Think about it.

If the number of students doubled and the number of teachers didn’t, that would be a problem, right?

Well, a parallel to this scenario is actually taking place in the health care world: our elderly population will double by 2030 and the number of geriatricians will remain the same.

There will be a shortage of trained geriatricians, said Vincent Perron, MD, chief of the Division of Geriatric Medicine at USF.

“Currently, only one in 5,000 adults age 65 and older is under a geriatrician’s care,” Dr. Perron said. “And with expected swell in that population as the baby boomers enter their senior years, we need more geriatricians and more of our primary care physicians need geriatric training.”

Geriatricians are typically primary-care physicians (family medicine, internal medicine or psychiatry) who have completed additional training within geriatrics (a full year of fellowship training). In addition to promoting wellness and prevention among their senior patients, geriatricians place an emphasis on care management and coordination so patients maintain functional independence. More than younger adults, older patients have special needs associated with chronic illness (will they tolerate the prescribed interventions when considering their multiple chronic illnesses?).

One of the main reasons for the shortage is that medical residents aren’t choosing geriatrics as a specialty, due to poor reimbursement and the increased demands of the older patients, Dr. Perron said.

“The elderly simply require more time and, so far, Medicare just doesn’t reimburse for the extra time,” he said.

For example, the logistics of getting to the physician’s office, into the room, and up on the examination table can be cumbersome for many senior patients, not to mention the task of filling out of forms and keeping up with physician directions, prescriptions and procedures. In addition, many patients have hearing and/or vision impairments, which adds to the effort.

In short, the elderly require more time to manage their multiple medical needs.

And the demand is growing.

By 2030, one of every five people in this country will be over age 65. People age 85 and older are the fastest growing segment of the entire population and it is the members of this group who are the largest consumers of health care.

Although practitioners within all specialties will need to step up to deliver health care to this growing population, Dr. Perron said, there is still the need to focus more squarely on the 15 to 20 percent of the elderly who are the oldest, most frail of the group and who are more likely to have functional limitations.

“You don’t treat an 85-year-old patient the same as you would an active 50-year-old patient,” he said. “It’s going to be a challenge to meet this change in the demographics of our country.”

Help the USF Division of Geriatric Medicine raise funds for its Geriatric Medicine Fellowship Program.

November 14
Cocktails and Silent Auction: 6 p.m.
Dinner: 7:30 p.m.

Tampa Yacht and Country Club Ballroom
5320 Interbay Blvd., Tampa

Semi-formal attire

Please RSVP by Nov. 7
$100 per person, or if you wish to make a donation, or for more information, please call (813) 974-2460.

Story by Sarah Worth

IN THE ZONE...

With her knack for decorating, Carmen Guzman has helped make Dermatology an award-winning zone in the USF Health Clinic for the past 10 years.

It starts every year in September and by Halloween the explosion of color and festive décor is impossible to miss! If you’re ‘in the zone’ of changing leaves, smiling pumpkins & scarecrows, pilgrims and mistletoe, chances are you’re at the medical clinic of USF Health.

It’s a four month extravaganza of color and festive holiday décor that starts with the first Fall breeze in September and stays up through January! All of it thanks to the enthusiastic staff at the clinic on Bruce B. Downs Blvd and Holly Avenue, located on the university campus of USF Health.

“It makes us feel good because the patients love it so much”, says Carmen Guzman, the self described “provocateur” in the bunch. For ten years straight, Carmen in Zone A-Dermatology has beat out the competition – almost always the first to decorate. “As soon as Labor Day is over, I start telling the girls ‘Okay, it’s time!’

Meet some of the Decorating Divas who help transform the clinic.

More than 100 staff employees in a handful of “zones” transform the entire clinic. It’s a clinic tradition thanks to a close-knit group of veterans who started this more than a decade ago.

Darlene Walden in Zone B- General Medicine and Pediatrics is the unofficial “den mother”, showering colleagues across zones with trinkets and gadgets for display each year.

