak (Co-medical training doctor, Addenbrookes Hospital, Cambridge), Paul Gissen(Consultant in Pediatric Metabolic Disease, Great Ormond Street Hospital/UCL), Anastasia Goncharova(SpR in Radiology, Royal Free Hospital, London), Svetlana Galitzine (Consultant Anesthetist, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford), Maria Ilina (Locum Consultant Pediatric Cardiologist, Southampton General Hospital), Yelena Karnovitch (SpR in Respiratory Medicine, St George’s Hospital, London), Dmitry Kruglov (SpR in Anesthetics, UCH, London), Maria Naimark (Clinical Fellow, ITU, Croydon University Hospitals NHS Trust, London), Anna Nuttall (SpR in Rheumatology, Royal Free Hospital), Lada Krylova (Consultant Rheumatologist, Chase Farm Hospital), Marina Kulikova (Obstetrician & Gynecologist), Aleksey Papou (Registrar in Rheumatology, Edinburgh), Anna Progalskaya (Losis).
“Contribution of the Expatriates to the Modernization of Russia: Perspectives of Collaborative Development and Partnership.” The meeting was organized by the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and prominent expatriates were invited. I was not among the invitees, but attended one of the conference sessions. This is where I met the President of the Russian American Medical Association (RAMA) Boris Vinogradsky, MD who works in Cleveland, Ohio. Out of the entire event, the most valuable piece of information for us was that the attitude of the Russian Federation officials towards expatriates has changed and that the Russian authorities are now making steps to attract Russianspeaking experts from abroad and promote collaboration with their colleagues in Russia. All this means that the climate for the Association of Russian-speaking Medics’ potential activities in Russia is now more favorable than it has ever been. 2. Created by doctors, our association, will first and foremost attract individuals with medical qualifications, physicians and surgeons, who are (ideally) in active clinical practice in the UK. However, we welcome any allied professionals – biomedical scientists, dentists, nursing staff, etc. – who could organize ARM-UK sections. So, the brainstorm for the organization’s title evoked discussion and a decision. The vast majority of those present agreed on ARM-UK as a good acronym and great logo. 3. What are we going to start with, what could be our first projects and activities:
Little by little, the idea of an Association is taking shape. We discussed the following topics:
a. Professional and social information exchange among those who are already residents in the UK (courses, conferences, PLAB test preparation, friendly get-togethers, fundraising events, support for colleagues – many delegates suggested these topics).
1. In October 2010, a conference took place in Moscow. The title, in my translation from Russian, reads
b. Logistics and information support for our colleagues from the Russian Federation who wish to
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ARM-UK Report
The Association of Russian-speaking Medics in UK
spend time in the UK doing clinical attachments in specialties represented by ARM-UK members. c. Educational activities – many of us are already being invited to give speeches, lectures and consultations in the Russian Federation, and so will be able to pass on information about ARM-UK to those in Russia who are interested in future educational collaboration and exchange. 4. ARM-UK website. The website will feature a list of Russian-speaking medical practitioners who are members of ARM-UK and aside from other sections will have a web forum. While considering website design, we can use the British Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (BAPIO) and Russian American Medical Association (RAMA) websites as examples. While doing this, we must bear in mind legal and cultural differences between the USA and UK. However, it goes without saying that our extremely valuable partnership with RAMA offers endless possibilities for collaboration, and cannot be overestimated. We will initiate a partnership with BAPIO (Russian Elephant is the Indian Elephant’s best friend!), that may be able to offer a wealth of insight into the nitty-gritty of organizing a professional Association in the UK. Ekaterina Burova has kindly offered to facilitate this, since the President of BAPIO is one of her Consultant colleagues. 5. We’ve also discussed practical questions that need to be addressed in order for Association activities to begin: a. Administrative and legal aspects – we’ve all agreed that at first, an association is the best form, which will require minimal formalities to register. If the idea proves roadworthy, we will work towards registering our organization as a charity. Likely, we will need to use the services of a lawyer.
