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December 2015 Newsletter
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SGA Spotlights Student Wellness and Other Initiatives
RVUCOM Student Completes Fellowship in Ghana
Faculty and Staff Celebrate the Holidays
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President's Message RVU—The Disruptive Model for Healthcare Education in the 21st Century by Clinton E. Adams, DO, FACHE, President and CEO
The holidays and the Nw Year are upon us. We are looking to the future as we review the past. It is the season of giving to our friends and family, not forgetting those who may be less fortunate. The New Year’s resolutions will soon be etched on our cell phones—is there an app for that? As I pause to reflect on my short tenure at RVU and the warm reception I have received, the inspirational leaders and the dedicated faculty and staff immediately come to mind. The opportunity to lead an institution that is at the forefront of medical education humbles me and reminds me of Harry Truman’s quote, "You can accomplish anything in life, provided that you don’t care who gets the credit." I will make that my New Year’s resolution. In support of my belief in and commitment to the RVU mission, I have provided my personal philosophy statement. This statement is designed to hold myself accountable to you—the faculty, staff, alumni, and students. It is a public statement to guide my behavior and declare my leadership beliefs as we navigate the uncharted waters ahead of us as learners, educators, and friends of the University. Please plan for a safe and joyous holiday season...and get that New Year’s resolution app for your phone! RVU is a family of dedicated healthcare professionals, educators, and support staff who come to work every day believing that they are a disruptive force in medical education preparing graduates to be leaders as they will practice in an uncertain future of rapidly changing societal expectations and medical technology: We do this because at the end of every healthcare encounter there is a patient, a family, a community in need of compassionate care from a trusted healer who displays insight, integrity, and excellence in all they do. Student Focus: We can only achieve our “WHY” by attracting students with outstanding personal and academic qualities and providing an environment to assimilate knowledge, behaviors, and skills necessary for the effective and compassionate practice of medicine in the 21st century. The faculty facilitates learners with their application, integration, and synthesis of basic science into the practice of medicine and research, fostering lifelong learning skills. Teamwork: Healthcare delivery is a complex process requiring a team approach. RVU’s faculty is in a unique position to empower the graduate by embedding the attributes of effective team membership. The Institute of Medicine’s (IOM) recommendation that healthcare be safe, effective, patient-centered, timely, efficient, and equitable underlines the need for close
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coordination and cooperation between healthcare professionals. To practice safe and effective medicine, a physician can no longer stand alone, but must be an integral part of a team and understand the responsibilities of leadership in today’s complex healthcare environment. Personal and Professional Goal Achievement: The faculty and staff must be excited about their calling and committed to updating their knowledge. We must ensure professional development, research opportunities, and personal growth as academic leaders. This is absolutely necessary if we are to gain momentum needed to be a world-class institution. We are what we believe we can become. Respect for Human Dignity: Medical professionals have worked hard to break patterns of social injustice and cultural barriers of prejudice and discrimination. But, we still have not won the battle. The “Golden Rule” has never been more important than it is today. I will not tolerate sexual harassment, hazing, violence, or discrimination of any type. The leadership of RVU must hold the welfare of our staff and students above self-interest, consistently making the correct ethical decision to “D.O. the Right Thing”, not the most expedient or the most popular decision. Professionalism, Personal Accountability, and Responsibility: A graduate embodying compassion, integrity, and excellence does not happen by accident. Americans are longing for organizations that stand firm on their values. The learning community’s emphasis on truth, honor, and moral courage establishes a benchmark for those who will be trusted with the lives and wellbeing of family members and citizens of the world. Learning Organizations: In the Fifth Discipline, Peter Senge speaks of a shift of mind, a place where people discover how they create their reality and how they can change it. Such a place requires many curriculum initiatives, small group learning cells, elimination of fear, and propagation of the sharing of individual knowledge, and even missteps (errors). We will use E-ffectiveness, E-fficiency, and E-learning to create a learning culture that will produce the Compassionate Graduate who exemplifies Integrity and Excellence in all they will be called upon to do.
