December 2017 Issue - Vista View by Rocky Vista University

Award Winning Newsletter

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VISTA VIEW

December 2017 Newsletter

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Welcome, RVUCOM-SU's Inaugural Class of 2021! Page 4 Inside: Honoring Our Country's Heroes

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RVU Honors PAs Throughout History

The Spooky Side of RVUCOM-CO

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Page 15

Children play at RVUCOM-CO's Fall Festival

Table of Contents 4

Welcome, RVUCOM-SU's Inaugural Class of 2021!

"Is There a Doctor on the Plane?"

Innovate! Innovate! Innovate!

Campus Tidbits

High School Students Learn About Health Care at RVU's MASH Camp

The Annual Map and Orienteering Course

Achieving New Heights

Honoring Our Country's Heroes

Ensuring the Future of Rural Health in Colorado

Posters and Presentations at Research Appreciation Day

Welcome to our New Faculty and Staff

Letter from RVU Alumni Association President

RVU Alums Gather at OMED '17

Spotlight on Alumni: Lt. Mark J. Steinmetz, MC, USN, DO '15

RVU Honors Physician Assistants Throughout History

The Phenomenal Fall Festival at RVUCOM-SU

Want to see even more photos from each RVU event? Visit our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/RockyVistaUniversity!

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A Time for Joy

by Clinton E. Adams, DO, FACHE, President and CEO As we approach the close of another year, it is a wonderful American—and, may I say, for most of our earthly family— tradition to pause regardless of our religious beliefs and to surround ourselves by family and friends, singing praises of joy. At RVU, our family has much to be joyful about. We have grown during this past year with the inclusion of the RVUCOM-SU campus, as well as our growing MSBS and Physician Assistant staff and faculty. The richness of new friends and colleagues is to be cherished, celebrated, and allowed to grow into lifelong relationships.

Please enjoy a blessed and safe holiday. Pause and be mindful of those who may struggle at this time of year for reasons we may not know, but please reach out with a caring and supportive embrace. May God bless all of us as we continue to work tirelessly to provide our students with the best education possible.

"There Is No Crying in Baseball or Medicine" by Thomas N. Told, DO, FACOFP, dist., Dean and CAO

The 1992 film, "A League of Their Own," portrays a fictionalized account of the true history of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League during World War II. After all the male baseball players are drafted, league owners turn to women's baseball to fill schedules and keep fans coming to the ballparks. Tom Hanks plays the manager of the Rockford Peaches, an all-women team. In one scene, a Peaches player makes a wrong throw, setting up a tying run for the opposing team and dimming Rockford’s bid for a spot in the World Series. In typical general manager fashion, Hanks gives her a loud, animated baseball critique complete with plenty of expletives. This attack evokes an immediate wall of tears from the shocked ballplayer to whom Hanks then utters the now famous line: "What?! Are you crying? There is no crying in baseball." Since that movie first aired, every field of labor has substituted the name of their occupation in place of the word "baseball" to complete those lines. When I saw the movie for the first time, that was my instant reaction too: there absolutely is no room for crying in medicine. Before you write me off as an outdated relic who is not living in the real world, let me clarify that statement. I am not talking about the soft tears that well up naturally in our eyes when we witness or are engaged in sincere acts of kindness, empathy, and selfless service. I am talking about the brash, selfish tears of "I don’t want to," "It’s not fair," and "That’s stupid...I don’t need it." Looking back over my ever-lengthening career as a physician, I have experienced plenty of times where I had to hold my tongue, count to one thousand, and, yes, keep from crying due to immense disappointment and sheer frustration. No occupation that deals with the human race can escape it. Those who feel they need to always be in total control of their

time or activities to avoid disappointment, conflict, and frustration should pick another occupation. I submit to you that it is the healers and health care professionals, rather than athletes and entertainers, that need to develop the coping skills for not shedding tears, lashing out, or taking every unpleasant interaction personally. We are expected to mitigate suffering and conflict—not create or promote it. We are expected to be tougher than most in order to thoughtfully confront and treat the horrible maladies that can enter our doors each day. Developing that skill and selfcontrol needs to begin on the first day of medical training. Civilizations have always given their healers the unique responsibility to study, understand, and treat those conditions that distorted people’s minds, decimated their bodies, and broke their spirits. For that privilege, society demanded that these physicians or healers be held to a higher standard of conduct and accountability than that of the rest of the population. As medical students, you will be judged by that same high standard as you learn to operate fully in the house of medicine. Lynn M. Kirk MD, and Linda Blank, editors for the New England Journal of Medicine, observed that from the thousands of applicants to medical school, only a few will be given a "learner's permit" to medical licensure. Just like the learner's permit granted for driving, there may be more privileges given to the recipient—but there are many more demands and responsibilities required of them. In the case of medical students, that learner's permit lands them in the same glass house physicians live in every day, where all their errors of Continued on page 20

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Welcome, RVUCOM-SU's Inaugural Class of 2021! With the sun rising in the red mountains behind them, RVUCOM-SU's Inaugural Class of 2021 filed down the steps of the Tuacahn Amphitheatre on September 16th. On the stage of the outdoor venue, storefronts and advertisements reminiscent the early-1900s provided the backdrop in preparation of that evening's showing of "Newsies." DOcappella, RVUCOM-SU's singing group, opened the White Coat Ceremony with the national anthem, followed by an invocation by Chaplain Francis of the Southern Utah Veterans Home. Maha Sallam, PhD, Chair of the Board of Trustees, and Clinton E. Adams, DO, FACHE, President and CEO of RVU, each welcomed the class in turn. Chris Hart, Mayor of Ivins, offered words of welcome to both the new students and to Rocky Vista University as a whole, then offered a Key to the City to Yife Tien, Founder of RVU. The keynote speech was provided by Thomas N. Told, Dean of RVUCOM. He recounted his time as a boy in Southern Utah, the shortage of rural physicians, and the years he spent trying to build an osteopathic medical school in the state. Next, David Park, FAAFP, FACOP, Campus Dean of RVUCOM-SU, explained the significance of the physician's white coat. For their big moment, the students filed on stage to be coated by RVUCOM-SU faculty. As they looked out over the audience, smiling proudly and searching for loved ones, they received their white coats, symbolizing the beginning to their medical careers. For the final segment of the ceremony, they recited the Class Vision Statement they had collectively written, vowing to honor the values of integrity, excellence, and innovation, to devote themselves to osteopathic medicine, to obtain an education rooted in evidence-based medicine, and to create a positive and supportive environment with their colleagues.

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RVUCOM-SU Class of 2021 Vision Statement We, the inaugural Class of 2021 at Rocky Vista University College of Osteopathic Medicine, representing the Southern Utah Campus: establish a tradition of integrity, excellence, and innovation for the current and VOW tofuture students of our Southern Utah campus. attain an education rooted in evidence-based medicine and to do so with a SEEK tobalance of humility and confidence. create a positive and supportive environment that encourages PLEDGE tocollaboration and mutual success, celebrating our individual strengths while cultivating lifelong relationships.

to upholding the rich heritage and philosophy of Osteopathic DEVOTE ourselves medicine by serving as role models and advocating within our communities for a high level of wellness in mind, body, and spirit.

be pioneers in the development of new healthcare technologies and pracSTRIVE totices, advancing medical knowledge in a changing world. our future patients in a supportive and caring COMMUNICATE with manner that bridges the gap between healthcare and individuals.

COMMIT

to remain passionate, curious, and dedicated in pursuing our dreams, both personally and professionally.

We are RVUCOM-SU Class of 2021!

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High School Students Learn About Health Care at RVUâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s MASH Camp Forty-seven students from local high schools attended the Medical Academy of Science and Health (MASH) Camp in September at RVUCOM-CO, organized and hosted by Rotary Community Corps of RVU (RCC/RVU). The camp gives high school students an interactive glimpse into the world of health care and the careers it offers. The event was filled with guest speakers, workshops, and activities like splinting, injections, ultrasound, and a cadaver lab demonstration. Beau Condie, OMS II, led a workshop on taking a patientâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s vitals and medical history. "Students left with a better understanding of how to build trust with patients and obtain important information aiding in diagnosis," he said. "We had a wonderful time conversing with the MASH Camp participants and felt reenergized by their interest in health care." Students practiced basic suture techniques on skin pads. "It was to our great excitement when students inquired if they could come to our stations once more or if they could even skip lunch to continue suturing," said Leva Gorji, OMS II. Students were also taught how (and when) to perform intramuscular, subcutaneous, and intradermal injections, with students practicing on oranges and hotdogs. "I thought the event was a great way to get high school students in the community interested in the health field and to get hands-on experience with some of the things they will be learning if they decide to continue on that career path," said Tiffany Tahata, OMS II. "It was rewarding to be able to interact with them and teach them to help foster their interest in the health field." The camp concluded with participants receiving a MASH Camp t-shirt and a certificate of completion. "MASH Camp was an amazing experience," said Molly McLellan, OMS II. "I was humbled by the passion and aspirations of our high school participants. They reminded me what a privilege it is to study health care. For example, when one participant held a brain for the first time, she exclaimed, 'This is crazy. I am holding someone's everything!'"

