On Saturday, August 23rd, St.George’s University inducted 25students into the inaugural four-

year program leading to the Bachelor ofScience in Nursing (BSN) degree. In aceremony attended by Grenada’s PrimeMinister, Hon. Tillman Thomas, the char-ter class was urged to follow the exampleof the many outstanding role models intheir profession.

Provost of St. George’s University, Dr.Allen Pensick, used the occasion to spot-light the illustrious past of the professionwhich stemmed from individuals’ desireto serve the needs of the sick. KeynoteSpeaker Dr. Judith Balcerski, a registerednurse who served as Dean of Barry Uni-versity School of Nursing for 33 years,congratulated these ‘brave and privilegedindividuals’ on being the first nursingclass at SGU. She encouraged them tocontinually reflect upon the many out-standing men and women who entered theprofession years before: Catherine ofSienna, Clara Barton, Florence Nightin-gale and Mother Theresa to name a few.Dr. Balcerski explained that learning theirstories will bring to life the heart and soulof the nursing profession and will serveas inspiration throughout their journey innursing education and nursing practice.

Drawing upon an impressive career,Dr. Balcerski eloquently defined the pro-fession as both a science and an art, towhich she added “sense and heart.” From

these four words, Dr. Balcerski created an acronym, SASH, which she threadedthroughout her speech and inspired a newgeneration of nurses. “Remember nursingas a sash, a mantle across your shouldersof science, art, sense and heart.”

Dr. Balcerski encouraged the studentsto “practice by evidence rather thanmyth,” as they apply the skills learned inthe anatomy, physiology and chemistryclassrooms. This, she explained, is thescience aspect of the nursing profession.She then defined the art of nursing, andencouraged the students to employ cre-ative methods in dispatching their dutiesfor the benefit of their patients. Creativ-ity, said Dr. Balcerski, can help a patientaccept treatment when they are fearful,eat when they have no appetite and sleep

when they are not willing. The sensecomes into play each day, as good sensesustains oneself when tired, frustrated andin need of a fresh perspective. Above all,Dr. Balcerski stressed, “Heart is what

TTHHEE

CCHHRROONNIICCLLEE

TTHHEE

CCHHRROONNIICCLLEE

The Newsletter of St. George’s UniversityGrenada, West Indies Fall 2008 Vol. 27, No.2

IINN TTHHIISS IISSSSUUEE::Inaugural “Beyond Spice”Parents’ Weekend…3

Dr. John Sensakovic: NewChair of Medicine…7

WINDREF Combats Neglected Tropical Diseases…8

Nursing Program Inducts Charter Class

(Continued on page 5)

Grenada’s Prime Minister Hon. Tillman Thomas and Chancellor Charles Modica with Nursing Inductees

Keynote Speaker Dr. Judith Balcerski

2 ST. GEORGE’S UNIVERSITY

SGUSVM/Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine Partnership

St. George’s University School ofVeterinary Medicine (SGUSVM)will now offer its student body the

opportunity to perform its fourth yearclinical rotations at world-renownedCornell University College of VeterinaryMedicine. This partnership will broadenSGUSVM student experiences byproviding practical, hands-on trainingthat allows them to translate theory intopractice and develop the level ofconfidence that can only come fromparticipating in such a respected program.

“The partnership with St. George’s University School of Veterinary Medicinepresents a wonderful opportunity forCornell University to participate in theeducation of these bright and committedstudents,” said Michael I. Kotlikoff, theAustin O. Hooey Dean of the College ofVeterinary Medicine. “The next genera-tion of veterinarians will need to bededicated, passionate and talented, andwe look forward to helping St. George’sUniversity students to assume a leadershiprole in society and our profession.”

Cornell University College ofVeterinary Medicine was established in1894, and is recognized internationallyas a leader in public health, biomedicalresearch, animal medicine and veterinarymedical education. It is consistentlyranked at the top of the U.S. News andWorld Report’s list of “America’s BestGraduate Schools.” As part of the StateUniversity of New York at CornellUniversity, the College is located on theCornell campus in Ithaca, New York, andis one of only three veterinary medicalcolleges in the Northeast.

St. George’s University’s partnershipwith Cornell expands the University’stotal number of veterinary medical college affiliates to 29, with 23 of the 28

US schools now offering clinical trainingfor St. George’s University students. This affiliation further enhances the University’s mission to provide an inter-

nationally based veterinary medical education with worldwide practice appli-cation through superior instructional programs, public service and clinicalresearch exposure.

THE CHRONICLE is publishedthrough the Office of UniversityPublications.

The Office of Admissionc/o The North AmericanCorrespondent:University Support Services, LLCOne East Main Street Bay Shore, New York 11706-8399US Phone: +1 (631) 665-8500US/Canada Toll-Free:

1 (800) 899-6337US Fax: +1 (631) 665-5590UK Free Phone: 08001 699061Website: www.sgu.eduEmail: sguinfo@sgu.edu

Contact Gianine DeSimone atGDeSimone@sgu.edu with article suggestions.

“The partnership with St. George’s UniversitySchool of VeterinaryMedicine presents a wonderful opportunity for Cornell University to participate in the education of these brightand committed students.”

—Michael I. Kotlikoff, Austin O. HooeyDean of the College of Veterinary Medicine

THE CHRONICLE 3

In an effort to address the needsof SGU’s increasingly diversestudent body (this year’s incom-ing School of Medicine classalone originated from a record29 countries) and their oftenanxious families, SGU facultyand staff initiated the BeyondSpice: Inaugural Parents’Weekend. The purpose ofBeyond Spice was twofold —designed to further enhance thestudents’ initial experience at theTrue Blue campus and solidify acomfort level for their families.

From Friday, August 22nd toSunday, August 24th, 155 familymembers of incoming students in the Schools of Medicine, Vet-erinary Medicine and Arts andSciences participated in a week-end of informative and culturallyentertaining events. For two days,family, friends and loved ones ofthe students were welcomed bySGU with tours of the campusand its beautiful surroundings,presentations by both faculty andstudents including question andanswer sessions, a lunch barbe-cue on Black Sand Beach and alate afternoon boat cruise.

According to Mr. Colin Dowe, theevent moderator and Assistant Dean ofEnrolment Planning for Admission,“Separation anxiety is more on the part ofthe parents than on the students.” With thatin mind, a series of presentations appropri-ately titled “Caring from Near and Afar”were delivered at the University’s BourneLecture Hall by several departmentsincluding Housing, Department of Educa-tional Services, Student GovernmentAssociation (SGA) and Counseling. Eachsession afforded families the opportunityto share their lingering concerns, makecomments and recommendations and

ask questions. In a parents’ question andanswer session, Chancellor Charles R.Modica and other members of the administration fielded questions about thevarious political issues in medical and vet-erinary medical education, and discussedthe future growth of the University. Manyparents asked well-prepared questions.

A presentation by the Student Govern-ment Association President, Jesse Living-ston, served to alleviate concerns of thoseparents who expressed that many of thestudents are still very young, and for somethis is their first time away from home.Jesse assured the parents that studentsfully adjust within the first semester on

campus, and that many depart-ments within SGU are on-handin various capacities to assist intheir transition.

Department of EducationalServices Director AndreHavenga discussed the varietyof programs, courses andworkshops which provide aca-demic support services to thestudent body. With humor andsincerity, he expressed reassur-ance to parents saying, “Yourchildren are resilient and smartand will get through this muchbetter than you.”

