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

SGU Grad Fosters Hope Through Curative Cancer Treatments

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Treating and giving hope to the untreatable—they’re the reasons that Eric Tam, MD ’13, went into medicine in the first place, and what drive him to search for more positive results each day. After completing a bone marrow and transplant fellowship at Stanford University School of Medicine, the St. George’s University graduate has just been appointed an assistant professor of clinical medicine at the University of Southern California, Keck School of Medicine.

While there, Dr. Tam will specialize in malignant hematology and allogeneic bone marrow transplant, as well as be involved in direct patient care across three institutions: Keck Hospital of USC, Norris Cancer Center of USC, and LAC+USC Medical Center.

“I have always wanted to be a doctor, particularly an oncologist,” said Dr. Tam. “In addition to having a strong personal interest in malignancies, I chose hematology/oncology because of the vast advances in science and improvements in treatment. Specializing in bone marrow transplant has allowed me to be able to provide curative treatments for otherwise generally incurable malignancies.”

“My experience at St. George’s was much more than I could have expected. I loved the island, the people of Grenada, and it was especially insightful to see clinical medicine in its truest form.”

For Dr. Tam, California has always been home. He grew up in Danville, CA, about a half hour east of San Francisco, before moving to Southern California, where he earned his bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering at UCLA. His biggest move, however, was to Grenada, a small island in the Caribbean that provided him with a very big opportunity—the chance to attend medical school at SGU.

“I chose to apply to SGU because it offered a strong curriculum and had very promising residency placements,” stated Dr. Tam. “My experience at St. George’s was much more than I could have expected. I loved the island, the people of Grenada, and it was especially insightful to see clinical medicine in its truest form.”

Currently, with the effects of COVID-19 still rippling throughout the nation, Dr. Tam has had limited contact with the virus, but acknowledges its repercussions and impact on the healthcare system and his colleagues in the medical community. Proud of their contributions on the front lines, he continues to advocate for their safety and the resources that they require.

“Most of my patients are already severely immunosuppressed, and already take appropriate precautions against infections even prior to the spread of the virus,” Dr. Tam said. “Personally, my family and I have had to adjust our lifestyles, and follow the necessary safety protocols just like the rest of the population.”

Today, Dr. Tam resides back in his home state where he’s married to a very supportive wife who is an attorney, and helps to raise their two toddlers together. As for the future, he remains true to his mission of fostering hope where it is lacking, currently working on the next generation of Chimeric Antigen Receptor T-Cell (CAR-T) therapy to hopefully improve outcomes of many patients with hematologic malignancies.

– Ray-Donna Peters

Washington Post: Grad’s Quick Thinking Saves Life of Mother, Newborn Twins

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Earlier this month, The Washington Post chronicled what one physician, a 22-year veteran, at Saint Barnabas Medical Center called “the craziest day of [her] career.” That’s when a 40-year-old mother, whose condition quickly worsened due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

Upon being told that the patient’s blood pressure and oxygen level were dropping, Fariborz “Bobby” Rezai, director of critical care and medical/surgical intensive care at Saint Barnabas, made the decision to do an emergent C-section on the mother. In a matter of minutes, the babies were delivered, each at just over two pounds. His team’s attention continued on the mother, and in a span of 48 hours, she was “a new person.”

“I’ve been a critical care physician for over 13 years, and I’ve never seen anything like that,” Dr. Rezai told the Post. “Especially with COVID patients, you know when a patient is going to survive or not, and Ebony was not looking like she was going to survive. The decision to do the C-section really saved her life.”

Read the complete story on the Washington Post website

From Pediatric Heart Patient to Pediatric Heart Doctor: Meet SGU Grad Thomas Glenn, MD ’16

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Tom Glenn, MD '16

As someone who has suffered from congenital heart disease and survived five heart surgeries, Thomas Glenn, MD ’16, is now in a unique position as an up-and-coming pediatric heart surgeon. Today, Dr. Glenn is a PGY-5 pediatric cardiology fellow at UC San Diego – Rady Children’s Hospital, dedicating his life to taking care of and managing pediatric patients with both congenital and acquired heart disease, all while inspiring them to live their lives to the fullest.

