Rocky Vista University's Vista View: September Issue

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September 2015 Newsletter

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Celebrating the Life of

Frank Ritchel Ames, PhD Humanitarian•Scholar•Teacher•Friend April 1955 - August 2015

Inside White Coat Ceremony Focuses on Mind, Body, and Spirit

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Students Clean Up Denver's Platte River for Service Day

RVUCOM Professor Performs Surgery in Zero Gravity

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Celebrating the Life of

Frank Ritchel Ames, PhD Frank was the collective conscience of this institution. He was the mooring we needed to remind us that it was not about the faculty, administration, institution, or really even the students—it is ultimately about the patients who will need these students to be great and humane physicians. Frank had a divinity degree, which made him a member of the clergy—but he was a most irreverent Reverend. Frank was the angel on our collective shoulder, but we never quite knew on any given day if he’d be wearing the halo or not. But even in those times of silliness or schadenfreude, Frank was the small voice of our better angels, showing us where to go, even as he teased and giggled about it on the way.

Frank was interested in everything, with unending curiosity and desire to learn. He came to RVU as the expert on librarianship and became fascinated by informatics and ethics. After he mastered those—which, for him, probably took about three weeks—his curiosity turned to medical humanities, and he spearheaded the University to found the department. I would imagine that most, if not all, great ideas at RVU started because Frank had an idea and a book, which surreptitiously found its way onto someone’s desk. He had also studied religion, librarianship, warfare, gender roles—every subject held intellectual value for him. Frank’s study of the bible, of medical librarianship, of education was scholarly but not purely theoretical—he never lost sight of the humanistic element in the subjects we taught, because he never lost sight of the humanity in himself. The things he learned and embraced, he did so with enthusiasm and in a way that was critical without criticizing. He learned without judgment, accepted without cynicism, and had a plan without having an agenda. He showed us how to disagree without being disagreeable, that both beauty and opportunities for growth exist in our differences. It is respectful and collegial to argue and opine; apples and oranges are far more similar than different; and people may have opposite perspectives but can teach, write, or learn together.

One of the phrases that was used most at RVU over the last seven-plus years was, "Frank will know what to do." Whenever we were stuck—Frank would know what to do. Whenever we came upon a political struggle or question of education—Frank would know what to do. When we lost our way, lost our focus, or lost our grounding—Frank would know what to do. And now Frank is gone and we are a poorer place for his loss. But we are so very much richer for him having been a part of our lives. Frank handled his diagnosis and illness with more grace and humor than it seems possible.

The legacy Frank left here is tremendous and the impact of his presence will continue to be felt. It is our wish that future students and faculty have a chance to know about him and understand his impact. Thus, with the unanimous mandate of the RVU faculty, the library at RVU will be renamed the Frank Ritchel Ames Memorial Library. We miss you, chief, and we aim to live up to the standard of humanity you set for us all.

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Frank Ritchel Ames was born in April of 1955. He graduated from Denver Seminary with a Master of Divinity degree, from University of Denver with a Master in Library Science, and from the Joint Doctoral Program of University of Denver and Iliff School of Theology with a PhD in Religious Studies. He served as Library Director and Professor of Religious Studies at Colorado Christian University, prior to coming to RVU in 2008, where he acted as Director of Library Sciences, Chair of Medical Informatics, and most recently, Chair of Medical Humanities. He was a member of many organizations, served as Chair for Medical Library Association, and was a board member for the Society of Biblical Literature.

Dr. Ames wrote, edited, and/or contributed to many books and publications, including "Writing and Reading War: Rhetoric, Gender, and Ethics in Biblical and Modern Contexts". He won many awards during his teaching career: Teaching Excellence Award (2008); Faculty Scholarship Award (2006); and Apple Teaching Award (1999, 2000, 2003, 2005).

Dr. Ames had two children and several grandchildren. He passed away on August 23, 2015, with his wife, Laurie, by his side.

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President's Message New Beginnings: Class of 2019 Arrives

by Cheryl D. Lovell, PhD, President and CEO With the incoming Class of 2019, we have a wonderful opportunity to share the "RVU Way" of preparing osteopathic physicians and to renew our sense of dedication and commitment to their successes. I’m confident that their decision to attend RVU shows very good judgment on their part; I am equally sure we will more than prepare them to achieve their lifelong goal of becoming osteopathic physicians.

Having been selected from approximately 6,000 applicants (2.8% of the pool), the Class of 2019 has great academic credentials. The class has a mean science GPA of 3.60 and a MCAT score of 28.5. Twenty-eight students (17%) hold graduate degrees. In keeping with our military-friendly status, 23 students from this class are in the Health Professions Scholarship Program (HPSP). The Class of 2019 is comprised of 54% male and 46% female and the age range is from 21 to 38, with a mean of 24.8.

The Class of 2019 also has very interesting hobbies and backgrounds, from barrel racing and rock climbing to hula dancing. We have several actresses, a wilderness first responder, a television film producer, and an inner tube water polo player. Twenty-three members of the class are related to a physician and eleven members were born outside of the United States. Numerous students have been college athletes and a large number have served on

A visitor from the Saudi Electronic University presents Dr. Lovell with a token of appreciation

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at least one overseas mission.

Many students have had a great deal of volunteer medical experience prior to enrollment. Clearly, we have a great new class. Collectively, they are strong academically and have a variety of creative interests, backgrounds, and skills.

We welcome our new class and look forward to sharing the "RVU Way" with you. Congratulations on becoming a member of our RVU Community!

In addition to the new class, we also have new faculty and staff members to welcome. Their photos and brief bios are noted later in this newsletter. It is important to keep our talent pipeline going as our additional members contribute greatly to our successes.

With the beginning of the 2015-2016 academic year, we are also engaged in expanding our curriculum to fulfill our mission of becoming a comprehensive health sciences university. We are moving forward with our plans to add a Physician Assistant Master degree program and a Biomedical Sciences Master degree program. We continue to make progress in our plans to expand our College of Osteopathic Medicine with an additional location in Utah.

