The Messenger | Vol. 1.1, Spring 2014

A COMMUNITY NEWSLETTER FOR FRIENDS OF NORTHEAST OHIO MEDICAL UNIVERSITY.

MESSENGER

4209 St. Rt. 44, PO Box 95 Rootstown, Ohio 44272

VOL 1.1 SPRING 2014

neomed . ed u

UPCOMING PUBLIC EVENTS

(see neomed.edu/calendar or call 330.325.6264 for details)

NEOMED Kicks Off 40th Anniversary with Dedication of Research Building and Residential Housing Complex Northeast Ohio Medical University (NEOMED) honored forty years of education, research and service to the community this past fall as it kicked off its 40th Anniversary with the dedication of two new campus building projects: a Research and Graduate Education Building and The Village at NEOMED, a residential housing community.

Major Research Awards The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has awarded $383,357 to Northeast Ohio Medical University (NEOMED) in support of Tariq Haqqi, Ph.D., professor of anatomy and neurobiology in the College of Medicine, for his research on osteoarthritis (OA).

Safe and effective treatment of OA continues to be an unmet clinical need, and alternative approaches to treatment are often rejected or considered a secondary option by medical professionals. Dr. Haqqi is looking to Ayurveda and Unani systems of medicine, the two most widely practiced traditional systems in Indian medicine. In these ancient medical practices, the water extract of Butea monosperma flowers (BME), appropriately named “flame of the forest” due to its bright orange-red color, is used to treat inflammatory conditions such as arthritis. Dr. Haqqi’s research aims to bring elements of this practice to conventional medicine, using BME to develop a safer and more cost-effective, therapeutic approach for the treatment and prevention of OA.

The National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute has awarded $358,118 to Northeast Ohio Medical University (NEOMED) in support of William Chilian, Ph.D., professor and chair of the Department of Integrative Medical Sciences in the College of Medicine, for his research on coronary physiology and flow regulation.

Dr. Chilian’s research efforts should enable answers regarding how blood flow is regulated to the working heart muscle and the basis by which this regulation is lost during a type of heart disease known as Diabetic Cardiomyopathy (DCM), a disorder of the heart muscle that impacts individuals diagnosed with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes.

Mary Taylor, Lieutenant Governor for the State of Ohio, served as keynote speaker for the event. Also included were: Senator John Eklund; Representative Kathleen Clyde; Portage County Commissioner Kathleen Chandler; Mary Woolley, president of Research!America; and Anthony Manna, chairman and CEO of Signet Enterprises.

“Forty years ago, a group of educators and elected officials - visionaries - from different areas in Northeast Ohio collaborated to start something unique that would help to address the shortage of physicians in Ohio while building on the resources of universities and teaching hospitals located in the region,” said Jay A, Gershen, D.D.S., Ph.D., president of NEOMED. “Over the years NEOMED has grown from a single college to a university … from a commuter school to a residential campus. We are Northeast Ohio’s medical university, preparing health care professionals for this region of 4.2 million people.

Everything we do is in partnership. We collaborate with and leverage the resources of seven universities, 24 hospitals and hundreds of other clinical partners to train our students.”

Spotlighted at the event was Delores Jones, who along with her late husband, Brian, lived on the farm that became the property NEOMED was built on. Many former students, faculty and staff were also in attendance.

The two construction projects are part of a $160 million in campus expansion efforts that also included a Health, Wellness and Medical Education Complex, which is set to open in fall 2014. These facilities are transforming the look of the campus, as well as the University experience for students.

To learn more about all the construction activities on campus, visit: www.neomed.edu/ about/campusexpansion

3/15

Women in Medicine Event

3/17

The Physical Aspects of the Crucifixion Lecture

3/18

Unconscious Bias in Socioeconomic and Gender Interactions Lecture

3/21

College of Medicine Match Day Event

4/7

Community Campus Tour

4/12

ACT Test

4/15

The High Calling: A Christian Physician’s Journey Through the Career of Medicine Lecture

5/5

Community Campus Tour

5/17

Commencement Ceremony

5/26

Memorial Day – Campus Closed

SAVE THE DATE: Oct. 17-19, 2014: NEOMED Reunion Weekend Oct. 18, 2014: 40th Anniversary Gala

DISCOVER US ON SOCIAL MEDIA: www.facebook.com/NEOMED

www.twitter.com/_NEOMED

www.youtube.com/NortheastOhioMED

CONTACT INFORMATION FOR COMMUNITY RELATIONS p: 330.325.6264 w: www.neomed.edu/community e: mkerrigan@neomed.edu

NEOMED Named to Community Service Honor Roll Northeast Ohio Medical University (NEOMED) has been named to the 2013 President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll, the highest federal recognition a college or university can receive for its commitment to volunteerism, service and civic engagement.

