A spirit of innovation
Posted: January 28, 2011
KCOM welcomes back classes of ’60 and ’85
The Missouri campus welcomed alumni back to Kirksville in September with CME events, tours, dinners, lectures, unveilings, and book signings. Not to mention a Still-a-Bration that encouraged faculty, staff, and alumni to get their game on and show their team spirit.
The three-day celebration kicked off with the continuing medical education program “Cranial Osteopathy for the Ages,” which offered an update for approximately 80 physicians wanting to integrate cranial osteopathic techniques into their patient care.
Also on Thursday, Laura Tinning, D.O., ’00, presented the second annual Tinning Founder’s Day Osteopathy Lecture, in which she said, “Too many physicians are M.D.s with D.O. after their name.” Their philosophy isn’t any different, lamented Dr. Tinning, who shared examples of how osteopathic manipulative treatment has changed some of her young patients’ lives. “It makes a difference to put our hands on patients – our hearts and hands are most important,” she said.
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The annual A.T. Still graveside ceremony followed the lecture and was led by President Jack Magruder. Alumni, students, and guests then spent a traditional “Evening with the Stars,” which provided an opportunity for approximately 100 KCOM medical students to interact with practicing clinicians. Alumni from the classes of 1960 and 1985 attended reunion receptions at 1000 Hills Dining Lodge.
On Friday, Phyllis Blondefield, Ph.D., kicked off the day by offering book signings for the new book “Dr. Max,” and the painting “The Healing Touch” was unveiled by artist Patricia DeLoss McWilliams in Heritage Hall.
That morning, President Magruder; ATSU Board of Trustees Chair Carl Bynum, D.O., M.P.H., ’75; Senior Vice President – Academic Affairs Douglas L. Wood, D.O., Ph.D.; KCOM Dean Philip Slocum, D.O., ’76; and SHM Dean Kimberly O’Reilly, D.H.Ed., ’08, addressed a full house of faculty, staff, and alumni before the classes of 1985 and 1960 were recognized before the crowd.
Dr. Wood talked about Dr. Still as a risk-taker and how we carry forth his innovator spirit, particularly in a bold new strategic plan.
“We think boldness is necessary now to move us forward,” he said. “If successfully implemented, we will be the pre-eminent health sciences university in the country.”
Additional CME activities included a special presentation by Larisa Lasovetskaya, M.D., D.O. (Europe), principal of the Russian Academy of Osteopathic Medicine, who shared highlights of the history of osteopathy in Russia. After a tour of campus and the Museum of Osteopathic MedicineSM, and a football game featuring first- and second-year women students, the festivities moved to the Thompson Campus Center for Still-a-Bration, which included a barbecue and dance.