ATSU’s Learning Resource Center (LRC) on its Arizona campus has recently launched its new mobile access page, which allows access to LRC content directly from users’ smart phones. The page can be accessed via the ATSU portal, or by typing http://m.atsu.edu into your phone’s internet browser.

According to LRC Director Mike Kronenfeld, M.B.A., M.L.S., resources that are now available via mobile phone include STAT!Ref, MDConsult/First Consult, Rehabilitation Reference Center, CINAHL, Sport Discus, and PubMed.

ATSU’s very own Wayne Cottam, D.M.D., M.S., can currently be seen as “Harry the Horse” in Hale Center Theatre’s production of the musical Guys and Dolls in Gilbert, Ariz. Dr. Cottam is associate dean of community partnerships at ATSU’s Arizona School of Dentistry & Oral Health.

ATSU has a block of 40 tickets for students, faculty, and staff at the group rate of $21 for the April 1 show at 7:30 p.m. To purchase a ticket, sign up with Cindy Kaye in the Provost’s Office (3rd floor, main building, ext. 6010) or Tonya Watson, Human Resources (Building H, ext. 6007). Prepay with cash or check only; tickets will be distributed the week of March 22.

If you are unable to attend the April 1 performance, Guys and Dolls runs February 18-April 3. Show times are Thursday and Friday nights at 7:30 p.m., and Saturdays at 3 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Regular ticket prices are $22 for Thursday shows and $24 for Friday and Saturday shows.

Set in the 1940’s, Guys and Dolls tells the story of gamblers in New York City as they try to find the location for their next big game and includes classic songs such as “Luck Be a Lady” and “Sit Down, You’re Rockin’ the Boat”.

A.T. Still University’s Arizona School of Health Sciences (ATSU-ASHS) sponsored its first winter institute for the online Doctor of Health Sciences (D.H.Sc.) program Feb. 7 – 12. Sixty-eight students and 10 ASHS faculty and staff participated. Students in attendance were from as far away as Hawaii, Puerto Rico, Canada, and Peru.

ATSU offers the D.H.Sc. degree via online learning, which includes a one-week, on-site institute. The D.H.Sc. program is a post-professional degree designed for master’s prepared healthcare professionals and is one of only three such programs in North America. Students have the opportunity to focus on one of three concentrations: global health, organizational behavior and leadership, and advanced physician assistant studies for physician assistants.

“The Doctor of Health Sciences program has far exceeded expectations in its popularity for all health disciplines,” said Helen Ewing, D.H.Sc., R.N., director, D.H.Sc. program. “We have representation from the majority of disciplines including students from clinical practice, administration, research, and academia.”

During the winter institute, students shared their research projects with colleagues and faculty. Examples of topics included strategies for weight reduction, reduction of medication errors in healthcare, improved diets, workplace wellness programs, and incorporating exercise into daily activities.

“The students were engaged throughout the week and brought such energy and enthusiasm to their learning,” said Dr. Ewing. “Many of the students are applying their health promotion projects to their work environment, which exemplifies true theory-to-practice learning.”

“I was particularly impressed with the quality of the students’ applied research projects, which are overseen by Dr. Jeff Alexander, assistant professor, department of interdisciplinary health sciences,” said Eric Sauers, Ph.D, ATC, FNATA, chair, department of interdisciplinary health sciences and associate professor, athletic training. “The students are an amazing group of multidisciplinary health professionals who are committed to their education and improving the health of society.”

The institute provided an opportunity for students to meet face-to-face and discuss pertinent issues in healthcare with faculty. In addition, the institute afforded a forum for sharing of ideas from a multidisciplinary health professions perspective.

One attendee said, “In my opinion, the faculty and staff of the Doctor of Health Sciences program embody the mission of the institution through their service and dedication to students. I feel this program is developing my research competency and skill set, enabling me to complete my applied research project.”

“The inaugural winter institute has long been anticipated as a highlight of the Doctor of Health Sciences program,” said Dr. Ewing. “This was an exciting event that allowed professionals from numerous health disciplines to come together and dialogue. It was a great week for the University and the students.”

