Xavier Times - September 2021

THE XAVIER TIMES A Medical School Experience on an island unlike any other in the region!

SEPTEMBER 2021

Vol. 13:/No.01

ARUBA PRIME MINISTER

AWARDED HONORARY DEGREE Xavier University School of Medicine was honored to host Aruba’s Prime Minister, Her Excellency Mrs. Evelyn WeverCroes, on August 14, 2021 at our annual Graduation Ceremony which took place in Aruba this year for the first time. Xavier bestowed upon her the Honorary Degree of Doctor of Medicine, Honoris Causa, as well as a prestigious Exceptional Leadership award acknowledging her proactivity and tireless efforts handling the COVID-19 pandemic. Mrs. Wever-Croes always wanted to be a doctor, but there was no medical school in Aruba in her youth, so she ended up becoming a lawyer. Xavier University is proud to confer this coveted honorary degree upon her.

Thanking Xavier, the Prime Minister said, “I accept this honor in the name of our Government and the Crisis Team because it was teamwork that made it all happen and without the team, our country wouldn’t be where it’s at.”

During her speech addressing the newest class of graduating MDs, Mrs. Wever-Croes shared three key thoughts that she says helped her become a better version of herself: love what you do, lead with empathy, and stay focused. We could not be more grateful to have had Her Excellency Mrs. Evelyn WeverCroes share her wisdom with us that day and for all that she has done for Xavier University School of Medicine.

Recognized by New York State Board of Education | Fully Accredited by ACCM

3 GRADUATION CEREMONY 7 WHITE COAT CEREMONY 12 ORIENTATION 14 ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT XAVIER UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF MEDICINE / ARUBA

XUSOM_NEWS_2109A.indd 1

(516) 333-2224 • www.xusom.com • admissions@xusom.com Named a “Top 10 Caribbean Medical School” by MoneyInc. 11/17/21 8:43 PM

GRADUATION CEREMONY

SATURDAY AUGUST 14TH 2021 The Xavier University School of Medicine Graduation Ceremony proceeded outside on the new campus in the early evening. Following a short introduction by Master of Ceremonies Dr. Jeremy Rae, Chief Academic Officer, Dr. Arun Dubey addressed the students, parents, and faculty in attendance by emphasizing the importance of establishing a therapeutic patientdoctor relationship with empathy and compassion.

Next was Alumni speaker Dr. Walker (class of 2019).

In his second year as an Internal Medicine Resident at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Mercy Hospital, Aaron shared some of his clinical experiences and valuable advice. Chairman Edwin Casey then presented the Salutatorian, Dr. Jessica Page, who spoke about her experiences in Aruba and as a student at Xavier.

Chairman Casey, in his subsequent address, congratulated the students on their achievements and the uniqueness of studying in Aruba. Following a speech by President Ravi Bhooplapur, Chairman Casey introduced the Class of 2021 Valedictorian, Dr. Riddhiben Patel, who talked about her experiences at Xavier and shared a story about her experience with a critically-ill patient from which she learned several important lessons.

The Presentation of the Honorary Degree to Prime Minister Evelyn Wever-Croes was performed earlier that day (see cover article). A prerecorded video address by the Prime Minister was played to those in attendance at the graduation.

2 XUSOM_NEWS_2109A.indd 2

10/5/21 2:41 PM

Dr. Rae then read the names of the graduates who were not able to be in attendance, recognizing their outstanding achievements and impact on the Xavier community. The Conferring of the Degrees to the graduates present was performed by President Bhooplapur, who presented each of the candidates with their Doctor of Medicine degree.

The final event of the evening was the reciting of the Hippocratic Oath, which was performed by Dr. Richard Pestell, Vice President of Academic Affairs and Dean of Clinical Sciences.

Congratulations to all of the distinguished graduates on their accomplishments and Xavier wishes them the greatest success in the future. Xavier graduates will always have a home with us!

3 XUSOM_NEWS_2109A.indd 3

10/5/21 2:41 PM

AWARDS WERE PRESENTED

by President Bhooplapur to valued staff members: • Vyrillo George • Dr. Richard Pomerantz - Faculty of the Year award winner • Dr. Arun Dubey - Grateful Recognition of Excellence in Academic Leadership • Frank Croes - Grateful Recognition of Outstanding Leadership • There was also an award presented to Xavier University School of Medicine from Drs. P.K. and Sheela Prahalad.

