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Students Learn Clinical Site Placements, Dance for a Cause, Compete in Olympic Games and More

Published December 17, 2025

Campus Roundup Inside OME

Second-Year Students Learn Their Clinical Futures at Site Placement Lottery

Two students smile while holding signs announcing their clinical rotation site match at Idaho College of Osteopathic Medicine.

Second-year medical students at the Idaho College of Osteopathic Medicine (ICOM) marked an important milestone in their educational journey as they gathered for the annual Clinical Site Placement Lottery in December 2025.

Hosted by ICOM’s Clinical Affairs Department, the event revealed where students will complete the final two years of their medical school careers as they transition into full-time clinical clerkships.

“We currently have 17 sites from coast to coast—California to New York,” said Rodney Bates, DO, ICOM’s associate dean of clinical affairs. “These sites are our partners. They coordinate with ICOM in teaching students their clinical skills while out on rotations.”

Second Annual VCOM–Louisiana Olympic Games Highlight Teamwork and Wellness

Students wearing VCOM shirts participate in a team-based outdoor activity on a grassy field.

Photo: VCOM–Louisiana students compete in a three-legged race.

The second annual Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine Louisiana Campus (VCOM–Louisiana) Olympic Games, hosted by the Student Government Association, offered first- and second-year students a welcome break from coursework and a chance to strengthen teamwork through friendly competition. Students faced off in volleyball, three-legged races, trivia, a dance contest and more, bringing plenty of energy and collaboration to the field.

After a spirited showdown, the Class of 2028 earned the top spot, underscoring the value of camaraderie and wellness in medical education.

View more photos from the Olympic Games on VCOM–Louisiana’s Instagram.

DMU Earns Accreditation to Launch Residency Programs

A group of medical students hold “I Matched in Iowa” signs while smiling together in front of a Des Moines University backdrop.

Photo: Students from Des Moines University Medicine and Health Sciences celebrate Match Day 2025. With DMU now accredited as an ACGME sponsoring institution, future graduates will have more residency opportunities.

Des Moines University Medicine and Health Sciences (DMU) has received initial accreditation to be a sponsoring institution under the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education—a milestone that gives DMU the green light to launch residency programs. DMU’s first program will be a one-year fellowship in osteopathic neuromusculoskeletal medicine, housed in the Des Moines University Clinic—Osteopathic Manual Medicine.

“Achieving this accreditation positions Des Moines University to directly sponsor new residency programs across Iowa, strengthening the state’s physician workforce while expanding high-quality clinical training opportunities for our students,” says David Connett, DO, FACOFP (dist.), dean of the Des Moines University College of Osteopathic Medicine.

Salsa for a Cause: Dancing Toward Global Impact

Four people, including a child, smile together indoors during a festive gathering with colorful decorations overhead.

Photo: Ana Jones (center) with other members of the VCOM family.

On November 21, 2025, Ana Jones, director of international and Appalachian outreach programs at the Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine Auburn Campus (VCOM-Auburn), led an evening of salsa lessons supported by the dedicated student organizers of Hispanic Community Medical Outreach. This festive fundraiser contributed to the creation of goodie bags for upcoming VCOM international trips, highlighting how service and culture can unite to make a lasting impact.

View more photos from the salsa fundraiser on VCOM-Auburn’s Facebook.

A woman in a military uniform smiles in a formal portrait with an American flag in the background.

WVSOM Student Chosen for National Healthcare Policy Internship

A student at the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine (WVSOM) will participate in a prestigious national program that will immerse her in the process of establishing federal healthcare legislation.

Jacqueline Shoemaker, of WVSOM’s Class of 2027, is one of two students nationwide selected for the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine’s (AACOM) Osteopathic Health Policy Internship. AACOM is a nonprofit organization that supports the 44 accredited osteopathic medical schools in the United States.

Osteopathic Cranial Technique (OCT) in Spotlight at VCOM

Students practice osteopathic manipulative treatment as one student lies on a table while two others observe and assist in a classroom setting.

Photo: Natalie Hyppolite, DO, demonstrates osteopathic cranial techniques to VCOM-Virginia sports medicine fellow Brett Brodsky, DO.

On December 5 and 6, 2025, a specialized osteopathic cranial technique (OCT) course was offered for current sports medicine fellows at the Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine Virginia Campus (VCOM-Virginia). The course was led by Natalie Hyppolite, DO, MBS, FAAPMR, C-NMM/OMM, CAQSM, chair of the Department of Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine at the Illinois College of Osteopathic Medicine at the Chicago School of Health Sciences. She was joined by practicing sports medicine physicians Lauren Leslie, DO, and David Leslie, DO, who offered practical instruction on cranial anatomy, common injuries and treatment techniques.

OCT focuses on gently optimizing the body’s interconnected systems—nervous, circulatory and fascial—to enhance performance, accelerate recovery and help prevent future injuries.