May SOM eNews

A Note from Dean Cavalieri

Although the University-wide Commencement celebrations were cancelled due to severe weather, we were privileged to welcome the great leaders, colleagues and friends of SOM who were scheduled there to, instead, join us at the SOM and GSBS Commencement ceremony. It was truly an honor to have them join us as we celebrated our graduates of the Class of 2022.

AROC 2022 was another great event. Following a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic, we were able to meet and learn in-person with our fellow physicians and alumni. This was a particularly memorable event as it marked the installation of Dr. Stephen Scheinthal as President and Dr. George Scott as President Elect of NJAOPS.

Stay strong and be safe,

Thomas A. Cavalieri, DO, MACOI, FACP

Dean

Congratulations, SOM and GSBS Class of 2022!

One hundred ninety-seven Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine graduates from SOM joined the 49 graduates from GSBS, five of whom earned Doctor of Philosophy degrees, on the University Green in Glassboro on May 9 for our annual Commencement celebration.

Though the cold wind and rain from a late-season Nor’easter canceled the University Commencement Ceremony, the SOM/GSBS ceremony benefited from the addition of some of that ceremony’s scheduled elements, including keynote remarks from Mr. Dennis Pullin, President and CEO of Virtua Health and the Conferral of the Honorary Doctorate Degree for Dr. Barbara Ross-Lee, President of the American Osteopathic Foundation (AOF). Other notable features of our ceremony include the presentation of the University Medal of Excellence Award to Mr. Dennis Pullin, and the SOM Medal of Excellence Award presented to Dr. Martin Finkel, founding Director of the CARES Institute.

The Class of 2022 graduates have shown great resilience and flexibility, having spent nearly half of their post-graduate educational journeys in a pandemic-driven environment. Notable highlights of the graduating classes include:

Fourteen prior graduates of GSBS received their DO degree during the ceremony.
Members of both classes were instrumental in the development, administration and operation of the Rowan Medicine Vaccination Center that administered more than 60,000 COVID-19 vaccines last year. Many also participated in volunteer efforts for the community, including support for the SOM-led COVID-19 New Jersey Medical Student Coalition.
We are grateful to the contributions that several student leaders made to help advance the school’s commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion.
Many students were First-Generation students, and are the firsts in their families to graduate from college. These students faced unique challenges to not only graduate from college, but to earn their Master’s, PhD, or DO degree.
Seven military graduates will soon be promoted in the military as a result of earning their DO degrees, four of whom are pursuing residencies at military medical centers.

View the recorded ceremony >>>

SOM Community Gathers at AROC

The 2022 Atlantic Regional Osteopathic Conference (AROC) kicked off on April 27 at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City. The multi-day conference, hosted by New Jersey Association of Osteopathic Physicians and Surgeons (NJAOPS) gives the osteopathic community an opportunity to attend various educational sessions and continuing education programs, as well as to network with peers and special interest groups.

For the first time since 2019, SOM was able to host alumni, faculty, students, staff and guests at a reception and awards presentation that Thursday evening. We were pleased to present the following awards:

Dean’s Special Recognition Award to Dr. Hetal Patel ’10, Past President of NJAOPS
Alumni Association’s Distinguished Service Award to Dr. Andrea Iannuzzelli, immediate Past President of SOM Alumni Association
Student DO of the Year Award to Student Doctor Anjani Patel ‘22
Dr. David Bollard installed as president of the SOM Alumni Association

Dr. Stephen Scheinthal Installed as NJAOPS President

Congratulations to Dr. Stephen Scheinthal, professor and chair of the Department of Psychiatry, on his installation as President of the New Jersey Association of Osteopathic Physicians and Surgeons (NJAOPS) at this year’s AROC gathering. Dr. Scheinthal is the first psychiatrist to hold this position.

In his welcoming message to AROC attendees, Dr. Scheinthal stressed the importance of “unity” in helping health care professionals meet the challenges of the pandemic. He added that NJAOPS will be key in fostering unity among its members “…in promoting a vibrant, expanding, and effective osteopathic presence in the 21^st century health care continuum.”

