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Award Winning Newsletter
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VISTA VIEW
April 2016 Newsletter
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RVU Students Sweep the Globe with Rotations and Missions Page 6
Inside:
Diversity Week: Celebrations & Discussions
Vista ViewPage 5
RVU Shifts the Focus for Mental Health Week
Students Learn Avalanche Training at Wolf Creek
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Page 12
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President's Message The Soul of the University by Clinton E. Adams, DO, FACHE, President and CEO
I’ve heard of soul music, soul food, dark souls, but I’ve never reflected on what constitutes the "Soul of a University." I am confident that some would say the soul is certainly our student body. But the faculty reminds me that they are the fabric from which universities were created. It certainly can’t be the bricks and mortar! What is soul? In osteopathic philosophy, we speak of body, mind, and spirit—is it spirit? To quote James Hillman in his book, Blue Fire:
more than 80 hours per week. The ACGME further codified the 80-hour work week in accreditation standards. Yet we continue to experience a similar level of concern for resident fatigue, burnout, and a troubling trend in resident and physician suicide.
"To understand soul, we cannot turn to science for a description. Its meaning is best given by its context...words long associated with the soul amplify it further: mind, spirit, heart, life, warmth, humanness, personality, individuality, essence, innermost purpose, emotion, morality, sin, wisdom, death, god. The soul is said to be "troubled," "old," "disembodied," "immoral," "lost," "innocent," "inspired." The soul has been imagined as... conscience, a multiplicity, and as a unity in diversity, as a harmony, as a fluid, as a fire, as dynamic energy, and so on...”
In spite of these legislative actions, subsequent studies have not shown incrementally improved outcomes for patient safety. Recent surveys and studies support the limitation of duty hours as a factor contributing to resident wellness and the potential for decreased burnout. However, the studies also illustrate potential decreased preparedness for independent practice and professionalism that has so long been associated with the patientphysician relationship.
So, what is the soul of a university? It does not seem to be a person, place, or thing. It isn’t mission, vision, goals, or values. But is it the living, breathing, pulsating environment within which all the above either function or don’t function? English poet David Whyte, in his books, The Heart Aroused: Preservation of the Soul of Corporate America and Crossing the Unknown Sea: Work as a Pilgrimage of Identity, challenges our tradition of "work becoming us" and not "us becoming our work." Similarly, I use this analogy to think about the soul of a medical university (or any university).
Is the soul of a university responsible for the culture that prepares students for continuing medical education and the subsequent transition to resident physician? Is it the learning environment that must change or is it simply the number of hours worked? The environment that the faculty and administration create and model becomes the invisible force that nurtures, protects, and provides the support to carry our neophyte through residency, family life, specialty practice, and, eventually, a happy retirement.
This pursuit has extended to my role as a member of the Board of Directors of the Accreditation Council on Graduate Medical Education (ACGME). I am involved in the reevaluation of standards concerning the resident learning and working environments. Serious concern over this issue arose after the untimely death of 18-year-old Libby Zion in 1984. Libby's parents filed a lawsuit based on the premise that the working conditions and supervision of residents contributed to her death. The New York Department of Health Code Section 405 subsequently established a limitation on resident work hours in New York to no
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RVU will continue to listen to our students and alumni and work through not only our Department of Student Affairs, but also through the hearts and minds of our caring and compassionate teammates to continually enhance our learning environment. This environment must develop team-based thinking, an attitude of a helping hand ("How are you doing today?"). Faculty and staff must support each other as role models for students to feel safe in caring for their classmates and themselves. The lessons we have learned about post-traumatic stress, resilience, and burnout are applicable to our learning community. The Soul of the University is the Learning Environment.
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Dean's Message The Dean's Conundrum: Calling a Snow Day by Thomas N. Told, DO, FACOFP, dist., Dean and CAO
Growing up in the country, I had no experience with snow days. Grades one through six were held in a tworoom schoolhouse with no indoor plumbing so there was nothing to freeze inside the school and halt operations. Most kids walked to school; ranch kids who lived far away stayed with friends during the winter months. We knew nothing of the possibility that classes could be called off, because it never happened. Heat was generated from big wood and coal stoves that sat in the middle of each classroom. The farther your desk was from that glowing fire, the colder you were. If you had the misfortune of sitting in the most distant seat, your crayons were as hard as bricks and colored just as well. Academic activity centered around the stove so, I must confess, my early interest in academics was fueled more by warmth and comfort than by a true thirst for knowledge.
attend a meeting in Denver. On the morning of the meeting, a winter storm hit the state just as I was leaving Craig. It blew in from the north, impacting both the east and west slopes of the Rockies, and dumped a lot of snow in a short period. I made the 225-mile drive much slower than usual and thought nothing of it. This was, after all, March (usually our snowiest month in Colorado). When I arrived in Denver, I learned that, to my surprise, the meeting had been cancelled. Physicians on the west side of town were snowed in and couldn’t make it to the meeting on the east side, yet I drove in on the very same roads they thought impassible. What was the difference?
Upon moving to Craig, Colorado to begin medical practice, I found the weather philosophy to be similar to where I grew up in southern Utah. Snow depths were measured by how many strands of barbwire on a four-strand fence were covered. Folks chuckled about Craig having only two seasons of the year: winter and July. I experienced snow in every month of the year and particularly enjoyed the wonders of "thunder snow" in August. I think schools closed only one day in my 35 years there: when the furnace blew at minus 50 degrees during a Siberian Blast in the early 1990s.
It was only after moving to Parker that I experienced the craziness that comes with commuting in deep snow and heavy traffic. I learned why city folks invented snow days and refused to even venture out on city streets during heavy storms. You see, there are a small number of individuals who believe their vehicles defy all laws of physics. They drive above the speed limit on icy roads, darting in and out of traffic like bees in a pansy field. The rest of us must obey the laws of physics when they pull in front of us and slam on their brakes or spin out next to us. Those of us accustomed to this behavior expect it and avoid them; however, we have students who come from states that have only one snow plow (plows that may, in fact, have sat unused for so long that hummingbirds are nesting in the carburetor). They look to the administration for guidance as to when it is safe to venture out in snowstorms.
As a physician, I had to work regardless of the conditions. Low pressures resulting from winter storms seemed to push women into labor or generate unexpected heart problems. I responded to many emergencies in the middle of raging blizzards, traveling by whatever means available: by four-wheel drive, by foot, by skis, even by bike with studded snow tires. The rough weather sorted out the mildly ill from those who needed immediate care. I quickly learned that if a patient showed up in my office or the emergency room during a big storm, they could not wait until morning. I became aware of the difference between winter driving in the country versus the city when I was once asked to
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Calling a snow day is one of the hardest decisions a dean must make. It is a decision for which there is no appreciation or satisfaction. It sounds easy but there is a lot at stake with the decision. Our curriculum is so jammedpacked that losing a day of classes is devastating. I don't want to put a strain on students and faculty by taking too many snow days, but it seems like the weather cards are stacked against us.
