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Inside Amalie Arena, and with a view above the bustling construction site across the street, USF leaders, friends and supporters from throughout the region gathered to mark the start of construction of the new USF Health Morsani College of Medicine and Heart Institute.

Called Dig This!, the morning event was held Sept 20 on the upper floors of Amalie Arena. Guests met inside to hear remarks, and then gathered outside on a balcony to view from above the future home of the USF medical school and research facility at Channelside Drive and Meridian Avenue.

USF System President Judy Genshaft set the celebratory tone of the morning as she welcomed everyone.

“This celebration symbolizes the University of South Florida’s commitment to the city, the region, and the state,” Genshaft said. “The construction is happening!”

She highlighted the forward momentum this project is giving many in the region, including USF.

USF System President Judy Genshaft

“A project of this magnitude moves forward because of the commitment of so many of our partners, and this is an outstanding example of the private and public sectors coming together to benefit the Tampa Bay region,” she said. “When this is complete in 2019, the result will be improved health outcomes through superior education, training, and research. We are creating a future that will attract and retain the brightest students and physicians, something we’re already seeing. USF has become the most selective medical school in the state of Florida, with applications growing 60 percent since this project was first announced in 2014. We actually had over 6,000 applications to our medical school for only 170 slots.”

The USF Health building will be a key anchor in a $3-billion real estate development by Strategic Property Partners, the joint venture between Jeff Vinik and Cascade Investment, LLC. The group is developing 53 acres in downtown Tampa into a multi-use, urban waterfront district that will promote a walkable, sustainable, healthy environment for downtown Tampa residents, workers, students and visitors.

At the Dig This! Event, Vinik reminded everyone that USF helped launch the entire Water Street Tampa district.

Jeff Vinik

“The idea for the Morsani College of Medicine coming downtown was conceived long before anything else – it was the first, it was the catalyst,” Vinik said. “And what a catalyst it has been. USF was the first building to be thought about and the first building to have a groundbreaking. So it makes perfect sense that it’s the first building under construction, and it will be the first building completed in this district two years from now.”

Placing the medical school in downtown will change the city forever, said Florida Senator Dana Young.

Florida Senator Dana Young

“Tampa is on fire and I think much of it is because of this wonderful vision of Tampa as the up-and-coming city,” Young said. “And now to have this medical school downtown to anchor what is going to be a complete transformation of our downtown will be a complete transformation of how we live… People living together, people eating together, working together and talking about the future of health care in Tampa and in our country.”

The new location brings the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine in closer proximity to its primary teaching and clinical affiliate, Tampa General Hospital, and to its flagship Center for Advanced Medical Learning and Simulation (CAMLS). Skanska/HOK is the design/build team constructing the new USF facility that is expected to cost at least $153 million. The investment strengthens USF’s presence in downtown Tampa and will contribute to the area’s continued rapid growth and national recognition, a point emphasized by Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn.

Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn

“This is the beginning of that next chapter in this city that is becoming the place in America where the best and the brightest want to be,” Buckhorn said. “It’s becoming that place where talent comes. It’s becoming that place where intellectual capital is the currency of the marketplace… Look at what we are on the verge of. Look at what this university has become. Look at what this medical school is becoming. Look at what this district is going to be. Five years from now, 10 years from now, you’re not going to recognize this city.”

Several medical students were also at the Dig This! event, and U.S. Representative Kathy Castor acknowledged them, asking them to come forward and be recognized.

U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor

“In my position, I have opportunities to interact with a lot of these young medical students, and they are remarkable,” Castor said. “This is a new breed of talented students. They have all the tools of technology and innovation at their fingertips, unlike ever before. And now they will have a facility and partnerships that are equal to their talents and passions. If you ever have an opportunity to talk with these students you will understand the passion they have. There is no greater inspiration for what you all have invested in.”

Turning to the students, Castor added “Because we are doing this for you.”

USF’s newest state-of-the-art facility will combine under one roof a medical school to teach the next generation of physicians and a cardiovascular research institute to pioneer new discoveries for heart health. Recent accomplishments have USF well on its way to fulfilling this goal, said Charles J. Lockwood, MD, senior vice president for USF Health and dean of the Morsani College of Medicine.