In addition to the service learning component of the formal curriculum, every student organization at NEOMED completes at least one community service project each year, and individual students participate in community service locally, nationally and globally. In total, more than 400 NEOMED students completed about 5,500 total hours of community service.

NEOMED Celebrates Founders Day As part of a year-long celebration of its 40th anniversary, Northeast Ohio Medical University (NEOMED) hosted a Founders Day party Nov. 22 on campus, to recognize the University’s official “founding” date, Nov. 23, 1973.

Among the event’s special guests were Robert A. Liebelt, M.D., Ph.D., charter dean of the University (then Northeastern Ohio Universities College of Medicine, or NEOUCOM) from 1974-1979, and provost and dean from 1979-1982; and Theodore Voneida, Ph.D., founding chair and professor of neurobiology at NEOUCOM, and professor emeritus.

Dr. Liebelt recalled how he and his colleagues, including Stanley Olson, M.D., charter provost of NEOUCOM from 1973-1979, watched the construction of the first building on campus and divided the initial responsibilities of establishing the college.

Dr. Voneida spoke about working out of an initial office in Kent, Ohio, while the college was under construction and attending the dedication and cornerstone laying.

Additionally, Kenneth S. Rosenthal, Ph.D., professor of microbiology, immunology and biochemistry at NEOMED, shared his memories of how the university has grown over time.

Hired in 1979, he has watched the university grow from a single structure to its current footprint and transform from a college to a University.

Learn more about our 40th anniversary celebrations and upcoming events at www.neomed.edu/40.

Apply to MEDCAMP Area eighth-grade students can experience life as health professions students during MEDCAMP, a threeday intensive immersion experience for eighth graders who have demonstrated achievement in science and an interest in a health professions career.

Applicants are currently being sought to fill 50 openings for this year’s program, which will be held at Northeast Ohio Medical University (NEOMED) July 17-19, 2014. Information about MEDCAMP and applications may be found online at www. neomed.edu/academics/ahec/medcamp or by calling: 330.325.6584. Applications are due by April 18, 2014.

University Introduces “Nate,” the Walking Whale, as New Mascot

Northeast Ohio Medical University Students Selected as Choose Ohio First Scholarship Recipients

Who says you have to have a sports team to have spirit? Last year Northeast Ohio Medical University (NEOMED), one of the only public universities in the nation without athletics, introduced “Nate,” the Walking Whale, as its first-ever mascot.

“There is so much enthusiasm, camaraderie and spirit on this campus, and the Walking Whale is a perfect embodiment of that,” said Jay A. Gershen, D.D.S., Ph.D., president of NEOMED. The Walking Whale is better known as Ambulocetus natans, an early cetacean that could walk as well as swim. It is the only species classified under the genus Ambulocetus and is a transitional fossil that shows how whales evolved from land-living mammals. It was discovered in Pakistan in 1993 by NEOMED scientist Dr. Hans Thewissen. The mascot represents the great scientific discoveries made at the University, and in the fields of medicine and pharmacy, and helps NEOMED stand out as a center of academic innovation and discovery.

To learn more about Nate, visit www.neomed.edu/mascot.

Several students in the Northeast Ohio Medical University (NEOMED) College of Medicine have been selected as 2013 recipients of the highly competitive Choose Ohio First Scholarship Program, issued by the State of Ohio.

New Partnerships Announced with Kent State University and Hiram College Students pursuing a career in pharmacy now have an accelerated path to complete both a bachelor’s degree and Doctor of Pharmacy degree in seven years through a new partnership agreement between Northeast Ohio Medical University (NEOMED) and Kent State University.