4 XUSOM_NEWS_2109A.indd 4

10/5/21 2:41 PM

THE OFFICIAL OPENING OF THE JAGADEESAN AND KANCHANA POOLA FAMILY HOUSING BLOCK On September 1, 2021, President Ravi Bhooplapur joined Prime Minister of Aruba, Her Excellency Evelyn Wever-Croes and major benefactors Jagadeesan and Kanchana Poola for the official ribbon cutting ceremony of the Jagadeesan and Kanchana Poola Family Housing Block. The new residences were officially open to students on September 5.

This state-of-the-art facility offers fully-furnished and equipped two-bedroom suites, each with a bathroom, shower, kitchenette, and balcony. Students will enjoy a full-service cafeteria that provides all-you-can-eat breakfast, lunch, and dinner buffets, in addition to a resort-style pool, basketball courts, and other luxury amenities that also include 24/7 security.

XUSOM_NEWS_2109A.indd 5

“We are thrilled to welcome our first round of students to our beautiful new facility,” said President Bhooplapur.

The faculty and staff at Xavier are proud to offer our hard-working students a place they can call home— while away from home.”

5 10/5/21 2:41 PM

Thanking Xavier, the Prime Minister said, “I accept this honor in the name of our Government and the Crisis Team because it was teamwork that made it all happen and without the team, our country wouldn’t be where it’s at.”

Congratulations!

PRESIDENT RAVI BHOOPLAPUR WITH VALEDICTORIAN RIDDHI PATEL

A

CHAIRMAN EDWIN CASEY WITH SALUTATORIAN JESSICA PAGE

6 XUSOM_NEWS_2109A.indd 6

10/5/21 2:41 PM

WHITE COAT CEREMONY MEDICAL STUDENT CLASS OF 2025

SEPTEMBER 15TH 2021 AT XAVIER MEDICAL SCHOOL, MAIN AUDITORIUM 52 Xavier medical students were in attendance for our White Coat Ceremony, a Xavier University School of Medicine tradition of welcoming new students into the program. The MOC (Master of Ceremonies) for the event was Dr. Jeremy Rae, Assistant Dean of Student Affairs. Dr. Rae introduced the first speaker, Chief Academic Officer Dr. Arun Kumar Dubey, M.D. Dr. Dubey spoke about Xavier’s mission, his role, and the role the faculty and staff will play during their time with Xavier, and the path that the students must navigate to become successful doctors.

The event’s Key Note speaker was Dr. Jamiu Busari, Associate Professor of Medical Education at Maastricht University and Dean of Health Professions Education at the Horacio Oduber Hospital, Aruba. As part of his address, Dr. Busari played a video that stressed empathy and compassion as essential parts of being a good doctor. At the conclusion of Dr. Busari’s address, Dr. Rae then called the students to the stage where they put on their white coats. Dr. Busari then conducted the Medical Student Pledge of Professional Conduct to conclude the event.

A DAY IN THE LIFE 7 XUSOM_NEWS_2109A.indd 7

10/5/21 2:41 PM

EDITORIAL

Dr. J. Rae, A/Dean Students Affairs;

Lead Editor

This semester Xavier University School of Medicine has welcomed our students back into the classrooms, after a protracted and sometimes challenging period of relying primarily on online delivery and Zoom sessions as we navigated through the COVID pandemic.

While online delivery has enabled us to weather the worst of the pandemic, for most students it has not been the ideal way to learn. In-class teaching is still the best option, allowing for personal contact and social interactions that will yield the best possible learning experience.

Several major events are detailed in this edition of Xavier Times. The new campus, with accommodations and other resources for students, has now been opened. We have conducted the White Coat, Graduation and Orientation events together with past, present and new students.

I had the privilege and honor, once again, of being Master of Ceremonies for the White Coat Ceremony and Graduation, which was conducted outside on the new campus. Please see the following articles and photographs about all these events, along with both staff and student perspectives on life at XUSOM and in Aruba.

