VCOM View Vol 9-1

VCOM View M A G A Z I N E THE EDWARD VIA COLLEGE OF OSTEOPATHIC MEDICINE WINTER 2018 VOL. 9 l NO. 1

IN THIS ISSUE: A Public/Private Partnership Expands 6 · Wellness Initiatives in our Communities 10 Disaster Response: Staying Ahead of the Storm 14 · VCOM and Bluefield College join for Graduate Masters Program 18 · Donor Spotlight 22 · Students Recognized by the AOA 30 Research Review 36 · Dixie Tooke-Rawlins, DO Named AOF President 42

Contents...

14 18 6 10 Wellness Initiative for our Neighborhood (WIN) provides free public access to an extensive range of health services. Staying Ahead of the Storm Planning is the key to being prepared for emergency response. See how VCOM joined the Auburn community to practice for disaster. Reaching One’s Full Potential VCOM and Bluefield College join together for new Master of Arts in Biomedical Sciences program. Sections: 5 From the President and Provost DEVELOPMENT 22 Scholarship Endowment Challenge 24 Donor Spotlight STUDENT SPOTLIGHT 30 Rising Stars Honored at OMED RESEARCH 36 Research Review 40 Collaboration in Research HIGHLIGHTS 42 Tooke-Rawlins New AOF President 43 Ways to Give to VCOM winter 2018 | VCOM V iew M agazine 3 Features: AGrowing Synergy VCOM & VMCVM partner in opening the Center for One Health Research. Serving Our Communities

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POINTS OF CONTACT

Contact Us! Submit letters and editorial material to:

EDITOR AND CREATIVE DIRECTOR Cindy Shepard Rawlins, Vice President for Communications, Marketing, Website and Publications CONTRIBUTORS Scott Godwin Lily Knights Kylie Rudder Thim Corvin Eryn Perry Lindsey Grooms GRAPHIC DESIGNERS Elijah Bailey Jenna Marquardt James Nichols PRESIDENT & PROVOST Dixie Tooke-Rawlins, DO, FACOFP DEAN, VCOM–VIRGINIA Jan Wilcox, DO, FACOFP DEAN, VCOM–CAROLINAS Timothy J. Kowalski, DO, FACN DEAN, VCOM–AUBURN Elizabeth Palmarozzi, DO, FACOFP MISSION The mission of the Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine (VCOM) is to prepare globally- minded, community-focused physicians to meet the needs of rural and medically underserved populations and promote research to improve human health. 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. For a copy of our Outcomes Reports, please see www.vcom.edu/outcomes. ©2018 Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine. All rights reserved. VCOM is certified by the State Council of Higher Education to operate in Virginia. 4 view.vcom.edu

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Attn: VCOM View magazine 2265 Kraft Drive Blacksburg, Virginia 24060 Email: news-virginia@vcom.edu news-carolinas@vcom.edu news-auburn@vcom.edu Alumni News: Email Alumni Relations at: alumni@vcom.edu

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.

www. vcom. edu/ i ntouch

ON THE COVER: First-year student, Marie Belmonte, listens to the heart of a patient at a community health fair held at Franklin Heights Baptist Church in Rocky Mount, Virginia on November 18, 2017. ABOVE: Kelsey Hodges, VCOM-Virginia Class of 2020 and Rocky Mount native, and Brian Dickens, DO, VCOM faculty member, helped organize the event to provide basic medical screenings and care for the community.

FROM THE PRESIDENT AND PROVOST

WE ARE ON A MISSION TO SERVE Dixie Tooke-Rawlins, DO, FACOFP

V COM IS A TRULY SPECIAL PLACE. Our mission to serve is what propels us forward every single day. In this issue of the VCOM View magazine, you’ll be able to see how our innovative educational programs provide extraordinary experiences to our students and how they benefit each of the communities we serve. Our researchers and their scholarly activities are improving healthcare and education locally and across the nation. We are also grateful to our donors who are changing lives by supporting scholarships for our students. Their incredible gifts

allow our students to concentrate on their education and bringing healthcare to regions that need physicians the most. VCOM alumni are also giving back with endowments to establish permanent scholarships for the next generation of medical students. The College is proud of the many outstanding students and alumni who have been honored nationally as shining stars at the American Osteopathic Foundation Honors Gala recently in Philadelphia. All three campuses come together to provide the best education for our students, finding unity in our collective passion to meet the needs of the underserved. ■

Serving his country and community, Kendall Talley,

VCOM-Auburn Class of 2020, at his Army commissioning ceremony. Talley is the fourth generation of his family to serve in the U.S. Armed Forces.

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A Growing Synergy Collaboration is the key to expanding the future of healthcare research.

