T h e M e h a r r y

S T u d e n T

n e w S l e T T e r

F a l l 2017

THE P u l s e

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

Meet the Royal Court p.6

Devastation: Puerto Rico p. 14

TEDMED @ Meharry p.9 & more

Table of ConTenTs1. Letter from the Editor page 5 J. Rechelle Jackson, D4

Meharrians At Home & Abroad2. Meet The Royal Court page 6Brianna Arrington, M2

3. The Last Inning: Platinum Collection Wins Softball Intramural Championshippage 7Jordan Pierre, D2

4. Bringing TEDMED to Meharry page 9Bassam Zahid, M4

5. Meet the 2017 - 2018 HBCU All Starspage 10Rachel Rosario, D4, Nicholas Alexander, M3

C u r r e n t E v e n t s6. What happened to the NFL Boycott? page 12Jordan Pierre, D2

7. Landfall: Puerto Rico page 14Solange Johnson, D3

8. Meet the Staffpage 15

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L e t t e r f r o m t h e

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Hello Meharry family! My name is J. Rechelle Jackson, a D4 student from Monroe, Louisiana. I have the pleasure of again serving as your Editor in Chief of The Pulse for the 2017-2018 academic year. I am eager and excited to see what this year will bring and hope you enjoy what myself and the staff has worked so hard to present. The Pulse is a student-run publication that highlights current events in not only the Meharry community, but throughout the country as well. Take the time to read each article and if you have a passion to have your voice heard, feel free to submit essays, news stories, poems and other written words to be published.I would like to say hello to all of the first year students who are new to Meharry Medical College! Welcome to the family and I hope this semester has been a great one. The long nights of being in the gross anatomy lab are soon to be over but the hard work is just beginning. Meharry is a great learning institution, but beyond that, it is truly a family. You may have already noticed that going through this process alone is not possible and it really does take a village to make it. Trust me, having been here for this past four years, I know that had it not been for some wonderful classmates in my corner, I would not have made it. We have been with each other through the highs and lows of life. Cherish these moments you have with each other. Make memories, because the time goes by so fast and before you know it, it will be your turn to take senior photos and prepare to walk across the stage to receive the long-awaited degree of your dreams. To the upperclassmen, welcome back! Hopefully this past semester has been a productive one. There may have been some long nights, unfair exams, and stress but you are now one more semester closer to your dream. Seize each moment and take each experience as a learning tool. Everything we encounter here at Meharry

will undoubtedly prepare us for future careers.I would also like to say welcome back and thank you to all of the faculty and staff. Thank you for your continued support towards our education. We may seem ungrateful at times but we appreciate the sacrifices and lessons you give each day. Although we have lost a few of our wonderful Meharrians I would like to personally take a moment to reflect on the lives of Dr. George Breaux and Dr. Roosevelt Smith. We lost both men earlier this year and Meharry will never be the same. These two men were instrumental in my development as a student here and will be sorely missed. Dr. Breaux was super smooth, glided when we walked and talked and lit up a room when he played the bells.Dr. Smith was a lover of photography and Operative Dentistry. I feel so much pride in knowing I was taught by one of the Meharry greats. His tough love mentality was a cover up to how much he really loved Meharry and the dental students. I remember our last conversation, the day before he became sick and had no idea that would be the last time I saw him. He taught me how to fill a cavity, a skill that every dentist must know. I will never forget the name of the book for his class “Sturdevant’s Art and Science of Operative Dentistry” –SMILE-These men are two legacies of Meharry and I am thankful I was able to encounter them both.Let’s have a great year Meharry! We have so much to look forward to. I hope that everyone has a great holiday break and comes back refreshed and ready to get back to the work of “Worship of God through service to mankind.” I look forward to serving you this year and I thank you for reading The Pulse. Enjoy!

J. Rechelle Jackson, D4. Editor In Chief

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Photograph courtesy of Roland Photography

Photograph courtesy of Eric Samson

Mister Meharry, Evan Joseph, is a third-year dental student from Chattanooga, Tennessee and is a graduate of the University of Richmond. He stands on the platform and belief that, “We need more mentors and leaders of color to help shepherd our youth as they navigate the highly competitive job market where coveted skills, access and professional networks are critical to success.” Through mentorship, I aim to support Meharry’s vision in diversifying the nation’s health professions workforce.

