April 2022 Issue - Vista View Newsletter by Rocky Vista University

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VISTA VIEW

April 2022 Newsletter

AACOM Excellence in Communications Award

NEWSLET

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Serving the Global Community with

Donations and Medical Research Inside: Military Students Train Olympic Ski Team Physicians

Sim Competition Challenges Students' Medical Knowledge

MSBS Preps for the Future with Patients and Mentors

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RVU-SU Students participate in the BNGAP conference — a student hosted and led conference on campus

Table of Contents 3

Military Students Train Olympic Ski Team Physicians

Serving the Global Community with Donations and Medical Research

Student-Led Taskforces Educate on Diversity and Inclusion

Students Provide Screenings for Special Olympians

MSBS Prepares for the Future with Patients and Mentors

Achieving New Heights

Welcome New OPP and Anatomy Fellows!

Bringing Niche Specialties to the Forefront

Research and Grants

Fighting for Equity and Inclusion at the State Level

Welcome to Our New Faculty and Staff

Promotions and Appointments

Updates on DEI at RVU

From the RVU Alumni Association

RVU Students Find Their Match

Campus Tidbits

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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Military Students Train Olympic Ski Team Physicians During one wintery day in December, RVU military students trained Olympic Ski Team physicians at the annual Medical Emergencies in Skiing and Snowboarding (MESS) Training Course at Beaver Creek, Colorado. The students chosen from the Military Medicine Program to conduct the training were Heather Martin, OMS II, Jamie Truax, OMS III, Zachariah Devine, OMS II, Nicholas Maher, OMS II, Andrew Warren, OMS IV, and SD Warren's wife, Lauren. The student instructors donned humanworn simulators known as Cut SuitsTM as they manipulated the slopes alongside physicians for the Olympic Ski Team. Using the Cut Suits, the student instructors simulated a variety of injuries, which required the Ski Team physicians to utilize treatments from needle decompression and chest tube insertions to wound compression and cricothyrotomy. Despite conducting the Hyper-Realistic® training simulation in a challenging, snow-covered mountainous environment, trainees assessed and managed the simulated treatment of both responsive and unresponsive patients, while demonstrating the ability to treat medical emergencies in adverse conditions. The Military Medicine Program would like to thank Gillian Bower, High Performance Director for U.S. Ski & Snowboard, and Deidre McGee, former RVU Military Coordinator, for helping to coordinate this simulation event.

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Global Medicine at RVU Basic Hygiene Products Donation

In preparation for the Global Medicine Track’s annual trip to Guatemala, Jeremy Stone, OMS IV, and his wife, Breaunna, organized a donation drive on Instagram, collecting 50 adult-sized toothbrushes; 50 travel-sized toothpastes; 116 lip balms; 44 children-sized toothbrush/toothpaste kits; 41 travel-sized lotions, 51 deodorants; and 72 bars of soap. SD Stone and Breaunna have a long history of service in Guatemalan communities. "Jeremy lived in Guatemala for two years, serving as a missionary for our church," shared Breaunna. "We went back together as a couple and [were] determined to...contribute to the community in any way we could." Being able to return as part of the Global Medicine Track and serve Guatemalan communities was a dream come true for the Stones, whose first adopted daughter is of Guatemalan descent. "When I shared on Instagram that [Jeremy] would be returning, we had a flood of people wanting to be involved and [to] help gather supplies. We…[filled] a suitcase, and [though] it’s not much, we were just happy to be a part [of it.]"

Reading Glasses Donation

Like several students in the Global Medicine Track, Telyn Peterson, OMS IV, saw an opportunity to donate much-needed items— in this case, reading glasses—to communities in Guatemala during the Track’s annual outreach trip. Serving as the liaison for the Hands for Health Foundation (RVU’s global outreach partner), SD Peterson and classmate Zeke Richards, OMS II, partnered with Moran Eye Center and Tanner Clinic’s Ophthalmology Department (located in Salt Lake City and Layton, Utah, respectively) to secure 284 pairs of reading glasses. According to Hands for Health President and RVU's Chair of the Department of Tracks and Special Programs, Camille Z. Bentley, DO, MPH, FACOFP, the reading glasses will aid the "elderly, artisans, and others with varying levels of hyperopia and presbyopia." "I’ve always been passionate about the global health opportunities associated with ophthalmology," said SD Peterson about the experience. "[Hands for Health and RVU] gave us the opportunity to walk the line between medicine and public health…[and] we were able to see how providing glasses to those with far-sightedness could improve their quality of life." More than half of the reading glasses that were donated were collected during donation drives held at RVU-SU and were donated based on their prescription strength (which was as high as +3.25) or given "to Guatemalan optometry offices to be recycled into new prescriptions." The demand for reading glasses from the local community was so high that Hands for Health is seeking to expand their efforts and increase their donation for next year.

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Family planning survey

Third-year students Mackenzie Ryan, Jordan McGee, and Macarena Basanes—in addition to Dr. Camille Bentley and Isain Zapata, PhD, Assistant Professor of Research and Statistics—conducted a short survey related to the understanding and use of family planning and contraception in the Masai women of Kajiado County, Kenya. The survey included questions about the Masai women’s definition of family planning, forms of contraception, and community perceptions of family planning and contraception. "The intention of the survey is to both add to the literature and to have a better understanding of the perceptions and need for family planning on future global medicine trips," said SD Ryan. Currently, the group is analyzing the data from the survey with an intent to publish their findings and present at future conferences.

Atrial Fibrillation Research

In January, Vickie Roettger, PhD, Associate Professor of Physiology, and a team of RVU faculty and students partnered with the nonprofit organization, Hands for Health Foundation, for a medical outreach trip to Southern Kenya. During the trip, Dr. Roettger, along with Drs. Bentley and Zapata, Rachael Zehnder, OMS II, and Morgan Zueger, OMS II, researched the prevalence of Atrial Fibrillation (AF) in the Maasai people of Southern Kenya. They hope this research will provide more insights into AF in indigenous populations in general. The team conducted their research at outdoor clinical sites with a tablet, a portable electrocardiogram, and a mobile hotspot. "Patients with suspected AF were referred to the hospital for a follow-up," said Dr. Roettger. Their research, entitled "Prevalence of Atrial Fibrillation and Its Correlation with Blood Pressure, Gender, and Age in an Indigenous Population Living in Kenya," is currently in the data analysis phase.

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Feminine Hygiene Kit Donation

Kyla Graeser, OMS III, and Savannah Rosenbaum, OMS III, organized a fundraiser to purchase feminine hygiene products for women in Kenya. They were assisted by Christine Njihia, a local volunteer who works with vulnerable children, orphans, and girls rescued from child marriages and female genital mutilation. This year’s drive differed from past years in that, rather than collecting one-time use products in the United States and bringing them to Kenya, SDs Graeser and Rosenbaum created a GoFundMe that raised nearly $4,500 for the purchase of 800 reusable feminine hygiene kits. The kits, also known as Makini Pads, cost $5 each and were purchased from Kenya Works, a company that seeks to empower Kenyan women through multiple programs, including the Makini Pad Initiative. Read more at RVUblog.com.

Student Experiences

"[Having] the opportunity to practice medicine in such a beautiful place – with views of Mt. Kilimanjaro and amazing animals – on our drive to work was one of the most incredible things for me. I felt so deeply rooted in the Earth and lucky that I was able to see a small slice of its beauty with my own eyes. It was truly breathtaking and made me want to do my best to protect [the] beauty that is left on this planet." – Anna Buck, OMS III While in Kenya, Macarena Basanes, OMS III, found herself with a patient suffering from a suspected cranial injury, which had been caused by a cow kicking the young boy in the face, and there were little-to-no resources to treat him. "[We] did all we could—started an IV and treated his pain—[but we] then had to tie this tiny, suffering child to his father onto a motorbike to travel 70 kilometers to the nearest hospital in Tanzania. I still have not heard any news, but I [hope] that we were able to save [his] life." As for herself, SD Basanes learned that she is "good under extreme pressure. I was able to think critically, act fast, and give the best medical care I was capable of at the time." "I am extremely happy that I did this trip and I will never forget the people I met, the connections that were made, and the memories that were created. This has definitely inspired me to go into global work in the future and [to be] a part of something that is more sustainable and serving for a community." – Dustin Nguyen, OMS III For Alexandra Moody, OMS III, it was difficult to pick just one experience, but if she had to choose, one of the most memorable was her time spent in the remote Orbilli Camp. "While at Orbilli, I felt more immersed in the Maasai culture and land than I had already felt. [Our] host, Pastor Daniel, and other leaders of the village made us feel welcome." The leaders of the village arranged a safari and showed SD Moody and fellow classmates their Boma (a Maasai homestead) and cows. "We played instruments around the campfire and shared African and American songs," she added.

