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A Note From Dean Jermyn
February has been a month of celebration, and our latest eNews highlights the reasons why. Join me in extending congratulations to Dr. Mancuso and Dr. Bailey for their remarkable achievements, and to Paula Watkins for her well-deserved Award for Excellence. We also express our gratitude to our generous donors whose support through scholarships has made a significant impact on our students. A special acknowledgment to all who joined us at our annual luncheon to celebrate our shared commitment to excellence in health care and education.
Thank you to everyone who participated in the Town Hall on February 26. Your support and contributions show how we can make a real difference together. I appreciate your dedication to our common goal.
My best regards,
Richard T. Jermyn, DO, FAAPMR
Dean
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Congratulations Paula Watkins, recipient of the Award for Excellence in Advocacy of First Generation Students
The Award for Excellence in Advocacy of First Generation Students acknowledges the significant impact of an individual or group on the experience of first-generation college students in support of their path to graduation.
Paula Watkins, Assistant Dean of Admissions, has dedicated over 25 years to SOM. She leads a team of admissions professionals who carefully select nearly 300 students annually from thousands of applicants. Paula’s commitment to diversity in the medical profession is evident throughout her tenure. She champions the recruitment of underrepresented backgrounds, nationally advocating for equitable access to medical education. Her initiatives include collaborative agreements with HBCUs and pathway programs for youth. Under her leadership, 15 percent of SOM’s entering class is comprised of first generation students, with nearly 200 beginning their medical careers at Rowan in the past five years. Paula’s efforts have fostered “1st Gen-Squared” success stories, bridging opportunities for college and medical school graduates alike.
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Recent Department Chairperson Appointments | | |
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Alison Mancuso, DO, FACOFP will assume the role as chair of Department of Family Medicine, after serving in an interim capacity since 2023. Dr. Mancuso has served as the residency program director for Family Medicine since 2014 and as the vice chair since 2017. As chair, Dr. Mancuso hopes to advance all mission areas of Rowan-Virtua SOM, including excellence in patient care, education and research. Dr. Mancuso plans to continue the great work of her predecessors, while also working to innovate our clinical practice and academic teams. | |
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James Bailey, DO, FAAPMR will assume the role as chair of the NeuroMusculoskeletal Institute, after serving in an interim role for the past year. As chair, Dr. Bailey will continue the great work started by his predecessor and founder of the NMI, Dr. Richard Jermyn. His vision includes educating students, patients, and other providers on safe and effective multidisciplinary chronic pain management, expanding access to care for the underserved populations including those with substance use disorder, and disseminating awareness about osteopathic principles and practice.
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Med Tank Entrepreneurship Competition
Rowan-Virtua SOM InvestMed recently hosted its fifth annual entrepreneurship competition, newly named Med Tank: The Ultimate Medical Innovation Challenge. SOM medical students and Rowan University graduate students showcased their entrepreneurial skills by designing and presenting novel projects intended to fill unmet needs in medicine, health care access, innovation and wellness within the Rowan community. Winners received cash prizes and institutional support to implement their solutions within the community. Special thanks to the Rowan Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship for sponsoring this event!
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All Star Youth Sports Clinic
Children were all smiles at the All Star Youth Sports Clinic on February 13. All Star Youth Sports Clinic is a monthly sports clinic led by Molly vanLuling, OMSII and John Socci, OMSII and staffed by volunteer student doctors. Designed for children aged 6 to 15 years old, the clinic offers a supportive, non-competitive, and stress-free environment where children can play sports and interact with student doctors in a non-clinical capacity. Families living in the surrounding community can attend the clinic free of charge on the second Tuesday of each month at
6:30 p.m. If you would like more information about this program, email rowanallstarssportsclinic@gmail.com
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SOM Scholarship Luncheon
The SOM annual scholarship luncheon was held at Lucien’s on February 11, bringing together generous donors, student recipients, faculty, and staff. This event was a wonderful opportunity for donors to see firsthand the impact of their generosity and for students to express their gratitude in person. Thanks to the continued support of our donors, whose contributions make a significant difference in the lives of our students and their medical education.
We extend our heartfelt thanks to all who attended and contributed to the success of this event. Your support is truly appreciated and plays a vital role in the success of our students.
Read more about the scholarships we offer.
Interested in starting a scholarship? Email forman@rowan.edu
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Build Your Own Bouquet
Student doctors celebrated Valentine’s Day by building a bouquet! Student doctors selected vases, flowers, and ribbons to create a bouquet for themselves, loved ones, faculty and staff while enjoying heart-shaped soft pretzels.
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Take What You Need Bracelets
February 22 was the Take What You Need Bracelet Making event in Stratford. Using letter beads, student doctors selected a word of encouragement and created a bracelet while enjoying cups of hummus and pita. This event will occur in Sewell on March 4.
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Enhancing Medical Communication: LMSA's Medical Spanish Course Success
The Latino Medical Student Association (LMSA) organized a nine-week Medical Spanish course to help medical students enhance their vocabulary and communication skills for interacting with Spanish-speaking patients. The in-person course focused on translating body systems and taught common dialogues encountered in patient interactions. Led by Christopher Otero-Acevedo, OMSII, and Evelyn Robles, OMSII, the course attracted eight medical students who successfully completed the program, enriching their ability to understand and engage with Spanish-speaking patients.
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Joanna Petrides, MBS, PsyD from the Departments of Family Medicine and Psychology and chair of the Rowan-Virtua SOM Wellness Committee, shares this month’s tip for improving wellbeing.
When building upon our own wellness, thinking about things we can do for the wellness of others leads to systematic changes. Some things you can do to support the wellness of others are:
- Responding properly to an email; using “Reply All” only when necessary and not for every email.
- Deciding which emails require a response and using NRN (No Reply Needed) in your own messages if you don’t require a response from others.
- Think before forwarding an email to someone and forward if it is of value for them.
- Send an occasional, brief message of positive feedback.
*Special thanks to Steve Garwood for his help in identifying these beneficial adjustments.
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