Category: Shark Success Stories

NSU Alum Takes His Education to Health Care Heights

Renaud Jean Louis’ Remart Medical Clinic treats medical and mental health conditions. He focuses on preventive services.

Renaud Jean Louis could be the poster child for Shark Nation. Step into his office at his Hollywood, Fla., clinic and you’ll find a wall dominated by NSU degrees.

There’s his 2006 Master of Public Administration from the H. Wayne Huizenga School of Business and Entrepreneurship. Next to it is his Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the College of Nursing in 2012. Then his Master of Science in Nursing from 2016 and his Graduate Certificate in Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner in 2020.

Despite the academic credentials, Jean Louis is not one to rest on his educational laurels. With the knowledge he’s accumulated over the years, he’s built a successful health care business dedicated to helping underserved populations learn about and benefit from preventive care. Many of his patients hail from his homeland of Haiti.

In 2020, Jean Louis and his business partner, Martine Phillips (also an NSU graduate), opened Remart Medical Clinic, which provides a spectrum of services, such as immunizations, annual physicals, birth control, disease screening, psychiatric disorder diagnosis, treatments for post-traumatic stress disorder, attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, opioid addiction, depression, bipolar disorder and schizophrenia.

“When I graduated from NSU with my MPA, one of my instructors told me ‘Don’t just come here and take the diploma and hang it at your house. Go out there and make a difference in your community,’” he said. “It’s a statement that I never forgot.”

Jean Louis gives patient Daniel Fils-Aime a checkup.

While he was working on his Family Nurse Practitioner specialty at NSU, Jean Louis met Dr. Stefanie La Manna, now dean of NSU’s Ron and Kathy Assaf College of Nursing. She has been one of his mentors, and the two have remained close.

“Dr. La Manna always told me the same thing,” he said. “Use that diploma to make a difference. These are words that fueled me to open the clinic and provide good, efficient health care to my community.”

Education did not come easy to Jean Louis growing up. He was raised in Cap-Haïtien, Haiti, a small town on the north coast of the country. Jean Louis was one of seven children raised by a single mother whom he considers his hero.

“One thing she believed was that a proper education could open any door for us,” he said, adding that Sonia Jean Louis died last year. “She was my role model, my inspiration and my hero. I don’t think anyone will ever replace that woman, as she raised me to be a very respectful and responsible man.”

Jean Louis attended elementary at a Catholic school in Cap-Haïtien and would later attend  Cap-Haïtien’s College Martin Luther King  where he graduated from high school. Thereafter,  he went to Port Au Prince where  he enrolled at the Institute Des Hautes Etudes Commerciales Et Économiques, where he studied economics before coming to the U.S.

After stints at Miami Dade Community College (Associate of Arts in Computer Science) and Florida International University (Bachelor’s in Management Information Systems and Business Administration), Jean Louis set his sights on NSU.

One of reasons Jean Louis chose NSU was the helpfulness of its advising staff.

“It was the best decision that I could have made,” he said. “I was treated with respect and the services that I needed were fast-tracked. At NSU, I didn’t have to wait for weeks to see an adviser. I was assigned my own adviser and I could reach him anytime I wanted.”

And his experience got even better once classes started, Jean Louis said. He says his professors were always available to assist, listen and direct him on the right path.

Jean Louis has always been interested in the health care field, even with his early business interests. Remart Medical Clinic, derived from part of his and his partner’s first names, has allowed him to combine both interests.

“In 2009, I was working with the American Red Cross as a shelter manager,” he said. “I had nurses and doctors who volunteered their time to assist people in need. I could see the compassion, caring and passion that they had while helping those people. I said to myself ‘I need to do that.’”

While working on his Master of Science in Nursing, Jean Louis met Martine Phillips and the two developed a strong relationship.

“We saw the struggle of the working family when it comes to seeing a health care provider,” he said, “because many don’t have insurance, fail to get annual checkups and don’t properly follow up with providers.”

Jean Louis’ work as a nurse practitioner for palliative care patients at Jackson Memorial Hospital further fueled his desire to develop his own health care business. Palliative care is aimed at optimizing quality of life and mitigating suffering among people with serious, complex and often terminal illnesses.

“Most of the time, those patients did not know they had a critical condition until the late stage because of the lack of proper follow-up with a health care provider,” he said. “Seeing that, I said to myself that I needed to do something about it by educating my community about preventive medicine and the importance of annual physicals.”

