Joan Y. Reede, MD, MPH, MS, MBA - Office for Diversity Inclusion

Transcription

INTRODUCTION
Joan Y. Reede, MD, MPH, MS, MBA
Dean for Diversity and Community Partnership
Associate Professor of Medicine
Harvard Medical School
REMARKS
Nancy J. Tarbell, MD
Dean for Academic and Clinical Affairs
C.C. Wang Professor of Radiation Oncology
SPEAKER
René Salazar, MD
Associate Professor of Clinical Medicine
University of California, San Francisco (UCSF)
Director of Diversity
UCSF Office of Graduate Medical Education
RECOGNITION
VCP Past and
Current Faculty Advisors
Alexy Arauz-Boudreau, MD, MPH
Rhonda Bentley-Lewis, MD
Ross Berkowitz, MD
Michael Cahalane, MD
Rafael Campo, MD
Jocelyn Carter, MD
Zara Cooper, MD
Marc De Moya, MD
Nwamaka Eneanya, MD, MPH
Sara Forman, MD
Annekathryn Goodman, MD
Marie-Louise Jean-Baptiste, MD
Mark Johnson, MD, PhD
Joel Katz, MD
Alden Landry, MD, MPH
Andree LeRoy, MD
Eldrin Lewis, MD, MPH
Gillian Lieberman, MB, BCh
Elliot Melendez, MD
Shari Nethersole, MD
Nora Osman, MD
Jeannette Perez-Rossello, MD
Kevin Raskin, MD
Michele Szabo, MD
Celeste Wilson, MD
Karen Winkfield, MD, PhD
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May 4, 2015
5:00 pm - 6:30 pm
Rotunda
Joseph B. Martin Conference Center
at Harvard Medical School
77 Avenue Louis Pasteur, Boston, MA
Visiting Clerkship Program 25th Anniversary Celebration Reception
Visiting Clerkship Program
25th Anniversary Celebration
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A Message from Jeffrey S. Flier, MD
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Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, Harvard University
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For 25 years, the Visiting Clerkship Program at Harvard Medical School has been a model of excellence, offering
outstanding young individuals, particularly those underrepresented in medicine, an opportunity to participate in
externships at HMS and its affiliated hospitals. I am very happy and feel privileged to be able to offer congratulations to all those who have worked so diligently over the years to make this important program the remarkable
success it has become.
Progress would not have been possible without the tireless work of Joan Reede, HMS dean for diversity and
community partnership. Many of you may not know this, but Joan Reede first came to Harvard Medical School
through the Harvard University Administrative Fellowship Program. During that year of fellowship, she conceived
of and established our Visiting Clerkship Program.
Thanks also go to the dedicated HMS faculty who have served as advisors to these talented students, many of
whom might not have participated in HMS-affiliated hospital training programs or had career-changing
experiences without the support of this program.
I would also like to extend my gratitude to our partners, the HMS hospital affiliates who understand the importance of diversity within the medical community and who continue to help fund this program. Their commitment
to building a diverse physician work force is truly inspiring. Without their support this program would not
be possible.
Diversity is a core value of Harvard Medical School: The Visiting Clerkship Program and 25 other initiatives
developed by Reede have been instrumental in helping us build a more diverse and inclusive community at HMS.
I look forward with pride and anticipation to the next 25 successful years!
Sincerely,
Jeffrey S. Flier, MD
Dean of the Faculty of Medicine
Harvard University
A Message from Joan Y. Reede, MD, MPH, MS, MBA
This year we celebrate the 25th Anniversary of the Visiting Clerkship Program (VCP) located within the Office for
Diversity Inclusion and Community Partnership (DICP) at Harvard Medical School. I am honored to have been
the VCP director since its inception in 1990 and to have had the opportunity to work with a community of committed and dedicated individuals. These individuals have been essential to the program’s continued success. VCP coordinators past and present, such as Cathleen Dunham, Jeanette Catherwood and Jo Cole, have guided students in
their journey from application, to entry, through exit. Several hundred faculty from HMS-affiliated hospitals have
generously given their time to VCP as advisors who provide their clinical expertise, offer professional and career
advice and help students to understand the cultural norms of the environment in which they are training. Many of
these advisors have served for multiple years and are integral to the program. Over the past 25 years VCP has also
benefitted from the superb logistical and operational supports provided by multiple HMS offices such as the Registrar’s Office, Vanderbilt Hall, Countway Library, Security and Facilities. Their collaboration has been invaluable.
I am pleased that VCP alum, Alden Landry, MD, MPH, instructor in emergency medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess
Medical Center and DICP Faculty Assistant Director, now leads VCP. He brings his first hand perspective and fresh
ideas to the program. From the eleven pioneer students who entered VCP in 1990 and were willing to take a risk
on a new program to the 72 students who participated in VCP during the 2014-15 academic year, the educational
performance and professional activities of VCP alums exemplify excellence.
VCP enriches the diversity in our community and contributes to the Harvard Medical School mission: “to create
and nurture a diverse community of the best people committed to leadership in alleviating human suffering caused
by disease.”
As VCP begins its second quarter century, I am confident that together we can learn from our past successes and
forge new pathways that will build and nurture a diverse and inclusive community where all can fully contribute to
teaching, research and service at HMS and its affiliates.
Director, Visiting Clerkship Program
Thank you for joining us on this purpose-filled journey.
“I had so much positive reinforcement. It was
surprising. I just felt like ‘wow, I get it. This place is
for me.’ I’d been used to working in such researchpoor environments... but I didn’t begin
to acknowledge the gifts I brought to the table
until I got here.” Dr. Andree LeRoy
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Joan Y. Reede, MD, MPH, MS, MBA
Dean for Diversity and Community Partnership
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CELEBRATE
THE PAST
In 1990, eleven fourth-year medical students came to Boston to participate in what was then a new program at
HMS – the Visiting Clerkship Program. VCP’s goals were to increase minority medical student awareness of
opportunities in academic medicine, increase student consideration of academic training programs for internship and residency, increase the number of students applying to HMS-affiliated hospital training programs, and
for those that became HMS clinical fellows to nurture them on their journey toward advancing as HMS faculty.
Today, these goals remain.
The VCP, sponsored by the HMS Office for Diversity Inclusion and Community Partnership, supports fourth-year
and qualified third-year medical students who are from groups underrepresented in medicine (URM - AfricanAmerican, Hispanic, Native American, Alaskan Native, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander) in their participation
in the HMS Exchange Clerkship Program. Clerkships are four weeks in length, and are available, space permitting, to full-time fourth year students in good standing at accredited US medical school. Students in their third
year, who have completed core clerkships in medicine, surgery, pediatrics and obstetrics/gynecology, are also
eligible. VCP participants are assigned a faculty advisor and are offered opportunities to network with HMS faculty,
house staff, fellows and students. In addition, students attend a networking and career dinner with representatives
from the HMS-affiliate hospitals and have access to seminars, workshops and the resources of the Countway
Library. Financial assistance is available for transportation costs to and from Boston and housing is provided.
“One of the life lessons I learned was, ‘Don’t let your
past pedigree determine who you are or what you
can do.’ For many people, particularly people of
color, training at one of the Harvard hospitals might
seem like an unattainable goal, but the Visiting
Clerkship Program made it possible for me.”
Dr. Suzette Oyeku
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There has been, since 1869 when the first students of African descent graduated from Harvard Medical School
(HMS), recognition of the importance of educating physicians who reflect the patients and communities they
serve. This is what we might call today a beginning of the valuing of diversity as it relates to patient care. The
work, however, is not completed. Our nation, academic medicine and HMS have grown in their understanding of
the value of and need for diversity in addressing issues of equity, social justice and health disparities in health and
health care. This increasing awareness is coupled with a commitment to provide programs that offer opportunities
for enhancing diversity not only among medical students, but also among residents, fellows, faculty, administrators and leaders. The HMS Visiting Clerkship Program (VCP) is one such program that addresses medical student
preparation for transition to residency.
Background of Visiting Clerkship Program (VCP)
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Reflections on the Beginning
from Tom L. Delbanco, MD, John T. Potts, Jr. MD
and Marshall A. Wolf, MD
When Dr. Joan Reede developed her plan for a month-long rotational program that would bring highly prized,
under-represented minority talent to the HMS community, she knew strategically and philosophically that she
would need high level mainstream support from within the school’s administration, faculty and its affiliated HMS
affiliated institutions. Three of the remarkable doctors who she approached for such support almost immediately
lent their considerable resources, credibility, and networks to her endeavor.
Dr. John T. Potts was one of these men. According to the esteemed clinician, professor, and Massachusetts General
Hospital (MGH) internist, “Through Joan Reede’s efforts, talented minorities get the opportunity to show their
stuff for a reasoned length of time, then later they perhaps will have the opportunity to train in our system’s hospitals and academic environments. I actually created a Minority Recruitment initiative at MGH during my time as
Chief of Medicine. It’s clear that parallels to the VCP, across the larger medical community, make our whole system
look more attractive to gifted students of color. I tried to foster close cooperation between our programs and to
assure that our people support the clerkships.”
Dr. Potts has very clear thoughts about the Office of Diversity Inclusion and Community Partnership’s ongoing
VCP mission. He states, “The reason why I continue to advocate for the clerkship program is that it helps to create
a diverse peer group, as well as a consistent image of our hospital system as a place where everyone, regardless of
ethnicity or background, can succeed with the appropriate mix of hard work, a desire to excel, quickness of mind,
and psychological maturity.”
In addition to the strengthened position that the VCP enjoyed with John Potts’ support, it gained another powerful
ally in Dr. Marshall A. Wolf, who at the time was the Brigham and Women’s director of internal medicine training.
Based upon the multiple roles he was playing, Dr. Reede knew that he could help in bringing the Brigham onboard with the VCP effort. Says Dr. Wolf, “Prior to her program, we had another initiative where we tried to do
some similar things. So we had some experience with what Joan’s office was looking to do with minority fellows.
With the VCP we determined that if we got them here for a month long clerkship, they were more inclined to
return here to train and our hospitals were more eager to recruit them. We had a win-win from the very beginning
and even though there’s more to do, it’s gotten progressively better over time.”
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The third champion in this valued trio of early supporters of the Visiting Clerkship Program was HMS Professor,
Dr. Tom L. Delbanco, who at the time was the Chief of the Division of General Medicine and Primary Care at Beth
Israel Hospital (now named the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center). Dr. Delbanco’s track record in support of
diversity is long and distinguished and Joan Reede found him immediately willing to bring both funding and professional resources to her department’s initiative. Dr. Delbanco is emphatic and clear about his reasons for helping.
“I think the pipeline is a crucial issue in getting more qualified minority young people into healthcare…the pipeline has always just been woefully small. It’s always been crucial to get young people of color into medicine. I think
we’ve done well over the years, but we’re still not successful enough.”
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Dr. Delbanco adds, “In 1990, the landscape of diversity was somewhat grim... There’s no such thing as an unqualified success, but we’ve done some good things since then. I wish it were better. These days we have to compete
more against other systems that can attract the same talent and there are incredibly few African American males
going into medicine. So there are challenges, but we continue to work hard and there’s always room for hope.”
It’s clear that the future of the Visiting Clerkship Program will be assured if institutional leadership like that
provided by Drs. John T. Potts, Marshall A. Wolf and Tom L. Delbanco continues to be the norm. These are
clearly people who “walk the talk.” The work is not over and people of good intentions are excited to see what
promise the future holds.
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REAFFIRM
THE PRESENT
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VCP Summary and Outcomes
Since inception in 1990, 1,158 students from >150 US medical schools have participated in the Harvard Medical
School (HMS) Visiting Clerkship Program (VCP). These visiting students have completed HMS Exchange Clerkships at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston Children’s Hospital, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Cambridge Health Alliance, Dana Farber Cancer Center, Joslin Diabetes Center, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary,
Massachusetts General Hospital, Massachusetts Mental Health Center, McLean Hospital, Mount Auburn Hospital, Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital and the Veterans Administration Boston Healthcare System. Of the 1,087
VCP alums between 1990 through 2014, 16.7% matched at an HMS-affiliated hospital for internship, residency or
fellowship. The following diagrams describe participants gender, race/ethnicity and the geographic distribution of
the medical schools attended.
