Category: Health Care

Alumnus Finds Passion Through Public Health Leadership

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Hill

NSU graduate Robert Hill

With more than 200,000 alumni across 50 states and in 119 countries, NSU graduates are making an impact worldwide. Master of Public Health alumnus Robert Hill is making his mark in South Florida.

“Through my personal experiences, I knew that the field of public health makes a difference to people’s lives,” said Hill, vice president of community impact for the American Heart Association. “I had struggled with obesity and my father passed away from a heart attack, so I find it so rewarding that I get to work every day to try to make people’s lives healthier.”

Hill’s career at the American Heart Association and previously the YMCA of South Florida has focused on health and wellness. He credits NSU for providing the skills and expertise he uses to connect with the people in his community.

“My relationship with NSU is important to my professional success in public health and how effective I am at communicating with people in a way that will inspire better health through knowledge,” he said.

Hill considers it a “gift to work with families and young children struggling with health issues and give them options or create environmental changes so that they can be more empowered to make healthier choices.”

From advocating statewide change to emergency response operations to working with at-risk youth, Hill brings his message into a world where he hopes to make a difference. And that includes his alma mater, where he is often invited to speak with students and share his personal and educational journey.

The experiences that inspired Hill are unique, and he knows everyone has their own story. With his refined ability to connect with people, he works every day to improve lives in his community. That’s what attracted him to NSU.

“Passion and community are really the most important things to me,” he said. “At NSU, I found the support, the leadership, and incredible faculty that gave me the opportunity to succeed far beyond the classroom.”

NSU Receives Funding for Early Detection of Breast, Other Cancers

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From left, President George L. Hanbury, Pharmacy Dean Michelle Clark, U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, and President-Elect Harry Moon

The university has received $963,000 from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to help detect genetic differences among women that may make some more vulnerable to cancers and other diseases.

“I am thrilled to announce these federal dollars headed to Nova Southeastern University for the purchase of cutting-edge instruments that will be used for the early detection of cancers and other diseases,” said breast cancer survivor U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, who presented the check to NSU.

Disparities in health outcomes based on ancestry are well-established and, for most of today’s major diseases, show people of African ancestry suffer worse outcomes. African American women have a 41 percent higher breast cancer death rate than white women, even though their incidence of breast cancer is four percent lower. Other cancers and major diseases show the same trend.

“These funds will support critical research to help us recognize and understand genetic differences and enable doctors to intervene sooner with treatments,” said Dr. Harry K. Moon, president-elect, executive vice president, and chief operating officer of NSU.

Dr. Michelle Clark, dean of NSU’s Barry and Judy Silverman College of Pharmacy, noted NSU is well-positioned for this research, as South Florida is a community with a rich blend of people representing multiple cultures, countries, and socioeconomic groups.

“Through genetic and other analysis, NSU scientists will explore how differences among people at the cellular level may contribute to their likelihood to develop cancer and other diseases,” she said. “Understanding our differences will lead to better diagnoses as well as better treatment options and outcomes.”

NSU Alum Takes His Education to Health Care Heights

Remart clinic

Jean Louis gives patient Daniel Fils-Aime a checkup.

Step into the office of Renaud Jean Louis, and you’ll find a wall dominated by NSU degrees – a bachelor’s in nursing, a master’s in public administration, a second master’s in nursing, and a graduate certificate in adult-gerontology acute care nurse practitioner.

With the education and knowledge accumulated over the years, Jean Louis has built a successful health care business dedicated to helping underserved populations learn about and benefit from preventive health care. Many of his patients are from the Haitian community.

“One of my instructors told me, ‘Don’t just come to NSU and take the diploma and hang it at your house. Go out there and make a difference in your community,’” he said. “It’s a statement that I never forgot.”

Since 2020, the Remart Medical Clinic in Hollywood, Fla., has provided a spectrum of services, from immunizations and annual physicals to treatments for addiction and mental health diagnoses.

Jean Louis operates the clinic with business partner Martine Phillips, also an NSU graduate. With their combined dual certification in nursing and psychiatry, the clinic focuses on medical and mental health issues.

