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Welcome to the inaugural issue of In Stride.
The goal of this newsletter is to create a bridge between students, faculty, and alumni while learning about all the significant ‘happenings’ at the School of Podiatric Medicine.
The pandemic has created unprecedented challenges for podiatric medical education; however, I am pleased to report that your faculty, staff, and students have embraced this new reality of virtual and hybrid learning with success. Together, we have facilitated a cross-disciplinary interchange of scientific ideas, the integration of basic and clinical sciences within a framework of evidence-based medicine, and the use of artificial intelligence to bring the operating room and clinic environments into the classroom.
Our triad of robust clinical research, sports medicine, and advanced radiology, among others, places Barry University at the forefront of podiatric medical and surgical education. Our affiliated clinics continue to create a world-class environment for learning and case-based discussions. We remain true to our Mission Statement and continue to prepare our graduating students for residency placement, so they may be poised to function as confident and competent practitioners in the 21st century.
I trust you will enjoy this new initiative and welcome your feedback and contributions for future issues.
Fraternally,
Rob
Robert J. Snyder, DPM, MSc, MBA, CWSP, FFPM RCPS (Glasgow)
Interim Dean
Professor and Director of Clinical Research
School of Podiatric Medicine
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For Dr. Stephen Heisler, Collaboration Is Key
If Stephen Heisler, DPM, MSHA, were to pick the single most important lesson from his time at Barry, it would be that in medicine today, you cannot practice alone. “It truly takes a team approach,” he says. Dr. Heisler graduated from Barry University’s School of Podiatric Medicine in 2015. He then completed a surgical residency at Millcreek Community Hospital in Erie, PA, from 2015 to 2018, during which he also obtained a Masters in Health Service Administration from the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine.
Now an Assistant Professor of Surgery in the Division of Vascular Surgery at the UNC School of Medicine in Chapel Hill, NC, Dr. Heisler brings his spirit for collaboration to his commitment to wound care and limb preservation. He is currently a principal investigator for several clinical research trials at UNC and enjoys partnering with world-renowned vascular surgeons to optimize patient outcomes in a true limb-preservation setting. Recently, Dr. Heisler has published with several surgeons at the UNC Jaycee Burn Center, highlighting the crossover of complications related to lower-extremity burns in patients with diabetes.
Dr. Heisler credits his time at Barry, particularly his clinical rotations, for allowing him to explore his interests and recognize the value of teamwork. The variety of clinical settings, operating-room learning, faculty clinicians, and opportunities for growth and development at Barry sparked his excitement. “While learning never stops at graduation,” he says, “it is important to have a foundation with vast field-specific exposure to explore individual interests.” In particular, working with Barry’s clinical faculty in the wound clinic, conducting research, and treating patients provided him with a comprehensive understanding of what true limb-preservation care entails. His philosophy of a team approach is focused on improving patient outcomes by addressing not only the pathology itself but also the disease and all contributing factors. “The application of the team approach to bring different specialties together working for a common goal has been the crucial step in helping patients with lower-extremity wounds at UNC,” Dr. Heisler says. “While we continue to build our program, our patients are appreciative to have a collaborative approach as they know they are getting the best care possible.”
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Alumni of Distinction
Podiatric alumni who bring Barry's values to their patient care and roles in their communities are recognized as Alumni of Distinction. Created by the Barry University Alumni Association and School of Podiatric Medicine, this honored designation is given to those who are highly recognized by their peers for excellence in care, research, and innovations in the field.
To read more about this year's recipients, visit aod.barry.edu.
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Innovation and Evolution with Dr. Graham Shaw
Having taught students of Podiatric Medicine at Barry University for almost 20 years, Dr. Graham Shaw has seen many changes at the Miami Shores campus, including the remodeling of the Anatomy Laboratory and the Wiegand lecture theaters, as well as the reconfiguration of the student lounge and the area around Le Café, both of which helped facilitate student collaboration. At the top of Dr Shaw’s list of the most significant changes in the School of Podiatric Medicine, however, is last summer’s relocation of the pre-clinical sciences department to the Podiatry Building. According to Dr Shaw, this is a real game changer, allowing for better integration of the pre-clinical and clinical sciences and improving communication between faculty and students.
This enthusiastic embrace of change is characteristic of Dr. Shaw, who has evolved his research throughout his career, focusing in recent years on biochemistry education, academic leadership, and the role of character and personality in success in medical school. His work in these arenas has been published in the U.S. and internationally, including in the Journal of Leadership Studies as well as the forthcoming book Computer-Assisted Diagnosis: Diabetes and Cardiovascular Risk, to which he contributed a chapter titled “Management of heart failure in the context of type 2 diabetes.”
