December 2020 Issue - Vista View Newsletter by Rocky Vista University

Award Winning Newsletter ei

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AACOM l E xc e l e n c

VISTA VIEW

December 2020 Newsletter

n C o mm

RVU Welcomes Inaugural Provost

David Forstein, DO

Inside: From One Inaugural MSBS Class to Another

How Does a Pandemic Alter Patient Care?

Healthcare Simulation Center Gets Rebooted

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Dr. Susan Carter leads a socially distanced Zumba class on the RVU lawn

Table of Contents 3

Welcome to RVU's Newest Classes!

RVU Hosts Military Appreciation Ceremony to Honor Service People

Where Are They Now? Stella Chan, MSBS Class of 2017

Achieving New Heights

RVU Alumni Weigh In: How Does a Pandemic Alter Patient Care?

Virtual Simulation Takes Students "Out of the Textbook and Into the Classroom"

RVU Welcomes Inaugural Provost: David Forstein, DO, FACOOG

Research and Grants

Research Appreciation Day

Welcome to Our New Faculty and StaďŹ&#x20AC;

From the RVU Alumni Association

Campus Tidbits

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The Legacy of the Inaugural PA Class of 2020

Simulation Center Rolls Out New Name and New Services

Fostering Implicit Bias Mitigation and Compassionate Behavior Throughout the Curricula at RVU

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

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Welcome, PA Class of 2022! RVU welcomed its third class of Physician Assistant Program students in September—the PA Class of 2022. For the virtual-only orientation, the PA Program incorporated plenty of icebreaker activities and small group sessions, allowing the students to meet and talk.

During one segment, students shared what they were grateful for: “I am grateful for this experience as a whole: getting back into the classroom and being able to make connections and new friendships,” said Ashley Lynott, PAS I.

Another activity was the online scavenger hunt, which helped students to search for online resources in a competition against other teams.

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Resilience, Valor, and Unity: Welcoming the Newest Student Doctors "This is a new reality and you are part of that; we are relying on you to take us to that future." With equal parts somberness for the current public health crisis and optimism for a brighter future, Clinton E. Adams, DO, FACHE, President and CEO, welcomed the RVUCOM Class of 2024 to Rocky Vista University. "We are going to get you through this on time and probably with more skills—from a learning aspect and from a team-based aspect—than we’ve ever had before. That is what you’re going to need to survive in the new millennium of healthcare delivery."

Because of the online nature of this year's Orientation, students at both the Colorado and Utah campuses oriented together for the first time. "Adversity has brought us together," said Thomas N. Told, DO, FACOFP dist., Dean of RVUCOM. Together, the students learned about available resources, support systems, curriculum, policies, and what to expect from their first year at RVUCOM. On the final day, students visited their respective campuses to pick up materials and visit the labs.

"Our Orientation theme is Resilience, Valor, and Unity," explained Zeerak Haider, PhD, Director of Student Life and Special Events (CO). "Our greatest hope and intention for you this year is that you build resilience through consistent self-reflection, that you realize that valor comes not from avoiding fear but metabolizing it and that in unity there is strength."

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MSBS Class of 2021 Begins year on both campuses In a year of firsts, RVU-SU expanded its program offerings with the matriculation of its inaugural Master of Science in Biomedical Sciences (MSBS) Class of 2021. "[It] has been a dream to provide a [MSBS] degree to not only Coloradoans but Utahans, as well,” said Francina Towne, PhD, MSBS Program Director, during the University’s Induction Ceremony. At the ceremony, both campuses heard from keynote speaker, Dwight Hertz, MD, Professor of Pathology, who offered the students three pearls of wisdom: "Don’t jump to conclusions;" "Make sure your communication is clear;" and "There is room for humor in medicine." Students were also addressed by several guest speakers including Clinton E. Adams, DO, FACHE, President of RVU; David J. Park, DO, FAAFP, Campus Dean of RVU-SU; and alums Morgen Weatherly, OMS I, MSBS ‘20, and Talon Harris, OMS II, MSBS ’19. For SD Harris, the MSBS Program not only "[helped] me establish a strong foundation for [medical] school, but it also provided me ample opportunities to learn that I was capable of reaching my dream. It is my hope that you hit the ground running and are excited for your journey ahead!" At the end of the ceremony, the new students received their white coats, a symbol of the healthcare profession. "Your white coats today will be part of your journey and growth into becoming an informed, professional, and compassionate agent of healthcare-related change," said Benjamin Brooks, PhD, Assistant MSBS Program Director for RVU-SU. "When you learn, when you help, when you serve, this white coat that you put on today affirms your commitment to being a future professional, with all it brings, and all it requires." Prior to the Induction Ceremony, students participated in a virtual Orientation Week. Though lacking some of the more hands-on activities of years’ past, faculty and staff from both campuses created an experience that ultimately achieved its goal: introducing the new students to RVU and to each other in a more fun and relaxed setting. A Scavenger Hunt also featured searches of the anatomy website, faculty directory, and policies, as well as trick questions like Christian Clodfelder’s, OMS II, favorite microorganism (you’ll have to ask him to find out). When asked to look for something that was alive in their room, the MSBS students shared the following findings: "Me," "I have a dog" (which of course prompted comments of adoration), "My tea is alive…," and "I have a plant that’s dead" (which might not count).

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Where Are They Now: Stella Chan, MSBS ‘17 Before pursuing her studies at RVUCOM, Stella Chan, OMS IV, was a member of the MSBS program’s inaugural Class of 2017 at RVU-CO. She chose to pursue an MSBS degree in the newly established program to strengthen her academic record—she had completed her undergraduate studies eight years prior—and to figure out if medicine (and RVU) was the right fit. As such, her first piece of advice for students in the MSBS program is to “take this unique opportunity to figure out where you think you best ‘fit’ in the health professions field.” In the MSBS program, SD Chan learned to utilize every resource available to her. “Seek out mentorships to help you with your career goals,” she advises. “[The MSBS program] is a great time to reflect if you have adequate support and to determine if you can thrive during your health professions training at RVU (on either campus).” Lastly, “always remember that scores do not define you nor do they predict how you will help your patients in the future.” Now a fourth-year student at RVUCOM, SD Chan is often reminded of a simple, yet powerful phrase that was often said by her dear friend and colleague Jessica Deane, OMS II, who passed away last year: “Never give up.” SD Chan found that working through obstacles, “especially during some of the most challenging times that made me question my worth…have created opportunities for real transformation.” SD Chan also reflected on those who, over the years, have inspired and motivated her to continue on her journey to become a physician. “Early on, it was family members who unfortunately passed away due to lack of access to adequate healthcare. Then, it was my own healing from past traumas where I learned about the powers of fortitude, resiliency, and empathy.” While at RVU, she says she has also been “fortunate to have crossed paths with many wonderful colleagues, friends, and mentors who have found their calling in medicine and graciously oﬀered guidance with my journey.” Most recently, her motivation has come from the patients she has helped treat during her clinical externships. In her time at RVU, SD Chan has been recognized with a number of awards and scholarships, including RVU’s MSBS Humanitarian Award in 2017; RVU’s Healthcare Leaders Scholarship (2017 – 2019); Health Resources and Services Administration’s National Health Service Corps Scholarship (2019 – 2021); and the American Academy of Family Physician’s Family Medicine Leads Scholarship (2020).

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From One Inaugural MSBS Class to Another Pioneers. Trailblazers. Changemakers. Innovators. Being a part of a program’s inaugural class can be both exciting and intimidating. While it’s a chance for students to leave behind a lasting legacy and set the stage for those that will come after them, there are challenges that come with being first, the most certain of those challenges being uncertainty. RVU-SU’s MSBS Class of 2021 is in the unique position of embarking on their graduate studies in a new program at a relatively new campus, and during a year that, in a way, is the first of its kind in human history. In a moment like this, looking to those who have had similar experiences—such as the graduates of RVU-CO’s MSBS Class of 2017—can provide RVU-SU’s inaugural class with some certainty as to their future success in the MSBS program. John Bouz, OMS IV, Western University of Health Sciences "RVU’s MSBS program and its comprehensive curriculum helped me to build and strengthen my academic foundation in higher-level science courses; it gave me the knowledge and skills to manage the initial overwhelming amount of information in medical school. As you probably already know, the program oﬀers challenging courses and calls on students to develop new study strategies and to diversify their educational resources. My classmates and I often organized group study sessions a few times a week to review class material and to help each other with any confusing concepts. We often came up with mnemonics together and quizzed each other. Depending on the class, I used Anki, SketchyMedical, or YouTube videos to supplement the class material and help me memorize it. I think finding what works for you and trying to perfect that study routine for each class is key and something that should be worked on early in the process." Jessica Montalban, OMS IV, Rocky Vista University College of Osteopathic Medicine "As a new graduate student in a school where there were previously only medical students, I felt a little out of place on my first day. I soon discovered that this was a feeling shared amongst all of my classmates. Though we came from a variety of backgrounds, we were on the same unique path with many of us having had similar struggles prior to enrolling. As students in a new program, there are bound to be struggles along the way. Always remember that anything you may be thinking, feeling, or experiencing is also felt by those in your class. You are not alone. Being part of a smaller class size where everyone is tackling the high demands of academics together will help you create bonds that you never thought possible. Lean on your classmates when you need to and they, in turn, will do the same. Although it may be tough at times, know that these struggles will also make you stronger in the long run." Visit RVUblog.com in January to read more advice from one MSBS class to another.

