Students Deliver CPR Training, Host Health Fair at Local Mosque and Advocate at the Utah State Capitol
Published March 17, 2022
Campus Roundup Inside OME
TouroCOM Twins on a Mission to Serve
Last summer, Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine - New York (TouroCOM-NY) Middletown Campus twins Kimberly and Bridget Brafi were excited to be starting the school’s doctorate of osteopathic medicine and master’s programs, respectively. But there was a wrinkle: they needed permission to skip orientation because they’d already committed to hosting a mentoring
session in Virginia for youth on the topic of career readiness.
As things turned out, TouroCOM-NY administrators not only approved the request—they went further and met with the twins and community leaders from their church to brainstorm how the parties might work together down the road.
“They’re very involved in mentoring young African Americans who come from disadvantaged backgrounds. They’re very good role models,” explained Assistant Dean of Students Francis Rose, Jr. “We met to see how we can get the community involved with the school and vice versa. Heads were spinning because we were shooting so many ideas at them. What they do is aligned with our mission.
AZCOM/MWU Brings Back Ultrafest After Pandemic Hiatus
More than 100 Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine of Midwestern University (AZCOM/MWU) students, faculty and community partners met on the Glendale campus for a day dedicated to the use of ultrasound techniques
in diagnostic and procedural medical practice. The keynote presentation was delivered by Thomas Whiting, DO ‘16, on the value of bedside ultrasound. Participants then took part in a series of workshops including eFAST practice,
vascular access, obstetrical ultrasound, fluid draws and more, followed by the SONO WARS student competition.
Noorda-COM Day at the Utah Legislature
Students and administrators from the Noorda College of Osteopathic Medicine (Noorda-COM) recently spent a day at the Utah State Capitol visiting with legislators, participating in floor sessions and hosting a breakfast. The
event gave Noorda-COM students an opportunity to share information about the college with key legislative leaders and also provided a chance for them to witness the legislative process in action. Legislators enjoyed hearing about students’ experiences
and plans for their future. The event also allowed an opportunity for students to express their support for House Bill 295, which would provide state funding to create new and expand existing medical residency programs in Utah. The bill
successfully passed the legislature and is awaiting the Governor’s signature. Read this story and more on Noorda-COM’s Facebook.
CCOM/MWU Students Encourage Interest in Healthcare Careers
Students at Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine of Midwestern University (CCOM/MWU) presented a unique learning opportunity designed to introduce 70 undergraduate and high school students from underrepresented and minority communities to the many aspects of health science careers through virtual lectures, interactive demonstrations and scientific exploration.
CCOM/MWU students along with students from other academic programs at Midwestern University presented a virtual mini-medical school on five consecutive Saturdays in January and February to participants from diverse backgrounds representing numerous high schools and colleges across the Chicagoland area. Read more about the event from the student organizers.
Two WVSOM Alumni Add Their Names to West Virginia Executive Magazine’s Healthcare Hall of Fame
Catherine “Mindy” Chua, DO ‘01,
and Tom Takubo, DO ‘99, along with eight other healthcare professionals, were inducted to the hall of fame during an awards program on February 22, 2022 in Charleston, West Virginia. Each award recipient’s story can be
found in the Winter 2022 edition of West Virginia Executive.
WVSOM President James W. Nemitz, PhD, paid tribute to Chua and Takubo, as well as the other recipients, at the awards ceremony. “You are the true healthcare heroes on the front lines every day,” Nemitz said. “The challenges of the past two years have tested all of us, and all the inductees honored today are inspirational in their dedication to serving others.” Read more about the recognition and Drs. Chua and Takubo.
KCU-COM Returns to Serving Abroad After Two-Year Hiatus
Improving the well-being of the communities we serve is Kansas City University College of Osteopathic Medicine (KCU-COM)’s mission, locally and globally. Gautam Desai, DO, professor and chair of primary care, and 40 third- and fourth-year osteopathic medical students just returned from providing care in Guatemala, continuing a 21-year tradition of conducting medical outreach all over the world. KCU-COM was unable to send students abroad last year due to the pandemic, so returning after two years is especially satisfying. Watch the coverage from a local news station.
PCOM Student Awarded 2022 McGruder-Knox Scholarship
Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (PCOM) student Beverly Andre was awarded the 2022 McGruder-Knox Scholarship by the
Medical Society of Eastern Pennsylvania. This award was presented at the annual Mercy-Douglass Lectureship, which honors African American physicians, nurses and patients. Andre was nominated by PCOM’s Office of Diversity and Community Relations
for her academic excellence and leadership experience.