Among the core group of veteran decorating divas, by zone: Carmen Guzman in A, Darlene Walden and Christina Riley in B, Shari Steffer in C, and Joan Vinci and Nicholle Bennett in E. Near the X-ray machines, Lydia Gaponiuk (EEG-EMG Labs) has been delighting patients for 25 years with her decorations. 15-year veteran Corleen Crowley works her magic from atop a ladder. Radiology colleague, Angela Conahey, is her right hand.

“This year has been so ‘loquito’ – a bit crazy, says Ms. Crowley in Spanglish. “Right now, I have a full size broom out on deck with skeletons and tiny witches. The broom even has a parking tag, so it’s perfectly legal!” she jokes.

Corleen Crowley in the X-ray Department poses for a picture with her broom - fully equipped with a parking tag!

“The patients love it from the minute they walk in”, says Ms. Guzman. “Our patients will stand at the desk and say ‘I love your decorations! Everything looks so beautiful. Are ya’ll having a competition?’”

According to veteran staffers, some patients will even schedule their doctor appointments around the clinic’s decorating extravaganza. Sherri Steffer, a 20-year veteran & staffer in Zone D- Family Medicine says “I’ve had patients say: ‘Well, my doctor wants me to come back in three months but that’ll be the New Year, but that means I’ll miss the decorations. So, can you schedule me in December instead, so that I can see them?’ They just love it so much!”

Clinic staffers say the decorating goes beyond getting in the holiday spirit. They describe it as their way of helping take care of patients. “At USF Health, it’s not just patients and doctors. Our patients are taken care of on many levels”, says Ms. Guzman. “At the front desks, we’re doing our part too. It’s about making our patients feel better, inside and out.” Staffers say the smiling pumpkins and candy cane lights help some patients feel less nervous about the ailments or scheduled surgeries that bring them to the clinic. “They’ll tell us that they’re nervous when they come in, but then the decorations give them something else to think about.” says Ms. Guzman, “It helps when we can talk about something else that doesn’t have anything to do with their procedures. It sets a totally different tone.”

Staffers tell touching stories of elderly patients reminiscing about their own traditions in holidays past. “Some of them tell us that coming here reminds them of when they were still active enough to decorating at home”, says Ms. Guzman noting that one female patient surprised her by arriving for her doctor’s visit carrying a collection of Easter decorations. “She brought me all of her Easter stuff!” says Ms. Guzman with a broad smile. “She said ‘Since you all decorate, I’d like you to use the things I used in my home.”

And after a moment of reflection concludes for the entire group, “It’s definitely a bonding experience!”

From L to R: Decorating Divas Corleen Crowley and Lydia Gaponiuk. Ms. Gaponiuk holds the winning record - winning the clinic's only two "official" Holiday Decorating Contests. She first won in the early 90's and in 1998 sharing the win with with Ms. Crowley.

To the entire staff at the USF Health Clinic, we salute you! Space limitations prevent us from listing everyone's names - know that you are much appreciated!!!

Story by Lissette Campos, USF Health Communications
Photography by Eric Younghans, USF Health Media Center

Albertsons grocery chain is the latest nationally-recognized business joining the campaign to help Florida's uninsured children

Tampa, FL (Oct. 30, 2007)-- The Florida Covering Kids and Families Initiative, based at the University of South Florida’s Lawton and Rhea Chiles Center for Healthy Mothers and Babies, has partnered with the grocery chain Albertsons LLC to promote Florida KidCare, the State Children’s Health Insurance Program.

Albertsons has placed Florida KidCare advertisements in its prescription bags to create consumer awareness of Florida’s low-cost or free healthcare coverage for children and is distributing Florida KidCare applications and brochures to each of its 93 Florida stores.

“We are excited about our participation in the Florida KidCare program in all of our locations,” said Jeff Carlen, Division Pharmacy Manager of Albertsons LLC Florida Division. “Florida KidCare is a very worthwhile program and Albertsons believes it is critical that all eligible children without health insurance apply for Florida KidCare.”

