Students Receive Scholarships to Practice in Local Community, Host Zoonotic Public Health Cases Talk, Inspire Young Students During Anatomy Academy and More

ICOM Students Practice Advanced Airway Techniques

Airway management is an important skill for all medical trainees to practice, and a unique training event at the Idaho College of Osteopathic Medicine (ICOM) provided an opportunity to do just that.

Co-hosted by the Anesthesiology and Emergency Medicine Clubs, ICOM's Advanced Airway Event allowed medical students to practice various airway management techniques. Rotating through stations, students executed a number of medical procedures used in airway management, from bag-valve-mask ventilation to cricothyrotomy. Read more about the Advanced Airway Event.

DMUCOM Dean of Student Advancement Joins AACOM Graduate Medical Education Development Fellowship

Jennifer Beaty, MD, associate dean for graduate medical education and designated institutional official for the Des Moines University Medicine College of Osteopathic Medicine (DMUCOM) and Health Sciences, was named one of 32 fellows to begin the 10-month AACOM Graduate Medical Education Development Fellowship.

“DMUCOM is entering a new era of graduate medical education development. As the new designated institutional official, I am eager to learn and facilitate our application to becoming a sponsoring institution,” Dr. Beaty says.  A sponsoring institution is accredited to oversee, support and manage one or more residency or fellowship programs under the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education. Read more about Dr. Beaty’s role at DMUCOM.

The Health Plan’s Scholarships Will Help Students Stay in West Virginia to Practice

Two West Virginia natives are attending medical school at the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine (WVSOM) without the burden of tuition and fees, thanks to a medical scholarship program offered by The Health Plan.

Class of 2028 students Sarah Lester, of McDowell County, and Emma Beatty, of Wetzel County, have been awarded The Health Plan Scholarship, which covers tuition and fees and is renewable for four years, allowing students to graduate medical school without worrying about those costs.

“Receiving this scholarship is a blessing, as I no longer must carry the burden of student loans. Being able to freely focus on my schoolwork allows me to reach my full potential without worrying about the money I would have to pay back upon starting residency. This scholarship will also allow me to pursue my goal of giving back to my home state as a physician,” Sarah said. Read more about WVSOM students Sarah and Emma as well as the history of the scholarship.

CHSU-COM Class of 2028 Student Shares His Goals for the Future

Photo: CHSU-COM Dayanidh "Joga" Singh in an ambulance while serving as an EMT prior to medical school.

Dayanidh "Joga" Singh's journey to the California Health Sciences University College of Osteopathic Medicine is unconventional. "When I was in high school, I wasn't really focused on academics," said Dayanidh. "Instead, I wanted to become a welder and a mechanic." Watch the story from ABC 30 News to find out how a motorcycle accident at 16-years-old changed his life and his career path.

Zoonotic Public Health Cases Illustrate Real World Examples for Students

Photo: Members of the One Health Club host a Zoonotic Public Health Cases Talk describing cases of disease transmission from animals to humans.

Midwestern University Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine (CCOM)’s One Health Club held a zoonotic public health talk on the Downers Grove Campus that examined cases where diseases were transmitted from animals to humans. Karen Gruszynski, DVM, MPH, PhD, DACVPM, assistant professor at the College of Graduate Studies highlighted three cases and offered advice about symptoms to look for and how disease transmission from animals to humans can occur. The students attending were also given information about the Master of Public Health program and the One Health Club.

CCOM student and President of the One Health Club Juliet Shelton said, “Regardless of our health professions, these cases can present themselves to a dentist, physical therapist or a physician. We wanted to give the chance to educate students in all the colleges on these things so they can be picked up sooner if they happen.” Juliet added, “We’re all interprofessional, so it’s interesting for us in our professions to get another perspective that isn’t traditionally taught in our classes.” Read more about the zoonotic public health talk and the case studies that were shared.

PCOM Georgia Rallies for Breast Cancer Awareness

Last month, Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine Georgia Campus (PCOM Georgia) joined the ninth annual Paint Gwinnett Pink 5K, hosted by Northside Hospital at Coolray Field.

To commemorate PCOM’s 125th anniversary, the college set a goal of enlisting 125 participants. They exceeded the goal, with more than 130 team members joining the race.

“Seeing such a strong turnout from PCOM Georgia for this cause is truly meaningful,” shared Kim Lucier, director of campus operations. “It’s a powerful reminder of our commitment to health and community.” Read more about the annual tradition of Paint Gwinnett Pink 5K.

VCOM-Louisiana Hosts Collaborative Interprofessional Education Event with ULM

Photo: Students from the VCOM-Louisiana and the University of Louisiana Monroe participated in interactive learning activities.

This fall, Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine Louisiana Campus (VCOM-Louisiana) hosted an interprofessional education event that united students from VCOM-Louisiana, the University of Louisiana Monroe’s College of Pharmacy and Doctor of Physical Therapy Program. Held quarterly, these events emphasize the core competencies outlined by the Interprofessional Education Collaborative. Students engaged in interactive learning, which helped them explore their roles in patient care within an interdisciplinary team. View more photos from the event on VCOM- Louisiana’s Facebook.

VCOM-Virginia Inspires Young Minds Through Anatomy Academy Program

Photo: VCOM-Virginia students lead an anatomy lesson with local elementary students.

Anatomy Academy, an outreach and research initiative, teaches elementary school students about anatomy, physiology and nutrition while fostering healthy lifestyle habits. When led by student doctors from Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine Virginia Campus (VCOM-Virginia), the program takes on an added mission: inspiring children to pursue higher education, particularly in the sciences.

The program offers six-week sessions in the fall and spring, serving up to 30 students per session at various local schools. It incorporates anatomical models and hands-on activities to make learning interactive and fun. VCOM-Virginia staff and students also engage children in sports and recreational activities, building meaningful connections while reinforcing health education and modeling a future in healthcare. View more photos from the event on VCOM-Virginia’s Facebook.

Journal of Pain Publishes Key Study About the Impact of Shared Decision-Making on Opioid Prescribing for Chronic Pain

Students from the University of North Texas Health Science Center-Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine (UNTHSC-TCOM)’s Honors Research Practicum course, led by John Licciardone, DO, MS, MBA, executive director of the Osteopathic Research Center and regents professor, reported a surprising finding in a study that was published by the Journal of Pain in its November issue. The article is titled “Impact of Shared Decision-Making on Opioid Prescribing Among Patients with Chronic Pain: A Retrospective Cohort Study,” and included investigators from UNTHSC-TCOM’s Class of 2026, Bassam Ballout, Yasser Bibi, Michaela Digilio, Rylan Fowers and Braden Van Alfen along with Subhash Aryal, PhD, a registry biostatistician affiliated with Johns Hopkins University. Read more about the study’s findings and the implications for future research.