Gender and Race / Ethnicity
Black
Hispanic
Asian
Unknown
Female = 59%
Race/Ethnicity
Male = 41%
Black = 58%
Hispanic = 27%
Native American = 1%
Asian = 1%
Other =13%
West
Central
South
Northeast
REGION
Northeast = 34%
Central = 17%
South = 40%
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Native American
Male
Gender
VCP by AAMC Regions
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Female
West = 9%
Percent of VCP Students Participating in Scholarly
Activities While in Medical School as Indicated in Their
Curriculum Vitae
Percent of VCP Students Engaged in Professional
Activities While in Medical School as Indicated in Their
Curriculum Vitae
Awards & Recognitions
87%
Leadership Positions
98%
Publications
36%
Community Service
77%
Posters
14%
Membership in Health and Science Re-
76%
Grants
7%
lated Professional Associations
At the time of VCP entry, while 72% of students
considered applying to an academic training program
for internship/residency, only 49% were actually
considering application to a HMS-affiliated program.
Following their one month externship, the percentage of VCP students reporting that they planned on
applying to a training program at a HMS-affiliated
hospital increased by 24% (from 49% to 73%).
VCP Student Explicit Career Aspirations as Indicated in Their Statement of Purpose
Educator
96%
Clinician
61%
Work with Medically Underserved
47%
Leadership Role
45%
Researcher
44%
Administrator
10%
VCP Student Intent to Apply to an Academic Residency Training Program Pre and Post-VCP
Entry & Exit VCP Surveys
A sample of 407 VCP alums (based on five year cohorts) provides a profile of the VCP student at time of their
application to the VCP. Approximately 1/3 had published and greater than 80% had received awards and recognitions. While in medical school, the majority (98%) held leadership positions, were members of professional
associations (76%) and/or were engaged in community service (77%). The majority of VCP participants indicated
career aspirations that included education (96%), research (44%) and assuming a leadership role (45%).
Plans for Internship/Residency Application
Yes
Pre-VCP Entry Survery
No
Any Academic Training Program
72%
2% 18%
HMS-Specific Training Program
49%
20%
Undecided
Missing
8%
23%
8%
Post-VCP Exit Survery
73%
2% 2%
23%
As we look across the sample five 5-year cohorts, significant trends at the time of student entry into and exit from
the VCP were observed. In later cohorts, we found that (while in medical school) students’ involvement in community service (p<0.001) and intent to work in a medically underserved community (p=0.004) increased. A review of participant CVs also showed that in later cohorts a greater proportion of students had published (p<0.001)
and/or presented posters (p=0.0016) while in medical school. Among the evidence of VCP success is the increased percentage of students from later cohorts who, in their exit survey, indicated that they were considering
application to a training program at an HMS-affiliated hospital for internship/residency (p=0.03).
The Visiting Clerkship Program has a history of recruiting and nurturing talented individuals who plan to make
significant contributions to health care, as well as academic medicine. The opportunity to explore the extensive
academic and professional resources available across HMS-affiliated hospitals coupled with the advice and mentoring offered to VCP students by faculty during their externship made and continue to make a difference in student
plans to join the HMS community for residency/internship.
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HMS-Specific Training Program
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VCP Alumni Who Trained at HMS-Affiliated Hospitals
Rhonda Bentley-Lewis, MD, MMSc *
Medicine, BWH
Medicine, MGH
1990-1991
1993-1994
Marie Debnam, MD
Medicine, CHA
Michelle Albert, MD *
Medicine, BWH
Marjorie Debnam, MD
Medicine, CHA
John Ansley, MD
Otology and Laryngology, MEEI
Deryk Jones, MD
General Surgery, BWH
Harvard Surgery, MGH
Carlin Barnes, MD
Medicine, MGH
Psychiatry, CHA
Luc Joseph, MD, PhD *
Pediatrics, BCH
Global Health and Social Medicine,
HMS
1991-1992
Traci Brooks, MD *
Pediatrics, BCH
Shelley Quarless, DO, PhD
Pathology, BWH
1994-1995
1996-1997
Kimberly Cox, MD
Anaesthesia, BIDMC
Winifred Agard, MD
Medicine, BIDMC
LeRoi Hicks, MD, MPH *
Medicine, MTA
Medicine, BWH
Tracey Daley, MD *
Pediatrics, CHA
Nathaniel Brown, MD
Medicine, CHA
Michael Mitchell, MD
Medicine, MGH
Psychiatry, CHA
1992-1993
Regina Asihene, MD *
Medicine, CHA
Robyn Robinson, MD
Child and Adolescent Psychiatry,
CHB
Erick Velez, MD *
Anesthesia, BWH
Lennox Hoyte, MD, MSEE *
Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive, Biology, BWH
1995-1996
David Aguilar, MD
Medicine, BWH
Tisa Johnson, MD
Pediatrics, BCH
Alejandro Heffess, MD *
Surgery, BIDMC
Patrik Johansson, MD, PhD *
Medicine, CHA
HMS
Clifford Perez, MD
Surgery, BWH
Nicole Singh, MD
Medicine, BIDMC
1997-1998
Placid Bone, MD
Medicine, BWH
Iris Colon, MD
Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Biology, BWH
Pablo Guevara, MD, PhD *
Medicine, MTA
Melissa Hankins, MD *
Psychiatry, Harvard Longwood
Psychiatry
Ernest Kamara, MD
Medicine, CHA
James Kennedye, MD
HMS
Robert Merritt, MD
Surgery, MGH
LeRoi Hicks, MD, MPH
Vice Chair, Department of Medicine, Christiana Care Health System, Delaware
Medical School: Indiana University School of Medicine
VCP Year: 1994-1995
Clerkship Hospital: Mount Auburn Hospital
Dr. LeRoi Hicks took an unpaved road to his stellar career in medicine. As a young person, both of
his parents were chronically ill, so he was compelled to work in order to help support the family.
Still, he desperately wanted to become a doctor, especially because he saw firsthand how serious
illness limited a family’s ability to be whole.
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He recalls that, “As a younger student, I loved science… So in junior high and high school, I started
taking every opportunity I could to do academic extra-curricular activities. I was also interest in
languages and signed up for Latin because my father told me that all doctors knew Latin. Upon
being denied this opportunity, my display of indignation actually led to me being placed in a special
leadership program and being positioned for college and other significant opportunities.”
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Coming to Boston for the VCP in 1994, LeRoi quickly learned that he could “hang” with his peers at
Harvard. He was placed in a clinical rotation with topflight doctors and found that most were open
and available when approached with intelligence and advance preparation. He also found great
mentors in Dr. Joan Reede, Dr. Eric Flint, his Residency Director at Mount Auburn, Dr. John Ayanian,
a leader in cardiology research at the Brigham, and Dr. JudyAnn Bigby, who remains a mentor and
close friend.
Dr. Hicks states that, “the VCP was life-changing in that there are few opportunities where you get a
peek behind the curtain and can see an institution that’s different from your own, an institution that
is exemplary. Accordingly, you can’t be shy in assertively pursuing the remarkable opportunity
in front of you.”
Roberto Rodriguez, MD
Surgery, BIDMC
Valencia Thomas, MD
Dermatology, Harvard Combined
Rotonya McCants Carr, MD
Medicine, MGH
Heather Calderon Pujet, MD
Medicine, BWH
Medicine, MGH
Freeman Suber, MD
Surgery, BWH
Luis Tollinche, MD *
Anaesthesia, BWH
Michael Morris, MD
Medicine, BIDMC
Laurie Zephyrin, MD
Obstetric Gynecology and Reproductive Biology, BWH
Carla Ward, MD
Medicine, BIDMC
Jose Rodriguez, MD
Surgery, MGH
Marketa Wills, MD
Psychiatry, MGH
Fernando Villamil, MD
Orthopedic Surgery, MGH
Tracy Wimbush, MD *
Medicine, BWH
Brian Williams, MD
Surgery, BWH
2000-2001
2001-2002
Jose Baez, MD
Medicine, MGH
Pierre De Delva, MD
Surgery, MGH
Sean Burgest, MD
Anaesthesia, CHA
Keith Downing, MD *
Obstetrics Gynecology & Reproductive
Biology, BWH
Chaundre Cross, MD
Radiation Oncology, BWH-DFCIBCH
Alexandra Gutierrez, MD
Medicine, MGH
Rhonda Hamilton, MD *
Medicine, CHA
Miguel Iturregui, MD
Surgery, BIDMC
Suzette Oyeku, MD, MPH *
Pediatrics, BCH
Claire-Cecile Pierre, MD *
Medicine, CHA
Altagracia Ramirez, MD *
Psychiatry, BWH
1999-2000
Christian Arbelaez, MD MPH *
HMS
Timothy Benson, MD *
Internship, CHA
Psychiatry MGH/McLean
Addiction Fellowship, McLean
Michael Burton-Williams, MD
Prelim Medicine, MTA
Zara Cooper, MD *
Surgery, BWH
Neal Rojas, MD
Pediatrics, BCH
Arturo Saavedra, MD, PhD MBA *
Medicine, BWH
Dermatology, Harvard Combined
Dermatopathology, BWH
Roberto De Felix-Davila, MD
Psychiatry, BWH
Melanie Edwards, MD
Surgery, BIDMC
Garth Graham, MD MPH *
Medicine, MGH
Miguel Gutierrez, MD
Dermatology, MGH
Nathaniel Evans, MD
Surgery, MGH
Georgina Garcia, MD *
Psychiatry, BCH
Alex Gonzalez, MD *
Medicine, BIDMC
Andree LeRoy, MD
Instructor in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital
Medical School: University of Illinois College of Medicine
VCP Year: 2005-2006
Clerkship Hospital: Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital
Growing up in Chicago, Andree LeRoy had a very curious mind. She spent a lot of her time playing
the violin and just trying to figure things out. She says, “I was the only black kid in my class and
I was placed in all remedial classes. Looking back now, I’m pretty sure that race was an issue. Still,
I was able to help the other kids with reading and other subjects; so it seemed okay to me at the
time.”
Fast forward and Andree relates, “I got a college scholarship in violin and was a performance
major. But some of the passion left when I saw how much music theory was involved. I really
just wanted to play. Aside from this, my dad had a massive heart attack in my freshman year and
something shifted. I added pre-med to my degree program because watching him be sick really
affected me.”
Still Dr. LeRoy wasn’t certain she wanted to do what she calls “the medicine thing.” She says, “I
literally ran away from it, but It’s kind of genetic . I have thirteen physicians in my close family.”
So after graduation, she moved to California and did other things, but eventually her desire for
science, research and helping people all converged in the realization that medicine had it all. She
went back to Chicago and entered the University of Illinois Medical School.
Dr. Leroy came to the VCP in 2005. She says, “I came to Boston. I did my rotation at Spaulding.
I had a native Hawaiian roommate. My attending took me under her wing and I had the most
delightful experience. I finally began to acknowledge my gifts and received the kind of mentorship
that convinced me that I could become the kind of doctor I wanted to be.”
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1998-1999
Sania Perez, MD
Pediatrics, BCH
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(Cont’d)
Fanny Gonzalez Benitez, MD
Pediatric Nephrology, BCH
Jessica Pena, MD
Medicine, BWH
Veronica Hailes, MD
Anaesthesia, BWH
Michelle Roach, MD
Radiology, MGH
Anesthesia, BWH
Asher Turney, MD
Surgery, MGH
2003-2004
Michael Vazquez, MD
Sabrina Assoumou, MD
Medicine, BIDMC
2002-2003
Eloise Chapman, MD
Obstetric Gynecology & Reproductive Biology, BWH
Henry Boateng, MD
Orthopedic Surgery, BWH
Sara Brubaker, MD
Obstetrics Gynecology & Reproductive Biology, BWH
Alejandra Garcia, MD
Surgery, BCH
Dauda Griffin, MD
Psychiatry, CHA
Jorge Magallon, MD *
Medicine BIDMC
Anthony Nichols, MD
Otology and Laryngology, MEEI
Ogochukwu Okpala, MD
Nina Graupera, MD *
Psychiatry, Harvard South Shore
- VAMC
Babajide Ogunseinde, MD
Orthopedics, MGH
Waleska Pabon-Ramos, MD
Radiology, BWH
Levi Sokol, MD
Radiology, BWH
Omolara Thomas, MD
Pediatrics, BCH
Carmelita Wallace, MD *
Surgery, BWH
Anaesthesia, BWH
Gina Walton, MD
Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, SRH
2004-2005
Khady Diouf, MD *
Efren Flores, MD *
Radiology, MGH
Catherine Gonzalez, MD *
Psychiatry, BIDMC
Amy Hurwitz, MD
Medicine, BIDMC
Suzelle Luc, MD, PhD
Medicine, BIDMC
Michael Lukoma, MD
Medicine, BIDMC
Ariel Otero, MD *
Psychiatry, CHA
Kaipo Pau, MD
Carrie Peek, MD
Child Neurology, BCH
2005-2006
Olubimpe Ayeni, MD
Plastic Surgery, BIDMC
Dinee Collings Simpson, MD
Surgery, BWH
Deitrick Cox, MD
Medicine, CHA
Whitney Daniels, MD
Psychiatry, BIDMC
Patrick Dominguez, MD
Dermatology Research, BWH
Alden Landry, MD, MPH *
Emergency Medicine, BIDMC
HMS
Andree LeRoy, MD *
Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation,
SRH
Gina Lopez, MD, MPH
Medicine, MTA
Kenolisa Onwueme, MD, PhD
Medicine, BWH
Marisol Segundo, MD *
Psychiatry, BIDMC
Tashelle Samuels, MD
Anaesthesia, MGH
Cecily Hamill, MD, PhD
Ophthalmologist, Brookline, MA
Medical School: Emory University School of Medicine
VCP Year: 2007-2008
Clerkship Hospital: Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary
Dr. Cecily Hamill knew she wanted to be a physician at the age of four. At that time, in a frightening
restaurant accident, she fell and split her head open. She went to a local ER and took 31 stitches.
