July 24, 2020

The latest news and updates from Interim Dean Robert L. Johnson!
Dr. Bachmann Gives a Nod to Telemedicine for Select Menopausal Health Care Visits
Gloria A. Bachmann, MD, MMS , professor of obstetrics, gynecology and reproductive sciences and associate dean of women's health, states that, "Although telemedicine has come into our clinical practices out of necessity, for the menopausal practitioner, it may actually herald in an extremely positive change even after the COVID-19 pandemic has resolved."

In the article entitled, Applause for Telemedicine as an Optimal Platform for Specific Menopausal Health-Care Visits Beyond COVID-19, Dr. Bachman explains, " For those who request management of climacteric symptoms, including menopausal hormonal therapy, a full consultation can be done by telemedicine. 
In fact, this is the way that many visits for menopausal issues can be handled from this point forward, what with low-risk women not needing yearly cervical cytology screening (and no cervical cytology screening necessary after age 65 years in this low-risk group), and for asymptomatic women breast screening by mammogram can be done directly through a visit to the radiology office. However, for those with postmenopausal bleeding, screening with a telemedicine history will precede pelvic examination and ultrasound."

Read Dr. Bachmann's complete article here .
New Resources to Help the Vulnerable Adjust to Wearing Face Masks
For most of us, wearing a face mask has become as common as putting on shoes and grabbing the keys before leaving the house. But for some, this necessary addition to our daily routine may not be as easy to get used to.

The Boggs Center on Developmental Disabilities is providing two resources that can help. The first provides assistance for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities and the other is a Parent's Guide to assist your children with wearing face masks. They were created with help from medical students and in conjunction with specialists at Children's Specialized Hospital.

For adults with developmental disabilities, finding the type of face mask that will work best for them is key. From the touch and texture of the fabric to the design, be sure to include the individual in this important decision making process.

Experts say this inclusion process is also the best advice for parents, in addition to being a good role model by wearing one yourself.

Click on the images above to enlarge and view the detailed guides.
Dr. Carlson Receives American Academy of Pediatrics Appointment
Congratulations, Joann Carlson, MD , p rogram director of the pediatrics residency program, associate professor of pediatrics and chief of the Division of Pediatric Nephrology and Hypertension, for being appointed to the Pediatrics Review and Education Program (PREP) Nephrology Editorial Board of the American Academy of Pediatrics.

As a member of the board, Dr. Carlson will play an important role in the development and success of all nephrology materials.

Dr. Carlson's appointment begins immediately and runs through July 2023.
Dr. Tallia Leads National Board of Medical Examiners Annual Meeting
Alfred F. Tallia, MD, MPH , professor and chair of f amily medicine and community health, held his first annual board meeting as chair of the National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME). The meeting was held via Webex earlier this month.

During Dr. Tallia's 24 years with the NBME, he has served as treasurer and as an at-large member of the Executive Board, before being elected chair in 2019.

“It is an incredible privilege to be chair given the 100+ year history of the NBME and the positive influence it has made on health delivery," said Dr. Tallia.

The NBME’s mission is protecting the health and safety of the public through state-of-the-art assessment. In addition to offering assessment tools for every stage of the medical school journey, NBME aims to build meaningful collaborations and make lasting contributions to the health care community. 
Reflecting on the Lives of Two Icons for Civil Rights, Justice and Equity
Congressman John Lewis and Reverend C.T. Vivian were considered titans of the civil rights movement. Both men worked alongside Dr. Martin Luther King, both suffered physical and emotional scars while peacefully fighting for racial equality, and both men died just hours apart on the same day last Friday.

In addition, both leaders left their mark in education and through health care initiatives.

As a champion of health equity, Congressman Lewis' leadership resulted in some of the country’s first health policies addressing minority health care.

Rev. Vivian was an advocate for education, mobilizing scholarships for students, and laid the foundation for what would become the nation's transformational program Upward Bound .

"They were true patriots and citizens, freedom fighters, drum majors for justice, nonviolent warriors who never gave up on their country and fellow Americans...role models for us all to follow."

Patricia N. Whitley-Williams, MD , professor of pediatrics, chief of the Division of Allergy, Immunology and Infectious Disease and associate dean for inclusion and diversity.

