Dean’s Desk Culinary Medicine Will Benefit Future Physicians and Their Patients ulinary medicine, a new elective, seeks to weave a better understanding of healthy eating into physicians’ everyday interactions with their patients. “I think this movement is going to revolutionize not only the way we teach students to understand nutrition, but also teach them how to teach their patients,” says Carol A. Terregino, MD ’86, senior associate dean for education. The course was developed at Tulane University by Timothy Harlan, MD, an internist and blogger, known as “Dr. Gourmet.” Dr. Terregino brought Dr. Harlan and his associate, Chef Leah Sarris, to New Brunswick a year ago to get the program off the ground. Emine Ercikan Abali, PhD, associate professor of biochemistry and molecular biology, manages the course, which is run in collaboration with the Department of Food Science at Rutgers University. “A patient’s personal physician can play a critical role in good nutrition,” says Dr. Abali. “Research shows that patients listen to their doctors. We can bring a nutritionist in, but I think if their doctor talks to them, the impact is quite positive for the patient.” From the Education AMSA Hosts Third Annual MDTalks C Circular tables set the tone clinical director, acute pain and regional anesthesiology, represented the alumni. Speeches by fellow students are particularly inspiring, says Sam, and they touched on topics not covered in the regular curriculum, such as rural medicine, end-of-life care, and women’s experience as practitioners. Matthew Kraushar ’17, PhD, retold his story of triaging a for MDtalks, where guests can listen, discuss, and learn in an interactive, informal atmosphere free of “the hassle and rigor of a medical student’s typical day,” says Sam Schild ’17, a member of this year’s organizing committee. Sponsored by the local chapter of the American Medical Students Association, MDtalks has grown rapidly in three years. An audience of 225 attended the February event, held in the Schwartzman Courtyard at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital. Faculty, alumni and student speakers spoke from experience, covering a range of topics, most based on personal involvement. The faculty speaker was Patricia Whitley-Williams, MD, professor flooded community after Hurricane Sandy and Andrew Orr ’15, used music to illustrate the feelings of patients he had met: “each encounter is a canvas you paint on.” Above: MDtalks speakers, organizing committee, and Student Affairs deans. Back row, left to right: Sonia Garcia Laumbach, MD ’99, assistant dean for student affairs, Dina Nassar ’17, Sam Schild ’17, Maria Quincy ’17, Matt Kraushar ’17, PhD, Alex Pronk ’17, Andrew Orr ’15, Vhatsal Bhatt ’18, Steven Shterenberg ’18, Daniel Mehan, Jr., PhD, assistant dean for student affairs. Front row, left to right: Helen Mac ’17, Sydney Hyder ’17, Murphy Lu ’17. and chair, Department of Pediatrics, while Geza Kiss, MD ’95, associate professor of anesthesiology and Arbor Vitae Takes Root at the Medical School In Dean’s Desk Published by Robert Wood Johnson Medical School Part of Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey Department of Communications and Public Affairs Director: Patricia M. Hansen, MA Editor: Roberta Ribner Writers: Kate O’Neill I Jennifer Forbes I Beth-Ann Kerber Art Director: Barbara Walsh From the February, the RWJMS Literary Society creative reflections of students, residents, and faculty. The literary magazine is the latest project for the society, which has offered a writing workshop, book club, and diverse lunch lectures. Managing editor Zeynep Uzumcu ‘17 designed the society’s published the flagship issue of Arbor Vitae, its new online literary magazine. Featuring poetry, prose, essays and art—all with a medical slant— the magazine reflects the literary society’s goal of fostering a home for humanistic medicine and creativity throughout the online community of doctors, writers, and readers. Art and writing submissions are drawn entirely from the attractive, user friendly web site, https:// rwjmsliterarysociety.wordpress.com/. 6