The following profile was reprinted from the February issue of INSCRIPTIONS, the monthly journal of the Arizona Dental Association.

Because we are celebrating National Children’s Dental Health Month, we felt it would be fitting, as well as interesting, to profile one of the newest members of our ADF Board, Pediatric Dentist Charles E. Clark, DMD.

Charlie, an alumnus of ASDOH Class of 2007, has been involved with ADF from practically the first day of his dental education. Over the course of those 4 years, he volunteered for many Give Kids A Smile events, completed ADF-sponsored Special Needs Training, and turned his participation in the 2006 Ironman Arizona triathlon into an ADF fundraiser.

Originally from Seattle, Charlie spent summers in Phoenix with his grandfather, Pediatric Dentist Charles J. Mehlum, DDS). “He was an important person in my life,” Charlie noted. “I am named after him and our birthdays are a day apart. It’s perfectly natural, plus quite an honor, to be moving forward in his footsteps.”

While a teen, Charlie took a job as a ski instructor. Assigned to students ranging in age from 3 to 12, he soon discovered a proclivity for working with children. “Watching them develop from totally overwhelmed to speeding down a black diamond run… the feeling is indescribable.” The experience also provided Charlie with insight into his own personal strengths. “Teaching a child the mechanics of skiing is one thing but you must also hold their attention so you can teach them how to avoid injuries, cooperate with each other, cope with weather conditions, and much more. Learning to ride the chair lift for the very first time can take hours and often resulted in frustration and drama. I learned the power of positive reinforcement, the same principles we apply in pediatric dentistry, the same way we take a child who is fearful of a new dental environment and turn them around to someone who is excited to see the dentist. It was great training for my future, although I probably didn’t realize it at the time.”

After completing his degree at ASDOH, Charlie entered the Pediatric Dentistry Residency Program at Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin in Milwaukee (200 applicants for 4 open slots). “It was a great experience,” he said. “The faculty were remarkable, the patient population unique. Because it was a hospital setting we saw some very vulnerable medically compromised children in ICU, plus countless trauma patients. It wasn’t unusual to get summoned to the ER in the middle of the night.” One particular patient made a lasting impression on Charlie, a 6-year-old girl with an inoperable brain tumor. “She knew her prognosis was dire but she stayed positive, never let it get her down, and she never gave up hope. Even in her situation, she kept moving forward.”

Because “Phoenix has long felt like home to me,” Charlie returned to the Valley and soon found himself with a few employment offers from dental practices. He is now a full-time associate in a group practice in the West Valley. “I enjoy working there,” he said, “because I like my colleagues very much, it’s a great team atmosphere, and I love the patients. Straight out of a residency program, you learn how to do things strictly by textbook with that same focus — the ultimate goal is quality care and safety for the child. Other offices, of course, have those same principles. This particular practice provides the perfect fit at this time, for me and for them. I’m learning, growing, still moving ahead.” Eventually, Charlie hopes to open his own private practice.

When I asked Charlie how he is managing his dental school debt, he replied: “It’s a burden, certainly, but it’s an investment in my future and that’s what keeps me focused, moving forward, and makes it worthwhile. Basically, it’s the equivalent of owning a nice house. My goal is to pay it off in ten years or less.”

What are Charlie’s words of wisdom for new dental students about to take on student loan debt? “You should always live within your means,” he stated, “especially when you are about to take on a substantial financial responsibility. Don’t take out loans to support the lifestyle you want to have. You can live well while living modestly.

“It’s a huge concern,” Charlie continued. “So many dentists come out of school unsure of which direction to take. Many would like to work in the rural communities where the needs are great but the financial incentives aren’t always there. There are programs that help subsidize rural dentists and the funding for that has been adequate, so progress has been made, but there is still room for improvement. It’s a very complex picture and student loans pay a major role in decision-making for new dentists. So, getting new graduates early into a needed community is the ideal situation because once a dentist has established his or her career and life, it’s difficult to move.”

