Faculty Spotlight: SGU’s Dr. Frances McGill Speaks Candidly About Women’s Health

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Dr. Frances McGill, a fellow of the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecologists, is a graduate of St. George’s University and professor of clinical skills and obstetrics-gynecology to School of Medicine students. She shared with us the importance of preventive health, current health issues facing women today, ovarian cancer signs, and more.

 

SGU: How important is preventive health for women?

FM: Preventive health—a healthy lifestyle, finding disease at early stages, and prevention—has decreased the burden of illness and death.

Mammograms have led to earlier diagnoses and outcomes of breast cancer. Screening should begin between ages 40 and 50 and be done every 1 to 2 years, earlier if a woman is at risk. Risk factors for breast cancer include:

  • not having biological children
  • early-onset menstruation
  • late-onset menopause
  • obesity
  • and
  • Ashkenazi Jewish ancestry
  • personal positive genetic testing of BRCA1 and BRCA2

 

SGU: How can women stay in good health?

FM: Staying in good health requires seeing your healthcare provider regularly, eating a balanced diet, getting at least 30 minutes of exercise three times per week, (ideally daily), having a positive outlook, enjoying positive relationships, and setting realistic goals.

 

SGU: What are the most pressing health issues women are dealing with today?

FM: Obviously, the most pressing health issue today is the COVID-19 pandemic. Otherwise, heart disease and cancer remain a major health issue, with lung cancer being most prevalent. If you smoke, take advantage of smoking cessation programs like SmokeFree.gov.

Colon cancer identified early by screening can also improve prognoses.

Breast cancer occurs in approximately one in every eight women. Again, early screening by mammograms can identify cancer  at  early  stages, results  in  more  options for treatment, and saves lives.

Heart health is critical for everyone. Heart disease and stroke kill more women (and men) than cancer. Heart disease is sometimes erroneously considered a “disease of men” or less life-threatening than cancer. Heart attack and stroke risk can be reduced by:

  • strict control of blood pressure
  • a low-salt, low-cholesterol diet
  • weight control
  • exercise
  • daily use of prescribed blood pressure medications
  • seek immediate care for a new severe chest, left arm, neck, or left mouth pain. A “heart attack “in women may give different symptoms that the usual chest pain.

 

SGU: September is National Ovarian Cancer Awareness month. Knowing that ovarian cancer can be difficult to diagnose in the beginning stages, what early screening is available? Are there signs that women should know? 

FM: According to the National Ovarian Cancer Coalition (NOCC), ovarian cancer occurs in approximately one in every 78 women and is currently the fifth leading cause of death in women ages 35 to 74. Risk factors for ovarian cancer include:

  • not having biological children
  • early-onset menstruation
  • late-onset menopause
  • endometriosis
  • personal positive genetic testing of BRCA1 and BRCA2
  • many blood relatives with cancer

The death rate from ovarian cancer is high, mainly because the diagnosis is commonly made in later stages when the cancer has already spread. Typically, there are few signs in earlier stages, but symptoms can include:

  • a feeling of fullness after eating (bloating)
  • decreased appetite
  • increased size of the abdomen
  • changes in bowel or bladder function

Screening for ovarian cancer is currently approved only for women at risk. Hopefully, screening for ovarian cancer will become a reality for all women in our lifetime because early detection is critical. The NOCC points out that the five-year survival rate is over 90 percent when diagnosed early, as opposed to a survival rate “as low as 28 percent” if caught in stage III or higher.

 

SGU: What classes do you teach, and what topics do you cover?

FM: I teach “Principles of Clinical Medicine” courses, “Communication and Physical Diagnosis,” and “Introduction to Clinical Medicine” to second-year medical school students. This prepares students to communicate with patients in a kind and professional fashion, examine the patient, and make a diagnosis. Within these courses, I teach the female reproductive system and the obstetrics-gynecology section.

