Students Balance Ice Skating and Medical School, Use Nutritional Knowledge in Patient-Centered Healthcare, Learn About Osteopathy in Sports Medicine and More

DMU Students Practice Skills, Build Networks During Procedures Night 

Photo: Des Moines University graduate Anh Tang, DO (right), an internal medicine resident at MercyOne in Central Iowa, guides students in intubating a medical mannequin in the university’s surgery/simulation lab. 

A longtime event of Des Moines University’s Internal Medicine Club enables students to practice and hone skills, learn from local medical residents and gain insights on applying for and performing well in residency. Every year the club hosts a surgical procedures night with MercyOne residents in the university’s surgery/simulation lab. During this year’s event, six MercyOne residents, three of them DMU graduates, guided students in inserting central lines and chest tubes, performing lumbar punctures and intubating “patients” – in this case, the lab’s medical mannequins. 

Second-year D.O. student Shrinidhi Joshi, vice president of the club, says the event requires “a lot of coordination and set-up,” including finding a viable date among busy students and residents and choosing interesting procedures that will fit in the two-hour event. The effort is well worth it, Joshi says. Read more about DMU’s annual event. 

ICOM Student Balances Competitive Figure Skating and Medical School

Photo: Kasey Smith, OMS III, recently took second place at the Big Sky State Games Figure Skating Competition in Billings, Montana.

Idaho College of Osteopathic Medicine (ICOM) third-year student, Kasey Smith, secured second place at the Big Sky State Games Figure Skating Competition in Billings, Montana, earning her a spot to represent Montana in the State Games of America this summer. Currently completing clinical rotations in Great Falls, Montana, Smith, a competitive figure skater for nearly two decades, resumed skating after a two-year hiatus due to the demands of medical school.  

Balancing a busy schedule, Smith incorporates figure skating into her routine through early morning practices before her hospital duties. Expressing the importance of maintaining personal interests during medical school, Smith emphasizes, "It’s really important to not lose yourself in medical school and to make time for the things you love." She believes that connecting with patients and being a good physician involves embracing one's unique qualities and life experiences. Smith's return to skating has not only enriched her personal life but has also enhanced her connection with the Great Falls community and healthcare professionals. Read more about her involvement in figure skating and how it has impacted her medical journey.

VCOM-VA's SAOASM Hosts 2024 Mid-Atlantic Regional Conference

Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine – Virginia Campus (VCOM-Virginia)'s Student Section of the American Osteopathic Academy of Sports Medicine (SAOASM) proudly hosted the 2024 Mid-Atlantic Regional Conference on Saturday, January 20. Students from schools in the Mid-Atlantic region participated both in-person and virtually.

The conference, highlighted by guest speakers and a hands-on ultrasound workshop led by VCOM-Virginia's Albert Kozar, DO, offered aspiring sports medicine students the chance to learn about various topics within the field from practicing sports medicine physicians. The conference covered subjects like care of the female athlete, osteopathy in sports medicine, mental health in athletes and ankle injuries in sports. The event was also a chance for students to interact with other osteopathic medical students and Sports Medicine physicians from the surrounding areas. View their Facebook page to see more photos from their sports medicine event.

Western University of Health Sciences College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific-Northwest (COMP-Northwest) Assistant Professor Jenna Collins, DO, Named DO of the Year

Photo: WesternU COMP-Northwest Assistant Professor and Chair of Family Medicine Jenna Collins, DO, with her OPSO DO of the Year award.

Jenna Collins, DO, has been honored with the Osteopathic Physicians & Surgeons of Oregon (OPSO) DO of the Year award, a recognition that she describes as a significant honor. Collins, Vice Chair of the Department of Family Medicine at COMP-Northwest and COMP-Pomona, has played a pivotal role in shaping medical education. COMP and COMP-Northwest Acting Dean David A. Connett, DO highlights Dr. Collins' exceptional contributions to osteopathic medicine, stating, “Dr. Collins’s dedication to medical education, combined with her exceptional clinical skills, sets a high standard for what it means to be a physician and an educator.”

In her capacity as Vice Chair, Dr. Collins implemented innovative strategies that significantly enhanced the educational experience, earning her recent promotion to Chair of the Department of Family Medicine. This achievement, according to Connett, underscores her deep understanding of family medicine and commitment to patient care, medical education and community service. Her visionary leadership has left a lasting impact on the institution, and Connett expresses gratitude for her dedication and inspiring work.  Read more about Dr. Collins and her award.

