Commencement 2012
Sohini Sokar, DO – From Teacher to Physician, Pharmacist becomes a DO Sohini Sarkar, DO, came to Erie as a LECOM pharmacy faculty member who decided to pursue medicine. Dr. Sarkar calls South Brunswick, New Jersey home. She was accepted to the Doctor of Pharmacy program at Rutgers, Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy in Piscataway New Jersey, from where she was graduated with honors, receiving her PharmD degree in May of 2006. “The love and support from my mom, sister, and grandmother has carried me through all of my academic challenges,” remarked Dr. Sarkar. Completing her residency in Medical Literature Evaluation/Drug Information at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital/Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy, her passion for teaching and patient care led her to pursue teaching as a career. However, as a young woman searching for a position as an assistant professor, she found a challenging market. “Interviewing at LECOM, I was offered a position as a professor and clinical pharmacist utilizing all of the skills that I had acquired through college and residency,” continued Dr. Sarkar. She emphasized her gratitude for the position calling it “the perfect blend of didactic and clinical skills”. She deeply valued her first two years at LECOM as a full-time professor and clinical pharmacist. “I truly have passion for academia and medicine,” affirmed Dr. Sarkar. While at Millcreek Community Hospital, she was afforded the opportunity to work with cardiologist Kevin J. Mikielski, DO, who inspired her to pursue her dream of becoming a physician. “I was grateful for my acceptance to LECOM and I continued much of my teaching and pharmacy organization responsibilities. I felt that I could offer much to the medical community by combining my PharmD with my DO training,” she said. The dual degrees provided Dr. Sarkar with a greater understanding of pharmacy merged with a comprehension of disease and diagnostics. Dr. Sarkar noted that the osteopathic training was instrumental to her dream of being a well-rounded physician. The additional hands-on training that only LECOM could offer is invaluable to Dr. Sarkar. “I do not have the words to express how appreciative I am for the opportunity to attend Medical School at LECOM,” emphasized Dr. Sarkar. She concluded, “Without the support and kindness of each of my colleagues in pharmacy, the faculty, staff, and physician mentors, I could not have fulfilled my dream of becoming a physician”.
10 lecom connection / july 2012
Marissa Elaine McNeal, DO – Student Government Leader Takes Her Community Service Experience into Practice Marisa Elaine McNeal, DO, received the College of Medicine Dean’s Award. The prize is awarded to the member of the graduating class who, in the judgment of the Academic Dean of the College of Medicine, exemplifies the unique combination of character, moral, academic, and ethical behavior expected in an osteopathic medical student. Born and raised in Towanda, Pa., she attended Gettysburg College, receiving her undergraduate degree in Health Sciences. While at LECOM, Dr. McNeal served as SGA President. She notes that her leadership position provided to her many opportunities for campus and community involvement Dr. McNeal credits LECOM with nurturing within her the precious value of giving back to the community through volunteer work, which she continued while on rotations during her last two years of medical school. This summer, Dr. McNeal will begin an Internal Medicine residency at Wilson Hospital in Johnson City, N.Y.
Jamie Melichar, DO – Hospital Volunteer Finds Path To Career at LECOM Bradenton The path to the medical profession is most challenging and many find their way to it in remarkable and motivating ways. Jamie Melichar, DO’s experiences as a teenage hospital volunteer led her onto the path to become an osteopathic physician. As a 17-year-old junior in high school, Dr. Melichar found a head start in her medical training when she volunteered as a patient care technician and phlebotomist at Morton Plant Mease North Bay Hospital in New Port Richey, Florida. “My experiences through the years have allowed me to appreciate the complexity of balancing medicine with compassionate care,” said Dr. Melichar, a 2007 graduate of the University of South Florida.