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VISTA VIEW
February 2016 Newsletter
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IT'S OFFICIAL!
Rocky Vista University Expanding into Southern Utah Page 6
Inside:
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Celebrating 10 Years of Excellence
Students Party for a Good Cause at the Winter Charity Gala
Living a Healthy, Balanced Life in Med School
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Page 12
Page 14
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President's Message State of the University: Continuing Our Ascent in 2016 by Clinton E. Adams, DO, FACHE, President and CEO
It has become a tradition to use the Vista View to reflect on the prior year and to look to the future. RVU continues to enjoy many accomplishments and is well positioned for a multitude of opportunities. Colorado and the other mountain states paint a beautiful picture of a long history of pioneers, rugged adventurers, and individuals who sought the tallest, most difficult peaks to prove that—with proper planning, training, and commitment to a goal, an ideal, a purpose—no task is too difficult or impossible. RVU’s commitment to Achieving New Heights in Medical Education is not unlike those early settlers or modern adventurers. Previously, I have offered my philosophy and belief on not only how but why RVU (as an emerging University) is challenging the traditional "way it has always been done" mode of thinking and acting. Our why is because, "at the end of every healthcare encounter 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." We have continued our ascent this year by increasing our focus on the humanistic and ethical practice of medicine, intertwining real-life experiences into our systems courses, led "RVU's commitment...is not by the new unlike those early settlers or Department of Medical modern adventurers." Humanities. In a similar way, Drs. James and Kathryn Trusell created the Brandon Trusell Memorial Scholarship through the Alumni Association in remembrance of their son, to recognize his continued inspiration as a caring and compassionate friend and role model. We invite all of Brandon’s former classmates to continue honoring his memory, as well, through contributions. The ability to focus on our humanistic culture and sensitivity requires an increasing effort to create an interprofessional learning environment. We are well on our way, having secured the proper accreditation from Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation (COCA) to proceed with a new RVUCOM location in Southern Utah. The new
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location in Ivins will include a 107,000 sq.ft. academic facility, an existing 23,000 sq.ft. medical office building, student housing, and a partnership with the adjacent 108bed Southern Utah Veteran’s Home for our longitudinal care track. Another way we are ensuring interprofessional education and experiences is through the diversification of our student body with the creation of medical educational programs—the Physician Assistant (PA) program and the Master of Science of Biomedical Sciences (MSBS) program. We are searching for a Director of the PA Program and are on schedule for 2018. The MSBS program has moved to the front burner, beginning with a visit from Higher Learning Commission, the accrediting agency, in February and the goal of matriculating our first class this summer. This program is initially designed to strengthen the academic preparedness for students pursuing medical school or other professional medical programs. As the students prepare to climb those aforementioned mountains, the stellar selection process and academic rigor has led RVUCOM to be ranked as the highest scoring college on the National Board of Osteopathic Examiners Licensing Exam (COMLEX-USA, Levels 1 and 2 of the Computer Exam) again this year. For the Level 2-Physicial Examination, RVUCOM scores in the top quartile. Reaching the most formidable peaks takes investigation, preparation, and research. Likewise, the RVU faculty continues to investigate, prepare for, and research new horizons. For example, Dr. Anthony LaPorta received Military Training Technology's Best Program award for his cut suit simulation curriculum and research, edging out such competitors as Northrop Grumman and Boeing. The view from here is similar to that of any Fourteener. RVU is prepared to lead, explore, and support all the members of the team as we launch new graduates into the future of health care!
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Dean's Message A Decade of Service and Education: The Rocky Vista University Story by Thomas N. Told, DO, FACOFP, dist., Dean and CAO
It is difficult to believe that 10 years have transpired since the decision to put a shovel to the ground, turning years of dreams and hopes into an osteopathic medical school in Colorado. Osteopathic medical education was not a new kid on the block in the Mile High City at that time, though, with three other DO schools having come and gone since 1897. Ultimately, this newest school would prove to be not only successful but also a dynamic player in the medical education of an entire region. So, in the words of iconic radio commentator Paul Harvey, let me tell you the rest of the story.
A Glimmer of Hope
Groundwork for what would eventually become RVUCOM began in 1960: the Colorado Society of Osteopathic Medicine (CSOM) took the monumental step of establishing a fund for building an osteopathic medical school in the state. At the time, everyone thought there was as much chance of success as a cruiseline in Death Valley, but they felt it was the right thing to do. When I became involved with CSOM in the 1970s, that nest egg was growing slowly, much like spare change grows in a glass jar on the dresser. It was a humble, yet respectable sum and no officer of the organization dreamed of touching the money for any other purpose than what it was intended. The CSOM Board voted to add to the fund when times were good...and reviewed the numbers with hope during the lean years. Most of us felt it would transcend our mortal existence before a dime would be spent, but none of us ever doubted it would be used for that purpose someday. In 1980, quite by chance, a family medicine residency sprung up at one of Colorado’s three remaining osteopathic hospitals. The founder of the residency felt this program would energize and even modernize Colorado DOs' attitude toward residency training. Little did anyone realize that this event would quietly begin a chain of events, paving the way for a new medical school.
Providing DO Care in an MD World
Rocky Mountain Osteopathic Hospital (RMOH), where the program was based, had been a major force for os-
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teopathic care in the region for years. It was the major referral center for urban- and ruralbased DOs. Because of its outstanding care, patients traveled from all over the state to be treated there. As a third- and fourth-year medical student at Kirksville, I spent many hours in the various departments of RMOH. Later, I asked my patients occasionally to make a four-hour trip, crossing the Continental Divide twice, to receive the hospital's osteopathic specialty care. It literally sat in the shadow of the University of Colorado’s towering Colorado General Hospital—providing everything a major hospital could, then adding resident training to its services. Sadly, as was the case with many outstanding osteopathic hospitals of the time, RMOH was sold and the fledgling family medicine residency program was transferred to Presbyterian Hospital. The humble little program rapidly took root, developing into the largest and most popular family medicine residency in the profession from the 1980s to the mid-1990s. Word spread quickly of the program's quality and it became a magnet for students nationwide who wished to train there. It regularly produced outstanding physicians who later became today's medical leaders and educators. Having such a prestigious residency in the state also energized the desires of many Colorado DOs to become more involved with medical education. The CSOM flourished to a level never seen before. Soon, talk of a new College of Osteopathic Medicine began surfacing at membership meetings and throughout the physician community.
