VCOM View Magazine Vol. 12 | No. 1

VCOM View M A G A Z I N E THE EDWARD VIA COLLEGE OF OSTEOPATHIC MEDICINE SPRING 2023 VOL. 12 l NO. 1

IN THIS ISSUE: Bringing Comfort and Hope 4 · A Flourishing Approach to Anatomy 8 Simulation are at the Center of a VCOM Education 12 · Resident of the Year 16 · Student Spotlights 18 · Research Review 24 · Alumni and Development 26 · News and Events 36

A Day in the Life of a VCOM Student Abby Tissier (left) and Charlotte Wollerman (right), from the VCOM-Auburn Class of 2025, brushed up on their skills in January at a Surgery Club Workshop, held on campus. Stations were set up in different parts of the building where students practiced airway management, stopping the bleed, casting and laparoscopic surgery.

Table of Contents

FEATURES 4 8

SECTIONS

Bringing Comfort and Hope The work VCOM does to bring health care to medically underserved populations doesn’t end at the border of the United States. Learn more about VCOM’s commitment to international outreach. VCOM-Auburn Anatomical Sciences Team Seeks to Invigorate Learning Process A group of all-new instructors in the VCOM-Auburn Anatomical Sciences Department proved to be an excellent opportunity to think creatively about how to engage student doctors in a critically important discipline. Simulations are at the Center of a VCOM Education VCOM-Carolina’s state-of-the-art Simulation Center helps prepare future osteopathic physicians for real-life scenarios with innovative hands-on learning experiences. Touchdown! Fremarek Named AAO Resident of the Year Dr. Nicole Fremarek’s childhood love of football led her to a career in medicine. Now’s she’s AAO’s 2023 Resident Physician of the year.

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From the President and Provost

Student Spotlights

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Powering Through Adversity

VCOM-Louisiana Students Show Determination and Excellence VCOM Recognizes its Student Doctors of theYear

24 VCOM Research Shows MapleWater May be an Exercise Super Beverage Research Alumni and Development

26 30 32 36 38 39 40

VCOM-Virginia Alumni Serve as Role Models to Future Physicians Recruiting the Next Generation

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Garnett Smith is Investigating in the Future of Health Care

News and Events

Partnership inVirginia Enhances Learning Opportunities for Physicians U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Appoints Timothy J. Kowalski to National Academic Affiliations Council Master of Health Science and Anesthesia Program to Launch in Summer 2023 VCOM Recognized for its Efforts to Increase Diversity in Healthcare

USNS Comfort

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Points of Contact

EXECUTIVE EDITOR Cindy Shepard Rawlins, Vice President for Communications, Marketing, Website and Publications EDITOR Amy Ostroth, Assistant Vice President for Communications COMMUNICATIONS TEAM Elijah Bailey, Director of Web Applications Scott Godwin, Auburn Director for Communications, Marketing and Publications Kailey Ketter, Auburn Communications and Graphic Design Lily Collins, Carolinas Director for Communications, Marketing and Publications James Nichols, Carolinas Communications and Graphic Design Desi Hammett, Louisiana Director for Communications, Marketing and Publications Bailey O’Quinn, Louisiana Communications and Graphic Design NormMiller, Virginia Director for Communications, Marketing and Publications Sarah Lunsford, Virginia Communications and Graphic Design Jenna Marquardt, Communications and Graphic Designer for Special Projects VCOM View magazine is a bi-annual publication produced by the Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine to keep its faculty, staff, friends and supporters informed of the most recent news, events and changes at the College. of rural and medically underserved populations and promote research to improve human health. ©2023 Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine. All rights reserved. Please see www.vcom.edu/outcomes for a copy of our Outcomes Reports. THE VCOMMISSION The mission of the Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine (VCOM) is to prepare globally-minded, community focused physicians to meet the needs CONTRIBUTORS Charles “Chase” Regian

Submit letters and editorial material to: Mail: VCOM View Magazine 2265 Kraft Drive Blacksburg, Virginia 24060 Email:

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news-auburn@vcom.edu news-carolinas@vcom.edu news-louisiana@vcom.edu news-virginia@vcom.edu Alumni News Email: alumni@vcom.edu

www. vcom. edu / i ntouch

Stay informed and engaged with all of the exciting things happening at VCOM. Be among the first to find out about VCOM news, events and more.

ON THE COVER: VCOM students helped out on the USNS Comfort. Learn more about VCOM’s commitment to international outreach on page 4. ABOVE: Emile Jeunesse, VCOM-Carolinas Class of 2024, provides care to some of the underserved in Honduras on the USNS Comfort, see page 20.

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A Note from the President and Provost

COLLEGE LEADERSHIP AND BOARDS

Supporting Our Communities

PRESIDENT & PROVOST Dixie Tooke-Rawlins, DO, FACOFP CAMPUS DEANS

AUBURN Heath Parker, DO LOUISIANA Mark Sanders, DO, JD, MPH, LLM, MS, FACOFP John G. Rocovich Jr., JD, LLM, Chair Dixie Tooke-Rawlins, DO, FACOFP, President and Provost Thomas R. Brock Jr., MBA Nick J. Bruno, PhD Jimmy Gibbs W. Bruce Hanks Roy E. Heaton, DO Heath Parker, DO, Dean John G. Rocovich Jr., JD, LLM, Chair Dixie Tooke-Rawlins, DO, FACOFP, President and Provost Mark Baker Martin J. Bonick Matthew D. Cannon, DO, Dean John G. Rocovich Jr., JD, LLM, Chair Dixie Tooke-Rawlins, DO, FACOFP, President and Provost Graham Adams, PhD Mark Sanders, DO, Dean John G. Rocovich Jr., JD, LLM, Chair Dixie Tooke-Rawlins, DO, FACOFP, President and Provost Ron Berry Nick J. Bruno, PhD Jan M. Willcox, DO, FACOFP, Dean John G. Rocovich Jr., JD, LLM, Chair Dixie Tooke-Rawlins, DO, FACOFP, President and Provost Thomas R. Brock Jr., MBA Ingo Angermeier William Barnet III

CAROLINAS Matthew Cannon, DO, FACOFP VIRGINIA Jan M. Willcox, DO, FACOFP-dist.

