President’s Perspective – August 2013
Posted: August 5, 2013
Perspective No. 6 – Meeting our mission
With each new graduating class, ATSU is making a statement. Since 1892 we’ve proclaimed a new paradigm in healthcare. Our students are learning it. Our graduates have earned it. Our alumni are experiencing it—and continuing to shape it. In celebration of our newest healthcare professionals (à la SHM and ASHS), let’s together make a statement that our nation’s healthcare system cannot ignore—our mission statement:
A.T. Still University of Health Sciences serves as a learning-centered university dedicated to preparing highly competent professionals through innovative academic programs with a commitment to continue its osteopathic heritage and focus on whole person healthcare, scholarship, community health, interprofessional education, diversity, and underserved populations.
We must remind ourselves daily of our mission, keeping the goal in sight. After all, it is a statement worth making.
Welcome, new Board of Trustees members
Each of us can be proud of the commitment and dedication demonstrated by our board members. Every 90 days, on average, our 18-member board leaves their work, families, and homes to offer guidance and shoulder the responsibilities of governing ATSU. This work is done without compensation and at their expense.
The board met in Newport, R.I., on July 26-27 to conduct its quarterly meeting, including selecting new members and appointing officers. The board welcomed five new trustees, ushering in a new era of diversity and opportunity. Please help me welcome new members:
- Lisette Dottavio, PhD, CPA, Stephenville, Texas, is a senior tax accountant with Boucher Morgan & Young, working with corporate clients, high-wealth individuals, and non-profit organizations on tax compliance, planning, and business growth.
- Tisha Kice-Briggs, DDS, Kirksville, Mo., is a partner with Kirksville Dental Group and has practiced dentistry in private practice for 11 years. She is also a trustee on the Missouri Dental Association Board.
- Paulina Vazquez Morris, JD, MBA, MHSA, Phoenix, Ariz., has a distinguished career in both public service and private industry. Most recently she sought election to the United States Congress in Arizona’s 3rd Congressional District. Prior to her campaign, she served as deputy director and general counsel for the Arizona Department of Administration.
- Ann Thielke, RN, JD, Houston, Texas, is senior vice president, general counsel, compliance officer, and corporate secretary of VHA Inc., previously serving as vice president and general counsel with St. Luke’s Episcopal Health System in Houston.
- Gary Wiltz, MD, Franklin, La., is chief executive officer of Teche Action Clinic and chair-elect of the National Association of Community Health Centers. Teche Action Clinic is frequently referred to as the model for the state, and possibly the nation, for delivery of healthcare in a community health center setting.
Board members also honored Paul A. Lines, DDS, MS, for completing nine years of service—the maximum board term. Thank you, and congratulations, Dr. Lines, for being a steadfast supporter and contributor to ATSU.
Thanks also to Clyde H. Evans, PhD, for his two years of service as board chair. Thankfully, he will be around for several more years as a board member.
G. Scott Drew, DO, FAOCD, ’87, will serve as incoming chair; James Cannon, DHA, PA-C, MS, ’97, as vice chair; and Dorothy M. Munch, DO, ’85, as secretary. Congratulations.
Members named to serve on the Audit Team include: Robert W. Uhl, chair, of Paradise Valley, Ariz.; Stanley E. Grogg, DO, FACOP, FAAP, ’71, of Tulsa, Okla.; and James Cannon, DHA, PA-C, MS, ’97, of Chesapeake, Va.
These members will also continue their service on the board: Manuel C. Bedoya, DMD, Tucson, Ariz.; Daniel L. Biery, DO, FACOI, FACG, FASGE, ’72, Phelps, N.Y.; Reid W. Butler, JD, Phoenix, Ariz.; Chester W. Douglass, DMD, PhD, MPH, Newton, Mass.; Clyde H. Evans, PhD, Needham, Mass.; Robert L. King, JD, Lexington, Ky.; Isaac R. Navarro, DMD, ’08, Visalia, Calif.; and Ronald W. Winkler, Kirksville, Mo.