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RVU Alumni Weigh In: How Does a Pandemic Alter Patient Care? On her first day as a Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Intern at Mayo Clinic School of Graduate Medical Education, Melanie White, DO ’20, found herself in an unusual situation. Her patient, an elderly man with a terminal illness, had been brought into the hospital from his nursing home and his condition was quickly deteriorating. In a pandemic, however, the obstacle she faced wasn’t how to provide him with the medical care he needed—it was following protocol. The coronavirus’ ease of spreading, especially in how it remains airborne indoors for long periods of time, has triggered a slew of protocols over the past seven months that differ from one healthcare facility to the next. Navigating that process on the first day of a medical internship was no small feat. In addition to discussing her patient’s goals for care over the phone with his family—which she did not feel equipped to do on her first day—Dr. White also needed to coordinate family visitations. "We did everything that we possibly could to get him into hospice to be closer to his family," said Dr. White. However, because of his comorbidities, her patient could not be transitioned from the care he was receiving at the hospital to another facility closer to home. For days, while she advocated for her patient and coordinated with others in charge of his care, she watched him diminish without his family to comfort him. Sadly, in the end, the patient passed away before his family could see him. "That really has affected me," said Dr. White. "When we previously had a patient in this situation, it would not have been a problem to get them closer to home or have family come in." This inability to offer patients the comfort of having their family with them, an important part of healthcare delivery, has been one of the more heartbreaking outcomes of the coronavirus pandemic. Dr. White shared her story with students, faculty, and staff from both RVU campuses as part of an Alumni Panel discussion held in late September. The panel brought together four of RVU’s recent graduates—Dr. White; Shayna Popkin, DO ’19; Alexa Tyler, DO ’19; and Kashyap Kaul, DO ’20—to talk about their experiences as residents during the pandemic. "The patient aspect of it [is] definitely jarring," said Dr. Kaul. As the Resident Medical Director of Northern Valley EMS and LVHN-MedEvac, he has seen cardiac arrest patients during the pandemic that have much worse outcomes than before. "We are not even transporting these patients [in ambulances] because we [would not be able to] resuscitate them," he explained, as it would take ambulances—which now need to be deep-cleaned after each usage—out of service for longer periods of time. In the Emergency Department, where he is also an Emergency Medicine Resident at Lehigh Valley Health Network, "We have to stop and think [with every patient]: what is this going to do for our exposure? What is this going to do for the exposure of every nurse?" Another outcome of the pandemic has been prolonged work hours, sometimes up to 100 hours a week, according to Dr. Popkin, currently a Psychiatry Resident at George Washington University. With physician burnout a concern before the pandemic, it’s now more important than ever for residents to spend time on self-care. Dr. Kaul emphasized that finding alternatives for relaxation is an important way to maintain one’s sanity. While part of a physician’s skill set is to be adaptable, it should never come at the cost of one’s mental or emotional health. For Dr. Tyler, Family Medicine Resident at Oregon Health and Sciences University, it’s important to remember that "you are a human in a profession that is often asking you to be more than that." Read more about the thoughts and experiences of completing residency during a pandemic at http://bit.ly/RVUalumniforum

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RVU Welcomes Inaugural Provost, David Forstein, DO, FACOOG After a long, nationwide search for RVU's inaugural provost, David Forstein, DO, FACOOG, has officially accepted the role. In his first 90 days at RVU, Dr. Forstein looks forward to learning as much as he can about RVU and our three programs, as well as supporting and working closely with the academic leadership team to ensure an excellent and innovative curriculum for our students. A profile in this newsletter might not be enough to detail all of Dr. Forstein’s many accomplishments. Before coming to RVU, he was the Dean and Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology (OB/GYN) at Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine – Harlem Campus, where he worked on the development of new pipeline programs as well as strengthening the school’s relationship with the local community. He also oversaw educational programs from pre-clinical to clinical, student services, faculty research opportunities, and alumni affairs. Dr. Forstein has also served in other notable roles, including as Director and Associate Professor of OB/GYN at the University of South Carolina School of Medicine and as a Clerkship Director at Philadelphia College Dr. F Forstein t i was offi fficially i ll introduced i t d d to t the th of Osteopathic Medicine (PCOM). He also held clinical faculty appointRVU community at a November Zoom Town Hall ments at Clemson University School of Health Research, Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine, Jefferson Medical College, and more.

“The transformation to a leading health sciences University cannot be effectively achieved without a significant investment in leadership—leadership that has broad experience, national recognition, and alignment with RVU's guiding principles and core values." - Dr. Clinton E. Adams, President and CEO

A leader in the osteopathic medical world, Dr. Forstein is currently the Chair of the American Osteopathic Association’s Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation and he serves on the Board of Directors of the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education, where he is also a member of the Executive Committee and Chair of the Committee Requirements. If that were not enough, he is also a widely published author, having worked on a number of research projects including a recent study funded by the National Institute of Health.

After graduating from PCOM in 1990, Dr. Forstein completed his residency in OB/GYN at the Hospital of PCOM and a fellowship in reproductive endocrinology and infertility at Pennsylvania Hospital. Board-certified in both OBG/GYN and reproductive endocrinology and infertility, Dr. Forstein soon found his way to full-time academic medicine after realizing that teaching the students and residents was often the best part of his day. “Working with students, faculty, and staﬀ, and helping to further the health profession field has made for a wonderful career so far.” Dr. Forstein and his wife have three grown children: two in college and one who resides in New York. They also have two dogs: a 13-year-old lab/ chow mix and a 3-year-old English cream Golden Retriever. Drr.. For Dr Fors Fo rst ste tein tei in was as gift ifte fted wiithh artwo t rkk titled, "T Thhere is Beauty A-Lung Us," created by Florence Yip Yip, OM MS II.

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The Legacy of the Inaugural PA Class of 2020 The Commencement Ceremony for the PA Class of 2020 marked a milestone for the students in more ways than one: they graduated as the inaugural class from an innovative program that has been recognized for its unique competency-based medical education model. See the Vista View’s July 2018 issue for more about the CBME model. While the graduation celebration, which was held virtually, was without its usual pomp and circumstance, the PA Program’s faculty and staff still found ways to commemorate the graduates. In addition to the celebration, the class also received several gifts: RVU pins, a custom jacket, graduation programs, and, of course, their framed diplomas. During the ceremony, Cathy Ruff, PA-C, PA Program Director, remarked upon the student’s impressive feat of helping to establish RVU’s PA Program. "[Like] all good trailblazers, you have left a legacy. You have developed a mentorship program for cohorts that follow, set high standards for professionalism, and supported one another through challenges." Keynote speaker Bonnie Randolph, MD, commended the graduates for their resiliency during such a challenging year. "As iron sharpens iron, so you too have been honed into the outstanding providers that your family, friends, colleagues, and instructors can be very proud of." Dr. Randolph also spoke to the graduates about legacy. While they have cemented their legacy at RVU, they must now be intentional in the way they reach their professional goals. Investing in relationships, she impressed upon the graduates, is how we lead an extraordinary life of intent. "We build our legacy every day and every hour," she said, through random acts of kindness, words of encouragement, and investment in our community. As they move into the next phase of their career, Dr. Randolph left the graduates with one question: "How will you choose to leave your legacy?" Creating legacies that are founded on relationships may not be so difficult for the Class of 2020. Beyond their didactic and clinical experiences at RVU, the graduates said their most precious memories were times spent with their classmates. For many, the highlight of their year wasn’t just winning the Colorado Academy of Physician Assistants Challenge Bowl as the new kids on the block, but the specific moment when everyone from the program ran up to the stage to celebrate. Read more about the graduates’ reflections at http://bit.ly/PAreflections.

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First Responders Test Newly Remodeled Healthcare Simulation Center Anyone driving by RVU’s Colorado campus on the morning of October 15th likely witnessed a perplexing, if not somewhat alarming, scene of a lone ambulance cutting through the University’s courtyard. When the ambulance came to a stop on the grassy field, first responders with the Franktown Fire Protection District (FFPD) jumped out and made a beeline for several patients: a man suffering from a heart attack (George Marsh, Security Officer, acting as a Standardized Patient); a woman with a broken femur (portrayed by Kelsey Link, Coordinator for the Office of Simulation in Medicine and Surgery); and a man with shrapnel embedded in his abdomen (simulated by Dennis Meidal, Senior Facilities and Grounds Technician, wearing a Cut Suit®). Also scattered throughout the field were individual torsos—in reality, high-fidelity manikins for practicing techniques like cricothyrotomy (an incision in the neck to establish an airway) and needle compression. The scene, which was designed to mimic the aftermath of a gas explosion, was the latest simulation event from the Office of SIMS. When the triage phase of the simulation was complete, patients were transported via the ambulance to the Office of SIMS’ newly remodeled Healthcare Simulation Center (HSC). At the HSC, the responders used the new ambulance access, realistic ER trauma bays, and operating rooms to allow for [a] comprehensive and realistic patient experience. The responders also assisted in other aspects of trauma care, like scrubbing in for surgery and treating "patients" in the Post-Anesthesia Care Unit, where manikins can simulate low blood pressure, vomiting, and obstructions in the mouth and throat. The simulation event allowed the FFPD team to practice communications and leadership skills while learning more advanced medical techniques. To see more photos from the simulation, please visit the RVU-CO Facebook page.

