A man walks into a New Jersey emergency room in pain from an enlarged prostate. A resident physician orders a catheter, standard procedure for the patients condition, and discharges him with medical instructions until he can follow-up with a specialist.

While the early career doctor officially did everything right, the doctor unofficially overlooked important aspects of the patients life that led to an adverse outcome.

The patient didnt have health insurance. He was an undocumented immigrant, didnt speak much English, and may not have had a clear understanding of how to manage a catheter at home. A visit to the specialist who could remove it cost money he didnt have. When he attempted to return to his job, his employer said he couldnt work in his condition.

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So he ripped out the catheter himself, causing an infection and kidney damage. The patient returned to the hospital, and doctors said hed need surgery to permanently resolve his enlarged prostate, but it never happened.

Despite enormous work and investment by our social worker and all the doctors here, we could not get him that surgery, recalled Dr. Marygrace Zetkulic, internal medicine residency director at Hackensack University Medical Center in New Jersey and associate professor at the affiliated Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine, which launched in 2018. This is because our system allows for emergency care but has no mechanism for nonemergency care that would prevent a hospitalization. Eventually he was lost to follow up.

Scenarios like this are all too common.

But Hackensack Meridian is part of a growing number of medical schools on a mission to train a new generation of doctors to identify pertinent nonmedical factors in patients lives in order to address them in their treatment plans, and ultimately to advocate for equitable health policies.

The medical schools curriculum does this by exposing medical students to the gravity of social determinants of health, the conditions in the environments where people are born, live, work and age. Those factors impact 80 to 90percent of health outcomes, according to the National Academy of Medicine.

The New Jersey medical schools mission focuses on social accountability, and informed the creation of the schools core curriculum and structure.

An immersive longitudinal course called Human Dimension drives the curriculum. Starting in their first semester, students are paired with a family in the schools service area, and consistently interact with them in clinical, community and home settings throughout their time at the medical school.

The determinants of health come to life for these students because they see how all of these other factors are impacting the health and well-being of their family, said Dr. Miriam Hoffman, vice dean for academic affairs who co-founded the Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine. One of the outcomes of this is that students are incredible problem-solvers.

Theyre not afraid to look for problems, which we find in many seasoned doctors who are afraid to ask these questions because they think theres nothing they can do about it. Our students realize theres actually a lot they can do about it.

With the help of the medical schools novel community programs unit, students are trained to identify the goals and needs of the families with whom theyre paired and help them in accessing support beyond direct medical care, such as transportation, food or medical equipment.

Additionally, a group of eight medical students is paired with a faculty mentor and matched with a local municipality to outline a systematic community assessment which involves geospatial mapping, meeting with community leaders and service-learning work to determine the communitys specific health challenges. That assessment informs a required community health project, in which students work with their assigned community partners to address identified challenges.

Its all part of an effort to prepare future doctors to consider the nonmedical factors at play with a patient well before they become medical residents charged with making important decisions about patients care.

We get taught how to manage an enlarged prostate, Dr. Zetkulic said. But the complex social things that have to be in place to manage that after they leave, you dont get taught. You dont know how to manage it, and you dont even anticipate it.

Dr. Tanner Corse graduated from Hackensack Meridians medical school in 2022 and is now in a combined internal medicine and pediatrics residency at Indiana University School of Medicine. He said Hackensack Meridians advocacy-focused curriculum prepared him for the position. Many of the patients he treats at a federally funded clinic on the southwest side of Indianapolis are poor and live in food deserts.

It made me look outside of what is going on only within the persons body and the clinic where Im seeing them, he said. It made me think much bigger. Theyre here for 30 minutes, but what are they going to deal with in the other hours, days and months they arent at the clinic?

Although Hackensack Meridian, which graduated its first class of 18 doctors in 2021, had the luxury of building its mission-driven curriculum from scratch, a paper published earlier this year in The Clinical Teacher, shows that its social accountability-driven mission and curriculum is replicable at other medical schools.

A number of other medical schools, including those housed at Boston University, the University of Chicago and the University of California, San Diego, also focus on health equity and advocacy, which has become increasingly popular over the past decade.

Between 2013 and 2020, the number of medical school courses covering policy or advocacy jumped from 696 to nearly 1,200, according to the American Association of Medical Colleges curriculum inventory.

Corse believes most medical schools will offer a curriculum similar to Hackensacks advocacy-centered approach in the next 10 to 20 years. Not only will that help deliver more comprehensive care to patients as the nation grapples with a physician shortage, it could also inform health policy.

The approach of the school helps develop people with an inclination to make change outside of the clinic, too, said Corse, who recently traveled to Capitol Hill to advocate for more funding for primary care providersa specialty in high-demandamong other health care initiatives. If I had gone to another school, I dont know if I would have that same passion for advocacy.

But training doctors to also be advocates isnt currently baked into the curriculum at most medical schools. While most offer at least one advocacy course, the majority are elective and vary widely in scope and content, according to a 2021 paper published in the journal Academic Medicine.

The Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME), which accredits U.S. medical schools, includes a curriculum mandate for teaching about the social determinants of health, but doesnt specify format, content or measurable achievement goals. The LCMEs standards also exclude required advocacy or health policy training, according to a study published in the Journal of General Internal Medicine earlier this year.

The Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME), which accredits residency programs, endorses a general commitment to advocacy, but published advocacy curricula in surgical specialties are sparse, according to the study.

Advocacy instruction is more common in training for primary care-oriented specialties, and it varies by program. Its especially prevalent in pediatrics residencies, which are required by the ACGME to include specific training on advocacy skills; Advocacy instruction is mandatory in 37percent of family medicine residencies. Only 3percent of psychiatric residencies provide any advocacy training, and about 54percent of internal medicine residencies offer no advocacy training.

Seventy-twopercent of the 276 programs surveyed cited a lack of faculty expertise in advocacy, which the study said was the most reported barrier to implementing an advocacy curriculum among internal medicine residencies.

Dr. Kelly McGarry, one of the papers co-authors and director of Brown Universitys internal medicine program, which has included advocacy in its curriculum since 2012, said she may have shied away from medical advocacy work if she had to learn about teaching it on her own.

If everyone else around me feels that way, then no curricular innovation related to advocacy is going to get off the ground, she said, recalling that the advocacy piece of Browns curriculum was first launched by a group of residents before she took it over in recent years.

This is not a skill people learned a decade or more ago, and most faculty were trained more than a decade ago McGarry said, hypothesizing that the rise of social media and other information technology over the past 15 years has illustrated the consequences of health disparities to a wide audience and built momentum for training doctors to advocate for large-scale change.

We need more junior faculty, to push more medical schools to integrate advocacy work into their core curricula, she said. They have come along at a different time, where advocacy in the role of the physician is now expected to be largely part and parcel of what we do.

Thats how the UC San Diego School of Medicine, which first opened in the 1960s, came to implement a longitudinal course on healthy equity this past academic year.

In the late 2010sbefore the pandemic and protests related to the murder of George Floyd sparked national conversations about long-standing health disparitiesa group of medical students pushed the schools administration to infuse more health equity and advocacy content into its curriculum.

Dr. Betial Asmerom, now a resident physician at UCSDs combined internal medicine and pediatrics program, was one of those students. She grew up in East Oakland, California watching her mother, who is originally from Eritrea in North Africa, receive substandard medical care for a life-threatening health condition.

Those experiences eventually motivated Asmerom to pursue medical school, but she was frustrated by a concept many medical schools still teach known as race-based algorithms, which reinforces the idea that different races have inherent biological differences. Critics have argued such algorithms are relics of Americas racist history and can cause doctors to overlook the social determinants influencing a patients condition, resulting in inequitable care.

Theres so much more that contributes to someones health than the immediate health care needs in front of them, Betial said. Thats the power of these types of curriculums. Part of it is that we challenge future physicians to think more critically and ultimately get people more involved in advocacy.

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Training future doctors to be health equity advocates - Inside Higher Ed

Starting with the Class of 2028, matriculating students at Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine will receive special training during orientation that is specific to suicide awareness.

Called safeTALK, the four-hour training is designed to equip people to be more alert to someone thinking of suicide and better able to connect them with further help. Officials said it will help the future physicians when working with patients and each other.

Training will be delivered by members of the spiritual care team at Corewell Health William Beaumont University Hospital in Royal Oak.

SafeTALK training sessions have been held at OUWB previously, but making the training mandatory is new, said Berkley Browne, Ph.D., associate dean, Student Affairs.

As aspiring physicians, its important for our students to get exposure to having what can be a really uncomfortable conversation early on, she said.

Not only for their future patients but for themselves and each other as a class community.

SafeTALK is a special training program created by Calgary-based LivingWorks.

According to its website, safeTALK helps trainees learn how to reach out to someone thinking about suicide and help them keep safe by promptly connecting them to further support.

Training sessions include presentations, facilitated discussion, and skills practice; videos that illustrate what happens when signs of suicide are overlooked, and how trainees can contribute to safe outcomes when these signs are heard and addressed; opportunities to further explore organizational applications of the training, and more. (Sessions always include a second trainer, too, in case trainees need additional support.)

One thing weve learned from doing these sessions is that suicide has touched everyones life in some way, shape, or form, said Bridget Theodoroff, a chaplain at Corewell Health and co-trainer, safeTALK.

Having these workshops expands the toolkits that health care providers have and thats important because were not only people who are at work or school, but live in communities, she said. Having a broader set of skills can help build safer communities.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in 2021, someone died by suicide every 11 minutes in the U.S.

Yet some believe that medical schools havent done enough to prepare students on the topic.

A January column in The Washington Post drew recent attention to the issue.

Medical students often ill-equipped to help suicidal patients was written by a trio of faculty from Florida International University.

Because of the stigma surrounding suicide, medical schools do not equip up-and-coming doctors with the language, comfort and skills needed to recognize it and properly address it with their patients, wrote the authors.

But OUWB is doing something about it, according to Ven. Kevin Hickey, spiritual care manager, Corewell Health William Beaumont University Hospital, and manager, Clinical Ethics, Corewell Health East.

First, he said, the topic of suicide is incorporated into the schools Medical Humanities and Clinical Bioethics (MHCB) curriculum. Its also a part of the schools Promoting Reflection and Individual Growth through Support and Mentoring (PRISM) longitudinal course.

However, OUWB officials and students wanted to go further, said Hickey, which is where safeTALK comes into play.

According to Hickey, Browne and Ann Voorheis-Sargent, Ph.D., director, Center for Excellence in Medical Education, caught wind of the safeTALK training his team was doing for health care providers at Corewell in Royal Oak.

That coincided with an idea brought forth by Riya Chhabra, rising M3, and a member of the AAMC Organization of Student Representatives. The idea was to offer mental health training in the same way medical students practice CPR or first aid.

Working with Hickey, Browne, Voorheis-Sargent, and Chhabra developed a plan to offer OUWB medical students voluntary safeTALK training sessions.

OUWB medical students showed up and the program has proven effective.