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Student-Led Taskforces Educate on Diversity and Inclusion Coinciding with the start of the new year, the Student Diversity and Inclusivity (D&I) Taskforces hosted the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) Summit, a four-part series covering topics such as religious inclusion and transgender medicine. Beginning with the first session, "Student Panel of Experiences," students shared their personal experiences with DEIB and discussed topics ranging from the barriers that exist for lower-income individuals and how those individuals could overcome them, to what aspects of healthcare LGBTQ+ people may face that could lead to their distrust of the medical system. Afterwards, they discussed changes the community could make to further support DEIB, one of them being participating in dialogue that "helps facilitate critical reflection of our own biases," says Melissa Jimenez, OMS II, one of the students leading the D&I Taskforce. The second part of the DEIB series, a digital webinar focused on how best to provide equitable and inclusive healthcare for the LGBTQ+ community, took place on February 7. The session featured lessons led by Dr. Robyn Boudreau and Linda Stay, the Development Director at Switchpoint Community Resource Center. The third part of the Summit series, "Politicization of Race," which took place on March 21, featured Dr. Carolyn Ash, a Senior Student Life Director at College Track Aurora. The fourth part of the series, "Religious Diversity," will take place later this semester.

Advocacy in Action On February 2, the Utah State Capitol opened its doors to medical students as part of Doctors Day, sponsored by the Utah Medical Society. The students were introduced formally in the Utah State Senate chambers to the Senators and received a rousing welcome. At a luncheon with Utah physicians and key legislators, RVUCOM students were briefed on three House bills— Optometrist Practice Amendments (H.B. 224), Medication Dispenser Amendments (H.B. 301), and the Utah Medical Candor Act (H.B. 344)—and two Senate Bills— Children’s Health Coverage Amendment (S.B. 158) and the Anesthesiologist Assistant Licensing Act (S.B. 121). The bills ranged in topics from a Medicaid expansion for children in the state to provisions for physicians to dispense legal drugs from their practices. Afterward, students further received a behind-the-scenes look of the legislative process by visiting with various committees discussing all five bills. Pictured at top right, on the steps leading to the Supreme Court: (front row) Dr. Thomas N. Told; Rakael Brown, OMS III; Kristin Kopystynsky, OMS III; Shannon McKim, OMS III; and, Dr. Noel Nye, President of the Utah Medical Society; (back row) Will ByrneQuinn, OMS III; Julian Ortiz, OMS III; Elliott Davis, OMS III. Not pictured: Adam Berry, OMS II; Lawsen Parker, OMS II.

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Sim Competition Challenges Students' Medical Knowledge Simulation events have proven to be one of the most valuable learning experiences students can participate in during their time in a healthcare program. The experiential learning format allows students to immerse themselves in a medical scenario and hone their skills under external stressors. In particular, competitions like the annual HighFidelity Manikin Simulation Competition allow students to demonstrate both their individual skillset and their ability to work as a team. During this year’s competition, seven teams participated in a series of cases that included a pulmonary embolism (lung blood clot), urosepsis (life-threatening urinary tract infection), an ectopic pregnancy, and anaphylaxis. Team 1—Allison Stassel, OMS II, Kaitlin Williams, OMS II, and Samantha Santora, OMS II; bottom right—received first place for their treatment of a patient with a subarachnoid hemorrhage (bleeding in the brain). "The judges and I hope everyone found the experience educational and beneficial," said Dr. David Ross. "I would like to thank the teams for their willingness...to risk competing in a clinical scenario in front of faculty judges. All five teams are to be commended."

Students Provide Screenings for Special Olympians

On February 26, RVUCOM’s chapter of the American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians (ACOFP) hosted MedFest, a recurring event in which students, mainly first- and second-year students, conduct sports physicals for athletes competing in the Special Olympics. The sports physicals—which are important to the athletes’ overall training—were conducted in partnership with Special Olympics Colorado (SOCO), a nonprofit organization that provides sports training for athletes with intellectual disabilities. The organizers at SOCO "go above and beyond to help orchestrate a seamless event that assists countless athletes and their families," said Helaine Mills, OMS II, who helped coordinate the event. "Everyone [at] MedFest is excited to be there. Athletes are buzzing about what sports they will be participating in this summer [and fall]… and the volunteers [are eager] to help." The ACOFP Chapter and SOCO will host one more MedFest event on May 14th and are currently planning on hosting two additional MedFests in the fall.

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MSBS Preps for the Future with Patients and Mentors by Courtney Campbell, MSBS Program Coordinator

When was your first patient-facing experience? Was it while you were shadowing or scribing? Or was it when you were first starting your rotations? What if you could have had your first experience with a mentor and a patient actor? In the Master of Science in Biomedical Sciences (MSBS) Program, [the Standardized Patient experience] is one of our favorite events! Not only do we get to remind our students of what they are working towards, but we can also give them a small taste of being a physician, while pairing them with second-year osteopathic medical student (OMS) mentors! With this event, they are also able to reflect and adjust how they approach their patient-facing behaviors. While we were unable to have a live Standardized Patient (SP) experience last year, this year we hosted the event not only on the Colorado campus, but also on the Utah campus for the first time! Joel Roberts, MD, Assistant Program Director, gathered the MSBS students and OMS mentors (some of whom are alumni of the MSBS program!) and went over what they should expect from the simulation. The mentors offered advice on an array of skills they would encounter, such as proper placement of a stethoscope and how to talk to a patient. On the day of the big event, the MSBS students and their mentors were paired for three rounds, with each pair being assigned to a specially trained patient-actor. While our students worked with the SPs through each case, the mentors provided notes and real-time feedback on the quality of questions that they were asking, reducing high-level medical jargon, and even hand placement when taking histories. The SPs also provided feedback to our students on how to talk to and build rapport with their future patients. When speaking to our students, they were elated to have an experience like this to help them connect the dots with their curriculum and to gain "real" patient experience. As for our MSBS alumni, they loved being able to look back and see where they have truly grown as they were in their mentee's shoes just two years ago. Joseph Noble and Devin Thomas—both second-year RVUCOM students—were excited about mentoring the current MSBS class. "Being a mentor for the MSBS students during their [SP] experience was one of the most unique experiences I have had during medical school," said SD Noble. "As far as I know, there are not many master's programs out there that offer this experience; to be a part of that journey with the master's students was a very fulfilling experience for me as a second-year medical student." For the most part, SD Noble let his MSBS student partner run the show during their encounters. "It was evident to me [that the MSBS students] would be more than prepared for a future in any health profession of their choosing. Once we got into performing a physical exam, I [walked] them through the nuances of using physical touch to assess a patient and helped them use that information to formulate a differential diagnosis. Overall, it was a fantastic and fun experience for everybody involved!" SD Thomas agreed: "I had so much fun working with the MSBS class during their SP event! The students that I worked with were motivated as they prepared and worked through their encounters. It was rewarding to reflect on how far I had come personally since my SP experience in the MSBS program, while simultaneously [using] those skills to help the current students. My roots at RVU are in Classroom 125 and it is always rewarding being able to support the current class." This event has been wildly successful for us at the MSBS level. Incoming students have even heard about this and were excited to participate too! We look forward to our event next year. If you are already interested in participating, please feel free to reach out!

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Diversity, equity, and inclusion Task force Recommendations

updates

Form RVU committee to address ongoing intersections of DEI in student enrollment management, curriculum development and delivery, community relations, campus climates, and HR.

A university committee has been formed with a subcommittee established for both the CO and SU campuses. Dr. Jacqueline Powell and Mx. Jensen Fisher are the Chairs of the SU and CO Committees, respectively.

Create official reporting structure with 360-degree feedback loop where constituents can report how inclusion concerns or suggestions were handled by leadership for follow-up, coaching, or discipline by supervisors.

Ethics Point (an independent incident management system) was rolled out on October 13, 2021, allowing members of the RVU community to report concerns or issues via a hotline or website. Reports can be made anonymously or include name and contact information for follow-up.

Produce clear, written policy and procedures regarding bias complaint handling for students and employees, consistent across campuses.

Accomplished with the utilization of the Ethics Point system.

Require DEI competencies in recruiting

HR has incorporated job description software which provides an un-biasing tool that RVU will begin using in FY23. The HR team is currently working with the vendor to integrate the software into our current applicant tracking system (ICIMS).

Incorporate DEI competencies in hiring decisions for all employees.

Ensure all search committee members have taken implicit bias training; include DEI screening and/or interview questions; include DEI measure(s); in candidate evaluation form.

Incorporate DEI competencies in advancement requests for all employees.

Include DEI measures in requests for promotions

Incorporate DEI goals and expectations in employee performance reviews

Include DEI goal(s)/question(s) in employee performance evaluations; provide management training/expectations in performance management

Include DEI training in all student orientations.

DEI training was included in orientations for all incoming students and will continue to be a part of future orientations.

Require DEI competency building in training for student leadership.

Training will be implemented during the Student Leadership Training held on April 1, 2022 with new SGA members.

Encourage Chairs and Vice Chairs to emphasize the importance of and require faculty to take advantage of learning opportunities presented to them (e.g. Magna and IAMSE workshops), as part of organizational culture.