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Healthcare Simulation Center Gets Rebooted Almost overnight, the coronavirus pandemic changed how medical universities like RVU provide hands-on, clinical experiences for students. While lecture courses were better suited for platforms like Zoom, skills-based workshops and anatomy labs required a more innovative approach. That’s where RVU’s Office of Simulation in Medicine and Surgery (SIMS)—with programs that include the Healthcare Simulation Center (HSC) and virtual reality software—can bolster new methods for delivering comprehensive curriculums. For many years, RVU has used simulation technologies like the Cut Suit® and other realistic manikins to enhance healthcare education for both students and faculty. These technologies, coupled with Standard Patient Encounters, create a controlled environment in which students can practice what they’ve learned in didactic courses, learn more complex techniques, and treat rare or unusual illnesses, all without putting a real patient at risk. In a pandemic, simulation experiences such as these might become crucial for student success. During Healthcare Simulation Week, the Office of SIMS held a virtual unveiling of a remodel of the HSC on the Colorado campus. The major renovations include an ambulance ramp, a simulated trauma bay complete with two emergency rooms and operating rooms, a simulated prep room, and storage space for equipment. Both campuses also have wall murals to enhance the realism of the simulated clinical spaces and high-fidelity SimMom and Preemie Annie electronic manikins. The Office of SIMS has added a virtual reality program to both campuses in the form of designated virtual reality rooms and advanced software. Over the holiday break, students from the RVUCOM Class of 2023, MSBS Class of 2021, and PA Class of 2021 will also be able to participate in a virtual reality simulation competition from the comfort of their homes. The goal of the competition, which is based on specific clinical scenarios, will help students familiarize themselves with the virtual reality software and Oculus Rift equipment. “Simulation-based education is really important in today’s learners,” said Susan Carter, MD, FACS, Director of the Office of SIMS. “The [HSCs] provide multiple modalities for different types of learners,” all while ensuring that the Office of SIMS achieves its goals of ensuring patient-centered education and providing an innovative and state-of-the-art approach to healthcare education. For learners, workshops with realistic manikins and virtual reality simulations can assist in the retention of information for longer periods of time.

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Fostering Implicit Bias Mitigation and Compassionate Behavior Throughout the Curricula at RVU by Jacqueline Powell, PhD, Associate Professor of Physiology, and Daneka Souberbielle, MA, Advisor

On September 3rd, RVU-CO’s Department of Medical Humanities and Jacqueline Powell, PhD, Associate Professor of Physiology, presented a faculty development session entitled, “Fostering Implicit Bias Mitigation and Compassionate Behavior Throughout the Curricula at RVU.” The session was intended to loosely emulate the Medical Humanities course for the Master of Science in Biomedical Sciences (MSBS) program in which student discussions regarding implicit bias and communication difficulties, followed by critical reflections, promoted increases in reflective capacity and empathy as well as changes in behavior to mitigate biases and become more compassionate. The course enabled many students to note that their “unconscious bias might affect some of their clinical decisions or behaviors as a healthcare professional,” and helped them become more aware of such biases when interacting with others in service-related activities. With many institutions, nationally and worldwide, recognizing the importance of implementing sensitivity training in acknowledging and addressing implicit bias, RVU is no different. With ‘Diversity’ as one of RVU’s seven core Institutional Learning Outcomes, we felt it important that our faculty members also have the opportunity to engage in such an educational activity that could bring forth awareness of implicit biases, foster critical reflection, bias mitigation, and compassionate behavior, and provide a means to institutionalize this approach for all healthcare professional trainees. In addition to viewing videos created by the Gates foundation, small group discussion sessions were facilitated, engaging the faculty in answering the following questions:

1. What are explicit and implicit biases? 2. How are implicit biases associated with unconscious microaggressions? 3. Can reflections to expose our implicit biases and microaggressions help prevent substandard teaching and healthcare? 4. How can students/faculty/staﬀ help one another identify their unconscious biases and microaggressions? 5. How can we foster implicit bias mitigation and compassionate behavior throughout the curricula at RVU? This session format provided a safe platform for diﬃcult conversations without fear of judgment, and the response from faculty was overwhelmingly positive/favorable: • • •

“I am grateful to work with colleagues who are willing to engage in these diﬃcult conversations. I'm also grateful to work with colleagues willing and able to facilitate such conversations. Bravo!” “The best part was that it was a safe place to talk about our thoughts without fear of judgment. Important we could act as "devil's advocate" or give unpopular opinions to test the waters and get feedback.” “Excellent presentation! Liked the format to encourage discussion in small groups. We just needed more time!”

To allow for more time and to further foster this development, a second faculty development session addressing health care equity and disparities, reflective practice, and bias mitigation is currently being organized to be held in January 2021.

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RVU Hosts Appreciation Ceremony to Honor Military Service People The 10th Annual Military Appreciation Ceremony—held virtually over Zoom and hosted live for students, faculty, and staﬀ from the Parker, Colorado and Ivins, Utah campuses—honored and celebrated the military service people in the RVU community, including future military physicians and veterans. The ceremony began with an introduction by 2nd Lieutenant Dustin Halverson (Air Force), OMS II, and 1st Lieutenant Sean Lynch (Army) OMS II, Presidents of the RVU Chapter of the Student Association of Military Osteopathic Physicians and Surgeons (SAMOPS) for the RVU-SU and RVU-CO campuses respectively. The Posting of Colors, a traditional flag ceremony, was then performed by Air Force Junior Reserve Oﬃcer’s Training Corps Cadets from Dixie High School. Thomas N. Told, DO, FACOFP dist., Dean of RVUCOM and veteran of the U.S. Army and Coast Guard, was then introduced by SD Halverson for a Military Healers tribute. The presentation honored military physicians, who have served and currently serve, by discussing the history of their contributions to military and civilian medicine during times of war. The RVU Color Guard presented the Missing Man/POW Remembrance Ceremony on the RVU-CO campus (pictured above), a tradition that honors and recognizes the service of those missing in action, taken prisoner, or deceased. SD Lynch introduced the keynote speaker, RVU Alumnus, Major Charles Robert Hutchinson, DO ‘15, First Ranger, 3rd Battalion 75th Ranger Regiment. In his address, Dr. Hutchinson talked about what he had learned from previous keynote speakers, discussed his experiences at RVU, and expressed his “why” for choosing osteopathic medicine and how it has evolved over time. Clinton E. Adams, DO, FACHE, President and CEO of RVU and retired Rear Admiral in the U.S. Navy, presented the Anthony J. LaPorta Military Award of Excellence to Dr. Hutchinson, who was honored for his determination, initiative, outstanding leadership, and selfless perseverance.

A Veterans Day tradition, the Student Association of Military Osteopathic Physicians & Surgeons chapter at RVU hosted a flag-raising to honor and thank all who serve in our military.

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“We’d like to thank those veterans from all branches of the armed forces who joined us here today,” concluded Dr. Told. “To participate in this ceremony, to tell us their stories, and to make Veterans Day special. We appreciate your dedication and sacrifice during your service to this great nation.”

The Auger by Thomas N. Told, DO, FACOFP dist, Dean of RVUCOM Content warning: The following article contains descriptions of amputation (explicit), blood (gore, minor), and death/ dying. I have come to understand through the years that there are events in the lives of all of us which occupy unique pockets in our memory. Interestingly, the details of those experiences can be recalled just as freshly and vividly as the moment in which they were experienced, even decades later. Usually, these types of experiences are linked to an outpouring of extreme emotional exertion coupled with other strong modifiers such as fear, pain, extreme physical effort, life-threatening situations, or profound joy and happiness. Simplistically, I have reasoned it as the body’s way of allowing us to continue to review some of the unresolved high points and low points in those experiences so as to reach some resolution or closure before that event can be filed comfortably away in the deeper parts of our minds. Though it has been many years, there is one event in my life as a physician that continues to stand apart from all the others in that way. It was an event that deeply touched our entire Moffat County Emergency Medical Services system, and was of such a traumatic nature – followed by an equally tragic outcome – that any mention of “the auger” would bring a shiver to one’s core and the instant recollection of that experience for years to come. Here, for the first time, are my reflections on that night that tested an entire emergency medical response team’s skill and resolve to never give up. After a busy day in the clinic, I reported to my 72-hour weekend shift at the emergency room a bit behind schedule. Unfortunately for me, this meant I would have to skip supper with my family, but I was confident that I could catch up with them and give them a big hug at a slower time during that weekend. I had just changed into my scrubs when an urgent call came in from the Colorado State Patrol Dispatch. In a somewhat excited and almost breathless tone, the dispatcher said a doctor needed to go to the sawmill to remove a man’s foot that was caught in an auger. She didn’t know more than that but said she would relay more details as they came in. In an effort to speed up that process, the Sheriff ’s Department was dispatching a deputy to pick me up at the hospital and immediately rush me and any necessary equipment to the scene. I thought it was a strange request, for they were not the kind to panic like that. This also didn’t make much sense, because we had just purchased thousands of dollars of specialized equipment to remove cars from around people. I could not understand why they needed me at the scene to remove a man’s foot from an auger when, with that new equipment, it would be a simple task to cut mechanisms on both sides of the victim and remove the trapped appendage. However, the responders at the scene remained steadfast in their request to have a doctor come in, in spite of my probing questions to the contrary. I also sensed an urgency in the tone of this communication that I had never experienced before. There was something clearly wrong and the lack of detail around the incident worried me. I assured them I was on my way... Read the rest of "The Auger" at http://fightinprairiedogblog.com/the-auger/

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Achieving New Heights Highlighting the Accomplishments of Our Faculty, Staﬀ and Physicians in Training Natalie Crump, PAS II, has been appointed to the Advocacy & Policy Committee for the AAPA. This committee will review any submitted 2021 AOR resolutions to ensure they align with AAPA and Student Academy goals, policy, and ongoing work. This committee is also responsible for bringing to the Student Board any recommendations for achieving greater student awareness of AAPA’s ongoing work on behalf of the profession and recommendations on how to better engage students in advocating for PA-positive changes.

undergraduate medical education, graduate medical education, and continuing medical education.