SGU was pleased with thepositive feedback receivedfrom many participants fromthe weekend of events. Oneparent described her experi-ence in Grenada as thrilling,“This is a fantastic place, and I have nothing but pleasantsentiment and positive vibes.”

The weekend’s success wasnot just a tribute to St.George’s University but toGrenada and its people as well.On Saturday afternoon, afterattending the Inaugural Nurs-

ing Program Induction Ceremony oncampus, Grenada’s new Prime Minister,Hon. Tillman Thomas, came unexpect-edly upon five tour buses filled with excited SGU families setting off on anisland excursion. His face showed deep appreciation at Grenada’s opportunity towelcome and share the Island with theUniversity’s extended family.

The Beyond Spice Parents’ Weekenddemonstrates the University’s commit-ment to the students, their families andgenerations to come. We hope to learnfrom our inaugural event and make thisweekend even more rewarding in terms to come.

Inaugural “Beyond Spice” Parents’Weekend a Great Success

Students and their families take in True Blue campus.

4 ST. GEORGE’S UNIVERSITY

St. George’ s University School of Med-icine (SGUSOM) officially welcomed anew class of 369 medical students from43 countries at the SOM White CoatCeremony held at Charter Hall on Sunday, August 24th. The class of 2012received words of inspiration and warmwelcomes into the medical professionand the SGU community by SGU Alumnus and Master of Ceremonies Dr. Randy Becker, Chancellor CharlesR. Modica, Prime Minister Hon. TillmanThomas and Keynote Speaker Dr.William S. Andereck.

A familiar yet central part of theWhite Coat Ceremony showcases stu-dents swearing a professional oath, prom-ising to act with integrity and in an ethi-cal manner during their training andcareer in medicine. As Medical Directorof California Pacific Medical Center’sProgram in Medicine and Human Values,Dr. Andereck’s distinguished career inmedical ethics served as inspiration tothis new generation of medical students,further substantiating the importance ofserving their patients with honor, dignityand humility.

“To help, not to harm,” the essentialduty of the physician for over 750 years,was the essence of Dr. Andereck’saddress, asserting that the principles ofcompetence, compassion and commit-ment are the cornerstones of the practiceof medicine. When implemented as one,he explained, these essential principalsproduce not only highly skilled profes-sionals but physicians who possess com-passion and humanity. Clinical compe-tence, for example, must be well balancedwith respect and a sincere concern forone’s patients.

369 TAKE OATH AT SOM WHITE COAT CEREMONY

Chancellor Charles R. Modica Master of Ceremonies Dr. Randy Becker Prime Minister Hon. Tillman Thomas

Dr. Andereck discussed the swing ofthe medical pendulum as it moved fromone extreme to another. Initially, it wasthought that patients do not need to playan active role in their medical care. Criti-cal aspects of care such as diagnosing thenature of the problem and treatmentoptions were very much the decision ofthe attending physician. This was wellillustrated statistically when in 1960, 90%of doctors interviewed said that they willnot always tell their patients what iswrong with them. However, just 18 yearslater, with growing emphasis on respectfor the individual and taking into accounttheir goals, values and aspirations, anoverwhelming 99% of physicians saidthat they will fully disclose the patient’sdiagnosis at all times.

Today, the challenge for the modernphysician is to find the right balancebetween individual needs and publichealth needs. Here is where a fourth prin-ciple — justice — is to be fully embracedin their professional life. The moderndoctor is faced with not only the care ofhis patient but with the responsibility to

treat the poor with the same skill andattention as the rich. Moreover, they mustalso successfully face the challenge of thestatistical patient as they seek to balancescarce resources with the needs of thepatient. More and more physicians arecalled to administrative roles and must beprepared to take a holistic approach tomedical care.

Parents of the incoming class werespecially commended for already instill-ing in their sons and daughters these cor-nerstone principles of medicine alongwith the qualities of compassion, humili-ty, industriousness and willingness towork hard. These are not just virtues ofmedicine, but virtues of life.

Since 1979, Dr. William S. Andereckhas combined the private practice ofinternal medicine in San Francisco withhis ethics work and a busy clinical prac-tice. As Medical Director of CaliforniaPacific Medical Center’s Program inMedicine and Human Values, he overseesa vibrant and rapidly growing centerwhich provides ethics consultation, edu-cational programs and policy develop-ment services within a large communityhospital located in San Francisco. He hasalso chaired the hospital’s ethics commit-tee since its inception in 1985. At presenthe is a trustee of the California MedicalAssociation.

Dr. Andereck’s community interestsinclude a long-standing affiliation withyouth soccer and a ten-year term as Director of the San Francisco Zoo. He andhis wife Helga have three children.

THE CHRONICLE 5

presses you to take care of someone whois different from you. Heart will press you to take care of the criminal and theQueen equally.”

To mark their entry into nursing, thestudents were presented with stetho-scopes and lamps. During the ceremony,the aspiring nurses joined members of theprofession in making the FlorenceNightingale Pledge.

The Nursing Program was conceivedas a response to the mandate by theCaribbean Community (CARICOM) thatall nurses in the region hold a BSNdegree by the year 2010. This program isuniquely structured to allow enrollees,after 30 months, to sit regional and international licensing exams. Upon successful completion of these exams, thestudents can join the workforce whilecompleting their studies. Chancellor ofthe University, Dr. Charles Modica saysthat through this initiative, St. George’s University is extending its commitmentto building human resource capacity,increasing access to quality tertiary education and improving health care indeveloping countries.

Nursing Program Inducts Charter Class

(Continued from page 1)

Keynote Speaker Dr. William S. Andereck

6 ST. GEORGE’S UNIVERSITY

Graduation from medical school marksthe beginning of the next step in a physi-cian’s education with the start of a resi-dency program. Residency programs canbe as short as three years or as long asseven — even then there may be a fellow-ship program that can extend another fewyears. Medicine truly is a profession thatinvolves life-long learning. Yes, there arethe continuing medical education confer-ences to stay abreast of changes in yourchosen field, often held in beautiful vacation spots, but there is also journalreading and researching a problem in thelibrary or consulting others long after colleagues have gone home.

Fourth year students attain a residencyposition through the National ResidencyMatching Program or NRMP, commonlycalled “the Match.” Students send elec-tronic applications to programs they areinterested in and are then invited for aninterview if the program is similarlyinterested in them. A program may inter-view up to ten people for each positionthey need to fill. The student then rankseach residency program starting with the one they are most interested in whilethe Program Director likewise ranks each applicant. Both of these lists areentered into a computer and literallywithin minutes, the computer determinesthe applicant’s future direction in medi-cine. Results are released in mid-Marchwith much fanfare and hopefully the stu-dent is happy with the match.

This year, St. George’s UniversitySchool of Medicine (SGUSOM) gradu-ates continued the tradition of achievingresidency assignments at university hospi-tals as well as community medical centersacross the United States. Graduatesattained positions at highly sought afterprograms. Once again, the majority of ourgraduates entered into the primary caremedical fields of Internal Medicine, Fam-ily Medicine, Pediatrics, and Obstetricsand Gynecology in overwhelming num-bers. Health Centers such as CreightonUniversity, SUNY Brooklyn, Universityof Massachusetts, University of Texas–

Houston, Louisiana State University(New Orleans), SUNY at Stony Brookand Lenox Hill have taken SGUSOMgraduates this year. A complete list isavailable on the SGU website under theSchool of Medicine section.

