T he new Provost at St. George’s University, Dr. Joseph Childers has received a warm Grenadian welcome upon his arrival. Although he is new to the island, the feeling he has is a familiar one. “This has been very much like com- ing home for me,” Dr. Childers said. “Grenadian culture is, in many ways, similar to the Southern culture I grew up in. There is a certain friendliness, courtesy, and slight formality that everyone possesses. Grenadians also have an incredible joyousness—they love to laugh. I’ve found them to be upbeat, resilient, and proud, traits I very much recognize and respect.” F or more than 15 years, the St. George’s University Small Ani- mal Clinic (SAC) has provided quality care for animals throughout Grenada. This month, the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) gave its stamp of approval, accred- iting the SAC for two years, making it the second practice outside the United States and Canada to earn the distinction. Comprised of 10 clinicians and 15 support staff members, the clinic is open year-round, welcoming between 5,000 and 7,000 patients for wellness visits, emergencies, and surgeries. In addition, the SAC has been a clinical training venue for more than 1,200 School of Veterinary Medicine (SVM) graduates. Chronicle Fall 2016 Vol. 35 No. 4 The Inside 2 Two Major Research Grants 3 Public Health Department Recognized by WHO 4 Biostatistician Joins Faculty 5 Royal Palace Recognizes Professor 6 IFMSA Exchange Program 7 More Than $2 Million in Scholarships 8 A Pathway from the Netherlands 9 SGU Turns 40 10 Grad Shoots for MSc in London 11 Alumna Gives Back to Community 12 White Coat Ceremonies 14 Graduate Profiles Continued on page 9 Continued on page 4 AAHA Accredits SGU Small Animal Clinic Childers Appointed New Provost The Small Animal Clinic became the second facility outside the US and Canada to obtain AAHA accreditation. Appointed Provost in October 2016, Dr. Childers will oversee the Uni- versity’s academic units, academic centers and initiatives, and student services, providing leadership for the planning, development, implemen- tation, assessment, and improve- ment of all academic programs, policies, and supporting infrastruc- ture for the Grenada campus. He assumed the Provost role from Allen Pensick, who has spent more than 30 years at SGU, including as Pro- vost from 2004-2016. Dr. Pensick has stayed on as Provost Emeritus, assist- ing Dr. Childers with his transition.
Transcript
The new Provost at St. George’s University, Dr. Joseph Childers has received a warm Grenadian
welcome upon his arrival. Although he is new to the island, the feeling he has is a familiar one.
“This has been very much like com-ing home for me,” Dr. Childers said. “Grenadian culture is, in many ways, similar to the Southern culture I grew up in. There is a certain friendliness, courtesy, and slight formality that everyone possesses. Grenadians also have an incredible joyousness—they love to laugh. I’ve found them to be upbeat, resilient, and proud, traits I very much recognize and respect.”
F or more than 15 years, the St. George’s University Small Ani-mal Clinic (SAC) has provided
quality care for animals throughout Grenada. This month, the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) gave its stamp of approval, accred-iting the SAC for two years, making it the second practice outside the United States and Canada to earn the distinction.
Comprised of 10 clinicians and 15 support staff members, the clinic is open year-round, welcoming between 5,000 and 7,000 patients for wellness visits, emergencies, and surgeries. In addition, the SAC has been a clinical training venue for more than 1,200 School of Veterinary Medicine (SVM) graduates.
ChronicleFall 2016 Vol. 35 No. 4
The
Inside 2 Two Major Research Grants 3 Public Health Department
Recognized by WHO
4 Biostatistician Joins Faculty
5 Royal Palace Recognizes Professor
6 IFMSA Exchange Program
7 More Than $2 Million in Scholarships
8 A Pathway from the Netherlands
9 SGU Turns 40
10 Grad Shoots for MSc in London
11 Alumna Gives Back to Community
12 White Coat Ceremonies
14 GraduateProfiles
Continued on page 9
Continued on page 4
AAHA Accredits SGU Small Animal Clinic
Childers Appointed New Provost
The Small Animal Clinic became the second facility outside the US and Canada to obtain AAHA accreditation.
Appointed Provost in October 2016, Dr. Childers will oversee the Uni-versity’s academic units, academic centers and initiatives, and student services, providing leadership for the planning, development, implemen-tation, assessment, and improve-ment of all academic programs, policies, and supporting infrastruc-ture for the Grenada campus. He assumed the Provost role from Allen Pensick, who has spent more than 30 years at SGU, including as Pro-vost from 2004-2016. Dr. Pensick has stayed on as Provost Emeritus, assist-ing Dr. Childers with his transition.
2 | S T. G E O R G E ’ S U N I V E R S I T Y
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The Windward Islands Research and Education Foundation (WINDREF) has received two grants, valued at $380,000, to study the prevalence and impact of the Zika and Chikungunya viruses in Grenada and surrounding countries.
A two-year, $300,000 USD grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) – Fogarty International Center will allow researchers to examine the neurodevelopmental impact of the chikungunya virus (CHIKV) in infants in Grenada. In addition, WINDREF, which is based on the St. George’s University campus, has been granted $80,000 USD by the United States Naval Medical Research Center (NMRC) to study the Zika virus in the Southern Caribbean.
