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, EdD, MBA, assistant dean, academic affairs, presented the class of 2030, followed by Margaret Wilson, DO, ’82, dean and professor, ATSU-KCOM, and Cooper Doolin, OMS II, president, class of 2029, who provided introductions. Opening remarks were also delivered by Gaylah Sublette, MBA, president, Missouri campus.
Doolin and Dr. Blunk participated in the key transfer ceremony, presenting the symbolic key for the cabin of A.T. Still, DO, to Alexandra Kliethermes, OMS I, of the class of 2030. The key is a symbol of the University’s heritage, and also of the commitment current students have to supporting members of the incoming class.
Watch the full ceremony and check out more photos below!
A New Year, New Opportunities
A new academic year brings new opportunities to learn, discover, and thrive, and we are here to support you every step of the way. As we welcome our newest medical and dental students and reconnect with returning students, faculty, and staff, we’re excited to offer the resources, expertise, and services you need to succeed.
From expert research support and scholarly resources to quiet study spaces, workshops, and personalized consultations, the library is more than a place to study, it’s your partner in learning, teaching, research, and clinical excellence. Explore what’s new this fall and discover how we’re helping our campus community achieve more.
✓ Follow the library on social media for updates and events.
✓ Don’t wait until finals week to ask for help, we’re here year-round!
Making Connections: Information Fair 2026
The library team was pleased to participate in this year’s Information Fair, where we had the opportunity to meet incoming students and introduce them to the many services and resources available through the library.
From research support and study spaces to technology lending and evidence-based practice resources, our goal was to ensure students begin their academic journey with confidence and know where to turn when they need assistance.
Open House Reflections
Our recent Library Open House welcomed students, faculty, and staff from both KCOM and MOSDOH. Visitors toured library spaces, met library staff, explored available resources, and learned how the library supports teaching, learning, research, and clinical practice.
The event provided a wonderful opportunity to connect with our campus community and showcase both familiar and new services available throughout the year.
Innovation Spotlight: 3D Printing in Healthcare Education
Students and faculty can utilize 3D printing technology to support coursework, research projects, educational models, and creative problem-solving. As healthcare education continues to evolve, these tools provide exciting opportunities to enhance learning through hands-on experiences.
Did You Know?
Anatomical models can support visual learning.
Faculty can explore innovative teaching applications.
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. The keynote address was given by Joel Olmstead, MS, PA-C, and Guillermo Flores, PA, ’27, president, Kettle Society, led students in the physician assistant oath.
Check out more photos and view the full ceremony 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.
The White Coat Ceremony is a ritual practiced by many groups in the healing professions. It symbolizes the students’ 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.
Kneka P. Smith, EdD, MPH, ’19, dean, and Ali Mohammad, D2, president, class of 2029, welcomed guests to the ceremony. Mohammad was joined by Brooke Robinson, MPA, director of Student Success, in transferring the symbolic key for the cabin of A.T. Still, DO, to Evelyn Durkee, D1, of the class of 2030. The key is a symbol of the University’s heritage and of the commitment current students have to supporting members of the incoming class.
Gaylah Sublette, MBA, president, Missouri campus, delivered the closing remarks.
Check out more photos and view the full ceremony below.
Whether you are an old hat at scoping or systematic reviews or dipping your toes into evidence synthesis with your first review, the Library is here to partner with you every step of the way.
To better serve our campus community, we have streamlined our research assistance processes and clarified our service models. If you are interested in collaborating with us or utilizing any of our research support services, simply complete our Research Assistance and Review Consultation Form, and one of our liaison librarians will reach out to get your project started.
Tailored Service Tiers
We recognize that different projects require different levels of library involvement. To meet these varied needs, the Library offers three distinct tiers of service:
Tier 1: Guidance Ideal for teams looking for expert advice while maintaining full hands-on control. Librarians provide education on methodologies (such as systematic or scoping reviews), help refine research topics, recommend databases, suggest edits to search strategies, and teach tools like Covidence. Librarians also review final methods sections and PRISMA diagrams.
Tier 2: Education with Co-Author A collaborative model balancing instruction and direct library support. Librarians co-create protocols, collaborate on search strategies, share database translation tasks, and teach search methods. Librarians also help write the search strategy and methods sections of protocols and manuscripts.
Tier 3: Co-Author A comprehensive partnership model. The library team assists with IRB processes (if applicable), and librarians fully develop, translate, and execute search strategies across all syntax environments and grey literature. Librarians export results into review software, locate and upload all full-text articles, and write the complete search strategy and methods sections for protocols and manuscripts.
Note for all tiers: Librarians assist with identifying journals within vendor agreements and offer tools for publication selection. For data visualization and paper editing, faculty-led teams are referred to Research Support.
Customized Workflows: Faculty/Staff vs. Students To ensure everyone receives the appropriate level of instruction and assistance, our workflows differ depending on whether the project is student-led or faculty/staff-led.
Faculty & Staff Workflow
Faculty and staff projects have access to Tiers 1, 2, and 3.
Initial Consult: The librarian meets with your team to discuss the project, clarify tier options, align expectations with review types, evaluate your research topic/question, and set a project timeline.