BY KYLIE RUDDER

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VIRGINIA CAMPUS

T he VCOM/VMCVM Center for One Health Research grew out of a long-standing research partnership between the Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine (VCOM) and the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine (VMCVM). After extensive renovation to the existing facility, research teams moved in and a ribbon-cutting ceremony on May 9, 2017 officially introduced the community to the new research center. The state-

of-the-art laboratories allow collaboration between the two colleges to further research on health related topics. The synergy of this research partnership has continued to grow over the years, and the new facility is expected to increase the results of the collaboration. Cyril Clarke, DVM, Dean of VMCVM and currently the interim executive vice president and provost of Virginia Tech, gave the opening remarks, telling

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The Center for One Health Research (continued)

some of the story behind how the VCOM/VMCVM Center for One Health Research was started. “In establishing this new center, our two schools are upholding a mutual commitment to One Health based on the understanding that animal, human and environmental health are inextricably linked,” said Dr. Clarke. “We have come together in a manner which creates interdisciplinary rigor, enthusiasm, and energy and creates an opportunity to put together teams that achieve the critical mass that is essential to accomplishing our aspirational research goals.” Dixie Tooke-Rawlins, DO, VCOM President and Provost, followed, speaking about growing VCOM’s partnership with the veterinary school.

John Rocovich Jr., JD, LLM, Chairman of the Board of Directors at VCOM and Gerhardt Schurig, DVM, professor and former Dean of VMCVM, both gave accounts of how they have watched the

veterinary school grow over the years. Rocovich told the audience about the building

when his wife attended Virginia Tech and how the new renovation is a big improvement. Lauren Sheehan, a Biomedical and Veterinary Sciences PhD student at VMCVM, was invited to the stage and shared how she thinks the new collaboration will enhance the work she is doing in the labs. She also expressed her gratitude for the new project.

VCOM researcher and faculty member, Pawel Michalak, PhD, gives event attendees a tour of his lab.

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From left: Minnis Ridenour, former executive vice president and chief

operating officer of Virginia Tech, Dr. Cyril Clarke, Dr. Dixie-Tooke Rawlins, and John G. Rocovich Jr.

“ We have come together in a manner which creates interdisciplinary rigor, enthusiasm and energy and creates an opportunity to put together teams that achieve the critical mass that is essential to accomplishing our aspirational research goals.” Cyril Clarke, DVM, Dean of VMCVM and currently the interim executive vice president and provost of Virginia Tech

After President Tooke-Rawlins and Dean Clarke cut the ribbon, members of the faculty led guided tours of the labs for the audience and discussed their research projects. The development of the Center has allowed VCOM to pursue an innovative and cross-disciplinary research agenda that is in alignment with its core mission and values. VCOM and VMCVM researchers have a long history of fruitful collaboration, and this new enterprise will only enhance opportunities and increase its success. ■

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Serving Our Communities Wellness Initiative for our Neighborhood (WIN) provides free public access to an extensive range of health screenings, medical and prescription services, information booths, flu shots and more.

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CAROLINAS CAMPUS

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Alexis Stoner, PhD, MPH, VCOM-Carolinas Director for Preventative Medicine and Public Health in the mobile van.

Mobile Medical Unit Gift Helps VCOM Care for the Community R eGenesis Health Care donated a mobile medical unit to VCOM, a gift that improved the College’s ability to provide care in Spartanburg and throughout the southern Appalachian region. “We were so excited to get this unit out on the streets, making an impact in healthy outcomes for the Spartanburg community,” said Timothy Kowalski, DO, FACN, VCOM-Carolinas Dean. The primary purpose for use of the mobile medical unit will be to further the education of VCOM students and to improve access to healthcare throughout southern Appalachia. This vehicle allows students to gain practical skills under the supervision of VCOM faculty, giving the students a better understanding of patient care and the challenges faced by residents of rural and medically underserved areas.

Lives are shaped by the ways we treat each other. When those with resources, skill, connections and heart come together to dedicate their time to serving those in need, community is created, friendships are formed, healing takes place and ultimately the world is made a better place.

BY LILY KNIGHTS

T hese are the very ideas Medicine (VCOM)-Carolinas Department of Preventative Medicine and Public Health to develop Wellness Initiative for our Neighborhood (WIN), an ongoing collaborative preventative wellness event. WIN provides free public access to an extensive range of health screenings, medical and prescription services, information booths, flu shots and more. The first WIN event was held on October 27, 2017, at the Macedonia Baptist Church in Spartanburg. This bright Friday afternoon marked the debut of the VCOM-Carolinas newly renovated Mobile Medical Unit. The unit has two exam rooms equipped for medical and dental procedures, allowing patients to be treated on location, with dignity and privacy. that inspired the Edward Via College of Osteopathic

public regardless of insurance status, took place indoors and outdoors at the church. Outside, VCOM-Carolinas students and faculty served patients under tents and in the unit. Indoors, more services were offered, including vision screenings and prescription access. Staff and health professions volunteers were on hand to answer questions and provide direction and resources according to patients’ needs. This event also provided free food and transportation assistance. An integral part of the VCOM mission is to meet the needs of medically underserved populations, which is the purpose of WIN. Many of the patients who are served by traveling free clinics, such as the VCOM-Carolinas mobile unit, are low-income residents who often work multiple part-time jobs without insurance options. With such limits on time and resources,

The event, which was free to the

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accessing medical care can be challenging to impossible.