Dr. Randall Waechter, Research Grants Coordinator and faculty member in SGU’s Department of Bioethics, and Dr. Angelle Desiree LaBeaud, Associate Professor at Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Stanford, will serve as Co-Principal Investigators for the NIH study, which is titled “Neurodevelopment and Vector-Borne Diseases: Building Research Capacity in the Tropics.” They will be assisted by SGU faculty members Barbara Landon and Trevor Noel and also work in conjunction with researchers
from Stanford University, Oxford University, and Université de La Réunion. “The recent discovery of the potential impact of the Zika virus on neurodevelopment in utero has researchers worldwide wondering if other vector-borne viruses can also impact neurodevelopment,” Dr. Waechter said. “We have put together a global team of leading experts to address this question. We are very excited to carry out this study, get SGU students involved, and build further research capacity in Grenada.”
CHIKV’s spread through the Caribbean beginning in December 2013, including Grenada from August to December 2014, was followed by the recent emergence of the Zika virus in the region, highlighting the need to investigate, predict, contain, and respond to vector-borne diseases.
Titled “Zika Virus Surveillance in the Southern Caribbean and Reference Lab Support,” the NMRC study will be led by Dr. Calum Macpherson, Director of Research at SGU, Todd Myers from the NMRC, and William Nelson, the President and Chief ExecutiveOfficerofTetracore.Zikadominated headlines around the world in the spring and summer of 2016 and Grenada was among more
than 55 countries whose residents wereafflictedwiththevirus.Thestudy is only the latest partnership between SGU and Tetracore. In July, the Maryland-based biotechnology company donated a real-time polymerase chain reaction thermocycler device to assist with the diagnostics and surveillance for Zika and other vector-borne infections in Grenada.
“This collaboration between WINDREF, the Ministry of Health, Grenada, and the US NIDDL and Tetracore provides an essential diagnostic service, using the latest technology for the diagnosis of Zika, Chikungunya, and dengue,” said Dr. Macpherson. “This information is important for many at-risk sectors of the population.” n
Dr. Angelle Desiree LaBeaud from Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Stanford will join Dr. Randall Waechter from SGU.
WINDREF Receives Vector-Borne Research Grants from NIH and NMRC
T H E C H R O N I C L E | 3 T H E C H R O N I C L E | 3
A WHO Health Hub Through 2020
Dr. Martin Forde
United States 85China 68India 48Australia 46Japan 34Thailand 31Canada 28Italy 26Germany 24Russian Federation 22Switzerland 21France 20Netherlands 20Brazil 19Republic of Korea 19Iran 17Argentina 14Cuba 11Singapore 10Spain 10Finland 9Mexico 9
Czech Republic 1Egypt 1Ghana 1GRENADA 1Honduras 1Dem. Republic of Korea 1Jamaica 1Latvia 1Luxembourg 1Macedonia 1Madagascar 1Malawi 1Mongolia 1Nepal 1Nigeria 1Puerto RIco 1Senegal 1Syrian Arab Republic 1Tanzania 1Uruguay 1Venezuela 1
WHO Member States with Collaborating Center SitesThe World Health Organization has more than 700 collaborating centers across 80 countries that support WHO programs. The list includes Grenada, where St. George’s University’s Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine has been the site of a WHO Collaborating Center for Environmental and Occupational Health since 2012.
The World Health Organization (WHO) redesignated St. George’s University’s Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine (DPHPM) as a Collaborating Center on Environmental and Occupational Health through 2020.
Collaborating centers implement activities in support of WHO’s pro-grams,andarebeneficialtobothWHO and regional countries; the WHO gains access to top centers worldwide and receives the institu-tion’s support in implementing its global health initiatives. In return, the collaborating centers receive visibility and recognition by national and international authorities. Addi-tionally,theWHOaffiliationhelpscollaborating centers develop part-nerships with other collaborating centers, which can help generate resources from funding partners.
This center is directed by Dr. Martin Forde, DPHPM Chair and Track Director for the MPH in Environmen-
tal and Occupational Health, as well as DPHPM Demonstrator Odran Nigel Edwards. The Center works in concert with the Grenada Ministry of Health and the Pan American Health Organization’s Caribbean Program CoordinatorofficeinBarbados.
“This prestigious designation will allow us to carry out several key research projects under the auspice of the PAHO/WHO name which, in turn, will further enhance our ability to attract additional funding and research opportunities,” Dr. Forde said. “Over the next four years, we look forward to strengthening and expanding the utility of our Collabo-rating Center so that it can redound tothebenefitofGrenadaandotherSIDS in the Caribbean region.”
ThefirstofitskindintheCaribbean,the WHOCC at St. George’s Univer-sity was established in August 2012. It remains committed to contributing to WHO’s strategic program in a number of ways, including: to assess
and manage occupational safety and health hazards; to collaborate with WHO in developing evidence-based research on emerging environmen-tal and occupational health issues, including climate change; to provide, develop and disseminate curricula, training materials, and training for environmental and occupational health capacity building in the Caribbean region; and to contribute toward the implementation of the Global Plan of Action on Workers’ Health and collaborate with other collaborating centers to achieve definedoutcomes. n
4 | S T. G E O R G E ’ S U N I V E R S I T Y
Childers Appointed SGU ProvostContinued from page 1
Dr. Paul Fields joined the full-time faculty at SGU as a Professor ofBiostatisticsintheOfficeofResearch this fall, bringing with him more than 40 years of experience
in management, teaching, training, and consulting in industry, technology, health care, and higher education. Dr. Fields will assist administrators, faculty, and graduate students with research design and outcome assessments, as well as teach in-house and online graduate courses.