Members of ARM-UK meet in London b. Posts within the organization – President or Chair, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer-Secretary for Membership, Executive Committee. It goes without saying that the Executive Committee should consist of those who have time and motivation to work for the association. c. Physical address for the Association and bank account holders - If growing and financially sound, the organization will need an office. d. Possible sources of income for the Association – membership fees, charitable donations, proceeds from fundraising events e. Once the Association inauguration takes place, it will become necessary to inform the GMC, BMA and Embassies of the Russian Federation and of the countries formerly members of the Soviet Union. We plan to hold the next meeting at the end of August. Thank you all for your ongoing support – we hope you’ll stay with us! On behalf of ARM-UK, Dr. Maria Ilina
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RAMA News Introducing new members to the Board Dr. Larisa Raastad - Family Medicine, Olympia, WA Dr. Raastad established the Northwest Chapter of RAMA in 2009 and from that point on has successfully run and expanded it. She started a branch of the RAMA Observership Program that has now expanded to 3 locations and admitted more than 10 doctors, 2 of them successfully matched to residency spots this year. Dr. Raastad will work as a member of the Board at large and will stand in the RAMA Board elections during the Las Vegas conference.
Dr. Elena Vasserman, MD, PhD University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA Dr. Vasserman has participated very actively in all RAMA work since October 2010 and is instrumental in building up the Observership Program at UPenn. She is involved and dedicated to our cause and we believe will make valuable contributions to RAMA work in the future. Dr. Vasserman will work as a RAMA Board member-at-large for now and will stand in the RAMA Board elections during Las Vegas conference in October 2011.
New RAMA Observership Programs Neurosurgery Based at the University of Illinois at Chicago Please, contact Konstantin Slavin, MD at kslavin@uic.edu
Psychiatry and Pain Management Based at the Meridian Health Group in Carmel, Indiana Please, contact Dmitry Arbuck, MD at darbuck@meridianhealthgroup.com
Attention RAMA Board members You can now use RAMA account on Twitter to post RAMA news and updates. Request RAMA Twitter account LOGIN information by sending an e-mail to info@russiandoctors.orgPlease, join. It will increase your visibility. 16 | RAMA Report
RAMA welcomes new members! Artyom Dyatlov, MD - Surgery - Ukraine Vladimir Lipovetsky, MD - Psychiatry - California Dmitri Vasin, MD - Nephrology - Washington Dato Grigolia, MD - Anesthesiology - New York Irina Kapustina, MD, PhD - Internal Medicine - CAN Serguei Kozlov, PhD, MBA - Research - Maryland Zakhar Serkin, MD - Research - Michigan Maria Govorkova, MD - Ophthalmology - California Natallia Tsesliukevich, MD - Student - Washington Natallia Suvorava, MD - Student - California Olga Koblova, MD - Student - Washington Lana Cossel, MD - Student - Washington Tatiana Popov - Medical Education - New Jersey Denis Tsoi, MD - Urology - Kyrgyzstan Olga Vallenberg, MD - Student - Ohio Gulnaz Altynbaeva, MD - Ophthalmology - Russia
KAPLAN/RAMA Service Agreement KAPLAN is the leading provider of preparation services for standardized tests and educational services including preparation for the USMLE, NCLEX, NAPLEX, NBDE, GMAT, GRE, LSAT, MCAT, DAT, OAT, PCAT, SAT, ACT, etc.
RAMA Neuroscience Project Update An agreement has been reached between Harvard Medical School CME, RAMA, and the Russian State Medical University in Moscow, Russia to begin live internet transmission of a 6 month clinical research course (www.clinicalresearchlearning.org) in February 2012 from Boston, MA USA to Moscow, Russia. This will be a pilot program, available to a small group of Russian students, to test the feasibility of a broader RAMA-sponsored neuroscience long-distance learning CME program for neuroscience colleagues throughout Russia and FSU countries. RAMA is seeking U.S. neuroscientists (neurology, neurosurgery, neuroradiology, neuropathology, basic neurosciences) with Russian affiliation to help with this project. Please contact Theodore Munsat, MD - theodore.munsat@tufts.edu for information, if you are interested.