Some residency programs require ayear or two of training in the field ofInternal Medicine or Surgery prior tocommencing their specialty. These highlysought after programs, such as DiagnosticRadiology, Neurosurgery, Neurology,Physical Medicine and Rehabilitationamong others, continue to attract ourgraduates but are more difficult to obtain.Our list shows that our graduates havegained the preliminary residency trainingin Medicine or Surgery as well asadvanced acceptance into these fields in2008 and 2009.

Many of our affiliated hospitals that arethe foundation of the SGU clinical pro-gram continued to accept our graduatesinto their own residency programs basedon the experience that St. George’s Uni-versity students have received a superioreducation with a firm grasp of clinicalmedicine. Among them are Maimonides,St. Barnabas, Methodist and many otherhospitals in the NY-NJ region. Many SGU-SOM graduates have gone on to becomeChief Residents within their residencyprogram as they have displayed leadershipqualities that allow them to act as liaisonbetween the attending physician staff and the residents as well as performadministrative responsibilities to assist theProgram Director.

Each year’s success encourages thenext graduating class to pursue theirdream in becoming the type of physicianthey always wanted to become. Gradu-ates are indeed spread throughout theUnited States studying their chosen specialty in the next chapter of their education.

SGUGraduates

Continue to Attain Superior

ResidencyPrograms

By John F. Madden, MD, FAAEM

THE CHRONICLE 7

Dr. John Sensakovic is passionate abouteducation, not just with regard to gener-al medicine but in his subspecialty ofinfectious disease. In his new role asChair of Medicine at St. George’s Uni-versity (SGU), he plans to incorporate anapproach to medical education whichaddresses the growing need for height-ened professionalism, communicationand a fully integrated systems-basedpractice of medicine.

Dr. Sensakovic explained that as theglobal community continues to expand,the need to understand and relate toindividuals of diverse cultural back-grounds is of paramount importance toboth new and established physicians.“As patients are expected to get moreinvolved in their own health care, doc-tors must be prepared to address theirneeds in a professional, compassionateand ethical manner.”

Dr. Sensakovic raised the question:“How do we (the medical industry as awhole) measure professionalism?”While a tangible scale has yet to beestablished, this is an issue he is eager toaddress in the curriculum at St. George’sUniversity. “SGU’s culturally diversestudent body represents the ideal audi-ence to address several key issues facingmedical education both globally and inGrenada, namely the importance ofimproved communication skills, culturalcompetence and sensitivity. Medicalstudents today need to recognize that

they, in conjunction with their futurepatients, are part of a whole unit work-ing together for optimum results,” saidDr. Sensakovic.

Dr. Sensakovic believes the ability topractice medicine effectively alsorequires the collective use of experts invarious subspecialties, which includenurses, occupational and physical therapists, and multi-skilled physicians.“A fully integrated systems-based practice of medicine is critical to the successful treatment of the patient,” saidDr. Sensakovic. Also emphasizing theimportance of ‘practice-based learning,’he explains, “While students are in med-ical school for four years and residencyfor three, they must be encouraged tolearn and teach throughout their careers.It is equally as important for seasonedphysicians to continue to stay ahead ofthe learning curve as they too learn andmaster state-of-the-art practices.”

Although his role as Chair is a newendeavor for Dr. Sensakovic, his affilia-tion with St. George’s University datesback nearly 25 years. At the time, Dr.Sensakovic was the Director of MedicalEducation at St. Michael’s Medical Cen-ter in his home state of New Jersey, thefirst hospital in New Jersey offering aclinical program to SGUSOM students.It now accepts the largest number ofSGUSOM students in its residency pro-gram, with a total of 13 students from lastyear. In 1984 he was asked by ProvostAllen Pensick, then a Professor in Micro-biology, to evaluate SGU’s Basic Sci-ences program which was in Barbados.Armed with a PhD in Clinical Micro-biology, Dr. Sensakovics’ expertise wascritical to the successful integration ofthe curriculum into the clinical program.

Since then, he has spent over tenyears as a guest lecturer at SGU onpathophysiology, and as a faculty mem-

ber since 1985. Dr. Sensakovic views hisnew position as Chair of Medicine as acontinuation of an already valued rela-tionship with St. George’s Universityfaculty, staff and student body.

Dr. Sensakovic is Director of MedicalEducation at Saint Michael’s MedicalCenter and Associate Dean of AcademicAffairs for the Seton Hall UniversitySchool of Graduate Medical Education.He received a bachelor’s degree inmicrobiology from Rutgers Universityand earned a doctorate in clinical micro-biology from the Graduate School ofBiomedical Sciences at the University ofMedicine and Dentistry of New Jersey(UMDNJ) as well as an MD.

Dr. Sensakovic completed a residencyin internal medicine and a fellowship ininfectious disease at Saint Michael’sMedical Center, and he is board certifiedin both specialties. In 1982 he becameDirector of Medical Education.

He was recognized by New JerseyMonthly as one of the “Top Five” infec-tious disease specialists in New Jerseyand, in 1997, he received the Governor’sClara Barton Medical Service Award, thehighest award bestowed by the State ofNew Jersey on a citizen for outstandingcontribution to the welfare of human life.Dr. Sensakovic is also President of theInfectious Disease Society of New Jerseyand is a member of the Governor’s Advi-sory Council on HIV/AIDS, the Gover-nor’s Medical Emergency Preparednessand Response Expert Panel and the Governor’s Pandemic Advisory Group.

While Dr. Sensakovic is clearly dedicated to the field of medicine andmedical education, he is also a devotedhusband, father and grandfather. Spend-ing time at New Jersey’s Shoreline withhis wife, two children and two grand-children, Lauren and J.T., is one of hisgreatest pleasures.

Dr. John Sensakovic: New Chair of Medicine

8 ST. GEORGE’S UNIVERSITY

On Tuesday evening, June 17th, over 100guests of Windward Islands Research andEducation Foundation (WINDREF) con-vened at London’s House of Lords for afundraiser to aid in the awareness anderadication of the world’s neglected trop-ical diseases (NTDs), especially thoseaffecting the smaller states of theCaribbean. The event included theannouncement of Lord May of Oxford asthe 2008 recipient of the Mike FisherMemorial Award.

Calum Macpherson, Director of WIN-DREF, in his introduction to the evening,its purpose, and the Keynote Speaker,Professor David Molyneux, described theinstitute as “uniquely placed to address

the problems of NTDs in theCaribbean with its collabora-

tions with local govern-ments and worldwide

research institutions.” Lord Soulsby, the

evening’s host and thepresident of WIN-DREF, told the guests,“NTDs can be treated

or prevented by the useof donated or extremely

cheap drugs. The NTDs sapthe energy and blunt the

willpower of the poor on a massive scale.They bring stigma, disability and reducededucational prospects.” Lord Soulsbywent on to lament that the fight againstNTDs, in terms of resources provided,suffers in comparison with high profilediseases such as HIV/AIDS, malaria andTB. Lord Soulsby, the first recipient ofthe Fisher Award in 2006, expressed grat-itude to all attendees for their generoussupport, affirming that the funds raisedwould be put to good use.

Professor David Molyneux, Presidentof the Royal Society of Tropical Medicineand Hygiene, drew upon his experienceand wealth of knowledge to further sub-stantiate the necessary fight againstNTDs in the Caribbean and called formuch greater international recognition ofthe problems caused to the poorest peopleof Latin America and the Caribbean byNeglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs)which he has described as the “livinglegacy of slavery.”

