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Vol 6 - Issue No 1 - February 2016
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White Coat Spring 2016..............1 From the Editors........................ 2 Visiting Faculty.......................... 3 What the Future Brings............. 3 Faculty Interviews..................... 4 Breaking the Barriers................. 5 Diversity @ XUSOM................... 6 Orientation Program................. 6 Study Less, Study Smart............ 7 The Future of Medicine............. 9 Screening of My Sister’s Keeper....10 Ann: What Went Wrong?........ 10 Restaurant Review................... 11
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Ireland Accreditation Commission on Colleges of Medicine
Approved by the: Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research
*CAAMP-HP accreditation provisional. **ACCM accreditation provisional.
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Accreditation & Recognition
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White Coat & Welcome Dinner Spring 2016
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s a returning student to XUSOM after finishing my pre-medical sciences portion of my program here, I have been anticipating the start of my official first year of medical school. The White Coat Ceremony and Welcome Dinner are the jump start to every semester. The night starts off with the welcoming of all new and returning students as well as family and friends who come to support. This semester we were blessed to have our President, Mr. Ravishankar Bhooplapur in attendance to help present the current MD1 class with their white coats. Awards and recognition of all the great achievements of all the students, recognition of the hard work of our faculty and staff, and motivating words from our three Deans, Dr. Dubey (Dean of Basic Sciences), Dr. Gil (Dean of Student Affairs) and Dr. Barton (Dean of Pre-Medical Sciences), all took place. Afterward, the most anticipated part of the night, presentation of the white coats, finally took place. The feeling of importance and achievement when you receive
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P U B L I C A T I O N
From the Editors Dear readers
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ope the New Year finds you well. We have a wealth of reading
material in this issue. Dr Mrigank Shail, a XUSOM Graduate is now doing his residency in Neurosurgery. We would like to congratulate him on his achievement. We also carry interviews with newly joined faculty members in this issue. The Clinical Dean, Dr Gindi, and Dr Babu and Dr Jayanti had visited XUSOM, Aruba and conducted sessions for the students. At XUSOM we have students whose countries of origin span the globe. We feature interviews with two students whose origins are Italy and Sri Lanka in this
White Coat 2016
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your coat is a feeling no one can take away from you. Though, the ceremony was only two weeks into our first semester of medical school, it was definitely a great boost for us all to keep our heads up, work hard every day, and to appreciate the meaning of the “white coat” and the journey to becoming physicians. We give a huge thank you to both members of SGA and FMIG for all their hard work, time and dedication in putting together this event every semester and congratulations as well to all the new officers for winter 2016.
Study hard and study well!! Always remember why you are here! n
Ms. Kathleen Alcantara MD1 student
Good luck to all XUSOM students!
issue. The orientation and white coat ceremony for the Spring 16 semester went off well. Dr Rose looks into the crystal ball and tries to predict the future direction of medicine and Ms. Bekhit reviews two more career options for graduates. We feature an interesting short story by Ms. Adebola and the regular restaurant review by Mr. Pouria who sets out on gastronomic adventures around ‘one happy island’. We also briefly report on the activities following the movie screening and Ms. Varshney’s column where she exhorts students to study less but study smart. Read on…
Dr. P. Ravi Shankar, Faculty Editor Ms. Natasha Sebastian, Student Editor
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Visiting Faculty
What the future brings …
Dr. Jayanthi Srinivasiah Dr. Satish Babu
They are referred to as Internists or Physicians but who are they? They are physicians dealing with prevention, diagnosis and treatment of adult diseases. They are more likely to be found in Commonwealth nations. Their specialty calls for management of patients who have undifferentiated or multi system diseases processes. They usually play a big role in teaching and research (watch students these will be your attendees, make sure you know them). This specialty includes a very broad range of subspecialties including: allergy, asthma, immunology, endocrinology, hospital medicine, sleep medicine and much more. In the United States, residency for internal medicine lasts three years. They need to be recognized by two organizations: The American board of internal medicine and the American osteopathic board of internal medicine. As opposed to Family Medicine, internists focus only on treatment, prevention and health promotion of the adult patient while family physicians aim to provide initial, continuing and comprehensive care of the patient and their family.