DEAN’S SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS Hiba Abu Shawish Nina Entcheva Shravani Manda NY SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS Stephanie Chikvashvili Michelle Mawere MCAT SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS Alan Adam Daler Kaur MEDICAL FIELD SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS Kevin Ram Shereece Picotti

8 XUSOM_NEWS_2109A.indd 8

Congratulations!

10/5/21 2:41 PM

XAVIER UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF MEDICINE

ANNOUNCES The John Lewis Memorial Scholarship Xavier University School of Medicine is pleased to announce the brand new Congressman John Lewis Memorial Scholarship! Xavier would like to thank the family of John Lewis who supported the naming of this scholarship.

Late congressman John Lewis stood to fight inequities in all aspects of his life. He was a champion of civil rights and equality for all. This scholarship is offered to students that come from an under-represented minority groups.

“I BELIEVE THAT IF YOU SEE SOMETHING THAT YOU WANT TO GET DONE, YOU CANNOT GIVE UP AND YOU CANNOT GIVE IN.” —John Lewis

9 XUSOM_NEWS_2109A.indd 9

10/5/21 2:41 PM

GROUND BREAKING CEREMONY ON PHASE TWO OF XUSOM CAMPUS

On August 14, 2021, President Ravi Bhooplapur was joined by Prime Minister Evelyn Wever-Croes and many other dignitaries for the groundbreaking ceremony for phase two of the Xavier University School of Medicine.

Set to open in 2023, phase two will see the creation of a brand new academic area of campus, including a theater-style auditorium, state-of-the-art classrooms and labs, seminar rooms, a new library, study areas for individuals, small groups, and large groups, and student lounges.

PHASE TWO

10

OPENING 2023

XUSOM_NEWS_2109A.indd 10

10/5/21 2:41 PM

XUSOM CAMPUS

11 XUSOM_NEWS_2109A.indd 11

10/5/21 2:41 PM

NAVIGATING COVID-19

ORIENTATION PROGRAM

by Dr. Prasad, Dean of Student Affairs

COVID has had a catastrophic effect on the life and health of people. In the field of education in general, it has ravaged the learning environment and has created a major impediment in the progression of students. In medical education, remote learning has created a void in the crucial learner-teacher interactions, patient-student interactions, communication skills, and clinical exposure. To mitigate any long-term adverse consequences on the future generation of doctors who underwent training during the COVID pandemic, Xavier University School of Medicine decided to resume medical education in person after evaluating the risks and benefits and taking opinions from all the key stakeholders.

Xavier University School of Medicine, Aruba finally reopened the campus for the students after a long hiatus of remote learning.

Looking at the atmosphere at orientation, especially with the faculty-student interactions, made everyone feel very positive. We could tell that the students, too, were excited to be back on campus and to resume their medical education in person.

Orientation was a three-day program which began with an introduction to the Xavier University School of Medicine programs and ended with the White Coat Ceremony. There was an emphasis to adhere strictly to the COVID protocols recommended by CDC and the government of Aruba.

The first day of orientation began with welcoming new students by Dr. Kevin Pawlak, Chair of the Admissions Committee. It was followed by sessions with Dr. Pawlak and Dr. Gopi who provided information about the pre-med and medical curriculums. The curriculum is the cornerstone of medical education and Xavier adopts an Integrated Organ System-based curriculum for the MD program. The presentation by Dr. Gopi, Chair of the Curriculum Committee, was an interesting session where there was a lot of interaction from the students. This was followed by a session with Daniel Moses, Vice President of Finance, regarding student finance.

The post-lunch session began with a presentation regarding student support at Xavier. The students had some questions about policies and procedures. The

Office of Students Affairs serves to alleviate any hardships that the students may have in academic and non-academic matters and strives to maintain the wellbeing of students throughout their medical education.

Dr. Brumley did a wonderful job explaining the library and resources, both online and on-campus. She was very interactive and took questions from students regarding the library. Dr. Brumley is a very useful, friendly, and an excellent resource person for the library and related topics.

12 XUSOM_NEWS_2109A.indd 12

10/5/21 2:41 PM

The final session of the day was from Dr. Abdul Aboud, a practicing family physician, Xavier alumnus, and currently a member of the Board of Trustees. Dr. Abdul had a short presentation followed by an interactive Q&A session where he took questions from students.

The students were curious, excited, and happy to meet an alumnus who went through the same journey that they are about to embark on.

