VCOM View Vol 9-1

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.”

winter 2018 | VCOM V iew M agazine 35