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Dean's Message, continued The front range of Colorado has some of the most volatile weather on earth and this may be why old-timers quip, "Only fools and newcomers predict the weather." Even the weather folks on our favorite cable stations get it wrong from time to time so it is not easy even with technology. I thought I could rely on the local schools for direction but I soon found out they panic early in the game and close their schools with the sight or whiff of the first snowflake. It would be great to have an instrument that we could use at 4:30am with which could calculate the density and diameter of the snowflakes, then divide that value by the square root of the sum of the velocities of falling snowflakes at the school and my home to generate a final number. That number could then be plugged into an app to determine whether we should delay opening or cancel classes altogether. Sadly, such a tool does not exist. All I have to rely on at 4:30am is the depth of the snow that is piling up on the backs and between the ears of Security Director Dan Havens’ horses standing in the corral in Elizabeth. I then compare that number with how much snow is accumulating on the top rail of my patio fence and the lower limbs of the maple tree in my front yard. Then I combine that information with the snow depth numbers the security officer on duty at the school has been recording every two hours since midnight. We make one last check of the numbers and types of schools closing on two of the local television stations and, at 5:00am, we make the call to close, delay, or do nothing. Sounds like a pretty sound system, right? Well, take the last snowstorm, for example. Our system determined that all signs pointed to a 2-hour delay in starting and we reported it to all the faculty and staff. The weather progressed as predicted until about an hour before the new start time. Angry rogue clouds roared down along the Palmer Divide and off the foothills, producing violent storms, effectively shutting down I-25 North and South (for the first time in the interstate's history), and trapping folks on the road. We got through that day reasonably well, I think, but I walked around all that day with the phrase echoing in my head, "Only fools and newcomers predict the weather," and truthfully I sure felt like both. Yep, calling a snow day is one of the hardest jobs there is.
Rocky Vista University Utah Campus
• Construction on the RVU Utah campus began in March and is set to complete in the summer of next year. There will be a webcam and images posted on the school's website soon, so everyone can follow the progress. • In April, Julie Rosenthal, Executive Director of Admissions and Marketing, presented to the Pre-Med Club at Utah Valley University in Orem.
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DIVERSITY WEEK
RVU recently hosted its second annual Diversity Week. This event was created by the Diversity Committee—a group of students who recognized the need for more conversation and awareness of the diversity found in the health care field, with the goal of developing into more open and unbiased physicians. To kick off the week, students and faculty gathered for a viewing of TED Talks clips that highlighted misconceptions on culture and stereotypes (such as the flawed idea that where someone is from is a defining factor of who they are as a person). Students welcomed guest speakers, Dr. Tamaan Osbourne-Roberts, who discussed his personal experiences as a black physician, and Dr. Anna Wegleitner, who talked about health care issues specific to the transgender population. In addition to guest speakers, there were two discussion panels in which students and faculty talked about diversity in health care and its challenges. For example, female students shared a common misconception: when telling people that they were in medical school, it was assumed they were studying nursing—an assumption their male counterparts had never experienced. Member of the Diversity Committee, Sohayla Rostami, OMS-II, stated, “[This week was] an opportunity for students and staff to interact and connect with each other through their personal experiences.” The speakers and discussion panels took a hard look at unconscious biases, delving into how assumptions are made (and can affect a patient’s care) and the way questions are asked (for example, asking “Where are you local?” rather than “Where are you from?” as the combination of different locations and experiences creates a broader, more accurate culture than just a hometown). “Having a week focused on diversity is great and is helpful to be in that mindset of thinking about diversity topics,” said Colby Pearson, OMS-II, a key organizer of the event. “[But it’s important] to keep the momentum going…finding ways to discuss diversity all year.”
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RVUCOM Students Sweep the Globe with Rotations and Missions From medical outreach trips to international clinical rotations, RVU medical students have been busy learning abroad and helping others these past months. To begin the year, RVU partnered with Work the World, an organization that coordinates international clinical rotations for healthcare students: the first rotation was in the Philippines, where students were stationed at the Western Visayas Medical Center in Iloilo; the second rotation was in Sri Lanka at the Kandy General Teaching Hospital, a hospital with over 2,500 beds and over 5,000 patients a day. RVU had six students experiencing international clinical rotations broken down as follows: one student on a general surgery rotation, one student in obstetrics/gynecology rotation, two students in pediatrics, and two in general medicine. During both of these rotations, students saw diseases that they will not likely ever see in the United States, got exposure to other cultures, and at a hospital treating 5,000 patients a day, treated a lot of patients. Moriah Eberhard, OMS-III, said, "I was able to see and have more hands-on experience than a first-year resident might in some cases (such as first-assisting on a c-section for breech presentation). Not all experiences were quite as exciting, though: "Women do not receive anesthesia for vaginal deliveries, even when they have an episiotomy," explained SD Eberhard. "But it is culturally shameful to cry out...while giving birth, so this pain is endured in silence. It was heartbreaking...I was awed and inspired by the powerful women I assisted." RVU and Hands for Health coordinated two additional ventures for students to either earn clinical rotation hours or gain experience from medical outreach. The first trip was to Ecuador, where RVU students, faculty, and volunteers partnered with the Ecuador Red Cross to provide healthcare to several different communities located near Tena, Ecuador (approximately 5 hours from the capital city of Quito). The entire team set up three tents for seeing patients as well as an ultrasound for additional diagnosing. During their visit they saw between 100-150 patients a day for four working days – definitely making an impact on the communities they served, while giving students some valuable hands-on experi-
ence. Amanda Wolf, OMS-I, said, "I learned so much about "real world" medicine (as opposed to what we learn for academic testing purposes), about clinical medicine, different pathologies, and so much about Ecuador and [its] culture." For the trip to Guatemala, there were 32 volunteers (consisting of RVU students, faculty, and other health care professionals). The group
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Experiences in Ecuador (from right to left): • Michelle Levine, OMS-I, with a patient. • Jackie Anderson, OMS-IV; Megan Wendlandt, OMS-IV. • Elizabeth Linxwiler, OMS-I; Megan Wendlandt, OMS-IV; and Monica Multani, OMS-IV; with a member of the Ecuador Red Cross. • Andrea Thomas, OMS-I. • Students take a boat ride.
Jewelry Fundraiser for Reading Glasses Hands for Health, Inc., a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to providing healthcare access and medical supplies to people living in the developing world, recently held a beaded jewelry and lanyards fundraiser, to purchase reading glasses for the next global medical outreach trip. Camille Bentley, DO, MPH, FACOFP, Director of the Global Honors Track and Global Rotations and President of the Hands for Health organization, said that they typically give out about 100 reading glasses on their trips to Guatemala. The reading glasses help improve the lives of the older people there as it makes it easier for them to continue their handicrafts. The fundraiser raised around $60, which will enable Hands for Health to purchase 18 reading glasses to be fitted on patients during their next medical outreach trip.
