05 NEW FACULTY SPOLIGHT
06 MAY 2018 NEW STUDENTS
11 MEET THE NEW
STUDENT EDITOR
The
M AY
Vo lu m e 8, I ss u e No. 5
2018
XAVIER TIMES
A Medical School Experience on an Island unlike any other in the region!
Xavier’s New Students Receive their Coveted White Coats To become a doctor is the greatest of all honors. At XUSOM, the students are all dedicated and motivated individuals who want to reach their maximum potential. We are striving to gain the knowledge that will not only help us during our time at medical school, but also in preparation for the USMLE Step 1 and future patients. After years of hard work and finally joining the MD1 class of summer 2018, I already feel one step closer to my goal of becoming a physician. The fact that we have such a respectful ceremony in which we receive an actual white coat and are appreciated by the faculty, friends
and family gives hope, and allows students to continue striving for the common goal we are all here to achieve. To make this experience even more memorable, my family came to the island and showed me how much I appreciate not only the school, but the island as well. Donning the white coat for the very first time brought my parents so much joy, and I know they will continue supporting me and being proud of my accomplishments. My friends were also there to celebrate with me, which motivated me even more to succeed in medical school. This was a once in a lifetime feeling that is definitely worth having for students.
President Ravishankar Bhooplapur addresses the audience at the White Coat Ceremony
By: Faisal Alabdally, MD1
XAVIER UNIVERSITY OFFICIAL NEWS PUBLICATION
White Coat Ceremony (continued) IN THIS ISSUE MAY 2018 WHITE COAT CEREMONY
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NEW STUDENT ORIENTATION
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ALUMNI GLOBAL MEET
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NEW FACULTY SPOTLIGHTS
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MAY 2018 INCOMING CLASS
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NEW STUDENT SPOTLIGHTS
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FACULTY BLOG POST
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STUDENT AMBASSADOR PROGRAM
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MEET THE NEW STUDENT EDITOR
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Chairman of the Board Mr. Edwin Casey addresses the audiience at the White Coat Ceremony
Students take the Hippocratic Oath
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Students at the White Coat Ceremony
Below, students receive scholarships for academic achievements
White Coat Ceremony (continued)
Students at the White Coat Ceremony
Students take the Hippocratic Oath
Below, students, faculty, and Board of Trustees members at the White Coat ceremony
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May 2018 New Student Orientation I think it’s fair to say that we have all been looking forward to the first day of orientation at medical school. The very roots of the rest of our medical school careers begin during this event. Based upon my experience, I found orientation to be a great introduction in what to expect out of medicine itself. The teachers and staff have done a fantastic job explaining what is expected by students. The events organized throughout orientation have allowed me to meet my classmates, as we were expected to work together in groups for various activities. This encouraged the students to interact and learn to work with each other in groups. These skills are important in medical school, as working together in teams teaches us to cooperate and interact with our fellow colleagues in the future. By: Sathvik Samudrala, MD 1 From Left ot Right: Dr. Dubey, Chief Acadeic Officer, Sathvik Samudrala, MD1 Student, Mr. Ravishankar Bhooplapur, President
Be sure to register for Xavier’s Second Annual Alumni Global Meet! Why should I attend the Alumni Global Meet? • Network with other former students, Clinical Chairs, and faculty members • Hear special guest presentation from residency directors on a variety of medical topics • Spend time on the Happy Island How do I register? Visit our website: xusom.com/alumni-global-meet-2018