Florida Covering Kids and Families, under contract with the Agency for Health Care Administration, is conducting an integrated, statewide outreach campaign for Florida KidCare, in cooperation with Gov. Charlie Crist’s office and the state agencies responsible for administering the program. During the back-to-school period, Florida Covering Kids and Families organized news conferences, enrollment fairs, and provided statewide technical assistance to events intended to raise awareness of Florida KidCare and to enroll eligible families. These efforts included forming partnerships with several nationally-recognized businesses. Albertsons LLC is the latest to join the Florida Covering Kids and Families team.

“We are very happy that Albertsons LLC is taking such an active role to inform families about Florida KidCare. Getting businesses involved in promoting Florida KidCare is an essential part to a successful outreach effort,” said Jodi Ray, director of Florida Covering Kids and Families.

Florida has the second highest number of uninsured children in the United States. Approximately 700,000 Florida children have no health insurance, while around 500,000 of these children may be eligible for Florida KidCare.

For more information on becoming a Florida KidCare business partner, please contact Patrick Cannon at (813) 974-8272 or pcannon@health.usf.edu.

For more information on Florida KidCare, call 1-888-540-5437 or visit www.floridakidcare.org.

Doctor of Physical Therapy Students Take Oath & Honor COM Professors with First Ever “Spirit of Interprofessionalism” Award

Photo Gallery Below

On October 18th, the Doctor of Physical Therapy’s Class of 2010 made history. The 36 students presented the first ever “Spirit of Interprofessionalism” Awards – handpicking Dr. Duane Eichler and Dr. Orhan Arslan for “going the extra mile” to be inclusive of physical therapy students in their basic medical science courses that are part of the integrated first year MD and DPT curriculum.

“At USF Health we talk about making life better. Well, the future of healthcare is interprofessional care. It is the best care”, said Dr. William Quillen, Director of the School of Physical Therapy & Rehabilitation Sciences, USF College of Medicine. “In the case of Doctors Eichler and Arslan, they recognize that it’s not just about being a good doctor, it’s about being a member of a team. After decades of teaching exclusively medical students, they’re now teaching our PT students as well. They’ve been great, making sure the coursework was relevant to all the students in their classes”, continued Dr. Quillen.

At Center: Dr. Duane Eichler accepts this unique award from Dr. William Quillen, Director of the School of Physical Therapy & Rehabilitation Scienes and Laura "Dolly" Swisher, PT, PhD, Assistant Dean for Interprofessional Education, College of Medicine.

Interprofessional education is the process of developing the understanding of and respect for the unique contributions of health professions from differing disciplines. Among its key goals is to create strategies for collaborative client-centered teamwork.

Laura “Dolly” Swisher, PT, PhD, Associate Professor and Assistant Dean for Interprofessional Education in the USF College of Medicine, presented the awards during the 5th annual Commitment to Professionalism Ceremony at the USF Health Auditorium. Dr. Arslan, Associate Professor in the Department of Pathology & Cell Biology was not in town to receive his award so Dr. Santo Nicosia, Distinguished USF Professor and Chair of the Dept. of Pathology & Cell Biology, accepted on his behalf.

Dr. Eichler, Professor in the Department of Molecular Medicine was present during the ceremony, invited as a guest to the annual Commitment ceremony, but unaware of the honor students were about to bestow on him.

“He was justifiably surprised”, noted Dr. Quillen. “When the faculty created the Doctor of Physical Therapy curriculum we couldn't have begun to imagine how important this course work would be in our students' education. Dr. Eichler worked very hard from the beginning to be inclusive of the physical therapy students. Other faculty have followed suit and this represents a unique and noteworthy strength of USF's DPT Curriculum. ”

The School of Physical Therapy & Rehabilitation Sciences and the USF College of Medicine embarked on an interprofessional educational journey in August 2005 with the enrollment of the charter Doctor of Physical Therapy Class of 2008. It marked the matriculation of a new cadre of students into the first year basic medical sciences coursework. Until then, only limited numbers of graduate or advanced nursing students had joined medical students in that coursework.

