Medical School Celebrates Class of 2023 as Newest Alumni! |
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The Robert Wood Johnson Medical School community is proud to welcome The Class of 2023 as physicians! The 163 graduates celebrated the end of their medical school journey during Convocation last night at the State Theatre New Jersey.
The class was welcomed and congratulated by Amy P. Murtha, MD, dean, and Brian L. Strom, MD, MPH, chancellor of Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences.
"There will be times in your practice of medicine when you don't have the words. There will be times when you wonder what you can offer to patients and families seeking answers. In those times, what you have is yourself -- your compassion, your empathy, your skill, your ability to listen, and your good heart. Remember...your presence is often enough," Dean Murtha said, adding, "I wish you a lifetime of joy in your medical career. I challenge you to bridge the inequities in healthcare, to meet each patient where they are and support them through their healthcare journey. Bring your presence into the medical world, and make it better because you exist!"
Elite soccer midfielder Lauren Cheney Holiday (pictured below) -- a two-time Olympic Gold Medalist, World Cup Champion and 2023 inductee in the National Soccer Hall of Fame -- was the convocation speaker.
"As the future of healthcare workers, you have a real chance to prioritize compassion and support as much as you do the practice of medicine....Kindness, genuine connection, and empathy can take you further than anything you could ever read in a medical journal or, in my case, any award or accolade I won," she told the graduating class, sharing her lifelong medical journey and challenges. "Let my story be a reminder to you of the impact you can make. Let your influence create an environment where patients like me are allowed to thrive after difficult diagnoses. YOU are the future of medicine....Your choice to engage with your colleagues and patients in an empathetic and collaborative way will change the world as we know it."
Chris Wachuku, president of the Student Government Association, provided the student address prior to the presentation of the graduates for hooding. The graduating class was led in the Hippocratic Oath by Colleen Donovan, MD, associate professor of emergency medicine, who also received the Excellence in Teaching Award during the Convocation ceremonies. William T. Hu, MD, PhD, associate professor and chief of the Division of Cognitive Neurology, was the recipient of the Excellence in Research Award.
Please join us in congratulating this newest group of physicians and medical school alumni, the Class of 2023! If you missed the event, the live-streamed recording can be viewed online here. Check back in a future issue of Weekly View for additional photos and video from the event .
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Celebrating Great Times! 2023 Graduation Banquet |
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The medical school's Class of 2023 celebrated in style last week with a semiformal Graduation Banquet, held May 10 at The Marigold in Somerset.
Kicked off with a special awards presentation (see article below), the evening was a chance for the soon-to-be graduates to kick back, relax, and celebrate the accomplishments of their years at Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, featuring dinner, dancing and a video remembrance created by members of the graduating class.
There were also several fun "superlatives" awards selected by classmates:
- Most Likely to Practice Abroad: Fady Soliman (pictured bottom left with Student Government Association President Christopher Wachuku)
- Most Likely to Be on TV: Shane Kronstedt
- Our Beloved "Class Clown": Daniel Bisno
- Most Likely to be Nominated Chief Resident: Ellen Cahill
- Most Likely to Befriend the Entire Hospital: Mike Nicolaro
- Most Likely to Become a Program Director: Fady Soliman
- Most Likely to Become Everyone's Favorite Attending: Stephanie Smyczek
- Most Likely to Become the Most Fashionable Attending: Kate Kim
- Most Likely to Play the Most Golf during Their Attending Years: TJ Hanlon
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Graduating Students, Faculty Honored during Annual Excellence Awards Presentation |
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More than two dozen members of our graduating class were honored during this year's Graduation Banquet for their academic excellence, leadership, community service and humanism.
The presentation began with the Stanley S. Bergen Medal of Excellence, awarded to Ellen M. Cahill. Named in honor of the 1971-1998 president of the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey (now part of Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences), the medal celebrates exceptional scholarly achievements across the biomedical sciences.
The 2023 Alumni Award, presented by the Robert Wood Johnson Medical School Alumni Association, went to Michael A. Nicolaro (pictured in the bottom left photo with student affairs deans Charletta Ayers, MD, MPH; Sonia Garcia Laumbach, MD; Daniel J. Mehan Jr., PhD; and Archana Pradhan, MD, MPH). This award is given to the student who best demonstrates the high ideals of the medical profession, maintains the highest standards of personal integrity, and has made a significant contribution to the medical school class; awardees are chosen by their classmates for this honor.
The event also honored the women who graduated in the top 10 percent of their class (pictured in the middle photo below) with the Glasgow-Rubin Certificates of Commendation for Academic Achievement, presented by the American Medical Women's Association. Taylor M. Corsi (pictured above with Dr. Pradhan, associate dean for clinical education) received the Student Leadership Award.
In addition to the student academic awards, the graduating class presented awards to several faculty members: Siobhan Corbett, MD, associate professor of surgery; Colleen Donovan, MD, associate professor of emergency medicine; Grace Pinhal-Enfield, PhD, assistant professor of neuroscience and cell biology; James Prister, MD, assistant professor of medicine; Igor Rybinnik, MD, associate professor of neurology (pictured bottom right with Christopher Wachuku, president of the Student Government Association); and Paul Weber, MD, RPh, MBA, associate dean of continuing medical education.
