SVM Large Animal Professor Honored with Zoetis Distinguished Teacher Award

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School of Veterinary Medicine professor, Stacey Byers, DVM, MS, DACVIM(LA), took a circuitous route to becoming a veterinarian.

Possessing strong math and science skills, she obtained a degree in metallurgical engineering and began working at The Boeing Company. However, soon after volunteering at a wildlife rehabilitation hospital she discovered what was missing in her career and applied to veterinary school. It was there she discovered her love for livestock medicine and teaching, and her desire for a career in academia.

Dr. Byers started working at St. George’s University in 2018 and was recently promoted to professor of livestock medicine in SVM’s Large Animal Medicine and Surgery Department. In her role, she lectures mostly to Terms 4, 5, and 6 students on livestock medicine and teaches in large animal laboratories to students in the earlier Terms 1-3 and is co-leader on communication training courses. She also serves as a mentor to junior SVM faculty, along with handling administrative functions for a variety of SVM committees.

Her efforts have not gone unnoticed. Dr. Byers was awarded the Zoetis Distinguished Veterinary Teacher Award during the SVM’s Spring 2022 Term Awards ceremony. Veterinary students from each term submit nominations for the award, with Term 6 students casting the deciding votes.

She shared with SGU News why she loves large animal medicine, what winning the award means to her, and what she hopes to instill in the students she teaches.

St. George’s University: What do you see as your role with your students? And what are the key takeaways you want them to learn?

Dr. Byers: My role is varied with my students. I teach them a variety of livestock topics to prepare them for their clinical rotations and life after veterinary school. I also provide assistance to and mentor students who are looking to specialize in large animal medicine.

The transition to clinical rotations can be intimidating, similar to the “new kid at school” feeling, so I want them to realize that they shouldn’t expect to have all the answers when they graduate and that is okay. Becoming a skilled veterinarian means always being open to learning, especially as new graduates.

Also, being a livestock vet requires a good sense of humor and a lot of patience. Having the ability to laugh at yourself when things get very messy is a definite plus.

SGU: What does winning the Zoetis Distinguished Veterinary Teacher Award mean to you?

Dr. Byers: It was an amazing honor to be both nominated and receive this teaching award. It helps validate what I am trying to do. I teach a topic most students are not as interested in pursuing, so it means so much to have my teaching methods appreciated and to be recognized by our students for trying to be a good teacher and mentor.

 

“Becoming a skilled veterinarian means always being open to learning, especially as new graduates.”

 

SGU: Why did you choose livestock medicine? Why this specialty?

Dr. Byers: Shortly after working at Boeing I started volunteering at a wildlife rehabilitation hospital and later a large animal referral hospital. It was during that time I realized how much I loved working with large animals and clients. I soon went back to school to study wildlife biology and then applied to veterinary school. It was there that I found I most enjoyed working outside with the livestock clients. Every day was a new challenge and adventure. I also discovered how much fun teaching was and decided to focus on academia.

SGU: What is the best part of your job and why do you love what you do?  

Dr. Byers: My favorite part of my job is working through cases with students to bring the “real world” into the discussions and teaching. I love when students send me comments about cases that they observe during their breaks or clinical rotations, and how comfortable they feel discussing the case with their instructors and clients.

I also love when students decide they want to be a mixed animal veterinarian working with both small and large animals because they have discovered the fun and adventurous side of working with large animals.

SGU: How do SGUSVM students compare to students you’ve taught at other schools?  

Dr. Byers: Teaching veterinary students has been enlightening, educational, challenging, and even entertaining in some cases. Our students at SGU are definitely on par with students I’ve taught at other schools. All veterinary programs accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association are designed to ensure all students have a good solid foundation in veterinary medicine and SGU is no exception. I’m usually only able to tell a student was from Grenada during the winters in Colorado and Washington, otherwise they blend in with the rest of the students.

SGU: What are you most proud of in your career?  

Dr. Byers: I am extremely proud of my teaching and have tried to do the best I can to help students excel in working with livestock medicine. Even more importantly, I care deeply about my students and want them to succeed regardless of what areas they choose to work in after veterinary school.

I am also proud of the research I did while earning my master’s degree—working on bovine viral diarrhea virus infections in camelids. And later, the research mentoring I did with vet students and interns/residents in helping them develop their research skills.

SGU: Any plans or future projects you’d like to share? 

Dr. Byers: I am working on obtaining an MBA in multisector health management at SGU. This new endeavor has been a bit of a challenge after having such a science focus in my other degrees. However, it’s been interesting learning these various new topics and I look forward to applying some of what I learn to my teaching.

SGU: What are you most looking forward to with the start of the August term? 