“Paul brings an enormous amount of experience and will be a great asset to the further evolution of research at SGU,” said Dr. Calum Macpherson, Director of Research at SGU.
Dr. Fields has research experience
in more than 70 countries around the world from Albania to Zimbabwe, and he will greatly strengthen and enrich the research capacity and vision at SGU. He joins SGU full-time after serving as a Visiting Professor in the School of Graduate Studies for the past 14 years. Dr. Fields earned a Master of Engineering (MEng) and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Brigham Young University, as well as a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in business administration with emphases in statistics and quantitative methods from Pennsylvania State University. n
“Dr. Pensick has been an invaluable resource,” Dr. Childers said. “He’s so well liked, so well respected, and is such a major part of the University’s history. In addition to being a gra-cious mentor, he’s a great person. I couldn’t have asked for better.”
Dr. Childers came to SGU after serv-ing as Dean of the Graduate Division at University of California, Riverside (UCR) for eight years. During that time, UCR witnessed increases in graduate student diversity and student success, garnering national attention as an institutional model and for best practices.
“Having purview over an entire campus was instrumental in help-ingmegetasenseofthespecificissues facing different departments and disciplines,” Dr. Childers said. “Also, because I have taught at all levels, I have learned to be mindful about how to present and to ensure that people come away with an understanding of the material. It is paramount that the audience feels
the environment is safe for asking questions and communicating.”
At UCR, he worked alongside G. Richard Olds, then the Founding Dean of its School of Medicine and the current President and Chief Exec-utiveOfficeratSGU.Togethertheyhelped create one of the US’s most diverse campuses, a trait it shares with SGU, which has drawn students from more than 140 countries.
“You cannot overvalue the impor-tance of diversity on any campus,” Dr. Childers said. “It’s important to be able to deal with difference, to see the world from alternate perspectives, and to respect other cultures.”
Theoldestoffivechildren,Dr.Childers was born in Indiana but as an infant moved with his family to Bentonville, Arkansas, a farming community on the Missouri and Oklahoma border. He earned both his Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts from the University of Arkansas, and went on to obtain his Master of
Philosophy and Doctor of Philosophy from Columbia University.
He then joined UCR as a Professor of English, a position he held for more than 25 years. Dr. Childers has also authored two books, co-edited two others, and published numerous articles and essays on a wide variety of topics. In addition to bringing his expertise and leadership to SGU, he is joined by his wife, Dr. Karen Pyke, a well-known sociologist who is a vis-iting professor in the School of Arts and Sciences. Dr. Pyke is currently consulting on the formation of an ombudsofficeforthecampus. n
Dr. Paul Fields Brings Research Expertise to Campus
Dr. Joseph Childers
Dr. Paul Fields
T H E C H R O N I C L E | 5
At Buckingham Palace this spring, Dr. Chamarthy Subbarao, Professor of Clinical Skills at St. George’s Uni-versity,wasappointedanOfficerofthe Most Excellent Order of the Brit-ish Empire (OBE) for his outstanding service to health care in Grenada. The OBE award, which is given on the recommendation of the Governor General of Grenada, was presented by Prince Charles on behalf of Queen Elizabeth II, Grenada’s Head of State.
“The OBE is a great achievement for any physician,” said Dr. Subbarao. “I am very happy to receive it, and honored that the people of Grenada have recognized my service. I am grateful to them for giving me the opportunity to take care of them.”
Coming from a family of doctors, Dr. Subbarao has served the Grena-dian community for more than three decades. Before coming to SGU, he worked within the Ministry of Health. He was based at the General Hos-pital and at Carriacou before being assigned to St. David’s, where he was instrumental in introducing health centers in Vincennes, Belle Vue, Crochu, Westerhall and Perd-montemps, and the St. Martin’s Home for the Aged, where he still serves as Director.
As a member of the primary health care team in St. David’s, Dr. Subbarao has trained many nurse practitioners and led programs to provide health education to community leaders. He helped launch diabetic associ-ations in Gouyave, Carriacou, and St. David’s, sits on the Port Safety Committee, and is active in the Grenada Red Cross to date. At SGU, Dr. Subbarao served as the Director of the University Health Services for several years, and is still the Director of the Grenada Heart Foundation.
Throughout his career in Grenada, Dr. Subbarao has served hundreds of Grenadian families and is known for his kindheartedness and
compassion. “I wanted my focus to be humanitarian rather than monetary in caring for patients because some people cannot afford to buy medications or see a doctor,” he said.
Founded in 1917 by King George V, the Order of the British Empire isdividedintofiveclasses:Knight/Dame Grand Cross, Knight/Dame Commander,Commander,Officer,and Member. According to the Brit-ish Monarchy website, it recognizes “distinguished service to the arts and sciences, public services out-side the Civil Service, and work with charitable and welfare organizations of all kinds.” n
Order of the British Empire Recognizes SGU Professor
“Medicine plays a huge role in both pre- and post-transplantation. You’ll see the patients when they come back from surgery. You’ll follow them for the days and weeks after and see them getting their strength back. They come in, and maybe they couldn’t breathe or they couldn’t walk more than two steps, and you get them through the worst of it. You’re
there with them when they’re discharged and they can walk out on their own with a new set of lungs or a new heart. We all work together as a
team, and it’s very rewarding to see the results of the work we do.”