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Dean's Message Osteopathic Recognition: We Hold the Future in Our Hands by Thomas N. Told, DO, FACOFP, dist., Dean and CAO
As 2015 draws to a close, tradition dictates that we take stock of the year passed, which has been particularly noteworthy. In July, the osteopathic profession took a historic step when the American Osteopathic Association and the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine occupied four seats on the board of the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME)—which determines the GME certification policy for all physicians, both osteopathic and allopathic. (Dr. Clinton Adams, RVU's President and CEO, occupied one of those important seats!) The number of seats for osteopathic representatives on this governing board is expected to rise to eight seats within a few years. Never before has the osteopathic physician had such a voice! This action not only codifies osteopathic medicine going forward, but also ensures that A.T. Still’s charge to "let your light so shine that the world would know you are an osteopathic physician" will be fulfilled. Ninety-eight percent of the medical specialties endorsed this action by granting reciprocity to osteopathic program directors, giving them equal power to manage the ACGME specialty programs, issuing this privilege without extra requirements. Pressure from the rest of organized medicine on the remaining 2% to change their rules remains strong and they will no doubt capitulate. Since that eventful day, the ACGME has established an Osteopathic Practice Committee that will formulate accreditation standards and guide the process of Osteopathic Recognition. What is this and how will it affect our future as osteopathic physicians? In short, Osteopathic Recognition is granted by the ACGME to programs or portions of programs that provide requisite training in Osteopathic Principles and Practice. This encompasses the four tenets of osteopathy we all know so well: • The body is a functional unit and the person is a unit of body, mind, and spirit. • Structure and function are reciprocally interrelated. • The body has the ability to self-regulate and heal itself. • It is the duty of the physician to understand these principles and facilitate rational treatments that will help the patient achieve health. These time-honored principles can be applied across all fields and specialties of medicine. They have been the heart and soul of our profession since its entry into the world of organized medicine. However, there is more to Osteopathic Recognition than manual techniques, just as there is more to osteopathy than simply manipulation. It is a system of diagnosis that utilizes the physician's well-honed senses to interpret the physical mani-
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festations of disease displayed by the patient’s neuromusculoskeletal system. It involves removing barriers not just to organs and bodily motion, but also barriers in health care delivery systems. Osteopathic medicine is the advocate for the patient, taking into account the health of their mind, body, and spirit. The global view of interrelationships of body systems has made us the champions of generalism over the emerging sub-specialist movement that tends to chop up the body's systems into independent units, thereby fragmenting care. Generalism is the key to greater access in healthcare by all individuals which translates into healthier lives. Should we abandon one in favor of the other? Absolutely not, but we as a profession can continue to improve the present system. Programs with Osteopathic Recognition will allow us to show and teach our allopathic colleagues the benefits of this philosophy and modality for diagnosis and treatment. We will have a positive influence on health care well into the future. Dr. George Northrup of the Journal of Osteopathic Medicine wrote of the threat that the "California Merger of 1962" posed to the osteopathic profession, pointing out that the profession had survived for many years because of its members' strength and dedication. The only way our profession could possibly fail, he explained, is if the members bring about its demise. His words ring truer today than back when I first read them. If we are to flourish as a profession, we must be proud of what we do and what we stand for. We must be ambassadors of our profession and advocates for our philosophy. We must apply all of the principles and skills we have learned when we can. We must not think of ourselves as second-best because we are different or smaller in numbers. We must select only students who wish to join us in this cause and not use the education we give them to simply become a physician. We must not be content to blend into the health care workforce as just another physician group. Of the twenty programs that have applied for Osteopathic Recognition, half are allopathic—signifying the interest our MD colleagues have in applying the tenets of our profession. We have served together in hospitals for years—now we can train together in each other’s programs. No longer will there be a one-way street out of our profession, but an open highway serving both sides. Both professions will be working together in the vital task of educating America’s newly graduated physicians in unified residency programs.
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SGA Spotlights Student Wellness and Other Healthy Initiatives Every year, alarming statistics are released regarding the number of doctors and student doctors who face burnout, deal with depression, and even take their own lives. In an effort to wipe out the mental health stigma and encourage wellness—mentally, physically, and emotionally—the Student Government Association (SGA) of RVUCOM and the Council of Osteopathic Student Government Presidents have launched the Student Wellness Committee. Kicking off the initiative, the SGA held a wellness presentation, open to all students, faculty and staff, which offered the idea that expressing gratitude can increase your own happiness. The presenters handed out paper and pens to all attendees, asking them to write down who inspires them and why. Then, students were encouraged to call that person or to mail the handwritten note to them. "It was our hope that, with the holidays around the corner, many would bring these letters home and give them to the people who have inspired them," said Elle Schultz, OMS-II, SGA Honor Code President. Joseph LaPorta, OMS-II, SGA President, said later that he received a lot of positive feedback about the activity, such as "It was a good pick-me-up during a tough time of year." The Student Wellness Committee, which currently has fifteen students and five faculty members, aims to establish long-term resources for mental health, while encouraging overall wellness. While no events have been announced yet, students can look forward to a Mental Health Awareness Week in early spring.
Lowering Stress with Pet Therapy
Dillon and Darby, two lovable golden retrievers, are RVU’s resident canines who often stop by during the lunch hour to provide students, faculty, and staff, some much needed snuggle time. Studies show that this interaction, known as Pet Therapy, reduces blood pressure, lowers levels of stress and anxiety, and stimulates the release of endorphins, which make people feel happier.
The SAA's Thankful Tree
In November, the Student Advocate Association (SAA) created a beautiful tree display, along with paper leaf cut-outs and a note, "Take a leaf and write what you are thankful for." After just a few days, the tree was blooming with leaves of gratitude. As mentioned above, gratitude is strongly and consistently associated with greater happiness. The tree stayed up for the month of November, sharing happiness for all who stopped to read and/or write what they are thankful for.
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Admissions Updates RVUCOM students and staff recently participated in the Douglas County Career Connect Fair, an event that brings together exhibitors who will provide a wide range of career information to local eighth-graders. The middle schoolers are encouraged to explore a variety of careers prior to entering high school. "This is a great way to support our community and the children within it," said Katy Hunsberger, Associate Director of Admissions. There were approximately 2,500 students attending. First-year student doctors talked with students, discussing bones and muscles and answering any questions about medical school. RVU participated in the Career Connect Fair last year and will likely do it again next year. The Admissions department also hosted an Open House, at which potential RVUCOM candidates toured the campus and learned about the admissions process and curriculum. Next up for Admissions are several weeks of back-to-back interviews (as well as tours and perusing thousands of applications). Busy, busy times. Be sure to swing by and thank them for all their hard work!