When Jean Louis and Phillips introduced their clinic, they decided to have it open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., six days a week to better serve those who work weekdays. With dual certification in nursing and psychiatry, Remart Medical Clinic focuses on medical and mental health issues.

“I can sincerely say that NSU is my backbone and made me who I am today,” he said. “Each one of us has our own exam in life. Focus on yourself and do not take ‘no’ for an answer. Do not be afraid to use your knowledge in any community that you will find yourself in in the future.”

Posted 04/08/24

Grant Provides Dental Care for Ukrainian Refugees in Florida

From left: Kateryna Klymenko, Dr. Yehuda J. Benjamin, Class of 2024 endodontic resident Dr. Daniel Romero, Class of 2025 endodontic resident Dr. Rachel Schapiro, and patient Polina Danilova

The Ukrainian Refugee Resettlement Project (URRP), led by founder Angie Watstein in coordination with the Department of Endodontics at NSU’s College of Dental Medicine, has been awarded the 2023 Domestic Access to Care Grant by the Foundation of Endodontics and U.S. Endo Partners. This collaboration marks a significant step toward providing critical endodontic care to Ukrainian refugees in Florida, many of whom face barriers to accessing dental services.

This initiative will help Ukrainian refugees needing endodontic services who are ineligible for Medicaid, don’t have dental insurance or cannot afford dental care. The project aids those affected by the Ukrainian conflict, offering support to individuals facing challenges in accessing health care.

Watstein’s team is facilitated by URRP medical needs volunteer Julie Klitzner, who is the operational lead and first contact point. Services are coordinated by Dr. Yehuda J. Benjamin, faculty and staff. The services are performed by postgraduate endodontic residents. Dr. Benjamin is chair of the Endodontics Department. The initiative aids those in need while highlighting the profound impact of collaborative efforts in providing critical care to underserved communities.

One story underscoring the impact of this initiative involves Polina Danilova, a young Ukrainian refugee and her mother, Kateryna Klymenko, who were faced with the prospect of selling their car to afford a vital endodontic dental procedure. Because of intervention by URRP and the College of Dental Medicine, the family received the necessary endodontic treatment, showcasing the life-changing support this grant and initiative offer to a vulnerable population.

For more details on this initiative and others, visit the URRP and NSU College of Dental Medicine‘s websites.

Posted 04/07/24

Theatre Major to Perform in Comedy at Broward Center

Spencer Carlisle on stage

B.A. in Theatre major Spencer Carlisle is taking his talents to the Broward Center for the Performing Arts with his upcoming role as Johnny Nunzio in the off-Broadway comedy “Tony n’ Tina’s Wedding,” which debuts on Valentine’s Day.

A theater major in the Department of Communication, Media, and the Arts in the Halmos College of Arts and Sciences, Carlisle has appeared in productions such as “Maltese Falcon,” “The Mousetrap,” “And the World Goes Round” and “Zombie Prom.”

“Spencer is an incredibly dedicated student who works hard to bring his best to whatever he takes on,” said Bill J. Adams, D.M.A., professor and program director for the B.A. in Music and B.A. in Theatre programs. “It is always a pleasure to work with him.”

“Tony n’ Tina’s Wedding” is New York’s longest-running off-Broadway comedy and runs Feb. 14-25 at the Broward Center’s Abdo New River Room. The audience can participate in Tony and Tina’s wedding with a full-course Italian dinner and dancing. View showtimes and ticket prices here.

Learn more about the B.A. in Theatre program here.

Posted 02/04/24

Honors, Law Alum Uses Law to Fight Cyber Fraud

John Paul, J.D.

Farquhar Honors College alum John Paul, J.D., is a lawyer on the leading edge of cyber fraud prosecution. Joining the ranks of the Office of the Florida Attorney General’s Cyber Fraud Enforcement Unit as a senior assistant statewide prosecutor, Paul is dedicated to bringing justice to victims of cyber fraud.

Created by Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody, the Cyber Fraud Enforcement Unit investigates and prosecutes cyber fraud cases across Florida. As technology rapidly advances, cyber fraud becomes increasingly common as scamming methods rise.

“The vision. . . to help victims of cyber fraud, especially elderly victims who sometimes lose their life savings through cyber fraud scams, really resonates with me,” said Paul. “Helping to recover these funds, prosecute those who violate the law and bring them to justice, and disrupt the criminal networks are all really rewarding.”

