Kirksville Osteopathic Alumni Association presents awards at 2025 banquet event
Posted: December 29, 2025
As part of Founder’s Day celebrations in October, the Kirksville Osteopathic Alumni Association (KOAA) presented several annual awards to recognize alumni and friends.
2025 Alumna of the Year
Karen Steele, DO, ’78, has built an extraordinary career devoted to the advancement of osteopathic medicine, with a particular passion for osteopathic manipulative medicine (OMM). A proud graduate of ATSU-KCOM, Dr. Steele began her career in family medicine before discovering her true calling in OMM. In 1986, she left her family medicine practice to complete an OMM residency, marking the beginning of a lifelong dedication to the field.
Following her residency, Dr. Steele joined the faculty at ATSU-KCOM, where she served for many years as chair of the OMM department. Her influence extended well beyond Kirksville, Missouri. She played a pivotal role at the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine as associate dean for osteopathic medical education – a groundbreaking role at the time – where she led efforts to integrate osteopathic principles and practice (OPP) throughout the curriculum.
Dr. Steele has a rich and diverse professional background, including advanced, self-initiated training with Richard H. Still, DO, great-grandson of A.T. Still, DO, founder of osteopathic medicine. This mentorship deepened her commitment to the roots and philosophy of the profession.
A respected author and educator, Dr. Steele co-authored “The Pocket Manual of OMT,” a widely used reference for students and practitioners of OMM. Her research and scholarly articles, particularly focused on the use of OMM in treating otitis media, have been published in the Journal of the American Osteopathic Association and the American Academy of Osteopathy Journal.
Among her many trailblazing achievements, Dr. Steele became the first doctor of osteopathic medicine granted practice rights in South Africa, where she traveled to educate local physicians in the use of osteopathic techniques for treating ear infections in children.
In 2012, Dr. Steele transitioned from academic medicine to open a private practice focused on providing osteopathic care to children. She remains a powerful inspiration to students and colleagues alike, especially women in osteopathic medicine, admired for her leadership, mentorship, and unwavering dedication to the profession.
Living Tribute Award
Brian F. Degenhardt, DO, serves as assistant vice chancellor for osteopathic research at ATSU and is a distinguished f igure in osteopathic medicine and osteopathic manipulative medicine (OMM). His pivotal roles include director of the Center for Research in Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine and director of DO-Touch.NET, both housed within A.T. Still Research Institute. Additionally, Dr. Degenhardt holds the prestigious Osteopathic Heritage Foundation Endowed Chair for Research in Osteopathic Diagnostic and Therapeutic Palpation.
Beginning with his bachelor of science degree in biology from St. Bonaventure University, Dr. Degenhardt’s academic journey led him to earning his doctor of osteopathic medicine degree from the University of Health Sciences (Des Moines University) College of Osteopathic Medicine and Surgery, a rotating internship at Grandview Hospital in Dayton, Ohio, and a residency at Northeast Regional Medical Center. Joining ATSU-KCOM in 1993, his career progressed swiftly, taking on roles from lecturer and lab trainer to course director, co-chair of the College curriculum committee, co-director of the OMM and OMM+1 residency program, and ultimately, chair of the OMM department.
Dr. Degenhardt’s passion for OMM research became a driving force early in his career. He advocated for the development of clinical research at ATSUKCOM, which became an institutional priority. Alongside John Heard, PhD, and Gaylah Sublette, MBA, Dr. Degenhardt proposed establishing A.T. Still Research Institute, which was founded in 2001. Since that time, he has been instrumental in the institute’s success and has championed clinical research across the University. Aiming to provide an evidence-based foundation for osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT), Dr. Degenhardt’s work delves into OMT efficacy and mechanisms. He is dedicated to improving reliability and standardization of osteopathic diagnosis and treatment through studies on palpatory test consistency, landmark accuracy, and objective measurement tools. A cornerstone of his contributions is the development of DO-Touch.Net, a practice-based research network crucial for conducting real-world observational studies on OMT outcomes.
Distinguished Service Awards
Dean Maag
Dean Maag has been a cornerstone of innovation and progress at ATSU since joining ATSU-KCOM in 1998. Beginning his career as a video production specialist and audiovisual hardware technician in the Multimedia department, Maag quickly distinguished himself with his technical expertise and forwardthinking approach to educational technology.
In 2008, Maag was named manager of the newly formed ATSU Academic Technologies team. Under his leadership, the department expanded its support to include the Mesa, Arizona, campus and ATSU’s growing online education presence. As technology rapidly evolved, so did the scope and sophistication of Academic Technologies. Today, the department plays a vital role in livestreaming all ATSU events, developing and deploying 3D modeling and printing capabilities, and integrating advanced tools, including virtual reality, augmented reality, and artificial intelligence, into the academic environment.
Maag’s ability to anticipate and adapt to technological change has been instrumental in supporting the University’s mission to deliver high-quality, innovative education. With ATSU’s continued expansion, including new campuses, community health centers, and clinical sites, Maag and his team have risen to meet the growing demands for equipment, instruction, and technical support across the institution.
Respected for his leadership and dedication, Maag is known not only for advancing ATSU’s technological capabilities but also for building collaborative, service-oriented teams, ensuring faculty, staff, and students have the tools they need to succeed in a modern learning environment.
He is honored to be recognized among this year’s award recipients and remains committed to empowering the future of education through innovation.
