ATSU’s West Point grad named Student D.O. of the Year
Posted: May 4, 2010
KIRKSVILLE, Mo. – A.T. Still University’s Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine has named second-year student doctor John Thurman Jr. as its Student D.O. of the Year.
Thurman grew up in Midland, Texas, and attended the United States Military Academy at West Point Academy from 1996-2000. He served seven years in the U.S. Army, including tours in Kuwait and Baghdad, Iraq, for Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Thurman received the annual honor from the founding school of osteopathic medicine because he embodies the professionalism, commitment, and compassion espoused by the college and its founder, Andrew Taylor Still, M.D., D.O., the founder of osteopathic medicine.
As president of the Class of 2012, Thurman has initiated a ceremony recognizing Fellows who contribute to a medical student’s education; organized a 9.11 memorial service; lent tremendous support to fellow classmates and residents of Kirksville, who suffered loss in a tornado; led a fundraiser for Haiti in the wake of that country’s January earthquake; and initiated a community-wide service project, partnering with the city, to clean up downtown.
Humble, caring, and supportive of classmates, the college, and the community, Thurman believes in living a life of service to others. “Life isn’t all about you,” he says. “It’s about your contributions and helping others.”
Thurman will spend the next two years completing clinical rotations at Via Christi Health System in Wichita, Kan.