The Momentum Builds
With the fund still too small to build a school, CSOM did the next best thing: they formed a consortium of willing physicians who were dedicated to training medical students from other schools. Members built a medical school of sorts, delivering clinical education to third- and fourth-year students. This virtual program was dubbed Colorado Osteopathic Education Consortium (COEC). In
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Dean's Message, continued my mind, it was similar to the farming practice of using a "nurse crop" for hard-to-grow crops in challenging environments: to ensure crop survival, a farmer plants oat seeds with alfalfa seeds, knowing the oat seeds will quickly sprout up and shade the tender shoots of the alfalfa plants, thus ensuring a good root system and their ultimate survival. COEC would provide the academic infrastructure: faculty development and vital networking that secured and nurtured the way for a future COM—just as a farmer’s nurse crop does. COEC also contracted with many of the legacy osteopathic institutions who would pay the organization a stipend for taking students, thereby allowing COEC to build an impressive educational platform. Key COEC leaders were encouraged to serve as regional deans for many of these schools, as well. Colorado’s success in medical education did not go unnoticed by national medical educators and entrepreneurs. It was not long before CSOM and COEC began receiving proposals to collaborate on a new osteopathic medical school in the Rocky Mountains. Almost without trying, our wildest dreams were taking form, but who should our partner be? We had exhausted our funds so building a school with only physicians' donations and volunteer faculty was out of the question. Partnership was the only viable solution to make the school a reality.
Becoming a Reality
Two organizations stepped forward with viable, but very different, proposals. One proposal came from the prestigious and well-established Midwestern University, which was looking to establish branch campuses in western states. They were solidly in the osteopathic family and knew the political climate in the profession very well. They seemed like the obvious choice but there was one big catch to that plan: they would form the new school as a branch of their main campus in Chicago. Their Colorado school would not be autonomous, but controlled by a distant Board who may have other values and priorities. Their plan also included buying and renovating one of the many abandoned downtown warehouses in Denver. These buildings were not in the most desirable sections of the city, making the proposal good—but far from great. The second proposal came from an equally prestigious and well-established medical school in the Caribbean, but it was allopathic, not osteopathic. This detail could pres-
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ent challenges in gaining certification, because cooperation between the two professions was slow and sporadic. That allopathic medical school, on the other hand, proposed the establishment of a new osteopathically-oriented facility. It would be independent of the school in the Caribbean, the project of one person wishing to start a medical school in the continental US. He planned to explore revolutionary new ways of delivering medical education under a business model that had not existed in medical education for nearly a century. It was a visionary and exciting proposal on its face but, most of all, it offered autonomy that had been the hallmark of previous Colorado osteopathic schools. Even more exciting was the ability and expectation to construct a new state-of-the-art facility that would become a showplace for osteopathic medical education. We grappled with two very fundamental questions in considering both proposals. Should we adopt the legacy osteopathic school's proposal, but inherit a renovated warehouse for a home and lose the autonomy of running and developing programs? Or should we endorse the plan from an independent benefactor and organization that was cutting its teeth as a totally new institution? The latter would include a new building, a revolutionary business model, and a chance to build a program that was dedicated to Colorado and the region’s needs. The decision was not an easy one, but we all know how it turned out: RVUCOM entered the profession with a modern building and a business plan that had not existed in any American medical school for more than a century—becoming Colorado's official osteopathic medical school.
Looking Forward
Standing now on the brink of the second decade and looking back at the progress, RVU has made incredible strides since our students first crossed the threshold in August of 2008. We have assembled a world-class faculty and staff who have moved mountains to provide quality education for our students. We have expanded programs and have now extended our curriculum into neighboring states to be delivered in another ultramodern facility in southwestern Utah. Our future continues to look bright and filled with plenty of new and exciting opportunities. As for the next decade, I can only say bring it on. We are ready!
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Surviving the Slopes: Students and US Ski Team Join Forces While cruising (and sometimes flying) down the side of a mountain on a pair of skis or a snowboard, accidents are bound to happen. To streamline care for those unfortunate individuals, seven military students participated in the 2015 Medical Emergencies in Skiing and Snowboarding (MESS) course at the United States Ski and Snowboard Association Conference. Other organizations participating in the course included: the U.S. Ski Team, Vail Valley Medical Center, Vail Valley Resorts, and Eagle County Paramedic Services. The MESS course presented concepts for evaluation of traumatic emergencies in elite level ski and snowboard competitions, discussed event medical support systems for World Cup Events in skiing and snowboarding at international venues, and instructed about management of common medical conditions of the elite ski and snowboard athlete. After a series of classroom lectures and indoor handson scenarios, participants practiced on the ski slopes of Beaver Creek Birds of Prey. Several of these outdoor scenarios involved RVU students playing the role of the patient. One scenario involved a ski racer who fell during a race, resulting in a left-sided pneumothorax—a blunt or penetrating chest injury that causes air to leak into the space between the lung and chest wall. Third-year student, Anthony Garzone wore the cut suit—humanworn surgical simulator, which a senior surgeon at the scene described as "this is as real as real"—for this exercise as he played the role of the injured skier. Playing the role of the patient and seeing how the physicians treated him gave him a different perspective to keep in mind for when he becomes a physician. SD Garzone also noted that during this course, "[It was beneficial] to be exposed to the possible scenarios a doctor would be expected to treat while on the slopes." If you are interested in participating in next year's ski team event, contact Deidre McGee, Administrative Assistant to the Military Track, at dmcgee@rvu.edu. Photos courtesy of SD Garzone.
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RVUCOM Expands into Southern Utah with Second Location
RVUCOM-SU will be situated in front of an Ivins landmark, The Big Red Mountain
Just after the new year, RVUCOM received exciting news: the Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation (COCA) had granted accreditation for a second RVUCOM location. With this news, it became official: RVUCOM is expanding into Utah. This new location, officially called Rocky Vista University College of Osteopathic Medicine Southern Utah (or RVUCOM-SU), will be located in Ivins, near the southern border of the state. Much like Parker, Colorado, Ivins is a small town (about 7,000 residents) on the verge of major growth. Also similar to the main campus, this new location will be a twenty-minute drive from a much larger city—St. George, which has a population of approximately 150,000 residents, as well as a lively arts and entertainment scene. This location was chosen for several reasons: Utah ranks among the fastest growing states in the country, while St. George is the fifth fastest growing metropolitan area. However, the state also ranks among the last in the country for primary care physicians (with 58.4 physicians per 100,000 people; the national average is 79.4:100,000). Frequently, students tend to establish their medical practices in the same area where they received their education and training. As RVUCOM-SU Campus Dean, David Park, DO, FAAFP, FACOFP, says "There are nearly 400 applicants from Utah that apply to COMs; these applicants have a very high acceptance rate of 43%. We are thrilled to give these future student doctors the opportunity to receive a medical education in their home state and hope they will practice medicine in the state, as well."
Photo courtesy of DoStGeorge.com
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But how does the city of Ivins feel about the development of a medical school in their small community? "[It is] being received amazingly well by the community," said Dr. Park. "We are so grateful for the warm welcomes. The RVUCOMSU campus will make a positive impact in many aspects: new jobs and hundreds of new residents will drive up the local
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economy; medical students and faculty will engage in community service activities; and our physician faculty will provide healthcare services in primary care and osteopathic manipulation. Our goal is to be a strong partner in health care education and to promote the distinctive form of osteopathic medicine. We wish to make a positive impact on all of Utah and we will welcome all opportunities of collaboration to achieve this goal." Within Ivins, RVUCOM-SU will be situated on 32 acres, overlooking the majestic Red Rock Mountains. Just as important are the neighboring buildings: the Snow Canyon Clinic, which was purchased by RVUCOM, will be used for administrative offices and a future clinical practice; the Southern Utah Veterans Home, where each student will be assigned to a vet during their four years in medical school, allowing the students a "continuity of care experience." RVUCOM-SU will be housed in a 107,000 square foot, state-of-the-art building. There will be many similarities to the Parker building, such as large lecture halls, smaller seminar rooms, plenty of study rooms, an OPP lab, an anatomy lab, a simulation center, standardized patient rooms, and a spacious library. Construction is scheduled to start on March 7, 2016 and is expected to be completed on July 5, 2017. One difference with the new campus will be the development of on-campus student housing.