“It’s good to know that the things I’ve been doing are not going unnoticed,” shared Andre, who currently serves as president of PCOM’s Student National Medical Association. “As an immigrant and first-generation medical student, there are not a lot of people in my shoes. Growing up, I often served as a translator for family members receiving medical care. As I look to the future, I want to be an advocate for patients, helping them to navigate the medical space.” Andre is also a member of the American Medical Women’s Association and the Global Surgery Club. Read more about Andre and her leadership at PCOM.
PCOM Georgia Students Deliver CPR Training to Community
Photo: Jessica Myara teaches a citizen National Two Step CPR.
There was a lot of life-saving learning taking place at the Mall of Georgia in Buford, Georgia, in February. Twenty-five PCOM Georgia Campus (PCOM Georgia) students volunteered their time to teach community members National Two Step CPR from 12:00-4:00
PM. Second-year medical student Brittney Henderson led the event. She said, “National Two Step CPR is an important training that saves lives, and we are so proud to serve our community.”
Calling the event “a total success,” second-year medical student Sahara Peters, DO Council secretary, said that nearly 175 people, including entire families, received this important instruction and practiced on life-like task trainers on loan from the college’s Simulation Center. Read more about the event.
ICOM Hosts Second Annual Community Health Fair
Photo (left to right): Hannah Firth, OMS II; William Vu, OMS I; Kelly Shaffer, OMS II; Rachael Powell, OMS I; and Quinn Bushman, OMS II.
The Idaho College of Osteopathic Medicine (ICOM) hosted its second annual community health fair on March 5. Participants were able to obtain health education, meet area providers and enjoy an afternoon of wellness.
Organized by ICOM’s Community Outreach Committee and Student Government Association, participants received a complimentary physical exam that included blood pressure and heart rate screenings. Hearing and eye exams were offered, as well as osteopathic manipulations. Additionally, Two Step CPR (hands-only) training was offered. Read more about the fair and view pictures.
RVUCOM's Dr. Jacquelyn Waller Selected for NAOME Fellowship
Jacquelyn Waller, PharmD, BCPS, director of faculty development at Rocky Vista University College of Osteopathic Medicine (RVUCOM), accepted a fellowship with the National Academy of Osteopathic Medical Educators (NAOME), an organization that provides "role modeling and support for educators in osteopathic education programs." She will be joining a "community of outstanding educators" that have "met rigorous standards of academic excellence," and will be honored by NAOME during a virtual meeting on March 21. Congratulate and share Dr. Waller's recognition on RVUCOM's Twitter.
OMS IV Edwin McCray Named Campbell Medicine 2022 Student Doctor of the Year
The Campbell University Jerry M. Wallace School of Osteopathic Medicine (CUSOM)’s Student DO of the Year (SDOY) Selection Committee announced
Edwin McCray as the 2022 Student Doctor of the Year.
“We are looking for the whole package,” said Bonnie Brenseke, DVM, PhD, DACVP, chair of the SDOY Committee. “We’re looking for someone who has shown dedication to their community, participated in community outreach, someone who’s shown dedication to the osteopathic medical profession … there is no doubt that the winner of the Student Doctor of the Year should be Edwin McCray.”
Faculty members and fellow medical students, many of whom commented on McCray as a great mentor and role model, echoed these sentiments sharing that McCray was an extremely well-rounded candidate. Along with dedication to the osteopathic profession and commitment to community service, the SDOY committee also looks for students who have excelled in areas of leadership, professionalism and the embodiment of the osteopathic philosophy. Read more about McCray and his leadership at CUSOM.
VCOM-Carolinas Receives DHEC COVID-19 Community Hero Award
Photo: VCOM-Carolinas Dean and faculty gathered out of doors with a representative from DHEC to accept the award.
The Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine - Carolinas Campus (VCOM-Carolinas) was recognized by the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) for its ongoing COVID-19 vaccination efforts with their Community Hero Award. The college, which has vaccinated people in its own clinic and across the state using its Mobile Medical Unit, was given the award on January 10, 2022. Read about this story and more on VCOM-Carolinas’ Facebook.
VCOM-Louisiana Students Host Donor Event
Photo (left to right): VCOM-Louisiana second-year medical student Kayla Watson, TeAir Douglas from Be The Match, and second-year medical students Shelby Deynzer and Amanda Wright.
The Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine - Louisiana Campus (VCOM-Louisiana) chapters of the American College of Surgeons and the Student Osteopathic Medical Association hosted an event in early March to encourage faculty, staff and students to join the Be The Match donor registry, one of the most diverse marrow and blood stem cell donor registries in the world. A total of 56 new donors were registered during the event.
Goodlett Honored with VCOM-Auburn Researcher of the Year Award
Photo (left to right): Michael Goodlett, MD, VCOM-Auburn sports medicine chair and associate professor for sports medicine and Kenny Brock, DVM, MS, PhD, VCOM-Auburn associate dean for biomedical affairs and research.
Michael Goodlett, MD, Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine - Auburn Campus (VCOM-Auburn) sports medicine chair and associate professor for sports medicine, was recently honored with the Researcher of the Year Award at the February 18, 2022 Via Research Recognition Day. The criteria for the VCOM-Auburn Researcher of the Year honor includes maintaining an extramurally funded research program, proven scholarly output, successfully leveraging REAP funding into extramural awards and actively engaging students in research programs. View this story and more on VCOM-Auburn’s Facebook.
VCOM-Virginia MMSA Students Hold Health Fair at Local Mosque
Photo caption: VCOM-Virginia second-year medical students Sara Majeed, president of MMSA; Getey Anwar, vice president of MMSA; Hameed Salah, treasurer of MMSA; Amina Benguedouar; Fatima Siddiqui; Sofia Jamal; and Marium Hussein, RN, at the MMSA health fair event on March 4.
The Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine - Virginia Campus (VCOM-Virginia) Medical Muslim Student Association (MMSA) held a health fair at the local mosque for the Blacksburg, Virginia community on Friday, March 4, 2022. The medical students and physicians provided OMM, health screenings, consults and educational discussions. OMM treatments were also made available by Mukarram Razvi, DO, and VCOM associate dean for clinical affairs Sophie Abraham-Hardee, DO/PhD, FACOP, FAAP, CS.
MMSA at VCOM-Virginia strives to make the medical community more aware of health issues unique to Muslim patients. MMSA brings together students with Muslim VCOM-Virginia alumni and medical professionals. The group serves the community through outreach efforts and education that improves healthcare for everyone. Read more about the event on VCOM-Virginia’s Facebook.
DMU-COM’s New Campus Going Up, Up, Up
This month, construction partner RDG Planning and Design created a “walkthrough” video of
the Edge of Advancement Building on the new campus of Des Moines University College of Osteopathic Medicine (DMU-COM) in West Des Moines, Iowa. One of several facilities under construction at the 88-acre site, the building stands on what is known
to geologists as the “edge of advancement” of the Wisconsin Glacier, which moved across North America more than 10,000 years ago. DMU-COM is on schedule to move to its new campus in 2023. Read more and view additional videos, photos and renderings.
Touro University Nevada’s DO Students Take Top Two Spots in CCMS Research Poster Competition
Touro University Nevada College of Osteopathic Medicine (TUNCOM) was well-represented during the annual Clark County Medical Society Research Symposium as two students from TUNCOM took the top two spots in the research project competition.
Second-year students Terilyn Viray and Ryan Becker won first and second place respectively in the research contest that featured presentations from medical students across the Las Vegas Valley.
Viray, along with classmates Paul Gentle and Nicole Guzolek worked with Drs. Cheryl Vanier and Amina Sadik on the first-place project called, “Medical and Allied Health Students Perspectives of Preparedness to Treat Diverse Populations.”
Becker placed second in the competition for his project, “Delayed Care for Cardiac and Stroke Patients During the Pandemic” which focused on how the pandemic affected the time it took for patients to present to the emergency department for stroke and heart attack symptoms.
DSWOP Endows Drs. Dralves and Jessica Edwards Scholarship
Honoring one of the pioneering families at the University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth - Texas College of Osteopathic
Medicine (UNTHSC/TCOM), the Dallas Southwest Osteopathic Physicians, Inc. (DSWOP) has endowed a scholarship honoring Drs. Dralves and Jessica Edwards.
The fully funded $25,000 scholarship was generously donated by DSWOP, who will be the presenting sponsor of UNTHSC/TCOM’s 50th Anniversary celebration in May.
DSWOP’s generous support of UNTHSC/TCOM over the years underscores the organization’s commitment to osteopathic medicine, and this new scholarship highlights the collective effort of the DSWOP Board to advance Diversity, Equity and Inclusion within the medical community.