Students Inspire Youth at Medical Careers Day, Participate in ‘Mini Match Day,’ Train Essential Hands-On Skills and More
Published March 21, 2023
Campus Roundup Inside OME
KCU-COM Student Doctor Honored with COVID-19 Hero Award
In recognition of his extraordinary efforts to address pandemic-related needs in his community, the American Osteopathic Foundation honored first-year Kansas City University College of Osteopathic Medicine (KCU-COM) medical student Jad Imad with the 2022 COVID-19 Osteopathic Hero Award.
A native of Byblos, Lebanon, first-year student doctor Imad has vivid memories of brutal terrorist attacks and wars. Living through war, witnessing the suffering around him and seeing the impact that rescue workers had on the people of Lebanon inspired his decision at a young age to study medicine. At age 17, Imad moved to Cape Cod, Massachusetts, and began pursuing that dream.
During his undergraduate years, Imad began working as an emergency medical technician. It was a job he loved because it offered daily opportunities to help others and save lives. Then, on March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a global pandemic. Read more about Imad and his tireless work throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
CHSU-COM Students Inspire Youth at Medical Careers Day
Photo: Representatives from the CHSU-COM organized a NARCAN® activity presented by (pictured left to right): Joseph Pool, BS, a substance use navigator from the CA Bridge Navigator Program; CHSU-COM third-year osteopathic medical students Volodia Muradyan, Megan Chisesi and Colin Carpenter; and Francisco Ibarra, PharmD, emergency medicine clinical pharmacist at community regional medical center and adjunct assistant professor at CHSU-COM.
Third-year osteopathic medical students from the California Health Sciences University College of Osteopathic Medicine (CHSU-COM) organized a NARCAN activity for more than 100 high school students in a medically underserved area. They discussed the roles of physicians, pharmacists, substance use navigators and bystanders during an opioid overdose and explained the dangers of fentanyl, other opioids and drugs. Read more about the event and what it meant to the students.
Rising Above Challenges, Members of UNTHSC-TCOM’s Class of 2023 Ready for Match Day: Rachael Haines
Everyone knows it, medical school is as tough as it gets. It takes a total commitment, from the voluminous amount of work to the time spent studying, on rotations, preparing for tests and taking board exams. Now add being a mother of four boys and wife into the mix at the age of 45, and you meet University of North Texas Health Science Center-Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine (UTNHSC-TCOM)’s Rachael Haines.
Her medical school dreams began in 1996 after graduating college from Brigham Young University (BYU), and now 27 years later, she is on the cusp of achieving that dream. Following her graduation from BYU, her husband joined the Air Force and they began moving around the country, first Texas, then Oklahoma, Washington, Hawaii, Ohio, Virginia and then back to Oklahoma.
They also had four boys along the way. The opportunity for medical school at that time was just not feasible and Haines knew it. Read more about Haines’ journey to medical school.
Applications Open for PCOM Georgia Opportunities Academy
The Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine Georgia Campus (PCOM Georgia) is accepting applications for the PCOM Georgia Opportunities Academy, sponsored by the Office of Diversity and Community Partnerships. The academy is set for June 26-30, 2023, from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM ET, on the PCOM Georgia campus in Suwanee. This free program is open to rising 9th, 10th and 11th grade Gwinnett County area high school students who have an interest in healthcare.
Christy Finley, EdD, diversity and inclusion program coordinator, said, “In many instances, high school students may be limited in their exposure to various areas within the healthcare field and others may not realize they want to pursue a career in healthcare. The academy is a unique opportunity to connect high school students with current and future healthcare professionals who can provide them with the tools necessary to determine if healthcare is the right career for them.”
The aim of the five-day camp is to introduce students who identify as African-American, Latinx or are traditionally underrepresented in medicine to college readiness and careers in healthcare. Students attending the academy will engage in career exploration, practice critical thinking skills and collaboration by engaging in problem-based learning and develop the skills and self-confidence needed to successfully apply to and navigate college.
Spartanburg County Legislative Delegation Breakfast Held at VCOM-Carolinas
The Spartanburg County Legislative Delegation Breakfast was held at Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine Carolinas Campus (VCOM-Carolinas) on Friday, March 3, 2023. Officials attended the "Coffee with the Dean" event to learn about VCOM-Carolinas, its role in the rejuvenation of Spartanburg's Northside and osteopathic medicine. They were also treated to a student demonstration of the college's high-tech Simulation Center. View more photos and read more stories like this on VCOM-Carolinas’ Facebook.
VCOM-Louisiana Class of 2025 Celebrates ‘Mini Match Day’
In recognition of receiving their third-year clinical rotation site placements, the Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine Louisiana Campus (VCOM-Louisiana) Class of 2025 hosted ‘Mini Match Day.’ The event allowed students to celebrate with their classmates and enjoy refreshments. Students placed their headshots on poster boards indicating which core site they would be rotating at in the fall. Mini Match Day marks yet another educational milestone for the second class to attend VCOM’s new Louisiana campus. View more photos from the event on VCOM-Louisiana’s Facebook.
VCOM-Virginia Students Train on Essential Hands-On Procedures
Photo: VCOM-Virginia students practice one of the most essential skills any doctor can learn–scrubbing in!
Much of the work physicians do involves hands-on procedures on patients and those procedures can be a matter of life and death. So how do you safely train future physicians to do this incredibly important work? Lots of labs and simulations. Last week was busy for Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine Virginia Campus (VCOM-Virginia) first- and second-year students. In their clinical procedural skills lab, the Class of 2026 practiced lumbar punctures. A workshop hosted by VCOM-Virginia sports medicine fellows gave students the chance to practice knee and shoulder injections. The Class of 2025 worked on suturing skills and learned one of the most fundamental skills of all: how to effectively scrub in. View more photos from the week on VCOM-Virginia’s Facebook.