“Luckily for me, I had many amazing cardiologists—one specifically during my teenage years, and she was one of the most inspiring individuals I’ve known,” said Dr. Glenn. “She took the time to ask me how I was doing, ask what my long-term goals were, and even encouraged me to live my life to its fullest potential without any restrictions.”

Growing up with congenital heart disease in the 1990s was much different than it is today. Back then there was no social media and no long-term outcome data to show that patients do well in the future and could go on to live normal lives.

However, having undergone five heart surgeries himself, the St. George’s University graduate knew from an early age exactly what he wanted to do with his future. His chosen field would be pediatric cardiology, a field he had been exposed to since birth. He knew that he could train in this field and have the opportunity to take care of and inspire patients like himself that needed that kind of encouragement in their life.

“I actually first told my parents when I was 10 years old that I wanted to become a pediatric cardiologist so that I could help encourage and motivate individuals like myself,” he said. “Thanks to everything my cardiologist taught me and instilled in me, I knew this was possible and I made it happen.”

He has made that prediction come true, yet the path to getting there wasn’t so straightforward. Born in California, Dr. Glenn’s family moved around often. He ultimately settled in Arizona where he attended the University of Arizona in Tucson, obtaining a Bachelor of Science in health sciences with a degree in physiology. Later, after having difficulty getting interviews at medical schools in the US, he chose to apply to SGU, where he could begin training at medical school immediately after graduating college, rather than taking more time off.

“I had a great experience at SGU,” stated Dr. Glenn. “I was especially impressed with many of the outstanding professors, who also taught at US medical schools as well. And while it was certainly nerve wracking trying to move to another country and start medical school all within a week, I was surrounded with an incredible group of friends, many of whom I am still close with to this day.”

Grateful for their support back then, today Dr. Glenn lends his support to those same colleagues as many of them who are currently training in the New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania area have been impacted by COVID-19. He explains that being part of the medical community during this pandemic has been both eye-opening and humbling, even though he has been lucky enough to work with a patient population that has not been greatly affected by the virus.

“While I have only had a few patients with congenital heart disease that have been impacted by COVID-19, I am continuously inspired by everything my colleagues have been able to do for their patients,” said Dr. Glenn. “It is always a big reminder that, no matter what field or specialty you go into, what schooling or education you have behind you, or what your position at your institution is, we are all in this together and we need to continue to stick together to get through these tough times.”

In spite of the present global health crisis, the future continues to shine brightly for Dr. Glenn. Currently on track to finish his pediatric cardiology training in June 2021, he then plans to apply for a fourth-year fellowship in pediatric heart failure and transplantation.

“I am also involved in many national and worldwide collaboratives,” added Dr. Glenn. “We’re looking at improving the outcomes for patients living with single ventricle physiology, something that has a special place in my heart. I am extremely excited for what is to come, and I look forward to everything the future has in store for me.”

 

— Ray-Donna Peters

Pathology Resident Making Impact Through COVID-19 Research at Mayo Clinic

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Nicholas Boire, MD '19

Photo courtesy of the Mayo Clinic.

Being a pathologist is an important specialty in the medical field that is critical to understanding how diseases affect the human body. It is a specialty that is particularly applicable as the healthcare industry grapples with treating those affected by the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), according to Nicholas Boire, MD ’19, a pathology resident at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN.

“Infectious disease pathology has never been more relevant than now, when we’re actually in a situation where we have a new disease and we, as a science community, are not yet sure how this disease functions,” Dr. Boire said. “We’re still uncovering how COVID-19 affects each body system and its pathophysiology. There are a lot of unknowns with the disease and that’s where my specialty comes into play.”

As an anatomical and clinical pathology resident in the Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology at the Mayo Clinic, the top hospital in the United States according to the U.S. News 2020-21 Best Hospitals Honor Roll and Medical Specialties Rankings, Dr. Boire is already making strides within the specialized field. The Long Island, NY, native was part of a team of the institution’s pathologists who performed some of the early autopsies on COVID-19 patients. The group recently published a case report citing its findings.

