Xavier University School of Nursing Inaugural Graduation Ceremony: A Historic Milestone for Aruba
By Dean Bonnie McGowan
n September 12, 2024, Xavier University proudly celebrated a significant milestone with the graduation of the inaugural class of Bachelor of Science in nursing (BSn) students. The ceremony, held on the university’s Aruba campus, commemorated the culmination of a journey that started in 2020 for these students, all of whom are residents of Aruba.
This groundbreaking event is especially notable as Xavier University nursing School is the only nursing institution on the island to offer a BSN program. The program is officially recognized by Aruba’s Ministry of Education and is listed in the accredited school’s list in AruBIG, ensuring that graduates are eligible to work and practice as nurses across Aruba.
Mr. Bhooplapur also announced that Xavier will be offering free education and training for the Geriatric Assistant program to the locals this year to support the Government
Several esteemed speakers addressed the graduates, sharing words of wisdom and inspiration. Aruba’s Minister of Sports and Education, His Excellency Mr. Endy Croes delivered a keynote address. H.E. Minister Endy Croes thanked Xavier University for supporting the local Aruban Community and providing them with high-quality nursing education and training. He assured the University that the Aruba government will extend its support for similar initiatives promoting the health and education of the University and his immense pleasure with the role the University is playing in the health and education sector.
President, Ravi Bhooplapur encouraged the graduating class to follow their passion and engage in patient care with compassion and dignity. After conferring the degrees, Mr. Bhooplapur also announced that Xavier will be offering free education and training for the Geriatric Assistant program to the locals this year to support the Government in its initiative to promote care of the elderly population in Aruba.
Dr. Israel Posner- Former Health Minister of Aruba and a trustee with the Xavier Board also offered his words of wisdom and encouragement to the graduating class. Dean Bonnie McGowan provided heartfelt reflections of her time spent with the students. She gave an uplifting speech on the importance of Florence nightingale’s enduring influence on the nursing profession and offered words of encouragement as the graduates embarked on their careers in healthcare.
In the presence of family, friends, and faculty, the new graduates proudly received their nursing pins, a symbol of their achievement and commitment to the nursing profession. The ceremony was filled with moments of celebration, recognition, and congratulations, highlighting the bright future ahead for these pioneering healthcare professionals. Class Valedictorian Marie nicole Henriquez was honored with a certificate of recognition. Her powerful speech encouraged her fellow classmates to never allow anyone to underestimate you, she said, “they didn’t think we could finish but we proved them wrong.”
As they embark on their next chapter, the graduates of Xavier University’s Bachelor of Science in nursing program are prepared to serve their community, armed with the skills and knowledge needed to make a significant impact on healthcare in Aruba. n
Nursing Graduation Photos 2024
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5.
1. Graduates
2. Valedictorian, Marie Henriquez
3. Dean of nursing Bonnie McGowan and Professor Howard Maxwell
4. L-R Austin Arends, Kevin Tromp, Keyshawn File, Marie Henriquez, Florence Kock, Cristel Arends
Dr. Israel Posner, Mr. Ravi Bhooplapur and His Excellency Mr. Endy Croes
Xavier University White Coat Ceremony, September, 2024
Medical Students Take the Hippocratic Oath
Medical Students Following Donning of White Coats
Medical Faculty and Students, White Coat Ceremony, Class of 2028
Rear: Veterinary Students, Class of 2028; Front: Faculty, School of Veterinary Medicine
Xavier University Honors New Students with White Coat Ceremony
Dr. Joseph Cross, Associate Professor, Biochemistry and Genetics Dept.
n Friday, September 6, 2024, Xavier University School of Medicine
celebrated its White Coat Ceremony to mark the commencement of the first-semester MD and Veterinary students’ careers. This ceremony, a significant milestone, involves students donning their white coats for the first time and taking the Student Pledge of Professional Conduct, symbolizing their dedication to their profession.
