In the midst of intricate surgeries, surgeons rely on a wand equipped with radio frequency identification technology to scan the body and detect any retained surgical sponges during or after the procedure. This innovation serves as a crucial final check to prevent complications from sponges accidentally left inside the body.��

But what if this process fails? Scott Giberson, an MD/MBA student in the class of 2026, was part of a research team with Dr. Alexander Doyal that investigated this scenario with cadaver models.��

“The first time we passed the wand over the sponge and didn’t get the alarm whenever it was placed next to an LVAD, that was a big moment,” Giberson said. “We were all kind of shocked by it. We repeated it over and over and over and got the same result.”��

Through repeated trials, the team discovered that when a metallic object, like a scalpel or forceps, is next to that sponge, it cancels out the detection process. The scanner no longer works.��

This groundbreaking research unveiled something previously unknown. Giberson and the team presented their findings at a national anesthesiology conference and are now seeking a place to publish the research.��

“The takeaway we want people to have from this is to understand that this method isn’t foolproof, which is not common knowledge,” Giberson said. “From a patient safety perspective, we want people to understand that the wand is useful, but it’s not the end-all, be-all, and we shouldn’t treat it as such, which is what people currently do.”��

Culture of Collaboration��

A native of Austin, Texas, Giberson first engaged in research during his undergraduate years at Texas Christian University. For him, research has always been a way to explore his interests.��

When Giberson arrived as a medical student at the ����ý, he got involved right away. He was named a Castillo Scholar and received funding after his first year for a research project examining complication rates between two different surgical approaches for a common pediatric elbow fracture.��

“That was really instrumental for me,” Giberson said. “It opened up the world of research at the School of Medicine.”��

Giberson’s main research interests center around medical education and pediatrics. He has been involved in numerous projects.����

Giberson worked with a national organization named Choosing Wisely, which focuses on value-based care across the country. He led the effort at ����ý for a 16-site study looking at the ways value-based care behaviors are modeled to third-year medical students during clinical rotations. The team presented a poster at a national conference and published their results earlier this year.��

Most recently, Giberson studied environmental exposures in pediatric patients and examined how residents in the clinical setting discuss these exposures with their patients and families.��

Dr. Alexander Doyal and Scott Giberson presenting their poster on “Surgical Sponge Vanishing Act.”

He has been able to explore all these research areas because of the collaborative culture at the ����ý.��

“The culture in the School of Medicine is such that faculty are really eager to work with students,” Giberson said. “They’re willing to bring me into something that they’re working on or give me those opportunities.”��

Giberson first met Doyal when the Professor of Anesthesiology was looking for a medical student to help him study resident wellness. That introduction led to Giberson’s involvement in the surgical sponge study, and Doyal has been a great mentor to him ever since.��

“Scott’s one of those students you don’t forget — sharp, thoughtful, and genuinely curious,” Doyal said. “He jumps into projects with real enthusiasm and follow-through, and it’s been a lot of fun working with him.”

Bringing innovation to pediatrics��

These experiences have shown Giberson the behaviors he wants to model when he becomes an attending physician, always being willing to bring people on and teach them along the way.��

He’s in his MBA year now and will begin applying to residency in the fall, hoping to match into pediatrics. With his dual degree, Giberson wants to bring the business side of medicine and the research side of medicine to the field of pediatrics. Wherever he ends up, he’s well-positioned to make it happen.��

“I’d love to take what I’ve learned and apply it into these two passions I have and see how we can improve pediatric care through some innovative ideas,” Giberson said.��

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Austin Coale and Joanmarie Lewandowski will speak at the 2025 Hooding Ceremony for the School of Medicine.

On Friday, May 9, the class of 2025 medical students officially earn their medical doctorate at the ����ý Hooding Ceremony. Among those slated to speak at the event are the class of 2025 co-presidents, Austin Coale and Joanmarie Lewandowski.��

Coale (University of Florida) and Lewandowski (Memorial Health University) found out where they will complete their residency training at Match Day in March.��

Now, ahead of the hooding ceremony, they share some experiences as their medical school journey comes to a close.��

What specialty did you come into medical school wanting to do, and what did you actually match into?����

Lewandowski: Coming into medical school, I really didn’t know what I wanted to go into. I thought it was going to be something pediatrics related. I learned that I liked caring for women’s health, too, so I found my way into family medicine. That’s what I matched into. It really does feel like a good fit.��

Coale: I came in thinking I wanted to do dermatology. My mom’s a dermatologist, so that was most of my medical experience before medical school. My first rotation as a third year was general surgery, and I loved it. I loved being in the operating room, taking people through pre-op for surgery, through their recovery, and getting them out of the hospital. I knew I wanted to work in the hospital and be in the operating room more.��

What is your favorite memory from medical school?��

Coale: For how much we were in the classroom, it was really cool to see how much of our class did things outside. We had a lot of intramural teams, played a lot of soccer, and a lot of beach volleyball. Those are some of my favorite moments were just going out and playing a sport. It was cool to hang out with people outside of the classroom and get to know them more.��

Lewandowski: My favorite memory is probably a trip I took with a few of my School of Medicine classmates. We went to L.A. on a whim during our first year and made a lot of good memories. We did everything from strolling the beach, to catching a comedy show, to eating one of the most expensive meals I have ever had. I didn’t know it, but I was building the basis for some lifelong friendships.��

If you could give one piece of advice to incoming medical students, what would it be?��

Coale: I feel like my advice would be to make sure you’re taking time to enjoy it. Make sure you take time for yourself. Enjoy the four years that you have with classmates and peers and friends. They’re some of the closest friends that I have and will continue to have. Take the time when you’re not studying to meet new people and do cool new things and still live your life. Even though you’re in a rigorous graduate program, it is really important. It keeps you sane, but it also makes you a better physician because you’re a human outside of just being a medical student.��

Lewandowski: Expect that you’re going to fall and you’re going to trip, but the most important part is you have to get back up. You are going to make mistakes, and you are going to fail a few times, but that doesn’t matter as much as you just getting back up and getting back on the horse.��

Who has been your biggest mentor throughout your medical journey?��

Lewandowski: Dr. Catherine Sotir was my mentor at the Wilmington campus. She’s a great family medicine physician. Even when I wasn’t going into family medicine, she was right there holding my hand, giving me all the advice I could ever want. I really admired how she both practiced in medicine and had a great life outside medicine. I don’t know if I would be here today without her help.��

Coale: I’ve got two. They’re both residents in Wilmington. Adam Wegener, who actually graduated from ����ý a couple of years ago, and then Alyssa Piscitello were two residents who really inspired me and gave me the confidence that I could be a general surgeon. They’ve really involved me a lot in research and also pushed me to be better and do more in clinical rotations. They were two of my mentors��

How do you unwind after a long day at the hospital or clinic?��

Lewandowski: Moving my body makes me feel great and relieves stress. I played beach volleyball in college, and I still play to this day. I’m also in the gym almost every day because that’s what works for me. I also like listening to music, reading a book and connecting with my family. Nothing too crazy or special, but just things to do consistently.��

Coale: I like to run. If I’m not running, I’m doing something in the gym. I like to hang out with my roommates. They’re a big part of my support system, so hanging out with them, not doing anything other than sitting on the couch and talking or watching a silly show.��

What’s your final message for the Class of 2025?��

Lewandowski: I would say congratulations, of course. I’m so excited to see all my peers care for people around the world. We have a really stellar class, and they’re going to do great things. I’m just excited for everyone. I think we’re really going to make a good impact.��

Coale: I would definitely say congratulations. I’ve been honored to be a part of the class and get to know everyone. I’m excited to see where everyone ends up and all the good things that they’ll do down the road. It’ll be cool to look back and say that I went to medical school with that person.��

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Lisa Long (second from left) was tapped to be part of the Order of the Golden Fleece.

On Friday, March 21, the Order of the Golden Fleece, ����ý’s oldest and most prestigious honor society, inducted its newest members. Among the 25 new inductees, six came from the School of Medicine: James F. Howard Jr., MD; Lisa Long; Stephen Lostetter III; Cristy Page, MD, MPH; Angela Smith, MD, MS; and Jonathan Smith.

Dr. Howard has been a faculty member at ����ý Neurology since 1979. He is a former James F. Howard Distinguished Professor of Neuromuscular Disease and former Chief of the Neuromuscular Disorders division in ����ý Neurology.

Long is director of Curricular Pathways within the Offices of Medical Student Education. Curricular Pathways’ innovative portfolio of programs and initiatives advances the mission of the School of Medicine by including programs to enrich students and their academic development.

Lostetter III and Jonathan Smith are both MD candidates in the class of 2026 and 2025, respectively. Smith recently matched into internal medicine at ����ý Hospitals for residency.

Dr. Page is chief academic officer for ����ý Health and ����ý and president of ����ý Health Enterprises. She’s also a family physician and a national leader in rural healthcare delivery and workforce development.

Dr. Angela Smith is the Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs and Leadership Development, and the Department of Urology’s vice chair of academic affairs and a professor of Urology. She is also a member of the Urologic Oncology team at the ����ý Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center where she treats GU malignancies, including bladder, prostate and kidney cancer.

The Order of the Golden Fleece was founded in 1904. The Order selects members based upon service to the university as reflected in scholarship, motivation, creativity, loyalty, and leadership in academic and extracurricular pursuits. Seniors comprise the majority of the inductees, but juniors, graduate students, faculty, and alumni are also eligible for membership. Congratulations to these six members of the School of Medicine!

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Joshua Walker at the White Coat Ceremony.