“COVID-19 (as a pathogen) has been fascinating with regards to my specialty,” he said. “What we saw [in the findings] was a spectrum of neuropathology, including white matter hemorrhages, acute axonal injury, and some lesions that resemble acute disseminated encephalomyelitis. All of this has not been documented before. As our research and understanding of COVID-19 continues to evolve rapidly, it’s helping to highlight what could happen over a clinical course in patients who are hospitalized, which will ultimately help to identify and manage the disease.”

Photo courtesy of the Mayo Clinic.

At the Forefront of COVID-19 Research 

The Mayo Clinic has been doing its part to provide critical COVID-19 information and education to the public, to physicians, and to laboratory scientists. In February, the institution developed its own test and had it validated within three weeks—an “incredible and daunting task to those that know how the process works,” Dr. Boire said. In the following days, the institution brought in other commercial tests, and now has those at its disposal as well.

By the end of August, the institution expects to be able to perform up to 30,000 tests a day on the COVID-19 virus, with results within 48 hours if not sooner, according to Dr. Bobbi Pritt, MD, MSc, DTM&H, chairperson of the Division of Clinical Microbiology at the Mayo Clinic and director of the clinical parasitology laboratory at the institution. As an international reference lab, the institution has been asked by the state of Minnesota and nationwide to help out with testing patients.

In terms of research, the Mayo Clinic has concentrated on four main areas, according to Dr. Pritt: finding new ways to detect the virus itself; finding new ways for detecting antibodies to the virus; looking at ways to detect protective immunity from the virus from those who are infected so that their plasma could be given to other sick patients; and also looking at innovative ways for those who are possibly infected to collect a specimen for testing from the comfort and safety of their own home.

COVID-19 has “really brought pathology to the forefront,” Dr. Pritt said. “It’s a powerful opportunity for us as pathologists to be at the table as part of the team making decisions about testing and treating people.”

Working under Dr. Pritt, his mentor, Dr. Boire has thrived in his residency.

“He is a very enthusiastic, innovative, and an intelligent resident. He is very passionate about microbiology and pathology in general. I can see he has a very promising career ahead of him,” she said of Dr. Boire.

Nicholas Boire, MD '19, with mentor Dr. Bobbie Pritt

Nicholas Boire, MD ’19, with his pathology mentor, Dr. Bobbi Pritt. Photo courtesy of the Mayo Clinic.

A Dream Come True

Obtaining a residency at the Mayo Clinic was a dream come true for Dr. Boire, given the institution’s extensive facilities and strong commitment to patient care and research impressed him.

“The size and scope of their microbiology department is incredible. Each individual pathology subspecialty here is larger than most hospital’s entire pathology department,” he said. “But it’s not only the facility; it’s about the individuals I work with. No matter how difficult a case, there’s always someone to help and one case can be shared with five or six pathologists—each one an expert in a different specialty.”

Dr. Boire spends his days reviewing cases alongside attending physicians involved in his specialty.

“The guiding principle of the Mayo Clinic is that ‘the needs of the patient come first.’ If they believe something will help a patient, they will invest,” he said. “When people around the world don’t know what they have, they come to us. It has been an incredible educational opportunity.”

Nicholas Boire, MD '19

Photo courtesy of the Mayo Clinic.

A Scientist from an Early Age 

Growing up, Dr. Boire was always interested in science and wanted to be a research scientist. With a natural curiosity to learn more, he gravitated toward biology and chemistry. Dr. Boire received his undergraduate degree in biochemistry/molecular biology at Gettysburg College.

Following undergrad, he decided to tackle one of his bucket-list items—by spending time in Africa to serve in the United States Peace Corps. It was while in Africa, volunteering in various clinical settings and shadowing physicians who were providing care to local populations, that Dr. Boire became fascinated with pathology, specifically that of infectious diseases, which were prevalent in the area.

“Pathology interested me because, in medicine, it’s the closest thing to basic science research—uncovering the how and the why of diseases,” he said. “Pathologists are considered the doctor’s doctor.”

Upon returning to the states, he obtained his master’s degree in molecular biology and immunology from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Soon after, Dr. Boire decided to take the next step in his career path by entering St. George’s University School of Medicine MD program.