Lots of exciting things are going on for RVU! New beginnings also provide opportunities for starting over and setting new goals. I trust that you have had opportunities to reflect on your own set of goals for this new academic year and that you will find time over this year to be productive and enriching on a personal and professional level. We are constantly saying to our student physicians that their lives will never be the same again.

I also firmly believe, with each student we encounter at RVU, our lives will never be the same again either. Here’s to new beginnings and to the motto that we should "never underestimate your ability to make a difference in the lives of the students you encounter." Make it a great year!

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Dean's Message The Oath and Commitment of Service

by Thomas N. Told, DO, FACOFP, dist., Dean and CAO We have completed our eighth inspiring White Coat Ceremony, inducting 160 new students into RVUCOM's Class of 2019. One of the highlights of the ceremony is the recitation of the Osteopathic Oath at the end. This is a very special event, as it marks a distinct change in the lives of the students who speak its words and live its principles.

I have seen lives touched by the principles embodied in the Osteopathic Oath and I have seen gifted college students transformed into thoughtful, dedicated physicians who entered the practice of medicine with compassion, integrity, and excellence.

The oath's sobering charge to "be mindful always of my great responsibility to preserve the health and life of my patients" is among the most important phrases in the entire text. In this era of employed physicians, we must not allow economic concerns generated by government, employers, or payers to overshadow this sacred charge of protecting the health and lives of our patients. The words of the oath counsel us that we are more than a physician to our patients. We are also their friend and advocate, in whom their most personal thoughts and information are safe and secure. To be effective in this role requires a useful litmus test before recommending or allowing treatment and dispensing information or medicines. That test is simple and proven: ask yourself a simple question, "Would I disclose, release this information, or perform this test or treatment if it were a family member or close friend?" I have used this yardstick many times when formulating treatment plans that were new, less proven, or had some significant element of risk involved. Patients will quickly recognize and feel that personal commitment in their care, which translates into the confidence and trust that is so vital to the art of healing.

Our Osteopathic Oath is just one of many modifications to the original Hippocratic Oath, originally etched on tablets of stone in the ancient world. Major tenants of that oath have been recited by many physicians in diverse parts of the world since the dawn of organized medical thinking.

Those principles of social interaction, responsibility, and commitment between physicians and patients are timeless in their truths and effects. Even when the wording is edited for modern application, these basic truths remain highly relevant in their scope and application.

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The Osteopathic Oath also carries special meaning for me because it was the idea of a family physician, Dr. Frank E. MacCracken, who wanted all osteopathic physicians to "First Do No Harm," thereby staying true to the foundation of our profession. He would later be awarded the first Family Physician of the Year award in 1950 by the American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians for his foresight and dedication. Dr. MacCracken received many accolades from the American Osteopathic Association and headed an important AOA committee that continued to revise the Oath in 1954, keeping its application current.

Every time I read or recite the Osteopathic Oath, I experience those stirrings of pride that come from deep within the soul as we unite in renewing our original commitments to this great profession. Through the years, reading it has provided me with direction and clarity as I pondered ethical dilemmas or interactions with patients, the community, or other physicians. Twenty-five years ago, my wife posted a beautifully framed copy of the Oath on our wall where I saw it before leaving the house to attend rounds or see patients. On the days when the load felt heavy or the night had been difficult with serious and sometimes tragic events, I would pause and read portions of it. When I questioned my ability to influence the course of disease or ease the suffering of a patient, I would take a minute to scan the many tenants in search of enlightenment. It reminded me why I became an osteopathic physician in the first place. It was a phrase in the Oath, "to strive always for the best interests of the students who will come after me" that sparked my desire to enter medical education and led me to the doors of RVUCOM. Yes, the Osteopathic Oath is far more than just 253 skillfully arranged words. It is a commitment of service to community, humanity, and the osteopathic profession that is now accepted throughout the world. It can and will become a beacon along the way in our quest to improve the health of the citizens of this wonderful country of ours.

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White Coat Ceremony Focuses on Mind, Body, and Spirit Osteopathic medicine is all about treating the mind, body, and spirit. As the annual White Coat Ceremony commenced on July 25th, the incoming Class of 2019 were treated to just that.

Engaging their minds, second-year student doctor and SGA President, Joey LaPorta handed out their first homework assignment in medical school: "Find your definition of osteopathy." As SD LaPorta has experienced himself, medical students are frequently asked, "Why did you choose osteopathic medicine?" A clinical answer will not suffice, he suggested. The students need to find their own definitions, their own passions, their own reasons for becoming doctors, which will carry them through the difficult school years to come.

Appealing to the spirit, keynote speaker Donna Milavitz, MD, CEO of OnSite Care, Inc., relived her own white coat ceremony: "Twenty-seven years ago, I sat in a seat very similar to yours to begin my medical career. As I look out at all your faces, I’m reminded of a full spectrum of emotions that I felt—joy, pride, self-doubt, and a whole lot of fear." She told them of the joys of being a doctor, as well as the harder moments. She recommended that students believe in themselves, lean on others, let others lean on them, focus on the task at hand, set boundaries, and learn to listen.

Though all speeches were rich with advice and encouragement, laughter was the common thread throughout the ceremony. Without realizing it, the speakers were attending to the bodies of the students. Studies show that laughter triggers healthy physical changes in our bodies as it stretches muscles, increases our heart rate and blood pressure, and sends more oxygen to our tissues.

As the Class of 2019 stood, introduced themselves, and were ceremoniously coated, they embraced the loud roar of applause from their loved ones, faculty, staff, and board members who will walk with them on this wonderful journey into medicine. With their minds, bodies, and spirits treated in kind, the ceremony concluded in true osteopathic medicine style. With that, we welcome the Class of 2019!

