Students Treat Prospective Major League Baseball Players, Present Scholarly Work at a Research Conference and More
Published April 09, 2024
Campus Roundup Inside OME
The First Licensed DO in Chile is a UNTHSC/TCOM Graduate and an Unlikely Osteopathic Physician
Photo: Dr. Patrick Wedlake and his clinic in Chile.
If you’re looking for the unlikeliest of people to practice osteopathic medicine, osteopathy or osteopathic manipulative treatment then look no further than Patrick Wedlake, DO. So, how did a self-described “hippie from California,” end up becoming the first licensed osteopathic physician in the South American country of Chile and practicing cranial osteopathic manipulative treatment?
The wild ride of Dr. Patrick Wedlake, a 1987 University of North Texas Health Science Center-Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine (UNTHSC/TCOM) graduate, goes from Palo Alto, California, to Fort Worth, Texas; Greeley, Colorado; Ashland, Oregon and finally, Coyhaique, Chile, and osteopathic medicine might not have a better advocate than him. Read more about Dr. Wedlake’s background and career.
A Big League Opportunity: KCU-COM Medical Student Serves at the Kansas City Royals Dominican Academy
Photo: KCU-COM second-year student doctor Leah Wu examines MLB hopefuls.
When second-year student Leah Wu envisioned what medical school would be like, she never imagined that one day it would offer the opportunity to treat potential Major League Baseball (MLB) players. A trip to the Dominican Republic in conjunction with Kansas City University (KCU)’s Global Health program changed that.
Thanks to KCU’s long-standing relationship with the Kansas City Royals and their Academy in the Dominican Republic, Wu and eleven fellow medical students had the chance to hone their clinical skills while screening MLB up-and-comers. “I don’t have a particular interest in sports medicine when I become a physician, but I learned so much from my experience working with athletes and the Royals organization that will benefit me in the future,” said Wu. Read more about the trip and how students found it boosted their clinical confidence.
Mini Medical School at Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine Harlem
Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine Harlem Campus (TouroCOM Harlem) recently held a mini-medical school for 11th- and 12th-grade students interested in pursuing a career in healthcare.
“Our goal is to create an applied understanding of basic science in medicine,” said Dean of Student Affairs Dr. Nadege Dady. “MedAchieve is a natural extension of our mission, which is to focus on connecting underrepresented minority students in underserved communities such as Harlem.” Read more in the Harlem World Magazine.
VCOM-Carolinas Wins Award from South Carolina Public Health Association
Photo: (left to right) Kandi Fredere, DHEC; Dr. Alexis Stoner; Dr. Lisa Carroll and Dr. Matt Cannon, all of VCOM-Carolinas.
The Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine Carolinas Campus (VCOM-Carolinas) is the 2024 recipient of the Michael Jarrett Customer Service Award from the South Carolina Public Health Association. Named in honor of the beloved former commissioner of Department of Health and Environmental Control, the award is a great honor for the college. Mr. Jarrett was widely known for his compassion and care for the communities of South Carolina. Read more stories like this on VCOM-Carolinas’ Facebook.
TUCOM Professor Awarded Lifetime Achievement
At the 2024 Osteopathic Physicians & Surgeons of California (OPSC) convention, Alesia Wagner, DO, FACOFP Distinguished, was given a Lifetime Achievement Award, only the seventh individual to receive it. Dr. Wagner has helped educate Touro University California College of Osteopathic Medicine (TUCOM) students for more than a decade.
Dr. Wagner had previously won OPSC’s Physician of the Year award in 2019, and was celebrated for her dedication to the profession, patients and community for 41 years, as both a physician and educator. Hear from Dr. Wagner about what the award means to her.
PCOM Georgia Shines Bright at the Atlanta Science Festival 2024
In the bustling heart of Atlanta's Piedmont Park, a vibrant gathering unfolded on Saturday, March 23, 2024. It was a convergence of minds and passions at the Atlanta Science Festival, an annual event dedicated to learning and career opportunities within STEM disciplines across metro Atlanta.
Under the direction of Kim Lucier, director of campus operations and Christy Finley, EdD, assistant director, diversity & community partnerships, a team of 101 students, faculty, staff and administration from the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine Georgia Campus (PCOM Georgia) brought their collective energy and expertise to the event. At the heart of PCOM Georgia's presence were interactive activities designed to captivate and educate. Recalling the success of the event, Lucier added, “PCOM Georgia showed up even bigger this year at our second appearance at Atlanta Science Festival 2024!” Read more about the event.
Scholarly Endeavors Celebrated During ICOM Research Conference
Photo: (left to right) Spencer Sawyer, OMS II; Cheyanne Eisenmann, OMS II; and Keegan Goodwin, OMS II.
A wide range of innovative research was on display at the Idaho College of Osteopathic Medicine (ICOM)’s annual Research Conference on March 29, 2024. The event is a campus-wide celebration of the research and scholarly endeavors of the College’s students, faculty and institutional partners.
ICOM’s Research Conference provides students the opportunity to showcase the scholarly projects they have conducted under the guidance of faculty mentors and in collaboration with local researchers. This year, ICOM students submitted a total of 61 poster presentations, as well as three oral presentations, highlighting the work of 78 student doctors, 19 faculty members and 38 external collaborations. View more photos from the conference and discover the first and second place poster winners.
VCOM-Louisiana Receives VolunteerUNITED Award
Photo: VCOM-Louisiana students, faculty and staff accepted the VolunteerUNITED award on behalf of the campus’s student-led Volunteer Committee.
The student-led Volunteer Committee at the Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine Louisiana Campus (VCOM-Louisiana) received the 2024 VolunteerUNITED Award from the United Way of Northeast Louisiana. The award recognizes outstanding volunteers and corporate partners during its annual Celebrating Excellence event. View more photos on VCOM-Louisiana’s Facebook.