“These are the groups of diseaseswhich afflict the poorest of the poor, producing disabling and sometimes disfiguring conditions,” he said. “Theyrepresent a burden far greater than malaria or TB.” He added, “Although newfunds have been announced, there areserious concerns that the small islandstates of the Caribbean, in particular, willbe overlooked. It should be pointed outthat many of the NTDs that now occur inLatin America and the Caribbean werefirst brought there during the Atlanticslave trade — so the NTDs represent atragic ‘living legacy of slavery.’ We there-fore have a moral obligation to confrontthem with much greater vigor.”

Professor David Molyneux is alsoDirector of the Lymphatic Filariasis Support Center at the Liverpool Schoolof Tropical Medicine, and Professor ofTropical Health Sciences of the Univer-sity of Liverpool. He was elected Execu-tive Secretary of the Global Alliance to Eliminate Lymphatic Filariasis in2006.

Since St. George’s University serves ashome-base for WINDREF, the eveningappropriately began with a beautiful rendition of the National Anthem ofGrenada, performed by Miss Vivian

WINDREF Combats Neglected

“WINDREF is uniquely placed to address the problems of NTDs in the Caribbean with its collabo-rations with local governments andworldwide research institutions.”

—Calum Macpherson, Director of WINDREF

Burkhardt, Miss Grenada World who is athird year premedical student at St.George’s University. Dinner followed atthe historic Cholmondeley Room.

The Mike Fisher Award recipient,Lord May, has a long and distinguishedcareer which includes Chief ScientificAdvisor to HM Government, President ofthe Royal Society, and a Professor at Sydney, Princeton, Oxford and ImperialCollege London. He is a Fellow of Mer-ton College, Oxford, and a crossbencherin the House of Lords. Lord May is therecipient of many honorary degrees andprizes, the most recent of which was the2007 Copley medal, the Royal Society’soldest and highest award presented fordistinguished scientific achievement. Inhis absence, Lord Soulsby accepted theaward on behalf of Lord May.

The late Mike Fisher, who passedaway at his home in Grenada in 2005,was, by all accounts, a modest, self-effacing scientist, whose perseverance ledto perhaps his most profound discovery— Ivermectin — a powerful drug againstroundworm parasites which cause River

Blindness, the scourge of children livingnear rivers and other inland waters.

St. George’s University’s ChancellorCharles R. Modica, congratulated LordSoulsby and his team as they approachtheir tenth anniversary year of WINDREFin the United Kingdom. Dr. Modica con-veyed the importance of St. George’sUniversity’s partnership with WINDREFsince the Foundation was established onthe True Blue campus in 1994 by the lateDr. Keith B. Taylor, who served at thetime as the University’s Vice Chancellor.The Foundation’s research, mainly in thefield of public health, has facilitatedmany of the practicums of SGU’s publichealth students and the research carriedout by PhD and MSc students from boththe School of Medicine and School ofVeterinary Medicine.

A final tribute to WINDREF wasdelivered that evening by Baroness Howells of St. David’s, Grenada. Rosalind Howells has been a diplomat, Deputy HighCommissioner for Grena-da and a role model forhundreds of men andwomen working in thefield of communityand race relations. Shewas ennobled to theHouse of Lords in 1999.Baroness Howells joinedthe WINDREF board in February 2006 and has recentlybeen elected to the board of St. George’sUniversity Trust in the United Kingdom.

Founded in 1994, WINDREF is located on St. George’s University’s TrueBlue campus. It provides the EasternCaribbean with a unique scientificresource center capable of coordinating

international collaborative research of the highest caliber in such areas as medicaland veterinary public health, ecology, and marine and terrestrial biology. WINDREF adheres to the highest ethicaland academic standards in the design andconduct of research, providing first rateacademic opportunities to scientists fromthe Caribbean and around the world,thereby enhancing the knowledge andwelfare of local and international com-munities.

THE CHRONICLE 9

Keynote Speaker Professor David Molyneux

Tropical Diseases

“These are the groups of diseases which afflict the poorest

of the poor, producing disabling and sometimes disfiguring conditions,”

he said.“They represent a burdenfar greater than malaria or TB.”

—Professor David Molyneux, President of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene

10 ST. GEORGE’S UNIVERSITY

The weekend of August 16th marked acelebration for St. George’s UniversitySchool of Medicine (SGUSOM) andNorthumbria University School ofApplied Sciences (NU) as they welcomeda new class of medical students into theKeith B. Taylor Global Scholars Program(KBTGSP). This class, the fifth consecu-tive, has 147 students from 12 countries,a significant increase from the 54 stu-dents in the January ‘07 charter class. TheWhite Coat Ceremony marks the begin-ning of medical studies as the officialentry into the profession of medicine.Students don the white coat, a symbol oftheir chosen profession, and swear a pro-fessional oath, promising to act withintegrity and in an ethical manner duringtheir training and careers in medicine.

The Keynote Speaker was ProfessorSir Miles Irving, Professor of Surgery atthe University of Manchester and Consul-tant Surgeon at Hope Hospital Salford for25 years. Professor Irving, in his addressentitled, “The Not So Quiet Art: Medicinein the 21st Century,” explored the ethicalresponsibility and generosity of spiritwhich is at the core of the medical pro-fession. He continued to say that courage,humility and generosity of spirit must beever present in the doctor-patient relation-ship, expressing that these “quiet aspects

of medical practice are as importanttoday, in this era of high technology med-icine, as they have ever been.”

To further his message, Professor Irv-ing referred to two powerful pieces of art,one a well-known late-Victorian paintingby Sir Samuel Luke Fildes (1844-1927)and the other a literary piece by Scottishauthor Robert Louis Stevenson.

The Doctor which hangs in Britain’sTate Gallery, is a beautiful work that con-veys on canvas a physician’s compassionand concern for a young patient. In thebackground you see daylight entering thewindow indicating that the child has sur-vived the night. Professor Irving’s owninterpretation of the image was that whilethe doctor most likely did not know whatwas wrong with the child, and with equalcertainty was not able to do anythingabout it, the physician was there bringingcomfort to the child and family. He thenraised the question, “What did the publicof that time think of such doctors whohad little to offer but kindness and com-passion?” To answer this he referred toStevenson, who wrote of the physician,“He is the flower of our civilization…who most notably exhibits the virtues ofthe race. Generosity he has, such is possible to those who practice an art. So that he brings air and cheer into the

White Coat Ceremony inducts 147

Keynote Speaker Sir Miles Irving

The Doctor painted by Sir Samuel Luke Fildes

THE CHRONICLE 11

sickroom, and often enough, though notas often as he wishes, brings healing.”

Professor Sir Miles Irving effectively,and with deep sincerity, illustrated to theincoming class the vital importance ofbalancing the clinical aspects of medicinewith the ‘Quiet.’ To ignore the ‘Quiet,’ hesays, “will be missing out on just thoseaspects of our work that make our occu-pation so enjoyable and memorable.”

The Master of Ceremonies was SGUAlumnus Dr. John Madden who alsoserves as our Associate Dean of Students,United States, and Director, Office ofStudent Development and Career Guid-ance. A native New Yorker, Dr. Maddenjoined the second class of SGU medicalstudents in August 1977.

As he addressed the audience, Dr.Madden drew upon his experiences as anemergency physician at a Level 1 traumacenter at the Christiana Care Health Sys-tem in Delaware, describing the emer-gency department as the safety net inhealth care. In caring for patients of allsocioeconomic classes, he considers hiswork a privilege and would “have it noother way.” He urged each student to viewmedicine as a team sport, saying “thephysician doesn’t save lives, the teamdoes.” In closing, Dr. Madden empha-sized the importance of treating withrespect and compassion all they come incontact with, albeit fellow students,school officials, staff and above all,patients. He expressed the innate signifi-cance and power of the “white coat” as itis the robe of the profession of medicineand should be worn with pride.

