A. T. Still University’s Arizona School of Dentistry & Oral Health (ATSU-ASDOH) postgraduate orthodontic program celebrated the graduation of its seventh class of residents at the Phoenix Country Club in Phoenix, Ariz., on Nov. 19.

The orthodontic class of 2015 residents Drs. Colby Gage, Jonna Laslovich, John Keating, Nipa Patel, and Joseph Yu presented at the event. Graduates received a certificate in orthodontics and dentofacial orthopedics.

“Our entire graduating class successfully passed the American Board of Orthodontics phase II examination during their residency,” said Jae Hyun Park, DMD, MSD, MS, PhD, chair, ATSU-ASDOH postgraduate orthodontic program. In addition to academics and clinical excellence, they actively participated in community service during their residency.

“The school and community recognize and honor the choices and sacrifices the residents have made,” added Dr. Park. “We wish them well and encourage them to keep learning and growing as they venture out to start the next chapter of their lives.”

A.T. Still University’s (ATSU) Teaching and Learning Center sponsored and debuted SparkTank, a live show-style competition focused on teaching and learning, on the Kirksville, Mo., campus on Nov. 18, 2015. The inaugural event featured individual contestants and teams who pitched their ideas for innovative teaching and learning projects to a panel of judges for the opportunity to secure $5,000 in project funding in front of a live audience.

Six individual and/or team entries presented their proposals in front of a panel of judges and an audience comprised of more than 60 faculty, staff, and students. Following each presentation, judges and the audience were provided the opportunity to ask questions of contestants. The competition concluded with judges announcing three winning proposals, representing SparkTank categories for innovation in teaching practice, engaged learning activities, and 3-D printing/modeling.

Jess Roland, OMS I, and a team comprised of Seth McIntire, OMS I, and Shannon McAllister, OMS I, won top honors and received funding for their respective projects. McIntire and McAllister presented in two separate categories and received funding for both proposals.

“I think it’s good to get out of your comfort zone and present in front of an audience, especially when it’s something you’re passionate about,” said McAllister. “I really like the idea of affecting the ATSU community for the better.”

Judges for the inaugural event included Lori Haxton, MA, vice president for student affairs; Clinton Normore, MBA, director of diversity; Bryan Krusniak, MBA, assistant vice president, information technology & services; Gaylah Sublette, MBA, associate vice president, sponsored programs, and Tisha R. Kice-Briggs, DDS, member, ATSU Board of Trustees.

“I was impressed by the quality of each contestant’s proposal and their corresponding presentations,” said Haxton. “I look forward to following the progress of these projects and how each of them will impact teaching and learning at ATSU.”

ATSU will continue this competition to encourage collaborative efforts from the entire ATSU community for the benefit of teaching and learning. SparkTank is set to debut on the Mesa, Ariz., campus on Feb. 24, 2016.

Read more about winners and participants.

A.T. Still University’s Arizona School of Dentistry & Oral Health (ASDOH) and the Missouri School of Dentistry & Oral Health (MOSDOH) alumni, students and friends who attended the American Dental Association’s annual session in Washington DC, also had a chance to hear from ATSU-ASDOH and MOSDOH deans Jack Dillenberg, DDS, MPH, and Chris Halliday, DDS, MPH.

Below is a summary of the updates shared on November 7:

• We held our fifth annual Day for Special Smiles event on October 30^th to provide free care to patients with developmental and intellectual challenges and we are incredibly proud of how much it has grown. Not only did the number of patients seen in one day grow to nearly 80, but interprofessional collaboration was also a defining feature of the event with students and faculty from ATSU’s School of Osteopathic Medicine in Arizona and Arizona School of Health Sciences programs also attended to provide health screenings and education.
• In addition to the Certificates of Public Health that all dental students earn with their DMD degrees, ATSU-ASDOH students also have the option of pursuing a Certificate in Business and Legal Skills for Health Professionals through the Arizona Summit Law School. This unique elective program helps students acquire knowledge regarding HIPAA, contract negotiation, management, leadership, and malpractice.
• In advancing innovation at ATSU, ASDOH is developing a research area that will include an oral health/osteopathic medical clinic in partnership with ATSU-SOMA to work on issues such as TMJ. Please watch for additional updates about this exciting initiative.
• We’ll be hosting our ASDOH Alumni Weekend a little earlier in 2016: Thursday-Saturday, Jan.21-23. We will celebrate the class of 2011 for their 5-year reunion, but hope that graduates from all classes will come back to join us.

For more updates and photos from this event, follow ATSU’s Alumni Relations on Facebook.