Dr. Charles Lockwood

“It has all come together in such a magnificent way, but you can’t just build a building and then fill it,” Dr. Lockwood said. “We have made a lot of strides in the last four years. We have increased applications from 3,900 to 6,358 this time around. Our MCAT scores have gone from the 80^th percentile to the highest ever this year at the 92^nd – and a half – percentile, the highest in the state. We have worked really hard on the research side, too. We have increased our total funding, this includes our faculty at Moffitt, from about $127 million to roughly $212 million.”

Dr. Lockwood also noted USF’s success in – recruiting top-tier faculty, including cardiovascular scientists and founding Heart Institute Director Sam Wickline, who “embodies the entrepreneurial spirit that is the DNA of our school.”

USF’s cardiology programs have also blossomed, Dr. Lockwood said.

“We’ve gone from six to 40 cardiologists at Tampa General, we have built one of the top cardiac surgery programs in the country, one of the busiest heart transplant programs in the country, and our lung transplant program has doubled in the last year,” Dr. Lockwood said.

In summing up, he added, “We have great partners, and we really are poised to fill that building with great students and great researchers. You can tell I’m a little excited about this opportunity, and I’m incredibly grateful to this community and Tampa General and to my wonderful university.”

With that, the guests made their way to the balcony for a group shot overlooking the busy construction site, where a USF Bull flag flew in the breeze.

Visit the USF Water Street Tampa website for more information about the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine and Heart Institute project.

Story by Sarah Worth, video by Sandra C. Roa, and photos by Eric Younghans, USF Health Communications

USF kidney expert Dr. Alfonso Campos guides the family and health care team, from diagnosis to transplant to success.

Twenty weeks into her pregnancy with her second child, Melissa Ranieri was told there was a problem with her baby and that he might not make it past birth.

The news hit hard. Their baby boy Evan had very small kidneys and would likely not be able to survive on his own. She and her husband Paul carried the weight every day, turning to family for support, turning to the internet for research and similar stories.

Evan Ranieri snuggles with his mom Melissa.

And turning to USF pediatricians for deeper answers and a second opinion.

That second opinion came from Alfonso Campos, MD, associate professor of pediatric nephrology and an expert on kidneys in children, especially in babies.

“The first diagnosis turned our family upside down,” Melissa said. “But Dr. Campos told us Evan had a much better chance of survival than that.”

“Otherwise healthy, Evan still had small kidneys and they weren’t working well,” Dr. Campos said. “In many newborns, the problem subsides as they grow – they grow out of it. But not for Evan. He wouldn’t require dialysis right away, and he would need medications to address function, such as acid in the blood, and a careful diet. But the prognosis was renal failure.”

Although it was better news for the Ranieris that Evan was strong enough to get by for a while, the reality remained that Evan’s kidneys would not support him long before he would need a transplant. Decisions were made, like delivering at Tampa General because they “needed to be at the best hospital,” and the comprehensive kidney care provided there, Melissa said.

“Dr. Campos and his team made sure we were prepared for what was to come,” Melissa said.

“They even preemptively showed us the NICU (neonatal intensive care unit) to acclimate us to the environment so we would be ready,” Paul added.

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Evan was born in March 2011 at Tampa General surrounded by a team of highly trained pediatric surgeons, nephrologists, NICU physicians and nurses, and others working together, standing ready to react to whatever Evan presented.

“Evan was only hours old when doctors confirmed our worse fears,” Paul said. “His kidneys were failing.”

The newborn was immediately put in the Muma NICU at Tampa General Hospital and the conversation turned to next steps, the first being finding a kidney donor.

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Evan runs from room to room of the Ranieri’s new house in Riverview. Having just moved in a few weeks earlier, several rooms remain empty as the family settles in. Evan, who is nearly 4 years old, is making use of the open space to chase his big sister Avery, who is 7.

Evan and his sister Avery.

The bonds are strong in this family, but none as literal as those between Melissa and Evan – mother and child.

About 18 months after being born – after spending several months in the NICU before coming home for the first time, followed by nearly daily trips to TGH for dialysis – Evan’s kidneys totally failed. He went from having dialysis to get by to needing a kidney transplant in order to live.

And it was one of his mother’s own kidneys that saved him.

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In May 2013, the renal transplant team transplanted a kidney from Melissa into Evan. Probably the most obvious question is how does an adult kidney fit into a toddler?

“Kidneys are amazing – once in Evan, the kidney actually shrank a bit and will grow as Evan grows, growing back into an adult size kidney,” Dr. Campos said. “And for Melissa, as an organ donor, she lost a kidney so her remaining kidney grew to accommodate.”