Team Meetings: Teams participate in 2 to 6 meetings (for Tiers 1 and 3) or 2 to 8 meetings (for Tier 2). These sessions review project stages, refine questions, build strategies, and guide tool usage (e.g., citation managers and Covidence).
Writing & Publication: Librarians assist with writing methods sections, review PRISMA diagrams, and verify journal vendor agreements
Student Workflow
To support student learning and skill development, students are offered Tier 1 services.
Initial Consult: The librarian guides students through choosing the correct review type, evaluating their research question, outlining timelines, and explaining the Tier 1 learning model.
Team Meetings: Across 2 to 6 scheduled meetings, the librarian reviews project stages, explains necessary revisions, demonstrates how to locate full-text articles, and introduces essential software tools.
Writing & Publications: Students write their own reviews and are encouraged to utilize the University Writing Center for edits. Librarians assist by checking vendor journal agreements, reviewing methods and PRISMA diagrams, and educating students on finding author guidelines and sample reviews.
Ready to Start Your Project?
We are excited to help elevate your research! If you’re not sure where to start, please view our Research Hub for information about the types of reviews we can assist with. To request support or schedule an initial consultation, please fill out the Research Assistance and Review Consultation Form, and a liaison librarian will be in touch.
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. During the ceremony, 164 students were cloaked by faculty members with their first white coats as osteopathic medical students.
Dean Sharon Obadia, DO, FNAOME, ’97, welcomed students and introduced the stage party, which included keynote speaker and alumnus Evan Morris, DO, ’16, attending physician, Mayo Clinic Hospital Internal Medicine. Melchiorra Mangiaracina, DO, assistant professor, Osteopathic Principles & Practice, led the students in the osteopathic pledge of commitment.
Watch the full ceremony and check out more photos below!
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, which was followed by a performance of the National Anthem by Mai-Ly Duong, DMD, MPH, MAEd, ’12, associate professor. Anthony Caputo, DDS, adjunct faculty, AzDA President, delivered this year’s keynote address, and Lindsey Springer, DMD, MPH, MAS, ’12, assistant professor, led students in the oath to the profession.
Check out more photos and view the full ceremony below.
This prestigious award recognizes a member who has demonstrated outstanding service to the Association, the profession of dentistry, and/or the community in the past year. Dr. Silva was honored at the Association’s annual awards banquet hosted during its House of Delegates meeting on June 27, 2026.
Selected for his exceptional service to the dental profession, Dr. Silva founded the ATSU-MOSDOH Smile for Veterans program, which provides no-cost extractions and dentures to veterans throughout Missouri. Under his leadership, underserved rural and urban veterans, primarily from St. Louis and southeastern Missouri, are receiving much needed care.
Additionally, Dr. Silva oversees procedures performed by ATSU-MOSDOH students, faculty, and graduates at the Smiles of Hope Dental Clinic in Dexter, Missouri. Last year, close to 700 patients were screened and triaged, with treatment plans developed through Dr. Silva.
Prior to joining ATSU-MOSDOH, Dr. Silva served in general practice for 38 years and was the co-founder of Chesterfield Dental Associates in Chesterfield, Missouri. He also serves as a national instructor, assessor, and administrator for the United States Soccer Federation.
The team consisted of first-year students Morgan Bienias, PA, ’27, Diane Nguyen, PA, ’27, and Savanna Vasquez, PA, ’27, second-year students Peter-John Van Beurden, PA, ’26, and Kristinicole Gingras, PA, ’26, and CCPA faculty members Jacqualine Dancy, MPAS, PA-C, associate professor, Joy Henderson, DMSc, MMS, PA-C, assistant professor, Melissa Day, DMSc, PA-C, associate professor, and Jennifer Harrington, DMSc, PA-C, DFAAPA, professor, chair, and director, along with a pre-PA student and a translation liaison.
“We delivered whole person healthcare by providing care to the body, mind, and spirit of vulnerable villagers with compassion, humility and curiosity,” Dancy said.
The first day was spent serving residents of a local nursing home. Over the following three days, the team provided care in a different village surrounding Jalapa each day, reaching patients who otherwise have little access to healthcare.
“We saw every patient who wanted care,” Dancy added. “We did not turn away anyone.”
While our library staff loves working with you directly, we know that you aren’t just studying during regular business hours. For those late nights or weekends when our team isn’t available to answer your questions in real-time, we have you covered with our Library FAQs. This 24/7 self-service knowledge base is packed with instant answers to your most common questions, from troubleshooting remote access and navigating a specific database to finding articles, journals, and ebooks.
Many of our FAQ responses point you directly to our extensive collection of library guides, which offer deep dives into specialized topics, citation help, and even tailored program toolkits to support your specific field of study. If you ever find yourself stuck or can’t quite find what you are looking for, the platform allows you to “Submit a question” directly. This can be found on the right of the FAQ main page under “Contact Us”. Even if we would like it to be, we know the Library FAQ is not fully comprehensive, so who knows, your question may even end up as a new or future “Library FAQ”!
Alternatively, you can always click the “Ask a Librarian” button located right below the FAQ link on our homepage to get personalized assistance from our team.
Bookmark the FAQ page today so you always have a digital help desk ready when you are!
