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2012 Newsletter Vol. 5 No. 2
RVUCOM Holds Military Appreciation Reception Page 2
Inside AOA President and Board Trustee Visit RVU
A Labor of Love: Training Service Dogs for the Blind
A Global Perspective: Researching in Prague
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RVUCOM Holds Second Annual Military Appreciation Reception On Friday, October 26, RVUCOM held its second annual Military Appreciation Reception in honor and celebration of its strong military student presence. Eighty-nine RVUCOM student doctors currently participate in the armed services Health Professions Scholarship Program (HPSP), giving RVUCOM the distinction of having perhaps the largest percentage of students on military scholarship of any civilian medical school. Following the Posting of the Colors, RVU Acting President/Dean Bruce D. Dubin, D.O., JD, welcomed the faculty, staff, students, friends and distinguished guests from around the Country. “Medicine is all about service,” stated Dr. Dubin. “It’s a higher calling. But the next greater step to that is to dedicate that service to those who put their lives on the line every day so that we can enjoy the freedoms that we have today. This ceremony is in honor of our servicemen and women for their service and dedication as physicians, as people who have served and as future physicians in the United States Military.”
AOA President Ray Stowers, D.O. with AOA Board Trustee Michael Murphy, D.O.
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A number of distinguished guests in attendance were introduced and recognized, including American Osteopathic Association (AOA) President Ray Stowers, D.O., who brought greetings from the AOA. Dr. Stowers shared his own family military connections and expressed appreciation for the dedication and sacrifices of those who have served and those who will serve over the coming years. While the evening honored those in attendance, a Missing Man/POW Remembrance Ceremony was held to honor those no longer with us. The somber ceremony was led by Col. Anthony J. LaPorta, M.D., US Army Medical Corps (ret.), RVUCOM Professor of Clinical Surgery, who explained the deep symbology surrounding a candlelit table display, representing the members of each branch of service who are missing. Following the ceremony, Dr. Dubin asked the guests to observe a moment of silence in honor of those who have given their lives in service of this country. The RVU student a capella group, the S.O.A.P. Notes, also paid tribute with a touching rendition of "Mansions of Our Lord".
Kit Lavell, Executive Vice President of Strategic Operations, with Fiancé Nancy Powell
The RVUCOM “Fighting Prairie Dog Award” and the RVUCOM Military Challenge Coin were presented to several distinguished guests in appreciation of their commitment to military medical education. Kit Lavell, the Executive Vice President of Strategic Operations, a company which provides hyper-realistic training support for Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom for over 400,000 soldiers, marines, sailors and coast guard personnel, was presented with the President’s Award in recognition of his outstanding service to our country and to military medical education. Following a closing hymn from the S.O.A.P. Notes, the Colors were retired and guests were invited to stay for a reception. The RVUCOM Military Reception is an annual event that brings together the RVU community and friends from across the country for a memorable evening to honor its students who will serve their country as military physicians and to acknowledge those who have already served.
Table set in honor of the Missing Man/ RVU Color Guard: Robert Petro, OMS-III; Ronald Fenton, OMS-III; and POW Ceremony Charlie Hutchinson, OMS-II
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A Message From the President By Bruce Dubin, D.O., J.D., Acting President/Dean
As acting President, I took great pleasure in announcing that Rocky Vista University has entered the final steps in attaining Title IV eligibility. In all likelihood, our students will be eligible for Title IV loans this Spring semester. This has been a long journey for all of us here at the University. I would like to extend a special thank you to all who have worked so diligently in making this accomplishment possible. Of course, with every new opportunity come new responsibilities. With Title IV comes a whole new set of policies, procedures and reporting requirements. We welcome these requirements just as we welcome the increased opportunities to better serve our students. With Halloween having come and gone, new seasons are approaching us here at the University. First, of course, was the election on November 6th. Regardless of the outcome, one thing is certain — There is a shortage of primary care healthcare providers here in the United States. Helping to create new physicians, and meeting this need, is of course part and parcel, our mission here at RVU. Rest assured, RVU and our College of Medicine will play an important ongoing role in healthcare here in America.
Of course, that brings us up to Thanksgiving. Having served as Acting President and Dean, I have much to be thankful for. For our staff — thank you for all of your support and hard work as part of our team in training the next generation of America's physicians. To our faculty — thank you for your dedication to teaching. Without your hard work as educators, RVUCOM would not be recognized as an emergent leader in high quality education. To our students — thank you for your dedication to your medical studies. This is a long and arduous path you are traveling down. Thank you for allowing RVU to steer you along that journey. Your confidence and effort is truly rewarding. In fact, let’s just all say thanks for this great team we have here at RVU. Although I’ll be spending Thanksgiving with my immediate family, I will be thinking of our family here at RVU as well.
Important Changes to ACGME By Bruce Dubin, D.O., J.D., Acting President/Dean As many of you have heard by now, the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME - the body that accredits M.D. residency programs) and the American Osteopathic Association (AOA - the body that accredits D.O. residency programs) have entered into an agreement to establish a single, unified accreditation system for graduate medical education programs beginning in 2015. Certainly, there are a lot of details yet to be worked out, but for our graduates and students, this is great news. Osteopathic training programs will continue with the distinctive osteopathic approach to patient care and a single accrediting body for residency
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programs ensures all medical school graduates have access to training programs. Collaboration between these two facets of healthcare delivery in the U.S. can only mean improved outcomes for the patients we serve. What does this mean for RVUCOM students? There is a strong likelihood that the separate M.D. and D.O. match that occurs each Spring will become a unified match program for all residencies. That will certainly make life simpler for our fourth year students as they prepare for the next 3 -5 years of specialty study in a residency program. Students will no longer have to worry about separate match deadlines and separate scrambles.