Sister Avery and Dr. Campos visit Evan while he recuperates at Tampa General. Photo courtesy of the Ranieris.

The Ranieris are eager to say that it was finding the right team that has helped their family the most.

“We really are so grateful for the medical staff at both Tampa General and USF,” Paul said. “Everyone in the PICU, the NICU, the doctors and nurses at every level, were all so welcoming and positive. It was a very good experience, considering the circumstances.”

Mother and son. Two kidney transplant patients at Tampa General, one giving, the other receiving. Photo courtesy of the Ranieris.

Signs of recovery. Evan races the halls at TGH following his transplant surgery. Photo courtesy of the Ranieris.

“The standards are different with TGH and USF,” Melissa said. “We knew with Evan we would need to have a higher level of care. Even if we had lived in Miami, we would have come to Tampa General and to the doctors at USF for their pediatric transplant expertise.”

Now, at 26 months post-surgery, and having just celebrated his fourth birthday, Evan’s future is bright and he’s expected to have a healthy childhood. There will be rules with his diet and there will be no contact sports. He will take anti-rejection medications for the rest of his life, although the fear of his body rejecting his single kidney is constant. Melissa and Paul know that Evan will likely need additional transplants later in his life, repeating what they’ve told themselves since he was born: a transplant is not a cure.

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The Ranieris: Evan, Paul, Avery and Melissa.

Like many families, the Ranieris shared their story across social media. In addition to keeping friends and family posted on Evan’s progress, the social media presence helped meet a bigger goal: build awareness of the need for organ donation. This crusade to urge others of the importance of organ donation built a lot of momentum and Evan’s Facebook page has more than 2,000 friends. Although the surgeries are in the past, the family is still active with campaigns and donating their time to push the endless need for donors.

“We want Evan to feel empowered,” Melissa said. “It’s his journey, his story. We hope his story will influence others of kidney diseases and organ transplantation. We are strong advocates, active in Life Link and the National Kidney Foundation, as well as with the team at TGH.”

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“You might automatically think of older populations when you mention transplants,” Paul said. “But the reality is children need them, too. They have their whole life in front of them.”

And that includes Evan. He will likely need additional kidneys in his lifetime.

“I’m not a match, and Melissa can’t donate again,” Paul said. “He could need one to two more kidneys across his lifetime.”

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Dr. Campos is optimistic for improved medications, maybe even an effective artificial kidney if Evan does need another kidney.

“Currently, there are several kinds of antirejection medications and today’s medications have much better results than those in the past,” Dr. Campos said. “But there could be new meds that come along for him. I’m optimistic they’ll find even better ones, or develop an artificial kidney that the immune system won’t reject.”

But the bottom line right now, Dr. Campos said, is to fill out that donor card.

“We need more organ donors and they must be willing, able, and a good match,” he said.

Melissa gives an even more straight forward answer.

“If you donate, eight people’s lives will be saved,” she said.

Then, hinting to her single kidney, she smiled and said, “I’ll only be able to save seven and a half.”

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Visit Evans ORGANizers page on Facebook.

Photography by Eric Younghans, USF Health Office of Communications

Julian J. Dwornik, PhD, a founding faculty member (emeritus) of the USF College of Medicine, passed away May 13, 2014. He was 76.

Dr. Dwornik, a member of the USF Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, was recruited to USF by the College’s founding dean Donn L. Smith, MD, and helped provide early direction for the College’s future instructional programs, as well as the design of the gross anatomy labs. Across his time at USF, he also served students as dean of Admissions and teaching Gross Anatomy.

“Whenever I saw Dr. Dwornik, he always had a smile on his face and was engaging,” said Phillip J Marty, PhD, associate vice president for USF Health Office of Research and interim chair of the Department of Pathology and Cell Biology. “It was clear he really enjoyed working with students and colleagues.  His love of teaching was evident by the enthusiasm he brought to his coursework and the Anatomy Lab.”

“I agree wholeheartedly,” said Santo V. Nicosia, MD, Distinguished USF Professor, Department of Pathology and Cell Biology. “During my professional interaction with him, Dr. Dwornik was professional, knowledgeable and always a strong advocate of Anatomy.”

“When I joined the department Julian reached out and made me feel welcome,” said Karl Muffly PhD, associate professor in the Departments of Pathology and Cell Biology, Surgery and Chemical Engineering and director of the Anatomy Lab. “His caring nature for the students was obvious but he also held them to a high standard, which is what all instructors should do.  I remember the day he got his citizenship and my wife, daughter and I surprised him by decorating his door with American flags. His reaction was priceless.”