Dr. Byers: I am most excited to welcome new students, and those who have been learning online, back to our vibrant campus community. Being able to see students’ faces in person will be wonderful. We also have some new faculty joining us in August and I look forward to hearing about what will be going on in the other programs.

 

– Ray-Donna Peters

 

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Clinical faculty spotlight: Dr. Otto Sabando, DME at St. Joseph’s University Medical Center

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What is it like to be a clinical student at St. Joseph’s University Medical Center in Paterson, NJ?

Dr. Otto Sabando, DO, FACOEP, FACEP, FFSMB, as the director of medical education for St. George’s University students who are completing their clerkships at the hospital as well as its designated institutional official (DIO), sees hundreds of new clinical students each year.

As the DME for the 526-bed acute care hospital, Dr. Sabando oversees the hands-on training students receive as part of the clinical portion of their medical education. St. Joseph’s offers all core rotations for third-year students as well as elective rotations in specialties like anesthesiology, cardiology/interventional cardiology, gastroenterology, hematology/oncology, and orthopedic surgery, for example.

Dr. Sabando has been working at St. Joseph’s for the past 17 years, however his first foray into medicine was as a hospital corpsman for the US Navy early on in his career. The lessons he learned in the military, he says, are invaluable to med students and he tries to pass on those lessons today. Dr. Sabando shared with SGU News his best advice for how med students can be successful in clinicals and residency.

SGU: What are some key lessons or attributes that students will acquire during their clinical rotations at St. Joseph’s?

Dr. Sabando: I always tell students when they start that they are starting over. The first or second year you pretty much accumulated knowledge, but now you’re actually going to interact with patients.

I expect students to learn how to converse with patients, communicate well within a team, and certainly become team members with the nurses. The nurses have a lot to teach you, so definitely respect them. And finally, to be on time and be professional. Those are the five big things I always tell them. If they can do that, then they will do well in clinicals.

SGU: What is your overall impression of St. George’s students?

Dr. Sabando: Early on in my career as a residency director here, we had several St. George’s students coming through who were really interested in emergency medicine. I was impressed by them. Their knowledge base was awesome, the way they spoke to the patients, the way they interacted with a team, I mean, bar none, they were highly trained individuals who knew that they were getting into a competitive field. So, from that to seeing students today, in general, they are well-trained and can stand on the same ground as med students from US medical schools and osteopathic schools.

 

“The most important advice I can give to students and new residents is don’t stop studying, don’t stop networking, and certainly practice evidence-based medicine.”

 

SGU: You started your career in the US Navy. What traits did you acquire while in the Navy that helped you during your medical career? 

Dr. Sabando: My parents were immigrants from Ecuador, and they really didn’t have funding for myself and my brother to go to college. I enlisted in the military and became a hospital corpsman in the Navy. That’s where I met nurses, PAs, doctors, and then I went on to field medical service school with the Marines. I really enjoyed it.

The people we served in the Marines, wherever we were stationed, the population we served at that moment, it was just an incredible feeling to be able to help them. And then having the doctors and nurses guide us as a corpsman and medics was something I never forgot.

In addition, the leadership skills that I developed, the communication, the teamwork, and the discipline, it all came from there.

SGU: You then went on to become a DO, specializing in emergency medicine. Why did you choose that field?

Dr. Sabando: I remember really enjoying all my third-year clerkships and then my very first fourth-year rotation was in emergency medicine, and it all came together. It was everything that I learned in my third year plus my experience in the military—it was a lot of acute care and triage—I felt at home. So, I decided to pursue the career.

SGU: Why do you like working with medical students?

Dr. Sabando: It’s always exciting to have that student who’s coming in eager to learn from you. There’s nothing greater than the student turning around and saying thank you for teaching me, even if it was just one patient.

While I enjoy being able to impart knowledge onto medical students, there is also the potential for them to impart knowledge onto me because they’re fresh from medical school and maybe they have something new they can share with me that I haven’t yet read about.

SGU: For a student who may be considering applying for a residency at St. Joseph’s, how can they be competitive?

Dr. Sabando: The residency directors get thousands of applications each year. In emergency medicine, for example, for the eight positions that we have, we generally average around 1,200 applications. So how do we sort through that?

  • The very first thing we do is we look at board scores. Students have already taken the USMLE 1, so really everything’s going to hinge on that second board score.
  • If you’re currently rotating with us, we’re going to be taking a closer look at your evaluations, the Dean’s letter, and anything that might make you stand out.
  • In addition, the personal statement is very important—that’s definitely going to set students apart. Program directors love reading personal statements, and sometimes residents help screen applicants as well. They may notice something that the residency director has not.
  • Finally, good grades.
  • The bottom line is you are competing against the rest of America, and you have to be the best, if not for yourself, then for your patients.

SGU: What’s the best piece of advice you received throughout your career that you can impart to students?