H ere at VCOM, we’re incredibly proud of the work we do to support the many communities we serve. One of our newest efforts is the partnership we’ve begun with the United States Southern Command—better known as SOUTHCOM. Last year, we signed a memorandum of understanding that gives our

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Bruce Holstein Gov. James C. Justice II, MBA Randal J. Kirk, JD Elizabeth McClanahan, JD Christopher Roberts, PhD Sue Ellen B. Rocovich, DO, PhD Jimmy Sanford Raymond D. Smoot, PhD Daniel A. Wubah, PhD

Dixie Tooke-Rawlins, DO, ACOFP

students the chance to travel aboard the USNS Comfort to provide vital medical care and have experiences that will make them better physicians. Our partnership with SOUTHCOM goes hand in hand with both our longstanding history of providing exemplary physicians to the nation’s military and our commitment to giving our students opportunities for international outreach. You can read more about our new partnership in this issue of the VCOM View. Also in this issue, you’ll read about the many ways our alumni are giving back by helping to educate VCOM students at core rotation sites and by helping us recruit new students. In addition to the support we get from alumni, donors are also stepping up. You’ll meet Garnett Smith and two students he is supporting with his gift of scholarships. You’ll also read about the ways in which our faculty are using innovative hands-on experiences to train future physicians. Plus, you’ll meet several of our amazing students and Nicole Fremarek, DO, who was recently recognized by the American Association of Osteopathy as their Resident Physician of the Year. We’re doing amazing things to advance our mission to provide exemplary physicians to underserved communities. Thank you for your support of that mission and your partnership as we make a difference to community health across the globe.

AUBURN ADVISORY BOARD

L. Keith Granger Laura Grill Bill Hardgrave, PhD Jimmy Sanford David Thrasher, MD

CAROLINAS ADVISORY BOARD

Jimmy Gibbs Jason Hill, DO, Alumni Association Representative Bruce Holstien Marlon Hunter Hugh C. Tappan, MHA, MBA A. Alan Turfe, MBA

LOUISIANA ADVISORY BOARD

W. Bruce Hanks P. Gary Jones, MD Scott McDonald Ray Morrison, DO, FACOS Randy Morris Ed Williams Kristin Wolkart

VIRGINIA ADVISORY BOARD

Alan Fabian Bill Flattery Roy E. Heaton, DO

David Olive, PhD Carol Pratt, DDS Sherry Penland-Ismatov, DO, Alumni Association Representative

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BringinG

By Amy Ostroth and Hope Comfort

You might be able to imagine how it feels to see the USNS Comfort anchored in a harbor, especially if you live in a part of the world that requires the services it provides.

W ith a length of 894 feet, the ship is only a few feet shorter than the R.M.S. Queen Elizabeth 2. Stood on its end, the ship would tower over the Golden Gate Bridge and the Space Needle. In short: It’s big. Painted white, with large red crosses, it certainly makes an impression. The 1,000-bed hospital ship has 15 wards and 12 operating rooms and provides medical services that support U.S. disaster relief and humanitarian efforts across the globe. This fall, it traveled to Guatemala, Honduras, Columbia,

Dominican Republic and Haiti as part of its Continuing Promise 2022 mission and 12 VCOM students were able to spend time on the ship—nine went to the Dominican Republic and three to Honduras. We often think of VCOM’s mission as providing medical care to underserved communities in the Delta and Appalachian areas of the United States. But international outreach has long been part of the College’s work. A new memorandum of understanding with the U.S. Southern Command—SOUTHCOM, for short—has added further opportunities for VCOM and its students.

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USNS Comfort

Trips on the Comfort are part of the MOU, but it also allows for joint activities with U.S. and in-country military related to humanitarian efforts as well as joint educational and health care outreach. “VCOM built a relationship with SOUTHCOM that is good for both organizations,” says Dean Sutphin, vice provost for international and Appalachian outreach at VCOM. “Our permanent clinics abroad and relationships with commanders and agencies around the world made us a logical and attractive partner. We’re already providing continuous care in many of the countries that SOUTHCOM is supporting through their missions.” Of course, the relationship with SOUTHCOM is also a natural fit for VCOM given how many of its students participate in the Health Professions Scholarship Program (HPSP). HPSP is a scholarship program that helps students pay for their medical degrees and prepares them to serve in the United States Army, Navy or Air Force. Currently,

there are more than 140 HPSP students across VCOM’s four campuses. VCOM’s commitment to international outreach is a powerful recruiting tool. “We’re attracting students with a humanitarian interest and our international program enriches the students’ medical experiences,” Sutphin says. “We are a leader in global health opportunities and prospective students know it.” Merwan Faraj, a member of the Class of 2023 at VCOM-Carolinas who spent a week on the Comfort, says VCOM’s international outreach was a big factor in his decision to attend. “The way VCOM does international outreach is different than other schools,” he explains. “It’s year-round support. To me that says something about the type of people who run the College. VCOM is not doing quick mission trips where they get in and get out. I wanted to be part of that kind of family.” Despite their desire for medical care, patients can be