A private celebration of his life is planned at a later date. Donations in honor of Dr. Julian J. Dwornik may be made to Mount Calvary Academy Building Fund, 3111 E. Wilder Ave., Tampa, FL 33610.

Click here for the obituary and more details.

Eight years ago, Bryan Bognar, MPH, MD, was deep in the middle of preparing for reaccreditation for the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine. Committees, data collection, lengthy reports and in-depth self-study filled his days for nearly a year.

Today, Dr. Bognar is once again deep in the middle accreditation as the medical school prepares for its next site visit by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME) early next year.  Although the familiarity makes for a faster learning curve, it won’t slow the pace or reduce the volume of work, said Dr. Bognar, who was recently named vice dean of the Office of Educational Affairs for the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine (MCOM).

“Having gone through the accreditation process is a tremendous advantage, but a lot has changed at MCOM since the last accreditation cycle,” said Dr. Bognar, who started the job March 3. “But the beauty of the LCME visit and associated preparation is that it offers us an opportunity to take a hard look in the mirror and see how we’re doing. What we discover is that there is a long list of strengths so it’s a chance to celebrate the things we are doing well. There also will be opportunities for improvement.”

The LCME reaccredited MCOM for a full eight years in 2007. Its decision for the next accreditation comes in 2015.

USF Health has had a number of new initiatives since Dr. Bognar left the Office of Educational Affairs roughly five years ago, including the College of Pharmacy, an expanded master’s program, shared student services (The Well) and the SELECT MD program. One of USF Health’s strong differentiators, Dr. Bognar said, is the ever-growing inter-professional education efforts across USF Health.

The LCME recognizes the importance of incorporating inter-professional education (IPE) experiences in students’ curriculum, Dr. Bognar said.

“IPE is a very important aspect of what makes USF Health unique,” he said. “Our students have a genuine thirst for knowledge for what other health professionals contribute to patient care. They need to come away with an appreciation of how the pieces fit together.”

His own clinical experiences will likely play into the IPE efforts at USF Health, for both the LCME visit and for the long term.

“I spent three and a half years practicing within a very interdisciplinary environment at Moffitt Cancer Center,” he said. “I’ve seen it affect patient outcomes in a very real way, on a day-to-day basis. It’s like an orchestra, with each health professional bringing their own expertise, experience, and perspective on what the patient needs are. The patient care plan that comes from that interaction is critical; when done well it works seamlessly.”

And with health care continually changing, the need for training in teams has never been greater, he said.

“There is a complexity of modern-day patient care and it requires flexible, interdisciplinary care models. The more and earlier we can expose students to that, the better.”

That attitude helps USF MCOM students see Dr. Bognar as a great asset, for both the impending LCME visit and for continued positive interactions with students.

“Medical students are ecstatic for his return,” said Neil Manimala, president of the MCOM Student Council. “Dr. Bognar’s dedication to the student body is incredible. When we met first met with him to better acquaint him with key student concerns right after he was selected, he was already aware of most of the developments that have happened since he left USF Health. He stayed with us for two and a half hours, making sure to gather details on the direction the students want our institution to be headed.  I have the utmost confidence that under his leadership, we’ll be on that student-centered track, and subsequently we’ll come out of the LCME re-accreditation process a stronger community.”

The confidence in Dr. Bognar to champion MCOM students carries through to the administration, as well. In his letter notifying students of Dr. Bognar taking the vice dean of education position, MCOM Interim Dean Harry van Loveren noted:

“I could not be happier that Dr. Bognar agreed to take on this new role. His teaching abilities are widely recognized and admired by our leadership, our faculty, and by you, our students. In fact, when I first broke the news to a few of your student leaders yesterday, their joy was palpable – as if they had won a prize. And I believe they have. Dr. Bognar knows and appreciates our history and culture. I am confident about his abilities to lead us through the upcoming accreditation process for the Liaison Committee on Medical Education. Dr. Bognar, who received an MPH from our own College of Public Health, also has a deep understanding of our cooperative and inter-professional culture across USF Health. Dr. Bognar has said that he’s ‘absolutely thrilled’ to be returning to Educational Affairs. He asked us to let you know that he will put his heart and soul into working with you again and making your educational experience the best that it can be.”

So what’s after LCME accreditation? Dr. Bognar is taking it one step at a time.