David Park, DO, FAAFP, FACOFP Southern Utah Campus Dean Dr. Park is an AOA/ACGME dual board certified osteopathic family physician and a graduate of the NYCOM class of 1998. He completed his postgraduate training in New York at the dually accredited Mt. Sinai Family Practice Residency Program at Jamaica Hospital. Upon completion of the residency, Dr. Park was recruited as residency faculty and has since pursued academic medicine as a career. Dr. Park has held many leadership roles including medical school department chair of primary care and family medicine residency program director. Dr. Park also enjoys working as an emergency department physician every weekend.
The first RVUCOM-SU class will admit 125 students, who will matriculate in the summer of 2017. Students will be required to meet the same stringent requirements as the main campus, and will be able to apply to either or both campuses. What does this mean for RVUCOM students at the Colorado location? As much as it's possible across two states, RVUCOM will maintain one community for both campuses, with faculty and staff collaboration, ongoing updates about the The new location was officially announced by Clinton events and successes of each location, consistent mission and Adams, DO, FACHE, President of RVU, at the What's Up values, and the same RVU spirit reverberating throughout Down South Economic Development Summit in St. George Parker and now Ivins. on January 14, 2016.
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Celebrating 10 Years of Excellence 2006 - 2016
Groundbreaking kicks off construction of the new building March - November 2007
Rocky Vista University Founded
2006 2007
RVU hosts its first MASH Camp June 2009
Class of 2012—RVUCOM's first class—matriculates August 2008
2008
2009
Granted provisional COCA accreditation August 2007
Rural & Wilderness Honors Track created Spring 2010
2010
Student Ambassador program created May 2009 RMOPTI founded February 2010
A ribbon cutting ceremony marks the end of construction and the opening of RVUCOM July 2008
First RVU Talent Show December 2008
SWAT trains at RVU June 2010
Evolution of the Logo For this year only, we are commemorating the 10-year mark with a special logo
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Times They Are a-Changin'
What began with around 50 employees in 2008 has since grown to a total of 105 faculty and staff, with 27 additional adjunct faculty! One-third of the original employees are still with RVU!
OPP Fellowship created Fall 2010
First Hospital Day March 2011
Students talk with a medical team in Antarctica via teleconference September 2011
2011 First Fall Festival October 2010
New Mission Statement created February 2011
Around the World with Global Medicine
Anatomy Fellowship created Fall 2011
Global Medicine Honors Track officially created Spring 2011 While the Track officially began in January 2012, RVU has been sponsoring medical outreach trips since 2008. During this time, there have been over 400 student encounters in approximately 50 countries around the world on medical missions.
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Celebrating 10 Years of Excellence 2006 - 2016
Sky Ridge Residency Program launches September 2013
NOELLE comes to RVU February 2012
Higher Learning Commission & American College of Surgeons accreditations July 2014
Military Medicine Enrichment Track created Spring 2012
Cut suit comes to RVU May 2012
RVUCOM receives COCA accreditation May 2012
2012
2013
First Intensive Surgical Skills Course May 2014
2014
Pet Therapy program launched February 2014 First Research Appreciation Day May 2012
Onward & Upward Class of '12 Stats
Class of '19 Stats
Applications Received: 2,104
Applications Received: 5,665
Mean Cum. GPA: 3.42
Mean Cum. GPA: 3.63
Mean Science GPA: 3.35
Mean Science GPA: 3.60
Mean MCAT: 24.78
Mean MCAT: 28.50
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First Donor Memorial Ceremony May 2013
First Service Day July 2013
Class of 2012 graduates in RVU's first commencement May 2012
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COCA accreditation received for second location January 2016
First Diversity Week May 2015
Received Best Program from Military Training Technology December 2015
Large-scale disaster drill October 2014
RVU leads the Parker parade December 2014
Surgery Rotation becomes required course August 2015
Rocky Vista Health Center graduates first physician from Internal Medicine Residency December 2015
2015
2016 Library dedicated to Dr. Frank Ritchel Ames December 2015
Academic Medicine Physician-Scientist (AMPS) Honors Track created June 2014 Military Friendly School for 3rd year November 2015 Teaching Academy launched June 2014
Student Wellness initiativelaunched January 2016
First UltraFest Event October 2015
...and beyond Construction Begins on RVUCOM-SU March 2016
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MSBS Enrollment Begins July 2016
RVUCOM-SU Interviews Begin September 2016
First RVUCOM-SU Class Matriculates July 2017
PA Program Begins 2018
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Students Party for a Good Cause at the Winter Charity Gala There is one bright spot during every dreary winter (well, aside from the many sunny days—this is Colorado, after all) for RVU students: the annual winter gala. This is a time to forget exams and stress and focus instead on friendships and having a good time. This year, the gala was held at Mile High Station, an event hall located under the glow of Mile High Stadium (lit up in orange in support of the Broncos, who won the Superbowl the very next day). As students entered the hall, they were given fake money with which to "gamble" at one of the many casino tables upstairs. The money could also be used to enter various raffles, with prizes donated by Top Golf, King Soopers, Corepower Yoga, Dad & Dudes Breweria, Healthy Market, Kunjani, and the SGA. But as with many things in life, there was an ulterior motive: money. Or rather, raising money for a good cause. Proceeds from the Winter Charity Gala were donated to two worthy organizations: Doctors Without Borders and Save the Children. In all, they raised $4,720 dollars from ticket and raffle sales! Thank you to all the students who planned this event: second-year students Garrett Baker, Cory Carroll, Jodie Clementson, Heather Eschbach, Clare Krska, Hillary Minich, Garrett Rota and first-year student Zach Wagner.
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"My favorite part was seeing everyone from school dressed up and having fun. It was great to experience my classmates outside of the classroom." ~ Monica Mills, OMS-II
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Living a Healthy, Balanced Life in Med School Save the Date!
Mental Health Awareness Week April 4th – 8th
The Goal:
Activities will include:
The goal of Mental Health Awareness Week is to provide students with tools to enhance, manage, and support their own mental health, as well as to identify additional issues they may face as physicians.
• Speakers discussing how to be a happy physician, stress, self-care, substance abuse and addiction, and more topics! • Wellness activities such as yoga and zumba • A dedicated space for rest and relaxation • Facilitated small group discussions about: - Managing relationships during medical school - Identifying and sharing healthy coping mechanisms - Anxiety management - School stress and more
DO Day of Wellness Unlike every other day, when ice cream sandwiches are decidedly absent from the RVU campus, February 9th was declared DO Day of Wellness and ice cream sandwiches were had by all. RVUCOM's SGA planned and hosted the day-long event which also included free breakfast burritos, yoga sessions, and spikeball. Joseph LaPorta, OMS-II, SGA President, said, "We are excited to take some time to appreciate student doctors and physicians! Keep being awesome!"