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USNS Comfort

overwhelmed when they come to the Comfort, Merwan says.There are people everywhere, many in military uniforms, and it can be loud and disorienting for people who need help. He remembers a scenario that happened several times while he was on the Comfort. “A mother would come into the tent with her kids, and you could tell that they wanted help,” he remembers. “I learned to take care of the kids first and with the language barrier, I had to use nonverbal communication to gain trust. I’d give the kids a stethoscope so they could try it on me. When they could hear my heartbeat, their eyes would light up.”Merwan learned quickly that if he could help the children, it was easier to help their mothers. Jacob Harrison, Class of 2023 at VCOM’s Auburn campus, was also inspired to choose VCOM because of its international outreach program. When he stepped aboard the Comfort this fall, it turned out to be an unexpected opportunity for him to get into the operating room. “We performed primarily laparoscopic cholecystectomies and open inguinal hernia repairs,” Jacob says. “These procedures have a relatively quick recovery time and substantially impact the patient’s health and ability to get back to work, thus benefiting the economy. Being able to perform several of the same cases in a row enhanced my knowledge of the procedures, anatomy and anatomical variations that may be seen.” Just as important as getting into the operating room was the chance to get to know patients. Unlike in the U.S., patients on the Comfort completed the process of prescreening, pre-operation, surgery and post-operation on three consecutive days. “On the first day, we were all strangers, but after seeing them three days in a row, we were all very familiar with each other,” Jacob recalls. “You could tell a dramatic shift from timid and nervous, to excited and appreciative. I think their time on the Comfort was just as much of an experience for them as it was for me.” Jacob says such an experience is one way to set yourself apart if you’re planning to apply for military residencies. But it is a unique and valuable experience for any medical student. “Experiencing a new culture, in addition to military culture, while learning how to navigate patient care in light of limited resources and a language barrier is truly invaluable,” he observes.

“Don’t be afraid to go,”Merwan offers. “It is truly an honor and a privilege to do things like this for other people. It’s also humbling. It’s easy to get bogged down in grades and tests and this will remind you how amazing the career is that we chose and will push you to keep moving forward.” Ron Januchowski, DO, who serves as associate dean for curriculum, assessment and medical education at VCOM Carolinas, was in the United States Army and retired as a colonel after 31 years of active and reserve status. He accompanied VCOM students on the Comfort and knows what a valuable experience it was for them. He notes that meeting the military personnel is helpful in the residency match process because students are able to directly interact with program faculty from different military residency programs. But more than that, the trip is an opportunity for personal growth. “The students were able to function in an austere environment, seamlessly involve interpreters in patient care and function as a part of the military medical team,” Dr. Januchowski says. Fred Rawlins III, DO, is co-chair for internal medicine and co-director clinical medicine course at VCOM-Virginia. He is a member of the VCOM-Virginia Class of 2010 and served for 10 years in the Air Force and was an instructor for Critical Care Air Transport (CCAT) while overseas. He agrees with Dr. Januchowski that the experience on the Comfort is a meaningful opportunity for VCOM’s students. Dr. Rawlins participated in the trip to the Dominican Republic and says that the experience reinforces good physical exam skills in a resource-limited environment. For example, his students were able to hear and diagnose abdominal bruits in suspected aortic aneurysms.They also saw a patient exhibiting early diastolic decrescendo murmurs with de Musset’s sign, suggesting severe aortic insufficiency. It’s meaningful for the students to not only see these issues outside of a classroom, but also to help improve the quality of life for patients in the real world. Clearly, trips like these are valuable experiences for doctors and patients alike. Sutphin gets emotional talking about the work he and the VCOM students are doing. “Many of the people in-country lack water, electricity and live on less than $1 a day,” he says. “We’re here to be of service where the host country says they need the help. Patients tell us that we bring them hope.”

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USNS Comfort

In the operating room on board the Comfort.

On land, USNS Comfort staff provide care.

LIFE AFTER VCOM

residency, spending the next five years training at Keesler Air Force Base. He says he discovered a passion for surgery during his third-year clinical rotation. “I have always loved viewing how things work, discovering what is contributing to a malfunction and ultimately figuring out how to fix it,” he explains. “I am also fairly reserved and introverted by nature and can easily become consumed by a single task for hours on end. These factors combined with a strong interest in anatomy are a just few things which drew me to pursuing surgery as a career.” 7

Merwan Faraj will be in an aerospace medicine residency program after graduation. He says it is a specialty that is a combination of emergency medicine and primary care and his job will be to ensure that the nation’s naval pilots are as healthy as possible. “It’s a beautiful profession,” says Merwan. “I’ ll often be working in austere environments on ships and on land. I’m comfortable being uncomfortable and being outside and making the best use of the tools I have, including my team. Medicine is all about teamwork.” Jacob Harrison will pursue a surgical

A Flourishing Approach: VCOM-Auburn Anatomical Sciences Team Seeks to Invigorate Learning Process

By Scott Godwin

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USNS Comfort

(Left to right) Melinda Carter, MD, PhD, William Pearson, PhD, Kristie Floyd, Mary Piscura, PhD, Daniel Cawley, DC, MSHS, MS, Whitney Karriger, PhD

T he VCOM-Auburn Anatomical Sciences Department recently found itself with an all-new group of instructors. While it can sometimes take time for new teams to start functioning in a cohesive way, this group has taken

it as an opportunity to talk about their vision and values for instruction, and about how they can use engaged learning to create conditions for students to grow as future physicians.