"Students were enthralled with their ultrasound scans as it allowed them to watch what was happening under their skin in real time. Their faces really lit up with the realization that they were watching their own muscles moving." - Claire Simon, OMS II

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The Annual Map and Orienteering Course RVUCOM-CO students in the Rural and Wilderness Medicine (R&WM) Track gathered on a beautiful fall day in Castlewood Canyon to practice their nagivational skills. They were tasked with locating injured patients using only maps and compasses as their guides. Once the patients were located, students assessed the injuries, then either treated or transported them (via stretchers created from available materials) to a waiting ambulance. Among the injured was a man experiencing cardiac distress, a biker with a head injury and a broken arm, another biker with severely bruised ribs and an injured shoulder, and finally, a pregnant woman in labor. South Metro Fire Rescue participated in the training by providing instruction to the medical students, such as how to transport patients. "Having the opportunity to leave the classroom behind and learn from our local EMS and fire crews is invaluable," said Elizabeth Stoll, OMS II. "It is so much fun to work with our classmates, assess patients in the field, and make split-second decisions that will one day save lives. I am very grateful for the R&WM Track and the hands-on training it provides us." "[In June], the R&WM Track took a trip to Wyoming, where we learned the basics of triage, first response, and mass-casualty management," said Charlotte Ballantine, OMS II. "[In this exercise], we revisited some of those skills: working as a group, designating roles, making a plan, staying calm, and communicating with each other and EMS personnel. There were still mistakes made, but I really enjoyed seeing the gains we had made as a group since our first day in Wyoming."

WMSIG Treats Falls and Fractures in the Great Outdoors The Wilderness Medicine Student Interest Group (WMSIG) at RVUCOM-SU went on a 9.5-mile hike in Dixie National Forest, for one of their regular monthly excursions in different terrains. "[WMSIG's] goal is to combine students' love for outdoor recreation with practical insight on performing emergency care in the field," said Alexander Hetrick, OMS I. "For each trip, participants are assigned individual learning objectives regarding emergency care for [common] injuries in that activity." This way, each student not only gains medical knowledge, they also develop leadership skills. The students trekked to the top of Signal Peak, received lessons from one another in treating falls and superficial wounds while in an isolated, outdoors area. They also created makeshift braces for fractures out of old t-shirts and checked for concussions.

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Honoring Our Country's Heroes

RVU has a tradition of honoring the military as old as the school itself. From the executives who had once served themselves to the students currently serving or preparing to serve upon graduation, the armed forces is a valued part of the RVU experience. "Being able to learn from military physicians is an amazing opportunity unique to RVU. The insights and wisdom given by these men and women have helped prepare me for a future as an officer, physician, and leader," said Steven Prueitt, OMS II. In September, both campuses held Military Appreciation Ceremonies with military dignitaries providing the keynote speeches: Dr. James Caruso, Chief Medical Examiner and Coroner for City of Denver, in Colorado and Tony Moore, a retired Commander in the U.S. Navy, in Utah. Active-duty students and Health Professions Scholarship Program recipients were recognized for their service. "It was heartwarming and inspiring to see how many of my fellow classmates were sacrificing their time and talents to serve our country (or making a commitment to serve in the future)," said Andrew Jeon, OMS I. On November 11th, there was a Veterans Day celebration to pay tribute not only to veterans, but also to anyone who has lost a loved one in war or has had a loved one away at a deployment for months or years on end. In Southern Utah, RVU also sponsored Run for the Vets & Annual Stan Snow Fun Run, which honors veterans and raises awareness for their challenges.

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Posters and Presentations at Research Appreciation Day Every year, the Research and Scholarly Activity Committee at RVU organizes Research Appreciation Day in order toâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;you guessed itâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;appreciate the research that students, faculty, and staff had conducted and presented throughout the year. While presenters may travel around the country, and even the world, to present their findings at conferences and symposiums, Research Appreciation Day is the event that brings all of the posters and presentations back home. During the poster session, visitors wander around the poster-lined hallway and talk to the authors about their research and findings. This year's keynote speaker, Carol Saunders, PhD, FACMG, Clinical Director of the Center for Pediatric Genomic Medicine at Children's Mercy Hospital, spoke on "Shortening the Diagnostic Odyssey in Pediatric Testing." In a year of firsts, this was also the first time Research Appreciation Day was streamed live, with the RVUCOM-SU watching from their own auditorium. Following the oral presentations by students, at RVUCOM-SU, Jing Gao, MD, FAIUM, Assistant Professor of Ultrasound, gave a presentation on "Research in Medical Ultrasound: A Brief Introduction." Meanwhile, RVUCOM-CO held an award ceremony, handing out awards. First Place winners included: Jordan Walker, OMS II (Oral Presentation); Lorne Muir, OMS I (Poster - Biomedical Research); Gavin Cardwell, OMS III (Poster - Clinical Research); and, Briana Tillman, OMS III (Poster - Medical Education and Epidemiology).

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RVU Honors Physician Assistants Throughout History Gathered in the Frank Ritchel Ames Memorial Library at RVUCOM-CO, faculty, staff, and students celebrated the history of the Physician Assistant profession with a reception. Among the RVUers, there were other special guests: family members of Roy Havens, one of Colorado's first physician assistants—and the father to our own Dan Havens, Director of Public Safety and Security. Earlier in the month, RVU received a traveling exhibit from the National Library of Medicine, titled, "Physician Assistants: Collaboration and Care." The exhibit was a large, six-panel display describing how the PA profession developed as a solution to meet the social and health care needs of the mid-20th century and continues to evolve today. There were also a variety of books and other materials. While the exhibit had traveled to many schools across the country already, RVU had something special to add to the display: personal memorabilia from Roy's career, including a scrapbook created by the Physician Assistant Program at RVU. During the reception, Clinton E. Adams, DO, FACHE, President and CEO, told of Roy's medical contributions to Colorado residents. Roy, who passed away in 2016, opened the Havens Family Clinic in Cañon City, helping the residents of the medically underserved area—as well as the occasional horse or cow. Roy also served as a flight surgeon for the U.S. National Guard. "Roy Havens was the exemplar of the physician assistant profession and we are honored to recognize his service," said Dr. Adams. A plaque, dedicated to Roy, was presented to his wife, Linda, his brother, Kim, and to Dan. "This is a great tribute to my father and I am very proud that Rocky Vista University honored him in this way. The University will forever be part of our family," said Dan. Debra F. Nickell, PhD, MBA, PA-C, Program Director of Physician Assistant Program, said, "There is no better way to introduce the new PA program than by surrounding ourselves in the rich history of the profession. We [honored] one of our own and his service to rural Colorado with the backdrop of the new exhibit. Our students will have his legacy to live up to, a high standard we will expect of every graduate."

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Celebrating Diversity

On November 10th, the Diversity Committee at RVU kicked off a new, ongoing event: Days of Diversity. This series is designed to help students and employees alike "discover the world around us and the world within us." For students who are preparing to be physicians, this raises their awareness about the unique challenges and perspectives of the diverse populations they can expect to treat one day. For the first event, RVUCOM-CO held "Stronger United Than Divided," which consisted of a privilege walk (in which students stepped forward if a statement applied to them, highlighting that people receive different types of "privileges" while others may not), followed by a discussion. RVUCOM-SU held "Cultural Competency through Identity Circles," which focused on how personal identities are developed and the factors that influence each person, and "Heads Up - Medical School Edition," which exposed students to potentially difficult conversations they may encounter with diverse individuals. Watch for upcoming Days of Diversity events!

RVUers Get a Dose of Endorphins

One of the best ways to destress from hours of cramming for an exam or from working on a difficult work project is to boost your endorphins. Hosted by the Department of Student Affairs, the Physical Activity Peer Mentors, and the Wellness Committee, the Endorphin Fix program gets RVUers out of their chairs and onto their feet with a series of exercise-based activities. In November, staff and students at RVUCOM-CO pulled on their cowboy boots and hats for some good ol' linedancing. At RVUCOM-SU, students participated in Tai Chi, Yin Yoga, and Guided Relaxation. See the back cover for upcoming Endorphin Fix events at both campuses!