The event began with Chief Academic Officer Dr. Arun Kumar Dubey addressing the new Fall 2024 class. Dr. Dubey highlighted the mission of Xavier University and provided guidance on navigating the rigorous journey of Medical and Veterinary school. He underscored the need to view professional development as a continuous journey and lifelong learning process. He also highlighted the fact that Xavier University is the only university in the Caribbean with a “One Health” mission, encompassing Medical, Veterinary, nursing, Health Science and Physiotherapy programs. He noted that the One Health approach emphasizes the interconnectedness of the many disciplines Xavier University provides opportunities for. Dr. Dubey also highlighted the significant growth of our Veterinary program under the Dean of Veterinary Sciences, Dr. Ravindra, growing from 4 students in the original intake, to 14 students in this semester.
Following the initial remarks, the new students were ceremoniously presented with their white coats, signifying their entry into the Medical and Veterinary fields. Dr. Dubey then led the students in reciting the Medical Student Pledge of Professional Conduct, reaffirming their commitment to the ethical and professional standards of medicine. Dr. Ravindra then led the reciting of the pledge for the Veterinary students.
The White Coat Ceremony, the highlight of orientation week, wrapped up with a heartfelt welcome for Xavier University’s new students as they embark on their journey towards becoming accomplished and compassionate doctors. n
The Xavier University is the only university in the Caribbean with a “One Health” mission, encompassing Medical, Veterinary, Nursing, Health Science and Physiotherapy programs.
Dr. Dubey CAO
Xavier University Research Day 2024
Plenary Speaker
Dr. prof. Ashley Duits
Dr Duits Receives Appreciation Award. L-R: Dr Ravindra, Dean Veterinary Sciences and Chair Research Committee; Dr Dubey, Xavier University CAO; Dr prof. Ashley Duits, Plenary Speaker; Dr Cross, Associate Professor and Chair Research Day Committee; Mr Kevin Pawlack, Dean Premedical Sciences
Research Day Audience
Winner and Runner Up Best ePoster. L-R: Cristel Arends, Winner; Kelly Sanchez, Runner Up; Dr Dubey, Xavier University CAO; Hannah Maree Wieser, Announcer and Research Day Committee member
2024 Research Day Committee. Top L-R: Harjot Kaur; Abdalla Mohammed; Hannah Maree Wieser, Alyssia Ferrol. Front L-R: Dr Arnaw; Dr Cross; Dr Ravindra; Dr Indu; Dr Kumar
Research Day July 26, 2024:
A Resounding SUCCeSS
HE recent Research Day 2024 event was very successful, highlighting the hard work and commitment of the research committee, student, faculty, staff and special guest participants. Committee members were pleased with the outcomes, noting that the event surpassed their expectations.The high quality of the presentations and the level of turnout were particularly noteworthy, with a larger-than-expected number of students participating. This unexpected level of participation truly made the event stand out, fostering a sense of community and enthusiasm for research.
The event commenced with a warm welcome from Dr. Kevin Pawlak, Pre-Health Dean at Xavier University. This was followed by initial remarks from Dr. Dubey, the Chief Academic Officer, who set the tone for the day by highlighting the significance of research in academic growth and collaboration. Dr. Ravindra, Dean of Veterinary Science and Chair of the Research Committee, then officially opened Research Day and introduced the plenary speaker.
The plenary lecture, delivered by Prof. Dr. A.J. Duits, Head of the Department of Immunology of Curaçao at the Biomedical & Health Research Institute, was a highlight of the day. His presentation provided deep insights into current immunology research, captivating the audience with his expertise. Following the lecture, Prof. Dr. Duits was felicitated by Dr. Dubey, Dr. Ravindra, Dr. Pawlak, and Dr. Cross, marking a moment of recognition and appreciation for his contributions to the field.
