Andrew Taylor Still, M.D., D.O.

August 6 is the birthday of A.T. Still University’s visionary founder, Dr. Andrew Taylor Still; he will be 183 years old, and his legacy is stronger than ever. He said of his own birth: “I suppose I began life as other children, with the animal form, mind, and motion all in running order. I suppose I bawled, and filled the bill of nature in the baby life.” His life testifies to the fact that he did much more than fill the bill.

Our graduate-level institution of higher learning is built on the 119-year history of Dr. Still’s original two-room building in Kirksville, Mo., the American School of Osteopathy. That first class had 21 students, including five women. Struggling at first, his small school grew as its reputation for a revolutionary new approach to medicine spread far and wide. From this small building in Kirksville arose the university we are fortunate to be a part of today, with more than 3,600 students on campuses both physical and virtual. Like Dr. Still’s original school, ATSU continues to be committed to educating highly competent and compassionate healthcare professionals, serving the underserved.

George C. Carlson, Ph.D.

George C. Carlson, Ph.D., professor of physiology at KCOM, will be leaving ATSU on August 31 to assume the position of chair of physiology at Midwestern University’s Glendale, Ariz., campus.

“He has been a valuable member of the ATSU-KCOM faculty since 1994 and will be missed,” said KCOM Interim Dean Jeff Suzewits, D.O., M.P.H. “We wish him well in his new role.”

The South Jersey Healthcare hospital system gave life to its first full residency program Tuesday, marking the start of years of hands-on lessons for 38 men and women fresh out of medical school. “I’m just excited to finally get started,” said Chris Finley, D.O., ’11, a 27-year-old graduate from Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine. “It’s been a lot of talking and training. I’m excited to finally apply those skills.” While medical school offers its students some time in the field, a residency program takes the new doctors out of the classroom and fully submerges them in the hospital setting, system spokesman Paul Simon said. Chet Kaletkowski, South Jersey Healthcare’s president and CEO, said at a recent open house for the residency program that his vision to create a teaching hospital was made a reality thanks to a supportive board and staff. Now through 2014, the hospital system aims to grow the residency program to have more than 62 medical residents in its hospitals. “We’re accountable for every resident here,” Kaletkowski said. “We want to make sure they have the best experience, whether it’s three years or five years, with us.” These residencies are the first that South Jersey Healthcare is starting on its own. The hospital system took on a podiatry residency that started at the now-closed William B. Kessler Memorial Hospital in Hammonton, system spokesman Greg Potter said. The newest residents came to South Jersey Healthcare from all over the state and country, Victoria Gracia, residency coordinator for South Jersey Healthcare, said.

A generous grant of $142,776 from the Federal Institute of Museum and Library Services, staff members at the Museum of Osteopathic Medicine and International Center for Osteopathic History will be able to effectively start Phase II of the categorization and cataloging of artifacts as they move toward a uniform inventory of their Osteopathic Heritage collection.

[read more]

A generous grant of $142,776 from the Federal Institute of Museum and Library Services, staff members at the Museum of Osteopathic Medicine and International Center for Osteopathic History will be able to effectively start Phase II of the categorization and cataloging of artifacts as they move toward a uniform inventory of their Osteopathic Heritage collection.

“Thanks to the IMLS Museums for America Grant funding we were able to hire additional staff for two years to process and make available online much of what was received from the ATSU Library’s Special Collections (received by the Museum in 1997), NCOH Collection, and incoming donations.

“The museum team did an excellent job on Phase I of this project,” said Museum Director Jason Haxton, M.A. “I am pleased to learn that our good work has been noted and rewarded to continue the comprehensive inventory work with additional funds to hire staff for two more years and continue on with Phase II.”

Located on the campus of A.T. Still University in Kirksville, Mo., the museum had applied for the grant for assistance in creating a completely uniform inventory of collection items. Staff members have planned a comprehensive inventory of all collections with digitized and scanned images, as well as online access to the inventory. This award is part of a multi-year project, with an ultimate goal of better serving the public, as well as seeking accreditation from the American Association of Museums.