Air Force Cadets Visit RVUCOM
Cadets from the pre-med club at the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs visited the RVU campus in November. During the day-long visit, they participated in demonstrations of the cut suit and ultrasound machines, on which they practiced and identified what they were seeing. In addition, they sat in on a special OMM class for RVUCOM students, learning specific manipulative techniques. They toured the anatomy lab, then participated in discussions about clinical medicine, physiology, and medical school curriculum. The coordinator of the event, Ms. Hunsberger said, "They were amazed that we offered so much exposure to them. They also appreciated the warmth of the welcome everyone gave them—from the President and Dean, to the faculty, to our student doctors. They had not anticipated the opportunity to talk with the student doctors as much as they did."
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RVU Receives Military Friendly® School Recognition For the third consecutive year, RVU has been designated a Military Friendly® School by Victory Media, the publisher of G.I. Jobs website. This designation provides service members and their families with transparent, data-driven ratings about post-military education and career opportunities. RVU has perhaps the highest percentage of student doctors on military scholarship of any civilian medical school in the country, with sixteen percent of RVU students being either a recipient of the Health Professions Scholarship Program (HPSP) or a veteran of the armed forces. Military students are enrolled in a military track which includes additional components to the curriculum. "I have spent 30 years in the Navy and have personally welcomed many new graduates into military medicine," said Clinton Adams, DO, FACHE, President and CEO. "Because of this, I feel such pride and responsibility to ensure our graduates hit the deck running. They understand that military service is an honor and a privilege. RVU’s mission is to 'inspire students to serve with compassion, integrity and excellence,' making them ideal candidates for service as military officers. We are humbled to be recognized as a Military Friendly® academic institution."
Lieutenant General Robb Retires Lieutenant General Douglas J. Robb, DO, Director of Defense Health Agency and friend of RVUCOM, retired this month. He has been a mentor for our military students and a regular presence around commencement time as the commissioning officer. He was also instrumental in advising Dr. Anthony LaPorta, Course Director for the Military Track, in developing military culture at RVU. Lt Gen Robb led the Defense Health Agency, which brought together previously independent health care operations from each branch of the military into one cohesive unit, providing care for 9.5 million people. As a physician, he was board certified in aerospace medicine. He had served with the Air Force for nearly forty years.
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Dr. Anthony LaPorta, Dr. Thomas Told, Kit Lavell of Strategic Operations, and Holly Foster, Associate Editor of MT2 Magazine
RVUCOM Wins Best Program Award RVUCOM and Strategic Operations (makers of the cut suit) were awarded the Best Program Award by Military Training Technology Magazine at the Interservice/ Industry Training Simulation Education Conference (I/ ITSEC) in Florida. This award was given for the Intensive Surgical Skills Course, which introduces students to high-stress, realistic medical scenarios through curriculum, simulation centers, and the cut suit—a wearable bodysuit that simulates the physical effects of trauma. "To put the magnitude of this award in perspective," said Dr. Told, "there were hundreds of exhibitors including Raytheon, Lockheed Martin, Sony, and more. Out of all of them, we were judged the best program for the use of simulation in teaching medical students and armed forces personnel."
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RVUCOM Student, Julia Tanguay, Completes Fellowship in Ghana Julia Tanguay, OMS-IV, as part of a fellowship with Child Family Health International (an organization that provides community-based global health education programs) traveled to Ghana for four weeks to help develop two programs. The first program, Child Health and Social Determinants, was at Princess Marie Louise Children’s Hospital in Accra, Ghana. Her goal was to learn about the most prevalent pediatric diseases, to understand how Ghana was tackling pediatric public health challenges, and to understand the cultural and socioeconomic factors that increase risk of these diseases within the pediatric population. SD Tanguay worked one-on-one with preceptors and the medical director, observing and working in the hospital, emergency room, clinics, wards, and public health units. She also looked at how cultural factors were the keys to social determinants of health by attending clinical and mortality meetings and performing outreach and home visits. The second program, Hospital Medicine in Coastal Ghana, was located in Cape Coast, Ghana, where SD Tanguay worked in the Cape Coast Teaching Hospital. For this half of the fellowship, she wanted to better understand the Ghanian health care system and services, as well as the challenges faced in improving health outcomes. SD Tanguay observed and worked with various departments and clinics, visited with child welfare clinics and programs, attended workshops and meetings, participated in grand rounds and case studies, and learned more about endemic tropical diseases and other issues faced by the Ghanian population. For more photos, as well as more detailed information about her goals, her day-to-day activities, and her work, visit her blog at https://ghana939.wordpress.com/.
Stop Polio National Immunization Day happens twice a year, which enables workers to administer necessary doses at regular intervals.
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Along with her three-person team, SD Tanguay provided vaccines and Vitamin A to children under five years old.