Also at AROC, Dr. George Scott, the Campus Associate Dean for SOM-Sewell, was formally installed as the NJAOPS President Elect.

NJAOPS is the sixth largest state affiliate of the American Osteopathic Association, and represents the interests of osteopathic physicians, residents, interns and medical students. Founded in 1901, NJAOPS is one of the most active medical associations in the state.

Graduates Feted at Awards Dinner

On Tuesday, May 3, RowanSOM and GSBS hosted the annual Graduation Awards Dinner at Lucien’s Manor in Berlin. The event featured the presentation of academic and service honors to the members of the class of 2022 from both the School of Osteopathic Medicine and Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences. The evening also featured special honors and presentations, including the Donna Jones Moritsugu Award, the Golden Apple Awards, a Military Commissioning Ceremony, and the Distinguished Alumnus Award.

Congratulations to all of our award recipients!

Large Federal Grant to Dr. Joanna Petrides to Improve Police Encounters

The Rowan University School of Osteopathic Medicine has received a three-year, $550,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Justice - Office of Justice Programs to develop and implement the Crisis Outreach during Police Encounters Response System (Project COPE) in partnership with the Atlantic County Sheriff’s Office.

Project COPE’s goal is to improve outcomes during encounters between law enforcement officers and individuals with mental illness or co-occurring mental illness and substance abuse. Dr. Joanna Petrides of the Department of Family Medicine will lead this vitally important initiative.

Congratulations, Dr. Petrides!

More information on Project COPE >>>

Scholarship Luncheon Celebrates Students and Donors

We were excited to once again host our annual Scholarship Luncheon at Lucien’s Manor, celebrating students and honoring our generous donors. More than $432,000 in scholarships and more than 110 awards were awarded to student doctors this academic year.

We are so grateful for the ongoing generosity of our many donors that include alumni, faculty and friends of the medical school, and are fortunate that the number of scholarships continues to grow as our class size expands.

Celebrating the Legacy of William F. Ranieri, DO

Faculty and staff, along with Dr. Ranieri’s family, friends and colleagues, met for an afternoon celebration honoring the legacy of Dr. William Ranieri, founding chair of the Department of Psychiatry. Faculty and staff, along with Dr. Ranieri’s family, friends and colleagues remembered the many professional and personal contributions Dr. Ranieri made to psychiatry, SOM clinical and training programs, and to the medical school. Many of the physicians who Dr. Ranieri trained in Psychiatry joined the occasion to unveil his portrait that now hangs proudly in the Department of Psychiatry office in Mount Laurel.

Medicine Ball Returns for 2022

More than 600 students and guests shared a wonderful evening at The Merion in Cinnaminson for the 2022 Medicine Ball on April 9. After a two-year hiatus, attendees enjoyed assorted appetizers, food stations, desserts, a DJ, and two photo booths complete with props. This annual event is coordinated and supported by Student Council (STUCO).

A special ‘thank you’ goes out to Student Doctor Alan Chung, STUCO and the Med Ball Committee for their hard work coordinating this year’s event.

Departments Unite for Earth Day Clean-up Effort

The Offices of Student Affairs & Alumni Engagement, Risk Management, and Facilities participated in an Earth Day clean-up on April 29. Staff and students worked together to remove litter from the pond behind the Academic Center parking lot and surrounding area.

Thank you to Student Doctors Stephen Poos and Ayesha Gurnani for helping to coordinate this event.

Save the Date! RowanSOM's Drive for Scholarship Returns September 18

Join alumni, students, faculty, staff and friends at RowanSOM’s Drive for Scholarships, Sunday, September 18, 2022, at Ramblewood Country Club, Mt. Laurel, NJ. This event includes a continental breakfast and registration at 8 am, a shot-gun start at 9 am, and concludes with a buffet lunch at 2 pm.

The scholarships, which are awarded annually by the RowanSOM Alumni Association, provide valuable assistance for deserving students who are in financial need and provide service to the community.