The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) announced 160 awards totaling $18,777,552, matched with $32,007,711 of non-federal funds for Museums for America Program Grants. IMLS received 481 applications requesting $53,655,280 in funds.

“Congratulations to the Museums for America grantees. We are pleased to support museums through investments in high-priority, high value activities that benefit communities throughout the United States,” said Susan Hildreth, IMLS director. “These museums, small and large, will help to educate and inspire the public for years to come.”

The Institute of Museum and Library Services is the primary source of federal support for the nation’s 123,000 libraries and 17,500 museums. The Institute’s mission is to create strong libraries and museums that connect people to information and ideas.

Earlier in the year, the Heritage Preservation Organization of Washington, D.C., awarded a $3,490 grant to the museum, which paid for a Conservation Assessment Program review. The museum received an extremely positive report from that assessment.

Richard W. Anderson, D.O., ’46

ATSU Board of Trustees member Richard W. Anderson, D.O., passed away July 31, 2011. Born in Janesville, Wis., he was 88 and resided in Dallas, Texas.

Dr. Anderson, a 1946 graduate of KCOM and ATSU board member since 2002, has a lifetime of achievements in osteopathic medicine, volunteerism, and philanthropy. He received the Distinguished Service Award from the KCOM Alumni Board in 2002. Although he had retired from his medical practice, he continued to be a major contributor to the promotion of osteopathic medicine, as well as to the future of ATSU.
?
Dr. Anderson made a lifetime of valuable contributions to his profession, to the lives of students and patients, and to A.T. Still University and KCOM. In celebration of his contributions, ATSU recently honored him by declaring May 6, 2011 as Dr. Richard W. Anderson Day.
?
Dr. Anderson is survived by his wife, Charlotte Anderson, two grandsons, a step-daughter, step-grandchildren, and a step-great-great-granddaughter. He was preceded in death by his wife Bessanne Mills Anderson, his two sons Richard W. Jr. and Jeffrey L. Anderson, and his brother, Esmond Anderson, D.O.
?
According to the obituary, a visitation and celebration of his life will be August 2 and services will be held August 3. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to ATSU-KCOM or to:

Central Lutheran Church
1000 Easton Road
Dallas, TX  75128

A memorial will be made on behalf of the Board of Trustees and the University.

[read more]

ATSU recently announced its consolidation of all continuing health professions education programs under the Continuing Medical Education (CME) office, which will soon be renamed.

Under the direction of Douglas Wood, D.O., Ph.D., senior vice president-academic affairs, and Jeff Suzewits, D.O., ’88, interim dean of KCOM, an advisory committee is forming and will be chaired by Lloyd Cleaver, D.O., ’76, assistant dean of KCOM. This advisory group will provide guidance and expertise to the CME director to determine which continuing education programs the University will sponsor. The CME department and its qualified staff will serve all schools and campuses at ATSU.

ATSU President Jack Magruder

The ATSU Board of Trustees announced that President Jack Magruder will retire on June 30, 2012. The Board has begun a national search to find a new president to take over when he retires.

The Board has engaged the firm of R. William Funk & Associates of Dallas to conduct a nationwide search for the next president of A.T. Still University of Health Sciences. “Our goal is to have a new president in place on July 1, 2012,” said Board chair Carl G. Bynum, D.O., M.P.H.

“President Magruder has done and continues to do excellent work in moving the University forward,” said Dr. Bynum. Under his gentle and visionary leadership, ATSU has achieved many important milestones since he became president on Valentine’s Day in 2008, among them the following:

• Full 10 years’ accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission
• Administrative restructuring to reflect the fact that our two campuses are part of one institution
• Development of a university-wide strategic plan and a blueprint for assessment
• University-wide faculty, student, staff, and alumni organizations
• Considerable progress on developing a university-wide facilities plan
• Continued focus on fiscal soundness and responsibility

Dr. Bynum added, “Dr. Magruder has made a positive difference in the culture and morale of everyone at ATSU and continues to do so; he has more that he wishes to accomplish here. His commitment to student learning, to the mission and vision of the University, and to placing ATSU on an arc to preeminence will provide the next president with a solid foundation for the future.”