VCOM 2025 Annual Report

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Jan. 1, 2025, through Dec. 31, 2025 Extramural Funding VCOM Research Projects Auburn Campus Kari Dugger, PhD Carolinas Campus Joel Atance, PhD

Alexis Stoner, PhD, MPH Delta Dental: Utilizing Primary Care Physicians to Improve Oral Cancer Screenings in Underserved Populations. Dr. Stoner is the Program Director of this grant project and Lisa Caroll, MD and Jaime Foushee, PharmD are also involved. South Carolina Department of Health and Human Services: Mobile Medical Unit: Infrastructure Support to Improve Access to Quality Medical Care in Rural and Medically Underserved Areas. Matthew Cannon, DO, co-directs, and other faculty and staff involved are Lisa Carroll, MD; Jeff Cashman, DO; Doralyn Jones, DO; and Delores Muro. Tammy Whaley The Spartanburg County Foundation and another South Carolina private foundation: 3D Printing in Medical Education: Shaping Tomorrow’s Doctors. Tom Lindsey, DO, oversees the use of this equipment. Louisiana Campus Stephen DiGuiseppe, PhD American Osteopathic Association: A Molecular Approach to Examining the Immune Stimulatory Impact of Lymphatic Pump Technique. Dr. DiGiuseppe is the PI and Rebekah Morrow, PhD; Christopher Clark, DO; Lin Kang, PhD; and Kasia Michalak, MS are investigators. Ray Morrison, DO Living Well Foundation: Mobile Medical Unit Storage and Disaster Use Facility. This award funds climate-controlled storage and flexible meeting space for mobile medical units, clinical, and disaster response use, and is administered by Dr. Morrison. State of Louisiana, Ouachita Parish Police Jury: Mobile Medical Units. Dr. Morrison oversees this program, which is administered by Leann Bond. Funding from ARPA supported the acquisition of the mobile units.

American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine (AACOM): Empowering a Relational Professional Identity Among Medical Students to Increase Under-Represented in Medicine (URiM) Applicants. Mayra Rodriguez, PhD, MPH and Ellen Wilson, MED are investigators. Melanie Hyte, PharmD Robert D. and Patricia E. Kern Family Foundation: Fulfilling the Promise of Leadership for Character and Caring in Medicine Toward Flourishing. Dr. Hyte serves as the PI on this research, and Kari Dugger, PhD is an investigator. I decided to devote my life to helping citizens of southwest Virginia receive the adequate healthcare that they deserve. Ultimately, I decided to attend VCOM because of its commitment to preparing physicians to practice in rural areas. As a lifelong resident of Giles County, Virginia, I want to return to my community to practice medicine.” Caleb Clemons ’26 VCOM Virginia, The Cornwell-Thomas Medical Endowed Scholarship

Bosch Community Fund: VCOM-Carolinas Summer Enrichment Experience (SEE). Dr. Atance serves as the program director of this grant. Matthew Cannon, DO South Carolina Department of Health and Human Services: Mobile Medical Unit: Infrastructure Support to Improve Access to Quality Medical Care in Rural and Medically Underserved Areas. Alexis Stoner, PhD, co directs this program with Dr. Cannon. Other faculty and staff involved are Lisa Carroll, MD; Jeff Cashman, DO; Doralyn Jones, DO; and Delores Muro. Lisa Carroll, MD The Mary Black Foundation: Acquisition of a Visual Screening Device. Dr. Carroll oversees the operation and logistics of this program, which is run in partnership with St. Matthews Episcopal Church Free Clinic. Jeff Cashman, DO USDA Emergency Rural Health Care Grant Track One: Recovery Grant: VCOM Mobile Medical Outreach to Rural Spartanburg and Cherokee Counties. Dr. Cashman serves as the Program Director for this grant. Lisa Carroll, MD; Doralyn Jones, DO; Alexis Stoner, PhD; Dolores Muro; and David Redden, PhD (VCOM Auburn) work on this project, along with partners St. Luke’s Free Medical Clinic of Spartanburg County, the Free Medical Clinic of Cherokee County, and the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control. Tom Lindsey, DO The Spartanburg County Foundation and another South Carolina private foundation: 3D Printing in Medical Education: Shaping Tomorrow’s Doctors. Dr. Lindsey manages the equipment operations, and Tammy Whaley assists in programmatic administration.

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