White coats have been worn for more than 100 years by physicians, and this formal ceremony recognizes students for reaching a milestone in their professional education. Characteristic of this ceremony is publicly swearing an oath acknowledging the students’ responsibility to their new profession and future patients.
Dean Sharon Obadia, DO, FNAOME, ’97, welcomed students and introduced the stage party, which included keynote speaker and alumna Alice Chen, DO, ’14, assistant professor, family medicine and public health, University of California San Diego School of Medicine.
View more photos below and watch the full ceremony here.
The White Coat Ceremony is a symbol of a student’s dedication to becoming a compassionate, competent healthcare professional. Characteristic of this ceremony is publicly swearing an oath acknowledging the students’ responsibility to their new profession and future patients.
Brittney Hulsey, DMSc, PA-C, ’15, program director and associate professor, welcomed the audience, followed by opening remarks from Ann Lee Burch, PT, EdD, MS, MPH, dean, ATSU-ASHS. Raven Williams, MPH, MSPAS, PA-C, ’20, maternal health program director, OB-GYN PA, Delta Health Center, delivered the keynote address.
Watch the full ceremony here, and check out more photos below.
A.T. Still University’s Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine (ATSU-KCOM), the founding school of osteopathic medicine, celebrated the class of 2029 with a White Coat Ceremony on Saturday, July 12, 2025, at Truman State University’s Baldwin Hall in Kirksville, Missouri. One-hundred-seventy students received their white coats.
White coats have been worn for more than 100 years by physicians, and this formal ceremony recognizes students for reaching a milestone in their professional education, symbolizing and commemorating their commitment and responsibility to their chosen profession and future patients.
Kristin Blunk, MBA, assistant dean, academic affairs, presented the class of 2029, followed by Margaret Wilson, DO, ’82, dean and professor, ATSU-KCOM, who provided the introduction. Opening remarks were delivered by Gaylah Sublette, MBA, president, Missouri campus, and ATSU Chancellor Craig M. Phelps, DO, ’84, provided closing remarks.
Jeff Rudman, OMS II, president, class of 2028, transferred the symbolic key for the cabin of A.T. Still, DO, to class of 2029 member Hannah Martin, OMS I. The key is a symbol of the University’s heritage and of the commitment current students have to supporting members of the incoming class.
Watch the full ceremony here, and check out more photos below!
Additionally, the School welcomed 10 students who are members of the Advanced Standing International Dentist program, designed for internationally educated dentists who desire to earn their doctor of dental medicine (DMD) degree for practice in the U.S.
Donald S. Altman, DDS, DHSc, EdD, ’12, interim dean, welcomed students, their family, and friends to the ceremony, followed by opening remarks by Gaylah Sublette, MBA, president, Missouri campus. ATSU Chancellor Craig M. Phelps, DO, ’84, delivered closing remarks.
Lauren Bitar, D2, president of the class of 2028, transferred the symbolic key for the cabin of A.T. Still, DO, to Brittany MacNeill, D1, of the class of 2029. The key is a symbol of the University’s heritage and of the commitment current students have to supporting members of the incoming class.
View more photos below and watch the full ceremony here.
The White Coat Ceremony marks the students’ entrance into the health professions, and symbolizes their commitment to the obligations of their new profession. Characteristic of this ceremony is publicly swearing an oath acknowledging the students’ responsibility to their new profession and future patients.
ATSU-ASDOH Dean Desmond Gallagher, BDS, MA, FACD, welcomed students, their families, and friends to the ceremony, followed by opening remarks from Akshani Patel, D4, ATSU-ASDOH class of 2026 president, and Nafys Samandari, DDS, Arizona Dental Association president. Erin Maruska, DMD, MPH, FAGD, assistant professor, delivered the keynote address.
Check out more photos below and watch the full ceremony here.
This award recognizes a current, active member of ArSHA in memory of Marilyn Quintana Moline, past president of ArSHA. As the state’s professional association for speech, language, and hearing professionals, ArSHA works to empower Arizona’s audiologists and speech-language pathologists through advocacy, leadership, and professional development. Dr. Venkatesh was honored at the annual ArSHA Convention in April 2025.
Dr. Venkatesh is a member of the Professional Development Committee of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association’s (ASHA) Special Interest Group 15 (Gerontology) and serves as its professional development manager. She is also the interim vice president for public relations of the South Asian Caucus of ASHA and the 2027 Annual Convention co-chair-elect of ArSHA.
A message from our University library director, Hal Bright:
Despite the Arizona heat, July is my favorite month of the academic year because of all of the excitement and newfound energy from students and staff. New students lend a fresh set of eyes on learning. Returning students have a sense of confidence from the past year of learning. Faculty and staff are anxious and excited at the same time for the rewards and challenges of a new class and new year.
