Kirksville, Mo. – A.T. Still University’s Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine (ATSU-KCOM) will welcome back a distinguished alumnus for its annual May commencement ceremony. J.D. Polk, DO, MS, MMM, CPE, FACOEP, ’93, will serve as his alma mater’s upcoming commencement speaker. Dr. Polk serves as principal deputy assistant secretary for health affairs and deputy chief medical officer for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

Prior to his work at DHS, Dr. Polk was the deputy chief medical officer and chief of space medicine for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s Johnson Space Center and an assistant professor in the Departments of Preventive Medicine and Emergency Medicine at the University of Texas Medical Branch. He is the former state emergency medical services medical director for the state of Ohio and former chief of Metro Life Flight in Cleveland, Ohio. He was previously a member of the State Trauma Committee for the state of Ohio.

Dr. Polk has been active in the local, state, and federal emergency services and preparedness planning throughout his career. In addition, he is a member of the American Osteopathic Association’s Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation, a fellow of the American College of Osteopathic Emergency Physicians, and an associate fellow of the Aerospace Medicine Association.

ATSU-KCOM’s commencement will be held at 10 a.m., May 18, 2013, in Baldwin Hall at Truman State University in Kirksville, Mo.

Julie Herrmann, MPH, ’14, is the recipient of the 2013 Texas Public Health Association (TPHA) Outstanding Service Award for leading the TPHA Student Section. Herrmann, a student in A.T. Still University’s School of Health Management Master of Public Health program, was presented with the award at the TPHA Annual Education Conference on March 22.

Herrmann serves as chair of the TPHA Student Section, which was launched in March 2011. The three initiatives of the Student Section include student communication and a newsletter, student recruitment, and a pre-conference held on March 20 to connect students and recent graduates with experienced public health professionals.

Matthew Nelson, OMS II, A.T. Still University’s School of Osteopathic Medicine in Arizona (ATSU-SOMA), is the recipient of the 2013 Excellence in Public Health Award from the United States Public Health Service (USPHS) Physician Professional Advisory Committee. Nelson was presented with the award on March 22 by Lieutenant Commander Dr. Andrew Terranella, USPHS.

Nelson is doing his clinical rotation at North Country Healthcare in Flagstaff, Ariz., one of ATSU-SOMA’s community campuses. Second-year students spend time in these community campuses in small group settings, learning additional clinical presentations, observing patient care, and gaining an understanding of the local health system and community health practices. Students work alongside community campus faculty and are able to diagnose, treat and educate patients on disease and disease prevention. They are also serving a population of individuals who may be medically uninsured or underinsured.

“ATSU-SOMA congratulates Matthew Nelson and celebrates this type of achievement by our students as it demonstrates our institutional commitment to service on behalf of patients and communities in need,” said Kay Kalousek, DO, MS, AAHIVS, FACOFP, dean, ATSU-SOMA.

The ATSU Student Government Association invites you and your canine companion to Bark for Life this Saturday, March 30.

Tickets are just $10.00, and proceeds will go to support the May 4 & 5 Relay for Life event happening on the Ariz. campus.  All funds generated will ultimately go to support the American Cancer Society.

Bring new or gently-used pet blankets, towels, food or toys, and ATSU will donate those needed items to local animal shelters to support the furry kiddos.

When: Saturday, March 30 from 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Where: ATSU Arizona campus, 5850 E Still Circle, Mesa, 85206 – main building, front lawn-area.
What: Various vendors and activities, including a walk, on campus for you and your companion.

This is a special opportunity to raise awareness for both our human and canine companions while supporting two great causes.  For any questions, please contact Bridget Spooner at bspooner@atsu.edu.

To register for ATSU’s May 4 & 5 Relay for Life event, please visit relayforlife.org/atstillu.

Hope to see you there!

Rachel Diamant, PhD, OTR/L, BCP, associate professor, and Melissa Clark, MS, OTR/L, CHT, assistant professor, A.T. Still University’s Arizona School of Health Sciences occupational therapy (OT) program, led an OT delegation to Hermosillo, Mexico, to promote an interdisciplinary cultural exchange experience for students and healthcare practitioners. The Sister Cities Disability Awareness Committees of Phoenix and Hermosillo sponsored the OT delegation which was in Hermosillo Feb. 28 through March 4.

Along with Dr. Diamant and Clark, the delegation included seven second-year OT students: Liza Travis, Jennifer Clugston, Estefania Shockley, Angela Martinez, Saundra Watts, Shira James, and Patrick Conway.

Dr. Diamant and Clark presented a two-day training workshop about the uses and applications of kinesiology tape for 25 physical therapy students of the Universidad de Valle de Mexico (UVM) and 25 local healthcare practitioners, including members from DIF Municipal y Cuidades Hermanas de Hermosillo, Dr. Reynaldo Trujillo Felix from Medicina de Rehabilitacion, and members of a local group of athletic trainers.

The workshop provided an overview of the profession of occupational therapy and a lecture on the uses of kinesiology tape in the management of pain, swelling, joint and muscle support due to injury or disease. Students and practitioners also had the opportunity to experience the use of kinesiology tape application for specific joints and muscles of the body during the lab portion of the workshop.

