Students Tour a Working Mine, Compete for the Tackiest Holiday Sweater, Attend Fall Research Fair and More

Packs For Portland: Supporting Our Community by Supporting Our Neighbors

There is an old expression about being lost at sea: "Water everywhere but not a drop to drink." It evokes a sense of need that many of us hope to never experience. Unfortunately, there are those of us who are experiencing something similar right in our own communities. As volunteers at the Portland Needle Exchange, a non-profit organization that provides harm reduction services to those living in the city of Portland, Maine, we have learned about the implications of living on the street from those with lived experience.

Since last year, there has been an exponential increase in the unhoused population along with an increasing need for housing and accessibility to healthcare services. In light of this, and with the onset of winter, we wanted to provide essential cold weather survival items including warm clothing, wound care kits, foot powder, toothbrushes and cold weather informational fliers. We packaged these supplies in backpacks to have a lasting impact on people who are regularly displaced from where they call home.

In collaboration with the UNE’s School of Pharmacy and College of Dental Medicine, University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine (UNE COM) students fundraised and advocated for our unhoused neighbors through a university-wide backpack and warm clothing drive, which included support and donations from local businesses and community members. Creating these backpacks allowed us to provide care to the people in our community who arguably need it the most and yet also experience the greatest barriers to access. We met our goal of 100 backpacks and distributed them with the Portland Needle Exchange and Maine Mobile Outreach to the largest encampment in Portland, in addition to community partners in Saco and Biddeford, ME.

Faculty, Students Selected for American Medical Association Research Challenge Finals

Photo: Medical students Garrett Borger and Srujith Medharametla, under the direction of Dr. Martinez-Valenzuela, are finalists at the AMA Research Challenge Finals. From left to right: Kevin Link, Muneebah Vaid, Dr. Martinez-Pena y Valenzuela, Srujith Medharametla and Garrett Borger.

Representing Midwestern University as one of five nationwide finalists at the American Medical Association (AMA) Research Challenge Finals are Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine (CCOM) students Srujith Medharametla (’26) and Garrett Borger (’26), who conducted a research project under the direction of Isabel Martinez-Pena y Valenzuela, PhD, assistant professor, physiology, College of Graduate Studies on the Downers Grove campus. The AMA Research Challenge is a national multi-specialty research conference for medical students, international medical graduates, fellows and residents to present and show their research. Read more about the students’ journeys to medical research.

WVSOM Students Learn About Coal Industry, Tour Working Mine

About 10,000 coal miners went underground in the Mountain State in 2023, as reported by the West Virginia Office of Miners’ Health Safety and Training. On December 4-5, students in the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine (WVSOM)’s Rural Health Initiative had a chance to see firsthand what those miners go through in order to work in a subterranean environment.

A total of 23 WVSOM students—more than in any previous year that the mine activity has been offered—visited the National Mine Health and Safety Academy in Beaver, WV, operated by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Mine Safety and Health Administration, to learn about the coal industry and its associated health risks. The trip also included a visit to Arch Coal Mine in Eccles, WV, where students went underground to see an operational mine and speak with miners on the job.

Rebecca Thacker, WVSOM’s Rural Health Initiative program director, said the event was a valuable educational resource for medical students who plan to practice in West Virginia.

“It showcased advancements in the coal mining industry and allowed students to see current working conditions and potential health risks, equipping future doctors with the knowledge and empathy needed to serve the healthcare needs of West Virginia’s diverse population,” Thacker said. “A handful of major industries are typically prevalent in rural areas, and successful medical education involves imparting to students the skills to establish rapport with and treat their patients. My hope is that our students are learning how to seek more insight into the populations they will end up serving.” Read more about the experience and how it impacted the students.

VCOM-Virginia Students Break Out of Classroom with Escape Room Learning Opportunity

Students at the Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine Virginia Campus (VCOM-Virginia) are breaking out of the traditional classroom setting with a unique escape room learning opportunity. Carrie Champine, DO, the associate dean of OMS IV and graduate medical education at VCOM-Virginia, has introduced an innovative escape-room-style simulation for teaching and testing second-year OB/GYN clinical skills.

Under the guidance of Cathleen Callahan, MD, and Ron Januchowski, DO, students engaged in hands-on learning, interpreting fetal heart tones and mastering safe delivery techniques. The simulation featured a high-fidelity mannequin serving as the "patient," offering a complete birthing experience for students to practice care before, during and after delivery. The combination of escape-room-style simulations and traditional mannequin simulations at VCOM-Virginia aims to enhance learning by incorporating realism, practice and feedback.

Recognizing that a significant number of medical errors result from communication and teamwork deficiencies, these simulations provide medical students with a low-risk environment to practice and refine their skills. This preparation better equips them to handle real-life medical emergencies. View more photos on VCOM-Virginia’s Facebook.

VCOM-Carolinas Holds Fall Research Fair

Photo: Krit Ritthipichai, DVM, MS, PhD, presents his research at the VCOM-Carolinas Fall Research Fair.

Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine Carolinas Campus (VCOM-Carolinas) held its annual Fall Research Fair on Monday, December 4, 2023. Faculty researchers presented their latest work at the event, which was attended by students and faculty. View more photos from the event on VCOM-Carolinas’ Facebook.

Naloxone Training Offered to VCOM-Louisiana Students

Photo: VCOM-Louisiana SOMA and ACOEM members partnered with ULM faculty to offer naloxone training for first- and second-year medical students through the HERO program.

Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine Louisiana Campus (VCOM-Louisiana) students had the opportunity to participate in a Harm Reduction Education and Opioid (HERO) Overdose Reversal Training sponsored by VCOM-Louisiana's Student Osteopathic Medical Association (SOMA), the Student Chapter of the American College of Osteopathic Emergency Medicine (ACOEM) and the University of Louisiana Monroe (ULM).

Students received comprehensive instruction on recognizing signs of an opioid overdose, hands on training in administering naloxone and essential safety tips and best practices. In addition to learning about these life saving measures, students were educated on ways to reduce the stigma surrounding the opioid epidemic. View more photos on VCOM-Louisiana’s Facebook.

Festive Learning: ACOOG's Tacky Christmas Sweater Party at VCOM-Auburn

The Tacky Christmas Sweater Party, hosted by the American College of Osteopathic Obstetricians and Gynecologists student organization at Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine Auburn Campus (VCOM-Auburn) on December 4, 2023, was a joyous and educational affair. Faculty members Kraig Smith, MD, discipline co-chair for OB-GYN, and Kenneth Harris, MD, discipline co-chair for OB-GYN, joined in the festivities, creating a supportive environment. The combination of festive sweaters and discussions on how different pathogens can cause a system disease and general OB-GYN information made for an educational and enjoyable event, fostering camaraderie among first- and second-year students. Laughter and delicious food added to the merriment, creating lasting memories for all involved. View more photos from the event on VCOM-Auburn’s Facebook.