COM Outlook - Summer 2015

30 Nova Southeastern University College of Osteopathic Medicine 31 Faculty Members Receive President’s, QOL Research Grants Attendees at the awards ceremony included (from left) Dr. Waziry, Dr. Hanbury, and Dr. Nathanson. ON MAY 12, several NSU-COM faculty members, in collaboration with other NSU faculty researchers, were awarded cash endowments in the university’s 16th Annual President’s Faculty Research and Development Grant (PFRDG) and 13th Annual Quality of Life (QOL) Awards ceremony. Naushira Pandya, M.D., CMD, FACP , professor and chair of the Department of Geriatrics, was invited to participate in the White House Forum on Antibiotic Stewardship, which was held June 2 in Washington, D.C. Dr. Pandya was one of approximately 250 leaders from health care, food and agriculture, and business organizations invited to participate in discussions surrounding the appropriate use of antibiotics. The health care sessions focused on challenges concerning appropriate antibiotic use and development of antibiotic stewardship programs in the inpatient, outpatient, and long-term care settings, as well as diagnostics and development of new drugs. Dr. Pandya participated as a panelist in the long-term care session and spoke of the changes in the long-term care setting, including increasing acuity and medical complexity, care processes, and staff and practitioner knowledge. ON APRIL 16, James Howell, M.D., M.P.H. , assistant dean of professional relations and chair of the Department of Rural and Urban Underserved Medicine, and OMS-IV Andrea Palestro were honored for their accomplishments during the Palm Beach County Medical Society Services 12th Annual Heroes in Medicine Awards luncheon held at the Kravis Center’s Cohen Pavilion in West Palm Beach. The awards recognize individuals and organizations throughout Palm Beach County for using their skills and resources in the field of health care to provide outstanding services to people residing in local, national, and global communities. Dr. Howell received the Dick Van Eldik, M.D., Distinguished Service Award, while Palestro was among five students honored as a hero for making a difference in health care. Dr. Pandya (second from left) poses with other White House Forum attendees in front of the U.S. Treasury Department. Dr. James Howell, Andrea Palestro Honored with Heroes in Medicine Awards Dr. Naushira Pandya Participates in White House Forum on Antibiotic Stewardship Faculty/Staff COMmunications George Hanbury II, Ph.D., NSU president and chief executive officer, and Gary Margules, Sc.D., vice president for the Office of Research and Technology Transfer, recognized 24 research projects that received PFRDG awards of up to $15,000 each for fiscal year 2016. They also recognized the dedication and innovation of the 100 faculty members and 89 students from the 18 academic units that submitted 65 PFRDG proposals. NSU-COM recipients of the President’s Faculty Research and Development Grants were Stephen Grant, Ph.D.; Lubov Nathanson, Ph.D.; Cristina Savu, D.O.; and Paula Waziry, Ph.D.; while T. Lucas Hollar, Ph.D., and Stephanie Petrosky, M.H.A., R.D., received QOL recognition.