NYITCOM Anatomy Department's Spring 2024 Donor Memorial Ceremony

Donor Memorial Ceremony

Spring 2024

DONOR MEMORIAL CEREMONY PROGRAM

Monday, April 8, 2024 in Mollie Auditorium

Experience the profound impact of their gift as we honor their contribution to medical education and research.

11:00 a.m. Welcome Address by Meredith Taylor & Konstantinos Mountrakis

11:05 a.m. Address by Dr. Nicole Wadsworth

11:10 a.m. Letter Reading by Nicole Basilan

11:15 a.m. Performance by the Note-O-Chords

11:20 a.m. Poetry Reading by Michelle Raja and Layla Elkoulily

11:25 a.m. Letter Reading by Brian Begelman

11:30 a.m. Performance by the Syosset High School Quartet

11:35 a.m. Letter Reading by Sarah Gerard

11:40 a.m. Address by the School of Health Professions

11:45 a.m. Closing Words by Dr. Brian Beatty

11:50 a.m. Performance by the Note-O-Chords

12:00 p.m. Refreshments in the Lobby

Student Physicians from the Class of 2027

Layla Elkoulily

Nicole Basilan

Jasmeet Singh

Kelsey Baxter

Hana Amer

Benjamin Galinson

Ryan Shillingsford

Sarah Gerard

Athena Baronos

Xue Zhou

Jake Borenkoff

Aakash Soni

Hema Rampersaud

Leyla Nasr

Natalie Pettirossi

Kenan Azizi

Aaron George

Kelsey Liu

Murriam Hamid

Pranav Krish

Catherine Chin

Michelle Raja

Deep Patel

Brandon Rein

Alessandro Mercado

Nathaniel Roth

Allison Arnold

Brian Beatty

Edwin Dickinson

Jonathan Geisler

Dan Gibbons

Michael Granatosky

Gabby Neves Guilhon

Talia Lowi-Merri

Simone Hoffmann

Kelsi Hurdle

Nevers, Ian

Noah Hoonhout

Ashley Choi

Neil Shah

Brian Begelman

Abigail Wolf

Giavana Prucha

Kevin Hom

Ononnah Ahmed

Katherine Gilpin

Nikhil Bhutani

Matthew Mihlbachler

Julia Molnar

Konstantinos Mountrakis

Vanessa Reddin

Nikos Solounias

Meredith Taylor

Nathan Thompson

Cassandra Turcotte

Akinobou Watanabe

Chris Wall

What Your Gifts Mean

Hi all, my name is Sarah.

I want to share something with you all in hopes that it will show just how meaningful this experience has been for me, but also that it will provide some comfort to those that have lost their loved ones.

I lost my father to Alzheimer’s and Dementia. Watching a disease take away the person that raised me, spoon-feeding the person that spoon fed me, and tucking into bed with a kiss on the forehead the person who once did that to me was the second hardest thing I’ve had to do.

Figuring out how to do life without him, realizing that he was gone, that was the hardest thing I’ve had to do. I can’t say I’ve completely figured it out, but I have learned a lot.

I want to share a few of those things:

1. Time heals is a lie – kind of. It doesn’t ever get easier; it hurts just as much. But, as time passes, you feel that hurt less often. And I wouldn’t change that for the world. It hurts so much because he was loved so much.

2. The best advice I was ever given was to keep talking about him, share the moments that made me laugh and smile the most.

3. Legacy is not about money or material things – it’s about sharing the feeling that your loved one gave you with others.

4. I originally thought that there was a finite amount of new memories that could be made after a loved one has passed (new pictures, things they had written that you’ve never seen, etc), but I’ve realized that those we’ve lost live on when we share about them with others. Those are new memories.

The choice of these donors to give medical students such an impactful opportunity to learn is something I will never take for granted. But I also want to make sure it’s known that each of these donors has a legacy that we will carry through our careers and impact how we care for each of our future parents.

I want to thank our donors, from the bottom of my heart, for the experience they have allowed us to have. And to those that were left behind: your loved one is continuing to have a significant and positive impact on the world. I hope that can provide some comfort and a reason to smile, when sometimes I know how hard it can be to come by that after what you have been through. Your loved ones continue to be loved, and so, in many ways continue to be.

I want to leave you with a quote from the Velveteen Rabbit that my dad used in his retirement speech which will stay with me forever: "'Real isn’t how you are made,’ said the Skin Horse. ‘It’s a thing that happens to you. When a child loves you for a long time, not just to play with, but REALLY loves you, then you become Real… Once you are real you can’t become unreal again. It lasts for always.'"