She remembers being terribly scared, but also recalls the gentle way she was cared for by Dr. Hunter,
the ER attending. She knew from that moment what she wanted to be when she grew up.
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As a youth in Tulsa, Oklahoma, academics was Cecily’s strong suit. She stayed in Tulsa for college, but
eventually left for Atlanta and medical school…Of Atlanta she says, “It definitely was a bigger
city than Tulsa; but it was still Southern, with a slower pace and a familiar hospitality.”
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In 2007, Cecily came to Boston for the VCP, choosing to do her clerkship in Mass Eye and Ear’s
renowned Retina department. While there, Dr. Hamill worked with Retina Specialist Dr. Ivana Kim,
obtaining an excellent role model and mentor, who balanced her huge clinical and research duties
with motherhood and family life. Cecily recalls, “Frankly I don’t know how she did it.”
Through such exposure, Dr. Hamill decided that she really liked ophthalmology. She placed a
premium on mentorship and took advantage of every opportunity to really learn. She shares this
advice with potential VCP invitees, “Avail yourself of the opportunities around you and don’t hide in
the corner. My VCP experience made me a more confident person, ready to break out of my shell,
maximize my potential and look forward to a residency in ophthalmology and becoming an eye
doctor.”
Fatima Stanford, MD
Medicine, MGH
Luis Haddock, MD
Ophthalmology, MEEI
2006-2007
Amelia Villagomez, MD
Psychiatry, BCH
Cecily Hamill, MD, PhD
Ophthalmology, MEEI
Sarah Vinson, MD
Psychiatry, CHA
Jonathan Hausmann, MD
Primary Care and Medicine-Pediatrics, BWH/BCH
Melissa Coleman, MD
Surgery, BWH
Andrew Elbardissi, MD
Surgery, BWH
Maame Yaa (Maya) Yiadom, MD
Emergency Medicine, BWH
2007-2008
Daniel Gebremedhin, MD *
Medicine, MGH
Isabel Arrillaga-Romany, MD *
Neurology, MGH
Antonio Gutierrez, MD
Medicine, BWH
Tanishia Choice, MD *
Psychiatry, MGH
Chandler Long, MD
Surgery, MGH
Nicole Christian, MD
Psychiatry, MGH
Dania Magri, MD
Sybil Dessie, MD
Obstetrics Gynecology & Reproductive Biology, BIDMC
Aderonke Oguntoye, MD
Psychiatry, BIDMC
Oyere Onuma, MD
Medicine, MGH
Fernando Roca, MD *
Reproductive Endocrinology, MGH
Nwamaka Eneanya, MD, MPH *
Medicine, BWH
Medicine, MGH
Adeniran Haastrup, MD
Anaesthesia, MGH
Terrill Julien, MD
Patricia Peters, MD
Pediatrics, MGH
Yahir Santiago, MD *
Surgery, MGH
Gabriela Soriano (Hobbs), MD *
Medicine, BWH
2008-2009
Monica Chang-Panesso, MD
Medicine, BWH
Sheila Garcia, MD
Medicine, MGH
Sharma Joseph, MD
Anaesthesia, MGH
Oluseyi Ojeifo, MD
Medicine, MGH
Phillip Walton, MD
2009-2010
Laveil Allen, MD
Medicine, CHA
Thomas Curran, MD
Surgery, BIDMC
Chris Garcia, MD
Pathology Informatics, MGH
Angel Johnson, MD
Biology, MGH
Phillip Murray, MD
Psychiatry, CHA
Suliat Nurudeen, MD
Surgery, BWH
John Rose, MD
Surgery, BWH
(Maria) Victoria Vargas, MD
Biology, BWH
Ann Elrington, MD, PhD
Mongan Commonwealth Fund Fellow at Harvard Medical School
Medical School: Wayne State University School of Medicine
VCP Year: 1997-1998
Clerkship Hospital: Cambridge Hospital
Dr. Ann Elrington grew up as an avid Girl Guide (equivalent to the Girl Scouts in the US) back in her
native Belize. She was a leader from an early age and despite the fact that she doesn’t remember
any doctors in her family circle, adults from her community always told her “You’re going to be a
doctor.”
Applying and being accepted to the VCP in 1997 definitely suggested to Ann that she was good
enough to compete and succeed. Coming into the program, Dr. Elrington freely admits to some challenges during her rotation in Psychiatry. She says that, “Sometimes I didn’t feel as supported within
my clinical environment as I did in the more communal aspects of the VCP experience. Joan Reede
and her staff created such a great atmosphere for the clerks. Still, though I did feel some isolation in
my work, I also discovered that it was critical to do my best to [be at] the table no matter what. This
was one of the key lessons I learned during my clerkship.”
As Dr. Elrington puts it, “While I had no real interest in academic medicine, I knew that I wanted
to be a leader in community practice, and participating in the VCP transformed my understanding
of my capabilities and affirmed that I could compete in the HMS environment or any other I might
encounter.” Now, Ann is back in Boston pursuing the HMS Commonwealth Fellows Program for more
senior practitioners. In being selected for this prestigious opportunity, she’s more convinced than
ever that she belongs to the global Harvard community.
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Amina Abdeldaim, MD
Medicine, BWH
Harry Salinas, MD
Surgery, MGH
Plastic Surgery, Harvard Combined
Rafael Vazquez, MD *
Anaesthesia, MGH
13
(Cont’d)
Chris Wong Quiles, MD
Pediatrics, BCH
2011-2012
2010-2011
Gabriela Andrade, MD
Pediatrics, BCH
Prescilia Isedeh, MD
Medicine, BWH
Camille Clarke, MD
Medicine Primary Care, CHA
Youssra Marjoua, MD
Michelle Jose-Kampfner, MD
Medicine, BWH
Olutoyin Okanlawon, MD
Anesthesia, BWH
Naima Joseph, MD
Samata Singhi, MD
Pediatric Neurology, BCH
2012-2013
Willie Siu, PhD MD
Psychiatry, MGH
Mary Banks, MD
Medicine, MGH
Justin Taylor, MD
Medicine, BWH
Adriana Cohen Rostoker, MD
Pediatrics, MGH
Roberto Vargas, MD
Michelle Long Schoettler, MD
Pediatrics, BCH
Morgan Medlock, MD
Psychiatry, MGH
Bianca Quinones-Perez, MD
Pediatrics, BCH
Alyce Richard, MD
Medicine, CHA
Anesthesia, BIDMC
2013-2014
Saba Berhie, MD
Jillian Canton, MD
Prelim Medicine/Anesthesiology,
BIDMC
Vanessa Gallegos-Kearin, MD
Theophelus Hill, MD
Anaesthesia, BIDMC
Chinedu Otu, MD
Surgery Prelim/Anesthesiology,
BIDMC
Catherine Salussolia, MD
Pediatric Neurology, BCH
Patrick Schofield, MD
Anesthesiology, MGH
Claudia Sotillo, MD
Anesthesia Research, BWH
2014-2015
Vwaire Orhurhu, MD
Medicine Prelim, BWH
Anesthesiology, BIDMC
*Alumni who are past or current
HMS faculty
Shaina Lipa, MD
Orthopedic Surgery, BIDMC
Joshua Oliver, MD
Anesthesia, BIDMC
Michelle Long (Schoettler), MD
Resident, Pediatrics, Boston Children’s Hospital
Medical School: Wake Forest University School of Medicine
VCP Year: 2012-2013
Clerkship Hospital: Boston Children’s Hospital
Dr. Michelle Long likes to keep busy. In grade school and college, she swam, ran track, competed in
classics and debate, and participated in student government. She also performed a lot of community
service in support of children and single moms. She knew early on that she wanted to work with
children and that she wanted to be a doctor.
VCP25
Her grandmother being struck by cancer amplified her desire to heal others, as she witnessed how
difficult it was for non-English speaking patients from poorer backgrounds to navigate the healthcare
system. She saw this again in an early volunteer experience in a NICU, with the mothers of small, sick
newborns struggling to make sense of the hospital environment.
14
Those passions led Michelle to Wake Forest for medical school and to Boston for specialized research
programs. In 2013, she was accepted into the Visiting Clerkship Program. While those earlier
research programs may have familiarized her with Boston, it was the VCP that Michelle credits with a
great deal of the success she’s had as an aspiring pediatrician.
She states, “The VCP supported me, giving me a place to live and offering me an opportunity to be
taught and mentored by the wonderful pediatricians at [Boston] Children’s Hospital…I was surprised
and impressed by the culture and community the program created during my rotation. I now
recommend the clerkship to all of the younger students I mentor and advise. I think it’s 100% critical
to have programs like the VCP, especially for minorities coming to the HMS community from other
cities and states…The program helps to dispel the negative aspects of pre-conceived notions about
living and working in the Harvard Medical School environment.”
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
Reed Drews, MD 2006
Kevin Kwaku, MD 2006 – 2007
Jodi Abbot, MD 1999-2001
Frank Drislane, MD 2006
Alden Landry, MD 2008 – present
Kenneth Arndt, MD 1995
Rosemary Duda, MD 1993
Cato Laurencin, MD 1993
Donald Anonioli, MD 1995
Susan Farrell, MD 2000
Gillian Lieberman, MD 1999 – 2010
Christopher Awtrey, MD 2013
Jonathan Fisher, MD 2007
Alan Lisbon, MD 2001 – present
Mark Bergman, MD 1998
Erik Garpestad, MD 2002
Joseph Locicero, MD 1995
Michael Bigby, MD 2010
Robert Goisman, MD 2001
Frank Logerfo, MD 1998
Christopher Boyd, MD 2014
Ary Goldberger, MD 2002 – 2003
Jeffrey P. Martel, MD 2014
Booker Bush, MD 2009
Toni Golen, MD 2013
Camilia Martin, MD 1999
Mary Buss, MD 2010
Craig Gordon, MD 2003
Shunda McGahee, MD 2014
Michael Cahalane, MD 1997 – 2011
Kee Hak-Lim, MD 2001 – 2002
Louis Meeks, MD 2002
Rafael Campo, MD 2009 – 2014
Jack Ludmire, MD 2003
Monica Mendiola, MD 2014
Christian Campos, MD 1997
David Halloran, MD 2009
John D. Mitchell, MD 2009
Alex Carbo, MD 2014
Stephanie Hale, MD 2008
Donald Morris, MD 1997
James Carter, MD 1995
Philip Hess, MD 2009
Robert Najarian, MD 2011 – 2013
Thomas Cataldo, MD 2014
Mary Jane Houlihan, MD 2009
Jonathan Niloff, MD 2003
Valerie Cummins, MD 2006
Stephanie Jones, MD 2010
Thomas O’Halloran, MB BCh 2013
Robert Davis, MD 2012
Michael Kahn, MD 1997 – 2013
Nancy Oriol, MD 2014
Ralph de la Torre, MD 2002 – 2007
Sean Kelly, MD 2003
Johanna Pallotta, MD 2002 – 2003
Melanie Derman, MD 2000
Tara Kent, MD 2014
Mary Elizabeth Patti, MD 1998
John Doweiko, MD 2001
Henry Klapholz, MD 2000
Thomas Perls, MD 1999
VCP Advisors 1990 - 2015
Theo Hill, MD
Intern in Medicine, Howard University; Resident in Anesthesiology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
Medical School: Howard University School of Medicine
VCP Year: 2013-2014
Clerkship Hospital: Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
According to Dr. Theo Hill, life as a young boy in Tyler, Texas was very simple. His parents had a house
and a pig farm. For most of his childhood, he had to go home and do chores at the house, or work
on the pig farm. He says, “I learned from a young age to work really, really hard and that work ethic
stayed with me.”
