Med School Minute June/July 2024

The results of our 2024 Annual Medical Student Survey show marked improvement in student satisfaction with CI MED’s overall program. Overall satisfaction by class ranged from 97% to 100% Very Satisfied / Satisfied. Our student response rate was 96%. Other key results and the full report can be found here. These survey results help us to gauge the college’s progress in our continuous quality improvement efforts. The survey results contribute to the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME) review of each of the elements they identified that need improvement during their October 2022 visit. Because CI MED is committed to a culture of continuous improvement, these survey findings will inform ongoing initiatives to improve the student experience. Thank you to all students who responded to the survey.

New research led by Vish Vijayakumar suggests sampling the genetic makeup of tumors in the liver could help identify the most effective cancer-fighting strategy. The studies focus on identifying genetic markers that could point the way to more targeted treatment for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), an aggressive form of liver cancer that can be hard to treat. The research team’s findings suggest analyzing HCC biopsies could help identify the most effective therapy for the patient. Read more here.

Manuel Hernandez is one of the authors of a new collaborative work that evaluated the impact of seated Pilates on functional outcomes among those with mild, moderate, and severe multiple sclerosis impairment. The research demonstrates that virtual, seated Pilates is feasible and may confer balance benefits to individuals with multiple sclerosis. Hernandez worked with colleagues at Colorado State University on the paper recently accepted for publication in Adapted Physical Activity Quarterly. 

Research on assessments of concussion in young athletes by Annabelle Shaffer and Paul Arnold has been published in a special edition of the Journal of Neurosurgery Focus. The CI MED team's paper underscores the variability of SCAT5 scores based on age, sex, and medical history. The article appears in a special edition examining concussions and return-to-play considerations.

As part of the transition of the Family Medicine Clerkship to the Clinical Immersion Year, our M2 class will now have the opportunity to take two new electives during the Summer/Fall 2024 which will serve to advance their clinical skills during this critical period. The first elective is an extension of the Introduction to Clinical Practice course which will introduce comprehensive physical exam skills, procedural skills, and an opportunity for 8 additional primary care visits with their clinical preceptor. The second elective is an opportunity to start the Family Medicine Continuity Clinic Course as an M2. They will be working in the Carle Illinois College of Medicine Clinic to see a variety of patients across the spectrum of family medicine. They will work in teams, mentored by our M3 students to improve important clinical skills such as note writing, oral presentations, and inputting orders before starting their clerkships.

Faculty, staff, and students reviewed data, shared insights, and offered recommendations about the CI MED curriculum during our two-session retreat earlier this month. Discussion centered on content integration and alignment with our general competencies and educational program objectives (EPOs). The outcome from the sessions on June 3 and 10 will be a formal report submitted to the Curriculum Oversight Committee (COC) for review on July 10, 2024. Once approved by the COC, the recommendations will be implemented.

Clinical Sciences:

The Clinical Sciences department welcomes the following new faculty:

• Omobolawa Kukoyi, Clinical Assistant Professor, Teaching, Emergency Medicine
• Suparna Mantha, Clinical Assistant Professor, Cancer Medicine
• David Milligan, Clinical Assistant Professor, Pediatrics

Advancement is excited to welcome Kevin Mitchell as the new development director for CI MED. He has a strong background and invaluable experience in philanthropy, fundraising, and fostering alumni relationships. A former member of the Fighting Illini football team, he served since 2021 as the Varsity I director for Illinois Intercollegiate Athletics, following several years as an NFL scouting assistant. In his new role, he will collaborate closely with our advancement team and the Dean to drive major gift initiatives from identification to cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.

Join us for the third annual CI MED GME/Alumni Relations picnic on Friday, July 19, from 4-6 pm at Hessel Park Pavilion. Partners, families, and children are welcome! Hessel Park has a playground, a splash pad, several tennis courts, a volleyball court, and a badminton court. If you would like to take advantage of these areas, please bring your own rackets and balls, as there is no equipment rental available. RSVP here.