Work the World rotation in Sri Lanka
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Mural in Phillipines
Anna Austin, OMS-III, in Guatemala
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RVUCOM Students Sweep the Globe, continued traveled to several locations within the country: San Antonio Palopó, Chuabaj , Sololà, and San José Chacayà. They provided primary care to almost 600 people living in rural villages and specialized care (dental services, osteopathic manipulative medicine, and ultrasound diagnosis) to another 100 patients. They also provided personal hygiene items such as soap, shampoo, pain medicine, and vitamins. For fun, the group visited Mayan ruins and some even climbed a volcano! RVU partnered with CGC Health, giving students an opportunity to go to Arahuante, Peru. During this trip, 625 people were served over a period of 3 days. For Katharine Loob, OMS-II, the most beneficial parts of the trip were the extensive clinical experience, as well as the relationships she created with her fellow travelers. CGH Health also does a great job of focusing on sustainable, long-term healthcare: CGC Health Outreach in Peru "In addition to providing free medical care," continued SD Loob, "we delivered nightly education classes about common diseases and health care issues for that region, and all families who participated received a water filtration system. The water filters last for ten years! We were only in Arahuante for one week, but with the emphasis on education, and by providing access to clean water, the community will benefit for much longer." Photos contributed by SD Anthony, SD Austin, SD Eberhard, and SD Loob.
SD Eberhard in a surgery in Sri Lanka
The World Thanks Dr. Bentley x 50 RVU’s recent medical outreach and clinical rotation trip to Antiqua, Guatemala, marked the 50th outreach trip coordinated and led by Camille Bentley, DO, MPH, FACOFP, Director of Global Honor Track and Global Rotations. For 50 trips, she has directed, facilitated and provided primary healthcare with medical students, healthcare providers and other community volunteers from the US to people living in various countries in Asia, Africa, Central and South America. During the trip to Guatemala, students and community volunteers congratulated Dr. Bentley with a cake that said, "The World Thanks You x 50." It is estimated that over 35,000 people have been served under her direction.
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Faculty and Staff Honored at Service Appreciation Dinner At the annual Service Appreciation Dinner, faculty and staff who had been promoted in the previous year or who had reached five years of service with RVU were honored. The delicious dinner was held at Maggianos in February, with each employee accompanied by his or her manager, as well as a guest. Later, the managers presented the awards amidst a round of applause. Honored for their contributions and service were the following employees:
Promotions in Rank • • • • •
Nicole Michels, PhD, Associate Professor Laura Mohr, PhD, Associate Professor Jill Pitcher, DO, Associate Professor Kenneth Ramey, DO, Associate Professor Brian Schwartz, MLIS, Associate Professor
Five Years of Service • Melissa Blomquist • Qamrul Choudhury, PhD • Joel Dickerman, DO • Terry Dunn, MD • Susan Einarsen • Nadine Hairston • Amber Heck, PhD
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Cindy Johnson Terri McNair Nicole Michels, PhD Jennifer Montemayor, PhD • Dmitriy Pales, DO • Kenneth Ramey, DO • Bonnie Robinson
Promotions • • • • • • • • • • • • •
Jo Brogus, Senior CME Coordinator Heather Ferrill, DO, Chair of Department of OMM/OPP Jenifer Fisher, MLIS, Reference Librarian Katy Hunsberger, Associate Director of Admissions Francine Lata, Director of Student Financial Services Dennis Meidal, Facilities and Grounds Technician Nicole Michels, PhD, Chair of Department of Medical Humanities David Mohlman, DO, Director of Medical Education Jennifer Montemayor, PhD, Phase Director for Year 2 Kathryn Pate, PhD, Director of Research Bonnie Robinson, Head Cataloguer Brian Schwartz, MLIS, Director of Library Services, Director of Medical Informatics Tina Underwood, MAEd, Director of Clinical Assessment and Simulation
Congratulations and thank you for your service!
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RVU Shifts its Focus for Mental Health Week Last fall, the SGA announced they would be forming a Student Wellness Committee and would be holding a special event in the spring. The purpose of both the committee and the event was to provide mental health awareness by providing student doctors with the tools to enhance, manage, and support their own mental health, as well as to identify additional issues they may face as physicians. In March, the first Mental Health Awareness Week commenced, with several guest speakers, exercise classes, and discussion groups. With different events planned every day of the week, students were encouraged to open their minds, to learn techniques for coping with stress and pressure, and to, well, relax. Kicking off the week was an after-hours social for all RVUers. This provided an opportunity for students to meet and engage with faculty and staff they might not otherwise encounter (and vice versa). Among the speakers that presented during the week were: Kristin van Konynenburg, MD, who discussed balancing work and life as a physician; Doris Gundersen, MD, who delved into the cycle physicians commonly fall into where they focus more on the care of patients than on themselves; and Scott Humpreys, MD, who focused on the increasing trend of substance abuse among physicians. For those students who wanted a more physical way to relieve stress, several meditation and exercise classes were offered. Bobby Nieland, OMS-II, and Alisa Kim, OMS-I, led groups in guided meditation, breathing, and relaxation sessions; Taylor Reisner, OMS-I, and Emily Tchen-Tomasino, OMS-I, held exercise and yoga classes. For some downtime, a space was designated as the "Tranquility Room," in which students could meditate, nap, or just take some quiet time for themselves. It will be decided, based on student feedback, as to whether the Tranquility Room will remain a permanent fixture on campus.
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Multitasking in the Learning Environment by Judy Thorton, MA, Director of Educational Support
Because access to all kinds of technology is so easy, students multitask. They are convinced they can do two or three things at the same time without compromising the quality of what they produce. According to research, only 5% of us can multitask effectively. Even though students think they are effective learners while multitasking, studies are showing that it has negative effects in the learning environment. • Texting during lectures: students who did not text and had their phones turned off during lecture scored significantly higher on the quiz following the lecture. • “Distractive Windows” (games, pictures, emails, instant messaging, web surfing): studies show students have distractive windows open 42% of class time. Students who use distractive windows during lectures had significantly lower scores on quizzes, final exams, and final course averages. • Instant messaging while reading: students took 22–59% longer to read a passage if they used instant messaging while reading. • Using a laptop for things other than note-taking during lectures: students showed less ability to pay close attention to the lecture, found the lectures more confusing, and lacked understanding of the lecture material when compared with students who only used their laptops for note-taking and lecture-directed use. Study also showed that the more laptops were used for non-course related material, the lower the student’s class performance. By 2020, there will be 50 billion connected devices and individuals will possess between 5 to 10 devices each. As technology adds more devices, multitasking is likely to increase in all areas of our lives. Students need to recognize how tethered they are to technology and must learn to use electronic devices responsively. Before you check your email, instant message, or decide to do some web surfing during lecture, think about your ability to multitask.
Prescription Medication Abuse
by Terence Brennan, PhD, Associate Director of Compliance and Quality Assurance Studies consistently show that college students think prescription medications are a safer alternative to illicit street drugs like cocaine or heroin. However, when misused or taken without a doctor’s prescription, these drugs can be just as harmful as illegal street drugs. Research shows that students who take prescription drugs for non-medical reasons are at least five times more likely to develop a drug abuse problem than those who don’t. If you are struggling with a drug or alcohol problem, please contact the Colorado Physician Health Program (CPHP) at (303) 860-0122. They are located at 899 Logan St., Suite 410, Denver, CO 80203. The mission of CPHP is to promote the health and well-being of physicians and physician assistants through evaluation, treatment referral, support, education and research.
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Welcome Our New RVUCOM Fellows!
