Patch Adams, M.D., SHM Commencement speaker

Patch Adams, M.D., will be the speaker at the School of Health Management commencement ceremonies on June 7. He is the real person behind the hit movie starring Robin Williams and is a nationally-known speaker and author on wellness, laughter, and humor, as well as on health care and health care systems. More information is available.

Missouri Governor Matt Blunt, left, visited ATSU and the Northeast Regional Medical Center on January 17. From a podium in the Centennial Commons on the ATSU campus, Governor Blunt discussed his health coverage initiative.

ATSU-KCOM students, faculty, and staff and members of the Kirksville community attended the conference. At Governor Blunt's invitation, John C. Collins, D.O., '97, right, assistant professor, family medicine and osteopathic manipulative medicine department, and president, Missouri Society, American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians, spoke from the clinician's point of view and experiences of caring for patients who are underinsured or who have no insurance.

The Division of Research, Grants, and Information Systems has recently published the A.T Still University Researchers magazine, an updated and expanded version of Research at KCOM. This exciting magazine highlights current and active researchers within the ATSU system. Also included in the publication are brief sections on the history of research and current student research at the University. This magazine is available in print and electronically. To receive a paper copy, contact the Division of Research, Grants, and Information Systems by email or call 660.626.2397. Go here to see an electronic version of this publication.

KCOM celebrated Diversity Week on January 21-25 with several multicultural Campus and community events. These included a speaker from the Institute for International Medicine who presented, "Treating HIV/AIDS in Resource Poor Areas," which was held on campus and co-sponsored by the Christian Medical and Dental Association and ATSU-UNICEF. On Friday evening, the International Dinner and Talent/Fashion Show was held in the Centennial Commons. Pictured here are second-year KCOM students, Anna Krauss, left, and Autumn Day, dressed in Native American dresses, which were some of the costumes worn that evening.

SHM D.H.Ed. program's first graduation

The School of Health Management graduated its first class of Doctorate of Health Education students in February. Deanna Hunsaker, pictured here, who graduated with the class, says she gained practical learning experiences through the program and found the applied dissertation process especially rewarding. "It's nice having a project that's work focused, finding a solution, and implementing it, instead of a hypothetical study," she said.

Trish Sexton, M.S., D.H.Ed., assistant professor, biochemistry, was also a member of the graduating class.

Krista Willingham, Brian Snyders, Brian Geren, and Bryan Campbell are KCOM Class of 2011 Still Scholars. The Still Scholars Pre-Osteopathic Program provides early admission to outstanding sophomore-level students whose goal is to become doctors of osteopathic medicine. KCOM collaborates with undergraduate institutions across the nation, seeking students who meet the program's requirements. Still Scholars earn a reserved seat in KCOM's entering class and an academic scholarship. "The unique opportunities were incredibly encouraging and proved that this campus would be my school of choice," Willingham said. KCOM anticipates five Still Scholars in the KCOM Class of 2012.

The 2008 Still Spirit Awards Reception & Ceremony will be held on April 4 in the Connell Information Technologies Center. Members of the local community are being invited to nominate other community members who best personify the compassion, integrity, and humanistic spirit of Andrew Taylor Still, M.D., D.O. Please go here to learn more.

Jean Kenney, seated, who has logged literally thousands of hours in service to the Still National Osteopathic Museum over the past quarter of a century, has retired after more than 30 years of service. No living person has given more in time, talent, and support to the Museum than Mrs. Kenney.

She was part of the group of faculty wives and others who in the 1970s started to formally catalogue and preserve the artifacts of the osteopathic profession. Mrs. Kenney was so good at this work that she continued to be the primary record-keeper for more than 25 years. She is very dedicated to the profession; her late husband, Richard Kenney, D.O., was a long- time KCOM faculty member, and two of her four children are graduates: Richard G. Kenney, D.O., '79, Carl Junction, Mo., and Bruce W. Kenney, D.O., '80, Yarmouth, Maine. Go here to read more of this story and other news from the Museum.

Your Healer Within stops in Kirksville

After a whirl-wind tour across the country, Your Healer Within returns to Kirksville. This exhibition encourages young visitors to not only see and hear, but to touch, listen, learn, and become actively engaged in improving their own health. It also gives visitors the knowledge that will assist them to optimize their bodies' own self-healing abilities.

Hollister Incorporated will host the exhibit February 16 through April 19. Admission is free to the general public and small group tours are welcomed. Learn more about the exhibit and where it's going next. Call 660.626.2359 for details of the exhibit in Kirksville.

Washington, D.C., welcomes KCOM students

Abigail Alviar, OMS I, Gregory Millman, second-year M.B.S. student, and Brian Lee, OMS III, represented ATSU-KCOM in research poster presentations at the 47th Annual Meeting of the American Society for Cell Biology held December 1-5 in Washington, D.C. Alviar is a 2007 graduate of KCOM's Master of Science in Biomedical Sciences Program.

