A Note from Dean Cavalieri Our remarkable year of growth continued this month as we broke ground on the Cumberland County campus of Rowan College of South Jersey for a new Rowan Medicine building that is scheduled to open in January 2024. That growth reflects the confidence our university and elected officials have in SOM and in Rowan Medicine to provide for the needs of patients throughout the region. Their confidence is continually reinforced by the achievements and accolades, like those noted below, of our talented and dedicated faculty, students and staff.   Stay strong and be safe,    Thomas A. Cavalieri, DO, MACOI, FACP Dean

Here We Grow! Rowan Medicine Expands into Cumberland County School of Osteopathic Medicine and University officials, along with Rowan College of South Jersey and the Cumberland County Board of County Commissioners joined with NJ Senate President Steve Sweeney to celebrate the groundbreaking of the new Rowan Medicine Center–Cumberland on October 5.  The new two-story, 17,354 square-foot medical facility will be dedicated to the health and psychological well-being of children and families in Cumberland county and the surrounding region. The building will focus on three clinical service areas: Rowan Integrated Special Needs Center, the NeuroMusculoskeletal Institute’s (NMI) Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) program, and the Child Abuse Research Education and Service (CARES) Institute.

Dr. Kevin Overbeck Appointed Department Chair, NJISA Director Kevin Overbeck, DO was appointed as Chair of the Department of Geriatrics and Gerontology and Director of the New Jersey Institute for Successful Aging (NJISA), effective October 11. Dr. Overbeck assumes both roles from Anita Chopra, MD, who had a 16-year tenure as NJISA’s director.  Dr. Overbeck is also an Associate Professor within the department, and has served in administrative roles as Vice Chair of Education and Program Director for the Geriatrics Family Medicine fellowship. He is credited for significant contributions to the continued growth and development of NJISA.

Dr. Joanne Kaiser-Smith is AOA Mentor of the Year This year’s OMED conference was conducted virtually, but that did not dampen our excitement in learning that Dr. Joanne Kaiser-Smith, the Associate Dean for Graduate Medical Education, had been selected as the Mentor of the Year by the American Osteopathic Association. She was nominated by Dr. Simona Eng who lauded Dr. Kaiser-Smith’s passion for teaching and for motivating others to “give back to the medical profession through mentorship and education.” Congratulations, Dr. Kaiser-Smith!

Hope One Mobile Van Now Provides More Access On October 12, the NMI hosted a visit from the Hope One Mobile Van, sponsored by the Atlantic County Sheriff’s Department. The NMI and the Sheriff’s Department are partnered in a grant to provide substance abuse services and overdose prevention training in Atlantic County. During the October 12 visit, Rowan’s IRT staff performed an audit that allows the Hope One Van to provide a mobile hot spot, allowing homeless individuals a way to access their mental health providers and substance use treatment via telemedicine.

Simulation Center Open House Highlights New Technology More than a year after it originally opened, SOM’s Simulation Center offered both in-person and online tours and demonstrations at a hybrid Open House on September 29. Visitors had a chance to experience equipment and technology demonstrations that highlighted the capabilities that students will use throughout their education. The 15,000+ square foot facility features ambulatory and hospital themed exam rooms with attached observation areas for standardized patient and simulator experiences. There are six new human patient simulators, including adult, pediatric, and pregnant/birthing models. The center’s state-of-the-art audiovisual equipment and data software allow for capturing and replaying of simulation events, as well as teleconferencing and live streaming of activities.

Remembering Dr. William Ranieri, Professor Emeritus and Founding Chair With sadness, we share the news of the passing of William Ranieri, DO on October 19.  Dr. Ranieri was the founding Chair of the Department of Psychiatry, where he developed the third-year clerkship and an AOA-accredited Psychiatry residency program. A beloved physician leader and faculty member at SOM for over 33 years, Dr. Ranieri made significant contributions to the school’s mission and vision. He also served as Associate Dean for Clinical Affairs, and became Professor Emeritus in 2016. He received numerous accolades during his career, including the SOM Founder’s Award, Rowan University’s Distinguished Service Award and the AOA President’s Citation Award. A longtime advocate of supporting medical students, Dr. Ranieri, along with his wife, established a scholarship benefitting fourth-year medical students who wished to pursue psychiatry. For more information, visit the secure giving site.

Diversity Week Enlightens and Educates RowanSOM's IDEA Council hosted its annual Diversity Week from October 18 to October 22. The events of the week included exploring mental health care during the COVID-19 pandemic, LGBTQIA+ populations, religion in health care, women in medicine, and more. Many clubs helped to plan and co-host Diversity Week events and are listed below. A special thank you to IDEA Council for planning a fantastic week filled with enlightening and educational events. Thank you to the following clubs:  American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin Allies in Medicine Association of Muslim Medical Students American Medical Women’s Association Christian Medical and Dental Association Jewish Osteopathic Medical Association Latino Medical Student Association Student National Medical Association The Black Collective

Heather Glenn Selected PROFessional of the Month SOM Department of Psychiatry Education Coordinator Heather Glenn was named Rowan University’s PROFessional of the Month for September. Heather manages the educational outflow for the department, requiring coordination with more than 10 hub sites and the department’s staff of residents. Heather’s nomination cited her many skills and personal attributes and her contributions to the Psychiatry Department’s mission and initiatives. You can read more about Heather’s award here.

We All Scream for Ice Cream! The Office of Student Affairs and the Office of Public Safety hosted an Ice Cream Mixer for all students for a fun way to cool off and relax on a particularly warm October day. Students were treated during their lunchtime to ice cream from a Mister Softee truck outside of the Academic Center. Our Public Safety officers were on the scene to share a cone and a game of corn hole with our students! All ice cream treats were completely free for students, including ice cream cups, cones, sprinkles, popsicles and more!

Outdoor Movie Night Features UP In September, the Student Wellness Committee and the Office of Student Affairs & Alumni Engagement hosted an outdoor movie night, featuring Pixar’s UP. More than 50 faculty and students attended the event, and enjoyed cotton candy, popcorn and soft drinks sponsored by SOMA and FitDocs. ROMA also participated in the event by creating a beautiful selfie station for guests.

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