volume 5; Issue 10
October 2016
Atlantic University
School of Medicine
THE PULSE
In This Issue:

AUSOM Trauma
student group

USMLE News

Student Dorms
now open!

Faculty Profile

Case Study
www.ausom.edu.lc
(516) 368-1700
volume 5;
Issue
10
AUSOM Trauma Team
The Pulse
volume 5;
Issue
10
The Pulse
Page 4
Page 5
ECFMG & USMLE Updates
Enhanced Security Policies at Prometric Test Centers
Enhanced security policies will take effect in all U.S. Prometric
test centers beginning October 15, 2016. The purpose of the
enhanced security procedures is to inspect for camera devices that could be used to capture exam content.
USMLE Step 1, Step 2 Clinical Knowledge (CK), and Step 3
examinations are administered at Prometric test centers.
Beginning October 15, 2016, Prometric center administrators
will conduct stricter inspections of any and all eyeglasses,
jewelry, and other accessories.
All examinees will be required to remove eyeglasses for close visual inspection by the test
center administrators. These inspections will take a few seconds and will be done at
check-in and upon return from breaks.
Jewelry, except for wedding and engagement rings, is prohibited.
Hair accessories are subject to inspection. Examinees should not wear ornate clips,
combs, barrettes, headbands, and other hair accessories. An examinee wearing any of
these items may be prohibited from wearing them in the testing room, and asked to store
such items in their locker.
volume 5;
Issue
10
Page 5
AUSOM STUDENT HOUSING NOW AVAILABLE
Beginning January of 2017 the University will be offering
dormitory rooms with transportation to and from campus in Gros
Islet.
The dormitory is 1/4 mile to and from the school (4 minute
drive), with 21 double occupancy rooms and 17 single, both new
and incoming students will find comfort, study rooms and twenty
four hour security; AUSOM students can feel at home away from
home.
The dormitories, a former resort hotel, offers cable TV, internet, 24/7 security, and a common study area.
Cost:

Double room $300.00 USD/month does not
include electricity or water.
 Single room $600.00 USD/month does not include electricity or water.
volume 5;
Issue
10
Page 6
FACULTY SPOTLIGHT
Malgorzata Simm: PhD
Dr. Simm earned her Master Degree in Microbiology from AM University, Poznan/Poland and Ph.D. Degree in Microbiology from Children’s Memorial Health Institute and AKM Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Warsaw Poland. She completed her postdoctoral studies in Virology at Department of Pathology at Columbia University, New
York and following the receiving of NIH and AMFAR grants she had been offered a faculty position with the same
Department at CU. During the 23-year tenure at CU, she dedicated her time to biomedical research and medical
training. In addition, Dr. Simm held a faculty position in Department of Infectious Diseases at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York and served as a Visiting Professor of Cell Biology and Microbiology at University of
Medical and Health Sciences, St. Kitts. Throughout her notable career, Dr. Simm has published numerous manuscripts in high ranking peer reviewed journals, and deposited several novel gene sequences in the GenBank database. She has been a presenter of papers and/or posters at national and international conferences, a leading voice
in multicenter and international projects and an honorary senior lecturer and/or tutor for molecular biology, microbiology in several universities in the USA and Canada. Dr. Simm’s research led to international patent that involved the discovery and characterization of a novel inhibitor of HIV LTR transcription – X-DING-CD4. Dr. Simm
has served as a member of six Special Emphasis Review Panels at National Institutes of Allergy & Infectious Diseases, USA and Agence Nationale De La Recherche, France. She is a member of the Editorial Board in several peer reviewed journals, American Association for the Advancement of Science, Columbia-Rockefeller Center for AIDS Research and Harvey Society.
Dr. Simm has joined AUSOM in 2016 as Associate Professor of Immunology and Microbiology. Her teaching curriculum encompasses an up to date knowledge of both subjects reviewed in a class presentation setting, and solving the
clinical scenarios, where the students have an opportunity to review and apply the acquired theoretical knowledge
into a practical approach.
volume 5;
Issue
Page 7
CASE CHALLENGE
A 22-year-old woman presents to the student health center with pustules on her face,
surrounding her nose and lips. The lesions appear honey-crusted, and are not painful. She has noticed no other symptoms and denies fever, cough, or sore throat. Her
past medical history is significant for a broken arm at age 8 years but is otherwise
unremarkable. She is in her final year at college and lives in a crowded residence
hall. When the pustules are cultured, the results indicate catalase-negative cocci.
Which of the following sequelae would be of most concern?
A. Back and hip pain, fever, and chills
B. Fever, multiple painful joints, and a non-itchy rash
C. Fever, increased heart rate, and the presence of bacteria in the blood
D. Hematuria, edema, and fever
E. Stiff neck, fever, and seizures
This is the classic presentation of glomerulonephritis, an important sequelae of both group A streptococci
(GAS) pharyngitis and GAS skin infection. Honey-crusted lesions are the hallmark of impetigo, a skin infection caused
by Streptococcus pyogenes and Staphylococcus aureus. Because the culture was catalase negative, S aureus was ruled
out.
The picture shows gram-positive (positive is purple) cocci in chains, the classic depiction of streptococcal species,
which helps strengthen the diagnosis. S pyogenes is beta-hemolytic. It is the causative agent of streptococcal pharyngitis, more commonly known as strep throat. Acute rheumatic fever, most likely caused by cross-reactivity between the
GAS M protein and cardiac and joint tissue, is a clinically relevant possible sequelae of streptococcal pharyngitis; however, it can be avoided with prompt treatment.
Both pharyngeal and skin infection with GAS can lead to acute glomerulonephritis, which is thought to be caused by
immune complex deposition in the glomeruli. Meningitis and septicemia are more commonly associated with Streptococcus pneumoniae. Osteomyelitis is an important sequelae to consider when dealing with a staphylococcal infection
but is not typically associated with streptococcal species.
Major takeaway: Acute glomerulonephritis can be caused by both pharyngeal and skin infections with GAS; however,
only pharyngeal infections typically lead to acute rheumatic fever.
Atlantic
University
School of
Medicine
Atlantic University Admissions
4 Waterford Road
Island Park, New York 11558
Phone: (516) 368-1700
Fax: 888-639-0512
E-mail: [email protected]
http://www.ausom.edu.lc