25
COM Outlook . Spring 2014
A
significant increase in faculty and
student-driven research
E
stablishment of a revolutionary
bioterrorism and weapons of mass de-
struction curriculum and center now
known as the Institute for Disaster
and Emergency Preparedness
C
reation of an external advisory group
called the Dean’s Leadership Council
E
stablishment of a communications
office and production of the award-
winning
COM Outlook
I
ncorporation of the M.P.H. Pro-
gram under the NSU-COM umbrella
and its accreditation
A
focus on enhancing alumni relations
G
rowth and maturation of the
Predoctoral OPP Fellowship Program
E
stablishment of the Predoctoral
Research Fellowship Program
Over the ensuing years, numer-
ous other innovations and enhance-
ments were overseen by Dr. Silvagni,
including the establishment of an
on-campus Geriatric Education Cen-
ter, academical societies to enrich
the student-learning experience, the
Behavioral Health Promotion Pro-
gram, the addition of simulation and
virtual-world technology teaching
tools, and the introduction of new
degree programs.
Of course, none of these accom-
plishments would have been possible
without the vast talents of the many
dedicated individuals comprising
NSU-COM’s extensive assemblage of
students, administrators, alumni, and
faculty/staff members. “Our success
has been able to occur because of the
vitality of our people,” Dr. Silvagni
stated. “They put in more than a 40-
hour workweek because they believe
in what they’re doing. We have an
empowered faculty, an involved staff,
and a student body that is compas-
sionate and dedicated.
“In my opinion, it’s my responsi-
bility to create an environment that
allows our students and faculty and
staff members to create and accom-
plish all the things they envision—and
want to do,” he added. “My job is to
always make sure there’s an environ-
ment that permits them to grow and
find creative ways within themselves
to meet their own potential. Based on
our success, this is a challenge that is
definitely being met.”
Research Efforts
Reap Rewards
One of the college’s most signifi-
cant strides relates to research, which
was essentially nonexistent when Dr.
Silvagni came on board in 1998. “We
went from very little non-legislative ex-
ternal funding to number one in grant
submissions university-wide, number
one in total external funding, and
number two in research funding dollars
received after NSU’s Oceanographic
Center in relation to NSU’s 18 colleges,
schools, and centers,” he explained.
NSU-COM’s burgeoning reputa-
tion in the research realm was best
exemplified when the November 2012
issue of the
Journal of the American
Osteopathic Association
listed NSU-
COM as the number one private os-
teopathic medical school nationwide
in the number of National Institutes
of Health dollars in 2010 and num-
ber four of all osteopathic medical
schools. In related news, the number
of articles published by NSU-COM
faculty members from 2006 through
2010 ranked fourth in the nation in
the number of publications, but was
number one in citations per publica-
tion and impact index compared to all
of the public and private osteopathic
medical schools.
With over $16 million in current
fiscal year external funding—and
more on the horizon—NSU-COM has
come a long way in a relatively short
period of time. And now that con-
struction has officially begun on NSU’s
long-awaited Center for Collaborative
Research (CCR), the college’s investi-
gative possibilities appear limitless.
One of NSU-COM’s most-bally-
hooed research endeavors occurred
in February 2013 when, under the
direction of Nancy Klimas, M.D.,
the college opened the Institute for
Neuro-Immune Medicine—a $5 mil-
lion first-of-its-kind facility that treats
patients with conditions such as
chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic en-
cephalomyelitis and Gulf War Illness,
Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis,