Chancellor Charles R. Modica welcomed the students to St. George’sUniversity, Northumbria University andthe profession of medicine. This year’sWhite Coat Ceremony had particular significance as it also marked the close ofthe Keith B. Taylor Global Scholars

Program Inaugural Parents’ Weekend. Fortwo days, family, friends and loved onesof the students were welcomed by SGUand NU faculty and staff with tours of thecampus and its beautiful surroundings,presentations by both faculty and KBT-GSP students and an evening boat cruisealong the River Tyne. The staff of bothinstitutions worked tirelessly to assure aseamless weekend filled with informativeand entertaining events which conveyedboth SGU and NU’s commitment to theKBTGSP students and program.

Professor Sir Miles Irving is a PastPresident of the Association of Surgeonsof Great Britain and Ireland and PastPresident of the Association of Coloproc-tology. He was Regional Director ofResearch and Development for the North-west of England and National Director ofHealth Technology Assessment for theDepartment of Health.

During Sir Irving’s tenure as Professorof Surgery at the University of Manches-

ter and Consultant Surgeon at Hope Hos-pital Salford, he was also Advisor inSurgery to the Chief Medical Officer ofEngland and to the army. His White CoatCeremony address drew upon the literarycompilation of well-known Liverpoolphysician and medical editor RobertCoope’s The Quiet Art. This anthologywas given to Professor Irving by theauthor himself, and has served him as aconstant support throughout his 50 yearcareer in medicine.

Since retiring to Newcastle he hasserved as Chairman of the NewcastleHospitals NHS Trust for eight years andas a governor of both Northumbria andNewcastle Universities. He is currentlyChairman of NHS Innovations (North)and Chairman of the Council of the Orderof St. John in Northumbria. He is a Fel-low of the Royal College of Surgeons ofEngland and an Honorary Fellow of theAmerican and Canadian Colleges of Surgeons. He is a founding fellow of theUK Academy of Medical Sciences and an Honorary Doctor of Civil Law ofNorthumbria University.

Master of Ceremonies Dr. John Madden

in the KBT Global Scholars Program

“The quiet aspects of medical practice(courage, humility andgenerosity of spirit) are as important today, in this era of high technology medicine, as they have ever been.”

—Professor Sir Miles Irving

12 ST. GEORGE’S UNIVERSITY

On Tuesday, August 19th, Dr.Charles M. Hendrix, Professor ofParasitology at Auburn UniversityCollege of Veterinary Medicine inAlabama and Immediate PastVice President of the AmericanVeterinary Medical Association,inspired a new class of 80 veteri-nary medical students during hiskeynote address at the White CoatCeremony held at St. George’sUniversity.

Dr. Lucian B. Telesford, anative of Grenada, SGUSVM ’07alumni and a Veterinary Clinician at theUniversity’s Small Animal Hospital andSGUSVM clinical tutor, was the Master of Ceremonies. Chancellor Charles R. Modica graciously welcomed the studentsand encouraged them to pursue their pro-fession with integrity and commitment.Dr. Raymond Sis, Dean, SVM, expressedthe importance of continuously upholdingstandards in a profession they are privi-leged to serve.

As he addressed his audience of students from seven countries, their fam-ily and friends, and SGU faculty, Dr.Hendrix drew upon an impressive careeras an educator, published author and military officer. Dr. Hendrix served as aCaptain in the United States Army Veterinary Corps. at the Dwight David

Eisenhower Army Medical Center in FortGordon, Georgia and served as anAAAS/AVMA Congressional Fellow inWashington, DC. He is also a Past Presi-dent of the National Chapter of Phi Zeta,the honor society of veterinary medicine.

Throughout his speech, Dr. Hendrixmade masterful use of a quote from thegreat American author Ralph WaldoEmerson: “What lies behind us and whatlies before us are tiny matters comparedto what lies within us.” He asked the students to reflect upon the countlesshours of hard work and sacrifice it took toreach this place in time, and urged them to really look back at the “proud100-year history of veterinary medicinein the United States.” In contrast to theshort history of St. George’s University

School of Veterinary Medicine(SGUSVM), Hendrix’s AuburnUniversity College of VeterinaryMedicine will be celebrating its100 years in 2009. In 1909, itsthen two-year program of studyhad six male students in the charter class. Dr. Hendrix notedthat it would be another 36 yearsbefore a woman would graduatefrom the veterinary medical pro-gram at Auburn.

As Dr. Hendrix descriptivelydefined the evolution of veteri-

nary medical education in the UnitedStates, he did so with the purpose ofencouraging the incoming class of 2012to savor each moment at SGUSVM, aswell as the many hills and valleys thatwill likely occur in their careers. In clos-ing, Dr. Hendrix sited the poignant wordsof the Auburn Creed which since 1942has been ingrained in the minds of allincoming Auburn students. In short, thesewords of truth, human value and hardwork eloquently described Emerson’sown words of ‘what lies within us,’ and toDr. Hendrix was the single, most impor-tant message he hoped to convey.

In the days following the White CoatCeremony, many of the SVM students’families and friends remained on campus

Dr. Lucian Telesford Dr. Charles Hendrix

SVM WHITE COAT CEREMONY

(Continued on page 15)

THE CHRONICLE 13

It was an exciting week at True Blue, onethat celebrated the cross-cultural impact ofCaribbean women’s literature throughoutthe 21st century. From May 19th throughMay 23rd, St. George’s University hostedthe 11th Conference of the Association ofCaribbean Women Writers and Scholars(ACWWS). The conference theme was“Traditions and Legacies, Revisions andInterventions: Caribbean Women Writingsin the 21st Century.”

With over 70 presenters, which includ-ed Grenadian poet and novelist, KeynoteSpeaker Dr. Merle Collins, the Conferenceprovided an opportunity for participantsto immerse themselves in Caribbean folkculture, oral histories, and creative andcritical writing celebrating the artistry ofwomen writers across the Caribbean,South America, Central America, NorthAmerica and Europe.

Commenting on the impact of this con-ference on both the University and Gre-nada, Dr. Antonia MacDonald–Smythe,Associate Dean of the School of Arts and

Sciences and Conference Chair, said:“Such a conference, in showcasing theUniversity and in particular the School ofArts and Sciences, can lead to future col-laborative efforts with other universitiessuch as work–study programs, studentexchange and faculty exchange programs.Students preparing for regional examina-tions such as CXC and CAPE have readabout many of these writers. Here is anopportunity to not only meet them but toengage in discourse. Additionally, confer-ences such as this one can be an event onthe cultural calendar of Grenada."

On Tuesday, May 20th, Dr. MerleCollins’ presentation took the form of apublic lecture at Bell Lecture Hall. Dr.Collins, a prolific writer and Professor ofEnglish and Caribbean Literature at theUniversity of Maryland spoke about“Caribbean Women Writing in the 21stCentury: Visions to Recover, Creations toRe-Create.” The feature address traced theunwritten histories of Grenadian andCaribbean women whose acts of rebellionshaped the future of the Caribbean. Theirinterventions provide writers and scholarswith the fertile ground on which to culti-vate a Caribbean literary tradition.

Another conference highlight was itsplenary sessions, which were well attend-ed by high school students and by studentsof the community college. The first plena-ry of Caribbean women writers focusedon Caribbean writers and the factors thatshape their writing and publishing lives,while the plenary on scholars explored theways in which Caribbean writers aremanipulating form and genre in the artic-ulation of the thematics of community.