Another question some have raised is: “Will our graduating students be competitive for this upcoming change in the match?” The simple answer is “Yea, you be they are!” For the past two years, with almost two-thirds of our second year class taking USMLE I, our pass rate has been 98.6% for first time takers. This year’s mean score was 221. In short, “RVUCOM students ROCK” and their hard work is reflected by these board scores. The future has a lot of changes. Rest assured, our dedication to excellence in medical education will mean that RVUCOM will continue to be a leader in medical education
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AOA President and Board Trustee Address RVU Community American Osteopathic Association (AOA) President Ray Stowers, D.O., and AOA Board Trustee Michael Murphy, D.O., recently visited RVU to address students, faculty and staff. In his presentation, Dr. Stowers focused on the recent announcement from the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) that the ACGME, the AOA and the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine (AACOM) have entered into an agreement to pursue a single, unified accreditation system for graduate medical programs in the United States, beginning in July 2015, and discussed the significant impact this change will have on all medical students in the future. The unification of the accreditation process will simplify the current graduate medical education system and improve the process into practice for both Osteopathic Physicians (D.O.s) and M.D.s. 1
Dr. Stowers also stressed the importance of medical student involvement in Washington, and at the state and city levels, and focused on items such as expanding training options, protecting Graduate Medical Education (GME) funding and addressing student debt. Following Dr. Stowers’ presentation, Dr. Murphy spoke about the AOA’s partnership in the national Joining Forc-
es Initiative, which focuses on ensuring the support and care of service members.2 His discussion centered on the silent injuries of combat – the prevalence of TrauAOA Board Trustee Michael Murphy, D.O. with RVU matic Brain Injury Acting President/Dean Bruce D. Dubin, D.O., JD (TBI) and Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome (PTSD), and how students, as future physicians, will need to learn how to identify and treat the mental and physical traumas that may result from an individual’s experiences in the military. He discussed the impact that these silent injuries can have on individuals, their families and their entire lives, as well as the changing demographics seen in age and gender in today’s military veterans. Dr. Murphy also conveyed the importance of trauma training and the use of Cut Suit Simulators in medical education, an area in which RVUCOM already excels, and discussed hopes for the development of Osteopathic Manipulative Treatments (OMT) that can be used in traumatic injuries. Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education. (2012). M.D.s and D.O.s Moving toward a Single, Unified Accreditation System for Graduate Medical Education [Press release]. Retrieved from http://www.acgme.org/acgmeweb/ Portals/0/PDFs/10-24-2012PressRelease.pdf 1
American Osteopathic Association. Joining Forces Initiative. http://www.osteopathic.org/inside-aoa/advocacy/Pages/ federal-initiatives.aspx 2
Parker Hospital Foundation Golf Classic In late August, a foursome of RVUCOM faculty and staff participated in the Parker Hospital Foundation Golf Classic. While they didn't place, they all had an enjoyable and rewarding experience. The annual event is held to benefit breast cancer care at Parker Adventist Hospital. A total of 104 golfers, 26 foursomes, participated in this year's Classic. The event successfully raised nearly $44,500 for their cause. This year's Golf Classic was held at The Club at Pradera in Parker. The Foundation says that proceeds from the 2012 and 2013 Classics, as well as the Solheim After Sundown auction and dinner, have been dedicated to expanding breast care services within the community.
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RVUCOM golfers Dwight Hertz, M.D., Professor of Pathology; Michael Dewsnap, Director of Student Services; Brian Schwartz, M.L.I.S., Assistant Director of Library Services and Assistant Professor of Medical Informatics; and Duane Brandau, D.O., Ph.D., Associate Dean of Clinical Affairs and Professor of Molecular Medicine
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RVUCOM Third Annual Fall Festival The third annual RVU Fall Festival was a huge success this year. The fun, free event welcomed students, faculty, staff and members of the local community to enjoy a variety of activities, including the popular bounce house, balloon artist, caricature artist, caramel apples, face painting and more. Over 130 children participated with their families and loved ones, making this the best turnout the Festival has ever had! “We also had at least 70 student volunteers and over 20 free activity booths for kids to enjoy,” says Miranda Allen, OMSII, one the organizers of the Festival. Miranda recalls, “One family said that they had just moved here from the east coast only three days prior and decided to come to the Festival after reading about it on the Town of Parker website. We were very proud to have RVU provide such a warm welcome to Colorado!” The RVU Student Government Association (SGA) and student clubs and organizations hosted the festival. The RVU American College of Osteopathic Pediatricians Student Club was also able to raise over $200 from their "Pumpkin Patch" to purchase toys for the Holiday Toy Drive, in which students will deliver toys to the Children’s Hospital of Denver in December. To see more Fall Festival photos, be sure to check out the RVU Facebook page!
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RVU Employee Events Team Hosts Halloween Trick-or-Treat Street On October 31st, the halls and offices of RVU were filled with the sounds of happy ghouls and goblins collecting treats. The RVU Employee Events Team (EET) once again hosted the annual Halloween Trick-or-Treat Street event, during which RVUCOM students and employees brought their children, dressed in costume, for some trick-or-treating fun. All of the office pods (and some members of the faculty and staff) were also decked out for Halloween, and all had candy to hand out to the excited children.