Chhabra, Browne, Shivapriya Chandu, rising M2, and Kristen Sarsfield, rising M4, co-authored a research poster called Integration of Mental Health First Aid Training into the Preclinical Curriculum. (The poster was presented at the AAMC Group on Student Affairs Conference in April.)

Our data showed that 100% of students saw an increase in their preparedness of identifying and handling a mental health crisis after they attended the safeTALK training at OUWB, wrote the authors.

With the early success of the program, the decision was made to create a way for every OUWB student to receive training.

Going forward, every incoming class will have this as part of their mandatory curriculum, said Browne.

Those familiar with the program applaud the move.

The support for this program has been amazing, said Chhabra. Every time weve brought forth an idea, OUWB administration has been open and receptive. Theyve been doing their best to make it work and fit it into orientation. We are so grateful, and I feel very supported.

Hickey shared similar feelings.

Were just thrilled and ecstatic about it, he said. OUWB administration and leadership are really attuned to and invested in the well-being and health of the OUWB community, which is fantastic.

I dont know of any other medical school that currently has this training as part of their orientation curriculum, he added.

If you or someone you know is considering suicide, please call or text 988 for confidential, free support.

A safeTALK session is scheduled for July 24, 1-4 p.m., in 110 ODowd Hall. Its open to the OUWB community. Register here.

For more information, contact Andrew Dietderich, senior marketing specialist, OUWB, at [emailprotected].

To request an interview, visit the OUWB Communications & Marketingwebpage.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.

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Suicide awareness training now mandatory part of orientation at OUWB - News at OU

Old Dominion University (ODU) and Eastern Virginia Medical School (EVMS) hosted a community celebration at Hilton Norfolk The Main on June 7 to commemorate the integration of EVMS into ODU. The celebration is a direct result of a community-inspired and collaboratively led journey to provide increased levels of support and visibility to EVMS and followed a more than two-year extensive planning process that involved hundreds of people from both campuses, as well as key partners, including the Commonwealth of Virginia and Sentara Health.

The integration, effective on July 1, 2024, establishes the Commonwealth of Virginias most complex and largest academic health sciences center with 56 academic programs, some of which are unique programs not offered elsewhere in the state. This effort was made possible due to the leadership of Governor Glenn Youngkin and support of the General Assembly, including The Honorable L. Louise Lucas, who serves as the President Pro Tempore of the Senate of Virginia, and The Honorable Barry D. Knight, who serves as a member of the Virginia House of Delegates. Both Senator Lucas and Delegate Knight served as chief co-patrons of the enabling legislation for the authorization and structure of the ODU-EVMS integration.

During the event, state leaders shared their excitement and support for this transformational initiative.

The ODU-EVMS integration also received high praise from members of Virginias federal delegation.

A powerful partnership with Sentara Health is a cornerstone of the ODU-EVMS integration with a long-term commitment to provide approximately $350 million in dedicated funding over the next decade. President and Chief Executive Officer Dennis Matheis stated, Sentara is committed to healthcare education and training and looks forward to what this merger will bring, particularly since this integrated health sciences center will offer the largest portfolio of health sciences degrees in the Commonwealth training the next generation of clinical talent.

In front of an audience of nearly 1,000 guests from both campuses and the broader community, a historic announcement was made regarding a generous $20 million gift from Dennis and Jan Ellmer to provide scholarships for students pursuing health sciences degrees at ODU. Students will be eligible for the scholarships if they are enrolled in the EVMS School of Health Professions, the Joint School of Public Health, the ODU College of Health Sciences, or the ODU School of Nursing. With this gift, the Ellmers are proudly paving the way for the next generation of health sciences professionals. A defining characteristic of the Ellmers generous contribution is the significant level of support per student through an annual award of $12,000, with $6,000 in the fall and $6,000 in the spring. The awards through the Dennis & Jan Ellmer Health Scholars Program and the Dennis & Jan Ellmer Nursing Scholars Program represent a unique mix of both need- and merit-based criteria. Within a decade of operation, the Dennis & Jan Ellmer Health Scholars Program alone will provide a total of $3.3 million in direct support of 275 total scholarship awards in both new and renewable formats.

Additionally, the Ellmers commitment to Hampton Roads is evident by a requirement for scholarship recipients to remain in the region or state following graduation. In recognition of their leadership in creating opportunities for current and future Monarchs, the University announced the naming of the Ellmer College of Health Sciences and the Ellmer School of Nursing, thereby forever etching the distinguished Ellmer family name as part of the Universitys legacy and its promise for this integration.

A feature of this widely attended event was the unveiling of the name and brand of the Commonwealths newest academic health sciences center. In recognition of a $20 million gift from Joan Brock, the integrated center will be named Macon & Joan Brock Virginia Health Sciences at Old Dominion University. This entity will serve as the overarching structure for all health sciences programming and operations, including the Ellmer College of Health Sciences, the Ellmer School of Nursing, the EVMS Medical Group, the EVMS School of Health Professions, the EVMS School of Medicine, and the Joint School of Public Health. This naming is a reflection of Joans unwavering dedication to creating opportunities across the region.

Her generous gift to establish and fund the Brock Opportunity Scholarship in the EVMS School of Medicine supports promising students with financial need who live in Virginia, are interested in caring for underserved populations, and plan to practice in Hampton Roads or Virginia upon completion of their residency or fellowship. Joan is also providing support to furthering the arts through the Barry Art Museum expansion project.

During the event, the visual identity for Macon & Joan Brock Virginia Health Sciences at Old Dominion University was revealed with great fanfare, supported by the ODU Pep Band and Big Blue, donning his first white coat. The logo featuring ODUs iconic crown, symbolizing a tradition of excellence, seamlessly integrates the Rod of Asclepius, the Greek symbol of medicine and healing. The snake faces east, signifying Eastern Virginia as a preeminent destination for health education, clinical research, and healthcare delivery.

Board of Visitors representatives from both EVMS and ODU shared their support for this groundbreaking partnership. EVMS Rector Bruce D. Waldholtz, MD, said, As a physician, educator and member of the EVMS and Hampton Roads communities, I am excited that we have come together today to celebrate this momentous event in our shared story at the heart of that story is people. These connections exist all around our community, because ODU and EVMS have long been part of the same story a story of a healthier Hampton Roads.

ODU Vice Rector P. Murry Pitts 80 added, This event and the integration are a reflection of the caring and innovative spirit of our institutions, coupled with a shared commitment to continued advancement and increased impact across education, research, and clinical care. For the ODU Board of Visitors, this integration was a no-brainer due to a bold vision and thoughtful plan as a critical linkage to a brighter future and a better region.

During the community celebration, EVMS President, Provost, and Dean Alfred Abuhamad, MD, highlighted the institutions rich history, community focus and lasting impact by saying, EVMS was founded in 1973 by the community for the community. Over the course of the last academic year, we have celebrated this half-century milestone and reflected on what our history means and how it shapes our future. The impact weve had on the lives of students, faculty, patients, and the people of Hampton Roads is a credit to many of you in this room today and to the visionaries who came before us. Serving as president of this institution has been a great joy and a privilege. It is an honor and a responsibility I have taken seriously because I understand how much EVMS means to our students, alumni, donors and the community. I am so proud to be part of this moment of transition and transformation. This integration and our new academic health sciences center represent a once-in-a-generation opportunity to reaffirm our commitment to Hampton Roads and the Commonwealth to build something new and historic for the benefit of our children and grandchildren alongside our partners at ODU.

ODU President Brian O. Hemphill, Ph.D., said, Todays event celebrates a long journey, symbolizes a new beginning, and serves as a preview to our promising future, which is a shared future that would not be possible without individuals who made this their passion and purpose for decades. Hampton Roads has waited for this moment. Our citizens deserve this moment. Our people are worthy of this opportunity.

In closing, President Hemphill said, To all those who are here today, we make a pledge. We pledge to fully uphold the overarching vision of this worthwhile effort. We pledge to thoughtfully execute the bold plan that we created. Lastly, we pledge to maintain a sharp focus on education, research, and clinical care!

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Milestone Moment: ODU and EVMS Announce Historic Naming Gifts at Community Celebration - Old Dominion University

One hundred and two students from the Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine have received their medical degrees - and are now poised to start their medical careers in residencies at top programs across the country.

The medical students came from the 2020 cohort of the medical school (75 students) who graduated after four years; and also the 2021 cohort (27 students), who completed their education in three years.

Since graduating the inaugural class of 18 doctors in 2021, the schools classes have grown annually alongside admissions, and this is the first time the graduate total for one class has been over 100.

The Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine was founded upon great ambition and ideals,said Robert C. Garrett, FACHE, CEO of Hackensack MeridianHealth. Under its able leadership, it is changing the way that doctors are training - and what medicine can ultimately be.

The school is truly reaching its stride, said Jeffrey Boscamp, M.D., dean and president of the School. Our curriculum is training the best doctors for the 21st century, and our institution is making a difference across the landscape. We are proud of what were doing, and we are excited about all our ongoing work.

The commencements keynote was delivered by Steve Pemberton, an author, philanthropist, speaker, and senior-level executive for the likes of Monster.com, Walgreens Boots Alliance, and Workhuman.

Roughly half of the Class of 2024 (50 students) will train in New Jersey for the first year of residency. Of these, 36 of the students matched into a Hackensack MeridianHealthprogram.

Residencies where this class has matched include: locations across the Hackensack Meridian Health network; Stanford Health Care; New York University Langone; Yale - New Haven Hospital; Montefiore Medical Center/Einstein; Thomas Jefferson University; Brown University/Rhode Island Hospital; New York Presbyterian, Weill Cornell Medical Center; and many other top institutions.

The specialties the students matched into include: internal medicine (29), pediatrics (12), radiology - diagnostic (eight), surgery - preliminary (seven), and neurology, emergency medicine, and family medicine (six apiece).

Applications and enrollments have increased since its founding. The School of Medicines inaugural class in 2018 included 60 students.The latest incoming class numbers more than 160, admitted from greater than 6,000 applicants.

Excerpt from:
Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine Commencement 2024: First Graduating Class of Over 100 for NJ's Newest ... - Hackensack Meridian Health

June 11, 2024 Heather Jacene, MD, assistant chief of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging at Brigham and Womens Hospital, clinical director of Nuclear Medicine at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, and associate professor of Radiology at Harvard Medical School in Boston, Massachusetts, has been named as vice president-elect for the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI). SNMMI introduced a new slate of officers during its 2024 Annual Meeting, held June 8-11 in Toronto.

As vice president-elect, my primary goal will be to strengthen SNMMI as a valuable resource for all members, from advancing the field's underlying basic science to providing excellent evidence-based patient care, stated Jacene. I am committed to championing nuclear medicines future through active listening, creative thinking, and bringing people and industries together to achieve common goals.

