Students Receive Scholarships, Win Research Competitions and Promote Health in Underserved Communities
Published December 03, 2020
You'll also read about KCU-COM's utilization of virtual reality to safely conduct clinical learning, DMU-COM's efforts to help students match successfully, WVSOM's faculty and staff recognition for advancing rural health, an ATSU-SOMA alumnus's work to serve those from Indigenous populations and more.
NYITCOM-Arkansas Conducts Free COVID-19 Events in Rural Arkansas
Photo: NYITCOM Program Project Coordinator Jennifer Wharton and Student Doctor Theresa Vu process a testing kit at a free COVID-19 testing event held in Marianna, Arkansas in November.
The New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine at Arkansas State University (NYITCOM-Arkansas) received a Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act grant through the Arkansas Minority Health Commission to conduct free COVID-19 testing in rural and underserved communities in east Arkansas. The first round of events took place the week of November 16. Event locations were chosen based in part on the percentage of people from racial and ethnic minority populations in the area, as data show that COVID-19 disproportionately affects Black and Indigenous individuals and people of color. Learn more about this important testing initiative.
LUCOM Achieves Graduate Medical Education Milestone
Photo: Aerial view of Liberty University’s Center for Medical and Health Sciences
Liberty University College of Osteopathic Medicine (LUCOM) Graduate Medical Education Services-sponsored Osteopathic Neuromusculoskeletal Medicine (ONMM) Residency Program was recently awarded the ability to begin training first-year ONMM residents by the Accreditation Council of Graduate Medical Education. Learn more about this new residency program.
PCOM Opens Food Pantries at Area Healthcare Centers
Partnership with Bebashi offers support for food insecure individuals and families.
The Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (PCOM) has partnered with Bebashi – Transition to Hope, a full-service HIV/AIDS nonprofit organization, to open food pantries at two of PCOM’s Healthcare Center locations in Philadelphia. “As a key social determinant of health, food insecurity continues to be a major issue affecting patient outcomes,” said PCOM President and CEO Jay S. Feldstein, DO. “Our partnership with Bebashi addresses a critical need in Philadelphia, while also supporting the basic healthcare needs of our patients.” Learn more about the partnership.
ATSU-SOMA Alumnus Works to Bridge the Gap for Indigenous People
In honor of Native American Heritage Month, Mitchell Ornelas, DO, ’19, (at left) returned to A.T. Still University-School of Osteopathic Medicine in Arizona (ATSU-SOMA) to discuss his personal mission to serve the Indigenous population and provide guidance for others who share a similar mission. Learn more about Dr. Ornelas’ presentation.
DMU-COM Prepares DO Students for the ‘New Normal’ of Residency Application
Everyone in the osteopathic (DO) and allopathic (MD) medical worlds knew that spring 2020 was going to usher in a new single accreditation system for graduate medical education in the United States for osteopathic and allopathic medical school graduates. What people didn’t know was that spring 2020 also would usher in a surging pandemic that has drastically altered the residency application process. Fortunately for Des Moines University College of Osteopathic Medicine (DMU-COM)’s osteopathic medical students, the COM has implemented several strategies to prepare students for success in this yet-another “new normal.” Learn more about DMU-COM’s efforts to help students match successfully.
PCOM Georgia Students Prepare to Practice Statewide
Four-week clerkships allow PCOM Georgia medical students to learn under the guidance of physicians in a variety of specialties and locations.
From Dalton to Valdosta, PCOM Georgia's clinical education footprint crosses the state of Georgia and beyond. About 260 medical students wearing white coats emblazoned with PCOM Georgia's flame logo can be found in large and small hospitals, clinics, healthcare centers and private practices where they are receiving clinical instruction. Learn more about the rotation experiences of PCOM Georgia’s students.
VCOM-Auburn Student Organizations Host Trunk-or-Treat
VCOM-Auburn students give out candy to families in a fun, socially distant way
On Friday, October 23, the Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine - Auburn (VCOM-Auburn)'s American College of Osteopathic Pediatricians and Student Association of Military Osteopathic Physicians and Surgeons student organizations, along with other campus organizations, hosted a drive through Halloween event. Student organizers sought to hold a free, community event where kids could celebrate Halloween inside their vehicles. Area families were invited to drive through the VCOM-Auburn campus parking lot to collect candy, play games and show off costumes in this safe, contactless event.