Dr. Sabando: The best mentors that I had were very knowledgeable because they always stayed on top of new research and reading material.

That’s what keeps you fresh, so the most important advice I can give to students and new residents is don’t stop studying, don’t stop networking, and certainly practice evidence-based medicine.

SGU: Are there any other tips you want to share with students on how to be successful in clinicals?

Dr. Sabando: Just to remind students about the importance of professionalism in the hospital environment. This is essentially an ongoing job interview, and the biggest challenge is to make sure that they’re processing, that they’re on time for rounds or, for example, if there is an issue, that they call up and inform us that they will be running late. Like any job, just be professional about it.

 

 

 

— Laurie Chartorynsky

 

 

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SVM grad teaches next generation of production medicine veterinarians

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Growing up on a dairy farm, Hollie Schramm, DVM ’07, learned early on what it felt like to be a veterinarian and the experience shaped her future career path.

“I was always trying to fix and treat animals on the farm and make them healthy,” Dr. Schramm said.

Since graduating from St. George’s University, Dr. Schramm has served as the herd veterinarian for over 10 years at the Virginia Tech Dairy Teaching and Research Farm. In addition, Dr. Schramm is a clinical assistant professor at Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, a role for which she is responsible for assuring the welfare and health of production animals, safety of the food supply, and teaching veterinary students—including SGU clinical students—in the field, classroom, and in hands-on laboratories. She does clinical and didactic teaching, research, and outreach.

She shares what it’s like in her role as a both a teacher and a large animal veterinarian, and what students can expect to learn in their clinical experience at VA/MD.

St. George’s University: What kind of experience can students expect at VA/MD?

Dr. Schramm: In my role, I’m in charge of the overall management of the calves and cows. We do a lot of preventative medicine and reproductive work, working with sick cows, helping with general health and vaccination protocols, and different aspects of hygiene. As a clinical professor, I oversee veterinary students on the production management medicine rotation, where we primarily work with food animals, including beef and dairy cattle, sheep, goats, camelids, and pigs.

SGU: What do you hope is the biggest takeaway for clinical students?

Dr. Schramm: We want to provide our students with as much hands-on experience, so that they’re ready on the first day of veterinary practice. My motto is really “see one, do one, teach one.” We have a range of clinical skills laboratories, from foot trimming to surgical techniques. I also teach a class called Food Animal Clinical Techniques where the students learn low stress cattle handling, everything from putting on halters to basic injections and beef quality assurance. If you ask the students, they will tell you that they get the most hands-on experience in the production management rotation.

 

“We want to provide our students with as much hands-on experience, so that they’re ready on the first day of veterinary practice.”

 

SGU: How much does research play a part of your job?

Dr. Schramm: I do approximately 15 percent research as part of my job responsibilities. Many of the research studies I collaborate on are related to ruminant nutrition, but range from pain management in ruminants to prevention and treatment of mastitis to calf behavior and welfare. We have a few studies related to the pathophysiology of milk production, including how many times we milk the cow per day and whether that has a positive or negative effect on production and what controls this at the cellular level.  These studies are very informative for the dairy industry. We know that it’s important for the future of the world and for sustainable agriculture.

 

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Hollie Schramm, DVM ’07, teaches animal production medicine to clinical students at Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine.

SGU: What drew you to production medicine in the first place?

Dr. Schramm: It’s just in my blood. I grew up on a large farm in Michigan. We had a small dairy herd of about 60 cows, and we also had everything from sheep and goats to hundreds of rabbits. We had all kinds of critters honestly. I was always trying to fix and treat animals on the farm and make them healthy.

I also really enjoyed the management and nutritional sides of animal health, which led me to veterinary school. It has been great doing what I love and making a difference in the field for both the veterinary students as well as the producers. Food animal veterinarians are key in food safety and are important for everybody in America and the world.

SGU: Why did you choose SGU and what was your experience like?

Dr. Schramm: Growing up, I traveled abroad a lot, and honestly, I never applied to any US schools. I just decided I wanted to continue my journey traveling and saw SGU as a great opportunity to learn veterinary medicine on an island.

I had an awesome experience at SGU. I absolutely loved the island. We had wonderful professors, and we all knew them on a personal level, which was very nice. I enjoyed being able to interact with them and ask them questions. They made time for us, which I think is something a little bit different from other universities.

SGU: You’re giving back now as a clinical professor. How can a student be successful during their clinical year?

Dr. Schramm: Believing in yourself is very important. Veterinary students can sometimes be apprehensive about saying or doing the wrong thing, or worried about what someone is going to say to them. But that’s what we as professors are here for—to teach and to answer your questions. I would tell anyone to go into clinics with a great attitude, to communicate well with your clients and colleagues, and to have fun.