He admits that the road was riddled with detours, but he eventually made a determined push
toward medicine. About his month-long 2013 VCP rotation, Dr. Hill says, “I met people along the
way…
I met Joan Reede, Nancy Oriol, Rosa DaSilva, and Lise Kaye, all associated with Office of Diversity at
HMS. I’m the first student ever from Howard to match at Beth Israel in anesthesia. Without the VCP,
I never would have matched here. It literally gave me the opportunity to fulfill my dreams, to
become an anesthesiologist and to be trained at BIDMC.”
In sum, Dr. Hill says, “The month I spent in the VCP taught me a lot about never giving up. It taught
me about integrity and how to adapt to a different cultural environment. For me, being a part of this
unique HMS culture and adjusting to it has been a phenomenal experience.”
VCP25
Often the call to medicine is born out of personal tragedy. In Theo’s case, this is particularly true.
When he was five, his younger brother, aged three, choked on a pecan roll. Theo recalls, “It was right
in front of me, and just seeing my family dealing with all that… I wanted to prevent another family
from going through such a tragedy.”
15
VCP Advisors 1990 - 2015 (Cont’d)
Paula Pinkston, MD 1995
Carol Waksmonski, MD 1999 – 2000
Sara Forman, MD 1996 – 2009
Duane Pinto, MD 2013
James Weiss, MD 2001
Laurie Glader, MD 2013
Hope Ricciotti, MD 2010
Augustus A. White, III, MD PhD 1996, 2010
Alexandra Golby, MD 2014
Joyce Sackey, MD 1997
Richard Wolfe, MD 2000
Stuart Goldman, MD 2000
Christie Sams, MD 2013
Francis Wolfert, MD 1999
Amanda Growdon, MD 2013
Lowell Schnipper, MD 1997
Mike Woodruff, MD 2007
Ann Hansen, MD 2002
Todd Shuster, MD 1995
Jeffrey Zilberfarb, MD 2011
William Harmon, MD 1997
William Silen, MD 1998
Gerald B. Healy, MD 1999 – 2000
Ron Silvestri, MD 2011
Boston Children’s Hospital
John Herrin, MD 2001
Sumner Slavin, MD 2008 – 2009
Johnye Ballenger, MD 1993
Lynn Herzog, MD 1993
Christopher Smith, MD 2014
David Brown, MD 2005
Timothy Hresko, MD 1997 – present
Vincent Smith, MD 2008
Susan Burchett, MD 2000
H. Range Hutson, MD 2002
Harold Solomon, MD 2011
Jennifer Cheng, MD 2014
David Hunter, MD 2006-2011
Michael Stone, MD 1995 – 2000
Kevin Churchwell, MD 1993
Bruce Korf, MD 1999
Daniel Talmor, MD 2005
John Cloherty, MD 1996
Brian Labow, MD 2011
Susan Troyan, MD 1997
John Crigler, MD 1994
Alan Leichtner, MD 2003
Anita Vanka, MD 2014
Lisa Diller, MD 1997
Clifford Lo, MD 1998 – 2004
Roberto Vargas, MD
Resident, Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Medicine,
Brigham and Women’s Hospital
Medical School: Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine
VCP Year: 2010-2011
Clerkship Hospital: Brigham and Women’s Hospital
VCP25
As a young person growing up in Puerto Rico, Roberto Vargas didn’t have family members who
were doctors, or role models who pushed him toward medical school. His decision to become a
doctor was heavily influenced by his classes in human anatomy and physiology at Penn State. Dr.
Vargas says, ”Those classes showed me that medicine was, in essence, engineering of the human
body and that science was a big part of it.” As a self-proclaimed “geek”, Vargas was drawn to this
reality.
16
He raves about Dr. Joan Reede and Program Coordinator Jo Cole when he talks about his 2010
VCP experience. He insists, “I absolutely wouldn’t be where I am without this program they lead.”
He believes they created a comfortable environment for participants. “During that time, I roomed
with a Mexican fellow from California. We both knew hard work and had similar life experiences.
I taught him a little about Puerto Rico and he taught me about Mexico. At the end of a long, long
day we could enjoy a meal together, sharing stories about family. This made being away from home
much more bearable.”
Dr. Vargas also praises the VCP’s mentorship opportunities…”My main mentor was Dr. Noah
Rodriguez, the Chief Gynecological Oncology Fellow at the Brigham. I was a fourth year intern and
he was the Senior Fellow on service. He took me under his wing and gave me the crucial guidance,
modeling what it would be like as a male Latino in the discipline. Dr. Michael Muto, Brigham’s
Gynecological Oncology Fellowship Director, completely immersed me in the field. He was such a
profound influence that I’ll be starting a GYN-Oncology Fellowship this July.”
Esau Simons, MD 1993
Rhonda Bentley-Lewis, MD 2005 – 2008
Elliot Melendez, MD 2013 – present
Norman Spack, MD 2002 – 2003
Ross Berkowitz, MD 1996 – present
Shari Nethersole, MD 1996 – 2005
Philip Spevak, MD 1993
Judyann Bigby, MD 1996
Samuel Nurko, MD 2006
Elsie Tavares, MD MPH 2007
O’Neil Britton, MD 2008
Edward O’Rourke, MD 1999
Venee Tubman, MD 2014
Peter Clarke, MD 2010
Harriet Paltiel, MD 2000
Mary Vander Valde, MD 1998
Zara Cooper, MD 2009 – 2013
Robert Pascucci, MD 1996
Allan Walker, MD 1995
Lisa Crossley, MD 2013
Antonio Perez-Atayde, MD 2002
Michele Walther, MD 2013
Christopher Crum, MD 2002 – 2010
Jeannette Perez-Rossello, MD 2006 – 2009
Debra Weiner, MD 2000, 2010
Khady Diouf, MD 2014
Andrew J. Powell, MD 2003
Celeste Wilson, MD 2003 – 2011
Keith Downing, MD 2007
Mark Proctor, MD 2006 – 2014
George Dyer, MD 2007 – 2010
G. Praveen Raju, MD 2005
Brigham and Women’s Hospital
Amaka Eneanya, MD, MPH 2010 – present
Leonard Rappaport, MD 1999
Michelle Albert, MD 2009
Elof Eriksson, MD 1997 – 2001
Sharon Redd, MD 2011
Robert Antosia, MD 1998 – 1999
Janis Fox, MD 2005 – 2010
Stephen Sallan, MD 1996
Christian Arbelaez, MD 2005 –2010
Darlene Gabeau-Lacet, MD 2008
R. Michael Scott, MD 1993
Stanley Ashley, MD 2003 – 2005
John Garfield, MD 1996
Michael Shannon, MD 1997 – 2007
Robert Barbieri, MD 1997 – present
Beth Garner, MD 2004 – 2006
Colin Sieff, MB BCh 1996
Jabbar Bennett, PhD, 2008
Joel Goldberg, MD 2011
Rhonda Bentley-Lewis, MD, MMSc
Assistant Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School,
Massachusetts General Hospital
Medical School: University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine
VCP Year: 1995-1996
Kenneth McIntosh, MD 1999
Dr. Rhonda Bentley-Lewis spent most of her youth in the tough environs of the South Bronx, much
of it as a “latchkey” kid caring for her younger brother. Through a life-altering opportunity with
A Better Chance, an East Coast foundation that places promising urban students in competitive
boarding schools, she enrolled in the highly-regarded Berkshire School in Sheffield, Massachusetts.
Once there, she pursued academics, sports, and diverse extra-curricular activities.
As high school concluded, she was pressed by her guidance counselor to consider Ivy League
schools and look beyond becoming a social worker for teenage moms. She was also urged to
consider medical school. These conversations followed her throughout college and on into medical
school. Rhonda says, “Having confidence in my abilities would become a significant life lesson. I
really hadn’t had this confidence affirmed by my prior experiences in school or at home.”
In 1995 she came to the VCP and found Dr. Joan Reede and Program Coordinator Cathleen Dunham
ready to shepherd her and her Clerkship cohorts through a month of rigorous and rewarding
medical training in a revered learning community. Dr. Bentley also believes she was being prepared
to model healthcare diversity and equitable service to the underserved. Of this preparation she
says, “It’s not just about getting into a Harvard hospital, it’s also about learning to explain a complex
medical environment and its practices to people who often can’t understand it for themselves.”
VCP25
She became the first person of color to receive Berkshire’s Outstanding Alumni Award in the 35
years of the honor. At Berkshire, she was developed and supported in ways that her life in the Bronx
could never have made possible.
17
Herbert Hechtman, MD 1995
Stephen Ringer, MD 1997
Todd Griswold, MD 2005 – present
Linda Heffner, MD 1993
Audra Robertson, MD MPH 2009 – 2011
David Himmelstein, MD 1994 – 2008
Thomas Grayboys, MD 2010
Selwyn Rogers, MD 2003 – 2011
Michelle Holmes, MD 1993
Mitchell Harris, MD 2006 – 2012
Arturo Saavedra, MD PhD, 2007 – 2011
Marie-Louise Jean-Baptiste, MD 1993 – present
Harley Haynes, MD 2003 – 2006
Fidencio Saldana, MD 2006
Alfred Margulies, MD 1996 – 2005
Galen Henderson, MD 2010 – 2011
Julian Seifter, MD 1998
Ira Mintzer, MD 1996 – 2000
Lennox Hoyte, MD 1997
Kitt Shaffer, MD 1997 – 2003
Richard Pels, MD 1997
Danny Jacobs, MD 1996 – 1997
Timothy Shafman, MD 1998
Claire-Cecile Pierre, MD 2003 – 2005
Paula Johnson, MD 1993 – 1996
Barry Simmons, MD 2001
Mark Johnson, MD 2009 – present
David Soybel, MD 1997 – 2009
Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary
Joel Katz, MD 2001 – present
Michael Stelluto, MD 1999
Ruberto Charles, MD 2004
Christopher Lathan, MD 2009 – 2010
Ruth Tuomala, MD 2011
Kathryn Colby, MD 2007
Eldrin Lewis, MD 2004 – 2011
Erik Velez, MD 2010
Sandra Cremers, MD 2002
James Maguire, MD 1999
Akila Viswanathan, MD 2003
Daniel Deschler, MD 2002, 2010
Ramon Martin, MD 2011
Louise Wilkins-Haug, MD PhD 2013
Scott Greenstein, MD 2011
Thomas McElrath, MD 2003
Gayle Winters, MD 2001 – 2009
Stephen Rauch, MD 1993 – 1996
Edgar Milford, MD 1995
Jacqueline Wolf, MD 1992
Lucy Shen, MD 2010
Tracey Milligan, MD 2008 – 2013
Marshall Wolf, MD 1995 – 1999
Lynette Watkins, MD 2002
Nawal Nour, MD 2008 – 2010
Janey Wiggs, MD 2005
Michael O’Leary, MD 1993
Cambridge Health Alliance
Nora Osman, MD 2007 – present
David Baron, MD 1998
Marc Pfeffer, MD PhD 1998 – 2003
Jay Bhatt, DO, MPH 2011
Maria Alexander-Bridges, MD 1995
Juan C. Puyana, MD 2000
Rose Goldman, MD 1995 – 2000
Zara Cooper, MD, MSc
Assistant Professor of Surgery, Brigham and Women’s Hospital
Medical School: Mount Sinai School of Medicine
VCP Year: 1999-2000
VCP25
Zara Cooper didn’t start out wanting to be a doctor. She studied journalism in college with the
intention of working in advertising and marketing. After school, she was an advertising Account
Executive for four years. While doing some volunteer work, she met a few neurologists and began to
think about becoming a doctor. Within a few years, she enrolled in medical school and began
her journey.