The more I get to know Charlie, the more I marvel at his confidence, and I began to wonder whether it was natural, taught, or a combination of both. “Growing up in a loving and supportive family in which education was valued provided me with a foundation upon which I could build self-assurance,” he explained. “Also, a few of my teachers made a difference. And when I got to ASDOH, a can-do attitude was a must. There was quite a bit of pressure considering the community’s doubts about the program and whether it would succeed.

“In particular,” Charlie continued, “I gained tremendous confidence while going out on fourth-year rotations in the community health centers and while traveling around the villages in Alaska. Those unique life experiences afforded specifically through my dental education at ASDOH will forever propel me forward.”

As an Affiliate Member of the ADF Board of Directors, Charlie’s role primarily involves fundraising as he learns the policies, procedures, and intricacies of a nonprofit charitable organization. “It’s a complex network of individuals and communities all with a shared goal,” he said, “and it’s providing me with opportunities to get to know others who are passionate, motivated, and have done so many great things already but are still stepping up to the plate and going above and beyond what would be asked of them. It is truly inspiring and I am grateful ADF wants me to be a part of it.”

In five years, Dr. Charles Clark, the grandson of an AzDA Past President (see below), will be a full dues-paying member of the Arizona Dental Association. Looking ahead, what are his expectations? “Membership is already a good value,” he began. “There are so many things AzDA does to positively impact the community. The benefits offered through AzDA Services are important. The Western Regional Dental Convention is a great meeting. Legislative representation, publications, reasonably priced CE, networking events, and most of all the opportunities to get involved in volunteer work alone make membership a must. I am pleased that the dental schools in Arizona advocate association membership.

“I’m new in my career,” Charlie concluded, “but I have already learned that getting outside of the walls of your dental practice, getting away from the chair, is absolutely necessary. The one thing I know for sure is that life is too short to do anything but keep moving forward. In dental school, residency, and in the Ironman race there are moments when you think there is no way you can finish. But when you stay focused and continue to put one foot in front of the other, you will eventually get to the finish line. Just keep moving forward.”

Dr. Greg Pafford practices General Dentistry in Phoenix. He is Chairman of the Arizona Dental Foundation Board of Directors. Visit ADF online at AzDentalFoundation.org

Reprinted with permission, INSCRIPTIONS Journal of the Arizona Dental Association, vol. 24, no. 7, February 2010.

The American Dental Education Association (ADEA) recognized dental educators, researchers, and students at the 2010 ADEA Annual Session & Exhibition in Washington, D.C., held February 27-March 3. Among the many honored was ADOSH student David Burke, D3, who received The ADEA/Johnson & Johnson Healthcare Products Preventive Dentistry Scholarship. Burke was one of only 12 predoctoral students from across the country to receive the scholarship.

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KIRKSVILLE, Mo. – A.T. Still University (ATSU) has been named to the 2009 President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll, the highest federal recognition a college or university can receive for its commitment to volunteering, service-learning, and civic engagement.

The Corporation for National and Community Service, which administers the annual Honor Roll award, recognizes colleges and universities for their impact on issues from poverty and homelessness to environmental justice. On campuses across the country, thousands of students joined their faculty to develop innovative programs and projects to meet local needs using the skills gained in their classrooms.

“Congratulations to A.T. Still University and its students for their dedication to service and commitment to improving their local communities,” said Patrick Corvington, CEO of the Corporation for National and Community Service. “Our nation’s students are a critical part of the equation and vital to our efforts to tackle the most persistent challenges we face.”

ATSU was named to the Honor Roll based on a series of selection factors including the scope and innovation of service projects, percentage of student participation in service activities, incentives for service, and the extent to which the school offers academic service-learning courses.

In 2009, nearly 60 percent of ATSU’s student body spent more than 13,000 volunteer hours serving the University’s local communities near its two campuses in Kirksville, Mo., and Mesa, Ariz.

Students and faculty at ATSU’s Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine organized and participated in outreach projects including the Court Appointed Special Advocacy program, which advocates for abused and neglected children in the justice system. The program has been so successful that it has recently moved into adjacent counties to serve even more at-risk youth.

At ATSU’s Arizona School of Dentistry & Oral Health (ASDOH), the Give Kids a Smile® project provided free dental care to local underserved children. At the one-day event, more than 200 children received care with the cost of the donated treatment totaling more than $100,000.

