Dr. Mike Visits OU-HCOM-Sponsored Symposium, ICOM Students Plan Haiti Medical Mission Trip, and More in Campus Roundup

ATSU-KCOM Military Student Receives Excellence Award

Following her participation in the 2019 Intensive Surgical and Trauma Skills Course (ISTSC) in San Diego, CA, A.T. Still University Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine (ATSU-KCOM) military student Crystal Lafleur, OMS-III, received the ISTSC Student Excellence Award.

This award is granted to the student participant who demonstrates the best overall performance and teamwork skills throughout the week-long medical military training session.

“This training was as close to deployment as I have seen,” Lafleur said, “it really promotes an understanding of teamwork and commitment in the military students that attend.”

Over the course of the week, more than 40 students from four universities, including ATSU-KCOM, participated in high-stress, military-style medical simulations and learned about treating traumatic injuries in the field. Read more.

Two BCOM Students Appointed to National COSGP Board

Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine (BCOM) students Brian Liu and Hayley Gorman will each spend their third year of medical school serving on the national executive board of the Council of Osteopathic Student Government Presidents (COSGP). Liu was appointed as National Programs Representative and Gorman as National Global Health Representative.

“Many people aren’t really aware of COSGP and who we are,” Liu noted. “We are an AACOM council which presents ideas and initiatives before the AACOM Board of Deans. One of the major initiatives proposed last year was Matchbook, a resource that helps medical students see which residency programs other students matched into based on criteria such as board scores. We are excited to say that a preliminary roll-out will begin later this year. We also work very closely with the Student Osteopathic Medical Association (SOMA) and are excited to keep that relationship growing into the future. Sometimes there is some confusion amongst students on the overlap between COSGP and SOMA, and I feel our former chair summed it up perfectly: ‘COSGP takes care of you while you’re in medical school, SOMA takes care of you for the rest of your careers.’” Read more.

Midwestern University CCOM Medical Students Earn Prestigious Schweitzer Fellowship

Two Midwestern University Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine (CCOM) students have been selected for the nationally-recognized Schweitzer Fellowship, a program for graduate students who aspire to become lifelong leaders in community service. CCOM students Fatima Hooda and Fariha Siddiquie will participate in the year-long service learning program that empowers Fellows to design and implement projects that help address the health needs of underserved Chicago communities.

For her service project, Hooda will partner with Heartland Alliance, Marjorie Kovler Center, to build a curriculum and develop workshops aimed at improving the quality of lives of immigrant survivors of politically sanctioned torture. “I will have the fortunate privilege of serving survivors of intentional torture. This particular community faces many barriers in achieving optimal health, from dealing with psychological trauma to finding economic stability,” Hooda said.

Siddiquie’s project will initiate sexual health and literacy classes for at-risk Muslim women through the organization HEART Women and Girls, which promotes sexual health education and sexual violence prevention in Muslim communities through health education, advocacy, research, and training. The classes will address cultural and religious barriers for refugee, college age, and immigrant women.

“In the Schweitzer Fellowship, I found a group of public health professionals who defined ‘success’ the same way as I always have—not to simply increase our own prominence and prestige, but to utilize these things to initiate real change in the world, especially for the underserved,” Siddiquie shared.

DMUCOM Alumnus Named ACOFP’s 2019 Physician of the Year

Des Moines University College of Osteopathic Medicine (DMU-COM) alumnus Kevin de Regnier, DO, FACOFP, dist., may practice in a small town, but he’s been a big name in osteopathic family medicine. As President of Madison County Medical Associates in Winterset, IA, he has served numerous osteopathic associations and medical organizations as well as his community during 30-plus years of practice. In March, the American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians (ACOFP) named him its 2019 Osteopathic Family Physician of the Year.

It was one of several awards presented at the ACOFP’s 56th annual convention and scientific seminars, took place March 21-24 in Chicago, IL.

ICOM Student-Doctors Plan Medical Mission to Haiti

This summer, many of Idaho College of Osteopathic Medicine (ICOM)’s student doctors will take part in a variety of volunteer and community service projects, conduct important research both on and off campus, and gain clinical experience by shadowing physicians. 

But one group of students in particular is planning to travel more than 3,000 miles in July, to provide much-needed medical care to a community of orphans in Haiti.

“We’re going to do routine, comprehensive check-ups on all of the children living at the orphanage,” said student doctor Bakir Dzananovic. “We’ll address preventative health measures, and we’ll provide them some necessities, like toothbrushes, toothpaste, soap, shampoo, and lotion, to keep up their hygiene.”

The group plans on opening up a clinic for a day at the Madinah Orphanage in Miragoane, followed by another clinic for the greater community that will serve more than 100 people. The Madinah Orphanage is supported by a non-profit organization called The Humanity Projects, of which Dzananovic is a co-founder. Read more.

KYCOM Hosts Successful PEPP Session

The University of Pikeville Kentucky College of Osteopathic Medicine (KYCOM) recently completed another successful session of its annual Professional Education Preparation Program (PEPP). The program, which has been in existence since 1980, allows a small group of high school students entering grade 11 or 12 to live on campus for one week and learn about careers in medicine. PEPP participants expand their awareness of how medicine is practiced in a rural setting while attending lectures, anatomical laboratory sessions, and volunteering at a local hospital.

For Alexia Hall from Prestonsburg High School, the hands-on activities offered in the anatomy and simulation lab allowed her to pursue her interest and establish a career path before beginning college.

"I have always been interested in the medical field," said Hall. "Both of my parents work in medicine, so it's like home for me."

Bryson Sykes from Shelby Valley High School said gaining experience in the medical field and having a better understanding of what medical school entails is what drew him to the program.

