April 2018 Issue - Vista View

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April 2018 Newsletter

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RVUCOM Receives Numerous Accolades at ACOFP Page 12 Inside: Encouraging Open Minds at Days of Diversity

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Students Treat Underserved Villages of Kenya

MSBS: Growing Through Service Learning

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Students at RVUCOM-SU attend the Ignite Your Influence conference

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Students Race to Save Lives at Sim Competition

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Encouraging Open Minds and Conversations with Days of Diversity

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Students Treat Underserved Villages of Kenya

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Damage Report: First Semester Postmortem

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MSBS: Growing Through Service Learning

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Endorphin Fix Series

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RVUCOM Receives Numerous Accolades at ACOFP

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Keep Calm & Enjoy Chill Fest

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Season of Giving

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Library Raises Awareness During American Heart Month

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What Do You Know About RMOPTI's Residency Programs?

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Get to Know RVU Staff

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Campus Tidbits

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RVU Joins in the Fight for African American Health

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Achieving New Heights

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Welcome to our New Faculty and Staff

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Letter from RVU Alumni Association President

Want to see even more photos from each RVU event?

Visit our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/RockyVistaUniversity!

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Tribal Leadership

by Clinton E. Adams, DO, FACHE, President and CEO I wish to thank Debra Nickell, PhD, MBA, PA-C, Program Director of our new Physician Assistant Program, for gifting me the book, Tribal Leadership: Leveraging Natural Groups to Build a Thriving Organization. She used this for professional development within her newly formed faculty and staff.

The book describes five stages of organizational development, basically moving from a living Hades to nirvana.

Stage One describes less than 2% of organizations which are extremely dysfunctional, where everyone is scratching out a living but in constant conflict. The culture of Stage Two organizations is one of apathy, defensiveness, sluggishness, and resistance to leadership. Approximately 25% of organizations are thought to be in this "Dilbert-like" stage. The vast majority of organizations are in Stage Three: the "I'm great" stage (which means they're not). The internal competition between individuals or divisions for recognition and reward is prominent. The author suggests that doctors, lawyers, and professors usually behave in this manner.

The leap to Stage Four is like a new day. I believe we see this behavior in our LINC meeting where it appears that no one is presenting for self-aggrandizement but rather for the common good. There are individuals and departments

working together to achieve the innovation RVU continuously strives for. This stage proves that there is no "I" in "team." The institutional values embody the corporate culture. Self-sacrifice, not caring who gets the credit, and relishing the collective celebration of success is the joy of this stage. In Stage Five, the organization transcends itself, elevates itself to leadership in its field: "Competitors exist but don’t matter." Their core values transcend the need to boast of greatness and to perform in service of their mission. It is RVU's belief that through our values (excellence, compassion, collegiality, diversity, service, innovation, and integrity) that our graduates will bring comfort, joy, and wellness to hundreds of thousands of individuals, families, and communities. Obviously, this is not a perfect science and you certainly can see a mixture of stages within any organization larger than 150 tribal members.

Where are we on this continuum and where should we be?

Please consider downloading this book and let's create conversations around it!

"The More Things Change..."

by Thomas N. Told, DO, FACOFP, dist., Dean and CAO

In 1849, French critic, journalist, and novelist Jean-Baptiste Alphonse Karr penned the now famous line, "Plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose," which translates to, "The more things change, the more they remain the same." Some may take this statement as sarcastic resignation to not engage in change of any type because it will just end up being the same. I, however, see it as an astute observation that monumental change serves to spur societies, professions, and individuals to reflect on their core methods and values before accepting or rejecting that change. Nowhere in our society is this principle more important than with those who protect and sustain the healthcare of our nation. The medical profession must continuously evaluate whether new trends in care and treatments are safe and effective before embracing them. Often we find they are just expensive substitutes aimed at corporate bottom-lines or fads driven by social pressures rather than improved health care. As the business of medicine tries to reduce physician skills to a commodity for sale and impose production levels on the delivery of care, we know it will be the time-honored doctor-patient relationship that will remain the same and ultimately prevail. Medicine has already seen this with electronic medical records which were touted to improve patient care but, in reality, dehumanized the doctor-patient relationship and

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slowed care. Today, most patients and physicians demand that practices reintegrate touch and conversation back into the delivery of care.

The move to classify pain as a vital sign and treat it aggressively led to the Opioid Epidemic. We are now seeing that the move to legalize marijuana as a means of emptying our jails after five years is having the opposite effect. Physicians, not legislators, need to drive policy in this area.

As members of the osteopathic profession, we have seen enormous change and acceptance through the years. Even those new to the profession have witnessed a great shift in the way society views our role in answering America’s health workforce issues. We must not let this success cause us to abandon the principles that have sustained us through the years. George Northrup, DO, wrote that the osteopathic profession will fail only if its members participate in its demise. Ultimately, the future rests in our hands.

Yes, Jean-Baptiste Alphonse Karr was right on point: "The more things change, the more they remain the same."

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Students Race to Save Lives at Sim Competition

"It was a harrowing yet amazing experience...it really reminded me why I wanted to practice medicine." Ryan Carney, OMS I, described the experience of resuscitating and diagnosing his patient during RVUCOM-CO's first Electronic Patient Simulation Competition in December. Placed on teams of four, students competed in a series of challenging medical or trauma cases, as exhibited by a Sim Man 3G. The teams were evaluated by eight judges, all of whom are experienced clinicians. "It was a really unique experience, being able to run a multisystem trauma four-and-a-half months into medical school," said SD Carney. "I don't think most first-year [students] can say that."

"To prepare [for the competition], our team spent hours working through various patient scenarios in the simulation center," said Jibran Khan, OMS II, who was a member of the winning team along with fellow second-year students Ethan Sandler, Scott Slusarenko, and Joshua Smith. "The experience highlighted the importance of teamwork in accomplishing quality patient care. Working with the simulation models also served as an additional learning method to strengthen our didactic knowledge."

The winning team received an amazing prize: a fully-funded trip to Washington, DC to compete at the national Sim Challenge, held at the annual American Medical Student Association meeting in March (spoiler alert: one RVU team finished in the top 4 and one in the top 8 nationally!). "We are very appreciative of all the staff and faculty who worked so diligently to make this event happen," said SD Khan. "We look forward to representing RVUCOM at the national level."

The RVUCOM challenge was organized by David Ross, DO, FACEP, Director of the Rural and Wilderness Medicine Track.

"I [wanted] to see the integration of simulation training (in addition to our existing Standardized Patient program) into our regular curriculum," he said. He also developed a volunteer Simulation Scholar Student program last fall, in which the chosen Scholars—Jill Nanadiego, OMS II, Nathan Grigg, OMS II, and Diego Puentes, OMS I—received a variety of simulation training and were able to assist other students. "All of the teams did an outstanding job [with the] intense, stressful simulations. They learned a great deal about simple and complex patient presentations and how to manage them."

Elizabeth Stoll, OMS II, concluded that it was a humbling, but exciting experience: "It was a fun way to challenge and apply our knowledge, as well as a reminder of all we have left to learn in order to save lives. I am thankful Dr. Ross created this opportunity for our team."

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Encouraging Open Minds and Conversations with Days of Diversity Despite the dreary December weather, RVU had something special (and tasty!) to look forward to: the "Feast of Flavors."

In Colorado, students and employees prepared cultural dishes that held special significance to them: Channa salad, corn chowder, "Mom's Meatloaf," and Quesillo were among the dishes. In Utah, there were over 20 dishes prepared from 15 different countries including Japanese curry, spaetzle and sausage, kugel, and empanadas.

"The Feast of Flavors was an awesome opportunity for all of us to show off our heritage in the form of home-cooked food," said Austen Anderson, OMS I. "The Days of Diversity Committee felt it would be a great way for people to not only share their own cultures, but also to learn about the amazing cultures we have represented on our campus. We appreciate everyone who participated and hope this event helped to create some new connections between those of us who call RVU our home!"

The Days of Diversity series was created by the Diversity Committee as a University-wide, ongoing series which would encourage students (and employees) to "discover the world around us and the world within us" and raise their awareness about the unique challenges and perspectives of the diverse populations they will treat as physicians.

Following the Feast of Flavors, the next event at RVU-CO was "Feeling Like a Fish Out of Water," where students discussed their experiences with medical missions in such countries as Bolivia, Ecuador, Kenya, and even Fiji. They talked about how they applied their skills and knowledge to become more socially conscious physicians-in-training. February's event, "Broadening Your Spiritual Horizons," delved deeper into religious diversity. Students representing Collegium Aesculapium, Christian Medical and Dental Association, and Muslim Student Association presented on their religious beliefs and discussed how these beliefs could be beneficial as physicians. Participants were given t-shirts that said, "Ask Me Anything," to encourage open communication, tolerance, and an exchange of information.

RVU-SU held a panel discussion, "Workplace Diversity," which focused on the topic of LGBTQ in the workplace, with several community leaders answering questions and talking about their own experiences. The Days of Diversity series will be closing with ceremonies on April 19th at the Colorado location and April 23rd in Utah.

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Students Treat Underserved Villages of Kenya While RVUers back home were braving the chill of January, a group of 17 third- and fourth-year students were in Kenya, providing health care to the people of the Kimana district, a dry and remote region located near Mount Kilimanjaro. The students were led by Camille Z. Bentley, DO, MPH, FACOFP, Chair of Tracks and Special Programs, and joined by several health care professionals. The outreach trip was sponsored by Hands for Health Foundation (which was co-founded by Dr. Bentley), in conjunction with RVUCOM. Leading up to the trip, Taylor Reiser, OMS III, coordinated and raised money to build water filters for each village they would be visiting. "There are always issues with lack of access to clean water, so the filters were widely welcomed," Dr. Bentley said.