Elizabeth Kuge, OMS III, was named as RVU-CO's Student Doctor of the Year. The SDOY Committee believes her leadership, commitment to community service, professionalism, and dedication to the profession has highlighted her as an exceptional applicant. She exhibits all the valuable qualities of a DO, which has been shown through her work with SNMA, the MC2 Outreach Event, and many more. SD Kuge will compete against other COMs' nominees in the national competition.

Braiden Shumway, OMS III, received the NSC Scholarship for his third and fourth year of school. "This is a huge blessing for me and my family. I want to express my gratitude for all the time and eﬀort [Dr. Park and Dr. Wardle] spent helping me get to where I am today. I am forever grateful for your decisions to work in academic medicine and to be such wonderful teachers and mentors to me and my classmates."

David J. Park, FAAFP, FACOFP, Campus Dean for RVU-SU, was awarded 2020 W. Douglas Ward, PhD, Educator of the Year by the American Osteopathic Foundation. The recipient of the Educator of the Year Award must demonstrate a number of qualities to even be considered eligible for the honor including leadership skills, compassion as an educator, and a commitment to osteopathic medicine and the profession.

Mikala Russell, OMS III, was named as RVU-SU's Student Doctor of the Year. The SDOY Committee said of SD Russell, she "demonstrates excellent leadership in the RVU community, as well as a dedication to the osteopathic profession that will take her far in the national SDOY competition." SD Russell will compete against other COMs' nominees in the national competition.

Yuri Anderson, OMS II, and Elizabeth Kuge, OMS III, were awarded the RVU Diversity Scholarship for 2020-2021. They were selected from a number of highly qualified applicants and have clearly demonstrated their commitment to promoting inclusivity and our core value of Diversity during their time at RVU. They will each receive a $2,000 scholarship from the RVU Education & Research Foundation.

Dr. Park was also appointed to serve a three-year term on the AOA's Bureau of Osteopathic Education. The BOE oversees the full continuum of osteopathic medical education and makes recommendations directly to the AOA Board of Trustees. The BOE is a representative body of the osteopathic profession and receives reports from various educational councils and committees of the AOA in all aspects of

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

Virtual Simulation Takes Students “Out of the Textbook and into the Clinic” Those wondering how a simulation hosted over Zoom could live up to expectations have never attended a workshop organized by RVU’s Office of Simulation in Medicine and Surgery (SIMS). In mid-September, the Office of SIMS designed one of its first virtual simulations of the semester, live-streaming to students on both campuses from the newly renovated Healthcare Simulation Center in Colorado. Through the power of storytelling and well-placed manikins and video equipment, Seth Peacock, MD, Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine, brought to life a small-town hospital with several urgent care cases, including patients experiencing atherosclerosis and shock. The students observed as Dr. Peacock asked a patient for their medical history. "Just sitting with a patient helps you connect with them," Dr. Peacock said as the students looked on. Then Dr. Peacock suddenly demonstrated how a small hospital can be at a disadvantage in terms of severe trauma cases: a gunman (simulated by Dr. Peacock and an airsoft gun) shot at the first patient, turning the urgent care visit into an emergency case. Students now had to develop treatment options for a patient suffering from several gunshot wounds, while keeping the patient’s medical history in mind and in a hospital with limited resources. The virtual workshop not only simulated how a patient can go into shock and how a healthcare team must work together under changing circumstances, but it also showed the challenges that rural hospitals and clinics can face with certain trauma cases. As Dr. Peacock said to the students before the start of the simulation: "My goal is to get you out of the textbook and into the clinic." He most certainly accomplished that.

Colorado Medicine, a local health care-focused publication created by the Colorado Medical Society, features a section in each issue for osteopathic medical students to submit written pieces and share their thoughts, as well. The reflections will be published bi-monthly. If you would like to submit an essay, contact Alexis Horst in the Writing Center at ahorst@rvu.edu for assistance with editing and submission guidelines.

In the September/October Issue, Ilma Chowdhury, OMS II, and Emilie Mathura, OMS II, wrote the article, "Considering social determinants of health for compassion and activism." They write of systemic racism and how seemingly minor measures can lead to increased incarceration rates and healthcare disparities. In the November/December Issue, Mercedes Harvey, OMS III, wrote the article, "Black patients matter: The impact of the current radical climate on medicine through the eyes of a third-year medical student." In the article, she discusses not only the burden placed upon her as a person of color but also how experiences and symptoms of black patients can be overlooked in the medical school curriculum.

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Research and Grants Furthering the Pursuit of Innovation and Exploration in Healthcare and Education An important resource for students, faculty and staﬀ, the Oﬃce of Research provides support and guidance for research activities, such as statistical consulting, an intramural grant program, and a searchable database of extramural grant opportunities.

Publications Amanda Brooks, PhD, Director of Research and Scholarly Activities, published a paper with her graduate students and colleagues entitled “Development and processing of novel heparin binding functionally modified spider silk coating for a catheter, providing dual antimicrobial and anticoagulant properties” in the journal Materialia. It describes not only the connection between infection and thrombosis but also the novel use of a biologically inspired molecule, a heparin binder, to disrupt both pathologies. The heparin binding molecule was embedded in a spider silk protein to produce a robust surface coating. The team found that such an approach could prevent both blood clot formations, as well as adhesion of bacteria and infection of the surface.

Fernando Gomez, MD, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Professor of Pathology, published research in Allergy and Asthma Proceedings titled, “COVID-19 in children: Pathogenesis and current status.” The article reviews and critically assesses published studies on severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection and COVID-19 disease in children. It covers the clinical presentations, immunology, and pathogenesis of two distinct but overlapping phases of COVID-19 disease in children: the first phase is triggered by the SARS-CoV-2 infection and some patients progress to a second phase termed multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) caused by a host hyper immune response. The article highlights that although MISC may have symptoms similar to Kawasaki disease it is a distinct entity from Kawasaki disease.

Dr. Brooks also published a paper entitled, “Echogenic exosomes as ultrasound contrast agents” in the journal Nanoscale Advances, a member journal of the Royal Society of Chemistry. In the article, Dr. Brooks and her colleagues describe how exosomes, which are naturally secreted bilayer vesicles, can be isolated and modified to be echogenic, a particularly useful modification for ultrasound imaging. The work is continuing toward preclinical evaluation at the University of Washington and North Dakota State University. Dr. Brooks also published an extensive review entitled, “Additive Manufacturing Techniques for Fabrication of Bone Scaﬀold for Tissue Engineering Applications.” The review considers the utility of 3D printing and other similar techniques for bone tissue engineering. The article was published in the journal Recent Progress in Materials. Jesse Dewey, OMS IV, has published research in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology. His research, titled, "Man with recurrent necrotic papules," describes two patients who presented with various lesions. These lesions began as erythematous nodules, became ulcerated with central eschar, healed without scarring, then recurred in new locations.

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Marcus Oliver, OMS IV, Ben Robbins, OMS IV, and Eryn Reager, OMS III, published research, titled "BMI & Body Fat Changes in Medical Students," originated from SD Oliver's own observations. After noticing unhealthy weight changes in fellow classmates and himself, he became interested in conducting a research project about how medical school can aﬀect a student's body weight in the first year. The research, which was presented by the student doctors to various Utahan physicians in August, delved into those changes, the potential long-term sequelae, and where it is headed.

Research and Grants Furthering the Pursuit of Innovation and Exploration in Healthcare and Education Amanda Brooks, PhD, Director of Research and Scholarly Activities, and Ben Brooks, PhD, Assistant MSBS Program Director, recently published an article in the journal Materials. The article entitled, “An antibiotic-releasing bone void filling (ABVF) putty for the treatment of osteomyelitis”, describes the preclinical studies of a new ABVF material Drs. Brooks have been developing for over a decade. The new material composition facilitated bone healing in a rat osteomyelitis model while simultaneously providing protection from Staphylococcus aureus infection in that model. They have a business founded on the idea and are proceed toward clinical trials and FDA approval. Furthermore, their article was selected for the cover art of the published issue.