On Thursday, May 22nd variousauthors including Dr. Dessima Williamsof Brandeis University and Dr. Merle

Collins presented on “Remembering theGrenada Revolution.” Topics included“The Storm That Never Ended: How theGrenada Revolution Stays Alive,” “TheLegacy of the Grenada Revolution in Literature,” “Hurricane Histories: Land-scapes and Languages of RevolutionaryMemory,” and “Say It In Performance:The Story That is Still Difficult to Speak.”

This session was followed by a presenta-tion of Dr. Collins’ video documentaryentitled “Caribbean Nation: Saraka andNation in Grenada and Carriacou.”

Other featured presentations included“Mémoires et Traumatismes” (Memoriesand Traumatism) by novelist, poet andjournalist Evelyne Trouillot on Wednes-day, May 21st; “Del Alma al Sol, Del Sol al Alma: Intervenciones Personales de una Artista Dominican-York, en Estos

21st Century Caribbean LiteratiCelebrated at 11th ACWWS Conference

The Conference providedan opportunity forparticipants to immersethemselves in Caribbeanfolk culture, oral histories,and creative and criticalwriting celebrating theartistry of women writersacross the Caribbean,South America, CentralAmerica, North Americaand Europe.

Keynote Speaker Dr. Merle Collins

(Continued on page 15)

14 ST. GEORGE’S UNIVERSITY

On Monday, June 23rd, Taylor Hallopened its doors to a unique three-foldconference. For five consecutive days, thecritical environmental issues of theCaribbean, including climate change,water and sanitation, were addressed. Thefourth Biennial Caribbean EnvironmentalForum (CEF) and Exhibition, 14th Annu-al Wider Caribbean Waste ManagementConference and the First Caribbean Sus-tainable Energy Forum provided essentialinformation and solutions to a regionaland international audience which includ-ed a cross-section of influential represen-tatives from the government sector.

Distinguished guest speakers repre-senting the Austrian and German govern-ments shared their expertise with regardto the Conference’s theme, “ClimateChange, Water and Sanitation: A SharedResponsibility.” His Excellency Ambas-sador Dr. Ernest Martens of Germany,pointed out that Germany is a key playerin the movement towards sustainabledevelopment and alternative energysources such as wind, hydroelectric powerand bio-energy. In fact, 10% of Ger-many’s electricity and 5% of their energyare from these alternative sources.

Her Excellency Ambassador MagisterMarianne Feldmann, Austrian Embassyfor Venezuela and the Caribbean, dis-closed that Austria also is one of theworld’s leaders in hydroelectric power.

Ninety percent of their electricity comesfrom hydroelectric power and as such,they have much to offer the region(Caribbean) both in terms of technicaland financial support as the region active-ly seeks to harness their natural resourcesfor renewable energy.

In delivering the keynote address, Dr. the Rt. Honorable Keith Mitchell, theformer Prime Minister of Grenada, high-lighting collective responsibility thatGrenadians and indeed all peoples of the

region must share, said, “We cannot bemere passengers to solutions.” He notesthat it is important to take stock of what ishappening with our supply of food, waterand energy; that harnessing the sun’s ener-gy needs to be more actively pursued as aviable option and as an alternative sourceof energy; and that waste as a potentialresource needs to be more closely exam-ined. This point was further emphasized by

the United Nations Environment Program(UNEP) representative, who noted that themost serious cause of marine pollution isstill that of untreated waste water. The sadreality is 85% of waste water continues toenter our oceans untreated.

Senator Ann David Antoine, an hon-orary member of the Caribbean Environ-mental Forum (CEF) also noted that as thisyear is the International Year of Sanitation,it is an apt time for such focus. She high-lighted the fact that we cannot ignore thebasic needs of sanitation and a good, cleanwater supply, since they speak to the verydignity of people. “The Grenadian publicmust be sensitized to the challenges weface and also to workable solutions.”

Distinguished members of the audienceincluded: Sen. Elizabeth Thompson ofBarbados, Ambassador Angus Friday andrepresentatives from Costa Rica, Ecuador,Chile, the Caribbean, Canada, the UnitedStates, Austria and Germany — a trulyinternational cross section. Chair of theGrenada National Solid Waste Manage-ment Authority Ms. Aine Brathwaite, whoworked assiduously to ensure that Grenadahosted the Conference, thanked all for thelevel of interest that the Conference drew.She emphasized that in the matter of wastemanagement, “imperative need for actionhas never been more urgent” and the “needto sensitize our people of what is at stake.”She points to public awareness, education

New Taylor HallShowcasesCaribbean

EnvironmentalConcerns

“We cannot ignore the basic

needs of sanitation and a

good, clean water supply,

since they speak to the very

dignity of people.”—Senator Ann David Antoine

Caribbean Environmental Forum Opening Ceremony

THE CHRONICLE 15

SVM WHITECOAT CEREMONY

and the implementation of laws as positivesteps in the right direction.

Dr. Denis Paul, Vice Provost for Institutional Advancement on behalf ofChancellor Charles Modica, and Dr. AllenPensick, Provost welcomed the confer-ence participants, stating that “SGU isproud to be a collaborator.” He encour-aged them to take some time off fromtheir packed schedule to enjoy the ambi-ence of the campus and wished all a suc-cessful conference. Topics addressed atthe Conference included: Integrated WaterResources Management in a ChangingClimate, New Challenges and Approachesto Human Health and Sanitation, WasteManagement, including Solid, Liquid andHazardous Wastes, Biomedical and Tech-nological Waste, and Energy Managementincluding Renewable Energy. It was clearthat at the end of the Conference there wasmuch food for thought and the challengenow lies in maximizing the informationgleaned to the benefit of the countries ofthe respective participants.

It seemed appropriate that this year’sCEF-4 Conference be the inaugural con-ference held at St. George’s University’sTaylor Hall. The Late Vice ChancellorEmeritus, Keith Breden Taylor, DM,FRCP (1924-2006), for whom the facilityis named, worked tirelessly to implementhis vision that St. George’s Universityshould grow into an international universi-ty. He achieved that by creating a Panel onResearch and Scholarly Activity in 1992;founding a research institute in the Wind-ward Islands Research and EducationFoundation (WINDREF) in 1994 whichallowed the development of a graduatestudies program; and by instituting theSchool of Arts and Sciences in 1996 whichbroadened the academic opportunities forstudents in the region. The internationalscope of the Environmental Conference isconsistent with his hope and plan for SGU.

In addition to providing the venue, as amajor co-sponsor St. George’s Universityalso provided logistical support, accom-modations, transportation and technicalsupport.

to enjoy SGU’s Inaugural Parents’Weekend festivities which were held onSaturday, August 23rd and Sunday,August 24th. The staff and faculty of St. George’s University worked tirelesslyto assure that the “Beyond Spice” Parents’ Weekend provided informativeand entertaining cultural events. Theseincluded tours of the campus and itsbeautiful surroundings and presentationsfrom various departments including the Departments of Educational Services,Counseling, Housing and Clinical Studies.

A native of Greenville, South Caroli-na, Dr. Charles M. Hendrix received hisbachelor’s degree from Clemson Univer-sity and his DVM degree from the University of Georgia College of Veteri-nary Medicine. He later earned both his MSc and PhD degrees from the Collegeof Veterinary Medicine at the Universityof Minnesota.