Miss Meharry, Margie Rayford, is a second-year medical student from Jackson, Mississippi. She is a graduate of Tugaloo College and is eager to lead the student body with a motto of “Be all that you can be today, to ensure the best version of you tomorrow…Laying the foundation to good health and building a stronger community.”

They are supported by:* Miss School of Dentistry: Chanel Trice from Tullahoma, Tennessee. Undergraduate: Clark Atlanta University, D4

* Miss School of Graduate Studies and Research and Graduate Studies: Christianna Porter from Monroe, Louisiana. Undergraduate: Louisiana Tech University, MSPH, Year 2

* Miss School of Medicine Brianna Arrington from Stafford, Virginia. Undergraduate: North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, M2

Meet the 2017 - 2018 Royal Court

From left to right; Brianna Arrington,

Chanel Trice, Christianna Porter, Margie

Rayford, Evan Joseph

B r i a n n a A r r i n g t o n , M 2

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The 2017 Meharry Softball intramural season was one for the books.

The final four teams to make it to the playoffs were: The Colemans, 20/20, Mighty Diamonds, and Platinum Collection. For the championship game 20/20, who was the top seeded team met with Platinum Collection, the second seed team. Platinum Collection won the game by a score of 40-18.

The MVP’s of the team were Tatyana Penn (Morgan College) and Sequon Scott (Stony Brook University), both D2 students. Platinum Collection finished the season with a record of six wins and one loss, with the one loss being against 20/20. Team Manager, Christopher Butler (Louisiana State University) commented at the end of the championship game, “They were a really good team, they beat us 20-12 in the

regular season, and we knew we were up against a challenge. Through it all, we believed in our team leaders, and our game plan, and in each other.”

Platinum Collection represents the School of Dentistry Class of 2020, while the team 20/20 mostly represented second year students from the School of Medicine. Until next season, Platinum Collection are the

reigning champions and the team is very hopeful that they can win the softball intramural championship until the class graduates. Scott commented, “We are a really strong group, and we love the competition and the comradery, we cannot wait to play next year, and compete for another championship.”

Photograph courtesy of Zelexis Morse

Platinum Collection Wins Softball Intramural Championship in Impressive Fashion

Jo rdan P ier re , D2

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Alex Lopez SOM ’19 said to me. For the past six months, he had been working with Jyotsna Thota SOM ’19 to build a team and bring TEDMed to Meharry. I had seen previous graduates work to bring the TED brand to Meharry before, but Alex and Jo were the first to bring their vision to fruition. From November 1 to November 3, 2017 the annual TEDMed conference was live streamed into The Cal Turner Family Center for Student Education. Nearly 900 people registered for the event with an average of 200 attendees per day making it one of the most successful student-driven events I have seen in my past four years at Meharry. Students, faculty, and administrators had the opportunity to hear world class bioethicists, journalists, scientists, lawyers, inventors, and policy makers share their visions for the future of medicine. In addition to the live stream, panel discussions were held in the auditorium that helped bring these far away ideas closer to home. The CEO of Perception Health, a healthcare analytics software company in Nashville, Tod Fetherling, and Claudia Haltom, CEO of A Step Ahead, an innovative company working in the realm of orthopedic bracing and prosthetics spoke to students. Representing Meharry, Dr. Caroline Szetela moderated a session on fears of scientific advancement with potential life-saving benefits, Dr. Suzanne Tropez-Sims moderated a session on gender identity, and students Malcolm Shealer SOD ’18 and Mitchell Mascaro SOD ’18 underscored the innovative ideas and fantastic work that is being done by students here at Meharry. President Hildreth also spoke at the event on Friday, emphasizing the importance of innovation at Meharry.