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Upcoming Activities
• A dedicated rest and relaxation room • More resources on the counseling website • Useful community resources • Additional wellness-related links for home use (guided breathing videos, meditation, yoga) • Watch for announcements on the bulletin board outside Student Affairs for suggestions, tips, tools, and information
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Forget the Sheep: Tips for a More Productive Sleep by Laura Mohr, PhD, Director of Counseling Services
Have you ever woken up from a night of "sleep" feeling like your limbs were filled with lead? Do you have a hard time falling asleep or staying asleep? Yes, this all sounds like a commercial on daytime television. But these are complaints that I hear over and over again. Here are suggestions to combat restlessness, seize a restful night of sleep, and banish those lead-filled limbs in the morning. First, dedicate time after studying to "wind down" before trying to sleep. Your brain can’t just switch off after studying; it needs time to unwind slowly. I recommend ideally a 90-minute, 3-part cooldown: • For the first 30 minutes, take care of chores, laundry, dishes, whatever non-school-related responsibilities you have. This will give your brain a trigger that the activity has changed and your mind will feel more organized with the cleaner environment. • For the next 30 minutes, incorporate activities that are a bit more fun: Skype or talk to family and friends or read a novel (not school-related), watch TV, whatever you enjoy for fun. • For the last 30 minutes, start to send signals to your brain that sleep is forthcoming with quiet, pre-restorative sleep activities. Turn off all lights except one or light candles. Meditate or engage in religious reflection. Get dressed for bed. Read something short, such as articles from the newspaper—not a novel or long story. Work on a Sudoku or crossword puzzle. Color in an adult (or children’s) coloring book. The goal of this is to keep your brain occupied enough to remain focused on the present and to not revert to high activity (schoolwork). This phase conditions your brain that sleep is approaching via as many senses as possible, so repetition is important. After the pre-restorative phase, go to bed. If you toss and turn for more than 20 minutes, get out of bed and go back to the pre-restorative phase, then go back to bed. If you wake in the middle of the night, return to the third phase for 20 minutes and repeat as necessary. After 2-3 nights of following such a routine, you should see an improvement in the quality of your sleep. In addition to incorporating an intentional and enjoyable bedtime routine, avoid naps during the day, avoid caffeine (certainly later in the day), and avoid using your bed for activities other than sleep (watching TV, reading, etc.). The goal is to train your body that when it is in bed, it needs to sleep. Sleep is time your brain turns the short-term memories of the material you just studied into long-term knowledge. Designate some down time after studying to take care of chores, talk to friends and family, and then meditate to let your mind wind down for the night. Remember: your brain is a muscle; after working it so hard (studying), you need to allow it to cool down before trying to move into any kind of quality restorative sleep. Quality sleep is an investment today to produce quality studying tomorrow.
Welcome Kade Rucker, Counseling Intern
Hailing from Aurora, Colorado, Kade earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from Brigham Young University in Idaho. He is currently working on a Masters of Arts degree in Counseling from Colorado Christian University. Kade has worked as an intern at St. Anthony Juvenile Correction, a psychosocial rehabilitation specialist at Access Point Family Services, a drop-out interventionist at New American School, and currently works as a seminar teacher at New American School. Kade’s desire to intern at RVUCOM stems from personal experience with the students. He understands, in part, the pressure that medical students are under and would like to help by providing counseling support for all aspects of life. Kade is passionate about helping students and their families manage stress and overcome the barriers that stand in their way. Kade has been married for three years and comes from a family of four. He loves watching the Broncos and playing racquetball. Kade will be available one evening during the week on Monday, Wednesday, or Thursday from 6 to 9pm, as well as most Fridays and Saturdays during the day.
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Meet the Class of '19 Track Students! 16
Academic Medicine Physician-Scientist Honors Track Back row, l-r: Alexandra Scoles, Heros Amerkhanian, Alex Grover; Front row, l-r: Alisa Kim, Grace Kim, Binh Pham. Not Pictured: Spencer Hill, Lisa Moore.
Global Medicine Honors Track Back row, l-r: Jordan Verlare, Aiden Reid, Daniel Bernet, Chris Canario, Jordan Heser, Kyle Phipps, Shreyash Pradhan; Front row, l-r: Ashley Ostler, Emma Boesel, Taylor Reiser, Tate Van Winkle, Mykenzie Mattheis. Not pictured: Elisabeth Linxwiler.
Rural & Wilderness Medicine Honors Track Back row, l-r: Danny Ernest, Timothy Chilton, Anne Ickes, Tyson Torgersen, Samuel Holley, Trenton Argyle, McKenna Abercrombie; Front row, l-r: Chelsea Moody, Emily Piekenbrock, Katie Teixeira, Coleen Waterhouse, Claire Clifton. Not pictured: Alisha Cluff, Charles Haverty.
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Military Medicine Elective Enrichment Track Back row, l-r: Devyn Holmstead, Tanner Coleman, Jeffrey Schenck, Katrina Wells, Graey Wolfley, Shane Farley Front row, l-r: Amanda Ammentorp, Mallory Krueger, Rachel Emery, Michelle Lu, Penny Herder, Danyelle Beltz, Renato Rapada. Not pictured: Nolan Andres, Michael Bork, Gavin Cardwell, Taylor Duncan, Benjamin Ehrlich, Ian Prichard, Zach Wagner.
Tips for Achieving Your Academic Target by Judy Thorton, Director of Educational Support
• Be an active learner. Involve yourself when you are reading, writing, speaking and listening. Take notes; make charts, pictures, and graphs; talk with your classmates about what is important; teach each other key concepts. • Ask questions about topics before, during, and after lectures. If you don’t ask questions, you won’t be able to determine what you know and don’t know. • Look for ways to integrate and apply concepts. The content of every lecture is a system of interconnected ideas and concepts, never a random list of things to memorize. Don’t just memorize. Study like a detective, continually relating new learning to things you already know. • Practice thinking about the fundamental concepts and principles of the course during class. Don’t sit back passively, waiting for knowledge to fall into your head, because it won’t. • Relate content to real life experiences. If you can’t connect the concepts to your life or that of a future patient, you don’t know it. • Ask yourself if you can explain the information or concept to someone else. If not, then you haven’t learned it well enough. • Routinely ask questions to fill in the missing pieces. Can you elaborate further on the topic you are studying? Can you give an example? If you can’t give examples, you aren’t connecting what you are learning. • Quiz yourself before lecture. Try to summarize the main points/ topics/concepts from the previous lecture. If you can’t summarize the main points, you haven’t learned them. • Write summaries in your own words. Writing summaries in your own words of the important points from your lectures, textbook, and other readings is an effective way of learning. Make up your own test questions and write out the answers. • Frequently test your listening skills. Are you actively listening for main points/concepts? Can you summarize what the lecturer has said in your own words? Can you elaborate the key terms in your own words? • Frequently test your reading skills. Are you reading actively? Did you ask yourself questions before, during and after your reading? Were you able to determine what you understood from what you didn’t? • Find the key concept of the course. All courses have some inherent unity and when you understand it, will tie all the learning of the course together. The unity is typically found in the foundational ideas that define the course and its goals.