“It has not always been a perfect journey, but changing a culture after 30 years takes time and effort. The good news is that we are well on our way”, said Dr. Quillen to a room full of DPT students, their family and friends, and faculty leaders from across USF Health.

In keeping with a cherished tradition at the USF medical school, Dr. Gregory Nicolosi, Emeritus Professor of Physiology, was temporarily back from his retirement to lead the procession of students with his beloved bagpipes.

Unique to the USF School of Physical Therapy & Rehabilitation Sciences, students recited their Commitment to Professionalism Oath – one they helped to create, as a class. The Class of 2010 began: “As a physical therapist, I embrace my responsibility and accountability to the individuals I serve, the community as a whole, and my profession. In recognition of the privilege bestowed upon entering this honored profession, in the presence of my colleagues, friends, family and faculty, I solemnly and willingly dedicate myself to this oath…”

With that, students crossed the auditorium stage to don their first clinical coat, before family and friends. These 36 students in the Class of 2010 were selected from a record number of applicants – one student admitted for every 4 qualified applicants.

“We’re just the right size to do these exciting and meaningful things”, said Dr. Quillen. “It’s all good. We have a very optimistic future built around our interprofessional educational journey.”

Photo Gallery:

Click here for full listing of Class of 2010
Story by Lissette Campos/USF Health Communications
Photography by John Loffredo/USF Health Media Center

“I think I was born knowing that I wanted to be a nurse”, says Sandra Cadena, PhD, ARNP. The Assistant Dean of Undergraduate Studies at the USF College of Nursing says with a broad smile, “I was lucky…nursing picked me.”

When other young girls were growing up on Nancy Drew mysteries, she was pouring over Cherry Ames books - as many as she could find. “I used to clean a woman’s house to make enough money to buy Cherry Ames books, which sounds really corny but that’s what I did”, she recalls. The storybook heroine – a nurse – with glowing cheeks and a zest for adventure, inspired many a girl to become a nurse. Young Sandy Janashak was no exception.

The books published from 1943 to 1968 had titles like Cherry Ames: Army Nurse, Flight Nurse and Chief Nurse. The No.4 volume was set in the Pacific theater of operations during World War II and was even bound in a ‘wartime edition’ red cover. (“What’s the matter?” she cried. “Radio advises enemy planes spotted. Go back and keep those men calm.”)

From page one, she knew she'd found her niche - books that she keeps to this day.

Walk into Dr. Cadena’s office in the USF College of Nursing and it won’t be long before you spot Cherry Ames on her shelf. Their peppermint-green book covers catch the eye of some visitors – each time, to the delight of Dr. Cadena. “When I have seasoned nurses come in, they see my books over there and they say ‘Oh that’s Cherry Ames!’ They know!” she says, letting out a hearty laugh.

Somewhere along the road of life, Dr. Cadena didn’t just become a nurse. She became Cherry Ames - as fearless, courageous and dedicated to her calling as the storybook character that inspired her as a child. Dr. Cadena’s life story, abundant in twists and turns, can easily fill many books.

A Renegade...
Born Sandy Janashak in Ohio, she was one of four children in her Polish-German family. She was growing up in Catholic schools and the suburbs of Cleveland until life came crashing down on her at age 15.

“In my freshman year of high school, my brother, who was two years older than I, was killed in a motorcycle accident and that shattered my family."

She became a “renegade” in school and at 16 left home.

And so began the many unexpected turns of her life. She’s lived on the street, a boarding house with pimps and prostitutes, and on the grounds of a state rehab hospital, just to name a few. To make a living, she’s done everything from clean houses to make drill bits at a machine shop working the overnight shift.

Through it all, the one constant in her life has been nursing.

Student by day, machinist by night...
She began as a candy-striper at the nearby hospital, “as soon as I was old enough, which at that point was 14”, she says. Then in high school, she worked half-days at a state rehab hospital training to be a nursing assistant. She wanted desperately to be a nurse. College would not be easy for the teenager living on her own.