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A Flourishing Approach

The new team began by developing a departmental mission statement and thinking about their work environment, explained Discipline Chair William Pearson, PhD, an educator that has served for more than 35 years. He leads the new team, made up of faculty members Melinda Carter, MD, PhD; Daniel Cawley, DC, MSHS, MS; Lab Director Whitney Karriger, PhD; and Mary Piscura, PhD. Kristie Floyd serves as department assistant and assistant lab director. Each member of the team brings different skills and expertise. Carter is an embryology and histology instructor, as well as a bone specialist. As a medical doctor, she has a unique perspective of the clinical side. She also works as a consultant for the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences, performing casework at the ADFS medical examiner’s office in Montgomery, Alabama. As a chiropractor, Cawley shares that same clinical experience and is a musculoskeletal expert. Pearson studies head and neck structures and enjoys teaching neuroanatomy. Karriger serves as the lab director, ensuring the lab is equipped and ready to go. Piscura is new to education, but she is already a favorite with the students, while seasoned VCOM veteran Kristie Floyd assists with the lab and serves as a central hub for the team. VCOM’s anatomy curriculum includes directed lectures and cadaver dissections in bright, well-equipped, modern anatomy labs. In each block, the anatomy course integrates clinically relevant diagnostic, radiologic and surgical procedures to

The overall concept we are working out is what a “flourishing approach” to physician formation would look like in anatomy,” said Pearson. “We are asking ourselves how we can contribute to the culture of a medical school that we would like to attend,” Pearson added. After a recent exam, the anatomy team took the time to acknowledge the student group with lowest standard deviation, rather than highest score. “The assumption was they were all working as a team to pull each other up, so if one fails, they all fail,” said Pearson. “This exercise might not make sense here and now, but it makes sense in the operating room (OR) when they are working together as a team to help patients,” he added. As part of the new learning initiative, anatomy interns are assigned to each dissection table.The primary role of the intern is to take care of their first-year students. Additionally, interns help the group with writing multiple choice questions and completing prosections. As teams, they conduct speed and jeopardy reviews, imaging rounds, mock practicals, clinics and prosections. “We have 33 second-year students committed to helping the first-year students that are assisting with various types of reviews,” said Pearson. Instead of cross-section photos being utilized, as in the past, the team has started using industry-standard imaging. “We are using DICOM imagery to identify anatomy, which many students wouldn’t utilize ordinarily unless they were a resident,” said Pearson. DICOM, or Digital

reinforce the lab experience. Clinical presentations in the gross lab and during small group discussions emphasize the clinical relevance of anatomical structure and function. “Typically, in a medical school setting, we organize our people and systems for information delivery, and I think what is missed is an opportunity for organizing people and systems for developing future physicians,” said Pearson. “It sounds like a small shift, but I think it makes a big difference,” he added.

“Anatomy is a difficult course and can be very overwhelming, but the new faculty have made changes to make the course more fun and less stressful.” - Kristina Thoenes,VCOM-Auburn Class of 2025

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A Flourishing Approach

“We are asking ourselves how we can contribute to the culture of a medical school that we would like to attend.” -William Pearson, PhD

Imaging and Communications in Medicine, is the standard for communication and management of medical imaging information and data. Carter noted that this is how students will see patient imagery in clinical settings. For students, there can be a bit of a learning curve with integrating the new imaging into class. “It was very new to see different CTs, MRIs and X-rays, then have to understand what I was looking at,” said Natalie Pang, Class of 2026. “After the first exam, a friend and I started to use our lab time to walk through the images and point out structures,” said Pang. “Even though we were looking at radiology, we were applying our anatomical knowledge,” she added. Pang said that despite the difficulty at first, the time spent learning and practicing with the images paid off. “I could say imaging is one of my favorites now—it’s simple to say with practice and time, it’ll come, and it really does,” said Pang. Carter noted that both the cadaver dissection and the imaging are imperative for students to learn anatomy in three dimensions. “Having cadaver dissection and the imaging shows them that there is great diversity in human anatomy,” said Carter. “They can see real surgical interventions like a defibrillator/pacemaker, organ transplants, joint replacements, etc., and this pathology can be developed into research projects,”

she added. “Three-dimensionally, students get to see amazing things in their first patients that they simply wouldn’t observe in two-dimensional or just computerized imaging,” said Carter. “Osteopathic medicine puts more emphasis on anatomy, especially the musculoskeletal anatomy,” said Pearson. We are working on better coordination with Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine (OMM), and syncing that with what we are teachig in anatomy,” Pearson added. “Anatomy translates into other courses like OMM, or clinical medicine, where we get to apply our anatomical knowledge to understand a clinical scenario or how to treat a tight muscle with osteopathic techniques,” said Pang. “The new anatomy team has introduced initiatives such as imaging and imaging rounds, table conferences and wellness checks,” said Kristina Thoenes, Class of 2025. “Anatomy is a difficult course and can be very overwhelming, but the new faculty have made changes to make the course more fun and less stressful,” added Thoenes. “I feel the new team is now using anatomy to teach students how to flourish individually and within a community,” said Nate Risley, Class of 2025. “Similar to how different organs depend on each other to form an organism, individuals of different backgrounds work together to form a team,” he added.