When I look back at my four years at Meharry, I see a lineage of innovative students who continue to build on the work of students who came before, constantly improving, refining, and expanding. I remember when Andrew Marshall SOM ’15, Julian Hinson SOM ’18, and Italo Brown SOM ’15 were leading initiatives like the development of the Meharry Mobile app. It then spurred Dennis Zhang SOM ’18, Andy Le SOM ’18, and me to start 2100 Health and Technology and work with Raleigh Fatoki SOM ’19, Malcolm Shealer, and Mitchell Mascaro to establish the Meharry Innovation Center. Joining Alex and Jo, Duron Aldredge SOM ’19 and Mary Solomon SOM ’19 are helping create change by taking over 2100 Health and Technology and further developing the Meharry Innovation Center. The events, ideas, motivation, and spirit of innovation continue to grow. As a senior, it is exciting to see the bar continuously being raised. It is motivating to see students testing the barriers of what is possible at Meharry. Rather than accepting the status quo, Alex and Jo set a new standard of a successful student-run event. When speaking with Alex before the event, he stressed the importance of professionalism, preparedness, and networking on campus when pitching ideas to administration. If you find a problem at Meharry that you want to change, do not just complain about it. Research the problem and suggest some solutions. With enough practice, who knows? We might be seeing you on the TEDMed stage one day.

Bringing TEDMED to MeharryBassam Zahid, M4

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HBCURachel Rosario and Nicholas Alexander are the 2017-2018

My name is Rachel Rosario, I am a fourth year dental student from Silver Spring, Maryland. I, along with my medical colleague, Nicholas Alexander, was recently selected to serve in the position of White House Historically Black Colleges and Universities All-Star for Meharry Medical College for the 2017-2018 academic year. It has been an extremely surreal experience being awarded the position in August. To be considered for the position, one must have a particular initiative in place to better their HBCU community. My initiative specifically pertains to pediatric dentistry and increasing the access to care in pediatric patients at Meharry School of Dentistry. With the help of my mentor, Dr. Carolyn Williams, we have vigorously worked to increase awareness of Meharry Medical College to parents and children in local schools, daycare centers, and organizations with large populations of children throughout Nashville. With events such as Happy Healthy Halloween and Children’s

Dental Health Day, we are effectively increasing the traffic in the pediatric clinic. Aside from my work on campus, I am also responsible for representing Meharry Medical College on a national level. My first national meeting took place this past September. Nicholas Alexander and I traveled to Washington D.C. where we had a frenzied schedule of White House meetings and activities. All gatherings were designed to improve leadership and governing abilities, while discussing issues and topics faced by all HBCUs represented. Secretary of Education, Betsy DeVos, and White House

have intentions to progress my initiative on a local and national level. I want all Meharry students to know that I am here for them. Please do not hesitate to bring any issues or concerns to me. I love my HBCU and will make Meharry Medical College proud during my tenure as a White House HBCU All-Star.

Political Aide, Omarosa Manigault, were two of the many White House officials who spoke during our visit. In addition, we also interacted with up-and-coming African-American entertainment figures such as celebrity Chef Jaaion Barnes for his work with reality television personality, Kandi Burruss. This experience felt extremely rewarding and fulfilling while representing the top producer of minority doctors, Meharry Medical College. As the year progresses, I

R a c h e l R o s a r i o , D 4

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ALL-STARSThis past September I had the pleasure to represent Meharry as an HBCU All-Star. It was an experience I would not trade for the world. I had the pleasure of meeting Omarosa Manigault and United States Surgeon General Jerome Adams. Additionally, I was able to meet other students from Historically Black Colleges and Universities that are as equally energetic

better way to fulfill the mission of Meharry than to facilitate access to health-care to those that America’s health-care infrastructure has unfortunately marginalized. I would love to say that I chose Meharry. However, that would not be the most accurate statement. Meharry chose me. Meharry Medical College has a vested interest in ensuring the success of not just minority students, but of all their

as I am about advocating for the potential of HBCU’s. My favorite moment of the HBCU All-Star experience was the personal tour of the White House. Seeing the oval office is something I will never forget. Having a dream of becoming a physician as a young black male, led me to my first Historically Black Institution, Xavier University of Louisiana from which I graduated in 2012, with a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology. At Xavier I served as a Clerk of Congress, Resident Assistant, and Peer Dean among other roles. I chose Xavier because of its unmatched record of serving as a consistent producer of graduates who matriculate into STEM graduate programs.