Philip Manners, MD SGU ‘11 Attending Physician, Hospital Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital
Academic Faculty, Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School
Why I Go to Work
Dr. Chamarthy Subbarao was presented his award by Prince Charles at Buckingham Palace.
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St. George’s University welcomed eight medical students from six countries to campus as part of the International Federation of Medical Students Association (IFMSA) Medical Research Exchange Program. The students from Catalonia, Italy, Spain, Canada, Romania, and Poland spent four weeks conducting research and gaining clinical experience while immersing themselves in Grenadian culture.
The University’s Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine helps to facilitate IFMSA’s worldwide campaign that allows approximately 10,000 medical students to participate in bilateral and equitable student exchanges each year in pursuit of international clinical and research experiences.
Among those who participated in the
program was Palak Suryavanshi from the University of Saskatchewan. The first-yearmedstudenthasapreviousdegree in kinesiology and studied nursing for three years before moving into the medical program.
“Grenada’s use of herbal medication to treat illness seems to be the norm here, more so than the United States or Canada,” said Ms. Suryavanshi. “I’m working on an extension of the alternative medicine project previously started at SGU, which explores the use of various plant products for different medical purposes in Grenada and trying to taketheirworkforwardbyfiguringout how to determine the correct dosages and gaining a better understanding of how alternative medicine has been used in the local community.”
Carmen Alvarez Reguera, currently inherfifthyearofmedicalschoolat the University of Santiago de Compostela, traveled from Spain to participate in this year’s exchanges. As part of the Sport for Health program, she and her colleagues monitored participants for four weeks and addressed how to avoid risk factors for chronic diseases.
At the request of the Ministry of Health, the students also conducted a Knowledge Attitude and Practice (KAP) study on cervical cancer screening as the government considers the use of the HPV vaccine in Grenada. In addition to the academic side of the trip, SGU IFMSA members ensured that the exchange students explored Grand Anse Beach and the Annandale waterfall, while also experiencing local cuisine.
SGU participated in research exchanges as well, sending six medical students to six different countries this year. Among them were Jennifer Virgile, who traveled to Saful Anwar General Hospital in Indonesia to study cough habit patterns among medical workers, and Timothy Abels who researched immunosuppression due to abdominal post-surgery at Hospital Universitario Virgen de la Victoria in Spain. n
IFMSA students came to SGU from Catalonia, Italy, Spain, Canada, Romania, and Poland.
IFMSA students spent four weeks in Grenada, conducting research and gaining clinical experience.
IFMSA Exchange Students Gain Global Experience at SGU
T H E C H R O N I C L E | 7
More Than $1 Million in Scholarships AwardedThis fall, St. George’s University awarded over $1 million in Legacy of Excellence scholarships to 159 students in the School of Medicine’s incoming class of 2020.
“St. George’s is dedicated to making our unique international medical education accessible to the best and brightest students from all over the world—regardless of circumstance,” said Dr. G. Richard Olds, President of SGU. “I congratulate these students on a job well done, and look forward to welcoming them in the upcoming academic year.”
Sixty-nine students received the Chancellor’s Circle of Legacy of Excellence scholarship this year. The CCLOE is an award to 50 incoming students who meet or exceed an overall undergraduate GPA of 3.7, a science GPA of 3.5, and an MCAT score of 506. The University has awarded CCLOE scholarships since 2009.
“I’m honored that we have such aqualifiedgroupofstudentsaccepting these awards,” said Dr. Olds.
Ninety additional incoming students received the Legacy of Excellence Scholarship, a partial-tuition
scholarship given to students whose academic histories and MCAT scores demonstrate excellent work ethic and a passion for learning. The University began the Legacy of Excellence Scholarship program more than 10 years ago.
“We created these awards not only to enable these students to attend medical school, but also in the hopes that they will help to fillvacanciesinunderservedareas
that are in serious need of more doctors,” said University Chancellor Charles Modica. “We at St. George’s University are very happy to support them so that they will serve others in the future.”
The University offers a wide variety of institutional scholarships to recognize academic excellence. It has awarded over $100 million dollars in scholarships to more than 5,000 students over the years. n
SGU has awarded more than $100 million to over 5,000 students since 1977.
Grenada’s Kirani James, an Ambassador for SGU’s Sport for Health program, captured the silver medal in the 400-meter dash at the 2016 Summer Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. It marked the second consecutive Games in which he medaled, having taken gold in London in 2012.
Back to Back
8 | S T. G E O R G E ’ S U N I V E R S I T Y
SGU Creates Pathway with University in NetherlandsErasmus University College (EUC) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with SGU, paving the way for Dutch medical students to receive world-leading international training around the world.Theagreement,thefirstofitskind between the two universities, willallowqualifiedstudentstheopportunity to obtain the Doctor of Medicine degree program at SGU.
Students from EUC who have successfully graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Liberal Arts and Sciences, with a grade point average of at least C for the courses that form part of the Pre-Med major, will be eligible to apply for the program.
“This partnership will provide the opportunity for EUC students to receive some of the best medical training in the world at SGU and our affiliateduniversities,resultinginmore world-class doctors practicing medicine,” said Dr. G. Richard Olds, President of SGU. “With this historic agreement, we have also strengthened our global network of
higher education institutions, and formed a lasting partnership with another excellent university.”