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New Faculty Spotlight: Dr. Vishal Saxena Dr. Vishal Saxena completed his M.D. from the Armed Forces Medical College, University of Pune, located in India. He has been teaching for almost two decades and has served as the Assistant Dean of Academics and Student Affairs, as well as Chair & Course Director of Department of Pathology at American University of Barbados. He was also a professor in the Department of Pathology at the Medical University of the Americas, St. Kitts & Nevis. Dr. Saxena mentions that XUSOM was an ideal institution to join, as Aruba is a thriving country and one of the best schools he has been to. With such experience, it was interesting to discover what Dr. Saxena enjoyed most about medicine. He mentioned that getting to the right conclusive diagnosis is the biggest challenge in medicine, and pathology teaches that. If the diagnosis is correct, the treatment will be correct; and when the treatment is correct, the patient
is cured. Out of all of the places Dr. Saxena has traveled to, which range from the USA to Africa, he likes Bhutan and Switzerland the most. While Dr. Saxena has mastered the words of pathology in his career, as a hobby, he has mastered singing the songs of Bollywood cinema. His favorite Bollywood film is “Sholay.” Words of wisdom he wishes to be passed on to the students of basic sciences at XUSOM are to stay focused- with smart, persistent efforts. Regarding the importance of doctors being empathetic towards their patients, Dr. Saxena whole heartedly agreed. He says that without empathy and compassion, one may be the best doctor, but nobody will flock to you. One must be a good human being before they can become a good doctor, as people come to you as a human first, and discover what you can do for them afterwards. In addition, one must dress neatly, look well, and embody the aura of a professional doctor. These qualities make patients feel they are in safe hands. His favorite proverb is “There is no shortcut to success.”
New Faculty Spotlight: Dr. Tulika Mishra Dr. Tulika Mishra completed her Bachelor’s degree from Punjab University, located in Chandigarh, and her Masters and PhD from Punjab University, Patiala. After that, she did research work at Postgraduate Institute of Medical Research, and taught at Chandigarh University. When asked about the reason Dr. Mishra joined the teaching staff at Xavier University School of Medicine, she mentioned she admired the mission of the institution, along with its vision. As we all know, the mission and vision of Xavier University includes preparing physicians to practice compassionate primary care medicine of the highest standard, and to become excellent clinicians who advocate for public health wherever they practice. This coincides with Dr. Mishra’s personal love for the field of medicine, as she says that everyday, doctors are coming across new organisms and diseases, and the most rewarding part is that we can provide treatment to them. Dr. Mishra has only been to one country other than India: the happy island of Aruba! She enjoys it here
just as much as her home in India. Dr. Mishra enjoys reading books in her spare time, which include scientific literature as well as spiritual books. Her advice to the XUSOM students in basic sciences is “you are lucky enough to be at a school where there is so much emphasis on studies, please make maximum use of it”. She also revealed her own personal mantra which was “do what you enjoy.” In regards to empathy in a doctorpatient relationship, Dr. Mishra explained that the balance between sympathy and empathy is important, as both are required to understand the mental status of the patient, as well as the disease. Her definition of the ideal doctor is one who encompasses the 3D’s: Discipline, dedication and devotion.
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Xavier University School of Medicine Incoming Class May 2018
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Adrien Broussard
Amanpreet Mahal
Ayman Karaman
Basil Ahmad
Carlos Marbot
Chioma Okwuugochukwu
Garrett Bourgeois
Gurinder Sarai
Hiba Din
Jacqueline Falcone
Joanna Saggurthi
John Bermeo
Kagi Laki
Khaled Badr
Larab Naqvi
Marvens Mathieu
Matthew Wiberg
Micah Luke
Monali Patel
Monika Boparai
Moshe Jacobs
Nicole Maul
Nirav Patel
Rasha Hamid
Sharon LoHing
Shereen Sadlek
Sohifa Begum
Tony Nguyen
Yen Quach
Zoheb Syed
Graduation 2018 is fast-approaching! When?
Where?
