Carle Illinois College of Medicine

Med School Minute November 2023

A Note from Dean Cohen

Executive Leadership

Carle Illinois College of Medicine is the first medical school to integrate the MediView XR90 platform into its educational, research, and innovation programs. As the first FDA-cleared product that brings mixed reality navigation to the procedural suite for clinical use, the system overcomes the limitations of two-dimensional imaging technologies, with an unprecedented 3D-view inside the human body. Photo courtesy of MediView XR, Inc.
Carle Illinois College of Medicine is the first medical school to integrate the MediView XR90 platform into its educational, research, and innovation programs. As the first FDA-cleared product that brings mixed reality navigation to the procedural suite for clinical use, the system overcomes the limitations of two-dimensional imaging technologies, with an unprecedented 3D-view inside the human body. Photo courtesy of MediView XR, Inc.

CI MED has been selected as the first medical school in the world to integrate a powerful new augmented reality-based hologram system in its education, innovation, and clinical programs. Through a new partnership with MediView XR, Inc., CI MED students, faculty, and researchers will have access to cutting-edge imaging technology for training the next generation of physician-innovators and for medical trials.  Read more in the Dean’s note and in this news article.

CI MED's role in advancing innovation in medicine and medical education was featured in a recent article in the Daily Illini. Read the article here. 

Academic Departments

BMTS :

Health Innovation Professor Brent Roberts is one of eight UIUC scholars recognized on the 2023 Clarivate Analytics Highly Cited Researchers list. The list recognizes research scientists and social scientists who have demonstrated exceptional influence through publication of papers frequently cited by their peers. Roberts specializes in the field of personality psychology and studies continuity and change in personality throughout adulthood, with an emphasis on understanding the factors that influence change. Read more here.

Health Innovation Professor Sonali Shah was invited by the Center for Advanced Study in the Provost’s Office to give a presentation titled “The Fruits of One’s Labor: Uncovering the Factors that Shape Sustained Technology Adoption Behaviors.” She discussed a project that seeks to uncover the factors that lead smallholder mango farmers in Kenya to engage in the sustained adoption of technologies aimed at reducing post-harvest loss. She was named a CAS Associate by the Provost’s office in 2021-22 in honor of her work in Business Administration.

Health Innovation Professor Deana McDonagh was invited by the prestigious Industrial Design Society of America to give a keynote presentation on the role empathy plays in new product innovation. She conducted a masterclass on Designing for Disabilities workshop at the Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago. The event was attended by professional designers who are working in the areas of product design, medical device design, user experience/user interaction, and design research.

Clinical Sciences:

Japhia Jayasingh-Ramkumar and Holly Rosencranz were featured in an Illinois Public Media production on climate change titled, ‘State of Change,’ which aired in October and again in November 2023. You can access the program here.  

Additionally, Japhia Jayasingh-Ramkumar was interviewed for a recent article in the publication Modern Healthcare,  titled ‘Preparing for the Health Consequences of the Climate Crisis,’ in which she describes CI MED’s role in preparing the next generation of physicians to tackle issues related to climate change.

Research & Innovation

 

<em>Annabelle Shaffer (left) with Paul Arnold, MD (right), lead a research team studying concussion symptoms in young athletes. Their findings could improve concussion detection and help high schools make better return-to-play decisions.</em>
CI MED Student Annabelle Shaffer (left) with Paul Arnold, MD (right), lead a research team studying concussion symptoms in young athletes. Their findings could improve concussion detection and help high schools make better return-to-play decisions.
Photo by Kaden Rawson.

Read more about this research here. The team's research is being featured in news reports by the following media outlets:

The deadline for submitting an electronic abstract for the 22nd Annual Health Innovation Research Day is noon on Friday, December 1, 2023. Abstracts may be submitted here in the following categories: Clinical Research and Quality Improvement, Basic Science Innovation and Engineering, Humanities and Medical Education, and Case Reports. Please limit your submissions to two abstracts.  

Martin Burke’s research team has found that a new anti-fungal molecule devised from the antifungal drug Amphotericin B has the potential to harness the power of the drug against fungal infections while doing away with its toxicity. The team’s work, published in the journal Nature, is described here.

