April 22, 2014 Volume 2, Issue 2
The PC Connection A newsletter created to promote and share the activities and experiences our students gain from opportunities provided to them by the Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine and the Panther Communities (PC).
Student Highlights: *Dr. Herbert and Nicole Wertheim Community Healthcare Conference * HWCOM Hosts Inaugural South Florida Residency Fair * Fit & Well Teaches Students How to Eat and Feel Healthy! * AMWA Makes a Difference at Lotus House * MedSWISH; Linking our Students to the Communities * Non-Profit and Global Health Interest Group Plans Second Trip to Peru * Alumni News
Panther Communities: • Anderson Community: Northwest Miami • Hippocrates Community: Miami Gardens • Pasteur Community: Opa-Locka • Semmelweis Community: Northeast Miami
Editor: Jessica Lewis Panther Community Coordinator
Student Highlights
Dr. Herbert and Nicole Wertheim Community Healthcare Conference On February 20, over 200 young community participants gathered at the Goodlet Park in Hialeah for the 4th Annual Dr. Herbert and Nicole Wertheim Community Healthcare Conference: “How to Become a Health Professional”. The conference offered many interactive experiences for elementary through college age students, emphasizing hands-on aspects of various health fields; 15 students from HWCOM were in attendance to volunteer and offer their support for the great cause. “I really enjoyed helping these students search for their passions in medicine,” said Adam Taggliero, Class of 2017. “The event was well organized, full of charismatic individuals, and left everyone feeling as though they were a part of something special. I’m looking forward to volunteering again next year and seeing where the students have taken their passions.” The conference was made possible through the support of Dr. Herbert and Nicole
Wertheim, City of Hialeah Department of Parks and Recreation, and Green Family Foundation. Along with the medical students, over 20 health organizations and groups also supported the day by presenting on their unique experience in the health industry. Among these organizations were: Nicole Wertheim College of Nursing & Health Sciences, Robert Stempel College of Public Health and Social Work, North Shore Medical Center, FIU NeighborhoodHELP Law Clinic, Baptist Health, American Medical Response (AMR), and City of Hialeah Fire Department. Preparation for next year’s Healthcare Conference has already begun, and is planned to take place in the Opa-Locka community.
Above: Class of 2017 students Terrence Daley-Lindo, Jean Vo, Chriselle Ebreo, and Melvin Thomas receiving group assignments for the youth participants
Above: Mariel Cataldi, Class of 2016, assisting Dr. Minor at her Health Professions booth Left: Christopher Brown, Class of 2017, stopped by Dr. Hammad’s booth with a group of students
At a glance: @FIUMedicine Instagram
“Medical students in the Nonprofit Global Health Interest Group and the American Medical Women’s Association (#AMWA) teamed up with #standupforlove #nonprofit to host their annual fashion show. 100% of the proceeds went to #LotusHouse helping woman in need.”
The PC Connection Page 2 of 6 HWCOM Hosts Inaugural South Florida Residency Fair The Inaugural South Florida from the residency fairs we’ve Residency Fair (SFRF), took had in the past,” said SFRF place on Saturday, February event coordinator, Carmen 1st. HWCOM was the first of Carter. “Not only were students three south Florida medical able to network with residency schools to host the one-day programs from around the gathering of residency southeast, but students had the programs and medical opportunity to network with students from around Florida, medical students from different leaving Florida Atlantic schools and learn more about University Charles E. Schmidt their programs.” College of Medicine and NOVA Over 120 students were in Southeastern University attendance, and 29 residency College of Osteopathic programs were there to Medicine to host the next two represent. South Florida Residency fairs. “The inaugural South Florida Residency fair was a great success, and very different
Mark Haimes, Class of 2016, speaking to future doctors at the UCF symposium
Right: Class of 2015 Jerry Cherisien and Class of 2016 Scott Macdougall talk to a Mount Sinai residency program
Fit & Well teaches students how to eat and feel healthy!
Above: Rowena Ramnath, PsyD, AADP
“Our Neuroscience Interest Group hosted an event where a few students were able to participate in the Medtronic Surgical Skills Lab that was put in for practicing surgeons. They got to perform laminectomies and various other spinal procedures using state of the art equipment on cadavers.”
