ATSU-KCOM alumna named Family Physician of the Year, Outstanding Female Leader
A.T. Still University-Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine alumna Priscilla Tu, DO, FAAFP, FAOASM, FAAMA, FACOFP, dipABLM, ’05, of Roanoke, Virginia, was named Family Physician of the Year by the Virginia Academy of Family Physicians in July 2024 and selected for the Outstanding Female Leader Award by the American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians (ACOFP) in 2025.
Dr. Tu serves as an associate professor for Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine, and associate program director and director of osteopathic education for Virginia Tech Carilion Family Medicine Residency Program. She also serves as associate professor and regional director of student medical education for Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine.
She is the immediate past president of the American Osteopathic Academy of Sports Medicine, chair of the Procedural Committee for ACOFP, and a team physician for USA Volleyball.
Dear ATSU students, faculty, and staff,
It is my pleasure to announce the appointment of Gaylah Sublette, MBA, as president of A.T. Still University’s Missouri campus, effective July 1, 2025. Ms. Sublette has served as interim president since July 1, 2024, and was selected following a national search that drew a highly competitive pool of candidates.
Throughout the search process, ATSU received valuable feedback from students, faculty, staff, and administrators who served on the search team and participated in open forums. Your thoughtful input helped inform the final decision and reaffirmed Ms. Sublette’s strengths in leadership, collaboration, and commitment to the University’s mission.
Ms. Sublette brings 38 years of leadership experience and deep institutional knowledge to this role. Since joining ATSU in 1987, she has played a key part in the University’s transformation from a single-school institution to a thriving university with seven schools and more than 40 health professions programs offered across three campuses and online. Her collaborative efforts have significantly advanced ATSU’s presence in research, grants, and scholarly activity, securing over $100 million in external funding and building a centralized sponsored programs team capable of managing up to 100 active awards annually.
In her dual role as interim president and vice chancellor of research & grants, Ms. Sublette has provided executive leadership for the Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine, the Missouri School of Dentistry & Oral Health and St. Louis Dental Center, and the College of Graduate Health Studies, while also overseeing University-wide research and grant initiatives.
A graduate of Truman State University and William Woods University, Ms. Sublette’s leadership extends beyond ATSU. She serves as chair of the Board of Directors for Mark Twain Behavioral Health, is a member of the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine’s (AACOM) Assembly of Presidents, and previously served as national vice chair of AACOM’s Council of Research. Among her many honors are ATSU’s Distinguished Service Award and the Thousand Hills Rotary Club’s Professional of the Year for Health Care.
Please join me in congratulating Ms. Sublette on this well-deserved appointment. Her vision, servant leadership, integrity, and dedication to ATSU’s mission will serve her well as she leads the Missouri campus into its next chapter.
Yours in service,
Craig M. Phelps, DO, ’84 Chancellor
The Arizona Osteopathic Medical Association (AOMA) has named A.T. Still University-School of Osteopathic Medicine in Arizona (ATSU-SOMA) faculty member and alumna Breanne Jaqua, DO, MPH, ’17, as the recipient of this year’s Outstanding Mentor Award, an honor presented to physicians who make a significant difference in the lives of students and colleagues through mentorship.
Dr. Jaqua, a faculty mentor and advisor to the Student Government Association at ATSU-SOMA, was nominated by numerous colleagues and medical students for her tireless dedication and leadership. Since assuming her advisory role in 2020, Dr. Jaqua has played a key part in revitalizing student life and activities following the challenges of the pandemic. She is credited with fostering a culture of leadership, collaboration, and advocacy among SOMA’s student body.
Her responsibilities include advising SGA councils, committees, and the executive board, as well as overseeing the organization’s annual budget and offering strategic guidance on financial matters. Dr. Jaqua also extends her mentorship beyond campus, guiding student leaders at national gatherings such as the American Osteopathic Association House of Delegates, and encouraging their involvement in the broader osteopathic community.
Among her many initiatives, Dr. Jaqua launched the inaugural ATSU-SOMA Student Research Symposium, creating new opportunities for academic engagement. She is also known for her support of students pursuing careers in emergency medicine, offering both professional guidance and personal encouragement.
Earlier this year, Dr. Jaqua was recognized as ATSU’s 2024 Faculty Advisor of the Year. Her unwavering commitment, generosity, and positive influence have left a lasting impact on students, earning her widespread respect and the AOMA’s Outstanding Mentor Award for 2024.
The kits were delivered to CALM for distribution to their clients in Santa Maria, California. CALM is a community-based mental health agency with a mission to prevent childhood trauma, heal children and families, and build resilient communities throughout Santa Barbara County.
Kits were carefully assembled with age-appropriate items for CALM clients ranging from infants to teens, and each one includes a handwritten card of encouragement from the ATSU-CHC student who assembled it.
The kits are a direct way for the students at ATSU to spread joy, promote connection, and encourage creativity and play for CALM clients during the less structured summer months. CALM clinicians will distribute the kits directly to their clients in Santa Maria to enjoy throughout the season.