“It is important that our students are given the opportunity to study overseas, which this MOU will facilitate,” EUC President Kristel Baele said. “Those in the program will receive international training to complement their education from EUC, and will also be exposed to important cultural experiences on a highly diverse campus, producing well-rounded,highlyqualifiedmedical practitioners. I am pleased
to have overseen the beginning of a new relationship between Erasmus College and St. George’s University, and hope that this continues for many years to come.”
Erasmus University College is a specialized research university with a focus on social orientation in its education and research. The university’s vision is that its scientists and students should work on global societal challenges in the areas of prosperity, health, governance and culture. n
UNITED STATESCaliforniaCalifornia State University, Dominguez HillsCalifornia State University, FullertonDelawareUniversity of DelawareMassachusettsMassachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health SciencesRegis CollegeNew HampshireFranklin Pierce UniversityNew JerseyCaldwell UniversityNew Jersey Institute of TechnologyNew YorkLong Island UniversityPennsylvaniaKings CollegeUniversity of the SciencesTexasMidwestern State UniversityWashingtonSeattle Colleges
BOTSWANAUniversity of Botswana
CANADABrandon University Canadian Educational Institute of TechnologyRoyal Crown College of Business and TechnologyUniversity of Manitoba
GUYANAUniversity of Guyana
HONG KONGTung Wah College
INDIAKrishna InternationalVidya Sanskar International School
MALAYSIAHELP University
NETHERLANDSErasmus University College
NIGERIAWesterfieldCollege
REPUBLIC OF SOUTH KOREAUiduk University
SRI LANKAANC EducationBusiness Management School
THAILANDMahidol University International College
UGANDAMakerere University
UNITED KINGDOMNorthumbria UniversityUniversity of NottinghamUniversity of the West of England
St. George’s University School of Medicine Academic Affiliations
EUC students with a Bachelor of Science and qualifying marks may apply for the new program.
T H E C H R O N I C L E | 9
Forty years ago, St. George’s University and its charter class tooktheirfirststepsinunison.Forboth, it was new territory and there was much to learn. Fast-forward to 2016 and SGU is on the precipice of celebrating an important milestone—40 years of providing an international education across a widerangeoffields,andofsettingstudents up for success in their careers.
SGU has much to celebrate, as well as much to look forward to. More than 17,000 students have earned their degrees and gone on to assume important roles in their communities, whether as a physician, veterinarian, businessperson, or in another walk of life.
All graduates are invited to join SGU in the yearlong celebration, beginning with the 40th Anniversary Kickoff Weekend in January, which will commemorate the 40-year anniversaryofthefirstdayofclassesat SGU. Among them is a Parade of Nations, for which students and
alumni from more than 140 countries willcarryflagsthroughcampus,symbolizing SGU’s diverse culture over the years.
In March, SGU will launch the Medical Mission Grants program, for which individuals and organizations can apply for funds from the University to support their upcoming medical mission. It also will include a new continuing medical education course coordinated by the School of Medicine Alumni Association.
SGU will celebrate Commencement Weekend with an anniversary party for alumni of all schools. SGU will also welcome academics from around the world to Grenada for a three-day One Health, One Medicine symposium, as well as host a Public Lecture Series on campus. n
SGU Gets Set to Celebrate Its 40th
Jan. 14-17 40th Anniversary Kickoff Weekend
• Investiture of Dr. G. Richard Olds as President
• Charity Fun Run• Alumni Sunset Barbecue• Campus Tours• Parade of Nations
March Medical Mission Inaugural Grants
March 27-31 SOM Alumni Association CME: “Updates in Medicine”
June Alumni 40th Anniversary Party in New York City
October One Health, One Medicine Symposium
November Public Lecture Series
40th Anniversary Schedule of Events
AAHA-Accredited Small Animal Clinic Demonstrates Excellence“Accreditation proves that we are practicing a standard of excellence at the Small Animal Clinic,” said Dr. Christina Fernandez, DVM SGU ’07, Immediate Past Director of the SAC and an SVM Associate Professor in Emergency Critical Care. “The AAHA assessed what we’re teaching our students, providing for our clients, and how we work together as a business. On all of these fronts, we showed that we are doing a really good job.”
“AAHA accreditation provides an enhanced and enriched learning environment for students,” added Dr. Tim Ogilvie, Dean, St. George’s University School of Veterinary Med-
icine. “It is a point of pride for clini-cians and staff, and it is a measure of quality and service focus for clients comparable to the best standards of care for animal patients.”
The SAC team began working toward AAHA accreditation in 2015, studying theirefficiencyof the practice, changing proto-cols, and updat-ing the facility with state-of-the-art equipment. In October, an AAHA representative visited Grenada to measure the clinic on more than 900 mandatory and additional standards.
The SAC attained accreditation for two years, and will be evaluated for potential three-year re-accreditation in 2018. According to the AAHA, 12 to 15 percent of veterinary practices in the United States are accredited.
“At the Small Animal Clinic, we are constantly striving to improve the standard of veterinary practice, while optimizing the delivery of our services to our patients, clients, and the community,” said Dr. Wayne Sylvester, Interim Director of the SAC and a longtime SAC Clinician. “AAHA accreditation is a clear demonstration of the dedication and professionalism of our team, and we will continue to maintain the highest possible standards.” n
Continued from page 1
1 0 | S T. G E O R G E ’ S U N I V E R S I T Y
St. George’s University launched a Master of Education program to help mold teachers and administrators of the future, in Grenada and beyond.