“We’re not starting anything new just yet,” he said, smiling. “We’re focusing on the things in front of us. We want ensure that the changes that have already been made have an opportunity to develop deep roots and are sustainable. So they bear fruit for years to come.”

Dr. Bognar earned his MD from the Indiana University of School of Medicine, a BSc from the University of Notre Dame, and an MPH from the USF College of Public Health. He is a former chief resident at the James A. Haley Veterans’ Hospital and completed a two-year fellowship at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He has received several teaching awards from USF and received the American College of Physicians – American Society of Internal Medicine Outstanding Teacher of the Year Award in 2002.

In 2009, Dr. Bognar was associate dean for undergraduate medical education and interim vice dean for the MCOM Office of Educational Affairs before transitioning to Moffitt Cancer Center, where he was Chair of Internal Medicine and maintained a faculty appointment with MCOM to continue teaching students and residents.

Reflecting on his path back to the Office of Educational Affairs, Dr. Bognar noted that his road was always on course for teaching.

“I am grateful for the opportunity to come back,” he said. “It is not only an honor to be able to take care of patients, but also to help educate others on how to take care of patients.”

Story by Sarah Worth, photos by Eric Younghans, USF Health Office of Communications. 

Be kind, work hard and be grateful were the words of advice presented to 166 second-year medical students as they formally entered their third year of medical school at the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine’s annual Student Clinicians Ceremony, held Feb. 14.

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Friends and family shared in the event, which signifies the next step in medical education for these students – when they transition from what has been primarily classroom learning to more clinical and hospital settings where they will interact with patients.

Reflecting on what the students had already accomplished and the work in the years ahead, Steven Specter, PhD, associate dean for Student Affairs, urged students to remember the human side of medicine and asked the friends and families to help them remember.

Dr. Steven Specter

“I urge you all to ask your students what they think of the importance of humanism and patient-centered care,” Dr. Specter said.

Anthony DeSantis and Thomas Fowler each shared words of thanks and advice to their classmates and audience, reinforcing the combined strength of the two tracts in MD program.

DeSantis, who is in the Core MD Program, shared a story of when a faculty member made an effort to reassure students before a big exam, showing sincerity through both his pop-in after hours at their study sessions and his words that they would do fine. The gesture spoke volumes to DeSantis.

Anthony DeSantis

“You only go to one medical school, so you can constantly ask yourself if this is the right place, the right fit,” DeSantis said. “On the drive home that night, I told myself I was where I’m supposed to be.”

Fowler, who is in the SELECT MD Program, told his fellow students to look for signs of humanism.

“It’s a layer deeper than the machines we’ll use and the pills we’ll prescribe,” Fowler said, adding that they should all be kind and work hard.

“Be the doctor who helps a dad in the emergency room find a hotel room. Be the doctor who gives your cell phone number to a patient in case they have more questions. Have the kindness that’s not convenient. And don’t for a second underestimate the power of diligence.”

Frazier Stevenson, MD, senior associate dean of Undergraduate Medical Education reminded students of the change in the learning that’s to come.

“Up until now, it’s been about what you know,” Dr. Stevenson said. “But in this phase you will look at how you can apply what you know, how you share it with a team and apply it to your patients. You have worked to make yourself better, but now you’re able to bring that knowledge to other people, in a role to help people who desperately need it. You’re not shadowing. Now your knowledge is brought to bear for others, not so much for yourself.”

Providing the keynote address was Erika Abel, MD assistant professor of medicine and program director for the USF Health Internal Medicine/Pediatrics program. Taking an example from her own life, when her sister was diagnosed with a degenerative muscular disease, Dr. Abel spoke on the importance of bringing compassion and empathy when sharing bad news to families.

“Be the nice doctor,” Dr. Abel said. “Never be the doctors who says ‘go read a book about this’. And remember that it might not be the same day they need questions answered. It’s days after when they need help most.”

Providing the Humanism and Excellence in Teaching address was third-year student Trevor Lewis, who shared a poignant story of when truly listening to a patient made the difference in his patient’s limited life.

“Focus on what we have to do,” Lewis said. “It’s not about us. It’s about the patient.”

Six resident physicians were presented with Humanism and Excellence in Teaching Awards for their exceptional effort for inspiring students to be more. The exceptional teachers are Valerie Devanney, MD, Internal Medicine; Kimberly Goss, MD, Emergency Medicine; Noah Grams, MD, Pediatrics; Jaron Mark, MD, Obstetrics and Gynecology; Christian Robles, MD, Neurology; and Paul Toomey, MD, Surgery. The awards are provided by the Arnold P. Gold Foundation, which also provides a grant that supports the Clinicians Ceremony.