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The Phenomenal Fall Festival at RVUCOM-SU

by Truman Smith, Administrative Assistant, Department for Biomedical Sciences, Medical Humanities, and Structural Medicine On the night of October 28th in Ivins, the fun and spooky ambiance of Halloween crept into RVU. The Student Affairs Department cast its hocus-pocus spell and, from this magic, the Fall Festival was born. Students brought their families, dressed in costume and prepared to participate in the evening’s events. A wide array of wacky games met them as soon as they stepped onto the haunted campus. In the parking lot, employees assembled a Trunk-or-Treat for the children. Inside, students and families were welcomed to their choice of Halloween activities. They tested their technical skills with pumpkin painting and carving, they exercised their strategy skills with pumpkin tic-tac-toe, they lost their breath at the spider races, and they sang karaoke at the top of their lungs. Each activity was well-constructed and thoroughly enjoyed by each participant. Three contests were held: Best Costume, Best Carved Pumpkin, and a Chili Cookoff! First-year student Andrew Hunt’s kids dressed up as the Sherlock Holmes gang, which led them to a first-place victory in the costume contest. Katie Zuspan, OMS I, won the pumpkin carving competition with a comical display of a pumpkin retching guacamole. Fujiko Rose Matsui, OMS I, put her culinary skills to the test which led her to first prize in the Chili Cookoff. The students were happy to participate and compete in each contest and loved the night’s ventures. The best part of the celebration was that it was a time for faculty, staff, students and their families to simply have fun and relax. Medical school is difficult for everyone involved and having some time to forget about the daily drudges of medicine was appreciated by everyone. Getting dressed up in a ridiculous costume and eating candy was the perfect way to blissfully unwind. "The Fall Festival was a spectacular success," said Sam Zarbock, OMS I. "It was a great, family-friendly event. The chili was excellent and costumes were on point. Can’t wait for next year!" RVUCOMSU’s first Fall Festival was a marvelous accomplishment and we look forward to many, many more festivals to come.

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The Spooky Side of RVUCOM-CO

Scattered across the RVUCOM-CO lawn, children darted from booth to booth: playing games, decorating cookies, jumping in the bounce house, and climbing through an obstacle course. A princess here, a Peter Pan there. A ninja and Minions working side-by-side, painting pumpkins. Each booth was created and manned by a different student club or track. In the field, Dan Havens, Director of Public Safety and Security, drove a tractor, pulling a trailer filled with haystacks and giddy children. "Fall festival was such a blast!" said Brady Hansen, OMS II. "[The] clubs did an excellent job of putting together their activities and making it fun for all ages." Many of the visitors were the children of RVUers or from the nearby performing arts school. "People came from all over the Denver area to see what the RVU Fall Festival was about," said SD Hansen. "One lady (who had never heard of RVU) drove from Northern Denver because her friend told her how good it was [last year]. Fall Festival was not only a great event for the local community, but also a great way to educate people on the various medical programs that are offered at RVU. It was so much fun to volunteer and see the smiling faces."

Halloween Hullabaloo in the Library Vista View

Achieving Your Academic Goals by Judy Thornton, MA, Director of Educational Support

• Be an active learner. Involve yourself when you are reading, writing, speaking and listening. Take notes, make charts, pictures and graphs. Talk with your classmates about what is important, teach each other key concepts. • Ask questions about topics before, during, and after lectures. If you don’t ask questions, you won’t be able to determine what you know and don’t know. • Integrate and apply concepts. The content of every lecture is a system of interconnected ideas and concepts, never a random list of things to memorize. Study like a detective, continually relating new learning to what you already know. • Practice thinking about fundamental concepts and principles of the course during class. Don’t sit back, waiting for knowledge to fall into your head—it won’t. • Relate content to real-life experiences. If you can’t apply concepts to your life or that of a future patient, you don’t know it. • Ask yourself if you can explain the information to someone else. If not, then you haven’t learned it well enough. • Ask questions to fill in the missing pieces. Can you elaborate further on the topic you are studying? Can you give an example? If you can’t give examples, you aren’t connecting what you are learning. • Quiz yourself before lecture. Summarize the main points/topics/concepts from the previous lecture. If you can’t, you haven’t learned them. • Write summaries in your own words of the important points from your lectures, textbook, and other readings. This is an effective way of learning. Make up your own test questions and write out the answers. • Frequently test your listening skills. Are you actively listening for main points/concepts? Can you summarize what the lecturer has said in your own words? Can you elaborate the key terms in your own words? • Frequently test your reading skills. Are you reading actively? Did you ask yourself questions before, during and after your reading? Were you able to determine what you understood from what you didn’t? • Find the key concept of the course. All courses have some inherent unity that, when you understand it, will tie all the learning of the course together. The unity is typically found in the foundational ideas that define the course and its goals.

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"Is There a Doctor On the Plane?"

Chantal Yousif, OMS IV, was on a flight headed to a residency interview when she heard over the plane's loudspeaker the question we so often hear only in movies and books: "Are there medical personnel on board that can help with an emergency?" She was hesitant to step forward at first. "As a medical student, I don't have my medical license yet and there's a gray area around what we’re allowed to do," she said. "You can't prescribe [medications]. You can’t set up IVs or administer oxygen without a license." Despite her original hesitation, she felt it was her duty to step forward and help. When SD Yousif arrived at the patient's seat, she found a woman slumped over her food tray. The patient's daughter said that her mother was diabetic and had taken medication. The passenger started to regain consciousness but was not able to respond to questions or make eye contact. SD Yousif determined that oxygen may be of aid to the patient and the flight attendant administered it. The potential legal ramifications occurred to SD Yousif even at the moment: "I don't think that was something I could have authorized as a medical student," she said. "In a hospital, it requires a prescription to administer oxygen and, without a license, I am not able to do that. It seems like a minute detail, but it is something that goes through your head."

Ivins Heritage Days Students from RVUCOM-SU participated in Ivins Heritage Days in September. This is an annual event that celebrates the history of the town. Students walked in the parade, handed out bouncy balls to encourage physical fitness, and took blood pressure readings at a booth. Over the course of two days, a total of 16 students volunteered their time and energy. "It was a great way to be involved with the community and to represent RVU," said Ben Robbins, OMS I. "I also benefitted from the extra [medical] experience."

By this time, two more people had stepped forward to help with the emergency: a pharmacist and a nurse. The pharmacist discovered that the passenger was on a diuretic. At this point, the patient had become more cognizant so SD Yousif asked her questions to determine the severity of the situation. "I ascertained that the patient did not have a seizure and was not having a heart attack or stroke," she said. The patient explained that she had taken a higher dose of the diuretic than usual and had not had enough to eat or drink that morning. The ordeal was a true learning experience for SD Yousif. "I realized that the medical resources on a plane are very limited," she said. "The oxygen only lasts for fifteen minutes and using a stethoscope on a plane is very difficult because you can't hear anything [over the engine]! The blood pressure cuff was a wristlet style and those types of cuffs often give erroneous readings. Much of what you have to rely on is your gut feeling. All of that leads to a very difficult physical exam!" Because of the difficult circumstances, SD Yousif instead listened to the patient's heart and felt her pulse to get a physical reading rather than relying on the blood pressure cuff. Observing that the patient's blood pressure was low and knowing she was diabetic, SD Yousif recommended she drink orange juice. SD Yousif continued to sit with the woman, monitoring her condition. Gradually, the patient began to feel better. The flight attendants asked if the situation would require them to divert the plane for an emergency landing. It was determined that the patient was stable enough to continue the flight. Upon landing, paramedics transported the patient off the plane. "Overall, it was a very stressful experience but, at the same time, Dr. [Jill] Pitcher’s and Dr. [Joseph] Stasio's Clinical Medicine Labs really helped me. I learned how to work with patients and do physical examinations in the labs, so it was second nature to me; it wasn't something I had to think about." A few days after the trip, SD Yousif received a $400 travel voucher from the airline for helping with the medical emergency, which she is using to set up more residency interviews!

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Constitution Day

Each year, the library staff challenges themselves to improve library services by creating bigger events than the year before. This year was no exception. Their dedicated team of professionals from the Colorado and Utah campuses came together to host one of the biggest Constitution Day celebrations to date. Festivities across both campuses ranged from Constitutional Jeopardy, crossword puzzles, prizes, cake, and a chance to take selfies with George Washington.

RVUCOM-CO Hosts First Health Professions Fair

Admissions has been very busy over the last few months with interviews (which began at both campuses in September), local school visits, and recruiting trips. In December, RVUCOM-CO hosted an Open House, larger than any other in the past! There were several demonstrations on Stop the Bleed first aid, ultrasound, and osteopathic manipulations. Visitors were encouraged to tour the building on their own, finding students in various labs and rooms who provided information on programs, curriculum, and more. Most excitingly, many other Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine came to RVU for the health professions fair and discussion panel. This was the first time many of them had visited the campus and the first time there was an osteopathic-focused health fair in Colorado! "I want to give a shout out to our Student Ambassadors, the EM and Ultrasound Clubs, the Tracks, and the OPP Fellows for their tremendous help with this event," said Cyndi Windecker, Admissions Counselor. "The participation from the COMs, local advisors, and pre-med students was overwhelming, making the evening a success!"