She found her solution as a student by day, a machinist by night. “I would work all night long at a machine shop because I used to make really good money”, she laughs. “I would work evenings, nights and weekends”, she says. “I was making little drill bits that they were selling to N.A.S.A. I would have to shave down the metal so that it was within a micrometer of the exact size!” she says. In the end, the drill bits would win out – tired from all the overnight shifts, she struggled in class and dropped out of the program. “I worked a lot, but, you know, I never would’ve been able to maintain myself and pay for my college and all that kind of stuff along the way.”

Kent State Shootings...
On May 4, 1970 – on the grounds of Kent State University– history unfolded right before her eyes.

She was 18 years old and had arrived to participate in a demonstration against the Vietnam War. At 22 minutes past noon, shots rang out on the campus and she was there.

“I didn’t see any of the people shot…but I ran!” she says. On that infamous day, members of the Ohio National Guard opened fire on students during an anti war demonstration on campus. Four students died. Nine others were injured.“The small town of Kent was barricaded shut, so I couldn’t leave”, recalls Dr. Cadena. “…there was the possibility that we would be fired upon again, so I was afraid… justified in my anger against the government.”

Four years later, she would return to the campus to breathe new life in to her dream of becoming a nurse.

Nursing School...
The year was 1974. “I got accepted to Kent State in their nursing program on conditional admission. It makes me smile now when I’m on these committees and people talk about ‘conditional admissions’ and giving people chances. I always think what if I had not had that same chance?”

“They required personal interviews and I got in. It was interesting”, she says with a broad smile. “At that point I was living in a boarding home with a bunch of other students. There were pimps and prostitutes there too! For those of us who had no money, no scholarships, no nothing, this was it”, she laughs. “Whoa! Some boarding home I was living in!”

Upon graduation in 1976, she burned her nursing cap. “When I graduated, I was so happy. We all made this big bonfire and we burned all our student uniforms! We actually burned our nurse caps because they were ‘student’ caps”, she says, still in disbelief after all these years. “So never burn yours… years from now, you’ll wish you hadn’t!”

Trading snowflakes for sunshine...
Her first RN job was at a rehabilitation county hospital in inner city Cleveland, where she lived on the grounds of the facility. The first winter she was snowed in at the hospital for 3 days, she packed her bags and moved to Florida.

Clearwater Beach became her new home-sweet-home. Subsequent years would bring nursing jobs at local hospitals, community health clinics, the VA hospital in Tampa, 15 years of private practice and finally USF’s College of Nursing. Along the way, she earned her Masters in Psychiatric Nursing from the University of Florida – commuting from Clearwater to Gainesville for classes; met her husband, Guillermo Cadena; and started a family.

Memories of Vietnam...
Asked what she remembers most about her early years in Tampa Bay and her mind lands on Vietnam. “It was the end of the Vietnam era. There was still a lot going on. We didn’t do a lot of medication management back then because we weren’t allowed to”, she said. “We used to go under the bridges and to this big camp where all these Vietnam vets had set up little trick wires. I respected how these people coped and adapted; how someone can adapt down and down and down…to deal with less and less…”

Behind each face looking back at her, she saw someone with a story to tell, a journey of choices and “stuff” bringing them to this point.

Life is too short...
Her message to students: “First, success is being at the right place at the right time. Two - recognizing that as an opportunity. Three - not being afraid. When you make decisions, you’re not going to know the outcome. You’re not going to know, then, if it’s the right decision or not”, she says.

It is wisdom that she shares as often as she can. Each year, Dr. Cadena escorts groups of students on field experiences abroad. As Director of Global Health in the college of nursing, she’s traveled with two delegations to Panama, opening the door to a world of experiences for young nurses starting on their path.

Dr. Cadena with nursing students on assignment in Panama this summer.

Whether she’s standing on a dirt road in Panama or the glossy terrazzo floors of the USF College of Nursing, her message remains the same: Life is too short. Don’t let fear hold you back.

“Peoples’ fear stops them. It stops them from going to school, leaving an abusive husband, taking that risk & that chance that may not look like an opportunity, but really is”, says Dr. Cadena. “I’ve lived my life like ‘life is too short!’ Although, I’ve calmed down some”, and after a short pause she continues with a smile, “although… it’s gearing back up now as I get closer to – 55?!”