Jacene plans to create new opportunities for members to participate actively in SNMMI and conduct multidisciplinary collaborations. She will also raise awareness of nuclear medicines value to clinical colleagues and patients and will be laser-focused on breaking down barriers to radiopharmaceutical availability, reimbursement, affordability, and funding.

Jacene earned her medical degree from the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School in New Brunswick, New Jersey, and completed her residency in nuclear medicine and fellowship in nuclear medicine/PET-CT at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland.

An active SNMMI member, Jacene has been involved in many aspects of the organization. She serves as Quality of Practice Domain Chair for the SNMMI Value Initiative, and she helped develop the successful Radiopharmaceutical Centers of Excellence Program, ensuring quality delivery of radiopharmaceutical therapy. As Scientific Program Committee Chair, she has spearheaded reimagining the Annual Meeting, resulting in increased participation, networking, and innovation. In addition to her service to SNMMI, Jacene also served as a director on the American Board of Nuclear Medicine.

Jacenes research focuses on using FDG-PET/CT and other novel tracers for characterizing and monitoring response of cancer to therapy as well as the use of radiopharmaceutical therapy. She has authored more than 100 peer-reviewed publications, as well as reviews and book chapters.

Other SNMMI officers elected for 2024-25 are Cathy Sue Cutler, PhD, FSNMMI, Upton, New York, as president and Jean-Luc C. Urbain, MD, PhD, FASNC, Buffalo, New York, as president-elect. SNMMI Technologist Section officers for 2024-25 are Julie Dawn Bolin, MS, CNMT, Phoenix, Arizona, as president and Cybil Nielsen, MBA, CNMT, FSNMMI-TS, Long Beach, Mississippi, as president-elect.

For more information:www.snmmi.org

Find more SNMMI24 conference coverage here

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SNMMI Elects Heather Jacene, MD, as Vice President-Elect at 2024 Annual Meeting - Imaging Technology News

Kristen Slinkard, MD (left) and Fredrick Timbrook, MD (right)

Kristen Slinkard, MD, faculty member, and Fredrick Timbrook, MD, resident, were recognized through the Exceptional Moments in Teaching program for the month of June.

June 10, 2024Penn State College of Medicine News

Dr. Slinkard is an assistant professor in the Department of Family and Community Medicine at the College of Medicine.

During my rotation in family medicine, Dr. Slinkard was an exceptional teacher. Working with her, I was able to see every patient and present on them to her. She gave me targeted feedback throughout my rotation on how to give more confident-sounding, organized presentations, which I was able to implement and improve, said one student. Dr. Slinkard made me feel like I was an important member of the team, more than any other attending or resident I have worked with. Oftentimes, we were able to proceed with a plan I suggested. She made me feel valued and created an awesome learning environment by never rushing me and making me feel included.

Dr. Slinkard developed an interest in family medicine during her third year of medical school at Penn State College of Medicine. After attending residency in Pittsburgh, she joined the family medicine department at Penn State Health, where she enjoys teaching, mentoring, and advising medical students and taking care of patients of all ages in the outpatient setting.

In her free time, she enjoys traveling and outdoor activities with her husband, baby daughter, and French bulldog.

The resident awardee, Dr. Timbrook is a third-year resident in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Milton S. Hershey Medical Center.

Starting on your first night shift as a medical student can be quite daunting. I recall entering the building and running into Dr. Timbrook, who coincidentally was headed to the same floor. He warmly introduced himself, gave me a tour and ensured I met everyone on the team. As the nights passed, I grew more acquainted with him, said a student. He consistently sought out learning opportunities for me, ensuring I was fully engaged. He kept in mind my learning objectives, provided space for independent work with patients and offered guidance when needed. Importantly, when I made a minor error, he shared a relatable story from his own experience, easing my embarrassment. Overall, Dr. Timbrook was the standout resident during my rotations, blending enjoyment with invaluable learning experiences. Saying goodbye was genuinely difficult.

Dr. Timbrook is a West Virginia native and grew up in the small town of Ridgeley, WV. He graduated from West Virginia University School of Medicine and started his career in Obstetrics and Gynecology at Penn State. Dr. Timbrook is currently pursuing a career in maternal-fetal medicine. He attributes his success to the fantastic physician role models and mentorship provided within the Penn State Division of Academic Specialists in Obstetrics and Gynecology and maternal-fetal medicine departments.

In his free time, Dr. Timbrook enjoys cooking for his boyfriend Hunter, a talented Pastry Chef at The Hotel Hershey, and going on dates to Texas Roadhouse. He also frequents trips to New York City to visit his best friends from medical school. The two intend to move to the south following a successful fellowship match.

Penn State College of MedicinesOffice for a Respectful Learning Environmentrecognizes exceptional faculty, residents and fellows with the monthly Exceptional Moments in Teaching program. Each month, one faculty member and one resident/fellow are highlighted for their contributions. College of Medicine students are invited to submit narratives about faculty members, residents, nurses or any other educators who challenge them and provide an exceptional learning experienceusing the online nomination form.

The Office for a Respectful Learning Environment fosters an educational community at Penn State College of Medicine in which all learners and educators feel supported, challenged, valued and respected. It serves all learners at the College of Medicine: medical students, graduate students, physician assistant students, residents and fellows.

See previous faculty and resident/fellow honorees here.

If you're having trouble accessing this content, or would like it in another format, please email Penn State Health Marketing & Communications.

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Slinkard and Timbrook recognized for Exceptional Moments in Teaching - Penn State Health News

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Minimizing anesthesia during surgery for older adults does not prevent post-op delirium

Michael S. Avidan, MBBCh (right), administers anesthesia during a surgery. He monitors the electrical activity of the patient's brain with chief anesthesiology resident Karam Atli, MD, to guide anesthesia dosage and ensure the patient does not experience unintended waking during surgery. New research from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis and other institutions supports earlier findings that indicate that anesthesia is no more hazardous for the brain at higher doses than at lower doses.

General anesthesia makes it possible for millions of patients each year to undergo lifesaving surgeries while unconscious and free of pain. But the 176-year-old medical staple uses powerful drugs that have stoked fears of adverse effects on the brain particularly if used in high doses.

New findings published June 10 in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), however, support an earlier study that indicates that anesthesia is no more hazardous for the brain at higher doses than at lower doses, according to the researchers.

The new study reports results of a multicenter clinical trial of more than 1,000 older patients who underwent cardiac surgery at four hospitals in Canada. Researchers at these hospitals, in partnership with colleagues at Washington University School of Medicinein St. Louis, found that the amount of anesthesia used during surgery did not affect the risk of postoperative delirium a state that may contribute to long-term cognitive decline.

Concern that general anesthesia harms the brain and causes both early and lasting postoperative cognitive disorders is a major reason that older adults avoid or delay life-enhancing procedures, said Michael S. Avidan, MBBCh, the Dr. Seymour and Rose T. Brown Professor of Anesthesiology and head of the Department of Anesthesiology at Washington University. Our new study contributes to other compelling evidence that higher doses of general anesthesia are not toxic to the brain. Dispelling the misleading and pervasive message that general anesthesia causes cognitive disorders will have major public health implications by helping older adults make wise choices regarding essential surgeries, which will promote and sustain healthier lives.

The dose of administered anesthesia historically has been a carefully calculated balance between too little and too much. Administering an inadequate amount puts patients at risk of experiencing intraoperative awareness. Despite advances in anesthesia care, about 1 in 1,000 people still experience unintended waking during surgery without being able to move or indicate their pain or distress. This can lead to suffering and lifelong emotional trauma.

The good news is that the distressing complication of intraoperative awareness can be more reliably prevented, said Avidan, the studys senior author. Anesthesia clinicians can now confidently administer a sufficient dose of general anesthesia, providing a margin of safety for unconsciousness, without being concerned that this will put their patients brains at risk. The practice of general anesthesia should change based on mounting reassuring evidence.

Previous smaller studies have suggested that too much anesthesia could be to blame for postoperative delirium, a neurological problem involving confusion, altered attention, paranoia, memory loss, hallucinations and delusions, among other symptoms. A common postoperative complication affecting about 25% of older patients after major surgeries, delirium can be distressing to patients and family members. It is typically temporary but has been linked to longer intensive care and hospital stays, other medical complications, persistent cognitive decline and higher risk of death.

To study the impact of minimizing anesthesia on postoperative delirium, Avidan and colleagues previously conducted a similar clinical study in more than 1,200 older surgical patients atBarnes-Jewish Hospitalin St. Louis. The researchers used an electroencephalogram (EEG) to monitor electrical activity in the brains of patients during major surgery and adjusted anesthesia levels to prevent brain activity suppression, considered a sign of excessive anesthesia levels. They found that minimizing anesthesia administration did not prevent postoperative delirium.

To expand upon the results of their single-hospital clinical trial, Avidan collaborated with Alain Deschamps, MD, PhD, a professor of anesthesiology at Universit de Montreal in Montreal, and a team of Canadian clinical researchers, to conduct the multicenter trial involving patients at four hospitals in Canada in Montreal, Kingston, Winnipeg and Toronto.

This randomized clinical trial enrolled 1,140 patients undergoing cardiac surgery, high-risk procedures with a high rate of postoperative complications. Roughly half of the patients had their anesthesia adjusted based on electrical activity in the brain, and the other group of patients received the usual care without EEG monitoring. The former group was exposed to almost 20% less anesthesia than the latter group and also had 66% less time with suppressed electrical brain activity, but in both groups, 18% of the patients experienced delirium in the first five days after surgery. Additionally, the length of hospital stays, the incidence of medical complications and the risk of death up to one year postoperatively were no different between patients in the two study groups. However, almost 60% more patients in the group that received less anesthesia had undesirable movements while their surgeons were operating, which could have negatively affected the surgeries.

The thinking has been that deep general anesthesia excessively suppresses electrical brain activity and causes postoperative delirium, Avidan said. Taken together, our two clinical trials, including almost 2,400 high-risk older surgical patients at five hospitals in the United States and Canada, dispel the concern that higher general anesthetic dosing incurs a neurotoxic cost. Delirium is likely to be caused by factors other than general anesthesia, such as the pain and inflammation associated with surgery. Future research should explore other avenues to prevent postoperative delirium. But we can now confidently reassure our patients that they can request and expect to be oblivious, immobile and pain-free during surgical procedures, without worrying about general anesthesia damaging their brains.

Deschamps A, Abdallah AB, Jacobsohn E, Saha T, Djaiani G, El-Gabalawy R, Overbeek C, Palermo J, Courbe A, Cloutier I, Tanzola R, Kronzer A, Fritz BA, Schmitt EM, Inouye SK, Avidan MS, the Canadian Perioperative Anesthesia Clinical Trials Group. Electroencephalography-Guided Anesthesia and Delirium in Older Adults After Cardiac Surgery: the ENGAGES-Canada Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA. June 10, 2024. DOI: 10.1001/jama.2024.8144

This study was supported by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, grant number PJT-159482; the Montreal Heart Institute Foundation; the National Institute of Aging of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), grant number R33AG071744; the Dr. Seymour and Rose T. Brown Endowed Professorship; the Washington University Department of Anesthesiology. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the NIH.