18
She jumped at the opportunity to come to Boston for the 1999 VCP and clearly remembers two
key “life lessons” from the experience. “Joan Reede introduced me to Dr. Bill Silen, who was then
Chair of Surgery at Beth Israel, and that meeting changed my life. I learned then that one meeting
which might seem accidental can absolutely change everything. The other lesson I learned, which
is probably the point of the VCP, was that I was good enough to compete here.” Dr. Silen told her
this in no uncertain terms and was instrumental in her return to the Brigham. Sixteen years later,
she’s still there.
Dr. Cooper adds, “The Visiting Clerkship Program is key for diversity in the HMS community
because access to this unrivalled learning system is so limited…This is a very rich environment.
There’s a lot to learn and there’s a lot to offer. Everything is here for the taking. But you actually
have to take it. This isn’t an environment that coddles…You have to be open to the experience
and you have to come prepared. I know that I learned a lot and was exposed to a unique practice
setting. I met people who support me to this day and I think that’s terrific.”
William Curry, MD 2011 – 2013
Macias Konstantopoulos, MD 2013
Alia Antoon, MD 2004
Benjamin T. Davis, MD 2004 – 2008
Jennifer Lafayette, MD 2003 – 2005
Alexy Arauz, MD 2010 – 2014
Marc deMoya, MD 2007 – present
Mayra Lorenzo, MD PhD 2014
Hugh Auchincloss, MD 1996
Marcela del Carmen, MD 2013
Abner Louissaint, Jr., MD PhD 2011
Gerald Austin, MD 1996
Ronald Dixon, MD 2004
Bonnie Mackool, MD 2010
W. Jay Austin, MD 2003
Daniel Driscoll, MD 1997
Henry Mankin, MD 1995 – 1997
Edwin Avery, MD 2003
Mark Eisenberg, MD 1999
James May, MD 1999 – 2005
Mark Barry, MD 1993
Amaka Eneanya, MD 2012 – present
Charles McCabe, MD 1997 – 2006
Heidi Bas, MD 2012
Ersne Eromo, MD 2013
W. Scott McDougal, MD 2002
Eliot Battle, MD 1999
Christine Finn, MD 2005 – 2007
Nicte Mejia, MD 2010
Hasan Bazari, MD 1997
Arlan Fuller, MD 1993 – 2005
Robert Novelline, MD 1994 – 2010
Ann Beal, MD 1996 – 1999
Mark Gebhart, MD 1993
Natan Noviski, MD 2000 – 2001
William Beck, MD 1993
Thomas Gill, MD 1999 – 2004
Saul Perea, MD 1995
Rhonda Bentley-Lewis, MD 2011 – 2012
Ernesto Gonzalez, MD 1995 – 2011
John Potts, MD 1996
Richard Bringhurst, MD 2000
Wanda Gonzalez, MD 2011, 2013
John Querques, MD 1997
Sherri-Ann Burnett-Bowie, MD 2014
AnneKatherine Goodman, MD 2000 – 2014
Kevin Raskin, MD 2006 – present
Melvin Burton, MD 1995
Fiona Graham Cook, MD 1993
Laura Riley, MD 1997 – 2014
Jocelyn Carter, MD 2014
David Henderson, MD 1999 – 2001
David Rattner, MD 1995
Eduardo Castro, MD 1997
David Hooper, MD 1997 – 2003
Kathy Sanders, MD 2012
Tracey Cho, MD 2013
Ann Kao, MD 2010
Arturo Saavedra, MD PhD, 2011 – present
Charlotte Cowan, MD 1995
Thomas Kinane, MB BCh 2000
Jay Schnitzer, MD 2003
Cornelia Cremens, MD 2003
Rae Allain, MD 1999 – 2003
Debbie Salas-Lopez, MD, MPH, FACP
Chair, Dept. of Medicine, Lehigh Valley Health Network, Allentown, PA; Professor of Medicine,
University of South Florida College of Medicine and Public Health
Medical School: University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey
VCP Year: 1995-1996
Clerkship Hospital: Mount Auburn Hospital
Like the heroine of a contemporary urban novel, Debbie Salas Lopez has a story to tell. She grew
up the oldest of five siblings in the tough inner-city surroundings of the Bronx, New York. As Debbie
recalls, “My father was a minister and we sometimes had church four or five times a week. As a
preacher’s kid, the many rich lessons that I learned then followed me into adult life.”
In recalling her 1995 VCP opportunity, she insists on talking about Dr. Joan Reede. She says, “Joan
was larger than life. I can remember her walk, her charisma, and how dedicated she was to creating
an incredible learning community for the clerks. She’s one of my takeaways from the program…
She should know that she changed a life in touching me.”
She adds, “I’m in medicine now because I grew up experiencing healthcare disparities. I was
myself an underserved community. I experienced the micro-aggressions of the system and I know
now that we need doctors, nurses, and healthcare professionals that are sensitive to the whole
variety of challenging life circumstances that poor people are carrying along with significant and
serious health concerns.”
VCP25
Her father taught her about caring for people and she loved science. So between the values that
he instilled in Debbie and that penchant for science, she knew that she wanted to help people.
Her story then twists and turns through an unlikely odyssey of community college study, marriage,
escaping from the poverty and violence of the late 1960’s Bronx, a highly successful real estate
career, and an improbable, but triumphant, return to college and medical school.
19
Shannon Scott-Vernaglia, MD 2010
Wyn Williams, MD 1995 – 1997
Valerie Pronio-Stelluto, MD 1999 – 2008
Monique Sellas, MD 2009
Karen Winkfield, MD 2008 – present
Ellen Spar, MD 1995 – 1997
Felicia Smith, MD 2006
Cameron Wright, MD 1993
Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital
Olga Smulders-Myers, MD 2009
Thomas Spitzer, MD 2010 – 2013
Mount Auburn Hospital
David Burke, MD 2002
Christopher Stowell, MD 2009
Eric Flint, MD 1999
Heechin Chae, MD 2002, 2008
Michele Szabo, MD 2006 – 2014
Stephen Forwand, MD 1997
Andrée LeRoy, MD 2011 – 2014
Stephen Thomas, MD 1997 – 2000
Richard Gardner, MD 2000
Donna Nimec, MD – 2001
Valencia Thomas, MD 2003
Charles Hatem, MD 1995
Nimet Oruc, MD 20018
Thomas Thornhill, MD 2011
Paul Kantrowitz, MD 2004 – 2009
Joel Stein, MD 1997 – 1999
Michael Watkins, MD 2011
Jeffrey Leavitt, MD 2006
Suzette Oyeku, MD, MPH
Associate Professor of Clinical Pediatrics, Associate Division Chief for Academic Affairs General
Pediatrics,
Montefiore Medical Center
The University Hospital for Albert Einstein College of Medicine Family Care Center/Division of
General Pediatrics
Medical School: New York University School of Medicine
VCP Year: 1998-1999
Clerkship Hospital: Boston Children’s Hospital
Dr. Suzette Oyeku was a young high school graduate at just sixteen years of age. She was
committed to community and civic engagement as a young person and represented her
peers on a community board in her local enclave. Suzette also made time for playing the
saxophone, choral singing, running track, and attending summer science research programs.
Her immigrant parents, a Nigerian father and a Guyanese mother, were both college-educated
and encouraged her to excel academically and pursue accelerated learning experiences in the
allied sciences.
VCP25
She also recalls her Susan Smith McKinney Steward Medical Society mentoring nights. The
society, created in the late 1970’s, was named after a pioneering African American female
physician and sponsored periodic New York dinner meetings, hosting inner-city youth for
networking and linkage. At these dinners Suzette met early mentors like Dr. Doris Weathers
and was inspired to pursue a career in medicine.
20
After graduating, she was accepted to the Sophie Davis School of Biomedical Education at
City College of New York, a seven-year combined undergraduate and medical school degree
program in partnership with seven New York institutions, a program that was created to
increase the number of area minorities entering medical school.
She attended NYU Medical School and was selected for the Visiting Clerkship Program in
1998. Of the VCP, she states, “Doing the Visiting Clerkship opened my eyes to the fact that
I could do a residency here at one of the Harvard hospitals. For many people training at a
Harvard hospital seems like an unattainable goal, even more so for people of color. Coming
here, I saw people who looked like me doing the things I wanted to do. I saw that I could
compete on this stage, just like everyone else.”
Francesca Alvarez-Calderon
Viviana Maria Alvarez-Toro
Marie E. Ambroise
Shirin Mansoor Ali Amlani
Felix W. Amoa-Bonsu
Love Emeka Anani
Candido J. Anaya
Gabiela Maria Andrade
Dominic Omar Ansari
Monica Marie Anselmetti
John Fitzgerald Ansley
Betty L. Anthony
Joseph Olubusayo Apata
Ogheneruona O. Apoe
Leslie A. Appiah
Christian Arbelaez
Melissa Zarragoza Arca
Cheryl Denyse Archbald
Jamy D. Ard
Mark I. Armanious
Jennifer D. Armstrong
Michelle M. Arrieta
Isabel Arrillaga-Romany
Denise A. Asafu-Adjei
Vivian Afia-Serwaa Asare
Adedayo O. Ashana
Regina J. Asihene
Yasmine Assadipour
Sabrina Annick Assoumou
Lee Rachel Atkinson-McEvoy
Mark Andrew Attiah
Kurtis I. Auguste
Valerie Louise Augustus
Michael W. Aversano
Bernetta Lynne Avery
Arinola O. Awomolo
Oluwafunmi Onaopemipo
Awonuga
Cipriano Josef Ayala
Olubimpe Ayeni
Calvin F. Ayers
Martha E.P. Ayewah
Ebere Jill Azumah
John A. Babalola
Oladapo Michael Babatunde
Edgar Bacares
Lizamarie Bachier-Rodriguez
Jose Rigoberto Baez
Ignatius Henry Baffoe-Bonnie
Maimouna Bah
Lourdes Gonzalez Bahamonde
Nicole Ann Bailey
Mari Krisa Baldwin
Ruthia Alphia Balfour-Dorsey
Rodrigo Baltodano
Cecilia W. Banga
Malena Amina Banks
Mary E. Banks
Roslyn C. Banks-Jackson
Wagner Baptiste
Luz Juliana Barahona
Aisha Nicole Barber
Ariana S. Barkley
Calvin Langston Barnes
Carlin Denise Barnes
Derrick Jay Barnes
Fernando F. Barrera
Brett Barrick
Bryan Courtney Batch
Janeen Gabaldon Bates
Sharon Michelle Batista
Judy Kay Battle
Gustavo Bauza
Ayshe Ana Beesen
Adam Belachew
Essene C. Bell
Maureen Anita Bell
Ralph Jeorge Beltran
Cindrea Denise Bender
Carlos Luis Benitez
Shante Dominique Bennett
Richard T. Benson
Timothy G. Benson
Rhonda Michelle A. Bentley-Lewis
Gabrielle Bercy-Roberson
Saba H. Berhie
Myriam Z. Bermudez
Idanis Marianne Berrios Morales
