Virtual TRIBUTE BOOK
2021
PROGRAM
WELCOME 2021 Honorees
Mission Moment
Innovative Collaborative Projects
Lifetime Achievement Award
Honors Gala Sponsors
AMERICAN OSTEOPATHIC FOUNDATION 2021 VIRTUAL HONORS GALA
ABOUT US For more than 70 years, the American Osteopathic Foundation has supported research, programs, and services that promote Osteopathic medicine and enhance patientcentered care.
Mission
Vision
Values
To support programs and services that promote Osteopathic medicine and enhance patient-centered care.
To be the leading philanthropic advocate of Osteopathic medicine.
Stewardship: We are committed to strengthening our internal capacity in an effort to raise philanthropic capital. Collaborative Leadership: We advance our mission by investing in the future of Osteopathic medicine through strategic partnerships that align with improving patientcentered care. Excellence: We recognize and honor excellence in education, research, and lifetime contributions to the Osteopathic profession.
AMERICAN OSTEOPATHIC FOUNDATION 2021 VIRTUAL HONORS GALA
WELCOME From our Board President On behalf of the American Osteopathic Foundation’s Board of Directors, welcome to the 2021 Honors Gala!
Jeffrey S. Grove, DO, FACOFP (dist)
Even while virtual, we believe tonight will truly be a night of celebration as we pay tribute to leaders, innovators and shining stars within our Osteopathic profession. Each individual being recognized tonight —whether an emerging leader or established professional—has made a profound difference in the lives of others. We couldn’t be more proud of all they are accomplishing across the Osteopathic profession
From our Honors Gala Chair The 2021 Honors Gala Committee and I would like to offer our personal welcome to each and every one of you. The AOF Honors Gala is the single largest annual event honoring members of the entire Osteopathic community. It is also an important fundraising event for the Foundation and we are grateful for our fantastic sponsors and individual donors that have helped to make the evening an incredible success. Joseph Zammuto, DO
AMERICAN OSTEOPATHIC FOUNDATION 2021 VIRTUAL HONORS GALA
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
OFFICERS Jeffrey S. Grove, DO, FACOFP dist. President Barbara Ross-Lee, DO President-Elect Jeff Heatherington, LHD (Hon.) Vice President Joseph Zammuto, DO Secretrary Dawn Tartaglione, DO, FACOS Treasurer Martin S. Levine, DO, MPH, FACOFP dist. Past President
DIRECTORS Frank Beamer Scott S. Cyrus, DO, FACOP Jeffrey Edwards, OMS III J. Michael Finley, DO Steven J. Heithoff, DO, FAOAO Jill M. Helenbrook Wendy McDonald, RN Seger S. Morris, DO, MBA Comfort Orebayo, OMS IV Tanya T. Porter Julieanne P. Sees, DO, FAOA, FAOAO Thomas W. Wallace
AMERICAN OSTEOPATHIC FOUNDATION 2021 VIRTUAL HONORS GALA
2021 HONORS GALA COMMITTEE
Joseph Zammuto, DO, Chair Frank Beamer Jeffrey Edwards, OMS III, Member Wendy McDonald, RN, Member Tanya T. Porter, Member Cass Taylor, Member Josephine Zammuto, Member
AMERICAN OSTEOPATHIC FOUNDATION 2021 VIRTUAL HONORS GALA
SPONSORS
Virtual
Platinum Dr. Jeffrey Grove The Heatherington Foundation for Innovation and Education in Health Care Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine
Gold
New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine Sanofi Pasteur
Silver Arizona Osteopathic Medical Association Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan Eli Lilly and Company Lincoln Memorial University - DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine
Rocky Vista University College of Osteopathic Medicine Rowan University School of Osteopathic Medicine Dr. Dawn Tartaglione Touro Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine
Bronze American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians Foundation Arkansas College of Osteopathic Medicine AT Still University Florida Osteopathic Medical Association Marian University College of Osteopathic Medicine
Midwestern University Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine Midwestern University Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences College of Osteopathic Medicine Paxton Medical Management University of the Incarnate Word School of Osteopathic Medicine
Copper AACOM Alabama College of Osteopathic Medicine American Osteopathic Association Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine Idaho College of Osteopathic Medicine Kansas City University Dr. Seger Morris Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences College of Osteopathic Medicine
P3 Health Partners Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine Dr. Barbara Ross-Lee University of Pikeville - Kentucky College of Osteopathic Medicine West Virginia College of Osteopathic Medicine Western University of Health Sciences/College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific Dr. Joseph Zammuto
AMERICAN OSTEOPATHIC FOUNDATION 2021 VIRTUAL HONORS GALA
TONIGHT'S HOST Karen J. Nichols, DO, MA, MACOI, CS
Karen J. Nichols, DO, MA, MACOI, CS
Dr. Nichols is currently Chair of ACGME and was President of the AOA from 2010-2011. She was the Dean of the CCOM from 2002 to 2018. Prior to serving as Dean, she was Assistant Dean, PostDoctoral Education and Division Director (chair), Internal Medicine at AZCOM since 1997. She was in the private practice of internal medicine and geriatrics in Mesa, Arizona from 1985 through 2002. A DO graduate of KCU-COM, Dr. Nichols holds a master’s degree in management with a specialty in healthcare administration from Central Michigan University.
