Students Practice Advanced Airway Techniques, Raise Money for Breast Cancer Awareness and More

AACOM Presents RVUCOM with Advocacy Day Award

AACOM thanks everyone who participated in AACOM Advocacy Day 2023 and helped make this year's event our most successful yet. Congratulations to the winner of our student government association (SGA) student participation contest: Rocky Vista University College of Osteopathic Medicine (RVUCOM)!

RVUCOM had the most students register and participate in the event, and its SGA will receive the $1,000 prize. We look forward to building on the advocacy efforts of all Advocacy Day participants and hope to see you all at next year's AACOM Advocacy Day.

Medical Students Practice Advanced Airway Techniques at ICOM

Photo: Mohammad Abuakar, OMS III (left), and Dr. David Hightower (right) demonstrate a procedure for second-year students during ICOM's Advanced Airway Event.

Airway management is an important skill for all medical trainees to practice. The Idaho College of Osteopathic Medicine (ICOM)’s Advanced Airway Event, co-hosted by ICOM’s Anesthesia Interest Group and Emergency Medicine Club, allowed medical students to practice various airway management techniques.

“This is important because both emergency medicine doctors and anesthesiologists have to really make sure they know how to deal with an airway, so an event like this really allows students to see different forms of how to take control of an airway,” said student doctor Mohammad Abuakar, a third-year student at ICOM and president of ICOM’s Emergency Medicine Club. Read more and view photos from the event.

CHSU-COM Student Leaders Represented at OMED Conference 2023

California Health Sciences University College of Osteopathic Medicine (CHSU-COM) Council of Osteopathic Student Government Presidents’ representatives were invited to the 2023 Osteopathic Medical Education (OMED) Conference. The students had the opportunity to make meaningful connections with other students, physicians and the American Osteopathic Association Board of Trustees, and gained valuable skills to create a positive impact at CHSU-COM. Read more about how the CHSU-COM student leaders spent their time at OMED 2023.

Dr. Kim Fulda Elected U.S. Co-Chair of PBRN Work Group for the Committee on Advancing the Science of Family Medicine

Kimberly Fulda, DrPH, the executive director of NorTex and University of North Texas Health Science Center-Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine (UNTHSC/TCOM) associate professor, was elected to a two-year term as the co-chair of the Committee on Advancing the Science of Family Medicine Practice-based Research Network Work Group. Dr. Fulda will begin her leadership role in November at the annual North American Primary Care Research Group meeting.

“I was surprised, but a colleague from the Kentucky Ambulatory Network nominated me,” Fulda said. “I know that I would like to focus on increasing awareness for practice-based research networks and the benefits of working with them. We always have a goal of increasing awareness to eventually see more funding opportunities for working with PBRNs.” Read more about Dr. Fulda’s new role as co-chair.

NoordaCOM Hosts Day of Learning with More Than Ten Medical Schools

Pre-medical students toured Noorda College of Osteopathic Medicine (NoordaCOM)’s new academic building, watched osteopathic manipulative medicine demos and heard from representatives from more than ten other osteopathic medical schools. View photos from the event on NoodaCOM’s Instagram.

DMUCOM Professor Receives NIH Grant to Investigate Substance Abuse Relapse

Kicking alcohol or drug addiction is extremely challenging, both physically and environmentally. Over time, the brain’s communication network adapts to the substance’s effects, making withdrawal difficult when someone tries to quit. To better understand these challenges, Daniel Christian, PhD, assistant professor of physiology and pharmacology at Des Moines University, recently received a two-year $152,000 grant from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism of the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

The grant will fund research investigating how the brain’s communication network is altered during alcohol withdrawal. Des Moines University College of Osteopathic Medicine (DMUCOM) students will be involved as fellow researchers on the project. Read more about Dr. Christian’s work and why his research will improve lives.

VCOM-Virginia Student Organization SAMOPS Supports Wounded Warrior Project

The Student Association of Military Osteopathic Physicians and Surgeons (SAMOPS) at the Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine Virginia Campus (VCOM-Virginia) recently hosted a virtual and in-person 5k to support veterans and active service members through the non-profit Wounded Warrior Project. The participants endured the rainy weather to support a great cause and raised more than $1,000.

SAMOPS is an organization that acknowledges the distinctive role of osteopathic physicians in the United States Armed Forces. They are dedicated to raising awareness of the significant contributions made by osteopathic physicians in the U.S. military and to equip its members for a successful transition into military careers. Most of VCOM-Virginia’s SAMOPS students are Health Professions Scholarship Program (HPSP) recipients. The HPSP offers prospective military physicians, dentists, nurses, optometrists, psychologists, pharmacists and veterinarians significant support in helping pay for an advanced medical degree in exchange for service.

VCOM-Louisiana Students Participate in Pink Out Day

Photo: VCOM-Louisiana students participated in Pink Out Day to show their support for breast cancer awareness.

Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine Louisiana Campus (VCOM-Louisiana) students participated in a campus-wide Pink Out Day in October in recognition of Breast Cancer Awareness month. VCOM-Louisiana’s chapters of Student Osteopathic Medical Association, American College of Osteopathic Obstetricians and Gynecologists and American Medical Women's Association organized the event, which included a bake sale to support the Susan G. Komen foundation and a presentation entitled "Conversations About Breast Cancer," which provided an opportunity for students to learn about the screening process and diagnosis of breast cancer. View more photos from the event on VCOM-Louisiana’s Facebook.

VCOM-Carolinas Attends American College of Osteopathic Internists Convention

Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine Carolinas Campus (VCOM-Carolinas) students attended the American College of Osteopathic Internists annual convention in Tampa, Florida. The theme of this year's convention was "Health, Wellness or Medicine." View more photos on VCOM-Carolinas’ Facebook.

VCOM-Auburn and Harrison School of Pharmacy Partner for Vaccination Clinic: Prioritizing Community Health

On October 25, 2023, Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine Auburn Campus (VCOM-Auburn) was pleased to host a flu shot and Covid booster clinic in collaboration with the Harrison School of Pharmacy. VCOM Auburn is immensely thankful for this partnership that allowed them to provide these crucial vaccinations to students and faculty. The health and well-being of the local community is important to VCOM-Auburn. View more photos from the event on VCOM-Auburn’s Facebook.

PCOM South Georgia Student Writes Mystery Novel

Photo: Jada Glenn displays the Kindle cover of her recently released book “Misery and the Mindscape Murderer.”

PCOM South Georgia medical student Jada Glenn (DO ’26) turned her creative writing hobby into her first published mystery novel. “My mom taught me how to read early,” Jada said. “From then on, I loved reading. I guess it was a natural progression for me from reading to writing. I love being in these worlds. I love creating these worlds.” Read more on the Albany CEO.