Left to right: Emily Tchen-Tomasino (Anatomy); Katherine Rose (OPP); Ryan Masterson (OPP); Heather Eschbach (OPP); Lauren Dorsey-Spitz (OPP); Paulina Altschuler (Anatomy)
Students Learn Avalanche Training at Wolf Creek RVU students traveled to Wolf Creek Ski Area in late February for avalanche training. They underwent training from the Flight for Life helicopter crew on the capabilities and role of the helicopter and crew, as well as the duties and missions of the Ski Patrol (including the avalanche rescue dogs). Students participated in an avalanche rescue simulation using the dogs, helicopters, and on-the-ground training. As a special treat, the students received mentoring and instruction from two RVU graduates—Todd McGrath, DO '12, and Corinne Reed, DO '14. Students learned to assess patient injuries on the ground and how to perform a secondary assessment once the patient was transported to a safe location for treatment. Rural track students presented their research into altitude-related illness and hypothermia. All in all, the training was excellent and students are eager to return to Wolf Creek Ski Area for more training in the future.
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RVUCOM Hosts 6th Annual Hospital Day The RVUCOM Office of Clinical Affairs hosted its sixth annual Hospital Day on March 11th with representatives from 15 residency programs nationwide. The highlight of this year’s event included two RVUCOM alumni from the inaugural class: Danielle Wurtz, DO ’12, represented the Wesley Family Medicine Program in Wichita, Kansas, and Elizabeth (Tang-Polk) Sauvage, DO ’12, represented the Verde Valley Medical Center in Cottonwood, Arizona. It was a joy for faculty, staff, and students to talk with and see the successes of our alumni. Third-year medical students talked with reps, gathering information about residency programs. Caitlin Miller, OMS-III, remarked, "I found this event extremely helpful and informative. It was a great opportunity to talk with family medicine residency program directors along with residents from all over Colorado and neighboring states. In addition, there were many programs with a large rural emphasis, which I think is extremely important in a state such as Colorado." The event concluded with a presentation by the Colorado Family Medicine Residency Program, giving students an additional opportunity to learn about the residency program and to have their questions answered.
Preceptor Spotlight: Dr. Andrew Tucker Andrew Tucker, MD, is a preceptor at Southeast Denver Pediatrics and has practiced for nearly 30 years. He completed his medical degree at University of Colorado and his residency at St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. As a pediatric physician, he has heaps of funny stories about his patients, such as when a 6-year-old was brought to the emergency room because of bad breath. "Turns out, he had stuck a grapefruit seed up his nose weeks earlier. When I removed it, it sounded like a champagne cork coming out of the bottle." Sometimes, though, the memories are more poignant: "[While examining a patient] I heard a very quiet murmur. He was about to be discharged but I decided to get an Echo. He had a hypoplastic left heart syndrome and was transplanted four weeks later. Now, he is 20 years old and doing very well, but he would have passed away at home, had I not been fortunate enough to recognize this." "The unique opportunity afforded to us as physicians," he says, "is that, over time, there will be many instances where we will impact another life in substantial ways. If you can, write down those stories [of rewarding or interesting patients]." For students going on rotation, he has more advice: be professional and respectful, do your research (such as having knowledge of common procedures for the field in which you'll be studying), and be open to the experience. "Every specialty can enhance your skill [regardless of the field you choose]." In his spare time, Dr. Tucker likes to ski, hike, play softball, do high intensity training at the gym, and spend time with his grown children. Having grown up in Colorado, he says he's spoiled by the weather: "I have been snow skiing one day and water skiing the next." Aside from great weather, Colorado also has great people: "[They] are more relaxed and friendly than most. This makes practicing medicine here a joy; they don't have unrealistic expectations and understand your role in their wellbeing."
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Student Government Association (SGA) Officers President: Brandon Teska
Treasurer: Aaron Jones
Vice President of Operations: Ryan Thompson Curriculum Representative: Benjamin Erlich Vice President of Student Welfare: Tiffany Robak Secretary: Claire Clifton
Honor Code President: Alexa Tyler Officer of Communications: Gurpreet Kaur
I am a California state champion in frisbee, I have had a shrimp clean my teeth under water, I am an Eagle Scout, and I served a church mission in Brazil for two years. ~ Ryan Thompson "I got to meet President Obama...three times!" ~ Claire Clifton
"I love skiing, traveling, cooking, and woodworking." ~ Brandon Teska
"I like to build things and work around our house in Denver. This summer, I want to properly landscape our yard and build a pergola " ~ Benjamin Erlich
"When I was 5 years old, I was at a PGA golf tournament...standing in the front row on the tee box. Tiger Woods was a few feet in front of me. As he prepared to hit the ball, my tooth fell out and I started bleeding! My dad had educated me on the rules of golf so I stayed quiet while he hit his shot. The moment the crowd started cheering, I blubbered to my dad. The excitement of losing my tooth was lost in his greater excitement of my understanding of the rules and courtesies of golf at 5 years old!" ~ Alexa Tyler
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"[I like to] hang out with my wife—we just got married on April 2, 2016!" ~ Kyle Phipps "I [like to] work out, ski, rock climb, and watch my TV shows. Also, I was a diver in college." ~ Tiffany Robak
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Class of 2019 Officers President: Kyle Phipps Vice President: Christina Velasco Secretary: Charles Haverty Treasurer: Vincent Giron Curriculum Representative: Briana Tillman Historian: Danyelle Beltz
Honor Code Committee Representatives: Jordan Heser Eugene Masters Jeffrey Schenck Class Tutor Representative: Nicholas Sloan
"I like to work out, do yoga, and go see movies." ~ Jordan Heser "Colorado's outdoor experiences can't be beat: the hiking, camping, and snowboarding are second to none." ~ Charles Haverty
"I absolutely love cheese and alpacas!" ~ Christina Velasco
"I have a total of 42 months of Army combat deployment experience in Iraq." ~ Jeffrey Schenck
"I have been punched by a monkey and I'm [teaching] myself to juggle!" ~ Danyelle Beltz
"I ate a guinea pig in Peru, went to a German school for four years, and have competed in ballroom dancing." ~ Briana Tillman
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"I speak Portugese, grew up in Colorado, jumped out of airplanes when I was in the Colorado National Guard, and I love to eat." ~ Nick Sloan
"I got bit by a shark when I was 10 years old. And I'm unbelievably good at karaoke and VERY entertaining!" ~ Vincent Giron
"I was born in Moldova and I speak Russian. Photography is a hobby in my occasional free time. I also make and manage small websites for fun on the side." ~ Eugene Masters
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RVU Students Win Third Place in National Ultrasound Competition In March, fourth-year students Brian Russ, Abigail DekleRuss, and Lane Thaut competed in the SonoSlam competition in New York City, hosted by the American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine. The competition drew ultrasound students from all over the country, including such Ivy League medical schools as Yale University and University of Pennsylvania. Among the nearly 20 other colleges, RVU was the only osteopathic school represented. The RVU students, all members of the Ultrasound Student Interest Group (USIG), took third place in the competition. RVU continues to incorporate ultrasound technology into its curriculum beginning in the first year and continuing on through graduation. Ultrasound has been shown to reduce differential diagnosis time in emergency situations, saving lives when seconds can mean life or death. Ultrasound technology continues to prove a valuable resource for physicians. The USIG club at RVU partners with the University of Colorado School of Medicine club to sponsor fun, educational, interactive events aimed at helping students become more familiar and comfortable with ultrasound equipment.