 

“Experience SGU” virtual events offer aspiring doctors a glimpse into St. George’s University

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Are you considering starting your medical journey at St. George’s University? Find out more about life as a student at SGU’s School of Medicine by engaging in one of our interactive virtual events.

Under the umbrella theme “Experience SGU,” the University has created multiple ways for prospective students to understand more about the first-rate education offered at SGU, the pathways to a US residency and to practicing medicine, as well as experiencing campus life all through virtual platforms.

“Our virtual events have been extremely popular as we continue to interact with future medical students in new and innovative ways,” said Joshua Fein, director of student recruitment for St. George’s University. “Aspiring doctors from all over the US and internationally are able to tune in to these online sessions and get answers to all of their questions directly from SGU students and our graduates.”

 

SIGN UP FOR A VIRTUAL EVENT

 

Trying to decide which virtual event is right for you? Here’s what to expect at each event:

Online Information Sessions

  • Log on and let us introduce you to SGU during this interactive virtual session covering academics, admissions, and scholarships.
  • SGU will share (and answer!) the 10 most important questions you should ask of any medical school including: the value of an SGU education, life at a Caribbean medical school, how SGU’s clinical rotations will help you obtain a US residency, and financial aid opportunities, among other topics.
  • Led by an admissions representative.
  • Includes a live Q&A with students and alumni.
  • Length: approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes

 “Doctors On Call” Panels Through Zoom

  • Hear from SGU alumni who are at different stages of their career as physicians, from residents to leaders in their respective field.
  • Specialties highlighted include surgery, anesthesiology, pediatrics, primary care, and more.
  • Live conversation with MD alumni facilitated by an admissions representative.
  • Viewers are invited to follow up with speakers by booking a 30-minute one-on-one to ask questions.
  • Length: approximately 1 hour

Virtual Campus Tours

  • Seeing is believing and through our virtual tour, you will enjoy 360° panoramic views of SGU’s iconic “True Blue” campus in Grenada.
  • Get up close to places like Founders Library, Modica Hall, dorms, and lecture spaces.
  • For an even more immersive experience, request a pair of VR goggles to be mailed to you.

 

First-term medical student Sara Conway attended the recent “Doctors on Call” webinar for pathologists. The panel, which consisted of one current resident and two practicing physicians who obtained an SGU medical degree, spoke about their experiences at SGU, how they chose pathology, and a typical day in their professional lives. She took advantage of the opportunity to schedule a one-on-one with a panelist who was working in a hospital close to her hometown of Islip, NY.

“During this time, we were able to talk more about life in Grenada, how to utilize the vast network of St. George’s University SOM graduates (during both clinical rotations and while choosing a residency), and how to be successful and stand out while in medical school,” Ms. Conway said. “By allowing me access to alumni who had walked the path I aim to be on, it gave me a glimpse into the network St. George’s has established. I consider my experience during the ‘Doctors on Call’ webinar a unique opportunity that was extremely helpful in solidifying my decision to pursue a medical degree with St. George’s University.”

Visit our “Experience SGU” web page to connect with SGU now.

 

SIGN UP FOR A VIRTUAL EVENT

New SGU Infectious Diseases Student Group Aims to Help Students Develop Skills to Address Specialty

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Cognizant of the benefits of active student involvement, St. George’s University is home to more than 60 student organizations centered on different areas of student life: cultural, religious, social, academic, professional, and community service. Today, as the healthcare industry grapples with treating those affected by the current COVID-19 outbreak, none seem more relevant than the newly founded SGU Infectious Diseases Society (SGU IDS).

“There seems to be a club for just about everything at SGU,” said founder and president Stephanie Moody-Geissler, a Term 2 medical student. “So why not one that focuses on infectious diseases, an area of science that has been so deeply entwined with our history and humanity since the dawn of our existence? Infectious diseases are a part of everyone’s lives, personally and professionally, and with the current world situation, I think that makes us one of the most significant student groups right now.”