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Resident of theYear (left to right) VCOM-Auburn students Victoria Konuik, Jordan Paugh, Shea Fincher

12 at the Center SIMULATIONS VCOM Education of a are vcom . edu

By Lily Collins

Simulation Centers at each of VCOM’s four campuses provide students with hands-on training in a safe and controlled environment.

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Simulations at the Center

T he simulation model provides a realistic and interactive learning experience for students in the field of osteopathic medicine.This is especially important because the stress involved in the simulation process helps prepare medical students for future real-life scenarios. “The students will tell you it feels real,” says Tom Lindsey, DO, associate dean for the Center for Simulation and Technology at VCOM’s campus in Spartanburg, South Carolina. “It’s a stress inoculum.” The VCOM-Carolinas SimCenter is equipped with high-fidelity manikins and advanced technology,

College received a grant from the Spartanburg County Foundation to purchase a new simulation manikin of color.The manikins are designed to effectively train the next generation of physicians to provide the highest quality medical care to every human being, from all ethnic backgrounds.The SimCenter was also recently awarded another grant from the South Carolina Center for Rural and Primary Healthcare totaling nearly $300,000. “This generous grant will allow us to welcome a new Latina SimMom®, which is a high-fidelity simulator for obstetrics. Plus, new ultrasound equipment as well as a laparoscopic trainer,” says Dr. Lindsey. The SimCenter’s innovative work is extensive, trainers, which are custom made in-house using 3D printing technology.The SimCenter staff work to ensure that a wide variety of skin tones are represented. Traditionally, medical school training has lacked this emphasis on diversity, which means new physicians may find themselves unable to detect, diagnose or treat conditions they have only seen on Caucasian examples. “If one of our suture skins, for instance, has a darker skin tone,” says Michael Parks, director for high fidelity manikin based and virtual simulation, “that’s going to look a lot including new lumbar puncture and wearable

including virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality, to create realistic scenarios that mimic actual medical situations.These simulations allow students to practice their clinical skills and decision-making abilities in a safe and controlled environment, where they can receive immediate feedback and learn from their mistakes.

“The students will tell you it feels real. It’s a stress inoculum. ”

-Tom Lindsey, DO

Manikins can simulate a range of medical conditions, from common illnesses to life-threatening emergencies. These manikins are equipped with advanced technology, including sensors and computerized systems, that provide real-time feedback to students. For example, a manikin may display vital signs such as heart rate, blood pressure and breathing rate, and students can practice interpreting these readings and taking appropriate action. “The technology has multi-functionality,” says Stacey Stokes, VCOM-Carolinas’ clinical procedural skills program manager. “So, we can make it a ‘Level-1’ with a basic student with just a simple suture but we can go all the way to a ‘Level-4’ which is a practicing licensed obstetrician that’s had a difficult case that we can create on this trainer and they can learn and go back and say ‘this didn’t work for me when I had it so let’s recreate the trauma. Now let me work on this trainer to see what works.’ It’s more than just a trainer. It can be adapted for different learners.” Gifts to the VCOM-Carolinas program have been helping build an even better center. In early 2022, the

Students practice foreign body removal from eyes using simulators made in the SimCenter.

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Simulations at the Center

VCOM-Carolinas Simulation Center faculty and staff (clockwise from bottom left: Tom Lindsey, DO, associate dean for Center for Simulation &Technology; Stacey Stokes, clinical procedural skills program manager; Michael Parks, MPA, director for high fidelity manikin based and virtual simulation; TarrazWoodruff, RN, clinical procedural skills program director

different than the medium skin tone or a light skin tone. It’s just going to be a much better trainer that’s not really out there right now.” Further developments in hands on simulation technology include new episiotomy and pelvic trainers and abdominal surgery trainers. 3D printing and scans of real patients are utilized in the process. All along the way, students are involved in the process via an internship program. Sim interns are second-year medical students who spend time in the lab designing, setting up and facilitating various scenarios in those areas, which they and other students use to practice techniques, hone skills and build emotional endurance under pressure.They are recognized at graduation for this work above and beyond their medical school curriculum. “We currently have 16 interns,” Stokes says. “They come on board and they are divided into groups of interest: simulation, clinical procedural skills, standardized patients, and research.

Last year we had 48 applications.” The SimCenter is also equipped with virtual reality and augmented reality technology, which allows students to immerse themselves in realistic medical scenarios to practice procedures and techniques in a simulated environment, without any risk to real patients Additionally, the virtual reality and augmented reality technology can be used to provide interactive learning experiences that can enhance students’ understanding of complex medical concepts. “The next step is virtual reality,” says Dr. Lindsey. The SimCenter is currently developing the use of a 360-degree camera to create proprietary VR.” “Right now, my team is working on a virtual reality headset and we’re evaluating all the different products that are out there,” says Parks. “The products that we’re looking at are expensive,” says Dr. Lindsey. “But if we can use our standardized patients and create our own virtual reality, which is proprietary to us, then

we save the commercial expense.” Dr. Lindsey looks forward to exploring how virtual reality could lead to advancements in pediatrics training. VCOM employs a number of standardized patients, adult actors who role-play complex medical scenarios with students. Since role-playing is a form of training that cannot be applied to the study of pediatrics, Dr. Lindsey hopes that virtual avenues may open such opportunities for medical students. With this in mind, he and his team continue to explore the field of new technologies. The future looks bright for VCOM-Carolinas’ SimCenter. In addition to their innovations in simulation technology and virtual reality, the SimCenter hopes to add a master’s in simulation degree program in the coming years. With its state of-the-art technology and experienced staff, the center provides students with a safe and controlled environment to practice their clinical skills, build their confidence, and prepare for their future careers as healthcare professionals.