ATSU-ASHS dean Randy Danielsen, PhD, PA-C, Jim Farris, PT, PhD, chair, department of physical therapy, and Lori Bordenave, DPT, MEd, PT, department of physical therapy, spoke at the event. Below is a summary of what they shared:

• We have had a wonderful year celebrating the 20 anniversary of ATSU-ASHS, and we thank all of our alumni, students, and faculty for their contributions to the legacy we’ve built together. Our final event for the year will be Monday, December 14 with the unveiling of the commemorative painting on campus – please join us by submitting your RSVP here.
• Much of what helps associations like the APTA (and our alumni association) grow relates to faculty, role models, and peers encouraging participation to further a profession or cause – please ask your peers to become involved so that we can keep advancing quality care and ATSU.
• The department of physical therapy continues to thrive, including having graduates widely recognized for their skills and knowledge and accomplishing accreditation goals well ahead of schedule. Our Neurologic Physical Therapy Residency Program just graduated its first cohort and earned accreditation as well.
• Our transitional DPT program has done so well that the largest number of post-professional DPT degrees have been earned at ATSU. We are also looking to expand internationally as countries like Canada begin considering doctoral degrees for their PTs.
• Our next PT event will be at the APTA CSM in Anaheim in February – please look for invitations that will be sent out soon.

For more updates and photos from this event, follow ATSU’s Alumni Relations on Facebook.

A.T. Still University’s (ATSU) Gutensohn Clinic is undergoing significant aesthetic improvements to better serve patients and enrich their healthcare experiences. Renovations to the clinic, which began in early November, include adjustments to flooring, ceiling, seating, windows, walls, patient rooms, and decor. The changes will result in enhanced patient privacy and an inviting clinic atmosphere.

A new exterior backlit sign will welcome patients and guests at the Clinic’s main Jefferson Street entrance and introduce them to a newly renovated lobby. Internal wayfinding signs will also be updated to assist patients and guests in navigating the multi-floor clinic.

ATSU’s investment represents the most significant renovation for the Gutensohn Clinic in many years and the University’s continued commitment to provide comprehensive healthcare to the patients we serve. Be sure to stay tuned to ATSU’s Facebook page for more updates.

New schools will join AMA to reshape how future physicians are trained and improve health outcomes

A.T. Still University’s School of Osteopathic Medicine in Arizona (ATSU-SOMA) was selected by the American Medical Association (AMA) to join the Association’s Accelerating Change in Medical Education Consortium, a dynamic group of medical schools which share best practices and ideas for developing innovative curricula that can ultimately be implemented in medical schools across the country.

ATSU-SOMA was nominated by AMA because of its approach to incorporating comprehensive community-based projects as part of its curriculum, empowering students to actively learn to assess needs of the community through their second, third, and fourth year of medical school education while embedded in one of ATSU-SOMA’s 12 community health center (CHC) campuses.

The announcement was made by AMA’s CEO James Madara, MD, and Susan Skochelak, MD, group vice president for medical education. AMA announced a total of 20 leading medical schools from across the country, all of which landed a spot on the Association’s consortium, and were awarded a three-year grant totaling $75,000.

“ATSU is thankful for and looks forward to collaborating with consortium partners in developing innovative learning experiences to improve medical education ultimately resulting in healthier individuals and communities,” said ATSU President Craig M. Phelps, DO, ’84.

According to AMA, the 20 new schools will build upon projects created by the 11 schools awarded grants by AMA in 2013 and ultimately impact thousands of medical students across the nation currently being trained to care for patients in the rapidly changing healthcare environment. With the added schools, the now 32 school consortium will support training for an estimated 18,000 medical students who will one day care for 31 million patients each year.

“Consortium membership will enable us to spotlight successful teaching strategies, enhance support for individual community projects, and dedicate additional resources to evaluating the knowledge, skills, and attitudes resulting from this contextual innovation, “said principal investigator, Joy H. Lewis, DO, PhD, FACP, professor of internal medicine and public health, chair, ATSU-SOMA Department of Public Health. “I appreciate this opportunity very much and look forward to sharing with, and learning from, the other members of the consortium. This cross-pollination will be invaluable for creating the providers of the future.”

Through a competitive grant process, schools were selected from among 170 eligible U.S. medical schools by a national advisory panel, which sought proposals that would significantly redesign medical education. This is the first year an osteopathic medical school could apply to the initiative.

It was all about interprofessional collaboration for students who gathered during the inaugural Falls Mixer event on the Mesa campus Friday, Nov. 6. More than 60 students from A.T. Still University’s (ATSU) Arizona School of Health Sciences (ASHS), School of Osteopathic Medicine in Arizona (SOMA) and Arizona School of Dentistry & Oral Health (ASDOH), came together to celebrate interprofessional education and the upcoming Still Standing Falls Prevention Outreach.

