the
xavier times
n
e
w
s
l
e
t
t
e
X avier U niversit y ’ s official news publication
r
xavier university school of medicine
Provisionally accredited by CAAM-HP
Vo l 4 - I s s u e N o 4 - S u m m e r 2 0 1 4
what’s
inside
Graduation Ceremony 2014
The Xavier University School of Medicine (XUSOM), Aruba celebrated
its annual Commencement Ceremony at the Hillwood Commons Cinema at Long Island University – C.W. Post on June 19, graduating 56
doctors. Distinguished guests at the event included Chancellor Dr. J.G.
Bhat, Chairman Edwin Casey, President Ravishankar Bhooplapur, Trustees Dr. Dayan Naik, Dr. Obi Nwasokwa, Kamlesh Mehta, G.S. Narula,
and the Clinical Chairs of XUSOM. Dr. Dubey, the Dean of Basic Sciences, and Dr. Neelam Dwivedi bestowed the hoods upon the graduates.
Graduation Ceremony 2014
Early clinical exposure
Hospital Observership
Health Fair at
Colegio Arubano
Breast self-examination
Workshop
A conversation with
Dr. Little
In conversation with
Dr. Dakubo
Interview with Dr. Perikala
Walking the Walk!
Conducting Research
The Faculty Senate
@ XUSOM
In his keynote address, Dr. Moro O. Salifu, Chairman of the Dept of
Medicine, Chief of Nephrology at SUNY Downstate Medical Center,
commended the students for their achievements and reminded them
to never accept failure as an option. Citing his personal experience
with research in nephrology and choosing that as a career, Dr. Salifu
advised the graduates to always be prepared to seize any opportunities that came their way. Special recognition was given to Valedictorian Pawandeep Dhillon, M.D. and Salutatorian Amanda Wolf, M.D. for
their outstanding academic performance at XUSOM. In their speecesh,
the two girls reminded their peers that with their newly acquired degrees, comes great responsibility. President Bhooplapur spoke about
ongoing medical innovations, changes in the healthcare system, and
advised the graduates to remain prepared for changes and embrace
them as they come. Dr. Bhat reminded the new medical graduates that
although available technology has increased, care for the patient is
key to being a successful physician.
The Xavier University School of Medicine became operational with its
first enrolling class in Sept 2005. It has since expanded its campus in
Aruba from its initial stages and been accredited by The Caribbean
Accreditation Authority for Education in Medicine and Other Health
Professions (CAAMHP). Its mission is to recruit, train, and graduate
more students from culturally diverse backgrounds for service as primary care physicians and nurses. Since its establishment, XUSOM has
become a popular destination for medical studies in the Caribbean.
Xavier University School of Medicine, Aruba, graduates 56 doctors
Annita Afxentiou
Manal Ahmad
Syed Hamza Ahmad
Shawn Alam
Nehal Aleemuddin
Nabeel Ali
Jamal Aqeel
Amsa Arshad
Nisa Arshad
Shola Aruleba
Amany Bashir
Maria Belaev
Hafsa Bhatti
Husnain Bukhari
Dave Chopra
Pawandeep Dhillon
Lorena Do Ponte
Preeya Dykstra
Marlow Easterling
Eleanor Eustace
Timothy Franklin
Faraz Javed
Muneer Kaba
Khuram Khan
Saba Khan
Sandeep Khurana
Adam Laitman
Michelle Lim
Sixto Medina
Monica Mikhail
Kunal Mistry
Asma Mogharbel
Deepa Mohan
Atif Muhammad
Palak Patel
Mitali Patel
Mayan Patel
Cristina Penon
Vipin Philip
Seshu Pisipati
Ashvin Punnyamurthi
Monique Saran
Purvi Shah
Mrigank Shail
Sunil Shingala
Sharanjit Singh
Ranjeeta Singh
Shariff Somani
Gregory Stushnoff
Sindhura Suryadevara
Chandan Upadhyaya
Heshan Wijegunaratne
Amanda Wolf
Saba Zahid
Sophia Zia
Lionel Znaty
Reproduced with permission from Ms. Nupur Joshi’s article
in ‘The South Asian Times.info June 28-July 4 2014.