The group's first stop was Kibo Slopes, which served as a "home base" for the volunteers during their two-week stay. The cottages at Kibo Slopes proved to be an oasis for the group with good food, hot water for showers, and even WiFi. Each day, they traveled by bus for up to three hours, setting up sites at a total of 13 different villages, as well as two church communities during the trip. Away from Kibo Slopes, the volunteers worked in austere conditions: no electricity, running water, or bathrooms; hot and dusty days; no food or drinking water except for what each person carried in. The volunteers brought a well-stocked pharmacy, supplies, medicines, and an ultrasound machine to each site. They worked in tents or in the shade, providing medical care to approximately 2,000 patients, treating maladies from wounds and worms to skin disorders and gynecological issues. Each RVUCOM student personally treated 15 patients per day.

The students rotated through the pharmacy and triage areas, which allowed everybody to gain experience at different stages of treatment. Other valuable skills they honed were taking a history, performing a physical exam, working on a health care team, prescribing medications, presenting cases, and working with a translator. "I learned so much and had the most hands-on experience since beginning medical school," said Nisa Fraser, OMS III. "I cauterized skin tags, [drained] abscesses, ran labs, and removed the extra digits of a baby with polydactyly. The trip solidified my desire to pursue a pediatric residency, which was a truly enlightening experience for me." Gurpreet Kaur, OMS III, added, "I did an [incision and drainage] of a foot abscess. To see the relief on the person's face was moving. We had translators to help with the language barrier but at that moment, we didn't need one. We could feel his every emotion as he shook our hands." Dr. Bentley concluded, "This was an excellent trip and a great medical learning and personal growth experience for the students...[they] did very well."

"We saw hundreds of wild animals: elephants are amazing, giraffes [are] awkward and remind me of dinosaurs, ostriches are odd but the male mating dances are fire, lions are scary, hippos are scarier, and hyenas look mangy." - Michael Poser, OMS III

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Damage Report: First Semester Postmortem

by Jake Eggett, OMS I

Originally published on January 26, 2018 at In-Training.org There is a certain perspective that only licking your wounds can give you. I don’t want to admit that medical school is tough for me. I want to be a natural at this. I want to devour my schoolwork and never satisfy my thirst for more. I want to be recognized for my genius by my professors and lauded by my peers. I want to constantly be reminded that I am in my element, that I am hurtling towards success, and that the future is so bright I should keep my shades on.

The truth is that I struggle mightily for modest success. I’m not a natural, my genius has gone undetected and my thirst for knowledge is quenched daily by 2 p.m. I don’t even own shades. I made some big goals before school kicked off— when morale was at an all-time high. My spirit was up and my head was big. I knew I was the cream and I was ready to rise to the top. Destined for greatness.

And then came the boom.

Oh, first semester of medical school, how do I describe thee?

I feel like I dove into a pool of ice water and it took five months to surface...or I was on Willy Wonka’s hellish boat ride. Is it raining, it is snowing, is a hurricane a-blowing?

I feel like Robin Williams when he escaped from Jumanji, with a foot-long beard, wearing nothing but rags and banana leaves.

I’m not sure exactly where it went wrong. Maybe I was just riding off the euphoria from finally being accepted but I began the semester with a lot of momentum. I locked myself in study rooms, put in sixteen-hour days, ate my lunch at my desk...I was eager to martyr myself for the sake of my education. I fought the good fight and, for a while, I was winning.

Herein lies the rub: I was sprinting and medical school is a marathon. Or maybe more accurately, it is a marathon that you sprint. Or even a 100K race that you sprint. What I’m getting at is I’m a bad runner. If there is one thing that I have learned after surviving a semester of medical school, it’s that endurance is the name of the game. When your brain is running at certain RPMs for a certain amount of time, it starts to break down. You hit "the wall." And I hit mine hard.

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I became increasingly unfocused, which I unsuccessfully tried to remedy with more and more caffeine. I escaped down various internet rabbit holes. I bingewatched an entire YouTube channel on tarantulas the day before an exam and my wife was barely able to dissuade me from buying an Avicularia versicolor online. I spent an hour reading Benjamin Netanyahu’s entire Wikipedia article. I’m sure I looked very studious to anyone looking at me through the glass door.

I developed a lot of crackpot theories on success. Most of them proved false. I decided that canned tuna was brainfood. I ate a lot of it. I shaved my head to help me concentrate. For one test, I thought I would score better by studying less because I was taking school too seriously. You can guess how that one turned out.

As the weeks went on, the ever-present fog that infiltrated my thoughts became thicker. After a while, I felt like was teleporting between different study rooms. When I opened the door to leave my room, I was frequently surprised to find myself on the second floor, and the next time on the first floor, then in the room next to the bathroom, then the room at the end of the hall. I walked into one room and walked out of another. It was like that classic Scooby-Doo montage where the gang gets chased by monsters into and out of every room in the haunted corridor. If someone wanted to meet up to study, I never knew where to tell them to go.

There is a certain cheer you get from seeing your peers in a similar state of deterioration. We are all baby turtles skittering along the beach and it is clear that we all want each other to make it to the ocean. As the semester went on, my grades declined from the top quartile, to the middle of the pack, and then to scraping by each exam. I sensed that most of my class was in a similar boat. You could see it in our faces.

That camaraderie nudged me along through the worst of it.

D-Day might be a better analogy than baby turtles.

I’ve been around enough elite physicians to know that I’m not one of them. I have zero patents, I am not finished with my full-body workout by 5am, and I did not lead the Harvard lacrosse team to a national championship. I’ve been awarded no keys from any mayors to any cities. Perhaps I’m not destined for greatness after all.

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MSBS Students in the COM

by Lauren Becerra, Administrative Assistant for Master of Science in Biomedical Sciences Program It’s been almost one year since the students in the very first class of the MSBS program graduated; some of these students have continued their studies at RVUCOM and are now in their second semester of classes. We wanted to check in on them and find out how the MSBS program helped prepare them for the beginning of their journey through medical school.

Stella Chan: "The MSBS program was mentally grueling, but it was what I needed: the curriculum challenged and pushed me to expand my learning capabilities and helped me grow professionally and personally.

It confirmed my desire to be in the medical profession and helped me realize that I could survive medical school."

Hannah Douglas: "Going into the [MSBS] program, I wasn't sure how much it would prepare me for my first year of medical school. To the current MSBS students, I can't emphasize enough how directly the knowledge they are gaining this year will prepare them for their first year in medical school."

Kristen Lipe: "The [MSBS] program helped polish my study skills which has not only helped prepare me for the rigors of medical school, but has also helped me to be very malleable when it comes to adapting my study skills in order to be successful in each course."

Jessica Montalban: "All the knowledge I gained in the MSBS program helped for a smooth transition into the COM. With every system that we study, I feel that I have more background knowledge and understanding to build on than a lot of my classmates."

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Diego Puentes: "The faculty and staff were outstanding and so supportive throughout the challenging curriculum. It was the best decision I could have made to prepare for medical school."

Mary Savarese: "The lectures combined with all the course work, group projects, and block exams were pivotal in my preparation and success in the COM. The program also showed me that I could be successful at such a high level of education which calmed my fears about the difficulty of medical school."

Brittany Stansbury: "I am so thankful for the way MSBS program at RVU was able to eliminate some of the guesswork and major adjusting that typically occur in your first year of medical school. The program parallels the [COM], both in structure and overall academic content. I believe these parallels have truly helped me become more successful throughout my first year at RVUCOM." Quinton Sturdivant: "The MSBS program was a great way to gain more in-depth knowledge about the human body and to provide me with a phenomenal foundation to start medical school. I use this foundation almost every day in my first year. I can say with 100% confidence that I would not have been prepared for a medical school environment without the MSBS program."

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Growing Through Service Learning

by Lauren Becerra, Administrative Assistant for Master of Science in Biomedical Sciences Program Last semester, the MSBS Class of 2018 participated in a team service learning project as part of their Humanities course. The goal of this project was aimed at helping students mitigate their biases in order to better align their thoughts and behaviors with their professional values and the core values of RVU. Service learning is a unique teaching tool that combines learning goals and community service in ways that enhance both student growth and the common good. There are many benefits for the students, both professionally and personally. Some of these benefits include improving students’ ability to apply what they have learned in "the real world," a positive impact on academic outcomes (such as demonstrated complexity of understanding and critical thinking), and a greater sense of personal efficacy.

This experience also gave the MSBS students a great opportunity for important self-reflection at the completion of the project through written critical reflection. Below, some of the students share their experiences.

"Our MSBS group (pictured at right) had a great time working with the Free to Breathe Foundation at a 5K Run/Walk to raise money for lung cancer research.

We heard inspiring stories from lung cancer survivors and other volunteers working the event. We learned that lung cancer claims more lives each year (but has less research funding) than breast, colon, and prostate cancer combined. There is a stigma that lung cancer patients are mainly cigarette smokers but up to 15% of lung cancer patients have never smoked in their lives."

"My team (pictured at left) volunteered at The Mission for Volunteers of America to help feed the homeless. Overall, I think we found this experience to be very rewarding and eye-opening. We were reminded that not every person has a place they can call home; I think that had a powerful effect on all of us.

Basic necessities, such as having a roof over your head, and food on the table is something we all take for granted and I think interacting with these individuals really put life into perspective for us."

"Our group (pictured at right) volunteered at Parker Adventist Hospital during the Fall 2017 semester. Some of the departments we worked in included the emergency department, the maternity ward, the cancer center, and the mail room. We learned how important the various roles and impacts a volunteer can have within the hospital, whether it be interacting with patients and their families or assisting the medical team."

"[We] volunteered at Shalom Park Nursing Home (pictured at left). One of our most memorable conversations involved a 97-year-old woman who had lived through World War II and whose family had helped shelter Jews during the Holocaust.

One member of group recalled, 'I was indeed reminded of how much adversity the people of her generation endured when they were in their early twenties.' Our visit was a reminder that ordinary people have much more to offer than we often think, if we only take the time to listen."

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Endorphin Fix

Get up and get moving! That was the message of the six-month-long series called Endorphin Fix which included exercise, dance, and meditation. As a busy medical student or University employee, it's easy to shirk exercise as frivolous or unnecessary. Yet regular exercise can control problems with heart disease, blood pressure, cholesterol, and cardiovascular problems. The Department of Student Affairs, Physical Activity Peer Mentors, and Wellness Committee joined forces to encourage physical and mental health for all RVUers.

