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The Path I Took From The Farquhar College Of Arts And Sciences To The Field Of Medicine, David Cevallos

Pre-Health Day

The path to Medicine is a long journey with many twist and turns. It is a route that would test you physically, mentally, and socially, but knowing how to balance your life will help you reach your goals. I was a former student of Nova Southeastern University already knowing what I needed to do to reach my goals. I was studying in the field of Biology to prepare myself to apply to Medical School. In addition, I attended various organizations like the Pre-Medical Society, while also volunteering at an Emergency Department. I then took the MCAT and applied to various …

Being A Medical Scribe From The Perspective Of An Undergraduate Student, Monica Perez

Pre-Health Day

Getting into graduate school can be a very tough and exciting experience all at the same time. Part of this long and challenging process is gaining a great education and also the valuable clinical hours that will help to become a more competitive applicant. I am currently an undergraduate student with a major in biology at Barry University planning on going to PA school. I was given the opportunity to become a Medical Scribe with PhysAssist Scribes about 2 years ago and this is what has helped me become more confident about my journey to graduate school. This break out …

My Path From Undergrad To Dentistry, Yanina Cox

Pre-Health Day

Coming from a large family of dentists, I have always known that I wanted to be a dentist myself. It was important for me to attend a college where I would be able to have the education that would make me a competitive candidate for dental school.

I began undergrad at NSU in 2003, majoring in Biology, and graduated in 2006 with my Bachelor’s in Science. I was involved in several extracurricular activities and had a student job on campus. In 2007, I began my journey as a dental student at Nova Southeastern University College of Dental Medicine, where I …

My Journey Through The Pharmacy Profession, Jennifer Gershman

Pre-Health Day

You can definitely say the pharmacy profession runs in my family, as both my father and sister are pharmacists. My father inspired me to pursue a career in pharmacy, through his dedication to the profession. Pharmacists play such an important role in patient care, and I wanted to make a positive impact on the community. I completed the Dual Admissions Pharmacy program and then went on to receive my Doctor of Pharmacy degree at NSU. Postdoctoral training was the path for me, so I completed a Drug Information Residency. This residency inspired me through my role as a teacher, mentor, …

My Path From Farquhar Collefe Of Arts And Science To The Field Of Medicine, Crystal Romero

Pre-Health Day

As an undergraduate student in the Farquhar College of Arts and Sciences I was confident that I wanted to be a physician; however, I was also intrigued by the field of Public Health. Consequently, I pursued a Master’s degree concentrating in Epidemiology and Biostatistics. Personally, I saw the attainment of this degree as a means of developing a skill set for future practice as a physician. Public health concentrates on community health needs, while medicine focuses more on the needs of an individual patient. During this time I worked on a project at the Broward County Health Department that allowed …

Journey To Internal Medicine, Luke C. Williams

Pre-Health Day

My name is Dr. Williams, or as most people call me Dr. Luke. Currently, I work in South Georgia as an ED physician. The road to where I’m currently sitting and to where I started has been long, trying but mostly fun! I started my undergraduate at Valdosta State University; to say the least I was completely lost. My hometown has about 5000 people in the entire county so being at a bigger city seemed overwhelming. I had no friends really and my social life was subpar. I started out as a premed major but quickly realized that these college …

Freshman At Farquhar To Pharmacy Professor: The Reality Of The Journey And Tips For Success, Nicholas Carris

Pre-Health Day

The path to becoming a healthcare provider is a commitment to lifelong learning, constant hard work, and a career that is not about you. Every class you take, everything you learn, every experience you engage in is preparing you to be a competent and compassionate healthcare provider, so that one day you can walk into the room of a desperate patient and help them. The pay is average at best, especially considering the years of training. People will be angry at you when you are doing your best to help them. People will be angry when you do not want …

How A Biology Major Lead Me Into Public Health And Working For A Non-Profit Organization, Viktoriya Yudovina