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GME Summit West Focuses on Reform at Annual Meeting Leaders and advocates of graduate medical education (GME) convened in Denver, Colorado for the annual GME Summit West meeting, a day-long event which focused on strategies for improving the industry (and particularly, its funding). This year's theme was "GME Reform: Moving from Proposals to Action," featuring such speakers as Gail Wilensky, PhD, and Fitzhugh Mullan, MD—both members of the 2014 Institute of Medicine Committee on GME Reform. RVUCOM was well-represented at this year's meeting, with over fifteen faculty and staff members attending. Many RVUers even facilitated table discussions among the attendees during the final session of the conference.
Rocky Vista Health Center Selected to Participate in Trial The Rocky Vista Health Center (RVHC) is participating in the Cardiovascular Inflammation Reduction Trial (CIRT). CIRT is sponsored by Brigham and Women’s Hospital and is funded by the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI). CIRT aims to evaluate whether reducing inflammation, with a widely used anti-inflammatory for rheumatoid arthritis, can lower the risk of having a future heart attack, a stroke, or dying from heart disease. RVHC is seeking volunteers who have had a heart attack or been diagnosed with coronary artery disease and have been diagnosed with either diabetes or metabolic syndrome. Those choosing to participate will be followed for up to five years. For questions, contact the RVHC at (720) 875-2880. Christopher Unrein, DO, FACOI, FACP, CMD, and Jacquelyn Waller, PharmD, will serve as principal investigator and study coordinator respectively for the RVHC site. Learn more at: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01594333?term=cirt&rank=2.
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Preceptors Honored with Two Colorado Receptions Preceptors—skilled practitioners who supervise students in clinical settings to allow practical experience with patients—are an integral part of RVUCOM’s education. To thank the preceptors, the Clinical Affairs department held receptions—one in Northern Colorado and one in Colorado Springs. Both events included dinner and raffle drawings with prizes. In addition, certain preceptors were honored with Certificates of Service for their exemplary service to RVUCOM (see the list below for those recipients). The next event is scheduled in February 2016 to honor preceptors in the Denver area.
Certificate of Service–Northern Colorado:
Certificate of Service–Colorado Springs:
• Ronald Malm, DO, University of Wyoming Family Medicine Residency
• Tiffany Willard, MD, Colorado Health Medical Group • Ian Tullberg, MD, Memorial Hospital Urgent Care • Anthony Sullivan, MD, Evans Army Community Hospital • Julie Sanford, MD, Peak View Behavioral Health • Frederick Workman, DO, Colorado Springs Health Partners
• Mark Wiesner, DO, Estes Park Medical Center • Wayne Jeffers, MD, Banner Health Physicians • Julie Dunn, MD, Surgical Specialists of the Rockies
Raffle winner, Dr. Michelle Hor
Dr. Julie Dunn
Raffle winners of Northern Colorado reception
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Dr. Julie Sanford
Dr. Frederick Workman
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Faculty and Staff Celebrate the Holidays in Style Dressed in their holiday best, faculty and staff of RVU gathered at the Lone Tree Golf Club for the annual Employee Appreciation Luncheon. The event, which was held on December 11th, featured glistening centerpieces, generous prizes, and delightful carols from the RVU singing group, the SOAP Notes. Joanie Douglas, Clinical Affairs Administrative Assistant, was one of the lucky winners, taking home a Keurig coffee machine: "What a nice surprise! I never win anything! With a house full of guests and 'coffee-loving' family members all coming for Christmas, this was the perfect win for me!" Linda Cairns, Registrar, spoke of her own big prize: "Of course I loved winning the television, but I [also enjoyed] seeing everyone there in a festive mood...no shop talk! The tables looked beautiful, the program ran smoothly, and the singers were wonderful!" A big thank you to Peter Freytag, CFO and COO, for emceeing the event. Also, thank you to the Human Resources department, Camille Purkapile, Buyer, and Cindy Johnson, Executive Assistant to the CFO, for all their hard work in planning and orchestrating this amazing event!
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Season of Giving Dress a Live Angel Program
Holidays can be a challenging time for some families financially. With this in in mind, Judy Thornton, MA, Director of Educational Support, created the Dress a Live Angel Program. Open to struggling families and friends of of students and employees, the program aims to ease the hardship that the holdays can often bring when parents cannot afford gifts for their children. Employees who participated were given the age and gender of an anonymous child, then bought gifts for them. The Wellness Committee also provided each family with a $50 gift card. This year, the program provided gifts to 48 angels ranging from 9 months to 17 years old. As Ms. Thornton mentioned, “The outpouring of generosity and interest [this year] was amazing!"
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Operation Christmas Child
RVU’s Employee Wellness Committee spearheaded a toy donation drive for Operation Christmas Child, an organization that delivers shoeboxes filled with gifts to less fortunate children. Once the donations were received, employees volunteered their time to pack the shoe boxes. In the end, 90 shoeboxes filled with toys, drawing supplies, hygiene items, and candy were sent to Operation Christmas Child.
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Students Provide Care at Dew Tour Mountain Championships
At the Dew Tour Mountain Championships in Breckenridge this month, OPP Fellows and other RVU students, under the guidance of Kenneth A. Ramey, DO, FACOFP, provided mountain rescue and sports medicine coverage. This opportunity was provided in corroboration with WMI Global and NBC Sports. The event was attended by some of the best snowboarders and skiers in the world. The students gained knowledge in the evaluation, management, and prevention of potentially catastrophic athletic injuries.