Above: Dr. Dollinger and Betty Monfort welcome the programs
Dr. Rowena Ramnath, new Clinical Psychologist at the HWCOM Counseling and Wellness Center, seeks to help the medical students decipher the difference
between “healthy” and “craveable” food. Although physicians are on the front lines of the nation’s diabetes and obesity crises, a study from the Harvard Medical School and the Harvard School of Public Health suggest many students graduate from medical school with little knowledge of nutrition and cooking. Dr. Ramnath is developing a nutrition series that will tie into the established Fit & Well program, to teach our students not only how to choose better food options,
but where to find them and how to prepare them. She will also explain the digestive process; emulsification versus extraction; and nutritional benefits of key superfoods such as kale, goji berries, and hemp seeds. The goal is that our students will be able thrive in a healthy lifestyle, and to be able to pass along their knowledge of health, fitness, and wellness to their patients. The first Fit & Well nutrition class is scheduled for th May 13 .
Panther Communities – Students Team up with Faculty Faculty and students have been hitting the courts! Students and members of the HWCOM faculty have been meeting regularly at FIU’s recreation center basketball courts. Dr. Anderson saw a significant need to not only network with students outside of the clinic and classroom setting, but to also offer an opportunity for students to blow off steam in friendly games of hoops. Spring games will be announced in May. Students, faculty and staff are encouraged to join!
M3s Brandon Schwartz, Hanns Frimpong, Davek Sharma, Danielle Smith, Ryan Shay, and Dr. Anderson
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The PC Connection
AMWA makes a difference at Lotus House The HWCOM chapter of American Medical Women’s Association (AMWA) has been leading health workshops for underserved women at the Lotus House Shelter in Overtown since 2010. As a capstone project started by a class of 2013 alumnus, Dr. Generoso, projects and health initiatives ranged from nutrition to breast health. The FIU chapter of AMWA has since adopted Dr. Generoso’s capstone as one of its signature projects, and continues to have a positive impact on everyone involved.
taught the women how to read a ‘Nutrition Facts’ label, played a game of ‘Eat this not that,’ and a sample food diary,” Said current AMWA president Sara Kim, Class of 2017. “During this workshop, it came to light that one young woman in our group believed that the calories listed per serving size represented all the calories in a large package. By the end of the activity, she worked out the math to prove that the bag of chips in her hands had 1,700 calories rather than the 170 she had previously assumed.”
AMWA members plan and lead at least one work shop monthly that includes anywhere from six to twelve attendees from Lotus House. “The close-knit environment creates an open, compassionate, and trusting space where women are often bubbling over with questions about their health,” says AMWA Vice President, Rachel Volke, Class of 2017. “The women at Lotus House also seek advice heard from advertisements or friends, family, and misconceptions about medications and illness.”
AMWA is currently in the planning stages for next year, and determining goals based on needs and specific project areas Lotus House would like to see in the future.
When asked what their most memorable experience was this year, the medical students all agreed the workshop centered on nutrition was their favorite. “We
Representing our HWCOM Every year our students travel all over the country to learn, educate, network, and represent the Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine. This year, over 100 students traveled to over 12 cities, five states, and even Canada, on behalf of HWCOM. Check out our 2013-2014 conference highlights:
Aug. 1-3: AAFP National Conference, Kansas City, MO Aug. 17: ACOG District Conference, West Palm Beach, FL Oct. 4-6: American College of Surgeons Conference, DC th
Oct. 19-20:19 Annual Brain Injury Symposium, Miami, FL Oct. 25-27: AAP National Conference & Expo, Orlando, FL Nov. 1-2: Duke OBGYN Conference, Coconut Grove, FL Nov. 9-13: NAPCRG Annual Meeting, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada th
Nov. 19: 13 Emergency Radiology Symposium, Miami Beach, FL Dec. 6-7: Baptist Health Neuro Symposium, Coral Gables, FL Dec. 13-15: Family Medicine Winter Summit, Amelia Island, FL Feb. 8: SE Emergency Medicine Student Symposium, Miami, FL Feb 12-13: AMA, Medical Student Advocacy Day, DC Feb. 26-28: International Conference on Tropical Med., Miami, FL th
Feb. 27-Mar. 2: 59 Annual Pediatric Postgrad. Course, Miami, FL Mar. 6-9: AMSA National Conference, New Orleans, LA Mar.14-16: AMWA Annual Meeting Women in Medicine, DC Mar. 18: FMA Lobby Day, Tallahassee, FL Above: AMWA members Spencer Del Moral and Mariel Cataldi with Lotus House Volunteers
MedSWISH; Linking our Students to the Communities This year has been very successful for MedSWISH (Medical Students Working to Improve Society and Health), HWCOM’s student-run health initiative that is focused on primary healthcare and preventative medicine. The student-led group participated in over seven health fairs this year, and successfully achieved this year’s goal by holding mandatory trainings for HWCOM student’s prior to health fairs.