About Washington University School of Medicine

WashU Medicine is a global leader in academic medicine, including biomedical research, patient care and educational programs with 2,900 faculty. Its National Institutes of Health (NIH) research funding portfolio is the second largest among U.S. medical schools and has grown 56% in the last seven years. Together with institutional investment, WashU Medicine commits well over $1 billion annually to basic and clinical research innovation and training. Its faculty practice is consistently within the top five in the country, with more than 1,900 faculty physicians practicing at 130 locations and who are also the medical staffs of Barnes-Jewish and St. Louis Childrens hospitals of BJC HealthCare. WashU Medicine has a storied history in MD/PhD training, recently dedicated $100 million to scholarships and curriculum renewal for its medical students, and is home to top-notch training programs in every medical subspecialty as well as physical therapy, occupational therapy, and audiology and communications sciences.

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Fueled by the Supreme Courts June 2023 ruling that bans affirmative action in higher education, conservative lawmakers across the country have advanced their own state bans on diversity initiatives, especially those that might make students feel shame or guilt for past harms against people of color.

This effort encompasses medical schools.

Despite clear and persistent gaps between white and Black doctors and recent efforts to reckon with racial disparities within the medical profession lawmakers have tried to advance policies to prohibit diversity initiatives in medicine.

North Carolina Congressman Greg Murphy introduced one such bill to restrict diversity initiatives. American medical schools are no place for discrimination, said Murphy, a Republican, in March 2024. Diversity strengthens medicine, but not if its achieved through exclusionary practices of prejudice and divisive ideology.

But the gaps in racial representation in medicine go beyond a professional numbers game. Modern research shows that the lack of Black doctors helps explain why about 70% of Black people dont trust their doctors, and why Black people tend to die younger than their white peers.

The evidence is clear: America needs more Black doctors.

According to a 2022 survey of 950,000 doctors by the Association of American Medical Colleges, 63.9% reported their ethnicity as white, and just 5.7% Black or African American. But according to 2023 estimates by the U.S. Census Bureau, Black people comprised 13.6% of the population, while white people represent 58.9%.

These modern inequalities in medicine have deep roots. As a community health professor, I am always curious how todays racial health disparities formed in the first place. One window into this history is through the official physician directories published by the American Medical Association, or AMA.

Starting in 1906, the AMA has published directories of all qualified physicians in the U.S. These directories were created to be comprehensive records that excluded quack physicians and unqualified graduates of fraudulent medical schools.

Each physicians record included a variety of details, including their place of practice and when and where they completed medical training.

Between 1906 and 1940, the AMA also insisted on publishing the race of Black doctors. Beside each entry appeared the label col. for colored.

Based on this information, I created a digitized dataset of the 1906 directory and detailed geographic and demographic patterns associated with where Black doctors trained and practiced. Of the 41,828 physicians listed in the 1906 directory, only 746 were Black or 1.8%.

Most Black doctors in the South were trained by a handful of Southern medical schools established to educate African Americans. Over half 57% of Southern Black physicians attended Meharry Medical College in Nashville, Tennessee, or Howard University Medical School in Washington, D.C. schools that are still in existence.

But nearly a third 29% of Southern Black physicians attended schools that would be closed a few years after the 1906 directorys release. In 1910, at the behest of the AMA, educator Abraham Flexner released a report after studying the standards of medical schools in the U.S. and Canada.

The results of the Flexner report was devastating to the number of Black doctors. Citing low admissions standards and poor quality of education, Flexner recommended closing five of the seven historically Black medical schools that trained the vast majority of Black doctors.

By 1912, three Black medical schools were shut down. By 1924, only two remained in operation Meharry and Howard.

The consequences of this extremely limited educational landscape for aspiring Black physicians are reflected in the data. In most Southern states, the distance between medical school and practice locations was significantly greater, even before the closings, for Black doctors compared with their white counterparts.

To help interpret where Black doctors established practices in the South, I also linked directory data to other historical sources, including the U.S. Census.

What I found was that places with larger Black populations were more likely to have a Black doctor, as were places that were closer to a Black medical school.

Many contemporary scholars and activists are looking to the past in order to increase the publics understanding of how race has played a historical role in the health outcomes of Black Americans.

For example, Dr. Uch Blackstock, a Black physician, illustrates many instances of medical racism throughout American history in her most recent book, Legacy: A Black Physician Reckons with Racism in Medicine, and shows their lasting impacts on how Black patients are treated and the quality of health care they receive.

She was one of the first, for example, to warn health officials about the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on communities of color. As she wrote in 2020: Black Americans were more vulnerable during the pandemic because of several manifestations of structural racism, including lack of access to testing, a higher chronic disease burden and racial bias within health care institutions.

Without an accounting of how racial disparities in medicine were formed, its much more difficult to determine which kinds of progressive measures are needed to provide redress.

Future analyses will help unpack these racial disparities in greater detail. But for now, both academic researchers and the public can use our data to explore the importance of historically Black medical schools and the lives of Black physicians during the Jim Crow era.

Its my belief that their legacies deserve to be a better-known part of the history of American medicine.

The headline on this article was updated to correct a typo.

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Only 1.8% of US doctors were Black in 1906 and the legacy of inequality in medical education has not yet been erased - The Conversation

(June 7, 2024 / University of Haifa)

The University of Haifa on Sunday inaugurated the building that will be home to its forthcoming Herta and Paul Amir School of Medicine,which is poised to transform the trajectory of the university and its impact on Israeli society.

The universitys 52nd Board of Governors meeting featured a special cornerstone laying ceremony for the building, which is slated to open its doors at the end of next year. The new facility is made possible thanks to a 200 million NIS ($55 million) gift from the universitys top donors, Herta and Paul Amir. University of Haifa has also raised an additional 50 million NIS ($14 million) toward the construction of the new school, which will be led by Professor Haim Bitterman, one of the most respected medical professionals in Israel.

The medical school will address Israels pressing national needs in medicine, including an acute shortage of physicians, especially in the northern region where the University of Haifa is situated. Currently, 60% of all of Israels medical doctors are trained outside of Israel and nearly half of Israels medical doctors are age 55 or older, while the number of medical graduates in Israel is the lowest among the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) nations. Space in Israeli medical programs, meanwhile, is limited.

The university is rising to these major challenges by building a first-of-its-kind university teaching hospital along with Carmel Medical Center and Clalit Health Services. The 1,200-bed hospital will feature state-of-the-art medical services; a focus on patient-centered care; outstanding ICUs; and cardiovascular, thoracic, and surgical oncology departments.The medical school will also strengthen the healthcare system in the north through its cooperation with Carmel, while providing scholarships and other incentives to help keep its graduates in the region.

Over the years, Paul and I have had the goal to support the State of Israel, particularly its northern region, Herta Amir said. Establishing the University of Haifas School of Medicine fulfills our vision. Providing the country with another medical school is critical, especially during this challenging time, when Israels medical system is under much stress. Im proud to be part of such an exciting project.

Prominent individuals in Israels healthcare industry attended the cornerstone-laying ceremony, including professor Yossi Makori, chairman of the planning and budgeting committee at Israels Council for Higher Education; Eli Cohen, CEO of Clalit Health Services; and Dr. Avi Goldberg, CEO of the Carmel Medical Center.

The Council for Higher Education understood the importance of establishing a school of medicine at the University of Haifa, said Makori. This is an opportunity to not only expand medical studies in Israel but to provide one that takes into consideration the unique needs of the countrys North. The University of Haifa, which has a strong commitment to the region, is the right institution to execute such an initiative. This new medical school will be a beacon of hope, a center of outstanding research, and will attract the great minds of our time who will become the professional and humanitarian leaders of tomorrow. The school will encourage faculty and students to conduct groundbreaking research that will address the demands of contemporary medicine.

The future schools curriculum has been submitted to the Council for Higher Education for approval; and registration for its first cohort, consisting of dozens of students, is set for the end of 2025.

The Herta and Paul Amir School of Medicine will be an innovative institution whose mission is aligned with meeting the ever-evolving needs of the 21st century. For example, the school will be a leader in telemedicine and will offer remote monitoring and diagnostics based on extensive data. Additionally, the school will offer a unique focus on community, therapeutic and social aspects of the medical field, with a track planned together with the universitys Welfare and Health Sciences faculty. Finally, the school will also feature an advanced simulation center that will be equipped with state-of-the-art AI and virtual-reality technologies so students can meet the challenges associated with practicing medicine in the 21st century.

The doctors of the 21st century must have a certain set of skills beyond, of course, understanding classical medical concepts, Bitterman said. They need to master new technologies, know how to treat people remotely through a computer screen or a phone and understand the needs of their community. Today, we acquire these skills while working in the field, which has its advantages and disadvantages. While working with other organizations may seem trivial, many of us have seen fallout when communication between parties doesnt work as it should and it can negatively harm a patient. We want the next generation of doctors to take all these considerations into account, so they are ready for the challenges of the 21st century.

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Dianne Travis-Teague remembers clutching her chest as she navigated the chaos of a crowded hospital parking lot, searching for a space amid the throng of vehicles. For weeks a clinic in her hometown of Santa Barbara had been telling her the chest pain was merely the result of anxiety or indigestion.

At the emergency room, doctors quickly discovered that the two-time breast cancer survivor was having a heart attack. Surgery to unblock her arteries saved her life, but for the next four months, her pain continued. I was feeling worse off after the stent than before, she said. I suffered, sometimes silently. My family suffered as well.

It wasnt until she visited a womens heart specialist that she found answers. Her doctor asked questions about her life, family and stress related to her work as the director of alumni relations at a graduate school. Her physician, C. Noel Bairey Merz, director of the Barbra Streisand Womens Heart Center in the Smidt Heart Institute at Cedars-Sinai, also explained the link between mental and cardiac health, especially in women.

Bairey Merz prescribed a new blood pressure medication and a lifestyle regimen focused on stress reduction. Travis-Teague was feeling better within a few weeks.

It was like all of a sudden, somebody could hear me, Travis-Teague said. Now I know the importance of work-life balance.

A growing body of evidence suggests the effects of mental health has a disproportionate impact on womens bodies. Recent findings presented at the American College of Cardiologys Annual Scientific Session in April indicate that depression and anxiety accelerate the development of new cardiovascular disease risk factors, particularly among young and middle-aged women.

The researchers followed 71,214 people participating in the Mass General Brigham Biobank for 10 years. Those with a history of anxiety or depression before the study were about 55 percent more likely to develop high blood pressure, high cholesterol or diabetes compared to those without. The finding was most pronounced among women with anxiety or depression who were under 50, who were nearly twice as likely to develop cardiovascular risk factors compared with any other group.

The aim of our project is to suggest that if a physician has a patient with anxiety or depression, he or she should also think about screening for cardiovascular risk factors, said lead author Giovanni Civieri, a cardiologist and research fellow at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School.