ASDOH students and faculty also participated in the Special Smiles project, during which they provided oral health screenings, referrals, and education for Special Olympic athletes; the American Indian Oral Health & Dental Career Outreach project where they educated American Indian high school students about oral health and careers in dentistry; and the Project Challenge Oral Health & Drug Prevention program where they worked with troubled teens to raise awareness about methamphetamines’ effect on oral health and other issues relating to teenage oral health.

At ATSU’s School of Osteopathic Medicine in Arizona, students and faculty provided full physical exams to underserved Hispanic children and adults.

“I am proud of our students, faculty, and staff who always come together in a common cause and contribute generously and often to serve the needs of others,” said ATSU President Jack Magruder.

The University partners with numerous organizations that support student community service activities. These organizations include local elementary schools, state universities, hospitals, Women Infant Children centers, Head Start centers, Special Olympics, Arizona Coalition for Tomorrow, county health departments, community centers, community health centers, senior centers, and nursing homes.

College students make a significant contribution to the volunteer sector; in 2009, 3.16 million students performed more than 300 million hours of service, according to the Volunteering in America study released by the Corporation. Each year, the Corporation invests more than $150 million in fostering a culture of service on college campuses through grants awarded by its programs; the education awards that AmeriCorps members receive at the conclusion of their term of service to pay for college; and through support of training, research, recognition, and other initiatives to spur college service.

The Corporation oversees the Honor Roll in collaboration with the Department of Education, the Department of Housing and Urban Development, Campus Compact and the American Council on Education.

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The Corporation for National and Community Service is a federal agency that engages more five million Americans in service through its Senior Corps, AmeriCorps, and Learn and Serve America programs, and leads President Obama’s national call to service initiative, United We Serve. For more information, visit www.nationalservice.gov.

Thanks to donors, Centennial Park, created to honor the first 100 years of osteopathic medicine at its birthplace, now exceeds its original beauty. The Centennial Park Campaign raised $161,000, including $72,500 from the estate of Dr. John and Marie Hayes, and $10,000 from the Allen G. Silverton, D.O., family; more than $78,000 was raised by donors who purchased bricks, tiles, and capstones in the park. A rededication ceremony, led by ATSU President Jack Magruder, pictured, was held during Founder’s Day in October.

Bryan Fitzgerald, D.O., ’77, and his wife, Suse Ann, of Centerville, Ohio, received the Honored Patron ($15,000-$24,999) lifetime giving award in Dayton, Ohio.

John R. Bowling, D.O., ’69, and his wife, Jan, of Trophey Club, Texas, was presented the Honored Patron ($15,000-$24,999) lifetime giving award during the KOAA luncheon and assembly meeting at the AOA Convention in New Orleans, La. Dr. Bowling is a professor of family medicine at the Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine.

Randall B. Greene, D.O., ’78, and his wife, Diana, of Winter Park, Fla., was presented the Distinguished Patron ($25,000-$49,999) lifetime giving award during the KOAA luncheon and assembly meeting at the AOA Convention in New Orleans, La. Dr. Greene is a retired psychiatrist.

Bradford J. Murphy, D.O., ’79, and his wife, Tricia, of Kettering, Ohio, received the Honored Patron ($15,000-$24,999) lifetime giving award in Dayton, Ohio. He is the son of John E. Murphy Jr., D.O., ’52, and brother of John E. Murphy III, D.O., ’77.

Scott Swope, D.O., ’62, and his wife, Judith, of Springboro, Ohio, received the Honored Patron ($15,000-$24,999) lifetime giving award in Dayton, Ohio. They are pictured at the offices of the Warren County Health Department, where Dr. Swope serves as medical director.

1950s

Wilbur Hill, D.O., ’51, is the Kirksville Osteopathic Alumni Association’s 2009 Alumnus of the Year, an award created in 1982 to honor KCOM graduates who have made outstanding contributions to the college and osteopathic profession.

A founder of Liberty Hospital in Liberty, Mo., Dr. Hill maintained a family practice in Liberty from 1952 until his retirement in 2001. He continues to consult on the evaluation of internship and residency programs for the AOA and audits post-doctoral training programs at osteopathic colleges across the country in addition to presenting at medical seminars and conventions.