“SGU got me to where I am and made sure I had the foundational knowledge to be considered competitive during residency interviews,” Dr. Boire said. “The school gave me a foot in the door by helping me get a residency position in one of the best, if not the best, hospitals on the planet, doing exactly what I want to do.”

 

— Laurie Chartorynsky 

SGU Partners with San Jose State University for Virtual Nursing Experience

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Traditionally, 15 to 30 nursing students from San Jose State University (SJSU) would have spent the summer honing their public health skills at St. George’s University in Grenada as part of a more than seven-year partnership between the institutions. This year, however, with a global pandemic bringing much of normal activity to a halt, meeting in person was impossible.

However, with the support of leadership from both universities, the first-ever virtual service-learning placement was created, while still ensuring quality and parity were achieved.

“I thought long and hard about this decision,” said Deborah Nelson, a nursing lecturer at the College of Health and Human Services, SJSU. “I felt a commitment to all the students, both universities, and the Grenadian community. We wanted to be sure to explore any and all possible solutions to maintaining this partnership before cancelling. Therefore, the online version had to not only meet the courses’ and programs’ learning outcomes but it had to be meaningful to all involved.”

According to Ms. Nelson, this is one of the first programs of its kind in the US to offer credits towards a major global senior nursing practicum, while also granting the SJSU students the opportunity to graduate a semester earlier. Spearheaded by Dr. Tamara McKinnon, a lecturer in community health and research at the Valley Foundation School of Nursing at SJSU, she also played an integral part as one of the three faculty members involved in both the creation and execution of the new venture.

Though virtual this year, the course’s main objectives still remained the same—including using evidence-based nursing to promote health, analyzing the influence of health policies on individuals, delivering education that impacts health literacy, and conducting environmental assessments. All classes and lectures were held jointly via Zoom, while coursework was integrated and joint projects evenly balanced with SGU and SJSU students partnering.

“COVID-19 continues to have an adverse impact on many,” stated Ms. Nelson, “However, it is an amazing feeling to be able to say that all involved made it possible for these nursing students to not only participate in an intercultural learning experience but to stay on track for their graduation. This allows them to soon be able to join the global nursing workforce when they are most needed.”

Among those who participated in the program was Chelsea Moreno, a part-time float nurse currently completing her final semester in the RN to BSN program at San Jose State. Ms. Moreno, who decided to pursue a career in nursing after witnessing her brother go through his first surgery as an infant, chose to participate in the virtual service-learning placement because it gave her the opportunity to both graduate a semester earlier and be a part of a group to do something different.

“Even with such short notice and a hurried transition to go from a physical faculty-led program to a virtual course, I definitely believe this class was a success,” commented Ms. Moreno. “I learned about cultural awareness in a new way and I was a part of something never done before at SJSU. I was able to bond with nursing students from across the globe and was truly sad during our last meeting. We even started a group phone chat in hopes to one day meet in person and further deepen our understanding of each other and our different cultures.”

Also attending the virtual course was Marci Yaeger, she too completing her final year in the BSN program at SJSU. After spending eight years in the field as a medical assistant, she was inspired by the nurses she worked with, whose knowledge and skills in medicine motivated her to do more.

“One of the main objectives of the program was to be able to communicate effectively in a cross-cultural setting,” stated Ms. Yaeger. “By having small group discussions with the students from Grenada, I learned that what is natural for me—such as language, slang, or mannerisms—may be confusing to someone from a different culture. This really gave me a new perspective as to how I present myself to peers and to patients who may not share my culture, values, and experiences.”

“As course directors, we had to be strategic in designing this virtual course,” said Dr. Jennifer Solomon, chair and director of the Nursing Department at SGU. “We looked at how we could offer a course that met the objectives, while utilizing innovative teaching that would allow the students the opportunity to gain the experience and credits they needed without losing time.”

As to be expected, having classes via Zoom included minor technical difficulties and the balancing of two different time zones between California and Grenada. Nevertheless, both students and faculty touted the virtual service-learning placement as a success.

“For me, the design and collaboration with my SJSU colleagues has been an extremely empowering and positive experience and showcases what can be achieved,” added Dr. Solomon. “It may have been easier to cancel, but I am incredibly proud that we did not.”

 

— Ray-Donna Peters