Previous studies have also shown that stress and emotional health can have an outsize impact on womens hearts.

One study of more than 3,600 men and women from Framingham, Mass., looked at married partners who typically bottled up their feelings during a fight with their spouse. Women who self-silenced during marital conflict were four times as likely to die during the 10-year study period as women who always spoke their mind. (The effect wasnt seen in men.) Whether the woman reported being in a happy marriage or an unhappy marriage didnt change her risk.

An 18-year study of 860 Australian women concluded that having a depressive disorder is a risk factor for coronary heart disease in women. The strength of association between depression and heart disease was of a greater magnitude than any other risk factor.

The literature supports an even stronger association between depression and heart disease and bad outcomes in women than men, said Roy Ziegelstein, a cardiologist and professor of medicine at Johns Hopkins.

Ziegelstein pointed to a condition called Takotsubo cardiomyopathy also known as stress cardiomyopathy or broken heart syndrome that is more common in women. As many as 90 percent of cases occur in women between the ages of 58 and 75. While many people recover, the condition can be life-threatening and is often triggered by intense physical or emotional stress.

Across the spectrum of age, ethnicity and socioeconomic status, there are numerous tales of women whose symptoms are ignored, only to later discover that they have experienced a heart attack or developed cardiovascular disease.

For Marianna Knopov, several New York physicians she saw over three years were unable to pinpoint the cause of her intense heart palpitations and chest tension. In 2013, the then 51-year-old Russian immigrant was a busy mother of two teenage sons steering her own thriving dental clinic. My life was basically like a roller coaster, she said.

After years of the same cycle pain, hospitals and home without relief Knopov said she was ready to give up on her search for answers. You go to one after another and they dont listen to you. They dont hear you. They just want to dismiss you, and thats how I felt.

By the time she met Evelina Grayver in 2016, a cardiologist specializing in womens heart health who is now at Katz Institute for Womens Health at Northwell Health in Queens, the vessels in her heart had become constricted and calcified, and there was absolutely nowhere to attach a new bypass.

Doctors placed seven stents in all three of her major arteries and Grayver prescribed a lifestyle regimen to better regulate the anxiety and chronic stress that helped get her there. Knopov said the diagnosis had a profound effect on her. I had to change something, she said.

She eventually sold her practice, traded in New Yorks bustling streets for Floridas serene beaches, and recently became a grandmother.

Im living a totally different life, she said. Now 62, Knopov has incorporated meditation, yoga and abdominal breathing exercises into her daily routine, and she walks 10,000 steps per day.

Knopov said her doctors advice helped her experience a different state of mind and being. There is a lot of joy each day, she said.

In the intricate web of mental health and cardiovascular well-being, there isnt a clear explanation why the connection is so strong in women.

Studies from Emory University have found that women experiencing acute mental stress are more susceptible than men to constriction of their small peripheral arteries, leading to diminished blood flow. Researchers found that the microvascular response to stress was also associated with adverse outcomes in women but not in men.

One reason for this could be that womens blood vessels are smaller in caliber and consistency than those found in men. While men are prone to centralized plaque buildup in the largest arteries that supply blood to the heart, women typically have diffused, small blockages throughout their blood vessels, which is very dangerous because they can be more difficult to detect and treat, according to Grayver.

Additionally, experts say stress in women appears to disrupt lipid balance, increase platelet aggregation and impair glucose regulation. Chronic stress may further exacerbate coronary heart disease progression by fueling inflammation, a risk factor more pronounced in women. This heightened inflammatory response elevates their chances of major adverse cardiovascular events.

We know that anxiety and stress and depression are bad. Now, lets figure out how to best identify and treat people who are at risk, said Puja Mehta, director of womens translational cardiovascular research at the Emory Womens Heart Center. How do we help them manage stress so that it improves blood flow to the heart?

One key area of interest for researchers is whether addressing mental health concerns, using existing medications such as antidepressants or traditional talk therapy could mitigate cardiovascular risk. Others are studying a potential genetic link between depression and heart disease, with the hope of discovering novel drugs capable of treating both conditions simultaneously.

While understanding why womens hearts are particularly vulnerable to stress is valuable, its more important for doctors to acknowledge the connection from the outset.

What tends to happen is that younger women who have risk factors, for example, may only see their OB/GYN for birth control, and by the time they come to the cardiologist theyve already developed heart disease or heart failure, Mehta said. We have to do a better job of identifying and early prevention.

Following a heart attack, women face a higher risk of mortality within the five years. While not fully understood, one theory suggests that the increased risk could be attributed to the adverse psychological reactions to the stress of experiencing a heart attack, according to JoAnn E. Manson, chief of preventive medicine at Brigham and Womens Hospital in Boston.

Research also shows that fewer women than men are referred to cardiac rehabilitation programs, which can help limit the psychological stresses associated with cardiac disease, reduce the risk of associated mortality and improve cardiovascular function to help patients optimize their quality of life. In addition, women are less likely to be put on protective medications, such as cholesterol-lowering statins or beta blockers, to protect against future cardiovascular events.

Experts emphasize that lifestyle interventions are among the most effective and accessible tools for women managing both mental health and cardiovascular conditions. That includes regular exercise, improved diet and sleep patterns, as well as tools to manage stress, such as meditation and deep breathing.

Social support also seems to have a stronger heart benefit for women compared with men. The presence of family members or friends with whom women can maintain regular contact strongly predicts their cardiovascular health, according to Manson.

Travis-Teague has continued to work with her doctors to manage her stress. Her advice to women facing similar challenges: Understand that you need to listen to your body and be your own advocate. Do not be afraid to ask questions and to find the place where people will care for you.

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Why stress and depression take a toll on womens heart health - The Washington Post

Roger Luong and Shruthi Prabhakar, members of the the medical schools Class of 2026, served as coordinators of the program this year. Photo by Ryan Anderson for Virginia Tech

Sixteen-year-old Sachita Baskota was attending MedDOCS for the second time. Her goal is to be a doctor.

The best part of this experience is all the learning that takes place, she said. I especially liked the simulation lab where we could act out real-life situations.

During a lesson in brain anatomy, John Aziz, 16, was especially attentive, as he plans to be a neurologist. This is really exciting, learning about how everything in the body works together, he said.

In one popular simulation, medical students pretend to be patients and doctors in an emergency situation. MedDOCS participants are told that doctors are busy with the situational chaos, and they are to talk to a patient, ask questions, figure out whats going on, and report back.

A student wrote on the course evaluation, This was so scary. It pushed me out of my comfort zone, but I loved it.

Shruthi and I have the same vision, Luong said. We wanted to make sure that these students, many of whom travel from distant locations, would have an enriching and memorable experience.

Prabhakar was the first in her family to pursue medical school.

My family was supportive, but I had to figure a lot of things out for myself, she said. To be able to offer guidance about science and medicine to these kids and create a passion within them means the world to me.

Luong grew up in an immigrant household, and life was challenging.

I credit my success in medical school to the exceptional mentors who have supported me, he said. Im eager to pay it forward and empower others and to foster curiosity. Theres a profound sense of satisfaction when you can positively impact someones life.

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Enrichment Program Opens Eyes of Roanoke Students to Medical Careers - The Roanoke Star

Old Dominion University and Eastern Virginia Medical School merge to create a health sciences center enhancing health care in Hampton Roads.

NORFOLK, Va. On Friday, Old Dominion University (ODU) and Eastern Virginia Medical School (EVMS) celebrated merging to create a new integrated health sciences center that school officials say will enhance health care in Hampton Roads.

According to ODU, the integrated center will be named Macon & Joan Brock Virginia Health Sciences and will be located on ODUs campus. It will serve as the overarching structure for all health sciences programming and operations, including the Ellmer College of Health Sciences, the Ellmer School of Nursing, the EVMS Medical Group, the EVMS School of Health Professions, the EVMS School of Medicine and the Joint School of Public Health.

However, the partnership didnt come without its challenges.

There were a number of key items to work through. We both had two different boards, so it just took us coming together, sitting down, and working through critical details, said Brian Hemphill, the president of ODU.

Along with the center, donors will provide millions of dollars in scholarships to students and retain medical professionals in the Commonwealth.

Those scholarships are encouraging students to stay and be here. There are residences, our students who are going into nursing and physical therapy, and we want them here. You heard our donors be pretty clear about that, so this [will] be a step forward, said Hemphill.

According to ODU, the new partnership, which will be effective on July 1, 2024, will establish the Commonwealths most complex and largest academic health sciences center with 56 academic programs.

Both schools firmly believe that this partnership is not just a step but a leap in the right direction for the future of healthcare in Virginia.

This will allow us to really focus on expanding our classrooms to meet the incredible demands that we see in the future and to collectively elevate the level of care, research, and education that we offer our students, said Alfred Abuhamad M.D., the president, provost and dean of EVMS Board of Visitors.

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ODU, EVMS merge in Norfolk, VA - 13newsnow.com WVEC

The 11,000-member medical professional society will now have a direct voice in shaping health care policies and priorities to advance lifestyle medicine and impact future health care delivery.

ST. LOUIS, June 10, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The American College of Lifestyle Medicine (ACLM) is proud to announce its induction into the prestigious American Medical Association (AMA) House of Delegates. This significant milestone highlights ACLM's unwavering commitment to shaping the future of health care policy to ensure the highest value care for all patients.

As AMA's principal policy-making body, the House of Delegates is responsible for establishing health care policies and priorities that reflect the needs of patients and physicians nationwide. It serves as a democratic forum that represents the views and interests of a diverse group of member physicians and medical students among its 500 voting delegates.

ACLM, the nation's leading organization for promoting lifestyle medicine as a first-line treatment for chronic disease, will now be able to amplify the voice of its 11,000 members in establishing policy on health, medical, professional and governance matters that address the most pressing challenges facing health care today.

"The American College of Lifestyle Medicine's induction into the AMA House of Delegates is an enormous step not only for the organization but also the rapidly growing field of lifestyle medicine," said ACLM Past President Cate Collings, MD, MS, FACC, DipABLM, FACLM, who will represent ACLM as its official delegate. "This achievement is the result of years of hard work, membership growth and adoption of lifestyle medicine by health systems, as well as recognition by payors who now acknowledge the urgent need for lifestyle medicine-trained physicians and interdisciplinary team members who are uniquely equipped to achieve the Quintuple Aim of improved health outcomes and patient experience, lower costs, health equity, and clinician well-being. Lifestyle medicine often reignites our passion for the practice of medicine. We are excited to collaborate with our peers to advance lifestyle medicine principles for the betterment of patient care."

Before an organization is eligible for admission to the House of Delegates, it must undergo a rigorous eligibility process that includes three-year membership in the AMA Specialty and Service Society Caucus. It must also meet several other criteria, such as representing a field of medicine with recognized scientific validity, meeting a membership quota, having physicians comprise the majority of the voting membership, and being national in scope.