Health fair at Colegio Arubano
Recreation and Medicine
Nauman’s Restaurant
Review
Gabriel’s Movie Corner
Early clinical
exposure
Early clinical exposure has been advantageous to the students at Xavier
University. Clinical exposure is paramount in shaping the career of a
physician. Most students find the first
two years of medical school tedious;
forced to live in a closed environment,
we often go through our studies like
automatons. Medical school becomes
something mechanical, and may not
represent what awaits us in our prospective careers. Life is messy, unpredictable and often our careers will take
us by surprise. Early clinical exposure
prepares us for these very problems.
In visiting Dr. Croes’ clinic, we learn
a whole new set of skills. Developing skills in medical history taking,
learning how to listen, the nuances
of professionalism – all of these are
subjective, qualities difficult to learn
outside clinical exposure. Amiable and
extremely genial, Dr. Croes gives us
background to each of the clinical cases
he presents to us. This makes it hard to
be apathetic when faced with a clinical
case, as might happen in the confines
of a classroom. We are able to see the
disease in macrocosm, the way it runs its
course in real patients, something that
is truly humbling. Interacting with Dr.
Croes or his patients promotes bonds
between students, patients, and with
senior doctors.
It is said that the mannerisms and behaviors of a doctor are shaped by the critical
years of clinical exposure. If so, then I can
hardly complain about the influences
early clinical exposure has had on
me. Any clinical experience, whether
good or bad, can be added to a physician’s repertoire and contribute to the
lifelong learning that we must inevitably undergo.
Michelle Haroon, MD 2 student
Hospital
Observership
Clinical observership at Dr. Horacio E.
Oduber Hospital is part of Patient-Doctor-Society curriculum for MD3 students.
The Clinical Hospital Observership (CHO)
provides the opportunity to be exposed
to a hospital environment at an early
stage, and to become familiar with the
practice of health delivery, provides insight into the day-to-day responsibilities
of doctors and nurses in their respective
specialties. These experiences help the
student to develop and improve their
verbal and written communications skills,
lifelong learning and professional and
ethical decision making. CHO also introduces the student to proper professional
behavior.
Contact includes but is not limited to,
taking patient histories, performing
physical exams, writing/entering notes
or orders in medical records, drawing
bloods, taking EKGs, assisting clinicians,
nurses and technicians with procedures,
obtaining the results of diagnostic tests,
counseling of any description and all
other activities that might be considered
or related to patient care.
Yet another successful health fair was conducted by the XUSOM Family Medicine Interest Group (FMIG) and the Student Government
Association (SGA) working in collaboration with Colegio Arubano.
Approximately 120 people attended the health fair. The free health
clinic organized by XUSOM had many new and old students ranging
from PreMD 1 to MD 5 and offered health screening that included
vision, hearing, blood pressure, body mass index and consultations.
With the addition of new members to the FMIG, the prime focus that
was strived for was patient education and excellent patient care.
The Education Coordinator for FMIG Ms. Phuong Vo stated, “The
health fair was amazing. It was nice to see all the students get together to practice what they are learning. This is what life as a physician will be about: giving back to the community and educating
people about their health.”
Prior to commencement students will
be given instructions on the policies of
the Hospital, ward requirements and a
1hr lecture and practice on importance
of and proper hand-washing technique
will be held. Students are divided into 2
groups of 5-6 students between Oncology and Surgical departments. The observership is for 4 days from 3-4pm. On
the first day the students will be shadowing the nurse in charge and take part
in patient handover, taking vitals, transfer of patients from departments etc..
Students are then expected to perform
vitals, changing beds and organization
of reports etc on their own under the
guidance of the nurse in charge. Students will actively take part in patient
handover and rounds with the nurses
and doctors. Each group is expected
to observe and follow up on a patient
of interest. The group will read extensively about the patient’s conditions
including the symptoms, signs and
investigations, and discuss it with the
Pathology Faculty who will be visiting
them twice a week from 4-5pm. The
patient of interest will then be presented as a Case presentation to the Class.
Students are assessed by the nurses,
faculty during discussion, log-book
and on their reflection on the Hospital Observership. The feedback from
the students has been mostly positive.
Students requested observership to be
for a longer period and to be held during the day time as this will allow more
time to shadow the doctors.
“The way to bring about change
is to be proactive and active.”