Northeast Regional Medical Center in Kirksville, which is accredited through the American Osteopathic Association, was selected to receive the Premier/CareScience Select Practice National Quality Award. This highly prized national quality award recognizes the top 1% of all health care providing institutions that participate in Medicare. This is an independent group that uses Medicare data to analyze quality and length of stay. Only 49 hospitals out of more than 4,700 received the award this year. No institution can "apply" for the award. Institutions are selected based on objective outcomes data only. Go here to see other hospitals that were selected.

Dental Care West opens

ATSU-ASDOH opened Dental Care West, a state-of- the-art, six-chair dental facility in Glendale, Ariz., on January 17. Dental Care West offers real-world instructional opportunities for fourth-year dental students who provide dental and oral healthcare to underserved seniors and adults with physical or behavioral special needs in the West Valley. "A.T. Still University's mission is to educate caring dentists and other health professionals who will give back to the community," said ASDOH Dean Jack Dillenberg, D.D.S., M.P.H. "We are excited to offer excellent dental care at a reduced cost to underserved patients while providing our students an opportunity to serve the community." Dental Care West joins the East Valley Clinic, located on ATSU's Arizona Campus. Go here to learn more.

On January 13, staged in the Valley of the Sun, the 5th annual P.F. Chang's® Rock 'n' Roll Arizona Marathon & 1/2 Marathon toured three Arizona cities--Phoenix, Scottsdale, and Tempe. The event benefits leukemia and lymphoma research. Bands were stationed at one-mile intervals along the 39.3-mile course, along with more than 40 high school cheer squads, and they entertained race participants. More than 100 ATSU faculty, staff, students, and alumni volunteered medical services in stations set up along the marathon route and finish line. Nineteen ATSU faculty and alumni served as medical captains. Randy D. Danielsen, Ph.D., PA-C, dean, Arizona School of Health Sciences, and Interdisciplinary Health Sciences Chair Eric Sauers, Ph.D., ATC, served as medical directors, planning medical coverage for nearly 35,000 race participants.

Pictured above are SOMA and ASHS PA program graduates who volunteered (back row, left to right): Tauni Urdahl, Ryan Pinnell, Jennifer Krauland, James Davis, Kevin Corman, Asad Siddiqi, Ryan Owen, Toyo Trenou, Michael Valletta, Adam Berkovits.

Front row, left to right: Kimberly Hafeman, Kelli Fabela, Un Ju Kim, Kristin Foglia, Danielle Barnett, Lisa Shannon.

Students attend HDA National Conference

Elizabeth Magallanes and David Martinez, founding members and co-directors of Hispanic Student Dental Association at the Arizona School of Dentistry and Oral Health, attended the Hispanic Dental Association (HDA) National Conference on October 25-27 at the Hyatt Regency in downtown Miami, Fla. They introduced ASDOH's HDA chapter to the Association, networked with HDA student leaders and faculty members, and participated in continuing education courses and other social activities pertaining to HDA's mission of optimizing oral health in the Hispanic community.

Making a difference: Women's Health SIC

The Women's Health Student Interest Club (SIC) promotes the interests of women's health through education, social and campus events, and community outreach. The Women's Health SIC is open to all ATSU students at the Arizona campus, but is primarily composed of students from ATSU's School of Osteopathic Medicine in Arizona (SOMA).

The Club assisted at the Banner Health Hospital blood pressure screening event and organized SOMA's first bake sale of the year, raising more than $300 to promote the interests of women's health. In October, the Women's Health SIC sponsored a raffle with funds benefiting various community events. The Club plans to organize various fundraisers and use dollars raised to sponsor local events, examine issues facing female physicians and minority groups, and develop a pregnancy education program for the local community.

SOMA student sounds off

Native Arizonian Brandon Abbott, OMS I, School of Osteopathic Medicine in Arizona (SOMA), displays a wide range of talents and interests. Before discovering his passion for osteopathic medicine, Abbott gave ear to the music industry. Learning any instrument he could get his hands on, Abbott played in several bands in genres from ska and punk to rock and power pop. Not only does he write songs and occasionally tour, but Abbott is also the mastermind behind Uncle Abbott Records, his own not-for-profit production label. Abbott has produced several albums, two of which he completed in the month prior to matriculating to ATSU-SOMA. The label's profits are donated to organizations such as LifeStraw and Mr. Holland's Opus Foundation.

Dr. Amelon, on the left, and his wife, Jessie, in blue, are shown cutting the ribbon for the Clinic at the dedication ceremony.