The event also acknowledged students who were inducted into the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society and Gold Humanism Honor Society, as well as the Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences/RWJBarnabas Health Rising Stars.
Congratulations to all the awardees on their achievements!
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New Rutgers COVID Vaccine May Provide Long-Lasting Protection |
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Recent studies indicate that a new COVID-19 vaccine developed at Rutgers may provide more durable protection against SARS-CoV-2 and its emerging variants than existing vaccines.
Child Health Institute of New Jersey researchers Lisa Denzin, PhD, associate professor of pediatrics, and Derek Sant'Angelo, PhD, professor of pediatrics, were among the key contributors to the study.
"We need a better vaccine, one that provides years of robust protection with fewer booster shots against a variety of SARS-CoV-2 strains. Our data suggest this vaccine candidate might be able to do that," said Stephen Anderson, associate professor of molecular biology and biochemistry in Rutgers School of Arts and Sciences, resident member of the Rutgers Center for Advanced Biotechnology and Medicine, and senior author of the study, which appeared in the journal Vaccines.
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ICYMI: Must-See Video for Mothers |
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In honor of Mother's Day, faculty members (and moms themselves) Charletta A. Ayers, MD, MPH, associate professor of obstetrics, gynecology, and reproductive sciences, and assistant dean for multicultural affairs; Cheryl F. Dreyfus, PhD, professor and chair, Department of Neuroscience and Cell Biology; Sonia Garcia Laumbach, MD, associate professor of family medicine and community health, and assistant dean for student affairs; and Payal Parikh, MD, assistant professor of medicine and assistant dean for transformation and integration, shared some words of wisdom.
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Shilpa Pai, MD, associate professor of pediatrics, was honored May 10 during the 13th Annual New Jersey Children's Ball as the Pediatrician of the Year. The ball, sponsored by the New Jersey Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), was held at The Palace at Somerset Park.
In addition to her clinical role, Dr. Pai serves as assistant dean for student affairs, and founder and director of the Resident Education in Advocacy and Community Health (REACH) Program. She also serves as co-lead for the AAP's NJ Pediatric Residency Advocacy Collaborative.
Congratulations, Dr. Pai!
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Vicente Gracias, MD, senior vice chancellor for clinical affairs at Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences, vice president for health affairs at Rutgers University, and professor of surgery at the medical school, was presented with the Surgical Stabilization of Rib Fracture Luminary Award, an international honor granted by the Chest Wall Injury Society.
A specialist in trauma/acute care surgery, Dr. Gracias was honored for his novel research developing curriculum and procedures for surgical stabilization of rib fractures with the goal of enhancing the quality of life for patients with broken ribs and chest wall injuries.
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Medical school alumni and current students were among those on hand for the American Association for Thoracic Surgeons (AATS) 103rd Annual Meeting, held May 6-9 in Los Angeles. The conference is considered the world's most prestigious thoracic surgery event.
Pictured (left to right) are alumna Marlena Sabatino, MD '22; NaYoung Yang, an MD candidate in the Class of 2024; new graduate Fady Soliman, MD '23; and alumna Anna H. Olds, MD '19.
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The Learn IT @ Lunch webinar series is under way, with free lunch-hour training sessions on various technology topics. Brush up on familiar tools or develop new skills!
Noon
Wednesday, May 17
Thursday, May 25
The series of live 45-minute virtual workshops hosted by the medical school's Office of Information and Technology will provide staff and faculty with expert insights on tools that have become the backbone of the workplace, such as Zoom, MicrosoftTeams, REDCap, iPhone tips & tricks, and more!
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Join Us for a Departmental Cook-Off and RWJMS Spirit Day! |
Show off your culinary skills in our first school cook-off, as the top chefs from each department face off to determine who's best.
Tuesday, June 6
11 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Plus, dress in red and black or your medical school garb to show your spirit while sampling the dishes!
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For May, I highlight the following Grand Rounds event:
The Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences Grand Rounds will highlight "The Role of Pelvic Floor PT in General OB/GYN Practice" on Friday, May 19, from 8 - 9 a.m. It will be presented by Ashwini Korgaonkar, PT, senior physical therapist, Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Somerset. Please contact Cande V. Ananth, PhD, MPH, or Beth Dillon for further details.
Looking further ahead:
The Department of Pediatrics' Systemwide Grand Rounds will feature "Updates in Cerebral Palsy" by Marykatherine Nutini, DO, Pediatric Rehabilitation Medicine, Children's Specialized Hospital, on Wednesday, June 7 from 8 - 9 a.m. For virtual information, please contact Ashley Henriquez.
Please note for your convenience and flexibility that hybrid and in-person options are more widely available for accredited programming to complement virtual platforms.
Feel free also to send me programs that you would like featured with as much notice as possible.
Best wishes!
Paul F. Weber, MD, RPh, MBA, associate dean, Continuing Medical Education
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Social Media Posts of the Week |
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Do you have an item you would like us to share in an upcoming issue of Weekly View? An award notice, research news, or great story about your department or colleagues? Or perhaps you have some photos of an event or everyday life around the medical school to feature? Email us with your ideas at rwjmscpa@rwjms.rutgers.edu. We'd love to hear from you!
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Dept. of Communications and Public Affairs | Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
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