The last quarter has been exciting for the library. We tested and deployed a new interface for Still OneSearch and explored many topics as we guided several students and faculty through their research projects. We partnered with ITS for a well-attended AI Show-and-Share series highlighting AI use cases across the University; this series will continue over the fall. Look for more topics this fall! We also partnered with ATSU-KCOM and the Diversity department to provide health literacy outreach to the community at each of our campuses.
In May, the library staff attended the annual Medical Library Association conference where we presented on OMM research resources, staff retention, how AI affects contracting language and AI tool use in health sciences libraries.
Kudos to Maud Mundava, Leslie Golamb, Julia Peters, and Dot Winslow for their successful and well received posters and papers.
The library also made exciting additions to its physical spaces. Check out our AZ, CA, and MO campus updates for details. With the new budget year, we have been able to add several resources. We added several databases from the McGraw-Hill publishers in April. MSKforPCPs focuses on musculoskeletal point of care education and care. Scopus added an AI research assistant. And, again, Still OneSearch has added a cleaner user interface with improved functionality.
Welcome back and here’s to an amazing 2025-2026.
Best, Hal Bright
It has been amazing to see the library full of students at all hours of the day, busy working together and individually. Students in discussion, using the whiteboards and device chargers, checking out textbook reserves, and listening to lectures while taking notes at our mobile desks and on the couches – this is what the library is made for.
We have made several changes in the physical space of the library we are excited about. We limited study cubicles to the back of the library and expanded the table group study while adding three more adjustable standing desks. In the back of the library, we finished our chair replacement program and increased the number of second monitors we have available to students to use. If you are headed to Palm, go down the hall and look in the media room where our new 3D printer is up and running almost 24/7. We will have recarpeted the back half of the space as well.
Phew, that makes me tired just reading it!
As we go forward into the Fall, we look forward to replacing our well-loved, motley study tables. We are piloting a Cura corner with fidget devices this Fall; it was mobbed and we will be restocking it on a slower basis to make it sustainable.
Thank you to all the schools and programs for inviting us to your orientations, it seems the students heard our message.
We look forward to serving our ASDOH, ASHS and SOMA partners as well as our other support departments. If you have an idea for improving the library or our services, please let us know.
Hal Bright, ATSU-ASDOH Liaison Librarian Leslie Golamb, ATSU-ASHS and ATSU-SOMA Liaison Librarian Laura Barkema, ATSU-ASHS Liaison Librarian Mohammad Aslam, Electronic Resources Librarian Marimar Murillo, Library Assistant
California Campus Library Updates
In addition to the new furniture and layout of the library, the California branch of the library has also welcomed new models, added with the input from the ATSU-CCPA faculty. We also hosted the ever popular snack break in the library, with pop tarts, coffee, and cutie oranges.
Hal Bright, ATSU-CCPA Liaison Librarian Dot Winslow, Library Assistant
Welcoming New and Returning Students: A Strong Start to the Semester A new semester brings fresh energy to campus, and this year, we’re excited to welcome new faculty, staff, and students, while also reconnecting with returning members of our University-wide family.
The library team has been actively engaging across campus to ensure everyone feels supported from day one. Here are a few highlights:
Information Fair: We kicked off the semester by participating in the campus-wide Information Fair, where we met incoming biomedical, dental, and KCOM students. Our welcome table offered key resources, answered common questions, and introduced students to the wide range of library services available to help them thrive.
Library Open House: The Library also hosted an Open House for KCOM and MOSDOH students. Students and their families explored library spaces, met our team, and learned about the tools and support we offer. It was a great opportunity for both new and returning community members to connect with us and discover how we can support their academic journey.
New Additions at the Library to Kick Off the Semester! We’ve added 2 more treadmill desks, bringing our total to four, to help you stay active while you study or work. Additionally, a new interactive computer panel (TV screen) has been installed in the main floor group study room, offering a more dynamic and collaborative space for group projects and presentations. Stop by to check out these new additions, and remember: we are here to support your success and well-being.
Leisure Reading and Whole-Person Wellness: Take a break and recharge! The library offers leisure reading, from fiction and nonfiction to magazines. Find a cozy spot, pick up a good book, and enjoy a moment of relaxation. For more, stop by or explore our whole person and leisure reading guide.
Meet Your Library Staff: We’re here to help! Whether you need research assistance, help accessing resources, or just a friendly face in a quiet space, the library team is ready to support you.
Layla Kayed – Access Services Specialist: Layla is one of the first people you’ll see during the evenings and weekends at the library. She’s here to assist with checking out materials, navigating library spaces, and answering your general questions. Join us in giving Layla, a warm welcome to the library.
Do you need a study model but aren’t sure where to start? The library can help!
We have 3D printers available on both the Missouri and Arizona campuses, and offer a wide selection of educational models, or you can submit your own. We accept STL and OBJ files. You’ll also find resources for locating models, our printing policies, and more on our website: 3D Printing Services.
We print for students and faculty across all three campuses, the St. Louis clinic, and students on rotation. Last year alone, we printed over 10,000 models! Printing is free for students. Special requests from faculty or departments are done on a case-by-case basis.
