VCOM - Auburn 2018 Yearbook

ACOP American College of Osteopathic Pediatricians

Ashley Klein, President; Rachel Levine, Vice President; Jane Roddam, Secretary; Jordan Boggs, Treasurer; Rian Anglin, MD, Faculty Advisor

T he VCOM Chapter of the American College of Osteopathic Pediatricians (ACOP) promotes awareness and understanding of pediatric medicine within the college and community. The organization provides members numerous opportunities to interact with children, including work with local schools to promote healthy living and general awareness of the medical profession. ACOP members had a very fun-filled and successful year! Members began this year with wide eyes, eager minds and open hearts. They attempted to approach each moment with a childlike energy to make the VCOM-Auburn chapter outstanding. The club’s primary, ongoing events include the Nourish Basket delivery and the Dyslexia Dash. Nourish Alabama is a non-profit organization that the club’s pediatric chair started with her associates. It began with an idea to dedicate a closet in their practice to canned goods for patient families that were in need (Closet to End Hunger). With the help of a local farm, her associates and a few others, Nourish Alabama was founded in Fall of 2016. Nourish Alabama’s plan is to provide

fresh, local fruits, vegetables, jams and cooking supplies to families in the community that face food insecurities on a daily basis. The organization has reached a point where it can deliver a food basket to two families in the community weekly. It has provided a great opportunity for students to make a presence in the community and to let them know that we are here to help and here to stay. The Dyslexia Dash was an amazing community event hosted by a learning center in the heart of Auburn. The event is held to raise money for their facility, and help raise awareness for kids that have dyslexia. An impressive number of students turned out, which helped to boost the attendance to almost twice that of previous years. Students who did not participate in the run conducted activities to help entertain the kids. This included painting faces and putting on washable tattoos. This year the theme was “Do-Nut Give Up.” ACOP members also volunteered in Miracle League and Awesome Goals. Miracle League is an event that is held every Saturday for five weeks in spring that allows children and young adults with

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