The oral presentations followed, moderated by Dr. Cross and Dr. Arnaw. Each student presenter showcased their research with remarkable clarity and passion, making the sessions both informative and engaging. John Song opened the presentations with his work on “Kinase Library and Its Application,” followed by nathalia Schettino’s study on “The nYU Children’s Health and Environment Study (CHES).” Keyshawn Filé then discussed the pressing issue of “Burnout in nursing,” and Wayne Blankenship presented on “Automated Red Blood Cell Exchange.” The final presentation, “Sleep Patterns and Medical Student Performance” by Myra Popal, concluded the oral presentation segment. These presentations sparked lively discussions that underscored the collaborative spirit of the event.
The session on oral presentations was followed by an announcement of the winners. The Best Oral Presentation award for the topic “Kinase Library and Its Application” was present-
ed to a team consisting of John Song, Vanessa Hughes, Luke Wilson, and Keitaro Hirano. Their work was recognized for its innovation and potential impact in the field.
Attendees were then invited to refreshments and an E-Poster session, where research committee members Harjot Kaur and Abdalla Mohammed facilitated the judging process. This session provided an additional platform for students to showcase their work and engage with peers and faculty in meaningful discussions.
Cristel Arends won the Best E-Poster award for her work titled “Optimizing Aruba’s Kidney Failure Management System,” which impressed the faculty judges with its thorough analysis and practical implications. Kelly Sanchez was named the Runner-Up for her E-Poster titled “Finding new Biomarkers in Psoriasis,” highlighting her innovative approach to addressing a critical healthcare issue.
The day concluded with the certificate and prize presentations. Prof. Dr. A.J. Duits, alongside other esteemed faculty members, presented the awards, acknowledging the students’ hard work and dedication. The event closed with a group photo session, capturing the collective spirit and success of Research Day 2024.
Reflecting on the event, the research committee expressed pride in the success of Research Day. The meticulous planning, high-quality presentations, and enthusiastic participation from both presenters and the audience underscored the value of such events in fostering academic growth and collaboration. Looking ahead, the committee is dedicated to building on this success by refining processes and exploring innovative ways to enhance future experiences. The positive feedback and inspiring research presented have reinforced the importance of these gatherings in advancing knowledge and encouraging student involvement in research. n
Creating effective presentation slides to enhance student learning
Dr. Ravindra is the Dean of Veterinary Medicine. Dr. Ravindra gave a great follow up presentation to the faculty on how to create effective powerpoint presentations.
by emma Kent
Can you explain what goes into creating effective presentation slides for teaching students?
Dr. Ravindra: Absolutely. Creating effective slides is all about delivering clear and concise messages on specific topics within a set timeframe. The design is influenced by several factors, such as the subject matter, complexity, and whether the format is online or offline.
What other factors do you consider?
Dr. Ravindra: The audience’s expertise is crucial, as are presenter-related aspects like time investment, interest, communication skills, dress code, expressions, and eye contact. Technical elements, like animations, font size, font type, line spacing, and slide content, also significantly impact the quality of the presentation.
Are there any specific practices you follow in your lectures?
Dr. Ravindra: Yes, while no single style fits all, I follow some key practices. I start with a review of key takeaways from the previous lecture and outline the learning objectives for the current session. I also promote interaction through the “known to unknown” approach and use tools like ClassPoint, which enhances engagement by allowing real-time interaction and feedback during lectures.
How do you emphasize important points?
Dr. Ravindra: Emphasizing the clinical significance of topics is essential. Maintaining eye contact, incorporating animations, and using visual aids like pictures and diagrams to reduce clutter are also crucial. I always conclude with a summary and key points for upcoming topics.
How do these practices impact student learning?
Dr. Ravindra: These practices aim to enhance the effectiveness of the presentations and improve student learning experiences. By focusing on clear communication and interaction, students are more likely to engage with the material and retain information. n
Dr. Ravindra P. Veeranna, Phd, Dean of Veterinary Medicine
engage and educate: Impact of Interactive Teaching Tools in Higher education
Dr. nitin: As an interactive teaching tool, ClassPoint has notably enhanced classroom interaction and feedback, making it an invaluable tool for modern teaching environments. By integrating interactive elements into lectures, educators can create a more engaging and effective learning experience. This not only benefits students by making learning more enjoyable and interactive but also helps instructors by providing real-time insights into student understanding and progress.