Day two began with a session by Dr. Joseph, Chair of the Research Committee, about student research at Xavier. Dr. Joseph did a wonderful job explaining the importance of research and the avenues of research during Basic Sciences and during clinical rotations.

With the advent of the new research rotations, student participation in research has seen a big boost. The students in clinicals are currently working

with distinguished professors at Baruch Bloomberg Institute. We have also seen a surge in the number of publications in indexed journals.

This was followed by sessions with various faculty regarding class notes, study skills, preparing for exams, IT resources for students, time management, and how to best work in a team setting. The post-lunch sessions began with Dr. Neelam speaking about early clinical exposure and standardized patient programs.

The students were particularly excited about the early clinical exposure and Standardized Patient program.

All the day two sessions were well received by all the participants who provided great feedback.

The in-person orientation program was conducted at the XUSOM campus after a hiatus of four semesters. As we slowly resume the journey back to normalcy, it was a relief to finally see the students on campus!

WELCOME BACK TO THE LIBRARY

by Dr. P. Brumley, Chief Librarian

Xavier University School of Medicine’s vast library is now open for all students and staff. The library is open 9 a.m. - 10 p.m. every day, including weekends. The library has a wealth of books (including nursing books) and databases for use by the Xavier community. Databases and books can all be accessed via the online student portal as well in-house in the library.

Students and staff are encouraged to adhere to a quiet environment conducive to good research and study habits. Research assistance is available daily by the Chief Librarian both in-person and virtually.

13 XUSOM_NEWS_2109A.indd 13

10/5/21 2:41 PM

ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT My Journey to Healing and Helping Those in Need Having a special way of connecting with people and an “underdog mentality” proved to be a winning combination for psychiatrist, Sumeet Singh, MD, a graduate of Xavier University School of Medicine in Oranjestad, Aruba.

REALIZING HIS FUTURE Born in the United Kingdom and raised in Detroit, Michigan, Singh always had a way about him that made others feel at ease. He explained how—despite being bullied throughout his childhood—he remained centered and focused on being kind and compassionate to others while lending a sympathetic ear. “I never imagined, then, that I would pursue a career as a psychiatrist,” he explained. “I just knew that I had a gift of connecting with people on a different level.”

As he grew older, Singh took on the responsibility of ‘man of the house’ when his father, who worked for the Ford Motor Company, began to travel overseas more frequently. “I had to grow up quickly,” said Singh. “It was my responsibility to ensure my mother and sister were taken care of.”

FINDING HIS PATH TO MEDICINE In 2004, Singh enrolled at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor where he studied neuroscience, with a special interest in neurobiology and medical anthropology. He said he enjoyed taking creative writing classes as it balanced his science courses with a way to express his creative side.

He worked several paid internships while working toward his Bachelor of Science degree in Neuroscience, but he still wasn’t clear on his future path. “One day, one of my professors approached me and encouraged me to consider going to medical school,” Singh explained. “I suppose you can say the rest is history.”

DISCOVERING XAVIER UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF MEDICINE IN ARUBA Now that Singh had determined he wanted to pursue a medical degree, he began researching various institutions.

“To my surprise, I knew many people who were applying to Xavier,” he said. “At the time, the university was small,

SUMEET SINGH, MD but the programs looked like a great fit for me. And who wouldn’t want to go to school on the beautiful island of Aruba?” he continued laughingly. Singh did his homework when researching colleges and found that Xavier University School of Medicine in Aruba “checked off all the boxes” for him when it came down to the admissions process, professors and curriculum, financial aid, accreditations, residency matching, and other factors an International Medical Graduate (IMG) should consider. In the fall of 2009, Singh enrolled at Xavier and began his basic science courses—MD 1 through MD 4—over the next four semesters. In December 2011, he moved to New York for the required four-month training program and returned back to Michigan to take the first-of-three United States Medical Licensing Examinations (USMLE), which are required to apply for residency.

CONTINUING THE JOURNEY For the next two years, Singh worked in several Chicago hospitals and completed his clinical rotations in all fields of standard medicine—all while studying for the second twopart USMLE. As a fourth-year medical student, he earned the title of ‘student doctor of general medicine.’ In 2013, he graduated Xavier University School of Medicine in Aruba with honors. It was then that he decided to specialize in the field of psychiatry.

