Alumni Webinar Series
Each month, the Rowan-Virtua SOM Alumni Association hosts a special webinar to discuss important health issues in our communities. Rowan-Virtua SOM alumni share their expertise on various topics and you will have an opportunity to ask questions and engage in conversation.
Past Webinar Recordings
November 2021
Covid-19 Updates & Treatments
November 30, 2021 | 7 p.m. (EST)
Join Dr. Michael Barnish of Rowan Medicine and SOM Alumna Dr. Ashgan Elshinawy as they discuss topics including:
- Pediatric and adolescent COVID-19 vaccinations
- Vaccination vs. natural infection
- New oral medication treatment for COVID-19 infections
- Q&A portion with physician panel
July 2021
Chronic Pain: Evaluation & Treatment Approaches
July 28, 2021 | 7:30 p.m. (EST)
Join SOM Alumni Natalie Hyppolite, D.O. '13, Traci Tamburello, D.O. '99, and Lanvin Taylor, D.O. '09, as they discuss topics including:
- Determining the cause(s) of pain
- What and how other conditions can affect a treatment approach
- Medication usage and potential safety concerns
- How to manage daily pain
March 2021
Surviving COVID-19: Long Term Symptoms and Treatments
March 24, 2021 | 7 p.m. (EST)
Join panelists Ashgan Elshinawy, D.O. '99, David Bollard, D.O. '86, Troy Randle, D.O. '03, Shaila Bokkala-Pinninti, D.O., Ph.D. '04, and Victoria Fredrick, BSN, RN, for an important webinar where you will have the opportunity to:
- Listen to our physicians share their personal story of life-threatening COVID-19 and residual symptoms
- Learn about the long term symptoms that COVID-19 survivors may have, with an emphasis on neurological sequelae such as "mental fog"
- Discover treatment options and resources available for post-COVID symptoms
- Ask the panel your questions about COVID-19 symptoms and treatments
February 2021
COVID-19 Pandemic and the Vaccination Rollout
February 17, 2021 | 7:30 p.m. (EST)
Join panelists Ashgan Elshinawy, D.O. '99, Joshua Coren, D.O., and Janaki Shah, D.O. '07 for an important webinar where you will have the opportunity to:
- Learn the latest information about the COVID-19 pandemic, including the new variants
- Hear our panel discuss the available and soon-to-be available COVID vaccines, their effectiveness, and safety profiles
- Discover the process behind the massive vaccine rollout by the Rowan Medicine Vaccine Center
- Ask the panel your questions about the COVID infection and/or the vaccines
January 2021
Healthy Start to a New Year: Importance of Health Screenings During the Time of Covid-19
January 28, 2021 | 7:30 p.m. (EST)
Kick-off a healthy start to 2021 by prioritizing your health during the time of COVID-19. Join SOM Alumni Cary Mantell, D.O. '83, Virginia Phipps, D.O. '00, and Richard Stewart, D.O. '91, as they discuss the importance of keeping up with your annual health screenings, including everything from annual check-ups with your primary care provider to eye exams and colonoscopies.
December 2020
Challenges and Advances for the Special Needs Community
December 3, 2020 | 6:00 p.m. (EST)
Join SOM Alumnus Dr. Paul I. Abend ‘87, Dr. Wendy F. Aita, and Dr. Jennifer L. LeComte, as they provide guidance for the unique challenges for individuals with special needs and their families during the time of COVID-19. The Q&A portion will be facilitated by Joshua Katz, Student Doctor Class of 2021.
November 2020
Navigating the Holidays During a Pandemic
November 17, 2020 | 6:30 p.m. (EDT)
Join SOM Alumni, Dr. John F. Bertagnolli, Jr. and Dr. Rachel Shmuts, and Middle School Counselor Jennifer Pasqua, today as they explore how to navigate the holidays with and without family in the midst of the pandemic. The panel will discuss how to overcome the challenges and be able to celebrate and enjoy this time of year. The Q&A portion will be facilitated by Jasmin Moustafa Zayed, Student Doctor, Class of 2021.