By teaming up with organizations such as ReGenesis Health Care, Access Spartanburg, Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System, Spartanburg Lions Club, Healthy Smiles of Spartanburg, Welvista, Clemson University and the Hub City Farmers Market, the WIN event went beyond offering access to doctors, nurses and other health professionals; this event provided education tools and resources with the power to impact the lives of patients in positive and far-reaching ways. VCOM-Carolinas is grateful to this supportive community for joining with us to make the first WIN event possible. This sort of collaboration just shows that there is no limit to what we can accomplish when our acts of service inspire others to serve as well. ■

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Staying Ahead of the Storm

Over the last year, our country has experienced disasters such as tornadoes, Hurricanes Harvey and Maria in Houston and Puerto Rico, as well as wildfires in the Pacific Northwest and California. One of the most important aspects for recovery in any disaster is for first-responders to have a plan and be trained how to respond to many situations. Disaster response training is part of the VCOM curriculum, and having medical students join together with local teams to plan for disaster benefits the whole community.

BY SCOTT GODWIN T he Auburn community and staff in conducting two disaster drill exercises last April alongside the Auburn University Office of Risk Management and Safety (AU RMS), the Opelika Fire Department, the City of Auburn Fire Division, the AU Campus Community Emergency Response Team (CCERT) and East Alabama Medical Center Emergency Medical Services (EAMC EMS). The first phase of the event in the morning featured a HAZMAT situation that was the result of a simulated collision between transit buses and a truck carrying joined together with VCOM- Auburn faculty, students

compressed gas cylinders. This accident resulted in the simulated leak of hydrogen sulfide, causing numerous casualties. Local firefighters donned chemical-resistant suits and simulated a response to the chemical release. Victims were then taken through a chemical decontamination wash tent operated evaluation, victims were taken to one of three simulated emergency rooms in the VCOM-Auburn building. Phase two involved a tornado striking the VCOM campus, causing heavy damage to the exterior of the building. Numerous casualties by RMS hazardous materials specialists prior to triage. After

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“ It was inspiring to see Auburn University and VCOM come together to make the day a success, which will hopefully translate into a safer, more prepared community for all of us.” J.J. White, DO, PhD, VCOM-Auburn Chair of Emergency Medicine

resulted, requiring the AU Campus Community Emergency Response Team (CCERT) to search out and rescue victims. Makeup simulating bruises, broken bones and lacerations were applied on students, who acted out the parts of injured, disoriented and struggling victims. “I think our faculty, staff and students did an exemplary job of taking the disaster scenarios seriously, completing their assigned roles with impressive competency and great enthusiasm,” said J.J. White, DO, PhD, VCOM-Auburn Chair of Emergency Medicine. “It was inspiring to see Auburn University and VCOM come together to make the day a success, which will hopefully translate into a safer, more prepared community for all of us,” added White.

“I think the students communicated very well as a team, they remained calm and worked together utilizing the skills that they have learned,” added Ashley Uvanni, another Class of 2019 VCOM student. In addition to treating injured patients from the disaster simulations, students practiced clinical procedures on manikin simulators including stitching, breathing tube insertion, intravenous needle insertion and chest tube insertions. served as a director in one of the simulated emergency rooms, and liked what he saw. “I thought the students did an excellent job,” said Brisson. They were able to make diagnoses and recommend treatments with minimal coaching,” said Brisson. ■ VCOM-Auburn’s Chair for Surgery, Paul Brisson, MD,

The disaster drill also served as a final exam for students to receive their National Basic Life Support certification. Students were debriefed after each scenario and evaluated on their response. “I thought today’s drills went well and were beneficial training to all the parties involved,” said Michael Freeman, a hazardous materials technician with the AU Office of Risk Management and Safety. “The afternoon session was great training for CCERT and the fire departments appreciated the suit time this morning,” Freeman added. “We’ll take what we learned and build on it for next year,” said Freeman. “This was a wonderful experience, and it is nice to get our heads out of the books and apply some of the knowledge we’ve learned over the last two years,” said VCOM Class of 2019 student Michael Oberle.

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Reaching One’s Full Potential VCOM Partners with Bluefield College for Master’s degree program.

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The hard work that happens in the four years between student doctors’ first stepping on campus and receiving their osteopathic degree is formative for how they will practice medicine and interact with patients. But even before that, how can a student successfully prepare for admission into medical school? BY KYLIE RUDDER T o help some students before medical school even starts, VCOM now offers a 1-year Master of Arts in Biomedical Sciences (MABS) degree in partnership with Bluefield College. This new degree is a transition VCOM is making from its very successful graduate certificate program, which had been a post- baccalaureate program in prior years. Keeping with much the same approach to providing students with a strong base-knowledge in the human and biomedical sciences, this new program will leave students with a master’s degree upon completion. Evin Guilliams, DO, post-baccalaureate Class of 2013 and VCOM-Virginia Class of 2017, has nothing but high praise for his formative year before starting medical school. “The post-[baccalaureate] program gave me the edge in medical school so I was able to hit the ground running. It was the best transition from an undergraduate mindset and workload to the performance level required of a medical student,” said Dr. Guilliams.