Chitra Subramanian has been invited to give a podium presentation at the 19th Annual Academic Surgical Congress to be held in early February, in Washington, DC. Her presentation at this prestigious meeting is titled "Alkyl Glycerone Phosphate Synthase as a Therapeutic Target for Neuroblastoma."

Pengfei Song's team has received $1 million in funding from the Partnerships for Innovation-Research Partnerships (PFI-RP) through from the National Science Foundation.  The funds will further the commercialization efforts for a novel UIUC technology that addresses the technical limitations of 2D ultrasound imaging by developing innovative ultrafast 3D ultrasound technologies. Read more here.

A CI MED team including students Tarika Patel and Meagan McNicholas, and faculty member Christina Laukaitis has published a new case report in the Annals of Internal Medicine. The publication is titled, “A Heterozygous Variant of TGFB3 in a Patient with an Atypical Presentation of Loeys–Dietz Syndrome: A Case Report.” Watch the CI MED Published Student Research webpage for more student publications, including two upcoming case reports by students Ryan Monjazeb, Hamad Linjawi, Peyton Paschell, Maria Bederson, and Druv Patel, which are now under review.

Advancement

Advancement is rolling out a new corporate/foundation opportunity-tracking form in collaboration with Foundation Relations in OVCIA. This sheet will allow Advancement to identify opportunities where they can assist PIs with applications, ensure a proper process is in place for grants and gifts, and then fully recognize and properly steward philanthropy to the college. This form does not apply to governmental grants and gifts.

About 30 people attended the AI In Medicine talk delivered by Drs. Greg Polites and Janet Jokela in October. In case you missed this Advancement-sponsored event, the recording can be found here.

Student Affairs

For students who need immediate assistance with a health and safety emergency over Winter break, call 911 for first responders. For other kinds of emergencies that require an immediate university response, you are welcome to seek the assistance of the Emergency Dean. Please note: the Emergency Dean has no ability address an academic concern (e.g., grade dispute, concerns about finals, etc.) or visa issues. For academic questions and concerns, please contact faculty directly.  For issues related to visas, contact International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS).

Faculty Affairs

 

Don’t forget to register to attend MEdX 2024 on January 25 at the I Hotel. CME will be available. The registration form is available here until January 16, 2024. All presenters must register as attendees. 

OFAD Events:

Diversity & Inclusion

The All-Campus Climate Assessment Initiative is meant to examine whether our university’s values of diversity, equity, and inclusion are reflected in the daily experiences of students, faculty, and staff. This assessment will allow the campus and CI MED to better understand what is going well and the current challenges to creating a campus climate that is respectful and inclusive for all. The survey will be available for completion starting in November. Watch your email for a message from the survey vendor, SoundRocket, or click here to learn more.

This month’s featured Wellness Resource: The University Wellness Resources Portal includes information for students, faculty, and staff to get connected to services for mental health, wellness, access, and accommodation all in one place.

Diversity/Inclusion Events:

Community Outreach

Christian Guerrero-Juarez is spearheading the launch of a new Skin and Wound Care Community Clinic, designed to fill care gaps by providing area residents with accessible, culturally competent dermatological and wound care services. The clinic is slated to start in 2024 in partnership with Avicenna Community Health Clinic and area providers. Read more here.

Avicenna Community Health Clinic is expanding its services to include a new women’s health clinic. Starting Sunday, December 3rd, 2023, from 1-4 pm, Avicenna will offer services such as well-women’s check-ups, breast exams, cervical cancer screening, STD testing and treatment, UTI testing and treatment, and more. Contact Avicenna for more information.

Achievements

 

Bhargavee Gnanasambandam, who was named the Illinois Young Innovator of the Year by the Illinois Innovation Network, represented CI MED and her CerviCare team at the Falling Walls Lab pitch finale in Germany, featuring 100 young innovators from around the globe. Her pitch (found at the 5:41:11 mark in this video) focused on expanding cervical cancer testing to make it more comfortable and empowering. “We will be moving forward on developing a prototype that we can begin testing in the clinic and completing some of our initial clinical studies to learn more about the current problem at hand,” she said.

Congratulations to the CI MED Minutes to Monuments team for their second-place finish in the wellness challenge aimed at promoting activity and mindfulness every day. Thanks to our team captain Shandra Jamison for leading our team of 21 people who logged an average of 2515.3 minutes of physical activity during the month of October.