ACLM was established in 2004 by a group of visionary physicians who recognized that a medical professional home for lifestyle medicine was needed, as no other field of medicine represented evidence-based, therapeutic lifestyle interventions to treat, even reverse, and prevent chronic disease by optimizing modifiable risk factors. Lifestyle medicine is today one of the fastest growing career fields of medicine globally and holds the promise for true health reform as it addresses the root-cause of chronic illness.

"ACLM's induction into the AMA House Delegates is another pivotal moment in the pursuit of the organization's vision of a world wherein lifestyle medicine is the foundation of health and all health care," said ACLM President andHarvard Medical SchoolAssociate Professor, Part TimeBeth Frates, MD, FACLM, DipABLM. "As ACLM celebrates its 20th anniversary, I am overjoyed at the organization's remarkable progress in advancing lifestyle medicine and full of gratitude to the many passionate health care professionals who have worked so hard to arrive at this recognition by the AMA."

About ACLM Serving as a transformation catalyst, disruptor of the status quo, and a galvanized force for change, the American College of Lifestyle Medicine is the nation's medical professional society advancing the field of lifestyle medicine as the foundation of a redesigned, value-based and equitable healthcare delivery system, essential to achieving the Quintuple Aim and whole person health. ACLM represents, advocates for, trains, certifies, and equips its members to identify and eradicate the root cause of chronic disease by optimizing modifiable risk factors. ACLM is filling the gaping void of lifestyle medicineincluding food as medicinein medical education, doing so across the entire medical education continuum, while also advancing research, clinical practice and reimbursement strategies. Adding years to lives and life to years, while reining in the alarming, unsustainable trajectory of healthcare spending, is what lifestyle medicine delivers.

SOURCE American College of Lifestyle Medicine

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American College of Lifestyle Medicine announces induction into the American Medical Association House of Delegates - PR Newswire

The structure of the new Spencer Fox Eccles School of Medicine building at the University of Utah was completed during a beam topping off ceremony for the state-of-the-art teaching, training and research facility.

The 211,457-square-foot building is poised to revolutionize medical education at the U upon completion. A high-tech anatomy lab, tailored classrooms, an advanced simulation center, collaborative spaces and conference auditoriums will serve the 500-plus students in the universitys prestigious medical program.

Spencer Fox Eccles, the schools namesake, is one of Utahs leading philanthropists and a dedicated University of Utah supporter. Funds from a landmark $110 million gift from the George S. and Dolores Dor Eccles Foundation and the Nora Eccles Treadwell Foundation provide support for medical education programs and cardiovascular research. Eccles is chairman and CEO of the two foundations.

I have long believed that no state or region can become truly great without a world-class medical center at its nucleus," Eccles said. When completed, this facility will help ensure the university provides the highest quality medical education for the doctors who serve Utah and the entire Intermountain West.

Eccles trusts that the medical school that bears his name will further the excellence of health care for all citizens and positively impact the future of medicine through its groundbreaking research. It will also support the Us mission to provide world-leading education and clinical training to the rising generation of health care providers.

The eight-story facility is nestled on the hillside in the heart of the University of Utah Health campus and will replace the old School of Medicine facility that was built in the 1960s.

This innovative new building will be the cornerstone of our U of U Health campus, embodying the extraordinary and generous legacy of the Eccles family and their foundations, a legacy that has enriched the University of Utah for over 70 years, said Taylor Randall, president of the University of Utah. The Spencer Fox Eccles School of Medicine will propel the U forward, as a world-class integrated academic medical institution.I want to specifically thank Spence Eccles, from the bottom of our hearts, for everything he has done for the U.

Work on the new building began with the groundbreaking in October 2022, and the installment of the first structural steel started in February 2024. The placement of the final beam, frequently celebrated by builders as a centuries-long tradition, is significant as it means the structural phase of construction is complete.

This facility will advance innovation in medical education, said Michael Good, MD, CEO of University of Utah Health and senior vice president for Health Sciences. It will enable us to be a model for the nation in educating medical students who will pursue excellence in patient care and the medical sciences.

"Getting to this point has been the result of a lot of methodical planning and hard work by everyone involved in the project. Its a milestone well worth celebrating, said Chris Field, vice president and project executive for Jacobsen Construction, the general contractor commissioned to construct the facility. A lot of work remains, but we already have a glimpse of the universitys brilliant vision taking shape, step by step, and its inspiring to be a part of it.

The design partners on this project are VCBO Architecture, an award-winning firm based in Salt Lake City, and Yazdani Studio, a prominent national firm headquartered in Los Angeles.

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Spencer Fox Eccles School of Medicine final beam in place @theU - @theU

Photo Credit: Drazen Zigic

Match Day is a highly anticipated event where graduating medical students find out where they will complete their residency training. How did 2024 measure up?

Match Day is a highly anticipated event where graduating medical students find out where they will complete their residency training. The Match is facilitated through the National Residency Matching Program (NRMP), which facilitates these matches and acts as a centralized clearing house to help medical students and residency programs find the right fit that meets their needs. While the system is not perfect, its pretty darn good, and after 72 years, NRMP has dialed in the process well. The Main Residency Match typically has 47,000 applicants and 39,000 residency positions, and the fellowship matches for more than 70 subspecialties are offered through its Specialties Matching Service.

Match Day typically occurs in March, and students across the United States gather with friends, family, and faculty to nearly simultaneously open the envelopes that contain their residency placements. Match Day marks the culmination of years of hard work and preparation for medical students. Like many rites of passage on the long road to becoming a physician, we all have memories and stories of Match Day.

I did not match right away at the end of medical school. Instead, I took some time to train and race as a professional triathlete, so I felt like I was missing out when my classmates opened their match envelopes and found out where they would spend the next few years of their training. It is a bittersweet memory, and I didnt feel celebratory. A few years later, when I entered the match, I was on call in the resident workroom, where I learned where I would be continuing the rest of my medical training. That, too, felt anticlimactic.

Some have memories of the devastation of not being matched into their top choice program or matched at all. Some remember a week of panic going through the Supplemental Offer and Acceptance Program (SOAP), formerly known as the scramble process, and even then, feeling like they were failures. We have these important memories of when and where we were and memories of mostly joy or heartache. However, I think most physicians look back on match day with fondness and perspective, knowing it was an important step in their careers. At the time, it may feel like the best or the worst day of our professional lives, but with time and perspective, I truly believe we all end up where we need to be.

There were 50,413 applicants, of which 44,853 were certified in a rank list for 41,503 certified residency positions in 6,395 residency training programs. This represented an increase of about 2% in total residency positions compared with 2023. This is a record of total applicants and certified rank lists by about 4.5%, primarily driven by an increase in non-US citizen international medical graduates (IMGs) and osteopathic (DO) seniors. US-based DO and MD applicants achieved a 92.3 and 93.5 percent match rate, respectively, which has remained stable for the past four decades. US citizen IMGs and non-US citizen IMGs achieved a 67.0 and 58.5 percent match rate, respectively, about half to a full percent lower than in past years.

Another notable trend was a rebound in Emergency Medicine (EM) match rate to 95.5% after two years of match rates far below the historical average, likely primarily driven by the COVID-19 pandemic. This EM match was an increase of 13.9%. OB/GYN achieved a 99.6 percent fill rate. Two years after the Dobbs v. Jackson Supreme Court decision, there remains strong and continued interest in providing obstetrical care. Further court decisions are expected this summer, and more potential changes are on the horizon for the specialty. However, this has not deterred medical students. Specialties with the highest percentage of US MD and DO seniors were Internal Medicine/Emergency Medicine (96.8%), Thoracic Surgery (95.8%), Otolaryngology (95.8%), Internal Medicine/Pediatrics (94.6%), Orthopedic Surgery (92.1%), Interventional Radiology-Integrated (91.4%), and Obstetrics and Gynecology (90.7%).

A point that needs to be pulled out is the fluctuations in primary care. There is an existing shortage of primary care physicians in the US, and the shortfalls are expected to widen to more than 52,000 primary care physicians by 2025, with more significant shortages in rural communities. This year, the Match offered the largest primary care residency positions at 19,423, which accounted for 46.8 percent of total match positions. Although the fill rates for Family Medicine, Internal Medicine, Internal Medicine-Pediatrics, and Pediatrics were 92.9 percent, this decreased by 1.4%. The primary care fill rate fell mainly due to changes in Pediatrics, with more residency positions offered to fewer applicants. In addition, according to the American College of Physicians, most Internal Medicine residents go on to a subspecialty fellowship, and only between 20% and 25% practice primary care. As a result, the number of those matching into primary care is likely falsely elevated, and many believe that we are not preparing the primary care and preventative physician workforce that our nation and communities require.

A total of 2,575 positions were not filled initially and placed in SOAP, including positions in programs that did not participate in the algorithm phase of the process. This was a decrease of 3.1 percent. We do not yet have data on how many positions were filled; however, historically, very few residency positions were left unfilled after SOAP.

The Match data is interesting to slice, dice, and ponder. Still, it leads me to think about more significant questions regarding how we expose medical students to different medical specialties, which may or may not impact their desire to enter a specific field of medicine. Furthermore, are we training the physician workforce we need for our communities today and tomorrow? What factors are involved, and are there minor or wide-sweeping changes we must implement in the medical school and residency process?

There has been a 33% increase in US medical school positions since 2020, and new medical schools opening across the US bring the promise to supply physicians to communities in need. Positions in medical schools are great, but they do not create doctors in those communities. Compounding the problem, the increase in residency positions has not kept pace with the increasing number of medical school graduates. According to the American Association of Medical Colleges, 54.2%of the individuals who completed residency training from 2008 through 2017 are practicing in the state where they completed residency, with 56% practicing within 100 miles of their residency location. Resident retention rates range from 27.2% in Wyoming to 77.7% in California. Suppose we want to ensure that rural and underserved communities have an adequate physician workforce. In that case, we need to create policies and systems that will enable and support the certation residency programs in those geographic areas with the highest need and with the right mix of specialties.

Graduate Medical Education (GME), also known as a residency, is a decentralized system that favors hospital and health system needs and individual medical student choice, which is vital to maintaining professional wellness and a long and rewarding career in medicine. However, multiple policies incentivize residency type and the culture of medical school and systems that emphasize positive or damaging exposure to different medical specialties, which may influence medical student choice.

Perhaps, the biggest policy that needs to be considered, or reconsidered, is Medicares GME funding formula, which has undergone little revision since its inception in 1965. Medicare is the largest funding source for graduate medical education, accounting for $16.2 billion in 2020. GME funding is complicated, and there is a patchwork of programs and systems with various incentives. The total number of residency positions funded through Medicare is capped, and GME-funded resident locations and specialties are unevenly distributed and heavily favor the northeast and specialty practice. Rural and underserved communities have fewer residents and Medicare GME-funded programs than urban and suburban communities. Additionally, Medicare GME funding skews heavily towards hospitals and subspecialty care. Medicare has historically played a minor role or has not funded residencies for childrens hospitals, psychiatry, and primary care, where there is the greatest need.