Can you explain what ClassPoint is?
Dr. nitin: ClassPoint is an interactive teaching tool that integrates with PowerPoint, allowing educators to engage students through quizzes, polls, and drawing tools directly within their presentations. By transforming passive slideshows into interactive sessions, ClassPoint helps maintain student attention, encourages participation, and provides instant feedback. Can you share how you present this as a teaching tool for your students?
Dr. Nitin: I begin with a demonstration during the first lecture. This session showcases the tool’s capabilities and explains how it will be integrated into our lectures. I highlight key features such as interactive quizzes, live polls, and the drawing tools, demonstrating how these will be used for various activities.
How do you emphasize important points?
Dr. nitin: To emphasize key concepts during lectures, I use ClassPoint’s annotation tools. These tools allow me to highlight important information directly on the slides, making it visually prominent. I also create interactive quizzes that focus on critical points, reinforcing the material and ensuring that students understand and remember these concepts.
How do these practices impact student learning?
w Increased Engagement: Interactive features keep students actively involved in the learning process.
w Immediate Feedback: Instant feedback helps students understand their strengths and areas for improvement.
w Enhanced Retention: Interactive activities help reinforce material, improving retention and understanding.
What other factors do you consider?
w Ease of Use: The tool should be intuitive for both the instructor and the students.
w Accessibility: It should be accessible to all students, regardless of their technical proficiency or device capabilities.
w Variety of Interactive Options: The tool should offer diverse interactive features to cater to different teaching methods and student preferences.
w Alignment with Teaching Objectives: The tool should support my educational goals and enhance the overall teaching and learning experience. n
Dr. nitin Kumar, Phd, SM (ASCPi) Assistant Professor, Microbiology
emergency Medicine Club,
Emergency Medicine Club group photo
Emergency medicine team
Jerry Wayne Blankenship (Secretary) and David Khanimov (Vice President) demonstrating sterile glove donning
Hannah-Marie Wieser reviewing sterile fields
Jerry Wayne Blankenship – Demonstrating a suture
Suturing Series-Summer 2024
by Hannah-Marie Wieser, President, Emergency Medicine Club
THE Emergency Medicine Club hosted the Emergency Medicine Suturing Series, a joint partnership event with the School of nursing. The club is run by Hannah-Marie Wieser as President, David Khanimov as Vice-President, Jerry-Wayne Blankenship as Secretary, and Michael Addeo as Treasurer.
The Dean of nursing, Professor Bonnie McGowan, and Professor Howard Maxwell from the School of nursing lent their wisdom and enthusiasm for this series. From the School of Medicine, the Dean of Student Affairs Dr. Sabin Ranabhat provided support as the Emergency Medicine Club advisor and also shared his infinite knowledge of pathology. Lastly, we would like to also give a huge thanks to Dr. Ravindra,Dean of Veterinary Medicine for the use of the Vet Lab.
Aside from teaching students a critical emergency skill, the goal of this partnership was to share knowledge between the medical students and nursing students. Fostering teamwork and familiarizing each other with professional areas of responsibility starts in the classroom, and is crucial for seamless collaboration in the future medical professions.
Over the course of 3 sessions, we taught medical and nursing students the basics of suturing. The first session focused on the basics of wound healing, sterile fields. We then had students practice a simple interrupted suture. The second session started with wound infections, and then on to teach students hands-on suturing (with a few different sutures) with surgical needles and thread on practice suture pads. In the third and final session, the Emergency Club set up stations with mock wound cases and directed students to collaborate and suture the mock laceration at their station.
