First held in 2015, E.A.R. Day was organized by ATSU-ASHS alumna Lisa Bell, AuD, ’16, after Bell received a HEAR (Humanitarian, Education, and Awareness Resources) grant from the National Student Academy of Audiology (SAA).
This year’s activities included laser tag, face painting, bracelet making, Halloween-themed games, bingo, an “Exploding Monsters” activity hosted by Speech-Language Pathology program students. ATSU-School of Osteopathic Medicine in Arizona (ATSU-SOMA) students facilitated Spikeball and cornhole, while the Pediatrics (PEDS) Club hosted a Teddy Bear Clinic and Sports Medicine Club students organized ring toss.
“One of the most rewarding parts of this experience was seeing the smiles on the children’s faces and watching families come together to enjoy the activities,” said Elaine Swecker, ’28, this year’s E.A.R. Day chair.
“As a future audiologist, I believe our role goes beyond providing hearing healthcare. It is also about advocating for accessibility, building relationships, and creating an inclusive environment where individuals who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing and their families feel supported and connected,” she added.
Additionally, Christy Abrams, a hard of hearing specialist with the Arizona Commission for the Deaf and the Hard of Hearing, joined the event as a guest presenter, sharing information and resources to support parents and families navigating hearing loss.
Check out more photos below!
On Veterans Day, we pause to honor the men and women who have served or are currently serving in our nation’s military. A.T. Still University is proud to have students, faculty, staff, alumni, and friends who have dedicated themselves to serving our country.
We are grateful for their courage, dedication, and sacrifice, and we honor the contributions they have made to our nation and our communities. Thank you for your service.
Dr. Shearon received the Dorothy McCutcheon Lifetime Service award. This award recognizes occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants with 30 or more years of professional experience who have demonstrated excellence in practice, education, or research; leadership within ArizOTA; significant contributions to the association’s development; or leadership in public awareness and client advocacy.
Dr. Wolf was honored with the Lorna Jean King Distinguished Achievement award, which recognizes occupational therapy professionals who work to advance the development of fellow practitioners, benefit consumers of occupational therapy, and demonstrate community leadership and client advocacy.
Dr. Wolf was nominated in recognition of her research on postpartum sleep, breastfeeding, and maternal well-being, highlighting the role of occupational therapy in supporting maternal health and advocating for improved policies that benefit mothers and babies.
Dr. Shearon with Alison De la Montaigne, OTR/L, EdD, president, Arizona Occupational Therapy Association.
A.T. Still University’s Mesa, Arizona, campus celebrated Founder’s Day on Thursday, Oct. 29, 2026, where students, staff, and faculty enjoyed a dunk tank, petting zoo, games, food, a raffle, and more with the ATSU community.
Founder’s Day began as a simple memorial service held each fall by colleagues to honor the life and legacy of ATSU’s founder, A.T. Still. It was decided a similar event would occur annually on the anniversary of his passing. Over the century, Founder’s Day has evolved into a celebration of our founder and the rich history of healthcare, education, and correlated scholarly activity he began.
Dr. Attiq took the oath of office during the recent AzDA House of Delegates session. In his new role, he will help facilitate discussions and support productive debate on issues affecting the dental profession in Arizona.
The Rising Star Award came as a surprise to Dr. Attiq and was presented by AzDA President and ATSU-ASDOH adjunct faculty member Anthony Caputo, DDS.
“This honor is especially meaningful because it continues a years-long journey with my mentor and dear friend, Dr. Caputo, whom I have worked alongside since my student days at ATSU-ASDOH and now as a practicing dentist,” Dr. Attiq said. “Receiving the Rising Star Award confirmed that I am doing what I ought to do in the field of dentistry: serving our communities, advocating for the advancement of oral health, and educating the future generation of dentists/leaders.”
On the Kirksville Campus, exciting changes are coming and fun events have been happening this fall. Read on to learn more about the goings-on at the Missouri campus library.