SAS Grad Earns Prestigious Commonwealth ScholarshipKishon Francis, a 2015 graduate of St. George’s University’s School of Arts and Sciences, has received a full-tuition Commonwealth Schol-arship to pursue a Master of Sci-ence in computer communication networks at Brunel University in London. The scholarship covers all expenses associated with the one-year program, including Mr. Francis’ tuition, accommodation, meals, and general living expenses.
Mr. Francis obtained a Bachelor of Science in information technology from SGU. He began his studies at Brunel in September, and is one of two Grenadians to receive this aca-demic scholarship this year.
“I feel like I’m on top of the world,” said Mr. Francis. “This scholarship is oneofthemostdifficultCommon-wealth Scholarships to obtain, and it feels great to be selected from among somanyqualifiedcandidates.”
“Not only are Commonwealth Scholarships prestigious, but the kind of Commonwealth Scholarship Mr. Francis has been awarded is very rare, with a highly competitive appli-cation process. This is testimony to
the quality of education he received from SGU,” added Mr. Colin Dowe, Assistant Dean of Enrolment Plan-ning at SGU. “We are extremely proud of him. This is a fantastic honor and one worthy of commen-dation and celebration.”
The Commonwealth Scholarship aims to support advancement in developing Commonwealth nations. Recipients not only have shown academic excellence but also the strongpotentialtocreateasignifi-cant impact in their home countries.
As an assistant lecturer at the TA Marryshow Community College, Mr. Francis has always been passionate
about sharing with his students more than mere knowledge of the field,goingbeyondthecurriculumto help them convert their knowl-edge into high performance and success in the workplace. After earning his network-engineering-fo-cused Master of Science, he hopes to pursue a Doctor of Philosophy in software engineering and return to Grenadatofulfillhisvision.
“My goal and dream is to use the education I receive to launch a company which will help make tech-nology in Grenada seamless, up-to-date, and on par with international standards,” Mr. Francis said. n
Kishon Francis with his sister, Kinda
In the Classroom
T H E C H R O N I C L E | 1 1
For the island that allowed her to pursue her education, Dr. Heather Douglas, DVM SGU ’06, has given the children at St. David’s Catholic Secondary School (SDCSS) to pursue theirs, having facilitated the donation of 30 computer stations, a computer server, and a laser printer.
“I consider Grenada my second home and am committed to giving back to the community however I can,” Dr. Douglas said.
The founder of GrenVet Island Veterinary Services (GIVS), a nonprofitcharitygroupinGrenadaand the United States, Dr. Douglas maintains close ties with the island. While thus far GrenVet’s efforts have been aimed at helping the community by providing care to animals, the most recent trip had a verydifferentfocus.Afterfinishingan animal care clinic in St. David, Dr. Douglas was invited to visit the nearby school. As she was touring the facility with former student Ranisher Livingston, she was touched by the hospitality of students and faculty alike. The students were beaming with a deep passion for learning and were enthusiastic about sharing their experiences with a new visitor. As she spent more time at the school, Dr. Douglas discovered the computer lab and couldn’t help but take note of the outdated computers and lack of functional stations. After observing a classroom of 42 students who were sharing 15 computers, Dr. Douglas envisioned the plan that would provide additional technological resources with the help of GrenVet.
With the Caribbean Secondary EducationCertificate(CSEC)examsnow being taken online, Dr. Douglas
could see that a 3:1 student-to-computer ratio, as well as outdated hardware and software, would create barriers to the students’ success. A phone call to her father, Stephen, who has been a computer programmer for as long as she can remember, launched the plan for a pilot program which would provide computer resources to schools in Grenada. In collaboration with GrenVet and in part to generous donations from individuals committed to the advancement of youth, the Grenadian Youth Technology Improvement Program was created. A skilled volunteer
team, including Mr. Douglas and Mitch Burton, an information technology specialist, installed and formatted a state-of-the art computer lab that will serve students at SDCSS for years to come.
“I feel truly blessed with the support offered during our stay, including lodging donated by Maca Bana and the volunteers at St. David’s Catholic Secondary School,” Dr. Douglas said. “They took great care of our team, assisting with the computer lab setup and providing home-cooked meals.”
For their assistance, GrenVet thanks Stephen Douglas, Mitch Burton, Janice Douglas, Principal Miriam Calliste, Shem Francis, Devon Greene, Akish Rennie, Brenard Malcolm, Denise Williams, Shirlene George, Edison Francis, Kell Hazzard, Mrs. Venta Bubb, Mrs. Jocelyn Francois, Douglas Animal Hospital Team, Maca Bana, and Belmont Estate. In addition, GrenVet extends gratitude to the many donors that helpedmakethisfinanciallypossible.
For further information or to donate to the program, visit generosity.com/projects/help-fund-a-computer-lab-for-kids-in-need or email [email protected]. n
The technological upgrade at the St. David’s Catholic Secondary School included 30 computer stations, a computer server, and a laser printer.
Alum Facilitates Electronics Donation to Local School
“I consider Grenada my second home and am committed to giving back to the community however I can.” – Heather Douglas, DVM SGU ‘06
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SGU Welcomes Aspiring MDs in Grenada and UKThe St. George’s University School of Medicine’s Class of 2020 took another step toward their future profession by taking part in White Coat Ceremonies in Grenada and the United Kingdom. The students donned their newly minted white coats, emblems of the authority and professionalismoftheirchosenfield,and collectively recited the Oath of Professional Commitment.