Thank you.

Donor Remembrance Speech

Sarah Gerard

In halls where knowledge's candles softly glow, A selfless choice, a gift to bestow.

To science, bodies given without reserve, A legacy of learning, from which we all observe.

For in the classroom's hallowed space, Lies the essence of this final embrace. A quiet symphony of the selfless few, Whose bodies dance in science's view.

Not for glory, not for fame, But for the greater good, a noble aim. In quiet cadence, a heartbeat's last, An offering of self, from present to past.

No marble marker, no grandiose stone, Yet, in the annals of discovery, it is known. The cadence of generosity beats anew, In every student's eager, seeking view.

To heal, to teach, to understand, A donation made by an outstretched hand. In labs and classrooms, a sacred art, A testament to the human heart.

Through dissection's art and probing gaze, The donor's legacy, in learning lays.

From life's last breath to the scholar's eye, A selfless act that will never die.

To science, we give our mortal frame, A gift unspoken, yet not in vain.

For in the tapestry of knowledge spun, The selfless donor's song is sung.

In textbooks written, in lessons learned, The donor's sacrifice, forever earned.

To the future minds, forever entwined, In the selfless act, their spirit's bind.

A Donor’s Gift

Kelsey Baxter

Jasmeet Singh

Dear David,

We would like to express our deepest gratitude for contributing the most sacred gift you could ever leave as you find your place among the stars. Although we didn’t have the opportunity to know each other very well, we hope you lived a good and rewarding life.

The knowledge and experience we gained from spending just a few short months with you were invaluable to our development as future physicians. You played a crucial role in setting the foundation for our understanding of anatomy, physiology, pathology, and much more which we will continually build upon to ultimately improve the health and lives of our future patients.

May your memories and ideas continue to inspire the lives of those you touched. Thank you so much – you will be remembered by all of us.

Sincerely,

Ononnah Ahmed

Sahar Alsaidi

Nicole Basilan

Kevin Hom

Christopher Lau

Uditi Nichani

To the family of Margaret,

We hope this letter finds you well. As medical students at the NYIT College of Medicine, we express our deepest gratitude to you and your family for your invaluable contribution to our medical education through the donation of your loved one’s body to our anatomy lab.

Your family’s generosity has provided us with a crucial learning experience that will enable us to provide better care to future patients. In recognition of the decision to donate a loved one’s body, we would like you to know that we appreciate and respect you and Margaret for making this choice.

As we continue our medical education on our paths to become healthcare providers, we will carry with us the lessons learned from the remarkable individuals who have graciously donated their bodies to further medical knowledge. Your family's kindness and generosity will forever be remembered and appreciated by all of us who have had the privilege of learning from your loved one.

We want to again extend our sincere appreciation to your family.

Respectfully,

Natalie, Kenan, Aaron, Kelsey, Grace, Aliyah, Yuhe

Letter of Gratitude 2

13

Dear Cynthia’s Family,

Eighteen weeks ago, ten new medical students walked into our anatomy lab for the first time. It was the second class of our very long road to become the next generation of physicians. Most of our group had not even met each other yet and we were standing in front of our full body donor that we would work with for the next five months.

We knew nothing about her but from the beginning she was a member of our group, treated as though she was right there with us as we learned from her incredible decision to donate her body to our education. The opportunity she provided us is something that cannot be substituted in any other way.

We all truly feel that the learning of human anatomy would not have been the same without her. During the last week of the semester, we finally learned her first name and how she died. We were all deeply saddened at her unexpected and unfortunate cause of death. From our entire group we offer our condolences to you on the loss of your loved one.

We hope that through this letter and our other donor remembrance communications that it can give you at least one positive to look back on in this disheartening and tough time for your family…Cynthia and her decision to donate herself has had a profound impact on so many lives and she will be remembered by us all forever.

Below I will include little personal messages from each member of our group.

Sincerely,

Ben Galinson, OMS-1

Letter of Gratitude 3

Thank you for your invaluable contribution in furthering my medical education! There are no words to adequately express how grateful I am for your support in developing my knowledge of anatomy. Please know that your priceless contribution will assist in benefiting the lives of countless future patients!

Thank you again!

- Hema Rampersaud,

OMS-1

Even though we don't know each other, I wanted to thank you all for this immense act of kindness. You have not only honored the memory of your loved one but have also provided an invaluable contribution to the advancement of medical science and education. Your selflessness has influenced aspiring physicians like myself, and I am truly grateful for this opportunity to have learned through this experience. Please understand that Cynthia's legacy lives on through the knowledge gained and the lives inspired.