We also trained students how to measure blood pressure, BMI, and blood glucose levels. We saw great results as students felt more comfortable participating in health fairs and talking to patients.”
MedSWISH also has many goals and projects in development for the upcoming year. Recognizing a need for specific health education, the 2014-2015 executive board is “I think what we accomplished this year was a currently developing a sexual health education method to ensure a standard of quality of care program and sexual health fair. They would delivered by medical students when participating also like to develop the current health fair in health fairs,” said 2013-2014 MedSWISH initiative by improving workshops and Chair, Tamal Roy. “We trained students about participation. Presently, MedSWISH is planning patient counseling, including how to effectively a FIU-hosted health fair on the Modesto communicate with patients at health fairs and Maidique campus to help spread awareness educate the community about chronic diseases. about their initiatives to the FIU community.
Above: MedSWISH Faculty Adviser, Dr. Fredrick Anderson, and MedSWISH student volunteers at a Miami Gardens Health fair.
Highlights: Student Interest Groups Jan. 13 SIG and IMIG (Surgery Interest Group, Internal Medicine Interest Group) hosted “Renal Transplantation” with Dr. Najafian Jan. 17 MMLP (Medical Mentoring Leadership Program) sponsored “Having a Personal Mission Statement and Creating your Medical Brand” by Dr. Minor Jan 17 Fit and Well hosted Strength and Conditioning with Cesar Martinez Jan. 21 – MMPL hosted “Diversity in Medicine” Jan. 30 – AMSA (American Medical Student Association) hosted an End of Life Care Fellowship presentation Jan. 30 NSIG (Neuroscience Interest Group) hosted a suturing workshop Feb. 1 HWCOM hosted the first South Florida Residency Fair Feb. 4 PIG (Pediatrics Interest Group), FMIG (Family Medicine Interest Group), and Psych.IG hosted the National Tourette Syndrome Association Feb. 6 PaIG (Pathology Interest Group) hosted guest speaker Dr. Poppiti Feb. 11 AMWA (American Medical Women’s 6 Association) hosted a lunch and learn discussing cardio cases with Dr. Martinez Feb. 14 MSC Academic committee presented: Panther Jeopardy Spring Edition Feb. 14 AMA (American Medical Association) and BMIG (Business in Medicine) hosted Behind the White Coat with Dr. Valverde Feb. 26 LMSA (Latin Medical Student Association) hosted a Medical Spanish Workshop Feb. 26 SIG and NSIG presented: Use of Image Guidance in Neurosurgery with Dr. Gonzalez-Arias Mar. 19 AMA, SIG, LMSA hosted Behind the White Coat with Dr. Schild Mar. 19 Psych.IG hosted a movie night. “Vampires at FIU: A Psychodynamic Interpretation” Mar. 21 Match Day! HWCOM class of 2014 matched in 14 different specialties around the country
The PC Connection Page 4 of 6 Nonprofit and Global Health Group Plans Trip to Peru June 28th – July 11th, 16 medical students will be traveling to Trujillo, Peru with the Medical Electives Network, an organization that provides electives and health care internships in Peru for medicine, dentistry, nursing, physical therapy, physician assistant, and dietetics students and professionals. HWCOM Faculty member, Dr. Richard Lynn, will be accompanying the students as they rotate through different hospitals and clinics in Trujillo,
Left: HWCOM students in Trujillo, Peru, during last year’s mission trip.
providing each student an opportunity to scrub in for surgical operations. The students will gain exposure to numerous medical specialties including: Family Medicine, Pediatrics, Internal Medicine, Ob/Gyn, Trauma, General Surgery, Emergency,
Rheumatology, and Urology. There will also be ample opportunities for the students to engage in community medicine and provide health education at local schools, children centers, and orphanages.
