Faculty & Staff News
The KPCOM’s Master of Science in Disaster and Emergency Management program ranked No. 10 in the United States in the Intelligent.com Best Master’s in Emergency Management Degree Programs for 2020 survey. Intelligent.com analyzed 146 schools, on a scale of 0 to 100, with only 50 making it to the final list.
Second-year student Oussama Benalla coauthored the article “Modeling Variability in the Inferior Vena Cava into Fenestrated Endografts for Retrohepatic Caval Injuries,” which was published in the January 2020 issue of the Journal of Vascular Surgery: Venous and Lymphatic Disorders.
Saamia Shaikh, J.D., class of 2020, was selected to serve on the Association of Women Surgeons’ Grants and Fellowship Committee. She also coauthored the article “Anticoagulant Prophylaxis in Patients with Traumatic Brain Injury: A Systematic Review,” which was published in The Journal of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery. She also coauthored two articles in the American Journal of Case Reports: “Pseudoaneurysm of the Thyrocervical Trunk Following a Superficial Stab Wound to Zone I of the Neck” and “Ballistic Axillary Vein Transection: A Case Report.” Additionally, she coauthored the article “Gunshot Wound of the Subclavian Artery: Successful Management with an Emergent Endovascular Stent Graft” in the International Journal of Surgery Case Reports.
Sweta Tewary, Ph.D., M.S.W., assistant professor of geriatrics and administrative director of the Geriatric Workforce Enhancement Program, coauthored the peer-reviewed article “Academic Advising Using Theoretical Approaches for Struggling Medical Students in Preclinical Years,” which will be published in the April issue of the Journal of the American Osteopathic Association. She coauthored the article with Jennifer A. Jordan, Ed.D., assistant dean of medical education; Arif M. Rana, Ph.D., Ed.S., M.S., M.P.H., M.A., chair of the Department of Health Informatics; and Bindu Mayi, Ph.D., M.Sc., professor of microbiology.
OMS-III Paul J. Spano II, M.S., coauthored the article “Thoracic Endovascular Aortic Repair Versus Open Repair: Analysis of the National Trauma Data Bank,” which was published in the January issue of the Journal of Surgical Research. He also served as lead author of the article “Anticoagulant Chemoprophylaxis in Patients with Traumatic Brain Injuries: A Systematic Review,” which was published in the January issue of The Journal of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery. It can be accessed at
OMS-I Andrew Ardeljan authored and presented several projects at the American Association for Hand Surgery 2020 Annual Meeting held January 8–11 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. They were “Increased Risk of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and Trigger Finger in Women Using Aromatase Inhibitor Medications;” “Medial Epicondylitis: Patient Demographics, Comorbidities, Setting of Diagnosis, and Reported Diagnosis and Surgical Trends Within a Large Insurance Database;” and “Tobacco Use Increases Risk of Medial Epicondylitis and Subsequent Surgical Intervention.”
The Institute for Neuro-Immune Medicine is proud to host the 2020 SHIELD Conference on February 28, 2020 from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m in the Rose & Alfred Miniaci Performing Arts Center . The 2020 Sustained Homeostatic Imbalance due to Environmental-exposure Linked to Deployment (SHIELD) Conference invites Gulf War Veterans and their caregivers to come and participate. This FREE conference offers Veterans the ability to connect with each other, learn about Gulf War illness and the life-changing research that we and fellow researchers are committed to pursuing, along with, a special guest panel of Operation Desert Storm/Desert Shield Advocates.
* For those who cannot attend, the event will be livestreamed. The livestream will be recorded and available to view any time after the event on the event page.
Questions? Please contact Zena Kirby at zkirby@nova.edu for more information.
NSU University School Upper School students in the NSU Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine (NSU-KPCOM) Fellowship have been participating in hands-on learning experiences under the guidance of NSU medical professionals. The Fellows recently participated in a suture demonstration led by Nicholas Lutfi, D.P.M anatomy department chair at the NSU Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine. Students received an overview of each surgical tool and learned proper suturing techniques. The Medical Fellows also had the opportunity to participate in a simulation lab led by Noel Alonso, MD and his medical students. Fellows learned how to take and monitor important vital signs, received a step-by-step intubation demonstration, and experienced a virtual reality childbirth simulation. These invaluable opportunities provide the knowledge and skills students will need as they continue to develop their passion for medicine and work toward a career in healthcare.
The Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine’s (KPCOM) Bachelor of Science in Human Nutrition program hosted site visitors from the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) on November 18 and 19. The program is seeking accreditation for a unique concentration that will offer students a professional outcome as registered dietitian nutritionists (RDNs).
Following the completion of a robust self-study by the KPCOM’s Department of Nutrition in August 2019, ACEND reviewers came to NSU to validate the findings. The visit included personal meetings with faculty members, administration, and senior leaders. Members of the program’s advisory board and representatives from areas of academic support at NSU also contributed.