This is being discussed further with the Chairs and Vice Chairs. Consideration of having outcome measures on this to track participation of the faculty in Faculty Development DEI activities.

Create networking group for faculty and staff of underrepresented populations and mentorship opportunities.

The DEIAC is discussing ways to operationalize this recommendation and anticipates working with the University DEI Committee for assistance.

Analyze hiring strategy if demographics do not include a diverse base of candidates. Extend searches as needed.

HR has enabled DEI reporting in the iCIMS applicant tracking system and shares analytics in recruiting meetings on a monthly basis.

Continue training Admission Committee members on cultural competencies, including how different cultures and backgrounds may respond to interview questions.

In December 2021, the COM Admissions Committee participated in a seminar with a DEI Consultant. Proposals for further training are under review.

Formalize the faculty hiring process to mimic HR has included questions regarding DEI attitudes and philosthe executive-level hiring process, including ophies in recent leadership searches. The department is discussquestions about attitudes or philosophies con- ing ways to expand this to faculty and staff searches as well. cerning diversity and inclusion. Target underrepresented medical education HR is utilizing providers that are diversity focused and who groups for advertising new positions. can help with analytics. These providers include DiverseJobs. net, DiversityJobs.com and Job Target.

Complete

Complete and ongoing

In progress

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Task force Recommendations, cont.

updates

Improve current climate (and DEI) survey to include larger range of data and look at University of Michigan climate survey for example.

The new Climate survey will be administered in the Spring of 2022 and will include DEI questions.

Produce and share a yearly Admissions report for admitted and non-matriculated students including more detailed focus for URM and other diverse students.

RVUCOM survey has been created and automatically sent to all accepted candidates at the point they withdraw. The survey has been sent to PA candidates who withdrew. Development of a survey for MSBS students who withdrew is underway.

Collect and publish data through exit interviews and analysis on the retention data and academic performance to identify trends.

The HR team is developing an exit survey utilizing the Qualtrics platform. Questions are assembled and the survey will be adminstered to employees leaving RVU beginning April 1, 2022. Quarterly updates will be provided to the Vice Presidents and the Board of Trustees.

Document complaints/issues from various reporting spaces, including Deans, Program Directors and Committee Chairs.

This recommendation is being accomplished by using the Ethics Point system for complaints.

Send a University-wide email call out for information.

A DEI section has been developed for the quarterly Vista View newsletter. Plans for a webpage and blog will be further developed when a DEI Officer is in place.

Develop mini-medical schools to introduce underrepresented minority groups to medical professions.

Both campuses have mini-medical school opportunities for primary and/or secondary school students and educational outreach that are focused on the underserved and underrepresented.

Publish results and analyses of RVU Climate survey annually.

Community feedback/comments on the DEI definitions will be solicited in late February. The DEI Climate Survey will subsequently be administered in early March 2022. Results and analyses will be completed by end of March 2022 and published on the Institutional Effectiveness and DEI webpages by early April.

Establish an Office of DEI include a structure, budget, responsibilities and employee and student partnerships.

The funds for an Office of DEI have been secured. Candidates for the Vice President of DEI position were interviewed by the search committee in late January and are participating in virtual campus visits at the end of February and early March. Anticipated start date is Spring 2022.

Conduct a review of the existing curriculum and learning environment to promote an inclusive program of study.

This is in the beginning stages with curriculum committees determining the best way to accomplish this. The DEI Officer position will be critical in helping accomplish this recommendation.

Provide funding for university-wide anti-racism and anti-bias training.

Funding is secured and Dr. Forstein is currently working with a facilitator on this recommendation to see what can be developed for faculty and staff. Proposals have been received and

Include separate question regarding DEI on course feedback/evaluation forms.

Faculty has started including a DEI questions on course feedback/evaluation forms. More work is needed to ensure a section is included in all courses.

Provide university-wide training and annual training for faculty and staff on DEI given by subject matter experts.

Invested in an online training platfrom through Trailant. Courses are being released to employes and students throughout second semester. Training is required for all students. 87% employees and students have completed the first course.

Create anonymous feedback form that is available on MyVista or iNet and is monitored by Program Heads, Associate Dean of Student Affairs, or other designated personnel.

This is addressed with the roll-out of Ethics Point, an anonymous, web-based reporting system for students that is not part of RVU's system.

Continuation of ongoing thread of faculty development sessions on social determinants of health, implicit bias, and cross-cultural communication. Recognition of faculty who lead, attend, and participate in development sessions.

Since the Fall, an additional Magna Online Seminar available/ attended by faculty titled, “Design and Teach an Equitable and Inclusive Course” and have a session titled, “Best Practices Using Inclusive Language, Terminology, and Communication for LGBTQ+ Patients and Coworkers” planned for March.

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RVU Students Find Their Match On March 18, medical students across the country celebrated Match Day, an annual event hosted by the National Resident Matching Program during which the results of their applications to residency programs was finally revealed. Due to RVU’s celebration taking place virtually, students received Match Day signs in advance with spaces for them to write in their specialties and residency locations. Combined with a map showcasing residency locations (pictured on the following page), the soon-to-be graduates were able to share their good news on social media with style. Taylor Harp, OMS IV, found out she had placed into the Internal MedicineDermatology combined residency at Medstar Georgetown University Hospital, a competitive five-year program. SD Harp discovered the results of her application live with her fellow students during the virtual celebration. "[It was] announced that only one [osteopathic student doctor] had matched with Internal Medicine-Dermatology this year, and that student was from [RVU]," she says. Her placement into this residency program "took perseverance, a sincere interest in the field, and a lot of networking!" SD Harp was not the only student at RVU to place into a competitive program. Morgan Ketterling, OMS IV (pictured at right), placed into the Emergency Medicine program at the University of Utah. "It is truly my dream program," she said. Like SD Harp, SD Ketterling worked hard to make her application stand out from the rest. "Since EM is not a core rotation for students [at RVU], I had to seek out rotations on my own during elective time to be prepared," she says. She also attended RVU's Emergency Medicine Bootcamp in the spring and sought out advice from RVU alumni for mentoring throughout the application process. RVU students also participated in the Military Match and the San Francisco Match, adding to this year’s excellent placement rate which, as of this publication, is 98.5%. The top five specialty programs for RVU students were Family Medicine at the top for both campuses, followed by (in varying order by campus) Emergency Medicine, Pediatrics, Anesthesiology, and Internal Medicine.

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Match Day

"I want to give a shout-out to the following employees for their exemplary dedication and work during Match Week. The success of Match Week is not only a result of outstanding students, but also of the people who work behind the scenes. Each of you has worked so hard this past year with a dedication and heart that is remarkable; it really paid off for our students—they are so lucky to have you...and so is RVU!" - Dr. Heather Ferrill, Dean of RVUCOM Dr. Steve Miller Dr. James Small Dr. Thomas Told Ashlee Bishop Dr. Terry Hudgins

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Brian Leary Brandy Stadler Isabelle Wenska Janice Yim Jean Goodrish

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

Christian Clodfelder, OMS III, was named Student Researcher of the Year for his contributions to research at RVU and in the scientific and osteopathic communities. He will now compete in the Council of Osteopathic Student Government President's National Student Researcher of the Year competition.

Jessica Harper, OMS IV, OPP Fellow, was chosen as the RVUCOM-SU Student Doctor of the Year. SD Harper is a true role model and inspires her classmates every day. "[She] does a fantastic job of educating us with her vibrant personality and electric attitude towards bettering her fellow students," said Avery Roe, OMS II.

Danielle Coleman, OMS IV, was awarded the Alfred D. Gilchrist Student Leader Scholarship by the Colorado Medical Society (CMS) Education Foundation. She was chosen for her leadership and advocacy, including such positions as RVU's Policy and Advocacy Chair and member of the CMS Boad of Directors.

Dwight Hertz, MD, retired Professor of Pathology, was awarded Professor Emeritus status, reserved for long-time faculty members who remain active in scholarship following retirement. "The dedication and commitment he has shown throughout his career...is inspirational to us all," said Dr. Heather Ferrill.

In the November/December Issue of Colorado Medicine, Michael Dea, OMS II, wrote the article, "Imposter medicine." He writes of the doubts, fears, and insecurities he experiences in the face of both emergency situations and with medical school.

Jacob King, OMS III, received a spot in the Foundation for Anesthesia Education and Research's (FAER) summer program at the University of Kansas Medical Center in Kansas City, MO. The eight-week fellowship will allow SD King to work with a dedicated mentor in research.

Andrea Done, OMS III, Junior OPP Fellow, was re-elected as National Secretary-Treasurer for the Student American Academy of Osteopathy (SAAO).

Chasity Edwards, CHSE, Assistant Director of Office of SIMS, was nominated and inducted into the National Society for Leadership Success and has completed the Foundations of Leadership and Advanced Leadership Certifications. She was also nominated for the Psi Chi National Honor Society.

