A Holiday-Themed Simulation Lab, Opioid Overdose Prevention Class, Talent Show, and More in Campus Roundup
Published January 23, 2019
ATSU-KCOM Students Work in Holiday-Themed Simulation Lab
A.T. Still University—Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine (ATSU-KCOM)’s Clinical Simulation Medicine Club hosted the second annual holiday-themed simulation lab event on Thursday, January 10. First- and second-year students were invited to participate, and small groups worked through five different cases congruent with holiday scenarios.
The event is often the first experience in the Drabing Human Patient Simulation lab for first-year students, so they were paired with second-year students who mentored them during each scenario. Through the festively decorated lab, students encountered Santa Claus with diabetic ketoacidosis from eating too many cookies. They found grandma, who had been run over by a reindeer in the immersion room. Also, the Grinch made an appearance to visit his ailing brother. Read more.
Ian Coker Named 2018 AZCOM Student DO of the Year
Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine of Midwestern University (AZCOM) is pleased to announce that Ian Coker, third-year osteopathic medical student, was recently named the college’s Student DO of the Year.
Mr. Coker served in a General Electric Primary Care Leadership Program at Gateways Cities, MA, between his first and second year of medical school, and he founded a group during his second year at AZCOM to supplement nutritional education at Desert Sky Middle School as part of the Paul Ambrose Scholars Program. He has served as a student in the Primary Care Leadership Collaborative, worked as a table trainer with the Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine (OMM) Department, and has been an active student member of the American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians (ACOFP). Mr. Coker was elected as the President of the Student Association of the American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians (SAACOFP) during its 2018-2019 National Student Executive Board elections in Austin, TX.
BCOM Medical Students Help to Prevent Opioid Overdoses
Still years away from graduation, students from Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine (BCOM)’s Student Osteopathic Medical Association (SOMA) chapter are already fulfilling the school’s mission to address health issues in New Mexico, including one of the biggest the state is facing: the opioid epidemic.
SOMA students asked if Athena Huckaby, Overdose Prevention Educator for Dona Ana County, would be willing to visit BCOM to teach the medical students about opioid overdoses and how to administer the nasal spray Narcan so they in turn could teach other members of the community. In addition to a goal of ensuring every BCOM medical student is trained in Narcan administration, the SOMA students are planning to reach out to local professionals who have higher likelihoods of coming across opioid overdoses, such as apartment complex managers, librarians, and teachers. Read more.
CCOM Students Organize Conference on Health Care Inequities
Midwestern University students are investigating ways they can make a positive contribution to our society as part of the next generation of health care professionals. Recently, Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine of Midwestern University (CCOM)’s Student Osteopathic Medical Association (SOMA) chapter joined forces with Midwestern University’s Chicago College of Pharmacy’s Executive Council to plan the Fourth Annual Student Interventions in Health Inequities Conference (SIHI). The conference examines the factors that lead to health disparities among racial, ethnic, geographic, socioeconomic, and other groups with a focus on how to advocate for change.
Students from all health professional programs at Midwestern University, as well as students from other local colleges and universities, attended the conference. The event focused on health care communication as it relates to vulnerable groups within our health care system. Attendees learned about existing health care disparities among disadvantaged groups in our society, the varying cultural interpretations of health and wellness, and the appropriate language skills to build trust and rapport among diverse populations.
From left to right: Sevasti Vergis (CCOM 2022); Ashley Sigel (CCP 2021); Samantha Korsak (CCP 2020); Robin Zavod, PhD, Professor, Pharmaceutical Sciences; Sally Arif, PharmD, BCPS, Associate Professor, Pharmacy Practice; Renee Wakulski (CCOM 2021); Clara Hofman (CCOM 2021); and Colin Wruck (CCOM 2021).
Medical Students and Veterinary Students Learn Empathy Together
First-year osteopathic medical students from Lincoln Memorial University—DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine (LMU-DCOM) and first-year veterinary students from the LMU College of Veterinary Medicine (LMU-CVM) joined together for an inaugural workshop on August 17, 2018, aimed at helping develop skills for empathic care of patients and clients.
Key faculty from both programs came together to create a way for the professions to collaborate and learn from one another. Leading the workshop was Dustin Pulliam, DVM, small animal clinical veterinarian and Assistant Professor of Veterinary Medicine for LMU-CVM and Gina Zulandt, DO, Assistant Professor of Family Medicine at LMU-DCOM. Faculty and staff from both schools facilitated the small group exercises, further exemplifying to students the importance of communication skills in both professions.
NYITCOM A-State Highlighted in Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
A recent article in the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette highlighted the New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine at Arkansas State (NYITCOM A-State) as the school interviewed potential students during its application process. The article emphasized the students' work in underserved areas of the state, the school's partnerships with various health care facilities, and the high need in Arkansas for qualified physicians. Read more online at Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.
NSU-KPCOM Student Set to Present Coauthored Research
Fourth-year student Andrew Lelchuk, MS, at Nova Southeastern University Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine (NSU-KPCOM) coauthored the articles “A Unique Case of Metastatic Cervix Squamous Cell Carcinoma Presenting as a Large Bowel Obstruction” and “Does Peritoneal Irrigation Reduce Postoperative Intra-Abdominal Abscess Rates After Laparoscopic Appendectomy?,” which were accepted for presentation at the Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons (SAGES) Conference in April 2019 in Baltimore, MD.