"Thank you for the wonderful orientation program. It was helpful to tour the school and hear about what would be expected during the next four years. The White Coat Ceremony was meaningful and the speakers had great advice for the students. The whole program made us excited for our son to attend such a state-of-the-art and visionary university for his medical education. We appreciated the family-like atmosphere and hospitality!" ~ Sharon and Mehran Bidanjiri Parents of Kian Bidanjiri, OMS-I

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Students Clean Up Denver's Platte River for Service Day Along the South Platte River in downtown Denver, men and women in gray RVU shirts pulled weeds, picked up garbage, removed fencing, and painted rails, much to the curiosity of passersby. "Several people stopped to ask questions and to offer their encouragement," William Robinson, OMS-I, said of the Class of 2019's Service Day, "My favorite part of the day was being able to explain to [them] who we were and what we were doing."

Since its conception, RVUCOM has focused strongly on community service. That commitment presents itself each year on Service Day, an event that shirks the usual school meet-and-greet in favor of a service project, where RVUers are introduced to their new classmates while working together. "It was a great way to promote teamwork and bonding, but also gave us time to get to know each other," said Matthew Homsi, OMS-I. "It was nice to give back to the community we will be a part of for [the next] four years," added Jeffrey Walbridge, OMS-I. "I also thought it was great to go into Denver, to get a feel for the city."

This year, the project was a massive cleanup, coordinated with the Denver Parks and Recreation Department. Over several strenuous hours, the 220 volunteers (composed of first-year and second-year students, as well as faculty and staff) collected 17 tons of plant waste and garbage, removed 800 feet of fencing, and used 5 gallons of paint. "I think that the project in particular was a good choice," said SD Robinson. "We weren’t just doing someone else’s job for them.

Rather, we were accomplishing something in the community that wouldn’t have been done otherwise." But it wasn't just the community that benefitted: "The problem solving and physical labor involved really brought us together," said SD Robinson. "It forced us to work as a team very early on, laying the groundwork for working as colleagues for the rest of the year."

Afterward, the group ate lunch and discussed life at RVU, with second-year students acting as mentors for the new class. Grace Kim, OMS-I, said, "[Lunchtime] was my favorite part of the day. We got to ask many questions, which relieved fear of the unknown first year."

"It was a chance to get dirty together, to bond, and to accomplish something good for the community all at the same time." ~ William Robinson, OMS-I

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"Without a doubt, many of the friends I have now, I [met] at Service Day. It was nice to work alongside fellow classmates for the first time." ~ Matthew Homsi, OMS-I

"The best part of the day was when Coleen Waterhouse (OMS-I) found a painted turtle on the path. Dr. Pitcher immediately picked it up for a photo." (Above) ~ Jeffrey Walbridge, OMS-I

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Class of 2019 Overview

"What matters is not the grade you get, but the effort and integrity that went into achieving it. If you aren't struggling, help others meet their goals. If you are struggling, seek help, use the mistake to better yourself, and try a different strategy." ~ Jenna West-Miles, DO '15, Capt. USAF Neurology at San Antonio Military Medical Center

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RVUCOM Professor Performs Surgery in Zero Gravity While traveling in space, even minor accidents can turn deadly. Scientists have been working to find solutions for this problem: what do you do in an emergency when the nearest hospital is days away? Is surgery even possible when there is no gravity? A recent collaboration between American and Canadian surgeons—including Anthony LaPorta, MD, FACS, Professor of Clinical Medicine and Course Director of the Military Track—and the National Research Council (NRC) of Canada has made a huge leap forward in answering these questions.

On June 26th, Dr. LaPorta and other trauma surgeons boarded a specially-equipped Falcon 20 jet, taking off from Ottawa/MacdonaldCartier International Airport. There were three different flights, with the jet entering into more than 15 parabolic flight maneuvers during each flight. These maneuvers created between 20 and 30 seconds of weightlessness at a time. While experiencing zero gravity, the surgeons performed medical procedures on a cut suit—a body suit which contains synthetic organs and blood, providing a realistic way to practice surgical procedures.

During each flight procedure, sensors, cameras, and electronics monitored such factors as the surgeons’ physiology, acceleration, flight data, and the time it took to stop the cut suit’s bleeding during zero gravity.

“It was fascinating,” said Dr. LaPorta, “to see that damage control surgery could be done in weightlessness, broken down into simple steps.”

In October, the team proved, while on the ground, that they could teach minimally trained personnel how to perform surgery in a telementoring situation. The next phase of this project will be combining the two experiments: testing whether personnel with minimal medical training can perform surgery in a weightless environment, while under the direction of board-certified surgeons via Skype. The date of this upcoming experiment has not yet been announced.

This experiment is the first of its kind, with its results being extremely beneficial to the future of medicine and space travel. Yet this information is not only useful for astronauts; it will also be helpful for injuries that occur on battlefields or in the wilderness without immediate access to health care.

This project was funded by Trauma Services of the University of Calgary, Canadian Forces, Canadian Space Agency, National Research Council, the Royal Academy of Physicians and Surgeons, and Strategic Operations, Inc., the developer of the cut suit.

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RVU Staff and Faculty Celebrate the Summer with Trivia The faculty and staff of RVU celebrated the end of one school year and the start of another with Mexican food and trivia at the Rio Grande restaurant. The burrito and sopapilla bars were a big hit with everyone. Yet it was the Geeks Who Drink trivia game that brought everyone together with questions about pop culture, science, literature, and (one particularly brutal round of) medicine. "The 'medical diagnosis' round of the trivia game was a little unfair, in my opinion," said Stacey Korhonen, CPA, Controller. "Next year, I propose a round of questions related to 'accounting rules'—now that is good stuff!"

The summer employee party was rated as one of the best RVU parties (if not the very best). "I had a blast at the summer party!' said Patty Kellison, Director of the Testing Center. "Trivia was what made it great. My team didn’t do as well at first, but we made a great comeback and finished third—not bad in a room full of physicians and PhDs. As long as there’s a fun activity like trivia, I won’t miss an RVU party! It’s a great way to get to know your coworkers."