Pre-Health Day

In the beginning, I wanted to be a physician, a scholar of everything medicine. And while my greatest passion is still medical science and research, my path has taken me in a slightly different direction. Currently, I manage the Afterschool Meal Program and Summer Food Service Program for FLIPANY, a non-profit organization, whose “mission is to empower youth and their families through physical activity and nutrition education programs while raising awareness and creating policies for a healthier community”. Working in an arena of health and wellness, I am able to touch base on both my undergraduate days of biology in …

From A B.A. In Speech Language Pathology To Becoming An Occupational Therapist; Change Is Good!, Kailtkin Dudziec

Pre-Health Day

Everyone thinks college is a time for you to pick a career and decide what you are going to do with the rest of your life. This is true in a way, but it is also a time for you to find yourself and decide who you want to be as a person in the future. Day 1 of my undergrad career consisted of my switching majors from elementary education to speech-language pathology. Going through some of the pre-requisite psychology classes, I also decided I wanted to be a psychology major, so I added that in my second year of …

Advice To My Undegraduate Self About Pursuing A Carrer In Medicine, Daveda Maharaj

Pre-Health Day

The journey I’ve traveled, literally and figuratively, to become an anesthesiologist has been both challenging and rewarding. When I was a student at Farquhar College of Arts and Sciences, I hit the ground running with ambition and goals to achieve. A minor detour teaching high school in between undergrad and med school was a huge learning experience, and I still fulfilled my career goals of becoming a physician. I’m not sure I ever imagined that this is what the “real world” would be like for a practicing anesthesiologist, but I’ve come to learn some of the best and worst ways …

From Undergrad To Pediatric Dentist, Claudia X. Harriehausen

Pre-Health Day

I have always known that my desire to become a dentist came during my childhood. Therefore, during my undergraduate years at NSU I reinforced that desire by participating in many activities related to dentistry, such as volunteering for non-profit organizations as dental assistant, and providing oral hygiene education for underserved communities. By working with patients at that time, I learned many interpersonal aspects of dentistry that are not covered in textbooks, which enhanced my commitment and dedication to this type of work. I could not envision a more rewarding and compassionate career to spend my life by promoting the wellness …

Optomestrist And Educator, Michael Bacigalupi

Pre-Health Day

Dr. Michael Bacigalupi grew up in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. His father was a letter carrier for the US Postal Service and his mother was an office manager for a local optometrist. He decided at a young age that he wanted to become an optometrist and has never regretted this decision. He is proud of his career and hopes to inspire others to consider the profession of optometry. Dr. Bacigalupi earned an Associate of Arts degree in Chemistry from Schreiner University and a Bachelor of Science degree in Optometry from the University of Houston. In 1993, he graduated magna cum laude …

The Knight Who Saved The Shark, Alberto J. Panero

Pre-Health Day

Reaching one’s goals is never an individual effort. I enrolled at NSU in the year 2000, joining the Men’s soccer team and pursuing a career in sports medicine. High school was easy, managing being a student athlete did not pose many challenges. I could study for an exam the night before and do quite well on it. After getting a 68% on my first biology test in college, I quickly realized this method would no longer work. Developing a new study strategy and keeping up with the demands of being a full time athlete and social life was not easy. …

Road Less Taveled: My Journey To Becoming A Certified Tobacco Cessation Specialist, Carlos Almirola

Pre-Health Day

I didn’t arrive in Public Health through conventional means. My father is a physician and I grew up thinking medicine was in my future. Towards the end of my undergrad I started to learn about other careers and eventually came across Public Health. I saw the importance of helping avoid problematic health issues in our community through early intervention. My Public Health training when combined with my background in Biology opened new doors I never knew existed. Grad School gave me the opportunity to have involvement with different community health initiatives in Baptist Congregational Health, UM Docs Program, and as …

Calcification Rates Indicate Thermal Stress Tolerance In Belize “Backreef” Corals, David D. Jones

Undergraduate Research Symposium

Reef-building corals host symbiotic algae known as zooxanthellae living within their tissues. Exposure to prolonged elevated temperature can cause corals to expel their symbionts and lead to coral bleaching. In this study, corals from Florida and Belize inshore reefs (high temperature variability) and offshore reefs (low temperature variability) were subjected to a 6-week-long heat stress experiment to determine if inshore corals displayed higher stress tolerance than offshore samples. Measurements of calcification rates suggested that Belize’s inshore or “BackReef” corals demonstrated the greatest growth and stress tolerance. Ongoing symbiont density measurements will provide further clues to stress tolerance.