- Octavia Spencer
Dr R Balasubramanium,
In charge, Hospital observership
With warm smiles, the members of FMIG and SGA educated the population on the effects of genetics and nutrition with regard to increasing
their susceptibility of developing certain diseases and conditions. They
also explained why hypertension is considered the “silent killer” and the
benefits of preventing the condition compared to the cost of treating the
same. FMIG and SGA will be involved in a health fair organized by the
Women’s Club of Aruba that will incorporate breast cancer screening.
Victor Enwedo, MD3 student
A conversation with Dr. Little
The interview was supposed to last 15
minutes, but went all for almost a full
hour. I guess that’s what happens when
you talk to a person with such a great
and long career. Dr. Little’s education
began at Cornell University where he
earned his B.A. in Physics. In 1973, Dr.
Little received his M.D. degree and in
1977, his Ph.D.in Biochemistry from
the University of Vermont. Dr. Little’s
graduate medical education includes
serving as NIH Trainee in Pathology,
an Internship and Residency in Pathology at the Medical Center Hospital of
Vermont and the University of Vermont
College of Medicine and a Fellowship in Neuropathology at the University of Vermont College of Medicine. Dr. little currently belongs to
the American Society of Clinical Pathologists, the College of American
Pathologists, the American Association of Neuropathologists, and
many other organizations.
Dr. Little has decided to join the Xavier family because he shares the
same beliefs and thoughts regarding medical education as the current
president of the school. Dr. Little has a lot of experience in the teaching world and is aware of the steps necessary that will lead to a full
accreditation which is one of Dr. Little’s main goal. As part of the transformation that will put Xavier as one of the best medical schools in the
Caribbean, include, creating a strong curriculum that will allow students
to be well prepared for the USMLE step 1 as well as clinical rotations.
One of Dr. Little’s main objective is to develop a research based curriculum in which students not only learn the medicine part of the field but
also develop research skills that allows the student to be more suitable
for residency spots. Dr. Little stated that program directors like students
who are complete and have backgrounds in the research field.
As part of the conversation with Dr. Little, the topic on how to study
was brought into the table. Dr. Little personally thinks that it is really
hard to decide what a good way to study is since everybody learns in a
different way. Even though, he could not provide a specific way of studying, he did emphasize the process of finding yourself as a student.
He thinks that different studying methods should be tried until the most
effective way is found and then stick to that pattern. One of Dr. Little’s
remarkable observation was that as medical students, we need to commit to a life-long learning experience. He stated that even though he
is no longer a med school student, he still learns every day and always
try to keep on top of what’s going on in the medical world. Dr. Little
thinks that the key to medicine, is to build a strong foundation; having
a knowledge allows the student to understand the basic principles of
medicine. Also, he thinks that when times are tough and a given topic
is not being well processed by our brain, we should try group studying, he stated that group session allow students to discuss different
topics from different points of view; this allows the student to see
different angles which facilitates the whole learning process. Lastly, in
relationship with studying habits, Dr. Little thinks that students should
be able to identify weaknesses and limitations and work on them.
In short, Dr. Little is a great addition to the Xavier’s family, his experiences and knowledge will not only help us as an institution but also
individually as students.
Roberto Rivero, MD 3 student
A conversation with Dr. Dakubo
On the day of the AIDS shirt distribution, I was running around to each of the
classrooms disturbing lectures in order
to collect money and hand out t-shirts.
At the time I interrupted MD1, MD3, and
MD4 classes, I unintentionally barged in
on the same new professor. Coincidence?
Dr. Dakubo doesn’t think so. This is how
we became acquainted with him.
Dr. Dakubo comes to XUSOM from Canada as the new histology
professor. Educated in Ghana, he studied medicine and was to specialize in pediatrics. He moved to the cold north in 1997 and taught
for three years before he decided to complete a PhD but because he
had a medical degree, he was told that he should do a post-doctoral
degree which he did, with his concentration in genetics. After working in research, he switched his focus to cancer research. One of his
accomplishments is the publication of two books and he has an upcoming deadline for his third book.
I asked Dr. Dakubo why he came to XUSOM and with that famous
laugh he answered that there were too many reasons. But the primary reason he came is for medical education. He is enthusiastic about
teaching medical students and was attracted to Xavier because of
the student-professor ratio. The small class sizes are a more intimate
setting and he feels an enhanced relationship and interaction with
students while teaching, unlike the auditorium classrooms that are
filled with hundreds of students.
