Students Receive Prestigious Cardiologist Scholarship, Participate in Triage Workshop, Return to Hometown to Inspire Future Doctors and More

UNTHSC-TCOM Grad Receives Lifetime Achievement Award

Since graduating from the University of North Texas Health Sciences Center Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine (UNTHSC-TCOM) in 1977, James H. Brien, DO, colonel, U.S. Army Medical Corps (Retired) has done remarkable work in the profession for which he was honored with the Award for Lifetime Achievement in Pediatric Infectious Diseases Education during the American Academy of Pediatrics National Conference & Exhibition. Dr. Brien is the 20th recipient of the award, but the first osteopathic physician to receive the Lifetime Achievement Award. Read more about Dr. Brien’s storied career.

Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine Holds Suicide Prevention Training

Photo (from left to right): Kyle Henderson, PhD, associate professor, physiology, College of Graduate Studies-Downers Grove, faculty sponsor for the CCOM Wellness Committee; and second-year medical students Arushi Chauhan and Marisa Adelman.

The Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine (CCOM) provided a suicide prevention training on the Downers Grove Campus to prepare medical students to recognize signs that someone is suicidal and step in to save a life. Six second-year CCOM students: Umar Aftab, Kathryn Pfeiffer, Kaylee Stowe, Susan Westman, Kelly McGowen and Anya Athan underwent professional training through the Question, Persuade and Refer Institute, a national program for suicide prevention.

Following their training, the future doctors shared their newly acquired knowledge with about 100 first-year medical students to educate them to identify signs and commentary that someone is considering suicide, ask the appropriate questions, listen to the issue without judgment and assist them with the appropriate resources. Read more about the suicide prevention training.

PCOM South Georgia Student One of Five Nationwide to Receive Prestigious Cardiology Scholarship

Second-year medical student Evelyn Orusa of Fayetteville, Georgia, was recently honored as one of only five medical students in the nation to receive the Association of Black Cardiologists’ Dr. Richard Allen Williams Scholarship. The scholarship recognizes outstanding medical students who aspire to impact underserved communities.

Orusa’s journey into medicine was inspired during her teenage years in Fayetteville, Georgia, where she encountered a young girl with a cardiac condition. “She had this wonderful light about her, despite having to wear an external heart monitor,” Evelyn said. This interaction sparked her interest in cardiology. Read more about her background and future hope to provide care to underserved populations.

VCOM-Carolinas Faculty Completes Training in New Mobile Medical Unit

Photo: Dr. Jones in front of the VCOM-Carolinas mobile medical unit, which she was recently trained to drive.

Doralyn Jones, DO, associate chair for Family Medicine and director for diversity and inclusion, and Lisa Carroll, MD, department chair for Clinical Sciences at the Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine Carolinas Campus (VCOM-Carolinas), recently completed Operator Certification Training with Mission Mobile Medical. The pair of physician faculty members learned all the ins and outs of driving and operating the college's new mobile medical unit during the three-day training course. View more photos on VCOM-Carolinas’ Facebook.

VCOM-Louisiana Hosts Triage Workshop

Photo: VCOM-Louisiana students stand with the Pafford Air One crew beside their transfer helicopter.

Recently, the Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine Louisiana Campus (VCOM-Louisiana) student chapter of the American College of Osteopathic Emergency Physicians partnered with Pafford Air One to host a triage workshop, teaching students how to manage mass casualty incidents and prioritize patient transfers. Pafford's crew brought their transfer helicopter to campus, demonstrating the space limitations for patient care. Students applied their skills to sample cases, planning transport logistics to optimize outcomes. View more photos from the event on VCOM-Louisiana’s Facebook.

A Full Circle Moment: PCOM Georgia Student Returns to Childhood School to Inspire Young Learners

Ethan Lawson (pictured third from left), a second-year Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine Georgia Campus (PCOM Georgia) medical student, organized a volunteer effort at Hillside Elementary in Roswell, the school he attended as a child. With support from members of PCOM Georgia's Pediatrics and Surgery clubs, he gave back to his community in a meaningful way.

“It was a full-circle moment,” Ethan shared, recalling the experience of returning to his educational origins, except now as a medical student. “It was really cool for my teachers to see how far I've come, after all the time they invested in teaching me.” Read more about Ethan’s homecoming.

Ahana Chakraborty Named CHSU-COM Student Doctor of the Year

Ahana Chakraborty, second-year medical student at the California Health Sciences University College of Osteopathic Medicine (CHSU-COM), has been named the CHSU-COM Student Doctor of the Year. Ahana is highly involved in leadership and service. She is the president of the CHSU Student Osteopathic Medical Association, president of the Pediatric Interest Group, academic liaison in the Focus Liaison Group for Class of 2027 and editor for the National Student Osteopathic Medical Association research journal, The Future DO. She also volunteers her time in the Clovis community. Read more about Ahana’s impact on the community and her reaction when she was nominated.

SHSU-COM Awarded Nearly $5 Million Federal Grant to Strengthen Biomedical Research and Education

The Sam Houston State University College of Osteopathic Medicine (SHSU-COM) has been awarded nearly $5M through a federal research and development infrastructure grant from the U.S. Department of Education to boost biomedical research and education. This initiative will fund infrastructure, workforce development and an innovative master’s program, strengthening Texas’s healthcare pipeline and advancing research opportunities.

“This grant underscores SHSU-COM’s dedication to advancing healthcare research and education while addressing critical workforce needs in Texas and beyond,” said SHSU-COM Dean Thomas Mohr, DO. “It represents an exciting step forward in positioning SHSU-COM as a leader in biomedical research and applied sciences.” Read more about the grant and its future impact on the East Texas community.