As many Barry students, faculty, and staff have learned amid the challenges of COVID-19, an open mind and readiness to evolve old ways are essential assets for those pursuing the complex field of podiatry. Dr. Shaw models these traits for his students using a variety of hybrid learning technologies and prioritizing the kind of one-on-one support that becomes essential in a socially distanced world. His innovative teaching practices have impressed his students, who report that Biochemistry at Barry University School of Podiatric Medicine is “way cool” and “much better than my undergraduate experience of the subject.”
Dr Shaw is a firm believer in life-long learning and second chances in education and in life. Though he holds a first-class honors degree from Bristol Polytechnic and a Ph.D. in Biochemistry from Aston University, in England, he went back to school in 2018 to earn his Master of Business Administration from Barry University’s D. Inez Andreas School of Business. His eagerness to explore new interests extends to his extracurricular life. Though he remains a life-long Liverpool fan, he’s broadened his affection for American sports, following both the Las Vegas Raiders and the Oakland A’s. Outside of work, he enjoys spending time with his children and taking in a Barry Buccaneers football game.
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Chinenye Wachuku Aims to Advance Podiatric Care for All
As she nears graduation, School of Podiatric Medicine standout student Chinenye Wachuku is taking stock of her accomplishments, mining her experience in service of future classes of podiatry students. Mostly, her advice boils down to an essential piece of wisdom: don’t be afraid to explore.
Wachuku is an intrepid explorer, a student who arrived at Barry knowing the opportunities the program held for her, and one who pursued her academic and clinical journeys with an instinct to learn from a variety of people and experiences. “During my time of looking at schools, I noticed that Barry had so much to offer in terms of a dual degree and mission trips,” says Wachuku. She was also impressed with the scope of specialties represented among the faculty. “There are different aspects of podiatry ranging from trauma, to sports medicine, to wound care, etc., making it so versatile that one can truly find their niche,” she says. Her strategy was to shadow as many podiatrist as she could, and she encourages future students to take similar advantage of the wealth of expertise available at Barry. “Figure out what truly interests you!” she says.
Wachuku arrived at Barry’s School of Podiatric Medicine with a Master of Engineering in Biopharmaceutical Processing and a desire to build her medical skillset as a means of improving podiatric care for the underserved populations she had encountered firsthand. She became interested in studying podiatry as a child living in Nigeria. “I would spend time in the village where my grandparents lived and came across different podiatric deformities, mostly congenital, that could not be treated for various reasons ranging from financial need to long distance travel necessary to get treatment,” she says. By the time she reached high school, she was working as a medical assistant in an orthopedic department. “Many patients would come into the office for foot and ankle concerns but had to be referred out due to physician preference. I noticed the need for podiatrists in my area and decided to enter this journey of podiatry.”
So far, Wachuku’s journey has been filled with successes. While at Barry, she has contributed research to major publications, including The Podiatry Institute’s Update 2020 and Journal of the American Podiatric Medical Association. She has also held roles in the Student National Podiatric Medical Association (SNPMA), as vice-president/treasurer, and the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons (ACFAS), as a research coordinator. Her contribution to medical research is particularly important to her. “I have always been interested in being a part of advancements that can improve or enhance medicine as a whole,” she says. “With this experience, I hope to continue with research and development in tools that can further help and treat patients, as well as contribute to the podiatric community.”
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Got a story to share? We want to spotlight you in the next In Stride newsletter! Please submit your story to rosnyder@barry.edu. You can also nominate a student or alumni whose story you think we should tell.
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A Live Clinical Experience In The Classroom
Barry University’s School of Podiatric Medicine has added an exciting innovative technological tool to its instruction toolbox to implement remote patient care learning.
The school is now using the Hippo virtual care device in our “Intro to Patient Care course in the Freshman Year”. Hippo is voice-activated, hands-free, and resembles goggles. It brings streaming doctor-patient visits from clinics to the classroom for a real-time clinical experience.
It allows healthcare providers and educators to bridge the gap between physical and virtual care. Due to the limitations of meeting in-person during the COVID-19 pandemic, remote healthcare and learning became an essential part of growing and connecting as students and medical professionals.
“The practice of medicine is ever-changing. Here at Barry University School of Podiatric Medicine, we are up to date with the latest technology to address this new world's challenges.” Professor Dr. Rodriguez-Anaya explains. Due to limitations of meeting face-to-face, Barry recruited doctors to create educational videos. With the device, students can see patients in real-time as if they were in the clinic. The doctor can be heard through the device and the student can ask questions. Hippo offers students a physician’s point-of-view.
Read More and Watch Video →
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