Trick or Treat Street
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Volunteer Efforts • As the Community Liaison, Phillip Mann, Jr., OMS-II, helps ACOFP organize students to volunteer at the Denver Rescue Mission. "When in the throes of medical school, we see it as a great way to return to taking care of the basic needs of our community. Due to our schedules, we generally only prepare meals, but there are plenty of opportunities to serve in other ways throughout the year." Individuals and other groups can also schedule their own volunteering stints. To volunteer for ACOFP's monthly session, contact SD Mann. • In November, 50 students from the OBGYN and the ACOFP clubs participated in the 9News Health Fair, performing pap smears, breast exams, digital rectal exams, vision screenings, hand and foot screenings, and skin exams—all free of charge. "It was a great experience for students to work with faculty physicians and interact with real patients," said Cherylene Abalos, OMS-II, "[practicing] the skills we have learned in PCM. It was also interesting to work with a translator, as the majority of our patients were Hispanic." • Over 80 volunteers helped at an Anthony Bates Foundation event, screening approximately 500 children and their family members for life-threatening heart conditions. Students performed blood pressure readings, EKGs, and echocardiograms. "We found 12 lifethreatening defects," said Abby Zinn, OMS-II, who coordinated the volunteer effort. "We have officially saved 12 kids from possible cardiac arrest!" RVU students were invited to volunteer again at a future event, which will take place in the spring.
Denver Rescue Mission volunteers
9News Health Fair volunteers
Anthony Bates Foundation volunteers
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Campus Tidbits RVU students, faculty, and staff participated in Movember to raise money and awareness for men's health issues, such as prostate and testicular cancer. Participants began on November 1st with a cleanshaven face, then proceeded to grow mustaches throughout the entire month.
The SGA of RVU has begun a hilarious new YouTube series called "Morning Rounds," in which they provide updates about events, clubs, and general happenings around campus. Check it out at http://bit.ly/1MfG7cw. One of the coordinators, Kash Kaul, OMS-II, said, "As future physicians, we must be the stewards of good medicine [which includes] promoting education, raising awareness, and encouraging screening examinations." By the end of the month, all proceeds were donated to the Movember Foundation.
On November 13th, the AOASM attended a casting workshop at Rocky Mountain Pediatric Orthopedics with Zaccariah Ivy, PA-C. During this workshop, they applied short arm casts and sugar tong splints on each other. Special thanks to Dr. Rachel BiberBrewer, who helped coordinate the event!
The Wellness Committee hosted a healthy cooking contest on November 18th, the same day as the annual chili contest. The soups and chilis were each judged by presentation, flavor, originality, and nutritional value. The winner of the chili contest was Teresa Moore, Administrative Assistant for OPP & Structural Medicine. Linda Terpenning, Executive Assistant to the President, won the soup contest. Congratulations to both of the winners!
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Campus Tidbits After years of chips, candy bars, and sodas, the RVU lunchroom is finally offering healthy snacks! H.U.M.A.N. Healthy Vending offers healthy and convenient options for snacking, such as fruit, protein bars, juice, and meals. "Getting to healthy food shouldn't feel like climbing a 14er!" says Barbara Hankins, the local representative. Additionally, in keeping with RVU's core value of service, the vendor donates 10% of its proceeds to HUMAN Everywhere, which empowers youth in underserved schools, teaching them entrepreneurial skills.
The Fighting Prairie Dog Softball Team won the championship game! The final score was 12-10. Congratulations, Fighting Prairie Dogs! The next season will begin around February.
Melissa Blomquist, Administrative Assistant for the Testing Center, married Zachary Davidson in a beautiful ceremony at Hudson Gardens on October 30th. Surrounded by friends and family, they danced the night away to their favorite 80s hits. The couple thanks the RVU community for all the love and support they have received over the past years’ engagement and this crazy, fun wedding they planned.
RVU sponsored the annual Crisis Center's Future for Families Gala to support the organization which helps victims of domestic violence in Colorado. During the dinner, over $70,000 was raised! Faculty and staff were in attendance, including Clinton Adams, DO, FACHE, RVU President and CEO, and Thomas Told, DO, FACOFP, dist, Dean of RVUCOM.
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Achieving New Heights Highlighting the Accomplishments of Our Faculty, Staff and Physicians in Training
Anthony LaPorta, MD, FACS, Course Director of Military Track, Professor of Clinical Surgery, presented at Grand Rounds for the General Surgery Department of the Naval Medical Center in Portsmouth, Virginia. The presentation, "Hyper-realistic Team-centered Surgical Training: Past Results and Future Directions" focused on surgical simulation and education. In addition, Dr. LaPorta’s research, "From trauma in austere environments to combat or medical school: how blended hyper-realism in the real and virtual worlds can better prepare surgeons" and "Operating room crisis management leadership training: guidance for surgical team education" were cited in an article, "Naval casualty management training using human patient simulators." The latter article was written by members of the Israel Defense Forces Medical Corps and the Israeli Navy and is featured on the website, Disaster and Military Medicine. Well done, Dr. LaPorta! Sarah Edgerton, OMS-II, SGA President, was named the 2015 Student DO of the Year (SDOY) for RVUCOM. SD Edgerton was chosen from a list of nominees put forth by the RVU community and was elected on the basis of her essay, application, curriculum vitae, as well as her personality, ideals, and values. RVUCOM Dean and CAO, Thomas Told, DO, remarked, “SD Edgerton goes above and beyond the average osteopathic student and exhibits the highest standards in leadership, community service, professionalism, and embodiment of the osteopathic philosophy.” She is now a candidate for the national award, where she will compete for the title National Student Doctor of the Year, which comes with a $1,000 award. Congratulations and best of luck, SD Edgerton!