Since joining the faculty of AuburnUniversity in 1981, Dr. Hendrix hasreceived both the Norden DistinguishedTeaching Award and the Auburn Univer-sity Student Government Teacher of theYear Award twice. He was selected byMortar Board Honorary as one of six out-standing educators at Auburn University.Dr. Hendrix has been married to his wife,Rebecca, for 35 years and they have onedaughter, Charlotte.

(Continued from page 12)

21st Century CaribbeanLiterati Celebrated at 11th ACWWS Conference(Continued from page 13)Tiempos Glocales” (Soul to Sun, Backand Forth and All in Between: Interven-tions of the Self by a Dominican-YorkArtist) by actress, writer and theater direc-tor Josefina Baez on Thursday, May 22nd;and “Departure and Arrival, Alienationand Familiarity” by Dutch writer EllenLouise Ombre on Friday, May 23rd. Allpresentations were held at the BourneLecture Hall. A special Open Mike Nightat Coconut Beach Restaurant featured thework of Oonya Kempadoo and membersof the Writers’ Association of Grenada(WAG).

Oonya Kempadoo is a writer who wasborn in Sussex, England, in 1966 ofGuyanese parents. She was brought up inGuyana and has since lived in Europe andvarious islands in the Caribbean, and nowresides in Grenada. Her first novel, Bux-ton Spice, was published to great acclaimin 1998, and was nominated for the 2000International IMPAC Dublin LiteraryAward. She was named a Great Talent forthe Twenty-First Century by the OrangePrize judges and is a winner of the Casade las Américas Prize.

Dr. Meredith Gadsby, President ofACWWS, thanked Committee Chair Dr.Antonia MacDonald-Smythe for a mag-nificent job in hosting the event: “St.George’s University has opened its doorsto us, graciously hosting our organization.We are forever grateful to the administra-tion and staff of the University, especiallyDr. Michelene Adams (Committee Chair),Ms. Shivaughn Hem-Lee-Forsyth (Direc-tor of Accommodation) and Mr. KiernanRooney (Activities Liaison).”

The general public was invited toattend the public lecture and presentationsto engage with the producers of CaribbeanLiterature.

16 ST. GEORGE’S UNIVERSITY

On June 9th, 92 St. George’s UniversitySchool of Veterinary Medicine (SGUSVM) graduates from 32 states across theUnited States, including Hawaii, as wellas the United Kingdom, Ireland, Swedenand Canada received their diplomas.Chancellor Charles R. Modica spoke atlength to this class’ significance, beingthat SVM’08 graduates first arrived inGrenada only weeks prior to HurricaneIvan in 2004. He expressed pride andgratitude as these students had risenabove extra challenges and had dedicatedmuch to rebuilding Grenada.

Dr. Keith Prasse, Professor and DeanEmeritus of the College of VeterinaryMedicine of the University of Georgiainspired the graduating class, stressingthe universal importance of applyingone’s individual intelligence, initiativeand integrity to their professional andpersonal lives.

Since his retirement, Dr. Prasse hasworked with the Association of AmericanVeterinary Medical Colleges (AAVMC)on long range planning for academic veterinary medicine. During his keynote,he spoke of the new initiatives theAAVMC is considering as part of its Foresight Project, which will guide theassociation’s future direction in the man-agement of academic veterinary medicine

over a 20-25 year time horizon. The Pro-ject’s purpose is to determine potentiallong-term paths for veterinary medicaleducation, including flexibility in curricu-la so that schools of veterinary medicinecould quickly respond to new develop-ments or needs. In addition, the AAVMChopes to begin career training earlier in theschool curriculum so that students areactually trained for a specific professionwhen they graduate and do not have to betrained by the veterinarians that hire them.

Dr. Prasse earned his baccalaureate,master’s and doctoral degrees from IowaState University. His advanced degrees arein veterinary pathology, and he is boardcertified by the American College of Veterinary Pathologists in both anatomicand clinical pathology. He has publishednumerous articles and co-authored thetextbook, Veterinary Laboratory Medi-cine: Clinical Pathology. He served on the editorial review boards of the journalsAmerican Journal of Veterinary Research,Veterinary Clinical Pathology and Veteri-nary Pathology. He was president of theAmerican College of Veterinary Patholo-gists in 1985, and he served as president ofthe Association of American VeterinaryMedial Colleges in 2003. Dr. Prasse hasearned many honors including the NordenDistinguished Teaching Award at both

Iowa State and University of Georgia andin 1998 he received the Stange Distin-guished Alumnus Award from Iowa State University.

Other commencement speakers includ-ed honored guest His Excellency Dr.Angus Friday, an alumnus of SGUSOMand the Ambassador Extraordinary andPlenipotentiary, Permanent Representationof Grenada to the United Nations, whoaddressed the audience with sincerity andhope for the University and the Island.

The Jazz at Lincoln Center buildingwas a first time venue for the commence-ment ceremony, and with a panoramicview of New York City’s Central Park andColumbus Circle, provided an awesomeperspective for our graduates, their friendsand families and honored guest speakers.

Another highlight of the event was theinduction of 23 remarkable young menand women into the 80-year-old honorsociety of Phi Zeta. Originated in 1925 byNew York State Veterinary College atCornell University, Phi Zeta is a nationalveterinary honor society created to recog-nize students for their superior academicachievement. The Alpha Delta chapter atSt. George’s University is the first inter-national chapter of Phi Zeta.

S V M ’ 0 8 C O M M E N C E M E N T :

Chancellor Modica Grateful to Ivan Class Contributors

Keynote Speaker Dr. Keith Prasse Chancellor Charles R. Modica

THE CHRONICLE 17

Dr. Paul Brisson has dedicated nearly30 years to caring for others, including20 years in private practice as a gener-al and pediatric surgeon at St. Clare’sHospital in Schenectady, New York,where he also served as Chair, Depart-ment of Surgery. Despite all of thiscommendable experience, it was during the past year that his skills andtraining have been of great conse-quence and personal impact: Dr. Brisson recently spent 90 days as acombat surgeon in Iraq.

In September 2003, on the heels ofarguably one of our nations most desperate and tumultuous times, Dr.Brisson volunteered for the UnitedStates Army Reserves. In January2008, like countless others, LieutenantColonel Brisson left his family, homeand established career, and began a 90-day tour of duty in a forward operatingbase just south of Baghdad.

Dr. Brisson described those 90 daysas ‘incredibly rewarding,’ performinghigh level damage control surgery tothe critically injured. With many USsoldiers returning home in 2008, Dr. Brisson explained that many of his patients were Iraqi soldiers andcivilians, and that his expertise as apediatric surgeon was in frequentneed. “It was clear that the Iraqihealthcare system was not equipped tocare for the volume and severity ofinjured,” said Dr. Brisson, “and theIraqi people were incredibly graciousand appreciative of the US efforts.”

This is not Dr. Brisson’s first timeserving the United States government.For several years, just after receiving hisBachelor of Science from East Ten-nessee State University, he worked forthe Indian Health Service, an agencywithin the Department of Health andHuman Services responsible for provid-ing federal health services to AmericanIndians and Alaska Natives. Dr. Brissonexplained that an unexpected incident ata local rabies clinic actually sparked hisinterest in medicine. “It is ironic, partic-ularly as a surgeon, that injecting a dogduring a rabies clinic forced me to notonly face my lifelong fear of needles,but actually got me thinking about acareer in medicine,” he said. He notedthat even his family was surprised byhis ability to conquer this genuine anxi-ety and often teased him, albeit proudly,about his ultimate choice of careers.