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Classes will begin the last full week of July 2018 in a classroom setting on the VCOM campus in Blacksburg, Virginia. The 35-credit-hour face-to-face curriculum has an emphasis on biomedical coursework, research experience, field study and seminars in professional development. “Bluefield College is excited about this new master’s program and the collaborative effort with the Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine,” said Bluefield College President Dr. David Olive. “This program will meet a tremendous need and be instrumental for those preparing for or teaching in the medical profession.” The one-year MABS curriculum will emphasize the biomedical sciences with a strong emphasis on human medicine and clinical applications. The program is designed for highly motivated students who wish to build their medical knowledge while also preparing for the rigor of medical school or other health science doctoral programs. “The program not only teaches higher level biomedical sciences but also teaches the participant how to be a better graduate student. It will give students an opportunity to reach their full potential,” said Dr. Brian Hill, Dean for Graduate Biomedical Education at VCOM. “It’s not easy, but you will be a better student and a better person when you come out of this program.” Students who successfully complete all requirements, including academic and individual performance benchmarks in the

“ The program not only teaches higher level biomedical sciences but teaches the participant how to be a better graduate student. It will give students an opportunity to reach their full potential.” Dr. Brian Hill, Dean for Graduate Biomedical Education, VCOM

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MABS, are guaranteed admission to the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) program on one of the three VCOM campuses, unlike similar programs that only guarantee an interview. The program grew from a VCOM graduate certificate program offered for over seven years and boasting more than 70 percent of its graduates gaining acceptance into a medical school or other professional program of the student’s choice. “In line with the mission of both institutions, the Master of Arts in Biomedical Sciences is offered to attract individuals from rural areas, low socioeconomic backgrounds, and underrepresented minority

Students in the MABS program will also have opportunities to use the knowledge they are learning in the classroom during three-day Appalachian outreach field experiences. In addition, with class sizes capped at 120 students, everyone will receive a high level of attention from administration and faculty providing a personalized live classroom experience. “VCOM and Bluefield College are committed to serving the needs of Southwest Virginia,” said Dr. Olive. “I am looking forward to the collaborative development of future programs that will further our missions in this region.” ■

groups, although acceptance is not limited to individuals from these clusters,” said Dr. Dixie Tooke-Rawlins, VCOM President and Provost. “The MABS will not only allow students to receive financial aid, but will also academically strengthen students who are interested in pursuing medical school or who professions or science programs,” said Dr. Emily Lambert, associate professor and chair of the Bluefield College Biology Department. “It will be much more advantageous than other post-baccalaureate programs and will give students a significant competitive edge,” Lambert added. need to meet or improve the requirements for other health

Students who successfully complete all requirements,

including academic and individual performance benchmarks in the MABS, are guaranteed admission to the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) program on one of the three VCOM campuses, unlike similar programs that only guarantee an interview.

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The scholarships created through the challenge will be offered to students who are committed to VCOM’s mission of improving the health of those living in rural and medically underserved areas.” Thim Corvin, Vice President for College Development and Alumni Relations

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DONOR SPOTLIGHT

The VCOM Endowed Scholarship Challenge A Unique Opportunity to Double the Impact of your Philanthropy BY THIM CORVIN

T he Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine (VCOM) intends to have more need-based scholarship opportunities available to its students, thanks to a new challenge issued by President and Provost Dixie Tooke- Rawlins, DO and the VCOM Board of Directors. According to President Tooke- Rawlins, “As an institution, one of our core missions is to provide access and opportunity to any qualified student seeking a medical education. To that end, the Board of Directors has committed funds that will strengthen the College’s endowed scholarship

campus locations: Blacksburg, Auburn or Spartanburg.

the health of those living in rural and medically underserved areas.

After a donor has made an outright gift or completed the first pledge payment, the matching scholarship funds will be awarded at the start of the following academic year. For example, if someone makes a gift by December 31, 2018, the scholarship will be awarded at the beginning of the 2019–2020 academic year. John G. Rocovich Jr., JD, LLM, Chairman of the Board of Directors, emphasized the instant and long- lasting effects of the endowed scholarship challenge, “While VCOM is ranked one of the most affordable of all private medical schools in tuition costs, matching funds will provide immediate financial aid while the pool of endowed funds grows as a permanent source of support. It will enable qualified students who are committed to our mission to receive an excellent medical education, no matter their family’s financial circumstances.” ■

Eligible Gifts All new endowed scholarship gifts of $100,000 or more (payable in up to five years) are eligible for the 1:1 match. For example, a gift of $100,000 will receive $100,000 in matching funds, augmenting its value to $200,000. Initially, this challenge match will provide a grant of $4,000 per year as a named scholarship award while the capital growth from the gift is reinvested in the donor’s endowment until it reaches the $200,000 endowment level. Gifts by individuals, corporations and foundations, as well as joint gifts by multiple donors, are also eligible as long as one of the donors guarantees to assume responsibility for the full amount of the endowed scholarship. Designating Scholarships Donors may restrict their scholarship for use by students attending any of the three VCOM

program for both current and future generations of VCOM students.”

The permanently named scholarships created through the challenge will be offered to students who are committed to VCOM’s mission of improving

For more information about the VCOM Endowed Scholarship Challenge, contact the Office of Development and Alumni Affairs at 540-231-7189 or development@vcom.edu.