Big Moves Coming for the 3D Lab
We have outgrown our original 3D lab space and we are thrilled to announce that we are moving to a bigger space in January 2027. The 3D lab will be moved downstairs to accommodate additional equipment and workspace for all your 3D design and printing requests. Did you know last year, you requested more than 10,600 study and research models?
Stay tuned for future updates as we upgrade our space!
Fall Scavenger Hunt
September 5-9, the library hosted a Fall Scavenger Hunt. Students hunted through the library for hidden fall leaves and answered the trivia questions written on them to win a prize.
Congratulations to Morgan Fletcher (MOSDOH), our first prize winner! Thanks to everyone who participated.
Midcontinental Medical Library Association Annual Meeting
On October 1, the library hosted the Midcontinental Chapter of the Medical Library Association (MCMLA) annual virtual meeting, Spaces, Places and People in Health Sciences Libraries, connecting with colleagues from Missouri, Colorado ,Kansas, Nebraska, South Dakota, Utah, and Wyoming. The one-day event hosted presentations,lighting talks, panel discussions, and digital posters. A big thank you to all those who attended, and to Michael Shoop, and Tim Johnson, ATSU academic technology/ITS, for keeping up running and recording the event, and the co-hosts: Peter Johnson, Tina Drew, and Debra Loguda-Summers.
Candy-Guessing for National Medical Librarians Month
To celebrate October being National Medical Librarians Month, the library went with the other major October theme of Halloween and offered a candy-guessing game. The winner, Jodi Moy (MOSDOH), won all of the candy used in the guessing game, which filled two large ziplock bags! Congratulations to Jodi and a big thank you to all who participated.
Fall Break
ATSU Fall Break is coming soon! Please look for emails and signage for the library hours during this time.
We’re excited to announce several new and updated library guides and tutorials designed to make your academic journey smoother and more successful! We have a few guides and tutorials focused on data management, a brand new guide on case studies, while also fully updating our Writing & Publication Hub. Read more below!
New Guide
Case Studies This library guide gives a clear, practical rundown of how case study research works, breaking it down into three main areas:
What a Case Study Actually Is: Covers the basics of what case studies do—specifically, how they zoom in on real-life subjects (like a person, business, or event) using tools like interviews and documents to tackle “how” and “why” questions.
What It’s Not (and Key Differences): Clears up common misconceptions by explaining what case studies don’t do—like proving cause-and-effect or serving as broad surveys. It also spells out the difference between a clinical case report (which focuses on a single patient’s medical care) and a case study (which looks at bigger systems, policies, and real-world issues).
The Step-by-Step Process: Walks through the four main stages of carrying one out: setting your research goal, picking your subject, reviewing the existing literature, and digging into the data to draw insights.
Updated Guides
Case Reports This library guide offers a practical breakdown of case reports in medical research, organizing the material into three main areas:
Scope and Limitations: Explains that a case report is a quick, observational account tracking a single patient (or two) to share novel diagnoses or unique treatment outcomes—while clarifying that it isn’t a formal experiment, broad statistical study, or proof of a general cure.
Case Report vs. Case Series: Highlights the distinction between a single-patient profile and a case series (which tracks a group of patients on similar treatments), noting that including more than three patients crosses into formal research requiring IRB approval.
Creation & Publishing Guidance: Walks through the essential steps to write a case report (from getting patient consent to following CARE guidelines) and points out submission perks from the library for journals like BMJ Case Reports.
This updated guide is meant to be a starting point where you can access a multitude of our other guides focused on publication, writing, citation, and more.
Hub Purpose & Support Network: Serves as a central launchpad for academic writing and publishing, connecting users directly with liaison librarians, scholarly support services, and university partners like the Writing Center and Research Hub.
Core Writing & Integrity Resources: Provides quick access to foundational research and writing tools, including dedicated guides on scientific writing, proper citation formats, plagiarism, and copyright.
Publishing & Open Access Guidance: Navigates the publishing landscape by offering practical advice on manuscript submission, understanding open-access options, and expanding the reach of scholarly work.