Jeff Adams, Help Desk, agreed: "The food was amazing, the drinks were fantastic, and the trivia was a hoot, [bringing] people together in laughter and fun. I thought, overall, that this was the best party we’ve had in seven years!"

Listen Up! Updates from the Security Department

by Dan Havens, Director of Public Safety and Security

You may have noticed the yellow boxes hanging on the walls, as well as the two speakers on the roof of the building. These are the latest additions to our emergency notification system. In the event of an emergency, a siren will sound and you will receive a text message. Also, you will hear a voice message, coming through the new system, to give direction on what to do and where to go. Students are encouraged to talk with Jeff Adams in the IT Department to sign up for emergency notifications on their phones. If there is an emergency and you are not currently at the school, we ask that you stay away from the school until the "all clear" is given.

Whether you are bringing in guests on the weekdays or weekends, please make sure you check in with Security so they are aware of who is in the building.

As always, if you need assistance, please call (720) 875-2892 or use the anonymous Help/Tip Hotline at (303) 708-8185.

If there is a life-threating emergency, please call 911. However, be sure to let Security know, so we can help the emergency crews when they arrive.

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Rural Health Scholars Experience Hands-On Learning at RVU Students enrolled in University of Colorado's summer program for Area Health Education Centers' (AHEC) Rural Health Scholars finished their semester by spending a day at RVU. During their visit, students first observed Noel, RVU’s birthing simulator, deliver a baby. Next, they experienced hands-on learning with task trainers specializing in endotracheal intubation, intravenous insertion, shoulder joint injections and lumbar punctures, with presentations provided by Joseph Stasio, DO, FACOFP, Chair of Department of Primary Care Medicine, and Tina Underwood, MAEd, Associate Director of Clinical Assessment and Simulation.

Students also listened to presentations on each of RVUCOM’s honors tracks: Rural and Wilderness Medicine, Global Medicine, Academic Medicine Physician-Scientist, and Military Medicine. During the latter's presentation, cut suit-wearing Dennis Meidal, Facilities and Grounds Technician, burst into the room with a realistic gunshot wound, in need of immediate attention. Students, under the supervision of Anthony LaPorta, MD, FACS, Course Director of the Military Track, dove into action.

They helped Mr. Meidal lie down and then inserted chest tubes into the pleural space to drain blood from the suit. Following this encounter, students watched a demonstration on Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine, seeing first-hand the benefits this treatment can provide. "The students really loved the entire day at RVU—especially the hands-on activities (the manipulations and simulation labs)," said Jennifer Hellier, PhD, Associate Director of Programs at the AHEC Program Office. "The military training was a huge hit! The students did not expect to be able to help with that type of 'emergency.' Overall, the day was amazing."

The day came to a close with a panel of current RVUCOM student doctors, answering questions asked by the Rural Health Scholars students. Katy Hunsberger, Associate Director of Admissions and the planner of this event, concluded the event with a detailed presentation on the requirements and procedures for applying to RVUCOM, information which will no doubt help these students as they continue to pursue their careers in medicine. "Many students had asked me about the difference between MD and DO," said Renee Johnson, Scholars Program Assistant at the AHEC Program Office. "They got their answers at RVU, with many of the students [now] changing their career paths to go to a DO school."

The group takes time to tour Guatemala

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Locals wait in long lines to see a physician or medical student

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RVUCOM Creates New Course in Surgery Simulation On August 3rd, RVU held its first Surgical Simulation Course, a new requirement for third-year students. It was created after discovering that students who took RVUCOM’s elective Intensive Surgical Skills Course (ISSC) performed better on their core surgery rotations, acquired better surgical skills, and approached their surgery rotations with less apprehension.

The Surgical Simulation Course will be offered at the beginning of each month.

In this course, students learn the surgical skills that were previously taught and tested in Capstone—scrubbing, gowning, gloving and sterile technique, suturing, knot-tying, recognition of surgical instruments, surgical use of ultrasound, and invasive techniques such as endotracheal intubation, chest tube insertion and cricothyroidotomy.

Emphasis in the Surgical Simulation Course was changed from trauma to perioperative care, which is a vital component for surgery rotations. Many of the same techniques from the ISSC are also utilized in this new course such as Emergency Room/Operating Room simulation and presentations by each of the students on assigned topics. Data on daily stress levels, surgical knowledge and skills, and attitudes of the students towards the course (as well as their upcoming surgery rotations) is collected during the course. Data will also be collected on the students’ surgery subject exam scores, preceptor evaluations, surgery rotation numerical grade and COMLEX II Surgery sub-scores.

Michael Tieman, MD, Chair and Professor of Specialty Medicine, noted that the first course went well as, "preliminary data shows that the students acquired knowledge through the course, felt less stressed as the course went on, and had less apprehension about their surgery rotation when the course ended. All students in the course demonstrated competency in the surgical skills that were taught."

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Personal Protective Equipment Training

What do you think of when you see a hazmat suit (besides Back to the Future, of course)? Hazmat suits are rightfully associated with dangerous and/or contagious conditions. Many people assume, however, that simply by wearing protective clothing, they are impervious to any contaminants. Yet medical professionals may become infected not only from improperly donning the hazmat suit, but also while taking it off or disposing of it. This scenario happened last year, when a nurse in Dallas contracted the Ebola virus, likely from substandard protective equipment and improper disposal. Nothing puts a medical worker into harm's way faster than not knowing the proper methods for dealing with contagious environments.

On July 18th, a Biohazard Training course was held at RVU, hosted by the U.S. government's Center for Domestic Preparedness and coordinated by Sharon Atencio, OMS-II, and Kash Kaul, OMS-II. Students learned how to identify potential threats, to don (and doff) a protective suit and respirator, and to decontaminate themselves and victims who have been exposed to biohazards. "The best part is the hands-on learning," said SD Atencio. "You don’t really know what it feels like...until you’ve put on every piece and [have] experienced for yourself what it’s like to be hot, encumbered, to have your peripheral vision obstructed. Then, imagine trying to do routine tasks, like starting an IV with multiple pairs of gloves on. Your dexterity really takes a hit."