Come February 4, 2016 and it was the beginning of a two day guest lecture session by Dr Jayanthi Srinivasiah for all batches of XUSOM students (MD1, MD2, MD4, MD5). Dr. Jayanthi Srinivasiah is a member
of the Medical Association of Georgia, the American Society of Clinical Oncology, and the DeKalb County Medical Society. She chairs the Cancer Committee at DeKalb Medical, which includes the chairing of the Clinical Trials and Genetics Committees. Cancer biology as well as cancer genomics and genetics were the main areas covered by Dr Jayanthi in her two sessions on February 4 and February 5, 2016.
Dr. Satish Babu, a diplomate of the American Board of Surgery was in XUSOM as a visiting faculty for a week long session with MD4 students. His sessions began on February 2, 2016 and ended on February 5, 2016.
Among the first few in the country to obtain certificate of special qualification in vascular Surgery awarded by the American Board of Surgery, Dr. Babu is a member of regional, national and international Vascular Surgery Societies. He is on the faculty of New York Medical College. In his five-day visit, the areas covered in his lectures included peripheral vascular diseases, aneurysms, diseases of veins and lymphatics, atherosclerotic diseases of different vascular beds and pathology of vascular interventions. n
Dr. Malpe Surekha Bhat Professor of Biochemistry
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OBGYN
in Emergency Medicine and holds a Fellowship in the American College of Emergency Physicians. Dr.Gindi conducted a series of lectures from 1-3 February, 2016. The topics covered in his lectures included Acute coronary syndrome, Suturing, Ethical relationships with pharmaceutical companies and Management of poisoned patients. n
This speciality deals with both obstetrics and gynecology; the training program is unified for both; but what does that mean? Obstetrics is the speciality dealing with delivering babies and gynecology is the speciality treating diseases of the female reproductive organs. A gynecologist becomes an obstetrician once pregnancy test comes up positive, and the journey of a “new baby coming to life” begins for both the doctor and the patient. Becoming an OBGYN physicians requires a residency following graduation of 4-5 years of clinical practice. Many subspecialties follow such as maternal fetal medicine, reproductive endocrinology and infertility, gynecological oncology, etc. n
Dr. Malpe Surekha Bhat Professor of Biochemistry
Ms. Jacqueline Bekhit MD 5 student
Dr. Michael Gindi, Dean of Clinical Science USOM Aruba, in the month of February, witnessed the visit of its new Dean of Clinical Sciences, Dr Michael Gindi. With an extensive clinical experience in numerous emergency departments and urgent care centers and an equally extensive teaching experience that includes one at St. Barnabas Hospital in the Bronx for twenty two years, Dr. Gindi is the recipient of numerous teaching and mentorship awards, is Board-Certified
Internal medicine
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Faculty Interviews
Interview with Dr Bajwa Assoc. Professor, Pathology & Physiology
Tell us a little about yourself… Where are you from? I am from Chandigarh in India Where did you grow up? I grew up in Chandigarh. Where did you go to medical school? I attended Crimea State Medical University, Ukraine. What brought you to XUSOM? I wanted to work in a multicultural environment and XUSOM brought me an opportunity of international exposure. It has been a truly global experience with students and teachers from various nationalities and has been rewarding for the growth of my career. A little more about your career… When did you know you wanted to be a physician? Right from the school days I dreamed of becoming a physician. Why did you choose to specialize in pathology/physiology? Although I have specialized in Internal Medicine, I was interested in Pathology from medical school days. In internal medicine we study about the pathophysiology, diagnosis and treatment of a disease and it’s all interrelated. Knowledge about pathophysiology of a disease gives you a better perspective. I also taught in pathology while working as a demonstrator in Govt. Medical College, Chandigarh Were pathology or physiology your first choices? I chose Internal medicine but my interest in teaching pathology was what brought me to XUSOM. 4
What do you suggest is the best way to study pathology? Cultivate learning by reading a recommended textbook. Emphasize on Problem based learning as it produces deep levels of learning, understanding and an ability to apply basic knowledge in the clinical setting. Identify what kind of learning style works best for you auditory/visual and practice MCQs because practice makes a man perfect. If you could choose any course that you’ve always wanted to teach, besides pathology or physiology, what would it be and why? Internal Medicine because it is a very interesting and dynamic subject. If you can give any piece of advice to XUSOM’s future physicians, what would it be? Having solid knowledge of the diseases that afflict people and their underlying mechanisms is a requisite to being an excellent physician, in my opinion. The journey towards being a physician requires continuous learning, self-reflection and persistence so just keep working hard and you will reach your destination.