Cherry Ames Originals:

Story by Lissette Campos
Photography by Eric Younghans/USF Health Media Center
This profile is part of an ongoing series showcasing the people of USF Health.

Paul Boyev, M.D., Recognized by American Academy of Otolaryngology - Head & Neck Surgery

Newsbrief:

USF Health's Paul Boyev, MD, has been awarded the "Member Excellence in State Advocacy Award" by the American Academy of Otolaryngology - Head & Neck Surgery. Dr. Boyev is an Associate Professor in the USF College of Medicine,Department of Otolaryngology. Dr. Boyev was recognized for his significant contributions in audiology and speech-language pathology.

The academy's Board of Governors presented him with the award in Washington D.C. on September 15, 2007. "As the otolaryngology representative to the Florida Board of Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology, Dr. Boyev has been active in trying to modify an audiology scope of practice proposal that is expected to be introduced next year", said Dr. Rick Love, of Alabama, and Chairman of the Board of Governors Legislative Representatives Committee. "The Board of Governors is very grateful for his work to protect the specialty and the patients we serve", continued Dr. Love during the award ceremony in Washington D.C.

Back home in Tampa, FL, Dr. Boyev had this to say of the honor: "I think we are fortunate in the state of Florida to have a very collegial relationship between the physician leadership and the audiology and speech pathology societies. Citizens of Florida, if they become patients, benefit tremendously if physicians and allied health professionals harmoniously collaborate from the legislative level on down."

The Member Excellence in State Advocacy Award is presented annually by the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Board of Governors. Recipients are members who have exemplified excellence in state advocacy.

- Public health graduate student Karen Dyer educates others about the long-term complications of childhood cancer treatment -

Karen Dyer, diagnosed with cancer at age 15 and now cancer-free, practices yoga.

Click to view Time Magazine web story.

Two days after beginning her sophomore year of high school Karen Dyer was faced with a possible death sentence.

The year was 1994, and Dyer was diagnosed with Rhabdomyosarcoma, a rapidly-growing, highly malignant tumor found in roughly only 250 children in the United States each year.

Today, celebrating her 13th anniversary of being cancer free, Dyer is a 28-year-old graduate research assistant in Applied Anthropology/Public Health at USF. She looks back on the entire experience, with particular attention to the long-term health effects endured by those, like her, who have undergone invasive cancer treatments.

In initial conversations about the potential side effects of her own treatment many years ago, Dyer said her oncologist and nurse practitioner did discuss the possible long-term side effects of treatment with her and her family especially related to specific chemotherapeutic agents. The focus for all of them, however, was on survival.

“There wasn’t much of a choice,” she said. “I had an aggressive type of cancer, and I would have died without treatment.”

And so for one year Dyer was a patient at the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York where she underwent surgery to remove the primary tumor, months of chemotherapy, a month of daily radiation, a bone marrow transplant, and an emergency splenectomy to remove her spleen, which had unexpectedly ruptured during the transplant. The treatment officially ended in August 1995 and it took her 6 months to recover enough to re-enter high school full time.

Since then, Dyer has been fortunate in that not only is she cancer free, but she has had almost no long lasting health issues. She has yearly check-ups, and undergoes periodic screening tests such as echocardiograms, EKG’s, pulmonary function tests, and blood work to detect any effects in the early stages. In fact, the only medical side effect that she routinely faces relates to the loss of her spleen, which compromised her immune system.

Studies have found that health complications occurred in less than 3 percent of cancer survivors -- many in fewer than 1 percent. However, long-term follow up is critically needed because certain long-term effects of cancer treatments can be dramatic, including blindness, deafness, congestive heart failure, and stroke.

Dyer noted there are ancillary problems as well, including dealing with the diagnosis, treatment and treatment-related side effects, and whether or not a person remains disease-free. Practical issues involving employment, health insurance, the financial burden of treatment and follow-up care all become part of the long-term landscape of a cancer survivor.