In December, students danced away the seasonal slump at the Snowflake Jam, where they learned the heart-racing art of Zumba. The following month, RVU-CO students practiced 7-Minute Power Workouts, brief exercises that can be squeezed in ahead of an exam, while RVU-SU students enjoyed Comedy Hour, a night of stand-up, improv, and memes to boost the serotonin.

In February, RVU-CO zoned out for meditations and stretches at Find Your Zen. The following month, RVU-SU took Endorphin Fix into the lobby with an indoor game of spikeball. RVU-CO students learned Deskercises, which could be done from their own auditorium seat in the middle of an intense lecture.

April will bring the end of the Endorphin Fix series—but hopefully not the end of students getting their own endorphin fixes! To conclude the series, RVU-CO will participate in Feel Like Dancin' where they will learn to dance like pros. Participants are eligible to win fabulous prizes, such as a gym membership or a Magic Bullet.

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Preparing For Mid-Flight Emergencies According to an article in USA Today, medical emergencies during commercial air travel are extremely common: nearly 50 a day occur in the United States alone. The cramped quarters of an aircraft cabin, the inability to transport to a medical facility, and the limited available resources make these events fraught with challenging clinical decisions and potential risk. Students in the Global Medicine Track travel by plane frequently and will likely experience an in-flight emergency at some point in their medical careers. The airplane simulation exercise, conducted by the Department of Clinical Assessment and Simulation, gives students an opportunity to experience such emergency scenarios while teaching them how to respond.

On December 12th, the inner hallway of the Standardized Patient Lab transformed into a jetliner, complete with "passengers" in the form of both task trainers and standardized patients. While on their (admittedly brief) journey from Kathmandu to Hong Kong, several medical issues arose among passengers including shortness of breath, nausea, and chest pain. Flight attendants inquired if any medical personnel were on board. RVUCOM students were prepared to leap into action, providing care and support for the patients until they could safely land. This exercise forced students to use their clinical skills and knowledge in a non-clinical setting, as Alexandra Rakestraw, OMS II, described. "We weren't entirely sure what resources would be available to us...so we were challenged to work with the knowledge and items that we had."

"We love [creating] unique learning experiences for our students," added Becca Fletcher, Program Coordinator for Clinical Assessment and Simulation. "The track activities give us a special opportunity to come up with ways to give the students practice for what types of 'real world' situations they may encounter. We look forward to this event each year!"

Inspiring Curiosity with Cadaver Tours

The idea of looking at cadavers may not inspire excitement; but for people thinking of entering into a health care career, it is likely to inspire curiosity, a desire to learn, and a drive to understand the human body. It is this inspiration that RVUCOMSU hopes to ignite with its ongoing "cadaver tours." In January, the school hosted 48 anatomy students from Snow Canyon High School, providing information and offering demonstrations of both the cadaver lab and ultrasound lab. While in the Anatomy Lab, medical students shared their knowledge and passion for anatomy, reinforcing concepts they have been learning in their classes. In the ultrasound lab, the high school students were given demonstrations on techniques and even practiced their skills on medical students. "Everyone involved was very excited to participate in this event and the volunteers at RVU are looking forward to hosting more cadaver tours in the future!" said Christopher Stewart, OMS I.

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RVUCOM Receives Numerous Accolades at ACOFP At the American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians (ACOFP) conference in March, RVUCOM faculty, students, and student clubs were awarded and elected for various honors and positions. At the close of the conference, RVU Alumni Association hosted a reception at the JW Marriott for alumni, faculty, and current students. Guests snacked at the pizza buffet and street taco bar, catching up with old friends and mentors.

Thomas N. Told, DO, FACOFP dist., Dean and Chief Academic Officer of RVUCOM, was honored with the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award by the ACOFP. This award honors an individual who has "demonstrated career-long service to patients, osteopathic family medicine, and the ACOFP." From the time he graduated from medical school to when he opened a rural medical practice in Colorado to when he joined the board of the ACOFP and, finally, to when he assumed the role of Dean at RVUCOM (and realized his dream of opening an osteopathic medical school in Utah), Dr. Told has displayed an unwavering passion for osteopathic medicine.

In presenting his award, Duane Koehler, President of ACOFP, stated, "Given your career-long commitment to practicing—and teaching—the full scope of osteopathic family medicine, your volunteerism for the ACOFP, and because you are a beloved mentor and friend to all, we gratefully present you with this 2018 ACOFP Lifetime Achievement Award." Dr. Told previously received the Outstanding Family Physician of the Year award in from the ACOFP.

David Park, DO, FAAFP, FACOFP, RVUCOM-SU Campus Dean, was elected by the Congress of Delegates to the executive position of Vice President of the American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians (ACOFP). The ACOFP is a professional medical association that represents more than 20,000 practicing osteopathic family physicians, residents, and students throughout the United States, promoting excellence through quality education, visionary leadership, and responsible advocacy.

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Jill Pitcher, DO, FACOFP, Associate Professor of Family Medicine (pictured at right with Dr. Joseph Stasio and Dr. Told), has been named a Fellow of the ACOFP. This fellowship recognizes those who have demonstrated a level of dedication to osteopathic principles in family medicine (in practice, academically, or administratively). Of the nearly 30,000 osteopathic family physicians in the United States, there are approximately 700 Fellows (six of them are right here at RVU!).

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RVU's student chapter of ACOFP, was awarded the President's Award at the ACOFP conference! This award recognizes the school chapter that has done the best overall job with membership recruitment, community service projects, communication to the membership (as well as to national leadership), and promotion of family medicine within the school. "[The chapter] was successful because we were not simply a team, but a family, supporting and inspiring each other," said Danielle Lattes, OMS II. "[Also, we had] a leader who recognized individual strengths and passions to make each project a positive influence on the RVU community," she said, speaking of Tara Bjorklund, OMS II, Community Liaison for the chapter.

Elizabeth Stoll, OMS II, was awarded the Osteopathic Family Medicine Student Award by the ACOFP. This national award is given out to students who have shown leadership, a strong interest in family medicine, and a desire to champion the Student Association of the ACOFP (SAACOFP). SD Stoll is the Vice President of RVU's SAACOFP club, the Secretary of the Student American Academy of Osteopathy club, and a member of the Rural and Wilderness Medicine Track

Damage Report: First Semester Postmortem, continued But is greatness a reasonable goal? Stephen King compares good writers with great writers in his distinguished memoir, On Writing. He says that no amount of training can make someone a great writer. They just materialize from the ether. Either you are or you aren’t. He goes on to say that with enough grit and determination almost anyone can become a good writer and that is nothing to thumb your nose at. Good writers can persuade, entertain, and inspire. Good writers can yield a lot of power. There have only been a handful of truly great writers in history—the mystical few who embody the zeitgeist of their time, capturing lightning and storing it in bottles for the rest of us to examine.

I’d like to convert that sentiment towards a medical context. Most likely, I am not going to design an artificial heart or cure cancer or be the first person to successfully transplant a human head. But I can be a damn good physician and that will always be my goal.

I am grateful I struggled this semester. It was a splash of ice water to the face and I needed it. There’s a lot you can learn from a powerful dose of humility. Don’t complain the next time you’re served a fresh humble pie, because it may just be what you need. Chew on it for a while.

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Keep Calm & Enjoy

Chill Fest

Whether you were in the warm desert of Southern Utah or the brisk foothills of Colorado, all RVUers needed a bit of chill during the month of December. Students, faculty, and staff took time to relax, reduce stress, and enjoy the company of fellow students, co-workers, and friends during a challenging time of the year. Guided by adorable, wintertime mascots—Betty the Yeti and Chilly the Penguin—students explored various Chill Stations: coloring activities, jigsaw puzzles, InstaSnow stations, and Legos.

"So many of our extracurricular activities here revolve around learning more about medicine and our future careers," said Jacob Barnes, OMS I. "It was really nice to sit down for a few minutes each day and focus on something other than that." Chill Fest took place over the course of a week, with each day bringing new activities. "Brain Food" provided salads, smoothies, and nuts for a mind and energy boost. There were guided relaxation and food meditation exercises, as well as pet therapy sessions for a mid-day cuddle. For the RVUers who were stressed about finding the perfect holiday gift for loved ones, there were do-it-yourself stations that instructed them in creating bath scrubs, penguin snow globes, and tasty treats.

"After a long morning of classes and exams, it was great for me and my friends to decompress, enjoy some healthy smoothies and salads, and Zumba dance," said Sara Andrews, OMS II. Special thanks to the organizer of the event, the Department of Student Affairs, as well as the sponsors—the Wellness Committee and the Student Government Association—and all of the volunteers who made the event run smoothly!

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Footsteps of Angels

RVU-SU celebrated their first holiday season as a new location by giving back to the community. In December, they collaborated with Red Mountain Elementary school to kick off the Footsteps of Angels program. Faculty, students, and staff purchased sixty pairs of new shoes (as well as socks and school supplies) to give to the young students—70% of whom are living at or below the poverty line. Many of these students had been wearing shoes that were either too small or duct-taped together.

They were also provided with extra shoes to use in emergencies or as spares. "Shoes and clothing are a big concern for the teachers and students at our school," said Ann Mitchell, principal at Red Mountain Elementary.

"We are so excited for the extra pairs of shoes and socks to use in emergency situations!"

The program was such a success that RVU-SU plans to implement the Footsteps of Angels program for years to come.

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The Giving Tree

In December, the Medical Students Advocating for High Risk Populations Club (MSAHRP) at RVU-SU organized a Giving Tree. A tree was set up and adorned with snowflakes— with each flake representing a family in need. The goal of the Giving Tree was to "provide to children that were in need but didn't qualify for any other programs." Each child was able to choose a toy/s they wanted, as well as items they needed (such as clothing).

By the end of the event, 45 local families received clothing and gifts, which had been purchased by MSAHRP and other RVUers. The gifts were wrapped and delivered to the families.

