NSU Horizons Spring/Summer 2008

11 horizons He attributes his success to hard work and his education at NSU’s medical school. During his residency, Hasty chose to specialize in internal medicine be- cause it provided a unique perspective into medicine and more options than other medical disciplines. Internal medicine has 14 specialties including cardiology, pulmonology, and endocri- nology. Hasty also felt internal medicine was very cognitive and cerebral. “We investigate the causes of human diseases,” he said. Back to NSU’s Medical School After working at Lee Memorial Hospital following his residency, Hasty yearned to teach. When he saw an open- ing at his alma mater, he quickly applied for, received, and accepted, the position of assistant professor. Since then, he’s been quite busy. He and Gary Hill, D.O., COM professor and internal medicine physi- cian, created an internal medicine resi- dency program at Broward General, Broward County’s largest hos- pital. Hasty sees patients and oversees NSU medical residents there. He also practices medicine at the NSU Health Care Centers. Hasty currently teaches up to four classes a semester, including courses in radiology, cardiology, and physical examinations. “Being a medical school professor at NSU is personally and professionally gratifying,” Hasty said. “As an alumnus, I can iden- tify with NSU medical students. I truly appreciate the learner’s perspective, and I understand their needs.” When he is not in the classroom or examination room, Hasty is busy writing about medical issues. He has published several ar- ticles and is often interviewed by media outlets that seek his exper- tise on a variety of public health issues. He has also given numerous lectures at the medical school and local hospitals on many topics including managed care and acid-base disorders. “He brings energy to each and every project he’s involved with,” said David Gensure, NSU’s director of continuing education. Gensure has worked with Hasty on several projects in recent years. Research Several of Hasty’s projects include research. He is currently the principal investigator for the ROCKET-AF study, which aims to find a replacement for the blood thinner Coumadin. Currently, patients taking the drug, also known as warfarin, are experiencing many serious side effects. “Coumadin is a tricky medication to use, as other medications can react negatively with it, and blood tests must be checked on a routine basis,” Hasty said of the drug, which is used to treat patients with an irregular heartbeat. For the ROCKET-AF study, Johnson & Johnson pharmaceuti- cal has chosen NSU’s COM as a site for its Coumadin test trials. Hasty is investigating a possible replacement drug called rivaroxa- ban. “It has the potential to be a revolutionary new treatment for these patients,” he said. Hasty’s other area of research is obesity, a topic on which he lectures across the country. His goal is to raise public awareness about the issue and to develop innovative medications that can reduce obesity. He’s hoping to eventually get federal research dollars for his project. “Obesity is the public health challenge for my generation of academic physicians,” he said. “We have 64 percent of the U.S. population overweight. The rates of diabetes and other obesity-related illnesses are skyrocketing as a result.” Whether it’s through obesity research, teaching in the classroom, or working with patients, Hasty is making a big difference at NSU. “If the university had a most valuable player award, it would go to Hasty,” Gensure said. n Robert Hasty, D.O., FACOI, Assistant Professor of Internal Medicine at Nova Southeastern University College of Osteopathic Medicine, Diplomate of Internal Medicine, Program Director of Palmetto General Hospital Internal Medicine Residency KEN MA IS NSU’S SENIOR PUBLIC RELATIONS COORDINATOR.