Our new physician-innovators celebrated their White Coat ceremony on June 23, followed by orientation week activities. Here’s a look at this exceptional new class ‘by the numbers.’

• Class size: 64 students
• % Students with an engineering background: 60%
• % Students with advanced degrees:  17%
  10 master’s degrees; 1 PhD; Total: 11

Faculty Development Events:

• CI MED Monthly FacDev Mingle: 07.10.24 Building your Medical Educator Portfolio
• CI MED Medical Education Research Journal Club 07.23.24
• CI MED Monthly FacDev Mingle: 08.07.24
• CI MED Medical Education Research Journal Club 08.27.24

Diversity Events:

• REACH Scholars Research Presentations - July 27
• SpHERES Scholar Research Presentations - August 2
• Carle Foundation Hospital Health Equity Grand Rounds Topics:
  LGBTQ+ Health Disparities Panel |  June 27, 2024, at 12 pm
  Equity in Patient Safety | July 25, 2024, at 12 pm
  Register here: Meeting Registration - Zoom 

Media Mentions:

Mahima Goel and her team’s CAPSLOCKS innovation to reduce hair loss for chemotherapy patients were featured on these news outlets: 

• WCIA-TV
• Yahoo News
• Smile Politely

Holly Rosencranz discussed the dangers of heat stroke.

• WLS Radio 890AM in Chicago

Caroline Cao has been selected to receive the International Ergonomics & Human Factors Association (IEA) Fellow Award, in recognition of outstanding and sustained performance in the field of ergonomics and human factors at an international level. The award will be presented at the upcoming IEA2024 Congress in Jeju, South Korea. Read more here.

Mehmet Eren Ahsen was chosen as the recipient of the Young Innovator Award at the 14th Annual Conference on Health IT and Analytics (CHITA 2024) in Washington, DC in May. CHITA is hosted by the Johns Hopkins Center for Digital Health and Artificial Intelligence, in partnership with the University of Michigan School of Public Health and Harvard Medical School, with support from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ). Read more here. 

Sheldon Jacobson is the recipient of the 2024 Distinguished Award for Excellence in Public Engagement awarded at the campus level. During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, journalists from many national outlets sought out Jacobson to assess the data and risks driving the pandemic response.  Read more here.

How long have you been at Carle Illinois, and where were you before?
My first day with Carle Illinois was on September 19, 2022, so I am inching toward my 2-year anniversary with CI MED!  Prior to joining CI MED, I worked for five years at II-VI EpiWorks in Champaign, where I worked as an Equipment Engineer maintaining Metal Organic Chemical Vapor Deposition (MOCVD) production equipment. Before that, I spent from 2012 to 2017 pursuing a Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering here at Illinois.

Tell us something interesting about yourself.
From 2012 to 2016, I fulfilled a lifelong dream of playing for the University of Illinois Football Team, where I played as a longsnapper.  While my time as a player came to an end upon graduating, I had a hard time staying away. Fortunately, I joined the official radio broadcast of Fighting Illini Football games as the sideline reporter in 2019, and I am looking forward to continuing in that role in the coming season!

What do you like most about working at CI MED?
I appreciate the opportunity to not only see projects develop from proposed solutions in the IDEA Projects Course all the way to matured projects in the Capstone and Data Science Projects courses, but to also be able to play a small role in those projects’ development.  Our students are tremendously capable, and I am fortunate enough to get a behind-the-scenes look at those capabilities.

What are you most looking forward to in the next few months? 
Near the end of August, our Capstone Project teams will be entering a critical phase in the development of their project. I am looking forward to seeing the proposals that we have been discussing for months begin to take shape as tangible prototypes.

Wellness Tip:
Get ready to spring into action this July! The CDC cites five reasons why getting active improves your health, including keeping a sharp mind, boosting your mood, promoting restful sleep, helping manage weight, and supporting heart health. Here are some resources:

• Planning your activity
• Calculating your activity needs
• Join Active People, Healthy Nation

External Events:

• Inclusive Innovators Summit – July 17, 2024, at 9 am at Siebel Center for Design.