Saturday, June 16th, 2018, 5:00 PM
D’Angelo Center at St. John’s University 8000 Utopia Parkway Jamaica, NY 11439
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New Student Spotlight: Adrien Broussard, MD1 I’m from the US and have lived mostly in the Midwest and Southern parts. My wife says the cultures have given me an interesting blend of practicability and charm. I tend to be extroverted,, and love meeting new people! When not studying, I can be found indulging in all things geekyboard games, collecting miniatures, video games, and even Dungeons & Dragons. I did my undergraduate work through Columbia College in Missouri, a non-profit school that focuses on nursing, pre-med, and classical education. Originally, I was a nursing major, but after discovering a knack for organic chemistry one of my mentors pushed me on to medical school. Picking a single favorite subject is very hard since I love learning new things, but if push came to shove… physiology or biochemistry. Both subjects are very concept and process driven, rewarding critical thinking over rote memory. The right mindset turns them into something like giant puzzle games. It’s terribly satisfying in the nerdiest of ways.
There’s always been this thread in my life that seemed to lead to medicine. I grew up in an allied health family and was exposed to industry very early. Throughout my youth I found myself in roles that required compassion and communication. I suppose it’s no surprise that when I joined the US Army it was as a medic- I wanted to bring those same traits to people in the worst situations in the world. After ten years of service I moved on to a role in business. My loving wife pushed me back to school, and more importantly, back to medicine. I’d like to take my future licensure to support my two favorite Hippocratic principles: Beneficence via working with MS, and Justice by supporting social causes from a physician’s professional standing. Clint Barton (better known as The Avengers’ “Hawkeye”) is my role model. This guy has a great story; he lives in a world filled with superheroes, aliens, and monsters from other dimensions that must be battled for the good of humanity- but TWIST- he’s a normal dude. Clint has no cool powers, just his own skills that he’s honed through years of practice. The courage required to face down overwhelming odds with nothing
but the wit of an “everyman” is something I can really get behind. Despite his many wild adventures (Avenger is a pretty demanding profession), Clint still makes time for raising his children and being a partner to his wife. I feel like there’s a lesson in there somewhere… Three fun facts about myself are: 1) I used to paint toy soldiers professionally. 2) My nose was broken in a sword fight sometime in my 20s. 3) I charmed my way into a private rooftop party for tech industry executives in Las Vegas as an “informal challenge” for a promotion at work.
Loan Programs Available Financial Aid for U.S. Students: Ed Med Loan Program
Financial Aid for Canadian Students: Government Loans
• Loans up to $60,000 per year • Can borrow up to the full cost of attendance • Can defer payments for up to 48 months of residency
• • • •
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Student Aid Alberta OSAP Student Aid BC Other provinces available
New Student Spotlight: Alisson Dirksz, PM1 I was born in Colombia but raised in Aruba. Most of my education I have done here in Aruba, but I did my senior year of high school in Colombia. I also did a year of University there at a medical school. My favorite subject in school was Greek Mythology. I found it to be so interesting and different, yet I chose to pursue a career in medicine because, to me, there is no greater feeling than helping others, especially helping them heal. I am fascinated by the way the human body works and heals itself. My goal is to work with Doctors Without Borders, and just be happy and proud of everything I’ve accomplished in my life. My mom is without a doubt my role model and biggest cheerleader. I don’t think words will do her justice- she is just the strongest, most amazing person I know. I want to make her proud and hope my accomplishments in medical school will do that. Three Fun Facts about me are: 1) I once swam with sharks outside of the shark cage! 2) I hope one day to own a farm and have lots of animals. 3) I once got three free new pairs of shoes after telling a children’s boutique owner that her Spanish was bad and she needed to improve… I was 3, sassy, and completely mortified my mother and grandma.