 

— Brett Mauser

 

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Community volunteering helps clinical SOM students see big picture

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A volunteer experience can be eye-opening and educational for aspiring physicians, according to three St. George’s University clinical students.

Third-year SOM students Zekeria Sawaged, Natalia Cardona, and Peter Killian, who are currently doing rotations at Hackensack Meridian Jersey Shore University Medical Center, recently attended a Children’s Mental Health Day event at Allaire Community Farm in Wall Township, NJ. Run by the state’s Children’s Inter-agency Coordinating Councils (CIACC), the event brought together many agencies who work to serve children with mental health needs.

Ms. Cordona, Mr. Sawaged, and Mr. Killian assisted at the hospital’s “Trauma Injury Prevention” table and offered information to visiting families about the importance of wearing bike helmets. They also had the opportunity to speak to other agency representatives attending the event to learn about the work that these advocates are doing in the community, and meet with county officials and organizers of the event. At the end of the day, the students had a chance to relieve some stress by feeding goats who live on the farm.

Clinical students at Jersey Shore University Medical Center take a break from their rotations to participate in community service.

“Children’s Mental Health Day was as much of a learning experience for the children and families as it was for us,” said Mr. Killian, an aspiring emergency room physician. “There are so many programs available to the general public that healthcare providers are not familiar with. As a potential ER doctor, learning about resources that help to prevent injury, self-harm, and eventual emergency room visits was eye-opening.”

The students were able to take part in the event through the hospital’s “Med-Students Making a Difference” program, started in 2020. Students are invited to choose a community project that they have a passion for and participate in various outreach programs offered by the hospital, according to Tracy Nerney, BS, RN, MMBA, the trauma injury prevention coordinator at Jersey Shore University Hospital.

According to Ms. Nerney, the program:

  • Raises student awareness about many aspects of healthcare
  • Gives them the opportunity to develop their presentation skills
  • Provides accomplishments they can add to their portfolio.

“They also develop a positive sense of self as they see the impact they can make and collaborate with other students while having some fun! Zekeria, Natalia, and Peter did a great job in representing our organization and they plan to share what they learned with other medical students,” she added.

As for the students, they felt the day was valuable for their training as future physicians.

“Being a part of the community is integral to my training as a future psychiatrist, as the interactions and the bonds built are priceless,” said Mr. Sawaged. “As doctors in training, we have a responsibility to continue engaging with the communities that trust us to better their experience. This event allowed us to expose children and their families to mental health resources, while also providing outlets for those who are in need.”

Added Ms. Cardona: “Participating in Children’s Mental Health Day was a humbling experience. We got the chance to educate children and families about the importance of taking care of themselves physically and mentally. As a future pediatrician, I believe that going into the community and educating children early will be the key to leading healthier adult lives.”

 

 

— Laurie Chartorynsky

 

 

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From tigers to canines: SVM grad finds her path as a vet oral surgeon

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As a board-certified dentist and oral surgeon, Dr. Chanda Miles, DVM ’06, has treated all types of animals for their oral health—including tigers, an Asian small-clawed otter, an American River otter, chimpanzees, a Silverback gorilla, gibbons, opossums, skunks, and chinchillas, not to mention cats and dogs.

Dr. Miles credits St. George’s University for helping her become comfortable with surgical procedures. At SGU, “we were able to perform a large amount and variety of general surgeries that helped me shape my love for surgery and later form my decision to pursue dentistry and oral surgery,” Dr. Miles said.

Earlier this year, Dr. Miles and a colleague co-opened Veterinary Dentistry Specialists in Katy, Texas to answer the high demand for pet oral care in the greater Houston area.

Dr. Miles didn’t set out to be a veterinary dentist at first. While working as a new veterinarian, she was tasked with overseeing several dentistry procedures a day but found herself frequently asking for help from colleagues since she had little dentistry training. She wanted to learn more and decided to attend an intense three-day weekend course to learn “everything that I could about dentistry for animals,” Dr. Miles recalled.

“It was then that I realized I had a passion for dentistry and oral surgery. It was calming and came easy to me,” she said. To refine her skills, she pursued a residency in the specialty at the University of Wisconsin in Madison—and the rest, as they say, was history.

Dr. Miles spoke to SGU News about why she is passionate about dentistry, new technology in the field that improves her patient care, and what advice she would give to new veterinary students just starting out.

St. George’s University: What types of patients do you see and what are some examples of the procedures that you perform?  

Dr. Miles: I work with primarily cats and dogs, but we can treat exotic patients if they are in need.  I love working with large cats such as tigers, leopards, etc.

I treat all kinds of conditions: I perform procedures in periodontics, endodontics (root canals), oral surgery (extractions, jaw fracture repair, surgical resections, prosthodontics (crowns), orthodontics, and oral medicine.