In 2014, Singh was matched with a residency position at Howard University Hospital in Washington, DC, where he worked for the next two years in the Comprehensive Psychiatry Emergency Program at the hospital’s Psychiatric Institute. During that time, he took the third and final

14 XUSOM_NEWS_2109A.indd 14

10/5/21 2:41 PM

USMLE exam. In 2016, he went on to complete his residency at Saint Elizabeth’s Hospital in the chronic inpatient/ forensic setting, where he was voted ‘Chief Resident.’ “It was an amazing feeling being voted into that position,” said Singh. “You have to work hard to be successful. I won’t lie. Being an International Medical Graduate (IMG) means you have to work even harder to get to where you want to be. But—in the end—it’s worth it.”

ENTERING THE WORKFORCE There’s no denying the journey to becoming a doctor is a grueling one. Singh’s decision to be an IMG may have put him on an unconventional path to becoming a psychiatrist, but it is one that he stands by and is proud of. “I think of myself as the ultimate ‘underdog story,’” he said proudly. “As a first-generation medical school graduate, I approached school with an ‘I am good enough’ attitude—and used it to my advantage.” Today, Singh is a board-certified psychiatrist with the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology and holds active medical licenses in Texas and Maryland. Prior to his current position as an outpatient adult psychiatrist at LifeStance Health—a telepsychiatry company in Round Rock, Texas—Singh worked at Georgetown University School of Medicine as a clinical instructor, where he provided didactic and clinical training in psychiatry to third- and fourth-year medical students. Additionally, he was voted as the Vice Chair of the Department of Psychiatry at Adventist Shady Grove Medical Center and also held the position of inpatient attending physician with a specialization in general adult psychiatry.

He currently lives with his wife, Ariel, in Austin, Texas.

GIVING BACK— ONE PATIENT AT A TIME Mental health awareness is a hot button topic these days, as the pandemic (among other factors) contributes to the psychological well-being of people from all walks of life.

Currently, Singh said he treats about 15 patients a day—600 per month—via Zoom. “The process is seamless,” he said.

“My patients are very comfortable with it, and they say it’s more convenient and less stressful than in-person sessions.”

Reflecting on his journey to becoming a doctor, Singh admits the road was not an easy one. “The path was difficult, but it was the most fulfilling experience of my life,” he stated.

“Helping others, especially during these unprecedented times, is critical. For me, becoming a psychiatrist was the best way to help and heal people.”

ALUMNI MEETING &

THE BIG PICTURE

by Saiyida Abudurexiti, MD4

THE ALUMNI MEETING IMMEDIATELY PRECEDED THE GRADUATION CEREMONY As a student, you have some idea of the big picture so you know that you are building towards something.

What I learned from the alumni meeting was priceless.

The alumni discussed essential behaviors and skills students need to succeed in medicine, the importance of students developing strong connections with faculty members and mentors, finding a right specialty and taking advantage of wonderful opportunities that the Xavier University School of Medicine provides. Most importantly, what I really took away from this event was feeling more confident and at ease, knowing my career goals will be met because of the great resources at Xavier and our wonderful alumni’s role in our success, like being great mentors for current students.

I look forward to joining the ranks of the great Xavier alumni soon and giving back to the current students.

Thank you, alumni!

Saiyida

15 XUSOM_NEWS_2109A.indd 15

10/5/21 2:41 PM

THE IMPORTANCE OF FINDING

BALANCE & TAKING CARE OF YOURSELF

by John D. Kulpa, Ph.D. / Faculty Editor Assistant Professor of Behavioral Science Your decision to become a nurse or doctor is a leap of faith and compassionate love. Each Xavier student has their own constellation of reasons for taking this leap.

But feelings of compassion and love for others are likely to be primary motivators. As a healthcare professional, you will have the extraordinary opportunity to express these noble emotions through your work, day-by-day.

The faith your decision represents is that by diligently following the educational path we have designed, you will be humbly empowered to embody the ideals of your profession. Your decision also represents a faith that you will be cared for while walking this often demanding path.

