Students Volunteer for Healthcare Events, Explore AI in Medicine, Support Their Communities and More

Seeing Double? No, Just Identical Twins Who Were Almost Separated for the First Time

Photo: Identical twins Haydon and Payton Miller, initially set to attend different medical schools, reunited at UNT Health Center Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine, continuing their shared educational path.

HaydonandPayton Miller have been together as long as they can remember, which, for identical twins, you would expect: same school system in the tiny town of Dimmitt, Texas; same undergraduate college, Texas Tech; heck, even the same Master of Science in Medical Science program at UNT Health Science Center in Fort Worth. But in July 2025, it looked as if the band was breaking up, and the twins were going their separate ways for medical school. Payton had been accepted to the University of North Texas Health Science Center Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine (UNT Health-TCOM) and had arrived in Fort Worth for orientation in early July, while his twin brother Haydon was packing up for Tennessee.

Read more about how the Miller twins reunited in Fort Worth.

PCOM Researchers Recognized for Most-Read Article on Integrated Behavioral Health Training

An article co-authored by two Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (PCOM) researchers has earned top honors from the Association for Counselor Education and Supervision. Written by Nic Schmoyer-Edmiston, PhD, NCC, MS ’21, pictured at right, and Lisa Corbin, PhD, LPC, NCC, pictured at left, director of the Master's in Mental Health Counseling program, the piece was named one of the Top 10 Most-Read Articles of the Year, standing out among hundreds published across the field’s leading counselor education journals.

Published in Counselor Education and Supervision, the article, titled “Behavioral Health Training for Integrated Behavioral Health: A Delphi Study,” explores the skills, interventions and academic knowledge needed to prepare clinical mental health counselors and other behavioral health professionals for work in integrated behavioral health settings.

Read more about this award-winning research.

MSOM Students Appointed to MAOP Student Advisory Board

First-year medical students Lavinia Harrison, pictured at left, and Archita Padmanabhan, pictured at right, of the Maryland School of Osteopathic Medicine (MSOM) have been appointed to the Maryland Association of Osteopathic Physicians (MAOP) Student Advisory Board for the 2025–2026 term.

The advisory board is a dedicated group of students committed to advancing medical education, advocacy and professional development. Members help shape MAOP initiatives by contributing leadership and insights from a student perspective, ensuring that programs remain innovative, relevant and aligned with the evolving needs of future osteopathic physicians.

Read this release and more from MSOM.

VCOM-Carolinas SGA Kicks Off Academic Year with Downtown Scavenger Hunt

Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine Carolinas Campus (VCOM-Carolinas) Student Government Association and Via Wellness recently hosted a scavenger hunt in downtown Spartanburg, South Carolina. First- and second-year students teamed up to search for clues and then gathered at Fr8yard to kick off the new academic year with food and fun.

View more photos from the scavenger hunt on VCOM-Carolinas' Facebook.

WVSOM Economic Forum Explores Bioscience Opportunities in Greenbrier Valley

Can the Greenbrier Valley become a hub for the bioscience and pharmaceutical industry?

That’s a question the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine (WVSOM) addressed at its WVSOM Bio event, which concluded with an economic development forum on the school’s Lewisburg, West Virginia campus. The forum was attended by industry representatives, economic development officials and government leaders alongside WVSOM personnel.

Based on remarks from the August 21, 2025, event, the answer appeared to be a resounding “yes.”

Read more about WVSOM's bioscience initiative.

KCU-COM Equips Students to Lead in the Age of Artificial Intelligence

Artificial intelligence isn’t on the horizon—it’s already here. From clinical documentation to diagnostic imaging, it’s transforming how care is delivered. At Kansas City University College of Osteopathic Medicine (KCU-COM), future physicians aren’t just learning how to work with these technologies—they’re learning to lead their responsible use.

KCU is thoughtfully integrating AI into its curriculum, ensuring students develop both the technical competence and the ethical grounding to use AI tools with confidence. With a focus on preserving the human side of medicine, KCU prepares students to use AI to enhance efficiency, reduce diagnostic errors and deliver more personalized care.

Read more about how KCU-COM is preparing future physicians for AI.

REACH Grants Support Innovative Research at VCOM-Auburn and East Alabama Health

East Alabama Health and Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine Auburn Campus (VCOM-Auburn) have announced the first recipients of their joint REACH (Research and Education Advancing Community Healthcare) grant program.

Two projects are underway: “Microbial Signatures of Preeclampsia,” led by Kenneth Harris, DO, Andrew D. Frugé, PhD, and Kari Dugger, MD; and “Beyond A1c: The Role of Continuous Glucose Monitors in Improving Cardiometabolic and Renal Health,” led by Rekha Lall, DO, and Melanie Hyte, PhD. These initiatives aim to advance research and improve healthcare outcomes in East Alabama.

View more photos from this collaboration on VCOM-Auburn’s Facebook.