Alissa Lenz, OMS IV, Rebecca Ryznar, PhD, Associate Professor of Molecular Biology, David Ross, DO, FACEP, Director of the Rural & Wilderness Medicine Track, Susan Carter, MD, FACOG, FACS, Chair of Oﬃce of Simulation in Medicine and Surgery, and Anthony LaPorta, MD, FACS, Professor of Surgery, published research in the Journal of Disaster Medicine. The article entitled, “The Next Nine Minutes: Lessons Learned from the Large-Scale Active Shooter Training Prior to the STEM School Shooting”, identified strengths and weaknesses in pre-hospital and inhospital care. These included what roles agencies play in a true event, specific timing in establishing areas such as the warm zone and casualty collection point, transportation, and logistics at the accepting hospital. Only after the barriers to success were identified and addressed did the timing of casualty movement drastically improve. The lessons learned from this training were ultimately used to save lives at the STEM Academy, Highlands Ranch, Colorado Shooting. This in-situ immersion training should be practiced as a whole system.

Isain Zapata, PhD, Assistant Professor of Research and Statistics, Alissa Lenz, OMS IV, Rebecca Ryznar, PhD, Associate Professor of Molecular Biology, and Anthony LaPorta, MD, FACS, Professor of Clinical Surgery, published an article in Frontiers in Psychology titled, “Medical Students Immersed in a Hyper-Realistic Surgical Training Environment Leads to Improved Measures of Emotional Resiliency by Both Hardiness and Emotional Intelligence Evaluation.” The authors considered the hardiness and emotional intelligence of the physicians in relation to the all too prevalent burnout. Hyper-realistic immersion simulation training for military medical students was conducted and the hardiness and emotional intelligence of those undergoing the training was then measured. The study concluded that such realistic simulations can improve these outcomes. The team continues to study the issue.

Joseph Fike, OMS IV, Edwin Fundingsland, OMS IV, and Joshua Calvano, OMS IV, published research titled, "204 Website Usability Analysis of the United States Emergency Medicine Residencies," in the Annals of Emergency Medicine. This research analyzes the eﬀectiveness of a residency's digital representation via a website during the application cycle of 2020-2021.

Ben Brooks, PhD, Assistant MSBS Program Director,

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Research and Grants Furthering the Pursuit of Innovation and Exploration in Healthcare and Education Francina Towne, PhD, MSBS Program Director, Matthew McMaster, OMS IV, Kelly Mohr, II, and Austin Page, III, published an article in the journal Expert Opinion on Biological Therapy titled, “Epitope Characterization of Anti-drug Antibodies—A Tool for Discovery and Health.” The market for monoclonal antibody (mAb0) therapies is growing rapidly as the pharmaceutical industry expands its development across a broad spectrum of diseases. Unfortunately, as shown in the recent failure of bococizumab by Pfizer, these treatments often stimulate formation of problematic antidrug antibodies (ADAs). ADAs can cause side effects and limit efficacy for many patients. To increase efficacy and decrease safety concerns from ADAs, immunogenicity characterization is needed early in the drug development process. This article presents emerging techniques that hold promise to improve ADA assays and their potential applications to pharmaceutical development and personalized medicine.

Presentations Congratulations to those that did presentations in November and December! A special congratulation to Anthony J. LaPorta, MD, FACS, Professor of Clinical Surgery, who was a keynote speaker at the 2020 Virtual Annual Clinical Assembly for the American College of Osteopathic Surgeons. During his address, titled "Changing the Face of Training," he discussed a series of hyper-realistic active shooter simulation drills conducted by South Metro Fire Rescue and involving multiple agencies. Several students also presented posters virtually at this conference. Dr. Anthony LaPorta: "Continuous Video and Trauma Data While En Route to and in a Trauma Center during Mass Casualty." American College of Surgeons Virtual 2020 Clinical Congress. October 3-7, 2020. Dr. Anthony LaPorta: "Just because they are empowered does that mean they can do the task eﬀectively? Examining civilian ability to STOP-THE-BLEED." Trauma Association of Canada. March 25-28, 2020. Halifax CA. Covid Interrupted-Virtual November 16-20, 2020.

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Dr. Anthony LaPorta; Bryan Eldreth, OMS IV: "Stopping the Bleed in the most diﬃcult of places, The Role of Diﬃcult Sea Based Resuscitation Surgery." Trauma Association of Canada. March 2528, 2020. Halifax CA. Covid Interrupted-Virtual November 16-20, 2020.

Anthony LaPorta; Rebecca Ryznar, PhD, Associate Professor of Molecular Biology; Alissa Lenz, OMS IV; Joseph LaPorta, DO '18. "WARM ZONE CARE – Lessons Learned from Large-Scale Active Shooter Training Prior to the Stem School Shooting." Trauma Association of Canada. March 2528, 2020. Halifax CA. Covid Interrupted-Virtual November 16-20, 2020.

Anthony LaPorta; Ryan Carney, OMS IV; Alissa Lenz, OMS IV; Dr. Rebecca Ryznar: "Identifying Triage Priorities and Logistics in Mass Casualty Events Prior to Arrival at the Hospital." Trauma Association of Canada. March 25-28, 2020. Halifax CA. Covid Interrupted-Virtual November 1620, 2020.

Michael Kreiser, OMS II; Brieanna Hill, OMS II; Dikchhya Karki, OMS II; Elke Wood, OMS II; Isain Zapata, PhD, Assistant Professor of Research and Statistics; and Dr. Anthony LaPorta. "Point-of-Care Ultrasound Use by EMS

Research and Grants Furthering the Pursuit of Innovation and Exploration in Healthcare and Education Providers in Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest." AMSUS The Society of Federal Professionals. Covid Interrupted-Virtual December 8, 2020.

mille Bentley, DO, MPH, FACOFP, Chair of the Department of Tracks and Special Programs; and Dr. Isain Zapata. After more than two years of research, RVUCOM students and faculty won second place at the American Osteopathic Association’s Bureau of International Osteopathic Medicine abstract competition. They gave a virtual presentation about their research, "Utilization of Traditional vs Contemporary Medicine in Global Indigenous Populations: the Maasai of Kenya", at the BIOM International Seminar in October.

Sarah Pederson, OMS IV; Amanda Andersen, OMS IV; Austen Anderson, OMS IV; Krysta Sutyak, DO '20; Ca-

Research Appreciation Day by Amanda Brooks, PhD, Director of Research and Scholarly Activity Due to the pandemic, the 9th Annual Research Appreciation Day was held virtually and with both campuses participating. Dr. Richard Kennedy, our keynote speaker, from Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, presented a talk titled, "Vaccines: the immune system in action". We were also excited to hear from ten of our students and student groups from both campuses about their ongoing research. They are doing amazing things and did a great job presenting and leading the discussion over Zoom for the almost-200 participants. We want to congratulate all the students who presented their posters at this year’s event. We had close to 80 student participants from both campuses who navigated virtual poster presentations on Teams. Please keep in mind that these are still available for viewing until the end of the year. Congratulations to the student presenters and faculty mentors. We oﬀer additional recognition and congratulations for our awardees at Research Appreciation Day 2020: Awards for Poster Presentation: • 1st Place: Daniel Sullivan, Jacob King, Telyn Peterson, Courtney Shill-Russel, Dr. James Small. "A Comparison of the Bouquet Speculum and Traditional 2-Blade Speculum." • 2nd Place: Mitchell Allen, Bryan Daines, Blake McKinley, Kayd Pulsipher, Dr. Isain Zapata, Dr. Ben Wilde. "The Evaluation of Anxiety and Depression Among Medical Students." • 3rd Place: Shane Hyde, Ryan Henschell, Dallas

Steiner, Nicole Synder, Jeremy Bergman, Sean Charczenko, Edwin Fundingsland, Dr. Regan A. Stiegmann. "An Assessment of eHealth & Health Literacy in Digital Health Research Involving Patients with Chronic Disease: A Literature Review." Awards for Oral Presentation: • 1st Place: Anna Jacobs. "Impact of in vivo CSH RNA interference on placental vascularity regulators." • 2nd Place: Lacie Phibbs. "Epigenetic histone modifications at the center of the Barker hypothesis and their transgenerational implications." • 3rd Place: Kalvin Zee et al. "Quantitative Ultrasound to Assess Adult Tendons." Directors Choice Award: • Blake McKinley, "The Rash That Progressed to Be a Life-Threatening Illness." Thank you to our participants, judges, and visitors for making Research Appreciation Day a memorable event. We want to express our gratitude to the Research Appreciation Day committee—Melissa Henderson, Mike Jorgensen, Judy Simmons, and Joe Richard—as well as Kelli Petersen and Gina Marzulla. This year’s event would not have been possible without you. We would also like to give a huge shout-out to IT for all their support. Start planning for Research Appreciation Day 2021. We will see you there!

