Students Start a Clean Water Initiative, Donate Bike Helmets to Local Schools, Participate in Community Emergency Response Team Training and More

UNTHSC-TCOM Students Take Healthcare to Underserved Communities Through Medical Missions

Three trips, thousands of miles and hundreds of students exported healthcare from Fort Worth, Texas, to numerous locations throughout the state and Guatemala on medical mission trips, offering free clinics to rural and underserved communities. More than 120 students and faculty from the Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine at The University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth (UNTHSC-TCOM) went to Sanderson, Marathon, Van Horn and Ozona in West Texas; McAllen, Mission and Edinburg in South Texas; and Antigua, Guatemala.

The trips encompassed many rural communities, giving students an opportunity to practice their clinical skills, but also exposure to patient populations that sometimes have gone years without seeing a physician. Read more about what students said about their medical mission trips.

Students Put 'Compassion in Action' with Clean Water Initiative

Photo: Water well in Pakistan dedicated in the name of PCOM Georgia

Community service has always been a passion for third-year medical students Mustafa Ansari and Mutasem Shopon. The student doctors met at orientation week at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine Georgia Campus (PCOM Georgia) and instantly bonded over their shared interest in serving their local communities.

Seeing how their charitable work had benefited the local community in Georgia, the students were inspired to serve on an international level and decided to support those in dire need of basic necessities, such as clean water, to foster empowerment across Pakistan to rejuvenate and cultivate growth. Read more about the clean water initiative.

MSUCOM Students Take First, Third Place at National Osteopathic Conference

Students and faculty from Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine (MSUCOM) made a strong showing at Educating Leaders 2025, the AACOM Annual Conference, taking first and third place for research presentations.

Third-year medical student Akila Nallabelli earned first place for her poster presentation, “Biomedical-based diabetes education for community health literacy by osteopathic medical students.” The project was co-authored by third-year students Chris Vela and Sunshine Liu, as well as Carolina Restini, PhD, PharmD, associate professor and thread director at the college. Third-year medical student Nikila Nallabelli earned third place for her work, “Osteopathic medical students: transportation access research and patient care in street medicine,” co-authored with third-year medical student Khaitlyn Figueroa, Dr. Restini and Richard Bryce, DO, assistant professor at the college. Read more about Akila and Nikila’s award-winning research projects.

Spina Bifida of Central Florida Holds Annual Meeting at OCOM

This spring, the Orlando College of Osteopathic Medicine (OCOM) proudly opened its campus to host the annual Spina Bifida of Central Florida meeting—welcoming nearly 70 friends and families for a day of learning, connection and support.

Families came from across the region to attend workshops and sessions tailored to help them care for their children with spina bifida—offering guidance for every life stage, from infancy through adolescence and into young adulthood. The event was a powerful blend of medical insight and heartfelt community, creating space for parents and caregivers to exchange experiences while learning from experts in the field. Read more about the meeting held at OCOM.

VCOM-Louisiana Students Participate in CERT Training: An Interdisciplinary Collaborative Event Enhancing Disaster Preparedness

Photo: VCOM-Louisiana students in CERT gear perform triage and first aid on "victims" of a simulated tornado during disaster response training.

Second-year students at the Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine Louisiana Campus (VCOM-Louisiana) recently completed a two-day Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training, which equipped them with vital disaster response skills, including triage, search and rescue and shelter operations. Through hands-on simulations and collaboration with local agencies and University of Louisiana at Monroe Kitty DeGree nursing students, this annual event prepares future physicians to step up in real-world emergencies and support their communities when disaster strikes. Read more about VCOM-Louisiana’s CERT Training.

NSU-KPCOM Launches Six-Year Medical School Program

The Nova Southeastern University Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine (NSU-KPCOM) prides itself on being a visionary institution that provides its students with the most progressive educational opportunities possible. NSU-KPCOM, which already comprises 14 bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degree programs, is set to launch a new program this fall to help decrease the cost of education—a six-year college-medical school experience.