“Although I have not experienced major long-term physical side effects, it does not mean that I do not deal with all of these realities on a daily basis,” she said.

Her experiences have propelled her into several related community projects. Just before coming to USF Dyer worked for the National Alliance of Breast Cancer Organizations (NABCO), and then served as the Program Manager at Fertile Hope, a national non-profit organization dedicated to providing reproductive information and support to cancer patients and survivors whose medical treatments present the risk of infertility. She’s also spoken about cancer survivorship at several venues, including the President’s Cancer Panel chaired by Lance Armstrong, St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, Georgetown University, and the American College Health Association.

Dyer works with COPH faculty member Dr. Jeannine Coreil, right, on a research project examining cultural diversity in breast cancer support groups.

At USF, Dyer is enrolled in a dual degree program in applied anthropology and public health. She serves as a graduate assistant on research projects related to cancer survivorship including one with Dr. Jeannine Coreil examining cultural diversity within breast cancer support groups, and another with Dr. Ellen Daley investigating cervical cancer prevention in Florida.

"Karen helped get our research project funded,” said Dr. Coreil, professor and chair of Community and Family Health at the USF College of Public Health. “Cancer survivors and lay stakeholders serve on the review committee of the Susan G. Komen Foundation, and Karen helped to infuse the cancer patient and advocacy community perspectives into the grant application. She also kept us grounded in the patient's world-view as we developed the project, and her sensitivity is helping us to gain rapport with breast cancer support groups."

Studies on survivorship are so critical, Dyer noted, because for many decades, the focus of cancer care was chiefly on immediate survival, but now that survival rates are increasing – especially among children –researchers are broadening their outlook on what constitutes good cancer care. Long-term survivorship is beginning to take a more central role.

“The life of a cancer patient does not end when you finish treatment,” Dyer said. “Hopefully you have many decades of healthy living ahead of you, and the more information on long-term effects that is available, the better those years can be.”

Cervical cancer survivors sought for study

Dyer is looking for potential participants for her thesis research on cervical cancer survivors. Anyone interested in being interviewed (a brief, 1-hour interview at a time and location of the interviewee’s convenience) should call Dyer at (813) 974-8379 or email her at kdyer@health.usf.edu

- Story by Sheryl Kay
- Photos by Eric Younghans/USF Health Media Center

School of Physical Therapy & Rehabilitation Sciences, Class of 2010
Crystal Andrews
John Bailey
Jeremy Balogh
Stephanie Brooke
Jeremy Calame
Kimberly Callan
Lisa Carlock
Jessica Concord
Laura Denney
Rebecca Elbare
Nicole Fry
Tiffany Hayes
Phillip Ivanov
Kerri Krieger
Heather Matako
Tina Mathew
Melissa Matson
Magan McBryar
Rhodalyn Merene
Samantha Michael
Jessica Migdalski
Elizabeth Morgan
Lorie Nguyen
Colleen Nietch
Nicole Noren
Marisa Oakes
Crystal Reinhart
Alexis Rose
Jessica Rupe
Tamara Sawyers
Leslie Sutherland
Kelly Swenson
Laura Wallace
Lindsey Wolfe
Milissa Wright
Dong Yang

USF nursing student Erica Craig administers a flu shot.

The USF College of Public Health, in collaboration with the Hillsborough County Health Department, administered 1,500 free flu shots at the college’s flu shot drive on Oct. 19. This is the 12th year that the college has offered the shots as a community service to area residents as well as members of USF.

Faculty-supervised USF nursing and medical student volunteers administered the vaccines nearly non-stop from early morning to mid-afternoon in the COPH Auditorium.

The event included several exhibits, including by the Public Health Student Association, USF Health Service Corps, International Health Service Collaborative, Florida Kid Care, Infectious Disease Association, and the Global Health Student Association.

Nursing doctoral student Sabrina Robinson was among the volunteers.

Mike Masters, senior broadcast engineering technologist at the USF Health Media Center, gets a shot from nursing student Claire Sotirin.

