2021 was another difficult year for 六九色堂 as we all coped with the realities of the COVID-19 pandemic but our students, faculty and staff still made a difference by volunteering to help vaccinate communities, publishing important medical research, participating in Facebook Live events about crucial medical issues, and more.
The 六九色堂 Endeavour looks back at 2021 and the many achievements from our students, alumni and faculty.
Grad helps women of color succeed
六九色堂 2021 grad Dr. Venus Swearingen helped mentor women of color interested in pursuing a medical career.
Photo courtesy of Dr. Swearingen.
Dr. Venus Swearingen is a 2021 六九色堂 grad working in a family medicine residency at n Arkansas. In early 2021, Dr. Swearingen was mentoring women of color in the healthcare field.
She spoke to 六九色堂 about common things prospective medical students of color experience.
鈥淭he field of medicine lacks diversity,鈥� Dr. Swearingen said. 鈥淭hus, there is still systemic racism that negatively affects black providers' ability to practice effectively, and it plays a role in the healthcare disparities that currently exist in the black and underserved communities. The goal of mentoring women of color in the healthcare field is to diversify medicine, help reduce the health disparities that currently exist, and do away with systemic racism.鈥�
Dr. Swearingen participated in workshops to mentor underserved communities and students of color, talk to them about medicine, offer guidance, and help them succeed.
鈥淭he majority of the questions I received from prospective medical students were about studying and various study tips for success.鈥�
Dr. Swearingen said medical schools can create more Culturally Relevant Pedagogy and Practices to help women of color interested in medicine.
鈥淢edical institutions can help play a major role in tackling systemic racism issues in the medical field. Our institutions must believe in the importance of diversity and advocate for more institutional initiatives that support inclusion. Medical schools can accomplish this by using a holistic review process to admit students, which is already seen in many Caribbean medical schools. Schools that used a holistic review process experienced increased diversity and no change to student success metrics.鈥�
Read more about Dr. Swearingen in the 六九色堂 Endeavour.
Faculty & student research
六九色堂 professor Dr. Fakoya. Photo courtesy of Dr. Fakoya.
六九色堂 professors Dr. Adegbenro O.J. Fakoya and Dr. Rania Siam both had important research published in the fall of 2021. Dr. Fakoya published a book chapter on 鈥淚nduced pluripotent stem cells in intestinal diseases鈥� in released by Academic press, with the help of 六九色堂 student Nihal Satyadev. Dr. Fakoya also published 鈥淭he diagnostic challenges associated with myocardial infarction type 2鈥� in the
六九色堂 professor Dr. Rania Siam. Photo courtesy of Dr. Siam.
Dr. Rania Siam was co-author of the study 鈥淭he association of group IIB intron with integrons in hypersaline environments,鈥� published in . Dr. Siam was also one of many co-authors of 鈥淎 global metagenomic map of urban microbiomes and antimicrobial resistance鈥� in .
六九色堂 professors and students also had research published in spring 2021鈥攆rom Dr. Rania Siam having two articles published, including one in the Lancet Microbe鈥攖o work by Dr. Adegbenro Fakoya and students and faculty in the 六九色堂 Department of Anatomical Sciences published in 鈥�Anomalous Origin of the Superior Thyroid Artery from the Internal Carotid Artery鈥� in. Dr. Edith Esparza-Young and 六九色堂 student Milagros I. Rivera Cora, in collaboration with two other institutions, had their work 鈥淭he Power of a Doodling Brain: Concept Maps as Pathways to Learning鈥� published in on the Asian Institute of Research website.
Read more about Dr. Fakoya and Dr. Siam鈥檚 published research (and research by other faculty members) in the 六九色堂 blog.
1st 六九色堂 grad to Match in CA serves to vaccinate community
Dr. Sarah Mohtadi, the first 六九色堂 grad to Match in California. Photo courtesy of Dr. Mohtadi.
Class of 2019 alumna Dr. Sarah Mohtadi is the first 六九色堂 graduate to Match in California. She is currently a psychiatry resident at in Los Angeles. In addition to putting in long hours as a resident, the California native also helped with volunteer COVID-19 vaccination efforts in the state, and even vaccinated the Mayor of Long Beach, CA.
