Students Celebrate Match Day, Provide Healthcare to Local Homeless Population, Host Gold Humanism Honor Society Event and More

TUCOM’s Class of 2024 Achieves Record-Breaking National Residency Match Success

Students from the Touro University California College of Osteopathic Medicine (TUCOM) Class of 2024 secured placements across 17 diverse medical specialties, including primary care, osteopathic neuromusculoskeletal medicine, emergency medicine and more, exemplifying excellence and versatility in the medical field. Notably, the Class of 2024 has shattered records by matching from Hawaii to Connecticut, with an outstanding 76 percent of students securing coveted positions in California.

“I am immensely proud of our Class of 2024 students. Their resilience and determination throughout their medical school journey, especially during the unprecedented challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, have been truly remarkable,” said Tami Hendriksz, DO, TUCOM dean. “They have exemplified grit and perseverance, completing their entire medical education amidst the pandemic, including pioneering distance education for their preclinical years. Their exceptional accomplishments, highlighted by their impressive residency matches, reflect the caliber of this extraordinary group.”

ICOM Celebrates 3rd Annual Match Day

Photo: (left to right) Kara Zmyslowski, Kristie Nguyen, Madison Summers, Zachary Bellville, Julia Bellville and Makayla Bolls.

Last week, the Idaho College of Osteopathic Medicine (ICOM) celebrated Match Day with its Class of 2024, as the 147 graduating physicians learned where they will complete their residency training. Sixteen graduates will remain in Idaho for their graduate medical education, and 36 graduating physicians will pursue family medicine, a physician specialty that is critically low in the United States.

“The Class of 2024 has shown great resilience in the face of COVID-19 while starting their medical education and have achieved excellent outcomes by matching into residency programs across Idaho and the United States,” said Kevin Wilson, DO, ICOM dean. “Thirty-six students matched into Family Medicine, twenty-six into Internal Medicine, twelve into Pediatrics and nine students matched into General Surgery, all of which are specialties acutely needed in Idaho and the Northwest. A special thanks to all of the physicians and healthcare systems in Idaho that have taught our students and provided excellent clinical training opportunities.” Read more for a breakdown of specialties and photos from Match Day.

A New Country and a New Home: How a UNTHSC/TCOM Student Came to America with the Help of His Parents

Photo: Johny Morkos (third from left) with other UNTHSC/TCOM students.

It was a revolutionary time in Egypt in early 2011, the streets filled with millions of protesters while there were violent clashes between civilians and security forces. The parents of Johny Morkos weren’t looking to leave their home in Egypt; they were a hard-working middle-class family. If an opportunity came about, they would potentially look at it as a family and decide if it was the right move or not, but violence happening in their home country was the last straw.

They looked toward the United States. Little did they know that with some luck, hard work, sacrifice, perseverance and the Joint Admission Medical Program, their son would be on the verge of becoming an osteopathic physician several years later. Johny Morkos, now a fourth-year medical student at the University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine (UNTHSC/TCOM), is about to match to a residency program and in May graduate medical school. None of it happened without the sacrifice, commitment and love of his parents, and his efforts to repay them one day. Read more about Morkos’ journey to medical school and how he found a home at UNTHSC/TCOM.

'Who Are You as a Person?': Gold Humanism Event Highlights Importance of Compassionate Care

Photo: members of the PCOM Georgia chapter of the Gold Humanism Honor Society (left to right): Sahara Peters, Dominick Ricci, Rachel Rabaioli Brosius, LaSara Bell, Jasmine Ito, Danielle Rosenzweig and Angelica Garcia.

Members of the Gold Humanism Honor Society (GHHS) are expected to be “exemplars of humanism.” As physicians, these individuals are “characterized by the respectful and compassionate relationship” they develop between themselves, members of the healthcare team and their patients.

Those attributes are defining characteristics for Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine Georgia Campus (PCOM Georgia) students Sahara Peters (DO ‘24) and Jasmine Ito (DO ‘24). Peters and Ito are president and vice president, respectively, of the PCOM Georgia chapter of GHHS.