Math and science always came naturally to Joshua Walker. Growing up, he dreamed of becoming a��chemist and creating the next super serum to make a superhero. ��

A high school anatomy and physiology teacher suggested he consider a medical profession instead. After majoring in chemistry at ����ý, Walker remembered that conversation and decided to pursue a career in medicine.��

He spent the next two and a half years working as a nursing assistant. Still, he knew the next step was medical school.��

“I wanted to understand what medicine was all about,” Walker said. “I saw doctors and what they did in terms of the responsibility, leadership, respect and the connection with their patients. I really wanted to do that.”��

Walker returned to Chapel Hill to attend the ����ý, where he’s spent the last four years preparing to become a��doctor. During a hospital shift at ����ý, he was invited to watch his first surgery, expecting a heart valve replacement. ��

Instead, it was a heart transplant, and Walker was hooked. ��

“I want to have that impactful, dopamine-rushing job where I can do definitive procedures with patients and then help them back to their new normal,” Walker said. “I’m taking this invisible adversary out of their body that they cannot fix themselves. That’s why I want to be a surgeon.”��

For Match Day on March 21, Walker applied to��general surgery residency programs. In his eyes, surgery is the perfect fit for him to connect with patients during the pre-operative phase, work with a team during the operation, and achieve results in the post-operative period so patients leave his care with their health restored, never needing to return.��

“Joshua is a highly intelligent, hard-working, driven and caring person, and these qualities have defined his great accomplishments,” said Dr. John Ikonomidis, a cardiothoracic surgeon who worked with Walker both as a nursing assistant and during his last surgical block as a fourth-year medical student.��“When I first met him, I knew he had what it took to succeed in his dream of becoming a physician.��It has been an honor and a pleasure to work with him.”��

Advancing community and care��

Walker (far right) participating in the Shop Docs.

When Walker was an undergraduate, he was introduced to Minority Men in Medicine, a program at ����ý designed to connect undergrad students, medical students and residents from minority backgrounds. It was the first time Walker found himself in a space with other like-minded individuals from similar backgrounds.��

However, the group became disjointed once��COVID occurred. When Walker returned to campus as a medical student, he worked with a few others to jumpstart��Minority Men in Medicine at ����ý.��

“We gathered all the minority medical students, went to campus and showed ourselves to the undergrad students,” Walker said. “We ended up not only being able to revitalize Minority Men in Medicine’s undergrad connection, but we were also able to help the Minority Women in Medicine get its program running as well.”��

Walker also helped restart the Shop Docs, an initiative to address health disparities in minority communities. Members from Minority Men in Medicine went to barbershops in Chapel Hill, performing blood pressure readings and providing information about healthy habits for cardiovascular disease prevention.��

His involvement in Shop Docs models the same care Walker provides to his patients.��

“I love connecting with people,” Walker said. “I love taking care of people and hearing their stories.”��

Walker reflects on a patient interaction during a rotation where a man received a lung transplant. As a former athlete, his recovery was taking longer than he expected. Walker noted this background and spoke to him like a coach, showing the patient that he still had it in him to persevere.��

“It’s our job to speak to the patients, engage with them and empower them to take hold of their health,” Walker said. “If we just tell them, ‘Here’s a pamphlet, this is what you need to do,’ and don’t have that personal conversation with them, they won’t make the change.”

Building a village of support

Walker boarding a private jet to procure a liver and two kidneys from an organ donor during his transplant surgery rotation.

When Walker joined Smithies, his assigned advisory college, he didn’t know it would introduce him to one of his biggest mentors. Over the past four years, Dr. Raj Telhan has served as Walker’s advisor.��

“I had a true advocate and a true leader in Dr. Telhan,” Walker said. “Every word of advice he gave supported me and��really empowered me.”��

The support doesn’t end there for Walker. He met his fiancée, Stephanie Hargrove, right before the dedicated Step 1 study period. Walker called her his “greatest cheerleader” for her guidance and prayers during one of the most stressful points of medical school. The couple is getting married in May, excited to start their lives together wherever Walker matches.��

“Any school that’s on my list, I’ll be happy to go to because it gives me the opportunity to impact lives in spaces that both my fiancée and I want to live,” Walker said.��

Walker’s mother, father and sister have also offered the encouragement he needed along the way. With the four years of medical school ending and residency on the horizon, Walker sits with the accomplishment knowing he couldn’t have done it alone.��

“I think to even be at the point where I am, it took a lot of people — a huge village — and a lot of dedication to be here,” Walker said. “I’m glad I made it to the end.”��

Editor’s Note: Joshua Walker matched into General Surgery at George Washington University in Washington, D.C. during Match Day.

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Alisa Suen-Wallach with her husband, Matt Wallach, at White Coat Ceremony.

If there’s one word to describe Alisa Suen-Wallach, it’s curious.��Since undergrad, she has been interested in how our genes, environmental exposures and lived experiences shape our health.��

“My father taught me to be curious about the world around me and how things might be affecting my life,” Suen-Wallach said. “I’ve always been a curious, creative and driven person, and I love problem-solving. I think that’s what naturally drew me to science.”��

Now, after years of research, clinical work and fascinating discoveries, Suen-Wallach is ready to participate in the 2025 ����ý Match Day on March 21 — a milestone on her path to becoming the first in her family to earn a doctorate, not to mention a combined degree.��

Becoming an MD-PhD��

Suen-Wallach’s path to her medical doctorate was anything but traditional. In 2012, she began her PhD in toxicology at ����ý. Her dissertation focused on using animal models to understand how exposures to endocrine-disrupting chemicals early in life lead to diseases like infertility and uterine cancer later in life.��

Following postdoctoral years with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH), she felt drawn to work that directly impacts human health and involves personalizing care for individual patients. ��

The California native applied to ����ý and retroactively joined the MD-PhD program, officially starting in July 2020. ��

“I love the idea that I can help one individual person and then say, ‘What research can I do to make this better for everyone?’” Suen-Wallach said. “Being a scientist and a physician go together so well. That was the main reason I wanted to go to medical school.”��

Her background as a scientist even allowed her to share her expertise with other medical students. Professor of Cell Biology and Physiology Kurt��Gilliland played a key role in Suen-Wallach becoming a histology��teaching assistant as a third-year student. She worked with first- and second-year medical students on an individual basis and co-led lectures.��

��“Alisa already had a PhD as well as experience in microscopy before coming to medical school,” Gilliland said. “We treated her as one of the faculty in the department. Both students and faculty appreciated her expertise, collegiality and enthusiasm as she taught.”��

Life from a patient’s perspective��

For most medical students, extended experiences in hospitals and clinics come only as providers. Suen-Wallach saw the other side as a patient.��

Toward the end of her second year as a medical student, she went into labor at 29 weeks. Suen-Wallach ended up hospitalized for nearly a month before her daughter Magnolia was born. After another month in the NICU, Suen-Wallach, her husband and daughter were finally able to head home as a family.��

Suen-Wallach is adamant the ordeal made her a better medical student and will make her a better physician.��

“Being hospitalized gave me a unique perspective, especially right before going into clinical rotations,” Suen-Wallach said. “It’s hard to be a patient, to be vulnerable, to call the hospital your temporary home — I tried to find a silver lining in that experience and turn it into a strength that shaped my approach to patients during my third year.”��

Suen-Wallach’s poster presentation on “Assessing dermatology resident competency and confidence following an online educational module on evaluation and interpretation of direct immunofluorescence (DIF): Pre/posttest study.”

Suen-Wallach’s daughter, Magnolia, repping her ����ý attire.

Suen-Wallach (left) and classmate Liz Nazzal (right) at the White Coat Ceremony.

What’s next?��

Having a baby in medical school shifted Suen-Wallach’s timeline. With the support of her advisor, Dr. Pali Shah, she balanced parenthood and medical training while preparing to pursue a competitive specialty.��

During her maternity leave, she met Dr. Donna Culton, professor of dermatology, who ultimately served as a pivotal mentor. The duo eventually did dermatology research together during Suen-Wallach’s fourth year.��

“Alisa brings maturity, curiosity and commitment not only to learning our amazing field, but to advancing it by asking critical questions and applying herself whole-heartedly to finding answers,” Culton said. “As her preceptors, teachers, mentors and colleagues, we have all been honored to play a small role in her journey, and I can’t wait to see what she will do in her career.”��

Suen-Wallach plans to become an academic dermatologist specializing in vulvar dermatology and hopes to establish a subspecialty clinic at one of the many academic institutions that currently lack one.����

“Vulvar dermatology is an interesting intersection of gynecology and dermatology,” Suen-Wallach said. “I hope to improve patient access to this specialized care and expand research.” ��

As she charts her course ahead, Suen-Wallach notes it’s only possible because of the support of her husband, Matt Wallach.��

“I wouldn’t be where I am today without a very supportive partner,” Suen-Wallach said. “He has always encouraged me to follow my dreams and pursue the things I am most passionate about.”��

Suen-Wallach reflects on the impact ����ý has had on her life with gratitude. After many long years in school, she’s ready to leave her Heelprint wherever she matches.��

“I want to bring everything that ����ý has taught me into my career — from compassionate care to servant leadership to bridging bench-to-bedside research,” Suen-Wallach said. “I’m ready to become a doctor and make a difference in patients’ lives.”��

Editor’s Note: Alisa Suen-Wallach matched into an Internal Medicine preliminary year at ����ý Hospitals and Dermatology at University of Chicago Medical Center during Match Day.

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Ricardo Crespo Regalado (far left) and his family during White Coat Ceremony.

Many children grow up playing with pretend doctor kits, checking their parents with plastic stethoscopes and band-aids. Ricardo Crespo Regalado was no different.��

Living in Pink Hill, North Carolina, Crespo Regalado experienced life in a rural, underserved area. His parents worked in agricultural fields and often had limited access to medical care.��

In middle school, Crespo Regalado took a keen interest in his parents’ health, acting as their interpreter during medical and dental visits.��

“In the back of my head, I wanted to know more about what was happening,” Crespo Regalado said. “I was there trying my best to interpret, but I wanted to learn more.”��

These life experiences motivated Crespo Regalado to dive into the sciences. He attended ����ý-Chapel Hill as an undergraduate and started volunteering at the Student Health Action Coalition (SHAC), a free health clinic reaching underserved populations.��

“Being on the other end of the spectrum, providing care, really gave me a purpose,” Crespo Regalado said.��“My goal in medicine has always been to make sure others have access to what my parents didn’t have.”��

