Students Volunteer at the Louisiana Marathon, Host Professionalism Week, Celebrate Military Matches and More
Published January 27, 2026
Campus Roundup Inside OME
OMM Motorsports: A Pilot Study at Michigan State University
When you step into the Spartan Motorsport Performance Lab at Michigan State University, you notice two things immediately: the hum of equipment used to measure human performance and the unmistakable sense that something new is being built here. Not just new research or new data, but a new field.
At the center of it stands second-year medical student Aidan Davis of Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine (MSUCOM), partnering with David Ferguson, PhD, associate professor of kinesiology at Michigan State University, and Jake Rowan, DO, associate professor at MSUCOM, to explore something almost nobody has attempted in professional racing: the formal use of osteopathic manipulative medicine (OMM) to assess and improve driver health.
This collaboration is more than a student project. It is the merging of two niche worlds—motorsport physiology and osteopathic medicine—into a potential new subspecialty.
Read more about MSUCOM’s pilot study exploring OMM in motorsports.
Inspiring Future Physicians Through Hands-On Discovery
On January 23, 2026, Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine Auburn Campus (VCOM-Auburn) welcomed students from the local community for an immersive, hands-on experience designed to spark interest in healthcare careers.
Participants engaged in live medical simulations, osteopathic manipulative treatment demonstrations, educational sessions on health topics and a cooking demonstration centered on nutrition and wellness. This interactive day reflected VCOM-Auburn’s mission to address healthcare disparities while encouraging students, especially those from rural and underserved communities, to envision a future in medicine.
View more photos from the event on VCOM-Auburn’s Facebook.
Future Military Physicians Find Their Match
For a small group of Midwestern University Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine (CCOM) students, Match Day arrived early, bringing with it pride, purpose and anticipation.
The university recently hosted a dinner honoring osteopathic medical students who successfully matched into military medical residencies through the military match, a separate and earlier residency process for medical students participating in programs such as the Health Professions Scholarship Program or those already serving in the Armed Forces.
Photo: Midwestern University students meet up at their Direct Commission Course. Top, left to right: Chris Simon (CCOM ’27), Kevin Casey (CCOM ’26), Sarah Middleton (CDMI ’26) and Zach Ganger (CCOM ’26). Bottom, left to right: Madison Katz (CCOM ’26) and Coral Feldman (CCOM ’26).
Read more about CCOM’s early military Match Day celebration.
Laissez les Bons Temps Rouler: SOMA Gala Brings Community and Celebration to VCOM-Louisiana
The Student Osteopathic Medical Association (SOMA) at Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine Louisiana Campus (VCOM-Louisiana) recently hosted its annual gala, giving students a well-deserved opportunity to step away from the rigors of medical school and enjoy an evening of connection and celebration.
Embracing the spirit of the night, laissez les bons temps rouler (let the good times roll), the event highlighted the importance of rest, fun and community building in supporting student well-being and strengthening bonds beyond the classroom.
View more photos from the SOMA gala on VCOM-Louisiana’s Facebook.
PCOM Georgia’s Annual Partnership Opens Doors for Future Healthcare Leaders
What happens when two local educational institutions join forces to motivate bright high school students interested in medical training in Gwinnett County, Georgia? The answer: a game-changing internship program.
Now in its fourth year, Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine Georgia Campus (PCOM Georgia)’s internship program with the Gwinnett School of Mathematics, Science and Technology (GSMST) has allowed high school students the opportunity to receive hands-on training and education in various areas of healthcare.
“Our students are very interested in medical internships but given the majority are not 18 years of age yet, they are not able to work in everyday medical settings such as hospitals or clinics,” said Adam Brown, partnership coordinator at GSMST.
Read more about PCOM Georgia’s partnership with GSMST and its impact on aspiring healthcare leaders.
VCOM-Carolinas Students Take Part in Echocardiogram Training
First- and second-year students at Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine Carolinas Campus (VCOM-Carolinas) recently took part in echocardiogram training led by Bertrand Moal, MD, PhD, CEO of HeartFocus.
Dr. Moal traveled from France to provide hands-on instruction, helping students build technical skills while deepening their clinical understanding of cardiology.
View more photos from the echocardiogram training on VCOM-Carolinas’ Facebook.
Students Build Career-Ready Skills During Professionalism Week
Photo: Midwestern University alumni returned to campus to share real-world advice and mentor current students during the Professionalism Week networking panel.
Midwestern University’s Student Senate hosted its annual Professionalism Week on the Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine (CCOM) Downers Grove Campus in December 2025, offering students across all colleges a full slate of workshops, panels and networking opportunities designed to strengthen their professional readiness. The week emphasized practical career skills, personal development and the powerful role of alumni in supporting future healthcare professionals.