RADA News The Russian-American Dental Association (RADA) is a non-profit organization of dental professionals that raises awareness about oral health and fights the battle against oral cancer through groundbreaking initiatives, engaging communities and providing individual health services. Since 2002, RADA has developed and participated in a variety of fundraisers, professional ceremonies, and informative conferences, keeping with its mission to educate people of all ages and backgrounds about the hazards associated with unsafe and addictive habits. A milestone for RADA was the establishment of the Kids 4 Kids anti-smoking art contest and award ceremony with monetary prizes, which produced glossy catalogues displaying the children’s winning artwork. This year, the contest thrived as the number of participants and guests escalated and the impact of the event was evident in the children’s enthusiasm and pride over their accomplishments. RADA plans to continue this important and interactive event for years to come, and we are looking forward to witnessing the positive improvements it has on our community.
Oral Cancer / Smoking Cessation Project One initiative that has made headlines for its influence and leverage is the Oral Cancer / Smoking Cessation Project that RADA runs annually in partnership with the New York City College of Technology (NYCCT). With the alarming statistics from the American Cancer Society stating that less than 20% of oral health providers perform oral cancer screenings, RADA understands the vulnerability patients are regularly left with. Until awareness of this life-threatening disease reaches the public on a grand scale, missions like the Oral Cancer / Smoking Cessation project are critical in provid-
ing individuals with an understanding of the severe implications of not getting diagnosed. Part of this project provides free screenings in an effort to prevent the fatality commonly associated with oral cancer. As a testament to RADA’s commitment, the screening is widely available to anyone who wants to participate – a noble gesture in one of the country’s most populated cities. This year’s allday event expanded to Brooklyn, Queens, and New Jersey, and was centered on increasing awareness among the general public about the importance of early detection in treating oral cancer. If the turnouts are any indication, it seems like people are really listening and taking a stand for their health. Lectures and seminars for medical professionals focused on oral cancer, why it can be so deadly, and how screenings can play a part in helping the affected population to survive. Participants in the project were given free 15 minute oral cancer screenings, self-check tips, and smoking cessation brochures. Those with startling symptoms based on the screening were then also sent for an official biopsy (courtesy of RADA). Since many of these patients are uninsured or financially incapable of paying for their own screenings, RADA’s generosity
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RADA News provides incentive for a community that might not have otherwise received the needed care in order to take an active step towards improving their quality of life.
Fundraising for the Annual Oral Cancer/Smoking Cessation Project A new initiative by RADA to spread information and raise funds for our projects involved a fundraising piano concert. On April 27th, 2011, students from YM Piano Studios performed at Young Musicians for a Smoke Free Planet at Jazz at Lincoln Irene Diamond Center. Over $1,000 was collected in proceeds to fund RADA’s initiatives locally and abroad, which include research in the dental field, assisting dental professionals with their career goals, and organizing medical conferences. RADA also organized and hosted the RADA-Medicus Gala at the Consulate General for Poland, on May 10th, 2011; the third event of its kind that educates dental and medical professionals about topics relating to their occupations. The Polish Consulate in Manhattan was filled with one hundred dentists and physicians who listened to a lecture by Dr. Gwen Brown, DDS, watched the Hermitage Piano Trio play classical pieces, and were treated to traditional Polish food. The gala focused on teaching the dentists and physicians in attendance about the signs of oral cancer/HPV and how to detect it. Director of RADA’s Oral Cancer/Tobacco Cessation Project, Dr. Brown, gave a thorough speech about these issues called “Current Trends in Epidemiology and Diagnosis of Oral Cancer and Physician-Dentist Referral Network Development.” We realized how important such an event is when Dr. Brown asked
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the attendees how many of them tested for the disease, and a very small amount of people raised their hands. The proceeds for the tax deductible event tickets all went towards the Oral Cancer/Smoking Cessation Project and “Kids 4 Kids” Anti-Smoking Drawing Contest. Therefore, the success and viability of the association is attributed to benevolent donors of these humanitarian causes. Supporters of the organization ensure sustained vitality and prosperity, while empowering American society.