Xavier led me to Meharry. I am currently a second year medical student. I am privileged to serve as a Student Ambassador, on the student interview committee, and social chair of E. Perry Crump Academic Society. However, I am most proud to continue my service as the Director of Quality Assurance at the Salt Wagon Clinic at Meharry. Meharry’s motto is “Worship of God, through service to mankind” which so closely parallels the embodiment of the ideals imprinted on one of Americas most heralded landmarks, the Statue of Liberty. It is my humble opinion that as a medical student, there is no

students as they aim to reach goals and dreams that lay only an opportunity away. I would like to thank the HBCU All-Star Student Program for selecting me to represent Meharry Medical College. The experience to serve and represent your institution on a national level is an honor, and one I do not take lightly. I appreciate all that was afforded to me. Lastly, I would like to thank Meharry for encouraging me and allowing me to represent the institution. Thank you all, Meharrians near and far.

Nicho las A le xander, M3

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What happened to the NFL boycott?Jordan Pierre D2

At the beginning of the 2016-2017 NFL season, former San Francisco 49ers quarterback, Colin Kaepernick began his protest of kneeling during the playing of the National Anthem. Kaepernick started the season as the second string quarterback for the 49ers, however due to the strong message behind his protest he was thrust into the limelight as if he had just won the big game.

His message spread across the NFL like wildfire and many notable players including

Brandon Marshall (LB, Denver Broncos), Kenny Stills (WR, Miami Dolphins, and Martellus Bennet (TE, NFL) at some point joined Kaepernick in his protest. At the conclusion of the 2016-2017 season Kaepernick opted out of his contract with the 49ers, therefore making him a free agent for the 2017-2018 NFL season.

During the offseason as Kaepernick tried out for different teams, ultimately not being offered a contract, a dialogue around him began to formulate.

Some sports commentators said he was not signed simply because his production had declined. Truthfully, Kaepernick did not look like the 2012 sensation that led the 49ers to Superbowl XLVII. However, the real dialogue that brewed around Kaepernick’s situation was him being black-balled by NFL owners because of his National Anthem protest.

This discussion ignited a fire under many non-white NFL spectators. Many who are

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fans of the game of football vowed they would boycott the NFL all season, or until Colin Kaepernick was signed by a team. Many Meharrians even originally planned to boycott the NFL. However, as the NFL season began their love of football outweighed their desire to protest. A survey of 100 male students was performed and 65/100 said they planned on boycotting the NFL for the entire 2017-2018 season or until Kaepernick was signed. Of those 65 boycotters, 30 admitted that they have either watched their home team once or have stayed connected to what’s going on in the NFL via Fantasy Football.

Kenneth Carter, a second year dental student from the University of Wisconsin, shared his view on the NFL boycott. “My initial stance on the boycott was loosely in alignment with Kaepernick’s protest,” he said. “Currently, I don’t have a desire to watch football because I don’t believe league executives nor NFL owners value their African American players, and without them there wouldn’t be any football to watch.” Carter added, “The racial issues transcend the football field. A stance was taken on the field because it’s a space that provides a large enough platform

for the issue to be acknowledged. NFL players are essentially being told that football, America’s beloved sport, is not the place to exercise American rights, as they pertain to American issues.”

Many of the protestors expressed that their desires to protest were recently reaffirmed when Houston Texans owner Robert C. McNair was quoted in an NFL owners meeting as saying, “We can’t have inmates running the prison” when asked his views on the NFL players protest. Isaac Brown, a second-year dental student from Morgan College, said “I haven’t watched football since (Kaeprnick) took a knee. He continued, “The NFL employs a large number of African Americans and some of the NFL owners’ response to peaceful protest and the comments made by Donald Trump about NFL players have not set well with me. I plan to protest until I feel comfortable with race relations in the USA”.