To promote the cultural exchange focus of the Sister Cities mission, individuals and agencies of Phoenix and Hermosillo coordinated their efforts to ensure success of this experience. The ATSU OT program prepared the training booklets and loaned scissors and markers for the workshop. Patterson Medical Corporation donated the rolls of kinesiology tape for the workshop lab practical component. Laboratory space for the workshop was provided by UVM. The Hermosillo Sister Cities Committee organized transportation and social events for the members of the OT delegation to meet with local healthcare practitioners, UVM faculty and students, DIF, and other prominent citizens of the Hermosillo community. UVM physical therapy students provided housing for the ATSU OT faculty and students.

“I feel very fortunate to have had the opportunity to be part of this trip,” said Clugston. “I felt welcomed and appreciated by the Sister Cities and host students that opened up their homes and classrooms to us. This was an inspiring trip that not only offered a medical exchange of knowledge, but a cultural one as well.”

“The sharing of ideas and discussion of healthcare and rehabilitation services, and discussion of plans for future training workshops, allowed for a valuable cultural exchange and experience for all involved,” said Dr. Diamant.

Community dental anesthesiologists, A.T. Still University’s Arizona School of Dentistry & Oral Health (ATSU-ASDOH) faculty, and dental students came together on March 25 to care for a healthy, 2.5 year-old with Severe Early Childhood Caries. “We would normally have sent him to a private practice, due to his age and severity of oral health problems,” said Joseph Creech, DDS, associate professor and director of pediatric dentistry, ATSU-ASDOH. “He was one of those children that falls between the cracks; not eligible for state aid through the AHCCCS program, and no private Insurance.  In other words, without us, there would have been no treatment, due to no money.”

Fortunately for the patient, ATSU’s Smile Forward funds were available to provide his care. The ATSU Smile Forward program provides dental and oral healthcare for children, families and individuals who are without dental insurance or have minimal dental insurance benefits and demonstrate need.

In addition, Dr. Anthony Caputo, DDS, and Dr. Gregory Sikora, DMD, both dental anesthesiologists, provided anesthesia at a reduced fee that allowed the parents to invest in their child’s care, but be able to afford it.  “In all we completed four crowns, two nerve treatments, four extractions and four sealants,” said Dr. Creech. “This was truly a collaborative effort.”

Sarah Usher, D3, ATSU-ASDOH and Joe Creech III, D3, ATSU-ASDOH, were afforded the opportunity to assist in the procedures. Both were able to obtain hands-on experience and great exposure to children’s dental issues and the capabilities of anesthesia. The students were involved with arranging the case, providing support care during the case, and finally providing restorative and surgical care with Dr. Creech’s supervision.

Congratulations to Gregory McQueen, PhD, senior executive associate dean, ATSU-SOMA, who recently co-authored and published an article in the International Journal of Business Governance and Ethics.  The article is based on an analysis of women and their decision-making processes and how that translates to a company’s performance metrics.

The study, which was conducted by Dr. McQueen and Chris Bart, professor of strategic management at the DeGroote School of Business at McMaster University, Canada, surveyed more than 600 board directors revealing that women are more likely to consider the rights of others and to take a cooperative approach to decision-making.

Congratulations, Dr. McQueen!

Click here to read a full synopsis.

Once again as in years past, A.T. Still University’s Arizona School of Dentistry & Oral Health (ATSU-ASDOH) students are taking the lead in coordinating the school’s participation in the Oral Cancer Foundation 5K Walk for Awareness. In addition to fundraising and participation, ATSU-ASDOH students will provide oral cancer screenings at the event.

The Oral Cancer Foundation’s Walk for Awareness will be held at El Dorado Park, 2311 N. Miller Rd. in Scottsdale, Ariz., on April 6 with check-in/registration time at 8:30 a.m.  If you would like to join the walk, for more information, or to donate, visit the Oral Cancer Foundation Walk for Awareness site.

Mia Pozzanghera, AuD, ’14, and Kaitlyn Werho, AuD, ’14, were recipients of the Audiology Student Excellence Endowed Scholarship award for 2013. The award, which includes a $1,000 scholarship and a certificate for each student, was presented to Pozzanghera and Werho on Feb. 17.

To qualify for the endowed scholarship, applicants must be a third-year audiology student in good standing, have an overall GPA of 3.5 or higher, have outstanding clinical performance, and be dedicated to professional or community involvement.

Sigma Sigma Phi, a national honor service fraternity, is the 2012-13 recipient of the Distinguished Organization Award for Service and Performance. The award will be presented to the president of Sigma Sigma Phi, Roxanne Rajaii, OMS II, A.T. Still University’s Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine, at the spring Student Organization Leadership Orientation on May 1, in Mehegan Classroom.

In addition, as part of the recognition there will be:

• A press release to the Kirksville community through newspaper, television, and radio.
• A donation of $150 in Sigma Sigma Phi’s name to a local charity of the organization’s choice (as approved by the vice president for Student Affairs).

“At A.T. Still University’s Kirksville College of Medicine, we are the first chapter (The Alpha Chapter), but our organization is closely associated and integrated with the national chapter,” said Rajaii. “We strive to not only achieve and maintain high academic standards, but to also serve the school and the community through numerous service projects throughout the year.”