Dr. Dakubo considers himself a nerd. Aside from playing beach volleyball, he loves to read whether it is novels, scientific articles, or other
books penned by scientists as himself. He enthusiastically voiced that
he absolutely loves to walk and described to me how on the day
of this interview he woke up at 4AM and walked for two and a half
hours before coming to school. Besides being a self-proclaimed nerd
and a passionate walker, Dr. Dakubo is an extensive globetrotter. He
has traveled to many parts of the world and has concluded that so far
Aruba is one of his top locations. The weather and beaches is the perfect environment and with the upcoming winter in Canada, he knows
he will enjoy it here much more.
As we began to wrap up the interview, I inquired about what happened
to Ghana in the World Cup and who is he cheering for now. “Terrible
terrible, terrible” he responded regarding Ghana’s elimination but
there’s always hope for next time. For now, he will go with his son’s
gut instinct and cheer for Brazil.
We are halfway through the summer semester and Dr. Dakubo and
his big smile have become a welcome familiarity in the hallways. His
fervor for teaching is electrifying and has captured the attention of
the sleep-deprived medical students, which is almost as good as a
shot of espresso.
Breast self-examination workshops
Breast cancer is one of the most commonly diagnosed cancers in the female
population. When diagnosed during
the early stage, the cancer has a higher
chance of being controlled and cured.
Xavier University students and faculty
had the pleasure of working with the
Women’s Club of Aruba to invite the
female population of Aruba for a free
breast examination. Along with the
check-up, the women were educated
regarding the importance of performing
regular self-breast examinations. The
Student Government Association (SGA)
and Family Medicine Interest Group
(FMIG) collectively had the opportunity
to do a breast-self examination workshop on a Saturday morning, June 6,
2014, at a health center in San Nicolas.
During the practicum , faculty and students measured blood pressure, body
mass index, and provided consultations.
After these exams, patients waited in
line for their breast examination. Students were accompanied and directed
by Dr. Neelam and Dr. Diamante while
performing the breast exams. Along
with this procedure, patients were
informed and taught about how to do
a proper self-examination at home.
This was a great experience for XUSOM students as they had been
taught the basics of breast exams
prior to the workshop and were able
to put into action their new skills. Students were grateful for the opportunity to enrich the general population
with information about the importance of self-breast examinations. The
patients responded enthusiastically to
the XUSOM students and were thankful for the time and instruction.
Xavier University is hoping to continue
working with the Women’s Club of Aruba
as the students continue building their
repertoire of knowledge and skills and
apply it to the various health fairs held
through the semester in order to contribute to a healthy Aruban community.
Manpreet Kaur, MD2 student
Interview with
Dr. Perikala
Amongst the new nervous faces of students to XUSOM, we have also noticed new
faculty members walking through the
hallways. Dr. Perikala was a new professor
I encountered in MD2 as he taught
vitamin deficiency and nutrition. Before
this, he was just an unfamiliar face briefly
introduced at the Welcome Dinner.
Dr. Perikala received his medical degree
from India and undertook a specialization
in anesthesiology. In 1993, he began
to teach at medical schools and before
coming to Xavier he was a professor in
another Caribbean institution. He describes one of his greatest accomplishments as being a teacher and takes pride
in seeing the success of his students. He
can be found educating the pre-meds in
biology and microbiology while on the
other side of the building, he has occupied the epidemiology seat for the
MD program. His preferred subject to
teach though is pathology followed by
anatomy/physiology.
During his free time, Dr. Perikala enjoys volleyball, soccer, and even hiking
which is somewhat limited in Aruba.
His favorite aspect about the island is
the wind which he says he has not seen
anywhere else. He finds that it has a
tranquilizing quality whereas I find this
wind to be an antagonist for my hair.
Dr. Perikala is a confident addition to the
XUSOM family and students can be assured that he has the skill, expertise, and
dedication to provide the extra footing we
need in order to excel in medical school.
Andrea Hernandez,
MD2 student, Student Editor’
Andrea Hernandez, MD2 student, Student Editor
Conducting research
Walking the walk!