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Resident of theYear

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TOUCHDOWN!

Dr. Nicole Fremarek’s childhood love of football led her to a career in medicine. Now she’s AAO’s 2023 Resident Physician of the Year.

O ver her education and career, Nicole Fremarek, DO, has amassed an impressive resume of service, research and education, which is why the American Academy of Osteopathy (AAO) has recognized her as their Resident Physician of the Year for 2023.This prestigious award is presented to a resident who has provided service to the AAO on a national level and has a strong commitment to osteopathic principals and practice. The recipient of the annual award is typically deeply invested in osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT) and serves in a leadership capacity in the field. Dr. Fremarek comes by her interest in sports medicine honestly. Sports—especially football—was a big part of her childhood. Her family loved the classic sports movie “The Replacements,” and her father used coins to teach her the formations used by the Chicago Bears. Despite her mother being in the medical field as a Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) nurse and her family’s passion for sports, it wasn’t until she was 16 years old that Nicole was introduced to sports medicine, when she took a class at her suburban Chicago high school.The class required her to spend two hours per week in the training room, which turned out to be not enough time for Nicole. Soon, she was spending 20 hours per week in the training room and knew she had found her place. Following high school, Dr. Fremarek pursued her undergraduate education at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where she majored in interdisciplinary

health science. She completed that degree with honors and still had time to minor in both chemistry and Spanish. Following her time at Illinois, she headed to Kansas City University (KCU) to complete her DO degree while simultaneously getting an MBA in healthcare leadership from Rockhurst University. “I began to think about the ways I could grow my patient-centered care which requires innovation, organization and management,” she says of her decision to pursue an MBA. “The program gave me the opportunity to not only develop a knowledge of the business of medicine, but also motivated me to think outside of the boundaries to provide creative and unique medical plans for my patients.”While there, she also pursued a pre-doctoral fellowship in osteopathic manipulative medicine (OMM). Osteopathic medicine was, and remains, a perfect fit for her. “My values are founded upon treating patients as individuals, being innovative with patient care and recognizing that the patient plays a key role in the healing process,” she says. “I believe it is our duty as osteopathic providers to provide well-rounded, holistic care for patients, educate those who come after us and continue to remind the medical community why osteopathic medicine matters.” Dr. Fremarek fell in love with the concept of OMM while she was at KCU, where she had many mentors— including Dr. Brett Sprouse, who is now assistant professor for family medicine, OMM and sports medicine at

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VCOM-Auburn—who played a role in her belief in osteopathic medicine and helped her see how well it fit with her desire to do primary care and sports medicine. “OMM just makes sense in a primary care, sports medicine world,” she observes. Her family medicine residency took her to the University of Michigan Health-West, during which time she was an adjunct clinical faculty member at Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine and co-chief resident of family medicine.

psychophysiology lab changed her mind because she learned research really could make a difference in the

lives of patients. “I enjoy research that makes an impact and leads to better patient safety and quality improvement,” she says. Plus, she recognizes that research, particularly in residency, helps physicians learn to be an active part of the osteopathic profession. These days, Dr. Fremarek is working at VCOM-Virginia, where she is an associate professor of family medicine

She was also nominated by her peers to be chief resident of research, quality improvement and patient safety. Being nominated for that role by her peers made it even more meaningful. Her experiences in her family medicine residency have only reinforced her commitment to patients. “During my last months of family medicine training, my team and I were

“OMM just makes sense in a primary care, sports medicine world. ”

and completing her osteopathic neuromusculoskeletal medicine

brought to tears as my patient who lived on the streets for over two years slept under his new roof for the first time,” she recalls. “It is proud moments like this that remind me why I am wholeheartedly passionate about ensuring the art of osteopathic medicine continues to thrive.” Helping the profession thrive is why she regularly serves as a panelist and trainer at meetings, teaches whenever she has the opportunity, serves on committees and takes on other leadership roles within the osteopathic community. Building a thriving profession is also why she does research, though interestingly, she wasn’t always excited about that because she didn’t want to do it just to get into medical school. An exercise

-Nicole Fremarek, DO

residency. In July 2023, she will begin her sports medicine fellowship in the College’s

nationally recognized program. She found VCOM because she was looking for a place where osteopathic medicine and sports medicine were equally valued in the same system. “It was honestly the best thing that could have happened to me,” she says of coming to VCOM. “There are not many places that you can go and feel like people push you because they genuinely want you to be better, where they want you to learn and support your interests.The VCOM family does that here.” Eventually, she wants to have a practice where she uses her primary care skills to integrate osteopathic and sports medicine. But whatever her future holds, she says, she wants to continue to have an academic or teaching perspective. “That is an important piece to me,” she says. “Teaching gives me the chance to keep up my skills and it is important to show students how OMM helps people in real life.” And if one day, she is able to work for the Chicago Bears or the Kansas City Chiefs, she thinks that would be a fine way to honor her values and celebrate her love of the game.