Let me assure you that we, the faculty and staff at the Xavier University School of Medicine, truly care about you, the student, as a whole person. In my role as coordinator of Student Wellness, I am committed to crafting a culture wherein your success in nursing or medical school is measured not merely by whether you become a competent health professional, but also by whether your time in nursing or medical school is a joyful, enriching, enlightening, and happy experience.

Your time at Xavier should not be entirely future-facing; rather, your experience can serve as life training where we help you develop into a well-rounded professional person—one that skillfully balances work with selfcare, relationships, and other important aspects of life.

As a healthcare professional, people will see you as a role model, especially in areas of health and wellness.

Now is the time to cultivate balance in your life and lay down the habits that will persist after you leave Xavier. You should, of course, practice good discipline in your academic work; but you should prioritize selfcare (good diet, sleep, exercise, and doing the things that bring you joy). Indeed, your Pledge of Professional Conduct makes this explicit: “I WILL ATTEND TO my own health, well-being, and abilities in order to provide care of the highest standard.” Attending to your own health, well-being, and abilities will not only benefit you, it will also raise the standard of care you are able to provide to your patients.

Also, near the end of the summer semester, I addressed the faculty and staff about the implementation of a Suicide Prevention and Awareness Program—part of a broader move at Xavier toward general health and wellness (including mental health). I will make a similar presentation to students early in the fall semester.”

We are sponsoring a number of initiatives at Xavier to help you keep a healthy work-life balance. Please be on the lookout for more of these in upcoming semesters.

And please feel free to reach out to me if you have ideas. Currently, we are organizing a student-led, faculty-mentored Yoga Club. Announcements for this will be made soon. All are welcome to participate.

We want to care for you and help you care for yourself.

This will help you provide the best care for your patients. Best wishes and see you around the island!

New Faculty

Spotlight Dr. Saman Bentota

16 XUSOM_NEWS_2109A.indd 16

Dr. Saman Bentota obtained his M.B., B.S. from the Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo, Sri Lanka and his Diploma in Medical Microbiology and M.D. in Infectious Diseases from the Postgraduate Institute of the University of Colombo. He has worked as a physician in internal medicine and infectious diseases in Sri Lanka for over twenty years. For the last several years, he has been guiding students to prepare for the United States Medical Licensing Examinations. He is also certified by the Educational Commission for the Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) of the United States.

10/5/21 2:41 PM

ACADEMIC SUPPORT

by Dr. M. Gupta

Xavier University School of Medicine started the Academic Support Program (ASP) in the Summer Semester of 2019.

The program starts with an orientation session in which students get introduced to the teaching faculty and their mentors. During this orientation, the students and mentors construct a road map for their USMLE Step 1 preparation. The program uses both system-based and subject-based approaches to prepare students, who are exposed to different question banks such as Kaplan and USMLE World. We also conduct daily review sessions with in-house faculty, and NBME assessments on every organ system.

After every NBME assessment, all students are provided with one-on-one mentoring with the faculty. They receive constructive feedback and motivation which helps them to improve their performance in upcoming assessments. Many students have benefited greatly from the program and have passed their USMLE exams with flying colors. We will continue working hard and look forward to helping our students to become great primary care physicians.

RESEARCH UPDATE AT XAVIER

by Dr. J. Jilwin (Chair, Research Committee) Faculty members and students have actively involved themselves in research even during the online teaching and learning semesters in 2020-21. Although experimental research could not be conducted virtually, students and faculty members did not give up, and were successfully able to publish review articles based on retrospective studies in various disciplines.

Including basic and clinical rotation students, there are close to 45 publications in a period of over 12 months, and most of the articles are published in peer reviewed journals, indexed in either Pubmed Central or Medline. Some of the prominent areas students have worked upon include parathyroid hormone response in Vitamin D deficiency, therapeutic interventions in prostate cancer, treatment of COVID-19, COVID-19-related neurological and hepatic problems, autoimmune disorders, to name just a few. Students also participated in several online questionnaires directed to survey the importance of empathy and unconscious bias among medical students.

Students also gave valuable responses to online education experiences and the way it influenced their performance in the courses. Faculty in Aruba were successfully able to publish their experience of comparing various standard setting methods for the different OSCE sessions conducted at the school.

With students returning to the island this semester, the faculty are looking forward to engaging students in their areas of interest in research.

