Tag: Diversity

Hispanic Student Dental Association Chapter Places Second

From left, Dr. Liliana Mosquera, vice president and faculty adviser of the Hispanic Dental Association Florida Chapter and Selena Sanchez , the chapter president of NSU’s Hispanic Student Dental Association.

Nova Southeastern University’s College of Dental Medicine Hispanic Student Dental Association (HSDA) won second place in the 2023 Orgullo Scholarship Competition at the Hispanic Dental Association (HDA) Student Regional in Chapel Hill, N.C., on Sept. 23, 2023, and were awarded $2,000.

This HSDA Student Chapter program and competition is designed to accomplish two important goals:  Outreach and Recruitment.  In order to participate, each student chapter must accomplish a minimum of two activities.

  • Crest Oral-B Community Outreach Program:The outreach program can be geared toward any age group, from pre-elementary to senior citizen. The outreach portion of the competition is designed to be a delivery of services such as oral screenings and oral health education (for example, providing patient education services at a community health fair).
  • Hispanic Dental Association Recruitment Program:The recruitment portion of the competition is recommended for middle school or high school students.  The object of this program is to encourage young Hispanics to strive for a career in dentistry.  This can be accomplished during the same outreach programs discussed above or at specific events such as high school career days.

For some background about this scholarship, Orgullo means “Pride”. The vision for this scholarship sponsored by Crest & Oral-B, is to celebrate and recognize student chapters of the Hispanic Dental Association that share their pride and commitment to the pursuit of excellence in preventative dental education and patient motivation.

For the contest, students developed a video of about three minutes long demonstrating oral hygiene instructions, caries prevention, and nutritional counseling. The NSU video beat out projects by six other dental schools’ students.”

Posted 10/08/23

Health Science Alum Shares HIV Work at Fast-Track Conference

Donrie Purcell, Ph.D., M.P.H.

Donrie Purcell, Ph.D., M.P.H., presented his HIV work at the Fast-Track Cities 2023 conference, which took place on Sept. 25-27, 2023, at the RAI Amsterdam Convention Center. Organized by the International Association of Providers of AIDS Care (IAPAC), in collaboration with the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), his presentation was titled “Examining the Health Equity of Health Systems, Policy, and Data Gaps for People Living with HIV: The Health Equity Tracker.”

The presentation focused on his endeavor to address the significant gap HIV incidence, particularly in the southern United States, with a specific focus on Georgia and Louisiana. To tackle this challenge, he and colleagues developed a powerful tool known as the Health Equity Tracker (HET) at the Satcher Health Leadership Institute. What sets the HET apart is its ability to provide a more comprehensive array of metrics and insights compared to conventional choropleth maps.

HET is equipped with practical features, including comparison tools, enabling users to assess and contrast different locations and diseases. It also allows for customized reports tailored specifically for vulnerable communities, such as black women. Purcell says he firmly believes that making this data readily accessible to a wide audience, including patients, community organizers, physicians, and policymakers, will play a pivotal role in advancing health equity for individuals living with HIV across the United States.

Purcell holds a Ph.D. in Health Science from NSU, accompanied by an M.P.H in Epidemiology. Beyond his research endeavors, Purcell imparts his expertise in epidemiology as an adjunct assistant professor at Yeshiva University and Nebraska Methodist College. Additionally, he has taken on the responsibility of educating emerging healthcare leaders on the critical legal aspects of the healthcare domain.

Currently based at the Satcher Health Leadership Institute at Morehouse School of Medicine, he actively contributes to advancing health equity through his involvement with the Health Equity Tracker. This multifaceted commitment exemplifies his dedication to underrepresented communities and resonates with NSU’s ethos of impactful scholarship and community advocacy.

Posted 10/08/23

Health Care Sciences Faculty to Speak at Kenyan Conference

Kamilah Thomas-Purcell

Kamilah Thomas-Purcell,  Ph.D., M.P.H., M.C.H.E.S, an associate professor at the Dr. Pallavi Patel College of Health Care Sciences in the Department of Health Sciences, will speak on behalf of the Cancer Stigma, Cervical Cancer Screening and HPV Vaccination during the plenary session.

The plenary session is titled: “Fostering Team Science and Global Oncology Research: Highlights from ongoing AC3 Collaborative Projects at the 8th Bi-annual African Caribbean Cancer Consortium Scientific and Training Conference.” The event is scheduled on Oct. 11-14, 2023, at the Pride Inn Paradise, Hotel, Shanzu, in Mombasa, Kenya.