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From the Rocky Vista University Alumni Association Fellow Alumni: Did you recently attend the AOA's Osteopathic Medical Conference and Exposition (OMED) or another great conference? Let us know your thoughts, experiences and any suggestions you may have! Planning on attending an upcoming conference? Let us know if you plan to attend. We will be at your service to help make the conference a great exMeghan Croteau, D.O., '12 perience, while representing RVU. Contributing alumni members will receive some extra perks while at their conference. Not a contributing member? It's never too late to sign up. You can contact me or Julie Rosenthal in the Office of Admissions and Marketing to help you begin the process. Don’t forget about our alumni wearables! RVU alumni merchandise is available to buy now! Cheers, Meghan Croteau, D.O., '12 Alumni Association President/CEO
NOW AVAILABLE
RVU Alumni Association Apparel is now available in the RVU Online Store! Click the Online Store link on the RVU homepage and choose "RVU Alumni" from the drop-down menu to see more.
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Resident Spotlight:
Sarah Amoroso, D.O., '12 After graduating from Rocky Vista University, Dr. Amoroso joined a Dual Osteopathic Pediatric program at Nationwide Children’s Hospital/Doctor’s Hospital. Currently living in Columbus, Ohio, Dr. Amoroso is excelling as a resident in the pediatric field.
Sarah Amoroso, D.O., '12
“I am currently living in a suburb of Columbus with my husband. We love living in our house here and it’s in a great area, but we miss the Colorado mountains! I have enjoyed the opportunity to take care of my patients in such a supportive environment. I’m constantly learning something new with each patient I take care of. My fellow interns and residents are great to work with and are very helpful. The attendings are all great teachers as well! My words of encouragement to current students would be to continue to read and learn as much about your patients as you can when on rotations. It is very helpful once you’re the person actually taking care of the patient!”
COMING SOON: RVU Alumni Website
The RVU Alumni Association will soon be launching a website at www.rvualumni.org!
AMA President Visits RVUCOM
On October 24th, American Medical Association (AMA) President Jeremy A. Lazarus, M.D., gave a luncheon presentation to the RVU Community. His presentation, "American Healthcare: Your Road Forward", was also available as a live webcast to Osteopathic and Allopathic Medical schools across the country. During his presentation, Dr. Lazarus focused on healthcare policy and reform, the current work of the AMA and the future of healthcare for today’s medical students. He also discussed the AMA’s partnership in the Joining Forces Initiative.
AMA President Jeremy A. Lazarus, M.D.
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Dr. Lazarus is the first physician from Colorado to hold the office of the AMA Presidency in 91 years. He is a board-certified psychiatrist in private practice in Denver and also served as past president of the Colorado Medical Society, the Colorado Psychiatric Society and the Arapahoe County Medical Society.
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A Labor of Love: Raising Service Dogs for the Blind Outside of the office, Michelle Mueller, a Clinical Assessment Coordinator in the RVU Clinical Affairs Department, dedicates her time and love to a noble cause – raising and training Service Dogs for the disabled. She volunteers with Guide Dogs for the Blind, an organization that provides service animals for the blind and visually impaired, along with all the training and lifetime support it entails. “I got involved back when I was in high school,” explains Michelle. “Our family dog had just passed away and it was hard not having a dog around. We had family friends that were involved with the Guide Dogs program, and they really got us interested. I began going to meetings and puppy sitting – and then I got my first puppy from the program, who we raised as a breeder, in my sophomore year of high school.” As a senior in high school, Michelle raised her first dog on her own for the program. Later, after returning from college, she began training her latest dog, a black lab named Spritz. “The Guide Dogs program breeds the dogs at their California campus and then delivers them to the trainers between 6-8 weeks of age, once they’re old enough to leave their mothers,” says Michelle. “We then train the dogs all the basics of obedience, housebreaking and simple commands like ‘sit’
and ‘stay’. As part of the program, we took Spritz to weekly puppy training courses and check-in monthly with Guide Dogs. Normally trainers will train the dog for a full year; however, with Spritz, we did a special program where we trained her for six months and then she went to Utah to a high RVU Clinical Assessment Coordinator Michelle Mueller with future service dog, Spritz school student who will train her for another six months before she returns to Guide Dogs in Once the volunteer training process California. That student trainer in concludes, service dogs are returned Utah will take Spritz to school every to the Guide Dogs program for final day as part of a class – to work on health checks, specialized service obedience and get her really accus- training and matching with their tomed to being around people all the new home and owners. time, in a variety of situations.” “It’s hard not to get attached to the Volunteer trainers like Michelle can’t dogs, but it’s easy to give them up, teach the dogs beyond the basics. just because you know they are goThe specialized training is handled ing to a good place,” says Michelle. by Guide Dogs personnel, and is “I definitely plan to continue training tailored specifically for the disabled dogs in the future.” person they will eventually be assigned to. Guide Dogs for the Blind has a camWith Spritz, Michelle chose to work with a co-trainer, another option in the program. Her co-trainer was a local high school student who was inspired to take part in the training program due to her own brother’s blindness and experience with service dogs. “She was really good with Spritz,” says Michelle. “She was really diligent and worked well with her.”
pus in San Rafael, California, and one just outside of Portland, Oregon. They manage a group of more than 1,000 volunteers who raise and socialize puppies in eight Western states, and they support more than 2,000 graduates across the entire country and Canada. For more information about Guide Dogs for the Blind, or their training programs, please visit www.guidedogs.com.