Dr. Miles has performed dental services on animals at the Houston Zoo. Photo published with the approval of the Houston Zoo.

SGU: Why are you passionate about the vet dentistry field?  

Dr. Miles: It gives me instant gratification of accomplishing something good for the patient who benefits remarkably from it. When patients have a healthy, comfortable mouth they can have an excellent quality of life. It isn’t a discipline that is taught readily in vet school so I’m also passionate about teaching it appropriately to general practitioners as well.

SGU: Tell us about your new clinic.  

Dr. Miles: VDS is a stand-alone specialty dentistry and oral surgery practice with a full-time board-certified anesthesiologist. We offer advanced imaging (cone beam CT) and are equipped with modern anesthesia monitoring equipment.

My colleague, Dr. Carlos Rice, opened the first VDS in Mt. Laurel, NJ and then a second one with another colleague in Chadds Ford, PA. Dr. Rice and I decided that opening one in the greater Houston area (where I live) would be a great addition to the VDS family. There is a big demand for dentistry in Houston’s pet population.

SGU: What is the most challenging part of the job? 

Dr. Miles: On a day-to-day basis it’s keeping the flow of the day manageable.  One patient can throw a curve ball in the whole day with unexpected pathology that needs treatment. Because we provide outpatient care, it’s important to treat our patients with completeness, but also make sure they have enough recovery time to be discharged adequately.

My other big challenge that I face at times is treating complicated maxillofacial traumas in young dogs.  These can be very difficult to treat when they have both deciduous and permanent dentition at the same time and are still growing.

SGU: What new technology or procedures have developed to help you do your job?

Dr. Miles: Cone beam CT has been a game changer for me. This is an imaging modality that allows me to render 3D images of my patient’s skull for complete evaluation of maxillofacial trauma. It also gives me precise images for small things such as early endodontic lesions. The imaging is crystal clear and helps me understand the extent of pathology in many facets.

What made you pursue veterinary medicine? 

Dr. Miles: It sounds cliché, but I’ve always wanted to be a veterinarian since I was little.  At the minimum I knew I wanted to pursue something in the medical field.

SGU: How has your training at SGU helped you succeed, specifically in your specialized career?

Dr. Miles: Having spent time at two separate universities for my clinical year and residency, I was around many specialists that were teaching students and the SGU professors were far more compassionate in their teaching and encouragement to us.

One of the key takeaways in my training at SGU was surgical preparation. We were able to perform a large amount and variety of general surgeries that helped me shape my love for surgery and later form my decision to pursue dentistry and oral surgery.

Photo published with the approval of the Houston Zoo.

SGU: What was your clinical year like at Kansas State University? What takeaway would you pass on to students?

Dr. Miles: I absolutely loved Kansas State! Every clinician and student was so incredibly nice at this school. I learned so much on each and every rotation.

The biggest takeaway from my clinical year that I would pass on to students would be to participate in every rounds session and conversation that you have. The clinicians want you to be engaged.

SGU: What would you say to an aspiring vet student considering going to SGU? 

Dr. Miles: Do it! It’s an experience of a lifetime and you will get an education like nowhere else in the US!  SGU provided me with so much more than my degree and I loved that the school offered flexible matriculation. I didn’t want to wait another year to apply to vet school.

 

 

 

— Laurie Chartorynsky

 

 

 

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·       SGU confers degrees to School of Veterinary Medicine Class of 2022

·       SVM grad helps refugees and pets in need on Ukraine-Poland border

·       SGU veterinarians secure postgraduate training positions in VIRMP match

Celebrating Pride Month: How to be an ally to the LGBTQIA+ community

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SGU students celebrate Pride Month.

Each year, the LGBTQIA+ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex, Queer and/or Questioning, and Asexual and/or Ally, plus) community celebrates its liberation movement throughout the month of June.

Named “Pride Month,” it is a chance for people who identify as LGBTQIA+ and others, such as allies—heterosexual and cisgender people who support equal civil rights, gender equality, and LGBTQIA+ inclusion movements/efforts—to gather and commemorate both the struggle and challenges faced as well as the positive changes made to acknowledge and support this group.

But what does it mean to be an ally to underrepresented groups like the LGBTQIA+ community, and how can we all support these members of the St. George’s University community in our day-to-day lives?

To offer perspective, meet Gabrielle Rivera (she/her), the incoming fall term president of Pride & Equality SGU student club and a Term 5 School of Veterinary Medicine student, shared tips on how we can all become allies to underrepresented groups such as LGBTQIA+ people, and why observances like Pride Month can elevate the importance of diversity and inclusion and create a community of mutual respect and support.

St. George’s University: What does Pride Month mean to you? 

