Students Present Vision Research, Explore Residency Opportunities, Advocate E-Bike Safety and More

VCOM-Louisiana Supports STEAM Camp with Scholarships and Volunteers

Each year, the Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine Louisiana Campus (VCOM-Louisiana) partners with the University of Louisiana at Monroe (ULM) Museum of Natural History by providing scholarships for its annual Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics (STEAM) camp and volunteering throughout the week.

This year’s Bayou Discovery camp, themed “Know Brainer,” gave local fourth- and fifth-grade students five days of hands-on activities designed to inspire creativity and critical thinking. VCOM-Louisiana students volunteered alongside ULM staff, and the week concluded with a special ceremony where campers received white coats. VCOM-Louisiana students and Ray L. Morrison, DO, were proud to help recognize the campers’ success.

View more photos from the Bayou Discovery camp on VCOM-Louisiana’s Facebook.

Eyeing the Future of Vision Science

Photo (left to right): life sciences/osteopathic medicine (BS/DO) student Zainab Faisal, medical student Nancy Mahfouz and Assistant Professor of Psychology and Counseling Robert Alexander, PhD

New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine (NYITCOM) students Zainab Faisal and Nancy O. Mahfouz, along with Robert Alexander, PhD, assistant professor of psychology and counseling, traveled to Florida to present two research studies at the 26th Annual Meeting of the Vision Sciences Society.

The international conference, which took place May 15-19, 2026, in St. Pete Beach, Florida, draws vision scientists from around the world each year and gave students in Alexander’s Human Factors and Neuroscience lab an opportunity to connect with and learn from like-minded researchers. To support their journey and stay at the multi-day conference, Zainab and Nancy were each awarded National Institutes of Health National Eye Institute Early Career Scientist Travel Grants.

Read more about NYITCOM students presenting research at the 26th Annual Meeting of the Vision Sciences Society.

KCU-COM Graduate Takes off Toward Elite Aerospace Medicine Residency

On Military Match Day at the United States Naval Academy, the weight of years of training came down to a single moment.

“I opened the email, and my mind just goes blank for a split second,” Jason-Flor Sisante recalled. “And then I start reading it, and the excitement just kept building when I realized I got my number one choice. It was exactly what I had been working toward for the last 10 years of my life.”

That top choice is one of the most competitive and specialized training pathways: the Navy’s aerospace medicine residency track. The program trains physicians for aviation, space and other austere environments of operational military medicine. For Dr. Sisante, a Kansas City University College of Osteopathic Medicine (KCU-COM) Class of 2026 graduate, Match Day marked the culmination of preparation that began decades earlier.

Read more about Dr. Sisante’s path toward an elite aerospace medicine residency.

VCOM-Carolinas Residency Fair Connects Students with Future Training Opportunities

Future physicians connected with future opportunities at the Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine Carolinas Campus (VCOM-Carolinas) annual Residency Fair on June 3, 2026. Held in the Milliken Room at Fifth Third Park in Spartanburg, South Carolina, the event brought together residency program directors, faculty and representatives from programs across South Carolina to meet with VCOM-Carolinas students as they prepare for the next phase of their medical training. The strong turnout from both students and residency programs reflects a shared commitment to supporting the development of the next generation of physicians.

View more photos from the Residency Fair on VCOM-Carolinas’ Facebook.

How One DO Student Is Advocating for Youth E-Bike Safety

Protecting children from e-bike accidents is something Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (PCOM) student Tiffany Jackson feels especially passionate about.

Tiffany recently penned an op-ed in The Philadelphia Citizen highlighting the growing number of e-bike-related hospitalizations, injuries and deaths among children, with the hope of helping parents and caregivers make informed safety decisions as these devices become more common.

“One of the biggest challenges is that public policy and public awareness have not fully caught up to how quickly children and adolescents are using these micromobility devices and how many of them are getting hurt while riding them,” she said. “As these devices become more popular, it is important that families understand the risks and know how to keep children safe.”

Read more about how Tiffany is advocating for youth e-bike safety.

Community Connections on the Spartan Bus Tour

Photo: Michael Burry, DO, (second from the left) chair of the Department of Family and Community Medicine at the Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine, joined the Spartan Bus Tour to connect with community organizations and strengthen partnerships across Michigan. He is pictured with other MSU members on the tour.

Michael Burry, DO, faculty member of Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine (MSUCOM)’s Family and Community Medicine, participated in the Spartan Bus Tour throughout Michigan to hear from people across the state and their needs. Dr. Burry’s video story shows how he is putting what he learned to work as a physician and teacher.

Watch Dr. Burry’s video story on MSUCOM’s YouTube channel.