9
COM Outlook . Fall 2012
On September 28, the college’s Pedi-
atrics Club honored Ronnie Oller with the
Arnold Melnick Child Advocacy Award for her
contributions to the health and welfare of the
children of Southern Florida.
Oller, who has dedicated her life to
children’s causes, has spent the past
eight years organizing the university’s A
Day for Children, a free event held each
year that features speech, medical, den-
tal, behavior, and vision screenings for
South Florida children. Since Oller took
over the event’s coordination, attendance
has exploded to over 12,000 children
and parents and now includes over 100
youth-oriented service organizations.
As the mother of four and grand-
mother of five, she possesses a concern
for children that is deeply heartfelt.
Raised by her grandfather, Oller grew
up in difficult circumstances and can’t
bear the idea that any child might lack
the essentials to reach full potential.
“
That’s my whole thing
—
children
—
and
making sure they receive all the basic
needs such as health care, nutrition, and
education. This award stands for what is
most important to me: our children.”
Working closely with her husband,
Robert Oller, D.O., CEO of NSU’s
Ronnie Oller Receives
Melnick Child
Advocacy Award
Division of Clinical Operations, she has
tirelessly personified the mission of
community service on which the univer-
sity prides itself. In 1997, she chaired
the first independent fund-raiser for
diabetes, raising $97,000 for research.
Her commitment to South Florida’s
younger population is evidenced by her
involvement as a board member for the
following organizations: Prestige Club,
Susan B. Anthony Recovery Cen-
ter, Boys and Girls Clubs of Broward
County, as well as NSU’s Mailman
Segal Center for Human Development
and Graduate School of Humanities
and Social Sciences. Most recently,
she was elected president of the Davie
Boys and Girls Club.
“
The Pediatrics Club was honored
to recognize Ronnie Oller as this year’s
award recipient, as she is an inspiration
to us as future pediatricians and to her
community as a philanthropist and advo-
cate for children and families,” said Kelly
Segars, Pediatrics Club president.
Class of 2015 Establishes
ASCLEPIUS Scholarship Fund
The history of medical education since the days of the
Ancient Greeks has been predicated upon the passing down
of knowledge and wisdom from each generation of physicians
to the next. The Greek god of medicine and healing, Asclepius
(
best known for his snake-entwined staff that serves as the
international symbol for medicine), was held in mythological
esteem for centuries as the first physician-educator.
That explains why the class of 2015 recently established the
ASCLEPIUS Scholarship Fund, which is an acronym for Acknowl-
edging Scientific and Clinical Leadership Encouraging Physician
Intuition, Understanding, and Scholarship. The fund’s purpose
will be to encourage an atmosphere within NSU’s College of
Osteopathic Medicine that embraces and appreciates this crucial
and time-honored relationship between student and teacher.
The class of 2015 recognizes the importance of continuing
to foster an environment that embraces excellence in teaching
and helps students combat the rising cost of medical educa-
tion and reach their life goals through the scholarship. Once
endowed, the ASCLEPIUS Scholarship Fund will annually award
both a student scholarship and a faculty grant by conducting a
student essay-writing competition. The award will both ac-
knowledge an educator who has had a profound impact on an
NSU-COM student, as well as the medical student who authors
the winning essay nominating the educator.
Larkin Community Hospital Earns Statutory
Teaching Hospital Status
Larkin Community Hospital in South
Miami, which is a member of NSU-COM’s
Consortium for Excellence in Medical
Education, was officially designated as
a statutory teaching hospital in August.
This type of recognition is accorded to
hospitals with at least 100 residents in
training in 7 or more disciplines. Cur-
rently, there are 12 Florida hospitals with
this designation, including 3 in Miami-Dade County. In other Larkin
news, the Florida Department of Education confirmed the action of
the Commission for Independent Education to officially license the
Larkin School of Nursing. Upon program completion, students will
be awarded an Associate of Science Degree in Nursing and will be
eligible to sit for licensure with the Florida Board of Nursing.
