VCOM View Vol 10 No 1

STUDENT SPOTLIGHT

Student Research Abstracts Win International Recognition

Left: Award winner Sean Bowling during an international medical outreach in Honduras. Above: Marco Cunicelli representing VCOM at DO Day on the Hill.

C ongratulations to VCOM- Virginia students, Sean Bowling, Class of 2023, on winning Best Overall for his abstract, “Short-term medical mission students promoting culturally appropriate food intakes to reduce micronutrient deficiencies in Honduras” and Marco Cunicelli, Class of 2021, on winning first place for his essay, “How Does Limited Access to Routine OB-GYN Care Affect a Woman’s Health?” Their literature was submitted for the American Osteopathic Association’s Bureau of International Osteopathic Medicine (BIOM) 2020 Competition.

Sean Bowling “Students on medical mission trips have the ability to reach countless individuals in developing countries that otherwise would not have regular access to health care,” said Sean Bowling. “I have a strong passion for providing these students with the culturally-relevant information they need in order to make a difference in their patients’ lives because I know how impactful medical mission trips can be,” Bowling added. As the Best Overall award winner of the abstract competition, Bowling received a $1,500 prize and was invited to present his abstract at the International Seminar, held in

conjunction with the Virtual 2020 Osteopathic Medical Education Conference (OMED) on October 17. Marco Cunicelli “I am so excited to have won first place in the Bureau of International Osteopathic Medicine Abstract competition,” said Marco Cunicelli about his win. “I loved that this competition allowed me to share my experiences abroad while also discussing ways to improve healthcare disparities and women’s health. I’m so happy that I was able to win this award for the VCOM family and looked forward to presenting my poster at the OMED conference” said Cunicelli.

summer/fall 2020 | VCOM V iew M agazine 47