Damsels In Distress: A Preliminary Assessment Of Pomacentridae Extinction Risk, Allison Roberts

Undergraduate Research Symposium

The family Pomacentridae is among the most diverse of the perciformes, boasting 400 different species of damselfish. These fish are found in coral reefs of varying depths around the world, most of which risk great damage due to climate change. In addition, many species are key components of the ornamental aquarium trade. Considering these threats, the importance of examining the state of Pomacentridae is paramount in examining the health of our oceans. Using IUCN Red List methods, preliminary data suggests some species of damselfish are at elevated risk of extinction.

Oral Concurrent Session Ii: Biological Sciences Ii: Aquatic Sciences, Dan Barshis

Undergraduate Research Symposium

No abstract provided.

The Journey To Becoming A Dentist: Advice To My Undergraduate Self, Katherine Lorenzo-Machado

Pre-Health Day

Growing up with a few family members who were dentists, I was always exposed to the profession. When I started undergraduate school at FIU, I knew that was what I wanted to be, and focused most of my time on getting there. Juggling undergraduate school, working at different dental offices, and studying for my DAT while maintaining my social life with family and friends was tough, but I was able to achieve that and get my undergraduate degree in Biology with a minor in Chemistry in 3 years. I went straight from undergraduate school to dental school, which made some …

The Path To Optometry, Mari Holderby

Pre-Health Day

The path to optometry, although at times challenging, is extremely rewarding. I personally had my eyes set on becoming an optometrist since I was 16 years old, when I attended a Dual Enrollment program called College Academy at Broward College. I had graduated high school with an Associate of Arts degree, and therefore by the time I attended Farquhar, I knew what my long-term goals were. I was lucky enough to be accepted into the Dual Admission program for optometry, in which I had a guaranteed seat in NSU’s optometry school once I completed my three years at Farquhar. It …

From Undergrad To Ph. D., My Lessons, Ivan Jozic

Pre-Health Day

Although the road to becoming a scientist is often riddled with many hurdles, the rewards of self-discovery and potential to revolutionize the world, are priceless. It is said that a PhD is pursued by those who are driven to do something original and those who are have the passion to discover the unknown; but also those that have dedication, persistence and resilience. My journey began at the intersection of College Ave and SW 30th St back in 2004. As with many other Biology majors, I was unsure where my career path should lead to, but I knew it had to …

From Undergrad To Audiologist, The Road Less Traveled, Ashley Lawrence

Pre-Health Day

College is a challenging yet rewarding time in life and if you stay motivated and keep your eyes on your long-term goals, you will be successful regardless of your career choice. I learned about who I was as a person throughout my college years, and I can offer some guidance on both the good choices and mistakes I made on my path to becoming a medical professional. I began undergrad at NSU in 2002, long before the days of the University Center and when the NSU mascot was still a Knight. I majored in Biology and graduated in 2006 with …

My Career Journey, Cecelia Rokusek

Pre-Health Day

Dr. Rokusek currently serves as Assistant Dean for Research and Innovation, Nova Southeastern University College of Osteopathic Medicine in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Prior to joining Nova, Dr. Rokusek served as Assistant Vice President for Academic Affairs at the University of South Dakota, School of Medicine. She served as Professor and Dean of Education at Winona State University in Winona, Minnesota and Dean of Health Professions at Governors State University in Illinois and at Florida Gulf University in Ft. Myers, Fl serving as the first dean to bring all of the 5 health professions program in the newly established university to …

My Path To Pharmacy School, Daven Sawh

Pre-Health Day

came from Trinidad, and when I started I had no idea of how to approach the process. I depended on the advisors and people on the same path to guide me. This was not the best approach. I should have done my own research and mapped out my own path. But I was determined to become a pharmacist and I completed my prerequisites as required for the COP at that time....or so I thought. I was not a competitive candidate and my first application left me devastated. However I learned what I needed to do. I worked on my GPA …