“These kits are more than just fun summer activities. They’re a reminder to our clients that they are seen, supported, and cared for,” said Shelby McLean, development manager at CALM. “We are so grateful to the students and faculty at A.T. Still University for their compassion, creativity, and commitment to our community’s wellbeing.”
Peter VanBeurden, Chidalu Mbonu, Wilson NiuMichelle YuKainat Khan, Noureen Gowani, Professor NashKristinicole Gingras and Karina Delatorre
A.T. Still University-College of Graduate Health Studies (ATSU-CGHS) Master of Public Health program alumna Jacqueline Miller, DDS, MS, MPH, ’22, a retired orthodontist and former Dental Director for the State of Missouri, has been named the 2024 Missouri Dental Association (MDA) Dentist of the Year Award winner. She was honored at the Association’s annual awards banquet hosted during its House of Delegates meeting at Margaritaville Lake Resort, June 21, 2025.
The Dentist of the Year Award recognizes a member dentist who has demonstrated outstanding service to the Association, to the profession of dentistry, and/or to the community in the past year.
Dr. Miller served as State Dental Director in the Office of Dental Health (ODH) for the state of Missouri from August 1, 2022, to July 31, 2024. She accomplished a great deal on behalf of the oral health of the public as well as the profession during her time in the role. She actively engaged with Missouri dentists, and with organized dentistry, and was part of a key group to create the curriculum and training processes for the Oral Preventive Assistant pilot program, a type of expanded function dental auxiliary to help provide increased access to dental care.
During her time at ODH, she was instrumental in pursuing other efforts related to workforce development. This includes partnering with high schools in Pike/Lincoln and St. Charles counties to offer dental assistant training, as well as developing a project to use teledentistry as a method for dentists to supervise hygienists and assistants in nursing homes and other under-served, high-risk populations including veterans. Her leadership and collaboration with MO HealthNet (Missouri Medicaid) was also significant to expand coverage of dental services.
As evidence of her dedication to her community, her profession and the oral health of the public, Dr. Miller went back to school to complete a Master of Public Health in 2022 from A.T. Still University’s College of Graduate Health Studies. As Missouri State Dental Director, Dr. Miller secured a very competitive Centers for Disease Control grant, as well as numerous other grants and initiatives to promote dental health across the state of Missouri.
Currently, she is an Orthodontic Curriculum Consultant for Kansas City University, Joplin, Mo., responsible for developing and teaching orthodontic curriculum to undergraduate dental students. She provided orthodontic care in the communities of Washington, Union and Sullivan for 30 years.
Outside of past and current work, Dr. Miller regularly gives back to her community and beyond. She is a founding member of the Washington Overseas Medical and Dental Mission which has been taking place since 1992. She has been Vice President for 32 years, packing and coordinating 32 dental mission trips, and participating in country on 26 dental and construction mission trips as of 2024. She authored numerous grants funded through community organizations to fund this work.
She is active in various community efforts including Washington Rotary Club, Dental Screenings and Presentations at area schools, volunteering at the Pregnancy Assistance Center and more.
In addition to the MDA and ADA, Dr. Miller is a member of the Greater St. Louis Dental Society and American Association of Orthodontists. She is a Fellow of the International College of Dentists and American College of Dentists, as well as a Diplomate of the American Board of Orthodontists.
In addition to completing her MPH degree in 2022, in 1991 she graduated from the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Dentistry and in 1993, completed her Master of Science and Certificate in Orthodontics from the University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Dentistry. Dr. Miller and her husband, Timothy Huber, reside in Union, Mo., and have five children.
ATSU faculty, staff, and students,
Juneteenth commemorates the end of slavery in Galveston, Texas, more than two years after President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863.
In observance of this significant milestone in our nation’s history, ATSU offices and patient care centers in Kirksville, Missouri; Mesa, Arizona; Santa Maria, California; and St. Louis, Missouri, will be closed on Thursday, June 19, 2025. Facility access will be limited. The Kirksville Thompson Campus Center will also be closed.
To view library hours at each location, please click here.
*Close the Belong365 box, click on the blue calendar tile, and select Juneteenth.
Serving underserved communities is something deeply personal for Reddy.
“As the child of an immigrant family, I have seen firsthand the challenges people face in accessing adequate healthcare in third-world countries. I was drawn to a school that not only recognizes those struggles but also actively works to address them,” she said. “Now that I’m here, I can genuinely say the school lives up to that mission – it creates a space where all students have equal opportunities. Even though I might be considered a minority as a 21 year old from an immigrant background, ATSU has created a sense of belonging.”
Reddy is from Eden Prairie, Minnesota, and has a bachelor’s of science in psychology from University of Minnesota. She said she’s appreciative of the community she’s become a part of at ATSU-CHC.
“It’s truly become a home away from home. The friendships I’ve made here are so special, and our cohort has shared some amazing experiences together. From beach bonfires and exploring San Luis Obispo, to group fitness classes and weekend adventures, there’s always something fun to do and great people to do it with. There’s a strong sense of support here, too. If you’re ever struggling, there’s always someone ready to lift you up. It’s a place where you can find both connection and balance.”
Reddy is social media chair and historian with ATSU-CHC’s Student Government Association, and also serves as a student ambassador.