The DO Magazine
Rocky Vista University was recently featured in the American Osteopathic Association (AOA) magazine, The DO, in an article discussing the events of 9/11, and how those events brought about the need for hands-on disaster training for Osteopathic Physicians and medical students. The article, "Then and Now: How Sept. 11 Shaped Disaster Response Education", features commentary from RVUCOM Acting President/Dean, Bruce D. Dubin, D.O., JD, discussing RVUCOM’s Basic and Advanced Disaster Life Support (ADLS) Training and the use of the Cut Suit in disaster response education. You can read the full article at: www.do-online.org/TheDO/?p=107311
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RVU Sponsors Fitness Festival On September 8th, a team of RVUCOM students, staff and faculty gathered in the Denver Tech Center in Greenwood Village for the First American State Bank Fitness Festival. Rocky Vista University was one of the event sponsors this year, and also hosted the First Aid Tent. Event participants had the option to take part in either the Rocky Vista University 5K Run/Walk or Kaiser Permanente 1K Fitness Walk. The event included food samplings from local restaurants, entertainment, giveaways and awards for some of the top teams and participants. The Fitness Festival was held to benefit students throughout the Cherry Creek School District. Net proceeds go to the Community Asset Project, Inc., a partner with the Cherry Creek School District.
Cindy Funk, Ph.D., RVUCOM Associate Professor of Structural Medicine, gets her face painted by Kathryn Huff, OMS-I prior to the race
Schoen Kruse, Ph.D., RVUCOM Phase Director/Associate Professor of Pharmacology with 2002 Olympic Bronze Medal-winning Snowboarder Chris Klug
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The RVUCOM team gathers before the race
Schoen Kruse, Ph.D., (right) with First Place Female Winner Rachael Chacko and Third Place Female Winner Lisa Mills
Kathryn Huff, OMS-I with Colton Smith, OMS-I
Joseph Stasio, D.O., RVUCOM Chair of Primary Care Medicine & Professor of Family Medicine
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The Clinical Experience at Sturgis Regional Hospital By Devon D. Warren, OMS-III
As is true for most medical students, I couldn’t wait to start third year clinical rotations and put my training to use. I was fortunate to have been a member of the Rural and Wilderness (R&W) Track at RVUCOM, as it guided my decision to move to Rapid City, South Dakota for rotations. Thomas Told, D.O., Chair of the R&W Department, played a major role in the first two years of my education at RVUCOM, and continued to support me in securing the Sturgis Regional Hospital Emergency Department assignment for my first clinical rotation. I was beyond excited to have that opportunity as a third year medical student, and little did I know what I was truly about to experience! Sturgis, South Dakota, a community of approximately 6,500 people, is widely known for hosting one of the largest motorcycle events in the world. This year marked the 72nd anniversary of the Sturgis Rally with approximately 500,000 motorcycle enthusiasts in attendance. Understandably, when a population
grows by 75 times in only a matter of days, the town and surrounding areas take on a completely different culture. During the week of the Rally, the Sturgis Emergency Department (ED) is heralded as the busiest ED between Minneapolis, Minnesota and Denver, Colorado. Sturgis Regional Hospital, a 25-bed critical access hospital, offers 24-hour emergency service, inpatient and outpatient care and hospice. The ED consists of two exam rooms, a trauma room and three additional beds. My first impression was amazement that a small rural ED of that size was able to accommodate the needs of a huge event like the Sturgis Rally. However, I quickly realized how impressive the team was at their delivery of care. For any third year medical student, maximum exposure is an important part of the learning process. I was able to work 93 hours over the course of six days, and gained invaluable experience along the way. From my first steps through the door of the ED, until my last day, it was nonstop action and excitement. I was thrown right into the demands of the ED and treated as an essential team member. I constantly found myself referring back to my Rural and Wilderness Track training and hearing both the voices of Dr. Told and Anthony LaPorta, D.O., RVUCOM Professor of Clinical Surgery, in my thought process.
A look at the busy streets during the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally
Highlights of the Sturgis experience include the procedures and emergencies I was able to handle. I assisted in endless amounts of suturing, wound packing, dislocation reductions, extreme fractures, amputations, motorcycle accidents, head traumas, alcohol and drug overdoses, stabbings, heart attacks Devon D. Warren, OMS-III and codes. I also performed my first intubation, orogastric tube and chest tube. The week seemed to become more chaotic as the rally progressed. As the participants became more comfortable with their surroundings and the massive amounts of people, it led to risky behaviors and visits to the ED. I could not have asked for a more well-rounded or intense way to kick off my clinical rotations and I am grateful to RVUCOM and everyone at the Sturgis Regional Hospital for an outstanding clinical experience. I look forward to working the Rally again in 2013!
A view of Main Street at the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally
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A Global Perspective: Researching in Prague By Thomas Rogers, OMS-III
Being part of the RVUCOM Global Medicine Track (GMT) affords one the fantastic opportunity of doing three, four-week rotations abroad during the 3rd and 4th years. While these are typically comprised of clinical rotations performed in underserved areas of the world, I decided to take a different spin on the idea by participating in an eight-week laboratory research project. I recognized that even in the research setting I would still be able to preserve the ideals of the GMT, in the sharing of daily life with people from a country with an entirely different culture, language and medical tradition.
Prague, Czech Republic. The research conducted involved a comparative analysis of fibroblast mechanisms between dermal wound healing in the newborn and squamous cell oncogenesis in the adult. I found this topic very interesting since my career goals lie in the fascinating field of pathology.