The event was held to promote the formation of interdisciplinary teams who are gearing up for the 2016 outreach, which is a community health education program aimed at helping elders prevent falls and address their fear of falling. Outreach is also an essential opportunity for students to work in interdisciplinary teams. Nearly 70 student teams comprised of different health professions programs will fan the Valley to teach the eight-week Still Standing course to hundreds of older adults at more than 70 medical centers, rehabilitative facilities, and retirement homes and communities.

Students also heard from special guest speakers including ATSU-ASHS dean Randy Danielsen, PhD, PA-C, Babak Nayeri, ND, FACFE, DAAPM, executive consultant, Healthy Aging, Arizona Department of Health Services, and Karen Richards, RN, MBA, of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona. Dr. Nayeri and Richards spoke to students about the importance of falls prevention education in the community.

Day for Special Smiles, which ATSU-ASDOH and Special Olympics Arizona created and launched in 2011, fills a critical role for Arizonans with special needs. The Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System, the dominant health insurer for the majority of this population, does not cover dental care for those 21 or above. As a result, many special needs individuals suffer from untreated oral diseases.

For one patient with only nine teeth left, Day for Special Smiles helped curb years of pain and discomfort. Every time he ate, he endured pain, and also suffered from severe oral infections as a result of the condition his remaining teeth were in. A day after receiving proper dental care, he reported that the pain he felt from the extractions was less than any pain he had felt the last two years.

Day for Special Smiles faculty coordinator Mai-Ly Duong, DMD, MPH, ’12, assistant professor, says the importance of Day for Special Smiles is three-fold.

“At the school level, we are able to teach our students about how to provide care to people with special needs so that we can graduate students who are more likely to treat this population. Additionally, we are able to provide them an opportunity to learn from different health disciplines. At the local level, we are able to provide treatment to people with urgent health needs that have limited ways of getting treatment. And finally, we are raising awareness at the state and national level about how critically important it is for our adult special needs population to receive oral healthcare,” says Dr. Duong.

Patients also received a medical and muscular screening from other ATSU health professions students who volunteered during the event.

Highlights:

• 6 students/faculty from ATSU-School of Osteopathic Medicine in Arizona
• 5 physician assistant students/faculty from ATSU-Arizona School of Health Sciences
• 3 occupational therapy students/faculty from ATSU-Arizona School of Health Sciences
• 5 doctor of audiology students/faculty from ATSU-Arizona School of Health Sciences
• 13 athletic training students/faculty from ATSU-Arizona School of Health Sciences
• 151 volunteers total and more than 1,000 volunteer hours provided
• More than $15,000 in dental treatment was provided by ATSU-ASDOH

For information on how you can support Day For Special Smiles, including volunteer opportunities, please contact mduong@atsu.edu.

A.T. Still University (ATSU) has been designated a 2016 Military Friendly® School by Victory Media, the leader in successfully connecting the military and civilian worlds. Now in its seventh year, the original, premier Military Friendly® Schools designation provides service members and their families with transparent, data-driven ratings about post-military education and career opportunities.

Institutions competed for the elite Military Friendly® School title by completing a survey of over 100 questions covering ten categories including military support on campus, graduation and employment outcomes, and military spouse policies. Survey responses were scored against benchmarks across these key indicators of success. In addition, data was independently tested by Ernst & Young based upon the weightings and methodology established by Victory Media with guidance from an independent Advisory Board of higher education and recruiting professionals.

The Military Friendly® Schools designation is awarded to the top colleges, universities, community colleges, and trade schools in the country that are doing the most to embrace military students, and to dedicate resources to ensure their success both in the classroom and after graduation. The methodology for making the Military Friendly® Schools list has changed the student veteran landscape to one much more transparent, and has played a significant role over the past seven years in capturing and advancing best practices to support military students across the country.

For more information about ATSU’s commitment to supporting military students, visit www.atsu.edu.

Institutions competed for the elite Military Friendly® School title by completing a survey of over 100 questions covering ten categories including military support on campus, graduation and employment outcomes, and military spouse policies. Survey responses were scored against benchmarks across these key indicators of success. In addition, data was independently tested by Ernst & Young based upon the weightings and methodology established by Victory Media with guidance from an independent Advisory Board of higher education and recruiting professionals.

The Military Friendly® Schools designation is awarded to the top colleges, universities, community colleges, and trade schools in the country that are doing the most to embrace military students, and to dedicate resources to ensure their success both in the classroom and after graduation. The methodology for making the Military Friendly® Schools list has changed the student veteran landscape to one much more transparent, and has played a significant role over the past seven years in capturing and advancing best practices to support military students across the country.

For more information about ATSU’s commitment to supporting military students, visit www.atsu.edu.