OU-HCOM Names Student DO of the Year
Alyssa Ritchie, fourth-year osteopathic medical student at the Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine (OU-HCOM), has been chosen as the college's 2018-2019 Student DO of the Year. Ritchie has compiled an impressive record of accomplishments as a researcher, community advocate, and leader–both at OU-HCOM and nationally. She was 2016-2017 Student Government Association president at the Heritage College, Dublin, and 2017-2018 national public relations representative for AACOM's Council of Osteopathic Student Government Presidents (COSGP). Throughout her years at the college, she has also been a strong advocate for women's rights in medical treatment and the medical community. Read more.
PCOM Shows Talents for Make-A-Wish
The Robert Berger Pediatrics Society at Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (PCOM) recently held its twelfth annual campus-wide talent show to benefit Make-A-Wish Philadelphia, Delaware, and Susquehanna Valley. Since its inception in 2007, the event has raised more than $55,000 in support of local children’s wishes.
“We’re grateful to the students at PCOM for hosting this wonderful event each year,” said Amy Stidham, community engagement coordinator at Make-A-Wish. “The level of support from the students and faculty has been incredible, and it’s really through community events like these that Make-A-Wish is able to grant wishes for critically-ill children.” Read more.
RVUCOM Campuses Donate to Less Fortunate
Students from Rocky Vista University College of Osteopathic Medicine (RVUCOM)'s Colorado and South Utah campuses supported their communities through a series of service projects that sought to help those in need. On the Colorado Campus, the Family Medicine Club hosted a clothing drive for the Help and Hope Center, which helps those at risk of homelessness and addresses immediate needs by providing food and other necessities. The drive was organized by first-year student Ross Tanick, who was inspired after volunteering at a food and clothing bank and community center in Westminster, CO. “I saw [at Westminster] the impact that people volunteering could have on a lot of families,” said Tanick. “A big thank you to everyone who donated clothes, we had way more donations than I predicted!”
RVUCOM’s South Utah campus (RVUCOM-SU)’s Student Osteopathic Medical Association (SOMA) chapter organized a winter blanket drive as part of the National SOMA Region V Community Development initiative. Twenty first- and second-year students worked diligently to make blankets for Project Linus, a national charity with the mission to “provide love, a sense of security, warmth, and comfort to children who are seriously ill, traumatized, or otherwise in need through the gifts of new, handmade blankets and afghans, lovingly created by volunteer ‘blanketeers.’” “Even though winter starts a bit later here in Ivins, UT, these blankets will keep those less fortunate warm,” said first-year student Kat Forneris.
TouroCOM-NY Middletown Emerge Victorious Over TouroCOM-NY Harlem at Inaugural Basketball Game
The Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine—New York (TouroCOM-NY) Middletown basketball team emerged victorious over TouroCOM-NY Harlem in the inaugural TouroCOM basketball challenge with a nail-biting 50-49 final score.
TouroCOM-NY Middletown Campus Dean Kenneth Steier, DO, FACOI, FCCP, MBA, MHA, MPH, led the Middletown team as captain. It was a tremendous game with multiple lead changes and both teams exhibited great teamwork and professionalism. Everyone involved hopes that this friendly rivalry continues to promote camaraderie for years to come.
VCOM-Auburn Students Organize Second Annual Campus Surgery Conference
Members of the Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine—Auburn (VCOM-Auburn) chapter of the Student Osteopathic Surgical Association (SOSA) held their second annual Surgical Conference December 8-9, 2018. The event was first held in 2017 and was such a success with students that it was filled to capacity. The conference is designed to educate students about fundamental principles in the surgical field through interactive and hands-on training.
Training was conducted by staff physicians, as well as additional volunteer community physicians and professional medical personnel. Following presentations from several physician speakers, students rotated among numerous hands-on workshops including laparoscopy, diabetic foot care, surgical procedures, airway management, hemorrhage control, ultrasound, and casting.
VCOM-Virginia Student Wins Prestigious Cooke Graduate Scholarship
Amin Syed, Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine—Virginia (VCOM-Virginia) class of 2022 was a 2018 winner of the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation’s (JKCF) Cooke Graduate Scholarship. This highly selective award provides support to students in financial need to pursue graduate-level education.
Eighty-two students will collectively receive approximately $7 million to attend some of the most competitive graduate institutions in the US and the UK. Read more.
Mini-Med School Will Educate Community About Cancer Prevention, Heart Attacks, and More
The West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine (WVSOM) is accepting registrations for its annual Mini-Med School, scheduled for February 11-12, 2019, at the school’s Clinical Evaluation Center. The event will take place from 4:30-8:00 PM ET each evening and is open to adults as well as high school juniors and seniors.
The aim of Mini-Med School is to educate community members about health-related subjects. This year’s topics include cancer screening and prevention, heart attacks, osteoporosis, concussions in sports, and how osteopathic manipulative treatment can help treat the common cold.