The 2023 conference theme is “Community to Molecular Approaches in Early Screening and Diagnosis to Promote Equitable Outcomes Through the Continuum of Care in Cancer Among Populations of African Ancestry”, https://ac3online.org/program-overview.

Posted 10/08/23

Dental Students from 2 Campuses Deliver Services in Tenn.

Forty-one students from the D-4 Davie campus and D-3 students from Tampa Bay and Davie took the trek to East Ridge Tennessee for an incredible Remote Area Medical Mission on Sept. 9-10.

Our Assistant Dean of Community Programs and Public Health was joined by our amazing faculty Mauro Mesko, Luis Paes de Barros, Augusto Duarte, and our second-year PG oral and maxillofacial resident Alexander Takshyn.

The students and faculty compassion, caring, clinical skills, and understanding of underserved populations were evident throughout the mission. A special thanks to RAM and Dean Steven Kaltman for his unending support and our wonderful celebration dinner.

Together we served almost 400 patients and provided close to $300,000 in donated dental care.

Remote Area Medical is a major nonprofit provider of free pop-up clinics. Their mission is to prevent pain and alleviate suffering by providing free, quality healthcare to those in need. They do this by delivering free dental, vision, and medical services to underserved and uninsured individuals. They have provided care across the world at over 1500 events.

These Outreach experiences provide an opportunity for dental students and reaffirm NSU core value of “Community” and help to:

  • Develop a broad understanding of the community and social responsibilities they will have as Dental Professionals.
  • Treat a diversity of patients with a variety of oral health care needs.
  • Enhance their clinical skills.
  • Participate in inter-professional learning experiences.

In the words of RAM founder Stan Brock, “Never forget the Mission.”

Posted 09/24/23

NSU Celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month Sept. 15-Oct. 15

National Hispanic American Heritage Month, also known as Hispanic Heritage Month, Latino Heritage Month, or Hispanic Latinx Heritage Month, is celebrated yearly from September 15 to October 15. At NSU, Hispanic Heritage Month is an opportunity to honor the achievements and cultures of American citizens whose ancestors hailed from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America. NSU enjoys its cultural diversity and is proud to be a leader in providing higher education to minorities and Hispanics. NSU is also number one in providing doctoral degrees and first professional degrees to Hispanics.

Many events feature music, dance, food, and guest lectures with notable experts across campus. These are rich cultural, learning, and family fun events being sponsored and organized by committed NSU community members across NSU. We encourage you to attend them all; most events are FREE and open to the NSU Community and Public.

Posted 09/22/23

Powerful Film Documents Lynching of Rubin Stacy, Oct. 3

This documentary film, directed and produced by Tenile Brown, looks at history through the eyes of Anne Naves, the niece of Rubin Stacy. Anne recounts the events that led up to the lynching of Rubin Stacy.  There is power in this story.  There is an even greater power in telling untold family stories. There is a release for the kindred who are connected by blood and the community that holds space for them.
The Nova Southeastern University Alvin Sherman Library, Research, and Information Technology Center has a unique partnership with the Broward County Board of County Commissioners to provide access to its resources not just for NSU students, faculty, and staff but to anyone living, working, or going to school in Broward County.  As a university library and cultural center, the library has something for everyone.
Click here for more information and to reserve tickets.
Ticket must be presented for entry. Limit of two tickets per transaction.

Posted 09/18/23

BEDI Council Members Visit Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki Museum

BEDI Advisory Council members visit the Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki Museum, home to a collection of items related to the Seminole Indians.

On Saturday, August 26, 2023, seven members of Nova Southeastern University’s Belonging, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (BEDI) Advisory Council toured the Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki Museum on the Big Cypress Seminole Indian Reservation.

NSU staff and faculty members Arkene Levy, Eileen Petzold-Bradley, Jessica Valenzuela, Jennifer Berne, Lisa Quinn, Sarena Williams, Laura Ramirez, and Arnetta Pierce were guided by Seminole Tribe Member Van V. Samuels, the museum educator, through the museum and a mile-long walk along a boardwalk through the Everglades

BEDI Advisory Council members gather on the Seminole Tribe’s “Ceremonial Grounds Kitchen,” an open-sided structure made from palmetto and cypress.

All the council members expressed their gratitude to learn more about the Seminole people and experience their rich cultural and historical ties to the Southeast and Florida.

Members of the NSU’s BEDI Advisory Council are taking steps to foster outreach initiatives and building an authentic process of establishing a land acknowledgment dialogue with the various indigenous communities in the locations of each NSU campus. This includes being a “Tree Island” corporate sponsor, where NSU will be listed on their website and be able to attend other events such as the upcoming American Indigenous Arts Celebration (AIAC) in November.