Ms. Albertina Sebastian MD5 student
Interview with Dr Goyal Assoc. Professor, Microbiology & Pathology
Tell us a little about yourself… Where are you from? I hail from the northern part of India. Where did you grow up? I grew up in a beautiful hilly place called Mandi in India Where did you go to medical school? I went to Odessa State Medical Uni-
versity, Ukraine. Then, I completed my DNB (Microbiology) from NIMS Medical College in India What brought you to XUSOM? The island is beautiful. I and my husband got an opportunity to work together at the same place. XUSOM is accredited and has a good reputation. So, overall I think joining XUSOM will be a stepping stone in my career. A little more about your career… When did you know you wanted to be a physician? I was interested in science and as soon as I entered high school, I made up my mind to be a physician. Why did you choose to specialize in microbiology/pathology? When I was in Medical school we had Microbiology and immunology for the duration of about one year along with other subjects. Then I realized that there are different subject areas in Microbiology and I was blown away by the fact that how important micro is for nearly everything! Were microbiology or pathology your first choices? Yes What do you suggest is the best way to study microbiology? Is there a trick in order to remember all of the pathogens? The only trick I recommend is revise as much as you can. Read assigned material before each respective lecture. The material will make better sense after you have read about it at least once. Seek assistance with difficult concepts. If you could choose any course that you’ve always wanted to teach, besides microbiology or pathology, what would it be and why? I am intrigued by Psychology which is the science of the mind. The human mind is the most complex machine on Earth. It is the source of all thoughts and behavior. It is so interesting that I think I would love teaching it.
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Breaking the Barriers for XUSOM IMGs
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recently got the opportunity to chat with one of Xavier University’s newest elite alumni, Dr. Mrigank Shail, or as you all might know him, “The first XUSOM student to match a residency in Neurosurgery”. Dr. Shail was gracious enough to answer a few questions for us: Xavier Times: First off, I want to congratulate you on your Neurosurgery match. You’re quite famous around the campus right now. Dr. Shail: Thank you and oh my God! XT: So I asked a couple of students around campus what they would want to ask you as well and they of course wanted to know where you’re from. DS: I’m from India. I was born in India and we immigrated to Canada in 1995 to Ottawa, Ontario. And we’ve been living in Ottawa ever since. XT: When did you start at XUSOM in Aruba? DS: So I started in January of 2008. I did my Pre-Med there and Med. I think I left Aruba in 2012, I think… I can’t remember. I left after I finished MD5. XT: Is there a reason you chose Xavier University over other Medical Schools? DS: Frankly, it was the only one I applied to. I saw a commercial online and I applied and they called me saying my marks are good and offered me a phone interview. It seemed like a nice island. Everything seems developed. It was a new and upcoming school at that time. One of the reasons I chose XUSOM was because they didn’t require the MCATs. So everything seemed to align. I had just finished my undergraduate degree. So I went to Aruba. It’s a nice island. XT: Yes, it is! What did you get your undergraduate degree in? DS: Human kinetics. XT: Oh wow! Cool. So one of the most popular questions was “Who was your favourite professor while you were here?” DS: Who was my favourite professor, huh? I think they were all very nice professors there. I do have certain favourite ones, but I won’t name them. But I think every professor there cared about their students and went above and beyond for everyone. At least when I was there. XT: Oh, they’re still doing that. They’re always available for anything, which is great. DS: Good, good. XT: How did you enjoy your clinical rotations? DS: All of my rotations were in Chicago. They were actually very good. They gave us ample experience with patients, a plethora of hospital environment settings. I went to several different hospitals. Cook County was a really good one. John H. Stroger Hospital was a good one. Jackson Park as well. They were spread out in Chicago and I got to see the city at the same time. It’s an amazing city, called the Second City, because there’s so much to do and the preceptors are very nice. If you do your due diligence and you go to learn, you’ll really see a lot of things in the clinical rotations. But, you have to go early and you have to leave late to make an impression. You have to make yourself heard. There’s a lot of students and to stand out, you have to make an effort to diagnose and give differentials and be heard.