While the official ACEND report is forthcoming, the program expects to begin this new specialization in the fall of 2020. Along with the Future Education Model Graduate program for RDNs, this second successful accreditation effort in two years builds a strong foundation for future practice and highlights the KPCOM’s Department of Nutrition as a unique provider of quality education in this field.
For more information, please contact Ioana Scripa, Ph.D., RDN, LDN, program director, at iscripa@nova.edu.
The Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine’s Master of Science in Nutrition program held its inaugural white coat ceremony for graduate student dietitians (RDNs) on November 13. Family members, faculty and staff members, and senior leadership enjoyed a touching ceremony to honor the students as they entered practicum training.
Lucille Beseler, M.S., RDN, LDN, CDE, former president of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, inspired everyone with a keynote address, challenging the students to champion excellence. Students were then welcomed into the profession of nutrition and dietetics as they proudly donned their new coats after taking a pledge to the academy’s code of ethics. The white coats displayed a new patch design, closely resembling that of the D.O. program, with a fun twist to showcase nutrition with an apple.
“The evening provided warm and fulfilling moments that captured why we do this,” said Stephanie Petrosky, M.S., RDN, LDN, FAND, program director and department chair. “We are proud of the hard work and dedication of our students and faculty members to this new program.”
The inaugural cohort of students in the RDN program are Sara Brobeck, Jessie Brownstein, Yasmin Chauan, Katie Emerson, Cassandra Evans, Angelica Green, Cara Milman, Christina Perez, and Luciana Perasso.
The Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine class of 2023 at the Fort Lauderdale/Davie and Tampa Bay Regional campuses brought out their mustaches as they participated in the month long Movember fundraising campaign.
Held every November, the organization that began in 2003 in Australia has become the leading charity for men’s health, with the goal of reducing the number of men dying prematurely by 25 percent by the year 2030. The Big Moustache on Campus competition aims to continue the efforts in the United States as college students participate in a fun and competitive way for the cause.
The first-year D.O. students got involved as they took to social media, where they posted photos with grown-out or fake mustaches, followed with a caption that included statistics and facts covering the main issues affecting men, such as mental health, suicide prevention, and testicular and prostate cancer. Through social media, contests, and support from the KPCOM Student Government Association, the college raised $9,224, ranking 16 out of 733 university teams and first in Florida.
While Capitol Hill never takes a break from its active life of politicians, tourists, and everyday citizens, the Capitol witnessed the arrival of another demographic as 26 teams of osteopathic medical students, representing the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine (AACOM), went to Washington, D.C., for the annual “COM Day on the Hill” event held October 17.
The AACOM event aims for osteopathic medical students to network, raise social media awareness, and voice their opinions to politicians regarding policies that directly affect medical students. NSU’s Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine was represented by two of its Student Government Association (SGA) leaders—Regina Zambrano, third-year student and SGA president, and Charles Bisbee, second-year student and SGA president-elect.
Hamzah Mughal
Hamzah Mughal, a class of 2023 NSU Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine student, was accepted into the National Health Service Corps (NHSC) Scholarship Program. NHSC scholars receive three benefits in exchange for providing primary care service in one its designated Health Professional Shortage Areas—full coverage of the scholar’s tuition for as many years designated in his/her contract; a monthly stipend to aid with living expenses; and reimbursement of the student’s other reasonable costs, such as required materials, lab fees, etc. Student physicians who are awarded this scholarship must pursue a residency program in any of the primary care fields designated by the NHSC.
In the early morning hours of November 24, the osteopathic profession and Nova Southeastern University’s Dr. Kiran C. Patel College (KPCOM) lost a beloved and respected leader when Howard Neer, D.O., FACOFP, passed away at the age of 90.
Neer, who joined the KPCOM in 1992 and served in various roles throughout his 25-year NSU career, spent nearly seven decades furthering the cause of osteopathic medicine both statewide and nationally. After being named associate dean of clinical affairs in 1992, Neer transitioned to his longstanding position as the college’s associate dean of alumni affairs in 1993. His NSU career culminated when he was named executive associate dean for professional affairs for the Health Professions Division.
During a career overflowing with accomplishment, Neer, a 1954 graduate of the Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine, became an impactful leader, becoming president of the Broward County Osteopathic Medical Association in 1960. He also served as president of numerous other organizations, including the Florida Osteopathic Medical Association in 1976 and the American Osteopathic Association in 1995.
Not surprisingly, Neer’s dedication to the osteopathic medical profession earned him innumerable accolades.
1986 – Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine Distinguished Service Award
1997 – Florida Osteopathic Association Physician of the Year Award
2001 – American Osteopathic Foundation Horizon Award
2001 – Florida Society of the American College of Family Physicians Lifetime Achievement Award
2007 – Florida Osteopathic Medical Association Lifetime Achievement Award
2007 – NSU Health Professions Division Distinguished Service Award
2016 – Broward County Osteopathic Medical Association Lifetime Achievement Award