Xt may 2017 by Xavier University School of Medicine

THE

Vol 6 - Issue No 1 - June 2017

XAVIER N

Xavier Graduates its Class of 2017

IN THIS ISSUE Xavier Graduation......................1 White Coat Summer 2017..........1 From the Dean........................... 2 Orientation Summer 2017.........2 Visiting Faculty.......................... 3 What the Future Brings............. 3 Stress Management.................. 5 High School Visit........................ 6 FMIG Workshop......................... 8 From the SGA President............ 8 From the FMIG President.......... 8 Do-It Center Fair........................ 9 My Fitness Gym Fair.......................9 Student Spotlight..................... 10 Scholarships............................. 11

Accreditation & Recognition

TIMES

The Xavier University School of Medicine, Aruba (XUSOM), celebrated its 10th commencement ceremony on May 20th at St. John’s University in the D’Angelo Center Ballroom. In attendance were Chancellor Dr. J. G. Bhat, Cahirman Edwin Casey, President Ravishankar Bhooplapur, Trustees P. K. Prahalad, M.D. Obi Nwasokwa, M.D., Ph.D., Mr. Frank Croes, and Ravindra Kota, M.D., the clinical chairs of Xavier University School of Medicine, the Dean of Clinical Sciences, Burton Herz, M.D., Interim Chief Academic Officer Arun Kumar Dubey, M.D., Chief Academic Officer Emeritus Brian Little, M.D., and Gabriel Andrade, Ph.D>, served as the the Master of Ceremonies. In his exciting address, President Bhooplapur outlined the many accomplishments for his school this year. Most Notably, XUSOM students reaching a 95% USMLE pass rate for the first time, and this year’s graduates matching in prestigious residency programs. He also acknowledged advancements for the university itself including acquiring Canadian Provincial Loans and United States Loans for graduate students and receiving accreditation (provisional) from the ACCM and CAMM-HP. He closed his speech by ensuring a bright future ahead for Xavier and the graduating class of 2017.

Continued on page 4

White Coat Ceremony 2017 Approved by the: Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research

*CAAMP-HP accreditation provisional. **ACCM accreditation provisional.

X A V I E R

U N I V E R S I T Y ’ S

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N E W S

P U B L I C A T I O N

From the Dean Dear Students: Welcome to Xavier University School of Medicine, Aruba. We have made great strides, in the past few years, in terms of training our students to become a true medical professional and their success in high stake examinations like USMLE Step1, Step 2 CK and CS. We have repeatedly demonstrated our commitment to quality education and excellence in training by continuing accreditation with ACCM and CAAM-HP. These accreditating bodies are recognized by ECFMG for their standards which are comparable to LCME. Our residency matches prove that our students are trained well to get accepted in wide variety residency choices ranging from family medicine, internal medicine, psychiatry to plastic surgery. These are exciting times to join Xavier University and become a physician with credentials that are accepted worldwide. The opportunities to receive education and training at highly reputable teaching hospitals across many states in the North America has never been more appealing. Our excellent faculty and staff are willing to facilitate your journey towards becoming a physician and realizing your dream. With best wishes Arun Kumar Dubey MD Interim Chief Academic Officer Dean of Basic Sciences