Alumni News Left: Ashley Rousseau, Dr. von Harscher, Andria Garcia, Dr. Hann, Dr. Obeso, Dr. Esposito, Scarlett Aldana-Bosch, and Dr. Dollinger at the Miami Chamber of Commerce Feb. 12th HYPE Awards honoring nominee Dr. Michael Hann.
The Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine’s inaugural class graduated less than a year ago, but in that short time our alumni have been doing amazing things all over the country. Miami and the HWCOM are never far from their minds, and they have made return trips since graduating. Dr. Michael Hann is currently a resident in the psychiatry program at the Naval Medical Center in San Diego, California. Dr. Hann came back this past February when he was nominated for a HYPE award from the Miami Chamber of Commerce for Most Valuable Graduate. The HYPE awards recognize MiamiDade young professionals and their achievements.
Below: Dr. Daniel Castellanos and Dr. Christine Mathews at the Feb. 20th event at HWCOM
Above: Members of OSA Andria Garcia, Cristina Arabatzis and Maria Jose Araya with Dr. Patricio Lau
ranging from the best courses to take to how to finance a medical school education was discussed.
questions from the group.
Dr. Christine Matthews is currently a part-time faculty Dr. Patricio Lau is a general member at HWCOM, surgery resident at the Dr. Daniel Castellanos is teaching clinical skills. On Baylor College of Medicine in another alumnus who made February 12, the Family Houston, Texas. Patricio his way to the west coast, Medicine and Pediatrics came back to the HWCOM to currently a resident in the interest groups hosted Dr. attend and show support at pediatric program at the Matthews to talk about and th the 6 annual FIU PreChildren’s Hospital of Los answer questions regarding Medical Information Forum Angeles. The Nonprofit and the match process. Dr. th on February 24 . The forum Global health Interest Group Matthews is looking forward was designed to provide high and Pediatrics Interest Group to starting her residency in school students important hosted Dr. Castellanos on family medicine at St. th information on carving out February 20 . He spoke about Vincent’s Medical Center in the best path to get into his experiences in his first-year Jacksonville, Florida. medical school. Information in residency and fielded
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The PC Connection
Panther Community Highlights
ANDERSON – MIAMI NORTHWEST Panther Community Anderson welcomed a new community partner this year; Casa de Provisión and Mujeres con Propósito, sister organizations that assist orphanages and shelters by providing them with supplies and much needed medical attention. Medical students will be assisting these organizations with health screenings and education.
from the event with a new work of art they created to remind them of their new community.
Hialeah), to teach kids ages 3-5 about proper hand washing techniques and how to prevent the spread of germs. They During the winter holidays, also taught the children students in Anderson key principals to continued their tradition of preventing the spread of donated cash, and pooled germs and illness, as well their money to purchase as how germs grow and holiday gifts for households in how they can travel. The need. One lucky child students plan to return this received a new bicycle. “It felt spring to Centro Mater to so great to be able to help the continue teaching the Anderson also “officially” children in our children about health and welcomed their new Class of NeighborhoodHELP families nutrition. 2017 community members by during the holidays,” said hosting a paint night on Christina Gauthreaux, Class November 13th. The 2-hour of 2017. “We know a lot are paint night featured a local going through so much and it artist who instructed students was so amazing to bring some step-by-step how to create a joy to the families during the work of art from a blank holiday season.” canvas. It fostered creativity On March 14th, Andersons and networking among new visited one of their community and current Anderson partners, Centro Mater (a community members. Head Start Program in Students also walked away
Above: Members of PC Anderson at paint night
Right: Class of 2017 Andrew Quinn, Zachary Demko, Lubna Ali at Centro Mater
Left: Holiday gifts for children in Northwest Miami
HIPPOCRATES – MIAMI GARDENS This Christmas, Panther Community Hippocrates decided to raise money to give back to members of the community. Led by Arun Amble (Class of 2017), the students donated cash at the December PC meeting and purchased Walmart gift cards for two community members identified by community faculty for needing the most immediate help. Arun traveled to Miami Gardens to present these individuals with the gifts himself.
several glucometers to community members. “We also had the opportunity to speak to many other community organizations including Baptist Health and received some great ideas about improving our health fairs,” said Hippocrates Tamal Roy, Class of 2016. “One of our next goals is to develop a better method for keeping track of the exact number of individuals we are screening.”