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XT: Did you do a neurosurgery rotation as well? DS: I didn’t do a neurosurgery rotation during my time with Xavier University, but I did a lot of electives and observerships after I graduated. XT: Did you end up doing the rotation in France? DS: I did a neurology elective in Ottawa, Canada. Then I did a neurosurgery elective in Istanbul, Turkey for a month. Then I did one in Belgium for a month and a final one in France for a months. That’s when I got the interview. XT: That’s awesome. Do you have any advice for the XUSOM students in Aruba who are scared about the Step 1 and everything going further? DS: I would say study hard. I mean the Step score is one of the major things they look at, but even if you don’t do well, don’t despair. Just pick yourself up and try harder for the next time. And don’t settle. A lot of times people told me “ neurosurgery is not for you, its something international medical graduated don’t try for. You should do family medicine or internal medicine.” I had applied to family medicine and internal medicine residencies in the US and I didn’t get in, so I figured “Hey! Next time I’m going to try, I’m going to aim for the moon and if I miss, I’ll land amongst the stars.” XT: That’s really nice. Last but not least, on a scale of 1 to 10, how excited are you to start your residency? DS: 11. XT: I can understand that. I’m not gonna take anymore of your time off before you start. Thank you very much for your time. Congratulations, again and enjoy your time off. DS: Thank you and good luck to all the XUSOM students! n
Ms. Natasha Sebastian, Student Editor, MD5 student 5
Diversity @ XUSOM
Orientation program
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Lanka are Sinhala, Tamil and English.
remember the mixture of excitement and nervousness that I felt during the start of my journey here at Xavier University School of Medicine (XUSOM). As one of the first in my family to attend a medical university, I did not know what to expect. Orientations are traditional means that schools have used to update and inform parents, especially during unsettling transitional periods for students such as when they are leaving one student body and entering a new and different student body. Many college orientations are a perfunctory affair, lasting little more than a day. At XUSOM, you see something different. Orientation lasts three days here, and you can see how much more they care about whether or not you are comfortable transitioning to a new life here. Orientation programs are key to overall student success. Not only do they help with initial feelings of anxiety but provide helpful, motivational, and insightful information. Being a new student with almost three weeks into the semester, I can say that I am proud to be a part of a medical university like XUSOM. The majority of students attending XUSOM come from overseas, and that is why XUSOM’s three-day orientation provides the opportunity for the school to welcome their new students and understand their needs better. It also provides students with a chance to understand the school’s mission to educate dedicated students in both the science and the art of medicine. XUSOM also believes that, “This begins with an environment which promotes growth and learning and entails dedication, discipline, and direction, all of which are fundamental in the development of a skilled physician.” Fun games that incorporate teamwork, such as, ‘crossing the river’, during orientation help to break the ice between all the new classmates and build trust. Certain sessions of XUSOM’s orientation are not only open for new students but their families as well. It is a great opportunity for parents or guardians to come and attend the orientation and have any doubts cleared. n
People following four religions live in
Mr. Jorim Parmar, MD1 student
SRI LANKA – Komathini Jothikumar - MD1 Sri Lanka is a small island located in the Indian Ocean, southeast from India. The surface area of Sri Lanka is 65,610 square kilometers. The island was formerly known as Ceylon from the beginning of British rule. The capital of Sri Lanka is Colombo, which is located on the island’s southwest corner. The currency that is used is called the Sri Lankan rupee. The current population of Sri Lanka is 20.48 million. There are two major ethnic groups, the Sinhalese and the Tamils. The official languages of Sri
Sri Lanka: Buddhist, Hindu, Christian and Muslim. The climate is tropical and warm with ocean winds adding a moderating effect. Although the country is small in size it has among the highest biodiversity density. There is a wide range of native species such as Asian elephants, leopards, sloth bears, loris, purple-faced langur, wild boar, porcupines and Indian pangolins. Sri Lanka is an important producer of tea, coffee, gemstones, coconut, rubber, and cinnamon. Sri Lanka is well known as a tropical country teeming with tourists year round to see the islands’ tropical forest and diverse landscapes.
