Students Share Sun Protection Tips, Complete a Social Determinants of Health Simulation, Volunteer at 14 California Nonprofits and More

Dermatology Club Shares Sun Protection Tips

Photo (left to right): Haily Fritts, OMS II; Mikaela Garcia, OMS II; Victoria Boczon, OMS II; Juliana Madej, OMS I; and Quinn Schroeder, OMS II.

Members of the Dermatology Interest Group at the Idaho College of Osteopathic Medicine (ICOM) educated community members about the importance of sun and skin care at a local farmer's market. The future physicians offered attendees free sunscreen, water and educational materials about skin cancer and prevention.

Another Match for a UNTHSC-TCOM Graduate, This Time It Saves the Life of a Mother

It was January of 2023 when Daniel Erickson, DO, a then student at the Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine at The University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth (UNTHSC-TCOM), was sporting perhaps the biggest smile of his life while facetiming with Stephanie Pugh for the first time. Stephanie, a mother of two from Pennsylvania, didn’t quite know what to expect, or what to say during that phone call other than “you just saved my life.” Read more about their first meeting and Stephanie’s recovery.

In Student-Designed Activity, Appalachian Stories Illustrate the Social Determinants of Health

“Raise your hand if this simulation made you feel anxious or stressed,” said Courtney Eleazer, PhD, a faculty member at the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine (WVSOM). A sea of arms went up.

First-year medical students had just completed the first mandatory activity of the academic year: a simulation designed to introduce the concept of the social determinants of health, which encompasses economic stability, access to education and other non-medical factors that impact a person’s health and quality of life. In the activity, each student was randomly assigned one of seven characters to portray. Read more about the social determinants of health activity and how it changed the perspectives of incoming students.

Midwestern University Student Awarded First Place at the 2024 Arizona Medical Association’s Annual Meeting

Photo: Shuaa Rizvi and her mentor, Hilal Arnouk, at the 2023 annual Kenneth A. Suarez Research Day on the Downers Grove Campus.

Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine (AZCOM) student Shuaa Rizvi, MS, was honored with a first-place win in the Basic Research Category during the 2024 Arizona Medical Association’s Annual Meeting for her project “Identification of Stratifin as a Potential Biomarker for Oral Cancer Progression.” The project began during the pursuit of her master’s degree in Biomedical Sciences on the Downers Grove Campus under the mentorship of Hilal Arnouk, MD, PhD, associate professor, Pathology. Read more about Shuaa’s research and future ambitions.

Experiences Shape OSU-COM Medical Student, National Scholarship Recipient

Emily Sowah is a fourth-year student at the Oklahoma State University College of Osteopathic Medicine (OSU-COM). She is also a non-traditional medical student with the chronic illness sickle cell anemia whose family immigrated from Ghana. She was recently awarded the William G. Anderson, DO, Minority Scholarship from the American Osteopathic Foundation.

“To me, being a representative of minority women in medicine means fulfilling one of my life’s purposes,” said Emily. “It allows me to show others that they too can achieve their goals, no matter how distant they may seem. And for my future patients, this representation means I can relate to them on a level that not all providers may reach.” Read more about Emily’s leadership and gratitude for the scholarship.

Student Doctor Cameron DeLaere Selected to Participate in NBOME Student Experience Panel

Congratulations to Cameron DeLaere, third-year medical student at the California Health Sciences University College of Osteopathic Medicine (CHSU-COM), for being the first student from CHSU-COM to serve on the National Board of Osteopathic Medical Examiners (NBOME) Student Experience Panel.

“I am deeply appreciative of John Graneto, DO, MEd, for his support and for nominating me for this opportunity,” said Cameron. “I was motivated to join the panel by a desire to give back to the osteopathic medical community that has supported me. The guidance and experiences shared by mentors and peers before me have greatly influenced my journey…I hope to leverage this experience to advocate for positive changes and to develop skills that will benefit my future medical career.” Read more about what Cameron hopes to accomplish during his time as an NBOME student experience panelist.

TUCOM School Year Opens with Day of Service

Photo: Students entering TUCOM for the 2024-2025 academic year stop to pet a horse during a Day of Service workday at Rush Ranch in the Suisun Marsh.

Hundreds of incoming students fanned out across Vallejo, Fairfield-Suisun Region to support more than a dozen nonprofit organizations. An estimated 430 incoming students provided roughly 860 hours of volunteer work to support 14 area nonprofits last week on the first day of orientation at Touro University California College of Osteopathic Medicine (TUCOM).

The students painted picnic tables at Rush Ranch, the Solano Land Trust property adjacent to the Suisun Marsh. They bagged produce for future distribution at the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano warehouse in Fairfield. Hear from incoming TUCOM students and what this experience meant to them.

VCOM-Carolinas ACOOG and Period Project Assemble 3000 Period Kits

Photo: VCOM-Carolinas students help assemble period kits for schools in Spartanburg County.

Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine Carolinas’ Campus (VCOM-Carolinas)’s American College of Osteopathic Obstetrics and Gynecology (ACOOG) student organization and the Spartanburg Period Project hosted an event to help their local community have access to feminine hygiene products. It was the largest turnout of volunteers since COVID-19, and together, the organizations assembled more than 3,000 period kits for schools in Spartanburg County. Read more stories like this on VCOM-Carolinas’ Facebook.

VCOM-Auburn Hosts Suturing Event for Medical Students

Photo: Dr. Smith helps VCOM-Auburn students practice suturing.

Recently, several of Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine (VCOM-Auburn)'s student organizations including the American College of Osteopathic Emergency Physicians (ACOEP), Student Osteopathic Surgical Association (ACOS-MSS) and American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOOG), hosted a suturing event. The session was led by VCOM-Auburn’s chair of surgery, Paul Brission, MD, MS, with assistance from Kraig Smith, MD. During the event, students gained valuable hands-on experience in suturing, a practical skill they will continue to refine throughout the year in preparation for their rotations. Read more stories like this on VCOM-Auburn’s Facebook.