Students enrolled in the program are eligible to apply for one of Kent State’s designated seats in the professional Doctor of Pharmacy degree program at NEOMED. Kent State students who are pursuing a Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry with a biochemistry concentration through the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry in the College of Arts and Sciences at Kent State can now accelerate through the pipeline to the College of Pharmacy at NEOMED. Specific classes have been identified as transfer courses by both universities and are required for students to obtain both degrees. The new agreement enables these students to complete their bachelor’s and Doctor of Pharmacy degrees in just seven years, rather than the typical eight years.

The Choose Ohio First Scholarship Program is designed to award Ohio colleges, universities and those institutions’ business partners that have developed innovative academic programs to recruit and retain Ohio students in the STEMM (science, technology, engineering, math and medicine) disciplines by providing scholarship funding to students pursuing education and career opportunities in these fields.

Choose Ohio First Scholarships available to students pursuing careers in medicine are designed for those students who are committed to a career in primary care in the State of Ohio. Six students in the NEOMED College of Medicine were selected for the 2013 scholarships, following three awards granted to NEOMED medicine students in 2012.

In order to meet the ever-growing primary health care needs of the region, NEOMED and Hiram College have established the new NEOMED-Hiram College Baccalaureate to M.D. Pathway Program. The focus of the Pathway Program is strategically aligned with the mission of both institutions, including NEOMED’s commitment to primary care, medically underserved populations and diversity in health care.

The Choose Ohio First Scholarships provide $30,000 per year to offset tuition costs and, provided terms and conditions are met, are renewable throughout the students’ academic career.

NEOMED and Hiram College will work to identify and recruit academically qualified students from diverse backgrounds in Ohio who desire a liberal arts education leading to an M.D. degree and are interested in providing primary care or serving medically underserved populations. It is anticipated that the program will yield up to five students per year beginning in fall of 2014. Pre-college experiences will be made available to these middle school and high school students through several existing and newly created opportunities at NEOMED and Hiram.

Following graduation from the College of Medicine, scholarship recipients must complete a residency in family practice, general internal medicine, general pediatrics or internal medicine-pediatrics in Ohio as well as commit to practicing in Ohio for no less than three years after residency.

NEOMED Named to Community Service Honor Roll Northeast Ohio Medical University (NEOMED) has been named to the 2013 President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll, the highest federal recognition a college or university can receive for its commitment to volunteerism, service and civic engagement.

In addition to the service learning component of the formal curriculum, every student organization at NEOMED completes at least one community service project each year, and individual students participate in community service locally, nationally and globally. In total, more than 400 NEOMED students completed about 5,500 total hours of community service.

NEOMED Celebrates Founders Day As part of a year-long celebration of its 40th anniversary, Northeast Ohio Medical University (NEOMED) hosted a Founders Day party Nov. 22 on campus, to recognize the University’s official “founding” date, Nov. 23, 1973.

Among the event’s special guests were Robert A. Liebelt, M.D., Ph.D., charter dean of the University (then Northeastern Ohio Universities College of Medicine, or NEOUCOM) from 1974-1979, and provost and dean from 1979-1982; and Theodore Voneida, Ph.D., founding chair and professor of neurobiology at NEOUCOM, and professor emeritus.

Dr. Liebelt recalled how he and his colleagues, including Stanley Olson, M.D., charter provost of NEOUCOM from 1973-1979, watched the construction of the first building on campus and divided the initial responsibilities of establishing the college.

Dr. Voneida spoke about working out of an initial office in Kent, Ohio, while the college was under construction and attending the dedication and cornerstone laying.

Additionally, Kenneth S. Rosenthal, Ph.D., professor of microbiology, immunology and biochemistry at NEOMED, shared his memories of how the university has grown over time.

Hired in 1979, he has watched the university grow from a single structure to its current footprint and transform from a college to a University.

Learn more about our 40th anniversary celebrations and upcoming events at www.neomed.edu/40.

Apply to MEDCAMP Area eighth-grade students can experience life as health professions students during MEDCAMP, a threeday intensive immersion experience for eighth graders who have demonstrated achievement in science and an interest in a health professions career.

