Students Learn Empathy and Teamwork from Horses, Offer Free Health Screenings at County Fair and More

Bridging Medicine and Empathy Through Equine-Assisted Learning in TouroCOM Montana

The EMPACT (Eagle Mount, Possibilities, Acceptance, Community, Teamwork) program is held at the Eagle Mount Equestrian Center in Great Falls, Montana. The program is led by Deb Sivumaki, Heather Martin, Joe Stalzer and Certified Equine-Assisted Learning Facilitator Morgan King from Eagle Mount Great Falls. The program bridges the gap between medical school training and equine-assisted learning. Touro University College of Osteopathic Medicine Montana Campus (TouroCOM Montana) students engage in activities that enhance communication, empathy and teamwork skills.

The EMPACT program leverages horses' intuitive nature to teach students valuable lessons in nonverbal communication. "We're always looking for ways to enhance the educational experience for our students," said Stephanie Zeszutek, DO, RPh, assistant clinical dean and associate professor at TouroCOM Montana. Read more about students’ experiences participating in the EMPACT program.

Healing Hands in Chembolet: Dr. Gwenn Jackson's Transformative Medical Mission in Kenya

Photo: Dr. Jackson shares a warm embrace with her interpreter at a medical clinic in Chembolet, Kenya.

Gwenn Jackson, MD, Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine Louisiana Campus (VCOM-Louisiana)'s OB/GYN chair, recently returned from a life-changing medical mission in Chembolet, Kenya, where she served as the mission’s medical director. She was the only physician on the eight-person team from the United States. She coordinated resources, provided general medicine evaluations and consulted on cervical and breast cancer screenings. The team also included members from the Kenyan Health Service and provided care to more than 800 individuals, addressing issues like uncontrolled hypertension, pediatric respiratory illnesses and musculoskeletal complaints. Read more about Dr. Jackson’s day to day work in Kenya.

VCOM-Virginia Provides Support to Franklin County Health Fair

In late August, students and staff from the Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine Virginia Campus (VCOM-Virginia) traveled to Franklin County, Virginia, to serve as healthcare providers at the 7th Annual Franklin County Community Health Fair. Opportunities to work with communities in need are a natural fit for VCOM-Virginia and its mission. The VCOM-Virginia team offered free health screenings and information, including blood pressure checks, skin cancer screenings, vision evaluation, pharmacy consultations, exercise and nutrition advice and osteopathic manipulation. Read more stories like this on VCOM-Virginia’s Facebook.

Honoring Veterans: A Suicide Prevention Month Tribute

On September 9, 2024, Via Wellness, a student organization at the Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine Auburn Campus (VCOM-Auburn), placed flags in front of campus to honor Alabama veterans who lost their lives to suicide. The tribute, part of Suicide Prevention Month, raised awareness about the importance of mental health support, especially for veterans. Read more stories like this on VCOM-Auburn’s Facebook.

DMU-COM Student Wins Placement in Prestigious Diversity Program

Jayce Clark, a second-year student at Des Moines University College of Osteopathic Medicine (DMU-COM), was awarded placement in the Robert A. Winn Diversity in Clinical Trials: Clinical Investigator Pathway Program. Supported by the Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation, the program aims to build a diverse future workforce of community-oriented clinical trial researchers.

The six-week externship exposes students to clinical research and provides mentorship from early-stage clinical investigators. “Equity is the biggest thing they’re fighting for,” Jayce says. Read more about the program and Jayce’s role in addressing healthcare disparities in West Louisville.

Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine Holds Opioid Overdose Prevention Training

Photo: CCOM students learn how to administer naloxone, a medication that can reverse the effects of opioid overdose.

The Overdose Prevention Task Force, a subcommittee of Midwestern University’s Student Osteopathic Medical Association (SOMA), arranged an opioid overdose prevention training session for Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine (CCOM) students on the Downers Grove Campus. In the session, they learned about opioids, opioid usage, methods to fight the opioid epidemic and hands-on treatment to administer naloxone, a rapidly acting medication that could reverse the effects of an accidental opioid overdose.

The training assists future doctors in their preparation to treat patients who suffer from opioid addiction. While the training session was mostly comprised of incoming osteopathic medicine students, current medical students also attended, bringing the total to 191 students, all gaining deeper knowledge of the opioid epidemic and emergency treatment with naloxone. Hear from the students who attended the overdose prevention training.

UNTHSC-TCOM Faculty Member Participates in Elite Bulter-Williams Scholars Program Hosted by the National Institute on Aging

After 10 years as a clinician, Lubnaa Abdullah, PsyD, ABPP, was ready for a change. Her career as a clinical psychologist with specialty training in neuropsychology was rewarding, but she wanted something new, which she found at the University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine (UNTHSC-TCOM) by going headfirst from clinician into researcher.

Dr. Abdullah is an assistant professor at the Department of Family and Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine and joined the Institute for Translational Research to add another dimension to the Alzheimer’s disease research already being done. Read more about her career change and new research.