VCOM View Vol 11 No 1

Left to right: VCOM-Louisiana/ULM sports medicine team, Jacob Turnbull, DO; Jonah Flowers, DO; Stephanie Aldret, DO, CAQSM; Randy Aldret, EdD, LAT, ATC, CSCS*D; and Travis Smith, DO, CAQSM.

Dr. Ace joins VCOM-Louisiana V COM-Louisiana is excited to announce its new mascot, Dr. Ace! Derived from ULM athletics’ mascot, Ace the Warhawk, the goal for Dr. Ace is to tie together the educational research and public service mission between VCOM and ULM. Dr. Ace got his start as an expert fighter pilot who flew with General Chennault and the “Flying Tigers.” Now retired, Dr. Ace decided to serve others in a new way: medicine. After studying Osteopathic Medicine at VCOM and becoming a DO, Dr. Ace was called to follow VCOM’s mission and serve the rural and underserved areas by using his hawk-eye instincts

student from the class of 2024, Joshua Torres, went so far as to develop a poster about gradual hip pain in a collegiate volleyball player, which he presented at the American Osteopathic Academy of Sports Medicine’s national conference in April 2021. Future of Sports Medicine in the Delta Region As part of the first osteopathic medical college in the state of Louisiana, VCOM-Louisiana sports medicine faculty certainly have their work cut out for them over the coming years. However, the strong focus on outreach and preventive care will continue to set the College’s sports medicine program for future success and growth, leading to a lasting impact on key areas of the country that need it the most. ■

to educate and care for the people of Northeast Louisiana and the Delta Region. These days, he can often be seen taking off from the Monroe Regional Airport in his vintage P-40, delivering VCOM faculty and staff to Honduras, El Salvador and the Dominican Republic for medical mission trips. When Dr. Ace is not flying or providing medical care to those in need, he can be found around campus working with medical students, attending VCOM events, or on the sidelines of ULM games cheering on his cherished Warhawk athletes. Dr. Ace made his official debut during the ULM vs. Georgia State game on Saturday, October 9, 2021.

Dr. Ace

winter 2021 | VCOM V iew M agazine 19