John Bertagnolli, Jr., DO '83
Professor, Department of Geriatrics/NJISA
Director of Rowan House Calls Program
Rowan-Virtua SOM
Stratford, NJ
Rachel Shmuts, DO '09
Vice Chair of Education, Department of Psychiatry
Psychiatry Residency Director/Psychiatry Clerkship Director
Rowan-Virtua SOM
Stratford, NJ
Jennifer Pasqua, EdM
Middle School Counselor
Franklin Middle School - SGS Campus
Somerset, NJ
October 2020
When to Go to the ER and What to Expect in the Time of COVID-19
October 29, 2020 | 6 p.m. (EDT)
Since the onset of the pandemic, there has been a growing trend of people delaying or avoiding going to the hospital, even when experiencing serious symptoms. Join Moderator Dr. Victor Scali and panelists Dr. Tracé Dotson '99, Dr. Michael Ruzek '10 and Nurse Megan Martinson as they discuss when you should call 911 or go to the Emergency Room, and what safety protocols are in place to protect you and your loved ones and the health care providers. The Q&A portion will be facilitated by Melvin Ways, Student Doctor Class of 2023.
Victor J. Scali, DO, FACOEP-D
Professor, Department of Emergency Medicine
Director of Problem-Based Learning Curriculum
Rowan-Virtua SOM
Stratford, NJ
Tracé Dotson, DO, FACOEP '99
Florida Emergency Physicians of Teamhealth
Emergency Medicine
AdventHealth Celebration
Celebration, FL
Megan Martinson, BSN, RN, CEN, CPEN
Nurse Manager
Capital Health at Deborah - Emergency Services
Brown Mills, NJ
Michael A. Ruzek, DO '10
Director of Emergency Medicine
Deborah Heart and Lung Center
Brown Mills, NJ
September 2020
The Importance of Vaccines During the Time of Covid-19
September 30, 2020 | 6 p.m. (EDT)
SOM alumni, Dr. Ginamarie Foglia, Dr. Rebecca Moore and Dr. Kevin Overbeck explore the importance of vaccines for all age groups during the COVID-19 pandemic. The panel will discuss the process of creating new vaccines, the upcoming COVID vaccine, getting your flu shot and how to talk with patients who are reluctant to be vaccinated.
Ginamarie Foglia, DO, MPH, FACP '93
Global Senior Director, Medical Intelligence and Patient Perspective
Sanofi
Swiftwater, PA
Kevin Overbeck, DO '03
Vice Chair of Education, Geriatrics and Gerontology, New Jersey Institute for Successful Aging
Faculty Member and Clinical Provider, Lions Gate Community
Rowan-Virtua SOM
Stratford, NJ
Rebecca Moore, DO '03
Assistant Professor, Family Medicine
Medical Director, Hammonton Family Practice
Rowan-Virtua SOM, Stratford, NJ
August 2020
Every Pixel Tells a Story, Don't It? Staying Human in a Digital World
Wednesday, August 19 | 6 p.m. (EDT)
Even before the pandemic, medicine was becoming increasingly impersonal. Electronic Medical Records, remote telehealth portals, and now even personal protective equipment rob all of us of the joy of interacting with others in the same way. Dr. Daniel J. Waters '82, facilitated by Dr. Samantha Plasner '02, discusses how to stay connected in a disconnected, prophylactically protected world and preserve what Bruce Springsteen called "The Human Touch."
Dr. Waters practiced open-heart surgery for thirty years and was Director of Medical Education for two decades. Since retirement he is now a full-time author/novelist and Assistant Professor at Des Moines University College of Osteopathic Medicine teaching Medical Humanities. Dr. Waters also writes for Doximity.com and is a contributor to other digital platforms for health professionals.
Daniel J. Waters, DO ’82
Assistant Professor, Medical Humanities
Author/Novelist
Des Moines University
Clear Lake, IA
Samantha Plasner, DO ’02
Assistant Clinical Professor, Family Medicine
Rowan-Virtua SOM
Stratford, NJ
July 2020
Surviving Covid-19: A Physician's Perspective
Wednesday, July 8, 2020 - 7:30 p.m.
Featuring:
Dr. Ashgan Elshinawy (moderator) - Rowan's School of Osteopathic Medicine, class of 1999, Pulmonologist and Sleep Medicine Specialist, Pulmonary Sleep Disorders of NJ in Middlesex County, NJ
Dr. David Bollard - Rowan's School of Osteopathic Medicine, class of 1986, Family Medicine Physician and partner with Premiere Health Associates, LLC in Sussex County, NJ, President of the NJ Association of Osteopathic Physicians and Surgeons
Dr. Troy Randle - Rowan's School of Osteopathic Medicine, class of 2003, Rowan-Virtua SOM Cardiology Fellowship Director, Cardiologist with Lourdes Cardology South Jersey Heart Group in Camden County, NJ