RVUCOM Fellows Present (and Hunt!) at AAO's Convocation OPP Fellows Drew Rose, Elsie Haynes, and Sarah Ketter Jones—all fifth-year students—presented a research poster at the American Academy of Osteopathy's 2016 Convocation entitled, "Demographic Analysis of an Osteopathic Manual Manipulation Teaching Clinic." Their research sought to find out how their experience at the OPP Fellows’ Clinic compares to the experiences they will have in their own clinic. Their findings revealed areas they can improve on, mainly pediatrics. Also, SD Haynes presented her own poster titled "Post-Operative Osteopathic Manipulation in Acute Cholecystitis: A Case of Visceral-Somatic and Somatic-Visceral Reactions," which explored the effects of osteopathic manual manipulation on a post-operative patient with acute Cholecystitis and yielded significant improvement in the patient’s symptoms. Fellows—Sarah Housman, OMS-II, Brianna Anthony, OMS-III, and SD Jones Ketter—participated in a fun scavenger hunt hosted by the National Undergraduate Fellows Association. SD Jones Ketter said, "We made some great new friends and represented RVU well!"
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Volunteer Efforts • RVU students volunteered at the Community Health Fair in Baggs, Wyoming, sponsored by Little Snake River Valley School. Students provided height, weight, and BMI stats; ultrasound of aorta width in patients with hypertension; vision and hearing tests; and tested muscle strength, posture, flexibility, and balance. The fair’s goal is to not only raise awareness for health issues, but to also provide affordable health care options to the community. • Third-year students Anna Austin, Grace Borton, Ellen Bradley, Aileen Gesner, Andrea Parsons, Andrew Vaughan (with the guidance of trauma/general surgeon Tiffany Willard, MD) volunteered at a Discovery Canyon Elementary School in Colorado Springs. They taught fifth grade students the basics of basic life support and surgery skills. They also organized training that allowed the students to run through a scenario from first response to the operating room. • Students volunteered at DOCARE International, which is a medical outreach program comprised primarily of physicians whose focus is providing healthcare to isolated and indigenous peoples. They work with Project C.U.R.E., which provides medical supplies. • While most of us stayed home during the recent blizzard, some students were conducting sports physicals for Douglas County Schools instead, at an event coordinated by Class of 2018. Sarah Edgerton, OMS-II, said, "The snow didn't keep patients from stopping in to get their sports physicals done for their fall sports!"
Discovery Canyon Elementary School
Sports physicals volunteers
Sports physicals volunteers
• RVU's Internal Medicine Club hosted a volunteer event at Habitat for Humanity, building a home for a family in need. Second-year students Paulina Altshuler, Brian Birks, Manuel Lewis, and Elise McPherson installed metal drywall backers, exterior trim and siding, as well as painted the home. • First-year students Trenton Argyle, Mallory Krueger, Spencer Hill, and Tate Van Winkle, members of RCC/RVU, partnered with Parker Task Force to collect food, donations, and gift cards for those in need. They collected over 75 boxes of food, $674 in cash, and $215 in gift cards.
Baggs health fair
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Project C.U.R.E./DOCARE volunteers
Parker Task Force volunteers
Habitat for Humanity
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Campus Tidbits Jeffrey Schenck, OMS-I, and his wife, Jennifer, welcomed a baby girl. Lilliana Grace was born on March 5th at Evans Army Community Hospital, weighing 6 pounds 3 ounces. (Fun fact: RVU student Jennifer Wygant, OMS-III, was on her rotation and assisted with the delivery!)
The Colorado Medical Society (CMS) chapter at RVU hosted guest speaker Dr. Jeremy Lazarus, a local psychiatrist and former AMA President, who spoke about the field of psychiatry, what it takes to get a residency, and how a day in the life of a psychiatrist looks.
Aurora LIGHTS Health Sciences Pathway, a program for students in high school who are interested in pursuing careers in the health sciences, visited RVU. The students participated in various activities and labs, including a presentation about osteopathic medicine, a discussion about the human body in the Anatomy Lab, and a demonstration in the ultrasound lab.
RVU's Internal Medicine Club welcomed Dr. Samuel Snyder, head of the Internal Medicine residency program at Mt. Sinai Hospital and Chair of the IM department at Nova Southeastern University, who presented, "How to Succeed on Rotations to Land the Residency of Your Dreams."
Retraction: In the article titled, "RVUCOM Expands into Southern Utah with Second Location" (Vista View February 2016 issue), Dr. David Park was incorrectly listed as being "an AOA/ACGME dual board certified osteopathic family physician." He is board certified through American Osteopathic Board of Family Physicians (AOBFP) and American Board of Family Medicine (ABFM).
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Campus Tidbits RVU’s chapter of Christian Medical and Dental Association (CMDA) brought in guest speaker Nicholas Comninellis, MD, MPH, DIM&PH, President of the Institute for International Medicine, who presented, "From Inspiration to Mobilization" about going from just feeling inspired to taking action.
The Wilderness Medicine Special Interest Group (WMSIG) hosted speaker Dr. Jay Lemery, "wilderness guru and aspiring astronaut," to discuss the unique environment of outer space and how this affects human health during space travel. The Humanities Department welcomed Kay and Ron Hayes to speak to students about Myotonic Dystrophy (DM), a disease with no cure and very few treatments, as well as the Myotonic Dystrophy Foundation. The Foundation exists to support those affected by DM and includes postdoctoral fellowships and research grants for the study (and hopefully eventual cure) for DM. Mr. Haynes shared his personal journey and experience with DM, beginning as a prominent football and baseball star in high school.
TOUCH awards (Translating Osteopathic Understanding into Community Health) have been given out for the 20152016 school year. • The Platinum TOUCH award (given to the student who completed the most hours of service) recipient is: Yenly Nguyen. • Gold TOUCH awards (100+ hours of service) recipients include: Jackson Bell, Sindi Dinko, Mark McCormick. • Silver TOUCH award (50+ hours of community service) recipients include: Paulina Altshuler, Brianna Anthony, Aubrey Arensdorf, Melissa Bauman, Laurie Bezjian, Cory Carroll, Katherine Corwin, Clayton Davis, Lauren Dorsey-Spitz, Danika Evans, Stephanie Franquemont, Kim Hammernik, Penelope Herder, Sarah Housman, Grace Kim, Mallory Krueger, Joey LaPorta, Rebekka Lee, Manuel Lewis, Elizabeth Linxwiler, Jessie McDaniel, Edward McDonald, Monica Mills, Kathryn Nelson, Binh Pham, Katie Rose, Clementine Stowe-Daniel, Jared Stucki, Briana Tillman, Nicole Tucker, Dino Vrakas, Jeff Wake, Patrick Wallace, Brad Wheeler, Amanda Wolf, Chantal Yousif, and Abby Zinn. Congratulations to all of you on your hard work and dedication to service!