The protest has reached far outside of the NFL. NBA players and coaches have made comments on the protest and racial injustice, MLB players have taken a stance, and the protests have even made their way into politics. Many sports commentators believe

because many NFL owners are Republicans, and endorse President Donald Trump, they do not want to sign Kaepernick because of the perceived message behind his protest.

Throughout the 2017-2018 season many NFL teams and owners have shown solidarity and have moved forward with peaceful protest mainly due to negative comments made by President Trump. Many players chimed in on the situation and agreed that Kaepernick deserves to be a starting or backup quarterback in the NFL. Throughout the season there have been many quarterback injuries, and many have argued that Kaepernick should have been offered a job in the NFL. However, as it stands Colin Kaepernick has yet to receive an offer from an NFL team.

On October 15, Kaepernick announced he was filing a collusion grievance against the NFL. As the 2017-2018 season comes to a close, boycotters hope that racial tension in America dies down, and they are hopeful that eventually Colin Kaepernick will play football again. However, until that day comes they will not feel as connected to the sport they once loved.

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All photographs cortesy ofSlange Johnson

Landfall: Puerto RicoSolange Johnson, D3

All photographs cortesy of Solange Johnson

On Wednesday, September 6, 2017, Puerto Rico awaited the passing of powerful category five storm Hurricane Irma. It had already devastated other Caribbean islands and was a major threat to anything in its path. Fortunately, Hurricane Irma moved north and grazed the island only slightly. Puerto Rico avoided the worst of the storm’s effects only receiving some tropical rain showers and hurricane wind gusts. The majority of the island

lost power for a couple of days, but it was restored very quickly. However, after that, Puerto Rico had to prepare for Hurricane Maria.

On Wednesday September 20, Hurricane Maria pummeled Puerto Rico as a category four storm. The eye of the storm made landfall with maximum sustained winds of 155 miles per hour. It is the strongest storm to make landfall on Puerto Rico in 85

years. Needless to say, most people living on the island had not experienced a storm that dangerous prior to Hurricane Maria. I believe that due to this, many underestimated the storm. I also believe they prepared the best way that they could but no one could have predicted they would need to be prepared for many days of no electricity.

As a native Puerto Rican, with 95 percent of my family

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still living on the island, it has been a devastating time. I went a whole week after Maria before I heard from anyone; 20 days before I heard from my grandmother, and more than 50 days later, I have yet to hear the voices of the rest of my family. The news on the media fueled my fears and for a while was making me sick. All I saw was destruction and devastation. Some headlines surrounding my home town included “Yauco

heartbroken for my country. We were already in a financial crisis with Puerto Rico’s bankruptcy earlier this year, and it seemed like even when help arrived, it was too slow or not distributed efficiently. I was also astonished that during this humanitarian crisis news stations were focused on politics and finger pointing instead of making aid a priority.

Even now, the news outlets

the United States; however we have our own government. Puerto Ricans are American taxpayers and many of them serve in all branches of the United States military. All 3.4 million Puerto Ricans on the island and the rest across the globe are United States citizens. All American citizens can visit Puerto Rico and return from it without a passport. Puerto Ricans on the mainland can even vote for the president of the United States.

declared “Disaster zone” “Approximately 90% of Yauco destroyed.”“Funeral homes allowed to cremate bodies without keeping official death count records,” and many more. I feared for the worst.

All I wanted to hear was “We are alive. We are okay.” I also felt so helpless with no flights coming in or out of Puerto Rico, post offices were closed, and neither cellphones nor land-line phones were working. When I finally did hear from two of my family members, I could not help but still feel

are talking about a $300 million contract with an energy company based out of the United States tied to the Trump administration, and how much it is costing the U.S. to aid its own citizens. Instead, the focus should be on what is happening on the island to prevent the rise of the death toll and to aid the island in establishing communications.

This hurricane has brought to light the fact that many Americans do not know much about Puerto Rico. Puerto Rico is a commonwealth of

It is my sincere hope that all persons of my country receive the help they need. To this day many are still without many basic necessities. I also hope this serves as a lesson to others. It is important to treat others the way in which we would like to be treated. Everyone deserves a helping hand.