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Welcome to our New Faculty and Staff! Colleen Bowles, DO Medical Director, Physician Assistant Clinical Education Program, RVU-CO After looking for their forever home in 2013, Dr. Bowles moved to Colorado with her husband and two children. She believes they have been successful in that endeavor and plans to stay in Colorado permanently. Dr. Bowles acquired a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology (and a minor in Theology) from Creighton University. She then attended medical school at the College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific in Pomona, California. She completed a pediatrics residency for a joint program between Creighton University and the University of Nebraska Medical Center and is now anticipating the completion of a Master of Business in Healthcare Management by the end of this year. Dr. Bowles was a National Health Service Scholar Corps recipient during medical school and during the first four years practicing as a pediatrician. She practiced as a Pediatrician for five years before relocating to Golden, Colorado. In addition to her role at RVU, she works for STRIDE, a federally qualified community health care center, two days a week. “I love RVU’s passion [for] providing quality medical education to the next generation of healthcare workers.” In her free time, Dr. Bowles enjoys traveling, gardening, running, and good wine with good friends. When she was young, she lived in Como, Italy for a year and considers it her home away from home! Her other two favorite places to have visited are Malaga, Spain, and Florianopolis, Brazil. Benvenuta, Dott. Bowles! Amanda Brooks, PhD Director, Department of Research and Scholarly Activity, RVU-SU Dr. Brooks grew up in Casper, Wyoming, where she met and married her high school sweetheart, Ben, and together they moved to Salt Lake City, Utah. She received her Bachelor of Science degree in Biology with an emphasis in Genetic Engineering from the University of Utah (UofU), followed by her Doctorate in Molecular Biology from the University of Wyoming. After graduate school, she attended a postdoctoral research fellowship where she studied cartilage tissue genetics at

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the University of California San Diego. For a brief time, she studied recombinant protein expression at the University of Wyoming. Finally, she returned to Utah where she worked first as a Research Assistant Professor and then as a Conflict of Interest Analyst at UofU. In 2012, she founded a company, EluteInc, based on the technology that she had developed. Prior to joining the RVU team, she took an Assistant Professor position in the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences at North Dakota State University. What inspires Dr. Brooks the most about her field of work is when a student catches the vision for research and their passion develops over time. She finds the RVU community environment exciting and considers it to be a big factor in her choosing RVU. Dr. Brooks is passionate about science and research even outside of work hours. She enjoys helping her daughters pursue their PhDs, design experiments, and interpret data. She also enjoys science brainstorming sessions with Ben and exploring nature with their two German Shepherds. She loves spending time with her grandchildren who live far away. Each summer, she and Ben escape to their cabin in Petersburg, Alaska. Welcome, Dr. Brooks! Neysa Grider-Potter, PhD Post-Doctoral Fellow, Department of Clinical Anatomy and OPP, RVU-CO A Michigan native, Dr. Grider-Potter received her Bachelor of Science degree in Zoology and Anthropology from Michigan State University. “Traipsing through local bogs and forests for biology classes was probably my favorite undergraduate experience.” She later completed her Master of Arts and Doctorate degrees in Anthropology from Arizona State University. Her favorite part was exploring the desert, though she dearly missed being surrounded by trees. Before coming to RVU, Dr. Grider-Potter spent a year in Japan researching how human anatomy evolved for walking on two legs through studying gibbons and macaques, some of our closes relatives. “I really enjoy trying to understand how our anatomy and physiology are intertwined. Being able to research in such a beautiful country made it all the more rewarding.” She’s looking forward to exploring Colorado, in particular new places to hike and camp with her dog. “I’m very excited

Welcome to our New Faculty and Staff! to be working with all the great RVU faculty and thrilled to be a part of the RVU team!” Youkoso, Dr. Grider-Potter! Kimberly Kucera Administrative Assistant, Department of Clinical Anatomy and OPP, RVU-CO After more than a decade living in the Centennial state, Kimberly and her husband can officially call themselves Coloradans. Born in Corpus Christi, Texas and a long-time resident of Lincoln, Nebraska, Kimberly relocated to Denver when her husband accepted a new job back in 2004. While still a resident of Nebraska, Kimberly completed her Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from the University of Nebraska. Most recently, Kimberly worked for St. Joseph’s Hospital as an Administrative Assistant for Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. In her career, she has also worked for Centus Counseling, a non-profit counseling agency, as the Office and Billing Manager for Consulting and Education, and as a Didactic Services Coordinator at the University of Colorado’s Physician Assistant program. Welcome, Kimberly! Ryan Loeblich Medical Assistant and Care Coordinator, Rocky Vista Health Center, RVU-CO Prior to joining RVU, Ryan spent 15 years working in Care Management and Transitions of Care, where she handled direct and indirect patient care experiences. She worked for Colorado Community Health Alliance as a Resource Specialist to educate Medicaid clients on available resources and help them navigate the application process. Additionally, she worked with home care and hospice patients, along with their families, to reduce avoidable readmissions by providing effective information. While working in a primary care residency clinic, she teamed up with staff to teach residents how to better support high utilizers and the underserved community.

to maintain function or improve their lives is important to me.” Ryan is excited to assist with providing additional care coordination; her past experience in a clinical setting will be a great asset to RVU! A little-known fact about Ryan is that when she was 21 years old, she was named the youngest person in the history of Domino’s Pizza to have their own franchise! Welcome to RVU, Ryan! Tiﬀany Mahaso, MD, MBA Director of Practice Management, Rocky Vista Health Center, RVU-CO Quite the world traveler, Dr. Mahaso has been to Africa and back, having settled in Colorado after the 1994 Hurricane Andrew hit her family hard in Florida. She has a biology degree from Oral Roberts University and received a concurrent MD/MBA degree, as well as post-graduate certifications in healthcare management and strategic marketing. Prior to joining RVU, Dr. Mahaso has worked at Advanced Orthopedic and Sports Medicine, a division of OCC (Orthopedic Centers of Colorado), where she was in Clinical Operations, overseeing their three locations. Before that, she worked at Renew Anchored Dentures where she was the administrator of the Aurora, Arvada, and Colorado Springs locations. Now with RVU, Dr. Mahaso is excited to “investigate ways to increase patient volume, satisfaction, and improve our flow so that it’s mutually beneficial to both staﬀ and patients.” As mentioned, Dr. Mahaso is an avid traveler along with her husband, having a goal of three countries a year! She was born in Little Rock, Arkansas, but has lived in South Africa, Cayman Islands, Florida, Zimbabwe, Maine, and Oklahoma. With traveling on hold due to the current global pandemic, they enjoy their favorite activity of white water rafting around Colorado, along with spending time with their two daughters. On the other side of the sports spectrum, Dr. Mahaso also loves contemporary dance and ballet, even choreographing for community events. She’ll definitely keep you on your toes! Break a leg, Dr. Mahaso!

Often, she is referred to as a patient advocate. She expressed, “Encouraging patients to access available resources in order

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Welcome to our New Faculty and Staff! Riley C. Morse Agreements Administrator, Department of Clinical Education, RVU-CO

know if it was the hormones (most likely) but the article really resonated with me.” She stays in touch with them as father and daughters travel the world together.

Riley received a dual Bachelor of Arts Degree in English and Philosophy from Metro State University. While in college, he worked as a Rides Operator at Elitch Gardens and was later a Money Services Associate. After obtaining his certification from Arapahoe Community College, he worked as a Paralegal for The Law Center P.C in Highlands Ranch.

During the summers, Iran plays co-ed softball. She also enjoys going to the movies. Her favorite places to visit have been her "home away from home": the Grand Moon Palace in Cancun. "The food, atmosphere, and people are amazing. We try to visit Cancun at least once a year.” Iran and her husband have an eventful household with five children, two tabby cats, and a French Bulldog.

When asked what inspires him most about his field of work, Riley said, “Contracts ensure fairness and equity when two or more people come together to exchange goods and services. A well-written contract will leave both parties happy while a poorly written contract generates strife. Working with contracts [keeps] people happy and interactions fair.”

Amanda Troy, PhD Associate Professor of Gross Anatomy, Department of Clinical Anatomy and OPP, RVU-SU

A fun fact about Riley is that, after graduating from the inaugural class of Mountain Vista High School in Highlands Ranch, Colorado, he went on a two-week adventure to England, exploring York, Canterbury, and London. In his free time, Riley enjoys “building model kits, watching Star Wars or Lord of the Rings, and tabletop gaming.” His favorite tabletop wargame is Star Wars Legion. Welcome to RVU, Riley! Iran Sefcovic Medical Receptionist, Rocky Health Center, RVU-CO

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Iran received a Bachelor’s Degree in Healthcare Management from Metropolitan State University. Before accepting her position with RVU, she was a Scheduler for RMCC. When talking about her work history she stated, “I knew working in oncology would be diﬃcult but I did not anticipate how close of a relationship I would develop with my patients and their families. It was both a rewarding and diﬃcult opportunity.” She expressed her excitement to be part of a learning environment. This will be her first time working at a teaching clinic. An interesting fact about Iran is that she gave the gift of twin girls to a man working for the United Nations! “After the birth of my second daughter, I was home on maternity leave when I came across an article regarding surrogacy. I don’t

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Welcome, Iran!

Dr. Troy spent most of her life on the East Coast before moving to Utah. She grew up in North Carolina, moved to Pennsylvania for graduate school, and then lived in Virginia for work. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from High Point University, a Master of Science degree in Nutrition Science from the University of North Carolina-Greensboro, and a Doctorate degree in Anatomy from Penn State University. After completing her academic studies, she moved to Virginia, where she worked for Liberty University College of Osteopathic Medicine as an Assistant Professor of Anatomy and as the Director of Anatomy Teaching Fellowship. Now at RVU, Dr. Troy is excited to meet new people, learn, grow, and share her experiences with others. Passionate about the field of science, she finds her work inspiring: “The beautiful intricacies of the human body: the relationships, careful design and the variations that occur. It is absolutely astounding in its detail.” Dr. Troy trains in martial arts, particularly American Freestyle Karate. Outside of work, she enjoys reading and listening to music. “My music tastes are varied. You might find Frank Sinatra followed by Linkin Park or TobyMac.” A huge hockey fan, she especially loves the live experience and atmosphere of watching the Carolina Hurricanes. An avid traveler, Dr. Troy’s favorite places have been The Art Institute of Chicago and Pretoria, South Africa. Her travel plans include visiting all 50 states, having been to 35 already. Welcome, Dr. Troy!

