INSIDE
Central Office………..2
Admissions and
Recruitment………….4
FIU Collaborative
Programs……………..4
Financial Aid…….….5
Grades and
Records…………...…..5
Panther Learning
Communities…..…….6
Student
Programs…………..….7
Health and
Wellness ……………….8
Diversity and
Inclusion………..…….8
Dear HWCOM Community,
Academic year 2014-15 is shaping up to be an outstanding one for the Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine (HWCOM). Walking around our campus one can’t help but notice the continued expansion of FIU. As we continue to grow and improve, so too do our many programs and services. With the opening of the new College of Public Health building (AHC5) and the soon to be opened FIU Ambulatory Care Center (AHC 6), we are well on our way to developing an academic health center that will have a major impact on the health of the South Florida community and will train and graduate the next generation of leaders in healthcare.
Consistent with our institution’s growth, the HWCOM Office of Student Affairs has undergone a number of changes over the past year designed to enhance and improve the delivery of programs and services necessary to support our medical education mission and to help our students achieve their professional goals. This newsletter serves as an introduction to these changes. I encourage you to read through the information provided and to refer to our new webpage. If you have any questions or require guidance to access services, please do not hesitate to contact us. Our main office number remains the same: 305-348-0644. This is an exciting time for all of us in OSA and we look forward to working closely with each and every one of you to maximize your experience at HWCOM. We wish you all a very successful and productive 2014-15 academic year!
Sincerely,
Robert L. Hernandez, Jr., MD
Executive Associate Dean for Student Affairs
The Office of Student Affairs
September 10, 2014
OSA COMmunicator
Editor: Jessica Lewis, MA
“As the new Associate Dean for
Student Affairs, I am looking forward
to working with Dr. Hernandez and
the OSA team to help develop new
programs that will not only enhance
our current
student’s medical
school experience,
but develop new
recruitment
programs that
will help us meet
our goals and the
mission of this
university. I also
look forward to
working with other members of the
HWCOM community to learn more
about other impactful programs and
resources to make this college a
Worlds Ahead institution. “
- Adrian L. Jones, JD
Associate Dean for Student Affairs
2 Continued...
OFFICE OF STUDENT AFFAIRS CENTRAL OFFICE
Location - The Office of Student Affairs has moved from the sixth floor of AHC2. You will now find most of our units, including the OSA Main Office, Admissions, Grades & Records, Financial Assistance and Student Programs on the third floor. This move puts us near the Panther Learning Communities. The only OSA office that remains outside of AHC2 is the Counseling and Wellness center which remains in the Green Library. Click HERE to find a directory of our offices. Organization - Several individuals have joined our leadership team over the past few months, including Adrian Jones, JD, our new Associate Dean for Student Affairs. Dean Jones joins us from Loyola University Chicago, Stritch School of Medicine where he served as the Assistant Dean for Admissions and Recruitment. In his new role, Dean Jones will assist Dr. Hernandez in overseeing all programs and services offered through the Office of Student Affairs. His office may be found in AHC2 395.
Another new member of the OSA team is Cheryl Brewster, EdD. Dr. Brewster remains in her role as Assistant Dean for Diversity and Inclusion for the HWCOM. As a member of the OSA team, Dr. Brewster will increase her involvement in the recruitment of students underrepresented in medicine, as well as expand services and programs for currently enrolled students. Dr. Brewster has also taken on a new role of Faculty Fellow for Panther Learning Community Hippocrates. The roles of the Faculty Fellows are described more fully later in this document. Her office has been relocated to AHC2 378, within PLC Hippocrates.
Barbra Roller, PhD remains an Assistant Dean for Student Affairs, but has taken on a new role overseeing our collaborative programs with FIU. Dr. Roller will assist in developing programs that enhance the recruitment and retention of FIU undergraduates who wish to enter the field of medicine and attend HWCOM. She has just helped launch a new upper level course being offered by The Honors College called Challenges in Healthcare. Among her many projects is the development of combined degree programs with other colleges at FIU, including a BS/MD program. Dr. Roller’s office is now located in AHC2 368A.