“Kids 4 Kids” Anti-Smoking Drawing Contest According to a study conducted by SADD, an organization which provides student prevention tools to deal with issues such as smoking, drinking and other drug use, 50% of American young people have tried cigarettes by the 12th grade. Other statistics state that, four out of five adults who smoke say they tried their first cigarette before they turned 18. With such alarming and sky-high statistics such as these across the world, RADA acknowledged the critical need to enhance the strategies used to discourage young people from harmful actions such as the use of tobacco products. As a result, RADA established a new approach towards increasing awareness by creating
RADA News
the annual Kids 4 Kids art contest. Rather than relying on traditional fear-based advertisements and one-way communication, the Kids 4 Kids contest relies on three powerful concepts to teach children about oral cancer. Operating under the belief that “entertainment, engagement, and encouragement” are the ways to get youth to personally connect to smokingrelated dangers, the contest lets kids from grades 1 through 8 create the concepts themselves. Participants are invited to use art as a form of expressing anti-smoking sentiments, drawing their own images and pictures based on what they can relate to. An example of the effectiveness this contest has on children’s perception of smoking is one winner’s drawing, where a girl walking down the road of life comes across a wall of smoke, the message in the clouds saying, “We Can’t See The Future.” The messages were reinforced by the extraordinarily talented young entertainers from The Children’s Acting Company, who gave us seven sensational performances and revealed the winners of the contest. Their hard work was evident, as they seamlessly transformed old favorites into relevant renditions and dazzled us with their voices and dance moves. Their take on Amy Winehouse’s
“Rehab” was truly inspiring, with lyrics, “They tried to make me smoke a cigarette, I said, No, no, no/ Yes I know you’re cool but I am not a fool, so no, no, no/ I ain’t got the time and I think I’m just fine/ Just try to make me smoke a cigarette I’ll say No, no, no.” As an ever-lasting reminder of the anti-smoking messages unearthed during this event, the winners’ artwork was turned into an attractive little glossy catalogue for both participants and parents to enjoy long after the day was over. As the title promised, it really was an event where kids ran the show and took responsibility not only for their own health, but for that of their peers. Parents were touched by the adamant involvement of their children, and the kids were elated with their success. RADA was honored to have so many talented and enthusiastic children contribute to making the world smoke-free, and felt assured that their message was carried. The results of these contests reinforce the belief that children are better able to comprehend a profound issue when they are addressed in a prevention method that will intrigue them. “Prevention is the key to reducing various health risks in our society; it is better to prevent than to treat a disease. We believe it is important to teach our children at an early age about the downfalls of smoking so that when they grow up they can choose to live smoke-free,” said Dr. Rada Sumareva, DDS and President of RADA, in her speech to the guests that evening. Through the excitement and active involvement of so many children in the Kids 4 Kids initiative, RADA is proving that you can transform the peer-pressures that kids face daily into positive messages and pro-healthy life style attitudes. RADA Executive Board
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RASA News We have set up our web site at http://rasa-usa. org It is mostly in Russian and serves as the RASA news and announcement portal. The latest stories are posted there covering RASA participation in two round-table meetings in Washington in MarchApril of 2011 and a series of articles in the Russian scientific community newspaper “POISK”. www.poisknews.ru has information about Russian scientists in the US (some RASA members). 2. RASA is co-organizer of the “Lomonosovskie Chteniya” which are to take place in the Russian Cultural Center (RCC) in Washington, DC on November 11, dedicated to the 300th Anniversary of the birthday of Mikhail Lomonosov, and to be attended by members of the Presidium of the Russian Academy of Sciences. Sergei Chasovskikh, PhD of RASA is a member of the organizing committee that arranges prominent Russian scientific diaspora speakers. 3. RASA’s new initiative is ICAS (International Center of Advanced Science). With the support from the Russian Ministry of Science and Education (MON), Russian students will get practice at the best Western scientific centers. See http:// icas.su. Two of the 14 centers are in the US Fermi National Accelerator Lab and Argonne National Laboratory, both near Chicago, IL are