Edgar Betancourt
Robel Tesfaye Beyene
Kenneth J. Biehl
Justin Earl Bird
Cristina Bird Collado
Annette Cecilia Blakes
Adolfo A. Blanco
Carla M. Blanco-Urrutia
Patricia A. Bledsoe
Henry Aidoo Boateng
Vanessa Toney Bobb
Shamanique Shamona Bodie
Wendy Bohner
Ranti Sherifat Bolaji
Placid A. Bone
William Chester Borde-Perry
Christopher Borrego
John Paul Borrego
Connell W. Bost
Tin Christopher Botzler
Sophia Makram Bous
Christopher David Boyd
Erin Denise Boyd
Tracy Boykin
Edith R. Bracho-Sanchez
Annabel Lee Bradford
Kalonda Kateece Bradshaw
Winnifred Bragg
Kaye E. Brathwaite
Julia Marjorie Bregand-White
LaPrincess C. Brewer
Mariana Rae Brewer
Melissa Antoinette Briggs
D. Hodari Brooks
Dahari D. Brooks
Traci Lynette Brooks
Dwane Gerard Broussard
Gregory Scott Brown
Israel Kwame Brown
Jeffrey Bernard Brown
Kevin Nathaniel Brown
Micahla Christina Brown
Nathaniel Franklin Brown
Nefertiti Adunni Brown
Sherry-Ann N. Brown
Tanilla Louise Brown
Trista A. Brown
Satra Bianca Browne
Sara Grace Brubaker
Dominique A. Brundidge
Damita Lynelle Bryant
Eric C. Burdge
Sean G. Burgest
Luz Minerva Burgos Fuster
Michael G. Burton-Williams
Errol Lovester Bush
Jose M. Busquets
Ginette Busschots
Esther Rochelle Butler
Paris DeSoto Butler
Jerome Alan Byam
Carol Lynn Cabral
Rosalie Serrano Cabrera
Aileen Caceres
Magdalena Cadet
Melaney Armstrong Caldwell
Chanelle Calhoun
Marianne Camargo
Alfonso Camberos
Sausan Tahtawi Campbell
Todd C. Campbell
Jillian Canton
Matthew Ross Carazo
Dana Lorraine Carbo-Bryant
Janet Carella
Carla A. Cargill
Victor J. Carlo-Chevere
Dafnis Carolina Carranza
Mark C. Carter
William Edgar Carter
Yvette M. Carter
Yvonne Marie Carter
Steven Roger Casos
David A. Cassius
Mario Castellanos
Claudia P. Castiblanco
Elizabeth Castillo
Armando E. Castro
Reyneiro Castro
Carla Casulo
Romulo Alberto Celli
Walter Louis Champion
Monica Chang-Panesso
Cristel C. Chapel-Crespo
Eloise C. Chapman
VCP25
Francisca Abanyie
Amina Hassan Abdeldaim
Obafunto Opeyemi Abimbola
Gallane Dabela Abraham
Merna A. Abraham
Jose Antonio Abrego
Antonio M. Abreu-Ramos
Iroso I. Abu
Ezinma Achebe
Maria Natalie Achong
Atoya Breona Adams
Tonya Lynn Adams
Pelumi A. Adedayo
Mukhtar Adem
Adebola Olufunmi Adeniran
Oyinade Mofoluke Aderibigbe
Oluwaseun Adelanke Adetayo
Bryant A. Adibe
Rees Opuni Adomako
Horacio E. Adrogue
Winifred V. Agard
Oma Nnenna Agbai
Brian Besong Agbor-Etang
Gloria Kangachie Aggrey
Ugochi Crystal Agi
Nneamaka Barbara Agochukwu
Abby J. Agosto Ventura
Anmir Laura Agresar
David Aguilar
Felix Aguilar
Gabriela Aurora Aguilar
Steve Anthony Aguilar
Vivian del Carmen Aguilar
Martha X. Aguilera
Uchenna E. Aguwa
Ayan H. Ahmed
Hodan Hamza Ahmed
Wiaam Osman Ahmed
Penelope T. Aikin-Jackson
Gonzalo A. Aillon
Stephanie Nkechi Ajudua
Gloria E. Akan
Blessing O.N. Akpofure
Diana Lucia Alba
Michelle Asha Albert
Carlos A. Alemany
Anel Alexis
Isabel M. Algaze-Gonzalez
Towhid Ali
Leonardo Aliaga
Kari-Claudia M. Allen
Laveil M. Allen
Timothy Allen
Blythe Lelia Allen-Dickerson
Kenneth Rupert Alleyne
Zoyla Ascencion Almeida
Laura Alsina
Mahlet Alula
Jorge Alex Alvarez
Melissa Marie Alvarez
Aytana Alvarez-Ambas
VCP Alumni 1990 - 2015
21
VCP Alumni 1990 - 2015 (Cont’d)
Marjory Charlot
Armando Chavez
Sekai Rutendo Chideya
Nicola C. Chin
Olethia E. Chisolm
James Alfred Chiverton
Tanishia D. Choice
Kaman Chong
Nicole Victoria Christian
Kathleen M. Christophe
Obionwu Chukwueloka
Natalia Cintron Rodriguez
Zoanne Arnette Clack
Camille Amanda Clarke
Roderick Claybrooks
Kellie Anne Clearo
Jessica Ann Clemons
Robert W. Coats
Brando Cobanov
Adriana Cohen Rostoker
Ricardo E. Colberg
Melissa Helena Coleman
Nana Ekua Coleman
Dinee Collings Simpson
Eric J. Colon
Giancarlo Colon
Iris C. Colon
Daniel Conde-Sterling
Drew Kevin Cooper
Jamille Tonia Cooper
Nicole Inez Cooper
Zara Regina Cooper
Kathy Camille Cornelius
Jomarie Cortes Santos
Sidney Coupet
Deitrick L. Cox
Kimberly Ann Cox
Chadrick Antony Cross
Chaundre K. Cross
Evonne Louise Crump
Andrew S. Cruz
Daniel E. Cruz
Mariana Cruz
Thomas Kofi Mensah Cudjoe
Madison Colyn Cuffy
Thomas Curran
C Suzanne Cutter
Sabrina Monique DaCosta
George Dalembert
Tracey L. Daley
Patricia Phuoc Dang
Mathias Wayne Daniels
Whitney Daniels
Matthew David Danielson
Craig A. Dates
Iyooh Uchechukwu Davidson
Sasha Marie Davidson
Angela Maria Davis
Lashea Davis
Me’ja R. Day
Aga Khan Puno De Castro
Pierre Edouard de Delva
Roberto Antonio De Felix-Davila
Gabriela de la Vega Muns
Federico G. De Puy
Marie G. Debnam
Marjorie L. Debnam
Marvalyn E. DeCambre
Deidre Marie Defoe
Rykoff Ritchie MaeDelara
Jacob DeLaRosa
Abiola Dele-Michael
Jose Miguel Delgado
Patricia I. Delgado
Dawit E. Demissie
Allen Ray Dennis
Robin Lisa Dennis
Seemal Rohit Desai
Sybil G. Dessie
Tricia Desvarieux
Nicole C. Devenish
Alejandro Lamas Diaz
Monica M. Diaz
Dionne S. Dickerson
Jana Dickson
Keith O. Dillon
Khady Diouf
Jude L. Divers
Najah I. Doka
Patrick Lee Dominguez
Grettel C. Donahue
Jackie Patricia Dorce
Anthony Doss
Ronald Maurice Douglas
Keith Thomas Downing
Mary E. Duarte
Lorena Dumas Guntner
Michelle E. Duncan
Karla J. Dunston
Gladys Dupuy
Latha (Stead) Ganti, MD, MBA
Professor of Emergency Medicine at the University of Central Florida College of Medicine;
Attending physician at the North Florida South Georgia Veteran Affairs Medical Center
Medical School: Ponce School of Medicine
VCP Year: 1996-1997
Clerkship Hospital: Massachusetts General Hospital
One month in the life of an aspiring physician can make all the difference. For proof of this,
consider Dr. Latha Stead Ganti. Growing up in Nairobi, Kenya, she wanted to be a doctor for as
long as she could remember.
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Latha was very excited about being accepted to VCP and coming to Harvard in 1996. However, she
did not want to take a rotation in Emergency Medicine at Mass General. With no other clerkship
available during her rotation schedule, she reluctantly accepted the spot. Then, according to Dr.
Ganti, “just two weeks into the rotation, I loved emergency medicine. It was the best rotation ever,
and my clerkship director, Dr. Stephen Thomas, was awesome… I’ve been in Emergency Medicine
ever since… This “undesirable” rotation has made all the difference in my career.”
22
Dr. Ganti continues to see the lack of access as a tremendous problem in the future of American
healthcare. She suggests that there are many barriers to access, but that education is chief among
them. She says, “Many among the underserved don’t have an understanding of the way that
healthcare works and there aren’t enough efforts being made to bring equity to this part of the
system.”
She also believes that STEM education is critical to the ongoing success of diversity and inclusion
efforts at America’s premier medical schools, hospitals, and research institutions. She is passionate
about bringing more robust STEM initiatives to inner-city and rural school environments.
She also credits the VCP program with fostering a greater appreciation within her for bringing the
merits of medical research into a wider, less science-focused audience. Dr. Ganti says, “Everything
about the program was amazing and every year since ‘96 I’ve encouraged people to apply.”
Glenn Michael Hall
Cecily E. Hamill
John Franklin Hamilton
Rhonda Lynette Hamilton
Tanesha Maria Handy
Melissa P. Hankins
Olga Theresa Hardy
Sumayah Hargette
Ruby Harmon
Robin Harriford
LeWanza M. Harris
Jonathan S. Hausmann
Norrisa Adrianna Haynes
Candrice Rachelle Heath
Oneca S. J. Heath-Phillip
Alejandro M. Heffess
Justine Elodia Henao
Shasta E. Henderson
Yolanda Y. Hendley
Alicia F. Henriquez
Chandra Alarice Henry
De’smond M. Henry
Tracey Lynn Henry
Karl E. Herman
Gilberto Hernandez
Helder Oscar Hernandez
Marco F. Hernandez
Liza Hernandez-Gonzales
Martha Hernandez-Illas
Ana Maria Hernandez-Puga
Nivia Hernandez-Ramos
Mauricio F. Herrera
Michael Jerome Hervey
Laurae D. Hicks
LeRoi Stratton Hicks
Theophelus Bryant Hill
Tanya Simone Hinds
Sarah E. Hodge
Aneitra D. Hoggard
Lauren Claire Hollins
Jason Holmes
Herbert Andrew Hopper
Avril M. Houston
Lennox Hoyte
Tara Nicole Hrobowski
Imelda Huerta
Kisha Christine Hughes
William Edward Humphries
Katrina Faith Hurley
Amy S. Hurwitz
Barbara Alexander Hutchinson
Sara Ameva Hyatt
Iman O. Hypolite
Charity Ibilola Idowu
Ugonna Nnamdi Ihekweazu
Eric Ugenna Iheme
Okwu Amechi Ikediobi
Jennifer M. Ikle
Sotonye Imadojemu
Amarachukwu C. Imediegwu
Kavita D. Imrit
Teresa Elizabeth Ingram
April Khadijah Inniss
Caridad D. Isaac
Prescilia N. Isedeh
Jessica E. Isom
Miguel M. Iturregui
Donna Gaylette Ivery
Moses N. Izuegbu
Devon L. Jackson
Joseph Augustus Jackson
Larry Ronald Jackson
Sha-Ron Jackson
Yura K. Jarrells
Kayin Bates Jeffers
Scarline Marie Jerome-Kon
Juan Carlos Jimenez
Elena Jimenez-Gutierrez
Andrew Jimerson
Tracy Lynn Jimerson
Patrik L. Johansson
Amber Elaine Johnson
Angel Marie Johnson
Chenara A. Johnson
Crista Elcira Johnson
Dana D. Johnson
Deniece N. Johnson
Kateena L. Johnson
Kimberly Dionne Johnson
Malcolm Kamau Johnson
Millisaun Johnson
Paul Johnson
Tisa Michelle Johnson
Antoine Dante Jones
Deryk Jones
Douglas J. Jones
Kristofer Jason Jones
Shawnet K. Jones
Caleb L. Jordan
Joshua Lee Jordan
Tonya P. Jordan
Michelle Amanda Jose-Kampfner
D’Andrea Krista Joseph
Luc F. Joseph
Naima Thavory Joseph
Nancy I. Joseph
Sharma Emma Joseph
Alisha Joyner
Pedro E. Juan
Howard Julien
Matheau A. Julien
Terrill P. Julien
Oluyomi Edith Kabiawu
Wanjiku Kabiru
Adedoyin Olukemi Kalejaiye
Ernest T. Kamara
Pavan K. Kavali
Mwanga M. Kazadi
Bahareh Ebadifar Keith
Michael Donnell Kelso
James Kennedye
Amsale Ketema
Dineo Khabele
Hana H. Khidir
Angelica M. Garcia
Christopher Anders Garcia
