17
COM Outlook . Spring 2015
tion, we have been able to grow into
a dynamic college of osteopathic
medicine that has incorporated an
increasingly strong research compo-
nent. This is evidenced by the fact
that in fiscal year 2014, NSU-COM
submitted 31 grant proposals and
received $7.8 million in research
funding and $12.4 million in teach-
ing/training support.”
In a similar show of strength,
Dr. Silvagni, who was accorded the
distinguished title of dean emeritus
by the NSU Board of Trustees in
January, points to the growing esteem
the college has engendered over the
years. “We have earned respect not
just nationally but internationally,
which is epitomized by the various
organizations that want to affiliate
with us as well as those distinguished
individuals who have chosen to join
our faculty,” he said. “It is exciting
to know that we have been able to
attract extremely successful people—
from prestigious schools that possess
longer traditions than NSU-COM—to
become part of our team.”
Another source of pride is the
college’s acclaimed international
medical programs and affiliations,
which weren’t yet in existence when
Dr. Silvagni came on board. Over the
past 16 years, numerous international
medical outreach trips and interna-
tional selective clinical rotations have
been coordinated that have allowed
countless students to broaden their
educational and cultural horizons.
“What we have been able to do in
regard to our global medicine efforts
is astonishing,” he admitted. “In fact,
we have more students than any oth-
er M.D. or D.O. school that I know of
participating in international oppor-
tunities. This is of major importance
because in today’s world, diseases
and health care are global. Because of
these international opportunities, our
students are seeing diseases firsthand
that are uncommon or just emerging
in the United States that will help
them become better—and more com-
passionate—physicians.”
Other areas he touched on in-
clude the establishment of various
dual-degree programs, the continued
national recognition received by the
college’s
COM Outlook
magazine, the
uninterrupted 16-year publication of
the
Medical Education Digest
, and the
growing number of faculty members
and students that are having their
articles published in peer-reviewed
journals. “No matter what measur-
ing rod you want to use, there is not
one area you can say we have not
excelled in—and that’s due to our
students, alumni, and faculty and
staff members, coupled with support
from university administration,” he
proudly proclaimed.
Looking Forward,
Reflecting Back
Now that he’s stepped down as
dean, Dr. Silvagni is looking forward
to enjoying a well-deserved sabbati-
cal before returning to the college as
a full-time faculty member on Au-
gust 1. “I don’t know exactly what
I’ll be doing when I return because
that will be the new dean’s deci-
sion,” joked Dr. Silvagni of his suc-
