Alleviating the Doctor Shortage

Help SGU Recruit the Best and Brightest Students.

AAMP Alumni Admission Mentor Program

Volume 10 | Issue 4 | July/August 2017

St. George’s Universityc/o University Support Services, LLC The North American Correspondent 3500 Sunrise Highway, Building 300 Great River, New York 11739-9002

In 1981, the Charter Class graduates became the first St. George’s University physicians to enter the health care workforce—the first of many.

According to a recent report in Journal of Medical Regulation, SGU ranks as the fourth-largest provider of physicians to the US health care system in the world. A Census of Actively Licensed Physicians in the United States, 2016, a collection of data by the Federation of State Medical Boards, stated that 9,296 SGU graduates were currently practicing in the US, ranking behind only Indiana University School of Medicine, University of Minnesota Medical School, and Wayne State University. Figures did not include current residents, retired physicians, or graduates practicing outside the United States.

“I’m extremely proud not only of the quality of care, but of the compassion with which our graduates are providing it,” said Chancellor Charles Modica. “When the University opened, we began building a pipeline from Grenada to hospitals and clinical centers around the world, and it’s as strong as ever 40 years later.”

0 2,000 4,000 6,000 8,000 10,000 12,000

5 Ohio State University School of Medicine and Public Health 8,999

Number of graduates currently licensed in the US

4 9,296**St. George’s University School of Medicine

3 9,341Wayne State University School of Medicine

2 10,150University of Minnesota Medical School

1 11,393Indiana University School of Medicine

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Featured AAMP Volunteers

Amanda Halstrom, MDClass of 2017

Dr. Halstrom is a first-year internal medicine resident at Winthrop-University Hospital in Mineola, NY. In March, she and her family were “over the moon” when they learned that she had matched with her top-choice program, located just 15 minutes from hometown. Upon completing her residency, Dr. Halstrom hopes to pursue a career in gastroenterology. During and after her time as a student at SGU, she has shared her experience with prospective students at the University’s information sessions and webinars.

Douglas Bush, MDClass of 2010

Dr. Bush is an Assistant Professor of Pediatrics in the Division of Pediatric Pulmonology at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai Hospital. His clinical and academic interests center around pediatric pulmonary hypertension, particularly in children with Down syndrome. Dr. Bush came to St. George’s University from Union College, where he earned his bachelor’s degree in biology. He has met with prospective students at SGU information sessions, served as a mentor, and recently began conducting student interviews.

Neil Anand, MDClass of 2013

Dr. Anand is a fourth-year radiology resident with Atlantic Health System in Morristown, NJ, and recently secured a coveted orthopaedic and musculoskeletal radiology fellowship at RadNet Imaging in San Francisco beginning in 2019. Over his career, he has published more than 20 articles and case reports, as well as presented at over 30 national and international conferences. He has assisted his alma mater at numerous information sessions and by interviewing prospective students over the past year.

HELP GUIDE TOMORROW’S DOCTORS AND VETSAAMP volunteers can help in a variety of ways and on their schedule. Register at sgu.edu/aamp-form.

1. In person SGU hosts information sessions and Face-to-Face programs in major cities around the world. Grads can answer questions about the University, life at SGU, and their profession. In addition, we can arrange for alums to meet with pre-health advisors at area universities.

2. Online Webinars include a brief presentation, as well as a live chat Q&A with students, graduates, and admission counselors. AAMP volunteers can log on and provide a valuable perspective to interested students.

3. By phone Graduates can make themselves available to answer prospective students’ questions over the phone. They can also serve as grad mentors, for which they are paired with prospective and accepted students.

4. Alumni Volunteer Directory

Grads can submit their contact information and biography to this publication to connect with colleagues and prospective students in their area. The AVD indicates the breadth of area and expertise of our MD and DVM graduates.

Grad Presides Over

Family Medicine in New Jersey

A primary care physician in the state for more than

30 years, Peter Carrazzone, MD SGU ‘83, was named

President of the New Jersey Academy of Family

Physicians (NJAFP), and will represent more than 2,000

physicians statewide.

Dr. Carrazzone practices family medicine with

Vanguard Medical Group in North Haledon, NJ, and is also the Medical Director for the John Victor Machuga

Diabetic Center at St. Joseph’s Wayne Hospital.

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Veterinary Students Flourish on NAVLE

As we gear up for the start of classes, we wanted to take a minute to wish our students well in their educational endeavors, as well as to give our alumni a recap of what’s taken place since we last reached your mailbox.

If it has been a while since you have been back to campus, we’ve been hard at work. Construction of Gairy Hall, a new 240-room student dorm, is underway, as is a 15,000 square-foot fitness room and group study lounge. In addition, both Pensick Hall and Taylor Hall underwent remodeling and are now equipped with many new technological enhancements.

Aside from all that’s been taking place in True Blue, we have rolled out new AAMP features that we hope you will enjoy—and will make volunteering even easier. In the past couple of months, we have created a new AAMP web portal, an SGU trivia app that can be downloaded on iPhone and Android devices, as well as networking events for SGU alumni.

In addition, we have developed a video web panel series and an alumni symposium that will feature graduates and panels. The first of our video web panels—titled DO or MD: A Tough Personal Choice—was a huge success. Upcoming topics include the benefits of a January start, what to know about applying to medical school, and tips for the interview process.

