Dean’s Message

On March 15 we celebrated a very successful Match Day for the VTCSOM Class of 2024 and for the Carilion Clinic – VTCSOM residency programs.  Nationwide, the match rate for U.S. M.D. graduates was 93.5% and for all applicants was 80.2%. Our students’ overall match rate was 100% with just one student matching into a one-year position and planning to reapply next year. 

We continued to successfully match students in the most competitive specialties and programs nationwide. Our graduates will pursue training in 17 specialties across 32 different academic health centers in 18 states, including familiar destinations such as Harvard, UCSF, U Penn, and U Chicago and our first residency matches at West Virginia University and Marshall University.

We were delighted that eight students matched at Virginia programs including 6 at Carilion Clinic – VTCSOM (two in dermatology, two in family medicine, and one each in internal medicine and neurosurgery), one in pathology at VCU and one in family medicine at a VCU-affiliated program in Newport News. 

The Class of 2024 outcomes are even more remarkable when one considers the impact the pandemic had on their “coming of age” as physicians. In July of 2020, these students left shelter at home locations from around the country to start medical school in Roanoke in the throes of a global pandemic, before the COVID-19 vaccine was developed. But that was not the only source of worry and uncertainty.  Step 1 shifted to pass-fail, and residency programs introduced signaling, universal virtual interviews, and other changes in their selection process. The Class of 2024 showed remarkable adaptability, determination and a commitment to excellence as they navigated these and other challenges. They drew strength from each other, their families and social networks and mentors who guided and supported them.

With respect to the Carilion Clinic – VTCSOM residency programs, we were delighted to learn from Dr. Ollendorff that all 80 categorical and seven preliminary (one-year) residency positions were filled in the match.  Ninety percent of our incoming residency class will complete a D.O. or M.D. degree in the U.S., and the remainder will complete medical school at a Caribbean or other international program. The incoming residents include four medical students who matched into the inaugural PGY-1 Class of our newly approved residency program in orthopaedic surgery.  They will make their way to Roanoke from across the country after completing medical school at Texas A & M, Indiana University, Carle Illinois College of Medicine, and the University of California, Los Angeles.

I am grateful to the many hard-working faculty educators, program administrators and staff who support these outstanding match outcomes by assuring excellence in our medical school educational programs and Carilion Clinic -VTCSOM residency programs. Kudos to all!

Lee A. Learman, Dean

Editor’s note: The next issue of Progress Notes will be published Monday, May 6. All submissions should be sent to Catherine Doss (cdoss@vt.edu) no later than Monday, April 15.

News Around Campus

Social Media

Events 

  • April 1-5, 2024 – Graduate Student Appreciation Week
  • April 3  3:30-5 p.m.– Ringo the emotional support pony visits VTC 
  • April 6  9 a.m.-4 p.m. – The Big Event (See Community Corner below)
  • April 9  12-1 p.m. –  How Islam and Judaism can coexist peacefully in the current climate (See Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Update below)
  • April 20 – Foot Levelers Blue Ridge Marathon 
  • April 24, 5:30 p.m. – Global Health Forum (See Community Corner below)
  • April 25 – Benefits Fair/Spring Extravaganza
  • April 27 – Young Docs Project
  • May 4 – Graduation
  • May 6-Student Clinician's Ceremony
  • June 11, 5:30 p.m. – Next art show “Sons of the Village-The Art of Fatherhood” opens

Humanism Notes

Ringo, Virginia Tech’s patrol pony, is a goodwill ambassador and honorary member of the university’s police department. Although he isn’t certified as a therapy or emotional support animal, Ringo has achieved notoriety for bringing a sense of calm, joy, and well-being while building valuable connections between students and campus police.

Ringo will be visiting VTC for the first time from 3:30-5 p.m. on Wednesday, April  3, weather permitting. He’ll be available to greet, take pictures, and shake a hoof or two.

Publishing

Serkan Toy with VTCSOM’s Department of Basic Science Education, along with six colleagues from across the country, published “Introduction of a formative assessment tool in a post-graduate training program in India: a mixed methods evaluation” in the International Journal of Emergency Medicine.

Jed Gonzalo, professor of internal medicine and HSIS and senior associate dean for medical education, along with two colleagues from across the country, published “Advancement, barriers and collaboration: the ABC's of addressing challenges and designing solutions between front-line physicians and business-oriented leaders” in the BMJ Leader.

Sarah Parker, chair of HSIS, along with several members of the surgery faculty: Bryan Collier, Katie Bower, Emily Faulks, and Michael Nussbaum; DBSE faculty members Allison Tegge and Min Wang, and a host of Carilion professionals: Gary Collin, Jennifer Bath, Sherry Boone, Ellen Harvey, Whitney Sprinkel, Shari Toomey, and Sherry Bean, published “Impact of Standardized Multidisciplinary Critical Care Training on Confidence with Critical Illness and Attitudes Towards Interprofessional Education and Multidisciplinary Care.” The list of researchers also included former faculty members Mark Hamill, Miguel Matos, and Bridget Hamill formerly of Virginia Tech.