Georgina Esguerra Garcia
Oscar Alejandro Garcia
Sheila M. Garcia
Maria Garcia-Jimenez
Rebecca Garcia-Sosa
Francisco Javier Garcini
Jessica Garst Orozco
Eugenia C. Garvin
Rebecca Marguerite Garza
Travis Andre Gayles
Tokunbo David Gbadebo
Daniel G. Gebremedhin
Ramona Gelzer Bell
Alvaro Genao
Tiffany L. George
Asqual Getaneh
Hans K. Ghayee
Ann R. Gillett-Elrington
Lindsay Ann Gittens
Juan Marcelo Giugale
Kraig Lamont Golden
Debra N. Goldson-Prophete
Yvonne Linda Gomez
Amanda Leigh Gonsalves
Ricardo Andres Gonzales
Alex Gonzalez
Catherine Gonzalez
Fanny Gonzalez
Jose Luis Gonzalez
Maricelis Gonzalez
Ricardo R. Gonzalez
Roberto Rene Gonzalez
Manuel Gonzalez-Brito
Jessica Gonzalez-Hernandez
Catalina Gonzalez-Marques
Christine M. Goodbody
Christie Wynette Gooden
Alayn Govea
Garth Nigel Graham
Chia Sonia Granda
Lynette Renee Grandison
Kinzya Bernice Grant
Nina Marie Rivera Graupera
Chantel Annette Gray
Sean D. Green
Stephanie Claudia Greger
Vanesa Q. Gregory
Ruby Chara Greywoode
Dauda Alasan Griffin
Jonathan Admil Guerra Rodriguez
Jean B. Guerrier
Marsha K. Guess
Pablo I. Guevara
Ndeye-Aicha Gueye
Alexandra M. Gutierrez
Antonio Gutierrez
Miguel Angel Gutierrez
Adeniran A. Haastrup
Luis J. Haddock
Veronica Hailes
VCP25
Michelle Durham
Nathalie Duroseau
Maria E. Echevarria
Melanie Andene Edwards
Ese Paul Efemini
Fortune Jamike Egbulefu
Adesuwa Tracy Egharevba
Douglas R. Eitel
Andrew Wamib Elbardissi
Adekunle I. Elegbede
Agusto Ernesto Elias
Michele A. Elliott
Juliet Emamaullee
Feyi Nneka Emembolu
Miriam Emile
Amaka D. Eneanya
Christopher Scott English
Francisco Enriquez
Sonya Nichole Ephraim
Christian Paul Erickson
Dawn Marie Ericsson
Omotore F. Eruvwetere
Martha Cristina Escobar
Veronica Ann Escobar
Michael Scott Escobedo
Ogenna Adibeli Esimai
Ime Bassey Essien-Lewis
Jerry D. Estep
Mill Etienne
Nathaniel Rutherford Evans
Marytery Fajardo
Steven G. Federico
Karlin M. Feldman-Nazario
Tamara Feliciano
Roberta Felsenstein
Whitney Y. Feltus
Yvonne Yvette Fenner
Fabiola Fernandez
Joanne Mercedes Fernandez
Rafle Fernandez
Pamela Fernandez Carbia
Carlos A. Fierro
Johanna C. Figueroa
Fernando Fleischman
Jorge Fleites
Efren Jesus Flores
Erika V. Flores Uribe
Ruben Font
Christal-Joy Paulina Forgenie
La’Keitha Rena Foster
Cathy Enid Franco
Brandi Kaye Freeman
Natelaine Emmanuelle Fripp
Joel Ernesto Frontera
David Alan Frye
Jasmine Reanna Gaddy
Salvador Guevara Gallardo
Vanessa C. Gallegos-Kearin
Suhein D. Galloza
Maria G. Galvez Picon
Tondalaya Louise Gamble
Alejandra Cecilia Garcia
23
Leonard Kayemba Kibuule
Avian Deshiver Kidd
Susan Diaz Killenberg
Erin M. King
LaQuita Kimberly King
Nakesha Denise King
Rudolph (Rudye) Carlo King
Tendo S. Kironde
Cassie Nicole Kline
Abena Boateng Knight
Peter Lee Kok
Rediet Kokebie
Rachel Kowalsky
Christina Torres Kozycki
Kayiguvwe O. Kragha
Geoff Krampitz
Sharon J. Kuong
Maxwell Prosper Kwaku
Michael Lam
Cory Dwayne Lamar
Alden Matthew Landry
Danielle E. Lane
Qortni A. Lang
Milcah Larks
Pierre H. Lauwerys
Nova Law
Genea A. Lawrence
Naomi E. Lawrence-Reid
Hung Manh Le
Steven Khoa Tran Le
Jhoan Andres Ledesma
Anthony Lemaire
Andrée M. LeRoy
Uneeda M. Leverett
Beverly Renee Lewis
Cleveland William Lewis
Janet Elisabeth Lewis
Marcia L. Lewis
Moshe Miller Lewis
Wanda Jacobs Lewis
Carlos Alberto Leyva
Brian Lima
Rahsaan Lateef Lindsey
Shaina A. Lipa
Luis Lizardo-Sanchez
Stephanie Marie Llop-Santiago
Chandler Alexander Long
Michelle Long
Alfred Lopez
Gina Marie Lopez
Leticia Livia Lopez
Yania Lopez Alvarez
Maria Lopez Bonilla
Ivelisse Lopez-Padilla
Reynold Ivan Lopez-Soler
Vanessa Ivette Lora
Dionne Denise Louis
Judette M. Louis
Lily Love
Carl J. Lowe
Elizabeth Lozada-Pastorio
Suzelle Sabine Luc
Angel Abad Luciano
Liana M. Lugo
Janiene Denise Luke
Michael Muwonge Lukoma
Joseph Walter Luzius
Deidre Spicer Maccannon
Flore Macenat
Lissette E. Machin
Hildred Machuca
Rowena Johnson Maclin
Shirley Marie Madhere
Chiduzie C. Madubata
Jorge Carlos Magallon
Consuelo S. Maggi
Dania Bize Magri
Nichole Duran Mahnert
Joelle Anne Makon
Michael Y.A. Malik
Catherine Ebinimi Mamah
James A. Mann
Marlon Ramash Maragh
Sherley Marceus
Luis Arnaldo Marchany-Alfano
Youssra Marjoua
Tracey Marks
Guillermo A. Marquez-Valedon
Carlos Ernesto Marroquin
Andrew D.A. Marshall
Allison N. Martin
Erica Victoria Martin
Gladys Martin
Jamila C. Martin
Jovana Yanique Martin
Yvette N. Martin
Elizabeth Grace Martinez
Patricia Elena Villanueva Martinez
Carmen Julia Martinez Martinez
Carlos Mata
J. Benjamin Mathis
Victoria Matt
Jarrod D. Matthei
Ralph Jean Maxy
Aisha Rasan Mays
David Andrew McCall
Rotonya LaShea McCants Carr
Michael Lewis McClam
Michelle Albert, MD, MPH
Professor in Residence, University of California, San Francisco;
Director of the Center for the Study of Adversity and Cardiovascular Disease
at UCSF Cardiology
Medical School: University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry
VCP Year: 1993-1994
Clerkship Hospital: Massachusetts General Hospital
Born and raised in Guyana, a relatively poor island on the Caribbean coast of South America,
Dr. Michelle Albert had a fairly austere upbringing. The sudden death of her grandfather by cardiac
arrest was probably the trigger for her eventual calling to medicine. In grade school, she was good
at math, but a fondness for history found her exploring healthcare disparities among people of color,
particularly those in impoverished situations, facing significant life adversity.
VCP25
Though an arduous journey preceded her 1994 VCP rotation, Michelle lauds the program’s role in
promoting her success in early research and practical opportunities. She says that “coming to the
HMS community from the outside exposed her to unique relationships in an academic culture unlike
any other.”
24
During her clerkship she began to acquire academic mentors whom she has continued to learn from
throughout her highly distinguished career, among them, Drs. Paul Ridker, Peter Libby, Elliot Antman,
David Williams, Emilia Benjamin, and Gary Gibbons. She also affirmed the value of learning from
disciplines and mentors outside of her own realm of study, lessons taught by her most important life
mentor, Michael Albert, her father, who recently passed away.
As for future participants in the VCP experience, Dr. Albert says: “Definitely look to experience more
than one hospital during your tenure. Try to meet and spend time with Chief Residents, specific
discipline chairs, and other clinical leaders. Find mentors and be a willing and receptive mentee.
And don’t be afraid to fail. It’s the complimentary side of success and it builds both character and
resilience.”
William Christopher Newman
Austin Jeannine Newsome
Matthieu A. Newton
Valentine Nfongen Nfonsam
Taiwo N. Ngwa
Shaytone Nicholas
Susan Ingrid Nicholas
Anthony Charles Nichols
Angela Ifeoma Njoku
Ifeoma Nnaji
Sahadat Kemi Nurudeen
Suliat Mayowa Nurudeen
Lynda A. Nwabuobi
Ngozi Nwankpa-Keshinro
Oroma Beatrice Nwanodi
Obinna Uchenna Nwobi
Afua Ofaah Nyanin
Kurwa Neewat Nyigu
Barbara Chidinma Nzegwu
Kristine Anne O’Connor
Toni Rochelle O’Reggio
Julius Thomas Oatts
Abimbola Obafemi
Chika Chizoba Obele
Cynthia Obi
Gabriella Elameyi Ode
Charles A. Odonkor
Emeka Okey Ofobike
Ikenna K. Ogbaa
Onyekachi H. Ogbonna
Ngozi N. Ogbunamiri
Babajide Afolabi Ogunseinde
Adeboye B. Ogunseitan
Aderonke Ayodele Oguntoye
Oluseyi Omole Ojeifo
Mohammed Adeola Ojodu
Anderson I. Okafor
Olutoyin Okanlawon
Constance Okeke
Anietie Edet Okon
Stanley Aham Okoro
Juliet S. Okoroh
Ogochukwu Akumdi Okpala
Ivie O. Okundaye
Edgar Olivas
Joshua Jerrelle Oliver
Michael Leonard Olivier
Kola O. Olugbade
Kenneth C. Olumba
Yetunde Oluwaseun Olutunmbi
Timi Rotimi Omokehinde
Omoniyi Omojowolo Omotoso
Akinwunmi Abimbola Oni-Orisan
Tete Oniang’o
Alden Landry, MD, MPH
Faculty Assistant Director, Office for Diversity Inclusion and Community
Partnership, Harvard Medical School; Attending Physician, Emergency Medicine, Beth Israel
Deaconess Medical Center
Medical School: University of Alabama School of Medicine
VCP Year: 2005-2006
Clerkship Hospital: Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
Alden Landry grew up in the 80’s and was an outdoorsy kid. Both of his parents worked outside of
the home, so he was a latchkey kid. ”I spent most of my early years “shadowing” my older brother,
playing all types of sports, soccer, basketball, riding bikes, just being outdoors. My dad was active
duty military, so we moved around a lot, different bases, different countries. I got exposed to many
different environments.” During his undergraduate days at Prairie View A & M, a Dr. Brown emerged
as a lifelong mentor, leading Alden to a realization that he could be a doctor. As an HBCU student,
he enjoyed being around people that looked like him and came from similar experiences. “I felt
supported and valued.” Later on at the University of Alabama Medical School, he was one of only 16
students of color in a class of 160. Coming to Boston in 2005 was the biggest cultural shock of all. He
laughs, “Calling everybody Sir and Ma’am sometimes got me in trouble. But I was a Southern military
kid, so this was routine for me.” Doing the VCP helped to eliminate the stereotype of Harvard as a
place where everybody wore bow-ties and elbow patches on their jackets…overly educated folks
that can’t talk to regular people. Some of that was true, but most of it wasn’t… I think the most
important part of the VCP is getting to know the specialty that you’re interested in going into…and I
was interested in emergency medicine.”
Ultimately, the VCP helped Dr. Landry determine that Harvard was the right place to train him and
that Boston was the right place for him to be trained.
