Tag: Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine

Dateline Health Episode Featuring Osteopathic Medicine Faculty Duo Wins Telly Gold Award

 

Dateline Health, NSU’s public service television show hosted by Frederick Lippman, R.Ph., Ed.D., chancellor, Health Professions Division, special projects, won the People’s Telly Gold prize in the 41st Annual Telly Awards competition for the episode “Coronavirus Update.” Being selected as a Gold Telly winner is the standard bearer of excellence in the industry.

“It is a tremendous honor to be selected as a recipient of the People’s Telly Gold award in such a competitive industry,” said Rita Silverman, M.P.S., Dateline Health executive producer. “I have produced many episodes with topics close to my heart during the past 15 years. However, being able to raise awareness and provide an unbiased and informative presentation about COVID-19 in such a timely manner to the public was a win in itself.”

The award-winning episode was taped on February 3 when there were only 11 reported cases in the United States. The episode aired on February 17—two weeks before the first confirmed cases in Florida were reported.

Lippman, who determines the topics discussed on Dateline Health, is innately inquisitive about emerging health concerns, techniques, and innovations. Consequently, when he learned in mid-January that COVID-19 had reached the United States, he decided to tape a segment to enlighten the public. Two faculty experts within the KPCOM were then solicited to share their insights—Bindu Mayi, Ph.D., M.Sc., professor of microbiology, and Naushira Pandya, M.D., CMD, FACP, professor and chair of the Department of Geriatrics.

“This is what drives us every day to give our best—the desire to educate our community on infectious disease threats and how our citizens can prevent getting infected,” said Mayi, who has previously appeared on Dateline Health to discuss the Zika virus, sepsis, and flesh-eating bacteria. “It is gratifying and immensely satisfying that Dr. Lippman recognized the enormity of COVID-19 as it was just beginning to unfold.”

Dateline Health—a six-time Telly Award recipient—is a 30-minute program dedicated to promoting the community’s overall health and well-being. The Telly Awards honor high-caliber stories created by the world’s best agencies, production companies, animation studios, television stations, and more.

“​What the Dateline Health episode underscored was not only an early awareness of the potentially serious impact of COVID-19 in the United States and worldwide, but also the need for preventive measures at a community and health care level,” Pandya explained. “It is very important that we continue to keep the quality of compassionate patient care and safety in the forefront.”

International Medical Outreach Club Donates $5,000 to Broward Health Foundation

Pictured, from left, are the IMOC Executive Board members: Roger Mendez (treasurer), Nadia Anderson (first-year representative and vice president-elect), Neil Sood, Marianne Cortes (first-year representative and president-elect), Benjamin Smith (vice president), and Diana Chan (secretary).

The KPCOM’s International Medical Outreach Club (IMOC) Executive Board displayed its compassion by donating $5,000 to the Broward Health Foundation. The funds were donated to provide COVID-19-related support in the Broward County community.

“Although our club is typically internationally minded, the IMOC Executive Board recognized the need to provide assistance right here in our community, and this was the best way we could think to make a difference,” said second-year student Neil R. Sood, IMOC president. “This donation will be instrumental in protecting frontline health care providers, as well as making sure each patient gets the best care possible.”

Pictured, from left, are the IMOC Executive Board members: Roger Mendez (treasurer), Nadia Anderson (first-year representative and vice president-elect), Neil Sood, Marianne Cortes (first-year representative and president-elect), Benjamin Smith (vice president), and Diana Chan (secretary).

KPCOM Faculty Receives $90,000 Grant

Naushira Pandya, M.D., CMD, FACP, professor and chair of the Department of Geriatrics and project director of the college’s South Florida Geriatric Workforce Enhancement Program, received an additional $90,000 in funding from the Health Resources and Services Administration for nine months to promote COVID-19 telehealth education among the community and providers. The primary focus areas are prevention, preparation, and response.

In addition, Pandya served as lead author of the article “Challenges and Strategies for Managing Diabetes in Long-Term Care,” which is in press and will be published in an upcoming issue of Diabetes Spectrum.

KPCOM Takes Action in COVID-19 Aid

The KPCOM OMS-I Class Board and SGA Executive at the Fort Lauderdale/Davie and Tampa Bay Regional campuses raised more than $16,000 to purchase FDA-approved personal protective equipment (PPE) for Florida hospitals in need. They also purchased supplies to make about 100 care packages for the families of health care workers affected by COVID-19. The care packages which were delivered to a local hospital, consisted of pasta, pasta sauce, popcorn, cough drops, tissues, playing cards, coffee, and thank-you cards.

