Students Develop an Overdose App, Explore Healthcare Careers, Advance Nutrition Education and More
Published August 05, 2026
Campus Roundup Inside OME
A Journey to Whole-Body Wellness Through Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine
At 66, Frances Jackson had always prioritized staying active until a rear-end car accident in 2025 left her with lingering aches and pain.
While initially cleared of serious injury after the accident, Frances spent the next few months in persistent discomfort, including whiplash, lower back pain and eventually degenerative disc issues. When physical therapy and chiropractic care provided less-than-ideal results, she turned to a longtime friend who recommended osteopathic manipulative medicine (OMM) treatment at the Georgia Osteopathic Care Center.
When Frances first met Karen Vega, DO, an assistant professor in the Department of Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine Georgia Campus (PCOM Georgia), she was optimistic about her recovery.
Read more about Frances’ journey to whole-body wellness through OMM treatment.
Kansas City University Hosts HHS Roundtable to Advance Nutrition Education in Medical Training
Federal health leaders, physicians, educators and community partners gathered at Kansas City University College of Osteopathic Medicine (KCU-COM) for a regional roundtable as part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Nutrition Initiative. The event highlights KCU-COM’s role in a nationwide effort to prepare future physicians with the knowledge and skills to help prevent and manage diet-related chronic diseases.
Read more about KCU-COM’s regional roundtable and efforts to advance nutrition education in medical training.
The Medical Student, His Therapy Dog and an App to Stop Overdoses
If one spends enough time around Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine in Harlem (TouroCOM Harlem), they’ve probably met Abraham “Abe” Libman—and his Siberian husky, Tye.
A certified therapy dog and campus celebrity who accompanies Abe to community events, wellness activities and volunteer programs, Tye is a familiar sight in TouroCOM Harlem’s halls. Together, Abe and Tye represent the work of a medical student whose efforts are broad—encompassing public health research, nonprofit leadership and advocacy, scholarship and community service.
One of Abe’s most significant initiatives started as a student research project examining how environmental and socioeconomic factors contribute to overdose risk among people experiencing homelessness in Manhattan.
Read more about Abe, Tye and the student research project that led to an overdose-prevention app.
PCOM South Georgia Expert Separates Cyclospora Facts from Fiction
By now, you’ve likely heard or read about what’s being called the “produce poop parasite” that has reportedly sickened thousands across the United States. While there has been much debate about foods linked to the outbreak, the culprit behind the gastrointestinal illness has been identified as Cyclospora, a microscopic parasite that causes cyclosporiasis.
Cyclospora is a pathogen, specifically a parasite. Stacie Fairley, PhD, an associate professor of microbiology and immunology at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine South Georgia Campus (PCOM South Georgia), teaches courses on parasites and pathogens to first-year medical students. “These topics are new to many students but are important for them to learn as future physicians,” Dr. Fairley said.
Read more about Cyclospora and Dr. Fairley’s efforts to separate facts from fiction.
From Small Towns to Big Dreams: Arizona High School Students Explore Future Healthcare Professions at Health Careers Institute
Midwestern University’s annual Health Careers Institute, held on the Glendale Campus of the Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine (AZCOM), welcomed 64 high school students from July 13-17, 2026, for a week of interactive workshops and career discovery.
Guided by Midwestern faculty and student mentors, participants learned about healthcare career options, how to find their best fit, advice for applying to colleges and professional schools and skills for supporting their own mental and physical health. Hands-on workshops included tutorials in venipuncture, ultrasound, vital signs, intubation, anatomy, dentistry and optometry, giving participants insight into the many possibilities in healthcare.
Read more about the students’ interactive workshops and career discoveries at the Health Careers Institute.