We were completely drenched in sweat! Dr Nuguri’s ‘smart’ green
vehicle (Jeep Grand Cherokee) could be seen at the foot of the hill. We
were descending Cero Arikok, the second highest hill on ‘one happy
island’. The August Sun in Aruba can be angry and much hotter than
the fabled spices of Andhra Pradesh and Telengana in Southern India.
We had started around four in the afternoon and it was a long hard
slog to the natural pool (conchi). Aruba’s famous trade winds were
weak and we were missing their cooling touch. Conchi is located in
the midst of nature far, far away from Aruba’s hedonistic pleasures.
But for the slowly rotating wind turbines on the sunrise side of the
island there was little to indicate we were in the twenty-first century.
The colorful jeeps, ATVs and four wheel drives were mercifully hidden
behind the hills.
Following the success of various ‘infamous’ associations on the island Dr Nuguri has come up with a new one –AWA and made me the
President and Dr Perikala, the vice-president This is one association
with which I am proud to be associated, Aruba Walkers Association.
Also the abbreviation in Papiamento means water, the safest and most
wholesome drink on the planet. Though it does not modify reality like
the perennial favorite, ethanol, awa has zero calories and in Aruba the
processing and distribution system ensures awa is safe and wholesome. Said to be among the ‘softest’ waters in the world and sterilized
using ultraviolet rays and not harsh chlorine like in most other cities.
Oranjestad, named after the Dutch house of orange in the early nineteenth century is a good place for walking. The locals still call the town
‘playa’ or beach. Recently the government of Aruba has invested on
the linear park and on walking and cycling paths in various parts of
the island. Also in Aruba getting mugged or suffering physical violence while exploring the trails and pathways is luckily a remote possibility. Aruba is a mostly flat island and the trade winds roar across
the landscape. There are a few small hills around 100 m high in the
national park and on the northern side of the island. In Aruba walkers
can take advantage of the trade winds to get a good workout. I read
about a lady who trains contestants for the carnival on the island’s
beaches with a parachute attached to their torso to take advantage of
the resistance offered by the winds. Walking along Santa Helenastraat
towards the school from Paradijs offers challenging conditions on
occasions. The wind offers consistent, fluid resistance pushing against
you every step of the way.
Constant professional learning and
growth is vitally important in the field
of medicine. All medical professionals should understand the nature and
process of research, even if they are not
actively involved in research projects.
They are expected to make judgments
about patient care based on the best
and most current information available.
Understanding how research is conducted will help healthcare workers
evaluate the reliability and usefulness
of medical information and thus assist
them in providing high-quality care to
their patients. The sooner these skills
are developed, the more proficient
medical professionals will be at utilizing the collective knowledge of the
health care community. To that end,
this article will discuss the necessary
steps in the research process.
1 - The first step in doing research is to
identify the topic. This topic may come
from the needs of a patient or may be of
personal interest. 2 - Next, you should
identify what facts you already know
about the topic and what information
you still need to learn in order to satisfy
your research needs. Deciding what you
need to learn will form your research
question and determine your next steps.
3 - You should then select the appropriate resources to use in order to
answer your research question. These
resources should be accurate, reliable,
current, and appropriate to the topic
you are researching. Students are often
tempted to use the Internet, Librarian
to find answers to their research questions. While this may be convenient,
the information found on the Internet
may not be always accurate. More
reliable resources to use in research
include books, articles, reports, and
addresses written or issued by leading
experts and government agencies.
4 - The next step involves searching
these sources to find the information
that answers your research question.
This step is the most time intensive
and involves using multiple sources
and multiple search terms. You may
find that there is a great amount of information on your topic. Or, there may
be very little information published on
your topic. Often, you will find some
information that disagrees with information from a different source on the
same topic. You should be thorough
at this step to ensure that you are finding the most accurate data.
5 - The final step in the research process is to evaluate the information you
have collected. Be sure to consider the
qualifications of the authors, any author
or publisher bias that may exist, the age
of the information, the relevance of the
information to your needs, the credibility of the publication, and any other
pertinent factors in deciding what information to use.
The medical field requires lifelong
learning and medical students should
develop the research skills necessary to
be competent in the research process.
Once they do, they will be able keep
pace with and contribute to the discoveries occurring in evidence-based medicine and improve their patient care.
