Students Conduct Clinical Research, Achieve Residency Goals, Mentor Future Peers and More

Record-Breaking Research Day Highlights CCOM’s Commitment to Scientific Inquiry

Photo: Michael Ghuneim (CCOM ’27) stands by his poster “Sequential Dependency of V1 and MT+ Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation on Cortical Excitability.”

The 2025 Kenneth A. Suarez (KAS) Research Day on Midwestern University’s Downers Grove Campus marked a historic achievement with 219 student-led posters, an all-time high for the event.

Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine (CCOM) students were well represented at the event, with many noting how research has enhanced their academic and professional development. “Designing and running our own experiment taught me how important it is to stay curious and up to date with evolving science,” said Michael Ghuneim, CCOM ’27. “As a future physician, it’s essential to think critically and interpret findings on my own.” Elisa Paul, CCOM ’27, echoed the sentiment, emphasizing how the experience brought her classroom learning to life. “This research allowed me to take what I’ve learned in class and see it come to life. It made everything I’m studying feel not only more relevant but also more impactful,” she said.

With a strong foundation in research, CCOM students are preparing to become physician-scientists equipped to tackle today’s clinical challenges with curiosity, skill and scientific rigor. Read more about the record-setting participation at CCOM.

No Additional Views Needed, UNTHSC-TCOM Students Deliver a Perfect Match in Radiology

Bucking the national averages and setting a new standard, students from The University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth’s Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine’s (UNTHSC-TCOM) Class of 2025 applying for radiology residencies went a perfect 10-for-10, besting the nationwide average of 81 percent of all applicants and only 67 percent of DO applicants successfully matching into radiology. There are many reasons for the across-the-board success in this highly competitive field, but the seed for this type of outcome was planted by Spencer Smith, DO, a diagnostic radiologist and adjunct assistant professor in UNTHSC-TCOM’s Department of Medical Education and Health Systems Sciences.

For the past seven years, he has taught the advanced and longitudinal radiology elective courses offered to UNTHSC-TCOM students in a practical and engaging manner. Read more about UNTHSC-TCOM’s perfect match outcome in radiology.

Graduates Receive $87,400 at Awards Ceremony

West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine (WVSOM) students in the Class of 2025 were recognized for their achievements in medical school during a Graduation Awards Ceremony on May 1, 2025. Graduation awards totaled $87,400 with students being recognized in 33 categories including awards, scholarships and membership in national organizations.

This year’s class consisted of 185 graduates, with 98 graduates entering primary care residency programs and a 100 percent residency placement rate for the class.

The event recognized 19 students who graduated with honors. In addition, 28 students were recognized as members of Psi Sigma Alpha, a national osteopathic scholastic honor society. Twelve students were recognized with American Medical Women’s Association Glasgow-Rubin Certificates of Commendation for Academic Achievement. Read more about the WVSOM graduation awards and honors.

From Rural Missouri to the Frontlines: KCU-COM Student Doctor’s Unconventional Path to Medicine

Photo: Third-year KCU-COM student Megan Stacy stands outside Hope Faith, a low-barrier day shelter for the unhoused in Kansas City, Missouri, where she volunteers as part of her commitment to serving vulnerable communities.

When Megan Stacy applied to the police academy, it wasn’t part of some grand plan, it just felt right. “I didn’t think they were going to accept me,” she laughs. “I just thought, why not?”

Raised in Nevada, Missouri, Megan didn’t picture herself in medicine. But her career would evolve in ways she never expected, from patrol shifts and crime scenes to ambulances and eventually, medical school. Each step brought her closer to what she knows is her true calling.

Megan began in law enforcement as a corrections officer, eventually completing the police academy and serving as a patrol officer in Gretna, Louisiana, a suburb of New Orleans, before a turning point came when she took on the additional role of crime scene investigation. It was here, working alongside medical examiners at the coroner’s office, that she found herself intrigued by the medical side of things. Read more about Megan’s journey from patrol to practice.

OCOM OMS I Students Win Third Place at FAO Conference

Photo: (From left to right) Brianna Vaghela, Natalia Samoylova, Melanie Kwaschyn and Marina Botros, here with OCOM Dean and Chief Academic Officer Robert T. Hasty.

Orlando College of Osteopathic Medicine (OCOM) is proud to recognize student doctors Brianna Vaghela, Natalia Samoylova, Marina Botros and Melanie Kwaschyn for earning Third Place in the case study category at the Florida Association of Osteopathic (FAO) Research Night, held in April 2025. Brianna and her research team were honored for their work on a systematic review examining the role of osteopathic manipulative medicine (OMM) in pregnancy—an important and emerging topic in osteopathic research and women’s health.

The research team came together with a shared passion: to explore how osteopathic principles, specifically OMM, can enhance maternal care. Brianna explained, “We were all interested in doing a systematic review on OMM and decided to start on it together.” The group’s unified interest in both osteopathic techniques and obstetrics laid the foundation for a project that blends scientific inquiry with compassion for the unique challenges of pregnancy. Read more about the OMM research project recognized at FAO Research Night.

Mentorship in Action: PCOM Georgia’s Community Engagement Internship

Photo: Community Engagement interns (from left to right) Amara Arrington, Liliana Ramos, Leslie Avellaneda and Anandita Pathak at STEM Saturday Research Presentation Day 2025.

Christy Dinkins, EdD, assistant director of campus and community partnerships at PCOM Georgia, recognized a gap: too many first-generation and underrepresented students lacked guidance and exposure to medical career pathways. In response, she created the PCOM Georgia Community Engagement Internship, a credit-based program that connects undergraduate students to healthcare careers while supporting community outreach and STEM education.

Drawing from her own experience as a first-generation college student and involvement with Georgia State University’s WomenLead program, Dr. Dinkins helped shape this pathway program that has since grown into a powerful opportunity offering students practical experience toward careers in medicine and science. Read more about how the PCOM Georgia internship connects students with medical career pathways.

VCOM-Louisiana Celebrates the Class of 2025: A New Generation of Osteopathic Physicians

On May 9, 2025, the Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine Louisiana Campus (VCOM-Louisiana) proudly celebrated the graduation of its second class. This distinguished group of 151 graduates represents a wide range of backgrounds, hailing from 22 states and six countries. Many call Louisiana home, and nearly 44 percent will remain in Louisiana or neighboring states for residency, continuing their commitment to serve the region's communities.

This class includes seven student-parents who balanced the demands of medical school with raising families. Their collective perseverance and dedication resulted in a 100 percent residency match rate, an extraordinary achievement that reflects their readiness to meet the challenges of modern healthcare. Read more about VCOM-Louisiana’s Class of 2025.