Students Attend a Surgery Club Workshop, Host a Health Sciences Career Day and More

UNTHSC/TCOM Hosting 11th Annual LMSA Southwest Regional Conference

The University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth - Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine (UNTHSC/TCOM) is hosting the 11th Annual Latino Medical Student Association Southwest Regional Conference from February 3-5. The conference will feature the first female and Hispanic U.S. Surgeon General as the keynote speaker, Antonia Novello, MD, on February 4.

“I think it’s important for UNTHSC/TCOM to be hosting this conference because it shows a continual commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion,” said fourth-year UNTHSC/TCOM student Victoria Ibarra-Aleman. “Actions speak louder than words, and this is the action we love to see.” Read more about the conference and hear from more UNTHSC/TCOM LMSA members.

New Assistant Vice President for Research and Sponsored Programs Will Play Vital Role

Talal El-Hefnawy, MD, PhD, is West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine (WVSOM)’s new assistant vice president for research and sponsored programs. The longtime educator and researcher, whose path has taken him from Egypt to Finland to Washington, DC, and now to West Virginia, will lead an effort to expand WVSOM’s research efforts at a time when scholarly activity is increasingly important to the success of students. Read more about Dr. El-Hefnawy’s background and what drew him to WVSOM.

AZCOM Providing Healthcare Experiences for High Schoolers

Midwestern University’s Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine (AZCOM) students and faculty are playing a key role in the University’s annual Health Sciences Career Day for High School Students, which takes place in February and provides high schoolers with interactive presentations and hands-on labs that explore career paths in osteopathic medicine as well as more than 20 other healthcare professions. More than 900 high school students from around Arizona will visit the Midwestern University Glendale Campus for these experiences. AZCOM students and faculty will be among the volunteers acting as mentors, helping high schoolers understand the path and prerequisites they need to pursue a career as a DO, and hosting labs in OMM, surgical skills, emergency medicine, ultrasound, anatomy, vital signs, medical simulation, venipuncture and more.

VCOM-Carolinas Pharmacology Clinical Experience

Photo: VCOM-Carolinas students working on a manikin in the Simulation Center.

In late January, Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine - Carolinas Campus (VCOM-Carolinas) students participated in a medication management simulated experience in the College's state-of-the-art simulation center. Students gained valuable pharmacology clinical experience during the event, which also involved standardized patients and outside pharmacologists. View more photos from the event and more stories like this on VCOM-Carolinas’ Facebook.

VCOM-Louisiana Students Participate in Highway Clean Up

Photo: VCOM-Louisiana students pose by their ‘Adopt A Road’ sign while picking up litter.

Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine Louisiana Campus (VCOM-Louisiana) students, led by the Student Government Association, adopted a section of road in Monroe, Louisiana, near the VCOM-Louisiana campus. Students hold a “highway clean up” event twice a month. During these events, students gather to pick up litter along a three-mile stretch of road. Participants can earn TOUCH hours for the time spent helping keep the community clean. View more photos from the event and more stories like this on VCOM-Louisiana’s Facebook.

VCOM-Auburn Surgery Club Holds Skills Workshop

Photo: VCOM-Auburn students practiced casting in the orthopedic skills portion of the workshop.

Students brushed up on their skills at a Surgery Club workshop, held by the ACOS-MSS chapter on the VCOM-Auburn campus. Stations were set up in different parts of the building where students practiced airway management, stopping the bleed, casting and laparoscopic surgery. View more photos from the event and more stories like this on VCOM-Auburn’s Facebook.

NBOME President Updates Students and Faculty About Licensure Pathway

Photo (left to right): David McCleskey, PCOM Board of Trustees member, John R. Gimpel, DO, president and CEO, NBOME, Andrea Mann, DO, PCOM Georgia dean and chief academic officer and Mohamad Wehbe (DO '25), DO Council president.

Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (PCOM) graduate John R. Gimpel, DO ’88, president and CEO of the National Board of Osteopathic Medical Examiners (NBOME), visited PCOM Georgia and PCOM South Georgia recently to update students and faculty members about recent developments at the organization.

Dr. Gimpel explained that for osteopathic medical students, the NBOME provides a pathway to physician licensure. The American Osteopathic Association’s Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation requires that medical students and residents take and pass the COMLEX-USA exam series—the Comprehensive Osteopathic Medical Licensing exams. The exams have three levels and are taken following the first and second years of medical school. The third exam is offered during residency training. Passing results are required for DOs and accepted by all state licensing boards. Read more about the visit.