Milton J. "Mickey" Mintz, D.O., '54, Dover, N.J., and his unique practice were again the focus of a feature article, this time in The Star Ledger. In 2002, at age 75, Dr. Mintz gave up a well-earned retirement to start "Doc in a Car," a mobile medical practice that is based on the simple premise that it is "unkind and unfair" to make the very sick and the very old spend hours waiting in a doctor's waiting room. He logs thousands of miles a year in a practice that often fills ten hours a day, seven days a week. It is centered in Morris County, although requests have begun to come in from Essex, Bergen, and Warren counties. Go here to read the article.

1960s

Albert L. Pick, D.O., J.D., '67, Atlanta, Ga., played tennis singles in October in the United States Tennis Association National 60's Clay Court Tennis Championships held at The Standard Athletic Club in Atlanta. This is an International Tennis Tournament with 128 draw of tennis players from all over the world. The National 60's ranking for Dr. Pick is 165. He was the number one tennis player at the University of Oklahoma, was successful as a college tennis coach at Millsaps College in Jackson, Miss., won tennis championships in 11 different states, won two trophies on the grass courts, and recently won three more tennis trophies. He plays mostly tennis singles four or five times a week.

Dr. Pick is a general surgeon and a life member of the American College of Osteopathic Surgeons.

Boyd W. Bowden II, D.O., '68, Columbus, Ohio, has been appointed to the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) National Advisory Council for Complementary and Alternative Medicine. The Council serves as the principal advisory body to NCCAM. Dr. Bowden is an active staff member in the Orthopedics Department at Doctors Hospital, Columbus, Ohio, and is on staff at Orthopedic and Neurological Consultants, Inc., also in Columbus. He is a member of the American Osteopathic Association (AOA) Board of Trustees and serves as chair of the AOA Bureau of Student Affairs.

Dennis A. Smallwood, D.O., '68, Port Sanilac, Mich., was recognized in an article that appeared in The Times Herald. On December 31, Dr. Smallwood completed his last day of practice, retiring on January 1. Following graduation, he began a family practice in Sanilac County, Mich. He was one of only a few family doctors in rural Michigan. Shortly after locating there, he was asked by law enforcement to serve as a medical examiner, and he served in that position for Sanilac County from 1972 until his retirement. Eventually, he became the medical director for public health for four Thumb counties: St. Clair, Sanilac, Huron, and Tuscola. He now teaches students and professionals at St. Clair Community College in Port Huron. He is pictured here lecturing on infant death during his forensic medical investigation class. To read more, please go here.

1970s

Michael K. Murphy, D.O., '73, Pikeville, Ky., associate dean and professor at Pikeville College School of Osteopathic Medicine, was recently appointed Founding Dean for the proposed College of Osteopathic Medicine at William Carey University in Hattiesburg, Miss.

Dr. and Mrs. Richard G. Stefanacci, '89, Philadelphia, Pa., and their family asked us to share with you the news that their son, Richard Glew Stefanacci, passed away June 12, 2007, after a year plus battle with Ewing Sarcoma. He was 14 years old. He was the grandson of Dr. and Mrs. Richard G. Stefanacci, '57.

The family established a web site at the beginning of Richard's illness to share stories and post information about his battle with cancer. They invite you to visit it. They also ask that those who wish can make a gift to the Go4thegoal Foundation, which has the goal of providing care for children affected by cancer. Contact information is:

Go4thegoal Foundation
P.O. Box 433
Ho-Ho-Kus, NJ 07423
201.615.5700
215.266.7509
Fax: 201.493.1778
Web: www.G4theG.org

1990s

Joel L. Baker, D.O., '93, Corydon, Iowa, has been elected a trustee to the Board of the Iowa Chapter of the American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians (ACOFP). Dr. Baker is board certified in family medicine by the ACOFP and practices at Wayne Family Medical Clinic in Corydon.

Steven W. Krause, D.O., '96, Saint Charles, Ill., is joining Blessing Physician Services in April and will practice at Blessing Health Center in Quincy, Ill. An interventional cardiologist, he completed his internal medicine residency at Madigan Army Medical Center in Tacoma, Wash., in 1999 and fellowships in cardiology at Illinois Masonic Medical Center in Chicago in 2006 and interventional cardiology at Midwestern University/St. James Hospital in Olympia Fields in 2007. Since then, he has been in private practice with the Dreyer Clinic in Aurora, Ill. From 1996 to 2003, he served with the U.S. Army Medical Corps, both in the U.S. and abroad. He is board certified in internal medicine, cardiology, and interventional cardiology.

John C. Collins, D.O., '97, Kirksville, pictured here, was recently installed as president of the Missouri Society of the American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians. Dr. Collins completed his residency at Northeast Regional Medical Center in Kirksville. He is board certified in family practice, and serves as assistant professor of family medicine and osteopathic manipulative medicine at ATSU-KCOM.