“We both saw the struggle of working families when it comes to seeing health care providers, because many don’t have insurance or fail to get annual checkups,” said Jean Louis. To help with accessibility, the Remart Clinic is open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., six days a week.

Despite his academic achievements, education did not come easy to Jean Louis. Raised in Cap-Haïtien, Haiti, he was one of seven children raised by a single mother.

“She was my role model, my inspiration and my hero,” said Jean Louis. “One thing she believed was that a proper education could open any door for us.”

Jean Louis studied economics in Haiti before coming to the United States, where he earned degrees from Miami Dade Community College and Florida International University, then NSU.

“I can sincerely say that NSU is my backbone and made me who I am today,” he said. “Do not be afraid to use your knowledge in any community that you will find yourself in in the future.”

Get Ready for Flu Season at On-Campus Pharmacy

Pharmacy

NSU makes it easy to get vaccinated with our on-campus NSU Health Pharmacy in the Sanford L. Ziff Health Care Center (University Drive and SW 30th Street). Appointments are recommended (call 954-262-4550), but walk-ins are welcomed. The pharmacy staff can address any concerns or questions about the flu and COVID-19 vaccines, fill prescriptions, provide medication counseling, and schedule other vaccines. At the full-service pharmacy, you can also purchase over-the-counter medications and supplies.

“The seasonal flu vaccine is recommended for everyone over six months of age,” said Goar Alvarez, Pharm.D., C.Ph., FASCP, assistant dean of Pharmacy Services at the Barry and Judy Silverman College of Pharmacy.

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The flu vaccine and COVID-19 vaccine and boosters have been formulated to protect you against this year’s anticipated viruses and variants. To save time, you can get flu and COVID vaccines during the same pharmacy visit.

Many health insurance plans cover the annual flu shot as preventive care. The same is true for COVID shots. Most NSU employees receive a 10% discount for on-campus pharmacy services when they present their Shark Card ID. NSU Health works with many health insurance plans. Check with your insurance carrier for coverage specifics.

“We offer a traditional community pharmacy with a ‘white glove touch,’” Alvarez said. “We’re focused on taking care of our faculty and staff.”

The Office of Human Resources is collaborating with the NSU Pharmacy and ICUBA to provide free seasonal flu shots to all faculty and staff enrolled in an ICUBA medical plan.

HCA Healthcare Invests $500,000 in Nursing Simulation Lab

Nursing studentHCA Healthcare recently announced it will give $500,000 to NSU to help establish a clinical simulation lab in support of its new nurse anesthesiology program. This gift is part of HCA Healthcare’s $10 million pledge over three years to Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and Hispanic-serving institutions.

“It’s been a long-standing point of pride that our nursing programs – and NSU overall – have such a dedicated and diverse student population,” said Stefanie La Manna, dean of NSU’s Ron and Kathy Assaf College of Nursing. “This investment from HCA addresses an important need to provide cutting-edge technologies for our nursing students in the ever-changing health care environment. These advances will ensure the effectiveness of these future professionals who will be better able to provide the very best care to their patients and who are so essential in meeting the need for excellent nurses here in Florida and across the country.”

According to the American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology, the anesthesiology workforce may experience a shortage of about 12,500 providers by 2033. To help combat this, NSU is developing a nurse anesthesiology program. This gift from HCA Healthcare will support the faculty and equipment, including clinical simulation labs required to set up nurse anesthesiology training at NSU’s Palm Beach and Fort Myers campus locations.

“As one of the nation’s leading health care providers, we understand the importance of building up the next generation of caregivers,” said Sherri Neal, chief diversity officer of HCA Healthcare. “It is our honor to work with Nova Southeastern University as we make strides to address nationwide caregiver shortages.”

Classified as a research university with “high research activity” by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, NSU – a Hispanic serving institution – is one of only 50 universities nationwide to also be awarded Carnegie’s “community engagement” classification.