“As soon as quarantine really began, we were all very eager to help out in any way we could,” said OMS-II Charles Bisbee, SGA president-elect. “I think as students in the field of medicine, we have an understanding of the hard work and tenacity that is required of the frontline health care providers in the fight against COVID-19.”

Part of what also made the project such a success was the involvement of students outside of the D.O. program. By including NSU’s Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Allopathic Medicine, along with various clubs and organizations, the original goals of raising funds and creating care packages were quickly surpassed. Social media efforts with fun Tik Tok videos further boosted morale while raising awareness.

“Our KPCOM, alongside our M.D. school, collectively raised more than $16,000 in our initiative to help provide PPE for health care providers, provide COVID-19-affected patients the funds for uncovered expenses, and to help provide care packages for the families of health care providers affected by COVID-19,” said OMS-I Aneil Tawakalzada, class of 2023 president. “This was an incredible accomplishment that truly helped illustrate how willing our student body is to get involved and to help make a difference. Our medical students at NSU are truly remarkable.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

Initial RDN Cohort Creates Virtual Community Resource Page

 

Because the COVID-19 pandemic has created educational challenges, the first cohort of graduate student dietitians (RDNs) in the Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine’s Master of Science in Nutrition program made use of online resources to produce a virtual community resource page.

The initiative began as a response to the suspended practice rotations where RDN students would be doing their first supervised practicum in community and population health in community sites. Rather than just doing readings and modules, faculty members looked at giving students intentional and relevant assignments to provide real-world experiences.

Currently, many health care and community nutrition organizations have utilized virtual options to serve their populations. As a result, creating a project that compiled a community nutrition resource web page made a lot of sense, with the goals of offering a variety of nutrition resources, including fact sheets, recipes, short videos, and links to community partners who provide nutrition services—all while using evidence-based references.

As mentors for the next cohort of students, the inaugural RDN class will provide support and guidance to maintain the web page. All students taking the Foundation of Community Nutrition course each fall, and the RDN students taking the Community and Population Health Practicums course in the winter, will continue to add to the content, as well as update and maintain the web page.

“This has been a great collaborative project for our RDN students, who have exceeded the expectations of faculty members and themselves,” said Melinda Luis, M.S., RDN, LDN, adjunct faculty member and community practicum coordinator.

To view the web page, visit osteopathic.nova.edu/ms-nutrition/community-nutrition-resources.html.

2020 Osteopathic Medicine Graduates Participate in Virtual Oath Ceremony

It was a full-circle moment for the Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine class of 2020 graduates. Four years ago, the class of 2020 students donned their white coats for the first time as they recited their oath of commitment to the osteopathic profession. On May 15, the new graduates took part in a virtual ceremony as they recited the osteopathic oath, with more than 600 participants in attendance via Zoom.

The ceremony began with remarks from George L. Hanbury II, Ph.D., NSU president and chief executive officer, and Elaine M. Wallace, D.O., M.S.4, KPCOM dean. Award recipients and slideshows featuring the graduates and Match Day celebrations also served as highlights, as the graduating class marked another academic accomplishment before entering residency.

Bindu Mayi Wins Professor of the Year STUEY

Bindu Mayi, Ph.D., M.Sc., professor of microbiology, won the Professor of the Year Award at the 22nd Annual NSU Student Life Achievement (STUEY) Awards presented at a virtual ceremony on April 23. For those unfamiliar with the STUEY Awards, the event was created in 2000 to honor the people and organizations that best exemplify the NSU Core Values of academic excellence, student centered, scholarship/research, integrity, innovation, opportunity, diversity, and community.

“I am honored to receive this award, and I am grateful to be recognized for something I absolutely love doing,” said Mayi, who enjoys interacting with her students. “My congratulations to the winners in the other categories and to all the nominees. It is a privilege to be counted among them.”

In addition to her dedication to her students, Mayi has been a valuable asset to NSU and the South Florida community during the COVID-19 pandemic. During the past few months, Mayi has been a go-to expert for many media outlets and has been featured in the Sun Sentinel, on Local 10 News, and in many other publications and news programs.

While the event is traditionally held in true Academy Awards style with photographers, festive receptions, and speeches, this year’s virtual ceremony reminded the NSU community that despite the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the university would continue to function smoothly.

Other nominees representing the KPCOM with distinction were

  • Student of the Year – Regina Zambrano
  • Executive of the Year – Hilda De Gaetano, D.O., M.S.
  • Alumni of the Year – Carisa Champion, D.O.
  • Graduate Organization of the Year – American Medical Women’s Association
  • Corporate Partner of the Year – Werner Kahn Studios

NSU Distinguished Alumnus Guides Hospital and Community During COVID-19

Randy Katz, D.O.  continues to carry the NSU value of service in several leadership roles during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Katz, a graduate of the Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine, serves as Chairman of Emergency Medicine at Memorial Healthcare Systems. He leads a team of 300 nurses and 32 doctors while also serving as lead medical consultant for the City of Hollywood COVID-19 task force.