A new chapter of my life began at the orientation today at Xavier University School of Medicine. There were countless thoughts swimming through my mind; how will my future be, will I be able to call myself a doctor, will everyone in my class potentially be my colleagues, will we all survive? The list of questions was unbearably overwhelming. “Congratulations and welcome to Xavier University School of Medicine” spoke an unfamiliar voice, that of Dr Gil Apacible, Dean, Student affairs, as I gathered later. Dr Gil educated us about the history of this island we “get to call home for the next two years”. We were informed of the history of Aruba, now a separate entity of the Kingdom of the Netherlands Antilles. It was heavily emphasized on us through this segment of the orientation not only to respect the land to which we came for our education, but also to learn about social morals on how to interact with others in an appropriate manner. Dr Arun Kumar Dubey, Dean, Basic Sciences, told us how, as physicians, we will meet patients with a variety of cultural, social, and religious backgrounds and it will be our primary duty to provide the respect that they deserve. Mr. Daniel Moses, Controller, Student Finance, gave us general information on financial aid and scholarships that students could avail. Informing us about the distinctive features of the XUSOM MD curriculum, Dr Malpe Surekha Bhat, Professor in Biochemistry and Secretary, XUSOM curriculum committee, used unique and effective strategies to lay out a very general roadmap to medicine correlated with the bigger picture of life in general through relevant short story and poem. In the afternoon session, it was Dr Gil once again, enforcing discipline on us and Dr Shwaita Goyal giving us tips on forming self-help groups to stay well at medical school. On the second day of Orientation here at XUSOM, we got a detailed account from Mr. Daniel Moses about the finances, from Dr Shankar Majhi about the breakdown of our grades, library resources from Ms Kendra Parson and from Dr Prakash Ramdass, research opportunities we could avail at XUSOM. Other sessions included time and stress management by Dr Gopi Kumar MS and Dr Shwaita, team-learning by Professor Jacques Odryzynski, and ‘Meet the experts’ (a little more about our peers) by Dr Ranjit Bajwa. We had the chance to understand how each professor lectures with their different styles and approaches. It was very interesting to meet every one of the faculty members who all seemed eager to help us anyway they could. Through each introduction, we got to learn more about our peers and their backgrounds, their educational careers up till now, and their drive for medicine. It was all very inspirational to learn what medicine means to other people. We had an interactive activity called “crossing the river,” in which we had to figure out a strategy to cross a “river” (which was the floor) by only stepping on boards, all while remaining touch-contact. It was a very interesting game as we all unconsciously chose roles of leadership, of listening, and of action. We came together as a team to cross the river successfully, which parallels what we will do in medical classes, as we will be working together in small learning groups to solve problems.

Dr. Hugh Mclaughlin Cardiovascular System May 29th - June 1st

Our guest faculty for this week, Dr. Hugh McLaughlin, has been a part of the medical faculty at University College, Dublin and at St. Georges University School of Medicine. In recent years he has also developed a pathology review course for students preparing for the USMLE examination which he has taught at medical schools in both the US and the Caribbean. Dr. McLaughlin is at XUSOM from 29 May – 1 June, 2017 to address our MD4 students who are in the midst of Cardiovascular system. The topics covered in his lecture include ischemic, rheumatic, vascular and congenital heart diseases as well as cardiomyopathies.

Dr. Dana Farabaugh OB/GYN May 29th - June 1st

Our guest faculty for week 10 this semester is Dr. Dana Farabaugh, Associate Dean of Clinical Education, Drexel University College of Medicine and Associate Professor, Departments of OBGYN & Family, Community and Preventive Medicine, Pennsylvania. Dr. Farabaugh has completed the Association of Professors of Gynecology and Obstetrics (APGO) Academic Scholars and Leaders Program, as well as Instructor Training for Simulation as a Teaching Tool through the Institute of Simulation at Harvard and is a Master Trainer for the Team STEPPS Program. During her sessions, Dr. Farabaugh will be addressing our MD5 students on topics related to normal pregnancy physiology, labor and delivery, complications of pregnancy and general OBGYN topics.

Our third day of orientation was as informative as the two days that preceded it. Initially, we were introduced by Dr P Ramdass to the many challenges and hurdles that the average medical student must endure Ms Parson took a session on class notes. Dr Kelvin Pawlak outlined the numerous study tips and techniques that increased the probability of success. A clear and crisp tour through Early clinical exposure and standardized patient programme by Dr Neelam Dwivedi, an introduction to medical humanities by Dr Bhat and Dr Dubey, a hot topic debate by Dr Ranjit Singh Bajwa and his team, (regarding doctor-assisted suicide: should doctors be allowed to assist a patient to end his or her life? Is a terminal illness in itself grounds for one to take the ultimate path?) ended day 3 of the orientation. The journey will not be an easy one, however it will be a rewarding one. After the three days of orientation, I have confirmed all my ambiguous thoughts and decided I took the first correct step towards shaping my career as a future physician. After learning about my surroundings, my resources, the academics, and what is required of me; I learned a very important lesson, that everything is possible. Ms ran,

Visiting Faculty

Orientation Summer 2017

Jennifer Khan, PM3 with contributions from Day MD1 and editing & compiling by Ms Riddhiben

3 by GoPatel, MD4)

www.xusom.com

Dr. TKS Rao Renal System May 22nd and 23rd

Dr TKS Rao, our first guest faculty for this semester, visited XUSOM and delivered lectures on 22 May, 2017 and 23 May, 2017 for our MD5 students. Dr Rao is a Tenured Professor of Medicine at the State University of NY, Downstate Medical Center, Brooklyn, NY. His biggest scientific accomplishments have been to describe two new renal diseases namely Nephropathy associated with Intra Venous Heroin Addiction in the early 70’s, and Nephropathy associated with HIV infection in the early 80’s. In his three sessions, Dr. Rao covered Acute Kidney Injury, Chronic kidney diseases, dialysis & renal transplant and glomerulonephritis.