VCOM-Carolinas Student Named First Feldman Scholarship Recipient
Congratulations to Jessica Jordan, (at left) VCOM-Carolinas Class of 2021 student leader, for being named the first recipient of the Edward M. Feldman, DO Memorial Scholarship Fund. Jessica is the 2020 VCOM-Carolinas Student Doctor of the Year and Co-Founder of PRIDE In Healthcare VCOM. The scholarship is named in memory of Dr. Edward Feldman and awarded to a second-, third- or fourth-year medical student who is either a veteran, spouse or child of a veteran.
VCOM-Virginia Hosts Harvest Festival 2020
VCOM-Virginia students enjoying time together with their furry friends during the Harvest Festival
VCOM-Virginia’s Student Services, Student Government Association and Student Osteopathic Medical Association hosted the VCOM Harvest Festival on November 4. The event allowed students to safely socialize while enjoying a fun study break. Learn more about the event and view additional event photos.
WVSOM Faculty and Staff Members Win Rural Awards
From left: Bridgett Morrison,
DO, and Sally Hurst Two West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine (WVSOM) employees were recognized for their contributions to rural health in West Virginia. During the West Virginia Rural Health Association’s West Virginia Virtual Rural Health Conference, Bridgett Morrison, DO, received an award for Outstanding Rural Health Provider, and Sally Hurst, director of outreach programs for WVSOM’s Center for Rural and Community Health, received the 2020 Excellence in Rural Health Award. Learn more about their achievements.
RVUCOM Students Awarded Diversity Scholarship
From left: Elizabeth Kuge, OMS-III, and Yuri Anderson, OMS-II, RVUCOM
Elizabeth Kuge, OMS-III, and Yuri Anderson, OMS-II, have been named the recipients of the Rocky Vista University (RVU) Diversity Scholarship for 2020 – 2021. Student doctors Kuge and Anderson demonstrated a commitment to promoting inclusivity and RVU's core value of diversity. Their work in this regard, through awareness events and other initiatives, is part of RVU’s larger effort to combat racism and discrimination. Both students will receive a $2,000 scholarship from the RVU Education & Research Foundation. Learn more about Kuge and Anderson’s accomplishment and help share their success.
ATSU-KCOM Student Wins First Place in Research Competition
A.T. Still University-Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine (ATSU-KCOM) student Shery Sabbah, OMS-IV, was awarded first place for her research project, “The LABOR Study: Labor Length and Birth Outcomes Osteopathic Research.” Presenting at the American College of Osteopathic Obstetricians and Gynecologists, Sabbah won in the National Student Society Poster Competition at the 2020 Advances in Women’s Health research event. Learn more about Sabbah’s award-winning project.
TUCOM-CA Health Students Administer Flu Shots to Underserved Communities
Students from Touro University California participate in one of nearly a half dozen free flu shot clinics in Vallejo, California.
Students from Touro’s College of Osteopathic Medicine - California (TUCOM-CA), as well as College of Pharmacy, School of Nursing and College of Education and Health Sciences, collaborated with Walgreens, Sutter Solano and other partners to offer a series of free flu shot clinics in the most underserved neighborhoods of Vallejo, California. With drive-thru access, students were able to serve nearly 100 individuals at each shot site over a period of several weeks. Learn more about the interdisciplinary flu clinic.
KCU-COM Turns to VR Training During Pandemic
Brandon Bishop, KCU-COM student
Medical schools are turning to virtual reality (VR) and video games while social distancing measures continue to separate medical students from patients during the COVID-19 pandemic. Darrin D'Agostino, DO, MPH, MBA, Kansas City University College of Osteopathic Medicine (KCU-COM)’s executive dean and vice provost for health affairs, and KCU-COM students Brandon Bishop and Jamie Weber, shared their experiences with VR technology with Lifewire, a national technology news publication. Learn more about KCU-COM’s use of VR to safely replace some clinical learning experiences.