Public health student Talat Almukhtar helped staff the registration desk at the annual flu shot drive.

USF Health student says 'Mom' was moving force in his life.

Chante Fuller always keeps his mom close. Always handy, Chante's cell phone proudly displays her photo.

Once a school drop out full of hate and resentment for life, Chante Fuller never envisioned his life leading to medical college. “It is a dream,” said Fuller.

Coming from the housing projects, he is pursuing a degree in pharmacology. Fuller’s future has never seemed brighter.

Born and raised in a less fortunate neighborhood of Naples, Fl., Fuller, 28, was always told that he would be nothing in life. By his own admission, living around uneducated, unambitious boys lead him to follow the wrong path and drop out of school. He believed that his future was destined to be just like that of his peers and neighbors.

However, from a young age, Fuller had been inspired by a fellow African American, Dr. Edward Germin Pharm.D., M.D., of Pedriactics, who had a degree in pharmacology. Fuller saw the benefits Germin had gained from his degree and seeing those made him aspire to better himself. Even though he experienced ups and downs in his life, the idea of pharmacy remained in the back of his mind. Subconsciously, Fuller didn’t want to become a victim of the streets.

Fuller believes if it weren’t for his mom and friends like Germin, he would not be here today. Fuller’s mom supports him financially, emotionally and is his biggest motivator. “Never give up, Chante,” Fuller recalls his mom telling him. His mother pushed him to go back for his associate’s degree and, once it was completed, he saw the importance of an education and was determined to continue to achieve his goals. Fuller’s mom was adamant that he get an education, “You can’t come back to live in my house without a degree! What you start you must finish, Chante,” Fuller recalls his mom telling him.

Longing to become a pharmacist Fuller enrolled at the University of South Florida in 2003, and has since graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Science.

As a struggling college student, Fuller began teaching at the Golden Gate Middle School back home in Naples, Fl., for extra cash. During semester breaks from USF, he worked there as a substitute teacher. Teaching, in and of itself, was fulfilling but also gave more to Fuller than he expected - a major motivator. Not only did it give him an opportunity to give back to his community but it also made Fuller realize the positive influence he had on the children he taught. “I saw the effect that I can have on young black kids at home,” said Fuller, “It is rare to see young black males as teachers and becoming educated.” Another important influence in his life is his mentor, Clay Terrell, who is the dean of Golden Gate Middle School. Fuller recalls “Dean Terrell” telling him of the positive effect that he can have on children at the school and in his neighborhood. Fuller was a substitute teacher at the school for three years. However, in 2006, his last year teaching, he became a certified teacher at Golden Gate Middle. The children loved him so much that he was also one of the most highly requested substitute teachers and even received a substitute teacher award.

For now though, Fuller has left teaching to fully commit himself to completing yet another degree. He was recently admitted to the College of Medicine to pursue a Masters Degree in Medical Science Pharmacology and he doesn’t want to stop there. Fuller plans to continue his education and obtain a doctorate in pharmacology.

Even though he has made a major change in his life and has so much ahead of him, Fuller remains humble. “I can’t look down at people because they don’t have a degree like me, I know how they feel. I’ve been there before,” said Fuller.

Even Fuller’s professors have been impressed with how motivated he is. “He is the most motivated student I have encountered in the past few years,” said Kay Perrin, Director of Academic Affairs and Associate Professor at USF’s College of Public Health, “He doesn’t ask for anything but advice on how to proceed to the next step in his career.”

Fuller expresses his utmost gratitude to his mom. He even gave his mom his diploma because if it weren’t for her, he says, he wouldn’t be where he is today. “I gave her my bachelor degree diploma and when I get my master’s I will give her that, too.” Fuller said.

As for now, Fuller’s future goals include getting a doctorate in pharmacology, being financially independent, giving back and caring for his mother and eventually teaching children again. “I just thank God that I am here and take advantage of the situation. I just have to keep going on,” said Fuller.

Story by Monique Salazar
Photography by John Loffredo, USF Health Media Center
This profile is part of an ongoing series showcasing the people of USF Health.