Future initiatives will include inviting representatives from the Seminole Tribe of Florida to visit NSU and attend special educational events at NSU including Native American Heritage Month and the annual Diversity Summit planned for April 2024.

Find out more about upcoming BEDI Events here.

Posted 09/10/23

Shark Cage Event Showcases Latest Student-Run Businesses

On Friday, Sept. 1, the Huizenga Business Innovation Academy held its Shark Cage Grand Opening event at the Shark Cage and Mako Hall Lawn. The event provided an opportunity for students to showcase NSU’s newest student-run businesses.

The businesses offered delicious food, amazing products, and beneficial services. You can expect to see these business circulating around campus this semester.

Posted 09/10/23

New NSU Policy Accommodates Preferred Names/Pronouns

NSU strives to foster a campus environment that is inclusive and encourages self-expression, built on the principles of everyone treating each other with respect, dignity, and civility. The university recognizes that some members of our community may wish to use and be addressed by a name other than their legal name. Under the new Preferred Name/Preferred Pronoun policy, students, faculty, and staff will be able to formally choose to identify themselves within the NSU community with a Preferred Name that differs from their legal name and/or with Preferred Pronouns. 

Members of the NSU community will be able to designate a Preferred Name in addition to their legal name and their Preferred Pronouns at any point, and there will be no limit on the number of times a Preferred Name or Preferred Pronouns can be changed. However, Preferred Names cannot be used for the purpose of misrepresentation, to avoid legal obligations, or in any manner that is inconsistent with NSU policy or federal, state, or local laws. 

The designation of a Preferred Name and/or Preferred Pronoun will be an automated process that will typically be reflected in applicable NSU information systems and records within 24 hours of submission. 

NSU is not mandating that any individual affirm another’s gender identity, only that they demonstrate respect and politeness to those individuals who have selected a Preferred Name and/or Pronoun by addressing them as such. 

Business Professor Takes Expertise on Road During Summer

For many of NSU’s faculty, summers aren’t all rest and relaxation. Instead, these consummate professionals serve as true ambassadors for the university, spreading their expertise to broader audiences. Albert Williams, Ph.D., Chair and Associate Professor of Finance and Economics at the H. Wayne Huizenga College of Business and Entrepreneurship, is one such faculty member.

Over the summer, Williams appeared on two television shows and made presentations at three primary schools in his home country of Belize. In June, he was interviewed live by Love TV in a one-hour segment. (Love TV is the No. 1 TV station in Belize.)  Williams and Love TV hosts, Rene Villanueva and Troy Gabb, had a lively and thought-provoking discussion on the economics of poverty and possible solutions.

Williams focused on education as a key solution to break the cycle of poverty. He discussed the need for micro-financing and the strengthening of private and public sector institutions that target this segment of the population. He emphasized the need for agricultural extension officers to provide a more comprehensive approach to help the rural small farmers.

“They should include recommendations for production, storage, marketing, management, financing, and education in general,” he said. “Extension officers could speak to the spouses and children of the farmers to get a better picture of the total situation of the family.  This way, a comprehensive approach could be used to improve their lives and break the cycle of poverty.”

Williams also encouraged entrepreneurs to consider creating more labor-intensive businesses to be able to hire more people from this segment of the population. He combined his talk with a little entertainment, playing his guitar for the audience as well.

In his second one-hour TV interview, Williams spoke about the importance of education in his life, in a effort to encourage and motivate others to pursue an education. Williams started the discussion by playing original tunes on his guitar and discussing some tips to play the guitar. Then he sat down with Villanueva and had a candid conversation about education and success.

Williams emphasized the importance of hard work and discipline for academic and life success, and he discussed the importance of setting goals. As the conversation turned to the importance of getting a basic education, Williams agreed with Villanueva that we should not be failing 12-year-olds in primary school but finding a way to help them to succeed.

“These television presentations are an extension of my classroom,” Williams said.

Williams made presentations at three primary schools (Punta Gorda Methodist, Forest Home Methodist, and Little Flower (Catholic)) in Southern Belize. His presentations focused on motivating and encouraging students to continue their education in high school or technical school. Students had a chance to ask questions during the visits. At the end of the presentations, Williams asked students what they learned, and many raised their hands and responded with answers such as, “Work hard,” and “Never give up.”   In addition to the question-and-answer sessions, Williams serenaded the students with his American Fender Stratocaster.

Williams said he enjoys his opportunities to be an envoy for education in his home country.

“I’m living the mission statement for the H. Wayne Huizenga College of Business and Entrepreneurship, “Best for Our World™,” he said.

Posted 08/27/23

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