David Towle, DO, MPH, MS, Associate Professor of Clinical Family Medicine at University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine (UNECOM) and Director of Medical Education and Chief Academic Officer at Samaritan Medical Center in New York, has been named Medical Advisor to the King of Saudi Arabia. Towle will report to the United States military in August, utilizing his knowledge of osteopathic medicine’s value to write training policy and medical management policy. Congratulations, Dr. Towle!

VCOM Student Appointed to National SNMA Position

Ariana Burgess, OMSII at Edward Via Virginia College of Osteopathic Medicine (VCOM), was recently selected as the Student National Medical Association 2009-2010 Co-Chair of International Affairs.  In this role, Student Doctor Burgess will educate the student membership on the necessity of approaching health issues in a cultural context; will disseminate and educate medical students nationally on the elements of successful health intervention; and will serve as a liaison to medical students (both osteopathic and allopathic) on international program opportunities.

UNECOM Student Accepted as NIH Predoctoral Fellow

Jeremy Force, OMS-III, has been accepted as a pre-doctoral fellow at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Clinical Research Training Program. Force, who is the first osteopathic medical student to be accepted to the program, will enter into a year-long mentored clinical or translational research project based on an area of his interest. He will spend his fellowship attending lectures, analyzing data and participating in hands-on learning activities with a principal investigator from NIH and other fellows.

NSU-COM Students Honored for Achievements

Nova Southeastern University College of Osteopathic Medicine (NSU-COM) students Jason Hardwick, OMS-I, and Christine Bergeron, OMS-II, were recently named recipients of the 2009 Dr. Matthew A. Terry Scholarship. The scholarship was created by the school’s Department of Family Medicine to honor first- or second-year students who display notable academic excellence and school dedication. Hardwick and Bergeron received $500 cash awards.

David Morcos, OMS-II, received the Ninth Annual Dr. Kenneth Burnell Student Research Award, along with elective research credit on his transcript and a $750 cash award. Jaimin Patel, OMS-II, was named the winner of the David Spector Memorial Award and received a $500 cash prize; the award is given to a first- or second-year osteopathic medical student who has been involved in research on substance abuse prevention or treatment.

UNTHSC/TCOM Students Hone Observation Through Art

Last month, first-year students at the University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine (UNTHSC/TCOM) visited the Amon Carter Museum to fulfill a requirement of the school’s “Eye for Detail” program. During the trip, students studied pieces of art, analyzed visual clues and practiced communicating their observations as if they were conveying symptoms to a fellow physician. Bruce D. Dubin, DO, JD, Vice Dean and Chairman for the Department of Medical Education and Academic Affairs, developed the program seven years ago; the school made it mandatory for first-year students in 2005.