May 15, 2020
The latest news and updates from Interim Dean Robert L. Johnson!
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COVID-19 Perspectives: Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine
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Keith Lewis, MD
, chair, Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, shares the challenges of treating coronavirus patients during the last few months from both a professional and personal perspective.
Watch the complete video
here
.
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Children Suffer Severe Complications from COVID-19
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The first coronavirus study focusing on pediatric patients found that children and young adults are at greater risk for severe complications from COVID-19 than previously thought and, like adults, those with underlying conditions are at even greater risk.
The study, co-authored by
Lawrence Kleinman, MD
,
MPH
, p
rofessor and vice chair, Academic Development Division Director for Pediatric Population Health, Quality and Implementation,
was published earlier this week in
JAMA.
"While children are more likely to get very sick if they have other chronic conditions, including obesity, it is important to note that children without chronic illness are also at risk. Parents need to continue to take the virus seriously," said Dr. Kleinman.
The study followed 48 individuals, from newborn to 21 years old, who were admitted to pediatric intensive care units in the U.S. and Canada for COVID-19 in March and April. The overwhelming majority had presented chronic underlying conditions, but nearly 1 in 5 were reported to have no underlying conditions when they were struck by the respiratory illness.
Of the 48 patients, more than 20% experienced failure of two or more organ systems due to coronavirus, and nearly 40% required a breathing tube and ventilator. Two of the children admitted during the three-week study period died, researchers said.
Dr. Kleinman noted, “Although our data collection for this study has ended, we continue to develop collaborations with colleagues in our region and across the country to try to understand these more severe complications.”
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Front Line Physicians Serve Dual Role in Fight Against COVID-19
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While helping patients combat symptoms and providing treatments, physicians also collect data that can be used to track the spread of COVID-19, as well as be studied to improve therapies and develop a vaccine. The Clinical Research Center (CRC) serves a critical role in support of our faculty, as well as physicians in private practice, with administration and compliance of study protocols.
The CRC
was involved with the rapid launch of the
study trial for the antiviral medication Remdesivir
(GS-5734™), including
obtaining participant consent, as well as ensuring the treatment is dispensed in accordance with research protocol and all study data are obtained and managed in compliance with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration guidelines. The highly-trained research and health professional staff also follow up with discharged patients.
The Remdesivir trial
is being led by
Ronald Nahass, MD
, an infectious disease expert and president of ID Care in Hillsborough.
Dr. Nahass, Rutgers faculty and physicians at three RWJBarnabas Health facilities in New Jersey are recruiting participants in two Phase III randomized, open label studies to evaluate the safety and antiviral activity of Remdesivir in eligible, hospitalized participants age 12 years and older with severe COVID-19 or moderate COVID-19.
Pinki Bhatt, MD
, an infectious disease physician in the Department of Medicine, oversees the trial at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital New Brunswick. Both Dr. Bhatt and Dr. Nahass are encouraged by favorable patient outcomes witnessed in the local study, which are in line with preliminary data released by the National Institutes of Health a few weeks ago.
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Dr. Haffty Receives the Fellow of the American Society of Clinical Oncology Award (FASCO)
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Congratulations to
Bruce G. Haffty, MD, MS, professor and chair of Radiation Oncology, for receiving the FASCO distinction in recognition of his extraordinary volunteer service, dedication and commitment to the American Society for Clinical Oncology (ASCO).
Recipients of ASCO awards–the Society’s highest honor–
include researchers, patient advocates and global oncology leaders who have worked to transform cancer care around the world.
Congratulations again, Dr. Haffty, for receiving this well-deserved honor!
A complete list of award recipients can be viewed
here.
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Congratulations Class of 2020!
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Honoring Class of 2020 Alpha Omega Alpha Inductees
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Alpha Omega Alpha is the national medical honor society. Election of medical students, residents and faculty to AΩA is a lifelong honor signifying a lasting commitment to scholarship, leadership, professionalism and service.