The 六九色堂 Endeavour spoke to Dr. Mohtadi about why she attended 六九色堂, what it is like to be the first 六九色堂 grad to Match in California, how she鈥檚 helped inform the public about COVID-19 and assisted with the vaccine rollout locally, the importance of getting vaccinated, the challenges she faced, and more.
六九色堂 finally received California recognition in 2020, allowing graduates to Match in California residencies. Dr. Mohtadi was elated to learn she was the very first 六九色堂 grad to Match in the Golden State.
鈥淚t feels surreal that I am the first 六九色堂 graduate to Match in California. I remember how my graduating class would talk about the possibility of having residency options in California in the future, but I had no idea I would become part of that reality,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 received my diploma in December 2019 and applied for the 2020 Match. This was my first choice in the Match, and I say this as motivation for others who are interested in applying for residency in California.鈥�
Dr. Mohtadi speaks with a patient in Long Beach, CA about the COVID-19 vaccine. The 六九色堂 grad volunteered to help vaccinate several Southern California communities. Photo courtesy of Dr. Mohtadi.
Dr. Mohtadi applied for the Match during the height of the pandemic in 2020. She was committed to helping the people of California during this unprecedented time and volunteered to assist with medical efforts.
鈥淚 think what helped me Match or gave me an extra boost in representation is the continued effort to be part of medical care while I was applying for residency. When the pandemic struck, I immediately signed up to volunteer with the Medical Reserve Corps, which needed medical professionals in Long Beach to help with patients who were sick or needed to get tested for COVID-19. From there, I became a Public Health Physician and was part of the COVID-19 vaccination mission for the City of Long Beach. This allowed me to network with other fields and gave me the experience of community medicine.鈥�
She felt a sense of duty to help others while also honing her skills as a future doctor.
鈥淭he COVID-19 pandemic was a time for me to really think about my future as a physician. I knew that I needed to help in any way I can. Volunteering was the best way for me to help, while also gaining experience with patient care and practicing medicine at a time where it was scary, chaotic, and unpredictable.鈥�
Read more of Dr. Mohtadi鈥檚 full interview in the 六九色堂 Endeavour blog.
六九色堂 students volunteer to vaccinate Puerto Rico
Group photo of vaccination clinic Centro Cultural in Caimito, Puerto Rico. From left to right: Ra煤l Rodr铆guez Gonz谩lez, Mariana Fern谩ndez, Adriana P. Gonz谩lez Frontera, Marianne Prada Ram铆rez, Daiana Burgos V谩zquez & Luis E. Morales J铆menez. Nurses from left to right: Ms. Trinidad, Mrs. Traviesos & Mrs. Viggo. Photo: Lcda. Mabel Febres.
A group of 六九色堂 students volunteered their time to administer the COVID-19 vaccine throughout Puerto Rico in May 2021. The Puerto Rico Health Department Administrative Order , signed in March 2021, mandated that medical and nursing students can work in vaccination campaigns under the supervision of health care professionals.
六九色堂 professor Dr. Prakash Mungli said all 六九色堂 students were trained before starting vaccinations and were under constant supervision from professionals.
鈥淏efore vaccination, our students were trained by certified pharmacists how to give [an] intramuscular injection,鈥� Dr. Mungli said. 鈥淎fter proper training, our students were allowed to vaccinate people. While they vaccinated people, they were under constant supervision by certified nurses and family physicians. Apart from vaccination, our students also helped with paperwork and other voluntary work that was necessary during this vaccination program.鈥�
First-year 六九色堂 medical student Luis Enrique Morales-Jim茅nez wanted to volunteer because he said it offered an opportunity to grow in the medical field.
鈥淏eing a volunteer allowed me to have that connection with patients that, after all, all of us in this profession want to have and, above all, I wanted to be a volunteer because it is a blessing and pride for me to be able to serve in my country,鈥� he said.
Mr. Morales-Jim茅nez said volunteering has given him an opportunity to actually listen to patients for a few minutes.
鈥淢any times they come so loaded with fear, so it is very satisfying to be able to listen to their thoughts and what they feel, and then have the opportunity to educate them; that way their fears are minimized or disappear.鈥�
He has worked in two different locations administering first and second doses. In total, the 六九色堂 group has given approximately 1,200 doses. He has personally given people Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson and Johnson vaccines.