Created to raise awareness of key issues and topics relating to global infectious diseases, as relevant to both human and animal health, the group is open to all SGU students. Its aim is to improve the understanding of infectious diseases in terms of individual health, communities, and society.

“What students can expect to get out of joining this group are skills and knowledge that they can carry forward in their careers through exposure to topics that are directly relevant and in some cases can significantly impact human and animal health,” said Dr. Joanna Rayner, faculty advisor, SGU IDS and chair of the Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Pharmacology. “My role is to focus that interest in infectious diseases and provide them with advice, ideas and contacts to the wider microbiology and infectious disease community.”

Although the new student organization is faced with some restrictions as students are currently distance learning, it didn’t diminish their excitement at planning to host various virtual events this term. The group has lined up guest speakers, including an SGU alumnus, who had recently returned from the far East where he was working with the World Health Organization on the COVID-19 response; a skills-based workshop on spotting bad science; a journal club for students to improve and build much-needed critical thinking skills; and virtual community outreach to bring science and microbiology into schools in Grenada.

“With much of the current media focus on the novel coronavirus and COVID-19, it’s easy to forget that there are still many other infectious diseases that continue to be important worldwide,” commented Dr. Rayner. “The Program for Monitoring Emerging Diseases (ProMED), one of the largest publicly available systems conducting global reporting of infectious diseases outbreaks, just recently posted updates on Ebola, malaria, West Nile Virus and tularemia. These and many other pathogenic microorganisms that cause morbidity and mortality in humans and animals have by no means gone away, providing further affirmation of the relevance and importance of this new student group.”

 

— Ray-Donna Peters 

Dual MD/MPH student creates hygiene training manual addressing public health in Grenada

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Lucinda Dass, SOM student, creator of WASH training manual

For St. George’s University student Lucinda Dass, developing a hygiene manual—just as the COVID-19 pandemic was ramping up—seemed more important than ever. As part of her public health practicum, Ms. Dass worked with Grenada’s Basic Needs Trust Fund Cycle Nine Program to create the Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) Training Manual, which emphasized the importance of clean water, reducing the spread of germs, and learning how to properly dispose of waste.

“All over the world, measures were being put in place to contain the spread of the virus,” said Ms. Dass, a Term 4 Doctor of Medicine (MD)/Master of Public Health (MPH) student at SGU. “From face coverings and hand sanitizers to social distancing and home isolation, they were all included in some capacity in the WASH manual. With so many of us thrust into this new lifestyle, it seemed as though the manual was completed at just the right time.”

Working closely with her advisor, Dr. Lindonne Glasgow, Ms. Dass originally researched and crafted the manual focusing on the island of Grenada and its citizens. However, the novel coronavirus has run rampant around the world, and hence she believes that the manual can be applied globally.

“As an MD/MPH student, I have the opportunity to not only earn both degrees but to also engage in several professional development projects,” said Ms. Dass. “This one in particular I enjoyed because it contributed to the greater good of the Grenadian community and public health in general. Hopefully I can continue doing more projects like this in the future because they are simple yet effective in educating everyone—adults, children, and society as a whole.”

Currently continuing her education via distance learning from her home in Mount Vernon, NY, Ms. Dass channels all of her energy on her studies in hopes of contributing even more to the field of medicine after her graduation.

“I realized that the medical field is for me because it is a career that involves working and interacting closely with people in need, and more importantly, helping them become healthier at the same time,” she said. “Also, how many doctors can say they were actually studying in medical school during a pandemic? This has been quite the learning experience. I am grateful that none of my immediate family members have been fatally affected by the virus, but seeing the entire planet suffer through this crisis has proved to me even more why I am needed and belong in this field.”

 

— Ray-Donna Peters 

World Alzheimer’s Month brings focus to mysterious disease

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Michael Reinhardt, MD ’09

World Alzheimer’s Month, launched in 2012 by nonprofit organization Alzheimer’s Disease International, cast a light on the growing and persistent issue surrounding a condition that affects more than five million Americans, with one in three seniors passing away with the disease’s pathology in his or her brain.