Dr. Craig Little Big Pharmacuticals May 29th - June 1st

Dr. Craig B. Little, a distinguished Service Professor Emeritus, State University of New York, Cortland, is in XUSOM this week as a visiting faculty. He specializes in Sociology and Criminology. He has numerous journal publications and books to his credit. “Understanding deviance and control” by Peacock Publishers is one of his famous books. Dr. Little is facilitating sessions for MD2 and MD3 students on Big Pharma and corporate crime on Thursday, March 23, 2017 and on Sick role & illness behaviors on Friday, March 24, 2017.

Xavier Graduates its Class of 2017

Xavier University Class of 2017

Continued from page 1

The Keynote speaker Dr. Barry Smith, President and CEO of the Rogosin Institute in New York, graciously addressed the graduates in a thought provoking speech. He posed three questions: where have you come from, where are you at now and where are you going? His heartwarming address discussed the graduates’ importance in teh medical community, and not only how it would change their lives but how they themselves would change the field. In keeping with academic traidaiton, special recognition was accorded to Valedictorian Bobak Sharifi, M.D. and Salutatorian Varun Goswami, M.D. for their outstanding academic performance as medical students. The ceremony also included an Alumni Address given by Dr. Rachel Karmally, who graduated from CUSOM in 2012. She passionately urged graduates to remember why they entered medicine and gave them her own set of wisdom to get from this milestone to where they want to be in the next five years.

Abdulmuttaleb Al Soufi

Hajira Khan

Mina Thomas

Robert Statz

Aditi Sarker

Hesham Tayel

Mohammad Ahmad

Roopak Sekhon*

Ahmad Faour

Hussam Tayel

Mohammed Hnoosh

Sasha Sharifi*

Alimohamad Manji*

Ingrid Martinez

Mohsin Altaf

Sean Arora

Angitha Alex

Jessica Kainth

Mousa Sawaged

Shannon Arora

Bobak Sharifi*

Jude Akpede*

Natasha Dyal*

Shivan Patel

Chidelu Onyeani Nwosu

Julian Ang Keng Hao

Naval Walia

Tatyana Beaubrun*

Christophe Jerjian

Kaycee Umeoji

Neamul Huq

Terence Riley

Dale Adebyo

Kishan Patel*

Niraj Patel*

Varun Goswami*

Deepti Kalani*

Konstantin Urazov*

Paola Castro Zayas

VJ-Amit Sieuraj*

Durga Valli Pemmaraju

Majd Jazaerly*

Phillip Yohannan

Zain Nagaria

Eesha Khan*

Maria Belaev

Pooja Solanki

Grishma Jalemu

Michael Arroyo

Pratick Patel

*with Honors

Stress Management On the first day of school it was very evident that everyone’s facial nerves were working properly by their looks of blatant panic. Every semester they receive new challenges, and as we have been told, the difficulty increases. Along with the stress of our classes all of us have not only moved away from home to a completely different country; we have families we worry about, money issues, and the largest stressor ‘Did I forget to cross my “t” on Dr. Gil’s assignment?” All of these stressors can pile up and can be crippling. On Wednesday May 17, 2017 classes MD1 and MD2 gathered in the auditorium for a presentation by Ms Sharon Burgler, Life Force expert, Medical Specialists, Aruba, on how to handle the life of stress in medicine. Some of the things that were mentioned, we will actually be practicing in our residencies and our future clerkships, revealing to patients bad news or telling family members that their loved one passed away. One of the ideas that were mentioned in the presentation was to write down your concerns and write why they are concerns. I personally found this suggestion very insightful, being a guy I do not regularly broadcast my feelings to other people. I have tried this now a few times in my own journal and I have noticed it really does help. I find that getting it out on paper is as good as talking to someone about it. XUSOM students, we all can relate to the stressful things we are experiencing. It is my hope that we all take a step back and remind ourselves that we are alive today. No matter what stressors come, may we take them in-stride, dig in, and accomplish our goal of earning our MD! Written by: Mathew Moore, MD1