Early on in the spread of the COVID-19 virus, Katz worked with his team at Hollywood Memorial Regional Hospital to prepare their operations for potential patients. In addition to having protective equipment and suitable procedures in place, it was equally important to address the significant mental impacts that would follow.

He shares how the intrusiveness of the protective gear and overall distancing led to the psychological challenges in his staff.

“Nurses and physicians break down and have difficulty getting through the day. Some elderly patients are very sick and we, as their healthcare providers, know that they’re dying. They are so lonely; it is difficult for everyone to witness that,” he said.

“What keeps me going is that the decisions that we make as an emergency department potentially save thousands of lives. […] Emergency physicians are typically not scared; we are problem-solvers. This challenge is an opportunity to fix a problem,” Katz said.

When considering the risks of working as a leader in an emergency department during the COVID-19 pandemic, Katz highlighted the importance of letting go of his own fear, as he is also a husband and father of three.

“I have to show confidence, leadership, preparedness, and protocols to reassure them [his team] and, that way, assist them in doing the right thing,” Katz said.

Among his many roles, Katz advises the community on health issues as medical director for the City of Hollywood and associate medical director for the City of Pembroke Pines. He also educates future physicians as associate professor in several universities including NSU, where he established the Randy S. Katz, D.O. Changing Lives Scholarship.

“The community has sacrificed a lot to save our healthcare systems and, as healthcare providers who have been the beneficiaries of those sacrifices; it is our obligation to give back,” he said.

Reflecting on his time as an NSU student, he remembers how valuable his experience was because of the bonds he built with other physicians and stays engaged with the university.

“The school has grown so much with its international ties and how it’s become a research center,” he said. “That’s what keeps me connected to it.”

Katz also hopes to pave a way for future healthcare leaders at his alma mater.

“Medical school is expensive, wherever you go,” he explained. “There are a lot of bright kids who would choose NSU if they had the financial ability. If there’s anything I can do to help those kids achieve their dreams, I will.”

Randy Katz, D.O. was honored with the NSU Distinguished Alumni Award in 2018. He received his Doctorate of Osteopathic Medicine from KPCOM in 1999.

Learn about the Distinguished Alumni Awards and Changing Lives Scholarships at NSU.

 

 

 

 

Nutrition Manual for NSU Student Athletes Published on NSUWorks Website


 

The Department of Nutrition is proud to announce the published results of a student-led writing project—the Nutrition Manual for NSU Student Athletes. The publication targets freshman athletes who are new to campus and provides helpful information with examples of energy requirements, macronutrients, meal timing and campus dining options, snack ideas, eating on a budget, and travel ideas.

From strength training to endurance running and everything in between, the manual can help students put good nutrition to work in sports performance and general wellness. Steve Orris, M.Ed., NSU assistant athletic director for sports performance, initially proposed the collaboration to help student athletes in strength and conditioning programs.

The nutrition manual group project was overseen by Marilyn Gordon, Ed.D., RDN, CSSD, LDN, KPCOM assistant professor and course director for Advanced Sports Nutrition. It was created by enthusiastic graduate nutrition students Kaitlin Flaskerud, RDN, LDN, lead editor; Katie Emerson, B.S.; Stephanie Fonseca, B.S., NASM-CPT; Angel Marquez, B.S.; and Alejandra Velandia, M.S.

Special thanks goes to NSU’s Writing and Communication Center, which helped shape the manual into a great resource. The nutrition manual is available to download on the NSUWorks website at https://nsuworks.nova.edu/hpd_com_faculty_articles/1581/ .

 

Bachelor of Science in Human Nutrition Receives Candidacy for Accreditation

The Bachelor of Science in Human Nutrition program received candidacy for accreditation from the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics on March 19. The B.S. in Human Nutrition program will now offer undergraduate students a professional outcome as nutrition and dietetics technicians, registered.

The decision followed an extensive peer review of self-study documents, as well as a site visit. The program will begin this new specialization option in the fall of 2020 by offering 15 seats to interested candidates. Students who enter the approved professional practice pathway will take specified courses and gain 300 hours of supervised experiential learning.

Joining the Future Education Model Graduate program for registered dietitian nutritionists, this second successful accreditation achieved by the KPCOM in two years highlights the Department of Nutrition as a unique provider of quality education and training in this field.

 

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