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Library Dedicated in Honor of Dr. Ames RVU’s Health Sciences Library was recently renamed in honor of the late Frank Ritchel Ames, PhD, MA, MDiv. Dr. Ames was a founding faculty member of RVU. During his tenure, he served as the Director of Library Services, the Chair and Professor of Medical Informatics, and founding Chair of the Department of Medical Humanities. To everyone who knew and worked with him, he was a humanitarian, a scholar, a teacher, and a friend. The renaming and dedication of the library as the Frank Ritchel Ames Memorial Library took place on December 18th, 2015 with faculty, staff, students, friends, and family in attendance. Thomas Told, DO, FACOFP dist., Dean of RVUCOM, began the event with a story of a wooden beam, hidden above the ceiling tiles in the library, on which all founding faculty members—including Dr. Ames—had signed their names. Brian Schwartz, MLIS, Associate Professor of Medical Informatics delivered the dedication, noting, "The most significant, the most lasting, the most important, and the most fitting tribute we can make to Frank and to his memory is to continue to train, educate, produce dedicated physicians, [who will serve] their patients with compassion, with the greatest knowledge possible of the human body, of physiology, pharmacology, and pathology—and with the utmost clarity that their mission...is not only the excellent practice of medicine, but the humane practice of excellent medicine." With that, Mr. Schwartz dedicated the library as a place of scholarship, of the study of medicine, and of the pursuit of knowledge. It will also be "a place of gathering, of community, of laughter and tears, of warmth and kinship, dedicated to a higher purpose and intent on achieving our dreams and his."
Meet RVUCOM's New Ambassadors!
Back Row, l-r: Emil Patel (alternate), Shreyash Pradhan, Aidan Reid, Mykenzie Mattheis, Ben Ehrlich, Veeral Katheria, Melanie White, Hunter Aronson, Ryan Thompson, McKenna Abercrombie, Catlin Caines; Front Row, l-r: Alisa Kim, Gennarina Riso, Lisa Moore, Alexa Tyler, Tate Van Winkle. Not pictured: Zeke Clemmens. Candidates for the ambassador position were chosen by faculty, staff, fellows, and current ambassadors, based on academic performance and attitude and represent a variety of backgrounds, experiences, interests, and skills. They will represent the school while meeting with prospective students, physicians, legislators, and other individuals and organizations. Welcome and congratulations, Class of 2019 Ambassadors!
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Students Become Certified AWLS Responders in the Snow Thanks to the RVU Wilderness Medicine Student Interest Group (WMSIG), students had an opportunity to take an Advanced Wilderness Life Support (AWLS) course in mid-December. The objective of the course was to enable medical professionals to prevent and effectively manage emergency medical situations outside of traditional medical facilities. The course format included lectures, followed by hands-on teaching and mock victim scenarios. Topics covered in the course focused on typical scenarios of wilderness emergencies including animal, insect, arthropod, marine bites and stings, avalanches, hyperthermia, frostbite, lighting, high-altitude-related problems, and infectious diseases—to name a few. "The most valuable aspect of the course," said Danika Evans, OMS-II, Vice President of the WMSIG, "was the opportunity to start learning how to make medical decisions in an environment that requires creativity, improvisation, and on-your-feet thinking. Wilderness medicine requires consideration of scene safety and weather. [This] often requires the triage of multiple victims, and requires the caregiver to step outside of the comfort of four walls of a hospital or clinic and use whatever resources they have on their person, their back, or in the surrounding environment." In addition, the course was planned on a weekend that happened to be cold and snowy—perfect for a course focusing on performing in adverse conditions. At the completion of the course, all 35 first- and second-year medical students became certified AWLS responders. A special thank-you to the instructor and founder of the course, Dr. Richard Ingebretsen, who traveled to Colorado to instruct the course! Photos courtesy of SD Evans.
Students learned to place c-collars using SAM splints—which are sheets of aluminum foil and foam — to stabilize the head and neck. They also practiced primary assessment and c-spine protective precautions and stabilization.
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Upcoming CME Courses April 15-17, 2016 "Introduction to Visceral Manipulation" 20 hours CME Course Directors: Adrienne Kania, DO, NMM-OMM and Dana Anglund, DO, NMM-OMM This introduces the concept of visceral somatic dysfunction, review abdominal anatomy, and instruct the participant in how to treat the disorder. The directors have extensive experience in treating visceral somatic dysfunctions such as gastroesophageal reflux, gallstones, constipation, and other conditions. Open to all DO and MD fourth-year medical students, residents, and physicians. May 2-6, 2016 "Introduction to Osteopathy in the Cranial Field" 40 hours 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 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 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.
Drug and Alcohol Prevention for Health Care Professionals by Terence Brennan, PhD, Assistant Director of Compliance and Quality Assurance Did you know that… • • • •
10-15% of all health care professionals inappropriately use drugs or alcohol at some point during their careers. 15% of medical students scored positive for at-risk drinking. 33.4% of medical students reported using one or more illicit drugs in the past year. 16.8% of medical students report lifetime use of “club drugs” (e.g. MDMA, cocaine).
If you are struggling with a drug or alcohol problem, contact: Colorado Physician Health Program (CPHP) 899 Logan St., Suite 410, Denver, CO 80203; (303) 860-0122 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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Volunteer Efforts • RVU’s Rotary Community Corps (RCC/RVU) teamed up with members of the Parker Rotary Club and the Parker Task Force for a food drive. The drive collected donations for the Parker Task Force, a non-profit organization that provides food, financial assistance, and other services to help those in need to become selfsufficient. The food drive was a great success as 364 boxes of food were collected along with cash and gift cards totaling $3,865. • During an upcoming trip to El Salvador with Global Health Outreach (a partner of Christian Medical and Dental Associations), Cynthia Omega, OMS-II, will be providing medical services, as well as conducting activities and classes for children about health. To prepare for this trip, SD Omega implored students to help her make bracelets. These bracelets will be handed out to children in the community to help them with their lessons. "With the help of this wonderful team," said SD Omega, "we were able to make almost 200 bracelets!" • Students, along with Tiemdow Phumiruk, MD, Adjunct Faculty, volunteered at the Crisis Center in February, performing physical exams on the shelter's residents. To participate, students previously had to attend a session in which they learn the best ways to talk to victims of abuse.
Making bracelets for a good cause
Crisis Center volunteers
• Nearly 20 students volunteered at the National Western Stock Show, conducting health screenings and taking blood pressure readings, testing blood sugar and cholesterol levels, and vaccinating. Aaron Jones, OMS-I, who coordinated the event said, "It's a great opportunity to practice talking to people. [And it's nice for RVU to] finally have some representation at the stock show."