In Grenada, President and Chief ExecutiveOfficerDr.G.RichardOlds delivered a touching keynote address, during which he shared anecdotes and lessons from his medical career. In one instance, he learned that a physician must always act in the patient’s best interest, no matter the perception. “When all is said and done, no matter how unpopular, no matter how you might appear, you have to do what is best for your patient,” said Dr. Olds.
For lesson two, he stressed to the students that being a doctor means more than diagnosing illnesses and recommending treatments. It some-
times means being a friend to your patient who really needs one.
Hisfinallessonwasaboutnotallowing emotional attachment to get in the way of recognizing what the patient truly wants. Dr. Olds spoke of a time when he battled to prolong his father’s life in the face of an increasingly complicated medical history. His father, however, wished to be allowed to pass quietly, sur-rounded by his loved ones.
The festivities was emceed by Glenn Nanney, MD SGU ’14, a third-year physical medicine and rehabilitation resident at East Carolina University in Greenville, NC.
SGU welcomed more than 90 students
to Northumbria University at its 10th annual Keith B. Taylor Global Schol-ars Program (KBTGSP) White Coat Ceremony. The class included pupils from all over the world, including countries such as Canada, China, Thailand, and Ghana.
Since its inception, more than 1,000 SGU students have taken part in the KBTGSP.
“The program is incredibly stimulat-ing and it offers students the unique opportunity to learn about inter-national medical practices, which is essential for a physician,” said emcee Stephanie Sun, a KBTGSP alumna and third-year resident at the Yale-Waterbury Internal Medicine Residency Program. n
2016 White Coat Ceremonies
The White Coat Ceremonies officially welcomed Term 1 students to their new profession.
The Keith B. Taylor Global Scholars Program Fall 2016 incoming class.
T H E C H R O N I C L E | 1 3
Newest Class of Veterinarians Takes First Step in JourneyThe School of Veterinary Medicine welcomed its newest class of future veterinarians at St. George’s University’s Fall 2016 White Coat Ceremony in August at Patrick F. Adams Hall. Donning their white coats and reciting the Oath of Professional Commitment, it marked thestudents’officialentryintotheveterinary profession.
Ten years prior, alumnus and Master of Ceremonies Dr. Thomas Monaco, DVM SGU ’09, made such astephimself.Hereflectedonhisjourney into veterinary medicine and admitted it would not have been possible without SGU giving him the opportunity to attend veterinary medical school—setting him on the path to becoming a board-certifiedsmallanimalsurgeonatKatonah Bedford Veterinary Center in Bedford Hills, NY.
“Now you all are in the same position with the same opportunities that I had,” extolled Dr. Monaco. “Be proactive and utilize the talented and dedicated faculty available to you at SGU. While we can all appreciate the luxury of attending veterinary school at a place where most people come for vacation, it is critical that you always remind yourself of the real reason you are here, and that is to become a doctor of veterinary medicine.”
Dr. Monaco stressed balance and time management to the future vets. He encouraged them to become caring and reliable colleagues. “The veterinary community is relatively small and everyone seems to know everyone, whether you are aware of it or not,” he counseled. “As you progress in your career, having a
reputation as a great colleague will go a long way.”
Now entering his second year as President and Chief Executive OfficerofSt.George’sUniversity,Dr. G. Richard Olds was pleased to share in the happy occasion. Having spent most of his career as a physician working closely with veterinarians, he emphasized the link between veterinary medicine, human medicine, nursing, and all the health professions under the banner of One Health, One Medicine.
Dr. Timothy Ogilvie, Dean of SGU’s School of Veterinary Medicine, also offered his advice, drawing from his 42 years in veterinary medicine. He then introduced the ceremony’s keynote speaker, Dr. Sheila Allen, Dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Georgia. Dr. Allen has been extensively involved in developing and revising the college’s Doctor of Veterinary Medicine curriculum. Through the use of famous quotes from American cinema and personalreflectionsofher35yearsof experience in the veterinary profession, she hoped that her heartfelt words would both inspire and resonate with the incoming class.
“How you handle failure builds a whole lot more character than how you celebrate victory,” she advised. “Don’t compare yourself to others. I promise you your class rank will not be on your diploma or your tombstone.Andfinally,whenyoucan truly celebrate the achievement of another person as much as your own, or even more so than your own, it is truly liberating.” n
2016 White Coat Ceremonies2016 White Coat Ceremonies
St. George’s University School of Veterinary Medicine has graduated more than 1,200 veterinarians since opening its doors in 1999.
1 4 | S T. G E O R G E ’ S U N I V E R S I T Y
M edical research started as a curiosity when Zachary Klaassen was a student
at St. George’s University. It soon blossomed into a hobby, and then a passion, and it’s now an integral part of the 2010 graduate’s future in medicine. A Urologic Oncology Fellow at the University of Toronto, Dr. Klaassen is also working toward a Master of Science in clinical epidemiology and health care research at the Institute of Health Policy Management and Evaluation.
“I love taking care of the patient, andIequallylovetryingtofigureout how to make care better,” said Dr. Klaassen, who will join the faculty at the Medical College of Georgia (MCG) following his fellowship. “Ten years ago, I might have said that research would make up less than 10 percent of what I would do. Now if you asked me what my dream job was, I would say 50 percent clinical and 50 percent research.”