Learn more about the legacies of Representative John Lewis and Reverend C.T. Vivian .
DEADLINE IS TODAY: Vote for the Best “Rock Your Mask Photo Contest” Submission 
Click here to vote for the best "Rock Your Mask Photo Contest" submission. Nominees include: Dail Desouza; Jennifer Fang; Jeremy S. Grayson, MD; Julia Grimes, DO; Rhonda C. Lyles, RT, EMT; Kaavya Mahajan; Lena Merjanian, MD; Pingyue Pan, MD, PhD; Kusum Punjabi, MD, MBA, FACEP; and Hai Sun, MD .

As New Jersey begins to open up, it is integral that we continue to protect ourselves and others by wearing masks in public and at work. Members of the Robert Wood Johnson Medical School community submitted photos of themselves wearing masks as part of this fun contest.

Cast your vote by the end today, Friday, July 24.
Social Media Post of the Week
rwjms  Medical students teamed up with the New Jersey Medical Student Coalition, a group of mobilizing medical students that have been working to gather resources to serve our New Jersey community during the pandemic. The group has accrued, crafted and donated more than 10,000 pieces of PPE to New Jersey hospitals and long-term care facilities and also delivered hundreds of groceries to elderly and immunosuppressed community members throughout the state.

Stay on top of the latest news and information! Follow us on   Facebook , Twitter and Instagram .
Suggested Reading for Relieving Stress
Grace Fredman, MD , shares Stories that Heal in a recent installment of 90 Seconds of Resiliency.

In this segment, Dr. Fredman discusses the importance of reading as a form of mental nourishment during this time of stress and uncertainty and provides a few titles to help get you started.

University Behavioral Health Care has put together this series of short videos to assist in building and maintaining resilience.
RU Ready for the Joint Commission?
We are in our window for the upcoming Joint Commission visit! The Joint Commission's 2020 National Patient Safety Goals focus on problems in health care safety and how to solve them.

Our faculty and staff strive to deliver the highest quality of patient care on a daily basis. These goals serve as reminders to always put Patients First!

This week, find a refresher on ways to use medicines safely .
Congratulations to This Week's Health Care Heroes
Congratulations to this week’s Health Care Heroes at Robert Wood Johnson Medical School.

Top Row, From l - r:  Elizabeth Clark, MD, associate professor of family medicine and community health; David Cohen, MD, assistant professor of endocrinology; Sara Lubitz, MD, assistant professor of endocrinology; Ankit Shah, MD, assistant professor of endocrinology.

Bottom Row, l - r: Cassandra Soto, medical student; Matthew Lissauer, MD, associate professor of surgery; and Tamar Thurm, RN, BSN, pediatric staff nurse.

Thank you to those who nominated our heroes. We received an overwhelming amount of submissions, demonstrating the compassion, altruism and dedication of faculty, staff, residents, fellows and students. While the submission process has ended, we will still recognize Health Care Hero nominees for the next few weeks.
In the News
New Drug Developments and Combinations Aiding Badly Neglected Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Patients -- Mridula George, MD -- market.finacnialcontent.com, business.ridgewayrecord.com, business.smdailypress.com, stockhouse.com, markethouse.com, and markets.buffalonews.com

Trump Accused of Sacrificing American Children For Votes -- Lawrence Kleinman, MD -- heavy.com


You Need to 'Mask Train' Your Kids Before Schools Reopen, N.J. districts say -- Robert Wood Johnson Medical School -- nj.com and newyorkpost.com

Big Tobacco Hopes Oral Nicotine Pouches Fill the Vaping Void -- Michael Steinberg, MD -- bloomberg.com

Rutgers in the News: Social Justice and Navigating COVID -- Paul Weber, MD, RPh, MBA -- support.rutgers.edu


RWJUH Blood Services in Urgent Need of People to Donate Blood, Host Blood Drives -- Robert Wood Johnson Medical School -- Suburban Freehold, Criterion Sentinel, North/South Brunswick Sentinel
Dept. of Communications and Public Affairs | Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
317 George Street, Suite 215, New Brunswick, NJ 08901 | rwjms.rutgers.edu

Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
Copyright © 2020. All rights reserved.