SD Kaul elaborated on the importance of this training: "The common theme with these scenarios is that you can drill and drill, but the actual incident will never play out exactly the way you train. These courses give us a toolkit to pick and choose from, because not all the tools are applicable for every incident."

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Anatomy Department Collaborates with AIRLIFE Denver As stated in RVU's Core Values, "Through active service, we support one another and seek to meet the needs of the larger community." Recently, RVUCOM’s Anatomy Department exhibited the spirit of service by collaborating with AIRLIFE Denver, the Emergency Medical/Critical Care Transport Service of the HealthOne system of hospitals, clinics and healthcare plazas. Since 2008, AIRLIFE Denver has received access to RVUCOM’s cadavers for the purposes of training and recertification of their EMT personnel. "For them, this is an unequaled opportunity; for RVU, this is a chance to give back to the Parker community," said, Walter Buck, PhD, Director of Gross Anatomy.

Every August, with 40-50 EMTs participating in the program, AIRLIFE Denver trainers demonstrate (and later, test on) cricothyroidotomies, chest tube placement, venous cut-downs and bone marrow sticks. There are also stations utilizing materials and equipment for the performance of fetal cord sticks and neonatal/adult intubation.

Stefanie Leonard, RN, CMTE, Director of Outreach and Business Development for AirLife Denver, remarked, "We feel very fortunate to have a strong relationship with Dr. Buck and RVU. The experience is invaluable as it allows us to train in lifesaving emergency procedures under the guidance of our medical directors. Being able to perform these low-frequency, high acuity procedures on human cadavers allow the AIRLIFE flight team a training opportunity that is second to none. We are grateful to the donors, their families, and RVU. We are committed to paying this gift forward through the care and experience we provide our patients."

Friends of AIRLIFE—a nonprofit organization that provides EMS education and charitable assistance for families of fallen providers—holds an annual conference that benefits medical providers of all levels and is especially valuable to those in rural areas. The conference is free for all who register at AirlifeDenver.com and will be held in Bennet, Colorado on September 19th.

CGCHealth Brings Clean Water to Amazonian Villages RVU students volunteering for Coalition for Global Community Health (CGCHealth)—along with Chase Hamilton, OMS-II, founder/president of the organization—recently traveled to the Peruvian Amazon for a medical outreach mission. They treated nearly 400 patients, educated hundreds about preventative health, and brought water filters to over 60 families. "Once we arrive at a community," said SD Hamilton, "we treat each community member medically and educate families about their health through a four-day course. After the course, each family receives a water filter that will last up to 10 years. We consider each community as an investment and plan to continue providing them with the best methods of providing clean water as technology progresses or until the government takes responsibility for their people."

CGCHealth will be offering a trip in March for second-year students. Learn more at www.CGCHealth.org.

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News from the Office of Graduate Medical Eduation and RMOPTI

by Marsha Sellner, Executive Director of GME Development/OPTI

The Office of Graduate Medical Education (GME) has been busy working on the development of new postgraduate training programs: Sky Ridge Medical Center We have worked closely with the executive team at Sky Ridge Medical Center in Lone Tree, CO and we are proud to announce that the AOA has awarded accreditation for a new Osteopathic General Surgery Residency program. The program is expecting to accept its first five surgical residents for a start date in July 2016. Dr. Naveed Ismail is the Program Director. In addition, we have received AOA approval for a new Osteopathic Family Medicine Residency. This program is expecting to launch next July 2016 with six family medicine residents.

June was a busy month for the office of GME and we are excited to report that we have also received AOA accreditation for a new Osteopathic Neuromusculoskeletal Med Plus 1 residency program. LeAnn Jons-Cox, DO, has been appointed as the Founding Program Director.

Discussion is ongoing as to when this program will launch. The NMM Plus 1 residency program has been approved for three positions.

If you are interested in any of these programs, refer to the AOA Opportunities website which will state the timeline for launch, if it is known.

Do not contact the program directors unless the opportunity’s website specifically states that they are open for business.

Sky Ridge Residency Program's New Residents Internal Medicine • Johnathan Davis • Alex Diaz • Brandon French • Scott Harshbarger • Madeline Jones • Booil Kim • Janie Luong, DO '14 • Everett Reynolds • AJ Ryan, DO '14 • Nicholas Taylor • Chris Valencia, DO '14 • Winay Virkud Dermatology • Michelle Elway Traditional Rotating Internship • Brendan Klein, DO '15 • Katie Messner

Outstanding Resident of the Year Award: Andrew Brown, DO '12

Excellence in Teaching Award: Randy Bynum, MD

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State Authorization and Medical Education

by Terence Brennan, PhD, Assistant Director of Compliance and Quality Assurance The growth in online courses and programs has increased state and federal oversight of post-secondary institutions, including medical schools. Consequently, states may require out-of-state institutions to register and meet certain requirements to operate higher education programs within a given state – a process known as “state authorization.”

Depending on the state, this regulation can be triggered by a physical presence within the state, online courses, recruitment/advertising, and clinical rotations, among other activities.

The Department of Education (ED) proposed to directly tie an institution’s eligibility for federal student aid to state authorization compliance in 2010, but those regulations had been delayed three times; however, ED recently announced the effective date for the regulations was July 1, 2015.

Every state has different rules and regulations about when authorization is required. According to a survey by the State Higher Education Executive Officers Association, clinical rotations in the third and fourth year of medical school could trigger the need for authorization in approximately half of all states.

In addition, states that do not require official state authorization for clinical rotations may still: request notification of activities; require an application for exemption; prohibit compensation of clinical supervisors; place limitations on the number of students from an individual academic program; and/or cap the percentage a clinical rotation represents of the total medical program (e.g., no more than 10-25%).