Carle Illinois Spotlight

<em>Apryl Martin</em>

Apryl Martin, MD

Clinical Assistant Professor (Anesthesiology), Surgery Clerkship Director

 

What attracted you to the practice of pediatric anesthesiology, and what is your favorite part of your work?

I am in awe of children. After I had my first child (just before my M4 year of medical school), I realized that I love children and wanted to have a career centered around helping them. My patients are my favorite part of my work. They challenge me; they keep me on my toes. There is little room for complacency in pediatric anesthesia.

You’ve been heavily involved in mentoring CI MED students in addition to being a practicing physician. What impact do you hope to make by serving as a mentor?
If I look at any period of growth in my career, I can trace it back to conversations or advice that I received from a mentor. As the faculty lead for the Carle Ambassador Program, a clinical assistant professor of anesthesiology, and an SNMA board member, I have the opportunity to mentor many students. I hope to inspire the next generation of physicians to know that all it takes is one person to change the lives of others.

You have been a leader in diversity, inclusion, and equitable care efforts. What is the biggest challenge now in this effort?
Diversity, inclusion, and equitable care have finally become a global topic of discussion. The catalyst for the current DEI movement quickly ignited three and a half years ago. However, it can flicker or even fan out if we do not keep DEI efforts at the forefront of our personal, professional, and organizational missions. We must empower and equip our students and faculty with the support and resources to challenge and remove social constructs that lead to potentially harmful and biased medical care.

You were recently recognized as a Carle Rising Star Physician for your work in these areas. What does this recognition mean to you, and what are you most proud of in your work?
I am honored to have received the Carle Rising Star Physician recognition. But ultimately, receiving the Carle Rising Star Physician recognition means I have much work ahead of me. I see it as an unspoken pledge to continue progressively refining my skills and providing impeccable service to my patients, CI Med students, and the Carle Health organization.

 Editor’s note: This is an abridged version of a longer interview with Dr. Martin that will be featured on the CI MED website in the near future.

Human Resources

Active Searches

  • Associate Dean for Research and Innovation
  • Academic Surgical Oncologist
  • Teaching Specialized Faculty (Medical Education Facilitator)
  • Director Faculty Development
  • Director of Curricular Operations
  • Director of Programmatic Assessment
  • Associate Director/Director of Development
  • Associate Director of Student Success
  • Engineering and Innovation Curriculum Specialist 
  • Coordinator of Student Recruitment
  • Student Records Associate
  • Academic Skills Specialist
  • Office Manager, Advancement/Marketing and Communications

Events

Important upcoming events:

  • Deadline for Abstract Submissions 22nd Annual Health Innovation Research Day – Friday, December 1, 2023, at noon.
  • Fall 2023 Student Health Make-a-Thon – Saturday, December 2, 2023, at MSB.
  • RISE Seminar with Duane Macatangay – Friday, December 8, 2023, from noon to 12:45 pm. Register here or Zoom in here.
  • CI MED Winter Celebration – Saturday, December 9, from 6-10 pm at the I-Hotel. Doors will open for check-in at 5:30 pm. 
  • CI MED’s Second Annual Chili Cook-Off – Friday, December 15, 2023, from 11 am to 1 pm at the Jump Simulation Center at Everitt Lab.  Bring your favorite recipe to share and vote on the best-tasting chili for bragging rights among your colleagues.

2024 Events:

  • Medical Education Experience (MEdX) Conference – Thursday, January 25, 2024. Register here.
  • Match Day Class of 2024 – Friday, March 15, 2024, at the I-Hotel.
  • Health Innovation Research Day – April 5, 2024, from 10 am-6 pm at the I Hotel & Conference Center.
  • CI MED Class of 2024 Convocation Ceremony - Saturday, May 4, 2024, at Foellinger Auditorium for Ceremony with Reception at the Illini Union.

External Events:

  • Avicenna Community Workout Classes – Saturdays, December 2 & December 9, 2023, at 10 am - Basement level of Avicenna Community Health Clinic at 201. W. Kenyon Rd.
  • Avicenna Women’s Health Clinic – Sunday, December 3, 2023, from 1-4 pm at 201. W. Kenyon Rd., Champaign.