The Office of Admissions and Recruitment is now under the supervision of Andria Williams, MBA, Director for Admissions and Recruitment. Andria is currently overseeing a major redesign of the admissions process, including a new admissions committee, interview panel, secondary application, and interview day. We hope these changes will improve our holistic admissions process and allow us to better identify applicants who want to train here and are the “right fit” for HWCOM. Ms. Williams office is located in AHC2 361A.
Robert Dollinger, MD also remains an Assistant Dean for Student Affairs, however his role will now focus primarily on the Panther Learning Communities. Under his leadership, the PLC’s will be launching several new signature programs this year designed to enhance the medical degree program and provide opportunities for students to acquire competencies in the areas of teaching, mentorship, and leadership.
Inside...
The Office of Student Affairs
3
New programs will include the Clinical Skills Peer Training Program and the Peer Mentoring Program. Dr. Dollinger also assists with Clinical Skills I course, and serves as the Faculty Fellow for PLC Anderson, his office is located in AHC2 370.
Heidi von Harscher, PhD has taken on new responsibilities within OSA. In addition to serving as the Director for the Counseling and Wellness Service, she will be expanding the Fit and Well Program and will be assisting in the delivery of the new OSA curriculum. She will also provide support and guidance to students who are experiencing any sort of difficulty or who require professionalism counseling. Taking on the role of a Faculty Fellow, Dr. von Harscher’s office has moved from the Green Library to AHC2 366, PLC Semmelweis.
We have created a new unit called the Office of Student Programs. This unit is under the supervision of Scarlett Aldana-Bosch, MBA, Associate Director for Student Programs. Scarlett’s team includes Carmen Carter, MS, Career & Professional Development, Emily Ginsberg, MSW, Community Outreach Coordinator, and Brittany Cooke, MS, Student Organizations & International Programs Coordinator.
Jessica Lewis, MA has joined the central unit as the Communications Coordinator under the supervision of Natalie Hernandez, MS, Director of Operations. In this new role, Jessica’s primary goal is to improve communication with all units in the Office of Student Affairs and the student body through various formats including our website, e-communications, and social networks.
Although he is not formally a member of the Office of Student Affairs, Alan Wells, PhD, MPH joins the OSA team as a Faculty Fellow for PLC Pasteur. Dr. Wells will continue to serve as Course Director of the Community Medicine Practicum. His office is located in AHC2 374, PLC Pasteur.
The renovation project for the Student Lounge (AHC2 360) has been completed. The
lounge has many IT upgrades, including two new 70” LCD monitors, a computer station, and
AppleTV. Foldable tables and chairs with a capacity of up to 36 people have also been added.
The room will be used by OSA on certain Mondays, Tuesday mornings, and Fridays for
Admissions Interviews and Committee meetings. The remainder of the time is open for
student use. Medical students can reserve the room for meetings. A meeting schedule will be
placed outside the door on a weekly basis to update you on availability. To place a reservation
request for the Student Lounge, please contact OSA at 305-348-0644 or by email
Right: The updated
unit model for the
Office of Student
Affairs showing all
new units currently
residing in OSA.
3
OFFICE OF STUDENT AFFAIRS:
IMPORTANT DATES
September
Class of 2016 Town Hall:
Guide to the Match – 9/19/14
Class of 2017 Financial Aid Meeting:
Managing Medical School Debt – 9/23/14
Class of 2015 Town Hall:
Residency Interviews – 9/26/14
October
Class of 2017 Wellness Meeting:
Empathy & Burnout Feedback – 10/14/14
Class of 2016 Town Hall:
USMLE Survival Guide – 10/17/14
November
Class of 2017 Town Hall:
The Competitive Applicant – 11/18/14
December
Happy Holidays!