Rafe M. Heng, D.O., '02, Chicago, Ill., will join Blessing Physician Services this summer and will practice non-invasive cardiology at Blessing Health Center in Quincy, Ill. He is chief resident of the cardiology fellowship program at Midwestern University/St. James Hospital in Olympia Fields, Ill. He is board certified in internal medicine by both the American Board of Internal Medicine and the American Osteopathic Board of Internal Medicine and will be board eligible in cardiovascular medicine at the completion of his fellowship in July.

LCDR Lu D. Le, D..O., M.B.A., '03, San Diego, Calif., the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit Surgeon, led a small Mobile Medical Team in December in support of Operation Sea Angel II during Cyclone Sidr relief operations on the island of Dublar Char, Bangladesh. Dr. Le reports that on the second day of the humanitarian mission they were sent to Barguna, another town devastated by the cyclone. By the time they landed their helo, there were already 3,000 people waiting for them outside the clinic. Pictured on the left is a local physician who assisted in translating, as well as informing Dr. Le of the resources available to patients. The little girl in the photo sustained a fractured arm due to flying debris.

Coincidentally, US Navy Lt., Brianna L. Rupp, D.O., '05, San Diego, Calif., was a medical officer during Cyclone Sidr relief operations and worked alongside Dr. Le.

Photo courtesy of James Lee, an undergraduate student at S.F. State University, who was embedded as a photojournalist with the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit aboard the USS Tarawa (LHA 1) in the Bay of Bengal.

Loren J. Chassels, D.O., MST, '04, Highland, Ill., and Nikki Johnson, pictured here, were married on October 18. They reside in Highland where Dr. Chassels operates his practice, Advanced Internal Medicine, LLC.

Heather Bankowski Kerrick, D.O., '04, Chicago, Ill., is the chief resident in obstetrics and gynecology at Rush University Medicine Center in Chicago and will finish her residency this June. She is matched to the Maternal-Fetal Medicine fellowship program at the University of Wisconsin, Madison. It is a three-year program that starts July 1. She serves as the Junior Fellow District Chair for the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology. She will be traveling to Japan in April as a U.S. representative to the Japan Society of OB/Gyn.

U.S. Navy Lt. Brianna L. Rupp, D.O., '05, San Diego, Calif., a medical officer aboard the USS Tarawa (LHA 1), is shown here in December performing one of the many well baby exams conducted in Barguna and other communities in Bangladesh. She was a member of the U.S. Navy Fleet Surgical Team from the amphibious assault ship that conducted humanitarian assistance/disaster relief efforts in response to Bangladesh's request for assistance after Tropical Cyclone Sidr struck their coast on November 5. The storm killed over 3,000 people and left several hundred thousand homeless. Coincidentally, LCDR Lu D. Le, D.O., M.B.A., '03, led the small Mobile Medical Team during Cyclone Sidr relief operations.

Photo courtesy of James Lee, an undergraduate student at S.F. State University, who was embedded as a photojournalist with the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit aboard the USS Tarawa (LHA 1) in the Bay of Bengal.

Please send your interesting stories

Every day, we learn about the exciting work being done by our graduates. Please share your news with us by going here. We will be happy to include it in paper and electronic alumni publications and, also, on our web site, when appropriate.

Your Healer Within Exhibit in Kirksville, Hollister Incorporated, Free Admission

• March 22
• April 5, 12, and 19
  

April 4, Fourth Annual Lecture on Aging, featuring Sue Levkoff, MSW, SM, Sc.D.

• 2 p.m., CST, McCreight and Couts Classrooms, Tinning Education Center, Missouri Campus
• 4 p.m., MST, Saguara A & B Classrooms, Arizona Campus

April 4, Still Spirit Awards, Connell Center

May 17, 11 a.m., ATSU-KCOM Graduation, Baldwin Hall Auditorium, Truman State University

June 7, ATSU-SHM Graduation

September 11, Hospital Day (for more information, contact Clinical Education Affairs, 660.626.2187)

September 23-26, Education Conference (for more information, contact Clinical Education Affairs, 660.626.2187)

October 9-11, Still--the Best Reunion Events for members of the classes of 1958, 1963, 1968, 1983 and Gold Medallion Club members (those who graduated prior to 1958)

October 10, Founder's Day

Arizona Campus

April 5, Open House at ASHS, ASDOH, and SOMA

• 9-11:30 a.m., ASHS
• 10:30 a.m.-1 p.m., ASDOH and SOMA

June 14, ASDOH Graduation

August 2, ASHS Graduation, Phoenix

Continuing Education Programs

National Events

Continuing Osteopathic Medical Education Programs
National and State Osteopathic Association Conventions
American Academy of Physician Assistants Conference
National Athletic Trainers Association Convention
American Academy of Audiology Convention & Expo
American Dental Association Annual Session

If you have suggestions, comments, or questions, please send them via the Suggestions Box or email Janet Bunch.