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prepared to get the first 3 students for 6-month internships, starting this fall. 4. We are exploring possibilities to set up cooperation with Skolkovo (Russian Government initiative to jump-start innovations). Possibilities will be discussed at the RAMA-RASA-RADA conference in Las Vegas, NV. One of the possibilities is our cooperation with MIT. MIT signed a preliminary agreement with the Skolkovo Foundation of Russia to assist them in the formation of a graduate level university in Skolkovo. An important aspect of the MIT/Skolkovo venture is to form a number of collaborative research centers between MIT and Russian universities/institutes in the following areas: biomedical science and technology, information science and technology, energy science and technology, space science and technology, and nuclear science and technology. There will be significant funding for these activities - http:// web.mit.edu/newsoffice/2011/skolkovo-mit-announcement-0618.html 5. Vyatcheslav Safarov, PhD – President of global RASA - took a part in the 2nd Congress of Russian Universities Alumni Conference in Kazan, Tatarstan, Russia - http://dialog.extech.ru/kongress2. Among the items discussed was a recent initiative of the Russian Ministry of Science and Education (MON) to set up 1000 internships for Russian students abroad (there seems to be potential for RAMA and hi-tech companies in the US to participate). by Vladimir Shiltsev, PhD - RASA Presdent-Elect
New book by RAMA member New book by RAMA member: Peripheral Nerve Stimulation This book answers fundamental questions of the current state of research and clinical experience By Konstantin Slavin, MD, Professor, Department of Neurosurgery, University of Illinois at Chicago Swiss publishing house Karger, one of the largest publishers of medical literature in the world, recently released a new volume in the series “Progress in Neurological Surgery” edited by RAMA member and past president Konstantin Slavin, MD, Professor, Department of Neurosurgery, University of Illinois at Chicago. This volume, according to the official book description, answers fundamental questions of the current state of research and clinical experience in this rapidly growing field of neuromodulation against pain. This excellent publication presents a unique compilation of the latest theoretical and practical information for electrical stimulation of the peripheral nerves. Chapters cover the use of peripheral nerve stimulation in particular indications such as migraine, cluster headache, pain in Chiari malformation and fibromyalgia, as well as in specific body parts such as head and neck, trunk, and extremities. Furthermore, chapters on history, technical aspects, mechanism of action, terminology, complications and other important aspects of this pain-relieving modality give you a full overview of the field. Written by leading experts, this publication provides a comprehensive and updated summary of the currently available scientific information on peripheral nerve stimulation. All chapters contain original information making this
book an invaluable reference for all who deal with the management of severe and chronic pain – including neurosurgeons and neurosurgical trainees, pain specialists and practitioners, anesthesiologists and neurologists.
Online Access / Table of Contents http://tinyurl.com/Peripheral-Nerve-Stimulation
Series Editor’s Note and Preface http://tinyurl.com/PNS-Preface Michael Stanton-Hicks et al.:
The Future of Peripheral Nerve Stimulation http://tinyurl.com/Future-Peripheral-Nerve-Stimul
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Observership at Cole Eye Institute In 2010, when I won a Presidential Program grant, I learned about the opportunity to participate in the International Observership offered by RAMA and gain valuable clinical experience abroad. I contacted Boris Vinogradsky, the founder of the Russian American Medical Association. I provided my credentials to the RAMA management and, after a thorough evaluation of my application, I was accepted to the program. Taking into consideration my experience and career development goals, RAMA tried to adapt the program to satisfy my professional needs. I was greatly interested in spending a part of my observership at the Cleveland Clinic, known around the world for its superior quality care and biomedical research and technology (it is among the best hospitals in US). Due to its popularity and demand it is quite difficult to enter the Cleveland Clinic Observership program. RAMA, however, was able to make special arrangements with the clinic’s educational department. Normally, it takes at least12 months for the Center for International Medical Education at the Cleveland Clinic to go through the registration process. Thanks to RAMA’s assistance, I was accepted in two months. RAMA observership managers provided guidance in document preparation, trained me for a phone interview and made themselves available at any time, despite the time difference. RAMA prepared for my arrival; they rented a nice apartment within walking distance to the clinic, helped me with logistics and helped me adjust to my new reality. They gave me tours of the city and heads up on my observership schedule. I am sure RAMA will help me in any situation and protect my interests. 22 | RAMA Report