Faculty and staff will have several opportunities to meet new board members during gatherings on both campuses, Oct. 24-26 in Kirksville and January 2014 in Mesa.
Upcoming board meeting: Founder’s Day, Oct. 25-26, in Kirksville, Mo.
Strategic Plan focus 2013-14
Scholarly activity and research, learning-centered education, and University Advancement are areas of focus for the 2013-14 academic year.
Across academia, funding of scholarly activity and research has undergone, and will continue to undergo, tremendous change. ATSU has an opportunity to redefine and refine an appropriate plan for its size, mission, and vision.
Learning-centered education is integral to both ATSU’s mission statement and strategic plan. How do faculty, schools, and programs define and value this concept? How can the ATSU community better support this? These are questions to explore and answer together during the next year.
Moving from a “tuition driven” to a “mission driven” university will not be easy. ATSU’s board is committed to supporting advancement efforts and developing new revenue sources across both campuses, including new programs. Faculty and staff will be encouraged to offer ideas and participate in an “advancement culture change” through a series of discussions and initiatives facilitated by University Advancement.
Building upon 2012-13 faculty and staff input, continuing support of IPE, diversity, and the Center for Teaching and Learning will remain institutional priorities.
Graduations
SHM commencement was held Saturday, July 13, in Baldwin Auditorium on the Truman State University campus in Kirksville. A total of 63 graduates received degrees, including master of health administration (nine), master of public health (13), master of public health – dental emphasis (26), and doctor of health education (15). A total of 17 graduates walked the stage. Seven students were inducted into the Upsilon Phi Delta honor society, while six students, one alumnus, one faculty member, and one honorary member were inducted into the Alpha Tau Sigma Upsilon honor society. The keynote speaker was Janice Probst, PhD, director, South Carolina Rural Health Research Center, University of South Carolina. Dr. Probst received an honorary doctor of humane letters degree.
SHM graduates and faculty following commencement
On Friday, Aug. 2, ASHS held its summer commencement ceremonies for online and residential students at the Phoenix Convention Center in Phoenix. Graduates received degrees in human movement, occupational therapy, advanced physician assistant studies, audiology, doctor of health sciences, and physical therapy. A total of 132 online and 193 residential students earned ATSU degrees. Winnie Dunn, PhD, OTR, FAOTA, professor and chair, occupational therapy education, University of Kansas, was the keynote speaker at both ceremonies. Dr. Dunn received an honorary doctor of humane letters degree.
Degree candidates at ASHS graduation
I sincerely thank all ATSU faculty, staff, and commencement volunteers who helped make these events successful and memorable.
White coat ceremonies
Summertime has been filled with white coat ceremonies on both campuses. A total of 483 students have earned white coats, including 62 DPTs (ASHS class of 2014), 64 PAs (ASHS class of 2015), 280 DOs (108 in SOMA’s class of 2017 and 172 in KCOM’s class of 2017), and 76 DMDs (ASDOH class of 2017). ASHS’ DPT and PA, as well as SOMA and ASDOH’s, white coat ceremonies were held July 15 at the Mesa Arts Center. KCOM’s ceremony was July 13 at Truman State University. Congratulations to all our students who have taken this symbolic step in their professions.