Caitlin Magee, OMS II, was spotlighted by the American Osteopathic Association. The article, "Future osteopathic physicians embrace growing lifestyle medicine field," covers her efforts to incorporate lifestyle medicine - a growing field using lifestyle interventions to treat and manage the cause of disease - into her medical school education. Garrett Olsen, OMS II, received the 2021 Sterling K. Welch, DO, Scholars Grant. Students are selected based on their academic achievement, participation in extracurricular activities, and commitment to osteopathic medicine.

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

Chelsi Patton, OMS I, has been selected by the University of Alabama at Birmingham for their anesthesia research fellowship! With her mentor, SD Patton will be researching the role of sex dimorphism in post-TBI bacterial pneumonia and the role of amyloid beta in bacterial pneumonia-mediated lung injury.

Evan Starr, OMS II, received the ACOFP's Emerging Osteopathic Student Leader Award. This award is provided to osteopathic medical students to help defray medical school and/or personal expenses, and to affirm the recipients’ interest in association leadership.

Jacqueline Powell, PhD, Associate Professor of Physiology, received the Element Award by the St. George Area Chamber of Commerce. The award honors women who are "generating major social and economic contributions in the Washington County Area." Read more about Dr. Powell’s accomplishments at https://bit.ly/3Kcy1Yk.

Julia Stelter, OMS IV, Osteopathic Principles and Practice Fellow, was chosen as RVUCOM-CO's Student Doctor of the Year for her excellent leadership skills, commitment to community service, professionalism, and dedication to the osteopathic profession. This includes her involvement with the Special Olympics and more.

Megan Ryan, OMS II, received the 2021 Sterling K. Welch, DO, Scholars Grant. Students are selected based on their academic achievement, participation in extracurricular activities, and commitment to osteopathic medicine.

Ross Tanick, OMS IV, was awarded the Alfred D. Gilchrist Student Leader Scholarship by the Colorado Medical Society Education Foundation. He was chosen for his leadership and advocacy, including such positions as Community Service and Outreach Chair for RVU's CMS chapter and on the Colorado Academy of Family Physicians Board of Directors.

Paulyna Schultz, OMS I, was awarded the Jack and Maribeth Berry Medical Student Scholarship by the Colorado Medical Society (CMS) Education Foundation. She has a master's degree in clinical psychology and is pursuing a career in psychiatry. She intends to practice in northeastern Colorado upon graduation.

Jacquelyn Waller, PharmD, BCPS, Associate Professor of Pharmacology, was accepted to the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine and the National Academy of Osteopathic Medical Educators' Fellowship under the Teaching and Evaluation category! Dr. Waller was honored by NAOME on March 21st.

In the February/March Issue of Colorado Medicine, Luke St. John, OMS III, wrote the article, "Uncertain moments." In the article, he discusses encountering death in both personal and professional capacities—as well as his own experiences with facing disease and mortality.

Mark Wardle, DO, Assistant Professor of Primary Care, wrote an article titled "The Beautiful Sound of Complaining" for the Utah Academy of Family Physicians. Read it here: https://uafp-journal. thenewslinkgroup.org/the-beautiful-soundof-complaining

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

Tori Weingarten, OMS I, was awarded a scholarship by the Colorado Medical Society (CMS) Education Foundation. She grew up in an agricultural town and witnessed numerous obstacles to accessing healthcare for the rural residents. She intends to practice in rural Colorado and internationally upon graduation. Derrek White, OMS I, was commissioned as Ensign in the United States Navy. SD White's family also joined the celebration on campus (pictured at right). Ben Wilde, DO, FAAFP, Chair of the Department of Clinical Sciences at MCOM, was featured in Utah Academy of Family Physicians Journal, sharing his journey to a career in medicine and his thoughts about the future of family medicine: https://bit.ly/31uVm76.

Qing Zhong, MD, PhD, Associate Professor of Pharmacology, was accepted as a member of the National Board of Osteopathic Medical Examiners' National Faculty in the Clinical Department of Foundational Biomedical Sciences Pharmacology Division. She will serve a three-year term.

Four students from the Military Medicine Program—Sean Lynch, OMS III; Taylor Norris, OMS II; Kevin Puri, OMS II; and Michael Kreiser, OMS III—were elected as National Student Association of Military Osteopathic Physicians and Surgeons (SAMOPS) Officers. SD Lynch was elected President; SD Norris was elected Mentor Chair; SD Puri was elected Air Force Branch Liaison; and, SD Kreiser was elected Navy Branch Liaison.

The Marketing Department—Kristen Kaiser, MA, Assistant Marketing Manager; Catherine Lewis Saenz, Communications Coordinator; Gina Marzulla, Graphic Designer; Kelli Petersen, MBA, Marketing Manager; and, Logan Stott, Administrative Assistant—received four awards from the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Mediccine (AACOM), as part of its Excellence in Communications competition. This annual competition receives submissions from around the country. The RVU team received: • • • •

First Place: Serial Publication (Vista View) First Place: Advertising Campaign (SU Vaccine Clinic) Second Place: Feature Article ("Dr. Black Merged Medicine and Technology...") Second Place: Social Media (Chill Fest campaign)

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

Welcome new OPP and Anatomy Fellows! Fellows for the upcoming academic year, 2022-2023, have been selected on each campus. Please join us in congratulating the following students:

Anatomy Fellows

Manav Bains (CO)

Adam Berry (SU)

Jasmine Bomben (CO)

Brianna Landis (SU)

Osteopathic Principles and Practice Fellows

Varasiddimounish Bandi (CO)

Nick Duff (SU)

Nicole Phan (SU)

Jake Roush (SU)

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CeCe McWilliams Anna Megenhardt (SU) (CO)

Nicole Russell (CO)

100% PANCE Pass Rate for the PA Class of 2021 Whether you’ve been to the urgent care clinic or a hospital, odds are that you’ve been treated by a healthcare professional sporting the abbreviated PA-C after their last name. In order to earn this credential, a graduate of an accredited Physician Assistant Program must pass the Physician Assistant National Certifying Exam (PANCE). Shortly after graduation, RVU’s PA Class of 2021 did just that, with all 35 graduates achieving a 100% pass rate on the national exam.

Katherine Teixeira (CO)

Bringing Niche Specialties to the Forefront In his six years at RVU, David Ross, DO, has stepped into an impressive number of roles. In any given week, Dr. Ross leads the Rural and Wilderness Medicine Track, instructs students in Emergency Medicine and the Military Medicine courses, and assist with simulations at the Healthcare Simulation Center. Recently, he has also taken on planning conferences, organizing immersive workshops, and guiding students in their own academic endeavors. Below, we spotlight the most recent events that Dr. Ross took to the next level, and in doing so, provided unique academic experiences for RVU’s students.

MSK Ultrasound lab

Sponsored by the Denver Osteopathic Foundation (DOF) and in collaboration with the Colorado Society of Osteopathic Medicine, RVU hosted a clinical skills lab centered on musculoskeletal ultrasound techniques. The lab was one of two Continuing Medical Education (CME) conferences that Dr. Ross helped to plan and implement in 2021. CME events are typically geared toward giving physicians additional training in specific areas; this lab focused specifically on shoulder and knee joint assessments. Ten students from RVUCOM were also in attendance, giving them front-row seats to continuing education for physicians; five students volunteered as ultrasound models.

Student radiology lecture

Emergency Medicine Bootcamp

In their clinical years, medical students narrow down the specialty they are most interested in for their future residencies. During each spring semester, Dr. Ross coordinates the Emergency Medicine Bootcamp to provide guidance to students interested in the specialty. This year, the event brought in physicians and RVU alumni— including recent graduate Jordan Price, DO ‘20, an EM resident at Comanche County Memorial Hospital in Oklahoma—to discuss aspects of the specialty. Gannon Sungar, DO, Associate Program Director at Denver Health EM Residency, gave his annual talk on "How to Not Screw Up Your Sub Internship in Emergency Medicine" and Adam Dawson, DO, Associate Program Director at Kingman Regional Medical Center in Arizona, discussed professionalism. The presentations were capped off by a fourth-year student panel discussing how to prepare for EM residency interviews.

For fourth-year students James Dolan and Emily Gudvangen-Sherwood, radiology is a fascinating specialty, often underrepresented in medical school. As such, students may not consider it when it is time to apply to residency programs. "We wanted to do this mini-series to introduce students to radiology as well as help students understand anatomic and physiologic process," said SD Gudvangen-Sherwood. Also, "[we] wanted to demonstrate how imaging and critical thinking can solve even the most complex diagnostic questions," said SD Dolan. When they approached Dr. Ross with their idea for the mini-series, he immediately got to work on helping them organize and enlisting the help of Randal Anderson, MD, Assistant Professor of Radiology. Together, they reviewed the students' presentation and promoted what later became a three-part series to fellow students. The Ultrasound Interest Group and the Radiology, Ophthalmology, Anesthesia, Dermatology Club were also brought on board to assist. "[Drs. Ross and Anderson] supported our passion for radiology and helped make [this] a reality," said SD Dolan. SD Gudvangen-Sherwood added, "[We] are so grateful for their support!"