Journey To Becoming A Surgeon, Jill C. Gorsuch

Pre-Health Day

I began my path to become General and Bariatric Surgeon at the University of Florida earning my B.S. in Microbiology and Cell Science. I then spent a year at the University of Miami, Diabetes Research Institute studying islet cell transplantation. In 2005, I began medical school at NSU, College of Osteopathic Medicine where I earned both my D.O. and M.P.H. I then completed my general surgery residency at Michigan State’s Botsford Hospital in Farmington Hills, Michigan. While in residency I decided I wanted to advance my general surgery skills and pursue a career in Bariatric surgery. I am currently completing …

Taking The Nontraditional Route To Medical School From Nurse To Physician. Are You Sure You Want To Embark On This Journey?, Zaki Darojat

Pre-Health Day

Changing careers takes a lot of guts regardless of what career you had initially and the decision to embark on the journey of becoming a physician is a long one. I will discuss some factors that one should consider before making this leap. Medical school was not easy but it is definitely a rewarding career and I wouldn’t be happy doing anything else; However, I have colleagues who do not share the same sentiment. I hope to shed some light into the pros and cons of medicine and help you make an informed decision.

The Big Picture Of A Career Behind The Microscope: Life Lessons From A Thirty-Something Woman In Medicine, Marta M. Van Straten

Pre-Health Day

I consider myself fortunate to pursue a career whose steps were laid out before me. The umbrella of medicine is broad, however, and many major life events occur between the time a young person starts college and a career truly materializes. Looking back on the past fifteen years since graduating high school, I’ve learned more about people and the world around me than any single topic taught in a classroom. From one detour after finishing my undergraduate degree, to another after graduating medical school, my path to becoming a pathologist was not the direct one I envisioned. Since graduating from …

Oral Concurrent Session I: Biological Sciences I: Birds, Ticks, And Algae, Eric Walters

Undergraduate Research Symposium

No abstract provided.

Poster Session, Honors College, Odu

Undergraduate Research Symposium

Poster Session featuring Electrical, Computer, and Civil Engineering, Physics, Computer Science, Psychology, Biological Sciences, Chemistry, and Human Services

Hydroxycarbamide Versus Chronic Transfusion For Maintenance Of Transcranial Doppler Flow Velocities In Children With Sickle Cell Anaemia-Tcd With Transfusions Changing To Hydroxyurea (Twitch): A Multicentre, Open-Label, Phase 3, Non-Inferiority Trial., Russell E Ware, Barry R Davis, William H Schultz, R Clark Brown, Banu Aygun, Sharada Sarnaik, Lori Luchtman-Jones, +Several Additional Authors

Pediatrics Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND: For children with sickle cell anaemia and high transcranial doppler (TCD) flow velocities, regular blood transfusions can effectively prevent primary stroke, but must be continued indefinitely. The efficacy of hydroxycarbamide (hydroxyurea) in this setting is unknown; we performed the TWiTCH trial to compare hydroxyurea with standard transfusions.

METHODS: TWiTCH was a multicentre, phase 3, randomised, open-label, non-inferiority trial done at 26 paediatric hospitals and health centres in the USA and Canada. We enrolled children with sickle cell anaemia who were aged 4-16 years and had abnormal TCD flow velocities (≥ 200 cm/s) but no severe vasculopathy. After screening, eligible …

Does Yoga Practice Improve Balance In Older Adults?, Joanna Alfieri, Spt, Andrea Barberio, Spt, Ryt-500, Rebecca Mccammitt, Spt, Kevin Reeder, Spt, Susan Duff, Pt, Edd, Cht, Ryt-200

Department of Physical Therapy Capstone Posters

Purpose and Hypothesis:

The purpose of this systematic review was to determine the effects of a regular yoga program on balance in older adults. We hypothesized that a regular yoga program would improve balance and consequently reduce fall risk in the older adult population.