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Innovate! Innovate! Innovate!

by David Park, DO, FAAFP, FACOFP, Campus Dean for RVUCOM-SU In real estate, it is well-known that "location, location, location" is the most important criteria in predicting property value and its future return on investment. In technology, the company that can "innovate, innovate, innovate" will lead the industry in product development and new market growth. I often liken RVU to another for-profit organization that has established itself as a leader in the highly competitive tech industry. This Cupertino, California-based company has achieved tremendous success through their relentless commitment and focus on innovation. Of course, I am referring to Apple. RVUâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s organizational culture has been guided by the six core values of integrity, compassion, collegiality, excellence, diversity, and service. Earlier this year, a seventh core value was adopted by our leadership. This seventh core value is innovation and it enhances our vision of achieving new heights in medical education. I define innovation as intellectual creativity in trying to make something better and having the courage to give it a shot. Through our short history, RVU has done just that. We were the first osteopathic medical school in the country to incorporate cut-suit simulation training, first-year ultrasound training, and special tracks and elective courses. We led the way and now many other schools are following the paths that we have developed. We have embraced innovation and technology to simultaneously deliver a medical school curriculum to two campuses 500 miles apart. We are using innovation to provide didactic content. We are using innovation in communications. We are using innovation to improve each course every time it is delivered. We are using innovation to continually develop simulation training opportunities, particularly for our clinical clerkship curriculum. As Dr. Told mentioned in his previous Vista View editorial titled "This is the Place," we were and continue to be pioneers. RVU has achieved much as innovative pioneers and I believe RVU is great! However, I also believe that the biggest threat to sustained greatness is complacency. So, to constantly achieve new heights as leaders in medical education, let us develop our growth mindset and always innovate, innovate, innovate! Now if only I had the mindset to invest in Apple when Forrest Gump didâ&#x20AC;Ś

Rocky mountain OPTI Conducts ultrasound Workshop by Kyle LaValley, MBA, Rocky Mountain OPTI Administrator

RMOPTI continues to expand its educational offerings for affiliated residency programs by including the Point of Care Ultrasound Workshop. The workshops are offered quarterly and are run by Dr. John Kendall from University of Colorado. With the always-evolving field of medicine, it is important for residents and faculty members to have the opportunity to learn new skills and techniques. The point of care ultrasound represents an entirely different paradigm of ultrasound. This portable technology allows the provider to incorporate ultrasonography into his or her thought process throughout the patient encounter. Some of the learning objectives in this course include basic cardiac evaluation, airway and pulmonary assessment, abdominal assessment, hemodynamic assessment, and other regional ultrasound techniques. The advantages include improved patient outcomes, higher accuracy, and improved time to diagnosis. It is also non-invasive with minimal patient risk. Point of care ultrasound is becoming more and more prevalent in todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hospitals and clinics. These machines, capable of rendering high-quality images, are becoming smaller and less expensive. It is becoming more feasible for healthcare institutions to provide this resource to its staff. Having this extra skillset will undoubtedly translate to better patient care and help keep physicians ahead of the curve in the evolving field of medicine.

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Dean's Message, continued judgment, misplaced opinions, and adverse outcomes have the potential to be put on public display. State governments have codified expected behaviors for all medical practitioners, including students and residents, into the laws we know. Those laws are designed to protect the public and not the physicians (or prospective physicians). In the eyes of the state, there is no room for hurt feelings, extenuating circumstances, excuses, or even tears. Those who practice the healing arts are expected to deliver the right care for their scope of training, for the right condition, onehundred percent of the timeâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;and to do it time after time without exception. It is one of the major reasons developing professionalism in medical school is just as important as amassing a stellar academic record. Medical schools are responsible for deciding who of those thousands of applicants should be issued learner's permits for licensure. In doing so, those schools shoulder the responsibility of ensuring their graduates are well enough trained in academics and professionalism to be entrusted with a license. In a 2005 study, researchers showed a correlation between student behavior in medical school and appearance before medical boards later as physicians being disciplined for poor medical care and unprofessional conduct. Two medical student behaviors proved to be the most reliably predictive for trouble down the road in practice: a diminished capacity for self-improvement and poor ini-

tiative. Medical school is a place that embraces new ideas, skills, and opinions; it also takes great initiative to keep up and learn the material. There is no place for rigidity and inflexibility in the study of medicine, for it requires continuous self-reflection and humility to make improvements to clinical skills and to learn from experience. This may be one reason why we refer to our occupation as the "practice of medicine." Diminished capacity for self-improvement and poor initiative foster mediocre skills and substandard care. Our patients donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t want to be abandoned because their problems are too hard, did not happen at the right time of day, or didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t mesh with the biases and beliefs of the provider. Hospitals and clinics will demand students, residents, and physicians be prompt, dependable, true to the commitments made to care for patients, and able to serve on healthcare teams. To keep a good work ethic, it is vital to maintain a healthy balance between professional and personal lives. Recently, a Chief Medical Officer of a small rural hospital expressed to me that it is far more damaging to health care delivery to have a physician with poor initiative for self-improvement and is always crying about the system...than to have no one in that position at all. Yes, I agree there should be no crying in baseball, but I know firsthand in our world, there is be no room for crying in medicine either.

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Campus Tidbits RVU Goes Over the Edge in the Fight Against Cancer Lauren Dorsey-Spitz, OMS IV, Sydney Featherstone, OMS III, Rachel Linger, PhD, Assistant Professor of Pharmacology, and Tiffany Robak, OMS III, participated in Over the Edge in September, raising over $3,600 in donations. This event was created by the Cancer League of Colorado, which provides grants for cancer-related research and patient services. As a commitment for their pledges, Dr. Linger, SD Dorsey-Spitz, and SD Robak rappelled 29 stories down a building in downtown Denver.

Raising Awareness at the Pink Party

In October, the Women in Medicine Club at RVUCOMSU hosted a "Think Pink" day. Students wore pink clothing to show their support for Breast Cancer Awareness Month, while the club handed out pink cupcakes.

Valerie Martin, OMS I, gave birth on August 29th, a surprise after "a long day of first-year classes." Sophia Valerie weighed 7 lbs 6 oz and 19 inches long and very healthy. The parents would like to thank RVUCOM-SU faculty and staff for their help and support every step of the way.

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Campus Tidbits Following the tragic shooting in Las Vegas in October, students from the RVUCOM-SU campus held a blood drive for RVUers and the local community. The drive was co-sponsored by the Department of Student Affairs and Student Osteopathic Medical Association (SOMA) and benefitted the Red Cross. Altogether, there were 52 units donated.

Every year, the American Osteopathic Association hosts OMED, the largest osteopathic-focused conference in the country. Representatives from all areas of RVU attended the conference, held in Philadelphia: students, staff, faculty, alumni, and executives. On the first night, second-year students Jibran Khan, Adela Miller, Ethan Sandler, and Dane Rana attended the American Osteopathic Foundation Honors Dinner along with faculty. Over the weekend, RVU staff set up a booth for the conference exhibition, with Dr. Anthony LaPorta holding demonstrations of the cut suit. Medical students and pre-med students alike were given the opportunity to perform a realistic surgery while the crowd observed.

Dr. Dow Phumiruk, Emily Tchen-Tomasino, OMS IV, and Jesse Troutman, OMS IV, participated in the Centennial Chalk Art Festival in September. The students drew a cowboy skeleton, while Dr. Dow drew a girl on the moon. "Emily always draws the best anatomically correct art!" said Dr. Dow proudly.

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Achieving New Heights Highlighting the Accomplishments of Our Faculty, Staff and Physicians in Training

Cherylene Abalos, OMS IV, received the 2017 United States Public Health Service Excellence in Public Health award. It was presented to her by the U.S. Public Health Service Physician Professional Advisory Committee while at Research Appreciation Day. She received this award for her commitment to public health and practice. She participated in a four-week public health rotation in a county suffering from an epidemic of teen suicide. SD Abalos subsequently conducted research on causes and upstream interventions. Gavin Cardwell, OMS III, won second place in the UCHealth Trauma Symposium poster competition. The symposium was held in Colorado Springs in August. SD Cardwell's poster, "High Intensity Simulation Training Effects on Emotional Intelligence Variables in Males and Females," looks at the effect that high stress simulation training had on both males and females and compared the differences between the two. They used pre- and post-training surveys to assess emotional intelligence variables including self-awareness, self-confidence, self-perception, and self-regard. Jing Gao, MD, FAIUM, Assistant Professor of Ultrasound, joined the Advisory Editorial Board of Ultrasound in Medicine and Biology, the official journal of the World Federation for Ultrasound in Medicine and Biology. She is also the only representative from a college of osteopathic medicine! Dr. Gao also published an article in the Journal of Ultrasound in Medicine, titled, "Multiparametric Quantitative Ultrasound Imaging in Assessment and Chronic Kidney Disease."

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Fernando Gomez, MD, Professor of Specialty Medicine, published research in the European Journal of Clinical Microbiology & Infectious Diseases in October. The research, titled "The pathogenesis of microcephaly resulting from congenital infections: why is my baby's head so small?" discusses the pathologic findings and proposed pathophysiology of microcephaly from congenital infections by neurotropic intracellular pathogens, concentrating on Zika Virus induced microcephaly. Tina L. Hefty, MLIS, Assistant Professor of Medical Humanities, led a discussion at the Examined Life Conference, which was held in October at the University of Iowa Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine. Her presentation, "Teaching with an Open Heart: Emotional Labor in the Medical Humanities Classroom," prompted a discussion amongst medical educators about the emotional side effects of bringing art into the classroom.