Applicants are currently being sought to fill 50 openings for this year’s program, which will be held at Northeast Ohio Medical University (NEOMED) July 17-19, 2014. Information about MEDCAMP and applications may be found online at www. neomed.edu/academics/ahec/medcamp or by calling: 330.325.6584. Applications are due by April 18, 2014.

University Introduces “Nate,” the Walking Whale, as New Mascot

Northeast Ohio Medical University Students Selected as Choose Ohio First Scholarship Recipients

Who says you have to have a sports team to have spirit? Last year Northeast Ohio Medical University (NEOMED), one of the only public universities in the nation without athletics, introduced “Nate,” the Walking Whale, as its first-ever mascot.

“There is so much enthusiasm, camaraderie and spirit on this campus, and the Walking Whale is a perfect embodiment of that,” said Jay A. Gershen, D.D.S., Ph.D., president of NEOMED. The Walking Whale is better known as Ambulocetus natans, an early cetacean that could walk as well as swim. It is the only species classified under the genus Ambulocetus and is a transitional fossil that shows how whales evolved from land-living mammals. It was discovered in Pakistan in 1993 by NEOMED scientist Dr. Hans Thewissen. The mascot represents the great scientific discoveries made at the University, and in the fields of medicine and pharmacy, and helps NEOMED stand out as a center of academic innovation and discovery.

To learn more about Nate, visit www.neomed.edu/mascot.

Several students in the Northeast Ohio Medical University (NEOMED) College of Medicine have been selected as 2013 recipients of the highly competitive Choose Ohio First Scholarship Program, issued by the State of Ohio.

New Partnerships Announced with Kent State University and Hiram College Students pursuing a career in pharmacy now have an accelerated path to complete both a bachelor’s degree and Doctor of Pharmacy degree in seven years through a new partnership agreement between Northeast Ohio Medical University (NEOMED) and Kent State University.

Students enrolled in the program are eligible to apply for one of Kent State’s designated seats in the professional Doctor of Pharmacy degree program at NEOMED. Kent State students who are pursuing a Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry with a biochemistry concentration through the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry in the College of Arts and Sciences at Kent State can now accelerate through the pipeline to the College of Pharmacy at NEOMED. Specific classes have been identified as transfer courses by both universities and are required for students to obtain both degrees. The new agreement enables these students to complete their bachelor’s and Doctor of Pharmacy degrees in just seven years, rather than the typical eight years.

The Choose Ohio First Scholarship Program is designed to award Ohio colleges, universities and those institutions’ business partners that have developed innovative academic programs to recruit and retain Ohio students in the STEMM (science, technology, engineering, math and medicine) disciplines by providing scholarship funding to students pursuing education and career opportunities in these fields.

Choose Ohio First Scholarships available to students pursuing careers in medicine are designed for those students who are committed to a career in primary care in the State of Ohio. Six students in the NEOMED College of Medicine were selected for the 2013 scholarships, following three awards granted to NEOMED medicine students in 2012.

In order to meet the ever-growing primary health care needs of the region, NEOMED and Hiram College have established the new NEOMED-Hiram College Baccalaureate to M.D. Pathway Program. The focus of the Pathway Program is strategically aligned with the mission of both institutions, including NEOMED’s commitment to primary care, medically underserved populations and diversity in health care.

The Choose Ohio First Scholarships provide $30,000 per year to offset tuition costs and, provided terms and conditions are met, are renewable throughout the students’ academic career.

NEOMED and Hiram College will work to identify and recruit academically qualified students from diverse backgrounds in Ohio who desire a liberal arts education leading to an M.D. degree and are interested in providing primary care or serving medically underserved populations. It is anticipated that the program will yield up to five students per year beginning in fall of 2014. Pre-college experiences will be made available to these middle school and high school students through several existing and newly created opportunities at NEOMED and Hiram.

Following graduation from the College of Medicine, scholarship recipients must complete a residency in family practice, general internal medicine, general pediatrics or internal medicine-pediatrics in Ohio as well as commit to practicing in Ohio for no less than three years after residency.

A COMMUNITY NEWSLETTER FOR FRIENDS OF NORTHEAST OHIO MEDICAL UNIVERSITY.

