Students Serve Their Communities Through Food Drives, Safety Instruction, and Administering Flu Shots
Published October 22, 2020
You’ll also read about TouroCOM-NY’s Health Professions Higher Education Excellence in Diversity Award, the VotER Cactus Cup in Arizona, and more.
TUCOM-CA Faculty and Staff Serve Hundreds at Food Bank Distribution
The Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano participated in a first for the organization with a drive-through produce giveaway for students, staff and faculty at Vallejo’s Touro University College of Osteopathic Medicine–California (TUCOM-CA). Nearly a hundred vehicles passed through the giveaway station, set up in front of Lander Hall on the school’s Mare Island campus, with each vehicle being saddled with a collection of produce, including apples, citrus, potatoes, onions and more, as well as COVID-19 masks, guides on disaster planning and packages of honey cakes in honor of the Jewish New Year, Rosh Hashanah. Read more about the food bank distribution.
ICOM Student Doctors Administer Flu Shots During Health Fair
Student doctors at the Idaho College of Osteopathic Medicine (ICOM) administered more than 100 flu vaccines to attendees of the Treasure Valley Health Fair this month at the Ford Idaho Center in Nampa. Organized by The MolinaCares Accord in Idaho and in partnership with the Idaho Health Continuum of Care Alliance, the “drive-thru” health fair offered participants the opportunity to receive a free flu vaccine from the comfort and safety of their own vehicle. Learn more about the health fair.
TouroCOM-NY Honored for Diversity and Inclusion
Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine—New York (TouroCOM-NY) recently received the 2020 Health Professions Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) Award for its outstanding commitment to diversity and inclusion. The announcement marks the third time the school has received the award, bestowed annually by INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine. As an award recipient, TouroCOM will be featured along with 45 other schools in the magazine’s December 2020 issue.
WVSOM Teaches Kids to Stay Safe Through ‘Be Kind’ COVID-19 Mini-Grant
The West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine (WVSOM) and its Center for Rural and Community Health (CRCH) are helping kids in Greenbrier County practice safety precautions during the COVID-19 pandemic. The measures are thanks to a mini-grant from Volunteer West Virginia, an agency that administers funding to promote volunteerism and service in the state.
CCOM Student Earns Golden Stethoscope Award for Research
Second-year medical student Angelica Chan (pictured) from Midwestern University’s Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine (CCOM) recently received first-place in the Golden Stethoscope Award from the Indian American Medical Association of Illinois. The award was given for her research project focused on identifying new interventions to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Read more about Chan’s project.
Dr. Kellee Harper-Hanigan Named Program Director for LMU Doctor of Physical Therapy Program
Kellee Harper-Hanigan, DPT, PhD, has been named the Program Director for the Lincoln Memorial University (LMU) Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT), program. Harper-Hanigan began working with LMU-DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine (LMU-DCOM) in January 2019 to help develop the DPT program, which has begun taking applications for its inaugural class set to start May 2021. Read more about Dr. Harper-Hanigan’s new role.
RVU’s Healthcare Simulation Center Hosts Virtual Grand Opening
Rocky Vista University’s Office of Simulation in Medicine and Surgery (SIMS) has opened a Healthcare Simulation Center (HSC) at each campus location, offering simulation services in a centralized location and integrates simulation into the curriculum of all RVU program offerings. During Healthcare Simulation Week, the Office of SIMS hosted a virtual grand opening of each of its HSCs, highlighting significant updates to the spaces and equipment.
PCOM Georgia Student Committee Designs Medical Spanish Curriculum
Second-year Biomedical Sciences student Jeisson Garcia (pictured), along with the Spanish Initiative Committee and his campus' Council on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, are taking strides to bridge the gap between many Spanish-speaking patients and their healthcare providers by bringing his idea of creating a novel medical Spanish curriculum to life. The course covers such topics as Greetings and Salutations, Patient History, Review of Systems and Patient Commands. Read more about the new curriculum.
PCOM South Georgia Begins Virtual Interview Season
Students hoping to begin their medical education at Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine South Georgia (PCOM South Georgia) are interviewing virtually this year as the school follows recent advisement from AACOM. “Most candidates feel more relaxed in their own space, so they may interview better,” said Dana Brooks, Assistant Director of Admissions at PCOM South Georgia. “Virtual interviews are more affordable for the candidates, but unfortunately we’re not able to show off our amazing campus and the culture of our close-knit campus community.” Read more about PCOM South Georgia’s virtual interview process.
ATSU-SOMA Students Compete in VotER Cactus Cup
A.T. Still University-School of Osteopathic Medicine in Arizona (ATSU-SOMA) students engaged in a heated competition, battling for the top spot among other healthcare institutions in Arizona for the VotER Cactus Cup. While the competition is fierce, its purpose continues to be to serve the area’s underserved. Read more about the VotER Cactus Cup and the DO students who proposed the initiative.
PCOM’s Student Association Organizes Virtual 5k, Raising Funds for Communities in Need
Earlier this month, Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine’s (PCOM) Student Osteopathic Medical Association (SOMA) hosted their first-ever 5k run to benefit the PCOM Hearts Student-Run Clinics, located throughout the Philadelphia area. To ensure participant safety, the event was hosted virtually. Forty-three runners, made up of PCOM students and community members, ran over the weekend and raised a total of $620. This total was matched by SOMA, making the donation amount $1,240. Read more about the event and its benefit to the community.
DMU Students Help Distribute Fresh Produce to People in Need
Des Moines University’s osteopathic medical students volunteered this month to support Operation: Fresh Produce Drop, an effort by the central Iowa nonprofit Eat Greater Des Moines (EGDM). In partnership with Des Moines Area Religious Council and with the help of DMU students and other volunteers, EGDM is distributing these boxes every Thursday this month to its partners, including churches, refugee/immigrant communities, in-home daycare centers and individuals who are not traditionally able to access emergency food resources. Read more about the food drive.
Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine SOMA Chapter's School Supply Drive Exceeds Expectations
The Nova Southeastern University Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine (NSU-KPCOM) Student Osteopathic Medical Association (SOMA) chapter at the NSU Tampa Bay Regional Campus exceeded expectations with its school supply drive for the Chi Chi Rodriguez Foundation. When SOMA reached out to the foundation and found it needed various supplies such as sanitizers, cleaning supplies and masks, SOMA decided to hold a school supply drive for the students. Read more about SOMA’s generous support of foundation.