Michael Miller, OMS-III, and Bradley Rimmert, OMS-III, presented research at the International Trauma Life Support Conference. SD Miller presented the first part, "Moving Training Forward: The Effects of Total Immersion and Biometrics, the Course." This focused on the effects of utilizing the cut suit in a 4.5-day immersion surgical skills and trauma course with RVUCOM second-year medical students and military personnel. SD Rimmert presented the second part, "The Development of Objective Measurements of Course Value, Stress an Habituation, Finding the ZONE with Objective Data." This focused on how RVU objectively measures stress levels of participants in intensive surgical skills week through salivary cortisol, salivary alphaamylase, and R-R microvariability. The research also introduced the fourth metric with which they will begin quantifying stress in real time, the wireless EEG. In reference to both student doctors, an emergency room physician from Pennsylvania remarked, "I’ve never seen third-year students with such poise in presenting!" Well done, SD Rimmert and SD Miller! Margo Tanghetti, OMS-IV, was published her research, "A Controlled Comparison Study of Topical Fluourouracil 5% Cream PreTreatment of Aminolevulinic Acid/ Photodynamic Therapy for Actinic Keratosis" in the Journal of Drugs in Dermatology. The research studied the effectiveness of FDA approved topical fluorouracil 5% cream and 20% aminolevulinic acid/photodynamic therapy for the treatment of Actinic Keratosis, used together and in a sequential manner. Congratulations, SD Tanghetti!
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Achieving New Heights Highlighting the Accomplishments of Our Faculty, Staff and Physicians in Training
RVU Students Compete in the Public Health Case Competition The annual Rocky Mountain Region Public Health Case Competition, previously open only to students of University of Colorado (CU) Anschutz Medical Campus, has expanded. This year, the event opened up to students of Colorado School of Public Health campuses, CU's School of Public Affairs, and School of Architecture and Planning...and most importantly, students from RVUCOM! Participants were placed into groups and given a case to "solve" based around this year's theme of "Healthy Aging." On the first day, they researched and brainstormed; on the second day, they presented their solutions. Out of approximately 90 students, two RVU students and their groups placed in the competition. Nima Beheshti, OMS-I, and his team won second place for their presentation, "Silver Connections: Bridging the Gap Between Aging and Independence." Each member of the team received a $500 scholarship. Matthew Albright, OMS-I, and his team won third place for their presentation, "The TIME Study: Technology Increasing Independence using Medical Electronics." Each member on this team received a $250 scholarship. Sohayla Rostami, OMS-II, also participated in the competition with her presentation, "GoTogether," a proposal that describes solutions for transportation for the elderly. Additionally, as Matthew Moynihan, OMS-II, stated, "During the post-presentation Q&A with the judges, Sohayla answered [the questions] with unbelievable poise and intellect." Congratulations to each of our students' accomplishments during the competition! (Photo courtesy of Colorado School of Public Health)
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Welcome to our New Faculty and Staff! Teri Coe Administrative Assistant for the Physician Assistant Program Teri moved to Colorado from Walla Walla, Washington in 1989, later taking courses in professional development at the University of Denver. Prior to coming to RVU, Teri worked for the Department of Corrections for ten years as the Assistant to the Warden at the Washington State Penitentiary. After moving to Colorado, she worked for the University of Denver for over twenty years, first as the Assistant to the Provost and then as the Assistant to the Chancellor. She loves working in education and it has been a large part of her life. "The opportunity to participate from the ground-up with the new Physician Assistant program excites me and provides me with a new challenge in life," she said. Teri has a little dog named Gidgett which is her "little sweetheart." She loves spending time with her family: a son and a daughter who reside in Denver, as well as a beautiful 9-year-old granddaughter who she adores. She also enjoys cooking, gardening, reading, and spending time outdoors, doing such things as hiking, RV camping, and fishing. Also, she’s a "water baby": when she was younger, she loved to waterski, jet-ski, and knee board. A little-known fact about Teri is that she’s also a certified scuba diver and, in the future, hopes to retire somewhere near an ocean. Welcome, Teri! Cathy Edwards Clinical Data Analyst Cathy hails from Rapid City, South Dakota, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from the University of South Dakota. When Cathy arrived in Colorado four years ago, she began working at Jones International University (JIU), first as the Front
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Desk Receptionist and eventually making her way to a position as Facility Manager. She learned about RVU from one of her former JIU coworkers, Amie Koenig, who had "nothing but wonderful and positive things to say about RVU, the staff, faculty, mission, and culture." Cathy and her boyfriend, Chad, love to go home and visit family and friends throughout the year. They have two Rottweilers, Kiowa and Whiskey, that keep them busy and entertained. As fairly new homeowners, they have been brushing up on home renovation projects. She is also learning to enjoy running and will be competing in a halfmarathon next spring. An interesting fact about Cathy is that she and Chad recently became scuba certified so, as she states, "we can add diving to our list of things to do while traveling to new places….preferably warm places!" Welcome, Cathy! Thomas Millegan Security Office Originally from Georgetown, Texas, Thomas studied criminal justice and management at Austin Community College in Austin, Texas and completed law enforcement training at Travis County Sheriff’s Academy in Austin, as well. For over twenty years, Thomas worked in the field of criminal justice for various county and state government agencies. He moved to Colorado from Texas because he was "tired of nine months of heat." After interviewing at RVU, the friendly atmosphere he encountered made him especially excited to work here. He has been married for 28 years to his wife, Tracy, and has two grown children and five grandchildren. He likes to cook, to watch and photograph wildlife (with which Colorado's mountains are filled), and to draw. Welcome, Thomas!