One of Hippocrates’s signature On January 11, Panther community projects, Project Community Hippocrates started Pipeline, continues to be a the New Year out by volunteering successful opportunity for the with the Mobile Health Clinic at students to volunteer and the Fresh Start Health Fair in mentor youth in the community. Miami Gardens. The event was The program is geared towards held at the Antioch Mission increasing interest in math and Baptist Church of Miami Gardens science and preparing students and included a 5K Walk and Run, for higher education and and free health screenings. possible careers in these fields. Students screened over 100 CJ Kwan, Class of 2016, has individuals and handed out been leading the student groups
that attend Project Pipeline every month at the Fountain of New Life Church in Miami Gardens. He will be passing the torch to members of the Class of 2017 as he starts his rd 3 year rotations. “It’s been a great few years getting to know these kids, and I’m happy that other Hippos are just as excited as I was to take over this project,” said CJ. The first Project Pipeline was started by the inaugural class and continues to grow every year.
Above left: : Class of 2017 Chris Brown and Angel Chinea Vicente give young participants of Project Pipeline a fun lesson on plant science.
Left: Hippocrates Faculty Mentor, Dr. Anderson, and members of the Panther Community set up for the Fresh Start Health Fair at the Antioch Mission Baptist Church of Miami Gardens
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The PC Connection
PASTEUR – OPA-LOCKA On January 24th, Panther Community Pasteur participated in KaBOOM! Build Day. This event took place at Magnolia North Playground Opa-Locka where the students assisted in building a playground for the Opa-Locka Community. Elements of the playground were taken from children ages 2-13 when asked to draw their dream playground with crayons and paper. “Building this playground was very important for the Opa-Locka Community,” said Pasteur Mayor, Misty Coello, and Class of 2017. “Kids spend less time playing outside partly because they don’t live within walking distance of a park or playground. This could affect children physically, emotional and cognitively.” The new playground will provide more than 350 children in Opa-Locka with a safe place to play.
The students of Pasteur also volunteered to lend a hand at the 2nd Annual Short Iron Chef Competition th and Health Fair on February 8 at Nathan B. Young Elementary School. This event has brought awareness to childhood obesity and prevention. Medical students taught the children at the event not only about the importance of exercise, but how to incorporate eating healthy and learning which fruits and vegetables (how much) they should be eating a day. Most recently, PC Pasteur hosted an Easter egg during their April meeting for their members; a reward for their continued hard work and success in their community of Opa-Locka.
Above: Pasteur celebrates their success with an Easter egg hunt Left: Volunteers help build a playground in Opa-Locka with Kaboom!
Above: Members of Nathan B. Young Elementary School and Short Iron Chef participants at the February 8th competition and health fair
SEMMELWEIS – MIAMI NORTHEAST This year, PC Semmelweis welcomes two new community partners in Northeast/Little Haiti. Haitian Emmanuel Baptiste Church, which is mostly Creole speaking, will offer students the possibility of doing some basic BMI, Cholesterol, Blood Glucose and education. The second new partner, Children's Academy Preschool in the Northeast, will also provide students the opportunity to practice basic BMI, Cholesterol, and Blood Glucose. Health education here will be geared toward topics to educate parents on children safety and health. Both of these new community partners will teach the M1 and M2 students about the economic and cultural background of their future NeighborhoodHELP families in their assigned community.
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23 at the 7 Annual Emilio Lopez Health Fair. Thirteen medical students joined Boriquen Medical Centers, along with other vendors such as Mount Sinai and Jackson North, to assist in administering health screenings to the participants in the community. All individuals that completed two health screenings received a free Publix food voucher. On December 12, Semmelweis hosted alumna, Dr. Matthews, for an information session on third year rotations and navigating the match.
Most recently, the students of Semmelweis got together to plan a surprise baby shower for one of th their own. March 14 all students gathered in the Semmelweis lounge for their classmate and second-time mom, Class of 2017 Amy Averhoff-Laurenceau, who Panther Community will be having a baby girl this Semmelweis participated in their spring. Amy will be the first first community health fair of the medical student to have a baby academic year on November girl at HWCOM.
Above: M2 Jason Alvarez, Varsha Ramnarine, Nibras Chowdhury, and Monica Patel at the Emilio Lopez Health Fair
Above: M1 Amy AverhoffLaurenceau opening gifts at her baby shower
Below: PC Semmelweis hosted fellow classmate’s surprise baby shower