The latter part of the bootcamp was reserved for breakout sessions where students were paired with an EM attending or resident for case presentations. This portion of the event, Dr. Ross explained, is quite popular as students are given a sample patient case in advance and students must then present to the attending or resident while in the virtual breakout room. Dr. Ross concluded the event with his presentation on "Chest Pain Diagnoses You Gotta Know in the ED."

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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. Only the first five authors are pictured. Niaz Ahankoob, OMS IV, published research entitled "Servant leadership: an endangered species?" in the journal Patient Safety in Surgery. The editorial describes different types of leadership, exploring the potential benefit and impact that servant leadership would have on health care, patient safety, and medical student education. Taline Aydinian, OMS IV, was published in the International Journal of Psychiatry Research for her research entitled, "The Immediate Mental Health Effects of the 2020 Artsakh War on Armenians: A Cross-Sectional Study," which concluded that there was an association between direct exposure to war in Artsakh and increased depression, anxiety, and PTSD severity, suggesting an immediate need for mental health resources. Amanda Brooks, PhD, Director of Research and Scholarly Activity, was published in Bioengineering for her research entitled, "Anti-Coagulant and Antimicrobial Recombinant Heparin-Binding Major Ampullate Spidroin 2 (maSp2) Silk Protein," which was featured on the cover of the journal. In this article, Dr. Brooks reports a modification of the spider silk protein that allows it to grab the naturally produced, anti-clotting molecule, heparin, from the blood while at the same time preventing bacterial adhesion. Jacob Hanson, OMS I, published a paper entitled, "Networked Inertial Navigation with Constraints Generated by Neural Networks," in The Institute of Navigation. This paper deals with one key challenge encountered in the networked inertial navigation problem: unknown or poorly known constraints within the networked inertial system from training data sets.

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Elizabeth Kuge, OMS IV, was published in the American Journal of Emergency Medicine for her research entitled, "Real-world utilization of Dalbavancin at a rural community emergency department," which details the use of DALVANCE(R), a prescription medicine, for the treatment of acute bacterial skin and skin structure infections (ABSSI). In partnership with Baylor College of Medicine, Shannon McKim, OMS III, is conducting an environmental parasite research study on a parasite found on the playgrounds of the Paiute Tribe reservation lands.

Kalon Morgan, OMS III, has been published in several journals: • The Journal of Endourology for research entitled, "Retrograde Cystonephroscopy for Complex Renal Calculi Using a Novel Dual Action Aspiration, Irrigation, Cystoscope: Initial Case Series," as well as "Multidisciplinary Approach and Outcomes of Pretreatment Small (cT1a) Renal Mass Biopsy: Single Center Experience." • The American Urologic Association for an article titled, "Technology in Urology." Regan Stiegmann, DO '14, Co-Director of the Digital Health Track, published a review, entitled "Supplemental Creatine, Not Dietary Creatine, Appears to Improve Exercise Performance in Individuals Following Omnivorous or Meat-Free diets: A Narrative Review," in the International Journal of Disease Reversal and Prevention. Research findings indicated that the discrepant creatine contents of

Research and Grants Furthering the Pursuit of Innovation and Exploration in Healthcare and Education

omnivorous and meat-free diets are not associated with differences in lean body mass and exercise performance. Lon Van Winkle, PhD, Professor of Medical Humanities, has been published in Cells for his research entitled, "Amino acid transport and metabolism regulate early embryo development: Special differences, clinical significance, and evolutionary implications," and in Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology for "Interkingdom comparison of threonine metabolism for stem cell maintenance in plants and animals." Jacquelyn Waller, PharmD, BCPS, Associate Professor of Pharmacology, published a study in De Gruyter entitled, "Parental leave in medical school: supporting students as parents." The study aims to identify the presence and nature of maternal/paternal leave policies and procedures within UME. Kaitlyn Zitek, OMS III, has published a case report entitled, "COVID-19 infection and simultaneous worsening of pre-existing neurologic conditions: A Case Report Series” in South Dakota Medicine. Her research recommends that all patients with exacerbated neurological conditions be tested for COVID even if they are asymptomatic.

Justin Bradshaw, OMS II; Lawsen Parker, OMS II; Westin Wong, OMS II; and, Steven Gawrys, OMS II, published a paper entitled, "Cost of medical student virtual conference registration in ophthalmology and urology during the COVID-19 pandemic" in the Journal of Osteopathic Medicine. Their research showed that ophthalmology and urology as specialties, although research intensive, have conferences fees more similar to non-research-intensive specialties. They concluded that, despite being lower, free conference registration would help reduce the financial burden on all medi-

cal students, and invited the SF Match system to provide more transparent metrics to differentiate research experiences amongst applicants. Dr. Amanda Brooks and Brianna Landis, OMS II, published a paper in Journal of Neuro-Ophthalmology titled, "COVID-19, Eye Pain, Headache, and Beyond." This literature review aims to describe presentations of eye pain and headache in relation to COVID-19, with an emphasis on how these disorders help us to understand the pathophysiology of COVID-19.

The culmination of one-and-a-half years of work, a team of RVU students and faculty—Luke Proctor, DO '21; Whitney Ward, OMS III; Conner Roggy, OMS IV; Alexandra Koontz, OMS IV; Katie Clark, OMS III; Alyssa (Palmer) Quinn, OMS II; Dr. Amanda Brooks; James Small, MD, PhD, Director of Clinical Career Advising; Francina Towne, PhD, Program Director of MSBS Program; Benjamin Brooks, PhD, Associate Professor of Biomedical Sciences—published research in Antibiotics entitled, "Potential Therapeutic Targets for Combination Antibody Therapy against Pseudomonas aeruginosa Infections," which investigates the role of polyclonal antibodies against antibioticresistant Pseudomonal infections.

Dr. Lon Van Winkle; Brian Schwartz, PhD, MLIS, Director of the Frank Ritchel Ames Memorial Library; Alexis Horst, Writing Center Instructor; Jensen Fisher, MLIS, Assistant Professor of Medical Humanities; Nicole Michels, PhD, Chair of the Dept. of Medical Humanities; and Brad Thornock, PhD, Associate Professor of Medical Humanities, have been published in the International Journal of Environ-

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Research and Grants Furthering the Pursuit of Innovation and Exploration in Healthcare and Education

mental Research and Public Health for research on the "Impact of a Pandemic and Remote Learning on Team Development and Elements of Compassion in Prospective Medical Students Taking a Medical Humanities Course." The research expands upon previous research showing that when teams of students reflect on readings about communication, unconscious bias, and service-learning, their critical reflection, implicit bias mitigation, empathy, and compassionate behavior all increase. Compared to previous years, this new research shows the pandemic and remote learning had minimal effects on the benefits of Medical Humanities at RVU.

Kevin Seely, OMS II; Amanda Morgan, OMS II; Lauren Hagenstein, OMS II; Garrett Florey, OMS III; and Dr. Small, published a paper entitled, "Bacterial Involvement in Progression and Metastasis of Colorectal Neoplasia" in the College of Osteopathic Medicine. Increasing evidence suggests that bacterial infection not only promotes carcinogenesis in primary colorectal cancer, but also affects metastatic progression and organ selectivity through modification of the microenvironment at primary and secondary tumor sites. The metastatic cascade is the process by which neoplastic tumors potentiate cancerous spread to distant organs, and evidence suggests that this process is provoked in the setting of bacterial infection. Biofilm formation, paired-migration, and quorum-sensing are processes by which bacteria self-signal, recruit, and effectively establish a pre-metastatic niche at distant sites, rendering a suitable environment for tumor cell survival and proliferation. Jordan Higgs, OMS II; SD Seely; and, Andrew Nigh, MD, Assistant Professor of Specialty Medicine, published research entitled, “Utilizing the "teach-back" method to improve surgical informed consent and shared decisionmaking: a review” in Patient Safety in Surgery. This review examines the current standards and ethics of preoperative informed consent and provides a concise, actionable defini-

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tion of teach-back. Rachel Linger, PhD, Associate Professor of Pharmacology, Anton Pham, IV, and Qing Zhong, MD, PhD, Associate Professor of Pharmacology, have been published in Side Effects of Drugs Annual for research entitled, "Positive inotropic drugs and drugs used in dysrhythmias," which summarizes important side effects associated with positive inotropic drugs and antiarrhythmics. Rebecca Ryznar, PhD, Associate Professor of Molecular Biology; Lacie Phibbs, OMS III; and Dr. Van Winkle, have been published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health for their research titled "Epigenetic Modifications at the Center of the Barker Hypothesis and Their Transgenerational Implications," which looks into how embryo/fetal nutrition and the environment in the reproductive tract influence the subsequent risk of developing adult diseases and disorders, as formulated in the Baker hypothesis. Drs. Ryznar and Van Winkle also served as guest editors of Frontiers of Cell and Developmental Biology for their editorial, "From Single Stem Cells to Organoids, Organ Repair and Public Health," and Cells' special issue "Epigenetic Regulation of Development, Cellular Differentiation, and Disease Progression/Protection in Adults." For the latter, they mentored SD Phibbs and Erin Onat, OMS II, as assistant guest editors.