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Italy – Franca Buonanno - MD4
Study Less, Study Smart
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edical school can be mentally overwhelming, and at times challenging; due to the massive amounts of information that we need to absorb. In trying to alleviate some of the exhaustion, it is fundamental to implement effective study habits. A common belief among many students is to study longer hours - however this has shown to be ineffective and extremely time consuming. Below are some helpful tips to guide you in the right direction: 1. Study in blocks: An individual’s ability to retain information diminishes after approximately 25 minutes. For every 25 minutes, take a 5-10 minute break to recharge. Do something fun! Shifting focus onto something unrelated to school will help recharge those batteries. Studying in chunks increases the quality of your studying, leading to better retention. 2. Take good notes: Listening in class is very important. As you listen, take notes. Make sure to review your notes right after class or after school. By going over the notes the same day, you will decrease the amount of the time spent later, trying to relearn the material. And then, as the exam comes along, more time can be spent on review. It is a good trade-off... 30 minutes of reviewing material the same day, versus hours and hours trying to relearn the material. 3. Have a dedicated study area: On the island, most students live in studio apartments, and it can be extremely challenging to keep focus or your eyes wide open when your comfy bed is literally a meter away. Our brains are trained to think that our rooms equates to sleeping time or anything, but studying time. A research investigation concluded that having a designated study area is essential in achieving excellent grades. In the study, students living in their dorm rooms were asked to put a study lamp on their desk. Only and whenever the student needed to study they would turn the lamp on. Compared to the control group, the group with the lamp on the desk did approximately 1.0 grade point average higher than the students who did not have a lamp. In essence, buy yourself a table and put a lamp on it to train your brain that the desk with the lamp on it is your designated study area. With the endless amount of knowledge that we are receiving, it is extremely crucial, that as students, we absorb, retain, and recall the information when necessary. Part of accomplishing this is developing very strong and solid habits that will be useful not only in our academic career, but as future physicians. n
Ms. Leena Varshney, MD4 student www.xusom.com
Home to the leaning Tower of Pisa, the Trevi fountain, the Colosseum and many more, Italy is home to many historical places that have become popular tourist areas. Aside from tourism, Italy is known for it’s amazing food. From pasta to desserts, wherever you eat in Italy is a delicacy and feels like it’s homemade by an Italian grandma, who we all know are the best cooks out there! For all Italians, food is a must; it is the focal point of all occasions. This is what brings all families together and like we see in movies, Italian family reunions are always loud with lots of people. We are very family oriented and tend to go everywhere as large groups. Italians are very conservative, religious and traditional. We like to follow the “old mentality”, and this is the way most from my generation were brought up. I believe this enriches my culture and mentality and allows me to make smart choices in life. In the older generations, such as my grand parents, education was not important. They would not even finish elementary school before they started working in order to help the family income. Despite the “old mentality”, my grand parents were a huge influence in my education and always pushed me to continue and educate myself, no matter the age or the program. I believe that my Italian nationality, along with the upbringing I received, are what shaped me as a person, making me the person I am today, a future doctor. n We would like to thank Dr Gil Apacible II, Assoc. Dean of Student Affairs for his help in compiling this article
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Faculty Interviews
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If you can give any piece of advice to XUSOM’s future physicians, what would it be? It requires a great deal of discipline to be a doctor. Be disciplined and develop a habit of regular self-directed learning. “Time and tide wait for no man.” so manage your time efficiently.
