Students Earn Community Service Fellowships, Participate in Welcome Week Triathlon, Receive White Coats and More

Two CCOM Students Earn Prestigious Community Service Fellowships

Two students from the Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine at Midwestern University (CCOM) have been selected for the distinguished Schweitzer Fellowship. As part of this year-long service-learning initiative, the students will craft and complete service projects aimed at tackling the healthcare challenges faced by marginalized communities in the Chicago area.

Julia Kavanagh, OMS II, (pictured left) will partner with LYDIA Home to address the poor health outcomes of children in the foster care system. Chirag Shah, OMS II, (pictured right) will create a medical literacy program that serves non-English speaking residents and provide information on accessing healthcare and understanding individual health. Read more about their projects and the fellowship.

VCOM-Virginia Hosts Adventure Race Fundraiser 

This past weekend, the Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine Virginia Campus (VCOM-Virginia) family went to Claytor Lake State Park for its most anticipated Welcome Week event: Adventure Race! This triathlon-style race consists of a 4-mile bike ride, 3-mile run and 1-mile kayak-and-swim. Participants can complete the entire race on their own or create a 3–4-person team. This year, there were 20 total participants. The money raised from the race goes to the J. Michael Bernardo Scholarship, established in memory of a former student who passed away during his third year at VCOM-Virginia. View photos from the event on VCOM-Virginia’s Facebook.

VCOM-Carolinas and Spartanburg Housing Give Kids a Taste of Medical School

Spartanburg Housing provided ten students with a glimpse of medical school with a tour of Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine Carolinas Campus (VCOM-Carolinas) on Monday, July 24, 2023. The students, ranging from 6th to 12th grade, got up close and personal with VCOM-Carolinas' simulation technology.

"We are putting together a summer program for kids of all ages that reside in Spartanburg public housing," says Jason Levitt, a student at Furman University who requested the tour on behalf of Spartanburg Housing.

"We are trying to expose these kids to different occupations and different opportunities. We are looking to learn about the occupation and career path whether it be through a tour, presentation or demonstration. I visited VCOM-Carolinas with Dorman High School in the past and thought it was an amazing experience. I am now at Furman pursuing a degree in health sciences/public health in hopes of pursuing a career in medicine." View more photos from the tour on VCOM-Carolinas’ Facebook.

VCOM-Auburn Events Foster Community and Wellness 

Photo (from left to right): SAAO members Natalie Pang '26, Joshua Margow '26 and Joel Sabio '26

On August 1, 2023, the Student American Academy of Osteopathy (SAAO) at Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine Auburn Campus (VCOM-Auburn) organized a coffee and donut sale, giving the VCOM-Auburn community a chance to bond and raise money for a good cause. The SAAO event was a delightful blend of coffee and camaraderie and is an example of VCOM-Auburn’s commitment to developing a supportive community. Community-building initiatives like this one not only enhance the academic experience but also help students develop support networks that are essential for their personal and professional growth. View more stories like this on VCOM-Auburn’s Facebook.

UNTHSC/TCOM’s Melva Landrum Appointed to the Prestigious Careers in Medicine Advisory Board

University of North Texas Health Science Center-Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine (UNTHSC/TCOM)’s Melva Landrum, MEd, an expert in residency and the Match for osteopathic medical students, is now part of a national advisory board representing osteopathic medicine. Landrum, a director in UNTHSC/TCOM’s Office of Medical Student Success, was appointed to the Association of American Medical Colleges Careers in Medicine Advisory Committee as the osteopathic representative. She will serve a three-year term that began on August 1, 2023. Read more about Landrum and what this opportunity means to her.

PCOM South Georgia Students Return from Cambodia Medical Mission Trip

Photo (front row from left): Molly Studebaker, UGA, and PCOM South Georgia students Tyler Key, Emma High and Tiffany Pittman; and (back row) Krupesh Patel, Alexander Studebaker, Pathya Kunthy and Grace Perry, also of PCOM South Georgia.

In June, a group of Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine South Georgia Campus (PCOM South Georgia) students recently learned about the differences between rural medicine in the United States and Cambodia after a trip to the country. They visited three hospitals, observed surgeries and shadowed physicians skilled at making the best use of available resources at the Khmer-Society Friendship Hospital in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Read the coverage in the Moultrie Observer.

West Virginia Senators Successfully Earmark $6 Million in Federal Funding for WVSOM Science Building Addition

West Virginia’s U.S. Senators included $6 million for a major addition to West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine (WVSOM)’s Fredric W. Smith Science Building in a federal appropriations bill approved by the Senate Appropriations Committee. The facility, built in 1991, will be modernized and expanded to offer adequate space for faculty and student research.

“The West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine is rapidly adding innovative research and community engagement projects to its medical student experience,” said James W. Nemitz, PhD, WVSOM president. “U.S. Senators Joe Manchin and Shelley Moore Capito—both serving on the Appropriations Committee—are helping us in a multitude of ways to enhance medical education and upgrade the skills of our students.” Read more about the updates the funding will provide for WVSOM.

ICOM Formally Welcomes Class of 2027 During White Coat Ceremony

Photo: Julia Burington, OMS I, is coated by faculty advisor Dr. Lora Bennett.

The Idaho College of Osteopathic Medicine (ICOM)’s newest student doctors took their first steps toward becoming physicians during the college’s sixth annual White Coat Ceremony on July 28, 2023. In the presence of family, friends, faculty and staff, each of the 162 student physicians were welcomed into the medical community and “cloaked” with their first white coats.

During the ceremony, Kevin Wilson, DO, dean and chief academic officer of ICOM, encouraged the student physicians to be the strongest advocates for their future patients. He also reminded them of what the symbolic white coat represents. “The white coat represents a caring attitude, seeking understanding of your patients and their situation, and the professional behavior of honesty, integrity, altruism and compassion as an osteopathic physician,” Dr. Wilson said. Read more and view a recording of the ceremony.

Noorda-COM Welcomes State’s Largest Medical Class with White Coat Ceremony

Photo: Dr. Karen Nichols, former president of the American Osteopathic Association, shares wisdom as keynote speaker at Noorda-COM’s 2023 White Coat Ceremony.

On July 29, 2023, 190 students at Noorda College of Osteopathic Medicine (Noorda-COM) in Provo, Utah, were given white coats as the “largest medical student class in Utah history.” The event was held at the Utah Community Credit Union Center at Utah Valley University. Read the coverage in the Daily Herald and view the ABC4 segment.