Dr. Hill has held numerous professional affiliations and has received several awards recognizing his years of service.

Milton J. Mintz, D.O., ’54, Dover, N.J., has been named Physician of the Year by the Visiting Nurses Association.

Plato E. Varidin, D.O., ’54, Seminole, Fla., was selected as one of the American Osteopathic Association’s Great Pioneers in Osteopathic Medicine. As part of the AOA’s Greatness Campaign, AOA members nominated D.O.s, basic scientists, and laymen who have pioneered new frontiers for the osteopathic profession. Dr. Varidin was nominated by his peers for this honor that encompasses his career body of work.

“I had no previous knowledge of the award. This is the third year AOA is giving it out, and to my knowledge I am the only practical physician to win the award,” Dr. Varidin said. “They want to mimic pioneers like A.T. Still with this award. That is one hell of an honor.”

Dr. Varidin served as a member of the KCOM Board of Trustees from 1983-88 and KCOM Alumni Board from 1978-85, where he served as president from 1983-84. Dr. Varidin’s late son, Mark Varidin, graduated from KCOM in 1984, and his grandson Anthony De Lucia is a 2008 KCOM graduate.

Robert B. Vance, D.O., ’58, Las Vegas, Nev., is the father of 10 children and has 36 grandchildren and counting.

1960s

David C. Conner, D.O., ’65, Chattanooga, Tenn., has been named a life member of the Tennessee Osteopathic Medical Association and the American Osteopathic Association.

AOA President Larry A. Wickless, D.O., ’67, was honored by the Kirksville Osteopathic Alumni Association with the Distinguished Service Award in November. A fellow of the American College of Osteopathic Internists and a Missouri native, Dr. Wickless practices at South Oakland Gastroenterology Associates P.C., serves as clinical professor of medicine at Michigan State College of Osteopathic Medicine in East Lansing, and is associate director of the gastroenterology training program at Botsford Hospital in Farmington Hills, Mich.

Dr. Wickless served as president of the KOAA from 1990-91 and on the ATSU Board of Trustees from 1995-2004.

John R. Bowling, D.O., ’69, Fort Worth, Texas, has made two trips to Kenya, Africa, accompanied by medical students, to study diseases of Africa.

1970s

George W. Jenter, D.O., ’72, Sturgis, S.D., was the attending physician who accompanied 114 WWII veterans and 40 guardians on the honor flight from Rapid City, S.D., to visit the WWII Memorial in Washington, D.C., on August 28-29. Dr. Jenter and his wife, Ellen, are pictured on the left at the memorial with some of the veterans they accompanied.

Bruce D. Dubin, D.O., J.D., ’73, Keller, Texas, has been named dean of Rocky Vista University College of Osteopathic Medicine effective December 1.

Charles L. Kaluza, D.O., ’76, Happy Valley, Ore., at right, was named Oregon Osteopathic Physician of the Year by the Osteopathic Physicians and Surgeons of Oregon.

Tim E. Eckstein, D.O., M.P.H., FAOCOPM, ’78, Bay City, Mich., is the new president of the American Osteopathic College of Occupational and Preventive Medicine. He is medical director of Covenant Occupational Health in Bay City and serves as an assistant clinical professor at Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine.

1980s

Dixie J. Tooke-Rawlins, D.O., ’80, Raford, Va., vice president and dean of Edward Via Virginia College of Osteopathic Medicine (VCOM), appeared on the cover of the August edition of Valley Business Front magazine. An article in the magazine highlighted VCOM’s international mission program.

1990s

Debra A. Mowry, D.O., ’90, Kearney, Neb., was the lead author in a research article featured on the October 2009 cover of the Journal of the American Osteopathic Association. The article is “Association Among Cardiorespiratory Fitness, Body Fat, and Bone Marker Measurements in Healthy Young Females.” Dr. Mowry heads the public health undergraduate education program at the University of Nebraska at Kearney.