www.xusom.com

Summer White Coat Ceremony

Local High School Visits XUSOM

Dr. Segie Apacible, Associate Professor of Anatomy and Medical terminology and Dr. Kevin Pawlak, Assistant Professor in Physiology at XUSOM had the pleasure of hosting a class of wonderful students from the International School of Aruba at Xavier University School of Medicine on 16 May, 2017. The students are currently studying Anatomy and Physiology and wanted to get some practical hands on experience in the two subjects much to the delight of the ever-helpful Dr. Segie and Dr. Pawlak to let these young minds explore and learn in the Anatomy lab. These tender hearts were initially hesitant when a plasticized cadaver was brought out for them but soon mustered courage enough to grab the opportunity to explore and learn about the structures of the human body first hand. Along with the plasticized cadaver the many models and specimen at the University provided a great learning opportunity for the students in the field of anatomy. The students and their teachers led by Mr. Patrick Dwyer, had many questions about the major organ systems of the body and the many muscles and tendons. The two faculty were ready with answers for all these questions. Following the anatomy laboratory visit, the students were taken through a tour of the Clinical Medicine laboratory by Dr Neelam R Dwivedi, Professor of Clinical medicine and lab diagnosis, who provided the high school students with a taste of what it is like, to be a Medical student at Xavier University School of Medicine. Dr. Neelam demonstrated how the students practice suturing and how they practice performing various exams with some of the models that were present in the lab. This seemed to be a very rewarding experience for the both the teachers and the students who left Xavier with long lasting memories of the visit to keep. Report by: Dr Kevin Pawlak, Assistant Professor of Physiology and Biology, XUSOM

www.xusom.com

From the SGA President

From the FMIG President

FMIG Holds Workshop for Students

Health Fair at the Do-It Center

The MD1 and MD2 students gathered in a classroom to attend a workshop conducted by the Family Medicine Interest Group (FMIG) at Xavier University. The workshop was held to show how to take a blood pressure (BP) reading on patients. Harshil Parekh and Komathini Jothikumar, students of Xavier University, were conducting the seminar and demonstrating on a fellow student. They demonstrated how to place the blood pressure cuff and correctly align the cuff with the brachial artery, as well as, identifying a Normal blood pressure reading versus elevated blood pressure. Each demonstrator took turns to explain the proper procedure, how to be professional and courteous to patients, as well as sharing their own personal experience when conducting physical exams. Shortly after the presentation, students were able to split up into pairs and practice among ourselves with the guidanceâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s of older classmates. The overall experience performing blood pressure was educational and fun. I hope to apply this new knowledge when performing a physical exam on all future patients.

On Saturday may 21st, few students from the Family Medicine Interest group (FMIG) of Xavier University School of Medicine held a health fair at Do-It center, Aruba. FMIG shared their knowledge and experience by giving a free health check-up to the locals (customers) of DO-IT Center. Blood pressure of more than 30 individuals where taken along with the medical based advice on their results and advice on living a healthy lifestyle. FMIG aims to increase its activities and one day hope to be able to reach out to everyone on this one happy Island. FMIG is also scheduled to hold their Mini Health Fairs at DO-IT center every 2 weeks.

Written by: Ms Lakisha Haran, MD1

Mini Health Fair at My Fitness Gym On May 29, 2017, from 5:00pm until 7:00pm, the Family Medicine Interest Group (FMIG) went to My Fitness Gym to host a blood pressure check for their members. The group was headed by Pardis Sheikhvatan (VP of FMIG) , Layuren Moodley , Cedric Fotso and Sylvester Harris. There they took the blood pressure of the gym members as well as walk-in visitors and gave them advice on how to have a healthy lifestyle and the benefits of regular exercise. XUSOM student groups will be hosting more blood pressure check at My Fitness Gym in the next coming months. 8

www.xusom.com

Student Spotlight

Scholarships

Preetham Ezekiel

There are several types of scholarships available to all students. Pre-Med Applicants can receive scholarships

Goran Nikolic

Xavier Times team Faculty editor:

Tyson Tetoff

Student editor: Faculty advisors:

Jennifer Khan Student members:

Hira Shiikh

www.xusom.com

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