Among the RVUers who participated, these first-year students went above and beyond to organize, sort, wrap, and deliver gifts for the families: Rafael Arteaga, Jacob Burch, David Jeffs, Shannon King, Rachel Leavitt, Paolyne Meza, Haley Shumway, and Rebecca Witt.

Adopt a Live angel & Toys for Tots

Each year, RVU-CO hosts Adopt a Live Angel, in which faculty, staff, and students can purchase gifts for a local family in need. Halfway through the event, the organizers received a request to include 12 more children.

They reached out to employees and received an overwhelming amount of gift card donations to make sure these last-minute requests were included and that the children received fun gifts. In all, there were 27 families and 59 children who received gifts from RVUers.

"We want to thank those who supported the Live Angel program," said Patty Gordon, Manager of Human Resources. "One participant told us that the gifts she received from this program were the only gifts her children would receive this holiday season. Way to go, RVU!" At the holiday party, employees also donated an entire car-load of toys to the Toys For Tots Foundation!

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Decked Out for the Holidays in Colorado RVU-CO employees gathered to celebrate the holiday season at the Heritage Eagle Bend Golf Club on December 15th for the annual RVU Holiday Appreciation Luncheon. The afternoon included a delicious buffet, exciting prize drawings, beautiful glass centerpieces, and delightful carols from the Original Dickens Carolers.

Drew Fordham, Financial Aid Counselor and Outreach Coordinator for Student Financial Services, said, "Everyone has been very busy tying up loose ends as the year comes to a close. It is a privilege to slow down for a few hours, to enjoy the delightful food, awesome atmosphere, and most importantly, the company of our RVU family—all of which are true blessings to have!"

One of the afternoon’s lucky prize winners was Caroline Morris, Administrative Assistant for the Office of Testing. "This year, I was fortunate to win one of the grand prizes—the gift card to Great Wolf Lodge. My two children were ecstatic to find out we get to take a mini-vacation to such a fun place; we have not yet been to a resort like this and look forward to planning our visit. I am very thankful for RVU's generosity to make it possible to do this with my family," she said.

"I never win anything so I consider myself pretty unlucky," said Joseph H. Richard, MLIS, Library Outreach Coordinator. "I was so shocked when I won a $100 AMC gift card! It was especially delightful given that this was my first holiday party at RVU. For me, winning the prize was the icing on the cake! Being around such amazing humans—sharing laughs and holiday cheer—was rewarding enough." Thanks to Peter Freytag, MBA, CPA, Chief Financial Officer, for emceeing the event and to the Employee Appreciation Luncheon Committee for all of their hard work in putting this wonderful event together!

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I'm Dreaming of a Red Mountain Christmas For the first Holiday Appreciation Luncheon at RVU-SU, the event was particularly special. The party was held at The Ledges Clubhouse, a beautiful lodge at a lush golf course. With a backdrop of the Snow Canyon cliffs just outside the windows, the room was decorated with red and green centerpieces and festive Christmas trees (and many heads were decorated with reindeer antlers). There were drawings for over twenty prizes, ranging from gift cards to tickets to Tuacahn Amphitheatre.

Following lunch, they played games and drew raffle winners. Truman Smith, Administrative Assistant for Biomedical Sciences, Medical Humanities, and Structural Medicine, won an annual pass to the National Parks. "I was thrilled to win the prize. I'm planning to use it to go to the Grand Canyon and the Redwoods later this year!" he said. Whitney L. Johnson, MA, Admissions Counselor, was a two-time winner: "I won at Left Right Center (a game) and then a $30 Amazon gift card in the raffle! I was strategic about the raffle so I was super excited that I won something!"

Following prizes, faculty and staff were treated to a lighthearted song, set to the tune of "Jolly Old Saint Nicholas," about what each RVUer truly wishes for: "Maye wishes for her husband's health / Merilynn, to see her grandkids fast / Michael, a general population that has 30 IQ points / Mike, a million dollars is all he asks." The song was performed by their fellow RVUers: Matthew J. Linton, PhD, Phase Director for Year One Curriculum; Merilynn Lloyd, Administrative Assistant to the Assistant Dean of Integrated Curriculum; and Vielane Van Noy, MS, TRT, Assistant Director of Student Affairs and Housing Operations; and, Truman. Susan Strickland, MA, Coordinator for the Office of Testing, wrote the lyrics and provided piano accompaniment. "The song they wrote was my favorite part—both funny and sentimental," said Whitney.

"The holiday party was awesome," said Truman. "It was a great time to get together as the RVU family, relax, play games, and eat food. I can't think of a better way to kick off the holiday break than by spending time with my friends and coworkers to simply shoot the breeze." Ben Wilde, DO, Vice Chair of the Department of Primary Care, agreed, "The party was a fun opportunity to socialize and strengthen relationships. It was a well-planned and fun event."

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Meet the new RVUCOM-CO Student Ambassadors!

The new round of Ambassadors for RVUCOM-CO were selected for the 2018-2019 school year. They will represent the school while meeting with prospective students, physicians, and legislators. They communicate information about the school: its curriculum, programs, tracks, and culture. Faculty, staff, Fellows, and current Student Ambassadors choose candidates for the program based on academic performance, leadership, and personality. The chosen candidates represent a variety of backgrounds, interests, and skills. Pictured r-l: Aaron Walker; Jacob Barnes; Rachel McLaughlin; Gage Williamson; Sheila Dinges; Erin Hayes; Susan Roberts; Aaron Ridder; Jared Keele; Amanda Andersen; Lindsay Milhorn; Jason Christy; Sameeha Husayn; Kevin McGeorge; Jeremy Brown. Not pictured: Gili Edry

Students Help Children "Stop the Bleed" RVUCOM students traveled to Grant Beacon Middle School in Denver to teach a class of approximately 30 children a valuable, medical lesson: how to stop life-threatening bleeds. The medical students taught them how to apply pressure dressings and tourniquets to open wounds and allowed them to even practice on "victims" (utilizing tourniquet guards for safety).

Some RVUers sported moulage, which made the wounds more realistic. While with the class, the medical students also discussed medical careers, demonstrated an ultrasound machine, instructed in blood pressure and heart rate readings, and even let the kids study a pig's heart up close.

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Celebrating the Work of Preceptors The success of a student's third year in medical school depends almost entirely on preceptors (and the Clinical Affairs staff that coordinates their rotations). A preceptor can make or break a student's experience in a certain specialty. Oftentimes, we hear from fourth-year students who have (finally!) decided their specialties—and it was all because of influential or inspirational preceptors.

With such an important role, it is only fitting that RVUCOM do all it can to honor these dedicated and hard-working physicians with good food, good drink, good conversation—and great prizes! In February, the Department of Clinical Affairs welcomed Denver-area preceptors to an annual Preceptor Reception. "This is our opportunity to personally thank them for the contribution that they make to the education of our medical students here at RVUCOM," said Jo Brogus, Senior CME Coordinator.

At the end of the evening, awards were handed out to the three star preceptors who shone particularly bright among the amazing crowd: Dr. Jean M. Bouquet (see below for his spotlight), Dr. Kathleen Strunk, and Dr. Gagandeep Singh. Following the presentation of the awards, large gift baskets and other prizes were raffled off to the delight of the physicians.

Preceptor Spotlight: Jean M. Bouquet, DO "I love the students at RVUCOM. They are bright, helpful, and well-balanced in their approach to medicine and life." With that kind of positivity, it is easy to see why Dr. Jean Bouquet was a recipient of this year's service award at the annual Preceptor Reception. "He takes students every month and wants to be part of educating future doctors," said Kristin KelleyGomez, Clinical Rotations Coordinator.

While he has been teaching osteopathic, allopathic, and nurse practitioner students for the last 25 years, he began teaching RVUCOM students in 2012. He has since developed a reputation among them as being open and honest, having a calm and empathic demeanor, and allowing students to experience every aspect of private practice. "You get to feel like a doctor," one student stated. During these years of teaching, he has found that the trick to a student's success is for them to "be yourself, be present, and enjoy the opportunity to be a doctor-in-training."

Dr. Bouquet is the President and Physician at his practice, Bouquet Family Medicine in Parker, Colorado. Originally from Rockville, Maryland, Dr. Bouquet attended University of Colorado Boulder for his undergraduate degree, which is where he developed a love for the beautiful state. "This is the best state in the nation!" He then moved to Missouri, where he completed his Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree at A.T. Still University Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine.

Aside from his medical practice, he is focused on side-projects: "I've invented, patented, FDA-cleared, and brought to market a novel medical device that will save tens of thousands of women's lives every day." He has applied for a nonprofit designation for this device.

Dr. Bouquet considers himself an "avid skier and a competitive tennis player." When he's not working, he enjoys hiking and spending time with his family. This includes a miniature dachshund named Shelby and a beagle named Chubs McGruffin.

He is also a painter ("not very manly, but neither is my first name," he admitted). He is also a Fellow in Wilderness Medicine. When asked for a fun fact, Dr Bouquet revealed that he has a famous relative: his grandfather was premier of France for two terms in the 1930s!

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Library Raises Awareness During American Heart Month

If you were to pop into the Frank Ritchel Ames Memorial Library during the month of February, you might have seen one of several odd scenes: students and staff knitting hats, grazing on snacks, dropping their names into a raffle, or visiting stations about various technological apps. Each of these activities were coordinated by the Library staff to promote American Heart Month, a national event which raises awareness of the effects heart disease has on our communities. According to the Center for Disease Control, heart disease continues to be the leading cause of death for both men and women; 1 in every 4 deaths is attributed to heart disease each year.

Both locations banded together to participate in the American Heart Association's "Little Hats, Big Hearts" campaign. Each year, the American Heart Association (AHA) sends up a call for knitted newborn hats and yarn, which are then donated to local hospitals for babies born in February. The AHA also raises awareness of congenital heart defects and encourages heart-healthy lifestyles. The Library at RVU-CO led two volunteer outings to the AHA to help box donated items that were being delivered to local area hospitals. They also hosted instructional knitting classes that encouraged students, staff, and faculty to learn more about different ways they can become involved in the community. "The knitting class was a lot of fun!" said Jo Brogus, Senior CME Coordinator. "I needed to brush up on my knitting skills and this reminded me how much I used to love to knit."