Now nearing the end of his fourth year of medical school at ����ý, Crespo Regalado has been involved with the Student Health Action Coalition for seven years, recently finishing his tenure as Co-CEO in December.����

“SHAC has made me a lot of who I am today,” Crespo Regalado said. “It’s given me many of the skills, especially leadership, that I have right now.”��

What’s going to work? Teamwork!��

When Crespo Regalado wasn’t fully immersed in the sciences, he could be found participating in his favorite combat sports. He was always drawn to the teamwork required in competitive sports and continues to live it out as the head coach of the ����ý Boxing Club.��

That aspect of teamwork isn’t exclusive to sports. Crespo Regalado sees teamwork in his surgical career, too. It’s why he intends to match into general surgery at ����ý’s 2025 Match Day on March 21.��

“It all comes down to what specialty is going to allow me to give the most back to the people who need it the most,” Crespo Regalado said. “Teamwork is literally built into surgery. You’re the leader in the room, but you’re working with this big team who you wouldn’t be able to accomplish anything without.”

Crespo Regalado (third from left) with a group of SHAC volunteers.

Crespo Regalado boxing for ����ý Boxing Club.

Crespo Regalado’s poster presentation on “Providing Diabetes Nutrition Education to Patients at a Rural Family Medicine Practice.”

Crespo Regalado credits a conversation with Dr. Paul Ossman, his Patient Centered Care course instructor, for setting him on the path toward surgery. Ossman connected him with several surgeons at ����ý, including Dr. Lauren Raff, a trauma surgeon at ����ý Hospitals.��

“Ricardo’s exceptional work ethic and unwavering follow-through set him apart,” Raff said. “He is one of the hardest-working individuals I know—responsible, accountable, and remarkably efficient in achieving his goals. His mental toughness, ability to multitask, and relentless drive for results will make him an outstanding surgery resident.”��

Humanism in medicine��

There are numerous obstacles that typically present themselves to first-generation students. However, Crespo Regalado sees those challenges as strengths, knowing he’s a better person and future physician because of the sacrifices his parents made.����

As such, he’s continually been recognized for his human connection in healthcare over the last four years.��

“Ricardo’s work ethic, love of learning, and natural curiosity is contagious to all those around him,” Ossman said. “Beyond these traits, Ricardo brings a remarkable humanism to his practice of medicine. He continually exceeds expectations in his own work and his brightness naturally inspires his classmates, mentors, and patients to be better human beings.”

With Match Day approaching, Crespo Regalado thanks his older brother, David, and parents for always being by his side and taking care of him. He adds that he would be remiss not to mention the direct support of his girlfriend over the last four years, Emily Bulik-Sullivan, an MD-PhD student. His family, friends and faculty have all made the last eight years in Chapel Hill possible.��

“It’s truly a blessing and a dream that I’m about to be a graduate with an MD,” Crespo Regalado said. “I owe this institution so much. ����ý has made me into the type of surgeon that I hope to be one day.”��

Crespo Regalado aims to be a leader not just in the hospital, but in his community. Armed with his personal background and the experiences and knowledge he gained at ����ý, he’s positioned to continue giving back as much as he can.��

Editor’s Note: Ricardo Crespo Regalado matched into General Surgery at ����ý Hospitals during Match Day.

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Yasine Mirmozaffari and Charlie Roethling started Health Professional Athletics at Carolina.

During the long, demanding hours of medical school, finding an escape is crucial. For Charlie Roethling, that sanctuary was the soccer field to play pickup games with friends and momentarily remove the stress of school. It was cathartic.��

“People kept being excited about playing soccer, and we thought, ‘If there’s all this enthusiasm, we can do something good with it,’” Roethling said.����

That “something good” became Health Professional Athletics at Carolina, a nonprofit started by Roethling and three of his close friends, Yasine Mirmozaffari, Samuel Tate and Jared Martin, all fourth-year medical students at ����ý.��

What began as a student club evolved into an official 501(c)(3) organization in July 2023. Using athletics as a gateway to health, wellness and community, Health Professional Athletics at Carolina hosts soccer tournaments, volleyball tournaments and social mixers with Duke School of Medicine and ����ý School of Dentistry, to raise money for the ����ý Children’s Hospital.��

Over the last two years, they’ve raised an estimated $5,000 for the Farm Fund for Patient and Family Assistance.��

“Medical treatments are so expensive, and if we were able to raise a few thousand dollars, it might only go to one dose of something,” Roethling said. “But if the funds are going to transportation, food and places for families to stay, that money could reach more people. That’s something we decided when we started setting up support.”��

How did the group manage a nonprofit amid medical school? It was a no-brainer for them to carve out time and prioritize it due to the community’s response.����

“The most impactful thing to me is seeing how many people want to be involved now that we’re transitioning,” Roethling said. “We can certainly pat ourselves on the back and feel proud of what we did, but seeing that other people resonated with it and want to be involved has been fulfilling.”��

Providing service to others��

Roethling’s father — an OBGYN doctor in their hometown of Goldsboro growing up — was another inspiration for him to go into medicine.