January
Class of 2017 Town Hall:
Surveying the Alternatives – 1/27/15
Class of 2018 Workshop:
Careers in Medicine – 01/30/15
Class of 2015 Town Hall:
ROLIC, Match, & Graduation – 01/30/15
February
HWCOM Event:
Residency Fair – 02/07/15
March
Class of 2018 Financial Aid Meeting:
Debt MGMT & Loan Counseling – 03/13/15
Class of 2016 Financial Aid Meeting:
Debt Management & Residency – 03/20/15
HWCOM Event:
Match Day – 3/20/15
Class of 2017 Financial Aid Meeting:
Debt MGMT & Loan Counseling – 03/27/15
April
Class of 2015 Financial Aid Meeting:
Exit Counseling – 04/03/15
Class of 2016 Town Hall:
Match Outcomes – 04/14/15
Class of 2015 Graduation:
Commencement Convocation: - 04/26/15
ADMISSIONS AND RECRUITMENT
The Office of Admissions and Recruitment,
consisting of Andria Williams, MBA –
Director, Cristina Marino Arabatzis,
MBA – Coordinator, and Aray Rivera –
Program Assistant, now has six years of
experience in selecting students who thrive
at HWCOM. The office is developing and
streamlining the admissions process, and
have made some exciting changes to their
previous model. These changes improve
efficiency while maintaining the quality of
the admissions review process. Medical
students continue to participate on the
Admissions Committee- adding value and
richness to the selection process of future
medical students who will fill our
classrooms, serve in our communities,
represent HWCOM, and eventually graduate
as physicians from our institution.
As the Office of Admissions and
Recruitment continues their mission to
recruit and admit students who are the right
“fit”, the “semi blinded” interview model has
been implemented to the interview process.
Interviewers will now receive a snapshot
with the applicant’s experiences, personal
statement, and responses to the HWCOM
Secondary Application questions. This will
drive the conversation, help the interviewer
to delve deeper, and ultimately get to know
the applicant better. Medical students have
also been selected to participate as
interviewers on the Interview Panel, as their
perspective is important in this process.
Additionally, published minimum academic
requirements have been removed and AAMC
data is being used to determine academic
readiness. The Interview Panel will now
focus on a holistic view of the applicants.
For more questions on admissions and
recruitment, contact Andria Williams,
Director of Admissions and Recruitment.
FIU COLLABORATIVE PROGRAMS The mission of the FIU Collaborative Programs division is to create, administer, and
assess programs that will lead to the enhanced preparation of FIU students and other
well-qualified Florida applicants, prepare high school students for matriculation into
FIU premedical programs, and to create joint degree programs to enhance recruitment
and accommodate the interests of HWCOM medical students.
To assist in meeting these goals, Dr. Barbra Roller, Assistant Dean for Student
Affairs, has created programs to augment and complement our current efforts in these
areas.
Summer Residential Programs- Programs designed for undergraduate premedical
students, such as Doctors of Tomorrow, have been offered for three years and will
continue to be enhanced. Summer residential programs for high school students are
being created.
Honors College Courses - These courses represent the first ever collaboration
between The Honors College at FIU and the HWCOM. The courses are part of a two
semester sequence titled Challenges in Healthcare and are designed for students who
wish to learn about healthcare issues and to gain experience in thinking critically and
developing lifelong learning skills
Premedical Mentoring – This new program in the Office of Student Affairs will be
working with the FIU Office of Pre-Health Professions Advising and its premedical
advisors. This program will also be working with FIU premedical clubs and societies.
Combined Degree Programs - We are currently exploring the development of joint
degree programs: BS/MD, MD/MPH, MD/MBA.
For more information on any of these programs, please contact Barbra A. Roller, PhD.,
Assistant Dean for Student Affairs.
Vivian T. Obeso, MD, Medical Director of
the HWCOM Simulation Center
demonstrates Harvey to the Doctors of
Tomorrow students.
Dr. Barbra Roller and the 2014 Doctors of Tomorrow students pose in the Medical Library
Doctors of Tomorrow students practice
intubation in the HWCOM Simulation
Center
The Doctors of Tomorrow Program (DOT),
through FIU Collaborative Programs, is an
intensive 5-day residential program designed
to help college students navigate the
complicated process of applying for medical
school and provides the tools for them to
become more competitive applicants.
HIGHLIGHTS:
DOCTORS OF TOMORROW
4
GRADES AND RECORDS
FINANCIAL AID The Office of Financial Aid at HWCOM
continues to provide assistance to help the
students achieve their educational
aspirations while successfully managing
their finances. The staff, which consists of
Marissa Miles, MA - Director of
Financial Aid, Maria Jose Araya, MPA -
Senior Financial Aid Coordinator, and
Michelle Troche - Program Assistant, are
committed to providing the best possible
financial resources, counseling and
customer service.