Ms. Albertina Sebastian MD5 student
Interview with Dr. Prakash Ramdass MD Assoc. professor of Epidemiology & Biostatistics
Where are you from? And where were you last before joining Xavier?
I am from Guyana. I lived in New York, Connecticut, Barbados and now I am here in Aruba. Tell us more about yourself and your career? I am professor of physiology and epidemiology. I have about 10 years of experience. I also had my private practice as a general physician up until I came here to Aruba (last was in Barbados). I also have a Master of Public Health degree in epidemiology from Yale University. Have you seen different ways in students interpreting physiology & epidemiology between all these fields? I only taught medical students. They usually tend to appreciate physiology more than epidemiology. They also take it more as an applied theory in the body as opposed to subject being study. On the other hand, I always taught epidemiology as idea for research since I used to be in charge of
the research area in the universities I taught at. What is your least enjoyable thing about teaching students? Your “pet peeve”? Just like any other professors, not paying attention in class. I like to have interactive lectures, I want the students to come in prepared before class to be able to have a good discussion Do you have any goals that you would like to professionally accomplish during your time in XUSOM? I would like to have more field research, maybe collect data from the hospital and be able to incorporate that into a report or paper. What do you do in your spare time? I liked playing board games such as cards, chess, pool or darts. I also like playing sports mainly swimming and snorkeling. n
Ms. Jacqueline Bekhit, MD5 student
Xavier Faculty
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The Future of Medicine and what role would future Doctors Play
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he Medical Tricorder from Star Trek has arrived. Scanadua Vitals is a new high tech company in the Silicon Valley that has produced a device that fits comfortably in the palm of your hand that will measure blood pressure, heart rate, and body temperature and pulse oximetry in seconds. This innovative device is cuff less, wireless and in seconds, a person’s vital signs are obtained from a gentle touch to the left side of the forehead. Vitals are then sent via Bluetooth Le to the user’s smartphone where the information can be displayed, stored and shared via a Scanadua APP. The Jetsons was an American animated cartoon series originally airing in primetime from September 23, 1962, to March 17, 1963, then later in syndication, with new episodes in 1985 to 1987. The series portrayed the typical American Family living in the 21st century. The series creators used the series as a vehicle for demonstrating their “crystal-ball” gazing abilities-- predicting future technological advances. Portrayed in the series were robotic companions, microwave ovens, teleconferencing, wristwatch computers, cell phones, the internet, MRIs and EKGs. Remarkable clairvoyant abilities! So what do the current wave of medical visionaries predict as the future trends in medicine and will the role of physician take on a new personification in the future? Advances in 3D printing already have been adapted in the use of 3D tissue scaffolds as a template for regeneration. According to Dr Abrahim Tarik Ozoblot, Assistant Professor of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering we can print tissues and also print the tissues on animals directly. Dr. Ozbolat states that bio printing is the “process of generating spatially controlled cell patterns using 3D printing technologies.” Generally, it involves “a layer-by-layer approach to generate tissue-like 3D structures for use in the medical field of tissue engineering.” This means it is now possible to print everything from simple tissues to entire organs. Apparently home self-monitoring is already on the drawing boards and will permit patients of the future to monitor their own conditions. It may be possible to swallow a digital sensor, or a digital tattoo scanner that will be able to connect to a Medical Cloud which will analyze the database and engage patients in medical procedures within the patient’s home. In addition patients will be prescribed individualized personal drugs that drones will deliver right to your door. Watson is IBM’s Supercomputer, On Feb 16 2011 Watson defeated two human all-time champions in the game Jeopardy! on national TV. It seems that Watson’s very first real world application is going to be in healthcare. Potentially, by answering questions for physicians at the point of care, it could help improve healthcare quality and reduce costly errors. Its www.xusom.com