As with other university undergraduate programs, students in the six-year DO program may apply AP credits toward college coursework, allowing them to complete all required medical school prerequisites. The program also enables students to earn 90 credit hours prior to medical school admission—the current standard—and complete a bachelor’s degree after their first year of medical school. Altogether, the program reduces the traditional eight-year college and medical school pathway to six years, decreasing both time and cost.

The six-year college-medical school experience, which is currently an invitation-only program, targets the advanced high school applicant. It is a dual admission program that joins the dual admission 3+ and 4+ programs offered.

PCOM Awarded Grant to Expand Gun Violence Education and Trauma Therapy

Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (PCOM) has received a $715,774 grant from the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency to expand its SHELTER (Support and Healing through Empowerment, Learning and Trauma Education in Recovery after gun violence) Program, which aims to train healthcare providers in addressing gun violence as a public health issue and to offer trauma-informed cognitive behavioral therapy to individuals affected by gun violence at its Philadelphia healthcare centers. This initiative builds upon PCOM's ongoing efforts to address gun violence through research, student engagement and community outreach. Read more about the SHELTER program and how it strengthens PCOM’s community partnerships.

WVSOM Makes Strides Toward Better Health with Mountaineer Mile Initiative

West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine (WVSOM) has established a campus program utilizing West Virginia Governor Patrick Morrisey’s “Mountaineer Mile” walking initiative. WVSOM’s Mountaineer Mile will provide a weekly opportunity for students, faculty, staff and members of the public to walk a mile on campus with President James W. Nemitz, PhD, or another member of the school’s leadership team.

“This is an exciting opportunity for our state to move the needle when it comes to reducing obesity and positively impacting chronic disease,” he said. “I’m proud to lead the governor’s Mountaineer Mile initiative on our campus.” Read more about the Mountaineer Mile initiative.

ICOM Neurosurgery Club Donates 200+ Bike Helmets to Local Schools

Photo: Jordan McAllister, OMS II, (pictured second from right) delivers bike helmets to an elementary school alongside local first responders.

Elementary students across the Treasure Valley will be able to safely recreate this spring, thanks to a donation of more than 200 bicycle helmets on behalf of Idaho College of Osteopathic Medicine (ICOM)’s Neurosurgery Club.

Organized by student doctor Jordan McAllister, a second-year student at ICOM and treasurer of the Neurosurgery Club, the campaign aimed to collect enough money and/or helmet donations to be able to provide 100 local children with new helmets. Thanks to an outpouring of support, more than 200 helmets were collected and/or purchased, more than doubling the initial goal. Learn more.

VCOM-Auburn Speaker Event: Medical Social Work in Pediatric, Psychiatric and Adult Populations

The Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine Auburn Campus (VCOM-Auburn)'s chapter of the American College of Osteopathic Pediatricians recently hosted an event that explored the role of medical social work in healthcare. Featuring Dr. Maddox and Dr. Wells, professors from Auburn University’s sociology, anthropology and social work departments, students participated in case discussions, worked in groups to analyze real-life scenarios and asked questions of the speakers. By learning how medical social work integrates into healthcare, VCOM-Auburn students are better prepared to deliver compassionate, patient-centered care in their future medical careers. View more photos from the event on VCOM-Auburn’s Facebook.

VCOM Virginia & Carolinas Team Provides Medical Outreach in Honduras

Photo: A student administers care to a local Honduran child.

In late March 2025, students, faculty and staff from the Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine Virginia Campus (VCOM-Virginia) and the Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine Carolinas Campus (VCOM-Carolinas), along with external preceptors and volunteers, traveled to Santa Rosa de Copán, Honduras, for a week-long medical outreach mission. The team, including 39 second-year medical students, partnered with local organization Mission Upreach to provide care in rural communities. Altogether, the group served approximately 570 patients and filled more than 1,400 prescriptions. The experience enriched students’ clinical training and cultural understanding, while offering vital healthcare to underserved communities.