Stock show volunteers
Dillon and Darby Take DIA with United Paws Dillon and Darby, RVU’s beloved golden retriever pet therapy dogs, recently ventured to Denver International Airport to provide some comfort to those traveling for the holidays. The event, United Paws, was created by United Airlines in an effort to ease the tensions that holiday travel can often cause by bringing professionally trained comfort dogs to the airport. Dillon and Darby were stationed at the United Airlines gates in Terminal B. As passengers were waiting for delayed flights or trying to entertain small children, they found the dogs to be a delightful distraction. Michael Tieman, MD, Chair and Professor of Specialty Medicine, owner of the dogs, remarked, "As with any event like this, the highlight for us was the positive reactions and appreciation that the passengers showed towards the dogs and towards us."
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Campus Tidbits Kathryn Pate, PhD, (below left) Assistant Professor of Physiology, won first place in her division at the Cold War Classic Cyclocross Bike Race in Castle Rock on January 2nd. This was an intense race through the snowy Plum Creek Trail with multiple obstacles and terrains. Great work, Dr. Pate!
The SGA of RVU has posted a new episode of "Morning Rounds" the YouTube show in which they provide updates about events, clubs, and general happenings around campus. Check it out at http://bit.ly/1XgJYy0.
RVU's Student American Osteopathic Academy of Orthopedics (SAOAO) recently welcomed Nathan Donaldson, DO, orthopedist at Children's Hospital Colorado. He spoke about his work in pediatric orthopedic oncology, as well as the rewards and challenges that go along with it.
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Security officers were honored at the ASIS International (an association of security professionals) conference on February 4th. Each officer was presented with a certificate. Tom "TJ" Johnson received a special award for his heroism and dedication to RVU's safety. Andrew Stevens, Security Supervisor, said, "He has shown nothing but true professionalism...it is a pleasure to work alongside TJ (and all our officers) as we share a common vision and mission of providing a safe educational and working environment for the RVU community." Congratulations, TJ!
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Campus Tidbits RVU’s chapter of Christian Medical and Dental Association (CMDA) brought in guest speaker, Walt Larimore, MD, to speak about the importance of gathering a patient’s spiritual history, in addition to their medical history. Jared Sanderford, OMS-II, CMDA Student Chapter President, organized the event noting, "Whether spirituality is important to you or not, it will be to many of our patients."
Tate Van Winkle, OMS-I, was engaged to Michael Correll in December. They will be married on July 2, 2016 in Larkspur. They met in 2011 at Michael's indoor soccer game in Colorado Springs. Congratulations, SD Van Winkle!
Students coordinated a photo to show support for Dorian, a young boy with terminal cancer who wants "to be famous." As student doctor Tiffany Robak said, "I find it really inspiring when a young child has such a huge spirit. It is children like him that remind me (and, hopefully, you) of why we are here."
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Residents Learn the Art of Open Surgery Laparoscopy, a surgery performed through a small incision, is changing the way today’s residents experience surgeries. With many more procedures being done laparoscopically, they don’t experience as much open surgery as in the past (despite this being an important skill surgeons need to have). Because of this problem, the Swedish Hospital Surgery Residency program director, Dr. Emmett McGuire contacted RVU to learn more about our Surgery Simulation Center and the cut suit. Anthony LaPorta, MD, FACS, Professor of Clinical Surgery, and Michael Tieman, MD, Chair & Professor of Specialty Medicine, welcomed the residents and, along with Dr. McGuire, performed an open appendectomy and a major abdominal case (specifically, a colon injury as the result from a mass casualty event) using cut suits. Dr. Tieman noted, "One of the benefits of working with the cut suit is that surgeons are able to discuss various possible situations and outcomes without being worried about getting the patient out of anesthesia. Another benefit is that the surgeon can allow the residents to make mistakes, which will [ideally] help prevent those mistakes from happening later." The cut suit is capable of repeated surgeries and, with positive feedback from the program director and residents, it is likely that this collaboration will continue with future events.
Preceptors Honored with Denver-Area Reception While the city of Greenwood Village was desolate on the chilly evening of February 4th, the preceptor reception at the DoubleTree was lively, with conversation, laughter, and delicious aromas filling the air. The department of Clinical Affairs hosted a reception for metropolitan-area preceptors—skilled practitioners who supervise RVUCOM students in clinical settings—to honor and thank them. "This was a great opportunity to meet and greet our wonderful preceptors," said Rose Powell, Clinical Rotations Coordinator. "It was valuable to listen to [them discuss] the clinical experiences and to ask how we can help provide a better experience for the rotations." After time for mingling and eating had passed, awards were handed out to three physicians: Doru Georgescu, MD, FACS, and Joseph Morreale, MD, of Center for Spinal Disorders; and Gagandeep Singh, MD, of Life Care Center of Aurora. These preceptors, it was explained, were unceasing in their graciousness to bring on more and more students, providing valuable learning experiences for the students. To cap the evening, names were drawn for door prizes: gift baskets filled with delicious treats.
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Achieving New Heights Highlighting the Accomplishments of Our Faculty, Staff and Physicians in Training
Matt Jacobs, OMSIII (left), and David Wichmann, OMSIII (right), presented research on the cut suit at the International Meeting on Simulation in Healthcare (IMSH) in San Diego in January. The research, titled "Use of Salivary Biometrics and Heart Rate Monitoring for Optimizing Training" looked at how it's possible to use both monitoring of salivary stress bio-markers, as well as continuous monitoring and analysis of heart rate R-R microvariability to assess stress levels in participants in training and use that biofeedback to modify the training to achieve stress levels that are most conducive to rapid and efficacious learning.
Jennifer Montemayor, PhD, Associate Professor of Physiology and Phase Director of Year 2, published research titled, "Early-phase satellite cell and myonuclear domain adaptations to slow-speed vs. traditional resistance training programs" in the Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research. This identified adaptations in satellite cell content and myonuclear domain size of skeletal muscle cells biopsied from the vastus lateralis muscle of 34 subjects following 6-week, slow-speed vs. "normal speed" resistance training programs. Tina Underwood, MAEd, Associate Director of Clinical Assessment & Simulation, became a Certified Healthcare Simulator Educator, positioning her as a leader and publicly demonstrating her commitment to being the best in simulation education. Those with this designation exhibit a commitment to continued professional development and lifelong learning and is an avenue to receive international recognition for their professional accomplishments.
Students Present at the RVU A. Hollis Wolf Competition On February 18th, RVU held its annual A. Hollis Wolf competition, in which students present their research orally, with the hopes of being selected to represent the school at the nationwide competition. The winning student this year was Lauren Dorsey-Spitz, OMS-II, with her presentation, "Recurrent Alopecia and Associated Lymphatic Stasis." She discussed the treatment of recurring patchy alopecia in a patient with a history of alopecia totalis (total loss of hair on her scalp). SD DorseySpitz used OMT to target the underlying cause of this autoimmune disease, through techniques that optimize lymphatic flow, finding that the techniques provided significant improvement in the area of hair growth. Congratulations, SD Dorsey-Spitz!