Blake McKinley, OMS IV; Bryan Daines, OMS IV; Mitch-

Research and Grants Furthering the Pursuit of Innovation and Exploration in Healthcare and Education

ell Allen, OMS III; Kayd Pulsipher, OMS IV; Dr. Isain Zapata; and Benjamin Wilde, DO, FAACP, Chair of the Department of Clinical Sciences for MCOM, published research, titled, "Effects of Medical School on Mental Health and Sleep Habits," in medRxiv. The research discusses the effects that competitiveness and increased demands of medical education can have on students, leading to higher rates of burnout and mental illness than other students.

Presentations Mikenzie Sturdevant, OMS IV; Daniel Daskalakis, OMS IV; and Isain Zapata, PhD, Assistant Professor of Research and Statistics, presented at Orthopedics Today with their presentation entitled, “From front to back: a comparison of an anterior deltopectoral versus posterior approach for a total shoulder arthroplasty through shoulder index scores and radiographic data.”

The following students in the Military Medicine Track were invited to present research at the Association of Military Osteopathic Physicians & Surgeons' (AMOPS) Annual Meeting in early March: • • • •

•

Brennan Bohman, OMS III, "Hiding From the Enemy Assessment of Polychromatic Light Visualization from a distance." Reese Cooper, OMS III, "Massive Pancreatic Pseudocyst and Metabolic Catastrophe." Michael Higham, OMS II, "Adverse Effects of Blood Products and Blood-Related Treatments: Review of the Recent Literature." Colin McCloskey, OMS III, "Perforated Appendicitis in Amyand’s Hernia Requiring Appendectomy and Ileocolectomy not Demonstrated on Preoperative Computed Tomography." Anna Megenhardt, OMS I, "Reliability of Lung POCUS Images Interpreted by First Responders for Patients Pre-

Cole Zanetti, DO, MPH, Co-Director of the Digital Health Track, presented at Digital Health Measurement Collaborative Community Conference with his presentation entitled, "Remote monitoring of blood pressure in patients’ post-discharge." Dana Hoffman, OMS III, Jamie Truax, OMS III, and K. Dean Gubler, DO, Professor of Surgery and Military Medicine, presented "Hyper-realistic simulations: the hidden gem of medical training for ski and snowboard injuries," at the Western Trauma Conference. Due to the nature of the sports, skiers and snowboarders are at inherent risk of injury. First responder management of these athletes is challenged by the hostile mountain environment. A descriptive analysis was performed on scenario-specific, hyper-realistic immersion training for medical providers of point of injury emergent care for US ski and snowboard teams.

• • • • • •

senting with COVID-19 Respiratory Symptoms." Zachary Miller, OMS II, "Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest (OHCA) survival rates with mechanical CPR device vs. a person." Katie Offner, OMS II, "IL8 is associated with an increase in PTSD and life trauma in first responders." Telyn Peterson's, OMS IV, research "Suture Skill Acquisition: Do Skins Affect Efficacy," was presented by Sean Lynch, OMS III. Kevin Puri, OMS II, "Clostridium septicum sepsis with Intra-abdominal Gas Gangrene in the setting of GI Malignancy." Jamie Truax, OMS III, "Hyper-realistic simulations, the hidden gem of medical training for ski and snowboard injuries." Cheyenne Wong, OMS II, "Factor Analysis of the Biochemical Profile of Stress and Recovery from Stress in First Responders."

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SIMS Presents at International Simulation Conference The Office of SIMS presented a seminar at the 22nd Annual International Meeting on Simulation in Healthcare (IMSH) in Los Angeles. The conference, which is the largest healthcare medical simulation meeting in the world, was conducted by the Society of Simulation in Healthcare and included more than 3,000 participants from more than 28 countries. RVU was represented by Susan Carter, MD, FACOG, FACS, Director of the Office of SIMS, and Tariq Al Shanteer, BSBME, CHSOS, Healthcare Simulation Technology Specialist, whose unique Obstetric Trauma Demonstration was well-received by learners from many programs and specialties. Their presentation was titled, "Developing a Hybrid Cost-Effective Advanced Simulator for Obstetric Trauma Training." In attendance were numerous industry representatives who were familiar with RVU’s advanced technology modalities in simulation. A special thank-you to the RVU-CO Facilities team for their assistance in creating the specialized manikin frame!

Fighting for Equity and Inclusion at the State Level As the country moves toward reanalyzing historical figures, stories, and symbols through the lens of equity and inclusion, one topic has become a public debate: the name of RVU-SU's neighboring school. Dixie State University, founded in 1911, was named for the region of Utah in which it is located and was associated with the early pioneers. However, many have argued that "Dixie" has negative connotations with regards to the Civil War Confederacy and alumni have stated their discomfort in stating the name of their alma mater. "If the name on alumni’s diplomas is presenting a barrier to their success in any way, we owe it to them to remove this obstacle," the DSU website states. Elizabeth Dahlberg, Clinical Rotations Liaison, was involved in and spoke on behalf of the Dixie State University name change process last year. Here, she explains the process, as well as its far-reaching impact. For several years now, there has been talk of changing the name of Dixie State University. It became increasingly important in recent years, especially as the school transitioned into D1 athletics. As an institution for higher learning which typically attracted first-generation students from low-income and underserved communities, the school saw a need to move to a more inclusive name; this would give graduates a higher chance of success once they entered the workforce. They also wanted a name that reflected the school's new status as a technical university. The name change bill, HB0278, was announced in February of 2021. At this time, I was contacted by Dixie State Administration to speak in support of the bill during the first Senate Education Committee hearing. After some revisions, the bill made it past the House and moved to the Senate. I was invited on behalf of Dixie State once more to return to the State Capitol and speak at the hearing. Busloads of Southern Utah residents with strong opposition to the bill unloaded and packed the hearing room in a final push to keep the name. Many leaders from local healthcare organizations and tech companies came to support the name change. The hearing was heated and emotional; I never realized how much a name meant to members of the Southern Utah community—when it meant something much different outside the State of Utah. The Bill passed favorably. Being an alumnus from DSU, I am extremely proud to have been part of such a monumental change in the school's history— one that will kick-start a more inclusive culture and benefit other alumni entering the workforce or applying to graduate programs. You can read the bill and amendments here: https://le.utah.gov/~2021/bills/static/HB0278.html

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Welcome to our New Faculty and Staff! Kassandra Carreon Administrative Assistant, Dept. of Student Affairs, RVU-SU

Rebecca "Becky" Liebert, FNP, DNP Clinician, Southern Utah Veterans Home (SUVH)

Kassandra grew up in St. George, Utah, but also spent a lot of time in her parents’ hometown of Durango, Mexico.

Originally from rural Wisconsin, Becky earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing from Viterbo University from her home state, before earning both a Master of Science in Nursing and a Doctor of Nursing Practice (with a focus on Organizational Leadership) from Graceland University in Missouri. She is board certified in Family Practice and Orthopedics. Before moving there, her and her husband had fallen in love with the Southern Utah area. "[We] began hiking here ten years ago," she says. They had purchased a home in Southern Utah with the idea of eventually retiring here.

Whether it be from the front desk, interfacing and assisting students, or during events around campus, Kassandra finds her work at RVU rewarding: "I like knowing I’m a part of a student’s learning experience and that I’m able to help ensure it’s a positive one… I know how important it is to feel supported by faculty and staff at the school you’re attending and how important those interactions are for your success." When she’s not helping RVU’s students and faculty, Kassandra enjoys spending time with her nephews, reading, watching true crime documentaries, and traveling. Of all the places she’s been, Rome, Italy, is her favorite. Bienvenida, Kassandra! April Harward, MIS Library Coordinator, Frank Ritchel Ames Memorial Library

circle," she says.

A Utah native, April earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in English from Southern Utah University, then a Master of Information Studies degree from Victoria University of Wellington in New Zealand. "Coming to St. George...feels like completing a

An aspect she loves about her position is that she continues to learn: "I would like to know a little bit about everything. One of the most important [parts] about being a librarian is knowing where to find the things you didn’t know." With over nine years of experience working in "every type of library," her knowledge and skillset are great assets to RVU. "I am glad to be working in a place that values its team members," she says. April still has a fondness for New Zealand, where she earned her graduate degree: "[It] is my favorite place for the attitude and hospitality of the people, the incredible landscape, and the feeling of being in the right place." Kia ora, April!