Dalia Moghazy
David Hoolanaikamanao Moikeha
Arthur Molina
Cristina Montalvo
Roberto E. Montenegro
Joshua Warren Moore
Lisa Marie Morales
Brooke Louisa Morrell
Michael T. Morris
Diahann F. Mosley
Ana Beatriz Mosquera
Rohana U. Motley
Beatrice Mounts
Delicia Lashaun Munfus
Johnathon R. Munoz
Sara M. Munoz-Blanco
Wilda Murphy
Phillip Michael Murray
Pearl Gizelle Myers
Ram Anand Narasimhan
Francisco Alberto Narvaez
Ana M. Natale-Pereira
Kenneth Wayne Neal
Robyn Charissa Neblett
Kaiyo S. Nedd
Gregory N. Nelson
Tamar Katherine Newberry-Dyer
VCP25
Julie Lynette McGhee
Travea Alee McGhie
Sara Ann McKinney
Sean E. McLean
Ashley Maria McMullen
Kenya Adjora McNeal-Trice
Ian Thomas McNeil
Ronald Francis Means
Michael Joe Medina
Nilton Deus Medina
Morgan Mallory Medlock
Jose R. Mena
Delquis R. Mendoza
Michael Joel Mendoza
Max Enrique Mercado
Jesus Mercado-Santiago
Kendra Merine
Robert Ezra Merritt
Akram Mesleh Shayeb
Sarita O. Metzger
Eriberto Michel
Marcela Millan
Vanessa Lynne Miller
Brandon K. Mills
Michael Stanley Mitchell
Natujwa Naomi Mmbaga
Michael D. Moffitt
25
Ekama Iquo Onofiok
Chiagozie Oluchi Ononiwu
Oyere Kalu Onuma
Ndidiamaka Chidi Onwubalili
Jean Onwuchekwa
Kenolisa Chikuma Onwueme
Bridget A. Oppong
Lawrence Bamidele Oresanya
Vwaire J. Orhurhu
Abimbola Oluwayemisi Orisamolu
Gilbert Ralph Ortega
John Daniel Ortega
Nerian Ortiz
Robin Ortiz
Juan Antonio Ortiz Perez
Etin-Osa Osasogie Osa
Tolulope Oluwaseyi Osidipe
Moses Onyari Osoro
Lorraine B. Ospina
Ariel D. Otero
Jose Efrain Otero Garcia
Antonio M. Otero-Lopez
Chinedu G. Otu
Steven E. Ovu
Akinbowale Olatokunbo Oyalowo
Babatunde Olumuyiwa Oyediran
Suzette Olu Busola Oyeku
Tola T. Oyesanya
Waleska Michelle Pabon-Ramos
Theresa Rebecca Pacheco
Airama Maria Padron
Sydney Pardino
Patti Anne Paris
Stell Darelle Patadji
Joy Pravinkumar Patel
Sharad D. Patel
Snehal Ghanshyam Patel
Kaipo T. Pau
Karen Lynn Paul
Carrie Page Peek
Jessica Marta Pena
Carol Penn
Dominique Cheri Peppers
Kina Charon Peppers
Angela Christine Perez
Clifford M. Perez
Francis Xavier Perez
Kenny Perez
Omar Javier Perez
Sania R. Perez
Emilio L. Perez-Rivera
Chris Tonya Pernell
Archie C. Perry
Yvonne Antionette Ellis Perry
Patricia M. Peters
Shariska S. Petersen
Adrienne Alise Phillips
Ashanda M. Phillips
Lynn Julia Phillips
Dacia Aurelia Pickering
Lucille Mary Pickney
Claire-Cecile Pierre
Jude A. Pierre-Louis
Veronica Maria Pimentel
Joseph W. Poku
Anthony J. Porter
Gina M. Porter
Marya J. Porter
Andrew James Potter
Meghan Elizabeth Pratts
Maxwell Agyemang Prempeh
Toni A. Price
Elizabeth P. Prout
Gisela D. Puig Carrion
Heather Calderon Pujet
Nancy Puzziferri
Shelley Ann Quarless
Omar Quiles
Chemene Quinn
Bianca Nicole Quinones-Perez
Carlos Bernardo Quintero
Murisiku Raifu
Altagracia Ramirez
Joanna Gabriela Ramirez
Michelle Ramirez
Andrea Raymond
Atieno Alice Reggy
Kaye M. Reid Lombardo
Sha’Shonda L. Revels
David Jamaar Rice
Alyce M. Richard
Jjais G. Richards
Willie Forrest Richardson
Delene Adunni Richburg
Patrice M. Ringo
Lina Marcela Rios
Adaliz Rivera
Aksim Gadiel Rivera
Douglas Jason Rivera
Noemi Rivera
Pedro J. Rivera
Glorimar Rivera Colon
Ramon Rivera-Morales
Michelle Ann Roach
Tomika Monique Roberts Butler
Alysia Kandace Robertson
Elijah (Trey) Robinson
Patricia A. Robinson
Arturo Saavedra, MD, PhD, MBA
Assistant Professor of Dermatology, Director of Medical Dermatology,
Medical School: University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine
VCP Year: 1999-2000
VCP25
As a high schooler in Puerto Rico, Arturo Saavedra was fascinated with space and aeronautics.
Winning a prestigious science fair award during those years allowed him to travel to Sweden’s
Nobel Prize awards. While there, he heard a Laureate in Medicine’s speech that changed his career
“trajectory” completely. Dr. Saavedra relates, “I became enthralled with how a plastic surgeon
became interested in transplantation and performed the first human kidney transplant. With
medicine, I realized that I could do all the cool things I did in aerospace science and help humanity
too… and I was just hooked.”
26
When recalling his 1999 VCP experience, Dr. Saavedra says, “I think that when you consider the
amazing things that happen at Harvard, you sometimes wonder, ‘Am I good enough to do those
things?’ There’s always the thought in your mind that maybe you can’t do it. The VCP allowed me
to come here for a month and test myself among other people like me in a safe and supportive
environment. Succeeding here takes hard work, and mentorship, but I learned that it can be done.”
His VCP rotation was in Brigham and Women’s ER, but Dr. Saavedra visited other hospital
departments during his days off. He gained exposure to several clinical areas and decided to become
a dermatologist. “Great mentors in both emergency medicine and dermatology helped me to
experiment and determine what I was interested in.”
He was also surprised that there were regular check-in points with Dr. Reede and the other VCP
participants. He says, “The program was so well managed. We were really well-provided for. I’m
eternally grateful for the doors that it opened up for me.”
Mia V. Taylor
Montoya Kalpatrick Taylor
Myiesha Draon Nancy Taylor
Nyali E. Taylor
Jennifer Lynn Taylor-Cousar
Catherine N. Tchanque
Akeza Wasse Teame
Modupe Moronke Teniola
Mario D. Teran
Raymond Thertulien
Jean Alfred Thomas
Kimberly Michelle Thomas
Omolara Thomas
Valencia Dorchelle Thomas
Elishia Leon Thompson
Keniesha Olga-May Thompson
Kendra L. Thorn
J. Daryl Thornton
Godfrey Ikigu Thuku
John Lorenzo Thurston
Adam C. Tiagonce
Leonel Eduardo Toledo
Kiila Tollerson
Luis Etienne Tollinche
Crisanto Morton Torres
Giselle M. Torres
Omar Torres
Guillermo Torres Viera
Nadege Toubou Fackche
Yolanda L. Troublefield
Tyrone Tucker
Ann-Marcia Tukpah
Frances G. Turcotte
Farah Rabbia Turk
Daniel J. Turner-Loveras
Asher A. Turney
Alejandra Uchio
Jesus Gildardo Ulloa
Chukwuma Umunakwe
Ifeoma Munachim Uyanwune
Sybile Val
Eric R. Valladares
Rardi D. van Heest
Tedman Luster Vance
Eric J. Vargas
Maria Victoria Vargas
Roberto J. Vargas
Mario Vargas-Vila
Cesar Anibal Vazquez
Michael Vazquez
Rafael Vazquez
Julia S. Vazquez-Martiren
Maria E. Vega
Victor S. Velasco
Sonia M. Velazquez
Erick Javier Velez
Aubrey Vincent Verdun
Juan Pablo Vernon
Rafael A. Vicens Rodriguez
Elys M. Viera
Amelia Kharman Villagomez
Fernando L. Villamil
Carmen M. Villanueva
Javier Villanueva-Meyer
Nadia Aracelliz Villarroel
Sarah Yvonne Vinson
Farid Nizarali Visram
Ariel Antonio Vitali
Melissa Ann Walker
Carmelita Anquinette Wallace
Gina Marie Walton
Phillip Walton
Grace Wanjiku
Carla Ward
Kristin Chenille Ware
Charmetra R. Washington
JaMia L. Washington
Rubye Washington-Moore
Carol D. Watkins
Melanie Marie Watkins
Luisa A. Watts
Mark Watts
Shawn Aisha Watts
Christopher Allen-John Webb
Kristy T. Webster
Shannon L. West
Eric Eugene Whitaker
Shenita Marie White
Regina R. Whitfield Kekessi
Danny German Whu
Rochelle Denise Wilburn
Ashley Yvonne Williams
Brian Henry Williams
Celeste Thomas Williams
Marcus Lejon Williams
Nicole Kathryne Williams
Riley Joseph Williams
Anthony LaShawn Wills
Marketa Michelle Wills
Rickesha Lanee Wilson
Joanne Wiltshire-Scott
Tracy E. Wimbush
Annika L. Windon
Dina Winograd
Nicholas Charles Wisnoski
Eduardo Antonio Wolffe
Chris Ivette Wong Quiles
LaKimerly Michelle Woods-Coates
Sharon Elaine Wormley
Jonathan M. Wortham
Glenda Wrenn
LaBianca Nona Wright
Dovilan Logan Wyatt
Dolma Tsering Yarchim
Nazhone Paul Yazzie
Maame Yaa (Maya) AB Yiadom
Milicent E. Young
Nwanmegha O. Young
Richard Zaidner
Sessunu M. Zemo
Laurie C. Zephyrin
Monica Theresa Serrano-Toy
Vanderlyn A. Sewell
Ripal Shah
Jamilah M. Shakir
Candace R. Shanks
Ergeba H. Sheferaw
Bobby Leonard Shelton
Starane Anthony Shepherd
Kyle P. Shepperson
Jade M. Shorter
Juan A. Silva
Erin J. Silvertooth
Deondra Patrice Simmons
John Paul Sims
Nicole P. Singh
Samata Singhi
Willie Omar Siu
Keimun Aloysius Slaughter
Courtney Denise Smiley
Christopher Jacob Smith
Jasmine Raquel Smith
Melody Smith
Natasha Nicole Smith
Patricia Ann Smith
Jason C. Snibbe
Christian Nader Sobky
Levi Olatokunbo Sokol
Dellys Mariel Soler
Blanca E. Solis
Gabriela Soriano
Andrea K. Sotelo
Claudia L. Sotillo
Javier J. Soto
Karenia Soto
Susan Spell
William Robert Spencer
Fatima Cody Stanford
Jeanine N. Staples
Latha Stead
Stacy Theodore Steans
Sarah Margarita Stelzner
Kerry-Ann Camille Stewart
Kerry-Ann Angella Stewart
Ellana Nicole Stinson
Renee Chavez Stock
Britta Avanti Stone
Nicholas Jesse Strane
Miguel Stubbs
Eva Marie Suarez
Freeman Suber
N. Abimbola Sunmonu
Freddie Rodriguez Swain
Margaret A. Tandoh
Frances A. Tangherlini
Candace Sarah Tannis
Irlna Ingrid Tantchou
Frances Glorie Tardy-Rivera
Stacey Nicole Tate
Kyrollos Y. Tawfik
Connie Natalie Taylor
Justin Taylor
VCP25
Robyn Cecelia Robinson
Sharon D. Robinson
Fernando Jose Roca
Analiz Rodriguez
Jose Ruben Rodriguez
Jose Alberto Rodriguez
Juan Carlos Rodriguez
Roberto Rodriguez
Roberto Luis Rodriguez
Vilmarie Rodriguez
Maria E. Rodriguez de Lima
Danella Rodriguez-Adorno
Gabriela Rodriguez-Colon
Neal Lee Rojas
Renee Rolston
Antonio Roman
Jan Carlos Roman Ithier
Fernando Manuel Romero
Karen Jenifer Romero
Minerva Angelica Romero Arenas
Victor Manuel Romo
Annelys Roque
Gabriela Rosa
Pedro Andre Rosa Cortes
Stephanie C. Rosales
Rey Francisco Rosario
Luis R. Rosario Padro
John Albert Rose
Ramon Alberto Ruberte Thiele
Elena Rueda-de-Leon
Michael Ruffin
Arturo Pedro Saavedra-Lauzon
Scott H. Saffold
Binor B. Said
Sandra Saint-Victor
Cheryl Bailey Salary
Debbie Salas-Lopez
Francis E. Salazar
Rene Salazar
Sandra Leticia Salazar
Vanessa Salcedo
Harry Michael Salinas
Catherine L. Salussolia
Catherine Thyra Sam
Tashelle Rochanda Samuels
Elias F. Sanchez
Gabriel Sanchez
Richard Sanchez
Sarimer M. Sanchez
Jaya Santhan
Jonathan Santiago
Yahir A. Santiago
Patricia Cristina Santiago-Munoz
Aileen Enid Santos
Victoria Angela Saunders
Patrick T. Schofield
Terence D. Schumpert
Marisol Aimee Segundo
Rachelle E. Seijo Montes
Leelie M. Selassie
Oscar Kenneth Serrano
27
COMMIT TO
THE FUTURE

Joan Y. Reede, MD, MPH, MS, MBA - Office for Diversity Inclusion

Transcription

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