New Student Spotlight: Atheer Aljanabi, PM1 Atheer is originally from Iraq but has lived in the US for a number of years now. He is very interested in science and in health. Recently, he finished high school in the US and excelled in science subjects like biology, chemistry, and physics. He took anatomy and physiology as well, which he found to be very interesting because it makes one more aware of what is around them. Atheer chose medicine because it is a mystery to him, and wants to answer the question “how are we made and what are we made of?” Most of his influences come from his family, as his uncle is a doctor and his sister as well. Now he is studying medicine with his older brother (Natheer, an MD2). He counts his uncle, sister and brother among his role models and credits them with his interest in medicine. They set a goal for themselves and achieved it, and used it to benefit people. He hopes to use his energy and determination to accomplish his goals in medical school. Three fun facts about him are: 1. He went hiking in the mountains in South Carolina 2. He likes to workout 3. A few days ago he climbed a rock formation in the beach here in Aruba
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The Primacy of Non-Maleficence in Medical Ethics With some oversimplification, it could be argued that Medical Ethics is about balancing four main principles, long recognized as central in medical practice throughout the ages: autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence, and justice. It is commonly agreed that, ever since the beginnings of ethical reflection, nonmaleficence has been the most important of these principles, and should be given priority when in conflict with others. Although Hippocrates did not explicitly mention the phrase “First Do No Harm” in his Oath (the original oath actually states “abstain from doing harm”), it is enshrined in the common medical understanding of ethics. And, indeed, its principle prevails above others. Take, for example, the case of a person suffering from minor pain who asks her doctor for a massive administration of morphine. When considering the principle of autonomy, it would seem that the right thing to do is to, indeed, comply with the patient’s request. But, inasmuch as morphine is a dangerous substance with great abuse potential, the physician should be aware that the administration of morphine will ultimately cause great harm. In this case, autonomy would be at odds with non-maleficence. The doctor must privilege the latter over the former. First, do no harm. Although the patient may desire a specific procedure, the physician is required to think about whether or not that particular procedure will be harmful
for the patient. If in conscience the doctor does believe that the procedure will be harmful, then it should not be prescribed, even if the patient asks for it. Non-maleficence may also be at odds with beneficence. Most doctors have the legitimate desire to do good. But, as the popular saying goes, the road to hell may sometimes be paved with good intentions. Some procedures may appear to be good in the short term, but they may have very prejudicial consequences in the long term (or even in the short term). Again, the prime principle in Medical Ethics is first doing no harm. If by trying to address a health problem out of a concern with beneficence the patient will end up in an even worse condition, then that procedure should not be done. That is why, amongst other things, when it comes to new biotechnologies, most ethicists prescribe a cautionary principle. Inasmuch as, for the most part, we do not have full knowledge of how some of the newer biotechnologies work, it is better to suspend the administration of those biotechnologies until further knowledge about their workings is gathered. Even if those biotechnologies offer good solutions to particular health problems, they may in fact cause even greater harm. Justice may also clash with nonmaleficence, and again, the latter should take precedence. The just allocation of resources in health care may sometimes imply procedures that will ultimately
do more harm to patients. Consider, for example, a famous case put forth by philosopher Philippa Foot and ever since widely popularized: “A brilliant transplant surgeon has five patients, each in need of a different organ, each of whom will die without that organ. Unfortunately, there are no organs available to perform any of these five transplant operations. A healthy young traveler, just passing through the city the doctor works in, comes in for a routine checkup. In the course of doing the checkup, the doctor discovers that his organs are compatible with all five of his dying patients. Suppose further that if the young man were to disappear, no-one would suspect the doctor”. Should the doctor remove the organs from the healthy patient in order to distribute them to the dying patients? Of course not. Although it may be a more efficient and even just allocation of resources, it would still be a moral monstrosity to authorize such a transplant. Again, the reasoning is that non-maleficence takes precedence over the other ethical principles. These principles need to be taken into account for sound medical practice. Although Ethics is only a minor part of the USMLE Step 1, it is a huge component in the medical profession, and for that reason, every doctor should understand how nonmaleficence works. By: Dr. Gabriel Andrade
Student Ambassador Organization SAO stands for Student Ambassador Organization. We are in partnership with SAO of Walden University. The vision of SAO is to carry out at least one Act of Kindness event per semester, through volunteer and fundraising activities, as a way of giving back to society. One of the previous events we had was known 10as the “Act of Kindness Walk,” which
was a fundraising event to raise money for under-privileged children. We plan on doing something similar this semester. We also work with other organizations, for example, we help out at Health Fairs, which are organized by FMIG (Family Medical Interest Group) and we also volunteer at the local orphanage with PMIG (Pediatrics Medical Interest Group).