“We are excited that HCA Healthcare is partnering with NSU for the worthy goal of providing our nursing students with a state-of-the-art learning space that will help prepare them for all the challenges they will face in the field,” said NSU President and CEO George L. Hanbury II.

HCA Healthcare and its East Florida Division have a longstanding relationship with NSU.

“Investing in education and advanced training is essential for the future of health care,” said Charles Gressle, HCA Healthcare’s East Florida Division President. “This important initiative represents a significant step forward in our mission to foster excellence in medical training and to support the next generation of health care leaders.”

Click here to watch video of NSU nursing student.

NSU Offers Variety of Mental Health Resources

Students connect on campus.

Whether you’re an administrator, faculty, staff, or student, the start of a new school year can often be stressful as people come off summer break and prepare for the challenges ahead. Managing and maintaining good mental health is crucial – and NSU offers many resources to help.

Stay alert to warning signs of stress and more serious mental health challenges – both in yourself and others:

  • Sleeping less or more, or sleeping in the daytime
  • Irritability, sadness, or anxiety
  • Not showing interest in prior activities
  • Not finding pleasure in things that were enjoyable in the past
  • Lack of appetite
  • Weight changes
  • Poor self-esteem
  • Sense of being overwhelmed
  • Thoughts of suicide or self-harm

If you or someone you know needs support, NSU has mental health resources available.

Resources for NSU faculty, staff and students:

Resources to help NSU students:

Music Students Create Original Music for Mako Media Network

Music students in the Department of Communication, Media, and the Arts recently created original music for Mako Media Network, including introductions and transitions for Mako TV and Mako Radio. Songs featured on Mako TV included music for four different segments: the news intro, Sports Update, Sharks on the Street and Health Update. The music created for Mako Radio will be incorporated into future podcasts.

“This whole experience was a really great opportunity for my students, not just to have a chance to do something creative and original, but also because they had to work on a deadline,” said Bill Withem, the assistant professor of music. “Plus, their music had to satisfy Mako Media Network, which was basically our real-world client throughout the process.”

Posted 04/08/24

DO/MPH Student Awarded Good Skin Knowledge Grant

Marina Handal, a third-year Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine and Master of Public Health student, has been awarded a 2025 Good Skin Knowledge grant from the American Academy of Dermatology.

Her project created a four-module lesson plan using arts and crafts to teach students about skin health and sun safety at the Fuller Center in Boca Raton, Fla. Handal and her sister, Jenna, a senior biology major in the Halmos College of Arts and Sciences, built models of the skin, drew pictures of the sun and created UV bracelets that changed color with sun exposure.

“We feel very humbled to have represented NSU public health through this service activity,” the sisters said. “We are thankful to our mentors from public health who have set fantastic examples of what it means to be an active team player in the community.”

Posted 04/07/24

Students Attend Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences Conference

From left, Laila Horton, Associate Professor Grace Telesco and Justin Campbell

Justin Campbell and Laila Horton, students in the Fischler College of Education and School of Criminal Justice, attended an academic conference through a sponsorship from professionals in the criminal justice field.

They attended the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences Conference and the Alpha Phi Sigma annual meeting in Chicago. It was an opportunity to learn, network and build connections in the field of criminal justice.

The students hosted a discussion where they shared their insights on how they revitalized the Alpha Phi Sigma chapter at NSU.

The trip was made possible by a donation from the Broward County Chiefs of Police Association Foundation. The conference was a first for Horton and Campbell. Associate Professor Grace Telesco accompanied the students. Telesco also spoke during the conference on the preliminary findings of her study on the 2018 shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla.

Posted 04/07/24

USchool Robotics Teams Prepare for World Championships

The NSU University School Upper and Middle School robotics teams won the state championship and are now preparing for the world championships. This marks the third consecutive state championship victory, elevating the program to Dynasty level—the highest achievement a robotics program can attain. Five University School robotics teams will be participating in world championships for the 11th consecutive time.

Learn more about NSU University School’s college preparatory program for students in preschool through 12th grade at www.uschool.nova.edu.

Posted 03/17/24

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