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Donor Spotlight

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DONOR SPOTLIGHT

Accepting the Endowed Scholarship Challenge

BY KYLIE RUDDER N iyati Sheth, DO, is the VCOM as an alumna. It’s been a decade since Dr. Sheth graduated with VCOM’s inaugural class in 2007. She fondly talks about seeing the VCOM-Virginia campus when it only had a foundation and the time spent with her classmates that she still gushes about. “President Rawlins, who was then Dean Rawlins, made a huge impact on me. She said ‘you remind me a lot of myself.’ She was such as admirable woman, that I wanted to live up to that standard. I went home with such a full heart after that interview and I felt like I was where I wanted to be, even though I never thought I’d leave Oklahoma to go to medical school.” Following graduation, Dr. Sheth completed her residency and fellowship at the Cleveland Clinic. Now she is an infectious disease specialist living in Loraine, Ohio with her husband and two children. She talks excitedly about being involved with her son’s Parent- Teacher Association and in the same breath blends her thoughts into how important education is for everyone. “The gift of education is the best gift you can give somebody,” she said. perfect picture of what it looks like to give back to

When deciding how to give back to VCOM, Dr. Sheth had some stipulations that her gift had to meet and the Endowed Scholarship Challenge fit just what she was looking for. “This is permanent and somewhere out there, there is going to be a student who is heavily-reliant on a scholarship. As long as they excel in micro-biology and pharmacology, which is your

foundation of medicine, I believe, then they deserve this scholarship. It will carry the College through from year to year.” She encourages others to give back to the place that made them the doctors they are today. “We, as alumni, are now in a position that we can give. This college gave me my foundation and my roots, and I owe so much to this college and the people who taught me so much about not just medicine but life. I will always support VCOM in many ways.” ■ “ The gift of education is the best gift you can give somebody.” Niyati Sheth, DO VCOM Alumna, Inaugural Class of 2007

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The Merryman Family Scholarship Provides Inspiration

BY THIM CORVIN

T he late Floyd W. “Sonny” Merryman Jr., and his wife Lou have had a profound impact on elementary, high school and college students all across Virginia. Lifelong residents of Rustburg, Virginia, they founded a trailer equipment and bus dealership in 1967 that has grown to become one of the nation’s most prominent and distinguished bus dealers. Staunch champions of the virtues and rewards of education, Sonny and Lou have provided hundreds of young Virginians with scholarship assistance over the years.

Sadly, Sonny passed away in 2013 after a battle with cancer, but Lou and her children continue the legacy the couple began years ago. “The Merrymans’ attitude toward helping others is inspirational,” said Thim Corvin, Vice President for Development and Alumni Relations at VCOM. “Giving back is just something the Merryman family does automatically and instinctively. It is a deeply ingrained part of who they are.” Having grown up in rural Virginia, Lou understands the importance of educating and returning doctors to practice in rural and

medically underserved areas. After touring the campus and meeting with students, faculty and administration, she agreed a wonderful way to assist VCOM in its mission and also encourage students to become physicians and return to practice in rural areas was to create a scholarship in her husband’s name. The F. W. “Sonny” Merryman Jr. Family Endowed Scholarship Fund provides financial assistance for a student whose values align with the College. Those values include: duty, integrity, professionalism, altruism, and compassion. “Scholarships, like the Merryman Scholarship, are so much more than just putting a dent in the debt you will owe at the end of medical school. It is also motivation, support and inspiration from people who believe enough in you to provide such a gift,” said Madison Compton, VCOM-Virginia Class of 2020, the most recent recipient of the F.W. “Sonny” Merryman Jr. Family Endowed Scholarship Fund. ■

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DONOR SPOTLIGHT

“ ...It is also motivation, support, and inspiration from people who believe enough in you to provide such a gift.” Madison Compton VCOM-Virginia Class of 2020

Left to right: Pat Merryman,

Madison Compton, and Lou Merryman

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“ I am so impressed with how students and faculty truly ‘walk the talk’ of the College’s mission through its numerous medical outreach programs.” VCOMhas kept its focus on the rural and primary care health needs of people living in the region. Its

Georgia Anne Snyder-Falkinham

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DONOR SPOTLIGHT

Generous Donor Contributes Real Estate to Help Support VCOM and its mission

BY THIM CORVIN

G eorgia Anne Snyder-Falkinham providing medical care for those living in rural areas. This led in part to her decision to make a gift of real estate that is located adjacent to the Virginia campus. The property donated is intended for eventual use and growth of the College. Georgia Anne is a model of philanthropy and caring. Giving back her time and resources is just a natural part of who she is and what she does. Having built the Blacksburg, Virginia based Snyder & Associates Company as a leader in the Virginia building industry, she also remains very active serving on many community, regional and state boards, including the Radford University Foundation, W. E. Skelton 4-H Educational Conference Center at Smith Mountain and Virginia Tech. grew up in Franklin County, Virginia and understands the importance of

