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Hurricane Heroes

Challenging times often bring out the best in people. This was evident before, during, and after Hurricane Irma as many faculty, staff, and students took extra steps to ensure that neither wind, nor rain could dampen the FAU College of Medicine spirit. Dean Phillip Boiselle, M.D. noted in a recent message about the hurricane, "our core values of respect, resilience, and resourcefulness were highly evident. Many sacrificed their time and resources to go beyond the call of duty during this uncertain time." A few are featured in this special feature. Kudos and thank you to all the Hurricane Heroes! 
 
Protecting the Smallest and Most Vulnerable
 
It is a dedicated person who volunteers to spend three days and nights during a hurricane's onslaught to take care of more than a thousand mice, housed at the Jupiter Vivarium. Veterinarian technician, Sandy Anthony, spent her birthday caring for the vivarium during Hurricane Irma. Sandy said she loves animals and understands their importance in research projects. "I appreciated the opportunity to hunker down with them and take care of them."
 
Before Irma's arrival, Director of Comparative Medicine, Sylvia Gografe, D.V.M., Ph.D., and her team developed a plan to ensure that enough water and food were available for the animals, and an evacuation plan in place in case of a disaster. The vivarium did not suffer any adverse effects from the storm, and Sandy, just three months into her new 
position with the college, received tremendous praise for her efforts.  "I am lucky to have a terrific staff and the real hero is Sandy - our new vet tech," Dr. Gografe said.
 
Ensuring our Students' Success
 
Holly Labarca realizes how important the residency application process is for medical students. "This is what the students have been working towards during medical school," said Holly, who has been the assistant to Senior Associate Dean for Medical Education, Sarah Wood M.D., for two years.
 
Holly worked on the residency application project during the summer and was on target for uploading the Medical Student Performance Evaluations (MSPEs) for more than 65 students by September 15 deadline, until Irma disrupted the plan. Holly was concerned that the MSPEs would not be sent by the deadline and requested special access on September 13, while the University was still closed.   Holly was granted access and sprang into action, contacting medical students to complete their final evaluations. "Everyone was really responsive and I was able to upload the majority of the MSPEs by September 15," Holly said. "Dr. Wood was amazing and the students were all very appreciative and gracious, and I was very happy to do it." Holly's actions did not go unnoticed. "Despite the challenging and devastating circumstances with Irma, it was incredible to witness Holly's commitment and dedication to our medical students," Dr. Wood said.
 
It's All About the Prep
 
Hurricane preparation is key to minimizing damage during a storm. Assistant Director of Facilities, Debra Bradley, was challenged with ensuring that areas were protected prior to Irma's arrival, while everyday operations were continuing in labs and offices.
 
She credits Facilities Program Assistant, John Gabrielsen, for conducting office inspections to make sure that all computers and important papers were covered with plastic. This process was extended to unplugging and covering all the Common Lab shared equipment and answering questions from concerned faculty and students. "This was 
truly a team effort, and John should be recognized for his efforts," Debra said.
 
 
Medical Students Assist the Community During Hurricane Irma 
 
Amidst the uncertainty of Hurricane Irma, several medical students helped the community. Representatives of each class spearheaded a variety of initiatives to help hurricane-affected areas.
 
Fourth year student, Minh Quan Le, organized a relief drive for those affected in the Keys. A volunteer in Belle Glades, Minh has organized clothing drives in the past, working with various colleges and clubs at FAU. He reached out to his many contacts to request clothing, shoes, non-perishable food, and toiletries. Minh plans to start another relief drive for the homeless in Palm Beach. Such outreach elicited praise by Senior Associate Dean of Student Affairs and Admissions, Stuart Markowitz, M.D., who wrote, "You have brought a tear to my eye! It is students like you that keep my faith in our profession and in people."
 
Second year student, Elicia Goodale and first year student, Emmanuel Mcneely also adopted leadership roles by sending donation requests to fellow students, staff, and faculty, and by posting a fundraising campaign on Facebook.
 
Fourth year student Eithan Haim, was an integral part of a relief effort which included the collection, transportation, and distribution of more than 60,000 pounds of supplies including water, baby and hygiene products, and pet essentials to those severely affected by the hurricane in the Keys.The effort was multi-faceted including Eithan's family, and fellow medical students. They employed a Facebook alert to announce the Caring for the Keys Drive and within 12 hours, thousands of donations were collected. Initially, the supplies were flown into the Lower Keys by the charitable organization, Angel Flights, due to road closures. Eithan coordinated flights and collection efforts in Jupiter, Boca Raton, and Fort Lauderdale. Once roads re-opened, Eithan rented a truck to transport additional supplies to the Keys. When asked how he was able to coordinate such a well-organized drive, Eithan responded, "I am motivated by the personal belief that neighbors should always help neighbors." The Caring for the Keys drive's GoFundMe page is still open and collecting financial donations.   
 
