Jae Hyun Park, D.M.D., M.S.D., M.S., Ph.D.

Jae Hyun Park, D.M.D., M.S.D., M.S., Ph.D., director of the Postgraduate Orthodontic program at A.T. Still University’s Arizona School of Dentistry & Oral Health, received the title of Associate Editor from the Journal of Clinical Pediatric Dentistry (JCPD) and Consulting Editor from the International Journal of Orthodontics (IJO).

Dr. Park received this recognition as a result of multiple manuscripts being accepted for publication.

John Heick, PT, DPT

John Heick, PT, DPT, assistant professor in the ASHS Physical Therapy program, has received the 2010 Emerging Leader Award from the Arizona Chapter of the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA). Dr. Heick is one of 21 recipients nationally to receive the award. The Emerging Leader Award was established by APTA to annually honor individuals who have demonstrated extraordinary service to the profession and APTA early in their careers. Micheal Lebec, PT, PhD, APTA Arizona Chapter nominating committee chair, gave the following description about Dr. Heick: “In fulfilling his duties, John makes the effort to find creative ways to advance the profession, and the chapter has benefited from his innovative ideas.” “The award acknowledges John’s steady work within Arizona State Physical Therapy Association (he is vice-president), the APTA — where he is a house delegate — and his ability to gather student motivation around an important legislative or community cause with sequential action,” said Ann Lee Burch, PT, EdD, MPH, MS, associate professor and chair, Physical Therapy program. “This award is an honor not only for John but for ASHS and ATSU and is a credit to the excellent faculty we have dedicated to advancing health professions.”

More than 300 ATSU students confirmed their professional commitment at the annual white coat and pinning ceremony at the Mesa Arts Center’s Ikeda Theater on July 19 in Mesa, Ariz.

The Arizona School of Dentistry & Oral Health’s class of 2014, the School of Osteopathic Medicine in Arizona’s class of 2014, and the Arizona School of Health Sciences physician assistant (PA) program’s class of 2012 were presented white coats in three separate ceremonies. The PA class of 2011 participated in a pinning ceremony, representing the completion of a didactic year of study and entry into the clinical phase of the program.

Clyde Evans, Ph.D., CE Consulting, ATSU Board of Trustees, presented the keynote address “On Entering Hogwarts: Why You’re Never the Same After Your White Coat” for all three ceremonies.

ATSU-ASDOH Dean Jack Dillenberg, D.D.S., M.P.H.

Jack Dillenberg, D.D.S., M.P.H., dean, ASDOH, was part of a panel discussion at the Special Olympics USA National Games Health Symposium, Improving Health for People with Intellectual Disability – Policy, Practice and Possibility. The symposium, held in Omaha, Neb., on July 17, was held prior to the national Special Olympics games. Dr. Dillenberg was a member of the panel discussion, “Taking the Pulse of Health Care for People with Intellectual Disabilities/Developmental Disabilities.”

The Special Olympics Health Symposium is part of the Healthy Athletes Initiative launched in 1997 to address the disparity in healthcare for individuals with intellectual disabilities. Healthy Athletes is a Special Olympics program that provides free health screenings to Special Olympics’ athletes in seven different health areas including oral health.

Martin S. Levine, D.O., a 1980 graduate of ATSU’s Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine, has been named president-elect of the American Osteopathic Association (AOA) during its recent annual business meeting in Chicago.

Dr. Levine has deep roots in the osteopathic medical profession as one of 20 osteopathic physicians in his family. His term as president-elect puts him in line to follow in the footsteps of his father, Howard M. Levine, D.O., who served as president of the AOA from 1997-98.

“It is truly an honor to be selected for this opportunity to help lead the osteopathic medical profession as our nation begins to implement the policies set forth in the historic healthcare reform legislation passed earlier this year,” says Dr. Levine, a resident of Short Hills, N.J.

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Pamela Bosch, PT, Ph.D., ATSU-ASHS physical therapy associate professor, appeared on the Phoenix PBS affiliate, KAET Channel 8, on Wednesday, July 14 as a panel expert on physical therapy for their “Ask and Arizona Expert” series.

Abby Solomon Tennanbaum, OT ’07 with patient

Abby Solomon Tennenbaum, OT  ’07, was recently featured for her work with community re-entry  for a 14-year-old student with a spinal cord injury. Tennenbaum, who works for Gentiva’s Rehab Without Walls in the San Francisco Bay area, was featured in Alternatives, a Rehab Without Walls publication.

To view the article, [click here].

Many lives were changed when A.T. Still University-Arizona School of Dentistry & Oral Health (ATSU-ASDOH) students traveled to a rural town in Mexico from June 26 – July 3.

Tim Lukavsky, D.D.S., assistant professor, and fourth-year dental students Brett Flaherty, Brian Banks, Marisa Lee, Stanley Cox, and third-year dental student Tanner Flaherty, along with volunteers from Louisiana and Texas gathered at Clinica Betel in Atoyac, Mexico, to treat medically underserved residents. Atoyac is a small town located about two hours from Acapulco.

ASDOH’s student volunteers became involved because of Dr. Lukavsky’s friendship with the physician mission group who sponsors the trip to Clinica Betel each year. This is the 13th year that Dr. Lukavsky has participated in the project and “ … after seeing ASDOH’s work ethic, compassion and care for these people by our ASDOH students, five to eight ASDOH students are wanted for next year’s trip,” said Dr. Lukavsky.

Over the course of five days, more than 50 general and cleft palate surgeries and 60 eye exams were performed. More than 300 dental patients were treated, providing 300 fillings, 400 extractions, multiple root canals and 15 new dentures all by ASDOH student volunteers.

“We often worked 11- to 13-hour days and then would run four-hour shifts throughout the night, caring for patients who had major surgeries,” said Brett Flaherty. “Despite the energy this effort required, I was amazed that all volunteers pushed forward with excitement.

“There is strength in serving others. It was motivating to get out of bed and get to work when we knew that patients had traveled great distances to arrive before sunrise to seek services that would relieve their pain and conditions.”

A.T. Still University continued its support of BHHS Legacy Foundation’s Legacy Backpack Buddies Project as a Classroom Sponsor in 2010, which helps support children in families living at or below the federal poverty level by providing new backpacks, clothes, shoes, and supplies for the upcoming school year. The event, which ran during the week of July 12-17, assisted an estimated 5,000 local children.

The Arizona Institutional Advancement team volunteered at the distribution event July 13 at the University Public School in downtown Phoenix. Pictured with the team are BHHS Legacy Foundation CEO Gerald Wissink, FACHE, and Mary Thomson, M.S.W., Vice President, Program Development.