I and Dr Perikala walk along Santa Helenastraat and Belgiestraat
towards the Wendy’s roundabout and then the question pops up-left
or right. Dr Perikala hailing from Texas was initially in favor of the left
hand path but then Dr Bala introduced him to the beautiful beaches
dotting the right side route and now Dr Perikala alternates between
the two walks. Initially I always used to walk along the left hand
route towards Downtown. One of the finest stretches is along the
lagoon behind the Renaissance marketplace. The waters are nearly
always an azure blue and the white sands bordering the lagoon and
the swaying coconut and palm trees create a magical setting. It is
hard to imagine that all this was once under the Sea and was reclaimed. Fort Zoutman, one of Aruba’s best known landmarks once
used to stand on the shore and had a lighthouse to guide ships.
Plaza Tourismo where we had the AIDS walk recently is a nice place
to rest and watch the world go by. Planes land and take off at the
Aeropuerto Reina Beatrix and children play among the palms dotting
the square. The airport opened in the mid-1930s and has undergone
a series of expansions and renovations to cater to increasing number
of tourist arrivals. The ‘I love Aruba’ sign in front of the Parlamento di
Aruba is popular with tourists who want to be photographed with the
well known landmark.
Dogs are sometimes aggressive on one happy island and in my initial days Dr Nandy and Dr Dubey advised me to carry a short stick
with me for protection during my walks. The traffic on the roads can
sometimes be heavy and there are stretches of road bordered with
sand increasing the risk of skidding. One of the worst incidents took
place when Dr Bala and I were walking near the Atlantic coast and an
ATV skidded, doing a complete 360 degree turn before coming to rest
luckily with little damage to the vehicle or the driver.
Eagle beach is one of the star attractions on the right hand route
and stretches for over two kilometers. The white sands are alluring
but notoriously difficult to walk on. There is a signboard showing the
number of leatherback turtle nesting spots on the island. 2014 has
been a good year for turtle nesting sites with over 45 recorded during the first six months.
I count myself lucky to have witnessed turtle hatching one evening on
Eagle Beach. Two efficient ladies most probably of Dutch descent from
Turtle Watch acted as den mothers to the hatchlings. The proceedings
soon attracted a sizable crowd by Aruba standards. The black hatchlings with their flippers struggled determinedly along the white sand
towards the blue waters of the Caribbean Sea. Some had hatched a few
minutes earlier and had a head start in their long journey towards the
ocean. People lined on both sides were cheering the hatchlings along.
The spectacle of life’s beginnings always attracts human interest!
Ms. Gera Roberts, Librarian
Recreation & Medicine
Majority of students have 24-hour
days, “I think I am falling ill again, I
stayed up all night studying, I’m so
exhausted.” With the lack of sleep and
the challenging aspects of medical
school the question one asks is how do
you excel in academics and maintain
good health. Studies have shown that
there is a positive correlation between
proper nutrition/exercises and good
health/academic successes.
With this being known, some Xavier students take full advantage of the island
in many ways incorporating rigorous
studies and healthy recreational choices. With notorious fast-food restaurants
and limited time, students are tempted
to capitalize on their studying through
this route leading to declining health.
However some students have used this
as a reason to express their own skills
and choose a healthier route. As some
students turn to the on campus canteen
which serves a variety of healthy meals.
However some students are so engaged in
their studies that they simply do not have
time to stop by the canteen and thus they
have to prepare their meals before hand
which saves them time and money.
“Being a medical student there is not
enough time to do everything especially to
cook. But cooking is not an option for me
because eating out is too expensive. Eating
healthy is also important to me so I try
to cook my favorite dishes when I can.”
In terms of physical health, numerous
members of the Xavier family turn to the
gym and purchase memberships forcing
them to use their recreational escape by
burning calories. One student stated,
“The only reason I continue to go to the
gym is because I paid for it. I know it is
healthy for me and nothing is more important than your health but sometimes I
feel like skipping but I paid, so I go.”
However the gym for some students
may not fulfill their personal needs and
thus they turn to the beach where they
work on toning their gymnastic skills on
the white-sanded beach improving their
cardiac muscles and lowering their BMI.
As Xavier students practice safe recreational escapes they continue to thrive
in their courses knowing that they have
to maintain good health for the long
and challenging journey ahead of them.