Michael Reinhardt, MD ’09, the associate director of the Center of Excellence for Alzheimer’s Disease at SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University and director of its geriatric psychiatry fellowship program, explained what makes the disease so mysterious and so challenging, and the steps that doctors are taking to treat patients suffering from the affliction. 

St. George’s University: What is Alzheimer’s disease, and what causes it?

Michael Reinhardt: Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia, making up 60 to 80 percent of all cases. It is neurogenerative, meaning it causes a decline in brain cell health and function, and eventually it results in brain cell death. We haven’t put our finger on exactly what causes Alzheimer’s disease yet, but the most common explanation is that it’s a buildup of what’s called amyloid plaque in the brain. Once you’ve triggered enough amyloid buildup in the brain, there’s this irreversible cascade that happens that leads to progressive decline in brain cell function and healthy brain cells.

SGU: How prevalent is Alzheimer’s in the US? Is the situation getting better or worse?

MR: Unfortunately, it’s getting worse. Between 2000 and 2018, there’s been about an 8 percent decrease in cardiovascular-related deaths, but there’s been a 146 percent increase in Alzheimer’s-related deaths. In 2020, the projection is that Alzheimer’s-related care will cost around $305 billion. By 2050, the costs are going to be around $1 trillion annually.

“We’re looking to 2021 as a possible timeframe in which medication may become available and provide us hope of not only slowing down the illness, but stopping it in its tracks.”

 

SGU: A recent study by University of California, Berkeley suggests that Alzheimer’s may be a byproduct of poor sleep habits. Have you seen such links between sleep and the disease?

MR: This is absolutely in the literature and it’s been a growing area of study over the last several years. We ourselves aren’t doing research on the link between sleep disorders and Alzheimer’s disease, but we do see it clinically. Our patients with more disrupted sleep cycles tend to have a more rapidly progressive course of illness. Knowing what we know about basic physiology, neurophysiology, and the growing knowledge base surrounding the actual functions of sleep and allowing the brain to recuperate—to clear its waste products on a nightly basis—it makes only good sense that if your sleep cycle is disrupted, you’re not going to have that rhythmic cleaning of your central nervous system that’s required for optimal brain health.

SGU: What treatments are used for patients who suffer from Alzheimer’s?

MR: The current treatments comes with limits. We have a couple of approved classes of medication that modestly slow the progress of the illness while you’re taking them, and perhaps have some benefits to the behavioral problems that come with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. But they’re not disease-modifying treatments. We’re very hopeful about some compounds that are going through clinical trials. We’re looking to 2021 as a possible timeframe in which that medication may become available and provide us hope of not only slowing down the illness, but stopping it in its tracks.

SGU: At the Center of Excellence for Alzheimer’s Disease, what goals are you aiming for with your patients?

MR: Some of the other treatments that many times prove more meaningful and more useful involve connecting families to the support services and social services they need to maintain their loved one in the home and really improve their outcomes through social connectedness and meaningful preventive programming. Music programming, art therapy, all of the different multimodal social therapies that don’t involve medications, are of utmost importance, both to patients and their caregivers.

– Brett Mauser

A Closer Look at Trends in Telemedicine

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Shyamal Majithia, MD ’14

The emergence of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) forced just about every individual, and every organization, to discover new ways to achieve their goals and reach positive outcomes.

Shyamal Majithia, MD ’14, a family medicine physician at Western New York Immediate Care in and around Buffalo, NY, has been accustomed to providing in-person urgent and emergent care for patients of all ages and backgrounds. However, in light of recent events, much of that care has shifted online, including Teladoc Health, for which Dr. Majithia serves as an independent contractor.

He sat down with St. George’s University to describe his experience with administering telemedicine during a crucial time in healthcare.

St. George’s University: What has your experience been like working for Teladoc Health?