The summer before his senior year of high school, an unspeakable tragedy took place at a summer camp where he’d long been a counselor. A camper passed away from a ziplining accident. The community was reeling. Roethling packed his bags and headed there for the rest of the summer, noticing the impact of the leaders who stepped up in the face of dire circumstances.

“It made me realize I want to be in a field where I can provide service to others and be in a place where I’m able to lift them up when they’re at their lowest,” Roethling said.��

Over the last four years, the Goldsboro native’s journey in medical school has been defined by his ability to provide service to others. As he learned from mentors, teachers and attending doctors, Roethling knows his care will lean on listening to patients and connecting with them at their level.��

One of those mentors is , a family medicine physician in Durham with whom Roethling spent his 16-week family medicine rotation. He’s also the doctor Roethling said he could point to and say, “I want to be like him.”��

“Charlie is a generous spirit,” Moore said. “He readily connects with patients and staff. His broad understanding of health and its impact on patient lives, his intuitive nature, his openness, and his clear sense of duty towards others are all aspects of his approach that will continue to guide him moving forward.”��

Commitment to ����ý����

Roethling, Susan Zhao and Rebecca Schopfer presenting research at the Carolinas and Tennessee 2024 Anesthesia Conference in Wilmington.

Roethling’s commitment extends not only to patients but also to the ����ý as a whole. He’s distinguished himself for his willingness to give back for the good of the school according to Dr. Kenan Penaskovic, assistant dean for student affairs.����

“Whether it was mentoring junior students, serving on a speakers’ panel, or including others in his passion for soccer, Charlie was happy to step up and volunteer,” Penaskovic said. “I can’t wait to see him match and look forward to hearing how many lives he impacts in the future.”��

With Penaskovic’s guidance, Roethling is aiming to match into internal medicine because of the way it will allow him to interact with people in the workplace.

“There’s so many opportunities to be a role model for people in internal medicine,” Roethling said. “The job can look different depending on if I subspecialize or stay a hospitalist, but I know if I have a component of teaching and mentoring, then I’m going to be very happy.”

From the soccer field to the hospital halls, Roethling has left his mark on Carolina. All that’s left is the wait until Match Day on March 21.����

“Of course there’s a little bit of anxiety, but I’m definitely excited,” Roethling said. “I’m in a situation where, regardless of the outcome, I’m going to be happy with the options I have in front of me.”��

Editor’s Note: Charlie Roethling matched into Internal Medicine at McGaw Medical Center of Northwestern University during Match Day.

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Ray Cheever and students from Nagoya University.

Medical students at the ����ý have the opportunity to travel abroad and gain global medical experience through the Office of Global Health Education. This past summer, two students traveled to Nagoya, Japan, to participate in Nagoya University School of Medicine’s “Bridging Community Medicine and Innovations in Japan” program.��

Ray Cheever, an MD/PhD student currently in the second year of his PhD, is researching nutrition protocols for older adults with chronic non-healing wounds. As an undergraduate student at ����ý, he studied Japanese, and this program provided an ideal opportunity to integrate his research interests in aging populations with his personal passion for Japanese language and culture.��

“This experience was incredibly meaningful, as I had never been to Japan despite studying the language in college,” Cheever said. “It was a long-awaited opportunity to immerse myself in Japanese culture while gaining valuable insights into Japan’s healthcare system and its innovative strategies for addressing a rapidly aging population.”��

Grace Lian, a second-year medical student, co-led the Geriatrics Interest Group and is part of the Care of the Older Patient scholarly concentration program. She was drawn to the trip because of Japan’s approaches to caring for its aging population.��

“I have a personal interest in geriatrics and hospice and palliative care,” Lian said. “I thought going to Japan and learning from Japanese physicians and scientists would give me a good look into providing the best care for our older patients.”

Cheever and Lian traveled to Nagoya University along with two students from Duke University, two students from UC Davis, and six students from China. The diverse group connected, sharing insights and highlighting similarities and differences in their respective countries.

“One of the most meaningful aspects of the program was the opportunity for intercultural exchange among medical students from three countries that, while different in many ways, also share important similarities,” Cheever said. “We had countless conversations about the differences in medical education and healthcare systems across China, the U.S., and Japan, learning from one another’s experiences as medical students in our three distinct countries.”��

At the beginning of the trip, the students attended lectures at the university hospital on topics such as healthcare technology, healthcare challenges Japan, and the structure of Japan’s healthcare system. Dr. Claire Larson, assistant professor of medicine in the ����ý Division of Geriatrics, also joined Cheever and Lian on the trip.��

“I loved the informative and engaging week I spent in Nagoya exploring the challenges and innovations of healthcare in Japan and our respective countries,” Larson said. “As a geriatrician, I was particularly interested in learning about the Japanese care system for older adults. I was honored to be able to engage and collaborate with such dynamic, thoughtful, and innovative colleagues and students.”��

Later in the week, the students worked with home health physicians and visited patient homes. Japan’s emphasis on home medical care highlighted a stark contrast with the care typically provided to the aging population in the United States.����

Lian was deeply impressed by the way Japanese home physicians treat their patients with dignity and respect. The physicians and the nurse would arrive at homes with a formal knock at the door. Once inside, they would take off their shoes and change into slippers provided by the household.��

“The first contact you have with the patient and family members, everyone bows as a form of respect,” Lian said. “There’s something so beautiful about having physicians and nurses bowing to their patients and family members.”��

The display of compassionate care is sometimes overlooked by physicians. Lian hopes to model the same humanity that the Japanese home health physicians demonstrated.��

“Seeing that play out and this physical representation of bowing to each other and showing each other respect is something I also want to adopt into my practice in the future,” Lian said. “The people I encounter are people worth equal respect, and it is a privilege to be welcomed into their homes and into some of the most intimate moments of their lives.”��

Grace Lian (third from right) with other students on the trip.