The Library at RVU-SU hosted 'Appy Hour, an event to showcase their most popular databases and to teach students about the various ways these resources can assist them in their studies and future careers. "It was exciting to see students and faculty learning together about the resources the library offers, comparing notes on how they had or would use these tools," said Lauren Martiere, MA, MLIS, Reference Coordinator.

"We are happy to report that the community response to American Heart Month was incredible," said Joseph H. Richard, MLIS, Outreach Coordinator for the Library, who had a large role in coordinating the month's events. "In total, the library was able to collect over 50 donations for the American Heart Association. We could not be prouder of our RVU family!"

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Utah Library Grows with the Class of 2021

by Lauren Martiere, MA, MLIS, Reference Coordinator for the Library

Have you visited the RVUCOM-SU library lately? If you haven’t, you might be pleasantly surprised to see how much it has grown. Since July, when the second location of the Frank Ritchel Ames Memorial Library opened its doors to the inaugural Utah class, the library staff has undertaken efforts to grow its resources and become a more comfortable place to work, study, and relax.

Using an easily accessible whiteboard, students were asked to jot down the amenities and changes they wanted to see. A few weeks later…the library responded!

By partnering with RVUCOM Facilities, the library increased the number of power outlets in "dead zones" and improved whiteboard access in study rooms. Library personnel also purchased 24 handheld whiteboards, two moving whiteboards, four adjustable table desks, and 300+ print books, as well as a suite of artwork selected to heighten the coziness and comfort of the space. Unfortunately, the library was unable to fulfill students’ requests for a closer bathroom (or Mom).

With all its new additions, the Utah library has become one of the top spots for studying, group work, club meetings, and even chess matches. It continues to develop its resources and services and welcomes further suggestions for improvement.

Library Website and Update

by Joseph H. Richard, MLIS, Outreach Coordinator for the Library

The Frank Ritchel Ames Memorial Library recently launched our newly redesigned website after five months of engagement with RVU’s community, across two geographically diverse locations. From the beginning, our design team set out to increase the library’s virtual presence online; improve ease-of-access; introduce different avenues for our community to engage with the library; and highlight our growing online collection of eBooks, eJournals, and question banks.

The library’s website features a polished database finder, database guides, board prep resources, research support, a blog, and FAQs. In conjunction with the launch of our website, the library created a seminar series to demonstrate to our community members the variety of new resources and features that are now available.

If you were unable to attend one of our seminars, the library will be uploading two-minute videos, to spotlight different aspects of our website. Start exploring our new site by going to library.rvu.edu.

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Celebrating Physical & Mental Health on DO day of wellness

Students across both locations participated in this year's DO Day of Wellness— students in Colorado visited various stations representing seven components of wellness: Financial, Emotional, Physical, Intellectual, Occupational, Social, and Environmental. First- and second-year students received financial tips, relaxed with OPP techniques, learned about saving energy as a medical student, and ate healthy snacks while socializing. In Utah, students practiced meditation and Thai Chi, enjoyed healthy snacks, played Wellness Jeopardy, and participated in the Great Nerf War of 2018.

Head & neck Massages

Tips & tricks for wellness

Osteopathic Manipulations 22

Tai Chi

Essential Oils

Trivia & Games

Nerf Gun War

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What Do You Know About RMOPTI's Residency Programs?

When you think of Rocky Mountain Osteopathic Postdoctoral Training Institution (RMOPTI) or graduate medical education (GME) at RVU, it's likely the first thing that comes to mind is Sky Ridge Medical Center and its expanding residency programs in Lone Tree, Colorado. However, you may not be aware that RMOPTI actually oversees 22 residency or fellowship programs in the Rocky Mountain region! With programs all over Colorado and Wyoming, they are also developing programs throughout Utah and Idaho. With these developing programs, they will be able to focus their efforts on serving not only the Colorado location, but the new Southern Utah location, as well.

So what are these other residency programs and fellowships?

Colorado Dermatology Institute, Colorado Springs, CO - Dermatology Idaho Physicians Clinic, Blackfoot, ID - Internal Medicine Jordan Valley Medical Center, West Jordan, UT (TBD) - Family Medicine - General Surgery - Internal Medicine - Neurology - OB/GYN - Psychiatry

Lakeview Hospital, Bountiful, UT - Family Medicine Ogden Regional Medical Center, Ogden, UT - Internal Medicine Parkview Medical Center, Pueblo, CO - Internal Medicine - Gastroenterology Fellowship - Pulmonary and Critical Care Fellowship - Hospice and Palliative Care Fellowship - Nephrology Fellowship (planned)

Peak Vista Community Health Center, Colorado Springs, CO - Family Medicine Southwest Medical Center, Liberal, KS (TBD) - Family Medicine St. Mary Corwin Hospital, Pueblo, CO - Family Medicine University of Wyoming Casper and Cheyenne, WY - Family Medicine

The leaders of RMOPTI have been busy championing for GME reform and funding. In January, Thomas N. Told, DO, FACOFP dist., Dean of RVUCOM, and William Cairney, PhD, Assistant Dean for GME, participated in The GME Initiative's annual summit on Comprehensive National Graduate Medical Education Reform. The purpose of the conference was to fundamentally change the way GME is nationally administered and funded, by developing specific planks in a platform that would be advanced to representatives of state and national government. Dr. Told presented "The Rural Story," perspectives on realities of rural medicine, while Dr. Cairney facilitated a table group on GME finance and payment options. In March, Dr. Cairney and Joel Dickerman, DO, Associate Dean of Clinical Affairs, were invite to speak at a Health One (HCA) regional GME Summit at Swedish Medical Center. Dr. Dickerman presented sessions on "Professionalism" and "Dealing with Problem Residents." Dr. Cairney conducted an afternoon session on "Resident Evaluation and Program Evaluation in a Competencies-Based GME Curriculum."

ROME Conference The Rocky Mountain Regional Osteopathic Medical Education (ROME) Conference is an annual event co-sponsored by the Colorado Society of Osteopathic Medicine and the American Osteopathic Association. The conference covers a range of topics within the medical field: new cancer screening guidelines, OMT workshops, updates on career development, and more. This year’s event took place in February at the Beaver Run Resort & Conference Center in Breckenridge, Colorado, where RMOPTI hosted its second annual Resident Research Poster Competition for residents.

• Ms. Shannon Constantinides: Updates in Bio-statistics • Dr. Michael Doermann: Multiple Sclerosis • Dr. Greg Gibbs: Granulomatosis with polyangiitis • Dr. Kyle Kung: Footpain • Dr. Sam Longfellow: Postpartum Cardiomyopathy - 1st Place • Dr. Mark Lupton: AL amyloidosis - 2nd Place • Dr. Edward Malcolm: Hyponatremia case report

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• Dr. David Ohlson: US Everest • Dr. Nicholas Taylor: A Case of Myxedema Coma • Dr. Scott Harshbarger: Sarcoidosis of the Axial Skeleton • Drs. Natasha Fazel-Bogorad and Paula Watts: Meningococcemia • Drs. Eric Bybee and Stephen Stacey: Management of Onychocryptosis with the Vandenbos procedure - 3rd Place

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Fighting the Good Fight: RVUCOM-SU Teaches Children to Wash Hands RVU students from the Community Outreach and Medical Mentors Club presented on the importance of handwashing and our immune system to children from Coral Cliffs Elementary School in St. George, Utah. The medical students spoke about how our bodies have "superpowers" that help to fight off germs that can make us sick and described what some of these superpowers were.

"We used Glo-germs (a powder that glows underneath a black light) to show how handwashing can help remove unwanted germs from our hands and how we can miss places when we don't wash properly," said Christopher Stewart, OMS I. Plastic insects were used as models for germs and student doctors talked to the children about how germs can spread to friends when we exchange high-fives or handshakes. They finished the presentation by playing games with the children.

The Community Outreach and Medical Mentors Club volunteers present on various topics in health, science, and medicine to elementary school students. They have already presented several times and look forward to future volunteer opportunities at this school and others.

V-Day 2018: RVU Steps Up…and In

by Caroline Morris, Administrative Assistant, Office of Testing

The Vagina Monologues, contrary to uninformed beliefs, does not have any talking vaginas, actual vaginas, or simulated vaginas (aside from the vagina-themed bake sale). It did, however, use the word ‘vagina’—a lot—along with illuminating idioms for the mystery that is ‘Down There.’ The live production at Denver’s Blush & Blu in February was chock-full of sincere expressions by individual women affirming who they are (or who they were representing)—without political agenda or correctness. The monologues conveyed pride, controversy, abuse, admiration, mystery, self-affirmation, and more. The Monologues of Eve Ensler selected for this particular production ranged from amusing to heart-wrenching.

I challenge anyone who did not leave a little edified about gender issues.

The women involved in this production—many of them associated with RVU—did a stellar job of organizing, promoting, and making an all-around fabulous show. All proceeds went to SafeHouse Denver Domestic Violence Services. It was gratifying to see both male and female RVU staff amidst the diverse audience.

To the people involved, I thank you. To the actor-students who are not actors by nature, I thank you. To the veteran actors (including our very own Becca Fletcher, Program Coordinator of Clinical Assessment and Simulation), I thank you. To the women and men of the jam-packed audience (and to Blush & Blu for the complimentary space), I thank you. To all the women Eve Ensler interviewed—I thank you for sharing. Sure, I minored in Women’s Studies in the 90s and had watched a video of the original production…but 20+ years later, I can say with conviction, I walked out more enlightened, more educated, more aware—even inspired. Mostly, though, I was extremely proud to work here at RVU, among future doctors who embrace the notion of advocating for women’s health and choice. GO RVU!

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Get to Know the RVU Staff Jo Brogus Job Title: Senior Continuing Medical Education Coordinator; Rural and Wilderness Medicine Track Coordinator Jo is a fixture among the winners of the Chili Cookoff each year, a long-time member of the Graduation Committee, a regular participant in some of the best group Halloween costumes ever, and the keeper of employee birthdays at RVU. She has been with RVU since 2010.