Before leading the students in reciting the Oath of Commitment, Bryan Bognar, MD, MPH, FACP, professor of medicine, reminded the group to also be grateful.

Dr. Bryan Bognar

“You’re surrounded by folks who care,” said Dr. Bognar, who was recently named vice dean for the Office of Educational Affairs.

“You’ve all worked hard; I’ll give you that. But you’ve had support. And you’ll still need support.”

Then, putting into context the meaning of the oath, Dr. Bognar added “This oath is to help you remember the patient you are there for them. Not for you.”

With that, the Class of 2016 stood up and pledged to fulfill the principles of respect, ethics, compassion, professionalism and gratitude.

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Story by Sarah Worth, USF Health Office of Communications

Photos by Rebekah Wright, USF Health Morsani College of Medicine

Taking active roles on a national stage earned several high-profile awards for students at the  USF Health Morsani College of Medicine, including showcasing the comprehensive range of involvement by the USF chapter of the American Medical Association’s Medical Student Section (AMA-MSS).

At the AMA’s recent national meeting in Chicago, USF was named AMA-MSS School of the Year.

In addition, the USF chapter’s recent Fitness Bootcamp earned Event of the Year.

“Many other schools applied to be considered for these awards, so it was a huge feat to win both simultaneously,” said Phillip Zegelbone, a second-year student and chair of the USF AMA-MSS. “We’re extremely proud to have received two of the highest possible honors a medical school in the AMA-MSS can achieve.”

Applicants for the School of the Year were judged in several areas, including membership, community service, advocacy, innovation and collaboration.  USF won a $500 grant to be used toward the local medical student section’s activities.  For more on the USF AMA section’s achievements over the past year in the various award categories, click here.

The student-run Fitness Bootcamp  promoted teamwork and exercise in health professions students across disciplines, which made the event stand out among competitors, Zegelbone said. “We believe the bootcamp’s interprofessional nature boosted its popularity with the AMA.”

Some USF AMA Section members show off their recent high-profile awards. Kneeling: Elise Diamond, MS2. Front row, l to r: Jessica Deslauriers, MS4; Jennifer Chevinsky, MS3; Kanchi Batra, MS3; and Monique Konstantinovic, MS2. Back row, l to r: Aresh Ramin, MS3; Cameron Paterson, MS2; R. David Graham, MS4; and Phillip Zegelbone, MS2.

Several USF medical students were also elected to national and regional AMA positions at the national meeting:

• R. David Graham (Class of 2014) was elected Speaker of the national medical student section
• Jessica Deslauriers (Class of 2014) was elected At Large Officer
• Zegelbone (Class of 2016) was elected Regional Community Service Chair.

Winning another nationally-competitive honor was medical student Chelsea Frost (Class of 2016), who was selected as a 2013 Orthopaedic Summer Intern,  a program co-sponsored by both Nth Dimensions and the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgery. Frost is one of 15 medical students selected nationwide to be Nth Dimensions/AAOS scholars. She was selected among 65 applicants nationally.

Jennifer Chevinsky

And continuing with the news of USF medical student involvement on national platforms, Jennifer Chevinsky (Class of 2015) edited the June issue of the Virtual Mentor, AMA’s online ethics journal. Each issue of Virtual Mentor has a theme—a medical specialty field or topic of concern or debate in medical ethics. Invited medical students and residents apply to serve as theme issue editors and for the June issue Chevinksy offered a slate of articles on team-based learning, including the lead article called “Redefining Leadership and Medical Teams”. There are several articles by USF Health faculty, as well as a podcast of an interview with Dr. Stephen Klasko produced by Chevinsky.

By Sarah A. Worth, USF Health Communications

Ron Swinfard, MD, president and CEO of Leigh Valley Health Network, presents USF SELECT MD student Kirk Chassey, with a lab coat during the May 6 orientation ceremony. The coats were presented to all 18 students arriving from USF to begin their two years of clinical education at LVHN.

 Click here for update on USF SELECT students at Lehigh Valley Health Network

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Holding his baby daughter in one arm, Keith O’Brien directs movers with the other arm toward boxes he needs loaded onto a truck.