Currently, the Office of Financial Aid is a part of a HWCOM collaborative team working
on a Debt Management Initiative to address student debt levels, as well as
implementing initiatives that will successfully lower student debt within HWCOM. The
implementation of the Debt Management Program in the 2013-2014 academic year
resulted in a return of student loans totaling over $390,000.00.
Scholarships: The Office of Financial Aid has awarded almost $3,000,000 in
scholarship funds to current HWCOM students in the 2014-2015 academic year. The
funds consist of HWCOM, Foundation, and external funding sources.
For more information, visit medicine.fiu.edu/financialaid, or contact Marissa Miles,
Director of Financial Aid.
Grades and Records is transitioning to a paperless office using ImageNow, a software suite that enables us to organize content from different sources. Files will be processed and stored in a secure, organized, and searchable database that links student and course data with Panthersoft. The acquisition of ImageNow allows us to now process name and address changes internally. Visit medicine.fiu.edu/registrar for more information regarding our office and services.
All requests including transcripts, enrollment verification, name change, address change, and residency reclassification should be submitted electronically via [email protected].
NOTARY SERVICES: The Office of Grades and Records provides FREE notary services to all HWCOM students, faculty, and staff.
For any questions regarding Grades and Records please contact Almi Rodriguez, Director of Records and Registrar, or Tatiana Felix, Assistant Medical Registrar, at [email protected].
5
Total Students : 119
Mean GPA: 3.68
Mean BCPM: 3.60
Mean MCAT: 30.4
Average Age: 23
Fee Assistance Program 17 (14%)
Gender
Females 60 (50%)
Males 59 (50%)
Diversity/Ethnicity
Asian/Asian Indian 18 (15%)
Black/African American 13 (11%)
Hispanic 41 (34%)
White/Non-Hispanic 42 (35%)
Not Reported/Other 5 (4%)
Residency
Florida 97 (82%)
Out-of-State 22 (18% )
Institutions
Florida:
FIU (21); Ave Maria (1); FAU (2);
FSU (4); UCF (4); UF (26); UM (17);
USF (7)
Out-of-State: (37)
5
CLASS OF 2018 STATISTICS
FROM THE OFFICE OF
ADMISSIONS AND RECRUITMENT:
A new tradition was started this year with the
inaugural Panther Day that concluded
orientation week. Panther Day included fun
activities, ice breakers and team building
within PLCs – as well as friendly
competition between PLCs. Students,
parents, faculty and staff were all in
attendance.
The Panther Communities are now called the “Panther Learning Communities (PLC)
to emphasize their overall mission in complementing student’s curricular experiences.
The PLCs continue to provide a variety of programs that address specific learning
outcomes which characterize the overall educational experience, professional
development, professionalism, social engagement, personal wellness, service learning,
research, community health, and peer mentorship of FIU pre-medicine and first-year
medical students.
Robert Dollinger, MD, Assistant Dean for Student Affairs, leads the new PLC team of
an Administrative Coordinator, Grace Jutan, and four Administrative Assistants. The
Administrative Assistants who provide the day-to-day management of operations for their
respective Panther Learning Community are Katherine Alonso - PLC Pasteur; Christina
Covoletski – PLC Hippocrates; Sachay Fernandez – PLC Semmelweis; Amy Salinas – PLC
Anderson.
A new program in the PLCs this year is the integration of Faculty Fellows, an appointed
member of the OSA faculty who promotes strong relationships between students, faculty
and staff as a member of a PLC community. They share their diverse backgrounds with
their PLC students by providing mentorship, counseling, and guidance to meet their
professional and personal goals, and to assist with academic or personal issues. The
Faculty Fellows also participate in strategic and operations planning. Each Faculty Fellow
is assigned with an office in each PLC: Cheryl Brewster, EdD; Assistant Dean for
Diversity (PLC Hippocrates), Robert Dollinger, MD; Assistant Dean for Student
Affairs (PLC Anderson), Heidi von Harscher, PhD; Director of Counseling and
Wellness (PLC Semmelweis), Alan Wells, PhD; Assistant Professor, Department of
Humanities, Health, and Society (PLC Pasteur).
