School of Veterinary Medicine Hosts Virtual Wellness Event for Students

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More than 50 veterinary students attended a virtual wellness event on Saturday, October 17, hosted by St. George’s University’s School of Veterinary Medicine and the SVM Affairs group.

The Zoom presentation featured Dr. Melanie Goble, vice president and a founding board member of Not One More Vet, a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping veterinarians in need of mental health support. Dr. Goble’s presentation was titled “Finding Motivation, Setting Boundaries, and Life During COVID.”

Following Dr. Goble’s speech, there was a question-and-answer panel consisting of Dr. Goble; Dr. Barbara Landon, director of SGU’s Psychological Services Center; Dr. Adria Rodriguez, SVM’s wellbeing, diversity, and inclusion officer and the faculty advisor the SVM Wellness Committee; as well as Drs. India Paharsingh, Arend Werners, and Anne Marie Corrigan. The Q&A consisted of questions submitted by the students of the SVM community.

“We are thrilled with the turnout for our virtual mental health event,” said Jennifer Kirk, DVM ’22 (expected), SGA’s president of SVM Affairs. “Mental health is a very serious issue in the field of veterinary medicine, particularly during this unprecedented time due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Our goal was to provide students with resources and an opportunity to ask questions and provide a sense of community and support that we are all in this together.”

Dr. Corrigan, SVM’s associate dean of academic programs and professor of small animal medicine and Surgery, echoed Ms. Kirk’s sentiment: “Dr. Goble provided a very engaging discussion about the necessity of self-care. We plan to host more of these events for our students.”

Emotional and Psychological Support  

To acknowledge World Mental Health Day, SGU reminded students of the free mental health support resources provided by the school.

If you or one of your colleagues needs help, there are several options:

  • Email PSCscheduling@sgu.edu to set up an appointment with a psychologist. Crisis appointments are available 24/7 by phoning the Psychological Services Center at (473) 439-2277 during business hours, or after 5pm and on weekends through the University Health Clinic at (473) 444-4671.
  • To receive 24/7 counseling services, register with Brooklyn Counseling Service at SGU-BCS Counseling or call (877) 328-0993.
  • Visit our self-help resources page or our Instagram page for tips about managing stress and isolation related to COVID-19.
  • Visit the Well on the SGU portal for a collection of health and wellness activities and resources from SGU designed to help your mind, body, and soul.
  • Use the self-help therapy app WellTrack for self-help. WellTrack will track your mood, and contains quick recorded lessons for managing depression, anxiety, and stress.

Additional Mental Health Resources

Dr. Landon hosts a weekly Mindfulness Workshop on Thursdays at 12pm AST. All are invited to join (https://sgu.zoom.us/j/97007160217; Meeting ID: 970 0716 0217).

Students are encouraged to take advantage of these services and to review the resources available from the Psychological Services Center.

 

— Laurie Chartorynsky

SVM Research Findings: First-Year Clinical Exposure Benefits Students

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Four St. George’s University School of Veterinary Medicine graduates, two current students, and SVM Professor Dr. Anne Marie Corrigan were among the 10 authors of a paper recently published in the Journal of Veterinary Medical Education.

The research paper, “Introducing Clinical Behavior Medicine to Veterinary Students with Real Clients and Pets: A Required Class Activity and an Optional Workshop,” focuses on how behavior problems in clinical practice requires diagnostic expertise as well as excellent client skills in communication, gained by experience. The research addressed the issue by introducing small animal clinical behavior to first-year veterinary students at St. George’s University.

 

View research findings

SGU President: What Are Your Chances of Getting Into Medical School?

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SGU President Dr. G. Richard Olds was recently featured in a US News and World Report article about successful medical school admissions strategies. The article, titled “What are Your Chances of Getting into Medical School?”, includes insights from medical school administrators, faculty, admissions counselors, and other experts.

Dr. Olds explains that school selection is a crucial component of the application process and can make or break a student’s chances of admission to their institution of choice. “The most common mistakes in the med school admissions process are either not applying to a sufficient number of schools or not applying to the most appropriate types of schools. Olds says it’s crucial to apply to a wide range, including reach, match and safety schools.”

Read the Full US News & World Report Story

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What Is It Like to Be a Vet Radiologist? Faculty Spotlight on SVM Professor, Dr. Thomas Hanson

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Ever wonder what it is like to be a veterinary radiologist?

Thomas Hanson, DVM ’11, a former radiologist at the Wisconsin Veterinary Referral Center in Waukesha, WI, has returned to St. George’s University to teach diagnostic imaging to School of Veterinary Medicine students in Terms 1, 2, 5, and 6.

Thomas Hanson, DVM '11, SVM professor of Diagnostic Imaging

He shared some recent developments in the field of vet radiology and why the occupation can be a gratifying specialty for aspiring veterinarians.

St. George’s University: What types of cases do veterinary radiologists typically see? 

Thomas Hanson: Although veterinary radiologists primarily interpret images of small animal and equine patients, we do occasionally get involved in food animal and zoo animal patient imaging.

SGU: What are some recent developments in the field that is on your radar?

TH: The continued expanded use of CT (computed tomography) as well as developments in MRI and PET/CT (positron emission/computed tomography). Similar to human medicine, these imaging techniques help us to diagnose cancer at an earlier stage.

SGU: You recently presented a case discussion to SGU’s Radiology and Diagnostic Imaging Club. Can you share information about the case you presented to the group? How often do you present cases to student clubs?

TH: I held case rounds for the DI Club students for the first time in September. At the students’ request, we covered approximately seven musculoskeletal cases of dogs and cats. My goal for case rounds is to have students experience clinical radiology—versus academic radiology that is taught in lectures. Case rounds give students an opportunity to apply what they have learned in lectures to a true clinical case and based on their imaging findings discuss what the next step(s) should be in the treatment of the patient. It was very well received by the students and a second session has already been scheduled.

SGU: Why did you choose this specialty?

TH: I had a previous career in diagnostic imaging in human medicine (as a technologist, radiology department manager) and several years working at GE Healthcare as a customer training specialist and on product development teams.

Like a lot of people in this field, I had the desire to become a veterinarian at an early age and reached a point where I decided to pursue that career. I enjoy the ability to image an animal, often with very hi-tech equipment, and provide diagnostic information to the clinician. Radiographs and advanced imaging are a big piece of the puzzle to help determine the cause of a patient’s illness.

SGU: Why is vet radiology a gratifying specialty?

TH: We oversee the acquisition of many types of imaging procedures on animals and we interpret the information of the images for the clinicians in charge of the case. It is a highly technical process to acquire the images, but the interpretation remains human dependent. Clinicians rely on us to provide accurate assessments of the images so that they can properly treat the animal in need.

SGU: What is one thing students may not know about the field of veterinary radiology?

TH: Students should know that the specialty is very competitive, yet there is a lot of flexibility and opportunity to use these skills in different work environments.

 

– Laurie Chartorynsky

VIDEO: From MMA to MD

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Dr. Anthony McDonald, a 2013 graduate of St. George’s University School of Medicine, turned in his mixed martial arts championship belt to pursue his dream of becoming a physician. He is now the director of cardiopulmonary medicine at San Angelo Community Medical Center in San Angelo, TX.

“What I used to do with fighting and training, it really ingrained in me the discipline that I needed and the structure that I needed to know what I needed to do to be successful,” Dr. McDonald said. “The contrast is very different, but I feel that the idea is still the same. It’s about not giving up. Medical school is challenging. There’s no two ways about it. And I was very fortunate to be able to do it at St. George’s University, where I felt that the entire island was set up to make you succeed.”

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