Posters and Presentations

Shari Whicker presented "The Interdisciplinary MAP of Mentorship: A Circular Model to Integrate Junior Faculty within Health Professions Education" at the 2024 SACME Conference poster session in San Diego, CA. Other authors on the poster include Sarah Harendt, Avery Mahaney, Mariah Rudd, and David Musick.

Recognitions

Congratulations to Paige Markham Jentsch, financial specialist, who recently earned the Virginia Tech fiscal support certificate that required completion of assigned work spanning twelve weeks and passing a comprehensive final exam. The series of fiscal certificate programs are part of the Fiscal Training and Development Program hosted by the Vice President for Finance.

Welcome New Employees

A warm welcome is extended to:

  • JT Addair –Curricular and Media Coordinator for TEACH
  • Tim Mey – Head, VTCSOM Library

Welcome New Faculty

  • Internal Medicine – Sharon Aroda, Rene Fredstorm, Neha Sanan, Elizabeth Sugg, Lana Wahid 
  • OB-GYN – Lindsay Lambeth
  • Family and Community Medicine – Hema Sivasubramanian
  • Health Systems and Implementation Science – Monifa Vaughn-Cooke
  • Neurosurgery – Read Montague, Jennifer Munson, Zhi Sheng, Michelle Theus, Sujith Vijayan
  • Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine – Sora Shin

Alumni Update  

Class of 2014! Can you believe it’s been a decade? We would like nothing more than for you to celebrate with us! 

Inaugural class alumni and their families are invited to join us for a weekend of activities and events to reunite with classmates, become reacquainted with the school, and learn about its future plans.

Register Here: https://aimsbbis.vt.edu/VTC2014Reunion

May 17-19, 2024
The Hotel Roanoke & Conference Center
110 Shenandoah Ave
Roanoke, VA 24016

Schedule of events and more information

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Update

DIBS: How Islam and Judaism can coexist peacefully in the current climate

  • Celebrate Diversity Month
  • Autism Acceptance Month
  • National Arab American Heritage Month
  • Deaf History Month
  • 1: Easter Monday
  • 2:  World Autism Awareness Day
  • 5:  Laylat al-Qadr
  • 9: Chaitra Navaratri
  • 9–10 (sundown to sundown):  Eid al-Fitr
  • 12:  The Day of Silence
  • 13:  Vaisakhi (Baisakhi)
  • 17: Ram Navami
  • 21:  Mahavir Jayanti
  • 21:  The Festival of Ridvan
  • 22:  Earth Day 
  • 22–30:  Passover
  • 23:  St. George’s Day
  • 27:  Lazarus Saturday
  • 28-29:  Ninth Day of Ridvan

Community Corner

Health Workforce Well-Being Day:

Two years ago, the Dr. Lorna Breen Health Care Provider Protection Act became law. This law aims to reduce and prevent suicide, burnout, and mental and behavioral health conditions among health professionals. One year later, using the new law as a guide, the National Academy of Medicine launched its Change Maker Campaign. 

 We are proud to share that both VTCSOM and Carilion Clinic signed the new National Academy of Medicine Change Maker pledge to institutionalize Well-Being as a long-term value, and on March 18, 2024, joined forces with medical professionals across the country to raise awareness of and celebrate the first-ever Health Workforce Well-Being Day! This new national recognition day, which has bipartisan support in Congress, shines a light on the necessity of protecting health workers’ well-being to sustain our health system and ensure quality patient care. 

Global Health Rotations:

The VTCSOM 2024 Global Health Forum
2 Riverside - Room M106
Wednesday, April 23 - 5:30 p.m.

Enjoy the stories of fourth-year medical students who traveled around the world for Global Health Rotations. The program will be followed by a reception where guests will be able to ask the students questions and enjoy light refreshments.   

Registration Link - https://forms.gle/oB7om5Rv1GBD2GqG7

Above: Sam Speroni and Vemmy Metsutnan enjoy dinner with our Sister Cities partners in Wonju, South Korea
Above: Sam Speroni and Vemmy Metsutnan enjoy dinner with our Sister Cities partners in Wonju, South Korea

Summer Art Show: 

The next art show opening “Sons of the Village – The Art of Fatherhood,” curated by VTCSOM Community Engagement Advisory Board member Ryan Bell and retired Patrick Henry High School art teacher Fletcher Nichols, will be on Tuesday, June 11 at 5:30 p.m.

The Big Event

the big event

Young Docs

young docs

Take Note

Gift Shop

Child Care Partnership

  • Hokie Wellness has announced a new child care partnership in Roanoke that is providing enrollment opportunities to Virginia Tech faculty, staff, and students. The new childcare partner is Champion Early Learning Center. For questions contact Hokie Wellness by email at hokiewellness@vt.edu or phone at 540-231-8878.

The Last Note

“Pink looks so good on us!” The 2024 Barbie-themed Match Day was  – well – perfect!

match day collage