Peters, Ito and other members of PCOM Georgia’s GHHS chapter recently organized an event as part of the 2024 Gold Humanism Summit, which took place February 29 through March 2 in Atlanta, Georgia. The summit focused on exploring best practices and strategies to “fuel change and inspire action.” The theme of this year’s event was “The Person in Front of You.” Read more about the event and the interactive “Hackathon” they put on.

Kansas City University Partners with Community Organization to Provide Healthcare Services to KC’s Homeless Population

A collaboration between Kansas City University College of Osteopathic Medicine (KCU-COM) and Care Beyond the Boulevard (CBB) aims to address the unique healthcare needs of individuals experiencing homelessness while providing valuable learning experiences for medical students.

The partnership came to fruition after KCU medical students, who volunteered with CBB, made faculty members aware of their desire to do more in the community. Read more about the program and how it has helped students become more compassionate professionals.

A Night to Unite at VCOM-Auburn

On March 8, 2024, the Student National Medical Association (SNMA) hosted A Night to Unite at the Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine Auburn Campus (VCOM-Auburn), celebrating diversity with food, artifacts, cultural trivia, a privilege walk and a traditional Indian dance. Embracing the rich variety of cultures that make up our community is the essence of unity—standing together as one and continuing to celebrate our differences. View more photos from the event on VCOM- Auburn’s Facebook.

VCOM-Carolinas Hosts High School Students

The Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine Carolinas Campus (VCOM-Carolinas) recently hosted a group of remarkable high school students who are actively pursuing their associates degrees with University of South Carolina Upstate. The students had the opportunity to learn from five second-year student doctors about what medical school life is like. The day featured an introduction to neuroscience and osteopathic manipulative medicine followed by learning intubation techniques and exploring cardiology and pulmonary related practices. To cap off the day, the students had a chance to simulate delivering a baby with a simulation mother. View more photos on VCOM-Carolinas’ Facebook.

DMUCOM Students Achieve 100 Percent Residency Placement

The Des Moines University College of Osteopathic Medicine (DMUCOM) Class of 2024 hit it out of the ballpark in the main residency match for medical school seniors, achieving a 100 percent match rate. This is the third consecutive year DMU’s osteopathic medical graduates have achieved a 100 percent placement rate. DMUCOM’s five-year average placement rate is 99.3 percent. Among the class’s 205 members, the top specialties in which they placed are family medicine, 49; internal medicine, 38; emergency medicine, 29; anesthesiology, 16; psychiatry, 15; and pediatrics, 14. The top six states among the 35 states where their residencies are located are Iowa, 44; Michigan, 23; Illinois, 20; California and Minnesota, 12 each; and Wisconsin, 11. Read more and view photos from Match Day at DMUCOM.

CHSU-COM Celebrates 100 Percent Residency Match Rate for Inaugural Class

The California Health Sciences University College of Osteopathic Medicine (CHSU-COM) has announced a 100 percent match rate for its inaugural Class of 2024 at a lively Match Day celebration with family and friends.

“Achieving a 100 percent match rate for our inaugural medical students is extraordinary and we are so proud of these future physicians,” said John Graneto, DO, CHSU-COM dean. Read more for a breakdown of the students’ California residencies and view photos from Match Day.

Terrie Taylor Receives Lifetime Achievement Award for Malaria Outreach, Research

Terrie Taylor, DO, university distinguished professor and foundations professor at the Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine (MSUCOM), added to her list of honors when she was presented with the 2024 Community Engagement Scholarship Lifetime Achievement Award at the MSU Outreach and Engagement Awards Ceremony.

The award “recognizes senior faculty members of outstanding and sustained accomplishment in community-engaged scholarship through research, creative activity, teaching and/or service and practice over the span of a career.”

In a heartfelt video message captured in Malawi, Dr. Taylor expressed her deep appreciation for the award. Given her commitment to combating malaria, she dedicates half of each year to working in Malawi during the peak malaria season. Dr. Taylor acknowledges the significance of this recognition and attributes a portion of the accolades to the support of MSUCOM and its leadership throughout the years. Read more about her research.