Paul graduated from NSU in 2006 with a B.A. in Legal Studies and 2009 with his J.D. from the Shepard Broad College of Law. Since graduating, he has worked in prosecution and law enforcement for nearly 15 years.

“The [Honors College] gave me a well-rounded education that included a focus on interdisciplinary learning,” said Paul. “Having exposure to many subject areas is a tool that I use every day. My cases involved an intersection of law, cyber security, IT infrastructure, finance, business, psychology, and even medicine, just to name a few.”

Posted 01/14/24

Education Alum Named Finalist for STEAM Educator of Year

A Fischler College of Education and School of Criminal Justice graduate has been named a finalist for STEAM Educator of the Year for Women in Technology.

Marquita Blades

Marquita Blades graduated from NSU with her doctorate in Instructional Leadership. After working as a teacher for 16 years, she began her own education consulting business. She also teaches classes at NSU as an adjunct professor.

However, Blades said that it wasn’t until she left the K-12 classroom that she finally began to win awards for her work, and most recently, her dedication to education earned her a nomination as STEAM Educator of the Year.

“It felt a little bit unbelievable,” Blades said. “It really felt like that after 20-plus years in the game, I am finally getting my just-rewards, and finally having my dedication validated in the broader community, and it’s not just within the education community, it’s in the broader STEM community.”

Blades was nominated by a friend and colleague for the recognition.

“She said, Well, I think that you’ll be a great fit for this, I think you’d have a good chance of being recognized.’”

The colleague’s hunch proved to be correct, as Blades made it to the final round, something that she has heard is unheard of for a first-time nominee.

The event was held in October in Atlanta, and the overall award was given to Dr. Hannah Oldham. However, the acknowledgment has propelled Dr. Blades to continue working in the field and to amplify her voice.

“When I got recognized by the Women in Technology, it just empowered me to become more vocal about the technology work that I am doing,” she said.

Blades works as a consultant training teachers on various aspects of STEM education. She also conducts a seminar called the 50 Best Tech Tools and Strategies for Increasing Science Engagement. She also recently developed and launched an AI tools for a science teachers training.

“I’ve been working to advocate for the presence of K through 12 science educators to become more vocal and more seen in the legislative community, but this — being recognized in this way by the Women in Technology — it has given me a bigger platform and a bigger voice to do more of that.”

Congratulations Marquita Blades on all your hard work!

Posted 01/14/24

Difficult Route to Med School No Match for Future Doctor

Melissa Jomsky

For Melissa Jomsky, life always required extra resilience. Growing up in Fort Lauderdale, her parents struggled, with little money and even fewer resources. Family support and encouragement – especially toward education – was in short supply.

“Our thought process was ‘survival mode’ all the time,” she said.

Yet, she credits growing up in a low socioeconomic environment for shaping the person she is today … and providing the motivation needed in her education journey.

“No doubt, what has gotten me this far is my determination,” she said.

Melissa earned an education degree from the University of Central Florida, and after working two years as a fourth-grade teacher in Orlando – a great career but personally not a good fit, she said – Melissa moved back home. Not wanting to teach, she took a job as a receptionist at a doctor’s office to pay the bills. That’s where she found a mentor, something she never had. It’s also where she started thinking about medical school, a dream she never imagined.

“It was nice hearing someone who was educated tell me that I was smart. It was very motivating to know he really believed that I could be a physician,” she said. “But I knew people like me don’t just become doctors. But then I thought, ‘How do I really know that?’”

Being from Fort Lauderdale, Melissa knew of NSU and its M.D. program. She also knew many of her UCF classes wouldn’t transfer. With no help or support from others, she spent seven years saving money, working full-time, and taking one to two classes a semester at Broward College to get the prerequisites done.

Her challenges continued with the MCAT, the standardized admissions test for medical schools. Melissa had never taken a test like that before, and studying for it and saving money for it would take more time. She also took the test more than once to improve her score – and did – but it still wasn’t competitive. That’s when she learned about NSU’s Master of Biomedical Sciences – a program designed to enhance students’ academic background and make them more competitive for professional health care programs.

“With NSU’s allopathic medical school having only 50 spots, I knew I needed to stand out in the crowd,” she said. “This master’s program did that for me. It gave me the confidence I needed. I did well with my MBS; I knew I would do well with an M.D.”

So, at age 32, Melissa applied and was accepted to the Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Allopathic Medicine, where she is the second-oldest classmate in her cohort.