ability to absorb and analyses vast quantities of data is, IBM claims, better than that of human doctors, and its deployment through the cloud could also reduce healthcare costs. ts ability to absorb and analyze vast quantities of data is, IBM claims, better than that of human doctors, and its deployment through the cloud could also reduce healthcare costs. The field of regenerative medicine is rapidly advancing and this new technology is now at the juncture where patients will soon be able to grow their own new organs based on their own tissue samples; thus eliminating the horrendous black market in organ sales. Complimenting regenerative therapies is gene therapy. It is predicted that future medical technology will be able to target specific defective genes in one’s DNA make-up and replace those genes with healthy ones. Robots are looming large on medicine’s immediate horizon. Robotic surgery is now surpassing their human counterparts for accuracy and speed in the O.R. particularly in cardiovascular surgeries. Humanoid robots may soon play a role in providing basic health care. They may also serve as companions for the elderly or sick children. Nanobots are another growing application of robotics. Miniaturized nanobots of the future will be injected, inserted or swallowed that will be able to target specific cancer cells or other diseased cells and either deliver appropriate medicines or remove them altogether. With all these phenomenal technological advancements what role will doctors have? We are already witnessing a great democratization of medicine. Information can now be published, catalogued and search by anyone online on the planet; much to the chagrin of some physicians whose patients have already self-diagnoses and determined their treatment protocols before even attending their appointment with their doctor. The need for consolidated patient information is long overdue. Soon a platform(s) will surface that will safely store amalgamated patient information in one specific locale. Ultimately this type of platform means that doctors can prescribe Apps to capture health data or foster behavior change. Future doctors will need to be trained to bring “care” back into healthcare. With all this technology creating a more efficient system of care, physicians will have more time to individualize patient care, being able to revisit the cultivation of an enduring and truly empathic bedside manner. This newfound marriage of science (read-technology) and art (read-humanity) could result in more healthy and happy future patients. n
Dr. Christopher Rose Faculty Editorial Board member Xavier Times 9
Movie screening and activity:‘My sister’s keeper’
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e have been screening carefully selected movies followed by small group activities and presentations to introduce students to various ethical and social issues in medicine. On Wednesday, 3rd February the movie ‘My sister’s keeper’ was screened followed by the activities. The movie tells the story of a girl who was conceived by her parents as a genetic backup for her elder sister who is suffering from leukemia. Right from her birth she has been donating cord blood and bone marrow
to save her sister. The mother played by Cameron Diaz is a strong-willed lady who quit her job as a lawyer to take care of her daughter. The mother wants her sick daughter Kate to keep on fighting against her cancer. Kate is developing renal failure and Anna, the younger sister is being pressured to provide one of her kidneys. Kate however is tired of the long battle and wants to die peacefully. Anna files for ‘medical emancipation’ and the movie tells her story of battle for control over her own body. During the activities and the presentations various topics like the depiction of modern medical technology in the movie, the ethical questions posed in the movie, the effect of Kate’s illness on family dynamics, the director’s use of music and songs in the movie, the relationship between various protagonists, were among the various topics discussed. Group F consisting of Adam Moore and others was judged to have performed best. The group split according to the
student’s opinion about whether it was ethically correct on the part of the parents to conceive a genetically identical sibling to help her sister. As the moderator Adam provided the team members with a chance to express their opinion. Though the group overshoot their time the judges felt they succeeded in getting into the heart of the ethical debate. n
Dr. P Ravi Shankar, Faculty Editor
Ann: What Went Wrong?
