Students Run a Clinic for Local Houseless Community, Travel to Honduras for a Medical Mission Trip and More

UNTHSC/TCOM Affiliated Dermatology Residency Program Begins in July

The rise in physician shortages across the United States has left many specialties scrambling for answers, but the University of North Texas Health Science Center-Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine (UNTHSC/TCOM) is addressing the shortfall with a new dermatology residency program that is set to begin in July 2023. The program will have three residents per class with a total of nine positions once fully enrolled. The first three residents begin their training with Clay Cockerell, MD, and other faculty. Read more about the program from its inception in 2018.

PCOM Dean Named to State Child Abuse Advisory Board

Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (PCOM)'s Gregory McDonald, DO, dean of the School of Health Sciences, has been named by the Pennsylvania Attorney General to a statewide advisory board tasked with reviewing cases or suspected cases of child abuse, homicide or neglect.

“I'm excited. I really am,” said Dr. McDonald. “It’s an honor to be able to do this, and it's certainly a timely subject as many child abuse cases are starting to get notoriety throughout the country.” Read more about Dr. McDonald and the advisory board.

Student-Run Clinic Serves Kansas City’s Houseless Community with Foot Clinic

As medical students, members of Kansas City University College of Osteopathic Medicine (KCU-COM)’s Student-Run Clinic know that feet can be a window into a patient’s overall health. In an effort to improve the health and wellness of Kansas City’s underserved and unhoused community, the student-run clinic designed and implemented a unique experience in foot health called FreshStep.

“We wanted to initiate a program that would be customized to the unhoused community,” said Nicolette Duong, a third-year medical student and FreshStep coordinator. “We are learning what manifests in your feet might be related to diabetes or peripheral neuropathy and we are applying what our first two years at Kansas City University was able to teach us.” Read more about the initiative and how it mutually benefits students and the nearby community.

VCOM-Virginia Hosts SEE Camp 

Photo: SEE campers on VCOM-Virginia campus.

Virginia area high schoolers recently got the chance to experience medical school firsthand through a unique camp held at Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine Virginia Campus (VCOM-Virginia). VCOM’s Summer Enrichment Experience (SEE) offers two weeklong camps—at no charge—to introduce science and healthcare professions to Virginia high school students who have a minimum GPA of 3.2.

SEE participants have clinical experiences and hands-on simulations, do experiments and research projects and work with VCOM faculty and students. The camp is funded through a federal Area Health Education Center grant from the Health Resources and Services Administration that VCOM-Virginia matches dollar per dollar. The best way to improve health outcomes for underserved areas is to recruit future physicians from those areas, which is why the program has been a success in the local community. View more photos on VCOM-Virginia’s Facebook.

VCOM-Carolinas International Outreach Mission Trip to Honduras

It was a big week for Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine Carolinas Campus (VCOM-Carolinas) Outreach. While their local mission took place around the Upstate of South Carolina, VCOM students served the international community, too. Fifteen students from VCOM-Virginia and 17 from VCOM-Carolinas traveled to Santa Rosa, Honduras, for a week-long stay. Joined by six U.S. preceptors, two local preceptors, three volunteers, a pharmacist and a nurse, they helped VCOM achieve its mission of promoting global health through mission medicine. View more photos from the mission trip on VCOM-Carolinas’ Facebook.