Shyamal Majithia: During the current pandemic, the need for access to medical advice and care has grown rapidly. Working with Teladoc was relatively easy to get used to from the obtaining of emergency medical records and ‘seeing patients’ aspect. We provide care via video and/or over the phone. For minor complaints, patients can be seen quickly and efficiently allowing them to get a genuine medical opinion from a licensed professional rather than being left to find their own answers during the pandemic.

SGU: What are some of the trends you are seeing in telemedicine?

SM: I believe telemedicine will soon become a staple of most healthcare practices. It provides a much wider access to care. Minor injuries are treated with relative ease. Patients now upload their photos or are being evaluated by a physician over video chat. These trends are particularly used as viable tools in specialties such as dermatology and psychiatry.

SGU: How has the telehealth traffic been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic?

SM: There has definitely been an increase in the use of telemedicine in recent months. I remember logging onto Teladoc and seeing the patient queue with a wait time of over three hours at times of patients waiting for callbacks. It was understandable as everyone was trying to shelter in place and help flatten the curve. Now that the country has been reopening, people have continued to seek telemedicine options because they’ve had their issues resolved, resulting in a positive experience.

“I remember logging onto Teladoc and seeing the patient queue with a wait time of over three hours.”

 

SGU: How have hospitals/medical practitioners had to adjust to practicing telemedicine?

SM: There was a learning curve when it came to adjusting to practicing telemedicine. Medicine is such a personal experience, usually practiced face to face with a physician. It was hard to imagine not doing a full physical exam, or having immediate access to a set of vitals. My colleagues and I have definitely had to adjust the way we navigate health problems over the phone. This is where new features such as being able to see uploaded photos or logging on to a video chat can be a big help in aiding in diagnosis.

In preparation for the upcoming possible second wave coupled with flu season, we have also begun integrating telemedicine into our clinics to allow our patients a safe way to seek care.

SGU: Can you share a time when practicing telemedicine was particularly helpful to you? Also, where do you see it going in the future?

SM: With the shelter in place order, volumes dropped in emergency rooms and urgent care practices. Telemedicine allowed me another way to fill my schedule and feel like I was contributing during the pandemic. It allowed me to set my own work hours, and see patients after my urgent care job as well. I see telemedicine here to stay. With today’s access to technology such as phones, tablets, and computers, patients have almost 24-hour access to care from the comfort and safety of wherever they are.

– Ray-Donna Peters

On the Blog: 5 Benefits of Telehealth in the Zoom Era

A Peek Inside the School of Veterinary Medicine’s Distance Learning Program

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Distance Learning at SGU

Learning how to do an ultrasound on an animal is never easy yet it is an important component of practicing veterinary medicine. Learning how to do one virtually is even harder, yet the faculty at St. George’s University School of Veterinary Medicine have been able to successfully make the transition to a distance learning curriculum.

With classes conducted online for the Fall 2020 term, SVM administrators have shared how they were able to make the school’s virtual curriculum an engaging and stimulating experience for students.

“Our distance learning curriculum was developed with the student focus in mind,” said Dr. Neil Olson, DVM, PhD, dean of SGU’s School of Veterinary Medicine. “By working with the SVM Student Government Association and polling students multiple times throughout the spring, we were able to make sure that student input about programs and courses led our conversations about how to implement our virtual curriculum.”

First Steps in Creating SVM’s Virtual Curriculum

“The first thing we did was create a Distance Education Team,” said Dr. Anne Corrigan, associate dean of SVM’s academic programs and professor of small animal medicine and surgery.

Chaired by Brian Butler, DVM­­/MPH ’05, assistant dean of the SVM academic programs for the School of Veterinary Medicine and a pathology professor, the group identified online needs and worked closely with the Department of Educational Services (DES), IT, and the Enterprise Teaching departments to develop the courses needed.

The SVM also polled students to flag concerns and issues and included valuable input from the Student Government Association’s SVM Affairs class representatives in the schedule and syllabi review for the fall term, Dr. Corrigan said.