Overall, medical education is a continually evolving field, and stakeholders in healthcare, including medical schools, residency programs, policymakers, and healthcare organizations, must collaborate to ensure that doctors training aligns with our communities evolving needs.

Congratulations to all the medical students and residency programs who recently participated in The Match, and welcome to the next stage of your career! Regardless of whether this process yielded your dreams come true or left you feeling like your match was less than ideal, please remember that life has a funny way of helping you be just where you need to be, and your attitude and how you take advantage of what events and opportunities is perhaps most important.

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Reflections on Match Day 2024 - Physician's Weekly

AAVMC Iverson Bell Award, sponsored by Banfield Pet Hospital Drs. Monica Howard (Tuskegee 82), Ames, Iowa, and Hilda Mejia Abreu (Michigan State 13), East Lansing, Michigan. Dr. Howard is assistant dean of veterinary student success and director of multicultural student success at Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine. She is known for her advocacy of DEI within the veterinary community and beyond. Dr. Howard is active with the Deans Leadership Cabinet, ensuring that DEI considerations are part of all discussions. She has pressed for changes that include the elimination of the GRE requirement, inclusion of an element in the file review matrix that values an understanding of the importance of and engagement in DEI, and not increasing minimal GPA requirements.

Dr. Abreu is the associate dean for admissions, student life, and inclusivity at Michigan State University College of Veterinary Medicine. She has led several campus initiatives, including the establishment of the DEI Committee and creation of the 2016-22 DEI strategic plan for the veterinary college. Dr. Abreu also developed the Inclusivity Knowledge Center, an online training module that all incoming students and newly hired faculty and staff members take to earn a DEI certificate. She has contributed to the recruitment, development, and retention of underrepresented and marginalized faculty, staff, and students within the preveterinary, veterinary nursing, and DVM realm.

AAVMC Excellence in Research Award Dr. Qijing Zhang, Ames, Iowa. Dr. Zhang is a 1983 veterinary graduate of Shandong Agricultural University in Shandong, China. He serves as a Clarence Hartley Covault Distinguished Professor and the Dr. Roger and Marilyn Mahr Chair in One Health at Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine. Dr. Zhangs research, focusing on antibiotic resistance and food safety, has been used as a resource for policymaking by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in regulating the use of antimicrobials. He has spearheaded programming to support research efforts at the veterinary college and has received individual principal investigator projects and team grants from federal agencies, including the National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and FDA. Dr. Zhang is a past president of the Conference of Research Workers in Animal Diseases.

AAVMC Distinguished Veterinary Teacher Award, presented by Zoetis Dr. Rance Sellon (Texas A&M 87), Pullman, Washington. Dr. Sellon is an associate professor in oncology and small animal medicine at Washington State University College of Veterinary Medicine. During his tenure, his teaching philosophy has evolved to emphasize accessible material that focuses on critical thinking and clinical reasoning. Dr. Sellons approach involves making effective use of history and physical examination findings and thinking critically about the recommended diagnostic tests. His teaching techniques and mentorship skills have helped veterinary students gain confidence in their clinical abilities and develop a better understanding of complex medical concepts.

AAVMC Patricia M. Lowrie Diversity Leadership Scholarship Naomi Esquivel (Illinois 25), Urbana, Illinois. Esquivel is a rising fourth-year student at the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine. She was recognized for showing promise as a future leader and for significant contributions to enhancing diversity and inclusion in academic veterinary medicine. Esquivel co-founded the Illinois student chapter of the Latinx VMA in 2022.

Merck Animal Health Diversity Leadership Scholarship Twenty-two second- and third-year students, in good academic and professional standing at an AAVMC member institution, were awarded scholarships in recognition of their contributions to enhancing DEI through course projects, co-curricular activities, outreach, domestic and community engagement, research, or developing a reputation for influencing others to be inclusive.

Drs. Rustin Moore, The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine, president and board chair; Stuart Reid, University of London Royal Veterinary College, president-elect; Carlos Risco, Oklahoma State University College of Veterinary Medicine, secretary; Lorin Warnick, Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, treasurer; and Ruby Perry, Tuskegee University College of Veterinary Medicine, immediate past president

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American Association of Veterinary Medical Colleges April 11-13, 2024 - American Veterinary Medical Association

Artificial intelligence is upon us and likely will forever change the way we interact with learning and education. Despite this reality, educational institutions seem to fall into either of two camps. One camp seems loath to acknowledge that AI exists. A faculty member who helps with curriculum development at one medical school recently shared, We dont know what to do about AI. Do we act like its not there, or do we acknowledge it?

The other camp embraces AI and encourages students to employ AI resources, such as ChatGPT. Given the possibility of plagiarism or simply allowing students to bypass any learning whatsoever, its understandable why medical schools and other institutions might be conflicted about AI. But even though AI is no replacement for a novel idea or human thought or in medicine placing ones hands on patients, AI has value in medical educationand not just a little bit. AI may be used as a supplement, resource, or aid when we are learning, teaching, or creating something new.

Just how could medical schools and medical students use AI to assist in educating students? Prior articles have suggested how medical students can utilize chatbots, like ChatGPT, as online tutors to help answer questions or to create quizzes to test their knowledge. For example, bots like ChatGPT can help compare differences in diagnoses, treatments, or procedures that students may be confused about. Those same AI sites can offer a personalized learning experience that schools ought to acknowledge or promote. NYU Grossman School of Medicine has run with this idea and has fully embraced the idea of precision learning from AI by incorporating a precision education tool. Each NYU medical student is offered a personalized medical education, with an AI algorithm tailoring subject matter and content format.

In the research space, AI can also be invaluable in medical education. For example, faculty and students alike can also utilize AI to help create data analysis plans, code for various computer languages and scan literature. An online website called Elicit lets users pose a question and then, through AI, scans the internet to find papers and synthesizes their findings into a summary.

Outside of the student experience, professors may also use AI to create lecture outlines and predict the questions that students are most likely to have about certain material. Additionally, professors and faculty must be able to set standards and address the use of AI in the classroom. If they dont, students may misunderstand the expectations for AI and when or if its use is permissible.

In our own experience, we have used AI to create study guides for courses, create outlines for lectures and book chapters, analyze CVs, and write initial drafts of promotion letters for fellow faculty members. We are certain that the uses of AI that will further simplify our work and assist in medical learning will become clearer and only be seen as greater assets going forward.

Medical schools already offer courses on a wide range of learning and research topics, such as best study practices or how to conduct a literature review. Going forward, AI-based tools should be included in these lectures and within the list of online resources for student learning and research. Additionally, schools should teach students what to watch out for when using AI, like bias or flat-out false information and/or non-existent references. Teaching how to use AI in ones learning promotes a more prepared generation for future technological innovation. This approach may complement courses that explore innovation and AI in medicine.

To those who are hesitant to incorporate AI into education even after reading about NYUs approach and our own ideas, we encourage them to look at how AI has improved other aspects of medicine. From image analysis in radiology and pathology to quick retrieval of medical information and tracking infectious disease outbreaks, this technology has created greater efficiency in health care. Other studies have found that AI can help reduce racial disparities in health care, with one investigation finding that AI better predicted pain from X-rays for underserved patients when compared to radiologists. The technology can be used for good, including in education.

To illustrate that we are not just talking about the potential values of AI in medical school education, in thinking about writing this essay, we asked ChatGPT, how can artificial intelligence be used to teach medicine and enhance learning in medical schools. The answers ChatGPT provided included personalized learning, virtual patients, data analysis and research, smart tutors, and educating students about the limitations, biases, and potential risks of AI tools.

As anyone ought to do when using AI, we analyzed ChatGPTs response, and ultimatelyalthough this might not always be the casewe agree with its recommendations. Therefore, given that we are intent on practicing what were now preaching, we couldnt have written our piece without emphasizing those elements, among others.

Amelia Mercado is a medical student.J. Wesley Boydis a psychiatrist.

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The role of AI in medical education: Embrace it or fear it? - Kevin MD

[Photo courtesy of Cal Poly Humboldt]

The Huwighurruk (pronounced hee-way-gou-duck) Tribal Health Postbaccalaureate Program seeks to enroll pre-med students passionate about providing health care to American Indian and Alaska Native communities in rural and urban areas.

In the Wiyot language, huwighurruk means plants, grass, leaves, and medicine. Huwighurruk scholars will be immersed in a culturally-focused framework intertwined with science courses at Cal Poly Humboldt. The program will provide eligible students with a stipend for living and tuition costs, including those associated with MCAT preparation, and mentorship with local Native physicians.

The hope is that once students graduate from the UC Davis School of Medicine, theyll become doctors for Native American communities in rural and urban areas that are often medically underserved due to a lack of primary care physicians. According to research from the Association of American Medical Colleges, about 50% of Native American students who apply to a medical school are not admitted; and of that, 43% never apply again. Fewer than 1% of doctors in the United States are Native American.

The Huwighurruk program is the first postbaccalaureate program in the state aimed at helping Native American students in California get into medical school while keeping a focus on Tribal traditions and values through mentorships and connections.

In Native culture, one of the most important things is community and connection, especially feeling that connection with your family and tribe. With Indigenous peoples, we talk about the Earth, the plants, and the medicine and ceremony. Its that connection with Native culture and the sense of community itself that students can relate to through the Huwighurruk curriculum, says Dr. Antoinette Martinez (94, Psychology), a Family Medicine/OB physician at United Indian Health Services in Humboldt County and co-director of Tribal Health PRIME for UC Davis School of Medicine.

Students who complete the year-long Huwighurruk program with a 3.7 GPA or higher, score 499 or higher on the MCAT, and complete all the prerequisite courses for the UC Davis School of Medicine will receive conditional acceptance into the school, with additional funding towards tuition.

Its tough to get into medical school. This program aims to break down the barriers associated with applying to medical school. Its disheartening to know that 43% of Native students never apply again, so we want to connect with those aspiring medical students to successfully recruit, retain, and train them to accomplish their goals, Martinez says.

Martinez, along with Cutcha Risling Baldy, former chair of the Native American Studies department, will co-direct the Huwighurruk program. Biology Professor Amy Sprowles will assist with the programs science courses. The Indian Teacher and Educational Personnel Program (ITEPP) will be the designated hub for the Huwighurruk program, which is set to begin next fall.

To apply, eligible students must be citizens or descendants of a federally recognized American Indian/Alaska Native Tribe or California Indian Roll of 1971, are residents of California, and have demonstrated a history of commitment to practice in the American Indian/Alaska Native community.

Huwighurruk is supported by a grant from the Northwest Native American Center for Excellence and funding from the UC Davis School of Medicine. In establishing the new program at Cal Poly Humboldt, UC Davis drew on its experience with a similar program calledWyeast Medicine, which is a partnership between Washington State University, Oregon Health & Science University, and UC Davis.

