VP for Health Affairs and
College of Medicine Newsletter
May 2018
Dear Students, Faculty and Staff,

We have arrived at the time of the year when all the hard work of our students comes to fruition. It seems like we just celebrated Match Day, but soon Commencement will be upon us. 
As an educator, Match Day is a cherished milestone for all of us to celebrate. It is the most exciting day of the year. I hope you will take a moment to share in the excitement with us by watching the Class of 2018 enjoy match day:


I am ecstatic to share with you that once again our Match Day results were outstanding. We had 58% of our students matched in a residency program in the state of Ohio. This is particularly important as we seek to improve the health and quality of life of the communities of Ohio. You can read more about our Match Day results within this newsletter but I speak for the entire college when I say that we could not be more proud of the class of 2018. It is inspiring to think of all they have and will accomplish.

This edition of the newsletter celebrates some of our greatest timeless traditions. The recognition of our Commencement Hooders, College of Medicine Faculty and Staff Outstanding Service Awards, along with student and faculty spotlights. I hope these articles and pictures will spark fond memories, inspire you to create new ones, and bring pride as you watch your alma mater transform. I would like to send my warmest wishes to you and, I look forward to hearing how you are doing.

My best,

Elisabeth H. Young, M.D., F.A.C.P.
Vice President for Health Affairs
Dean, College of Medicine
Congratulations to the Class of 2018!
Match Day 
March 16, 2018
Match Day was a day of celebration at NEOMED- see where our students matched!

Some highlights from Match Day:

  • 42% of students matched in a primary care specialty;

  • 38% of students matched at a NEOMED affiliated residency program;

  • 58% of students matched at a residency program in the state of Ohio.
Kaushik Chagarlamudi signs the congratulations banner.
Abigail Schaub and Matthew Genco mark their residency location on the big map.
Bryan Schatmeyer celebrates his residency match.
Dean Young congratulates the class.
M4 class representatives Sai Krishna Korada and Brian Hom salute the class.
Amythest Gauthier and Dan Kreatsoulas announce they've matched at The Ohio State University.
COM Recognizes its Commencement Hooders
Year after year, the graduating class selects eight faculty to bestow the doctoral hoods on the graduating students at the commencement ceremony. These are individuals who have demonstrated a deep commitment and support to the education and training of medical students throughout their career at NEOMED.

This year's commencement hooders are Julie Aultman, Ph.D., Thomas Boniface, M.D., Altaf Darvesh, Ph.D., Thomas Macabobby, M.D., Brad Moore, M.D., Dana Peterson, Ph.D., Debbie Plate, M.D., Daniel Wasdahl, M.D. Those hooders who were able to attend were recognized at the COM Match Day ceremony on March 16.
Dr. Tom Boniface
Dr. Altaf Darvesh
Dr. Julie Aultman
Student Spotlight- Natasha Kesav
Congratulations to M3 student Natasha Kesav who has recently been invited to participate in the Medical Research Scholars Program as part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) for the 2018-2019 school year.

"This is a very humbling opportunity that will allow me to cultivate a foundation in conducting biomedical and translational research. I am excited and honored to represent NEOMED in this prestigious platform", said Kesav.

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) Medical Research Scholars Program (MRSP) is a comprehensive, year-long research enrichment program designed to attract the most creative, research-oriented medical, dental, and veterinary students to the intramural campus of the NIH in Bethesda, MD.
Faculty Focus- Melinda Smith, M.D.
It turns out North Dakota isn't too different from Northeast Ohio, at least that is what NEOMED clinical faculty member, Dr. Melinda Smith thinks. Following her graduation from medical school at Creighton, Dr. Smith moved from North Dakota to Northeast Ohio to begin her OB/GYN residency at St. Elizabeth Medical Center in Youngstown. Thirty years later she is still here, having built a practice and career by developing personal connections with patients.

It's her approach with patients that makes her such a valuable mentor and teacher to NEOMED students. She handles the sometimes uncomfortable situations in a positive way.