“It definitely feels homey, and there’s a sense that we are all together in this,” she said, while admitting that being older creates a disconnect with students 10 years her junior. “But I know they will always have a place in my heart, and I can see certain people who will definitely be with me through my career.”

Helping students bond comes easier when class sizes are small, which is a strength of NSU, according to Melissa. “It’s one of the reasons I wanted to go to med school here. It’s individualized, nobody goes under the radar, and we aren’t pitted against each other.”

Another plus for Melissa? The thought that goes into the curriculum.

“NSU is a newer med school and honestly, I think it’s the best characteristic. Everything is so fresh – it’s not built on ‘Oh, this is what’s worked for years so let’s just do it that way.’ Here, they genuinely listen to and make changes based off students’ feedback. I love that.”

As a first-year medical student, Melissa remains open to the type of doctor she wants to be. But growing up in a low socioeconomic environment will play a role.

“I think it’s something that’s super important and shaped the type of person I am,” she said. “When I hear about health disparities, or about a patient who needs a certain treatment, I ask if they will be able to afford that or if it is covered by Medicaid. It’s something I am very passionate about – bringing health care to those from low socioeconomic backgrounds.”

And she has advice for those who might be contemplating medical school: Don’t give up.

“Applying and getting in is probably the hardest part. It took me seven years and there were a lot of people who doubted I could do it,” she said. “Just don’t give up. You must stay committed.”

Posted 11/26/23

Honors Students Participate in World Mental Health Day

Students take a group picture after completing the Mental Health First Aid certification course.

Each year on Oct. 10, we celebrate World Mental Health Day (WMHD), a day where individuals and organizations raise awareness of mental health issues around the world to mobilize efforts in support of mental health. During this day, individuals working on mental health field share their current work and what needs to be done to make mental health and wellbeing a reality all.

In celebration of WMHD this Oct. 10, 16 students in the Farquar Honors College became certified Mental Health First Aiders. Similar to First Aid in which individuals are able to help others in an emergency situation, Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) is an evidence-based, early intervention and public education program that helps individuals identify, understand, and respond to those exhibiting signs of mental problems or crises. There are separate training courses for assisting adults and youth, and a variety of specialized training topics which focus on those working with vulnerable populations such as Fire/EMS, Military/Veterans, Public Safety, and Higher Education, to name a few.

The training was offered through the Exploring Population Mental Health and Wellbeing course (BPH 3990H) taught by Christi M. Navarro, Ph.D., M.S., an Assistant Professor of Public Health at the Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine and certified MHFA Instructor. Navarro offers the training through an ongoing partnership with the United Way of Broward County who has certified over 100 NSU students in MHFA since 2020.

If you are interested in learning more about Mental Health First Aid or are interested in scheduling a training for your department or organization, please contact Dr. Navarro at cnavarro@nova.edu.

Posted 10/22/23

Two-time NSU Alum Publishes Children’s Book

Anysh Girdhari

A two-time graduate from NSU is now a published children’s book author.

Anysh Girdhari is a graduate from both the Fischler College of Education and School of Criminal Justice with her M.H.S. in Child Protection and from the Huizenga College of Business with her M.S. in Business Administration. In her day job, she works as a counselor, but she recently shifted gears a bit and wrote a book titled “Adventures at Grandma Bahamas.”

The story is based on the life of Girdhari’s own son, Chatoen, and describes how he would spend summers with his grandmother (Girdhari’s mother) in the Bahamas and learn different life skills.

Girdhari said she was inspired to write the book while working in psychiatric hospitals and how when doing evaluations, she noticed deficits in nutrition and exercise. She hopes to use the story to teach people about the benefits of living well.

“We hear that an apple a day keeps the doctor away, but we need to go more intrinsic and really apply it and add good habits,” she said. “People see therapists for habits, habit building, habit stacking, and not only just building but also eliminating as well.”

Girdhari also wanted to create more representation for children of color.

“We don’t really see much representation of black and brown,” she said. “And there’s so much out here to attract young women or young girls, and there’s not much for our boys.”

There are currently two other books in the works that will follow Chatoen in Italy and a third that will take place in Florida. Girdhari also said she is considering animating the book, and even shifting her focus to media and producing programs that spread awareness about mental health.

“That’s my thing,” she said. “I just love helping people to understand and communicate in a clearer way.”