Anthony LaPorta, MD, FACS, Director of the Military Medicine Track, presented a cut suit demonstration at the Medical Simulation Demo on Capitol Hill in the Rayborn Building. He presented for members of Congress and for congressional staffers. The goal of the demo was to discuss the level of medical simulation present in the world and whether the use of animals in training is still warranted. Several of the people later said the demonstration changed their opinion on modernizing medical training practices. Dr. LaPorta also recently traveled to Kuwait to present at

Achieving New Heights Highlighting the Accomplishments of Our Faculty, Staff and Physicians in Training

the Kuwait Association of Surgeons Conference. During the conference, he was a guest speaker at "Breakfast with the Professor," where attendees shared stories and discussed surgical cases with experts. He also presented, "Innovation in Medicine," and a keynote titled, "Designing and Implementing Simulation-Based Mastery Learning Curricula and Military Trauma." While visiting, he and his wife, Mary, spent time with the royal family, including Sheik Salman alSabah (below) and met Sabah al-Sabah, Emir of Kuwait.

Brandie Lawrence, OMS I, received the Colorado Medical Society Education Foundation (CMS EF) scholarship. CMS EF is a private foundation that provides scholarships to prematriculating students based on their desire to practice in rural or underserved areas, as well as other criteria. From Colorado Medicine, "Brandie is passionate about a future in rural family practice and pain management therapy." Read more about CMS EF on Page 25. Cathy Ruff, MS, PA-C, Associate Program Director for the Physician Assistant Program, spoke at the 2017 Physician Assistant Education Association Education Forum, in Denver, CO. She discussed, "Designing a Competency-Based Curriculum Using EPAs." EPAs are entrustable professional activities, tasks or responsibilities which may be entrusted to an unsupervised trainee once he or she has attained sufficient competence.

Christopher Unrein, DO, FACOI, FACP, CMD, Chief Academic Officer of RMOPTI, was selected as Chairman of COMPAC, decided by vote at the Colorado Medical Societyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s annual meeting. COMPAC reviews, endorses, and supports political candidates that advocate for physician's issues and patients. Additionally, he will become the newest member of the American Board of Osteopathic Internal Medicine (AOBIM) in January. AOBIM sets the standards, develops and reviews the examinations that certify osteopathic internists, and deems those physicians who meet all the standards of the board the title "Diplomate" of the American Board of Osteopathic Medicine.

Joseph LaPorta, OMS IV, Tanner McClure, OMS IV, and Michael Tieman, MD, FACS, Chair and Professor of Specialty Medicine, published an article in the Journal of Surgical Education. The article, "Results of a Surgical Simulation Course Designed to Improve Surgery Clerkship Performance," discusses a study conducted on a required oneweek surgical simulation course as the first week of students' eight-week surgical clerkship. Penelope Herder, OMS II (right), and Michelle Lu, OMS II (left), presented at Military Health Systems Research Symposium, the Department of Defense's scientific meeting for presenting military research and development. Their research, "Comparison of a Novel Trainer to a Traditional Swine Model for Training Providers in Lateral Canthotomy and Cantholysis," describes a study they conducted in which students used either a Strategic Ops trainer or a swine model to perform a LCC.

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Achieving New Heights Highlighting the Accomplishments of Our Faculty, Staff and Physicians in Training

Ensuring the Future of Rural Health in Colorado "I was a broadly-based physician in a tiny, little town. It was the best way in the world to make a living." With that line, Jack Berry, MD, neatly summed up his nearly 40-year-long career in rural medicine. Ever since the 1980s, he has advocated for increasing the physicians and residents in rural underserved areas of Colorado. In 1986, Dr. Berry moved to Wray, a town of around 2,000 people, and opened a family medicine practice. He created a rural track residency program, in which residents were given more hands-on experience than at many other programs. "We provided better, more, and broader training." The resident, like all rural docs, had to become a jack-of-all-trades, handling "whatever rolled through the door."

A Shortage of physicians

Despite his successful residency program, Dr. Berry saw the huge need for more providers in the area. "There were years that I was the only doctor in seven counties in three states doing c-sections," he said. He joined the board of the Colorado Medical Society (CMS) that year as a representative of Northeast Colorado, with the goal of calling attention to rural medicine. "It had been completely neglected. The state placed an average of one-half rural physican a yearâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;and they were dying at six a year!" On behalf of CMS, he traveled to small towns to talk to the physicians, asking how the organization could help them. Resoundingly, the answer was that they needed assistance with recruitment and retention. From these discussions, the Colorado Rural Outreach Program (CROP) was formed. CROP raised money from physicians, medical societies, and trusts (including the Colorado Trust) and used it to recruit medical professionals of all kinds to work in rural areas. CROP was eventually transferred to the Colorado Rural Health Center, a non-profit organization. Its sizable fund was turned into the Rural Medical Assistance Fund and subsequently invested.

The Colorado Medical Society Education Foundation

During his time as President of CMS in 1998-1999, Dr. Berry became involved with the Colorado Medical Society Education Foundation (CMS EF), which supports educational activities. From its inception in 1982, CMS EF provided scholarships only to allopathic medical students, as there were

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no osteopathic students in the state at the time. However, this policy stayed in place until last year, when Christopher Unrein, DO, FACOI, FACP, CMD, Chief Academic Officer of RMOPTI, advocated for the inclusion of RVU's students. This year, they finally began considering osteopathic medical students, receiving 22 applications from allopathic students and 16 applications from osteopathic students. "The quality of applicants were outstanding...it was really tough to pick," said David Ross, DO, FACEP, Director of the Rural and Wilderness Medicine Track, who is also a board member. One recipient was Brandie Lawrence, OMS Iâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;the first osteopathic student to ever receive this scholarship! The CMS EF funds its scholarships each year through donations, membership dues, and various trusts and funds. Half of the money CMS EF receives annually comes from the proceeds of CROP's Rural Medical Assistance Fund that had previously been invested. The number of scholarships awarded, as well as the amount of each, varies each year, depending on how much they receive. While CMS EF focuses on rural health, they also consider applications for students who want to practice in urban underserved areas, as those are now equally at risk. To be considered for the scholarship, students must show a credible history of involvement and commitment to helping underserved areas. "What we're looking for," said Dr. Berry, "is the best. It's always what's best for the patients."

Paving the way for future doctors

When asked how the medical education community could encourage more students to pursue rural health, Dr. Berry suggested they become more politically involved: "Help colleagues understand the concept of rural medicine...and that rural physicians are underpaid yet are the most challenged in the country. It's ridiculous that they make less money than urban physicians or specialists." To students considering a rural practice in the future, he added, "You don't have to learn everything. [Rural physicians'] knowledge is broad and shallow; specialists' knowledge is narrow and deep. We can take care of 95% of what we see as well as any physician. The trick is to recognize the 5% and to have the knowledge and experience necessary to send them where they can get the best care. That broad knowledge is all you need."

Achieving New Heights Highlighting the Accomplishments of Our Faculty, Staff and Physicians in Training

Colorado Medicine, a local health care-focused publication created by the Colorado Medical Society, features a section in each issue for osteopathic medical students to submit written pieces and share their thoughts, as well. The reflections will be published bi-monthly. If you would like to submit an essay, contact Alexis Horst in the Writing Center at ahorst@rvu.edu for assistance with editing and submission guidelines. In the September/October Issue, David Baldwin, OMS II, wrote the article, "Pain management in the ED." The article discusses the challenges of pain management and substance abuse in the emergency room, as well as his own personal experience in dealing with patients with drugseeking behaviors.

In the November/December Issue, Charlotte Ballantine, OMS II, wrote an article, "The cadaver connection." In the piece, she wrote about the balance of respect and empathy with the necessary detachment when performing dissections, as well as the wonder and guilt that can accompany such a process.

Welcome to our New Faculty and Staff! Jennifer Badolato Director of Practice Management, Rocky Vista Health Center, RVUCOM-CO Campus

At RVU, she is looking forward to working with physicians at the "entry level of their careers" and to assist in training and educating from the administrative perspective of health care.

Jennifer was born in Albuquerque, New Mexico but has been in Colorado for 38 years. "My favorite thing about living in Colorado is the variety of the seasons and the beautiful mountains." She studied nursing for a time at the University of Northern Colorado. Then, she obtained an Associate's degree in Business Administration from Cambridge College. She also received Medical Assistant and X-Ray Technician certifications.

Jennifer has a twenty-year-old son that is a sophomore at University of Colorado Boulder. She also two Chihuahuamix puppies. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, swimming, and golfing. Interestingly, she is also a great gluten-free cook!

She has 19 years of experience in the medical field, having worked in Operational Management, Family Practice, Oncology, and Pediatrics. She started her management career in family practice then moved on to be the State Business Manager of Rocky Mountain Cancer Centers. Prior to coming to RVU, she was the Regional Manager for a group of pediatric practices.