Another Hurricane Hero, third year student, Bradley Gonik, spent more than three days assisting approximately 450 geriatric patients in the Special Needs Shelter at the Palm Beach Fairgrounds. Quickly earning the nickname, "Dr. Brad," he triaged patient admission, assisted with daily activities, answered medication questions, and provided assistance with basic health care needs. Bradley's actions impressed Constance M. Upshaw, R.N., M.P.H., community health nursing consultant at Florida Health Palm Beach County, who praised him in a letter to both Dean Philip Boiselle, M.D., and to Director of Clinical Education, Jennifer G. Foster, M.D., M.B.A. "He truly exhibited qualities of human compassion and caring during a very stressful situation," Constance wrote. "I have no doubt that Bradley Gonik will become an excellent doctor in the future." Bradley arrived when the shelter opened and did not leave until after the storm. "It was an amazing once-in- a lifetime experience and will have a lasting impression on me," Bradley said. "People were worried and needed someone to look after them. It was all about connecting with people, helping out, and making a difference."    
 
   
 
   
NIH Grant to Further Neuropsychiatric Disorders Research    
 

Alterations in a naturally occurring chemical in the brain called serotonin have been linked to a number of neuropsychiatric disorders including depression, anxiety, and obsessive-compulsive disorder, as well as autism spectrum disorder. Randy Blakely, Ph.D., executive director of FAU's Brain Institute and a professor of biomedical science in the College of Medicine, and his team, have been studying this mood-regulating gene in the brain that carries signals across the synapse.The supply of serotonin is tightly regulated by the serotonin transporter (SERT) and inappropriate shifts in SERT activity can have dramatic consequences.  
 
Dr. Blakely first identified and cloned the SERT gene about 25 years ago, and recently received a $2.3 million grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to continue his research efforts to gain a better understanding of how SERT is regulated. Through this research, Dr. Blakely and the team have pursued studies that can reveal critical insights into the mechanisms producing overactive SERT, changes that can drive diminished serotonin signaling during both development and in adulthood. Dr. Blakely's ultimate goal is to provide new ways of treating several widespread neuropsychiatric disorders associated with perturbed serotonin signaling.   
 
"Serotonin transporters are an important research subject because they are the target for the most commonly used drugs prescribed by physicians worldwide to treat depression," Dr. Blakely said. "By understanding how the brain can naturally turn serotonin transporter activity up and down, we may be able to develop more efficacious medications and ones with milder side-effects. We suspect that the study of inappropriately regulated SERT proteins during development may yield insights into pediatric onset behavioral disorders, such as autism, whereas an understanding of poor SERT regulation during adulthood may yield insights into mood disorders, such as depression."
 
Placenta-On-A-Chip: Microsensor Mimics Malaria in the Womb

 
Researchers from FAU are developing a first-of-its-kind 3D model that uses a single microfluidic sensing chip to study the processes that take place in malaria-infected placenta as well as other placenta-related diseases and pathologies. They have received a two-year, $400,000 grant from the National Institutes of Health to develop this technology, which will mimic the microenvironment of placental malaria, specifically, the maternal-fetal interface.
 
"There are a number of challenges in studying the biology of the human placenta in its natural form because of ethical reasons as well as accessibility," said Sarah Du, Ph.D., principal investigator of the grant and an assistant professor in the Department of Ocean and Mechanical Engineering at FAU. "That is why there is such a great need for a placental model that can be used for research purposes."
 
Dr. Du and her mentor and grant multi-principal investigator, Andrew Oleinikov, Ph.D., associate professor of biomedical science in the College of Medicine, developed a Placenta-on-a-Chip device using embedded microsensors. The device provides real-time monitoring of vascular cell well-being and nutrient circulation across the barrier between mother and fetus, and under the influences of the malaria parasite to see how it responds to various drug treatments.
 
"We want to advance the understanding of human diseases down to the single cell level and ultimately develop new treatments to combat devastating diseases like malaria," Dr. Oleinikov said. "I have been studying infectious diseases including malaria since 2004, and became interested in researching the cellular and pathological events that occur in women when they get infected with malaria, especially during their first pregnancy when both mother and fetus are most vulnerable." 
 
  Read the full article here... 
COM-Brain Institute Post-bacc Research Program   
 
L to R: students Max Rabil, Sarah Palumbo, Nadia Sial, and mentors Janet Robishaw, Ph.D., Ken Dawson-Scully, Ph.D., and Randy Blakely, Ph.D.
 
The FAU Brain Institute welcomes its inaugural class of post-baccalaureate Brain Institute Research Scholars. Students, Max Rabil, Sarah Palumbo and Nadia Sial, will pursue full-time research in the labs of mentors, Drs. Robishaw, Dawson-Scully, and Blakely, prior to entering the FAU College of Medicine as medical students.
 
