Celebrating Educating Leaders Award Winners and Featured Council Updates

Along with being an interactive, informative and inspirational experience, Educating Leaders, AACOM’s annual conference, allows the association’s councils and groups to share ideas and meaningful updates in their work and mission, and serves as a platform for recognizing individuals for their outstanding achievements and contributions to the osteopathic medical education (OME) community. AACOM was proud to honor the following awardees at Educating leaders 2021.

Dale S. Dodson Award

Created in memory of American Osteopathic Association past-president and OME innovator Dale S. Dodson, DO, this annual award recognizes a current or past CEO or CAO of an osteopathic medical college who has made significant contributions to the advancement and support of OME.

• The Dale S. Dodson Award went to Dixie J. Tooke-Rawlins, DO, president and provost of the Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine – Virginia Campus.

Robert A. Kistner Award

The Robert A. Kistner Award is presented each year on behalf of the AACOM Board of Deans. Individuals who receive this award are nominated and selected in recognition of their significant contributions to OME throughout their careers.

• The Robert A. Kistner Award winner was Boyd R. Buser, DO, clinical professor at the University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine and former dean at the University of Pikeville - Kentucky College of Osteopathic Medicine.

William D. Miller Award

The William D. Miller Award is presented each year on behalf of the AACOM Board of Deans. Recipients of this award are nominated and selected in recognition of their extraordinary contributions to the advancement of the osteopathic profession.

• This year’s William D. Miller Award was given posthumously to Peter (Pete) Wertheim, MS, DHL, former executive director of the Arizona Osteopathic Medical Association.

COSGP Student DO of the Year and COSGP Student Researcher of the Year Awards

The Council of Osteopathic Student Government Presidents (COSGP) is the official national student leadership council of AACOM and is the only organization that represents all osteopathic medical students. COSGP is comprised of the student government/council presidents from each of the nation's osteopathic medical colleges. Each year they select the National Student DO of the Year and the National Student Researcher of the Year.

• The National Student DO of the Year was Teekz Yenpasook, a third-year student at the Touro University College of Osteopathic Medicine - California.

• The National Student Researcher of the Year was Vishal Samboju, a third-year student at the A.T. Still University of Health Sciences School of Osteopathic Medicine in Arizona.

SOME Innovation in Medical Education Awards

AACOM’s Society of Osteopathic Medical Educators (SOME) seeks to promote the continuous collaborative improvement of OME. This year’s SOME Innovation in Medical Education award winners were:

• Glenn Davis, MS, associate professor at the Touro University College of Osteopathic Medicine -California, who was recognized in the Innovation in the Development of Enduring Educational Materials category for SCOR – An Innovative Osteopathic Core Competency Assessment System.

• Jennifer Dennis, PhD, MS, associate professor of anatomy at the Kansas City University College of Osteopathic Medicine - Joplin, who was recognized in the Innovation in Basic Science Medical Education category for The HistoHustle: A Supplemental Histology Review to Enrich Student Learning.

AOGME Leadership and Collegium of Fellows Awards

The Assembly of Osteopathic Graduate Medical Educators (AOGME) is a professional group that consists of individuals working in osteopathic graduate medical education. This year, three educators received the AOGME Leadership Award:

• Teresa K. Braden, DO, MBA, FACOI, FACP, FAAEM, chief of medicine, director of medical education and DIO, program director internal medicine residency program, and S.C.E.M.A. emergency physician at the Parkview Medical Center
  
  
• Joanne K. Baker, DO, FACOI, FAODME, FHM, FACP, Western Michigan University Homer Stryker M.D. School of Medicine professor of internal medicine, program director of internal medicine, and director of osteopathic medical education
  
  
• Oliver W. Hayes, DO, MPH, associate dean of graduate medical education at the Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine at New Mexico State University

The AOGME Collegium of Fellows Award went to Brandon Isaacs, DO, FAAFP, program director and DIO at the Central Washington Family Medicine Residency.

• Faculty Poster First-Place: Contact-based NAMI Program Has Sustained Impact On Students’ Perspectives On Psychiatric Illness

Presenting
Julia R. Van Liew, PhD Des Moines University College of Osteopathic Medicine

Not presenting
Chunfa Jie, PhD, Des Moines University College of Osteopathic Medicine
Sonia Kumar, OMS-II, Des Moines University College of Osteopathic Medicine
Maximillian Striepe, OMS-II, Des Moines University College of Osteopathic Medicine

• Student/Fellow Poster First-Place: The Effect Of Drawing Microbiology Concepts Before And After Interrupted Learning

Presenting
Robert Waters, MS, Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine

Not presenting
Delbert Abi Abdallah, PhD, Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine
Mark A.W. Andrews, PhD, Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine
Nancy Carty, PhD, Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine
Christopher C. Keller, PhD, Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine

AACOM Excellence in Communications Awards

Every year, AACOM celebrates the significant marketing and communications campaigns and efforts of our member colleges of osteopathic medicine across 10 distinct categories. Known as the Excellence in Communications Awards, we added something new this year called the COVID-19 pivot category, as our colleges have had to continue to respond and adapt at every level to the COVID-19 pandemic and its many challenges. We are honored to recognize the following first-place award winners: 

• Student Recruitment:

  Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences College of Osteopathic Medicine for their Summer To-Do List Mailer

• Advertising:

  Campbell University Jerry M. Wallace School of Osteopathic Medicine for their COVID-19 Public Service Announcement

• Alumni Development:

  New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine for their Stethoscope Donation Program

• Annual Report:

  Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences College of Osteopathic Medicine for their Prescription for a Healthy Future 2019 Impact Report

• COVID-19 pivot category (tie):

  Campbell University Jerry M. Wallace School of Osteopathic Medicine for their Class of 2020 Graduation

  University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine for their Class of 2020 Graduation 

• Feature Story:

  University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine for a piece titled Racism & COVID

• Infographic:

  Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine for their Monthly Info On the Go Series

• Serial Publication: 

  Nova Southeastern University Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine for their COM Outlook quarterly newsletter

• Social Media Campaign:

  Rocky Vista University College of Osteopathic Medicine for their RVUCOM Virtual Health Fair Social Media Promotion

• Best Video:
  University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth - Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine for their digital portrayal of the Drs. Dralves and Jessica Edwards Scholarship

AACOM Council Highlights

AACOM councils support the work of our association on behalf of all member colleges. Educating Leaders provides a platform for each council to educate attendees about their work, mission and topics relevant to OME. Some council sessions from Educating Leaders 2021 include:

• Assembly of Osteopathic Graduate Medical Educators Residents and Fellows Council:
  The Effects Of COVID-19 on Learners Across the Training Continuum

• Council on Student Affairs:
  Medical Student Professionalism: Moving from Punitive to Developmental

• Council on Residency Placement:
  Navigating the Match during COVID-19: Perspectives from Students, Advisors and Programs

• Council on Diversity and Equity:
  AACOM Council on Diversity and Equity: Showcase of Initiatives

• Council of Osteopathic Medical Admissions Officers:
  The Effective Use of Fee Waivers to Diversify an Applicant Pool

• Society of Osteopathic Medical Educators :
  Professional Development in Medical Education: Opportunities for Growth

• Council of Osteopathic Student Government Presidents:
  Creating Engagement in a Virtual World

• Educational Council on Osteopathic Principles:
  Touch in the COVID Era: How Has It Changed?

• Council for Information Technology , Council of Osteopathic Researchers , and Technology in Medical Education Adaptive Workgroup:
  Technology in Medical Education: The Impact of COVID-19

If you would like to become involved in any of AACOM’s councils, please reach out to our council liaisons to learn more about the application process and requirements.