One such concern: making sure students had access to all the materials needed. “We know that not everyone has a conducive workspace in their home, especially with WiFi issues,” said Jennifer Kirk, DVM ’22 (expected), president of the SVM Affairs. “We have been advocating for these students and, as a result, SVM made recordings downloadable so that students can stay on track despite these problems.”

The SVM Affairs group continues to communicate regularly with its Executive Board, its faculty advisor, Dr. Arend Werners, as well as University and SVM leadership.

Faculty Training

To prepare for the term, SVM faculty has been involved in intensive training on the new educational tools with the help of SGU’s IT team, Dr. Corrigan said.

The Distance Education Team also developed a best practices document for faculty to more appropriately choose the tools that will be of most benefit for their courses. SVM faculty also developed instructional clinical skills videos for students to promote muscle memory and develop the skills to perform certain procedures.

“Because we are delivering curriculum with a blended approach, which includes real-time content delivery and asynchronous programs, it’s really helping us become adaptive to use multiple types of technologies,” Dr. Corrigan said.

Hands-On Learning

One of the biggest challenges SVM faces is how to teach and train students hands-on clinical skills virtually. However, it has turned this challenge into some early successes.

Last term, students sent videos of themselves completing a skill, such as suturing, to faculty, who would then play each recording back during a live interactive session so that all students can watch their peers learning the same skills simultaneously. Students were then graded on how well they were able to master the skill, and received peer reviews from other students, helping all to address common mistakes.

“The key here is they gained confidence,” Dr. Corrigan said. “If we can still give them that confidence, even if they are not doing the skill directly in front of us, it will go a long way to helping them as future veterinarians.”

In addition, wetlabs allow students to attend a demonstration of a specific clinical skills performed by an SVM faculty member—this semester they will be done virtually.

“Even though students will not be able to use their own hands, the 3D demonstration will simulate as if they were really there,” Dr. Corrigan said. “They will be able to see a kidney in longitudinal and cross-section views. They will be able to see my hand moving on the screen. It’s another example of how we’re teaching hands-on clinical skills through online simulations.”

Some skills still must be taught in person, and SVM also developed a large group of private practitioners—more than 100 practices and counting across North America—willing to be clinical mentors for sixth-term students. In this scenario, students are paired with local veterinarians practitioners, including some SGU alumni, to establish professional relationships and receive instructional training.

Staying Connected in a Virtual World

Not lost in all the academia was the need for the interaction aspect of learning, especially since students can’t be together on campus.

“I think it’s especially important to provide the incoming Term 1 students with that inclusive aspect as they are not able to be in Grenada, and they don’t get to facilitate vital in-person relationships with their professors and peers,” Ms. Kirk said.

Dr. Corrigan acknowledged that what students want most within the distance learning platform is to feel connected—to other students, to faculty, and to the school overall. On the first day of classes, 90 students showed up for office hours.

“They were not there for office hours,” Dr. Corrigan said. “They were there looking for a way to connect with the SGU family.”

This term, with the help and guidance of faculty advisors, vet-centered student clubs will be looking at further ways to offer students a sense of community by hosting virtual events. In addition, SVM is also looking to put together virtual mentoring relationships between lower- and upper-class students.

“We want students to stay engaged and stay in communication with us, because we’re here for them, even though we are not physically together,” Dr. Corrigan said.

— Laurie Chartorynsky

Advocating for Vet Students: Spotlight on the SGA’s SVM Affairs Group

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Jennifer Kirk (left), DVM ’22 (expected), SGA’s president of SVM Affairs, and Maria Coppola (right), DVM ’22 (expected), SGA’s vice president of SVM Affairs, shared the importance of the group’s mission and how students can get involved.

The School of Veterinary Medicine (SVM) Affairs group is a part of the St. George’s University Student Government Association (SGA), working primarily to address student issues and concerns related to the School of Veterinary Medicine.