He is one of 18 USF second-year medical students packing up their homes in Tampa to move to Allentown, PA, where they will spend the next two years in clinical rotations at the Lehigh Valley Health Network (LVHN) as part of USF’s innovative SELECT (Scholarly Excellence. Leadership Experience. Collaborative Training) Program.

The program, which welcomed its charter class in Fall 2011, is part of the MD program at the USF Morsani College of Medicine. The specialized track gives SELECT students unique training in leadership development, intense coaching, and the scholarly tools they need to become empathetic, passionate physician leaders who will be catalysts for change.

USF partnered with LVHN for the SELECT program to combine key strengths of both institutions: USF Health is known for its patient-centric, innovative medical curriculum and Lehigh Valley is recognized as one of the best community hospital systems in the nation.

While the entire Class of 2015 is transitioning into third-year clinical rotations – a shift from predominately classroom work into patient exam rooms – these 18 SELECT students are the first to make a 1,100-mile move to begin that transition.

1,100-Mile Journey

O’Brien and his wife Patty are moving with their 4-month-old daughter Claire. For this new family, the move to Pennsylvania is a bit of a homecoming.

“We’re from New York and both Patty and I went to school in Lafayette (PA), which is only about 10 minutes from Allentown,” O’Brien said. “Needless to say, our parents are thrilled we’re coming back, especially the baby. It will be nice to be near family.”

It’s a road back home for Emma Webb, as well.

“Our family is so excited we’re coming back,” said Webb, whose husband Mustafa and 6-year-old daughter Samantha are going, too. “They were pretty upset that I was taking their granddaughter away for two years.”

Emma Webb and daughter Samantha pack up toys they’re taking to Allentown.

 Aresh Ramin is also going home.

“I truly enjoyed my time in Tampa, but I look forward to going back,” said Ramin, who is from Boston and worked at LVHN between undergraduate school and medical school.

Aresh Ramin packs his apartment before hitting the road north.

But for some of the 18, the trip means leaving home.

“We’re looking at it as a great adventure,” said Alexandra Printz, who grew up mostly in Florida and earned her bachelor’s degree from USF. She is moving to Allentown with husband George and their two children, 6-year-old Ari and 4-year-old Vaughn. “This will be a big move for all of us, but especially for the kids, who have only lived here. But they have a bit of a transition themselves. They will spend most of the summer with their grandparents and dad George in Sarasota and go to summer camps before they make the move to Allentown.”

Alexandra Printz, who grew up in Florida, is moving with her  family to Allentown.

Frontline for Medical Education

The charter class of SELECT is embarking on the first program of its kind to train future physician leaders, a milestone that is front and center for Stephen K. Klasko, MD, MBA, CEO of USF Health and dean of the USF Morsani College of Medicine.

“All of our USF Health students are unique,” Dr. Klasko said. “These 18 pioneers are willing to go where no medical students have gone before… where their clinical training is over a thousand miles away and their curriculum is based on the transformations of a very different healthcare future.  They are the inaugural group of students helping us blaze the trail for the new medical education model, for the new way doctors will be taught and trained. This is how medical education is changing, and they are innovators, pacesetters, and leaders.”

SELECT student O’Brien is also keenly aware of the distinction.

“It’s a special feeling about what they’re doing,” O’Brien said. “There is something so unique about this program. The training, the extra effort taken to provide the experiences that will make us strong leaders. I appreciate the extra effort. The way we’re training doctors is changing and the SELECT program is on the front of the curve of that change.”

Ramin agrees.

“SELECT truly changed my life and is helping me grow,” said Ramin, who worked in LVHN as a nurse’s aide when he heard about the SELECT program at the employee orientation session, and didn’t hesitate applying. “I’m getting experiences that all medical students get, but SELECT goes beyond just the medical aspect. I’m learning about leadership, the healthcare system, and patient-centered care.”

And so does Sasha Yakhkind.

“What I’ve enjoyed about SELECT is that they ask for our ideas and opinions for how things are going because it’s so new,” Yakhkind said. “It’s an honor to give feedback, to be heard.”

New Beginnings

It’s been a quick two years for the medical students in the SELECT program. Beyond the packing, the trip to Allentown is about new beginnings. Common among all  the students are feelings of nervousness and excitement.

“It’s a surprise and surprises are good,” Ramin said. “It will be a totally different experience being out of classroom and in patient situations. But I’ll see all of my friends again and have all of my friends from Tampa. It will be a different chapter.”