When asked about her most recent gift to the College, Snyder-Falkinham commented, “I am so impressed with how VCOM has kept its focus on the rural and primary care health needs of people living in the region. Its students and faculty truly ‘walk the talk’ of the College’s mission through its numerous medical outreach programs. It is gratifying and rewarding to be in a position to financially assist the College in preparing physicians to meet the needs of rural and medically underserved families.” A gift of real estate is a wonderful way to take an existing, appreciated asset and create a lasting legacy. Many types of real estate, including personal residences, farms, undeveloped land, and commercial properties, can be used to make a gift to VCOM. Donors of real estate receive an income tax deduction and avoid capital gains tax. In addition, an outright gift of real estate typically avoids maintenance costs, property taxes, insurance and other on-going expenses. ■

For more information about how a gift of real estate can assist VCOM in furthering its mission, please contact Thimothy Corvin, Vice President for Development and Alumni Relations at 540-231-7189 or tcorvin@vcom.edu.

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VCOM’s Rising Stars Honored VCOM’s national award-winning alumni, students and faculty gathered at OMED 2017. BY LINDSEY GROOMS

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STUDENT SPOTLIGHT

V COM faculty, staff, students and alumni joined other osteopathic physicians and medical schools from across the country at the Osteopathic Medical Education Conference (OMED) in Philadelphia. The conference, held October 7-10, 2017, served to bring together the osteopathic family to share knowledge with one another through continuing

medical education, special interest meetings and fellowship within the medical profession. The theme of the conference, “You belong. Here” reflected the profession’s tight-knit community of talented DOs. VCOM was honored to have so many of its members represented and recognized with awards, grants and poster presentations.

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AwardWinners

AOF Honors Celebration E ach year during OMED, the American Osteopathic Foundation (AOF) holds a celebration honoring leaders, innovators and shining stars of the osteopathic medical profession. VCOM had several students and alumni who were honored at this celebration. The Welch Scholars Grant provides support to help cover costs during a student’s osteopathic medical education. Recipients of these $1,500 grants have notable outstanding academic achievement and financial need, participate in extracurricular activities, and are strongly committed to osteopathic medicine. The Grant was awarded to Corban Caldwell, VCOM-Auburn Class of 2020; Dakotah Forell, VCOM- Virginia Class of 2019; and Megan

Sears, VCOM-Carolinas Class of 2019.

Established in 1993, the Donna Jones Moritsugu Memorial Award was created in memory of Donna Jones Moritsugu, wife of Dr. Kenneth P. Moritsugu, former Deputy Surgeon General of the United States, who was killed in an automobile accident. It is awarded to the partners of graduating osteopathic medical students who provide unwavering dedication and support. The Award was presented to Ingrid McDonald, partner of Brandon McDonald, DO, VCOM- Carolinas Class of 2017. VCOM Student serving as Student Director and Board Member of the AOF Sneha Shah, a member of VCOM- Virginia’s Class of 2019 spoke about the current burden of student debt and how this debt can impact the decisions about

Welch Scholars Grant Corban Caldwell Class of 2020 VCOM-Auburn

Welch Scholars Grant Megan Sears Class of 2019 VCOM-Carolinas

Welch Scholars Grant Dakotah Forell Class of 2019 VCOM-Virginia

DonnaJonesMoritsugu MemorialAward Ingrid McDonald, partner/spouse of Brandon McDonald, DO Class of 2017 VCOM-Carolinas

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AwardWinners

the specialty students pursue or where they ultimately practice medicine. She then introduced the finalists for the Golden Ticket Scholarship Award. The new “Golden Ticket” Scholarship Program recognizes exceptional osteopathic medical students while addressing the burden student loans place on upcoming generations of physicians. The winner receives a $25,000 scholarship, while runner- ups receive a $5,000 scholarship. Kortnee Koziara, a finalist for the Golden Ticket Scholarship, was drawn to medicine after her brother was diagnosed with cerebral palsy as an infant. As a result, “I was repeatedly exposed to the many difficulties patients and their families must navigate in order to receive medical care, which has deeply influenced my desire to practice pediatric medicine,” she said.

Dean of VCOM–Virginia, she is one of the most active student leaders. “She hit the ground running when she arrived at VCOM…She is a natural leader with remarkable interpersonal skills and the innate ability to connect with others,” Wilcox said. She is active in the Student Government Association, first as OMS I class representative, later elected as SGA president, as well as the Council of Osteopathic Student Government Presidents. She helped initiate a “big sibling” program at VCOM, pairing incoming students with older student mentors to provide support during their education. Osteopathic medical students honored with the Burnett Osteopathic Student Researcher Award , a $2,000 award, are dedicated to research. They will have developed a concept paper or performed osteopathic-oriented research while enrolled in osteopathic medical school.

DonnaJonesMoritsugu MemorialAward Yolanda Mabry, partner/spouse of Michael Mabry Class of 2017 VCOM-Virginia

Golden Ticket Scholarship Kortnee Koziara Class of 2018 VCOM-Virginia

According to Jan Wilcox, DO,

(continued)

Burnett Osteopathic Student Researcher Award Brian Joseph Di Giacinto, DO Class of 2017 VCOM-Carolinas

AOA Presidential Memorial Leadership Award Katherine D. Kirby Class of 2018 VCOM-Virginia

Sneha Shah, VCOM- Virginia student and AOF board member, speaking at the AOF Honors Gala.