Dr. Nichols has received numerous awards, including the first Arizona Osteopathic Medical Association Physician of the Year Award, Physician of the Year Award from the Illinois Osteopathic Medical Association, the J.O. Watson named Lectureship from the Ohio Osteopathic Association, Distinguished Service Awards from the Illinois Osteopathic Medical Society, Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine Alumni Association and the KCU-COM Alumni Association, and holds an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from that same institution. She was the 2012 recipient of the KCU-COM Alumna of the Year Award and received the 2014 Lifetime Achievement Award from the Arizona Osteopathic Medical Association. Dr. Nichols also holds honorary degrees from University of Pikeville – College of Osteopathic Medicine, Lincoln Memorial University – College of Osteopathic Medicine, Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, A.T. Still University/Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine, and Western University of Health Sciences – College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific.
AMERICAN OSTEOPATHIC FOUNDATION 2021 VIRTUAL HONORS GALA
We thank you for your continued support in our efforts to contribute to the SDGs.
Virtual HONOREES
2021
GOLDEN TICKET
Virtual
The American Osteopathic Foundation's Golden Ticket Scholarship recognizes Osteopathic medical students who, despite significant financial obstacles, have achieved academic excellence, displayed leadership, and are committed to community outreach and Osteopathic tenants.
AMERICAN OSTEOPATHIC FOUNDATION 2021 VIRTUAL HONORS GALA
GOLDEN TICKET AWARD FINALIST Nathan D. Holt III, OMS III A.T. Still University, School of Osteopathic Medicine in Arizona
The AOF is proud to name Nathan D. Holt III, OMS III, as one of three 2021 Golden Ticket Scholarship Finalists. A first-generation college student from a working-class family in Los Angeles, Student Doctor Holt is a third-year student at the A.T. Still University – School of Osteopathic Medicine in Arizona (ATSU-SOMA). He is treasurer of his school’s Sigma Sigma Phi Honor Society and volunteers twice a month with Clermont Senior Services, delivering groceries to senior citizens. Prior to starting medical school, he taught science to middle and high schoolers. Student Doctor Holt is principal or lead investigator on two studies currently underway at ATSU-SOMA, one focuses on digitizing opioid overdose prevention resources for local communities, and the other is regarding efficacy of teaching first-year medical students hemorrhage control. Of receiving this scholarship, he says, “Awards are not achieved solely by one person, but rather as a family, those we choose to surround ourselves with. They have the greatest power to inspire and challenge us to become the best versions of ourselves, in hopes of bettering the world around us.”
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Awards are not achieved solely by one person, but rather as a family, those we choose to surround ourselves with. Nathan D. Holt III AMERICAN OSTEOPATHIC FOUNDATION 2021 VIRTUAL HONORS GALA
GOLDEN TICKET AWARD FINALIST Michael W. Kortz, OMS IV Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences College of Osteopathic Medicine
The AOF is proud to name Michael W. Kortz, OMS IV, as one of three 2021 Golden Ticket Scholarship Finalists. Student Doctor Kortz is in his fourth year at the Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences College of Osteopathic Medicine (KCUMB-COM), where he was elected student body and Class of 2022 President. He also holds a Master’s of Business Administration in Healthcare Leadership from Rockhurst University. He is a research fellow in the University of Colorado’s Department of Neurosurgery, Senior Student Director of Education Resources at KCUMBCOM's Neurosurgery Training Center, and is the founder and co-president of his school’s Neurosurgery Education and Research Group. He has submitted many abstracts for publication and presented posters at multiple state and national conferences. Student Doctor Holtz says “the AOF Golden Ticket Scholarship represents an opportunity to whoever receives it, whether myself or any of the other highly deserving candidates. It represents a promise to ensure a future holistic career changing patients’ lives and honoring the tradition of Osteopathic medicine.”