New PLC Signature Programs
Peer Mentoring Programs: 1) The Peer Mentoring program consists of trained M2
students in each PLC who will help mentor M1 students based on personal
interests and professional aspirations. 2) The major FIU pre-medicine/pre-health
undergraduate student organizations will be assigned to each PLC, providing
opportunities for trained PLC peer mentors to provide guidance and information
about the great opportunities for promising FIU undergraduate pre-medicine
students –providing a pipeline for FIU undergraduates to attend the HWCOM.
Clinical Skills Peer Teaching Program: An opportunity for M2 students who
performed well on their OSCE’s to be trained to assist and teach M1 students in
their respective PLC on the appropriate history and physical examination skills to
complement their Clinical Skills I course.
Fit and Well Challenges: Starting Fall 2014, students will monitor their daily steps
using a smartphone app and compete as a PLC team in virtual races. In January,
students will receive voluntary coaching from personal trainers at the FIU
Recreation Center to track percent body fat as part of the PLC Fit and Well Team
Challenge.
Medical Spanish Review and Certification: Each PLC will monitor and track
the progress of their students’ participation in the Canopy Medical Spanish online
program and encourage students to achieve national certification.
Service learning opportunities with Green Family Foundation NeighborhoodHELP™
continue to be a significant part of the PLCs as they have been since the first class of
medical students. In addition to these signature programs, students have opportunities to
pursue leadership positions such as PLC Mayor, appointed chief of a PLC program, and
membership on the PLC Steering Committee. For more information on the new PLC
structure, please contact Robert Dollinger, MD, Assistant Dean for Student Affairs.
PANTHER LEARNING COMMUNITIES
6
Dean Hernandez and Dean Jones
compete in the three-legged race.
Members of PLC Anderson cheer for their
PLC teammates.
PLC Semmemlweis celebrate their
Basketball Victory.
HIGHLIGHTS:
PANTHER DAY
6
day management of operations for their
health
: Starting Fall 2014, students will monitor their daily steps
Student Programs, the new unit in the Office of Student Affairs,
provides students with wide-ranging programs, support
services and activities to further develop skills in the areas of
professional development, career guidance, student-led
initiatives, community involvement, and international student
opportunities. The Student Programs team work to enhance the
quality of the medical school experience and strengthen the
growth and development of students through a positive,
professional, and team based learning environment.
The new team, under guidance of the Associate Director for
Student Programs, Scarlett Aldana-Bosch, MBA, consists of
the former Panther Community Coordinators who now oversee
specialized areas:
Emily Ginsberg, MSW, Community Engagement
Coordinator –The Community and Engagement
Coordinator’s main focus is to plan and implement health fairs,
educational outreach, and other medical student programs and
services for the South Florida community. These programs
include those that are sponsored by the Office of Student
Affairs, in collaboration with community partners, and other
departments within the medical school.
Brittany Cooke, MS, Student Organizations and
International Affairs Coordinator- The Student
Organizations and International Affairs Coordinator oversees
programming and funding request for all student organizations,
including interest groups, subcommittees and student-led
initiatives. She also manages workshops and trainings for
student executive boards that will assist with leadership
development, communication skills, and the application of
funding procedures.
Ms. Cooke will also serve as lead liaison to the Global Health
Learning Initiative Opportunities (GHLO) program via AAMC.
Additionally, additionally works directly with the students to
identify both, credit and non-credit opportunities (i.e. fourth
year electives, mission trips), and provide support to students
seeking to participate in programs available through Visiting
Student Application Service (VSAS).
Carmen Carter, MS, Career and Professional
Development Program Coordinator – The Career and
Professional Development Coordinator will oversee a four-year
career guidance program by providing services for medical
students utilizing the AAMC Careers in Medicine model as a
resource. She will also track professional development
programs and assist medical students in keeping an up-to-date
portfolio to meet short and long term career plans.
For additional questions on Student Programs, please contact
Scarlett Aldana-Bosch, Associate Director for
Student Programs.
STUDENT PROGRAMS
7
New Panther Learning
Community Operations
Flow Chart
7
The Medical Student Counseling & Wellness
Center is where students can enjoy
confidential counseling services designed
specifically for medical students and provided
by licensed psychologists in a private office
suite in the Green Library. The Center also
provides useful student enhancement
modalities such as biofeedback, aromatherapy,
nutrition and health counseling, stress relief
and therapeutic assessment. Please contact
the Center for an appointment (305)348-1460.