“I have always been drawn to leadership roles and creative opportunities, so joining Student Government felt like a natural fit. It has given me the chance to stay connected to my creative side while also representing the student body and contributing to the ATSU community. I really enjoy being part of a team that works to support and uplift our peers, all while finding fun and meaningful ways to enhance the student experience,” she said.
“I became a student ambassador because I’ve always enjoyed helping high school and college students prepare for PA school, and this role gave me the chance to continue doing that specifically for those interested in ATSU-CHC. I am a big believer in sharing any knowledge or experience that might help someone else succeed. I know how overwhelming the process can feel, and I love being able to support others who are now in the same position I was in just a couple years ago.”
Reddy said she’s continued to prioritize health and wellness during PA school and has found an extended community through local gyms, which has helped her stay grounded. She also enjoys the culture and climate on the Central Coast.
“I’ve always been a big foodie, whether it’s cooking at home or exploring new restaurants, and that hasn’t changed since moving here,” she said. “Being from Minnesota, I’ve especially appreciated the chance to enjoy the outdoors year-round and spend time at the local beaches – something I know I’ll definitely miss!”
But Reddy’s main purpose is preparing to become a PA who truly listens to her patients and incorporates their unique backgrounds and experiences into their care. ATSU-CHC is preparing her for that future.
“ATSU-CHC’s focus on serving the underserved and its emphasis on understanding patients from diverse origins, cultures, and beliefs is preparing us to be compassionate and culturally competent providers,” Reddy said. “On a deeper level, I want to make my family proud by fulfilling a dream we’ve shared for years – returning to villages in India to serve at a free clinic. The foundation I’m building at ATSU-CHC is what’s making that goal feel within reach.”
The magazine worked with the Robert Graham Center, a division of the American Academy of Family Physicians, as the data provider, and ranked medical schools by the percentage of each school’s 2016-18 graduates practicing direct patient care in primary care fields. The rankings include all osteopathic (DO) and allopathic (MD) medical schools.
“We are honored ATSU-KCOM ranked No. 1 in producing physicians for rural America, because access to whole person healthcare matters to our nation’s remote and often underserved populations,” said Gaylah Sublette, MBA, interim president of ATSU’s Missouri campus. “This particular ranking is an accurate reflection of our University’s mission.”
“I am so pleased ATSU-SOMA has been recognized and ranked No. 1 for medical schools with the most graduates practicing in primary care,” ATSU-SOMA Dean Sharon Obadia, DO, FNAOME, ’97, said. “I am incredibly proud to share in this impressive distinction with our ATSU-SOMA alumni, faculty, staff, community partners, and students as a testament to our thriving mission fulfillment.”
“This meets our mission and values to have graduates who serve in communities that need them most,” said ATSU-KCOM Dean Margaret Wilson, DO, ’82. “This long-standing commitment to producing primary care physicians for all underserved areas of need truly makes an impact on healthcare for the country. We are proud of our graduates and the lasting effect our school has made.”
Data shows 47.9% of those ATSU-SOMA graduates practicing in primary care. The report also found nearly 31% of ATSU-SOMA graduates are practicing in medically underserved areas.
“I am confident that each of our graduates will go forth as compassionate osteopathic physicians and healthcare leaders who extend the healing touch of human kindness to our nation’s patients and communities most in need,” Dr. Obadia said.
Terry Nordstrom, PT, EdD, FAPTA, emeritus professor, Department of Physical Therapy, Samuel Merritt University, delivered the commencement address.
At each ceremony, Danielle Barnett-Trapp, DO, ’11, member, Board of Trustees, welcomed guests and graduates, and ATSU-ASHS Dean Ann Lee Burch, PT, EdD, MS, MPH, ATSU Chancellor Craig M. Phelps, DO, ’84, and O.T. Wendel, PhD, president, ATSU Arizona & California campuses, also delivered remarks.
Watch the full ceremony and check out more photos below!
Dear ATSU faculty and staff,
It is with deep sadness I share with you the passing of George Blue Spruce Jr., DDS, MPH, assistant dean for American Indian Affairs at ATSU’s Arizona School of Dentistry & Oral Health.
Dr. Blue Spruce, the first American Indian to graduate from a U.S. dental school, joined ATSU in 2005 and served the University for 20 years. A tireless advocate for American Indian and Alaska Native students, he advanced countless educational and health equity initiatives while mentoring generations of healthcare professionals.
Dr. Blue Spruce’s distinguished career included over 30 years of service in the U.S. Public Health Service and Navy, founding of the Society of American Indian Dentists, and recognition from national and international institutions. In November 2024, ATSU honored his legacy by proclaiming November 19 as Dr. George Blue Spruce Jr. Day.
We are grateful for his enduring contributions to ATSU and beyond. His vision, leadership, and compassion will continue to inspire generations to come.
On behalf of the entire ATSU family, we extend our deepest condolences to the Blue Spruce family, as well as to Dr. Blue Spruce’s friends and colleagues, during this difficult time.
Information regarding Dr. Blue Spruce’s services will be shared as soon as it becomes available.