After surveying a multitude of locations and their respective projects, I decided on Charles University in
One invaluable hands-on experience I had was being allowed to scrub in on a submucosal cleft palate repair of an infant. During the procedure, we collected tissue from the cleft region, which was then brought back to the lab to begin harvesting cells from. I essentially had the chance to see the entire experimental process from live tissue preparation, to methods of cell culturing and fluorescent staining.
A standard workday started around 9:00 A.M. and finished around 4:00 P.M., with most hours devoted to lab bench work. On days where lab hours were abbreviated, I had the chance to explore other facets of the research.
While I was initially slightly skeptical about being able to learn or accomplish much in an eight-week period, my concerns proved to be unfounded. With a little enthusiasm, willingness to learn, and undergraduate laboratory experience, I was performing an independent experiment paralleling the lab’s current research before the end of my second week. The head of the lab, Prof. Karel Smetana, and the lead scientist, Dr. Barbora Dvořánková, were incredibly helpful and kind in regards to the lab and the great city of Prague. Prague Namesti Miru - Neo-Gothic architecture decorating the interior of the Church of St. Ludmila
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Fall in Cesky Krumlov - a Vltava River promenade with the 15th-century Church of St. Vitus in the background
Dr. Barbora Dvořánková; Tom Rogers, OMS-III; and Lab Technicians Radana Kavková and Marie Jindráková
Fibroblast Staining - using fluorescent dyes to stain for transcription factors indicative of the fibroblasts' stem potential
I had quite a bit of one-on-one time with Dr. Dvořánková, being the only visiting student during September and October. This represented an advantageous benefit since a slight language barrier existed, which we eventually adapted to. Everyone at the lab became like family to the extent that during my last week, Dr. Dvořánková even invited me for a homemade traditional Czech dinner of beef and potato dumplings served with koprováomáčka, a sort of dill gravy. The dinner was followed by (Continued on Next Page)
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Research in Prague (Continued) medovník, gingerbread cake, and tatranskýčaj, liqueur made from black tea and herbs. Altogether, the hardest part of the entire project was saying goodbye to my lab family and heading back to the states. I cannot say enough nice things about the entire research experience. Prague is an amazingly beautiful city that's well preserved in light of its shared border with Germany and the devastation brought by the World Wars. I found the people to be profoundly friendly even though most of them spoke little English. To sum up Prague in a few words and photos would be a gross understatement. The city is very cosmopolitan, yet diverse, and chock full of UNESCO World Heritage Landmarks adjacent to modern architecture, all while retaining a very specific and Prague Muzeum - a view down Wenceslas Square toward unique atmosphere. Národní Muzeum, the National Museum, in Prague
A Vltava River promenade with the 15th-century Church of St. Vitus in the background
Apart from the city, I had the chance to travel some of the Czech countryside. My favorite town outside of Prague was Český Krumlov, a small village in South Bohemia. The mouth of the same river that runs through Prague, the Vltava, originates in the mountains above this picturesque town. I would highly recommend a similar experience to any student interested in pursuing a specialty requiring a research background. If you’re entertaining the idea of partaking in such a project, the one I chose was offered through the American Medical Student Association (AMSA). In addition to their massive project database and plethora of hosting countries, AMSA also subsidizes a significant amount of the cost to participate in the program. All things considered, tying together a relevant research project in a foreign country on a very reasonable budget makes for an unforgettable trip too wonderful to pass up.
Chaparral High School Anatomy Program For the second year, RVU has hosted the Douglas County Pre-med Anatomy Program. The program connects Douglas County High Schools students with a real-life, hands-on medical experience through gross anatomy cadaver prosections delivered by RVUCOM OMS I & II student doctors. Between 30 and 40 RVUCOM student doctors volunteer for the program, 10 of which will deliver these prosections on selected Saturdays in the Fall.
continues to grow with six area high schools represented. The class at CHS is overseen by Chris Stirrup, CHS Math Teacher and Medical Class Advisor. His pre-medical class meets three days per week and will participate in four different Saturday Anatomy labs at RVUCOM throughout the Fall semester.
On September 29th, 113 students from Chaparral High School (CHS) participated in the first of the prosection labs to be held this year, learning from RVUCOM student doctors about the human back. Several of the CHS students also brought along a parent, just as eager and excited to learn as they were. High school students involved in this program are all part of a pre-medical class offered at CHS. The class, now in it's fifth year of being offered,
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Kristin Gaines Barney, OMS-II presents to Chaparral High School students
Matthew Bradbury, OMS-II presents to Chaparral High School students
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SGA Honors Faculty, Staff and Students at Awards Night The RVUCOM Student Government Association (SGA) recently sponsored an evening of recognition and camaraderie with their annual Awards Night. The event, organized by students and the SGA, recognized the University's hardworking faculty and staff, as well as honored several outstanding student doctors from the Classes of 2014 and 2015. Fellow students, faculty and staff were given the opportunity to nominate the recipients earlier in the year.
Award Recipients Include:
Summit Award Club of the Year: ACOFP Unsung hero: Brenda Gonzalez Administrative Staff: Erica Whatley William Osler Biomedical Sciences Award 2015 – Dr. Cindy Funk 2014 – Dr. Kenneth Sims A.T. Still Clinical Sciences Award 2015 – Dr. Jill Pitcher 2014 – Dr. Tom Told Fighting Prairie Dog Awards 2014 (tied) – Dr. Darrow- For his rants about society as a whole and for being awesome. 2014 (tied) – Dr. Sims -For his advice to a successful marriage, and for his daily, entertaining lectures 2015 – Dr. Funk- For her use of the Margaritaville machine while editing her lectures.
