Sparks Osteopathic Foundation Scholars

Six ATSU-KCOM students were selected to receive the Sparks Osteopathic Foundation scholarship. The $2,500 award is given each year to students enrolled at ATSU-KCOM from the state of Texas. This year’s recipients are Asif Ali, OMS III; Ernest Wong, OMS III; John Thurman, OMS IV; John (Drew) Payne, OMS III; Cesar Cereijo, OMS IV; and Christine Gavino, OMS III.

The award is funded by the East Town Osteopathic Foundation of Dallas, Texas, which was established by ATSU-KCOM alums Samuel Sparks, D.O., ’25 and his wife, Marille Sparks, D.O., ’25. Drs. Sparks were instrumental in establishing osteopathic medicine in Texas. The couple moved to Dallas in 1931 and established the first osteopathic college in the Lone Star state, the Sparks Clinic and Hospital. In 1938, the doctors opened another Sparks Clinic, which became the Dallas Osteopathic Hospital in 1949. The pair was also instrumental in establishing the East Town Osteopathic Hospital. Known for their generous support of ATSU-KCOM during their lifetimes, both received honorary doctor of science in osteopathy degrees from ASTU-KCOM in 1979.