Welcome, Jennifer! Laura Becerra Administrative Assistant, Master of Science in Biomedical Studies Program, RVUCOM-CO Campus Laura was born and raised in Las Vegas, Nevada, though she moved to Reidsville, North Carolina as a teenager: "It was a drastic change going from a big city to a small town."

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Welcome to our New Faculty and Staff! Upon graduation, she decided to move to the west coast for college. After touring schools in Denver, she fell in love with the area and decided to move here (despite not knowing anyone). She has been in Colorado ten years. She received a Bachelor's degree in Business Management from Johnson & Wales University in 2011. She recently decided to return to school and is now working on a Master's degree in Theology. Laura worked at the Archdiocese of Denver for six years as an Administrative Assistant and as an Executive Assistant. "I learned a lot and enjoyed my time there very much." She decided to work at RVU because "it gives me great motivation to see students continuing with their education and working hard to get where they want to be." She's excited to help them achieve their goals and dreams in any way. In her free time, she enjoys hiking and exploring the great Colorado outdoors. She also likes scrapbooking, spending time with friends, and reading a good book. Also, she enjoys traveling and participated on a mission trip to Lima, Peru in 2013. The mission was to assist in the building of a retaining wall at the top of a mountain, which would protect the homes from falling debris in an earthquake-prone area. "The people we were serving lived in extreme poverty. One of the things that captivated me was their resilience and positive attitudes, even in the midst of their need. These encounters definitely changed my perspective on life." She describes this trip as an incredible experience and one she will never forget. Welcome, Laura! Mike Crockett AV and Helpdesk Technician, Department of Information Services, RVUCOM-SU Campus Mike calls Heber, Arizona his hometown though he's lived around the world, from Utah and Texas to Ecuador! He now lives in Toquerville, Utah. He has worked in the information technology field since he was seventeen years old. "I’ve done IT-related work in various capacities for more than 20 years. Over the years, he has taught himself much of what he knows. He has received A+ certification, and has studied C# .NET programming and basic web design.

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Mike is also a filmmaker and has created short films, documentaries, commercials, and corporate videos. He even worked as a Director of Photography and an Editor for a documentary that was featured in 2016's DOCUTAH, an international documentary film festival! On coming to RVU, he said, "I am happy to be in a position where both my skills in IT and my skills as a filmmaker will be valued. I love using my skills from both fields to create a compelling AV experience for our students." Mike is married and has eight children—"soon to be nine and, yes, all from the same marriage!" He loves animals and has two dogs, a cat, a parrot, and three rabbits. In addition to filmmaking, he also enjoys motorcycles and video games in his spare time. "Basically, anything electronic that makes life easier or more fun." In the spirit of having fun, he also has an arsenal of Nerf weapons—perfect for waging Nerf wars with his kids. Welcome Mike! Jason Hartman, DO Assistant Professor of OPP, Osteopathic Principles and Practice Department, RVUCOM-CO Campus Dr. Hartman hails from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Evolutionary Biology from Temple University. He then received his Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree from Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (PCOM). He completed a Neuromusculoskeletal Medicine and Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine (NMM-OMM) residency at PCOM. He completed his postgraduate training in Medical Acupuncture at Helms Medical Institute. Prior to coming to RVU, Dr. Hartman served as Assistant Professor in the OPP department at PCOM for three years. He also founded and managed the Arcana Center for Integrative Medicine, a medical practice that focused on osteopathic manipulative medicine, medical acupuncture, and integrative medicine. He also served as Team Physician for the Philadelphia Flyers and the Philadelphia Phillies from 2013 to 2017. He is currently the co-owner of RestoreIV, a vitamin infusion company in Philadelphia and also continues to serve as a physician preceptor in Medical Acupuncture at Helms Medical Institute. Dr. Hartman is excited to be part of the RVU team and, in

Welcome to our New Faculty and Staff! particular, the OPP department because of the high-caliber faculty and progressive curriculum. "Teaching students and watching them have that a-ha moment with osteopathy is extremely rewarding."

Katrina (Katy) Hurst, PhD Assistant Professor of Gross Anatomy and Embryology, Department of Structural Medicine, RVUCOM-SU Campus

He has two huskies, Osa and Koda, with whom he spends most of his free time. He is also a Free Dive Instructors International (FII) Level 1 Free Dive Instructor. "My passion for free diving takes me all over, diving to depths up to 40 meters." He also enjoys paddle boarding, rock climbing, surfing, and archery. An interesting fact about Dr. Hartman is that some of his earliest exposures to clinical medicine were through traditional indigenous medicine, having lived with both native North American medicine men (Cree and Micmac tribes) and Amazonian medicine men (Shipibo tribe)!

Dr. Hurst has lived in Colorado, Kansas, and Utah. She received her Bachelor of Science degree in Physiology and Developmental Biology from Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah. In August of this year, she received her Doctor of Philosophy degree, also in Physiology and Developmental Biology from BYU!

Welcome, Dr. Hartman! Shakib Hassan, MD Program Director, Traditional Rotating Internship Residency at Sky Ridge Medical Center; Assistant Professor of Medicine, Department of Specialty Medicine, RVUCOM-CO Campus Dr. Hassan is originally from Afghanistan but has lived in Colorado since he was ten years old. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Math from Colorado College and a Doctor of Medicine degree from University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, where he also completed his residency. Dr. Hassan has served as a Hospitalist at Critical Care & Pulmonary Consultants at Sky Ridge Medical Center since 2010. In coming to RVU, he is excited to become an educator and mentor for the next generation of medical providers. Dr. Hassan is married to his high school sweetheart and has two sons, ages seven and almost two. In his spare time, he enjoys exercising, running, and playing basketball and football. He is teaching his older son to ski and to play baseball, tennis, and football. He especially enjoys outdoor activities and attributes Colorado's weather for keeping active year-round. "I feel that, as a doctor, it makes it easier to talk to patients about being more active and taking advantage of all the outdoor activities Colorado has to offer. I grew up in Colorado and, while the traffic has changed for the worse, it is very easy to escape to the mountains to go hiking or skiing." Welcome, Dr. Hassan!

What has impressed her most since coming to RVU has been the facilities, curriculum, faculty, staff, and the caliber of the students. "Together, these make an exciting and rewarding environment to work in and be part of." Dr. Hurst is an avid cyclist and yogi (certified yoga teacher). She has two dogs, Maggie and Sophie, and a cat, Ripley. In her spare time, she also enjoys hiking and camping. An interesting fact about Dr. Hurst is that she has ridden in the Seattle to Portland Race: "I finished the 204 mile ride in 14 hours, despite having my worst crash at mile 100." She can also lick her nose. You can decide which is more impressive. Welcome and congratulations on your recent achievement, Dr. Hurst! Bret Jensen Security Officer, Department of Public Safety and Security, RVUCOM-SU Campus Bret doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t consider any one place his hometown, having lived in Idaho, Montana, Utah, Arizona, Colorado, Virginia, New York, and Canada. He's currently living in Mesquite, Nevada. Before coming to RVU, Bret was a Casino Security Supervisor, a Security Field Training Officer in New York, and an Order Fulfillment Manager for a marijuana dispensary in Nevada. Bret is excited to be part of the RVU team because of the dedication of the students and the family-like environment. He is happily married and has three children: his older son started college this year and is majoring in astrophysics; his

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Welcome to our New Faculty and Staff! daughter is a freshman in high school; and his younger son just turned two years old. In his spare time, he enjoys taking road trips with his family (mostly day trips, but he has also drive cross-country multiple times), camping, shooting, and studying ancient history. Interestingly, Bret has played or coached baseball most of his life. Welcome, Bret! Shelby Miller, M.Ed. Clinical Rotations Coordinator, Department of Clinical Affairs, RVUCOM-CO Campus Shelby is a native Texan, having lived there her whole life before coming to Colorado in September. She and her husband wanted to move to Colorado for a while so when an opportunity opened up at his company, "we jumped on it...we are loving it here!" She received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology and her Master of Education in Higher Education degree from Texas Tech University (TTU). She worked as a Learning Specialist at the University of North Texas Health Science Center in Fort Worth for two years. Prior to that, she worked in Housing and Residence Life at TTU. She is happy to be at RVU as she enjoys "working in this energetic environment with medical students." She is also excited to be in an office that "ensures students have excellent educational experiences on their rotations and is working to recruit new preceptors to RVU." In her free time, Shelby loves camping, skiing, hiking, and pretty much anything outdoors. She and her husband enjoy rooting on the Dallas Cowboys, finding new craft breweries to try, and traveling. A fun fact about her is that she played "every sport in high school" and still enjoys playing volleyball and golf. Welcome, Shelby! Kristin Mugleston Administrative Assistant, Departments of Primary Care Medicine, Specialty Medicine, and Special Tracks and Programs, RVUCOM-SU Campus Kristin grew up in Southern California and moved to Utah to attend college. She received a Bachelor's de-