ACADEMIC SUPPORT

& RESEARCH 17

XUSOM_NEWS_2109A.indd 17

10/5/21 2:41 PM

SGA Report

by Gabriel Kronenfeld, MD4

Hello Xavier community, My name is Gabriel Kronenfeld and I am the president of the Student Government Association (SGA). I’d like to begin this passage with acknowledging the student body for electing me in this position, and to Xavier University School of Medicine for allowing me to flourish.

I have quite a vast educational background and have been to many different schools for my undergraduate studies. Thus, I feel like I am in a position to comment on the merit of this school compared to others. Since my very first day here at Xavier I felt like I was part of a tight-knit family. Whether it was my professors, the Dean, and many other staff, I have always felt a personal connection to every individual here at Xavier.

At every institution I had previously attended, I always felt more like just a number where people did not know me. Here at Xavier, everyone knows my name, my background, my academic strengths and weaknesses, and takes the time to know me as a person. This is just one of the abundant characteristics that makes Xavier one of the most unique I have ever attended.

Another significant part of my amazing experience here is the SGA. The resources we are given by the administration to significantly improve the lives of students here is unprecedented. When I first entered the position I was in awe at the amount of clubs and opportunities available to students. I was also amazed at the amount of new clubs we were given permission to start, for example a brand new improved academic enhancement program of which has significantly improved the lives and learning process for dozens of students.

I could go on and on about XUSOM and its excellence, but to finish off I just want to state how lucky and fortunate I am to be attending such an astonishing institution, and I look forward to working together to have a great semester with the entire campus community!

Adjusting to Life in Aruba By: Kevin Ram My name is Kevin, and I am from New York. I recently moved to Aruba to pursue a medical education with Xavier University School of Medicine. At first, this transition had me very nervous. Moving 1,962 miles away from the city I was born and raised in sounded like crazy talk. However, this is a step forward I was willing to take to pursue my educational goals further. Upon arrival to the island, I was greeted by the courteous faculty of the school.

Along with that, I was introduced to the brand new, palatial residence hall I would be staying in with the other students. After speaking with the various students and faculty, the residence offered a sense of fraternity and truly fostered a “home away from home” feeling at XUSOM. After spending a few weeks mingling amongst Xavier’s amiable faculty and students, I feel comfortable and settled in an environment to offer me the highest quality of education for my future pursuits.

18 XUSOM_NEWS_2109A.indd 18

10/5/21 2:41 PM

Campus Life By: Stephanie Chikvashvili Ah yes, campus life on the beautiful island of Aruba. Take a moment, close your eyes and picture this: Eternal bliss, crisp warm air, the sound of leaves rustling through the air, and…. a wet black lab running up against your leg? *record scratch* Umm, yea, that’s Neo, the campus dog. No one knows where he came from or who he belongs to, but we don’t complain because nothing compliments oatmeal in the morning the way Neo does.

Life on the new campus hasn’t been half bad: gorgeous views from the balcony, a lovely pool, and a considerable turf to do morning workouts on. Not to mention roosters that wake you up every morning so you’ll never miss the shuttle to your classes. The campus and apartments truly are beautiful! Enjoy!

From Zoom to the classroom and hybrid in between By: Kyle Gotfried “Hello students, can someone online confirm you can see the screen and hear me?” A variation of this sentence is how every class of my first three semesters of med school began. I began school in Fall 2020, taking courses on Zoom with the majority of my classmates while a small group of students attended in person.

The following semester I knew I needed to be in class if I had a chance of raising my grades to a level I felt comfortable.

Classes, however, were still being taught with a hybrid model over Zoom, with the majority of students still attending online and a different group of students now attending lectures in person. It was an exciting experience with professors’ attention split between a large group of students online and a handful of students in the classroom. At times the school felt almost lifeless and cold with so few students in the building. There were days you could be the only other person in the classroom with the professor, with all of your classmates experiencing the same lecture virtually.

STUDENT PERSPECTIVES

Eternal bliss, crisp warm air, the sound of leaves rustling through the air, and…

We are now in the Fall 2021 semester, with all students returning to classes. The school has new life with the fresh infusion of students flowing through the hall and attending lectures. Welcome back to Xavier University School of Medicine.