J. Matthew Halverson, D.O., FAAFP, ’92, Newport News, Va., recently received his fellowship in the American Academy of Family Physicians and opened a new state-ofthe- art medical facility in Newport News.

Michael G. Saribalas, D.O., ’92, Columbus, Ohio, served on the Obama-Biden Transition Team for healthcare reform.

Kevin T. Miller, D.O., ’96, Bend, Ore., a board certified family practice physician, has been installed as the 2009-11 president of the Osteopathic Physicians and Surgeons of Oregon.

Larry Czarnecki, husband of Kelly M. Czarnecki, M.S., PA-C, ‘99, Flagstaff, Ariz., is a member of a gypsy jazz trio that has recorded a CD.

Daniel J. Jones, D.O., ‘99, Sandy Lake, Pa., passed his family practice board recertification exam. He and his wife, Joan Jones, M.D., are medical missionaries in Zambia, Africa, serving there for more than two years through Global Partners of Indianapolis, Ind.

2000s

Geoffrey W. Hoffa, M.A., PA-C, ’00, Phoenix, Ariz., has been appointed by Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer to the Arizona Regulatory Board of Physician Assistants.

Quinn K. Harper, M.S., ’01, Kansas City, Mo., is the new assistant athletic trainer at the University of Missouri-Kansas City.

Tracy L. Jones, M.S., PA-C, ’01, Gilbert, Ariz., was featured on “Rx for Phoenix” on Channel 12 NBC News in Arizona. The program discussed the role of the physician assistant in healthcare.

Jennifer M. Medina-McKeon, M.S., ’02, Lexington, Ky., spoke to athletic training students on the ATSU Arizona Campus on November 5.

Adam L. Schreiber, D.O., M.A., ’03, Philadelphia, Pa., recently had two manuscripts published: “Expanding the differential of shoulder pain: Parsonage-Turner Syndrome,” and “Normalization of spinal cord injury urodynamics after intrathecal baclofen therapy: a case report.”

Stephen R. Bergman, D.O., ’05, Kirksville, is a member of the ATSU Department of Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine.

Michael D.Waddington, D.O., ’06, Kirksville, is a member of the ATSU Department of Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine.

Brad D. Murphree, Au.D., ’08, Decatur, Ala., was featured in an article entitled “All in the family,” which appeared in the July/August 2009 issue of Audiology Today. He is a member of what is believed to be the only three-generational family of audiologists currently practicing in the United States.

Timothy W. Oh, D.M.D., ’08, Ellsworth, Maine, was featured in an episode about the neglect of oral health in rural Maine on a weekly public affairs program.

Ian McLeod, PA, PA-C, ATC, ’08, recently published the book “Swimming Anatomy.”

USA Swimming, the largest swimming organization in the world, specifically recommended McLeod as author because of his extensive experience working with world-class athletes, particularly swimmers. A certified athletic trainer and certified massage therapist, he was a member of the U.S. team’s medical staff at the 2008 Summer Olympic Games in Beijing. He has also worked extensively as an athletic trainer with the sports programs at the University of Virginia and Arizona State University.

McLeod remains deeply involved with USA Swimming’s High Performance Network, a group of volunteer health professionals who support U.S. swimmers at national and international meets. He has been given the organization’s highest honor, the Gold Standard Award. McLeod also served as massage therapist to the Egyptian national swim team during the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens. He has provided athletic training and sport massage to swimming stars such as Ed Moses, Kaitlin Sandeno, Natalie Coughlin, and Jason Lezak. McLeod lives in Tempe, Ariz., with his wife and two children.

For more information on his book, go to humankinetics.com//products/all-products/Swimming-Anatomy.

M.P.H. student Angela Moayedpardazi was born and raised in Arizona and has been drawing since she was a child.

Although she doesn’t have any formal training, she became interested in painting when a high school art teacher gave her oil paint supplies to take home at the end of her junior year.

“I try to paint something at least once a year, but with a family and school it’s hard to fit it in,” she says. “I think my urge to render something from idea to canvas comes from observing things around me – shapes, textures, colors, and details in people’s faces. Observing details is not only the basis of my abilities in art, but it is probably why I am interested in science and research as well.”