• When she first started at RVU, she was the Administrative Assistant for Clinical Affairs. After 18 months, she was promoted to Clinical Rotations Coordinator. Two years ago, she was promoted to her current position.

• She began working for the Rural and Wilderness Medicine Track right from the start, assisting first Dr. Told, then Dr. Ross with the track.

• She is the force behind RVU's Hospital Day and other department events. She is also a member of the Employee Events Committee and the Graduation Committee.

• Prior to RVU, she worked with Medical Group Management Association for 16 years, Colorado Society of Osteopathic Medicine for 1 year, and Home Builders Association for 5 years.

What are Jo's FAQs? What is CME? Continuing Medical Education (CME) is what helps those in the medical field maintain competence and learn about new and developing areas of their field. These activities may take place as live events, written publications, online programs, or other electronic media. They can also maintain their credit hours by precepting medical students or teaching live courses.

Can students bring a pet/spouse/kid to their AHEC-hosted housing arrangement?

Unfortunately, no. I often assist third-years on clinical rotations with their out-of-area housing. AHEC (Area Health Education Center) provides housing in various regions of Colorado for students going into a rural area away from their regularly assigned region. It is usually host housing—a room provided by a family in their home.

Because of this, students will only have a bedroom with access to a bathroom and use of the kitchen in most homes.

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What is the one thing in this world you are proudest of?

I am most proud of my family: my son, daughter, and my eight beautiful grandchildren. They are all unique and talented in their own ways and each bring me great joy!

What's the greatest bit of advice you have been given?

My dad always said, "Work hard and do your best." It has always stuck with me and I believe I live up to it.

If you could have any super power, what would it be?

My super power would be to fly! I hate sitting in traffic and I could just get out of my car and take off!

If you could travel anywhere, where would you go?

I would love to see Italy and Ireland, home of my ancestors.

If you had one free hour each day, how would you use it?

Probably take a nap!

What has been your favorite part about working at RVU? Having been here since [2010] and seeing the first-years come in every year, following them through to graduation and then to the physicians they will become. It is truly a meaningful observation. I'd also have to say the people I have met, friends I have made over the years, and the opportunities I have been given.

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Campus Tidbits Melissa Davidson, Coordinator for Office of Testing (RVU-CO), is collecting soda can tabs for Ronald McDonald House Charities, to be donated at the Sky Ridge NICU reunion in August. She is hoping to gather a total of three pounds of pop tabs to donate by then. Rather than tossing your empty can, take a moment to remove the tab and pass it along to her. She will be eternally grateful and it's for a good cause!

The RVUCOM-SU SGA hosted the Polar Express Winter Pajama Jam in December for the student body. The event began with Breakfast with Santa where students enjoyed crepes and took advantage of the opportunity to tell Santa what they wanted for Christmas (a good grade on the final exam of the year, maybe?). Then students and their families decorated sugar cookies, made ornaments, sang their hearts out in karaoke, and played blackjack and poker in the lounge. The "Chip Champions" of the event were Sean Bailey, OMS I, and Trisha Tucker, OMS I.

Dr. Rex Nielsen, a local gynecologist and father of firstyear student Talmage Nielsen, presented at RVUCOM-SU, alongside the Ultrasound Society. They discussed how to perform prenatal measurements, what key indicators to look for, and when a physician should be concerned. Dr. Nielsen performed a live fetal ultrasound. Afterward, he talked about his own education and career in health care.

The presentation was co-hosted by the Ultrasound Society, Student Osteopathic Surgical Association, and Women in Medicine.

A children's book featuring the illustrations of Tiemdow "Dr. Dow" Phumiruk, MD, Adjunct Faculty, was recently published. Maya Lin: Artist-Architect of Light and Lines was named one of Amazon's Best Books of 2017 and a Junior Library Guild selection. She will also be publishing three more books (two illustrated, one authored) this year: Counting on Katherine: How Katherine Johnson Saved Apollo 13, Mela and the Elephant, and Mouse's Christmas Gift. "I'd like to continue to create books that empower girls to consider careers in the sciences."

Many may not know that Dr. Dow has an artistic side: "I set that part of me aside when I started medical school." She rediscovered her love of art during her time as a stay-athome-mother years ago, joining the Society for Children's Book Writers and Illustrators. "I realize now that creativity is too big a part of me to ever leave behind again." Visit her website at ArtByDow.com.

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RVU Joins in the Fight for African American Health Often overlooked and seldom inconsequential, medical screenings are a vital part of a healthy lifestyle. Educating the public on the importance of such checkups is not only a noble endeavor, it’s potentially lifesaving.

The Black Barbershop/Salon Health Outreach Program (part of the Colorado Black Health Collaborative) is designed to promote healthy habits within the inner city, where access to healthcare is severely limited. The program focuses on the health of African Americans, who have among the highest rates of hypertension in the country, as well as higher instances of cardiovascular disease and diabetes. Offering free blood pressure and glucose screenings, the program is a great way to take the formality out of the typical doctor visit.

Alfredia Conner, RN, Parish/Congregational Nurse and Patient Navigator, is the Volunteer Coordinator of the Black Barbershop/Salon Health Outreach Program. She is also a long-time Standardized Patient at RVU. Through this connection, she initiated a partnership with the RVUCOM student chapter of the American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians (ACOFP) in 2016, enlisting in student volunteers to assist with the program.

"We are pleased about the enthusiasm and professionalism the students bring to the community. Danielle Lattes (a second-year student and RVU student group leader) has been instrumental in organizing and assisting the students with scheduling and training," said Ms. Conner.

Many RVU students have embraced the program, with over fifty volunteers checking for ailments such as hypertension and diabetes. The experience isn’t just rewarding for the pa-

tients, however. It means something special to the students, as well. "The physicians that coordinate this program are selfless and great role models," said SD Lattes. "Giving access to free screenings and advice to someone in need is very fulfilling."

Mia Nevala, OMS II, recounted a story of a woman who came in for a blood pressure reading. She was on medication for high blood pressure and assumed it was under control.

However, SD Nevala discovered her levels were actually very high. The woman revealed that her blood pressure machine did not work accurately, yet she couldn't afford a new one. "We were able to give her a new machine to monitor her blood pressure. She tearfully accepted it as an 'early Christmas present.' Discovering hyperglycemia or hypertension allows patients to seek care to prevent serious long-term complications. People like her are the reason the Barbershop program exists!"

Between 2012 and 2017, the Black Barbershop/Salon Health Outreach Program has screened 6,408 patients for hypertension and 965 for diabetes. They’ve also logged a staggering 4,951 volunteer hours. With 12 Denver-area shops now taking part in the program—many of them familiar community fixtures—the future looks brighter than ever. If you are interested in volunteering with the Black Barbershop/Salon Health Outreach Program, contact danielle.lattes@rvu.edu.

When you watched this year's annual Denver St. Patrick's Day parade, your mind was likely not on RVU—but it should have been! RVU's Laura Dement, MA Ed, Title IX Coordinator and Compliance Specialist, selected this year's theme: "Our Colorado Irish History"!

She has also been on the Denver St. Patrick’s Day Parade Committee for 14 years as a Parade Marshal. Marshals line up the parade entrees, manage the step-off, and police the parade route.

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

Austen Anderson, OMS I, received a $1,000 scholarship from the American Academy of Neurology (AAN) for his commitment to neurological teaching, education, and/or community service. He will use the money to help him and several members of RVU's Neurology Student Interest Group attend the 2018 AAN conference in Los Angeles. "We are really excited about this opportunity, in addition to all of the awesome Neuro talks and workshops!"

Brett Friedler, OMS III, published "Evaluation of the Neuroprotective Effect of Sirt3 in Experimental Stroke," in the Translational Stroke Research journal. The paper discusses Sirtuins, which are a family of proteins involved in epigenetic modification of neuromodulatory proteins after stroke via acetylation/deacetylation. The paper demonstrates a mechanism for a neuroprotective effect of both Sirt3 genetic knockout and pharmacologic inhibition in mice subjected to experimentally induced stroke.

Nathan Gorman, OMS II, won the preliminary A. Hollis Wolf case competition at RVU with his presentation, "Ultrasound Evaluation of the Osteopathic Treatment of Thoracic Outlet Syndrome." This competition was created to demonstrate the application of osteopathic principles through a case study. He then represented RVU in the national competition and won second place!

Joseph LaPorta, OMS IV, received RVU's Student Doctor of the Year (SDOY) honor. This is an award that is presented by the Council of Osteopathic Student Government Presidents, a council of the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine. The award is given to students who exhibit leadership, commitment to community service,

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dedication to the profession, professionalism, and embodiment of the osteopathic philosophy. Each school nominates a student who will then be automatically nominated for the national SDOY award, to be announced in April.

Jill Pitcher, DO, FACOFP, Associate Professor of Family Medicine, has been named a "Leader in Medicine" by the American Health Council, a national group of medical professionals, whose goals include collaboration and problem-solving outside of the politicization of medicine. This award was part of their "America's Best Doctors and Nurses; Best in Medicine" effort in 2017. She has also been elected to the AHC's Board of Physicians.

Bradley Thornock, PhD, Assistant Professor of Medical Humanities, published an article, "Heralding the Pariahs: What the Narratives of Vaccine Hesitant Parents Can Teach Us About the Backfire Effect and Physician-Patient Relationships," in the Annals of Public Health Reports.

The paper explores the worldview of vaccine hesitant parents to better understand the backfire effect.

The themes that emerged within this analysis showed that many parents felt demeaned and slandered when their doctor was trying to persuade them to utilize vaccines, leading the patient to distrust the character or motive of the doctor.

Lon Van Winkle, PhD, Professor of Medical Humanities, published a paper, "Uterine histone secretion likely fosters early embryo development so efforts to mitigate histone cytotoxicity should be cautious," in Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology. The possible benefits of mitigating extracellular histone cytotoxicity have been outlined for the reproductive tract and other organs.