This year's inductees are:
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Aviv Alter
Nicole Borglum
Leanne Brown
Hilary Campbell
Sena Chun
Dustin Crystal
Nicholas Cuccolo
Priya Dave
Laura Di Taranti
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Anoushka Dua
Daniel Feldman
Stephanie Giessner
Bryan Green
Namrata Gumaste
Michael Jones
Joel Kaye
Rebecca Krakora
Daniel Levin
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Mary-Katherine Lynch
Natalia Mavrogiannis
Austin Niu
Travis Quinoa
David Richards
Alexa Semonche
Radhika Srivastava
Suleiman Sudah
Sabrina Zeller
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Congratulations to all for earning this impressive achievement!
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Honoring Class of 2020 Distinction Graduates
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The medical school's prestigious and rigorous Distinction Programs support and recognize students who have shown exceptional involvement, accomplishment and scholarship in specialized areas in medicine.
Congratulations to this year's recipients:
Distinction in Research:
Alexa Semonchev
Distinction in Service to the Community:
Anne Levine and
Anya McDermott
Distinction in Medical Education:
Morgan Dunn
Distinction in Medical Innovation and Entrepreneurship:
Benjamin Lichtbroun and
Julia Tartaglia
Distinction in Medical Education:
Megan Ruben
Distinction in Global Health:
Zachary Berlant,
Kalyani Dhar,
Fernando Ferrera,
Elizabeth Ginalis,
Ankita Gore,
Nupur Gulati and
Girija Hariharan
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Save the Date for Virtual Convocation on May 18
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You are invited to celebrate the
Class of 2020 by joining a
live-stream convocation on
May 18. A montage of class memories begins at 11:30 a.m. with the ceremony to follow at noon.
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While we are not able to be together in person, the medical school is eager to commemorate this class of outstanding future physicians. We look forward to wishing them luck and hope that you join the live-stream and send well wishes on live chat.
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The Class of 2020 says
'Thank You!'
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The
Class of 2020
shares a message of thanks to residents, fellows, faculty, staff and health care workers.
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Nominate a Healthcare Hero
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Congratulations to this week’s heroes:
From l - r:
Susan Boruchoff, MD
, professor of medicine;
Manuel Patusco, FNP-C
, advanced practice nurse, Department of Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery;
Sally Radovick, MD
, chair of pediatrics;
Preet Patel, MD
, chief resident of anesthesiology and perioperative medicine;
Karen Wei-Ru Lin, MD
, professor of family medicine and community health.
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Art Students Honor Those on the Front Lines
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This beautiful collage comes from the virtual classroom of Tara Barnett, daughter of
Rosanne Barnett, senior medical coder in the medical school's Fee Coordination Unit. Tara's students wanted to say "THANK YOU" to all of those working hard to fight the virus and treat patients.
Look for more art work in upcoming editions of
Weekly View!
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National Taiwan University Alumni Association Makes Another Donation
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The National Taiwan University- Alumni Association of Greater New York donated ten thousand dollars to COVID-19 front line workers at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital New Brunswick.
Karen WeiRu Lin, MD, MS, FAAFP, assistant dean of Global Health and professor of Family Medicine and Community Health, is an alum of National Taiwan University (NTU). "Many NTU alum are patients of Rutgers Health, Family Medicine at Monument Square and patients of Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital. They truly appreciate what we have contributed to the community during this pandemic," said Dr. Lin.
This marks the second donation made by the group in recent weeks. The first was in April.
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14-year-old Delivers Sweet Treats to Front Line Workers
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Two dozen Girl Scout cookies arrived at the Clinical Academic Building this week, courtesy of 14-year-old Isabella Ruiz.
Isabella, who is the
daughter of
Alejandro Ruiz
, associate director of Rutgers Environmental Health and Safety, requested that the cookies be delivered to the Acute Surgery Team in recognition of their ongoing commitment to treating patients during the coronavirus pandemic.
Each box displayed an encouraging message and note of appreciation.
Thank you, Isabella, for thinking of our health care workers and taking the time to coordinate this special delivery!
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Social Media Post of the Week
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Medical Student Creates COVID Cartoons
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Shari Bodofsky
, second-year medical school student, provides a little artistic humor during these difficult times by drawing comics.
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Lawrence Kleinman, MD --
CBS New York
Lawrence Kleinman, MD
--
dailymail.co.uk
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Dept. of Communications and Public Affairs | Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
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Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
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Copyright
©
2020. All rights reserved.
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