SGU News spoke with Jennifer Kirk, DVM ’22 (expected), SGA’s president of SVM Affairs, and Maria Coppola, DVM ’22 (expected), SGA’s vice president of SVM Affairs, who shared the importance of the group’s mission, how it was crucial in helping to formulate SVM’s distance learning curriculum, and how students can get involved.

SGU: How do you advocate for SVM students at SGU?

Jennifer Kirk: We have four main priorities that we focus on. They include:

  • Communications between the SGA SVM representatives and the student body;
  • Facilitating effective communication between students and professors;
  • Advocating for the SVM student organizations and clubs; and
  • Addressing both nonacademic and academic concerns with the SVM and University leadership teams.

SGU: SVM Affairs was very involved in helping vet students navigate the early days of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Can you share some key instances where you were able to help students in Grenada?

JK: We played a significant role in assisting students during the evacuation. We made sure to work with the administration to figure out logistics to allow all pets to evacuate with their owner and helped coordinate that. We advocated for the students that still had mid-term exams to take during the evacuation. We had multiple SVM students at the airport and at Modica Hall making sure that the process to get everyone home safely went smoothly.

We also made sure to constantly update students via the VetMed and SGA Facebook pages.

SGU: As the School of Veterinary Medicine ramped up its distance learning program, how did SVM Affairs contribute to the process?

JK: We were in many meetings during the evacuation to ease the transition from in-person to online learning. We gathered feedback for the SVM crisis team that was crucial in implementing new protocols for the best online learning experience.

One such concern we had was making sure students had access to all the materials needed. We know that not everyone has a conducive workspace in their home, especially with WiFi issues. We advocated for these students and, as a result, SVM made recordings downloadable so that students can stay on track despite these problems.

We continue to communicate regularly with our Executive Board, faculty advisor, Dr. Arend Werners, as well as University and SVM leadership.

Read About the School of Veterinary Medicine's Distance Learning Program

SGU: What is the most important aspect that students are looking for as part of distance learning education?

JK: Students really need the interaction aspect of learning. I think it’s especially important to provide the incoming Term 1 students with that inclusive aspect as they are not able to be in Grenada, and they don’t get to facilitate vital in-person relationships with their professors and peers.

SGU: Can you name some initiatives that the group will be working on for students this term?

JK: I would say mental health. As taboo as it is to talk about it in society, I do think it is imperative—especially now that we are all isolated at home—to talk openly about how we are dealing with the pandemic. The SGA will be hosting a virtual movie night on September 11 to talk about burnout in the medical and veterinary fields, but I would like to include more mental health awareness initiatives for SVM students this semester.

Maria Coppola: My answer would be increased communications to vet students, which is even more important now that we’re not all together. It’s important that we check in with students and that students check in with us. We try to make ourselves available as often as possible throughout the day, whether that be on Facebook Messenger, iMessage, WhatsApp, etc. You name it, we are most likely available on it!

SGU: How can other students get involved?

MC: At the beginning of every semester, we send out a call for representatives. Students can easily join by filling out the application and sending in a headshot. If there are numerous applicants, we then hold an election and each term will vote for who they would like to represent their class.

In addition, the Student Government Association has launched its own website and it has a public Facebook page. Don’t hesitate to reach out to us at any time! We are ready and willing to help.

Students are welcome to contact Jennifer Kirk at jkirk@sgu.edu or Maria Coppola at mcoppola@sgu.edu.

 

 

— Laurie Chartorynsky

 

VIDEO: SGU Veterinary Grad Describes How She is “Making a Difference”

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Dr. Kendra Baker, a 2015 graduate of St. George’s University School of Veterinary Medicine, describes what it’s like treating an array of aquatic animals, of all shapes and sizes, as a veterinary fellow at the National Aquarium in Baltimore, MD.

“One characteristic [zoo/aquarium veterinarians] all share is the ability to innovate,” Dr. Baker said. “You might have one of the few remaining endangered species in your collection that’s doing something that has never been seen before. And you have to figure it out and treat it. But you have to use tools that weren’t made with this specific animal in mind.”

