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Family Promise
The envelopes are open, and the first students from the Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine have discovered where they will have their residencies to start their medical careers. These first members of the 2018 cohort are on track to complete their three-year medical education at the School, with the first-ever commencement planned for June 3.
The students from the inaugural class are among an estimated 44,000 who found out today where they will “match” through the National Resident Matching Program® (NRMP).
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In the COVID-19 era, they were unable to gather in person, due to socialdistancing recommendations.
Instead, the students today celebrated Match Day® by tearing open their envelopes – then toasting one another from afar, via video conferencing, with champagne flutes sent to them by the School.
“Match Day is cause for great excitement every year as the graduating class discovers where they will begin training in their chosen medical specialty,” said Bonita Stanton, M.D., the School’s founding dean. “But words cannot adequately describe the excitement of a medical school’s first Match Day and a Match Day for those students graduating after completing a three-year curriculum rather than the traditional four-year curriculum. Every graduating class is special – but this class feels especially special – although I am pretty sure that next year’s class will also feel ‘especially special’ as well!”
“We have so many talented students coming through our School,” said Jeffrey Boscamp, M.D., vice dean of the medical school and a professor of pediatrics. “We cannot wait to see what their careers will do for our health network – and the medical world at large.”
According to the NRMP, the Program is a private, non-profit organization established in 1952 at the request of medical students to provide an orderly and fair mechanism for matching the preferences of applicants for U.S. residency positions with the preferences of residency program directors. Each year “the Match” encompasses more than 44,000 registrants and 37,000 positions through its Main Residency Match, along with Fellowship Matches for more than 65 subspecialties through its Specialties Matching Service (SMS).
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recently approved two new treatment approaches for certain types of nonHodgkin lymphomas which were assessed in pioneering clinical trials at John Theurer Cancer Center at Hackensack Meridian Hackensack University Medical Center: umbralisib and CAR T-cell therapy.
Umbralisib (Ukoniq™) was approved on February 5 for patients with marginal zone lymphoma or follicular lymphoma whose cancer came back or continued to grow despite prior treatment. It works by blocking multiple enzymes involved in cancer growth. It is very convenient for patients because it is a tablet that can be taken by mouth.
CAR T-cell therapy with axicabtagene ciloleucel (Yescarta®) was approved on March 5 for use in patients with follicular lymphoma that persists or came back after two or more prior therapies. With CAR T-cell therapy, immune cells called T-cells are removed from the patient, genetically
EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT: DANIELLE NATALE
My journey at Causeway started back in January of 2020 as a Sales Consultant. Almost a year later, I was offered an opportunity in the Hyundai Service Department. In the service department I was able to learn a new operation at Causeway. As much as I loved working in the Service Department, I truly missed sales. I missed helping my customers get into a vehicle they love and forming that new friendship.
I am happy to be back in Sales at Causeway Honda and I look forward to helping more customers. If you or anyone you know are in the market for a new vehicle, please ask for me, Danielle Natale at Causeway Honda!
EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT: KEVIN UMBERGER
Kevin is a local who graduated from Southern Regional High School. He then went on and studied Business Administration at Kean University. Kevin is a family man who has been happily married for three years. He has a three year old daughter and a one year old son. In his free time he likes to golf.
Kevin started his career at Causeway back in 2012 as a Sales Consultant at Honda. In 2016, he was promoted as a Manager in our F&I Department. As of this April, Kevin was promoted to Hyundai Sales Manager. He is looking forward to his new position at Causeway Hyundai and we’re happy to have him join the Sales Team!
April is Autism Awareness Month, and the Ocean County Library’s popular Autism Resources Fair returns in a sweeping new format.
Families and individuals can take part in a half-dozen free virtual programs in the comfort of their homes, and pick up free, sensory-friendly “Take & Make” crafts at 19 Library branches.
“Trivia for Teens,” packed with little-known facts about music, media, and the Ocean County Library, will be available all month at www. theoceancountylibrary.org/ autism.
The virtual programs include:
“Autism, Mental Health and Cultural Competency Issues” - presented by Joni Jones, 6:30 PM Thursday, April 29.
Registration for virtual programs is required at www.theoceancountylibrary. org/events. Registrants will receive links for access by email.
Keep up with Library events and programs atwww. theoceancountylibraryorg, or visit the Library.
HACKENSACK RECEIVES CANCER TRIAL DRUGS
modified in the laboratory to recognize certain targets and attack cancer cells, grown to larger quantities (hundreds of millions), and returned to the patient— where these modified T-cells can now find, bind to, and kill cancer cells. The treatment is given intravenously in the hospital like a transfusion.
Physicians in the Lymphoma Division at John Theurer Cancer Center have been at the forefront of the development of many novel therapies for lymphoma. Lori Leslie, M.D., director of the Indolent Lymphoma and Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia programs at John Theurer Cancer Center, is the principal investigator at Hackensack Meridian Hackensack University Medical Center for the UNITY-NHL clinical trial of umbralisib in marginal zone and follicular lymphoma as well as the ZUMA-5 clinical trial of axicabtagene ciloleucel in patients with follicular lymphoma. The findings of these two studies led to the recent FDA approvals.
FAMILY PROMISE DELIVERS OVER 300 EASTER BASKETS TO CHILDREN
Family Promise of Southern Ocean County has delivered over 300 Easter baskets to homeless and at risk children over Easter week. We couldn’t have done it without a lot of help from our community. When the First Presbyterian Church of Tuckerton heard about the influx of Easter basket donations we received they wanted to help. Our newest board member, Roberta Rapisardi, brought over the donated supplies. Together they were able to assemble 98 Easter baskets.
Family Promise of Southern Ocean County believes in the power of children helping children with many of our biggest supporters being children themselves. Hadley Marti, 12, of Manahawkin embodies that power. When Hadley heard of our Easter basket drive she decided she wanted to help make two baskets. After having so much fun creating the first two, she asked her family and friends to help her create more. With their generous help, and Hadley leading the way, she was able to make 22 baskets!
While Hadley was shopping for the goodies with a friend, a stranger overheard what they were doing and donated $20 on the spot to help Hadley and her friends meet their goal. Proving that one act of kindness leads to another.
The Jennings family are long time supporters of Family Promise of Southern Ocean County. Whether creating beautiful Baby Welcome baskets for expecting mothers in need, answering last minute calls for Christmas gifts, or spending their evening making Easter baskets - The Jennings never miss a chance to jump in and help our community. The Jennings Family and the friends and family they rallied together were able to donate 25 baskets. The time and heart that the Jennings give to our mission does not go unnoticed season after season.
Without the support of the Southern Ocean County community coming together Family Promise of Southern Ocean County wouldn’t be able to accomplish our mission of guiding homeless and at risk children and their families toward achieving sustainable independence. If you’d like to donate your time or money to assist the children we serve please email Heather@familypromisesoc. org or call 609-994-3317.
Above: The Jennings Family of
Little Egg Harbor.
Below: Hadley Marti, 12, of Manahawkin.