Steil, OMS I, and family at SOMA’s White Coat Ceremony
Faculty and staff accomplishments (as of July 31, 2013)
Congratulations on recent promotions:
- Donald Altman, DDS, DHSc, MPH, MBA, MA, dean, SHM
- Kerry Anderson, lead dental assistant, ASDOH
- Brittany Beeler, payroll clerk/scanner, human resources, ATSU
- Jonathan Brennan, MD, DMD, MPH, dental informatics director and assistant professor, ASDOH
- Lloyd Cleaver, DO, assistant vice president, continuing education, ATSU
- Gary Cloud, PhD, vice president-strategic university partnerships, ATSU
- Roger Cooper, DDS, PhD, MEd, director, periodontics, ASDOH
- Wayne Cottam, DMD, MS, associate professor, ASDOH
- Michael Cramberg, lab manager, surgery, KCOM
- Jay Crutchfield, MD, FACS, anatomy chair, SOMA
- Elizabeth Curran, CDT, DT, associate professor, ASDOH
- Rachel Diamant, PhD, OTR/L, BCP, professor/director, occupational therapy, ASHS
- Keith Elmslie, PhD, professor, pharmacology, KCOM
- Monica Fernandez, PA-C, virtual CHC continuity & educational specialist and assistant professor, SOMA
- John Heick, PT, DPT, associate professor, physical therapy, ASHS
- Laura Hendricks, RDH, MEd, non-surgical periodontal director and assistant professor, ASDOH
- Mara Hover, DO, community medicine associate chair, clinical education CHCs director, and associate professor, SOMA
- Heather Johnson, RDH, MEd, coordinator/instructor, dentistry in the community, ASDOH
- Jonathon Kirsch, DO, OPP/OMM chair, SOMA
- Peter Kondrashov, PhD, professor, anatomy, KCOM
- Joy Lewis, DO, PhD, FACP, associate professor, SOMA
- Timothy Lukavsky, DDS, assistant director, special care, and assistant professor, ASDOH
- George Magnus, CDA, MPH, radiology tech/instructor, ASDOH
- Kathleen Mathieson, PhD, CIP, associate professor, doctor of health sciences, ASHS
- Kathleen Moralez, special care senior dental assistant, ASDOH
- Edward Moticka, PhD, basic medical science education chair and microbiology professor, SOMA
- Sharon Obadia, DO, faculty development director and assistant professor, SOMA
- Michelle Gross-Panico, DHSc, RDH, MA, dentistry in the community director and assistant professor, ASDOH
- Candy Phillips, records coordinator, registrar, ATSU
- Lorree Ratto, PhD, medical simulation & standardized patients director, medical humanities & healthcare leadership chair, and assistant professor, SOMA
- Randy Rogers, CFP®, interim vice president, university advancement, ATSU
- Wesley Ryle, MD, assistant professor and residency supervisor, KCOM
- Leslie Schmeltz, AuD, associate professor, audiology, ASHS
- Lisa Watts, DO, associate professor, SOMA
- O.T. Wendel, PhD, senior vice president-strategic university initiatives, ATSU
- Gene Winfield, DO, clinical science education chair and associate professor, SOMA
- Janet Woldt, PhD, associate professor, ASDOH
Kudos on these accomplishments:
- Thomas Bennett, DO, director, SOMA, represents SOMA on the University Faculty Senate.
- Denice Curtis, DDS, DHSc, MPH, adjunct faculty, SHM, was honored as Instructor of the Year by the University of Liverpool (United Kingdom), where she also teaches in the MPH program.
- Helen Ewing, DHSc, RN, director and associate professor, ASHS, was awarded the 2013 ASHS Alumni Board Living Legacy Award.
- Jaana Gold, DDS, PhD, assistant professor, SHM, is on the editorial board of the Journal of Research and Development and has been invited to be the editor of a special issue.
- Kay Kalousek, DO, MS, AAHIVS, FACOFP, dean, SOMA, ranked as a top-10 candidate in The Arizona Republic’s 2013 Who’s Who in Business nominations.
- Kenneth Lam, ScD, ATC, interdisciplinary sciences assistant professor, ASHS, received the ASHS Scholar of the Year Award.
- Melanie McAuley, DHEd, MA, ’13, curriculum & assessment analyst, academic affairs, KCOM, graduated with her doctor of health education from SHM on July 13.
- Warren McDonald, PhD, associate professor, SHM, was appointed to the Southern Regional Area Health Education Center board of trustees for a three-year term.