During these events, students were encouraged to have fun, but to also ask “Why” questions such as, “Why is the sterile field so important? Why am I treating this wound differently from another? What clinical and patient aspects should I consider?” The participants all showed dedication, persistence, and curiosity- all hallmarks of the future healthcare leaders of tomorrow.
neverending gratitude to all students that participated, as well as the staff and faculty that lent their time and knowledge to make the Emergency Medicine Club Suturing Series a success. n
Hannah-Marie Wieser (President) and Professor Howard Maxwell (School of nursing)
Left to right: JerryWayne Blankenship (Secretary), HannahMarie Wieser (President), Dr. Sabin Ranbhat (School of Medicine Dean of Student Affairs), Michael Addeo (Treasurer)
Professor McGowan (Dean of nursing) and nursing students
The Dakota YMCA Comes for a visit
1. The Dakota YMCA admiring skeletons
2. The Group Photo
3. Dr. Manisha Professor of Anatomy and Dr. Indu Professor of Pathology explained the anatomage table to the Dakota YMCA children.
4. Dr. Manisha gives a demonstration of the Anatomage table.
5. Kids excitement over presentation
6. Professor Bonnie and her cat Oreo
oThe YMCA Visits Xavier
by emma Kent
AVIER, recently had a visit from the Dakota YMCA located in Oranjestad, bringing along approximately 43 children, all under the age of 12, and six adults. With a total of 49 participants, along with volunteers from Brazil who joined the tour as part of the YMCA’s international volunteer exchange program. This visit was a part of their summer camp activities, which span three weeks. This particular visit marked the end of their first week of camp.
The group engaged in an educational and interactive session facilitated by our veterinary and pre-veterinary students. The activities were designed to provide the children a learning experience about Aruba’s local wildlife. The children saw skeletons of various animals. The sessions were led by Dr. Ravindra Veeranna the Dean of Veterinary Medicine, nicole Antonucci (Student of
The Dakota YMCA Comes for a visit
Veterinary Science), Lillian Wang (Student of Veterinary Medicine, and Vaishnavi Koparde Pre-Veterinary Medicine student.
One of the highlights was the “Show and Tell” segment, where children enjoyed using stethoscopes under the guidance of Dr. Chavan, Professor of Epidemiology, and Dr. Srihita Professor of Biochemistry. The children were highly fascinated by an anatomy lesson using the Anatomage table, conducted by Dr. Manisha Hansda, Professor of Anatomy and Science. This was complemented by a pathology session, where Dr. Indu, Professor of Pathology introduced them to microscopes and samples, providing a deeper understanding of animal cells. The children also got the opportunity to interact with Oreo, Professor Bonnie McGowan, Dean of nursing’s cat.
This visit was efficiently handled by YMCA coordinators Anky Vrolijk and Byanca Alvarado, ensuring that the event was a memorable educational experience for the children. In a letter to the university, Anky Vrolijk, General Secretary of the YMCA of Aruba, and the
YMCA team stated how very grateful they were for the opportunity to visit Xavier. She stated that, “The children thoroughly enjoyed themselves.” Mrs. Vrolijk, also shared that she was thrilled with the bus transportation that the school provided, as well as the tour and the snacks. She stated, “If, in the future, the YMCA can do something for Xavier University, we will be more than happy to assist.” n
The Dakota YMCA I see a Cell.
Dr. Indu and her future students
XUSOM Sponsors a Health Fair for the SV San Luis Deportivo Soccer Team
By Dean Bonnie McGowan
AVIER
University School of Medicine hosted a health fair for SV San Luis Deportivo, a local soccer team consisting of young athletes aged 5 to 7, on July 20, 2024. The event, held in support of the university’s sponsorship of the team, was both a healthfocused and fun-filled day for the children.
Medical and nursing students from Xavier University were actively involved, providing essential health screenings while also enjoying the day with the children. The young athletes received vision checks, oral care instruction, and tips on maintaining a healthy diet to fuel their soccer activities. Basic health assessments, including blood pressure screenings and measurements of height and weight, were conducted to track their overall health.
Beyond the health checkups, the day featured games, snacks, and entertainment, ensuring the event was both educational and enjoyable. Each child left with a goodie bag filled with treats and health-related items, wrapping up the day on a positive note for both the children and the university’s students who participated. n