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gree in Family Science from Brigham Young University. She has worked for over 15 years in higher education and health care settings. Over the years, she has managed online education websites and provided support to the Office of the Dean at the University level. Kristin recently relocated to Southern Utah last year in order to be near family and to escape the snowy winters of the north. "We love the heat!" On coming to RVU, she says, "I love working for higher education and being a part of a new University with growth opportunities." She also finds it rewarding to help students achieve their educational goals. She and her husband of 12 years have two children, a daughter and a son. As a family, they love to be outdoors: hiking, biking, swimming, going to the lake, and vacationing in Hawaii. Something you may not know about Kristin is that she met her husband on an online dating website! Welcome, Kristin! Sarah Neguse, MPAS Assistant Professor, Physician Assistant Program, RVUCOM-CO Campus Sarah is originally from California but moved to Colorado when she was six years old: "I feel like a native." Her educational background includes a Bachelor of Science degree in Integrative Physiology from the University of Colorado Boulder and a Master's degree in Physician Assistant Studies from University of Colorado's CHA/PA Program. Sarah is certified by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants. She has been in practice for six years, with the last two years being spent at Park Ridge Family Medicine. She practiced family medicine with an emphasis in womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s care, behavioral health, and chronic disease. Prior to that, she spent four years at East West Health Centers practicing Internal Medicine. She is excited about the camaraderie that exists at RVU. "Everyone here has been so welcoming and you can tell it is a tight-knit community of people. There is a lot of support and enthusiasm about the addition of a PA program, which I think is wonderful."

Welcome to our New Faculty and Staff! Sarah is married and has two daughters. "Our children keep us busy with their activities but we also enjoy spending as much time as we can outdoors and traveling." Their next trip is going to be to Italy and France in the summer of 2018! A little-known fact about Sarah is that she is a first-generation citizen. She was born in the United States but her parents are originally from Eritrea, East Africa. "I have been to Eritrea twice and plan to take our children when they get older." Welcome, Sarah! Andrew Nigh, MD, FACS Assistant Professor, Department of Specialty Medicine, RVUCOM-SU Campus Dr. Nigh grew up near Indianapolis, Indiana. He received a Bachelor of Science degree from Butler University and a Doctor of Medicine degree from Indiana University. He completed a residency in general surgery at Methodist Hospital in 1985. Upon graduating, he joined a general surgery practice in Indianapolis. In 2012, the group merged with Indiana University. Over the last few years, he served as Chief Medical Officer at Indiana University West Hospital. He retired from clinical practice and his position in September to join the faculty of RVU. He decided to come to RVU because clinical education has always been a big part of his life and career. "The vision and commitment of RVU to education is truly inspiring. I look forward to being part of the program and the opportunity to continue to improve my teaching skills. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m particularly interested in the Surgery Simulation Lab." While he and his wife both grew up in Indiana, they had discovered Southern Utah (and St. George, in particular) in 2003 while on vacation. "We liked the city, the climate, all the parks, and the photography [opportunities]." They bought a house in 2005 and have loved the area ever since. Dr. Nigh has been married for over 40 years and has two sons. In his free time, he enjoys hiking, backpacking, wilderness medicine, and photography. Welcome, Dr. Nigh!

Jessica Preble Program Coordinator, Neurology Residency, Psychiatry Residency, and NMM+1 Fellowship, Sky Ridge Medical Center Jessica was born in Littleton, Colorado but moved to the big island of Hawaii, living there throughout high school. "I enjoyed living in Hawaii but ultimately moved back to Colorado because this is home." Before coming to RVU, Jessica worked in the Pulmonary and Critical Care Division of the University of Colorado Denver Anschutz Medical Campus as the Fellowship Coordinator for five years. Prior to that, she was a Program Director for the Junior Eagles youth hockey in Fort Collins, where she helped coach and start the girls' U12 hockey team. Jessica is excited to be part of RVU: "I am looking forward to helping the new residency programs grow." She is married to Michael, who is an IT consultant for Softchoice. They have three daughters: Becca (11), Alex (9), and Olivia (2.5). In her free time, you will find Jessica and her family in Keystone, enjoying the outdoors, hiking, biking skiing, backpacking, and running. "And yes, the two-yearold participates in all of those activities!" They also enjoy traveling. A little-known fact about Jessica is that she was a competitive figure skater growing up, which is what led her to work with the hockey program. Welcome, Jessica! Jan Pryor, DO, MPH, C-NMM/ OMM Vice Chair and Professor, Department of Osteopathic Principles and Practice, RVUCOM-SU Campus While born in Omaha, Nebraska, Dr. Pryor has lived all over the country: California, Iowa, Hawaii, Maryland, and more. He has also lived overseas for over 20 years in Fiji, Philippines, and Micronesia. He now lives in Santa Clara, Utah. He attended University of Northern Iowa and University of California at Los Angeles, where he earned a Bachelor of

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Welcome to our New Faculty and Staff! Arts degree in Biology. He then earned his Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree from College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific. Later, he attended University of Hawaii at Manoa, where he received a Master of Public Health degree in Epidemiology. He has completed a traditional rotating internship at Southampton Hospital in New York, as well as a Neuromusculoskeletal Medicine / Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine (NMM/OMM) residency at Northeast Regional Medical Center at Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine. Over the years, Dr. Pryor has served as a Public Health Consultant, Director and Professor of Research at Fiji School of Medicine, Assistant Professor of Community Health at the Pacific Basin Medical Officers Training Program at the John A. Burns School of Medicine, and Assistant Professor of Epidemiology at the University of Hawaii at Manoa's School of Public Health. Through it all, he also worked as an osteopathic physician. He decided to join the faculty of RVU for the challenge of the "newly developing and rapidly evolving medical training programs"â&#x20AC;&#x201D;a challenge he finds exciting and fulfilling. Dr. Pryor and his wife, Cheryl, have seven children (ranging in ages from 10 to 41), as well as seven grandchildren (from less than a year old up to 21 years old). He even has one great-granddaughter with a great-grandson on the way! He is interested in all kinds of music, bioethics, integrative medicine, and entrepreneurship. He enjoys exploring local activities and events. Welcome, Dr. Pryor! Joel Roberts, MD Instructor of Physiology, Master of Science in Biomedical Sciences Program, RVUCOM-CO Campus Dr. Roberts grew up in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Upon graduation, he moved to Southern California to attend school at Azusa Pacific University, where he received a Bachelor of Science degree in Biochemistry. While in California, he taught outdoor education in the Santa Cruz Mountains. He returned to his home state and earned a Doctor of Medicine degree from University of Colorado School of Medicine. He decided to join the RVU team because of his love of working with students and having the flexibility to imple-

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ment new and exciting teaching methods. When he is not teaching his wonderful students, Dr. Roberts enjoys spending time outdoors with his family and many pets. He also likes hiking, snowboarding, singing, and racquetball. A fun fact about him is that he makes different styles of pizza from scratch. Welcome, Dr. Roberts! Trilce Ruiz, MA Advisor, Department of Student Affairs, RVUCOM-CO Campus Trilce is originally from Cuba, but considers herself a global citizen after living in California, Texas, and Madrid, Spain. She obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree with a double major in Psychology and Spanish from Angelo State University. She was awarded the prestigious Erasmus International Scholarship from Universidad de AlcalĂĄ de Henares in Spain, where she earned a Master of Arts degree in Multilingual Education. Trilce also holds a Master of Arts degree in Interdisciplinary Studies with a focus on Higher Education, Linguistics, and Portuguese from Texas Tech University (TTU). She worked as a Spanish Instructor at TTU for three years then became the Lead Advisor and Academic Coach for Support Operations and Academic Retention. In this role, she collaborated with students to improve their academic skills. She was promoted to Senior Academic Advisor at the TTU Honors College: "I truly enjoyed working with highachieving undergraduate students whose objectives were medical school, pharmacy school, allied health professions, and law school." This year, Trilce was recognized with the Staff of the Month award because of her excellent leadership qualities and her dedication to helping students. She is happy to join the RVU family and is excited to work as an advisor with medical students, assisting them in the clarification of their life/career objectives and developing plans for the realization of their goals. Trilce and her husband moved to Colorado five years ago after visiting: "I always thought I was a beach person until Kyle took me to Estes Park when we were dating...I fell in love with the mountains." Along with their adorable son, Lucas, and their dogs, Peluche and Diesel, they enjoy playing at the park and hiking. Trilce also likes watching soccer, traveling, learning new languages, listening to the Beatles,

Welcome to our New Faculty and Staff! and doing karaoke. "My friends think I have a terrible voice and recommended karaoke rehab, but I don't listen." She is also a book hoarder who enjoys reading literary fiction, classics, and mysteries. She currently has an entire bookcase full of books on her "to-read" list, but that doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t stop her from buying more. A little-known fact about her is that she conquered her fear of heights by skydiving. She also loves trying different foods, so please stop by and give her your restaurant recommendations!

small zoo of animals. In her spare time, she enjoys learning the craft of multimedia art. An interesting fact about Jenny is that she was born in Italy and lived there until she was two years old. Welcome, Jenny! Lynne Graves Stephenson, MA Ed. Library Clerk, Department of Library Services, RVUCOM-SU Campus