“I’m super, super excited for the clinical aspect of it,” Yakhkind said. “Allentown is more rural than Tampa. But we’re a train ride away from New York City. And I’ll miss some of my closest friends, fellow medical students who are staying here in Tampa.”

“It’s a brave new world,” Printz said. “It’s an incredible experience to be connected to two incredible institutions.”

“The two years really go quickly,” O’Brien said. “And now it’s ‘Wow! This is really happening.’  We all just get the feeling Allentown is going to roll out the red carpet for us.”

And what’s in store when they get to Allentown?  This Monday morning, May 6, the SELECT inaugural class will be welcomed to Allentown by Dr. Ronald Swinfard, president and CEO of Lehigh Valley Health Network. The students will meet the LVHN clinical faculty and be presented with new white coats that they will wear over the next two years of their clinical education.

New Traditions

As a charter group, the SELECT students are forming traditions for the next generation to follow. For this move north, current first-year SELECT students helped second-year students (soon to be third-year students), pack up.

 First-year medical students helped the Printz family load for their move to Allentown. Standing in the truck are Kirk Chassey and Alexandra Printz. On the ground,  are from left, Mary Kate Erdman, Neil Manimala, Samson Lu, Joe Stidham (top), Rachel Fieman (bottom), and Tom Fowler.

Charter USF SELECT MD students with Alan Otuski, MD,(far left), associate dean of educational affairs for SELECT, and LVHN President and CEO Ron Swinfard, MD (far right). The students will spend their third and fourth years of medical school at LVHN doing classroom study, medical simulations, regular hospital rotations and primary care practice assignments.

Story by Sarah A. Worth, photos by Eric Younghans and Klaus Herdocia, USF Health Office of Communications.

Like students in most schools, a group of elementary students in East Tampa started classes last month excited about the year ahead.

But this group is a little different. Uniforms are scrubs. Guest speakers are doctors, nurses, and the like. And field trips will be to area laboratories and maybe hospitals.

This group is the inaugural class for the King’s Kids Academy of Health Sciences, a new charter school putting an emphasis on health sciences and aiming to build a pipeline for healthcare professionals who will help ease the shortage of healthcare providers, especially minority professionals.

King’s Kids Academy of Health Sciences (KKAHS) earned approval to open from the School Board of Hillsborough County earlier this year. The school is targeting underserved low-income school-age students of the East Tampa area.

In designing its extensive curriculum that includes modules for learning about health and sciences and inspiring students to consider health careers, KKAHS has connected with many community health groups, including USF Health. Lennox Hoyte, MD, associate professor in USF’s Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the Morsani College of Medicine, is acting as a mentor to the program, and sees the school as a good way to help ease the shortage in healthcare providers.

“It is important for these young kids to see a pathway for becoming healthcare professionals,” Dr. Hoyte said. “And starting early – demonstrating, as well as experiencing, aspects of health careers – is an ideal model for keeping that pathway open.  There is a dramatic shortage of healthcare professionals, especially minority healthcare professionals. So a curriculum like this can provide a high payoff for the community, the region, and the state, as well as the individual.”

In addition to Dr. Hoyte, pre-med students, medical students and faculty can be mentors and /or tutors, plugging into the school as guest speakers, helping on career days, offering support for various science and health projects, etc. As the school grows (it is starting with kindergarten, first and second grades only), the partnership has the potential to expand, as well.

Dr. Lennox Hoyte

“We are very excited to connect with USF Health and see USF students come in and work with our children,” said Maria Stroud, director of KKAHS.  “It is so important to have them there to instill in our kindergartners, first-, second- and third-graders the message that they can define who they will be, even at this young age, and say to them ‘hey, you can start building on this now.’ That’s a magnificent message.”

Also helping bridge the charter school with USF is Hiram Green, director of Community Engagement, who serves on the KKAHS board of directors.

Hiram Green

“As we work to transform healthcare, it is important for us to connect with our various communities and to use our intellectual capital to make them better,” Green said. “A school such as this could help implement a reversal of debilitating conditions, such as obesity, heart disease, strokes, diabetes, infant mortality, and other chronic diseases that continue to plague our community. Starting with these children, we have an opportunity to put in their minds early, the necessity for good nutrition and the knowledge of science, things they will need in the future, whether they go into healthcare fields or not. Just for the betterment of themselves.”

For more information about the free, public school, and to enroll your child (KKAHS is still accepting students), visit King’s Kids Academy of Health Sciences web site.

Photos by Eric Younghans, USF Health Communications