If anyone is interested in joining our organization, please feel free to contact any of the members. Himani Patel (President of SAO)
Meet the New Student Editor: Manpreet Lota! Not all Superheros wear Capes. As children, we are all asked what we want to become when we get older. It was not so much as to what I wanted to be, rather than who I wanted to be. From an energetic eight year old, to a mellow undergrad student, I carried the goal of becoming a physician with me for several reasons. It was always a prevalent topic during the time I studied at the University of Toronto. As a double major in Classics and Biology, I was surprised to find I had been exposed to it in both subjects. Whether it was learning about its roots in Greece, or the anatomy of the human body, medicine was always a recurring topic in my life. It was not until I had been in real situations that I had realized the difference between medicine in the classroom, and medicine in real life. These experiences are essentially what propelled me towards a career in medicine, and helped me realize why I truly wanted to become a doctor. After my second year at the University of Toronto, I had a close family member pass away. He had hoped to see me become a doctor like him one day, because in his words, there was no greater sense of accomplishment than helping mankind. His passing only encouraged me to achieve my goal even more so. As my parents rushed to a different country for the funeral services, my youngest brother was stricken with a returning condition he had a few years ago: an unexplainable, straining cough that was thought to be psychological during times of stress. With my parents still out of the country, I had no choice but to seek medical attention for him and found myself returning to the hospital he was treated at a few years earlier: SickKids Hospital in Toronto. The doctor we had met, Dr. Lee, not only explained the condition concisely and thoroughly, but she explained the causes and treatment, and essentially gave us much needed hope we thought we had lost. After countless trips and lots of dead ends, the dedicated Dr. Lee achieved her goal. My brother was cured and the condition has not returned to this day. With these two traumatic events occurring in such close proximity to each other, I had become less and less optimistic until Dr. Lee had restored my hope. During a time of chaos and instability, Dr. Lee became the figure of hope and action that my brother and I desperately needed. Following my experience with Dr. Lee, I had set out to find work at a doctor’s office, and build experience in a patient-oriented setting that would aid me in the future. This was imperative to my growth as a future medical student, and it exposed me to a group of individuals who were so incredibly dedicated to their work while still being the most humble and selfless people I had ever encountered.
Xavier Times Team Faculty Editor: Ms. Kendra N. Parson Student Editor: Manpreet Lota Assistant Student Editor: Himani Patel Student Contributors: Fasal Alabdally Atheer Aljanabi Adien Broussard Alisson Dirksz Manpreet Lota Himani Patel
So, while my small moments of positive hopefulness inched me closer to my goals, it was essentially the moments of chaos that finally brought me there. Being stricken with the death of such a close family member early on in life has helped me cope, because nobody was closer to my family. I still faced setbacks and hardships, but through these experiences, I have learned to handle them accordingly. In times of chaos, I simply found another route to my goals, as Dr. Lee had done with my brother. One of the most significant people in my life became a major influence as to why I chose medicine, but so did a complete stranger. Everyone, big or small, rich or poor deserves (and is entitled to) live the healthiest life possible no matter what. The most unlikely combination of people had given me a new outlook on my life, and a new reason to work for a dream that is now a goal with a completion date set. My goal is to be a part of the greater good of humanity, to encourage and be encouraged, and to provide for all. My aspiration is to be like them, a beacon of hope, who spreads hope and helps others when others cannot help themselves. They were both my superheroes, in their white coats and stethoscopes, because not all superheros wear capes.
Sathvik Samudrala Faculty Contributors: Dr. Gabriel Andrade
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