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Welcome to our New Faculty and Staff! Jennifer Watson Clinical Rotations Coordinator
who were completing degrees from the associates level all the way up to the doctorate level.
While originally from Olathe, Kansas, Jennifer calls Parker her hometown, as she's lived here longer than anywhere else.
She decided to come to RVU because she thought it would be a great place to work. With her passion for helping others and her interest in the medical field, she knew RVU was the perfect fit.
Jennifer earned her Associate of Applied Sciences degree in Animal Sciences (Veterinary Technician) from Bel-Rea of Animal Technology and is currently working on her Bachelor of Science degree in Business.
Along with her husband and her dog, Zamboni, Jennifer enjoys hiking, exploring the beautiful mountains of Colorado, and watching hockey.
She recently worked as a Student Services Counselor at Jones International University, working with students
Interestingly, Jennifer has never broken a bone—but she has broken her nose. Welcome, Jennifer!
Promotions and Appointments Camille Bentley, DO, has been appointed to Chair of Honors Tracks and Special Programs. In this role, she supervises and works with the directors of the tracks and specialty programs, enabling them to provide high-quality programs that are appropriate and beneficial for our students. Dr. Bentley will also continue to serve as Director of the Global Honors Track and Global Rotations and Professor of Family Medicine. Congratulations, Dr. Bentley! Francine Lata, has been promoted to Director of Student Financial Services. In this role, Fran will focus on all of the management duties in running the day to day operations of the department along with the Title IV regulatory compliance, counseling, and working with our RVU student doctors.
Laura Mohr, PhD, has been promoted from Assistant Professor of Family Medicine to Associate Professor of Family Medicine. Dr. Mohr will also continue her role as Director of Counseling Services. Congratulations, Dr. Mohr! Toni Whatley has been appointed to Surgery Residency Program Coordinator. In this role, Toni will act as the primary program coordinator for the Surgery Residency, while providing administrative support for the Program Director and the Director of Medical Education. She will be working in the RVU offices at Sky Ridge Medical Center. Congratulations, Toni!
Congratulations, Fran!
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From the Rocky Vista University Alumni Association
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Dear Alumni, When reflecting on 2015, I recall all the wonderful and impressive things the RVUCOM alum have done this year. We have accomplished some firsts within the Association, including graduating our first set of residents and having our alumni become board certified physicians in pediatrics, family medicine, and internal medicine. Congratulations to you all and we wish you continued success in your careers. We've also had our first fellowship match, which was very successful! Currently, we have fellows in pediatric gastroenterology, pediatric cardiology, gastroenterology, hematology and oncology, cardiology, cardiothoracic anesthesia, pain management, and pediatric anesthesia. We have had numerous RVU alum become leaders in their respective programs and become chief residents. RVU alum across the country have made an impact on the medical community, publishing articles and case reports in multiple peer review journals! I could not be more proud of all RVUCOM alum and I hope the current students realize that they will be achieving similar amazing accomplishments in a few short years since we all have RVU as our foundation. Please remember where you initially started your medical training. Dues are $25 per year while in residency and $75 per year after residency. If you have any questions or concerns about dues, please contact Julie Rosenthal, Executive Director of Admissions and Marketing, at jrosenthal@rvu.edu. Again, our goal of the Alumni Association is to continue to network with each other, as well as with the current students. We would like to try to arrange a directory of people who are willing to meet up with current RVUCOM students during their fourth year rotations or allow them to stay with them. Please email Julie or myself at alumni@ rvu.edu if you would like to participate in this. We also hope to become more involved at conferences for the alumni events. Please email us if you are planning on attending a conference so we can have a group of alumni meet-andreunite. Wishing you all continued success in 2016! From my family to yours, a joyous holiday season and a happy and healthy new year. Stay well! Sincerely,
Heather Katz,DO '12 Alumni Association President
Remember to submit your accomplishments, news, updates, and photos to marketing@rvu.edu!