Mr. Morales-Jim茅nez said he has run into a few issues, such as vaccine hesitancy.
鈥淚 believe that the misinformation that exists in social media contributes to the fact that when patients go to be vaccinated, they arrive with many doubts, fears, anxiety, etc. We have had patients who arrive with high blood pressure due to the anxiety caused by getting the vaccine, as we have also had patients who feel dizzy. In those cases, we have to intervene to try to calm the patients down.鈥�
For more about 六九色堂 students volunteering to vaccinate Puerto Rico, read the full post in the 六九色堂 Endeavour.
Alumni & Faculty Facebook Lives
六九色堂 alumni and faculty held livestream events via Facebook Live to educate medical students and the general public about topics ranging from LGBTQ+ Medicine to psychiatry and COVID-19 vaccines and the many myths about them.
Boot Camp for LGBTQ+ Medicine & Theory
六九色堂 student Priscilla Bigol & 六九色堂 alum Dr. S酶ren Estvold hosted a "Boot Camp for LGBTQ+ Medicine & Theory" in June 2021. Photo courtesy of Dr. Estvold.
六九色堂 alumnus S酶ren Estvold, MD, MPH (Class of 2018) is in a Family Medicine residency at in Georgia. He proudly wears 鈥淟GBTQ+鈥� on his hospital scrubs to show that patients can feel safe with him. Dr. Estvold and his colleague, Priscilla Bigol, a fourth-year medical student at 六九色堂 and a straight ally, hosted " in June 2021.
Dr. Estvold and Ms. Bigol spoke about treating LGBTQ+ patients with dignity and treating their unique health challenges. Dr. Estvold also spoke in a blog post about dealing with homophobia, volunteering at an LGBTQ+ health clinic in Georgia, treating transgender patients, why he created an LGBTQ+ Medicine Guide and badge, and more.
Facebook Live on National Suicide Prevention Week & the State of Psychiatry
Promo for a Facebook Live with 六九色堂 grads Dr. Harki Kaur & Dr. Aaron Vazquez
六九色堂 Class of 2015 graduate Dr. Aaron Vazquez completed his residency in Psychiatry at Case Western University in Cleveland, OH and works as an inpatient psychiatrist and medical director and medical director at Intermountain Healthcare St. George Regional Hospital, a 284-bed hospital in St. George, UT. He currently teaches and advises medical students as an adjunct faculty member at Rocky Vista University College of Osteopathic Medicine. Dr. Vazquez and 2017 六九色堂 graduate Dr. Harki Kaur, a fourth-year Psychiatry resident at Case Western University in OH, hosted a in September 2021 in recognition of National Suicide Prevention Week September 5 to 10, 2022.
The 六九色堂 Endeavour spoke to Dr. Vazquez about how 六九色堂 prepared him to become the psychiatrist he is today, his thoughts on the specialty, the high suicide rates for doctors and medical students, new, cutting-edge treatments for depression and mental health conditions, why primary care physicians must be properly trained to screen for mental health issues, common warning signs for possible suicide, and more.
2017 六九色堂 graduate Dr. Harki Kaur was also interviewed in the blog about her psychiatry career after graduation.
Dr. Harki Kaur is originally from India. She and her family moved to the Boston area. Dr. Kaur attended the . She studied Public Health. Before going to medical school at 六九色堂, she also worked at a detox center in Springfield, MA.
鈥淚 worked very closely with psychiatry residents and also worked with therapists and social workers and also a lot of psychiatrists,鈥� she said. 鈥淎nd I think that's kind of where my interest developed. I think the reason why I picked psychiatry is I knew I wanted to do it going into medical school because of my background.鈥�
While at 六九色堂, Dr. Kaur took several psychiatry rotations, such as adult psychiatry, child psychiatry and forensic psychiatry. The scheduling of different psychiatry rotations at 六九色堂 helped her tremendously, further igniting her passion.
鈥淚 really enjoyed it,鈥� she said, adding that getting to work in different areas of psychiatry helped solidify her interest in the specialty.
She took a gap year and did research at Yale in their Psychiatry Department. She completed her first year of residency in a transitional year at through Mercer University in Macon, GA.