Student Senate Speaker Naomi Rajesh spearheaded the program, which offered a multifaceted look at professionalism. “After years of Professionalism Week being hybrid, I wanted to bring everything back in person and highlight different sides of professionalism in new ways,” she said. “Because mentorship is essential in the professional world, I brought in as many alumni as possible to help students start building real networks. My hope is that it becomes a tradition that grows bigger every year.”
Read more about Professionalism Week at the CCOM.
VCOM-Carolinas Celeste Prado Honored with National Hispanic Health Foundation Scholarship
First-year Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine Carolinas Campus (VCOM-Carolinas) student Celeste Prado was recently honored in Washington, DC, after receiving a National Hispanic Health Foundation Scholarship—an award recognizing future health professionals committed to improving Hispanic and underserved communities. Celeste described the moment as “immense pride and also disbelief,” adding that the recognition reminded her “how far my family and I have come.”
Celeste applied for the scholarship seeking connection with health professionals and public health leaders who share her goal of strengthening care for Hispanic communities. She said the award symbolizes far more than financial support: “It represents being seen, encouraged and believed in at a stage of my journey when that support means everything.”
Read more about Celeste’s scholarship and recognition.
VCOM-Louisiana Students Deliver Sports Medicine Care at Louisiana Marathon
The student chapter of the American Osteopathic Academy of Sports Medicine at Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine Louisiana Campus (VCOM-Louisiana) assisted at the Louisiana Marathon in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, alongside teams from the Baton Rouge General Sports Medicine Fellowship, LSU-Lafayette Sports Medicine Fellowship and Action Medical Consultants, including athletic trainers and interns.
The Louisiana Marathon is a premier running festival held annually in the state’s capital. VCOM-Louisiana students and faculty supported runners at the main medical tent and along the finish line, providing care to participants who required medical attention.
View more photos from the Louisiana Marathon on VCOM-Louisiana’s Facebook.
William G. Anderson Lecture Series, Slavery to Freedom: An American Odyssey
The Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine (MSUCOM)’s annual Dr. William G. Anderson Lecture Series gives the community opportunities to interact with multicultural leaders from education, business, industry, entertainment and government. For 26 years, this series has featured living icons of the American civil rights movement and community change-makers. All activities are offered at no cost, thanks to the support of MSUCOM’s generous sponsors, and can be attended in person or virtually.
This year’s featured speakers include Jelani Cobb, PhD, dean of the Graduate School of Journalism at Columbia University; Bob Kendrick, president of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum; and Mary Ann Pettway and China Pettway, Gee’s Bend Quilting Collective.
Read more about the William G. Anderson Lecture Series.
What Is Medical Student Syndrome and How Can You Combat It?
It could be a headache that suddenly feels serious, or a muscle twitch that sparks concern. For many medical students, learning about disease can make ordinary sensations feel alarming.
This experience, known as medical student syndrome, is a common phenomenon in which students in medical training begin to feel health anxiety, fearing they may have one of the illnesses they are studying. According to Peter Bidey, DO ’08, MSEd, FACOFP, dean of the osteopathic medicine program and chief academic officer at Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (PCOM), the syndrome reflects both the intensity of medical education and the power of new medical knowledge.
Read more about medical student syndrome and how to address it.
MSOM Faculty Serve as National Item Writers for the NBOME
The Meritus School of Osteopathic Medicine (MSOM) is proud to recognize its faculty serving as National Item Writers for the National Board of Osteopathic Medical Examiners (NBOME). This national role helps shape the exams that future osteopathic physicians take nationwide.
This level of service reflects the strength of the MSOM faculty, the school’s commitment to rigorous, high-quality medical education and its mission to prepare physicians who will care for and serve communities.
View more photos from the event on MSOM’s Facebook.
From Student to Physician: Reflections on Residency, Resilience and Life After VCOM-Auburn
Taylor Bush, DO, Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine Auburn Campus (VCOM-Auburn Campus) Class of 2025, is currently completing her internal medicine residency at the University of Alabama at Birmingham Huntsville Regional Campus in Huntsville, Alabama.
Drawn to the breadth, pace and flexibility of internal medicine, Dr. Bush credits VCOM-Auburn’s early clinical immersion with preparing her for the demands of residency. Her journey was marked by resilience, including returning to medical school after giving birth to twins during her third year and graduating on time—a milestone she finds deeply meaningful. She encourages current students to trust their training, embrace the transition to residency and take pride in the work that earned them the title of physician.
View more photos from Dr. Bush’s journey on VCOM-Auburn’s Facebook.