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AwardWinners

education organization, which won Wittenberg’s Student Organization of the Year in 2012. The AOA Presidential Memorial Leadership Award , which amounts to $7,500, was established to honor the legacy of AOA Past Presidents and recognize current osteopathic medical students making great strides toward becoming one of the top student leaders. Katherine Kirby, VCOM-Virginia Class of 2018, was nominated for this award by AOA Past President Norman E. Vinn, DO and Jan Wilcox, DO, VCOM-Virginia Dean, who calls her “one of those students who can always be counted on for enthusiastic support of and whole-hearted involvement in a multitude of osteopathic endeavors.

The study that earned VCOM alumnus Brian Di Giacinto, DO, this award examined whether OMM was beneficial in treating chronic lower extremity ulcers in patients with longstanding edema. John H. Samies, MD, who oversaw this research project, calls Dr. Di Giacinto a role model to others. “He exemplifies the true spirit of human research in both his passion for this project and also in his unwavering commitment to protection and humanistic care of his patients.” His excellence has been previously recognized with several prestigious honors, including the ACOFP Peer Review Writing Internship and membership in the Sigma Sigma Phi osteopathic honor society and Beta Beta Beta National Biology & Research Honor Society. He also founded and served as 2010-2012 President of HEART, a student health peer

Thomas A. Quinn, DO Osteopathic Scholarship Joshua Alan Herring Class of 2019 VCOM-Virginia

Student Poster Award

“Best Overall Abstract” Katherine Smolinski Class of 2019 VCOM-Virginia

She has served as the Student Osteopathic Association’s (SOMA)

Faculty Grant Award

Clockwise top left: Deanna Plewa, VCOM-Carolinas; Sarah Cottrell- Cumber, VCOM- Virginia; and Kristen Punshon, VCOM-Auburn presented posters at the conference.

AOA Research Grant Per Gunnar Brolinson, DO Vice Provost for Research VCOM-Virginia

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STUDENT SPOTLIGHT

Student Poster Presentations and Awards

national public relations director since April 2016 and is the 2017 SOMA Foundation national chairperson. As a national liaison officer for SOMA’s VCOM-Virginia chapter, she oversaw fundraising and efforts to raise osteopathic awareness in the community. The Thomas A. Quinn, DO Osteopathic Scholarship was established for second-year osteopathic medical students. The recipient of this $1,000 scholarship has a strong enthusiasm for and proficiency in the use of Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine (OMM), excellent academic achievement, and is committed to osteopathic principles in practice and will continue to enhance those skills in residency. The Scholarship was awarded to Joshua Alan Herring, VCOM- Virginia Class of 2019.

Deanna Plewa, VCOM-Carolinas Class of 2019, presented her poster titled “The Other 45: Students teaching patients to improve student confidence and produce better patient-centered communication.” Sarah Cottrell-Cumber, VCOM- Virginia Class of 2019, presented her poster titled “Increased Frequency of White Matter Lesions with Artificial Sweetener Intake without Functional Difference in Multiple Sclerosis.” Faculty Grant Awards VCOM’s Per Gunnar Brolinson, DO, was one of the eight principle investigators, including five DOs, recently awarded more than $1 million total in AOA research grants to conduct osteopathically focused research projects. Dr. Brolinson’s grant was awarded for research in “Head impact biomechanics, concussion and osteopathic structural diagnosis and treatment.” Alumni Night A dinner cruise was held on October 8, 2017 to celebrate VCOM’s alumni on the Spirit of Philadelphia. This was a great opportunity to reconnect and for several students to have an opportunity to network with alumni. A group of 65 VCOM alumni, faculty, staff and students enjoyed an evening of scenic cruising, great food and entertainment. ■

Katherine Smolinski, VCOM- Virginia Class of 2019, received the Bureau of International Osteopathic Medicine’s (BIOM) “Best Overall Abstract” in both the Outreach and Research categories for her abstract “Love and Albendazole,” a narrative essay about her international medicine experience in Honduras. Kristen Punshon, VCOM-Auburn Class of 2019, gave a presentation at the poster session for the 2017 American Osteopathic Association (AOA) Osteopathic Medical Education Conference

Bureau of International Osteopathic Medicine in

Philadelphia. Punshon presented research titled, “An annual review of the VCOM Zika education and eradication program.”

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Research Review

Randal Gregg, PhD (left) and Jillian Bradley, PhD are researching ways to counter the Ebola virus.