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Spring 2023 | VCOM V iew

Student Spotlight

Powering Through I had absolutely no idea what powerlifting even was,” says Allison Garden, VCOM-Carolinas Class of 2025. “Powerlifting has helped me to develop a functional strength that has carried over into everyday life outside of the gym. Lifting heavy weight in itself gives you this powerful feeling, but more so than that, it forces you to develop a new kind of inner strength and mental fortitude. I think the part about lifting that I personally find most rewarding is overcoming what seem to be insurmountable obstacles, and the focus, drive and discipline you build while getting there.” But then in late 2018, disaster struck. “I started noticing Get to Know Allison Garden, VCOM-Carolinas Class of 2025 “Working out was a hobby for me, not something I’d ever considered taking to a competitive level of any type.” The 24-year-old first took up the sport in 2018, during her last semester at college, with the encouragement of

that my hip was hurting, specifically with deadlifting,” Garden says. “After a couple MRIs and referrals to multiple surgeons, I was diagnosed with a labral tear in my left hip, as well as a CAM lesion. I put off surgery for as long as I could, but ended up getting it repaired on Aug. 28, 2019. In recovery, I noticed that I started having the same pain in my right hip, so my surgeon got me in for an MRI as soon as possible, at which point we discovered I had torn that labrum as well and had a CAM lesion on my right femur.”

Dan Austin, USC’s football strength coach. Her newfound passion for powerlifting would have profound effects on Garden’s life in the years to come. “The small group of people that lifted at the baseball weight room every morning at 5:15 a.m. quickly became a semblance of a family to me,” she says. “To this day, we still have a group chat that we talk in every day despite being hundreds of miles away from each other.”

“Lifting heavy weight forces you to develop a new kind of inner strength and mental fortitude. ”

-Allison Garden,VCOM-Carolinas Class of 2025

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Adversity

“At first I was very afraid that my career as a powerlifter would never be the same,” she says. “I don’t think I was ever afraid that it would be over completely, but I was definitely preparing myself to not ever fully come back at the same strength and/or intensity.” Her recovery was remarkable. “A few days after surgery, I started physical therapy two times per week, and I religiously completed all the exercises and mobility work that my physical therapist prescribed for me to do outside of my scheduled appointments. My strength started coming back much sooner than any of us expected and four days before my meet in December, exactly three months post-op, my surgeon cleared me to compete in a full meet.” “My prompt recovery and incredibly fast return to powerlifting surprised both my surgeon and physical therapist,” Garden says. “The only explanation my surgeon could think of was that it must’ve had to do with my fitness level and strength prior to surgery.” Allison Garden’s experience as an athlete has had a deep impact on her pursuit of a medical education. “I’ve wanted to be a doctor for longer than I can remember,” she says. “When I was in elementary school, my dad used to let me come round with him at the hospital on the weekends and I thought it was the coolest thing ever. When I was little, I’d tell anyone that listened ‘I’m gonna be a doctor like my dad when I grow up.’ I think my athletic past has absolutely influenced my keen interest in orthopedic surgery. I had my first encounter with an orthopedic surgeon when I was 10 years old, followed by more visits than my parents probably would’ve liked throughout the years.” For Allison Garden, becoming a physician is a lifelong ambition fueled by her passion for sports. Her competitive spirit and ability to surmount seemingly insurmountable obstacles continues to bring her success in the gym and in the classroom. “Physicians are the ones coordinating and leading the care team when forming a treatment plan. Having a patient’s life in your hands is a humbling and rewarding experience and there’s a level of respect that comes with responsibility. Looking up to my father is what put the idea in my head, but ultimately my experiences are what solidified my desire to become a doctor.”

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Student Spotlight

VCOM-Louisiana Students Place First in Global Health Competition S cabies is a common disease, but it is not as widely researched as other infectious diseases. Ariana Faraji and Faith Sharp, both Class of VCOM’s campus in Monroe, Louisiana, may be the College’s newest campus, but the students there are already showing the world what they can do. Here are just a few of the students in Louisiana who are making the VCOM family proud. & DETERMINATION EXCELLENCE VCOM-Louisiana Students Show

more frequently in poverty-stricken areas where people have limited access to clean living conditions. “A lot of endemic parasitic diseases in these tropical countries can be eradicated by improving living conditions and by using preventative strategies. By determining a weather correlation with scabies, we can potentially predict when more scabies cases will occur and help those countries prepare through prevention strategies and lessen the caseload of scabies,” says Sharp. The American Osteopathic Association’s Bureau of International Osteopathic Medicine (BIOM) hosts a global health competition each year for medical students and residents. Faraji and Sharp showcased their poster, “Effects of Weather Patterns on the Incidence of Scabies,” during a virtual presentation at the BIOM International Seminar in October 2022, where they received first prize in the Research Abstract category.