RVU-SU Praises Employee Innovation with Award Ceremony Jing Gao, MD, Associate Professor of Ultrasound, and Mike Crockett, AV and Help Desk Technician, were honored with the 2020 RVU-SU Innovation Award. Clinton E. Adams, DO, FACHE, President and CEO, defines innovation as "Delivering new and creative ways to provide health care education while consistently demonstrating compassion, integrity, and excellence." Dr. Gao exemplifies compassion by making others feel cared for and appreciated. There’s never a time when she doesn’t say hello in the hallways and ask how you are doing, coworkers say. She has helped create the thriving and ever-growing culture of research and innovation we love at RVU. Dr. Gao demonstrates an extraordinary commitment to the University, students, and fellow employees with her commitment to her research. She is constantly innovating and developing new research opportunities. Mike has demonstrated creativity, brilliance, and innovations during this year's pandemic and has made many helpful modifications through the iNet. He often goes out of his way to help faculty and staﬀ on projects outside of his normal responsibilities. One fellow employee has expressed, "I personally am grateful for his ingenuity and knowledge."

Promotions and Appointments Cassidy Chambers (RVU-CO) was promoted from Assistant Director to Associate Director in the Oﬃce of Admissions. In this role, she will oversee the process of admissions, applications, and interviews. Cassidy began at RVU in 2014.

John Coulter (RVU-SU) was promoted from Technician to Senior Technician in the Department of Facilities and Grounds. "This is a very much-deserved promotion for John, and I am proud to work alongside him," said Robert Barrett. John began at RVU in 2017. Laura Dement (RVU-CO) was promoted from Compliance Coordinator to Manager of Compliance. "This means she’ll still be immersed in compliance and Title IX, but she’ll be...performing more risk management assessment and analysis duties," said Dr. Jennifer Williams. Laura began at RVU in 2017.

Jen Fisher (RVU-CO) was promoted from Instructor to Assistant Professor of Medical Humanities. They will also continue to serve as Reference Librarian. Jen began at RVU in 2014.

David Roos (RVU-SU) was appointed to Associate Dean of Student Success in the Oﬃce of Student Aﬀairs. In this role, he will oversee the Advisors on both campuses in the areas of both academics and career planning. Dr. Roos began at RVU in 2017.

Scott Westergard (RVU-SU) was promoted from Help Desk & System Administrator to IT Systems Engineer in the Oﬃce of Information Technology. Scott began at RVU in 2018.

Ashley Farmer-Hanson (RVU-CO) was appointed as the Associate Dean of Student Life. In this role, she will oversee the Directors of Student Life and the Mental Health Counselors on both campuses in the areas of both academics and career planning. Dr. Farmer-Hanson began at RVU in 2020.

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From the Rocky Vista University Alumni Association

V U A LU M N I

A SSO C I AT ION

Dear RVUCOM Community, Hello! I am excited to again address everyone on behalf of our Alumni Association. It’s amazing how fast the fall has come and gone as we lean into winter. Despite all the craziness in the world, our community and campuses continue to excel and are staying very active. I would like to congratulate Matthew A. Puderbaugh, DO ’12, Flight Surgeon USAF, for his Outstanding Resident of the Year Award! He was recently honored at SAMOPS and the virtual annual gala of the AOA for his outstanding eﬀorts during his current PM&R Residency training. His experience as a flight surgeon in the U.S Air Force has undoubtedly helped him excel in the residency world as he continues to enhance his medical career. Great job Matt! RVU has kept the simulation labs alive by launching its Virtual SIMS classes. This is fantastic in that it still allows our students to continue to have one-on-one interactions and encounters with patients. RVUCOM, in my mind, has one of the strongest and rigorous SIMs classes in the nation for our students. It helps our student doctors stand apart from others as they enter into the clinical setting of seeing patients beyond medical school. The Oﬃce of Simulation in Medicine and Surgery held another Mass Casualty Incident training at the RVU-CO Campus. Wearing masks and respecting social distancing, I’m happy to see this event continue on an annual basis. I remember how valuable it was for me and my colleagues during our medical school training, especially for us in the military and rural/ wilderness medicine tracks! Lastly, we recently held an alumni virtual meeting and collaboration with RVUCOM-SU's Inaugural Class of 2021 for a Q&A session. We discussed interviewing techniques and skills as they prepare to apply to their residencies of choice this winter. I wish them all nothing but the best of luck and success in their future aspirations. A big thank you to Vie Van Noy, Director of Student Life and Special Events at the RVU-SU Campus, for helping coordinate such a fantastic event! May you all continue to find happiness, success, health and wellness, not only for your patients, but for yourselves, during these very trying and challenging times. Have a wonderful holiday season! Sincerely, Bobby Petro, DO ‘14 Alumni Association President

RVU employees can now donate to the Alumni Association via automatic payroll deductions. To participate, visit the iNet and click "Forms." Look for the form titled "Alumni Donation Form - Payroll Deduction." For more information, contact Julie Rosenthal at jrosenthal@rvu.edu.

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From the Rocky Vista University Alumni Association Laurie Bezjian Wallace, DO '18, received the 2020 Award for Excellence in Graduate Medical Education by the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP). As stated by AAFP, "Dr. Wallace's greatest professional accomplishment to date is being...chosen for the Uniformed Services University Resident Faculty Development Program rotation, which focuses on professional development for residents planning a career in academic medicine." In particular, she is interested in curriculum development for osteopathic manipulative treatment, point-of-care ultrasound, and medical student education. Isaac Billings, DO '17, has accepted a position at Ridgewater Community Clinic in Polson, Montana. He will be oďŹ&#x20AC;ering the full spectrum of primary care services, including obstetrics. He graduated from the Family Medicine Residency of Western Montana.

Jesse T. Casaubon, DO '13, has accepted a position in the Department of Surgical Oncology at Baystate Health in Springfield, Massachussetts. He recently completed a fellowship in breast surgical oncology at Alpert Medical Center in Rhode Island. Dr. Casaubon is currently studying COVID-19-related delays on the upgrade rates of atypical ductal hyperplasia. He recently published "Breast-Specific Sensuality and Appearance Satisfaction: Comparison of BreastConserving Surgery and Nipple-Sparing Mastectomy" in the Journal of the American College of Surgeons. Eric Elliott, DO '12, has accepted a position with Kaiser Permanente in Colorado Springs, Colorado. He will be an internal medicine physician in the Parkside oďŹ&#x192;ce. He completed his residency program at Parkview Medical Center in Pueblo, Colorado, where he later oversaw the program.

VU A LU M N I A SSO C I AT ION Amanda Gaccetta, DO '12, has accepted a position with Aspirus as an obstetrician/gynecologist at their Wisconsin Rapids-area clinics. She previously served as Department Chief at General Leonard Wood Army Community Hospital in Missouri. Dr. Gaccetta was born and raised in Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin and is excited to return to her hometown, with her husband and three children. Courtney Gushue, DO '14, recently completed a three-year fellowship in Pediatric Pulmonary Training at Nationwide Children's in Columbus, Ohio. She works at OHSU Doernbecher Children's Hospital in Portland, Oregon, where she specializes in children with lung disease. She also has a special interest in treating breathing problems related to neurological diseases and cystic fibrosis. Andrew Kelts, DO '14, has accepted a position with Rapid City Medical Center in Rapid City, South Dakota, where he specializes in Gastroenterology. He has completed a Gastroenterology fellowship at Arnot Ogden Medical Center; there he trained to a high level in clinical gastroenterology medicine, becoming proficient in general gastroenterology and endoscopic techniques. Brett Mulkey, DO '17, has accepted a position with MercyOne Forest Park Family Medicine in Mason City, Iowa. He completed residency at MercyOne North Iowa Family Medicine Residency Program.

Matthew Naegle, DO '17, has accepted a position at Intermountain Healthcare's Ogden Clinic and Canyon View in Ogden, Utah. He graduated from a pediatrics residency at Blank Children's Hospital in Des Moines, Iowa this year.

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From the Rocky Vista University Alumni Association Nathan Nessle, DO '15, was recently accepted into a Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Fellowship at University of Michigan and Mott's Children Hospital. He was also accepted for a clinical research fellowship position through a NIH NCI T32 "Interdisciplinary Research in Cancer Care Delivery" grant program, which focuses on risk stratification of pediatric oncology patients with febrile neutropenia. Additionally, he began the Global Health Research Certificate Program through the University of Michigan's Global Reach Department, which will "hopefully [continue to] prepare me for a global hematology oncology practice," he says. Dr. Nessle and his wife have two kids and one on the way through adoption from the Philippines. "Hopefully, we can pick her up soon!" We wish you luck with the adoption, Dr. Nessle!