鈥淎fter my first year of transitional year, I got accepted straight into second year into the psychiatry program at in Cleveland, Ohio,鈥� she said. 鈥淪o, I am finishing up. I'm in my last year right now.鈥�
She completes her fourth and last year of residency in June 2022. Read more about Dr. Kaur in her blog interview.
六九色堂 professor & COVID-19 expert Dr. Nichole Cumby. Photo courtesy of Dr. Cumby.
Ask a Microbiologist Facebook Live about COVID-19
六九色堂 professors Dr. Rania Siam and Dr. Nichole Cumby hosted the about the COVID-19 vaccines. The two professors discussed the facts and myths about the vaccines to help inform med students and the public about using these life-saving medications to help end the pandemic.
六九色堂 student Jared Sharza gets published
六九色堂 student Jared Sharza. Photo courtesy of Mr. Sharza.
六九色堂 M4 student and Healthcare Leadership Academy Scholar Jared Sharza had an 鈥淥p-Med鈥� titled published in the online journal Doximity. He spoke to 六九色堂 about his work during 2021.
鈥淭his past year I have been running a group called Medivation IMG that connects international graduates with current foreign medical students to create opportunities for mentorship, career advising, and general networking within our own niche of current and future medical professionals. We talk to residents, fellows, and attendings about their specialties, about their residency training, and what it takes to be a successful candidate in their field. We also ask about their favorite memories from studying abroad as it is a common experience that connects us all. This opens the opportunity for students to connect directly to mentors after our sessions.
鈥淲ith my final rotation of med school, I ended up having a lot of extra time on my hands. I found myself reflecting on the success of the group and felt that it was important to write up an article to increase awareness about the skill of networking and how it can be useful for medical students in particular. As foreign medical students, there鈥檚 traditionally been a cultural stigma within the practice of medicine that limits the amount of opportunities that are available to us, especially when it comes to post-graduate training in residency. The essence of my article is that networking is a skill that allows you to open doors that may not otherwise be available to you. For instance, being offered an interview to a competitive program/specialty because a successful alumni affiliated with that hospital advocated on your behalf. I first uploaded my article to LinkedIn where it was met with a lot of support. I received a few direct messages from healthcare leaders who suggested I share the article to different channels, including Doximity. I reviewed the process for submitting an 鈥極p-Med,鈥� and submitted my article, with a low prospect of ever hearing back from them. The following week I received a reply from them saying my article had been accepted for publication. It鈥檚 been very encouraging to see all the comments from practicing physicians who reiterate the subtle importance of networking in medicine for professional development and career advancement.鈥�
UMHS students & professor publish paper on COVID-19
六九色堂 students (left to right) Ananya Vungarala, Nihal Satyadev, Tess McClenahan, Andrea Kallumadyil & Samantha De Filippis published a paper on B.1.1.7, a recently discovered variant of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) associated with increased transmissibility. Photo courtesy of Ms. Kallumadyil.
鈥淧erspectives into the possible effects of the B.1.1.7 variant of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) on spermatogenesis,鈥� is a review paper published by 六九色堂 Professor Dr. Kulkarni, University of Tennessee Professor Dr. Waters BS 六九色堂 students Andrea Kallumadyil, Tess McClenahan, Samantha De Filippis, Ananya Vungarala and Nihal Satyadev.
The paper discusses the effects of the B.1.1.7. variant on spermatogenesis. B.1.1.7 is a recently discovered variant of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) associated with increased transmissibility. Recent findings indicate that this variant has a propensity to infect adolescents and children at higher rates than adults.
We spoke to Andrea Kallumadyil about the publication.
鈥�This has been a hot topic in the virology and reproductive medicine fields and we are proud that the 六九色堂 family has contributed to the discussion,鈥� she said.
Read the full publication through the link @
(Top photo) Collage of 2021 六九色堂 students & faculty by Victoria Ross.
Scott is Director of Digital Content & Alumni Communications Liaison at 六九色堂 and editor of the 六九色堂 Endeavour blog. When he's not writing about 六九色堂 students, faculty, events, public health, alumni and 六九色堂 research, he writes and edits Broadway theater reviews for a website he publishes in New York City, StageZine.com.