Victor Enwedo, MD3 student
AWA though it has its diehards is not a very popular association. Mr
Barry has joined us recently. However, certain members have deserted us for more exciting pursuits and interesting pastimes. With cars
in plenty walking is not very common in Aruba. There is however a
committed minority who believe in ‘walking the walk’. Here’s a toast
to them and to AWA naturally with awa!
Dr P Ravi Shankar, Faculty Editor
Faculty senate @ XUSOM
The Faculty Senate includes all full-time and part-time faculties who
perform their services in Aruba. The Faculty Senate functions are
based on a set of By Laws. As a governing body accountable to the
Chief Academic Officer, the President of the University or his/her
designee, the Faculty Senate develops and recommends policies and
procedures that will foster professional growth and actions along with
appropriate utilization of faculty and provides advice and assistance
concerning matters pertaining to the advancement of the University.
The Faculty Senate meets monthly. The Faculty Senate appoints ad
hoc committees as needed and may include the Nominating, Bylaws,
Faculty Handbook Review, Faculty Promotions Committee and Faculty
Enrichment/Entertainment committees.
The Officers of the Faculty Senate include a President, Vice President
and Secretary. In the month of October of each year, a Nominating
Committee presents to the Faculty Senate the names of candidates
for the positions of President, Vice President and Secretary. In the
month of November of each year, a meeting of the Faculty Senate is
convened for the purpose of electing Senate Officers. Elected officers
take office at the end of the meeting in which they were elected.
The President convenes the Faculty Senate in regular and special
sessions. The Vice President performs the duties of the President of
the Senate in the absence of the President. The Vice President also
acts as the chairperson of the Faculty Handbook Review Committee,
as well as the Treasurer of the Faculty Senate. The Secretary records
and disperses the actions of the Senate and also acts as the chairperson of the Faculty Development Committee. No officer serves more
than three successive terms.
The Executive Committee (EC) of the Senate is a standing committee
and consists of the Officers of the Senate. Various committees and
ad hoc committees report their activities to the EC and the members
of the Faculty in every monthly meeting. The Promotions Committee (PC) is responsible for monitoring students’ academic progress
and for giving recommendations for promotion of students to subsequent terms. The Admissions Committee (AC) is comprised of the
Director of Admissions, the Dean of Clinical Sciences, and the Dean
of Basic Sciences and the appointed committee members. The AC is
responsible for student selection and reports directly to the President and the Chief Academic Officer.
The Faculty Development Committee recommends to the Faculty
policies, procedures, actions and plans on issues like faculty recognition and professional enrichment. The Curriculum Committee evaluates the Curriculum and recommends to the Faculty policies, procedures, actions and plans pertaining to the curriculum. The Research
Committee monitors any research project conducted by students
or faculty upon approval of the project by the Institutional Review
Board. Research Committee also arranges a Research day every year
to highlight the progress of various projects and encourage presentation of papers by students and faculty. The ad hoc committees include Bylaws Committee, Nominating Committee, Faculty Handbook
Review Committee and Faculty Enrichment/Entertainment Committee. These committees are appointed by the President of the Senate
in consultation with the Executive Committee.
Dr A Nandy, President, Faculty Senate
Gabriel’s Movie Corner
Thrilling Medicine
The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014)
Ingeniously crafted and meticulously detailed, director Wes Anderson’s The Grand Budapest Hotel is the culmination of style and
originality. It is his masterpiece. Set against the backdrop of a rapidly
changing continent, the story follows bellboy Zero Moustafa (Tony
Revelori) and his mentor Monsieur Gustave H. (Ralph Fiennes) as
they try to prove their innocence following the theft of a priceless
European painting. Synopsis aside, The Grand Budapest Hotel is a
film that at its core is really about elaborate setpieces, quirky characters, and the teacher/apprentice bond that is forged between the
two main characters. The movie is hilarious from start to finish, and
yet there are brief moments of gentle sadness and terrible violence
that remind the audience that this is a real world with real danger.