The group toured Japanese boats.

The students visited some historic cities in Japan.

Both Cheever and Lian praised the Japanese medical students’ willingness to help them feel immersed in Japanese society and culture. They provided tours of historic landmarks, offered translations when needed, and formed lasting friendships.��

“The Japanese medical students and staff went above and beyond to make our experience unforgettable,” Cheever said. “They not only welcomed us with warmth and enthusiasm but also facilitated a wide range of incredible opportunities. We toured Japanese fishing boats, experienced the storied history and beauty of the region, and savored a variety of delicious, traditional Japanese cuisine. Their dedication and generosity truly made us feel welcomed and made our time in Japan a deeply enriching experience.”��

����ý is partnering with Nagoya University School of Medicine to return to Japan for the 2025 program. Two students will be selected from interested applicants to participate. To apply, submit a CV, statement of purpose/interest, and a letter of recommendation to oghe@med.unc.edu. Applications will be accepted until February 28 and selections announced on March 18. For questions, contact oghe@med.unc.edu.

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Michael Keeley, MD

Preceptors play a pivotal role in the journey of medical students. As students transition from the classroom to clinics, preceptors become mentors, guiding the students through real patient interactions and instilling the confidence needed to become future physicians.��

For over 30 years, Dr. Michael Keeley has been a dedicated preceptor for the ����ý.����

“I’ve done it for as long as I’ve been in practice, and it’s always been super fun,” Keeley said. “It’s good for the students to see what the practice of medicine is really like. When you’re studying so much, it’s good to see what it’s going to be like when you’re finished.”��

A 1989 graduate of the School of Medicine, Keeley practices at Atrium Health Women’s Care Shelby OB/GYN. He welcomes ����ý students into his practice in Shelby, North Carolina, offering them a firsthand look at the medical field.��

Keeley is continually impressed by the fresh perspectives and knowledge that medical students bring. Often, they’ll pose questions he doesn’t immediately know the answer to. A few hours later, they return with well-researched answers, enhancing his own understanding.��

“I share my love of medicine with them and the joy I find in taking care of patients. Then, they share their new knowledge with me,” Keeley said. “It’s so cool. It’s a give and take. I teach them, but they also teach me.”��

An unmatched commitment

Being a preceptor has allowed Keeley to connect with countless individuals over the years. For instance, Dr. Katie Borders was once one of Keeley’s students.��

“Dr. Keeley’s commitment to medical education is really unmatched,” Borders ‘09 (MD) said. “He was my Community Week preceptor from my first semester of medical school. He immediately had me talking to and examining patients, and I even delivered a baby during my first week!”��

Keeley encouraged Borders to pursue obstetrics and gynecology and to return to Shelby to practice. Today, Borders is one of Keeley’s partners at Atrium Health Women’s Care Shelby OB/GYN.��

“His mentorship continued when I was a new attending physician and developed into a true friendship over my time here,” Borders said. “I’m so grateful to have had such a dedicated, supportive teacher who is now a partner and friend.”��

Keeley and colleagues, who are all ����ý alumni. From left: Chuck Lampley ’89 (MD), Katie Borders ’09 (MD), Keeley ’89 (MD), and Mimi Konitzer ’14 (MD).

Keeley cherishes the lasting friendships he has formed with his students, keeping in touch throughout their training and careers. Beyond being their preceptor, he enjoys getting to know them personally. He’s attended weddings, exchanged Christmas cards, and reconnected with many in the field.��

Recently, he attended the 53rd Annual OB/GYN Spring Symposium chaired by his former student, Dr. Rachael Cowherd. During her first two years of medical school, Cowherd ‘15 (MD) worked with Keeley as her preceptor for four different one-week rural medicine experiences in primary care.��

“Dr. Keeley allowed me to first assist in cesarean sections and vaginal hysterectomies, independently obtain complex social and medical histories, practice ultrasound skills, and build rapport with his lifelong patients,” Cowherd said. “These experiences fostered my love for obstetrics and gynecology – the field in which I chose to train and now practice and teach.”��

Cowherd and Keeley stay in touch, visiting each other about once a year to share stories of medicine, life, and family.��

“I remain grateful for not just the lessons he shared about medicine but also the invaluable example he set in developing patient trust, balancing work and family, and much more,” Cowherd said.

Rekindling the excitement

��Keeley remains excited about the future of medicine, energized by the aspiring physicians around him. They remind him of the privilege it is to be a doctor.