However, a reassessment of previously published data supports the notion that uterine histone secretion fosters early embryo development in multiple ways. Efforts to neutralize extracellular histone action in reproductive organs should

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

be cautious. There appears to be little discussion of how to preserve desirable histone effects while mitigating pathology caused by excessive extracellular histone actions.

Laurie Bezjian, OMS IV, and Patrick Wallace, OMS IV, presented research in January at the International Meeting on Simulation in Healthcare in Los Angeles, California. The poster was titled “Hyper-realistic trauma immersion and its effect on medical student perspective towards patient care.� The accompanying abstract will be published in the spring edition of Simulation in Healthcare. The research investigates how Cut Suit Week in San Diego changes medical students' perception and motivation towards patient care. Additionally, they presented research at the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Research in Denver, Colorado in October. Their research, titled, "Short and long term efficacy of ultrasound guided sacroiliac joint injections when combined with physical examination and point of maximal tenderness," will also be published in the Journal of Pain Management later this year.

Kelly Davis, OMS V, and Charles Simpkin, OMS V, published two papers.

The first, "Unilateral right-sided varicocele associated with pancreatic cancer: A cadaveric case report," was published in Translational Research in Anatomy. It discusses the dissection of a 67-year-old male cadaver, in which a unilateral varicocele was discovered in the right spermatic cord. Upon dissection of the abdomen, a tumor was found in the head and body of the pancreas. The paper hypothesizes that this pancreatic tumor impeded venous return into the inferior vena cava from the right testicular vein and not the left renal vein resulting in a unilateral right varicocele.

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The second paper published by SD Davis and SD Simpkin, "Bow hunter's syndrome in a patient with vertebral artery atresia, an arcuate foramen, and unilateral deafness: a case report," was published in Radiology. The paper reported on a patient with Bow hunter's syndrome, who was found to have two uncommon anatomical anomalies: an atretic right vertebral artery and a left-sided arcuate foramen.

Katie RoseBorcherding, OMS IV, and Zachary Wagner, OMS III, won first place in the student original research category of the poster competition at American Academy of Osteopathy Convocation in Dallas, Texas. Their poster, "Retrospective Chart Review of Patients with Ankyloglossia to Determine Effect of OMT with or without Frenectomy," found the majority of parents thought osteopathic manipulative treatment to be a positive resource in improving breastfeeding in patients with ankyloglossia.

Nicole Michels, PhD, Chair of the Department of Medical H u m a n i ties, Brian D. Schwartz, PhD, MLIS, Director of Library Services, and Dr. Lon Van Winkle published a paper, "A Model to promote Public Health by adding Evidence-based, Empathy-enhancing Programs to All Undergraduate Healthcare Curricula," in Frontiers in Public Health. Fostering empathy in future health-care providers through service-learning is emerging as central to public health promotion. Patients fare better when their caregivers have higher relationshipcentered characteristics such as the ones measured by the Jefferson Scale of Empathy. Unfortunately, these characteristics often deteriorate during health-care professional training. Nevertheless, growing literature documents how we can promote empathy, and other patient-centered char-

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

acteristics, throughout health-care professional students’ undergraduate education. As for proven treatment plans, we believe we should also use evidence-based guidelines to foster relationship-centered characteristics in our students when training them to practice as part of an interdisciplinary health-care team.

their social media outreach. Other achievements that made RVU's chapter stand out were their organization of Emergency Medicine Boot Camp, a prepatory class for third-year students moving into their audition rotation, and their high number of people joining the RSO for the ACOEP. They were given a $500 grant.

The RVUCOM Student Chapter of the Association of Military Osteopathic Physicians and Surgeons (SAMOPS) represented RVUCOM well at the AMOPS annual conference, winning awards and being elected to executive positions: • The club won the SAMOPS Chapter of the Year.

• Joshua Bradford, OMS II, won first place in the Research Poster Presentation Competition for his poster, "Time to Resuscitate and Patient Outcomes vs. Sea State Method."

• Renato Rapada, OMS III, won Student Officer of the Year.

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.

Additionally, the following students were elected to be National SAMOPS Executive Board Members: • Joshua Bradford, OMS II, was elected to Army National Representative.

• Cameron Lindemann, OMS II, was elected to Western Region Representative.

• Renato Rapada, OMS III, was elected to National Secretary.

• Holly Spitzer, OMS II, was elected to Mentorship Chair.

RVUCOM's American College of Osteopathic Emergency Physicians Resident Student Organization (ACOEP-RSO) was selected as Chapter of the Year among all osteopathic medical schools in the nation! They were chosen for their community service outreach (including their work with the Anthony Bates Foundation), participation in MASH Camp every year, their high-quality lectures for students, and

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In the January/February Issue, Charles Haverty, OMS III, wrote, "Emotions of Medical Practice." In the article, he writes about handling one's own emotions when working with patients. He grapples with the idea of whether it is inappropriate or potentially damaging for the physician to cry while giving bad news, for example.

In the March/April Issue, Alexandra Scoles, OMS III, wrote, "Humbled in Primary Care." In the article, she writes about a patient's condition that she initially disregarded as minor only to be presented with a more challenging, underlying problem.

She goes on to write of the weight of one's decisions, as well as the accompanying emotions, in a patient's life.

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The Women in Medicine Club Ignites Its Influence The Women in Medicine Club at RVUCOM-SU hosted the Ignite Your Influence conference on Saturday, February 10th.

The conference—co-sponsored by the St. George Chamber of Commerce—celebrates, supports, and promotes women’s personal, professional, and leadership development. The conference started with keynote speaker, Mary Crafts, who spoke on "Electrifying Your Influence." This was followed by several breakout sessions which focused on mentoring, coaching, entrepreneurship, leadership, and wellness. Haley Shumway, OMS I, said, "It was an inspiring conference. It was eye-opening and fun to be able to help make it happen."

Welcome to our New Faculty and Staff!

Keith Bodrero, DO, PhD Assistant Professor, Department of Osteopathic Principles and Practice, RVUCOM-SU Dr. Bodrero is originally from Logan, Utah but has lived all over the Midwest and in Germany. He received a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry from Utah State University and a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Organic Chemistry from Michigan State University (MSU).

He attended A.T. Still University Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine, receiving his Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree. He began a residency at Davenport Medical Center in Iowa and finished at the family medicine residency of the Colorado Springs Osteopathic Foundation in Colorado. He started his own family practice in the area, which he developed into an integrative medicine practice.

"My interests included osteopathic manipulation and treating chronic illnesses such as fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue," said Dr. Bodrero.

Prior to coming to RVU, he worked in the Food Science Department at MSU in flavor chemistry research and then for Sigma Chemical Corporation in Missouri, where he did organic synthesis and production development of organic chemicals for use in scientific research. Last year, he merged his practice with Centura Health Physicians Group.

Dr. Bodrero is looking forward to continuing his career at

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RVU-SU. "I’m excited to be training future physicians as part of the OPP faculty," he said. He loves osteopathy and osteopathic manipulative medicine. "I loved caring for my patients. I have learned that everyone deserves compassion and to be listened to."

He and his wife, Sandra, like to help others be healthy. He also enjoys reading, walking, gardening, and church service.

They have three children and six grandchildren. A littleknown fact about him is that he hitchhiked from Utah to Alaska during summer vacation while in college.

Welcome, Dr. Bodrero!

David Eckhardt, MS, PA-C Director of Clinical Education and Associate Professor of Physician Assistant Studies, Physician Assistant Program; RVU-CO David is a Colorado native and grew up in south Denver. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology and a Master of Science degree in Child Health Studies, both from the University of Colorado (CU). He also obtained a Physician Assistant certificate from the same school.

Prior to working at RVU, he served as a faculty member and as Director of Assessment at the Child Health Associate/ Physician Assistant program at CU for seven years. Clini-

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Welcome to our New Faculty and Staff! cally, he practices adolescent medicine for Denver Health.

David is excited to join RVU: "I find the variety and challenges that academia provides rewarding in a career," said David. "I am looking forward to helping create the new Physician Assistant program and to [share] my interest and expertise in simulation, assessment, and adolescent medicine."

In his new role, David will secure clinical rotation sites, integrate simulation into the didactic curriculum, and implement a robust student assessment program.

David is an outdoor enthusiast who enjoys backpacking and winter camping in the Colorado mountains. He has also led a number of international trips including kayaking in Guatemala, adventure travel across Europe, and trekking in the Himalayas of India and Nepal. "My personal challenge is to visit at least one new country each year."

Welcome, David!

Robert "Bob" Evans, PharmD Director of Basic Science and Associate Director of Physician Assistant Studies; Physician Assistant Program; RVU-CO Dr. Evans is originally from Chicago, Illinois but has lived all over the country—from California to New York...and everywhere in between.

He received his Doctor of Pharmacy degree from University of Kansas City Missouri, then completed his residency at University of Illinois Medical Center. Since completing his residency, he has completed two post-doctoral fellowships—one at St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital and one at University of Pittsburgh in the Department of Pharmacology—and an Advanced Leadership Initiative Fellowship at Harvard.

He has served as Clinical Pharmacist at Allegheny General Hospital. He also has previous teaching experience, having served as Assistant Professor of Pharmacy Practice at University of Illinois Medical Center and in the Department of Medicine at University of Texas Medical Branch. He has been an executive in the biotech industry for the last 16 years, working at Amgen, Johnson & Johnson, and Regeneron. "I was part of a team developing new biologic drugs for serious unmet diseases in rheumatology, dermatology, cancer, gastroenterology, and pulmonary," he said.

Dr. Evans decided to come to RVU because of the shining future of the physician assistant field: "It is apparent that physician assistants will be an essential part of our future health care system. RVU's unique PA program will provide

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a rigorous set of academic courses and clinical rotations that will prepare PA students for any medical setting. It will be a privilege and honor to assist in the development of the program."

Outside of work, Dr. Evans enjoys "just about any outdoor activity," regardless of the season. An interesting fact about him is that he tutored math for children living in underserved areas.

Welcome, Dr. Evans!