The program has been developed in collaboration with the FAU Brain Institute and the FAU High School, with the support of Dr. Alan B. Aker, Dr. Anne G. Kasten Aker, and Dr. Patricia Anastasio. Additional support has been provided from the FAU High School for the College of Medicine/FAU High School MD Direct Pipeline Scholarship Fund.  
 
"We plan to grow the Post-Bacc program to provide mentored research experiences for talented college graduates heading into graduate and other professional pathways, as well as medical school, in the coming years," said Dr. Blakely, executive director of FAU's Brain Institute and professor of biomedical science in the College of Medicine. "We are
delighted to partner with the MED DIRECT Program in the Colleges of Medicine and Science and with FAU High to initiate our Post-Bacc program. In future years, we see our program offering research opportunities to talented college graduates heading to graduate school, and other professional programs, as well as to medical school."
 
Medical Students Work on Trauma Clinical Research Project at Delray Medical Center     
 
The Level 1 Trauma Center at Delray Medical Center annually admits approximately 1800 severely injured patients from Palm Beach County. An important part of the Trauma Department's work is to conduct clinical research. The ultimate goal is to deliver the most advanced treatment options to admitted patients. Trauma research has lead to new medical devices, improved guidelines for physicians or nurses, next generation medications, and revised surgical techniques. The dissemination of knowledge and sharing of innovative technologies promotes a safe and healthy lifestyle that benefits the local community and improves quality of life. 
 
The Trauma Department at Delray Medical Center recently welcomed student researchers from FAU's College of Medicine to conduct trauma related clinical studies that would deliver treatment options to potential trauma patients. Several of our medical students participated in the program. Jeffrey Katz worked on a project related to Palliative Care Treatment in Trauma Patients with Richard Teitzman, D.O., H.M.D.C. and Susan Koff, A.R.N.P., A.C.H.P.N. and was assisted by volunteer, Alex Tymchak, a neuroscience major at FAU. Eric Picard worked on a Rib Fracture project and Biomedical Engineering student, Joanna Wycech, assisted with statistical analysis.    
 
Under the leadership of Medical Director of the Level 1 Trauma Center and Assistant Clinical Professor at FAU's College of Medicine, Ivan Puente, M.D., F.A.C.S., has been actively involved in trauma research throughout his career and facilitated the mentoring of our medical students. In addition, the Director of Trauma Services, Maggie Crawford, R.N., M.S.N., C.C.R.N., C.E.N., and Trauma Research Director, Alexander Folkin, M.D., Ph.D., supervised the students with their projects, teaching them fundamentals of clinical research and offering valuable advice for a variety of trauma scenarios.   
 
Faculty Member is Appointed to VA Geriatrics and Gerontology Advisory Committee     
 

Professor, Senior Associate Dean for Geriatric Programs, and Chair of the Integrated Medical Science Department for the College of Medicine, Joseph Ouslander, M.D., was recently appointed to serve as 1 of only 13 secretarial appointees to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Geriatrics and Gerontology Advisory Committee. As a Special Government Employee appointee, Dr. Ouslander will serve in this position through September 2021.
 
The VA Geriatrics and Gerontology Advisory Committee is a congressionally mandated oversight committee to advise the Secretary of Veterans Affairs and Under Secretary for Health on issues related to the care of elderly Veterans, including assessments through an evaluation process of site visits of the VA Geriatric Research, Education, and Clinical Centers' performance in fulfilling their mandated missions. In addition to assessing VA health care facilities, the committee seeks to respond with the most effective and appropriate services to fulfill the medical, psychological, and social needs of older Veterans, to advance scientific knowledge by enhancing geriatric care for older Veterans through research, to train health personnel in the provision of health care to older individuals, and to develop improved models of clinical services for older Veterans.
 
Dr. Ouslander's international recognition as a prominent geriatrician represents expert authority for serving on the VA Advisory Committee. Among his many achievements and contributions to the field of geriatric medicine, is the creation and dissemination of Interventions to Reduce Acute Care Transfers (INTERACT), a quality improvement program that assists long-term care facilities and programs in improving care, and reducing unnecessary hospitalizations and their related complications and costs.
 
"The VA has been at the forefront of meeting the need for health professionals trained to care for our growing geriatric population since the mid 1970's. I was fortunate to receive a fellowship in Geriatric Medicine based at UCLA and Geriatric Research, Education, and Clinical Center (GRECC) at the Sepulveda VA from 1979-1982," Dr. Ouslander said. "Serving on this Committee will allow me to give back to the VA and also provide advice on how to continue the tremendous work of the 20 VA GRECCs."
 

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