Ms. Rivera: Pride Month means representation for the marginalized LGBTQIA+ community by promoting equal rights and self-affirmation. It allows our community to celebrate, be visible, and stand up for the fundamental right to love. Our ability to celebrate Pride Month would not have been possible without our lesbian, gay, bisexual, and trans minority groups of color in the 1960s. Their courage to stand up for equal rights paved the way for LGBTQIA+ folks to be included. I am thankful for their determination, and I hope our community can keep taking steps forward so one day we won’t have to “come out” anymore.

 

Read more: A desire to make an impact leads grad to become expert in LGBTQIA+ healthcare

 

SGU: How can students, faculty, and staff in the SGU community be an ally to all? 

Ms. Rivera: Allyship is such a pivotal part of our community, and we encourage our allies to join us as we continue to create a safe space for our community at SGU. Allowing yourself to be an ally helps the LGBTQIA+ community feel safe and seen within your presence.

  • One way to be an ally can include integrating inclusive language in your everyday life. Asking someone their pronouns when you first meet them shows you are open-minded and inclusive.
  • Another great way to be an ally is becoming involved in the events/opportunities for the LGBTQIA+ community by the Pride and Equality club or the other clubs/events on campus.
  • Denouncing anti-LGBTQIA+ comments or jokes during your everyday life helps the fight against the discrimination that is still present. All of your allyship efforts help build up our community as we continue to push for acceptance and understanding.

 

“Allowing yourself to be an ally helps the LGBTQIA+ community feel safe and seen within your presence.”

 

SGU: What does it mean to be supportive of all different walks of life? 

Ms. Rivera: When you are supportive of all different walks of life you are open to all people despite their gender, sexual orientation, religion, ethnicity, etc. You create a safe space for someone to be their authentic self without judgement.

SGU: How can we create a community of mutual respect and support? 

Ms. Rivera: We create a community of mutual respect and support by the acknowledgment that not everyone is the same. Even though you may not understand someone’s identity or sexual orientation, you still hold mutual respect and support for that person. This will bring togetherness within a community.

SGU: How do observances like Pride Month elevate the importance of diversity and inclusion in healthcare? 

Ms. Rivera: Observances like Pride Month elevate the importance of diversity and inclusion in healthcare by bringing awareness to the essential need for embracement towards all different people no matter their identity or sexual orientation. Having acknowledgements that promote diversity allow healthcare professionals to live their lives freely and with integrity as we give back to our human or animal patients. Creating a more accepting environment for medical workers will only help people feel safe and comfortable in their work environment amongst colleagues.

SGU: How can the SGU community get involved with P&E SGU?

Ms. Rivera: All members of the University are eligible for membership within P&E SGU including faculty, students, and staff. You can join by filling out our form. Also follow us on Instagram @PrideandEqualitySGU and Facebook Pride & Equality SGU.

 

Join Pride & Equality SGU

 

 

–Jessica Epps and Laurie Chartorynsky

 

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SOM grad returns to train the next generation of physicians

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Before deciding to attend medical school at St. George’s University, Michael Keenaghan, MD ’06, considered entering the field of astrophysics with hopes of becoming an astronaut. He had been filled with a desire to both “know” everything and to help people. However, it was a family friend and former chair of pediatrics who recommended he apply to SGU, which inspired him on the path to specializing in pediatric critical care.

Not only does Dr. Keenaghan have a passion for his specialty of choice, that passion also extends to teaching the next generation of medical students. Since completing his residency training at SUNY Downstate (he served an additional year as chief resident) and his fellowship at New York-Presbyterian Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital Columbia University, Dr. Keenaghan has been involved in academic medicine. At NYC Health + Hospitals/Kings County, where he worked for the past eight years, he was the associate director of pediatric critical care and associate chief academic officer. While there he developed and managed a pediatric simulation center focused on developing trainees’ procedural skills.

In 2013, he took on an associate professor position at SGU where he assisted students at patients’ bedsides at Kings County hospital. Three years later, he was appointed associate medical director of education and became involved with advising students initially with SGU’s Office of Career Guidance and then through its onsite student advisors.

But little did he know that his two passions would eventually lead him back to Grenada one day. Earlier this year, Dr. Keenaghan accepted a full time position within the School of Medicine as an assistant dean of students, moving with his family back to the island. In this new position, Dr. Keenaghan manages SOM’s academic advisors for clinical students. He discussed with SGU News his new role, how it feels to also teach Term 5 SOM students, and his plans to work with Grenada General Hospital to support and grow its pediatric critical care service.

St. George’s University: Can you share why you wanted to come back to Grenada and work at your alma mater?

Dr. Keenaghan: I was given a great opportunity to help students achieve their academic goals, as well as provide pediatric critical care support for the children of Grenada.