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Welcome to our New Faculty and Staff! Trina Duran Medical Assistant Trina calls Denver, Colorado her hometown. She has an Associates degree and has worked at Denver Health for the past three years as a Medical Assistant. During her time at Denver Health, she gained valuable real-world medical experience that will serve her well at the clinic. Trina is looking forward to working with the residents, physicians, and patients. Trina heard about RVU from a coworker, Marissa Orona. Once she visited, she knew that RVU would be a fantastic place to work. She is excited to utilize her skills to teach others and is looking forward to working with the students. Trina is married with four children, one of whom is currently attending UNC. She enjoys volunteering with her church, helping others, and giving back to the community. She is also part of a community garden. Welcome, Trina! Chuck Leary Security Officer Chuck is from Washington, DC, but was raised on Long Island, New York. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in English, with a minor in History, from St. Lawrence University in Canton, NY. He was First Lieutenant in the US Army SSO 23rd Infantry Division (America), Chu Lai, Vietnam, and has received the Bronze Star. During a 40-year career in radio—beginning at a college radio station and progressing to work for KYGO-FM—he has toured with major bands including America, the Bee Gees, and the Beach Boys. He even received a gold record for America’s Homecoming album. In addition to touring and managing, he also performed and wrote songs with various bands.
in coordinating the Christmas Crusade for Children with local law enforcement agencies and is an honorary lieutenant with Denver Police Department for his efforts. He is thrilled to be at RVUCOM and to work with students who are serving the higher calling of medicine. He says the students and mission of RVUCOM are an inspiration. Chuck is a single father of two sons and four daughters and has eight grandchildren. He enjoys baseball, skiing, ice hockey, and, of course, music. He is also "trying to cope as an analog guy in a digital world." He is still very active with his music and intends to "make good on the threat to form yet another band" and is having a guitar refurbished to this end. His final words: "Vinyl is back!" Welcome, Chuck! Sebastian Nunez Security Officer Sebastian Nunez (or just Nunez as he is known by his friends) is from Aurora, Colorado. He has worked for MediaOne, AT&T Broadband, Comcast, Time Warner Cable, Time Warner Telecom, Level3 Communications, and Cbeyond Communications as a Switch Technician/Engineer. He has 20 years of communications experience, including 17 years in the US Army and Colorado Army National Guard, where he received numerous awards. Between the Army and working for multiple companies, he is excited to settle down and call RVU his home. Nunez has 11 children (four of which still live at home), 7 grandchildren, and a puppy. During his free time, Nunez can be found playing soccer, watching movies, or at the shooting range. He enjoys shooting and teaching forms and techniques to new shooters. Welcome, Sebastian!
His desire to work in security stems from his experience
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Welcome to our New Faculty and Staff! David Ross, DO, FACEP Director, Rural and Wilderness Medicine Honors Track Associate Director, Military Medicine Track Assistant Professor, Specialty Medicine Dr. Ross was born and raised in Montreal, Canada. He earned his Bachelors degree from the University of Washington, then his Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree as part of the first graduating class at Western University, College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific in Pomona, California. He completed an internship at the Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine, then served for three years of active duty, and six years as a reservist, in the United States Air Force serving as a flight surgeon. This was followed by an emergency medicine residency and a fellowship in hyperbaric medicine at Louisiana State University School of Medicine New Orleans and Charity Hospital. He is board certified in both emergency medicine and emergency medical services. He spent 20 years in emergency medicine at Penrose Hospital and St. Francis Medical Center in Colorado Springs. During that time, he became the medical director of a helicopter EMS program, as well as the medical director of approximately 40 ground ambulance services and fire departments located across eastern and central Colorado. Dr. Ross enjoys teaching, with experience teaching during his residency and fellowship, as a part-time clinical faculty member at the University of Colorado School of Medicine, and providing education for flight nurses, paramedics and emergency medical technicians. He says he sees helping students at RVU achieve their residency and practice goals as vital for the best patient care and, therefore, the most important part of his job at RVU. In his spare time, Dr. Ross enjoys music, aviation, most sports, and old British sports cars. He and his wife, Linda, have four children, all of whom are grown and scattered around the country. He is a huge Eric Clapton fan and would love to be able to play the guitar like Clapton does, but, somehow, never gets there. Welcome, Dr. Ross!
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Brieanna Seefeldt, DO Adjunct Faculty, OPP Department Dr. Seefeldt came to Colorado from South Lake Tahoe, California. She received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Anthropology, from the University of California Berkeley and her Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree from Touro University College of Osteopathic Medicine. She completed her undergraduate predoctoral teaching fellowship with the Department of OMM at Touro, as well. Dr. Seefeldt went on to be Chief Resident during her Swedish Medical Center's Family Medicine Residency. She has received such awards as the Larry Green Award for Leadership in Family Medicine, the Excellence in Behavioral Science Award, and the Compassionate Care Award. In addition to joining the staff at RVUCOM, she also serves as an attending physician at Whole Family Health at Belmar in the family medicine department, using her obstetrics and osteopathic training. She is also an adjunct faculty member at the University of Colorado and Swedish Family Medicine Residency, in the obstetrics department. In her own words, she comes to RVUCOM "to share my passion for osteopathic medicine with students. When it comes to OMM, it's easy to forget that the techniques you learn in school are great tools you can use clinically. The skill you develop in OMM lab to palpate and diagnose with your hands will serve you if you plan to be a surgeon, an emergency physician, or a doctor that specializes in OMM." She is passionate about obstetrics, pediatrics, integrative medicine, and teaching. Dr. Seefeldt has two children, ages 3 1/2 and 1 1/2. Her husband works in biotech. She can be often be found outdoors climbing, skiing, camping, or generally enjoying the mountains with her family and their labradoodle. Though originally from Tahoe, Dr. Seefeldt grew up in a small town of about 150 people on the eastern Sierra and loves being from a small town. Welcome, Dr. Seefeldt!
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Welcome to our New Faculty and Staff! Juliana Starzyk Family Medicine Residency Coordinator Juliana is originally from Campinas, Brazil. She graduated with a Bachelors degree in International Hospitality Management from Les Roches International School of Hotel Management in Switzerland. After graduation, she moved to Colorado. She was hired at The St. Regis Resort in Aspen, where she met her husband. Later, she moved to Denver, attended pastry school, and opened her own pastry shop called Juliana’s Bakery and Cakery. Shortly before her son was born, she decided the long hours and lack of time off were not conducive to having a newborn and closed her storefront.
Juliana is excited to be a part of the Family Medicine Residency, as it allows her to use her customer service skills and business experience to support students. She loves Denver and says, of the three countries she has lived in, the US is her favorite (though she isn’t crazy about the winters). She spends as much time as possible outdoors during the summer; walking, taking her 16-monthold son to the park, and swimming. There’s never a dull moment at her home and she still enjoys baking whenever she has time. Welcome, Juliana!
Promotions and Appointments
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Jeff Adams has been promoted to Information Technology Systems Engineer. He will perform technical design and implementation at the highest level of mission critical enterprise systems, system administration, and the redesign and configuration of operating systems and applications. Jeff has been with RVU since 2008.
