School of Medicine

The Pulse

RESIDENTS/FELLOWS NEWS

Medicine/Nephrology:

Dr. Diala Khirfan (Nephrology Fellow) presented “ESRD and Dialysis in the Geriatric Population” at the Florida Society for Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medicine 29th Annual Conference/Best Care Practices in the Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Continuum 2020. Dr. Ramzi Vareldzis is Dr. Khirfan's mentor.

Dr. Pooja Poudel (Geriatric Fellow) presented “Hypertension in Elderly” at the Florida Society for Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medicine 29th Annual Conference/Best Care Practices in the Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Continuum 2020. Dr. Lobna Ali is Dr. Poudel's mentor.

Pathology:

Dr. Christopher Girardo (PGY3) was awarded the Best Education Poster at Pathology Visions 2020. The topic of his presentation was "COVID Challenges, Digital Solutions."

Dr. Bing Han (PGY4) was selected as University Medical Center's Resident of the Quarter.

Dr. Nibras Fakhri (PGY3) accepted sequential fellowships at Methodist Houston, Cytopathology for 2022 and combined GU and Medical Renal Pathology for 2023.

Dr. Hina Khokhar (PGY3) accepted a Hematopathology fellowship at the University of Miami for 2022.

Dr. Hina Khokhar (PGY3) and Dr. Walter Beversdorf (PGY4) were selected as a blue-ribbon finalist in the American Society for Clinical Pathology resident category for their poster entitled "A Rare Case of Acute Interstitial Pneumonia Diagnosed at Autopsy."

Pediatrics:

Healthy Tigers recently donated more than 350 school supplies for Dinerral Shavers Educational Fund's Back to School Extravaganza.

Healthy Tigers is a pediatric resident founded community health organization. With goals to promote health in the community and give back, they provide volunteer opportunities to the residents and run quarterly fundraisers and drives, and are in the process of creating a food pantry for vulnerable patient populations. 

The Dinerral Shavers Educational Fund's Back to School Extravaganza usually provides free health and dental screenings as well as free school supplies to those in need. Unfortunately, due to COVID-19 it was not possible to provide the screenings this year. However, with everyone's help, Healthy Tigers was still able to provide school supplies and care packages to deserving families. Healthy Tigers thanks everyone who donated.

Dr. Guruchandrasekar, current 3rd year Cardiology fellow, successfully completed another publication this month in Journal of American College of Cardiology. Check it out here.

Fellows and Residents PhotoCH Chief Medical Education Officer Dr. Bonnie Desselle and CHNOLA's Office of Medical Education created the Excellent Team Player/Outstanding Resident Award which recognizes residents who go above and beyond. Dr. Desselle, along with Dr. Sandlin and Dr. Watts, presented the first recipient, PGY-2 Margaret Leefe, with the award. She received the award for performing work not expected of her, providing support to her fellow residents, and advocating for patients and their families, all while displaying humility and sincerity.


Pediatric Fellows Nikita Lalchandani (right) and Casie James (left) package up donations for the back-to-school drive. Both are 3rd years.