Throughout his career, Dr. Brissonhas dedicated much of his time tomany foreign humanitarian projects.In 2005 he founded LaparoscopyInternational™, an organization whichcollects, repairs and donates laparo-

scopic equipment to third world coun-tries. In fact, Grenada Hospital is one of the many facilities which has benefited from Dr. Brisson’s work.According to Dr. C.V. Rao, Dean ofStudents, he has been a tremendousasset to the Island and the University,donating well-needed medical equip-ment to the local hospital.

Additionally, Dr. Brisson hasworked extensively in the DominicanRepublic, returning to the Caribbeannation twice a year for the last 12 yearsperforming what he refers to as “simple, yet life-altering surgical procedures to a very prideful, gratefuland needy community.” Dr. Brisson’schildren have accompanied him onseveral occasions, a wonderful andthought-provoking opportunity, heexplained, as they not only learned toappreciate another culture, but actual-ly participated in the mission to assistthe local communities.

Since his return from Iraq in July,Dr. Brisson has been serving anextended tour at the DeWitt Army Hospital at Fort Belvoir, Virginia. He issoon to be reunited with his wife anddaughter who will remain in NorthernVirginia until his tour is completed, aterm which can last indefinitely. Dr.Brisson’s son, Michael, is also in thearmy, training to become a helicopterpilot. He plans to follow his father’spath of practicing medicine, and hasexpressed interest in attending hisfather’s alma mater.

From New York Private Practice to Iraq Front Lines

Dr. Paul Brisson, MD, MS, FACS, FAAPSchool of Medicine, Class of 1982

Dr. Paul Brisson cares for Iraqi child.

18 ST. GEORGE’S UNIVERSITY

Now in its sixth consecutive year, St.George’s University has once again deliv-ered a successful and impactful summerprogram to high school and college levelstudents interested in the fields of medi-cine and veterinary medicine.

This year’s participants in the ten-dayMed/Vet Summer Academy programexpressed a level of satisfaction that exem-plifies the University’s mission. In fact, formore than a few, the program solidified adesire to become a practicing doctor ofmedicine or veterinary medicine.

For high school student Kathryn LydiaHays from Lafayette, Louisiana, the veterinary summer program not onlyreinforced a desire to pursue a path in vet-erinary medicine, but also piqued aninterest in conservation. When askedwhat she gained most during the pro-gram, Kathryn explained that it taught her the value of her surroundings, makingspecific reference to the topic of theleatherback sea turtles, and the discon-

certing data about their critically endan-gered populations around the world.

“My visit to Grenada marked my firsttime leaving the United States. From themoment I arrived I began to realize thateducation is not just about the academicsor the state-of-the-art facilities, but alsoabout the landscape of the Island and theculture of the people.” For Kathryn, theIsland’s surroundings presented an initialhurdle, as this future veterinarian has, orhad, a deep fear of the water. With manywonderful excursions scheduled on theIsland such as snorkeling and sailing,Kathryn pushed herself to overcome herfear immediately. As her fear graduallyturned to a healthy respect for the water,Kathryn believes more than ever that St.George’s University is a very real optionfor future study.

For Douglas McFadin, a freshman atTexas A&M, the Summer Academy notonly offered insight into a medical student’s life but provided a glimpse into

a world he had never before experienced.Since this was his first time leaving theUnited States, the cultural and socialexperience of studying in Grenadaenhanced the academic program beyondhis expectations. The friendships hedeveloped with students from other cultures who shared similar interests werean unexpected benefit. Douglas is grate-ful to his high school science teacher forencouraging him to participate in such anexciting and purposeful program.

St. George’s University believes thatthe Summer Academy is an investment inthe future of both the individuals whoattend the program, and the communitieswho will later benefit from the educationmade available and skills obtained. Forthe many students who pursue a career inmedicine, the University is proud to havehelped guide and secure their path with a program that provides a unique andpowerful opportunity.

Y E A R S I X O F T H E M E D / V E T S U M M E R A C A D E M Y

A Proven Formula for Success

THE CHRONICLE 19

M E D / V E T S U M M E R A C A D E M Y C H A R T E R C L A S S G R A D U A T E

John Tabacco is a seventhterm medical student at St. George’s University andwill graduate with a dualMPH/MD degree (he alreadycompleted the Master in Pub-lic Health). His first experience at St.George’s University, however, was not asa medical student, but as a participant inthe charter group of the University’sunique Med/Vet Summer Academy. Fiveyears ago, the University introduced thisprogram to both qualifying high schooland college students, offering a rare per-spective of life as a medical or veterinarymedical student.

As an undergraduate at DenisonUniversity in Ohio, John noticed a pam-phlet displayed on the wall, announcingSt. George’s University’s inaugural sum-mer program. This, he thought, could bethe perfect opportunity to either solidifyhis interest in the field of medicine, orinspire him to pursue an alternativecareer. And so, according to John, in theSummer of 2003, he took a leap of faithand his first flight to Grenada.

For two weeks he experienced a slice-of-life, albeit small in comparison, as amedical student at St. George’s Univer-sity. “The opportunity to experience thepractice of medicine, first-hand as anundergraduate student, combined withthe cultural diversity and beauty of St.George’s True Blue campus was invalu-able,” said John. He recalls his firstcadaver experience in the SGU anatomylab as a moment which reinforced hisdesire to study medicine, a career path all too familiar to this Maryland native.John’s 94-year old grandfather, a radiolo-gist who still practices in both Florida and

Vermont, has served as his inspirationsince childhood.

Today, the Summer Academy contin-ues to strike a terrific balance between achallenging curriculum which includespractical lab work and simulated real-lifesituations in state-of-the-art facilities andoff-campus activities which offer a realappreciation for the Grenadian culture.“While the experience was brief in days,” said John, “its impact was power-ful, as it confirmed that SGU would be more than a viable option for my aca-demic future.”

In 2005, John embarked on a dualMPH/MD degree, believing that he willbetter serve our increasingly culturallydiverse world with the incremental knowledge of public health and preven-tive medicine. “This degree offers a critical perspective and appreciation forsocial obligation and reform, as com-pared to evidence based medicine whichdeals with change on an individual basis.”

John plans on pursuing a career inEmergency Medicine. His hands-on expe-rience includes internships in emergency

rooms in both Maryland andGrenada. He began his clinicalstudies in Emergency Medi-cine in Jamaica Hospital inQueens, New York in August.

When asked where he ulti-mately plans to practice medi-cine, John explained that theserious shortage of physiciansin his home state of Marylandhas reinforced his desire toreturn home. According to arecent report by the MarylandHospital Association and MedChi, the Maryland state

medical society, the shortage of doctorsin rural Maryland is likely to worsensignificantly by 2015 as older physiciansretire and new ones choose to practiceelsewhere. This shortage, said the report,will be felt most acutely in crowdedemergency rooms that rely on a limitednumber of specialists willing to work on-call. John looks forward to putting hisskills and training to use, in hopes of halt-ing this worrisome trend.

John feels strongly that his initialexposure to medicine through theMed/Vet Summer Academy played anintegral role in his career path. “I encour-age any student interested in pursuing acareer in medicine to consider this incred-ible opportunity.”

…Paved Way for Future MD

“I encourage any studentinterested in pursuing a career in medicine to consider this incredible opportunity.”

—John Tabacco, School of Medicine, Class of 2010; Med/Vet Summer

Academy Charter Class Graduate

St. George’s University, University Centre Grenada, West Indiesc/o The North American Correspondent:University Support Services, LLCOne East Main StreetBay Shore, New York 11706-8399

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