Congratulations to Valerie Hamlin for receiving the Missouri Campus Employee Excellence Award for the first quarter of 2014. Hamlin is a curriculum coordinator in the Education Development and Services Department. She was recognized for her professionalism and unwavering commitment to the faculty and staff of A.T. Still University. She was nominated by William Sexton, PhD, professor of physiology,  and Jennifer Magruder, project coordinator, education development and services. Hamlin received $50 gift certificate to Matthew’s Bookstore.

A.T. Still University-Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine (ATSU-KCOM) celebrated a new class of osteopathic physicians on May 17, 2014. The class of 2014 is ATSU-KCOM’s 178th graduating class.

Tarah L. Castleberry, DO, MPH, ’98, was the keynote speaker for the 178^th commencement. Dr. Castleberry currently serves in several capacities at the University of Texas Medical Branch, Aerospace Medicine Division, including assistant professor, family medicine/preventive medicine, & community health, aerospace medicine residency program director, and general preventive medicine residency program director. Dr. Castleberry also serves on the Kirksville Osteopathic Alumni Association Board of Directors. She received a doctor of science in osteopathy honorary degree at the ceremony.

Fred Tinning, PhD, KCOM president emeritus, received a doctor of osteopathic education honorary degree. The ceremony was held in Baldwin Hall on the Truman State University campus.

2014 class stats

• 154 graduates receiving a doctor of osteopathic medicine degree
• 56 Females
• 98 Males
• 10 Truman State University graduates
• 51 from Missouri
• 27 states represented
• Average age: 28
• 8 graduates receiving a master of biomedical sciences degree

Faculty and student researchers from the ATSU Arizona campus came together for a week-long Interdisciplinary Research Symposium sponsored by the Arizona Interdisciplinary Research Committee (IRC), May 12-16.

Each day of the week at noon, three faculty members from different programs presented their research in five topical areas: Promoting healthy lifestyles and quality of life through research; Educational research; Linking education, research, and practice, Neuroscience research; and Research across the lifespan. On Friday, May 16, students presented their poster presentations from 3:30-5 p.m.

Approximately 25-30 participants attended each day’s lunch event lecture sessions, and individuals off campus were able to participate through Livestream.

Over the course of the week, the IRC received many positive comments about the quality and diversity of the lunchtime research presentations. Several participants expressed their gratitude about being able to attend an event where they could learn more about the areas of research being pursued by faculty across the campus. Participants also noted that they appreciated seeing the passion that each speaker had for their area of scholarly activity.

The week concluded with a campus-wide student poster exhibit and social Friday afternoon which showcased more than 25 posters capturing the research and projects students have been involved with over the past year. Approximately 60 faculty, staff, and students visited the poster exhibit. The student presenters did an excellent job describing what they learned through their projects and how this newly gained information will impact their future clinical practices.

The IRC hopes that the Research Symposium is yet another step in fostering a learning community and creating a research culture on our campus.

Videos of each day’s events can be viewed at https://new.livestream.com/atstill/

Melissa Clark MS, OTR/L, CHT, assistant professor, Department of Occupational Therapy, returned to Danli, Honduras with a team of eight occupational therapists and one nurse in May 2014. The team provided therapy service for adults and children at a local clinic in Danli and traveled to remote villages to conduct home visits for those unable to reach the clinic. In addition to direct therapy services, clinical education and on-site training were provided to the staff, patients, and families in the areas of positioning, orthotics, home and equipment modifications, and developmental training.

“The mission team was excited to see the continued progress that had been made over the year since our last visit,” said Clark. “Many of the children and adults that were seen in the previous year were able to return to the clinic for follow-up visits.”

One of the team’s major accomplishments last year was helping with the start-up of the Rosa Clinic in a small village outside of Danli. This clinic has continued to grow over the past year and now reaches many of those that are unable to travel to Danli.

Occupational therapy services were provided to patients and families at the free clinic in Danli, the Rosa clinic, a school for disabled children, and at a church-based nursing home. “The team spent many hours conducting home visits in remote villages providing hands-on therapy and home/equipment modifications,” said Clark. “The mission was a huge success, and the team is looking forward to returning next year.”

Faculty and staff on the Kirksville, Missouri campus were honored on May 8, 2014 at the annual A.T. Still University (ATSU) Employee Recognition Ceremony. Employees were recognized for years of service ranging from five to 35 years.

Roy Turner, technician, Jennifer Magruder, project coordinator, Kelly Rogers, image specialist, and Corey Sanford, production specialist, were recognized as the 2013 Quarterly Excellence Award recipients.

Dean Maag, manager, academic technologies, was presented the Annual Distinguished Service Award.

Keith Elmslie, PhD, professor, pharmacology, and Wesley Ryle, MD, assistant professor, family medicine, preventive medicine, and community health, received the Annual A.T. Still Staff Award for Excellence in Teaching.

The Annual ATSU-Kirksvillle College of Osteopathic Medicine Researcher of the Year Award went to Dr. Elmslie and Kevin Marberry, MD, chair, surgery.

Stacy Reichel, OMS II, received the 2014 Wetzel Scholarship from the Missouri Association of Osteopathic Physicians & Surgeons. The Wetzel Scholarship Program was created to expose osteopathic students to organized medicine and to develop future leaders for the osteopathic profession. Historically, two students from Missouri osteopathic colleges are awarded the William L. Wetzel Scholarship each year. The candidate students must demonstrate an intent to practice in Missouri, a commitment to the profession, leadership skills, ethical behavior, professionalism, and integrity; must be in good academic standing; and must be of good moral character.

A.T. Still University-Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine students presented posters at the 116^th Missouri Osteopathic Annual Convention in Branson, Missouri. The annual Missouri Association of Osteopathic Physicians and Surgeons convention was held April 30-May 4, 2014. The following students presented abstracts.

Alicia King, OMM fellow, Osteopathic Manipulation Utilization in a Patientwith Probable Myotonic Dystrophy Type II

Amanda Schoenfuss, OMM fellow, Osteopathic Manipulation for the Treatment of Migraines: A Case Report

Kimber Barrett, Med Ed fellow, Image Recognition and Development of Hands-on Sonographic Skills by First-Year Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine Students as Assessed by Practical Ultrasound Skill Assessment Exam

Nicholas Musso, OMS I, The Prefrontal Cortex and Amygdala Interact During Fear Extinction

Seth McIntire, BioMed II, Effects of Cystatin C Variant Clones on B16F10 Metastasis

Jessica Lapinski, Med Ed fellow, The Role of Religion in Osteopathic and Allopathic Medicine: Incorporating Mind, Body, and Spirit

Iesha Clay, Med Ed fellow, The Impact of a Clinical Ultrasound Elective Course on Student Performance at an Ultrasound Skills Station During Performance Assessment III Testing

When her essay on surviving Hurricane Sandy was chosen in a worldwide competition to be included in the 2013 book “We Will Survive” by 70s disco queen and Grammy Award-winning artist Gloria Gaynor, KCOM alumna Dr. Cynthia Paulis was delighted to share her story of encouragement and inspiration. (more…)

The United States military is comprised of extraordinary men and women who selflessly serve for the greater good of this great country. Many of these individuals are also ATSU alumni, specializing in various aspects of military medicine, attending to the complex healthcare needs of service members in all branches of the armed forces. (more…)

1930s

Doran A. Farnum, DO, ’36, San Juan Capistrano, Calif., retired in 2013 just after his 101st birthday. Dr. Farnum practiced osteopathic manipulative medicine for more than 75 years. (more…)