Students Honor Military Service, Inspire the Next Generation of Physicians, Lead Outreach Programs and More

VCOM-Louisiana Honors Class of 2025 Military Officers

On May 8, 2025, the Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine Louisiana Campus (VCOM-Louisiana) held its annual military promotion ceremony to honor nine members of the Class of 2025 who have committed to serve in the United States Armed Forces. These students represent branches including the U.S. Army and the U.S. Air Force Reserve. The ceremony featured distinguished guest speaker Captain Jeffrey P. Davis, USN (Retired), who offered words of encouragement and reflection to the soon-to-be commissioned officers. Each student took the oath of office, was ceremonially pinned with their new rank and received the Health Professions Scholarship Program Military Challenge Coin as a symbol of their dedication. View more photos from the ceremony on VCOM–Louisiana’s Facebook.

MSOM Art Competition Gets Local Youth Interested in Medicine

The Meritus School of Osteopathic Medicine (MSOM) partnered with Washington County Public Schools in Maryland to host its first student art contest highlighting the theme “How Doctors Help.” The plan is to continue the contest annually.

The contest is meant to encourage students to reflect on the role of physicians in their communities through creative expression. It also reflects MSOM’s ongoing commitment to fostering community partnerships, promoting the arts and inspiring future generations to consider careers in healthcare.

The yearly competition is open to students from pre-kindergarten through fifth grade across the county, and the top works of art are displayed in a dedicated space in the D.M. Bowman Academic Hall. This year’s winners were honored during a ceremony at the end of May. Each winner received a certificate and a gift card and had their photo taken with their submission.

UNTHSC-TCOM’s Dr. John Mills Named ACCP Fellow and Appointed to the ACGME Milestones Committee for Correctional Medicine

John Mills, DO, MPH, of The University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine (UNTHSC-TCOM), is one of the most revered experts in correctional medicine—and he’s now being inducted as a fellow into the American College of Correctional Physicians (ACCP). Dr. Mills, UNTHSC’s medical director for Correctional Medicine, will be honored at the national conference in September in Providence, Rhode Island.

“I am very honored to be recognized as a fellow in the ACCP, especially as a DO,” Dr. Mills said. Read more about Dr. Mills’ national honors.

2025 NSU-KPCOM Graduation Photo Gallery

During the commencement ceremony held May 15, 2025, in Nova Southeastern University’s Rick Case Arena at the Don Taft University Center, 397 proud DO graduates marched across the stage to accept their diplomas in front of a cheerful mix of friends, family members, peers, university administrators and faculty members.

In addition to the DO graduates, other newly minted KPCOM alumni were feted at both the May 6 and May 15 ceremonies in programmatic areas such as couple and family therapy, disaster and emergency management, family therapy, health informatics, human nutrition, marriage and family therapy, medical education, nutrition and public health. View more photos from the 2025 commencement ceremonies on NSU-KPCOM’s Facebook.

How the Anatomy Lab Sparked KCU Student Doctors’ Paths and a Published Study

Kansas City University College of Osteopathic Medicine (KCU-COM) students are gaining national attention with a newly published study in Springer Nature Link, a platform known for hosting high-impact scientific and medical research. Authored by students Robert J. Heins, Jordan Konstanty, Justine Hemaya and Travis Hodge, and mentored by Anthony Olinger, PhD, professor of anatomy at KCU, the study reflects that medical school isn’t only about learning medicine—it’s about advancing it.

The team’s research focused on anatomical differences between male and female cadavers, revealing significant disparities that could have a direct impact on surgical safety. Findings showed that 13 percent of female cadavers had high-risk anatomical variations, compared to only 2 percent of males, a discovery with meaningful implications for surgical planning and precision. Read more about KCU-COM students’ research on cadaveric anatomy and surgical safety.

OCOM Students Inspire Future Physicians Through Student-Led ‘NextGenDO’ Program

The Orlando College of Osteopathic Medicine (OCOM) proudly hosted its first NextGenDO program, a dynamic, hands-on immersion experience created and led entirely by OCOM’s medical students. The event welcomed 26 aspiring future doctors to campus for a full day of engaging activities designed to spark interest in osteopathic medicine and showcase what it means to be a doctor of osteopathic medicine (DO). Read more about OCOM’s NextGenDO student-led program.

VCOM–Carolinas Holds Gold Humanism Honor Society Induction Ceremony

Photo: Jordan Zephir '26, with VCOM–Carolinas leadership following his induction to GHHS

Members of the Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine Carolinas Campus (VCOM–Carolinas) Class of 2026 attended an induction ceremony for the Arnold Gold Humanism Honor Society (GHHS) on June 3, 2025. In addition to the 24 students accepted into the prestigious society, Jaime Foushee, PharmD, BCPS, who serves as the VCOM–Carolinas department chair for biomedical sciences as well as the discipline chair for pharmacology, was also inducted. View more photos from the GHHS induction on VCOM–Carolinas’ Facebook.

WesternU/COMP Commencement: To Heal, To Advocate and To Serve

Western University of Health Sciences, College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific (WesternU/COMP) graduates are prepared to use their “superpower” to heal – and to treat patients with dignity and respect.

WesternU/COMP held its commencement ceremony on May 14, 2025, in Pomona, California, with 209 graduates earning their DO degree as they prepare to enter residencies. WesternU/COMP and COMP-Northwest Dean Lisa Warren, DO ’01, MBA, said the Class of 2025 is special because this is the first graduating class since she became dean in July 2024. She encouraged them to inspire their colleagues and find inspiration in their patients. Read more about WesternU COMP’s 2025 commencement ceremony.

WesternU/COMP-Northwest Celebrates Largest Graduating Class at 2025 Commencement

Western University of Health Sciences, College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific-Northwest (WesternU/COMP-Northwest) celebrated 107 doctors of osteopathic medicine, its largest graduating class, on May 12, 2025.

WesternU-COMP President Robin Farias-Eisner, MD, PhD, MBA, presided over the ceremony. During his welcome remarks, Dr. Farias-Eisner encouraged the Class of 2025 to rely on the skills they’ve acquired during their education and approach every situation with a humanistic lens. Read more about WesternU/COMP–Northwest’s record-breaking graduation.