Sarah Chavez has been promoted from Financial Aid Counselor to Assistant Director of Student Financial Services and Compliance. Her duties include support for students applying for financial aid, offering loan counseling, assisting with Title IV regulations and ensuring RVU remains in compliance. Sarah has been with RVU since 2012.
Melissa Blomquist has been promoted to Testing Center Coordinator. She will create, monitor, and score all written exams for first- and second-year students and special courses for thirdyear students. She will also schedule proctors and exams and ensure exam security. Melissa has been with RVU since 2010.
Josnda Cole has been promoted to Student Financial Services Assistant/VA Certifying Official. She will continue her previous role as Cashier. She has been with RVU since 2011.
Duane Brandau, DO, PhD, has been appointed the Interim Department Chair of Biomedical Sciences and Interim Director of Masters of Science in Biomedical Sciences program. He will continue his roles as Chair and Professor of Molecular Medicine and Associate Dean of Clinical Affairs. Dr. Brandau has been with RVU since 2008.
Kelly Farr has been promoted to Human Resources Coordinator. Her duties include overseeing the new hire process, records review and maintenance, benefits, Jenzabar, annual surveys, speaker/lecturer agreements, and evaluation process. Kelly has been with RVU since February 2015.
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Promotions and Appointments Jenifer Fisher has been promoted to Reference Librarian. Her duties will now include: furthering the mission and vision of Frank Ritchel Ames Memorial Library by providing faculty and students with enhanced and optimal access to the library’s full collection of resources. Jenifer has been with RVU since 2014.
Teresa Moore has been promoted to OMM/OPP and Structural Medicine Coordinator. Her duties include coordinating credentialing processes for faculty at Sky Ridge; supporting OPP and Anatomy fellows; coordinating with adjunct faculties for events and labs. Teresa has been with RVU since 2013.
Autumn Flansburg has been promoted from Library Clerk to Library Assistant. Her duties will now include: Assisting students with library materials, printers, and assisting Brian and Jen with various projects. Autumn has been with RVU since January 2015.
Bonnie Robinson has been promoted to Cataloging Librarian. Her duties will now include: cataloging, classifying, and organizing all materials in the Frank Ritchel Ames Memorial Library, helping maintain the integrated library system and the physical collection. Bonnie has been with RVU since 2011.
Amber Heck, PhD, has been appointed the Director of Faculty Development. Her duties include: providing vision and oversight for faculty development; determining appropriate support, resources, and training to faculty. She will also continue her previous role as Associate Professor of Molecular Biology. She has been with RVU since 2010. Thomas "TJ" Johnson has been promoted to Security Training Officer. His duties will now include: scheduling, regulating and performing training operations for security personnel, ensuring safety of all staff, faculty, students, and visitors while at RVU. TJ has been with RVU since 2013.
Melanie Soard has been promoted to Student Records Coordinator. Her duties will now include: coordinating medical student's background checks, drug screens, graduate residency, and licensure paperwork. Melanie has been with RVU since 2012.
Congratulations to everyone on their achievements and great work!
Our Condolences
Recently, a member of the RVU family (who will remain anonymous due to being a standardized patient) lost her young son in a tragic accident in Parker, Colorado. We wish the family peace during this difficult time. A memorial fund has been created for the family to help with expenses and memorial contributions: Please visit https://www.gofundme.com/3ejwb6cs to contribute. Our thoughts are with you and your family.
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VU
From the Rocky Vista University Alumni Association
A LU M N I A SSO C I AT ION
Dear Alumni, I hope that 2016 is treating you well and that you are off to a running start! Please let us know all of the incredible things you are doing so we can highlight your accomplishments in the Vista View. As the first quarter of the year passes, the Alumni Association is gearing up for a new addition in the next few months. The RVUCOM Class of 2016 has completed the military and osteopathic matches. Our future graduates have be accepted in top programs throughout the country. We look forward to learning where they will all train after the allopathic match in March. Good luck to everyone participating. There will be an important Alumni Association meeting prior to graduation where we discuss the important benefits of being in the Association. Being a member of the Association isn’t just significant for our future alumni. For our current alumni, please consider joining the Association and giving back to the place that gave you your foundation in medicine! Being a member of the Alumni Association allows you to be connected with RVU and your RVU family! It is $25 dollars for every year while in residency and $75 dollars when you reach attending status. Besides networking and keeping you connected with RVU alum and the university, the Association prides itself on providing scholarship opportunities for current students. One of the most special scholarships is one in memory of Brandon Trusell who was a member of the Class of 2013 and, unfortunately, lost his life in an accident while returning home for the holidays during winter break. Brandon’s family and friends contribute to make this scholarship possible. If you would like to contribute to the scholarship fund, please contact Julie Rosenthal at jrosenthal@rvu.edu. We will be having an Alumni Association meeting towards the end of this month. If you have any questions, concerns, or ideas, please let us know by contacting Julie or myself at dockatz0211@gmail.com. Wishes for continued success now and always! Sincerely,
Brandon Trusell Memorial Scholarship Thank you to this quarter's generous scholarship donors! Dr. James Trusell and Dr. Kathryn Trusell $5,000
Heather L. Katz, DO '12 Alumni Association President
Conklin Family Foundation $500 Dr. Clinton Adams and Paula Adams $100 If you would like to contribute, contact Julie at jrosenthal@rvu.edu.
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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 Patrick Craig, DO '13, and his wife welcomed a son, Liam. Dr. Craig is currently a third-year resident in the Diagnostic Radiology program at University of Kansas School of Medicine - Wichita.
Genevieve Hillis, DO '14, became engaged to David Goetz. She is currently a resident of the Emergency Medicine program at Medical College of Georgia at Georgia Regents University.
Garrett Koon, DO '15, and Amber Koon, DO '14, welcomed a son, Hudson Luke on January 24, 2016. They live in Jackson, Michigan, where Amber is a resident of general surgery at Allegiance Health and Garrett is a resident of pediatrics at Western Michigan University Homer Stryker MD School of Medicine. Mellyna McGlothlin, DO '13, and her husband, Ian, welcomed a daughter, Maia. Dr. McGlothlin is a third-year resident at University of Colorado Health in Fort Collins, Colorado.
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Job Acceptances, Fellowships, and Other Accomplishments Jeremy Jie Casey, DO '15, and Annaliese Stone Casey, DO '15, have founded a scholarship program at Metropolitan State University called the Dr. Linda B. White Integrative Health Endowed Scholarship, in honor of his mentor and former professor. The scholarship will be granted to students in the Integrative Health Care Program at Metro. They are currently first-year residents in the Central Washington Family Medicine program in Ellensburg, Washington. Melanie Gray, DO '12, opened a practice in Flower Mound, Texas called Primary Care Associates of Texas. She completed her residency at University of North Texas Health Science Center-Plaza Medical Center and is board certified in Internal Medicine. Chris Regan, DO '13, began a fellowship in Neonatology at Ohio State University's Nationwide Children's Hospital. He also serves as Chief Resident.
Remember to submit your accomplishments, news, updates, and photos to marketing@rvu.edu!
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Save the Date!
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