We were thoughtful about choosing the right place for this program, where we knew students would be supported, where students would be able to engage with local tribes and community members, and where we would be able to come in and help support them as best we can in the building of the program. So we elected to do our program at Cal Poly Humboldt because of all the existing student resources and support, says Charlene Green, assistant dean of admissions, outreach, and diversity at the UC Davis School of Medicine. For us, it felt like the right decision.

As an alumnus, Martinez attests to the excellent student resources and mentorship she received as a student at Humboldt.

I credit Humboldt and ITEPP for supporting me through the process of completing my science coursework and believing that medical school admission was attainable. Without them, I might have given up, Martinez said. The connection to the ITEPP community and coursework on Native American issues helped me get through the pre-med coursework. The community and cultural integration at Humboldt are huge pluses for Huwighurruk students going through this process.

UC Davis has been offering a successful post-baccalaureate premed program for years to assist college graduates from disadvantaged backgrounds in becoming more competitive applicants for medical school.

UC Davis California Postbaccalaureate Consortium will be hosting avirtual informational sessionfor special reapplicant sessions for medical school applicants on Monday, April 22, from 3-4 p.m. For more information about the Huwighurruk program, contact[emailprotected].

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CPH and UC Davis Create New Native Physician-track Program - Redheaded Blackbelt

After she became the first American to win an Olympic gold medal in fencing during the Olympics in Tokyo at age 27, Lee Kiefer of Lexington was not sure what she would do about the 2024 Olympics in Paris.

Both Kiefer and her husband, accomplished fencer Gerek Meinhardt, are both in medical school at the University of Kentucky and will restart their third year of med school after the Paris Olympics this summer.

I was trying to figure out what direction my life was going after Tokyo. I really wanted to keep fencing because I still love it and enjoy doing it. I felt like I could keep growing my skills, my routine, said Kiefer, a Paul Laurence Dunbar High School graduate. However, the biggest obstacle was the UK College of Medicine. I was not sure they would let me continue, which would have been totally understandable.

Kiefers friends told her she needed to ask UK officials rather than panic since she obviously wanted to compete in her fourth Olympics.

My husband also felt the same way. We thought through the timeline and decided to keep fencing and came up with a logical proposal. We talked to the dean and here we are (still competing).

Kiefer took foil bronze at the world championships in Italy last summer, matching her bronze medals from 2011 and 2002. She also had four team medals in worlds and her seven total world medals ties her husband for second most for any U.S. fencer.

Her first two years of med school were mainly classroom lectures. Both Kiefer and her husband had completed about half of their third year when they took a leave for the Tokyo Olympics.

Your last two years are in the hospital, so I will come back and restart my third year. We plan to rematriculate in June of 2025 when the semester starts after we have had some to re-study, the Olympic gold medalist said. We know it wont be easy, but thats what we plan to do.

Kiefer has never backed away from a challenge. She has won 22 World Cup medals, including five golds. She was a four-time NCAA champion at Notre Dame and nine-time individual Pan American champion. She entered 2024 ranked No. 1 in the world.

Ive had some of my best seasons since Tokyo. I am competing with a lot of confidence and joy, she said. I have really been able to train and treat fencing professionally. I am eating healthy, doing my strength and conditioning training.

However, preparing for a fourth Olympics her first one was 2012 in London is a bit surreal considering the year-long qualification process involving 13 tournaments where past results dont lock anyone into an Olympic berth.

Thats why you have to keep grinding and cant think about Paris until it is ready to happen, she said.

When Kiefer does compete in Paris, she admits she has changed in some ways since winning the gold medal but not in other ways.

I dont know if it is applicable to other sports, but sometimes it can be how your body is or how referees are and then you tend to do certain things more often. Compared to when I was younger or even a few years ago, I do more defensive action. I am still an aggressive attacker in my heart and soul and think I am a little more versatile fencer.

Kiefer and Meinhardt have been featured by NBC-TV in the promotions for the Paris games where Kiefer has a chance to become only the second U.S. fencer to win multiple Olympic gold medals in any individual event. If she just medals, the Lexington resident would be just the third U.S. fencer to win individual medals at multiple Olympics.

I have the belief and skills to do it (win gold). I am not going to put pressure on myself, but I will admit I wear my heart on my sleeve more than when I was younger, she said. I know I can do it, and its going to be hard, I want to freaking go for it.

When I was more of an underdog, it was like, I can beat anyone. And now that Im the old one, I am still like, I can beat anyone, but I also know anyone can beat me. Im not scared of it, but its just a reminder to not get comfortable.

Kentucky signee Boogie Fland made a favorable impression at the McDonalds All-American Game when he went 6-for-14 from the field, including 3-for-6 from 3-point range, and scored 17 points in his teams 88-86 win. He also had five rebounds and three assists and his follow basket gave his team the win in Houston.

However, even before the game Fland made a big impression that UK fans should like.

"Boogie Fland had his best session of the weekend on Sunday afternoon, and it was because his impact on the game extended beyond whether or not he was making tough shots," wrote 247Sports Director of Scouting Adam Finkelstein about the future UK point guard.

"The Kentucky commit was engaged and competitive defensively. He used the threat of his jumper to be effective in ball screens and threw some clever pocket passes. He also scored at different levels, showing pretty good lift into his mid-range pull-up and a couple of tough rim finishes with both hands over contesting interior defenders."

Fland averaged 19.2 points, 6.5 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 2.4 steals per game last season and was named New York High School Basketball Player of the Year by MaxPreps. He shot 46% from the field, 36% from 3-point range and 83% at the free-throw line. He scored 1,418 points in his high school career.

Fland will also play in the Nike Hoop Summit April 13 in Portland along with UK signee Jayden Quaintance.

The 6-2 Fland is consensus top 20 player in his recruiting class who helped Team USA win a gold medal at the 2022 Under 17 World Cup. He knows what Kentucky fans will expect from him and his teammates next year.

"Kentucky fans, they want to win. That's what they're used to. I feel like the reaction (to Kentucky's loss to Oakland in the NCAA Tournament) was the right reaction," Fland said at the McDonalds pre-game press conference. "They came up short. I felt like they thought they had another game. It's March; you're gonna get everybody's best shot.

I don't feel like there's no pressure. I feel like we chose Kentucky because we knew what it came with and you've just got to go in there and do what you got to do."

Soon former University of Kentucky legend Tim Couch will be inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame. However, the former Leslie County star really wanted to play for Tennessee, not Kentucky.

I committed to Tennessee in high school and backed out of the verbal commitment. I went to UK because of my dad. He wanted me to go there. At the time I did not understand why, Couch said. It wasnt a great fit for me. Me and dad, there was some tension and arguments.

Tennessee coach Phil Fulmer came to Hyden for a home visit and Couchs father walked out of the meeting.

It was one of the most awkward situations ever. We were sitting in the living room. I told coach Fulmer I was ready to come and commit. He said, Great, and dad leaves the room and takes off. They were stunned and told me they had never had a parent leave like that before.

My dad was one of a kind. He had a unique personality. He was stubborn and hard-headed. He believed I should be at Kentucky and fortunately it all worked out.

They reached an agreement where Tim would go to Kentucky, but if year one did not go well under coach Bill Curry he could transfer to Tennessee.

I called Dad halfway through the year and told him I was going to Tennessee. My brother called Tennessee and said I was transferring. They told me I could come, redshirt and then take over as the starter, Couch said.

Kentucky went 4-7 in 1996, Couchs freshman season and Currys last season. Athletics director Mitch Barnhart knew Couch was going to transfer and he asked Couch to give him time to find a coach that could better utilize his passing talents.

I waited and he called me and said, I got a guy, Hal Mumme. I wonder who is Hal Mumme. I had never heard of him or Valdosta State (where Mumme was coaching). But the first time I met him I knew it would work. He described his system and it looked like what I ran in high school. I told C.M. I was staying.

I had so much confidence in coach Mumme. He made you believe in him. I knew we had the talent on the team to run that shotgun, spread offense. We just had not been able to go out and be the type of players we were.

Couch said he was lucky not only to play for Mumme but assistant coach Mike Leach, Tony Franklin, Chris Hatcher and Sonny Dykes.

Those guys were all great to me and they all went out and did great things, Couch said. That system is still thriving thanks to them and others using it now.

Couch noted that successful NFL quarterback Patrick Mahomes, Jared Goff and Baker Mayfield are in systems with Air Raid tendencies.

Coach Mumme and those guys at Kentucky were ahead of the times and that really benefited me, Couch said. It was a loose atmosphere, but he (Mumme) would absolutely get on people. He had a great sense for when to push guys and when to back off. There were very few people then who believed in the Air Raid, but we knew we could go into a game and light up people because we had one of the best offenses in the country.

New Kentucky womens basketball coach Kenny Brooks knows that three of the nations top juniors Sacred Hearts ZaKiyah Johnson (No. 5), Bethlehems Leah Macy (No. 8) and George Rogers Clarks Ciara Byars (No. 37) are in the Bluegrass.

Theres also rising star Grace Mbugua, a 6-5 center at Danville Christian Academy who has received 15 offers, including Kentucky, since her play at the state tournament.

At his introductory news conference, I asked Brooks what his philosophy would be about in-state recruiting as he tries to restock the Kentucky roster.

When you think about Kentucky, you think about basketball, the former Virginia Tech coach said. We definitely understand the importance of keeping in-state players at home.

We also understand the importance of fit. We will look at all of it and make sure its going to be a great fit. Because sometimes situations, some kids just want to get away. Weve encountered that in the state of Virginia where we have recruited and we want to make sure everythings going to be a good fit.

We know it is a rich country with basketball. And we definitely are aware of the young ladies (in Kentucky). Weve actually been recruiting some of the young ladies to the point that we had conversations. We understand the importance of it and thats going to be a priority for us, but it will also be very important that we make sure everything is a good fit for our program.

Brooks quickly found four familiar good fits for his first UK team when all-ACC guard Georgia Amoore and 6-5 center Clara Strack both transferred from Virginia Tech to UK and junior college standout Amelia Hassett and high school senior Lexi Blue flipped their commitments from Tech to UK.

Quote of the Week: It was crazy, as a little kid watching the game and seeing him in the McDonalds game. Best of the best in the world, seeing him selected touched my heart. Thats what really inspired me to play basketball and keep going hard the way I do, UK signee Karter Knox, on playing in the McDonalds All-American Game like his brother Kevin also did before coming to UK.

Quote of the Week 2: Its been a solid group. Not necessarily one guy just day in and day out jumping off as the clear favorite. That groups got some guys that have a lot of ability. We just gotta bring them along, UK assistant Jay Boulware, on UKs running backs.

Quote of the Week 3: Nothing but happy memories and just very special to have the opportunity. Especially three years. One year is a great opportunity, but three, its just even more surreal and special honestly, UK senior golfer Jensen Castle, on playing in the Augusta National Womens Amateur.

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Kiefer ready to pursue Olympic gold, then restart med school at UK - Bowling Green Daily News

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Medical students look to helping future doctors | Education | newspressnow.com - News-Press Now