Students Participate in 'Bayou War' Wilderness Adventure, Present Cancer Research, Receive a Blue Cross Blue Shield Grant and More

DMU to Create Regional Simulation Center

Photo: Joining DMU President and CEO Angela L. Walker Franklin, PhD, second from left, at a news conference announcing the new simulation center are Adreain Henry, OD, EdD, MBA, MA, president of Mercy College of Health Sciences; Polk County Supervisor Angela Connolly; Ian Roberts, EdD, superintendent of Des Moines Public Schools; and Jeanie McCarville Kerber, executive academic dean at Des Moines Area Community College.

Des Moines University (DMU) will create a new shared regional simulation center at its former campus in Des Moines, Iowa, to provide advanced training opportunities for healthcare education institutions across the region. The project, announced December 12, 2023, will be supported by a $5 million contribution from the Polk County Board of Supervisors. Several Central Iowa institutions, including Mercy College of Health Sciences and Des Moines Public Schools, will be involved in planning and using the center.

“DMU sought to spearhead this collaborative community initiative in response to the challenges locally and nationally recruiting skilled health care workers. We are thrilled to contribute to the community the utilization of DMU’s 3200 Grand Avenue property formerly used for our students. This is a significant step in our ongoing commitment to health care education and our community and allows us to begin to realize our vision for our 3200 Grand Avenue facilities,” says Angela L. Walker Franklin, PhD, DMU’s president and CEO. Read more about the planned investment in DMU’s former campus.

VCOM-Louisiana Students Host Annual Bayou WAR Event

Bayou WAR is an annual, team-based 5k wilderness adventure race with six emergency medicine challenge stations. Teams of four Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine Louisiana Campus (VCOM-Louisiana) students trek a 3.1-mile course through the Black Bayou Wildlife Refuge while learning how to recognize and approach several scenarios, including mass casualty, broken bones, poisonous ingestion, bleeding wounds, hypothermia and anaphylactic shock. The event raised $1,200 for the “Friends of Black Bayou” fund. View more photos from the event on VCOM-Louisiana’s Facebook.

LECOM’s Hunter-Pettersen Named to City & State Pennsylvania’s 2023 Impact 75 List

Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM) is proud to announce that faculty member Teresa Hunter-Pettersen, MD, MPA, MS, has been named an honoree of this year’s City & State Pennsylvania Impact 75. The list is comprised of citizens who have helped to make communities in the Commonwealth more equitable, sustainable and prosperous. To be selected for the Impact 75 list, nominees must be considered an “influential difference-maker,” and Dr. Pettersen is most certainly that.

Dr. Hunter-Pettersen is an associate professor of medical education and LECOM’s institutional director of diversity, equity and inclusion.

She began teaching at LECOM Bradenton in 2007 and has served LECOM for more than 18 years in several different capacities. Dr. Hunter-Pettersen is passionate about equity for all, and this is shown through the tremendous work she has done to promote inclusivity throughout LECOM. Dr. Pettersen has also been involved in Type 2 Diabetes research, a disease more prevalent among communities of color.

After completing her Bachelor of Science in biology at St. Joseph’s College, Dr. Pettersen went on to pursue her medical degree at La Universidad del Noreste. She obtained her MPA in health service management at New York University, then received her master’s in medical education from LECOM.

VCOM-Auburn’s Community Health Data Walk: Fostering Dialogue and Collaboration for a Healthier Tomorrow

On December 13, 2023, the Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine Auburn Campus (VCOM-Auburn) organized a community engagement and health education data walk, featuring the college's first-year students. They shared meaningful data on health disparities linked to social determinants and various health indicators, aiming to spark meaningful dialogue and inspire collaborative solutions for community health challenges. This event highlighted the college's dedication to a comprehensive approach to healthcare, stressing the importance of community engagement and education in building a healthier society. View more photos on VCOM-Auburn’s Facebook.

ATSU-KCOM Student Finds Caring Campus Community, Great Student Life in Kirksville

Applying to, interviewing and selecting a medical school may be a lengthy process full of discovery. For A.T. Still University-Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine (ATSU-KCOM) student Benjamin Byler, OMS II, there was at least one area in which ATSU-KCOM was unmatched.

“ATSU stood out as the founding school of osteopathic medicine, with a well-established and highly respected alumni base,” Byler said.

Then when he visited the Kirksville, Missouri, campus, Byler found the College wasn’t only about its past, but the people here in the present and the opportunities afforded to students.

“When I interviewed, everyone I met was friendly and wanted to get to know me outside of what was on my application,” he said. Learn more about Byler’s interests and leadership on the ATSU-KCOM campus.

VCOM-Virginia Student Presents Cancer Research to Regional Conference

Photo: Cynthia Avila '27 presents at the Commonwealth of Virginia Cancer Research Conference.

Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine Virginia Campus (VCOM-Virginia) student Cynthia Avila, DO ’27, was recently invited to present her research at the Commonwealth of Virginia Cancer Research Conference (CVCRC), hosted by the University of Virginia Comprehensive Cancer Center.

Avila presented her research on a protein called alpha-klotho (“a-klotho”). Although several animal and cellular studies have examined a-klotho’s role in disease progression, the relationship between a-klotho and mortality in humans was previously unknown. Aliva’s research discovered that a-klotho has a “U-shaped” relationship with both all-cause (death in general) and cause-specific (cancer-only) mortality. This U-shaped relationship is also found with other biomarkers like cholesterol and ALT, which is an enzyme mostly found in the liver. Avila’s research is important because it suggests that a-klotho can be used by clinicians and researchers as one of several markers to evaluate a patient’s mortality risk.

Since enrolling at VCOM-Virginia, Avila, who serves in the U.S. Navy as a Medical Corps Office, has been able to present her work at the CVCRC regional conference, had opportunities to submit to medical journals and has had her earlier research published.

ICOM Celebrates Third Annual ‘Military Match’

The Idaho College of Osteopathic Medicine (ICOM) is proud to announce that nine members of its Class of 2024 will continue their medical training in the United States Armed Forces.

“ICOM’s military students were very successful with their acceptance into high-quality and highly competitive military residences across the country,” said Dr. Kevin Wilson, Dean and Chief Academic Officer at ICOM. “This group of students has shown great commitment to serving our country and caring for current and former members of our military and their families.” Read more about the ICOM students who participated in the Military Match.

MSUCOM Student Receives Blue Cross Blue Shield Grant for Community Engagement Project

Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine (MSUCOM) DO/PhD candidate Basma Masraf Klump has been awarded a grant from the Blue Cross Blue Shield Foundation of Michigan’s Student Award Program for her work developing and implementing the Substance Use and Prevention Committee (SUP).

The SUP is a community engagement organization that spans across all three MSU College of Osteopathic Medicine education sites—on the MSU campus in East Lansing, the Detroit Medical Center and the Macomb University Center at Macomb Community College in Clinton County—using research-based methods to connect with high school students to address the national need for awareness of substance misuse among teens. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one in seven high school students in the United States reported misusing prescription opioids at least once in their lives. Read more about the initiative the grant will be funding.

VCOM-Carolinas DuPre House Study Event

Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine Carolinas Campus (VCOM-Carolinas) students immersed themselves in the Christmas spirit while studying at the historic DuPre House. The beautifully decorated rooms and the cozy ambiance added a touch of holiday charm to their scholarly endeavors. This perfect blend of academic focus and holiday magic was topped off with hot chocolate, coffee and study snacks. Special thanks to the VCOM Alumni Association for hosting. View more photos from the study day on VCOM-Carolinas’ Facebook.