Thank you again!

– George Serobian, OMS-1

I am so sorry for your loss and the way that it happened. I know that this is little consolation, but I want to thank Cynthia for her donation to science. It truly did help me, and my fellow classmates learn about the human body in great detail and I’m sure that the knowledge Cynthia bestowed on us will follow us for the rest of our careers and will contribute to saving many lives. I'm sorry for your loss and I wish the best for your family and all those who loved her.

– Aakash Soni, OMS-1

Hello All,

Our anatomy lab group would like to take this opportunity to thank our donor, Paul, as well as his family, friends, and loved ones for his extremely generous donation and sacrifice.

The greatest gift anyone can give is the gift of self, to sacrifice our own interests for the betterment of another. Paul gave that generous gift by donating his body. He gave the one thing he owned from the moment he came into this world to the moment he left it for the benefit of our education and our future patients. We take this time now to acknowledge the immensity of this gift, and to thank Paul for being one of our first teachers.

From this experience, we collectively gained a better understanding of human anatomy and hope to translate our new-found knowledge as future physicians when caring for patients. Paul played a major role in enhancing our knowledge early-on in our medical school journey, and for that we are very thankful for his contribution.

Sincerely,

Brian Begelman

Neil Shah

Austin Lai

Lauren-Nina Peralta

Ariel Shalonov

Isabella Church

Dear Family/Loved Ones of Dennis,

At some point in Dennis’s life, he made the selfless decision to donate his body to science: this letter of gratitude is written from the privileged group of students who were on the receiving end of his donation.

You should know that because of Dennis, there are 9 future doctors from NYITCOM who were able to learn essential and foundational knowledge that will backbone our entire careers; for this, we are grateful beyond words.

The ability to help our future patients one day can forever and always be traced back to this essential first semester of medical school, and more importantly, back to Dennis.

So truly, on behalf of not just us 9 students, but also our countless patients in the future, thank you Dennis.

Sincerely,

Grateful Students

Letter of Gratitude 5

Our interactions every week, were different from the norm

We met in anatomy lab, in some shape or form

You donated your body, I donated my mind, And our time (in dissection), was one of a kind,

I was stunned at first, I couldn’t believe my eyes, I felt like an impostor, like I wore a disguise, But you gave me a chance, to learn a whole lot, An invaluable opportunity, that others could not,

From back to lungs, heart and face, I learned that everything, had its place, From brachial plexus (good times) to cribriform plate, There was so much to learn, so I was never late,

I can’t thank you enough, for your demonstration,

The greatest act of kindness, of selfless donation, You made our lab, our first of medical school, And although you have passed, we’ll always remember you.

Memory

Alessandro Mercado (Group B, Green Diamond)

For fresh eyes embarking on a new journey in medicine

Ernest was the storyboard that allowed us to fulfill this vision

As we learned each body system, its functionality we envisioned

This knowledge we have accrued is due to his donation

All your arteries and veins guided us back to your heart

Each muscle of your foot tells a story of the paths that you’ve walked

Dear Ernest our journey may have come to an end

But we’ve learned all your layers like you were our friend

Each week our knowledge grew with a new muscle, artery or vein

An experience of a lifetime, one that will forever remain

Around this gift that you’ve given us, stood five students building the foundation for something new

Not expecting that our most valuable teacher was going to be you

Ernest, as we close this chapter, this anatomy one

Your legacy lives on in the doctors and healers that we will become

With your guidance, every patient will be touched with care

Your silent teachings will echo, a reminder always there

In the laboratory, where the scent of formaldehyde will fade

Your memory will linger, while our gratitude will never degrade

Ernest, our cadaver, our silent teacher, a guide so profound

In honor, we say thank you, for the lessons that abound

Ernest’s Poem

Pranav Krish, Deep Patel, Catherine Chin, Michelle Raja

In the anatomy lab, where science meets grace, We delve into the secrets of the human race.

For in this sacred space, where science unfolds, We honor the stories that the body holds.

Gloved hands move with purpose, a delicate ballet, A silent tribute to the one who paved the way. A tapestry of veins, a heart that once beat, We dissect, talk, and learn; the lessons you teach on repeat.

Gathered round, we learn to map your body, So thank you for teaching us the type of doctor we should embody.

Anatomy

David –

I learned your name yesterday, after months of knowing you. After months of wondering about the kind of life that you lived. Sometimes there is a disconnect between a donor and a student, but somehow hearing your name made it all the more real. “It,” this life, this existence, the fragility of human life and the sheer majesty of it. How little I know, and how much you were willing to share. Your gift, it goes beyond education, because I am left wondering about the life of a man who I have seen all of and yet will never know me, will never know the impact that he has left behind on a mere student trying to contribute to the world that breathed life into her.