It is almost impossible not to get wrapped up in the visual style and
surreal environment created by Wes Anderson. The film features a
large ensemble cast of well-known actors including Edward Norton,
Adrien Brody, Jeff Goldblum, Bill Murray, Harvey Keitel, Jude Law,
Tom Wilkinson, Tilda Swinton, Owen Wilson, and others. These actors
portray characters that at a distance seem like cardboard cutouts,
each with a specific role to play. Upon closer inspection however, the
audience will realize that there is a hidden layer of complexity behind
even the most unimportant of them. The Grand Budapest Hotel is a
magnificent opera of a film that I strongly recommend to anyone.
Pros: Cast, cinematography, direction, story……… everything.
Cons: none.
Score: 10/10
Nauman’s
Restaurant
Review
=
=
=
=
Not Recommended
Average
Would Return
Island Favorite
$ = $8 per person
$$ = $12 per person
$$$ = $18 per person
$$$$= $25 per person
On Sundays many restaurants tend to
be closed, so a group of students and I
decided to try New Wai Tai, a Chinese
restaurant that also offers BBQ items on
Sundays. Although we did not try the
BBQ this past weekend, we did order
three entrees: Sweet and Sour Chicken,
General Tso Chicken, and Chicken Fried
Rice. The food was great with the General Tso Chicken being by far the best
item on the menu, but sadly the service
was lacking as it took 45 minutes for a
carryout order when the server promised us 15 minutes. The food was good,
service not so much. Waiting a half hour
extra just because the chicken fried rice
was not prepared properly really did
ruin the overall experience. If you’re a
fan of Chinese food give this place a try,
but be prepared for a long wait.
Verdict:
Cost: $ $
Hours: 11 AM to 11 PM
Address: 4 Palm Beach
Phone Number: 586-8864
Late night food truck spots are a reliable source when you are staying up
at night studying. El Mexicano offers
a lot of Mexican items on their menu
such as burritos, tacos, and quesadillas, which are all appetizing. This place
is open on Tuesday-Saturday usually
from 9 PM to 4 AM or to the occasional
5 AM. Mexicano is hands down the most
reliable spot for people who have late
hours and who love Mexican food. It
is quick and the owner Ruben tends to
do a great job running the place.
Verdict:
Cost: $
Hours: 9 PM - 4 AM
Address: Next to the My
Fitness Gym in Noord
For those with a sweet tooth and enjoy
gelato, Gelatissimo is the right place
for you. This place offers 27 different
flavors ranging from the classic chocolate to exotic flavors such as dragon
fruit. The service is quick and the workers definitely know what they are doing
when they are preparing all the different combinations of flavors. Popular flavors among students include pistachio
and Ferrero Rocher. If you ever want to
take a break from a long day of studying, head over to Gelatissimo. Verdict:
Cost: $
Hours: Daily from 11 AM to 2 AM
Address: 345 J. E Yrausquin
Phone Number: (297) 586-2101
Mr. Nauman Ali,
MD 1 Student
The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (2011)
The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, directed by John Madden, gives “outsourcing” an interesting twist. The plot revolves around seven British
elders who, for one reason or another, decide to retire to India. Coincidentally, they also all pick the same hotel to retire to. Turns out that
the brochure lied and the majestic hotel they had envisioned is nothing more than a dilapidated building managed by a hopelessly optimistic youth (Dev Patel). They settle in, nonetheless, and begin their
own personal journeys of self-discovery and exploration. This experience in India will change all of them.
The light hearted story detracts from the humanity of the screenplay
and does little we haven’t seen before. The movie also suffers from
being somewhat overwrought at times, which makes certain scenes
boring. However, the acting is superb, and the payoff is unexpected. In
conclusion, while this market driven story has its fair share of surprising moments, the constant juggling of subplots by director John Madden gets in the way of the stellar cast (Tom Wilkinson, Judy Dench, Bill
Nighy) and intriguing set up.
Pros: Superb cast, screenplay.
Cons: Direction, too much “sappyness,” predictable at times.
Score: 6,8/10
Amilcar Gabriel Toro, PM3 student
Xavier
Times
team
Faculty editor:
Dr. P Ravi Shankar
Student Editor:
Andrea Hernandez
Faculty advisors:
Dr. A Nandy
Dr. R Balasubramanium
Ms. Gera Roberts
Student members:
Nauman Ali
Michelle Haroon
Manpreet Kaur
Roberto Rivero
Victor Enwedo
Amilcar Gabriel Toro
Natasha Priya Dyal