COM Outlook - Summer 2015

28 Nova Southeastern University College of Osteopathic Medicine 29 Faculty/Staff COMmunications OMS-II Devin Collins presented his coauthored research poster entitled “Serious Complications of Shoulder Hard- ware Migration: A Systematic Review of the Literature” at the Southern Orthopaedic Association’s 32nd Annual Meeting, which took place July 15–18 in Asheville, North Carolina. OMS-III Richard Fong earned the second-place award for his project entitled “The Management of Stevens-Johnson Syndrome in a Case of Bipolar Disorder with Psychotic Features” in the NSU-COM/Bethesda Center for Graduate Medical Education Second Annual Poster Competition held June 9 at Bethesda Hospital East in Boynton Beach, Florida. Fourth-year students Erica Eiring and Arash Mohaghegh captured third-place honors. Following an editorial he wrote for in-Training.org entitled “Empathy Decline in Medical Education,” OMS-IV Will Jaffee was asked to be the featured expert for a New England Journal of Medicine online forum on teaching empathy in medicine that was held in late April. Third-year students Arash Mohaghegh and Erica Eiring , along with Janet Hamstra, Ed.D., M.S. , director of preclin- ical education and associate professor of internal medicine, presented a clinical research project entitled “A Study of Sea- sonal Impacts on Reactivation of Ocular Toxoplasmosis” at the Florida Academy of Family Physicians Family Medicine Spring Conference held March 24–26 in Orlando. OMS-II Bansari Sarkar received a second-place award for her research project entitled “Skin-to-Fat Water in Diabetes Mellitus Assessed by Tissue Dielectric Constant (TDC): Variations with Respect to Depth, Anatomical Site, and HbA1C.” She presented her award-winning research at the American College of Physicians Florida Chapter Associates Meeting held March 28–29 in Orlando. OMS-II Saamia Shaikh was elected to serve as the national membership chair for Omega Beta Iota (OBI)—the national osteopathic political action honor society. Shaikh accepted the honor on March 5 in Washington, D.C., during D.O. Day on Capitol Hill events. OBI, which was established in 2007, emphasizes the importance of the work medical students do for the political system. OMS-I Anita Singh was one of three South Florida medical students chosen to receive a paid summer preceptorship at a Humana-owned primary care medical center. In addition, Singh and OMS-III Shalaka Akolkar coauthored an article entitled “Age-Related Differences in Tissue Dielectric Constant Values of Female Forearm Skin Measured Noninvasively at 300 MHz” that was published in the June issue of the Journal of Skin Research and Technology. OMS-III Khasimuddin Syed presented a research poster entitled “Structural and Functional Retinal Changes in a Patient with Prior Chemotherapy for Lymphoma” at the American Osteopathic Colleges of Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology 99th Annual Clinical Assembly held May 6–10 in Orlando, Florida. OMS-IIs Nergess Taheri and Rebecca Liberty presented a poster on April 30 entitled “Medical Mission Trip to Repair Congenital Heart Defects in Children” at the American College of Osteopathic Pediatricians Conference in Fort Lauderdale. OMS-III Erin Thornley was elected as a student trustee of the American College of Osteopathic Pediatricians’ Board of Directors. OMS-I Claudia Vallin coauthored an article entitled “In- creased Yolk Progesterone Interferes with Prenatal Auditory Learning and Elevates Emotional Reactivity in Bobwhite Quail (Colinus virginianus) Chicks” that was published in the March issue of the Developmental Psychobiology Journal. Student COMmunications News Briefs          Renee Alexis, M.D., M.P.H., who serves as associate professor of obstetrics and gynecology (OB/GYN), was named vice chair of the OB/GYN department in June. Richard J. Bannon, Jr., M.Ed., joined the college on April 30 as manager of the Department of Emergency Medical Services Education and Training. Bannon, who is a lifelong Floridian, received his master’s degree in Exercise Physiology from the University of Virginia and is a U.S. Army veteran as well as a former manager and consultant with local businesses. Marie Florent-Carre, D.O., M.P.H., assistant professor of family medicine and public health, received a Leadership Award on April 11 from International Health Initiatives (IHI)— a nonprofit organization whose mission is to promote, develop, and support health promotion and disease prevention initiatives for underserved populations domestically and internationally. James T. Howell, M.D., M.P.H., assistant dean for professional relations and chair of the Department of Rural and Urban Underserved Medicine, was honored with the HPD Distinguished Service Award during the Health Professions Division’s 30th Annual Bal Fantastique held March 28 at the Hyatt Regency Pier 66 in Fort Lauderdale. “Dr. Howell is deserving of this honor for his lifelong service and dedication as a physician and as an educator of the next generation of health care practitioners,” said Frederick Lippman, R.Ph., Ed.D., HPD chancellor. “He is one of the foremost experts in public health in the nation, and we are proud to have him on our NSU faculty.” Dr. Howell (center) receiving his HPD Distinguished Service Award from George L. Hanbury II, Ph.D., NSU president and chief executive officer (left), and Dr. Lippman. Linda E. Maurice, M.A., director of the college’s Lifelong Learning Institute, was selected to serve as an American Society on Aging’s Lifetime Education and Renewal Network (LEARN) board member. LEARN members are involved in all aspects of education for older adults and represent the growing variety of settings and programs offering opportunities for lifetime learners. Edward E. Packer, D.O., FAAP, FACOP, assistant dean of clinical affairs and professor and chair of the Department of Pediatrics, was elected vice president of the American College of Osteopathic Pediatricians Board of Directors. Kathy Sadler who previously worked for NSU-COM as executive manager of the NSU Clinics in 2013–14, was appointed to the role of director of intramural affairs in February. She is responsible for over- seeing alumni affairs and special outreach events that foster positive relationship building with the college’s large alumni contingent. Anthony J. and Dianna Silvagni were the recipients of a Symphony of the Americas Society Style and Substance Award, which was presented to the duo during a luncheon held March 31 at The Ritz Carlton in Fort Lauderdale. The award is presented to prominent individuals who have distinguished themselves through outstanding service and commitment to the community. Anthony J. Silvagni, D.O., Pharm.D., M.Sc., FACOFP , serves as dean emeritus and professor of family medicine and public health, while Dianna Silvagni, J.D. , serves as a clinical assistant professor of medical education. On April 23, the college coordinated a farewell reception for Jacqueline Thomas, D.O. — a 2005 NSU-COM alumna who joined the Depart- ment of Dermatology in 2013 and served as an assistant professor. “I have been so very fortunate to be a part of NSU from both the student and faculty perspective,” said Dr. Thomas, who relocated to Naples, Florida.