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ednesday 9:00 pm: “It’s been three days since we’ve spoken. I just called and you’re still not answering. I hope you’re all right. I’m just really worried. I spoke to your brother yesterday, he reassured me. But I am feeling fraught. If I could drive or fly over to check on you I would. As you know, my busy office schedule will not permit. You’re more than seven hundred miles away. Again, I called your brother at 6:10 pm today, he told me you travelled this morning. But, you didn’t inform me of any engagements or travel plans. Haven’t you seen the missed calls and email?
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I’ve informed my mom and sister, they’re concerned too.” --SEND Wednesday 11:55 pm: “It seems like your phone got switched off. I just finished the hefty financial budget reports for tomorrow’s meeting. Also, meeting with a client early tomorrow morning. It’s almost midnight now. I’m going to bed.” –SEND Thursday 8:05 am: “We met at a house-warming for a mutual friend a year and a half ago. You remember? When I thought the relationship seemed promising, I introduced him to you and family. Was I wrong in doing this? It’s unusual of him to behave this way.” You’re listening intently at the
other end of the phone. You wait for me to finish, as you always do. We’ve been friends for ten years. Our conversation ends when the client walks into the office. We agreed to meet for lunch. Thursday 7:45 pm: I turned on the light of my living room. I heard “SURPRISE”. What? You were present with our close friends and families. From the fright and confusion, it hinted for you to kneel and propose. I don’t remember all you uttered, but all I could hear myself say is “YES. Everyone cheered. “So this is what you had planned”, I said. You nodded and smiled. n
Ms. Adebola Adegbite, MD2 student www.xusom.com
Restaurant Reviews
Xavier Times team Faculty editor: Dr. P Ravi Shankar
Pinchos Grill & Bar
Pinchos is a casual yet chic grill and bar on a pier completely over the clear blue waters of surfside beach. They offer a distinctive concept and atmosphere with outdoor dining in very intimate and romantic surroundings. All tables are right over the water, under the stars and accompanied by the twinkling of candle lights. One of the beauties of this bar and grill, is that you could book your reservations for sunset and enjoy the beautiful view and sink into your surroundings as stars start to appear above your head one by one. My suggestions are to try the swordfish that is grilled to perfection for your main course and have the seared tuna as your appetizer. If you are a red meat lover, then look no further than the Black Angus Filet Mignon with a Truffle Butter Sauce. This place is usually packed so make sure to either go online to their website or simply contact them and make a reservation. One last thing, after you are done with your meal, they give some of the leftovers to the fish in front of you and you can witness all sorts of fish pouring from everywhere to be fed. All in all, I believe this place would make an amazing atmosphere for a romantic getaway from the clubs and give you peace and quiet on the water with an amazing view. n
Rating: 4 out of 5 Address: L.G. Smith Blvd (Sasakiweg) 7, Oranjestad, Aruba Phone: (+297) 583 2666 Website: www.pinchosaruba.com Mr. Pouria Mohammadi, MD4 student www.xusom.com
Student editor: Natasha Sebastian MD 5
Faculty advisors: Dr. A Nandy Dr. David Holtzman Dr. Christopher Rose
Student members: Jacqueline Bekhit, MD5 Albertina Sebastian, MD 5 Franca Buonanno, MD 4 Leena Varshney, MD4 Pouria Mohammadi, MD3 Adebola Adegbite, MD 2 Sanad Alghizzawi, PM 2 Dhara Sardhara, MD 2 Kathleen Alcantara, MD1 Komathini Jothikumar, MD1 Jobim Parmar, MD1
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