One of the best rewards in being an intensivist, after caring for an extremely sick child—a day, a week, or a month later when all the lines and breathing tubes have been removed—they smile. It is a priceless moment.

SGU: What are you most passionate about in your work?

Dr. Keenaghan: Each doctor, over the course of their career can contribute to about 2,000-2,500 extra patient lives lived. In pediatric intensive care, if I do my job well, I may contribute far more since my patients are so young. However, being able to help many more caring people become doctors every year, multiples that logarithmically. Alone I can help some, but together we can help the world. Being a teacher and assistant dean at SGU truly makes that possible.

SGU: Share what your experience was like at SGU and its impact on your life?

Dr. Keenaghan: I met my future wife a month before moving to Grenada in 2002.  Being 2,100 miles apart, she kept me focused on my studies and not distracted. She was my greatest support when school was the hardest. I think without her I wouldn’t be a doctor, but without SGU there would be no us, and our five amazing boys. Grenada gave me my first two dogs, lifelong friends throughout the world, and now is the place that I call home. I’d say it had a pretty large impact.

SGU: How well do you feel that SGU prepared you for the next step in your journey?

Dr. Keenaghan: I felt extremely prepared. I learned to persevere when things may not be in my favor, which has helped me on to all the next steps. From those lessons I learned the power of second chances, both in my own experiences and in my patients.

SGU: What plans do you have for the future in your new role?

Dr. Keenaghan: They are too numerous to count, but I’ll start with growing the Clinical Academic Advising Development and Support team and services to continue to help students succeed. Also, providing support to the healthcare professionals at the Grenada General Hospital in any way they need.

SGU: What advice would you give to prospective students who are considering applying to SGU?

Dr. Keenaghan: Don’t hesitate to follow your dream. Dedicating yourself to study and becoming a physician means giving up a few things for a few years. While pursuing your MD there are no immediate rewards along the way, but the long-term ones are worth every minute and every penny. Sitting in biochemistry learning about mitochondria for the third time, may not be the most fun, but standing in the ICU remembering that methylene blue improves mitochondrial respiration and starting it on a patient with severe shock, then saving their life, that’s worth it.

 

 

– Ray-Donna Peters

 

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A desire to make an impact leads SGU grad to become an expert in LGBTQIA+ healthcare

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Asa Radix, MD ’88, PhD, MPH decided to pursue medicine out of a desire to offer patient-centered healthcare in an often-overlooked community in need.  Dr. Radix’s career has focused on LGBTQIA+ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex, Ally, plus) health and policy and being able to ensure patients receive quality care that is respectful, non-judgmental, and meets the unique needs of members of the LGBTQIA+ community.

Dr. Radix is originally from Grenada and attended SGU on one of the first Grenadian scholarships. They currently serve as senior director of research and education at Callen-Lorde Community Health Center in New York City—which has a mission to serve LGBTQIA+ communities and people with HIV.

In addition to their work at Callen-Lorde, Dr. Radix is a clinical associate professor of medicine at New York University and holds faculty appointments at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health and Yale University. Over the years, they’ve developed expertise in transgender health and contributed to several US and international clinical practice guidelines and textbooks.

In honor of pride month, SGU News spoke with Dr. Radix to find out more about their experience providing care to the LGBTQIA+ community and the journey to becoming an expert in this field.

St. George’s University: Why did you choose your specialty?

Dr. Radix: I trained in internal medicine and then completed a fellowship in infectious disease. Infectious disease is a broad specialty, but it is a good field for people who like clinical practice as well as research. I like the diversity of the specialty. You can focus on many different areas such as travel medicine, global health, antibiotic stewardship, and emerging infectious diseases as well as a choice of inpatient or outpatient settings.

I mainly focus on HIV and Hepatitis C but still see patients with a wide variety of issues.

SGU: What are some unique medical needs of the LGBTQIA+ community? 

Dr. Radix: Members of the LGBTQIA+ community also have other social identities or groups to which they belong with varying health priorities. There are some issues that are common for all, such as difficulty in finding respectful healthcare providers as well as frequently facing discrimination in health settings. As a result, LGBTQIA+ individuals may underutilize cancer screening interventions, and there are often higher rates of substance abuse, including tobacco use, which is probably related to experiencing social stressors such as interpersonal and structural discrimination. In addition, it is important for medical providers to offer appropriate HIV/STI screenings and HIV prevention interventions (e.g., pre-exposure prophylaxis) to those who are eligible.

SGU: What training can physicians interested in working in LGBTQIA+ healthcare participate in?

Dr. Radix: There isn’t a specialty in LGBTQIA+ health. However, there are healthcare environments with a mission to care for LGBTQIA+ individuals, such as health centers like Callen-Lorde or dedicated clinics at other institutions. Many require training in a primary care specialty, such as internal medicine, family medicine, or pediatrics. Usually, these centers provide training in LGBTQIA+ health since most incoming providers have not had adequate experience during their medical school or residency training.