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Achieving New Heights Highlighting the Accomplishments of Our Faculty, Staff and Physicians in Training
Anna Austin, OMS-III, won a research poster competition at the American Osteopathic Association Regional Osteopathic Medical Education (ROME) Conference. Her poster, "Salivary Biometrics Replaces Likert Scale in Understanding of Medical Education" found that salivary cortisol and amylase were useful markers in determining if an individual has physiologically adapted to induced stress. Laurie Bezijian, OMS-II, gave a presentation at the NextMed/MMVU22 conference in Los Angeles, entitled "The Cost-Effectiveness of Research." The goal of her research was to determine which objective tools provide the most accurate and cost-effective measures of stress habituation and optimal learning to enhance training. SD Bezijian and Patrick Wallace, OMS-II, were published by Student American Academy of Osteopathy (SAAO) in Still Point Publication. The article, titled, "OMT with a 'Twist,'" explored different techniques that a physician can utilize when their patient’s body structure is significantly different from their own, causing them to lack the strength to perform the maneuvers needed for treatment. Dr. Heather Ferrill and Dr. Adrienne Kania, Associate and Assistant Professors of OPP respectively, provided valuable insight for some of the most used treatments, including the Kirksville Crunch and Texas Twist.
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Tyler Gallo, OMS-II, was published in The American Journal of Medicine for his article entitled, "An Unusual Cause of Recurrent Diabetes Ketoacidosis in Type 1 Diabetes." The article presented case studies demonstrating the adverse side-effects some patients with Type 1 Diabetes experienced after consumption of marijuana-containing products. SD Gallo hopes to raise awareness regarding the effects of marijuana in patients with Type 1 Diabetes through his article. Kayla Lundeen, OMS-III, presented a poster at Colorado Society of Osteopathic Medicine's ROME Conference. Her poster, titled "When Prophylaxis Becomes the Culprit: Trimethoprim-Sulfamethoxazle Induced Pancytopenia in HIV/AIDS Patient," was a case report of a man with a past history of HIV/AIDS on Trimethoprim-Sulfamethoxazole of pneumocystis pneumonia who presented to the hospital with pancytopenia. The source of the pneumonia was found to be the antibiotic he was taking. This case exemplifies the importance of evaluating pharmaceutical side effects as the cause of pancytopenia in HIV/AIDS patients after more common causes have been ruled out. SD Lundeen's poster tied for second place! Bobby Nieland, OMS-II, was awarded an ACOFP scholarship. The scholarship is awarded to student leaders who have shown their dedication to family medicine and promotion of ACOFP. SD Nieland said, "I would like to thank Dr. [Jill] Pitcher and Dr. [Joseph] Stasio for all of their support with respect to both this scholarship and in everything they do at RVU to make our medical education excellent.
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Achieving New Heights Highlighting the Accomplishments of Our Faculty, Staff and Physicians in Training
They have each challenged me to grow and learn in many ways during the last two years, both inside the classroom and out. I appreciate you both so very much for your roles in my journey. Thank you." Joseph Stasio, DO, FACOFP, Chair of Primary Care Medicine and Professor of Family Medicine, was honored in San Juan, Puerto Rico by the ACOFP with the Osteopathic Family Physician of the Year award. Kara Stuhr, OMS-IV, was published in the journal Sleep for her research, "Sleep Restriction Enhances the Daily Rhythm of Circulating Levels of Endocannabinoid 2-Arachidonoylglycerol." The research studied the effects of eight hours versus four hours of sleep, as well as how this affects caloric intake and blood levels of endocannabinoids.
gery, Alexa Gingras, OMS-IV, Vijay Setty, OMS-III, and Vinay Setty, OMS-III, published research in an online publication, MedSim, in the article titled, “Understanding Team Training—Utilizing Objective Markers.” The article discusses the use of the cut suit and hyper realistic immersive scenarios to better prepare military students for providing care despite high-stress environments, as well as the studies that were conducted in order to test the results of this method. RVU students—Erin Chandler, OMS-III; Alexander Dunnum, OMS-II; Maya Kippen, OMS-II; Sohayla Rostami, OMS-II; Julia Tanguay, OMS-IV; and Andrea Vincent, OMS-II—attended American Medical Association's 2016 Medical Student Advocacy and Region Conference in Washington DC. During the conference, students met with the staff of senators and congressmen from Colorado about maintaining and even expanding funds for both the Loan Forgiveness Program for medical professionals and the Graduate Medical Education program, given the shortage of medical residency spots.
After AOA's graduate medical education inspection in February, the RMOPTI/Sky Ridge Medical Center—as a provider of GME—received a perfect score. The RMOPTI/ Sky Ridge Medical Center Institution Internal Medicine residency program which staffs residents at the RVU Health Center received a 131/133 score. The Rocky Vista Health Center portion of the inspection also received a perfect score! Anthony LaPorta, MD, FACS, Professor of Clinical Sur-
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Thomas N. Told, DO, FACOFP, Dean of RVUCOM,
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Achieving New Heights Highlighting the Accomplishments of Our Faculty, Staff and Physicians in Training
Monica Mills, OMS-II, Elle Schultz, OMS-II, and Joseph LaPorta, OMS-II, attended AACOM’s DO Day on the Hill in Washington DC to lobby for increased funding for graduate medical education and student loan debt within the osteopathic profession. They met with senators and representatives from Utah and Colorado.
Camille Bentley, DO, MPH, FACOFP, Professor of Family Medicine; Jeffrey Bacon, DO; Ellice Goldberg, DO, Adjunct Faculty; Bobby Nieland, OMS-II; Jill Pitcher, DO, Associate Professor of Family Medicine; Ken Ramey, DO, FACOFP, Associate Professor of OPP; Joseph Stasio, DO, FACOFP, Professor of Family Medicine; and Thomas N. Told, DO, Dean of RVUCOM represented the State of Colorado at the ACOFP Congress of Delegates. The delegation participated in ACOFP business, voting on issues such as allopathic physician membership, opioid use education for physicians, and ACOFP's policy position on cognitively impaired physicians.
Faculty presented at AACOM's annual conference: • Mara Hover, DO, Associate Dean for Curricular Affairs and Educational Development; Nicole Michels, PhD, Chair of Medical Humanities; Michael Martin, PhD, Associate Dean of Integrated Curriculum; and Brian Schwartz, MLIS, Director of Medical Informatics, presented "Translation of Piloting Educational Programs to a Longitudinal Core Curriculum." • Mr. Schwartz presented "Presentation to the Attending: Medical Information Literacy Skill Development for OMS-I." • Judy Thornton, MA, Director of Educational Support, presented "Individualizing Academic Support Using a Diagnostic Prescriptive Approach." • Dr. Michels and Mr. Schwartz presented "Development and Integration of Medical Humanities Curriculum." • Dr. Hover presented "Cradle to Grave: The ePortfolio as a Virtual CV from OMS-I to Practice." The Marketing Department won several awards at AACOM's Excellence in Communications competition: • First Place in the Best Submissions for Other Category award for the Sexual Assault Awareness Month campaign, organized by the Marketing and Security Departments; • Second Place for Best Website; • Third Place for Best Social Media. Additionally, Julie Rosenthal, MS, Executive Director of Admissions and Marketing, was elected to serve as vice chair of the AACOM's Marketing Advisory Council.
