VCOM- Virginia Celebrates Juneteenth, ACOM Secures National Simulation Championship, First DREAMer Graduates from WesternU
Published June 27, 2023
Campus Roundup Inside OME
VCOM-Virginia Celebrates Juneteenth
Photo: Students savor home-cooked foods as part of Juneteenth Celebration
Students, faculty and staff at the Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine – Virginia Campus (VCOM-Virginia) united on June 19 to commemorate Juneteenth with a potluck gathering. The celebration showcased an array of soul food classics and desserts, all inspired by the rich culinary traditions of African American cuisine. Alongside the delectable fare, attendees enjoyed an afternoon filled with lively games and raffles, adding an extra layer of excitement to the festivities.
View photos from their Juneteenth celebration.
First-Year ACOM Students Secure Fifth National Simulation Championship Victory
The Alabama College of Osteopathic Medicine (ACOM) continued its dominance of a national simulation competition earlier this June in Phoenix, Arizona by claiming its fifth national championship in the last seven years. Since 2017, ACOM has also won three international championships.
The “Biohazards,” which was comprised of all first-year female students, included Hannah Rose Mixon (Captain), Sireen Salin Hilo, Sandra Fanous, Sanjana Rasamsetti and Sonia Patel.
“I’m proud of this team of first-year students,” John T. Giannini Jr, MD, associate professor of Internal Medicine/director of Simulation, said. “This championship speaks to the simulation program and the integral component it plays in ACOM’s curriculum and training. They are seeing the same cases in the simulation lab that they are learning about in the classroom.”
Read more about the competition and the other teams.
VCOM-Louisiana ACOOG Celebrates National Women’s Health Week
Photo: Ashley Smith, Julia Hayward and Jourdan Blair, all members of the VCOM-Louisiana Class of 2026, participated in an IUD insertion clinic during National Women’s Health Week.
The Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine - Louisiana Campus chapter of the American College of Osteopathic Obstetrics and Gynecology (ACOOG) organized a series of engaging events in honor of National Women's Health Week. These activities aimed to promote awareness and education surrounding women's health. Among the events hosted were a talk on postpartum depression, a workshop on osteopathic manipulative medicine (OMM) for gynecologic conditions and an engaging workshop focusing on intrauterine devices (IUDs). These sessions provided valuable insights and practical knowledge to the participants, empowering them to make informed decisions about their health.
In addition to these educational events, the ACOOG chapter also organized a spirited pregnancy relay race. This interactive activity fostered a sense of camaraderie and teamwork while highlighting the importance of physical activity during pregnancy.
View photos and read more about the informative sessions and engaging activities that occurred during National Women's Health Week at VCOM-Louisiana.
First “DREAMer” Along with 90 Students Graduate from Western University
The Western University of Health Sciences (WesternU) College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific-Northwest (COMP-Northwest) celebrated the graduation of 91 students at a commencement ceremony held last month at Boulder Falls Center.
Among the graduates was Mariam Rija, DO '23, who became the first COMP-Northwest student to graduate after successfully completing the DREAM (Diversity Recognized Emphasized and Assimilated into Medicine) program, an enrichment initiative aimed at promoting diversity and providing support to underrepresented minority students pursuing a career in medicine. Rija completed the program in August 2018 while working as a scribe, having already obtained a sociology major and Spanish minor as an undergraduate.
“The program itself is fantastic. I learned so much about medicine,” Rija said. “We also got to share different parts of our identity. It creates a place for everyone to feel comfortable and share various parts that make us unique. Through this, we realize diversity in medicine is an asset and a strength.”
Read more about the graduates and the DREAM program.
Promotions of Three VCOM Leadership Team Members
Photo: From left: Debbie West, EdD, Matthew Cannon, DO and Jim Rathmann
VCOM President Dixie Tooke-Rawlins, DO, announced that several members of VCOM leadership would be promoted to better serve the college and its students, faculty and staff.
Debbie West, EdD, has been promoted to provost. In that role, West will oversee VCOM’s academic programs, ensuring that the college continues to offer a high-quality medical education and has excellent outcomes at each of its four campuses and institution wide.
Matthew Cannon, DO, has been promoted to senior dean. While each campus dean will retain academic and budgetary oversight of their respective campuses, Dr. Cannon will lead the deans in assuring the quality and consistency of the VCOM curriculum, policies and academic excellence across all four VCOM campuses.
Jim Rathmann has been promoted to vice president for information technology. In that role, he will ensure that VCOM has the latest in information technology to support all four campuses.
This is an exciting time for VCOM. Read more about their new leaders.
VCOM-Carolinas’ Tom Lindsey, DO, Completes Term as SCOMS President
Tommy Lindsey, II, DO, FACOS, a board-certified general surgeon and associate dean of simulation and medical technology at Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine - Carolinas Campus (VCOM-Carolinas), concluded his tenure as the 2022-2023 South Carolina Osteopathic Medical Society (SCOMS) President on June 8 at the SCOMS Annual Meeting. During his presidency, Dr. Lindsey was commended for his visionary leadership, unwavering dedication to the osteopathic medical profession and his invaluable contributions to both the public and the field.
Dr. Lindsey has more than 23 years of practicing as a rural surgeon in Michigan, New Mexico and South Carolina. Read more about his experience.