Dr. Brennan, Assistant Director of Compliance and Quality Assurance, in collaboration with the Office of Clinical Affairs, is currently seeking authorization—or, when possible, exemption from authorization—from states with requirements related to clinical rotations. In addition, we will be providing ongoing reporting to states, where required, around RVU students in clinical rotations to insure we remain complaint with the states’ regulations.

Steps to Success in Medical School

by Judy Thornton, MA, Director of Educational Support

• Work hard. Most medical students have overachiever qualities. Don’t let those qualities slide now that you are in medical school. Just because you have spent a lifetime of achieving up to this point, don’t get burnt out now. Now is the time to really study like you have never studied before. Study like you mean it!

• Take care of yourself. To do well you have to have to be healthy. It is important to eat well-balanced meals, exercise, vent to friends and family, read a book for fun, play a video game, or watch your favorite TV program. Just don't do them at the expense of studying!

• Make a schedule. Figure out what you need to learn and schedule time to learn it. Hoping to get things done is never as effective as making the time and sticking to it. Motivating yourself to study anatomy from 3-5pm each day is much better than trying to learn it all a couple of days before the exam. You are not an undergrad student anymore: there is lot to know and, if you don’t put the time in, you are not going to learn it.

• Work with others. Working with classmates can help you focus on what’s important, as well as motivate you and keep your spirits up whether it’s for regular study time or weekly review. Working with others gives you a chance to get information that you really need and want to know.

• Don’t get discouraged. Always remember that if you got into RVUCOM, then you rock and deserve to be here.

Also, remember that there is more to learn in medicine than any one person could ever remember. Do your best and don’t expect to be an overnight expert on all things medicine. Sometimes you need to take the night off from studying and focus on other important parts of life. Be satisfied with doing the best that you can do, and get back to studying the next day with a fresh resolve to learn everything you can in order to become the best doctor you can be!

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Volunteer Efforts • RVU hosted a clothing drive and raffle to benefit the Denver Rescue Mission. "The students at RVU have been a huge help for the poor and homeless men and women," said Lisette Williams, Manager of Community Relations for Denver Rescue Mission. "Your wonderful clothing drive, as well as generous monetary donations, have made a powerful impact on those who need it most. We are so grateful to the students who have made such a difference in the lives of so many! Thanks again for your wonderful compassion!" Over 100 articles of clothing were donated and, with the money given, over 40 meals were provided.

Amy Schlueter, Cynthia Omega, OMS-II, and Laura Gibbons, OMS-III, at Denver Rescue Mission

• RVU students from the ACOP club participated in Denver Osteopathic Foundation's zoo event, in which they handed out health and safety information to attendees, as well as sand buckets, beach tools, sunglasses, sunscreen, and more goodies. They saw more than 1,500 people, handed out over 800 buckets, and engaged with many parents about osteopathic medicine and child safety. This is an annual event, at which RVUers regularly participate.

• The Denver Osteopathic Foundation recently announced that RVUers, to date, have conducted 45 classroom programs (including the ongoing Safe N' Smart Kids Food Fun and Fitness program) and have reached 1,145 children in the Denver Public School system.

DOF gave a shout-out in particular to Charles Simpkin, OMS-III, and Kathryn Huff, OMS-IV, for organizing and recruiting volunteers.

Hannah Houck, OMS-II, and Ken Ramey, DO, who donated a signature Hawaiian shirt

• Supervised by Dr. Dow Phumiruk, several students volunteered at Smoky Hill Vineyard Church's Single Parent Support Day. This event provided services for single parents such as haircuts, massages, oil changes, and more. The RVU students ran the health screening station, which provided check-ups.

• Faculty and staff of RVU participated in a golf tournament hosted

by Parker Hospital Foundation (part of Parker Adventist Hospital). Participants included Dr. Duane Brandau, Brian Leary, Gary Pippin, Dr. Joseph Stasio, and Linda Terpenning. The event raised $50,000 to support women's and children's services in Parker (which include labor and delivery, cancer, the breast cancer center, and more).

ACOP club at DOF zoo event

• RVU would like to extend a big thank-you for recent donations: - The Class of 2015 donated red umbrellas for the tables in the courtyard as their graduation gift to the school.

- The Class of 2017 collected and donated $2,000 for a landscape addition for the courtyard, which will include the Frank R. Ames Memorial Garden.

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Volunteers at the Smoky Hill Vineyard Church Single Parent Support Day

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Campus Tidbits

Above, from left: Peter Freytag, CPA, MBA, Chief Financial Officer, Joseph Stasio, DO, FACOFP, Chair of the Dept. of Primary Care Medicine and Professor of Family Medicine, and Linda Terpenning, Executive Administrative Assistant to the President, displayed their classic cars at the Jesse Kitchens Memorial Car Show in Parker on July 19th. This is an annual fundraiser that provides a scholarship to a Technology Student Association student.

Congratulations to Jacqueline (Kinder) Waller, PharmD, Assistant Professor of Pharmacology, on her marriage to Jimmy Waller! They were married on June 13th in Steamboat Springs.

Below: At the end of each school year, there is a tradition where the firstyear students throw a party for the second-year students, "booting" them off campus, as they will be heading off for their third-year rotations. There were free goodies for everyone, such as can coozies and boot mugs, as well as games for entertainment, including "Kuub" and "Kan Jam".

Class President, Sarah Edgerton, OMS-II, said, "The boot party was a great way to congratulate the Class of 2017 for completing their first half of medical school and to wish them well on their clinical rotations."

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Campus Tidbits Kathy Leary, MBA, Executive Director of Student Financial Services, retired on July 31st! After working for RVU for over seven years, she is ready to focus on traveling, yoga, and her grandchildren. Her expertise and her vivacious spirit will certainly be missed. Congratulations, Kathy!

Julie Tanguay, OMS-IV, worked as both a camp counselor and on the medical staff at a week-long camp for kids with diabetes, as part of her rotation in Pediatric Endocrinology, through Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.

Congratulations to Brian Borges, Security Officer, on his recent engagement to Anne Stenstrom.