Congratulations, students, faculty, and staff on your accomplishments! 22
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Welcome to our New Faculty and Staff! Zeerak Haider, PhD, MS Director of Student Life Dr. Haider earned her Bachelor of Science, Master of Science, and PhD degrees in Health Education and Behavior from the University of Florida, College of Health and Human Performance. During her college career, Dr. Haider was active in student leadership including tutoring undergraduate students, mentoring students in their journey to medical and dental schools, and teaching students how to conduct research. She received the Graduate Student of the Year Award and the Presidential Service Award from the University of Florida for her excellent work and service. She moved to Colorado eight months ago and spotted RVU. In her own words, "It was love at first sight...my gut was telling me that RVU is the place for me." She is very excited to join the RVU family.
versity of Denver. Most recently, she worked as Scheduling Coordinator for the University of Denver libraries. When she heard of the vacancy at RVU, she jumped at the opportunity to support students, faculty, and staff in their pursuit of learning and scholarship. She is delighted to be here, as she’ll be able to build one-on-one relationships with folks all across the University, all while building and maintaining an outstanding library collection. Tina has a chef for a husband, and a dog and a cat as her adopted children. She loves to read, especially graphic novels, sci-fi and fantasy, and female-authored classics. In her spare time, you can find her outside, throwing balls for her dog, playing disc golf in the mountains, or camping by the Colorado River. Welcome, Tina! Kyle LaValley, MBA OPTI Administrator
Dr. Haider and her husband, Gohar, "continue to fall deeper in love with each other and with Denver" by exploring vegetarian restaurants, furniture shopping, and decorating their beautiful new home. They are also excited to add a new member to their family—a kitten—in the near future. During her free time, Dr. Haider enjoys reading anything by Malcolm Gladwell, learning to paint with Bob Ross, and expanding her considerable skills in makeup artistry from beauty gurus on YouTube. She is also a self-proclaimed handbag aficionado.
Kyle hails from Colorado Springs, Colorado. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration and a Master of Business Administration degree from Colorado State University - Pueblo. He began his career in graduate medical education at Parkview Medical Center as the Internal Medicine Residency Program Coordinator and, later, the Administrative Director of Medical Education.
Welcome, Dr. Haider!
After working with Rocky Mountain OPTI, Kyle was already familiar with RVU and wanted "to be a part of the great things going on here." He says, "When the opportunity presented itself, I knew it was a great fit for my experience. [Also,] there are a lot of friendly people around here and I'm glad to be part of the team."
Tina Hefty, MLIS Collection Development Librarian Tina is from Schaumburg, Illinois, although she spent her childhood all across the Great Lakes region. She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in International Affairs from the University of Colorado at Boulder. She experimented with nonprofit development, grant writing, and medical billing. Realizing her true passion was for library science, she earned a Master of Library and Information Science degree from the Uni-
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Kyle is an "avid outdoorsman" who is in the mountains hiking, biking, and camping any chance he can get. "When I’m not enjoying what Colorado has to offer outdoors," he concludes, "I enjoy cooking, eating, watching documentaries/movies, eating, reading, eating, and eating." Welcome, Kyle!
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Welcome to our New Faculty and Staff! Debra Nickell, PhD Founding Program Director - Physician Assistant Studies Dr. Nickell is originally from Lexington, Kentucky, although she hails from a military family who moved frequently. She has a Bachelor’s degree in Agriculture and a degree in Physician Assistant Studies from the University of Dallas, as well as a PhD in Health Communications from the University of Kentucky (UK). She has worked in clinical research for pharmaceutical companies and in hospital administration before becoming a clinically practicing physician assistant. Subsequently, she served as the executive director under a grant-funded program, marketing evidence-based pharmacotherapeutics to physicians. She then joined the faculty of UK's PA program and, later, as the program director at the Red Rocks Community College's PA program—the first community college in the United States to offer its own master’s degree. Dr. Nickell has had her eye on RVU for quite some time and is excited to join the RVU family. She says, "[Building the PA program] is like building your dream house starting from blueprints." With four active grandchildren, Dr. Nickell is quite busy outside of work. She also participates in "extreme gardening" which involves a good deal of landscaping. She likes
to leave pergolas, flagstone patios, and vegetables wherever she goes. She also teaches "bourbon school" and encourages anyone to ask her about it for more information. Welcome, Dr. Nickell! Joseph Richard Library Clerk Joseph comes to RVU from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He completed his Bachelor of Arts Degree in History at Indiana University of Pennsylvania and is a Master of Arts candidate in Library and Information Science at the University of Denver. Joseph has experience as a Program Administrator at Driscoll Student Center and as a Circulations Clerk at Anderson Academic Commons, both at University of Denver. Joseph is interested in creating an inclusive library that provides access to a variety of different materials, including expansive career development programs, diverse and representative collections, as well as providing innovative classes in library instruction. When he is not at school, Joseph enjoys watching Netflix, reading about libraries and library related movements, and living life to its fullest. Welcome, Joseph!
Promotions and Appointments
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Tina Underwood, MAEd, has been promoted to Director of the Clinical Assessment and Simulation Department. She will now oversee the coordination, development, and implementation of clinical learning experiences that utilize standardized patients and simulation. Tina has worked at RVU for around six years.
Anne Trawick, DO, has been promoted from adjunct faculty to Assistant Professor in the Primary Care Medicine department. She has been working for RVU since 2013, helping first- and second-year students with labs. Dr. Trawick has been working in private practice as a family physician for 20 years.
Congratulations, Tina!
Congratulations, Dr. Trawick!
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From the Rocky Vista University Alumni Association
VU
A LU M N I A SSO C I AT ION
Dear Alumni, We are nearing the end of the academic year, which means a lot of new and exciting things for the RVU Alumni Association. First, we are welcoming our fifth graduating class into the Association. We have a pre-graduation meeting on May 19th at 10:30am—I hope all the future alum are able to attend! I also look forward to greeting our new alumni into the Association at Commencement on May 21st. Next, our alumni will continue to excel within their residency programs: progressing in their programs to junior, senior, and chief residents. Finally, we look forward to welcoming our first batch of RVUCOM gynecologists, anesthesiologists, and pathologists and continue to produce more amazing board certified family practitioners, internal medicine physicians, pediatricians, and ER physicians. If you haven’t already become a member of the Association, it is important that you do so. This is your continued connection and networking opportunity with the University and your fellow colleagues. Although still in early development of the organization, we try to make sure your thoughts are heard and your needs are met! While you are in residency, the cost is $25 per year, but you can pay the dues in full, if you would prefer ($75 for the first 3 years of residency or $1,000 to become a lifetime member). By being a member of the Association, you will have access to networking opportunities that you wouldn't have otherwise, you will be able to reconnect with familiar faces and faculty at conferences, and you will also play an important role in the lives of current and future RVUCOM students. As this is my last Vista View letter, I want to thank each and every one of you for allowing me to serve in this position and to be your voice. I want to specifically thank Julie Rosenthal, Hannah Golesh, and the Alumni Board for their support. I know the Association will continue to do great things under the leadership of AJ Ryan, DO '14, who will begin his term in June. Elections for the new Board will be held in late May/early June. If you have an interest in serving on the Board, please contact Julie Rosenthal at jrosenthal@rvu.edu for more information. If you have any questions, concerns, or exciting updates, please let us know! I wish you all success in the future. I know you will continue to make RVUCOM proud! Sincerely,
Heather Katz, DO '12 Alumni Association President Alumni recently gathered together for a dinner with faculty at the American Academy of Osteopathy's 2016 Convocation in Orlando, Florida. The dinner was sponsored by RVU Alumni Association. Pictured at right are (back row, l-r): Robert Petro, DO '14; Nathan Nakken, DO '14; Adrienne Kania, DO, Assistant Professor of OPP; (front row, l-r): Noel Pense, DO '13; Daniel Kupersmit, DO '14; Josh Garfein, DO '13. Also present at the dinner were Dana Anglund, DO, Assistant Professor of OPP, Heather Ferrill, DO, Chair and Associate Professor of OPP, and several current RVU students.