“When new students come to your practice, they have so many good questions,” Keeley said. “They say ‘Wow, you do this every day?’ It rekindles that excitement to say, ‘Wow, how lucky I am to be able to help these people.’ They’re excited to be learning and excited to be beginning their careers in medicine. It helps me realize how blessed I am to do what I do every day.”��

Over the years, Keeley has been an incredible advocate for women’s care. Borders, Cowherd, and others are evidence of the number of OBGYN doctors coming out of ����ý because of Keeley’s work.��

His dedication and passion have not only shaped careers but also inspired a new generation of compassionate healthcare providers.��

“I have a lot of joy in practicing medicine,” Keeley said. “I hope that is evident, and I get to pass that on.”

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Message from the Senior Associate Dean Dear valued members of our medical student education community,   The Offices of Medical Student Education (OMSE) cannot be more excited to welcome you to the very first edition of The OMSE Observer! We look forward to this new outlet, designed to share important information and updates with you about what is happening in our M.D. program and to communicate more effectively with you. We aim for this vehicle to serve as a means for all of us to stay connected as a medical student education community.   In this inaugural issue, we feature the accomplishments of the students, staff, faculty, and alumni of the medical degree granting program. We also showcase memorable moments from OMSE in recent months and shine a spotlight on our star educators and team members.�� �� We hope you enjoy this edition. Thank you so much for being partners on this journey, for being integral team members, and for your continued commitment to students, medical student education, and to the patients of North Carolina.   Warmly, Kim Nichols, MD, MBA, FASA Senior Associate Dean, Medical Student Education Professor, ����ý Dept. of Anesthesiology White Coat Ceremony Congratulations to the Class of 2027! They donned their white coats for the first time inside Memorial Hall. a behind-the-scenes video ��of the White Coat ceremony. The Class of 2027 Donning their new white coats

Zollicoffer Lecture and Banquet The Zollicoffer Lectureship was established in 1981 to honor Dr. Lawrence Zollicoffer (1930-1976), the fourth African-American graduate of the ����ý. It was an honor to have his son, Dr. Michael L. Zollicoffer, join us as this year’s speaker. Michael L. Zollicoffer, MD is a 1985 alumnus, a benefactor, and a mentor to students, staff, and faculty at the ����ý. Four of our OMSE staff members, Sheila Graham, Bernice Mayo, Randee Reid, and Debbie Williams were honored as recipients of the 2024 Zollicoffer Living Legends Award. Dr. Michael Zollicoffer with our students.

Top Articles CAMPOS Turns 20 Founded in 2004, CAMPOS is now celebrating its 20th anniversary. The program has been instrumental in training medical students to become bilingual Spanish-English physicians ready to serve communities throughout North Carolina and beyond. Read more Alumnus Leads the Charge from ER to Entrepreneur Leon Adelman, MD ’08 has a simple message for students at ����ý. “When things are broken, it is our job to figure out how to fix them,” Adelman said. Since graduating, Adelman has lived out this mantra. Read more Healing at High Altitudes Harini Sridhar, a fourth-year medical student, joined a group of 20 attending physicians, residents, and medical students from around the world on a month-long expedition with the Himalayan Health Exchange. Read more From Classroom to Community When the opportunity arose for Grip Gilbert to travel to Rwanda after his first year in the MD program, it was a no-brainer. This past July, Gilbert spent three weeks in Butaro, Rwanda at the University of Global Health Equity’s community-based education program. Read more

Moving Forward Together �� Our faculty and staff gathered in Chapel Hill for the annual fall retreat. We had a great time connecting with colleagues and advancing our shared educational goals.. Our Student Affairs team sharing their services with the group. Several of our students shared their insights during student panel sessions.

“First Look” Admissions Event �� Our admissions team hosted an inaugural, statewide “First Look” event designed for current first-year and second-year college students considering a career as a physician. With over 300 applications, 100 attendees from across the state were invited to join us on campus. The in-person attendees represented 32 counties and 12 institutions. Kudos to our Admissions team for a great event! 100% of in-person attendees reported they would recommend this event to someone considering medical school. Introducing students to our Simulation, Experiential Learning, and Training Center (SET Center).

John B. Graham Student Research Day �� A record 150 students participated in Student Research Day where they showcased their amazing original research while gaining valuable experience with poster or oral presentations in front of judges. a highlight reel of the day’s festivities! The 2024 John B. Graham Student Research Day executive team.

Educator Spotlight Adam Ottley, MD Dr. Ottley serves as a Primary Care Pediatrics Outpatient Preceptor for our students at ����ý Pediatrics at Garner. “I love seeing when something ‘clicks’ for a student. Often it comes after a patient encounter where they see how something they learned in 1st��and 2nd��year applies to the very real person sitting in front of them.” �� Thanks for all you do for our students, Dr. Ottley! Welcome to Our New Team Members! Lisi Martinez Lotz Senior Director of Medical Student Education Tiarra Wade Assistant Director of Wellness Anthony Passannante Assistant Dean for Admissions Cory Van Dyke Assistant Director of Marketing & Communication

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