Trisha Jordan Finance Clerk, Department of Finance, RVU-SU Trisha has lived all over Utah: first in Sandy, then Richfield for high school, followed by Salt Lake City upon graduation. "Other than a yearand-a-half in Brazil, I have pretty much been in Salt Lake City until my recent relocation to Southern Utah," she said. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from the University of Utah ("I bleed RED!"). She previously served for 18 years as Office Manager in the accounting department at a civil engineering firm. Before that, she worked for Intermountain Healthcare.

On coming to RVU, Trisha said, "Although a tiny bit late to the party, I am excited to get in on the ground level of this new University and to witness the growth of the Utah campus and its students."

Trisha loves spending time outdoors, riding her bike, playing tennis, and going for walks and hikes. She also loves to travel, particularly on cruises: "[My] most recent cruise was to the Mediterranean/Greek Isles: ten cities, five countries, and two continents!" She also enjoys lower-energy hobbies like watching movies, reading, and being with her family.

"My parents are here, which was one of the factors that drew me to Southern Utah. Being a 'favorite aunt' to ten nieces and nephews is the best gig!"

An interesting fact about Trisha is that, at a very young age, she learned to knit and crochet from her grandmothers. "Occasionally, I spend my evenings curled up on the couch with a good movie while knitting or crocheting—usually gifts or items to donate to charitable organizations," she said. "It makes me feel better if I am being a productive couch potato."

Welcome, Trisha!

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Welcome to our New Faculty and Staff!

Sipa Patel, DO Associate Program Director for the Family Medicine Residency Program, Sky Ridge Medical Center

James Small, MD, PhD Associate Professor of Pathology, Department of Specialty Medicine, RVUCO

Dr. Patel is originally from Elkhart, Indiana, but has also lived in West Virginia and Pennsylvania. She came to Colorado for the 300 days of sunshine.

Dr. Small is a Colorado native and graduated from Thomas Jefferson High School in Denver. He attended Colorado College, where he graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Chemistry. "Then, I was off to Durham, North Carolina, where I learned about basketball and life at Duke [University]," he said. He obtained both a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Microbiology and a Doctor of Medicine degree from Duke. He completed a clinical pathology residency at the University of Utah.

Dr. Patel obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from Indiana University and a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree from West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine. She completed a family medicine/osteopathic manipulative medicine (OMM) residency at Rowan School of Osteopathic Medicine (RowanSOM) in New Jersey. Following graduation, she practiced as a Family Medicine Clinician with Centura Primary Care. Then, she returned to RowanSOM, taking a position as Associate Program Director and OMM Clinical Faculty.

She is happy to join the RVU and Sky Ridge family. "I am excited to educate and learn from family medicine residents, as well as returning to the academic world of osteopathic medicine," she said.

Dr. Patel is married and has a very charismatic, one-yearold son. She enjoys hiking, traveling, and eating good food.

Something people would never guess about her is that she's only "eight years old," as she was born on February 29th!

Welcome, Dr. Patel!

Promotions and Appointments Ben Wilde, DO, was promoted to Vice Chair of the Department of Primary Care Medicine. He will also continue to serve as Assistant Professor of both Primary Care and of Osteopathic Principles and Practice.

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Dr. Small's first position after medical school moved him to Las Vegas, which was "a big switch from Salt Lake City!"

In 1990, he returned to Colorado with his family where he worked at Presbyterian St. Luke’s Centura in Aurora, up until he accepted a position with RVU. He is happy to join RVU: "I love teaching and passing on what I’ve learned," he said. "What a waste for all that knowledge and hard-won experience to just atrophy!"

Dr. Small is married, with three daughters and four grandsons. He enjoys organic gardening and composting, highintensity weight-lifting, and bike-riding: "I did almost the entire Triple Bypass bike ride until a huge lightning storm turned me back at Copper Mountain…bummer!" An interesting fact about Dr. Small is that his handwriting is actually legible (a hard-to-find trait among physicians!). "I learned basic calligraphy after getting a D in handwriting while in school." Also, he's precepted several DO students who were in pathology rotations—including RVU's own Dr. Ann Trawick!

Welcome, Dr. Small!

Erica Whatley was promoted from Event Planning and External Relations Specialist to Assistant Director of Events Planning and External Relations. In her new role, she will continue planning large-scale events such as Commencement and White Coat Ceremony. She will also represent RVU at conferences and conventions, as well as coordinating events for our alumni.

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From the Rocky Vista University Alumni Association

VU

A LU M N I A SSO C I AT ION

Students, faculty, staff, and fellow alumni, First of all, a hearty congratulations to everyone who participated in and successfully matched both to residencies and to fellowships! That is a huge weight lifted off your shoulders. Even if you had to scramble but still matched a spot, congratulations! The next 2-10 years of your life (depending on what fellowship or residency you choose) will be tough, you’ll get paid far less than you’re worth, and you’ll get the short end of every stick—but always remember that you’re dealing with human lives. You wanted to be a doctor because you wanted to help those people. You’ll deal with unexpected death and unexpected life. You’ll deal with wonderful people and you’ll encounter people whose only purpose is to bring you down. You’ll help people on the best and worst days of their life and, at some point, you’ll realize it was all truly worth it!

As I write my last alumni letter, I want to impart a couple pieces of wisdom that I’ve learned since graduation and since starting as an attending. My first year out of residency, I’ve worked for two different companies, in two different states, at three different hospitals, approximately 25 shifts per month. While I’ve had some very long (18+ hour) days, it’s always been easy for me to wake up and go back to work the next day. I’ve always said that there are so many professions and specialties in medicine that you should be able to wake up every day and say "I get to go to work today!" You should never say "I have to go to work today." Please find a job or specialty where you get to go to work every day.

Always practice ethical medicine! As you start your career and continue to practice medicine, you will be stuck with choices every single day with regards to patient care, social interactions at work, billing, etc. Sometimes it will be easier to do the "wrong" thing. While there will be times that we all cross the line, if you always try to do what’s best for your patient and not what’s best for you, your life and career will be much less stressful.

Special thanks to Walter Buck, phd, chair of structural medicine, for his contribution of $1,348 to the Alumni Association Scholarship Fund!

Do yourself a favor: open your ears and shut your mouth.

We all (myself included) have trouble doing this at times; but as you start and continue your career, you'll realize everyone has something to teach you and you can’t learn when you’re talking. Us young docs can learn from the experience of our more seasoned colleagues and the more experienced docs can learn about new medical treatments and studies from us.

Have a good work ethic! Don’t do as little as possible just to get by—especially during residency and fellowship, but also as an attending. At some point in your life, you’ll have to make a possible life or death decision and you won’t have the luxury of being able to ask someone else for help. Do it right the first time because, if you don’t, your life and the life of your colleagues will be made that much harder by your laziness.

I also wanted to give my thanks to those people who have supported me from day one at RVU (you all know who you are!) and who have taught me not only the science of medicine but the art of medicine. Further congratulations are in order for the prospective students who have chosen to study medicine at RVU, I know you’ll make them feel welcome! Congratulations to the staff and faculty for the work they do and the lives they impact! Congratulations to alumni who will finish residency this year and start their career as attendings! Finally, I wanted to be the first to congratulate our new Alumni Association President (starting June 1, 2018) and a good friend and classmate of mine: Christopher Mutter, DO’14!

I’ll see you all at Graduation 2018!

AJ Ryan, DO '14 Alumni Association President

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V U A

From the Rocky Vista University Alumni Association

LU M N I

A SSO C I AT ION

Job Acceptances, Fellowships, Awards, and Other Accomplishments Colorado Campus Kay Kelts, DO '13, accepted a position as Associate Program Director for the family medicine residency program at Arnot Ogden Medical Center in Elmira, New York. The family medicine residency program oversees the education of approximately 20 residents.

Christopher Ketter, DO '15, was accepted into the Sports Medicine Fellowship at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, Illinois. He is currently finishing his residency program at Mercy Family Medicine Residency in Des Moines, Iowa, where he serves as Chief Resident. He will graduate in June of this year.

Join Our Team!

Colorado Campus RVUCOM Announces Open Rank Faculty Positions RVU is a health sciences university with two beautiful locations near a variety of recreational activities. Its College of Osteopathic Medicine boasts among the top board scores and pass rates in the nation and has received the Military Friendly Schools Gold Award for its many programs for servicepeople. RVU’s mission is to provide quality healthcare education while inspiring its students to serve with compassion, integrity, and excellence.

Join Our Team!

RVUCOM Announces Open Rank Faculty Positions Growth Opportunities Rocky Vista University is currently hiring the following positions: RVU is a health sciences university with two beautiful locations near a variety of - Osteopathic Principles & Practice Faculty - CO recreational activities. Its College of Osteopathic Medicine boasts among the top board - Osteopathic Principles & Practice Faculty - UT scores and pass rates in the nation and has received the Military Friendly Schools Gold - Adjunct OPP Faculty Position - CO / UT Award for its many programs for servicepeople. RVU’s mission is to provide quality - Primary Care Faculty and Adjunct Faculty - UT healthcare education while inspiring its students to serve with compassion, integrity, - Physiology Faculty - UT and excellence.

- Pharmacology Faculty - UT - Molecular / Cellular Biology / Genetics Faculty - UT - Surgery Faculty - UT - Pathology Faculty - UT Rocky Vista University is currently hiring the following positions: For more information on&RVU faculty and -staff - Osteopathic Principles Practice Faculty CO positions, please visit our website at www.rvu.edu/careers/.

- Osteopathic Principles & Practice Faculty - UT - Adjunct OPP Faculty Position - CO / UT - Primary Care Faculty and Adjunct Faculty - UT New Utah Campus - Physiology Faculty - UT - Pharmacology Faculty - UT - Molecular / Cellular Biology / Genetics Faculty - UT - Surgery Faculty - UT - Pathology Faculty - UT

Growth Opportunities

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For more information on RVU faculty and staff positions,

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"Zion Canyon in March" Photo by Susan Strickland

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8401 S. Chambers Road, Parker, CO 80134 720.875.2800

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