 

SGU Mourns the Loss of Dr. Mark Lanzieri

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SGU alumnus Dr. Mark Lanzieri implants cardiac pacemakers in OR 1 at St. George’s General Hospital.

The SGU community mourns the passing of Mark Lanzieri, MD ’85, a dedicated and beloved alumnus of the School of Medicine who provided much-needed heart care for adult Grenadians at no cost under the Visiting Cardiology Program at SGU. Dr. Lanzieri, an interventional cardiologist at Steward Health Care in Massachusetts, passed away at the age of 60 on Sunday, August 9, 2020, surrounded by his family at his home in Monmouth, ME.

In addition to an esteemed career, having been one of the founding members of Central Maine Heart and Vascular Institute in Lewiston, where he practiced for more than 17 years, it was Dr. Lanzieri’s interests in travel cardiology and his passion for volunteering that were two of the biggest themes of his life.

His desire to volunteer in Grenada in particular motivated him to visit three times a year to treat the island’s residents, who in the past would have had to fly to other Caribbean islands or as far away as New York or Miami to have complicated heart procedures done. In his time, he and his team implanted more than 100 pacemakers and performed 20 coronary angioplasty procedures, arguably adding a collective thousand or more years to the lives of many Grenadians.

“We are eternally grateful to Dr. Lanzieri for his more than 20 years of life-saving cardiology service to the Grenadian people,” said Dr. Charles R. Modica, chancellor of SGU. “Mark represented the spirit of pure humanitarian medicine at its best and he loved what he did. Our thoughts are with his wife, Annie, and their children and grandchildren. He will be greatly missed.”

Dr. Lanzieri’s multiple visits were arranged through the SGU-Physician Humanitarian Network (SGU-PHuN), a program that he was instrumental in creating. His team included his wife, who was an X-ray technologist and cardiovascular specialist, as well as many other volunteers who treated a wide variety of patients since the program’s inception. The value of their time and the equipment they donated exceeded $1 million.

Prior to performing Grenada’s first angiograms in 2013, Dr. Lanzieri and his team of volunteers were also the first in Grenada’s history to implant a cardiac pacemaker in 2001. For these and his many other selfless contributions, St. George’s University honored Dr. Lanzieri by awarding him with a Doctorate of Humane Letters at the 2019 School of Medicine commencement ceremony in New York City.

  • A 1985 graduate of St. George’s University, Dr. Mark Lanzieri returned to Grenada three times a year to provide crucial cardiac care at no cost to the patient.

  • Dr. Lanzieri explains his patient’s cardiac condition to a small group of medical students at SGU’s Adult Cardiology Clinic in 2012.

    Preparing Students for USMLE at SGU School of Medicine

  • At the 2019 SOM commencement ceremony in New York City, Dr. Lanzieri was bestowed an honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters for providing cardiological services at no cost to Grenadian citizens for more than 20 years.

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“More than 30 years after he graduated from SGU, Dr. Lanzieri who wasn’t born in Grenada, but educated here—continued to return here to take care of the Grenadian people,” commented Dr. C.V. Rao, dean of students at SGU. “The Visiting Cardiology Program that he started once hailed from the humble beginnings of a single room at the General Hospital. Today, his legacy will live on in the clinic which has a dedicated center at Grand Anse with more and more St. George’s University alumni and friends of SGU signing on and dedicating their time and expertise just as he once did.”

Dr. Lanzieri is survived by his wife, Annie, their three children, Mark Lanzieri Jr. and partner Kassie Haugen, Casey Conroy and partner Alaina Gayton, and Kristi and Jordan Hirsch; grandchildren Karsyn, Myla, Kameron, and Levi; and siblings Charles, Louise, and Eric.

St. George’s University sends its deepest condolences to Dr. Lanzieri’s family, friends, colleagues, and all those whose lives he touched. His invaluable impact on the growth and success of SGU will not be forgotten.

– Ray-Donna Peters