"I have learned so much more about what it takes to be a doctor and I can see a path to get there," said Sykes. "I've learned what medical school would be like, how to apply, and what the schedule will be like."

ARH Welcomes LMU-DCOM Graduates into First Class of Internal Medicine Residents

Appalachian Regional Healthcare, Inc. (ARH), with the support of Lincoln Memorial University-DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine (LMU-DCOM), will welcome its inaugural class of six internal medicine residents July 1, 2019. The new residency training program will be based at Harlan ARH Hospital and Whitesburg ARH Hospital in Kentucky. The new class of residents includes two graduates from the LMU-DCOM Class of 2019, Dr. Cassandra Do and Dr. Jane-Katherine “JK” Heinold.

“I am honored to be a part of the first class. I love the people of Appalachia and look forward to serving them for many years to come,” said Dr. Heinold.

In addition to Dr. Do and Dr. Heinold, residents in the inaugural class include:

• Dr. David L. Napier, a native of Hazard, KY and a graduate from the University of Kentucky, and the University of Pikeville–Kentucky College of Osteopathic Medicine.
• Dr. Justin D. Cozza of Williamsport, PA, who is a graduate of The University of Pittsburgh and American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine. He has family ties to Hindman, KY.
• Dr. James Crosby of Sylvester, GA, a graduate of the University of Georgia and the University of Pikeville–Kentucky College of Osteopathic Medicine.
• Dr. Mary Elizabeth Kimbrough of Mount Hope, AL, a graduate of The University of Alabama and Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine–Carolinas Campus in Spartanburg, SC.

The ARH Residency Program helps LMU-DCOM in fulfilling its mission to serve the health and wellness needs of people within Appalachia and enhance access to comprehensive health care for underserved communities.

Celebrity Doctor Enlivens Osteopathic Symposium

Celebrity physician Mikhail Varshavski, DO, known to the world of Instagram and YouTube as ‘Doctor Mike,’ filled the house at the Ohio Osteopathic Symposium (OOS) in Columbus on April 27, with a talk about social media and medicine. The most-followed doctor on social media, Dr. Mike stressed the importance of doctors getting out the right messages—and correct information—to combat the growing mountains of bad medical advice, especially on social media. He then stayed for two and a half hours to talk and take selfies with medical students, physicians, and others. The annual OOS is jointly sponsored by the Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine (OU-HCOM), the Ohio Osteopathic Association, and the Heritage College Society of Alumni and Friends. Read more.

Photo: Dr. Mike takes a selfie with Nina Oberschmidt, DO, who graduated from OU-HCOM in 2018.

Encouraging Conversation, Elevating Care

For Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences College of Osteopathic Medicine (PNWU-COM)’s LGBTQ Alliance for Health, how health care providers use pronouns is just one topic targeted for discussions aimed at eventual improvement. As the relatively-new student alliance—which aims to identify and provide education about the acute and long-term factors that contribute to LGBTQ health—continues identifying and addressing issues which have the ability to drastically shape the often-abhorrent health outcomes of some 11 million American adults who identify as members of the LGBTQ community, the list of topics that must be addressed quickly becomes colossal.

Thankfully, as representatives of the next generation of health care providers, students like Polly Wiltz, the incoming-LGBTQ Alliance for Health President, are up for the challenge. Read more.

PCOM Announces Passing of Chancellor and Former President Leonard H. Finkelstein, DO '59

With a heavy heart, Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (PCOM) shared the news of the passing of Dr. Finkelstein, who died June 25, 2019.

Dr. Finkelstein retired from his position as professor of urologic surgery and chairman of the Division of Urology in 2014 (he was named professor emeritus in 2015). He remained the College’s chancellor, a post he held since 2006, until his death.

Dr. Finkelstein joined the PCOM faculty in 1963; in 1973, he was named chairman of the Division of Urology. In these capacities—as well as program director and course director—he advanced the College’s urology specialty and its American Osteopathic Association (AOA)-approved urology residency program. Read more.

TUNCOM Student Honored by Clark County Medical Society

The Clark County Medical Society honored Touro University Nevada College of Osteopathic Medicine (TUNCOM) osteopathic medical student Ashlie Bloom with the Student Rising Star Award in recognition of her academic excellence at their 65th annual Board Installation Dinner & Awards Ceremony.

WVSOM Signs Lease with Montwell Commons Barn, to be Named Clingman Center for Community Engagement

Photo: Left to right, Larry Ware and Heather Antolini of WVSOM, with Cliff Baker, Florian Schleiff and Sally Hurst. Photo courtesy of WVSOM.

The West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine (WVSOM) is further investing in rural and community health by signing a long-term lease with the Greenbrier Valley Restoration Project to operate programs and activities at the Montwell Commons Barn, situated just two blocks from the WVSOM campus. In partnership with the Greenbrier County Health Alliance (GCHA), the Barn will be used to deliver new programs, services and opportunities for residents to learn skills and practices to actively improve and manage healthy lives.

The Barn will be named the Clingman Center for Community Engagement in honor of Gwen Clingman, who was known for her big-hearted devotion to and nourishment of WVSOM students and the Lewisburg community through generous meals lovingly served for decades at Clingman’s Market downtown. A shared-use teaching kitchen is under construction with plans in the works to offer cooking classes for families, youth, and people living with chronic health conditions. Workforce training and culinary medicine programs along with community engagement and outreach initiatives are also being developed.

Montwell Commons is a unique and dynamic place where people work together in new and empowering ways to ensure that everyone in the community has the opportunity to be heard and to be active in their health. James W. Nemitz, PhD, WVSOM’s president, stated, “This partnership is creating an intersection between health and the community where everyone is encouraged to visit and engage in healthy activities. WVSOM is excited about this collaboration and the opportunity to be working within the community.”