They will be married in September 2016.

Congratulations to Samantha Engle, OMS-III, on her recent marriage to Kevin Stough. They were married on July 25th.

The Sports Medicine Club hosted a barbecue at Dove Valley Park to welcome new members.

Among the activities were soccer, spikeball, and two-ball.

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

Brett Friedler, OMS-I, is the recipient of the 2015 Sherry R. Arnstein Minority Student Scholarship. The scholarship is awarded annually to an underrepresented minority student in good academic standing, recently accepted to or enrolled in their first, second, or third year at an AACOM member college.

Congratulations, SD Friedler!

Fernando Gomez, MD, Professor of Pathology, recently published a Letter to the Editor in the journal, Archives of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine. The letter references an article titled “Clinical Consequences of Specimen Rejection” and suggests a policy for limiting the rejection of specimen and increasing the laboratory result turnaround time.

Congratulations, Dr. Gomez!

Tessa Johnson, OMS-III, received the Welch Scholars Grant from the American Osteopathic Foundation.

Recipients are chosen because of their outstanding academic achievement, participation in extracurricular activities, and strong commitment toward osteopathic medicine.

Score Report that NBME gives to participating institutions.

Great work, Dr. Tieman!

A team of professors (below) received a grant from the Arnold P. Gold Foundation for their proposal, "Teaching

the humanity of evidence-based medicine: Informed by the literature, guided by the physician, framed by the patient." Their team will become part of the 2015-2017 "Mapping the Landscape, Journeying Together" cohort. The team includes: • Frank Ames, PhD, MA, MDiv Director of Library Services • Nicole Michels, PhD Associate Professor of Physiology • Kathryn Pate, PhD Assistant Professor of Physiology • Brian Schwartz, MLIS Associate Professor of Medical Informatics • Andrew Vosko, PhD Assistant Professor of Neuroanatomy/Gross Anatomy

Congratulations, SD Johnson!

Michael Tieman, MD, Chair and Professor of Specialty Medicine, has recently participated in two webinars as a content expert. The first webinar was for the National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME) to set a minimum passing standard for the surgery subject exams; the second was in regards to the Longitudinal

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

Colorado Springs Osteopathic Foundation Scholarship Recipients Congratulations to Kelly Davis, OMS-III and Charles Strode, OMS-III, the recipients of this year’s Colorado Springs Osteopathic Foundation Scholarship. With this scholarship, SD Davis and SD Strode will each receive $10,000 for their third and fourth years of medical school. The Colorado Springs Osteopathic Foundation’s mission is to improve the health and well-being of its community consistent with its osteopathic heritage.

Denver Osteopathic Foundation Scholarship Recipients Congratulations to Ashley Fejleh, OMS-IV, Sarah Ketter, OMS-V, and Sean McGowan, OMS-III, the recipients of this year’s Denver Osteopathic Foundation Scholarship! The Foundation’s mission is to elevate, through education, the health and well-being of the community, to advance postgraduate osteopathic medical education, and to improve the public’s understanding of osteopathic medicine.

Dr. Ramey and RVUCOM Students Assist with Rugby Tournament Kenneth A. Ramey, DO, FACOFP, Director of Pre-Doctoral OPP Fellowship, and Brianna Anthony, OMS-III, Sarah Housman, OMS-III, and Phil Miller, OMS-III, provided sports medicine coverage at the Serevi RugbyTown International 7’s Tournament on August 14-16 in Glendale, Colorado. Seventeen rugby teams from the USA, Bermuda, Mexico, Bahamas, and Canada participated in this event. The students gained knowledge and first-hand experience in the evaluation and management of significant athletic injuries.

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Welcome to our New Faculty and Staff!

Amie Koenig Clinical Rotations Coordinator Amie Koenig is originally from Rock Springs, Wyoming, but likes to call Colorado home since she’s been here for over 30 years. Amie earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from Metropolitan State University in Denver, Colorado. She has worked for years as an Academic Advisor and Academic Information Coordinator for Jones International University. She is passionate about helping people achieve their education goals and is excited for the adventures and challenges of her new role.

Amie enjoys spending time with her son, Alec—who began college this fall—and her large, close-knit family. She loves to travel and has been to Costa Rica, Nicaragua, and Georgia within the last four months. In addition to traveling, Amie enjoys hiking, camping and ATVing.

Interestingly, Amie tries to hike 1-2 Fourteeners every summer. To date, she has hiked Evans, Pikes Peak, Massive, Elbert, Biestadt, and Quandary. Welcome, Amie!

Michele Sobczyk Executive Administrative Assistant to the Dean Michele Sobczyk is originally from Omaha, Nebraska, but has lived in Colorado for nearly 20 years. After earning her Bachelor of Science degree in Exercise Science from Fort Lewis College in Durango, Colorado, she earned her Master’s degree in Sports Management from the University of Northern Colorado.

Prior to RVU, Michele worked as an Event Assistant for the Colorado High School Activities Association and as an Executive Assistant at the Colorado Department of Education. She’s excited to be a part of the RVU team where she can learn more about the medical field (and have a shorter commute).

Outside of work, Michele loves spending time with her six-year-old son, visiting the mountains, and playing co-

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ed softball. She’s a huge sports fan and especially loves cheering for the Huskers. Welcome, Michele!

Cathy Wehrwein Part-Time Library Assistant Cathy Wehrwein is from Chicago, Illinois, and has an Applied Associate of Science degree in Library Technology. She was the recipient of the REACh (Resources for the Education of Adults in the Chicago Area) Scholarship, which provides information about education and financial aid opportunities to adults.

Cathy says that she is excited to continue her library career at RVU. In her spare time, Cathy sings in the world-class Sweet Adalines Chorus, an award-winning quartet. She also loves spending time with her husband, three children, and two grandchildren.

An interesting fact about Cathy is that she is a stroke survivor! While she was recovering, she re-learned to sing before she re-learned to speak! Because of this, she says that singing is her own personal miracle. Welcome, Cathy!