Mastering the SciENcv Biosketch This tutorial guides researchers through managing their digital research identity and using the SciENcv platform to create agency-compliant biosketches with confidence. The tutorial demonstrates how to automate publication imports, generate certified biosketch documents, and simplify the preparation process for grant applications.
Mastering Research Data Management (RDM) and the NIH Data Management and Sharing Policy This tutorial provides a behind-the-scenes look at developing an effective Data Management and Sharing (DMS) Plan. Researchers will gain a clear understanding of each required plan element, learn how to apply them to NIH-funded projects, receive a hands-on demonstration of the DMPTool, and explore how the 2023 NIH DMS Plan aligns with the updated 2026 requirements.
October marked National Medical Librarians Month, centered on a theme that resonates deeply across health sciences education today: librarians are trusted experts in times of change. As the landscape of academic publishing and clinical scholarship evolves—highlighted by our recent celebrations of International Open Access Week—the ATSU Library team remains dedicated to steering our community through these shifts. Whether navigating new open-access publishing models or evaluating emerging educational technologies, our team continues to build proactive services and tailored resources that champion excellence in education, clinical training, and whole person health research.
A prime example of navigating change is our ongoing commitment to artificial intelligence literacy. Through an internal ATSU grant, our library staff has developed a comprehensive AI Literacy course designed specifically for students, offering critical frameworks for responsible, evidence-informed use of emerging tools. We encourage faculty and program directors to explore this course and consider integrating its modules into their curricula. Alongside this foundational coursework, our monthly AI Show and Share sessions provide a collaborative forum for exploring practical applications, such as programming custom AI assistants like Gemini Gems. Mark your calendars for November 12, when we will host our final interactive session of the fall semester.
While we actively embrace the future of health sciences information, we are equally committed to safeguarding our shared legacy. This season, we officially launched our Arizona Campus Community Archiving project to preserve the vibrant heritage of our Mesa community. Thanks to the generosity of faculty and staff, we have already gathered an array of photographs, historical bulletins, certificates, campus pamphlets, and personal mementos that tell our unique story. These contributions are being digitized and added to our institutional digital repository, ensuring that the foundations of ATSU’s Arizona campus remain accessible, celebrated, and preserved for generations to come. If you have anything to contribute, please email Deb Loguda-Summers (dsummers@atsu.edu) or Hal Bright (hbright@atsu.edu).
Best, Hal Bright ATSU Libraries
At A.T. Still University, whole person healthcare begins with how we care for ourselves, and the Mesa campus library is committed to supporting your body and mind throughout your academic journey. Balancing intensive study with physical activity is vital for sustained focus and long-term vitality.
To help integrate movement into your daily routine, visit the Ficus study room to try out our reading treadmill—a great way to keep your circulation going while reviewing lecture notes or literature. If you prefer to stay upright without the walking pace, five standing desks are situated throughout the library floor, giving you the ergonomic flexibility to alternate postures, relieve physical tension, and maintain high energy levels during long study sessions.
Nurturing the whole person also means recognizing when your mind needs a brief, intentional rest. Mental well-being is an essential component of osteopathic principles, and taking mindful cognitive pauses can dramatically improve retention and reduce burnout.
Our dedicated puzzle corner offers a restful mental reset, inviting you to step away from screens and collaborate on our community jigsaw puzzle between study blocks. If you prefer creative expression, browse our coloring collection to unwind with a coloring book and pencils. We encourage you to weave these wellness resources into your study habits, honoring the connection between body, mind, and spirit right here in the library.
Finally, spooky happenings took over the campus this fall, and we want to extend a huge congratulations to Angelina Sanchez (and Hal Bright) for guessing the exact number of candies in our jar and taking home the grand prize!
California Campus Library Updates
A.T. Still Memorial Library is thrilled to expand into its new home in San Luis Obispo. Highlights include 8 study rooms, an Anamotage Table, and balcony study space.
The library and student affairs bid a fond farewell to the CCPA2027 didactic year as they traversed their clinical orientation by providing the last snack break in the Santa Maria space.