"Students get to see the professional way she deals with patients on delicate subjects" says her practice manager, Peggy Pallotta. "She can be very direct in getting the information she needs to treat the patient- young medical students get an invaluable experience."
 
"It has been a great experience seeing the way Dr. Smith works with patients. The atmosphere here is totally different than that of a hospital setting", said M2 student Kiersten Olson who completed her PACE experience with Dr. Smith. 
 
Another big difference would be the use of paper charting. In a world transitioning to everything electronic, Dr. Smith and her team continue the use of paper- because it helps them "converse with the patients better."

"You can't write in the margins on a computer. There is information I collect from patients that isn't documented on an electronic chart- information that helps me connect with them and build upon our relationship", she said. "I've had some of these patients for over 20 years."

Along with educating students at her Youngstown practice, Dr. Smith is involved in Human Values in Medicine and Clinical Epilogue and Capstone. Working in education is just something she has always done, since her time as a resident, and is her way of giving back.

"The things you value, you take time for. I'm willing to lose office time for education- as an older physician I feel I should pay it forward," said Dr. Smith. 
Dr. Smith credits the success of her practice to her team- From left to right: Judy Lisko, Mary Ann Courtney, Peggy Pallotta, Dr. Melinda Smith, Dr.Jonathan Eucher (a NEOMED grad), Darlene Petrolla and Diane Moss.
College of Medicine Faculty and Staff Recognized
On Mar. 27, NEOMED faculty and staff were recognized for their outstanding service and achievements at the annual employee recognition ceremony.

College of Medicine faculty and staff were well represented with the following awards (pictured left to right):

  • Megan Storey-Workley, winner of the Mary Jane Kelly Award for Service Excellence.
  • Dana Peterson, Ph.D., winner of the Saltzman Community Service Award.
  • Lisa Cooper, Ph.D., winner of the Junior Faculty Award.
  • J. Ronald Mikolich, M.D., winner of the Liebelt-Wheeler Award for Faculty Excellence.
  • Rebecca German, Ph.D. winner of the Outstanding Research Award.

NEOMED Welcomes Dr. Ryan Palmer,
Associate Dean of Curriculum and Medical Education
Ryan Palmer, Ed.D., MFA joined NEOMED May 1 as the new Associate Dean of Curriculum and Medical Education. Dr. Palmer will be responsible for providing overall leadership and oversight for the curriculum to better support students and enhance their educational experiences.

Most recently Dr. Palmer was Assistant Dean of Educational Evaluation and Development and Associate Professor of Behavioral and Clinical Medicine at the American University of the Caribbean. Prior to that he spent 11 years as both a faculty member and administrator at Oregon Health and Science University.

Please join us in welcoming Dr. Palmer to the NEOMED family. His office is located in the Office of the Dean and Medical Education.
LCME Accreditation Update
  • The LCME institutional self-study process is moving along. The LCME self-study task force committee has begun meeting twice a month to review all the data collected, performance ratings and answers to the self-study questions for all of the standards.
  • The Student Impact Committee completed their Independent student analysis (with an incredible 95% response rate!).
  • The independent student analysis report has been disseminated to the student body, LCME self-study task force, college leadership and faculty.
Student Leadership Awards
Students were recently honored for outstanding leadership at the Student Affairs sponsored Student Leadership Awards on April 23. The event honored both medicine and pharmacy students as well as faculty involved with student organizations.
The American Academy of Family Physicians- Family Medicine interest group was awarded Student Organization of the Year.
M3 Student Hemant Reddy was awarded Medicine Peer Tutor of the Year.
COM Students Earn Bioethics Certificates
Congratulations to College of Medicine students who recently completed the nine-credit hour Bioethics Certificate Program:

Bhanu Banda
Markus Buchfellner
Mark Dalvin
Peter DeVito
Amythest Gauthier
Ian Klonk
Vinay Kruapdev
Shawn Mercer
Branavan Ragunanthan
Eric Westerbeck

They each presented on an ethical dilemma to university leadership. Read more about their individual presentations here.
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