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From the Rocky Vista University Alumni Association
V U A LU M N I
A SSO C I AT ION
congratulations to all of our alumni on their achievements! Engagements, Marriages, and Births Cassidy Graham, DO '12, married Kylee Loutas in February. He recently graduated from University of Wyoming's Family Medicine Residency program in Casper. They are moving to Oklahoma City, where he will serve as a flight surgeon at Tinker Air Force Base. Andrew Oliver, DO '13, is engaged to Francesca Lanata. He is currently in an Internal Medicine residency at Swedish Covenant Hospital in Chicago, Illinois.
Rene Hulet Powell, DO '13, and her husband, Chris, welcomed twin daughters, Conley and Martha, in November. They live in Brandon, Mississippi, where she is a CA-2 in University of Mississippi Medical Center's anesthesiology residency program.
Job Acceptances, Fellowships, and Other Accomplishments George (Hank) Allen, DO '13, was selected as Chief Resident at his anesthesiology residency program at George Washington University Hospital in Virginia.
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Jesse Casaubon, DO '13, was chosen as Resident of the Month for February at his surgery residency. He is completing his residency at Wyckoff Heights Medical Center in Brooklyn, New York.
Captain Matthew Puderbaugh, DO '12, has been named President-elect of the Association of Military Osteopathic Physicians and Surgeons (AMOPS). Also, he presented at the AMOPS annual meeting in Philadelphia on "OMM in the Field." He works as a general practitioner at Wright Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio. Lindsey Remme, DO '13, was selected for an oral presentation at the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine in New Orleans. Her presentation will be based on her abstract titled, "A Comparison of Satisfaction Scored for Patients Admitted vs Discharged from the Emergency Department." She is a PGY-3 emergency medicine resident at CHRISTUS Spohn - Texas A&M Health Science Center in Corpus Christi, Texas. Shea Stoops, DO '12, presented, "Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement Using Aortic Regurgitation." She will be graduating from her anesthesiology residency program at University of Kansas Medical Center this year.
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From the Rocky Vista University V U A Alumni Association Spotlight on Alumni: Jeremy Jie Casey and Annaliese Stone Casey LU M N I
A SSO C I AT ION
RVUCOM alumni Jeremy Jie Casey, DO '15, and Annaliese Stone Casey, DO '15 are married and working together at family medicine residencies at Community Health of Central Washington in Ellensburg, Washington (the rural medicine site for the program). Of the residency, Dr. Casey says, "[My favorite part] is the noticeable process of growth that occurs—feeling one's self 'become' a competent physician. That and delivering babies!" For Dr. Stone Casey, she says her favorite part—but also the hardest part—is the variety of patient care situations. "I have to be able to switch from adult to pediatric medicine to obstetrics throughout the day, as well as managing the different styles of my attendings." Upon finishing, Dr. Casey plans to complete a fellowship in obstetrics and earn his Masters of Public Health degree. As for Dr. Stone Casey, she says, "Completing this residency is my first priority. [I have] many interests and have considered fellowships for additional training, but I'm not ready to commit to training yet. I'd like to practice a little while and find out what fits into my practice and what my community need is. For instance, I'd like to become certified in acupuncture and am very interested in [a] Complementary Medicine fellowship." Dr. Casey serves on several committees in the American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians (ACOFP), including co-chair of the Future Leaders Committee. He was named a Leader-in-Training for a brand new mentor training program (which he both proposed and created). He will be chair of the ACOFP Resident's Committee this year. With two full-time physicians in the house, it's safe to assume time together is a scarce commodity. Dr. Stone Casey explains how they make it work, nonetheless: "We use the same techniques as we did in school together: making or eating dinner together when we can, having dedicated date nights, enjoying our pets, improving our home, practicing our instruments, and going to an outdoor shooting range when the weather is nice." For future residents, the Caseys offer this advice: "Dedicate yourself to taking care of you," says Dr. Stone Casey, "as much as you take care of your patients and your studies. You cannot be your best if your attention is divided by exhaustion, hunger, and whatever else you're trying to do. Be honest about what you want, what you're capable of, and what you're willing to do." "Believe in yourself," says Dr. Casey. "It is easy to allow those moments of self-doubt to creep into your mind. Remember, your school and residency chose you because you have what it takes to be successful. Nobody expects you to know everything on day one or even any given day beyond. Admit you don't know and be prepared to listen because you are surrounded by people who will teach you every step of the way." In the previous Vista View issue, we announced a scholarship created by Dr. Casey and Dr. Stone Casey in honor of the former's mentor, Dr. Linda B. White. Unfortunately, Dr. White passed away on February 27th. Yet because of the Caseys' scholarship, her legacy will live on—in fact, the first recipient of the scholarship will be graduating this year!
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Upcoming CME Courses
May 2-6, 2016 "Introduction to Osteopathy in the Cranial Field" 40 hours of CME; Course Director: Adrienne Kania, DO, NMM-OMM Participants will learn the 5 tenets of the Primary Respiratory Mechanism, review cranial anatomy and the relationships between the bones of the cranium and the membranes within it, common strain patterns found in various injuries and how to treat them. Various RVUCOM and visiting faculty teach this intensive course with a teacher to student ratio of 1:4. Open to all DO and MD medical students, residents, and physicians. July 15-17, 2016 "OMM and the CNS" 20 hours of CME; Course Directors: Ted Huzij, DO, FACN, and R. Paul Lee, DO, FAAO, FCA Explore the osteopathic approach to evaluating and treating mood disorders, arachnoid hyperplasia, inflammation in the brain and more. Dr. Huzij is a board certified psychiatrist and OMM specialist. Dr. Lee has extensive experience in treating patients with cranial osteopathy. Open to DO and MD physicians who have previously taken a 40-hour Introductory Cranial Course (OCA or SCTF). Fall 2016 "Querying the Body Using PRM" and "Long Fascial Relationships" 24 hours of CME; Course Directors: R. Paul Lee, DO, FAAO, FCA In this course, designed for practitioners trained in sensing primary respiration, Dr. Lee will detail how one may utilize primary respiration to "ask the bod" where somatic dysfunction exists and which has priority? What treatments are indicated? What foods, supplements, medications may be beneficial/harmful? He will examine long fascial relationships in the body, and demonstrate treatment techniques, which utilize these relationships for fast, effective and unifying treatment. He will also detail various ways to treat different levels of shock in the energy field and nervous system. Open to DO and MD physicians who have previously taken a 40-hour Introductory Cranial Course (OCA or SCTF). Further information for all of these courses can be found at: http://rockymountainaao.wix.com/rockymtnaao or contact Adrienne Kania, DO, NMM-OMM, at akania@rvu.edu.
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