His fondness for research began when he launched and directed SGU’s Medical Student Research Institute (MSRI) with Dr. Marios Loukas, Dean of Research, and Dr. Ronald Chamberlain, Chairman, St. Barnabas Medical Center in New Jersey. Dr. Klaassen soon discovered that he enjoyed conducting research andwasefficientatit.HeearnedtheSenior Medical Student Research Competition Award and graduated magna cum laude. Dr. Klaassen has since co-written four book chapters, been published in more than 65 peer-reviewed journals, and presented his research at over 35 regional and national conferences.
Research complements the clinical training he’s receiving at U of T. The firstyearoffellowshiphasbeenspent predominantly in research, allowing Dr. Klaassen and his colleagues to present cases at renal tumor and multidisciplinary bladder cancer conferences. In year two, however, fellows dedicate their time to patient care and surgery and move into junior faculty positions.
“It’s a great program, and so far it’s been excellent,” Dr. Klaassen said. “In urologic oncology, you have to enjoy the big, six- to 12-hour surgeries, which I do, and I’m also able to talk to the patients and their families, rather than just treat the cancer. I can’t see myself doing anything else.”
Like research, urology wasn’t always
his primary goal. Dr. Klaassen had expected to specialize in vascular surgery until he was invited to shadow a family friend who practiced urology, a three-day experience that changed the course of his career.
Despite being one of the most competitivefieldsinmedicine,Dr.Klaassen matched into a urology residency at the Medical College of Georgia at Georgia Regents University (now Augusta University). He was named Urology Chief Resident, and ultimately Resident of the Year, for 2015-16 at MCG and looks forward to joining its faculty following his two years of fellowship.
Dr. Klaassen has also served as a Visiting Professor for SGU, to which he arrived after obtaining Bachelor of Science degrees in molecular biology and biochemistry in 2005. Dr. Klaassen had been turned down by highly competitive Canadian schools and instead entered a vibrant and diverse community of students in Grenada.
“It was an amazing, multicultural experience that you never would know you were missing if you haven’t experienced it,” Dr. Klaassen said. “Academically, it was second to none; I went down there and received excellent training.
“Between the academic experience and the life experience, I couldn’t see doing it any other way,” he continued. “I would never have experienced all that SGU had to offer if I had stayed in Vancouver, and I’m so thankful for the opportunity to get out of the box, to experience other places, and gain the perspective that I did.” n
SGU GRADUATE PROFILE
Zachary Klaassen
Class of 2010 School of Medicine
“SGU was an amazing, multicultural
experience that you never would know you
were missing if you haven’t experienced it.”
T H E C H R O N I C L E | 1 5
A s a rotating intern at VCA West Los Angeles in California, Sylke Lohmann, DVM SGU
’16, is met with a new challenge each month. Her assignments range from emergency overnights and surgery to zoo medicine and ophthalmology, requiring her to regularly draw upon all she learned as a veterinary medical student at St. George’s University.
“Idefinitelyfeelprepared,”shesaid.“We learned everything we needed to learn. It’s just a matter of accessing that information again and putting it into practice.”
Growing up in Rimbey, Alberta, a town of a couple thousand people located four hours outside Calgary, becoming a veterinarian had always been the plan for Dr. Lohmann. At her family’s farm, she was surrounded by cows, horses, chickens, ducks, and “everything else you could imagine,” she said. Dr. Lohmann’s mother, who was originally from Germany, had always wanted be a vet yet never had the opportunity. Instead, with the farm, she prepared her daughter to follow her own dream.
“I’ve always loved being around animals,” she said. “I love the connection you make with them, and how they’re unconditionally loving and easy to be around.”
From the farm, Dr. Lohmann became a registered veterinary
technician, working in clinics in and around Calgary full- and part-time while working toward a Bachelor of Science from the University of Calgary. The path took her all the way to St. George’s University School of Veterinary Medicine, to which, after receiving positive reviews from past colleagues at veterinary practices, she applied and enrolled thanks in part to a Veterinary Mentor Scholarship.
In Grenada, she joined the Hashing Club—joining friends on long hikes—and volunteered for the Student Veterinary Emergency and
Critical Care Society (SVECCS) and Grenada Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (GSPCA). In the classroom, she especially enjoyed her junior surgery classes with Drs. Marta Lanza Perea and Tara Paterson.
“They were great; they were so encouraging and made surgery such a great experience,” Dr. Lohmann said. “I loved that we got so much hands-on experience, including many, many spays and neuters in our second and third years. They really wanted us to be good doctors, and it was helpful that we could touch the animals and interact with them. With the relatively short time the professors had with us, it was clear they really cared and wanted to teach us everything possible.”
In 2014, Dr. Lohmann was welcomed to the SVM’s Phi Zeta National Honor Society. Her surgery experience was so impactful that she hopes to make a career out of it. She anticipates completing her intern year at VCA and then entering a specialty internship or residency in surgery.
“With surgery, it’s an amazing feeling to be able to put something back together,” Dr. Lohmann said. “You’re able to take an animal who isn’t walking and have it walking the next day. You can really make a difference, just like you can with people.” n
SGU GRADUATE PROFILE
Sylke Lohmann Class of 2016
School of Veterinary Medicine
“You’re able to take an animal who isn’t walking and have it
walking the next day. You can really make a
difference, just like you can with people.”
ChronicleThe
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