MESSENGER

4209 St. Rt. 44, PO Box 95 Rootstown, Ohio 44272

VOL 1.1 SPRING 2014

neomed . ed u

UPCOMING PUBLIC EVENTS

(see neomed.edu/calendar or call 330.325.6264 for details)

NEOMED Kicks Off 40th Anniversary with Dedication of Research Building and Residential Housing Complex Northeast Ohio Medical University (NEOMED) honored forty years of education, research and service to the community this past fall as it kicked off its 40th Anniversary with the dedication of two new campus building projects: a Research and Graduate Education Building and The Village at NEOMED, a residential housing community.

Major Research Awards The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has awarded $383,357 to Northeast Ohio Medical University (NEOMED) in support of Tariq Haqqi, Ph.D., professor of anatomy and neurobiology in the College of Medicine, for his research on osteoarthritis (OA).

Safe and effective treatment of OA continues to be an unmet clinical need, and alternative approaches to treatment are often rejected or considered a secondary option by medical professionals. Dr. Haqqi is looking to Ayurveda and Unani systems of medicine, the two most widely practiced traditional systems in Indian medicine. In these ancient medical practices, the water extract of Butea monosperma flowers (BME), appropriately named “flame of the forest” due to its bright orange-red color, is used to treat inflammatory conditions such as arthritis. Dr. Haqqi’s research aims to bring elements of this practice to conventional medicine, using BME to develop a safer and more cost-effective, therapeutic approach for the treatment and prevention of OA.

The National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute has awarded $358,118 to Northeast Ohio Medical University (NEOMED) in support of William Chilian, Ph.D., professor and chair of the Department of Integrative Medical Sciences in the College of Medicine, for his research on coronary physiology and flow regulation.

Dr. Chilian’s research efforts should enable answers regarding how blood flow is regulated to the working heart muscle and the basis by which this regulation is lost during a type of heart disease known as Diabetic Cardiomyopathy (DCM), a disorder of the heart muscle that impacts individuals diagnosed with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes.

Mary Taylor, Lieutenant Governor for the State of Ohio, served as keynote speaker for the event. Also included were: Senator John Eklund; Representative Kathleen Clyde; Portage County Commissioner Kathleen Chandler; Mary Woolley, president of Research!America; and Anthony Manna, chairman and CEO of Signet Enterprises.

“Forty years ago, a group of educators and elected officials - visionaries - from different areas in Northeast Ohio collaborated to start something unique that would help to address the shortage of physicians in Ohio while building on the resources of universities and teaching hospitals located in the region,” said Jay A, Gershen, D.D.S., Ph.D., president of NEOMED. “Over the years NEOMED has grown from a single college to a university … from a commuter school to a residential campus. We are Northeast Ohio’s medical university, preparing health care professionals for this region of 4.2 million people.

Everything we do is in partnership. We collaborate with and leverage the resources of seven universities, 24 hospitals and hundreds of other clinical partners to train our students.”

Spotlighted at the event was Delores Jones, who along with her late husband, Brian, lived on the farm that became the property NEOMED was built on. Many former students, faculty and staff were also in attendance.

The two construction projects are part of a $160 million in campus expansion efforts that also included a Health, Wellness and Medical Education Complex, which is set to open in fall 2014. These facilities are transforming the look of the campus, as well as the University experience for students.

To learn more about all the construction activities on campus, visit: www.neomed.edu/ about/campusexpansion

3/15

Women in Medicine Event

3/17

The Physical Aspects of the Crucifixion Lecture

3/18

Unconscious Bias in Socioeconomic and Gender Interactions Lecture

3/21

College of Medicine Match Day Event

4/7

Community Campus Tour

4/12

ACT Test

4/15

The High Calling: A Christian Physician’s Journey Through the Career of Medicine Lecture

5/5

Community Campus Tour

5/17

Commencement Ceremony

5/26

Memorial Day – Campus Closed

SAVE THE DATE: Oct. 17-19, 2014: NEOMED Reunion Weekend Oct. 18, 2014: 40th Anniversary Gala

DISCOVER US ON SOCIAL MEDIA: www.facebook.com/NEOMED

www.twitter.com/_NEOMED

www.youtube.com/NortheastOhioMED

CONTACT INFORMATION FOR COMMUNITY RELATIONS p: 330.325.6264 w: www.neomed.edu/community e: mkerrigan@neomed.edu