Natalie Regian Named Student Doctor of the Year for VCOM-Louisiana

Photo: Natalie Regian ’24, was named VCOM-Louisiana’s Student Doctor of the Year for 2024.

Natalie Regian, a member of the Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine – Louisiana Campus (VCOM-Louisiana) Class of 2024, was named Student Doctor of the Year for 2024. Natalie's commitment to excellence in both academic and extracurricular pursuits, her dedication to the well-being of others and her outstanding leadership qualities have set her apart as an exemplary student. She is an inspiring representative for VCOM-Louisiana and the medical community at large. View the announcement on Facebook.

VCOM Students Travel to Honduras for International Outreach

Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine VCOM-Carolinas and VCOM-Virginia students traveled to Tegucigalpa, Honduras, earlier this month for the year’s first international outreach trip. A core part of VCOM's educational experience is providing students with community-based service opportunities that inspire them to become healthcare leaders for the future, both at home and internationally.

The college’s international outreach trips are a vital part of that commitment. View more photos from their recent travels.

From Classrooms to Communities, Touro’s Nutrition Program Bridges Information with Real-World Choices

In response to a gap in medical education regarding the practical application of nutritional knowledge, Touro University California (TUCOM-CA) is pioneering a program led by Grace Marie Jones, PhD and Traci Stevenson, DO. Traditionally, medical education covers the biochemistry of nutrients but lacks guidance on translating this knowledge into dietary recommendations for patients. Jones and Stevenson's courses at TUCOM address this by combining abstract nutritional knowledge with hands-on cooking classes, creating a tangible link between nutrition and its physiological impact. The program, initiated in 2016, now encompasses five summative events, covering topics such as cancer nutrition and cardiovascular disease, providing a patient-centered model of healthcare that considers lifestyle factors contributing to health problems. Dr. Stevenson notes the growing momentum for mandatory nutritional education in medical schools, positioning TUCOM ahead of anticipated changes.

Dr. Jones and Dr. Stevenson are actively working to expand this nutritional education initiative to other professions beyond medical students, recognizing its potential benefits for Nursing, Physician’s Assistant, Pharmacy, and Education students. While a yearly interprofessional elective called Functional Nutrition and Lifestyle Medicine currently exists, their goal is to extend these teachings to other disciplines. Dr. Jones emphasizes the need to address nutrition comprehensively, stating, "We know that nutrition is a huge issue for the children that these folks teach." Read more about their community-based family-centered program that fosters healthy living through interactive classes, cooking demonstrations and physical activity sessions.

WVSOM Receives Accreditation for New Master’s Program

Photo: Students attend a lecture at the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine.

The West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine (WVSOM) has received accreditation to introduce a Master of Science in Biomedical Sciences degree program, expanding its educational offerings. The two-semester, nine-month program is designed to prepare students for advanced study in health professions, incorporating a core of biomedical sciences courses and a health sciences thread focusing on community health, diet and physical activity.

Dr. Timothy Garrow, WVSOM’s founding associate dean of graduate programs, expressed excitement about the program's development, stating, “It’s been exciting to work with like-minded faculty, administrators and staff to develop a novel M.S. degree in biomedical sciences that includes training in the food, nutrition, public health and exercise sciences so that future health care professionals are well equipped to help prevent or better manage the most common chronic medical conditions in the U.S.”

Slated to start in the fall, the program aims to attract students for its inaugural class. WVSOM's emphasis on lifestyle and chronic disease prevention aligns with the state's health concerns, addressing issues like obesity, diabetes, and heart disease. Linda Boyd, DO, vice president for academic affairs and dean, sees this initiative as part of WVSOM’s commitment to expanding interest in healthcare careers, emphasizing, “At WVSOM, we have mastered the way in which we deliver a medical education. Being able to also offer a Master of Science in Biomedical Sciences allows us to create a larger pool of qualified applicants to go on to complete their medical training. West Virginia needs more doctors, and this is another way to meet our mission.”  Read more about this program and how it further aligns with WVSOM’s existing Culinary Medicine and Exercise is Medicine courses, contributing to a holistic approach to healthcare education.