The first visit to the Cleveland Clinic truly shocked me. The clinic is located in the cultural center of the city and its multiple campus buildings take a great deal of territory and are interconnected with skyways. You do not have to take to the streets if you want to go to another building. I was impressed with the way all the facilities are configured for handicapped patients and visitors needs. The main building of the Cleveland Clinic looks like a museum of modern art: shiny granite floors, large paintings and posters on the walls, sculptures, a grand piano in the center of the hall and pleasant music playing throughout the entire campus all day and night. If you are in the mood to listen to the music in a more comfortable setting while you wait, you can connect your head phones to the built-in wall outputs and relax in cozy arm-chairs and couches. On the first day of my observership at the Cleveland Clinic’s Cole Eye Institute, I was given a coded ID badge which allowed me to take advantage of a variety of resources including access to all libraries, free WiFi, and virtual security assistance. I was lucky to be assisted by a well-known professor, an ophthalmology surgeon. The Cole Eye Institute is the leading ophthalmology science center in US. I was then introduced to the program director, and the work began without delay. I was impressed by the American healthcare system at work and how successful it was, universal, equipped, automated, transparent, and profitable. Not only does every clinic care about its financial growth, it makes contributions to science and society a priority. All newly tested and approved developments in diagnostics, disease treatment, and patient care quickly make their way to the clinics and are immediately applied. All patient information and treatment history is available to all doctors and authorized medical personnel via the Cleveland Clinic’s database located on the secure virtual private network. Every department of the clinic offers an abundance of extraordinarily high level diagnostic equipment,
Observership at Cleveland Clinic with mobility which allows quick diagnosis and help to patients in any part of the clinic. Strict adherence to job descriptions and requirements, responsibility, and focus represent some of the most important features of the American healthcare system. Paper documentation is minimal. Most of the data entry and writing is done by nurses, nurse assistants, and technicians. Surgery protocols are recorded by a dedicated department. Most of the routine work is carried out by the mid-level personnel (medicine release, lab tests analysis, other) and related work is completely standard based and automated. My second day of observership brought me to the surgery room. And here, again, I was astonished with the work procedures, coordination, and the structure of the surgery room and operations. The latter includes a system of rooms and pre-surgical care, surgery, and post-surgery sections. Anesthesia is provided by a dedicated doctor – an anesthesiologist who operates hi-tech equipment that offers an advanced monitoring capability. I spent all day in surgeries. The medical personnel whose work I was observing was very friendly and eager to help me understand the complicated procedures they performed and offered tips on ways to succeed. During my observership I was able to learn about different ophthalmological aspects, such as diagnostics and eye disease treatment, including disorders of the front and back parts of the eye. Specialized mentors helped me study every particular aspect of ophthalmology. While studying, I was offered access to relevant patient information, which helped me learn about their disease progression, research, and treatment of any known eye pathology. Most importantly, I had the chance to meet leading American ophthalmologists whose discoveries are in the spotlight of the entire ophthalmological society. I learned a lot about new approaches to diagnostics, disease treatment, and patient care. The professional enrichment I gained at the clinic will definitely help me advance in my career and achieve great results
Dr. Gulnaz Altynbaeva and Dr. Thomas Pasquali in my research. I am taking home wonderful impressions and emotions, and was very lucky to work with the industry experts. Not only did we communicate in the hospital settings, they invited me to a number of interesting social networking and professional events. I gladly participated and learned about recent scientific developments. That was particularly important as, in addition to my practice, science and research play a significant role in my professional life. My observership mentors at Cole Eye Institute showed me their lab, introduced me to its staff, and offered resources. At the very end of my observership, I was invited to a graduation dinner, where we received our Observership Certificates and recognition. My new connections at the clinic and RAMA will definitely help establish new Russian-American professional relationships and foster international scientific projects in the ophthalmology field. I hope the knowledge and experience I gained in America will help me improve the ophthalmology practice in Russia. Once again, I would like to express my gratitude to the RAMA management for making my dream come true!