2024 medical students at VCOM-Louisiana, wanted to see if they could change that, so they used VCOM’s CREDO patient database to study the condition.The database is a collection of notes that VCOM students and faculty use to record the type of patients they see during their clinical rotations. “We looked up the number of scabies cases, and we were able to see when those cases were reported, how old the patient was and at what clinical site that case was seen.We used that data along with gathered weather data from that time frame to perform our research,” says Sharp. Looking at data from both international and U.S. sites, the pair discovered that the disease occurred

Ariana Faraji

Faith Sharp

Austin Bolay Honored for his Work to Promote LGBTQ+ Engagement and Inclusion V COM-Louisiana student Austin Bolay is committed to equality and inclusivity for members of the LGBTQIA+ community.The Class of 2024 student serves on VCOM-Louisiana’s Diversity and Inclusion Board and has worked with other students and state groups

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Walking Toward Inspiration by Charles “Chase” Regian W hen a childhood ATV accident compressed her spine, Emma Broussard was left with limited use of her lower body. Broussard, a first-year medical student at VCOM-Louisiana, now mainly uses a wheelchair, along with the limited use of a walker. “I’m going to walk at White Coat,” had become her mantra since day one of orientation.With a new venue for the ceremony, and the logistical uncertainty that came with the change, Broussard had to work with administration to create a plan that would allow her to fall into the flow of the ceremony. sets of stairs, just to get to the stage—walking across the stage was the easy part. To get back to her seat, Emma needed to return to the entrance of the theatre, take her White Coat picture, then end with the same walk that started it all. She had to stand until the procession was completed, stand for the group photo, the Osteopathic Oath, and was the first to stand and last to leave for the recessional. With a little help from her classmates, and some careful planning, Emma never looked out of place.The only thing that was obvious was how much she belongs to the Class of 2026. The audience likely did not understand that amount of planning and effort it took for her to make the seven-second walk to middle stage. However, Broussard was able to share this moment with her family—without any distractions. Showing up hours early to rehearsal and the day of the event, Broussard had to test her limits with the sheer amount of walking the ceremony would require. Logistically, Emma needed to walk down a long theatre ramp to her seat, then up another ramp to the first of two

“I’m going to walk atWhite Coat. ”

-Emma Broussard,VCOM-Louisiana Class of 2026

to promote equality in healthcare in Louisiana. “My hope for the future is to inspire physicians to go beyond passive engagement (e.g. hanging pictures in their offices, or spouting data) but to actively engage with this wonderful and diverse community,”he says. Because of his work at VCOMand in Louisiana promoting diversity and inclusivity, Bolay became the first recipient of the AmericanOsteopathic Foundation’s Jeffrey S. Grove, DO, LGBTQ+ Pride

Educational Scholarship.

representation in healthcare which, in turn, will result in improving cultural competency of all health care providers, and mending the ever-growing divide and mistrust between the LGBTQIA+ community and healthcare industry,” he said. On a personal note, Bolay says “this award gave me the greatest gifts of all: validation and a platform to use my voice.”

This award allowed Bolay to give voice to his personal experience and share with other medical professionals and students what it means to be part of the LGBTQIA+ community. “This award serves as a shining beacon signaling other members of the LGBTQIA+ community to take control of the narrative and strive for more than just tolerance, but also acceptance and respect. It serves as a catalyst for increasing LGBTQIA+

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Student Spotlight

E very year, each VCOM campus chooses a student to represent the student body as the Student Doctor of the Year (SDOY). A selection committee evaluates nominated students based on their leadership, commitment to community service, dedication to the osteopathic profession, professionalism and the embodiment of the osteopathic philosophy. Unsurprisingly, the individuals chosen for this award are excellent representations of the kind of students who study at VCOM. VCOM Recognizes Student Doctors of the Year

Lana Maniakhina VCOM-Carolinas Class of 2024

Stephanie Koplitz VCOM-Louisiana Class of 2024

Lana Maniakhina displays profound

Third-year student Stephanie Koplitz is a member of VCOM-Louisiana’s inaugural class. As such, she had the unique opportunity to be part of founding a chapter of the campus’s largest student

determination, a commitment to excellence and true grit and is an exemplary medical student.

An immigrant to the U.S. from Russia, Lana supported herself since the age of 17 and throughout her undergraduate education. Now at VCOM, she maintains a high GPA while also volunteering on a frequent basis. She aspires to become a neurosurgeon. She leads the Sigma Sigma Phi (SSP) Honor Society as President and participates in multiple research projects. Under her leadership, SSP received a service grant from the SSP National Board in 2021 to provide care packages for the local NICU at Spartanburg Regional Medical Center. Through her work in SSP, she has initiated a number of opportunities for peer mentorship, tutoring and collaboration. She received the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine (AACOM) Gold Award through the Translating Osteopathic Understanding into Community Health (TOUCH) program for her community service in 2020 2021. She also serves as an education and technology intern in the VCOM-Carolinas Simulation Center, working with VCOM’s staff and her fellow interns to develop technological and educational tools that advance medical education. Lana has also worked tirelessly on research during medical school, and is known for her academic achievement and service to her fellow classmates and community throughout her time at VCOM. She is as devoted to her own academic success as she is to that of her classmates.

organization, the Student Osteopathic Medical Association (SOMA). She has translated her work for VCOM-Louisiana’s SOMA chapter into leadership at the national level, where she is currently a Region II trustee on the National SOMA Board of Trustees and was recently elected as the next national SOMA vice president and speaker of the house. Stephanie is incredibly driven but acknowledges the difficulty of balancing her personal life with dedication to her career. “There is often a culture in medicine that we are not human, and our personal lives should be placed on hold, particularly for women,” she observes. “I have had to make a great deal of sacrifices in medical school, but there were some I was not willing to make. I am expecting my first child and have been able to keep up with my leadership roles and academics. I won’t say that it’s been easy, but I will say that if you want something bad enough anything is possible.” Like many VCOM students, Stephanie is the first member of her family to attend medical school and she was sometimes told that she didn’t understand the sacrifices she would be required to make to be successful. Unwilling to accept that, she fought for her dreams and is a committed advocate for herself as well as her future patients, community, osteopathic medicine and osteopathic medical students.

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