- Tamara Valovich McLeod, PhD, ATC, athletic training professor, ASHS, received the ASHS Distinguished Service of the Year Award.
- Jae Hyun Park, DMD, MSD, MS, PhD, director, postgraduate orthodontic program, ASDOH, was appointed an editor for the Journal of Investigative Dental Sciences.
- Sarah Spencer, MPH, ’13, associate director-admissions, SHM, graduated with her master of public health from SHM on July 13.
- Ann Eshenaur Spolarich, RDH, PhD, adjunct professor and course director of clinical medicine and pharmacology, ASDOH, and adjunct clinical instructor and course director of pharmacology, Audiology program, ASHS, received the Charlotte J. Sullivan Award given by the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine.
- Andrew Then, facilities manager, Arizona campus, received the 2013 Distinguished Service Award.
- William Woods, DDS, director, ASDOH, was appointed to the Arizona Board of Dental Examiners.
- ASHS faculty Eric Sauers, PhD, ATC, interdisciplinary sciences chair; Tamara Valovich McLeod, PhD, ATC, athletic training professor; Kenneth Lam, ScD, ATC, interdisciplinary sciences assistant professor; and Alison Valier, PhD, ATC, athletic training associate professor, received the Clint Thompson Outstanding Clinical Practice Advancement Manuscript Award from the Journal of Athletic Training.
Well wishes to faculty and staff celebrating anniversary milestones:
25-year anniversary
- Tammy Kriegshauser, MBA, assistant dean, clinical educational affairs, KCOM
15-year anniversary
- Tracey Lantz, MBA, assistant director, SHM
10-year anniversary
L. James Bell, DDS, vice dean, ASDOH
5-year anniversary
- Bart Anderson, MS, ATC, assistant professor, athletic training, ASHS
- Kellie Bliven, PhD, ATC, associate professor, human movement, ASHS
- Lee Bonnell, academic success coordinator, SHM
- Lynn Daniels, MA, program development specialist, sponsored programs
- Michele Fiore, senior administrative assistant, ASDOH
- Colleen Halupa, EdD, assistant professor, SHM
- J. Hamblin, DHSc, MPA, clinic coordinator, physician assistant, ASHS
- John Heick, PT, DPT, associate professor, physical therapy, ASHS
- Andrew Kottwitz, instructional designer, SHM
- Dawn Lende, manager, ASDOH
- Scott Myers, DMD, director, ASDOH
- Candy Phillips, records coordinator, registrar’s office, ATSU
- Kelly Richardson, academic technology specialist, academic technologies, ATSU
ATSU supports fitness
Following Missouri Governor Jeremiah W. (Jay) Nixon’s ATSU visit July 18, I was fortunate to join him as a guest at a press event to promote the Governor’s 100 Missouri Miles Challenge at Thousand Hills State Park in Kirksville and hike more than one mile through the park. If you are interested in the Governor’s 100 Missouri Miles Challenge, you may find more information and sign up at www.100missourimiles.com.
In Arizona, a fitness initiative is moving forward through the Arizona Osteopathic Medical Association. ATSU will have an opportunity to participate through contributing ideas and best practices for a healthier Arizona.
Remember—ATSU promotes and rewards healthy lifestyle choices and fitness through employee incentive programs. Contact Human Resources for more information.
Dr. Phelps (left) supports Gov. Nixon as he promotes the Governor’s 100 Missouri Miles Challenge
Missouri School of Dentistry & Oral Health update
The Missouri campus’ Interprofessional Education and Dental School (IPEDS) building is complete and will host a sneak preview for donors Aug. 16. The grand opening is planned for Oct. 24. Be on the lookout for an email summarizing accreditation recommendations Aug. 8-9.
IPEDS
Wishing everyone a successful, rewarding academic year
As we begin the 2013-14 academic year at ATSU, thank you to all who make this a wonderful place to work and learn.
Yours in service,
Craig M. Phelps, DO
President