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Meet the staffJ. Rechelle Jackson, D4, Editor in Chief

Rechelle is a fourth-year dental student from Monroe, Louisiana. Before attending Meharry she received a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from Tennessee State University. Rechelle received her Master of Health Sciences degree from Meharry. Re-chelle enjoys reading and writing, community service and cooking. She has served on The Pulse since 2015, first as Column Editor. Returning for the second year as Editor in Chief, she is excited to advance the publication. Rechelle’s post graduation plans include attending an Advanced Education in General Dentistry Residency Program.

Bassam Zahid, M4, Section EditorBassam received his BA in Communications and in Faith, Peace, and Justice Studies from Boston College. He was the lead developer of the Meharry Mo-bile app and the founder and former director of 2100 Health and Technology Interest Group and the Meharry Innovation Center. Bassam enjoys reading and writing about a broad range of subjects, but is especially interested in writing that promotes social justice and change. He is currently working on his next project, a podcast called “This Meharrian Life”.

Brianna Arrington, M2, Section EditorBrianna is a second-year medical student from Stafford, Virginia. She obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University in 2015. She is also a recipient of the Master of Health Sciences degree from Meharry Medical College prior to her matriculation into medical school. Upon completion of her medical degree, Brianna hopes to become a world-renowned physician that serves her community and strives to educate the younger black generation. This marks Brianna’s first year on The Pulse and she can not wait to use her skills as Section Editor.

Laura Carrasco, D3, Section EditorLaura is a third-year dental student. She is a native to Cranston, Rhode Island. Prior to attending dental school, Laura completed her Master of Science in oral health sciences at Boston University. Outside of pursuing her passion for dentistry Laura takes every opportunity to travel the world and fully immerse herself in the culture. Her next adventure will be going on her first cruise hopping around the Caribbean islands with her husband to celebrate their one year anniversary.

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behind the PulseOyenmwen Joy Inneh, M3, Layout Editor

Joy Inneh is a third-year medical student from Sacramento, California. She attended the University of California in Merced and graduated with a B.S. in Human Biology and a minor in Creative Writing. She intended to join The Pulse to keep her writing and editing skills sharp but ended up sharpening her creative and design skills instead. In her free time, she enjoys reading, enjoying the music scene in Nashville, and thinking about ideas for future novels.

Amanda Carter, M3Asst . Section Editor

Marleesa Bastian, M4Photographer

J ordan Pierre, D 2 , S e c t i o n E d i t o rJordan is a second year dental student from New Orleans, Louisiana. For his undergraduate studies Jordan attended the illustrious Xavier University of Louisiana, where he received his Bachelor of Biological Sciences degree. This is Jordans first year being a member of The Pulse, and he is ecstatic about this opportunity. While at Xavier University of Louisiana he was a contributor to their award winning newspaper “The Xavier Herald.” He is a proud member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Incorporated. In his spare time Jordan enjoys attending local music & art gatherings. When he is not at an art show or working hard in the dental school Jordan enjoys community service, or just hanging out with his friends. As for now Jordan is not sure if he wants to specialize, attend a residency, or go straight to work after graduation. However, he is sure that he wants to return to New Orleans and serve his community.

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ThePu l s eThe Pulse is a student driven newsletter committed to educating the student body, highlighting its achievements and broadening its horizons.

Mission Statement

The mission of Meharry Medical College’s student-driven newsletter, The Pulse, is to provide the Meharry community and the health care community at large with powerful stories on the current development of the health care system from the perspective of Meharry health professional students.

Our voice is our strongest character; with it we hope to speak about our experiences of medicine inside and outside the clinic, honor the stories of patients, generate provoking dialogue about health care issues and ultimately capture the truth of medicine today with the vision of improving medicine tomorrow.

Your Voice. Our Beat. One Pulse.

Submissions, questions, and requests may be sent to The Pulse at pulse@email.mmc.edu.

By print or online, we are health professional storytellers.