With a medical career spanning over 35 years, she has worked in hospitals and clinics (including 16 years in the operating room with her husband!) and continues to be inspired in her field of work: "Nurse practitioners have an amazing opportunity to take care of others…you will never be bored in this career!" On coming to RVU-SU, she says, "The unique job opportunity and partnership with SUVH is truly one of a kind." She is honored to be able to take care of veterans and "be part of a growing practice." When not working tirelessly to help others, Becky enjoys spending time with her grandchildren, hiking, walking, doing yoga, and reading. She is also a "dog mom." Welcome, Becky! Nicoleta Rus, MD Staff Physician, Rocky Vista Health Center, RVU-CO Originally from Brasov, Romania (located in the Transylvania region), Dr. Rus received a Baccalaureate degree from the Grigore Moisil National College of Computer Science, followed by her Doctorate of Medicine degree from Transylvania University School of Medicine—both of which are located in her hometown. She completed an Emergency Medicine residency at the Emergency County Hospital, as well as University of Medicine and Pharmacy, in Targu Mures. Dr. Rus completed her second medical residency in Internal Medicine at Texas Tech University Health Science Center. She collaborated in genetic engineering research in the de-

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Welcome to our New Faculty and Staff! sign of Chimeric Antigen Receptor, generation of Gamma Delta T-cells, and successful "knockout" of ABL/BCR gene through CRISPR CAS9-sgRNA technology in lab research. Beyond her professional life, Dr. Rus enjoys spending time with her family and friends. She is excited to return to Colorado, where her enthusiasm for outdoor activities such as biking, hiking, skating, and fishing can be realized. She loves dancing and Zumba (and even became a Zumba instructor in 2015!). She is an avid traveler, having visited four continents and fifteen countries and is fluent in English, Romanian, and French, with basic Spanish and Italian. Welcome, Dr. Rus! Nadya Sharonova, MA Residency Program Coordinator, Dept. of Graduate Medical Education, RVUCO Born and raised in Moscow, Russia, Nadya earned her Master of Arts degree in Linguistics and the English Language from Moscow State University. She worked in the English as a Second Language field for 15 years, as both an ESL Teacher and Academic Director. Before her husband’s job opportunity brought them both to Colorado, she had lived in Sydney, Australia, and San Jose, California. Now at RVUCOM-CO, Nadya is excited to be part of a “professional community dedicated to providing quality healthcare education and training” to students. Nadya’s favorite travel destinations are Australia and New Zealand, and when she’s not hard at work supporting students, she enjoys swimming, reading, and attending concerts and art exhibits. Privet, Nadya! Logan Stott Administrative Assistant, Dept. of Marketing, RVU-SU After living in Salt Lake City for a time, Logan returned to his native St. George to be closer to family. He completed a Bachelor of Science degree in English from the soon-to-be renamed Dixie State University. For the past five years, he has worked as a freelance writer/editor and has also as a manager. In his

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new role in RVU’S Marketing Department, Logan enjoys "creating, whether it be graphic design, writing/editing, or even finding solutions to administrative/web design issues when they crop up." When not writing Vista View articles or dabbling in Photoshop, Logan loves sports, games, lifting weights, making miniatures, painting, writing, and doodling. While in high school, he was also an All-American football player with the U-19 national team. One of his favorite travel destinations has been Pompeii, Italy. "Walking through a fairly well-preserved ancient Roman city, with its lively frescoes, market stalls, restaurants, crosswalks, tile signage, and manors was probably the coolest thing I have ever done." Benvenuto, Logan! Shelene Thomas, PT, DPT, EdD, GCS, FNAP Director of Interprofessional Education and Health Systems Science, Dept. of Medical Humanities, RVU-CO A Colorado native, Dr. Thomas completed her undergraduate studies at the University of Denver. Although she earned her Doctorate degrees in Physical Therapy and Education from Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska, she soon returned to her home state. She also holds a Certificate in Healthcare Administration, is a Board-Certified Clinical Geriatric Specialist through the APTA, and was inducted into the National Academies of Practice as a Fellow in Interprofessional Education and Collaborative Practice. Dr. Thomas previously worked at Regis University, first as a faculty member, then as the Coordinator of Interprofessional Education. She credits her professional success to her passion for her work, and said she is excited to "work with faculty and students in the medical arm of the healthcare industry" at RVU. Working in medical education, student success, and seeing students put what they have learned into practice is what inspires Dr. Thomas most. "When it means something to them[,] it means something to me," she said. When she’s not working for the betterment of her students, Dr. Thomas loves to ski, paddleboard, and experience new places with the people she cares about most. Welcome, Dr. Thomas!

Welcome to our New Faculty and Staff! Patrick Tufts, MD Assistant Professor of Primary Care, Dept. of Primary Care Medicine, RVUSU Originally from the town of Soda Springs, Idaho, where his parents have resided for more than forty years, Dr. Tufts spent much of his life and career in Idaho, Montana, and (most recently) Wyoming. In Laramie, he served as the Medical Director of the Emergency Room at Ivinson Memorial Hospital. Dr. Tufts earned a Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Engineering from Arizona State University, graduated from University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, and completed his Residency in Family Medicine at Scottsdale Healthcare (now known as Honor Health). He served as Medical Director for Superior Area Ambulance Service and the Albany County Volunteer Ambulance Services, as well as Vice Chief of Staff

at Ivinson Memorial Hospital. Now he brings his extensive experience to RVU. "The plan always was to teach later in my career," he says. "I love finding ways to organize and present information in a way that makes learning more accessible for students." Previously, he taught residents, undergraduate medical students, and physician assistant students from Idaho State University for their Emergency Medicine rotations. Dr. Tufts has a wide array of hobbies and interests. He enjoys hiking and running—and also gaming, programming, web development, and Star Wars. "I have been called a ‘Turbo-Nerd’ and am proud of the title." He even watched "The Force Awakens" on opening night dressed in Jedi robes, much to the embarrassment of his children. Yet his two favorite places are here on Earth: Bridger Wilderness Area and Glacier National Park. Chowbaso, Patrick! (Note: above message translated from Huttese)

Promotions and Appointments

Holly Bagot was promoted from Administrative Assistant to Program Coordinator in the Master of Science of Biomedical Sciences program. Holly will serve as Program Coordinator on the Utah campus with a focus on helping with recruitment and admissions.

Ashlee Bishop has rejoined the RVU team and accepted the position of Data Coordinator with the Department of Clinical Education. Previously, Ashlee worked as a Rotations Coordinator. She began at RVU in 2018.

Steven Bart was promoted from Security Officer to Senior Security Officer in the Safety and Security Department. He began at RVU in 2017.

Carol Blackshire-Belay, PhD, received a title change to include Professor of Medical Humanities. She will also continue to serve as Vice President of Institutional Effectiveness. She began at RVU in 2021.

Anthony Bennett was promoted from Security Officer to Senior Security Officer in the Safety and Security Department. He began at RVU in 2016.

Courtney Campbell was promoted from Administrative Assistant to Program Coordinator in the Master of Science of Biomedical Sciences program. Courtney will serve as Program Coordinator for the Colorado campus with a focus on helping with outreach and marketing. She began at RVU in 2019.

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Promotions and Appointments

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Theresa Christner was promoted from Medical Receptionist to Front Office Lead in the Rocky Vista Health Center. She will continue to also serve as the Billing Specialist. She began at RVU in 2019.

George Marsh was promoted from Security Officer to Senior Security Officer in the Safety and Security Department. He began at RVU in 2014.

Ashley Farmer-Hanson was given the rank of Assistant Professor of Medical Humanities. She will also continue to serve as Associate Dean of Student Life. She began at RVU in 2020.

Jessica Mess has been promoted from Staff Account and Payroll Specialist to Accounting Manager. She began at RVU in 2012.

Eric Hansen was promoted from Security Officer to Safety and Security Training Officer in the Safety and Security Department.

Abang "Natalene" Rehan has changed departments from the Office of Research and Scholarly Activity to Master of Science of Biomedical Sciences (MSBS) program. She will continue to serve as part-time Administrative Assistant in this department. She began at RVU in 2021.

Haybe Jama was promoted from Security Officer to Senior Security Officer in the Safety and Security Department. He began at RVU in 2019.

Kelly Schroeder was promoted from Security Officer to Senior Security Officer in the Safety and Security Department. He began at RVU in 2019.

Whitney Levitz was promoted from Security Officer to Senior Security Officer in the Safety and Security Department. She began at RVU in 2018.

Amanda Troy, PhD, has been appointed the Director of Preclinical Education (DPCE) for Year One of the COM and Utah COM Preclinical Students. She will continue to serve as Associate Professor of Gross Anatomy. She began at RVU in 2020.

Marty Mangum was promoted from Security Officer to Senior Security Officer in the Safety and Security Department. He began at RVU in 2019.

Ben Wilde, DO, FAAFP, has been promoted from Vice Chair of the Primary Care Department to Chair of the Department of Clinical Sciences at the new Montana College of Osteopathic Medicine campus. He will continue to serve as Associate Professor Primary Care. He began at RVU in 2017.