Girdhari is aiming to complete the other two books by spring 2024.

Posted 10/08/11

Fischler Alum Named Chief of Georgia Police Department

Michael Dieppa

Fischler College of Education and School of Criminal Justice alum Michael Dieppa has been named the chief of police for a Georgia police department.

Dieppa has spent 28 years working with the Miami-Dade Police Department. But now, he is trading in Florida oranges for Georgia peaches and will now lead the Chamblee Police Department. Chamblee is located northeast of Atlanta.

Dieppa described a feeling of great accomplishment after learning he had been selected for the role.

“It was a really good feeling, that I was able to accomplish one of the biggest goals that I’ve set for myself in my life,” he said.

Dieppa followed in his father’s steps and joined Miami-Dade Police when he was young. In his time with the department, Dieppa moved up several roles, and he earned his bachelor’s in organizational leadership from St. Thomas and his masters in leadership from NSU. He later went on to earn a doctorate in organizational leadership from St. Thomas University.

Dieppa said each of his degrees helped prepare him to take on higher roles in his career. He also said his time at NSU really activated his drive to continue in the realm of higher education.

“During that time at Nova, a professor talked about, it stuck with me — it still sticks with me — that at the time … only about 1% of the population ever gets a doctorate degree or goes beyond a masters.”

“The education component, played a significant role in my development by doing a deeper dive into leadership theory and leadership traits” he added.

Dieppa is set to officially step into the role on Oct. 23.

Fins up to you Chief Dieppa!

Posted 10/08/23

Dr. Haffizulla Launches Season 3 of ‘In the Kitchen with Dr. H’

In 2017, Dr. Farzanna Haffizulla was invited to join NSU as assistant dean for community and global health in the Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Allopathic Medicine. Around this time, she applied for and was awarded an internal NSU Quality of Life grant, which became the M.D. college’s first grant. This grant supported work to understand the Caribbean community’s preferences for health and wellness education and served as a valuable springboard for funded health equity projects and grants she has been engaged in ever since. Since joining NSU’s College of Osteopathic Medicine first as Chair of the Department of Internal Medicine in 2020, now fully immersed in community health equity under the leadership of Dean Wallace, her team created culturally tailored health education materials on multiple forms of media and launched a cooking show designed to showcase healthy options when making traditional Caribbean and Latin American dishes. Seasons 1 and 2 are pub­lished online at NSUCaribbeanhealth.com and Season 3, with premier sponsorship by Aetna, is set to launch worldwide on Thursday Sept. 28, 2023, at 7:30 p.m. EST on https://www.youtube.com/@IntheKitchenWithDrH

“I am grateful to work with such an in­credible team of supporters. In fact, since joining the KPCOM, Dean Elaine Wallace continues to be a champion supporter of our team’s health equity initiatives. With her support, we are now positioned to be leaders in health equity and inclusive health care that prioritizes diversity, em­pathy, and humanism. We are grateful to serve as a trusted source of health infor­mation for the Caribbean community. I was approached by Aetna and CVS, which embraced our continuously funded Caribbean Diaspora Healthy Nutrition Outreach Project. They are now premier sponsor of Season 3 of our Caribbean health cooking show In the Kitchen with Dr. H. Using this platform, we highlight small ways to make changes in the way we eat and live that can prevent chronic diseases, such as diabetes, heart disease, hypertension, and stroke.

Since becoming the KPCOM’s chair of internal medicine in August 2020, I was asked by the City of Lauderhill to cochair the Lauderhill Health and Prosperity Part­nership, working directly with city officials who founded this initiative—Vice Mayor Melissa Dunn and City Manager Giles- Smith. We are also working with city resi­dents, community stakeholders, business owners, and other key city officials like the mayor and the city commissioners through a data-driven approach addressing community needs. This role has allowed NSU to serve as an anchor institution for this city initiative.

The Caribbean Diaspora Healthy Nutrition Outreach Project provided a population health platform to gather social determinants of health data and other relevant health metrics from City of Lauderhill residents. Together, we worked to produce a comprehensive community needs assessment. This is now published on the city’s website, and we are currently working on a publication related to our findings that will include both qualitative focus group and quantitative survey data related to social determinants of health and disease metrics, such as diabetes risk, cancer diagnosis, heart disease, mental health, and COVID-19 challenges, among other health topics. For more information, please visit www.NSUCaribbeanhealth.com or www.InTheKitchenwithDrH.com

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