MAJ Ryan Parks, DO '12, (above left) was featured in Stars and Stripes, a news outlet that serves the military community. In the article titled, "Air Force sends doctors to flight line squadrons in eﬀort to field a fitter force," it describes that the Air Force is transferring physicians to be closer to where airmen work to save time and reduce work-related injuries. MAJ Parks is among those being transferred—he is going from Aviano's base clinic on Area 1 to the Warrior Medical Clinic. Read it here: http://bit.ly/3pg1Eh6 MAJ Matthew Puderbaugh, DO '12, received the 2020 AOF and Association of Military Osteopathic Physicians & Surgeons (AMOPS) Outstanding Resident of the Year award. This award is presented to a resident each year who embodies a combination of clinical promise, leadership, dedication, and commitment to

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osteopathic patient-centered care. MAJ Puderbaugh is a PM&R resident at University of Minnestoa. Christina Ruiz, DO '13, was recently interviewed by the Latin American Post for an article titled, "Battling with Postpartum Depression." In the article, Dr. Ruiz describes how PPD symptoms can vary from woman to woman and that preexisitng conditions such as premenstrual dysphoric disorder can lead to a greater risk of PPD. Dr. Ruiz currently practices obstetrics and gynecology at UCHealth Women's Care Clinic in Longmont, Colorado. Read the article at http://bit. ly/2Kktmum Jacob Schoof, DO '17, was named Chief Resident at his pediatrics residency program at Texas Tech University Aﬃliated, located in Amarillo, Texas. Dr. Schoof will graduate from the residency in 2021.

Nolan Andres, DO '20, and William Robinson, DO '20, published research titled, "Suture Tape Augmented Broström Procedure and Early Accelerated Rehabilitation," in the Foot and Ankle International journal. The research discusses the hypothesis that a Broström procedure augmented with a suture-tape construct would allow early functional rehabilitation while maintaining patient reported outcomes within a military population. Dr. Andres is currently in a general surgery residency program at David Grant USAF Medical Center in California. Dr. Robinson is in a transitional year residency program at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland.

Campus Tidbits At the Denver Osteopathic Foundation's Golf Tournament, Dr. Kristin Putnam, Co-Director of the Pre-Doctoral Osteopathic Principles and Practice Fellowship, won the Ladies Longest Drive and Ladies Closest to the Pin awards! RVU sponsored the event, which raises money for the advancement of health and well-being in the community, while promoting osteopathic medicine.

The Town of Parker, in which RVU's Colorado campus is located, was recently awarded 2nd Place in the article, "50 Best Place to Live in 2020" by Money Magazine. The magazine contributes both Denver's tech- and natural resourcedriven economy for helping Parker to score high in two categories: • Economy and Income • Health and Safety As Prachi Bhardwaj writes, "Despite its breakneck growth, Parker has managed to maintain a strong sense of community: The “Talk of the Town” newsletter oﬀers details on local events from watercolor workshops in the summer to the Parker Ice Trail, a 450-foot ice-skating path that winds its way through the town’s Discover park from Thanksgiving until Spring." The Southern Utah Veterans Home, of which Dr. David Crimin serves as Medical Director and Dr. Brooks Beal (Assistant Professor of Primary Care) and Brandon Thomas, FNP-C, (Instructor of Primary Care) serve on the clinical team, has received the 2020 Silver American Health Care Association and National Center for Assisted Living (AHCA/NCAL) National Quality Award. This is the largest association of long term and post-acute care providers; they actively advocate for quality care and services.They will remain an active Silver recipient through 2023.

Rocky Vista University has been re-accredited as an Accredited Education Institution by the American College of Surgeons—and in the top category of Comprehensive! What this means is that RVU "has met the stricter standards and highest qualifications as a broad-based surgical education program," said Dr. Susan Carter, Director of the Oﬃce of Simulation in Medicine and Surgery.

Paint and Sip hosted by Florence Yip, OMS II, was held on the RVU-CO lawn while practicing social distancing guidelines. The 25 participants received all the necessary supplies such as an easel, canvas, paint, brushes, water cups, paper plates and towels, and of course snacks! The ultimate goal of this event was to bring our RVU community together during the rigors of the pandemic for muchneeded fun and celebrate the end of a week filled with exams. “Many of my peers came up to me and thanked me for hosting this wonderful event. They said they missed seeing classmates face to face, and to do an activity together as a collective. I hope they were able to see the healing energy and community aspect that art can bring to one's life,” said SD Yip.

Retraction: Due to a miscommunication, Dr. Qamrul Choudhury was added to the Promotions and Appointments section in the August issue of the Vista View. His correct title is Associate Professor of Physiology.

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Campus Tidbits "It is not weak to ask for help—it is instead incredibly strong to be able to admit that you cannot handle what you are going through alone," stated a representative from the STIGMA Club. Medical students and physicians are at higher risk of developing mental health problems and/or dying by suicide than the general population. The Out of the Darkness Community Walk, an RVU-SUhosted event, was created to raise awareness of and offer support for those considering or affected by suicide. "It provided students the opportunity to come together (virtually) in honor of those whose lives have been touched by suicide. [It also] offered a safe place for students who have personally been affected," said Kayleigh Helgesen, OMS II.

Listen to a Podcast •

Dr. Imposter: This podcast, hosted by Austin White and Kamaehu Matthias, discusses the experience of applying to and navigating medical school. With episodes such as "What is a DO?" and "Why Did You Go To Medical School?", this podcast is a great resource for those considering a career as a physician. As a special bonus, Dr. David Park is interviewed in the episode, "Our Trip to the Dean's Oﬃce"! https://podcasts. apple.com/us/podcast/dr-impostor/id1534626656

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Peds Cases: "This podcast will review the clinical features, management, complications, comorbidities, and epidemiological data of abdominal wall defects (umbilical hernia, omphalocele, and gastroschisis) in fetuses and newborns. It was developed by Zachary Rumlow, a fourth-year medical student at Rocky Vista University, in collaboration with Dr. Paul Dube (Rocky Vista University) and Dr. Melanie Lewis (University of Alberta)." http://pedscases.com/abdominal-walldefects-newborn

Catch up on your reading

"Those who struggle with depression and suicidal ideation can feel like they are drowning in the darkness and struggling to find the light," explained SD Helgesen. "The intent of Out of the Darkness is to help bring people back to the surface and aid them in navigating through what they are experiencing—to show them that they are not alone, people care about them, and suicide is not the answer.”

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The STIGMA Club handed out beads to students before the start of the event, with each colored bead representing a diﬀerent type of personal loss. Participants were encouraged to utilize the Charity Miles app, which tracks distance through walking or running and donates twentyfive cents for every mile walked or ran to charity.

Taylor Runion, OMS II, hosted a relaxing workshop for fellow students in which she taught them to repot a plant. She wanted to share her love for plants with other students and "give them the same feeling I have when I care for my plants and see them grow,” said SD Runion. Owning plants can provide many benefits, including but not limited to improving your mood, performance, air quality, and promoting therapeutic healing. Students who signed up previously for this event picked up their supply bag from the front desk, which included a bag of soil and perlite mix, a 3" terra cotta pot and saucer, and a 2" echeveria succulent. SD Runion hopes that this event helped students enjoyed interacting with friends and getting their hands dirty (literally)—all while adding greenery to their homes!

The STIGMA Club thanks everyone who participated and served as an advocate for the cause. They encourage everyone to "Check in not only with those around you but also with yourself." If you or someone you know are struggling with suicidal thoughts please check out RVU’s free resources here: https://bit.ly/3nKjAAa

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The DO: Recently, the Utah Medical Association's House of Delegates passed a resolution, as described in the recent article titled, "Utah Medical Association denounces discrimination against osteopathic physicians and students." The resolution, which was authored by RVU's own Dr. David Park, states that the UMA will adopt a non-discrimination position statement or policy that denounces discrimination, harassment, or retaliation against any physician or medical student based solely on their osteopathic or allopathic training." Read more at http://bit.ly/2WDIdCo

The Vista View is created and published by the Rocky Vista University Marketing Department. Kristen Kaiser Catherine Lewis Saenz

Gina Marzulla Kelli Petersen

Julie K. Rosenthal

To make comments, suggestions, submissions, or to be added to the newsletter mailing list, please email marketing@rvu.edu.

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December 2020 Issue - Vista View Newsletter

Articles inside

Ready Student One

Campus Tidbits

Alumni Updates

From the Rocky Vista University Alumni Association

Promotions and Appointments

RVU-SU Praises Employee Innovation with Award Ceremony

Welcome to our New Faculty and Staff!

Research Appreciation Day

Virtual Simulation Takes Students "Out of the Textbook and Into the Clinic"

Research and Grants

Achieving New Heights

The Auger

RVU Hosts Appreciation Ceremony to Honor Military Service People

Fostering Implicit Bias Mitigation and Compassionate Behavior Throughout the Curricula at RVU

Healthcare Simulation Center Gets Rebooted

First Responders Test newly Remodeled Healthcare Simulation Center

The Legacy of the Inaugural PA Class of 2020

RVU Welcomes Inaugural Provost, David Forstein, DO, FACOOG

RVU Alumni Weigh In: How Does a Pandemic Alter Patient Care?

From One Inaugural MSBS Class to Another

Where Are They Now: Stella Chan, MSBS ‘17

Resilience, Valor, and Unity: Welcoming the Newest Student Doctors

Welcome, PA Class of 2022!