Glad to have you back, your student editor-in-chief, Kyle

19 XUSOM_NEWS_2109A.indd 19

10/5/21 2:41 PM

Meet OUR

XUSOM Team Michael Neely Director of Marketing & Admissions Michael Neely serves as Xavier University School of Medicine’s Director of Marketing and Admissions. He has more than 12 years of experience in higher education marketing at both Hofstra University (Long Island, NY) and Brown University (Providence, RI).

Neely, a 2010 magna cum laude graduate of Hofstra with Bachelor degrees in Public Relations and French, also earned an MBA degree from Hofstra in 2012.

CIAO, ARUBA! We are excited to welcome “Sciue Sciue” to Xavier University School of Medicine as our food service providers! Fabrizio, Luigi, Maribel, Silva, Stefany, and Sulema are all part of the Xavier community who help provide different food experiences for our students. They use a base of Mediterranean ingredients while also taking in the diverse backgrounds of our student body to make sure and give them all a slice of home.

The team takes great pride in their work, as preparing food for others is a very personal and important act, and they say that the best part of their day is receiving positive feedback from the Xavier students and staff while also seeing the happiness on students’ faces when they are eating.

In the Napolitan dialect,

“SCIUE SCIUE” MEANS “QUICK QUICK” and Fabrizio and his team are always looking to provide quick, high-quality meals to the Xavier community.

20 XUSOM_NEWS_2109A.indd 20

10/5/21 2:41 PM

Aruba & New York Staff 1. Yvette Aal Registrar

2. Barry Adunmo Director of Information Systems 1

2

3. Andrea Alvarez

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

Administrative Specialist

4. Bernadette Antoine Cleaning Staff, Academic Campus

5. Rosaura Arias Cleaning Staff, Residential Campus

6. Henry Beckford Student Finance 3

4

7. Omanpersaud Boodhu Maintenance Staff, Academic Campus

8. Emily Buchman Executive Assistant

9. Godwin Croes Maintenance Staff, Academic Campus

10. Julien Dijkhoff 5

6

Admissions Coordinator

11. Yant Fernandez Cleaning Staff, Residential Campus

12. Rajindreprekash George Maintenance Staff, Academic Campus

13. Vyrillo George Maintenance Staff, Residential Campus

14. Ifosia Joseph 7

8

Cleaning Staff, Academic Campus

15. Selimah Krozendijk Administrative Assistant

16. Jurina Lanoy-Maduro Clinical Coordinator

17. Jeane-Betsy Mackintosh Housing and Immigration Coordinator

18. Daniel Moses 9

10

Vice President, Finance

19. Michael Neely Director of Marketing & Admissions

20. Maria Eugenia Pizzaro Nai Cleaning Staff, Residential Campus

21. Gerry Quandt Cleaning Staff, Residential Campus

22. Yoyer Reyes 11

12

Student Finance

23. Stephany Ridderstap

24

Admissions Coordinator

24. Emilio Theolindo Schwengle Maintenance Staff, Residential Campus

25. Hilda Statia Student Finance 13 XUSOM_NEWS_2109A.indd 21

25

21 10/5/21 2:41 PM

Congratulations!

22

XUSOM_NEWS_2109A.indd 22

TIME TO PARTY

10/5/21 2:41 PM

23 XUSOM_NEWS_2109A.indd 23

10/5/21 2:41 PM

NEW CAMPUS UPDATE

s n o i t a l u t a Congr

!

S E T A U D A GR LET THE ADVENTURE BEGIN Parking

Housing Block

Pool

Dining Hall

Named a “Top 10 Caribbean Medical School” by jçåÉófåÅ.

XAVIER UNIVERSITY XAVIER UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF MEDICINE / ARUBA SCHOOL OF MEDICINE / ARUBA

XUSOM_NEWS_2109A.indd 24

North American Admissions Office 1000 Woodbury Road, Suite 109 Woodbury, New York 11797 USA T: 516-333-2224 F: 516-921-1070 E: Admissions@xusom.com

Aruba Campus Santa Helenastraat #23 Oranjestad, Aruba T: 297-588-7766 F: 297-588-6222

(516) 333-2224 333-2224 •• www.xusom.com (516) www.xusom.com •• admissions@xusom.com admissions@xusom.com Named a “Top 10 Caribbean Medical School” by MoneyInc. 10/5/21 2:41 PM