Dr. Gulnaz Altynbaeva
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Observership in Cleveland This Friday marks the end of my fourth week in the Observership Program in Cleveland. I’ll probably experience nostalgia for this nice time in the future. This is my first visit to the USA, and I had a lot of high expectations for this trip. Today, I can declare that it met and exceeded all of my expectations. I’m going to take my Step 2CS exam at the end of July and participate in Match week of 2012. When I was scheduling my exam, I realized that it would be good to stay in the USA before the exam for at least several weeks. I’ve never been to an English-speaking country, so I had both a language and cultural barrier. I did not have first-hand knowledge of the American medical system, and that formed a psychological barrier as well. That may sound ridiculous in consideration of my readiness to take a part in Match-2012, but it is true. It is favorable to have some kind of US clinical experience to be more competitive during the matching process. Moreover, I needed letters of recommendation. All these considerations led me to the idea of joining the Observership Program. I communicated with Boris Vinogradsky, MD and must give him credit for his responsiveness. It was very important for me because of my lack of time. For that I’d like to say special thanks to Boris. As for my trip to Cleveland, I’d like to warn future observers against the “Greyhound” bus company. If you have a bus ticket with indicated departure time on it, it doesn’t mean for sure that you’ll depart on time. There may be no available seats on your bus and you’ll need to wait for the next 24 | RAMA Report
one, and that may not happen for five hours. If you can use Amtrak, do that. For the first few days, I experienced a little stress. I guess it happened because of a long trip (absolutely unexpected seven hours staying in Pittsburgh on my way to Cleveland), absence of plug adapter and as a result, discharged batteries of my cell phone and computer. So I did not have any means of communication for two days and a different country to which I’d have to get accustomed. After meeting with Boris here in Cleveland I realized how important it is to participate in such an Observership Program. Your preceptor’s ability to understand your problems is the most important factor for the success of the program. I suppose only one who used to be in your shoes can understand and help. Boris will always provide immediate support whenever you might need it. I spent the first two weeks observing Dr. Vinogradsky’s work. I participated in daily rounds, attended surgeries, observed office work, took part in conferences and became familiar with Tripoint Medical Center and Lake West Medical Center, as well as two hospitals of the University Hospitals System (Geauga and Richmond). I would like to emphasize the difference between our medical system and the American one. It’s evident. Moreover, it is not only different, but there is a huge chasm between them. Last two
Dr. Artyom Dyatlov and Dr. Tim Pritchard
RAMA Observerships weeks I spent with the Chairman of Surgery at Lake System, Dr. Timothy Pritchard at Tripoint Medical Center. By that time I overcame all of my previously mentioned barriers, and it was easier for me to communicate with staff. I was really impressed by Dr. Pritchard. He is a very bright person, with a good sense of humor, intelligent, open, and ready to share his experience. I am grateful to him for his willingness to help.
L to R: Irina Kapustina, Olga Vallenberg, Artem Dyatlov, Gulnaz Altynbaeva I am Irina Kapustina - a Canadian citizen and an IMG. I graduated from the Chita State Medical Academy and the Sechenov Moscow Medical Academy in the Russian Federation with a PhD in Obstetrics and Gynecology. I have research experience and published papers. I passed all USMLE Steps and I am going to apply for the residency position in Family Medicine. Right now I am in the middle of my rotation and can share my first impressions. I applied for the RAMA Observership program to get more insight on the organization of the American hospitals and to obtain strong letters of recommendation. I was particularly interested in getting some knowledge of the structure
In summary, I’d like to say that I’m glad to have had such an experience and to have met very nice people. I’m confident that in the future, I will be able to take advantage of many more benefits this Observership practice provided. Thanks to Boris Vinogradsky and this unique organization - RAMA. Without you all this could not have been possible. Dr. Artyom Dyatlov
and use of medical records and different protocols. Also, I wanted to clarify for myself whether I would be able to get through all the stress, responsibilities, and long hours associated with the resident’s life. I was lucky that Dr. V. Isakov whose work I have observed was covering for his colleague, and I spent a lot of time in the hospitals with him admitting, discharging, and consulting his patients. I have already greatly increased my understanding of principles of the ER in the hospital. Even though, I was not allowed to communicate with patients directly, I was able to discus the information that interested me with my diagnoses and management while the ER doctor was taking an H&P. There is always room for improvement, so I used almost all my time to discus clinical cases, learn some practical skills from doctors, PAs and nurse practitioners. I was impressed by their well-organized teamwork in really critical emergency situations, such as cardiac arrest, ACS, and bleeding from dissecting AAA. Now, I realize better what my strengths and weaknesses are and what knowledge and skills I need to improve in order to be able to fulfill all the responsibilities of a PGY1. I am very grateful to doctors Vinogradsky, Isakov, Olga Osipoff, and Olga Vallenberg for their assistance in this process of licensing as a foreign trained doctor. Dr. Irina Kapustina