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RVUCOM Students and Faculty Present Posters at BIOMEA Recently, several RVUCOM students and faculty presented in the poster session as part of the American Osteopathic Association (AOA) Bureau on International Osteopathic Medical Education and Affairs’ (BIOMEA) 14th Annual International Seminar. The Seminar and presentation was held at the AOA’s Osteopathic Medical Conference & Exposition (OMED) in San Diego, California.
Lauren Prest, OMS-IV, with her poster, “Perspectives on Manual Medicine by Patients in Developing Nations”(Co-Authored by David Kanze, D.O. and Amber Heck, Ph.D.- Not Pictured)
Nichole Niknafs, OMS-II with her poster, “The Controversy Over Cesarean Sections Examining the Trend Through A Cultural Lens” (Co-Authored by Steffanie Becerra, MS-II & Melissa Balbuena, MS-I - Not Pictured)
Camille Bentley, D.O., and Jennifer Montemayor, Ph.D., with their poster, “Perceptions and Attitudes of Vitamin Supplements by Patients in Guatemala” (Co-Authored by Brittany Van Beek, OMS-III and Rebecca Bowden, Ph.D. - Not Pictured)
Sheila Maier, MS, OMS-II, with her poster, “Health Literacy in Latin America” (Co-Authored by Melissa Fujan, OMS-III and Camille Bentley, D.O. - Not Pictured)
AFHPSP Presentation
On September 20th, Battalion Commander, LTC Cardenas and other military dignitaries visited the RVU campus for a student luncheon and presentation. The informational presentation was held for all the military students in the Armed Forces Health Professions Scholarship Program (AFHPSP) and for any students considering the program. LTC Cardenas and several military recruiters presented information on the HPSP program, and were available to answer questions for students throughout the afternoon.
LTC Cardenas leads a presentation about the AFHPSP to RVUCOM military students
Class of 2016: First Grand Rounds Presentations of the Year On September 20th, student doctors from the Class of 2016 took center stage for the first Grand Rounds Presentations of their medical careers. The students did markedly well, giving polished, well-researched presentations and garnering praise from Bruce Dubin, D.O., JD, RVU Acting President/Dean, who complimented the students, in addition to asking questions and offering constructive comments following each of the presentations. Nineteen students in three groups presented cases that day, while the remaining students will present on future dates. Grand Rounds are an important part of the medical school experience, introducing students to research and presentation skills that will be helpful in their future careers as physicians.
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Aaron Arnolds, OMS-I answers audience questions after his group's presentation
OMS-I Presenting Team Michael Britt, Alyssa Brocker, Zachary Brown, Mitchel Brown, Ashton Brunn and Josh Buschling
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An Update from the RVU Admissions Department Between the processing and reviewing of candidate files, conducting perspective student tours and transcript evaluations and holding interviews for candidates, the work of the RVUCOM Admissions department hardly slows down. In addition to on-campus activities, the Admissions staff are also out and about, around the state, and the country, spreading the word about RVUCOM and recruiting new candidates. In late September and early October, Cassidy Chambers, RVUCOM Admissions Counselor traveled throughout Utah, attending graduate school fairs. She also participated multiple panel presentations at universities around Utah with representatives from several other D.O. schools from around the country. Cassidy says the turnout was great, and that the panel presentations were especially wellattended. "We were able to reach a lot of students and share information with them about RVUCOM, osteopathic medicine, what to expect in medical school, and the application and the admissions process," Cassidy explains.
Also in October, Cassidy traveled to California and hosted an informational booth at the 10th Annual American Medical Student Association chapters at American River College and the University of California, Davis (AMSA ARC/UCD) Pre-Health Professions Conference at the UCD campus. "This event was wonderful exposure for RVUCOM," says Cassidy. "I was able to speak with a large number of interested pre-medical students from all over the west coast. It was a great, diverse group, with a lot of questions about the D.O. philosophy and life as a medical student. Many of these students were not familiar with osteopathic medicine or had been misinformed, so it was good to dispel some of the rumors out there for them." Cassidy says she received a lot of positive feedback about RVUCOM, and that many students said that the University's location is also a big draw for them as well. On Halloween, the America Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine (AACOM) held a Multi-COM event on the University of California,
Berkeley (UCB) campus. In the spirit of the holiday, the UCB advisor in attendance was dressed as a zombie. Gina Moses, M.Ed., Associate Director of Application Services for AACOM was also on hand to give a presentation and students had time to visit with the school representatives for questions and more information. On select days throughout each month, the RVUCOM Admissions Department holds Tour and Transcript, or T&T, days to review potential candidate transcripts, provide guidance for strengthening their applications and offered tours of the campus. The most recent T&T day was held on October 16. Prospective students were able to visit the Simulation Lab, observe first year students in the Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine (OMM) Lab, chat with the Anatomy Fellows and have their questions answered. Everyone seemed to really enjoy their visit, especially the chance to talk with current students about their experiences.