Bertha Thomas
Bertha Thomas has been a staunch, long-term supporter of ATSU. She has an unwavering belief in its mission, which is to prepare highly competent healthcare professionals through its innovative curriculum to bring whole person healthcare to underserved populations. During her years as assistant dean for multicultural affairs at Truman State University (1999-2014) and as Truman’s diversity and inclusion consultant in 2020, she relished her many opportunities to partner with ATSU on various initiatives connecting Truman students interested in healthcare fields with ATSU faculty, administrators, and student mentors.
In 2010, Thomas was awarded the Still Spirit Award, which recognizes members of the community who personify the community-giving spirit of ATSU’s founder, A.T. Still, DO.
Since the establishment of ATSU’s Diversity department in 2013, Thomas has been involved in several of ATSU’s fundraising and grant-funded partnerships, cultural proficiency programs, Martin Luther King Jr. celebrations, and mentoring programs.
Thomas insists that her service for nine years (2015-24) as a member of the ATSU Board of Trustees and as the board secretary for two of those years was “the honor of a lifetime.” She remains immensely proud of being part of the governance team, which supports the essential and laudable work performed every day by ATSU’s faculty, staff, students, and community stakeholders.
KOAA Honorary Membership Award
Roxana Ionas
Roxana Ionas, MD, FAAP, is a dedicated pediatrician with nearly two decades of experience serving and teaching in an underserved rural community. Since 2006, she has provided comprehensive pediatric care at Northeast Missouri Health Council in Kirksville, Missouri, while also teaching at ATSU and precepting medical students, interns, and residents at Northeast Regional Medical Center.
Dr. Ionas is deeply committed to improving child health through direct patient care, mentoring future physicians, and leading community and professional education initiatives. Her work reflects a longstanding dedication to equitable care, medical education, and health advocacy in northeast Missouri.
Dr. Ionas was the recipient of The Master Teacher award in 2011 and honored as the 2010 Primary Care Practitioner of the Year at Northeast Regional Medical Center. Through her work, Dr. Ionas continues to impact the College and community in a multitude of meaningful ways that are consistent with everything ATSU-KCOM stands for.
Jennifer Sargentini
Jennifer Sargentini and her late husband, Neil J. Sargentini, PhD, have supported ATSU since moving to Kirksville, Missouri, in 1991 through gifts of friendship, service, and financial contributions. Dr. Neil was a dedicated member of the ATSU faculty for more than 26 years, with his tenure culminating in service as chair of the Microbiology/Immunology department. Dr. Neil and Jennifer established and later endowed the Paul M. Sargentini Memorial Scholarship benefitting students at ATSU-KCOM in 2005 in memory of their son, Paul M. Sargentini. Paul tragically passed away on Sept. 15, 2001, at the age of 26 after a year-long battle with cancer and infections associated with cancer therapy.
Jennifer’s generous charitable support has continued as she more recently established and funded the Neil Sargentini, PhD, Student Research Growth Fund at ATSU-KCOM in 2023. This fund memorializes Dr. Neil, who was passionate about teaching, research, and mentoring his students. Honoring those passions, the purpose of this endowment fund is to support the surging number of ATSU-KCOM student research projects, related research supply costs, and student research/scholarly publication costs and to subsidize student travel to present research/scholarly outcomes. Jennifer returned to Kirksville and ATSU-KCOM as the featured donor for the April 2025 Bridge Builder Break-Time where she shared her compelling story of charitable giving and long-term commitment to the University. Her story serves as an example for others as ATSU strives to build a stronger culture of philanthropy within the University community by fostering connections between students and those who support ATSU’s mission.
Jennifer now resides in Glen Carbon, Illinois, with her son Michael and his family. From her long-term meaningful engagement in the Kirksville community to her dedication to honoring the legacy of her family, Jennifer continues to embody the philosophy of charitable giving as an investment in the future – a way to empower others to dream bigger, achieve more, and make a lasting impact.
2024 Alumnus of the Year
Michael R. Jaff, DO, ’85, is chief medical officer and vice president of clinical affairs, technology, and innovation at Boston Scientific Corporation. A former professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School, Dr. Jaff was the president of Newton-Wellesley Hospital from October 2016-December 2019.
Prior to that, Dr. Jaff was the inaugural Paul and Phyllis Fireman Endowed Chair of Vascular Medicine and medical director of the Fireman Vascular Center at Massachusetts General Hospital. He is an expert in all aspects of vascular medicine, including peripheral artery disease, venous thromboembolic disease, aneurysmal diseases, and all diagnostic strategies in vascular medicine.
Dr. Jaff is the founder of VasCore, the Vascular Ultrasound Core Laboratory, the largest of its kind in the U.S. VasCore has participated in trial design and independent analysis of vascular laboratory images for over 200 prospective multicenter peripheral vascular device and pharmaceutical trials across 66 countries.
With over 325 peer-reviewed publications and 10 textbooks, Dr. Jaff has published extensively in the field of vascular medicine. He is the past president of the Society for Vascular Medicine and Biology and is recognized as the first physician to receive the Master of the Society for Vascular Medicine designation. He is a registered physician in vascular interpretation and fellow of the American College of Physicians, American College of Cardiology, American Heart Association, and Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Intervention. In November 2011, Dr. Jaff became an alumnus of Harvard Business School after completing the General Management program.
Dr. Jaff is a stalwart advocate for ATSU-KCOM, osteopathic medicine, and its value in the realm of healthcare. He represents ATSU-KCOM around the world professionally and is proud of his osteopathic foundation.
(Dr. Jaff was unable to attend the 2024 ceremony due to professional commitments, and was honored at the 2025 event.)