Nicole Witcher Assistant Controller Nicole Witcher is originally from Fort Collins, Colorado. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration Accounting from Colorado State University.

Nicole has over eight years of experience in non-profit accounting including work with Denver School of Science and Technology Public Schools as an Accounting Manager and with Denver Public Schools as a Financial Partner. She is excited to learn more about higher education and to be a part of the RVU community.

In her spare time, Nicole enjoys spending time with her husband and her two step-children. She loves baking, cooking, and traveling. Most recently, she and her husband traveled to Kauai, Hawaii. Welcome, Nicole!

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Promotions and Appointments Heather Ferrill, DO, MS, has been appointed to Chair of Osteopathic Principles and Practices (OPP). In addition to this new role, she will continue her role as Associate Professor of OPP. Congratulations, Dr. Ferrill!

Nicole Michels, PhD, has been promoted from Assistant Professor of Physiology to Associate Professor of Physiology. In addition, Dr. Michels was appointed the Interim Chair of the Department of Medical Humanities. She will also continue her role of Phase Director, Year 2. Congratulations, Dr. Michels!

Erin Palazzolo, MLIS, has been appointed to Director of the Library. In addition to this appointment, Ms. Palazzolo will continue her role of Associate Professor of Medical Informatics.

Congratulations, Ms. Palazzolo!

Kathryn Pate, PhD, has been appointed Director of Research in the College of Osteopathic Medicine. In addition to this appointment, Dr. Pate will continue her role of Assistant Professor of Physiology. Congratulations, Dr. Pate!

Jill Pitcher, DO, has been promoted from Assistant Professor of Family Medicine to Associate Professor of Family Medicine.

Congratulations, Dr. Pitcher!

Kenneth Ramey, DO, FACOFP, has been promoted from Assistant Professor of OPP to Associate Professor of OPP. Dr. Ramey will continue his roles of Director of the Pre-Doctoral OPP Fellowship and Physician of Sports Medicine and OMM in the Rocky Vista Health Center. Congratulations, Dr. Ramey!

Brian Schwartz, MLIS, has been promoted from Assistant Professor of Medical Informatics to Associate Professor of Medical Informatics. In addition, he has been appointed to the position of Director of Medical Informatics and the Writing Center.

Congratulations, Mr. Schwartz!

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V U A

From the Rocky Vista University Alumni Association

LU M N I

A SSO C I AT ION

Dear Fellow Alumni, As I write this quarter's Alumni Association letter, I write it with mixed emotions. With a heavy heart, I learned of the passing of Dr. Frank Ames. Dr. Ames was a part of the RVU faculty since its early days and touched all the alumni who have graduated thus far. I think back to his ethics classes when faced with tough patient care decisions or I think about good conversations we had in the library. For me, my fondest memory of Dr. Ames was when he came to my house for the Passover Seder I held during my first year of medical school, as part of the programming with the Jewish Association for Medical Students.

To Dr. Ames, from all the alumni of RVUCOM, thank you for being a great educator and making a difference in all of our lives. May Dr. Ames’ memory live on forever and may he rest in peace.

On a much different note, congratulations to the newly board certified family physicians and pediatricians! Good luck to those board eligible Internal Medicine candidates on your board exam in September. We hope that you are enjoying your journey as attendings and fellows. We know that you will continue to make a positive impact on your respective communities.

July marked the start of a new academic year of medical training. We hope that our new interns are adjusting well to residency and that our second-, third-, and fourth-year residents continue to thrive in their programs. We know you are all doing great things and would like to brag about you, so please inform us of any awards, poster presentations, publications, and fellowship opportunities you receive by emailing jrosenthal@rvu.edu.

As promised, we will start having alumni events at conferences. This fall, we would like to have a get-together with paying members of the Association at OMED and ACOI. Please email Julie Rosenthal at jrosenthal@rvu.edu if you plan on attending either of these events so we know approximately how many people we should plan for. We will be having other events in the spring, so please continue to follow for updates.

Just a friendly reminder that if you would like to be a contributing member of the Association, it is $25 per year while in residency and $50 per year once you graduate. We hope that we are meeting all the needs of the alumni. If you have any concerns that you would like us to address, don’t hesitate to contact me or any member of the alumni board.

As the summer winds down and the school year is in full swing, the Alumni Association will be working with SGA to maintain connections between the alumni and current students. We will be reaching out to the alumni to see if people are interesting in hosting RVU students during their fourth-year rotations or in being a mentor to a first- or second-year student who is interested in a particular field. Please let us know if you are interested in participating.

May you all have continued success, health, and happiness.

Sincerely,

Heather Katz, DO '12 Alumni Association President

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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!

Job Acceptances, Fellowships, and Other Accomplishments Andrew Brown, DO '12, received the Internal Medicine Outstanding Resident of the Year award at Sky Ridge Internal Medicine Residency in Lone Tree, Colorado.

Timothy Hadley, DO '13, MPH, matched into a Pediatric Gastroenterology Fellowship at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia.

James Kurtz, DO'13, received the Columbus Surgical Society Outstanding Surgery Resident Award in July.

Rebecca Lewis, DO '12, has opened her own medical practice in Woodward, Oklahoma. It is part of the Woodward Regional Hospital Clinic.

Jacob Ludwig, DO '15, MBA, has accepted a position as adjunct faculty in the Osteopathic Principles and Practices department at RVU.

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Save the Date!

Presenting the new RVU website!

RVU recently updated its website to a clean, modern design with an easy-to-navigate layout, our school colors, up-todate calendars, and photos that will give visitors a glimpse into our vibrant culture.

Vist the site at www.rvu.edu!

The Vista View is published by the Rocky Vista University Marketing Department.

8401 S. Chambers Road, Parker, CO 80134 720.875.2800

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

Rocky Vista University provides quality healthcare education while inspiring students to serve with compassion, integrity and excellence.

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