In addition to overseeing the Center, Dr. von
Harscher now serves as a Faculty Fellow in
the Panther Learning Communities and assists
students by reinforcing the importance of
holistic health and wellness services. She will
also help point students to many other
available resources, depending on the student
needs or requests. As a member of the
HWCOM faculty, she will continue to function
as the faculty advisor for AMWA , WHOLE,
and with the “Behind the White Coat” series,
and will act as student liaison to
administration and faculty, particularly in the
Department of Health, Humanities & Society
and in the Professional Behavior strand.
Dr. von Harscher also has new duties that
include overseeing, synchronizing and
expanding Wellness programs that occur in
HWCOM, including increasing wellness
activity offerings on the academic side.
Another change in student wellness
programming is that most social events within
the Panther Learning Communities will now
fall under the “Fit & Well” program - a
program established by Dr. von Harscher in
2009 (originally “De-stress with the Docs”) in
response to medical student health and
wellness needs. In addition to offering medical
students programs that promote healthier
physical, emotional, spiritual, cognitive, intra
and interpersonal well-being, wellness will
now oversee other stress-relieving,
team-building, social activities such as Field
Day and fit walk to San Francisco, just to name
a few.
For more information on Health and Wellness,
contact Heidi von Harscher, PhD, Director of
Counseling and Wellness.
DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION The Office of Diversity and Inclusion (ODI)
completed its fourth year of the Summer STAR
program. This fourth cohort of students
showcased the importance of offering
programs and learning opportunities to
students typically underrepresented in
medicine. Students participated in a range of
activities including conducting an eight week
biomedical research project, shadowing
clinicians at the Faculty Group Practice, and
working with NHELP.
As the faculty advisor for the Gay Straight
Alliance, Dr. Cheryl Brewster encourages
the students to engage their fellow students in
LGBTQ related learning activities. This year
the group was interested in gaining a better
understanding of knowledge, attitudes and
beliefs their fellow students held towards
providing medical care to the LGBTQ
population. A survey will be conducted with
all students in September.
Graduating culturally competent students is
part of our mission. To ensure we have an
environment conducive to promoting cultural
competence, ODI has been conducting cultural
competency workshops with various
departments throughout HWCOM.
Departments interested in hosting a workshop,
contact Cheryl Brewster, EdD, Assistant Dean
of Diversity.
Central Office
Robert Hernandez, MD— AHC2 387
Natalie Hernandez , MS— AHC2 398
Jessica Lewis, MA—AHC2 382
Ricardo Abreu—AHC2 390W2
Adrian Jones, JD—AHC2 395
Melissa Fernandez, MS—AHC2 390
Sanford Markham, MD—AHC2 361
Cheryl Brewster, EdD—AHC2 378
Admissions and Recruitment
Andria Williams, MBA—AHC2 361A
Cristina Arabatzis, MBA—AHC2 362
Aray Rivera—AHC2 362
Grades and Records
Almi Rodriguez, MS—AHC2 397
Tatiana Felix, MPA—AHC2 391
Financial Aid
Marissa Miles, MA—AHC2 394B
Maria Jose Araya, MPA—AHC2 392
Michelle Troche—AHC2 390W2
Panther Learning Communities
Robert Dollinger, MD—AHC2 370
Grace Jutan—AHC2 369
Alan Wells, PhD—AHC2 374
Amy Salinas—AHC2 368
Christina Covoletski—AHC2 377
Katherine Alonso—AHC2 373
Heidi von Harscher, PhD—AHC2 366
Sachay Fernandez—AHC2 365
Student Programs
Scarlett Aldana-Bosch, MBA-AHC2 379
Brittany Cooke, MS—AHC2 385
Emily Ginsberg, MSW—AHC2 384
Carmen Carter, MS—AHC2 381
FIU Collaborative Programs
Barbra Roller, PhD—AHC2 368A
OSA NEW OFFICE
DIRECTORY
HEALTH AND WELLNESS
Above: Rosalyn Aaron (Summer STAR student), Dr. Marisela
Agudelo, Department of Immunology (Summer STAR Co-Director,
Dr. Cheryl Brewster, Assistant Dean for Diversity (Summer STAR
Director), Tiffany Tolbert (Summer STAR student)