There are also organizations, such as GLMA: Health Professionals Advancing LGBTQ Equality and The LGBT Health Workforce Conference that hold annual meetings for clinicians who are interested in this field.

SGU: When you look back at your professional journey to this point, what stands out to you most as being the most formative experiences?

Dr. Radix: I trained in the early 1990s when HIV was one of the most important and prevalent health issues that we saw. It was also a time when there were few therapeutic options available. Taking care of individuals living with HIV was a major motivation for pursuing a fellowship in infectious disease.

SGU: How did your experience at SGU help prepare you for your career?

Dr. Radix: I was fortunate to do most of my clinical rotations in the United Kingdom and to be exposed to a diverse student body throughout my SGU experience. The love of travel continued, and I completed a diploma in tropical medicine in London during my infectious disease fellowship as well as a Master of Philosophy in epidemiology at Cambridge, later leading to a PhD at Columbia University.

—Sarah Stoss

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59 students inducted into Gold Humanism Honor Society

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Fifty-nine soon-to-be physicians were inducted this past weekend into the St. George’s University chapter of the Gold Humanism Honor Society for the 2021-22 academic year. The prestigious award recognizes students, residents, and faculty who exemplify compassionate patient care and serve as role models, mentors, and leaders in medicine.

To celebrate the inductees, the SGU chapter held a reception at the Four Points by Sherton hotel in Flushing, NY—its first in-person ceremony since the beginning of the COVID pandemic.  School of Medicine Dean Emeritus Dr. Stephen Weitzman emceed the event, and two of last year’s inductees, and members of the 2022 graduating class, Fiyinfoluwa Soluade and Marina Tucktuck, were invited to share insights with the newest group of students who were selected to join this prestigious group.

“These students were chosen by their peers who felt they exemplified humanism in medicine. The world is in desperate need of physicians and, more specifically, humanistic physicians,” said Dr. Weitzman. “The students inducted this year are now part of an international society. We hope they will be leaders in advancing the principles of the GHHS in patient care.”

This year’s inductees completed their clinical training during the worst of the global healthcare crisis—a challenging experience for all medical students of this class. Current chapter members nominated their peers based on who demonstrated exemplary patient care, devotion to the community and the underprivileged, trustworthiness, and strong listening skills during these formative years of exposure to the field of medicine. After initial evaluation based on the nomination criteria, shortlisted nominees were then invited to submit a statement demonstrating their passion for medicine and commitment to the GHHS pledge.

“Our chapter, like others, moved its induction ceremony and activities online during the pandemic,” said Dr. Cheryl Cox-Macpherson, SGU GHHS chapter advisor, and chair of the bioethics division of SOM’s Department of Clinical Skills. “No matter the circumstance, we keep our chapter projects going each year by identifying team leaders and inviting new members to join one of our existing projects. It is genuinely rewarding to see and hear the wonderful stories that come with this work and inspire hope for compassionate and thoughtful patient care.”

The Arnold P. Gold Foundation established the Gold Humanism Honor Society (GHHS) in 2002 out of a desire to foster and acknowledge humanism during medical education. Since its inception, the GHHS has been established at more than 160 medical schools, awarding thousands of students with honors. The SGU chapter was established in 2004.

 

—Sarah Stoss

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SGU School of Medicine Holds Graduation Ceremonies for Class of 2022

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St. George’s University School of Medicine celebrated its 41st commencement this weekend in Arthur Ashe Stadium at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center.

“The faculty, staff, and administration of St. George’s University extend our heartiest congratulations to the class of 2022,” said Dr. G. Richard Olds, president of SGU. “Our graduates have accomplished so much, and we’re thrilled to send them on their way into careers as physicians.”

The St. George’s University class of 2022 will join a network of more than 19,000 alumni practicing in the United States and around the world. Later this month, they’ll begin residency programs in more than 40 states and the District of Columbia in several competitive specialties, including surgery, emergency medicine, and psychiatry. SGU also sends many graduates into high-need primary care specialties, such as internal medicine, pediatrics, and family medicine.

A significant share of SGU alumni work in medically underserved areas, and many have served on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic.

SGU is the largest source of licensed physicians for the entire U.S. workforce. The country could face a shortage of up to 124,000 physicians by 2034, according to the Association of American Medical Colleges.

“Our graduates are well-equipped to deliver top-notch care — and to tackle the most pressing problems facing our healthcare system,” said Dr. Richard Liebowitz, vice chancellor of SGU. “They will no doubt have a long-lasting positive impact on the lives of countless patients.”

 

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