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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 RVU community, I hope you are doing well and staying healthy! This letter will serve to update you on what the Alumni Association is currently focused. Firstly, we want to encourage more Alumni to pay their dues. Payments can be made digitally on our Facebook Page, "Rocky Vista University Alumni Association," or physically by mailing a check, payable to RVU Alumni Association, to Julie Rosenthal at 8401 S Chambers St, Parker, CO, 80112. New elections are set to begin this May. If you would like to be a part of the RVU Alumni Board, whether it be as President-elect, Vice President, Secretary, or as a Member-at-Large, please inform Julie Rosenthal (jrosenthal@rvu. edu) as soon as possible. We are also focused on collaborating with students and providing them with insight and context into our own journeys in medicine, whether it be why we chose to pursue medicine, our experiences during medical school, and/or our experiences practicing medicine after graduation. This can be done through Zoom meetings or by doing a live video podcast interview with Ryan Greene, DO ‘15 that will also be posted afterward for our community to view at their leisure. The 10-Year Alumni Reunion, originally planned for May 2022, has been delayed due to the pandemic. Our new goal is to have a combined Alumni Reunion for Classes 2012-2013 in May 2023. If you wish to stay in touch with us, please respond with your current email address. If you have any other questions, thoughts, or comments, please email either me (bnpetro@gmail.com) or Julie Rosenthal (jrosenthal@rvu.edu). Sincerely, Bobby Petro, DO, CAQ-SM Alumni President

Milestones and Achievements Capt. Amanda Ammentorp, DO '19, received a Wing Company Grade Officer (CGO) award in recognition of her hard work. Additionally, after serving at the Grand Forks Air Force Base for several years, she has switched to a civiliansponsored program at Einstein Emergency Medicine (EM) Residency in Philadelphia. She will be working in operational EM in flight medicine for two years, then as EM staff for the final two years.

Monica Dzwonkowski, DO ’20, published research titled, "Endoscopic Band Ligation of Bleeding Duodenal Varices," in Cureus. This is a case study of a middleaged woman who presented with melena and anemia requiring transfusion. She was diagnosed with cirrhosis and computed tomography of the abdomen revealed active bleeding at the proximal duodenum. Read it here: https://bit.ly/3LYbUpx

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From the Rocky Vista University Alumni Association

A LU M N I A SSO C I AT ION

Milestones and Achievements Phillip Miller, DO '18, was accepted into the RVU/Still OPTI ONMM3 (Osteopathic Neuromusculoskeletal Medicine) Residency Program in Colorado. Following graduation, he completed a Family Medicine residency at HealthONE in Lone Tree, Colorado.

Jaclyn Fackler, DO '16, published research titled, "Selective Androgen Receptor Modulator Induced Hepatotoxicity," in Cureus. This is a case study of a 29-year-old patient who presented with jaundice, fatigue, and elevated liver function tests after starting SARM supplements. His symptoms improved and eventually resolved with stopping the supplements. Read it here: https://bit.ly/3xp4fg3

Luke Proctor, DO '21, (along with current RVU students and faculty) published research in Antibiotics entitled, "Potential Therapeutic Targets for Combination Antibody Therapy against Pseudomonas aeruginosa Infections," which investigates the role of polyclonal antibodies against antibioticresistant Pseudomonal infections.

Sarah Housman, DO '18, was accepted into the RVU/Still OPTI ONMM3 (Osteopathic Neuromusculoskeletal Medicine) Residency Program in Colorado. During her time at RVU, Dr. Housman was an Osteopathic Principles and Practice Fellow. Following graduation, she completed a family medicine residency at Maine-Dartmouth.

Lieutenant Susan M. Roberts, DO '21, was named Junior Officer of the Month by the Association of Military Osteopathic Physicians and Surgeons (AMOPS). Dr. Roberts is currently completing her general surgery residency at Naval Medical Center Portsmouth.

Jillian Kurtz, DO '14, accepted a position as a reproductive endocrinologist and infertility specialist at ORM Fertility in Portland, Oregon. Dr. Kurtz’s passion for women’s health and overall reproductive health was sparked well before medical school, when she worked at Planned Parenthood during college as a patient advocate.

Alumni in the News Eric Bendixen, DO '19: "RVU Alumni Spotlight: Eric Bendixen"; http://fightinprairiedogblog.com/alumni-spotlight-ericbendixen-do-19/ Justin Grant, DO '15: "Avoid injuries on the slope"; https:// bit.ly/37JJuR7 Zachary Keller, DO '16: "Health professionals stress the importance of practicing healthy holiday habits"; https://bit. ly/3JAr82w Danielle Lattes, DO '20: "How to Ease Physician Burnout? A Horse, of Course!"; https://wb.md/38MEkVf

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Erin Philpott, DO '14: "A year after first U.S. shots, pandemic hallmarks re-emerge"; https://bit.ly/3vczTdO Erin Philpott, DO '14: "Inside these walls: An ICU doctor describes the enormity of challenges faced amid pandemic"; https://bit.ly/3roHPYt Lane Thaut, DO '16: "Maui experts explain when to take PCR versus take-home tests as cases soar"; https://bit.ly/378nfol David Wood, DO '12: "Healthier You in 2022: Local physicians offer advice"; https://bit.ly/37IUqOY

Campus Tidbits On November 20th, Alyssa Palmer, OMS II, and the ROAD Club planned and organized a skin cancer screening clinic at the Doctors Volunteer Clinic at no cost to the community. About 40 walk-in patients were seen by SD Palmer, David Crimin, DO, Director of Medical Education at the Southern Utah Veterans Home, Adrian Tinajero, DO, Dermatologist at Cedar Dermatology, and several RVU students. Students learned how to screen lesions such as compound nevi, suspicious atypical dysplastic nevi, basal cell and squamous cancers, sebaceous hyperplasia and keratosis, and more.

To assist students in keeping their relationships healthy, RVU's Department of Student Affairs hosted a DIY Valentine's Day Card and Art Project on February 11th. Students made homemade cards for their loved ones and practiced their painting skills during a Pour Paint Art session.

Back in December, RVUers (including Dr. David Forstein and Dr. Heather Ferrill) donated funds (that would have otherwise been spent on holiday gifts) to provide lunches to the front-line workers at HealthONE's Sky Ridge Medical Center and St. George Regional Hospital. A total of 95 boxed lunches from Newk's Eatery in Colorado were donated to Sky Ridge and 78 boxed lunches from Jersey Mike's in Utah were donated to St. George Regional.

Kalon Morgan, OMS IV, and his wife, Aubrey, welcomed a baby boy. Koda was born on February 2nd at CHOC Children's Hospital. This is their second son.

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the passage of the Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, a landmark piece of legislation for gender equity. The Office of Institutional Effectiveness would like to recognize this significant law, which ensures that "all education programs and activities receiving federal funding must protect students and employees from sex-based discrimination and bans many aspects of gender inequality that had been previously been tolerated or overlooked in education."

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Campus Tidbits The Student National Medical Association (SNMA) hosted its third annual MC^Squared event in February. Seventy high school students from across the Denver Metro Area participated in the day-long virtual event. These students come from diverse backgrounds and are traditionally underrepresented in the field of medicine. The event allowed them to don white coats and stethoscopes and participate in cross-departmental workshops including a SIMS Scholars intubation session, an Osteopathic Principles and Practice HVLA, a heart prosection in the Anatomy Lab, and an intro to suturing and proper ultrasound techniques. Later, the high schoolers were paired with a current medical student for continued mentorship. On February 5th, Medical Students For Choice hosted their annual Reproductive Health Workshop on the Colorado campus for over 50 students. Nishani Abeydeera, OMS II, MSFC President (2021-2022), Sarah Caplan, OMS I, MSFC President and Vice President (2022-2023), and Samantha Klaas, OMS I, presented "Family Planning and Reproductive Injustice in Native American Communities," which shed light on the historical and current injustice occurring in indigenous communities in the US, and explored different contraception and family planning options. The workshop portion of the event taught students how to perform and suture IUD insertions and Manual Vacuum Aspirations

RVUCOM's Academic Medicine and Leadership Track hosted the Building the Next Generation of Academic Physicians (BNGAP) Academic Medicine Career Development Conference. It was a hybrid event with both inperson and virtual discussions, including such topics as career portfolios, scholarships, diversity and inclusion, and leadership development. "The conference had a great turnout and we hope to keep this a yearly tradition," said Preetha Rajkumar, OMS I.

The COVID-19 Response Team organized a Get Boosted Challenge in February to support the public health vaccination efforts to slow the spread of the coronavirus. Employees and students submitted proof of their booster shot and were entered into a drawing for prizes that included RVU swag and gift cards. In all, a total of 395 RVUers participated.

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

Gina Marzulla Kelli Petersen

Logan Stott

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

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April 2022 Issue - Vista View Newsletter

Articles inside

Campus Tidbits

Alumni - Milestones and Achievements

Promotions and Appointments

Welcome to our New Faculty and Staff

Fighting for Equity and Inclusion at the State Level

SIMS Presents at International Simulation Conference

Research and Grants

Bringing Niche Specialties to the Forefront

Achieving New Heights

RVU Students Find Their Match

MSBS Preps for the Future with Patients and Mentors

Students Provide Screenings for Special Olympians

Sim Competition Challenges Students' Medical Knowledge

Advocacy in Action

Student-Led Taskforces Educate on Diversity and Inclusion

Global Medicine at RVU

Military Students Train Olympic Ski Team Physicians