RVU Sponsors Taste of Parker and Business Expo In mid-October, RVUCOM showed support for the Parker community by sponsoring the Taste of Parker and Business Expo at the Wildlife Experience in Parker. RVUCOM also had an informational table at the event, helping to raise awareness about the University. The Taste of Parker and Business Expo, held by the Town of Parker and the Parker Chamber of Commerce, gives area restaurants and businesses the opportunity to showcase their businesses, promote new products, foods, services and solutions. A view of Main Street in the Town of Parker
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From the W.E.L.L. Committee By popular demand, the W.E.L.L. Committee is bringing back both the Weight Loss and Exercise challenges! Employees can earn points toward Wellness time off by logging physical activity and weight lost. This time, to "sweeten the deal" even more, the Committee is offering first, second and third place prizes in each of these categories. Also remember the Stair Climb/Walk on Mondays at 3:00 P.M. and Fridays at 10:00 A.M. Sign in at the 2nd floor main stairway and receive points toward the Exercise Challenge.
There will be a Blood Drive to benefit the Children’s Hospital on November 20, 2012. If you're interested, contact Michelle Mueller at (720) 875-2463. There is also a Book Club which meets for lunch and reviews books that each member has read. If you're interested, contact Patty Kellison at (720) 875-2865. The W.E.L.L. Committee continues to stock fruit weekly in the Dean’s kitchen and faculty lounge for all RVU employees.
New Websites Launched for Postgraduate Training Programs RVU and Rocky Mountain Osteopathic Postdoctoral Training Institution (RMOPTI) have launched several new websites to promote awareness of postgraduate opportunities and to facilitate communication among residents. The new RMOPTI website, www.rmopti.com, contains information about the Osteopathic Postgraduate Training Institution and the affiliated programs. Residents at RMOPTI programs may log on to find additional resources concerning research, OPP training and policies. The website www.skyridgeim.com provides information on the new Osteopathic Internal Medicine Residency Program at Sky Ridge Medical Center in Lone Tree, a program that is currently interviewing for its inaugural class. Details on the new Osteopathic Hospice and Palliative Care Fellowship at Hospice of Saint Johns in Lakewood can be found on their new website at www.rvu-hospice.com. Please check out these websites for more information!
rocky mountain
opti
osteopathic postdoctoral training institution
RVU Merchandise Available In addition to all of the great, RVU merchandise available online at the RVU Online Store, there is still some merchandise available in the Admissions & Marketing Department. Stop by and do a little Holiday shopping!
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Welcome to our New Employees Gyasi Evans
Library Clerk Gyasi is a Colorado native, but moved often as a child. He began college at Colorado University and then transferred to Metropolitan State University of Denver for the journalism program. “My focus was on broadcast journalism with a concentration in the technical, editing and directing aspect of the degree,” says Gyasi. “My minor was in Digital Media with a focus on still photography and I am an amateur photographer because of this. My plans are to return to school in the next year or so to pursue my master’s degree in Information/ Library science or communications.”
Gyasi says the majority of his work history has been focused on the library system. He has worked at Denver Public Libraries for almost six years and also worked at Denver Public Schools as a Library Technician. He previously worked as an Admissions Counselor/Recruiter for Ashford University. Gyasi says he feels that the library system is a field he wants to be involved in as a long term career. “I was interested in RVU for many reasons, but my main goal was in wanting a change within the library field,” says Gyasi. “I worked at public libraries and public school libraries but never a library in the secondary education field. I researched RVU and the intimate size of the University was a positive feature for me. Being able to get to know students on a more personal level while helping them with materials or library services is a huge reason why I feel RVU is a good place for me.” Gyasi is the youngest of three siblings. He says he was born into a typical military family in Colorado Springs, but moved to Germany for five years. He hopes to return to visit soon. He also lived in Maryland and Virginia, but came back to Denver to attend High School and College. He loves Colorado, but also enjoys traveling and frequently visits California. “So far, I’ve also traveled to Cozumel; Mexico; Belize; the Cayman Islands; Honduras and the Czech Republic. The next stops on my list are Laos/Thailand, Brazil, and Ghana.” Gyasi’s interests include photography, motorcycle riding, traveling, happy hour, snowboarding and he’s currently learning to surf. He also says, “If anyone snowboards or skis, I am always looking to find new buddies to go up with!” Welcome, Gyasi!
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Wanda Mathwich
Security Officer Wanda is originally from Minot, North Dakota, and most recently lived in St. Paul, Minnesota. She earned an AA Degree in Human Services, an AAS Degree in Chemical Dependency Counseling, and an AAS Degree in Radiologic Technology at Century College in White Bear Lake, Minnesota.
Wanda spent over 10 years in the furniture refinishing industry. After after completing her Associate Degrees in Human Services and Chemical Dependency Counseling, she worked at the White Bear Lake YMCA, counseling youth and teens in prevention. “Instead of working in the treatment field after they had drug and alcohol issues, I wanted to help teach them a different option/path to using drugs/alcohol through fitness and sport programs,” says Wanda. While considering a career in law enforcement, Wanda began work in the security industry. She went back to school and ended up spending the next 10.5 years working for Securitas Security Services at US Bank. Wanda says she was drawn to Colorado after finding out she was going to be a grandmother. “When I saw the job posting here at RVU, I knew I wanted to work here,” says Wanda. “Everyone has been so welcoming and friendly.” Wanda is a new grandmother and hopes to spend a lot of time with her new grandson. She says she really enjoys hiking, biking, working out, woodworking and being outdoors. “I’m looking forward to seeing what a Colorado winter is like compared to Minnesota.” Welcome, Wanda!
Tom Mullowney
Security Officer Tom is originally from New York City, New York. He joins the RVU Security Team after working over 30 years in the United States Customs Service. (Continued on Next Page)
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Welcome to our New Employees (Continued) Tom Mullowney (continued)
ways be a productive member of the Security team."