VCOM-Carolinas Researchers Delve Into Ebola Virus Investigation

T he 2013-2016 West African Ebola virus epidemic brought widespread attention to the lack of basic knowledge about this infectious agent. So little is known about the pathogenesis of the virion that developing a treatment or vaccine has been significantly stalled. Researchers at VCOM-Carolinas are exploring a novel mechanism that the Ebola virus uses to shut down the body’s ability to fight off the infection. Class of 2019 VCOM-Carolinas students Nathan Gentry and Ashley Corey , were published in an article titled “Ebola virus secreted glycoprotein decreases the anti-viral immunity of macrophages in early inflammatory Jillian Bradley, PhD , and Randal K. Gregg, PhD, along with

“The work we’re doing could lead to a potential treatment for acutely infected Ebola patients,” said Dr. Bradley, “which is very positive news since currently only supportive care is available.” The Ebola virion contains a lipid membrane, called an envelope, and several different proteins. One of these proteins is secreted into the blood of infected individuals in especially high quantities. When the VCOM-Carolinas researchers examined this isolated protein, they found that it shut down specific immune cells called macrophages. Once disabled by the protein, the macrophages are prevented from launching a defense against the virus. This could allow the virus to spread throughout the body without much resistance.

in that it shuts down the anti-viral pro-inflammatory systems, but keeps the suppressive functions working,” Dr. Bradley explained. “This indicates that the protein is utilizing a specific mechanism to cause this inhibition.” What pathways are involved in this inhibition? What about other cell types in the immune system? Are the cells completely immobilized? Is there a way to counter this inhibition to give patients a fighting chance? The team’s future work will explore these questions, among many others. Hopefully, their findings will aid in determining a treatment that will allow the immune system to fight the Ebola virus, clearing the infection from the body and ultimately helping create more efficient vaccines to prevent the threat of a widespread outbreak in the future. ■

responses,” published in the journal Cellular Immunology.

“Interestingly, the protein seems to work in a very specific manner

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RESEARCH

VCOM Researchers studying the human

genome are (left) Harold “Skip” Garner, PhD, and (right) Nick Kinney, PhD.

Why Are African American Women More Likely to Die from Breast Cancer?

I n 2014, African American Caucasian women. Researchers at VCOM-Virginia have found a genetic link explaining why this has happened. The team used computer programs to go through large amounts of microsatellites, DNA that repeats itself, to discover genes that have not previously been linked to breast cancer—one of which was ZDHHC3. “Studies about a decade ago where able to find that there was something going on with breast cancer in this part of the chromosome. But they weren’t able to identify the gene before we had all of the computing power we do now,” said Nick Kinney, PhD, first author of the paper published in Cancer Informatics, post-doctoral research fellow and assistant professor at VCOM. women were 43% more likely to die from breast cancer than

that has reduced cancer deaths is early detection – much more significantly than chemotherapy, radiation or anything else,” said Harold “Skip” Garner, PhD, Executive Director for Primary Care Research Network and The Center for Bioinformatics and Genetics at VCOM, and Senior Research Member at the Gibbs Cancer Center.

Currently, the most powerful and often used tests to determine genetic risks of getting breast cancer, are the BRCA1 and BRCA2 tests. These gene mutations are found in approximately five percent of breast cancer patients, while the newly discovered ZDHHC3 variant is found in about 10 percent of breast cancer patients making it stronger. These findings are important to women as a whole for knowing if one has a genetic pre-disposition to getting breast cancer. Late-stage

This research is part of VCOM’s mission to promote research to improve human health and will— quite literally—change lives. ■ “ The thing that has reduced cancer deaths is early detection–much more significantly than chemotherapy, radiation or anything else.” Harold “Skip” Garner, PhD

chemotherapy on average only extends the life of someone with cancer for weeks to months, but finding cancer sooner greatly improves survival odds. “The thing

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VCOM-Auburn Featured Research

Wei Lui, PhD

Courtney Gamston, ScM, PharmD, BCPS

Textiles and Human Performance V COM-Auburn and the Auburn University Samuel Ginn College of Engineering received a $2 million grant to study how new and traditional textiles compare as they relate to human performance, specifically in warfighters. Performance will be evaluated in the Rehabilitation and Biomechanics lab at VCOM- Auburn. VCOM-Auburn’s Wei Liu, PhD, Associate Professor for Biomedical Affairs and Research, will collaborate with P.I. Pradeep Lall, PhD, MBA, on this study. Multiple Sclerosis Treatment Rehabilitation Liu will also take part in a $250,000 grant awarded by the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. Liu will

Through 2014-2015,” the paper was published in the American Journal of Sports Medicine in 2017. The purpose of the study was to understand the epidemiology of these injuries, which varied by player position and event. The study suggested areas of emphasis for injury prevention, primarily involving the prevention of overuse injuries and the limitation of fatigue. Liu was especially proud of the three years of work that went into this study. “The benefit of this study is to provide evidence-based information on how to prevent these types of injuries and lay the foundation for future studies using biomechanics testing to optimize treatment options,” said Liu.

work with P.I. Sarah Minden, MD, Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School. According to Liu, VCOM-Auburn will bring its expertise in treatment rehabilitation to this project. Sports Injuries in High School Athletes Studied As part of a team including P.I. Michael Saper, DO, ATC, and renowned sports medicine doctor James Andrews, MD, Liu was involved in a study that explored high school baseball player shoulder and elbow injuries in the U.S. Titled “Epidemiology of Shoulder and Elbow Injuries Among United States High School Baseball Players School Years 2005-2006

The benefit of this study is to provide evidence-based information on how to prevent these types of injuries...” Wei Liu, PhD

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