Did you know?

Did you know that with your gift, it would transcend the boundaries of anatomy? That someone would wonder while learning, what have these arms carried? Where have these legs gone? Did these eyes get to see the vastness of the universe that we have been placed in? Did your ears experience the crescendos and diminuendos of the world, basking in its symphony?

Did your heart beat at the sight of your loved ones? What did that feel like? I am in awe of a life lived to conclude with granting the gift of one’s body so that someone that you have never met might be able to learn something, and give back to a world worth learning for.

And while we have never met, not really, I feel as though the memory of the gift that you have given is enough to transcend the rest of my lifetime, as I grow in this world in the hopes of finding the majesties that you must have experienced to make such a generous decision.

Thank you for your donation David, and if Heaven is a place that you believe in, I hope you’ll save me a seat.

Sincerely,

Nicole OMS-I Letter of Gratitude 6

Letter

In the quiet realm of cold and clay, Rests a soul who chose a unique way. A spirit, once vibrant and alive, Now a muse, helping us to thrive.

In the canvas of her past, Lies a story, beautifully vast. With tattoos that adorned her skin, Each inked tale, a life within.

Bright colors on her nails so fair, A testament to the joy she used to wear. In her 60s, she found her peace, A choice that brought life's grand release.

She gifted herself for us to explore, A silent guide, a mentor forevermore. A life that faced an unexpected end, Yet, her legacy as a teacher will transcend.

Oh, noble soul, whose essence we trace, Your presence lingers in this sacred space. Though your departure was a solemn note, Your wisdom ensures growth will promote.

Through the intricacies of the human command, We learn, we grow, embracing the sacrifice at hand. With gratitude, we say, "Thank you, dear friend, For being our inspiration till the very end."

In the symphony of knowledge, you'll reside, A beacon of learning, forever our guide.

Xue Zhou

Donor Remembrance

Dear NYITCOM Family,

Some of you may remember me as your professor in anatomy and embryology at NYITCOM (formerly NYCOM). Over the last 43 years, I have had the privilege of teaching approximately 12,000 medical students. I am still teaching here, in the same lab that I am sure many of you recall well.

Cadaver-based anatomy is a crucial element in the education of all medical students, particularly in their first year. The donor body is an indispensable tool for that endeavor, as without it, it would be impossible to appreciate the complexity of the human body. Unfortunately, few people ever consider whole-body donation, or even know it exists. At NYITCOM we treat donors with the utmost respect, and after they have contributed to medical education in the anatomy lab, their remains are cremated and returned to their families.

I am reaching out to you to ask for your help in increasing our roster of individuals who have willed their body for medical education. This could involve you deciding to become a donor or in spreading the word to those in your family, social, and professional circles. I am also donating my body in the future, which is one way I can continue my passion of teaching anatomy after I am gone. The body is a small part of what we are after death. It is our work, actions, and family that remain. Should you decide to help, we’ve enclosed an application and further information about the donation process. If you are outside of the New York City area, please consider whole-body donations to medical schools in your area. Together we can provide the best possible training for future doctors, and create a legacy that promises health and healing for generations to come.

Join us in celebrating the lives and generosity of the whole-body donors that we had the honor of working with this past school year, and experience our institution’s culture of gratitude and community.

Sincerely,

Nikos Solounias

Scan QR code to become a whole-body donor

The Anatomy Department on the Old Westbury Campus

CONGRATULATES THE CLASS OF 2027!

Allison Arnold Administrative Specialist

Brian Beatty Associate Professor

Edwin Dickinson Postdoctoral Fellow

Jonathan Geisler Associate Professor & Chair

Dan Gibbons Research Technician

Michael Granatosky Assistant Professor

Gabby Neves Guilhon Postdoctoral Teaching & Research Fellow

Talia Lowi-Merri Postdoctoral Fellow

Simone Hoffmann Associate Professor

Konstantinos Mountrakis Lab Curator

Vanessa Reddin Associate Professor

Nikos Solounias Professor

Meredith Taylor Research Technician

Nathan Thompson Associate Professor

Cassandra Turcotte Postdoctoral Fellow

Akinobou Watanabe Assistant Professor

Chris Wall Professor

Kelsi Hurdle Research Technician

Matthew Mihlbachler Associate Professor

Julia Molnar Assistant Professor

Thank You