campaigns : Campaign Archive

Dr. Thomas Shepherd President, Ross University	President’s Message It is hard to believe that fall is already upon us. Orientation at both campuses is just wrapping up and classes begin this week and next. I want to welcome our new students to Ross University School of Medicine and Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine. Although the task before you may seem daunting, before you know it I will be shaking your hand at graduation. Nearly 9,000 medical and veterinary students have preceded you. I wish you great success in achieving your dream. This fall sees our University taking several steps that support the development of our new location in The Bahamas. We have begun the hiring process and have announced the availability of several academic and staff positions. We continue to receive tremendous support from the Bahamas government and the Freeport community, as well as from current and prospective students. The Bahamas Weekly, the leading community website in The Bahamas, recently interviewed me about our plans for the new site. To see a video of the interview go to The Bahamas Weekly. It is with pleasure that this issue recognizes two of our current students for the enormous impact they are already having in their chosen fields. They are not only working to “give back” to society, but are also fulfilling their dreams in the process. Their stories mirror countless others from students who are committed to community involvement, and their efforts are a continuing source of pride for the entire University. Elsewhere in this newsletter you will find three articles highlighting members of our alumni who have gone on to achieve great things as they embark on their respective careers caring for people and animals. Their success is a beacon of encouragement to our new students who are just beginning their educational journey. We have a great deal to be proud of as an academic community, and I believe that the best is yet to come. I look forward to an exciting semester ahead, and to the opening of our new site in The Bahamas.
Dr. Michael Zareski	Feature Article Ross Grad Transforms Popular Animal Clinic in California A new business endeavor by Ross grad Dr. Michael Zareski made front page news in Los Angeles recently, as public excitement about his efforts to makeover a popular local animal clinic grew. Dr. Zareski recently bought the Lomita-based animal clinic known simply as “ABC”—short for Animal Birth Control Clinic. He has re-named the clinic Western Veterinary Group, and is in the process of transforming it into a full-service veterinary hospital. “The story made the front page of a local newspaper that is read by 80,000 people,” said Dr. Zareski. “It’s a very ambitious thing that I’ve taken on because the clinic isn’t a turn-key veterinary hospital; however, it has so much potential. I’m working hard but I’m enjoying every minute of it.” Read More Alumni Update Dr. Tom Karson Named Director of Research Computing and Deputy Chief Information Officer at Albert Einstein College of Medicine at Yeshiva University Ross graduate Dr. Tom Karson was recently named director of research computing and deputy chief information officer at Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University. In this new role, he will oversee the research informatics and computational needs of the faculty at Einstein and direct all information technology functions in support of Yeshiva’s research efforts. Read More
John Bloodworth with colleagues in Peru	Feature Article Lending a Helping Hand in Peru Ross student John Bloodworth recently completed a four-week elective medical rotation at the Posta Clinica at the Santa Rosa De Lima parish in Chimbote, Peru, where he worked with his long-time mentor, Dr. Alfonso Iwanaga Nakamura. John met Dr. Nakamura several years ago while he was visiting his uncle, who for the last 15 years has been the priest of the Santa Rosa De Lima parish. During his visit John came down with a serious illness; however, since the doctors in Peru were on strike at the time, no one was available to treat him at the local hospital. After finding out about the situation, Dr. Nakamura took John into his home and nursed him back to health with the help of his wife, who is a retired nurse. “That experience really motivated me to go into medicine,” John explained. “He and I really grew close and he’s been a mentor to me ever since.” Read More Alumni Update Ross Grad’s Fluency in Spanish Proves Beneficial in Kansas From a very early age, Dr. Kristina Diaz was destined to play an important role in the medical field. The daughter of a registered nurse and a director of pharmacy, Dr. Diaz quickly learned what it meant to spend one’s life caring for others. “My parents had a tremendous impact on my career choice by continually exposing me to medicine. It seemed to be a natural part of my life,” she said. Read More Did You Know… In August, Ross University donated 31 desktop and laptop computers and 33 monitors to the Center of Haitian Studies, a private nonprofit community-based organization in Miami, Florida. According to Executive Director Dr. Laurinus Pierre, the computers and monitors “will be put to good use and are greatly appreciated.”
Krista Keller	Campus Updates Vet Student Heads Up First-Of-Its-Kind Research Project on St. Kitts Tortoises Krista Keller, a sixth semester student studying exotic animals at the School of Veterinary Medicine, is heading up a first-of-its-kind research project on the indigenous population of tortoises in St. Kitts with the help of her mentor, Dr. Tammi Krecek, associate dean for research. The project is important because, according to Krista, reptile medicine is in its infancy and there is little known about how environmental factors impact this animal population. Read More
	Alumni Update Ross Alum Now Chief Resident in Ophthalmology at New York Hospital You could say that a single stitch led Dr. Tod Haller, a 2005 graduate of Ross University School of Medicine, to pursue a career in medicine. A self-described accident-prone child and the son of an ophthalmologist, Dr. Haller spent enough time in emergency rooms to know just what they were like and the details of what the practice of medicine involved. But this didn’t scare him like it would most kids—it intrigued him. In fact, during one trip following a particularly nasty gash to his leg that resulted from a collision with a fire extinguisher while playing hackysack, the emergency room physician let Dr. Haller assist with one of the stitches. It was obviously only a matter of time before he pursued a career in medicine. Read More Legacy of Service Awards The Legacy of Service is a quarterly award program to celebrate and reward exemplary customer service. Supervisors, coworkers, peers, students or customers may nominate individuals for this award. Recipients receive a certificate, letter of appreciation, a customer service lapel pin and a gift card. This year’s third and fourth quarter Legacy of Service awards were given to: Third Quarter Recipients: Mary Chiarelli, payroll coordinator, New Jersey office Michelle Malahay, senior clinical advisor, New Jersey office Andre Bennett, electrical engineer, Dominica campus Fourth Quarter Recipients: Brijette Sena Senior, associate registrar, New Jersey office Dean Shillingford, student accounts coordinator, St. Kitts campus Carol Antone, faculty liaison, Dominica campus Vernanda Bedneau, administrative assistant, Dominica campus James F. Catroppo, assistant professor of pathology, Dominica campus Nancy George, administrative assistant, Dominica campus Ross University Offers Condolences It is with great sadness and regret that we extend our deepest sympathies to the families and friends of Jon Puittinen, a promising medical student, and Matthew J. Willis, an equally promising veterinary student. Although only 26, Jon had already earned a reputation for an abiding commitment to community service and humanistic endeavors. Active in efforts to protect participants in human research, Jon also contributed his great energy to volunteering with VITAS and the Red Cross, among other causes. Jon’s wide-ranging interests included a passion for music, sports, politics and a love of life. His future gifts to all of us and the medical profession will be sorely missed. A fourth-semester student from Nevada, Matthew J. Willis came to Ross with a longstanding dream to be a veterinarian. Once he began the veterinary program, he worked extremely hard to reach his goals. During his time at Ross, Matthew touched many lives, as evidenced by the attendance at his memorial service where more than 500 students, faculty and staff assembled to honor and celebrate his life. All of us at Ross University are deeply saddened and devastated by the loss of these two young, bright and talented students, but at the same time, we are proud to have known them.