Achieving New Heights

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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)

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)

CeCe McWilliams (SU)

Anna Megenhardt (CO)

Nicole Phan (SU)

Jake Roush (SU)

Nicole Russell (CO)

Katherine Teixeira (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.