Lasting Impressions | Fall 2017

34 © NOVA SOUTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY HPD Impressions NSU COLLEGE OF DENTAL MEDICINE © 35 completed their life on the surface of bone, this was, indeed, groundbreak- ing,” he added. Movila, who received his Ph.D. in 2008 in genetics from the Academy of Sciences of Moldova in Chisinau, Republic of Moldova, said his research at the Forsyth Institute had opened the door to his interest in the aging population and complications related to implants in older persons. “But, I was trained as a dental scientist, so this gives me an additional way to add to my expertise,” he said. Kawai said that millions of dollars in new equipment at the Center for Collaborative Research—including cutting-edge microscopes and imaging systems (the Zeiss LSM 880 confocal microscope and Bruker in-vivo Xtreme II)—will contribute greatly to the team’s research. Addi- tionally, Movila’s proven proficiency in technologies of intravital imaging using the confocal microscope and the in-vivo multimodal optical imaging system will make for an unparalleled combination. The cutting-edge instruments will allow the scientists to monitor real-time activities of lymphocytes and bone cells. Kawai said they expect their research to lead to the develop- ment of “novel chair-side diagnosis tools for a variety of oral diseases.” Linda C. Niessen, D.M.D., M.P.H., M.P.P., dean of the College of Dental Medicine, said Movila represents the new generation of scientists and lauded his skills as a talented investi- gator. “I am so pleased that NSU was able to recruit him. The scientists at NSU, along with the research facilities at the Center for Collaborative Re- search, will allow Dr. Movila to advance his scientific research and develop his career professionally.” “Dr. Movila is extremely passion- ate about age-related bone loss and regeneration,” said Maria A. Her- nandez, D.D.S., associate professor and chair of the Department of Periodontology. “The addition of Dr. Movila to our research team, with his expertise in genetics and immunology, will help NSU and the College of Dental Medicine to be recognized nationally and internationally.” There was yet another draw for Movila to join Kawai at NSU—the academic research and teaching hospital that Hospital Corporation of America East Florida is planning to build on NSU’s Fort Lauderdale/ Davie Campus, within walking distance to NSU’s clinics, classrooms, and the CCR. Hospital Corporation of America East Florida already operates a freestanding emergency room facility on the NSU Fort Lauderdale/Davie Campus. “We want to do clinical trials with our research, and this provides that potential,” Movila said. “Besides that, there are so many new ideas at NSU, and I want to be a part of them. This is the place for me to share my energy and my knowledge.” u Toshihisa Kawai, left, said that Alexandru Movila’s expertise was invaluable when they worked at the Forsyth Institute, and will be as equally indispensable to NSU’s CDM. The NSU College of Allopathic Medicine has received preliminary accreditation—a major milestone that allows the new medical college to accept its inaugural class of 50 students into its Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) program, which will matriculate in August 2018. The accreditation follows a site visit and a favorable review by a survey team of educators from the Liaison Committee on Medical Education, the organization that accredits M.D. programs in the United States and Canada. The college is the first M.D. program in Broward County, the eighth in Florida, and one of only 149 in the United States. This new- est degree program adds to NSU’s comprehensive offerings of health sciences degrees, including osteopathic medicine, dental medicine, pharmacy, optometry, nursing, physician assistant, physical therapy, occupational therapy, and others. “The accreditation decision is a transformational moment in the history of NSU, which brings the university another step closer toward NSU’s Vision 2020 and its goal of becoming a nationally recognized, top-tier university of teaching, research, service, and learning,” said George L. Hanbury II, Ph.D., NSU president and CEO. “As a new medical college, we are in a unique position to leverage institutional resources and external partnerships to create a new educational model that will transform the de- livery of health care in our community and beyond,” added Johannes W. Vieweg, M.D., FACS, founding dean of the col- lege. Hospital Corporation of America (HCA) East Florida and its hospital network is the preferred academic medical partner of the new college, providing student training exper- iences in clinically relevant settings. HCA soon will break ground on a 200-bed hospital that will evolve into a teaching and research facility on NSU’s Fort Lauderdale/Davie Campus located within walking distance to the university’s educational and research facilities, including NSU’s Center for Collaborative Research. The new college’s educational program will be taught in conjunction with the other seven life science colleges in an interdisciplinary fashion within NSU’s Health Profes- sions Division. Existing renovated space will be used to accommodate the new M.D. student class and the college’s active-learning curriculum. To meet demands of its life science academic programs, NSU plans to construct a 200,000-plus-square-foot interdisciplinary medical edu- cation building to complement its vast health professions facilities and health care centers. Developed by a team of more than 100 medical educators, physicians, and researchers, NSU’s curriculum integrates didactics on ethics and humanities, genomics, interprofes- sional collaboration, biomedical informatics, and leadership. The curriculum also includes a heavy emphasis on research, technology, and innovation throughout the educational program leading to the M.D. degree. The college is home to faculty researchers from the NSU Cell Therapy Institute, who conduct translational research focused on the discovery of cell-based therapies to prevent, treat, and cure life-threatening and debilitating diseases. In addition to NSU’s existing $3.7-billion economic impact on the state of Florida, by 2030 the university is expected to directly and indirectly generate $350 million more in economic activity annually, supporting more than 2,000 local jobs. It will also generate $17 million each year in tax revenue impacts. For additional information on the NSU College of Allopathic Medicine, visit md.nova.edu . Primary applica- tions for the charter class will be available through the American Medical College Application Service®. u NEW M.D. COLLEGE RECEIVES PRELIMINARY ACCREDITATION; FIRST CLASS TO START IN 2018 Johannes W.Vieweg, left, the founding dean of the NSU College of Allopathic Medicine, speaks with Julia James, Ph.D., postdoctoral researcher, and Ron Thomas, B.Sc. , research assistant, in the NSU Cell Therapy Institute laboratory.