2015-2016 Annual Report
2015-2016 Annual Report
Born in Pakistan, I have always felt it is my duty to lessen the injustice and suffering in the world. In medicine, I found a way to use my hands and voice to care for and speak up for those without the ability to do so. I hope to one day be a physician who heals both individuals and communities by addressing the disparities and inequities in healthcare.
At the Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine (HWCOM), the Albert and Debbie Taño Simulation Center has been a core aspect of providing medical students with a solid foundation before they venture into the beautiful variability of real human bodies. The simulation center houses “Harvey,” a cardiopulmonary patient simulator used to train and evaluate medical students on cardiopulmonary examinations. It provides all medical students with a comforting and non-threatening environment to understand the basics of this type of physical examination. Students are far more likely to ask questions and move their stethoscope around the Harvey model than they are with a peer or patient. This experience has proven to be invaluable during my first year in medical school.
Working with the Harvey model instills us with the confidence and security to practice on real patients. It is a relief to know that the first time I place a stethoscope on a patient won’t be the first time I’ve listened to a heartbeat. As a medical student who aspires to provide her future patients with the highest quality of care, I am grateful to begin my training in a setting that is as comfortable and informative as possible.
The simulation center ensures that HWCOM students know what they are doing as they head into the clinic, and this training will serve us for the rest of our careers. I’m glad to have Harvey to poke and prod before I work with a person – and I think my future patients will be, too!
Thank you!
Amara Fazal
Dr. Albert Taño and his wife, Debbie, have been passionate supporters of the Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine for more than six years. Their shared belief in our mission has allowed us to produce highly trained physicians that will continue to serve in our community. In support of that mission, they gave a gift to name the Dr. Albert and Debbie Taño Simulation Center. They also served as co-chairs of the 2016 Sapphire Celebration. This year’s gala celebrated the 10th Anniversary of the Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine and all of our accomplishments over the years. Not only have we graduated our fourth class of medical students, but we’ve also accomplished substantial growth with more than 480 students enrolled to date. It is this impact and growth that continues to inspire both Dr. Albert and Debbie Taño. Dr. Taño has worked, taught, and volunteered in the field of Neonatology since 1989, and Debbie Taño started working at the age of 14 to be able to pay for college and attend nursing school. It is this hard work that allows them to understand the determination and drive that our FIU medical students have. Their invaluable generosity to the FIU Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine will help make incredible physicians that will continue to serve and give back to our South Florida community as they have.