As always, we value your contribution to the AAMP program and welcome you to attend any of the upcoming information sessions, webinars, and more.

Veterinary students taking the North American Veterinary Licensing Examination (NAVLE) registered a 94 percent pass rate in 2016-17. Passing the 360-question multiple-choice exam is a requirement for licensure to practice veterinary medicine.

The pass rate for SGU students compares favorably with the 95 percent pass rate of test takers from all schools, including those in the United States and Canada. SGU students recorded a mean score of 498, well above the mark to pass.

“I salute these students for achieving high marks on the exam, on the way to achieving their dream of becoming a veterinarian,” said Chancellor Charles Modica. “In addition, I thank our faculty and staff who have helped create a strong foundation for these students’ education and careers.”

Since opening in 1999, the School of Veterinary Medicine has graduated more than 1,400 veterinarians who have gone on to practice in 49 US states and 16 countries.

After a highly successful and well attended continuing medical education conference this spring that celebrated St. George’s University’s 40th anniversary, the School of Medicine Alumni Association will be holding another CME conference in Grenada March 18-25, 2018.

Sponsored by the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP), the conference is titled The Art of Medicine in 2018. Presenters include G. Richard Olds, SGU President, and Michael Gerardi, Previous President of the ACEP.

Attendees can connect with former

classmates and faculty, enjoy all that Grenada has to offer, as well as receive 16 AMA/ACEP continuing education credits.

The conference is available not only to alumni but to all those interested in medicine.

“The weeklong conference is a great opportunity to learn from a panel of experts, as well as to enjoy some good company and relax on this beautiful island,” said Bruce Bonanno, MD SGU ‘83, SOMAA President.

For more information and to register, visit sgu.edu/medcme.

“Not for ourselves alone are we born.”– Cicero

Message from the AAMP Coordinator

The March 2018 School of Medicine Alumni Association CME will take place at the Radisson Beach Resort on Grand Anse Beach.

Save the Date: The Art of Medicine in 2018

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Fall 2017 Schedule of Events

9/14 New York, New York *

9/19 Irvine, California

9/20 London, England *

9/23 Dublin, Ireland

9/24 Belfast, Northern Ireland

9/25 Vancouver, British Columbia

9/26 Boston, Massachusetts

9/27 Detroit, Michigan

9/28 Arlington, Virginia

9/28 St. Louis, Missouri

10/2 Halifax, Nova Scotia

10/3 Newark, Delaware

10/4 New Orleans, Louisiana

10/4 Provo, Utah

10/12 San Jose, California

10/17 Atlanta, Georgia

10/19 Houston, Texas

10/19 Buffalo, New York

10/19 Toronto, Ontario

10/25 Arlington, Texas

10/26 Los Angeles, California *

10/26 Jersey City, New Jersey

10/30 Minneapolis, Minnesota

11/1 Montreal, Quebec

11/1 Tempe, Arizona

11/2 Fort Lauderdale, Florida *

11/6 Cleveland, Ohio

11/14 Baltimore, Maryland

* Face-to-Face: Short presentation with prospective student meet-and-greets and applicant interviews

Medical Student Steps in to Save Man’s Life During In-Flight Emergency

What was a life-saving moment for one JetBlue passenger was a life-changing moment for St. George’s University third-year medical student Moshe Karp.

On June 22, Mr. Karp had completed his basic science studies and was headed to New York City for his clinical rotations. About an hour into the flight, he learned that a passenger had wandered into the rear of the cabin. Mr. Karp, a NYC paramedic for 11 years, found the 59-year-old male to be cool, pale, and sweating heavily, with agonal respirations and no pulse. With the assistance of another passenger, Mr. Karp immediately brought the patient to the floor and began cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and assisted ventilation.

CPR continued for approximately eight minutes, after which time the patient became “alert and oriented” and began to produce a “nice, strong pulse.” He then sat up and informed Mr. Karp that his glucometer was with his belongings. The man’s blood sugar registered at 331

milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL), or highly hyperglycemic.

“Without a pulse, he wasn’t producing enough pump to provide enough blood pressure to maintain his vital organs,” Mr. Karp said. “Good compressions assisted that, his body compensated, and he ultimately came back.”

The flight made an emergency landing in San Juan, Puerto Rico, to allow emergency responders to tend to the man’s health.

“We caught him at the right time,” Mr. Karp said. “Saving a life, even as a paramedic, doesn’t come around that often, especially when someone goes into cardiac arrest. It’s very unusual to be within the window of opportunity to bring someone back to full responsiveness. To be able to help is

very rewarding.”

That they crossed paths not only saved one man’s life but it rerouted Mr. Karp’s career path. He had hesitations about emergency medicine, citing the hectic lifestyle that comes with it.

“I was uncertain until this moment, but this experience definitely solidified it for me,” he said. “I had thought about going into family medicine because you develop closer relationships with patients, but I think I’d thrive in emergency medicine. I do love that type of environment, and this taught me this is perhaps where I’m needed most.”

SGU student Moshe Karp sprung into action when a fellow passenger failed to register a pulse on a flight from Grenada to New York.

Our Fall 2017 event schedule is always growing, and we encourage our graduates help us attract the best and brightest medical and veterinary medical students to SGU. Please email jvastola@sgu.edu if you’re interested. Also, be sure to

check sgu.edu/infosession for more events as they are added to the schedule.