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Observership in Portland, Oregon It is important for an International Medical graduate to become familiar with the American Health Care system before entering a US medical residency. Unfortunately, it is very hard to find clinical experience in the US. I was lucky to meet Dr. Larisa Raastad, who was also a foreign doctor in the past and knows about the difficulties that foreign graduates may experience. Dr. Raastad provided me with an opportunity to shadow physicians at Capital Medical Center, in Olympia, WA. My observership took place in May 2011 and lasted 3 weeks: 120 hours of intensive, fascinating and valuable experience. I spent most of this time with Dr. Raastad. She generously allowed me to shadow her for a whole day on her workdays. During this time, I observed her patient encounters and learned the “American way” of practicing medicine. Dr. Raastad readily shared her experience and emphasized some important points that would help me prepare to enter US medical practice. For instance, I learned how to work with electronic medical records, how to manage time effectively and how to deal with demanding patients and drug seekers. I also had a chance to apply my practical skills and discuss clinical situations with Dr. Raastad. This talented, dedicated, and always ready-to-help doctor inspired me with her caring attitude and became a great example for me in many aspects of medicine. Once a week, on Thursdays, I shadowed Dr. Quinton Nguyen. Days with Dr. Nguyen were very fast-paced because I was directly involved in taking patients’ history and performing physical exams. I was rushing from one room to another, making sure I was very thorough and that I had not missed any important details about a patient. I gave Dr. Nguyen a brief summary of the patient’s history and findings of the physical exam and after that we talked about the 26 | RAMA Report
diagnosis and treatment. It was interesting and fun to work with this energetic and knowledgeable doctor. He also supported me and gave me a lot of advice regarding my future residency and practice. On some days Dr. Ngozi Achebe kindly agreed to take me to the hospital for the morning rounds. During those days, I saw many patients with complex conditions that required intensive care. I had an opportunity to carefully analyze and discuss each case with her, just like I used to do in medical school. Dr. Achebe is a great teacher and forces you to think by asking challenging questions, and delivers knowledge to you at the same time. All three doctors were a great source of information and excellent mentors for me. I enjoyed observing their patient interaction and discussing clinical diagnosis and treatment options with them. Even with tons of paperwork and a lack of time, they always answered my questions in great detail, providing essential information, which I was eager to learn. Three weeks at the Capital Medical Center became an unforgettable experience for me. I learned many important things during that time, such as similarities and differences between Russian and American primary care, approaches to management of different conditions, and also some aspects of preventive care in the US. I acquired useful communication skills and learned several specific techniques of physical examination used by the American physicians. In addition to learning useful practical skills, I was able to take advantage of some educational resources available to physicians at the Capital Medical Center. Whenever I needed to check the latest guidelines or obtain new information regarding diagnosis and treatment of a certain disease, I had access to online peer reviewed medical articles as well as a collection of textbooks and other literature at the office. In summary, shadowing experience at the Capital Medical Center helped me strengthen my knowledge and advance my clinical thinking skills. Dr. Elena Varlamov
RAMA Report RAMA Report Editorial Board Bart Perlman, PhD - Editor-in-Chief Vladimir Burdjalov, MD Igor Efimov, PhD Yakov Elgudin, MD, PhD Laura Kay Fleming, PhD Benjamin Godder, MD Maria Iliana, MD Donna-Marie Mironchuk Konstantin Slavin, MD Vladimir Shiltsev, PhD Rada Sumareva, DDS Lyuba Varticovski, MD Nikolay Vasilyev, MD Boris Vinogradsky, MD
RAMA Report is published every three months and is distributed via e-mail. To submit articles or to be removed from the RAMA mailing list please e-mail Olga Osipoff at info@russiandoctors.org with the word REMOVE in the subject header.
RAMA REPORT August 2011
Design and Production Management Olga Osipoff, MBA
Russian American Medical Association 36100 Euclid Avenue, Suite 330-B Willoughby, OH 44094 USA Tel: 440-953-8055 Fax: 440-953-0242 Web: www.russiandoctors.org For advertising opportunities and rates – please contact: Olga Osipoff, MBA at info@russiandoctors.org
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