Tom is married and has five children and four grandchildren.
Randy and his wife of 20 years, June, their 10-year-old son Jason and their two pet hermit crabs live in Parker. They enjoy heading west into the Rockies to camp and soak up the beauty of Colorado. Randy and his wife also enjoy watching their son learn to fly airplanes at Centennial Airport - even at such a young age, he has a real passion for flying.
Tom says he is exited to be working at RVU. “It’s nice to be part of an expanding enterprise and I would like to add to the feeling of the school.”
Welcome, Tom!
Randy Westbrook
Security Officer Randy grew up in Alexandria, Virginia and graduated in 1981 from Hayfield High School. He worked for 23 years for the Metro-Washington Airports Authority Public Safety Department. For fifteen of those years, he served as an Investigator, primarily working Narcotics Investigations, such as Drug Interdiction with the DEA. In 1991, Randy received the U.S. Department of Justice Public Service Award for his work on a joint FBI/MWAA six-month undercover operation resulting in twenty-one indictments of numerous airline employees for internal thefts from passengers’ luggage. He also worked alongside the FBI after the 9/11 attacks, and helped locate and search two of the hijackers vehicles located at Dulles Airport.
In 2008, Randy retired from Law Enforcement and moved to Parker. “I enjoy working at RVU,” says Randy. “I love that the RVU community is comprised of professionals with a common goal in mind. “ As an RVU Security Officer, Randy strives to help promote a safe and secure campus for all. “I hope to develop a good working relationship with the students, faculty and staff, and will al-
Randy also enjoys riding motorcycles and makes his own laundry and dish soaps. He also says “I enjoy Tofurkey over the real bird any day of the week (a few of you will understand this!)” Welcome, Randy!
Tom Valdez
Security Officer Tom was born and raised in Pueblo, Colorado, however, he has lived in Parker for the last 20 years. He graduated in 1977 from the University of Southern Colorado with a Bachelors of Science Degree in Physical Education and a Minor in History. He later graduated from the Department of Corrections Training Academy.
Tom worked several years in Youth Treatment and Detention Centers. He also worked for 25 years in the Department of Corrections in Cañon City and Denver, Colorado before retiring in 2005. Tom has been married for 22 years and has a son and a daughter, both of whom are currently attending Colorado State University in Fort Collins. He also enjoys weight training, traveling and landscaping. Welcome, Tom!
An Update from the RVU Facilities Department The RVU Facilities Department is happy to announce the recent installation of a new heated walkway and automatic doors at the building's Main Entrance. The walkway and doors were added because RVU and the building ownership saw the need to make the entrances safer and more functional. As time goes by, there will be continued improvements as needs are presented.
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The building's Main Entrance with new automatic doors and heated walkway
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Updates From the RVU Security Team The Mile-High Chapter of the American Society for Industrial Security (ASIS) recently recognized four RVU Security Officers for their hard work and contributions to the field of security. ASIS International was founded in 1955 and is the preeminent organization for security professionals. They are dedicated to increasing the effectiveness and productivity of security professionals. Congratulations to Security Officers Zeke England, Dennis Meidal, Beth Golden and Security Supervisor Andrew Stevens, on receiving this honor. The RVU Security team would also like to Congratulate Security Supervisor Andrew Stevens, as he and his wife Shawna just had their first baby girl, Aria Isabella Stevens. With the upcoming winter season drawing near, the RVU Security Team would like to remind everyone of the procedures surrounding potential, weather-related school closures and cancellations: Classes Canceled: This means that the faculty and staff report to work and students may enter the building, but no classes are held. Hourly Delay: Students, faculty and staff may enter the building, but classes will not begin at the originally scheduled time; they may be cancelled. School Closure: Essential personnel are the only individu-
als required on campus. Faculty and staff may enter the building; however, students are not allowed to enter the buildRVU Security Officers Dennis Meidal and Zeke England, Security Supervisor Andrew Stevens, ing. If there are students in the and RVU Head of Public Safety and Security Dan Havens at the ASIS Awards Presentation building, they will be asked to leave unless there is an emergency situation. RVU weather-related notifications will be announced on Channel 9 News and the RVU Information Services (IS) department will send out e-mails and text messages for all who are signed-up for alerts. If you are not signed up for these e-mails and/or texts, please see Jeff Adams in the I.S. department. Lastly, you may have noticed animal traps placed at various points around the building. These traps are in place to reduce the rabbit population as they have caused damage to several student and staff vehicles by chewing on the wiring. The rabbits are being trapped as humanely as possible and being relocated in accordance with Colorado law. Please do not tamper with these traps in any way.
RVU Remembers Samuel Rankin Rocky Vista University is saddened to announce the passing of former RVU Interim President, Samuel H. Rankin, Jr., Ph.D. Dr. Rankin served as Interim President during the early stages of RVU's development, from June to September 2008. He will be fondly remembered for his kindness and passion for education, as well as his patience as University faculty and staff made the transition from the original, temporary office space to RVU’s permanent home. Samuel H. Rankin, Jr., Ph.D.
The Vista View is Published by the Rocky Vista University Marketing Department.
8401 S. Chambers Road Parker, CO 80134 720.875.2800
Editor & Graphic Designer Holly E. Kaspar Assistant Director of Marketing
To make comments, suggestions, submissions or be added to the newsletter mailing list, please contact Holly Kaspar at hkaspar@rvu.edu
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