Welcome, Trilce! Jennifer (Jenny) Smidt Clinical Rotations Coordinator, Physician Assistant Program, RVUCOM-CO Campus Jenny is originally from Beaverton, Oregon and moved to Colorado while in her twenties. "I enjoy living in beautiful Colorado where I was blessed to create a family, can enjoy the beautiful skies and ever-changing weather, and where Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve encountered incredibly good people." She has previously worked with Physician Group Management Teams for over 20 years, which included working with preceptors, students, and academics. On coming to RVU, she said, "The mission and dedication RVU has for its students, in addition to being able to support a developing PA program, is a great opportunity [for me]. I am deeply dedicated to helping students...being able to support them during their journey through the program is an honor." Jenny has a husband, two children, a grandchild, and a

Winners and participants from the November Dessert Bake-Off, from left: Melissa Davidson, Caroline MorrisStahl, Erica Whatley, and Jo Brogus

Originally from New York, Lynne received both a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education and a Master of Education degree from State University College at Oneonta, New York. For 20 years, she taught third and fourth grade in New York and Pennsylvania. After making the very difficult decision to leave teaching to join the family business, Lynne owned an award-winning, design-build company with her husband, Mark. During that time, she earned certifications in kitchen and bath design and remodeling. For many years, Lynne and her husband spent vacations touring the southwest on a BMW motorcycle and had always planned to move to either Colorado or Utah. However, the weather in Southern Utah tipped the scale. Having made the move to St George, she is excited to have been offered the opportunity to work in an academic environment with dedicated faculty, staff, and students. Aside from motorcycling, Lynne loves hiking, kayaking, and driving ATVs. She is an avid reader who gravitates toward mystery novels but also enjoys historical fiction and nonfiction. Welcome, Lynne!

Winners and participants from the Chili Cook-Off, from left: Laura Dement, Alisha Wile, Teresa Moore, Jo Brogus, Caroline Morris-Stahl, and Teri Coe.

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From the Rocky Vista University Alumni Association

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Students, faculty, staff, and fellow alum, Congratulations and thanks are in order! First, to the students who received their white coats in the inaugural White Coat Ceremony at RVUCOM’s Southern Utah campus! We thank and respect you for being the pioneering class in a new campus. There are always speedbumps when a new school or campus is started but we know you’ll do wonderful things! Second, an enormous thank-you to our military members, both on and off campus! We celebrated Military Appreciation Day since last I wrote and, as always, it was a great event! Third, congratulations to Dr. Andrew Ambler as he is halfway through the first year of the inaugural OMM +1 residency program. The reason I mention this is so you can make fun of him for being a resident again! He knows he deserves to be made fun of but he is doing great and teaching as much as he can because that’s just who he is! Fourth, congratulations to all the new residents who started July 1st in Internal Medicine, Family Medicine, Psychology, Surgery, and Traditional Rotating Internship. You’re also halfway through your intern year. Last, congratulations to the residents graduating on December 31st! What a great feeling to be done with training! Speaking of being done with training, enjoy your residency and the safety net of having an attending physician looking over your shoulder! Being an attending is way harder than being a resident. Most people probably couldn’t imagine this is true…but it is! As a resident, maybe you’re seeing 8-20 patients a day in the hospital, maybe more in the outpatient setting—and maybe you’re writing notes for half of those patients. You work your maximum of 80 hours a week and you’re tired, but you still have quite a bit of free time. Plus, you don’t have that much responsibility. As an attending, you have to make every decision. There is no attending around to help out. There are no work-hour restrictions. You have to write all the notes and document everything. You have to do all the coding and billing. You have to answer all the questions and respond to all the emails. The point I’m trying to make is that residency is a place to train and to learn the art of medicine, to learn how to be better, faster, and more thorough. Not a place to do as little as possible just to get by. Believe me, you are doing a disservice to yourself if you do this. Work as hard as you can in residency. It will pay off! Lastly, I feel it important to remind everyone that the Alumni Association is here to help all current, former, and future students. There are RVU alumni all over the country: many are now attending physicians, many are still residents. We are here to help with any kind of questions and concerns. We’re here to help with residencies, jobs after residency, fellowships, etc. Don’t forget about us! Also, as you continue through medical school or if you’re nearing the end, consider being a member of the Alumni Association or its Board and be a part of helping current and future students. Everyone, continue being awesome and keep working as hard as you can to be the best physician, staff, or student you can be. Whatever you are, be the best at it! Finally, I hope everyone has a wonderful holiday season. Enjoy your much-needed break from the trials and tribulations of medical school!

AJ Ryan, DO '14 Alumni Association President

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From the Rocky Vista University Alumni Association

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Job Acceptances, Fellowships, Awards, and Other Accomplishments Heather Katz, DO '12, was nominated and selected to become a Fellow of the American College of Osteopathic Internists. She traveled to Washington DC to receive the award and to be inducted into the fellowship. Dr. Katz is currently in a Hematology and Oncology Fellowship at Marshall University Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine in Huntington, West Virginia. Welcome to the RVU Alumni Association Board of Trustees! Anna Meyers, DO '12, was appointed to the RVU Alumni Association's Board of Trustees, a role she will hold until elections in May 2018. Dr. Meyers works as a Pediatrician and Immediate Care Physician in Portland, Oregon. She completed her pediatric residency at Authority Health/Children’s Hospital of Michigan/MSUCOM, where she served as Chief Pediatric Resident. In 2017, she was awarded the Top Doctor Award for excellence in patient satisfaction. Since working with Providence in Oregon, Dr. Meyers has made an immediate impact on families throughout the Portland metro area. She is passionate about preventing childhood obesity and its co-morbid conditions. To help shape the future of preventive care, she champions as a lead Pilot Physician in a Healthier Lifestyle Together Initiative. While taking care of children is vital, it’s also important to educate tomorrow’s physicians by teaching family medicine residents and osteopathic medical students in her practice. In her free time, Dr. Meyers loves to explore the outdoors, hike, cycle, and travel the world. Her favorite days compose of hugs from one of her many pediatric patients.

RVU Alums Gather at OMED '17 RVU hosted its annual Alumni Reception during OMED '17 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. There were graduates from the Classes of 2014 and 2016, as well as faculty, staff, and one fourth-year student. The RVU Alumni Association will be holding receptions every year at OMED, which are open to all classes, both graduated and currently enrolled.

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From the Rocky Vista University Alumni Association

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Spotlight on Alumni: Lt. Mark J. Steinmetz, MC, USN, DO '15 There is busy and there is a physician's definition of busy...and then there is Dr. Steinmetz on an entirely different level. He is the Senior Medical Officer at the Marine Corps Mountain Warfare Training Center (MCMWTC) in Bridgeport, California and a USMC advisor for all things pertaining to high altitude and cold-weather medicine. He is also the Officer in Charge of the Mountain Medicine and Cold Weather Medicine formal schools at MCMWTC. As he describes it, the curriculum for both courses focuses on high altitude, cold weather, and austere medicine. There is also a two-week field portion that focuses on casualty medicine in compartmentalized, mountainous terrain. After graduating from RVU in 2015, Dr. Steinmetz completed a general surgery internship at Navy Medical Center Portsmouth, then received the orders that brought him to California where he is now stationed as a Navy General Medical Officer. "I've learned that most [opportunities] are made by ourselves, but it's also important to keep an open mind for those few that fall into our laps," he said. He is currently working on a slew of special projects, mostly focused on the health and treatment in extreme conditions. He is also running a lab that researches physiologic changes due to hypo"My inspiration lies in knowing that thermia: "We are currently looking at cognition and dexterity in conjunction with hypothermia." They are also improving field- and self-recovwhatever I do, it will never equal the ery techniques for hypothermic individuals. Each year, he estimates that daily sacrifices and commitment that around 300 marines and sailors go through the lab. He is working with U.S. Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine lab in Bosour active duty armed forces make. the ton, Massachusetts on nutrition at high altitude. In addition, he is workMy motivation is to serve them." ing on an erythropoietin protocol for prevention of acute mountain sickness and optimizing warfighter performance in hypoxic environments. As if that weren't enough to keep him busy, he also authored a chapter in the Joint Trauma Commission (a military trauma textbook) on the subject of cold weather injuries. Dr. Steinmetz and his wife, Michelle, have three children: Lauren, Jude, and Kate-Lynn. In his spare time, he loves to climb, ski, and backpack. On his time at RVU, he said, "I miss the time...to focus solely on academics. After medical school, everything moves at the speed of light. Sometimes it is difficult or impossible to find the time to read."

Dr. Steinmetz was recently featured in Ski Magazine in an article, "Taking Aim on the New Cold War," about a long-range ski expedition in which he participated. The group trekked through Alaska, a couple hundred miles north of the Arctic Circle. Photos courtesy of Heath Sandall of Ski Magazine.

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Rocky Vista University provides quality healthcare education while inspiring students to serve with compassion, integrity and excellence.