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congratulations to all of our alumni on their achievements! Marriages and Births Morgan Campbell, DO '12, was married to Ryan Litzinger in November in Mexico. She is a Physician at Altitude Family and Internal Medicine in Littleton, Colorado.
Brittany Collins (nĂŠe Ganser), DO '12, and her husband, Cameron, welcomed a son, Levi. She is in the CA-3 Class at the Loyola University Medical Center's Department of Anesthesiology in Chicago, Illinois Captain Bonnie Hunt, DO '13, was married to Justin Tulk in August. She is currently in the General Surgery Program at Tripler Army Medical Center in Honolulu, Hawaii.
Alexandra Kossoy, DO '14, and Patrick Matthews, DO '13, were married on September 26th in Texas. She is currently in a residency in family practice at Texas A&M, while he is in an anesthesia residency at San Antonio Military Medical Center.
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Meghan Croteau Fels, DO '12 (and past Alumni president), and her husband, Jason, welcomed a daughter, Madison. Dr. Fels works in Pediatrics at Banner Health in Greeley, Colorado.
Kasey Gillett, DO '13, was married to Rob Tobin in October. She is currently in the Emergency Medicine residency program at University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Hamot in Erie, Pennsylvania.
Brita Krabacher, DO '12, and her husband, Edward, welcomed a daughter, Bryn, in August. She works in Internal Medicine at Parkview Medical Center in Pueblo, Colorado.
Amanda Larson, DO '13, was married to Nathan Nichols, in July. She is in her third year of family medicine residency at North Colorado Family Medicine in Greeley, Colorado.
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From the Rocky Vista University Alumni Association Marriages and Births, continued
New Positions and Promotions
Eric Raschke, DO '13, was married to Natalie Aguilar in August.
Bobby Bahadarani, DO '12, was selected for a fellowship in Cardiothoracic Anesthesiology at the Cleveland Clinic in Cleveland, Ohio.
Kabeer Shah, DO '14, and his wife, Julia welcomed a daughter, Veda. He is working on his residency in Anatomical and Clinical Pathology at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota.
Heather Katz, DO '12, was selected for a fellowship in Medical Oncology at Marshall University in Huntington, West Virginia.
Julie Watters, DO '13, and her husband Joel welcomed their second child, Juniper, in October.
Andy Welstead, DO '12, and his wife welcomed a son, Hudson.
Nicole Wielandt, DO '12, and her husband, Steve, welcomed a daughter, Dylan, in June. She is in the CA-3 Class at the University of Nebraska Medical Center's Department of Anesthesiology.
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Scott Cameron, DO '12, was promoted to Chief Resident at the Osteopathic Family Medicine Residency Program at Houston Healthcare in Houston, Texas.
Awards, Presentations, and Publications Rick Carlson, DO '12, received the Resident of the Quarter award from Palm Beach Consortium for Graduate Medical Education.
Jessica Garner (nĂŠe Small), DO '13, presented "Regulation of Hepatocellular Senescence by melatonin during alcoholic liver injury" at American Association for the Study of Liver Disease (AASLD) in November.
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Awards, Presentations, and Publications, continued Ellen Mlot, DO '12, presented "Compliance Rate of PPSV23 Vaccination Among High Risk Persons Aged 2-19 years" at American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) in October.
Jesse Robertson, DO '14, presented "Heartbreak Heartache: a case of intentional foxglove ingestion and Digitalis toxicity."
Kaitlyn Reti, DO '13, presented "Emergency Department Revisit Rates for Patients with Abdominal Pain Decreased after the introduction of observation units" at American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) in October.
Ashley Zander, DO '12, published "Heparin versus enoxaparin for prevention of venous thromboembolism after trauma: a randomized noninferiority" in the Journal of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery in August.
Spotlight on Alumni: Susan Jevert, DO '13 Dr. Susan Jevert is currently in her third year of residency at the Western Michigan University Homer Stryker MD Family Medicine Residency Program and has already accepted a faculty position within the school's Family and Community Medicine department. In her new role, she will provide family medicine including outpatient care, inpatient care, and obstetrics, as well as teaching medical students and residents. In addition, Dr. Jevert was recently awarded the AAFP Award for Excellence in Graduate Medical Education, an award that recognizes outstanding family medicine residents.** Her journey to becoming a physician was difficult—even by medical school standards. As a student, she was diagnosed with an immunodeficiency disorder, which presented significant health challenges and required hospitalizations and surgeries. It was her faith—she knew she was called to be a doctor since she was a little girl—and the support of her family, classmates, and professors, that led her to persevere and, ultimately, to thrive: "The experience of being a patient changed me...I believe I am a better doctor and a better advocate for my patients." Speaking of her own experience, she added, "Life doesn't stop just because you are in medical school or residency. [This] will stretch you to your physical and emotional limits. Stand firm in your personal beliefs and don’t let the pressures you face compromise your ethics." **Note: It was incorrectly announced in the November issue that she was also nominated for the 2016 AAFP Physician of the Year Award.
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DO AN X-RAY DOESN’T SEE YOU AS A PERSON.
I DO.
Before reading an X-ray, a DO sees a human being. Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine practice their distinct philosophy in every medical specialty. A DO is trained to consider the whole person, not just the symptom.
Learn more at DoctorsThatDO.org