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It represents a promise to ensure a future holistic career changing patients’ lives and honoring the tradition of Osteopathic medicine. Michael W. Kortz AMERICAN OSTEOPATHIC FOUNDATION 2021 VIRTUAL HONORS GALA
GOLDEN TICKET AWARD FINALIST Carolyn Sayers, OMS IV Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine – Virginia Campus
The AOF is proud to name Carolyn Sayers, OMS IV, as one of three 2021 Golden Ticket Scholarship Finalists. Student Doctor Sayers is in her fourth year at the Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine – Virginia Campus (VCOM), where she is very active in campus leadership. She regularly helps organize review sessions, raise funds for local events, and helps in the community by providing sports exams for school-aged athletes and conducting concussion screenings. Amidst the challenges of being an active student leader and physician in training, her husband (a VCOM 2020 graduate and current osteopathic resident) was diagnosed with a serious illness, adding the role of caregiver. Despite this addition, Student Doctor Sayers continues to excel in class and rotations, earning high marks and praise from her teachers. In her words, “Being selected as a finalist touches my heart and inspires me to work harder by using the experiences that I have gone through this past year to become the type of doctor I know I can be. No matter what, I am driven and committed to go the extra mile for every patient that I will have the privilege to treat. I may never repay all of the kindness and support that the community has given my husband and myself, but I will make it my life's mission to try.”
I am driven and committed to go the extra mile for every patient that I will have the privilege to treat. Carolyn Sayers AMERICAN OSTEOPATHIC FOUNDATION 2021 VIRTUAL HONORS GALA
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WILLIAM G. ANERSON,DO MINORITY SCHOLARSHIP
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The American Osteopathic Foundation’s William G. Anderson, DO, Minority Scholarships honor minority medical students who are working to eliminate health care disparities and to enhance patient-centered care for all.
AMERICAN OSTEOPATHIC FOUNDATION 2021 VIRTUAL HONORS GALA
AOF WILLIAM G. ANDERSON, DO MINORITY SCHOLARSHIP Jessica Bedele, OMS III Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine
The AOF is proud to recognize Jessica Bedele, OMS III, as one of five 2021 recipients of this prestigious $10,000 scholarship. Student Doctor Bedele was born in Ghana, where she witnessed firsthand how “disparities in health care are literally killing people.” Now in her third year at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (PCOM), she is a published researcher and a dedicated volunteer who is driven to be a “conduit to change” for minorities, both in medicine and the patient population. She is currently Vice Chair of the Student National Medical Association’s (SNMA) International Affairs Committee, where she educates members about global health care disparities and organizes opportunities to provide aid to underserved communities. Her mentorship of youth in the community and other volunteerism earned her induction into the PCOM Chapter of the Gold Humanism Honor Society in 2021. She also recently received the Pennsylvania Osteopathic Medical Association Foundation’s Diversity in Health Outreach Scholarship Award. “I am sincerely grateful and honored to be awarded a William G. Anderson, DO Minority Scholarship. Dr. Anderson embodies the passion and enthusiasm to serve and dismantle health care disparities in this world, a true commitment of mine. As such, this award serves as an encouragement and confirmation to keep doing what I do to lead, serve and advocate for patients.”
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This award serves as an encouragement and confirmation to keep doing what I do to lead, serve and advocate for patients. Jessica Bedele AMERICAN OSTEOPATHIC FOUNDATION 2021 VIRTUAL HONORS GALA
AOF WILLIAM G. ANDERSON, DO MINORITY SCHOLARSHIP Brandon Bishop, OMS II Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences College of Osteopathic Medicine
The AOF is proud to recognize Brandon Bishop, OMS II, as one of five 2021 recipients of this prestigious $10,000 scholarship. Student Doctor Bishop is in the second-year year of a joint DO and Master’s in Bioethics degree program at the Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences College of Osteopathic Medicine (KCUMB-COM). This year he was elected the Student Government Association (SGA) Class Senator and previously served as SGA Executive Vice President. Early in the pandemic, KCUMB-COM's executive dean invited him to give an interview about the impact of COVID on medical students. After his little brother saw him on TV, Student Doctor Bishop “learned from my brother’s words that I had the opportunity to represent part of the dream pursued by those before me. Because of their sacrifice, I have the opportunity to further that dream and...help inspire the next president, doctor, dancer, artist, or person not encumbered by their race, gender, [or] physical ability.” Student Doctor Bishop is currently part of a group examining the environmental impact of the waste produced by neurosurgical procedures and has also conducted research on match rates between DO and MD students in specific medical specialties. He says leadership is his way of “adding to the legacy of leaders such as Dr. William G. Anderson.”
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I have the opportunity to further that dream and...help inspire the next president, doctor, dancer, artist, or person not encumbered by their race, gender, [or] physical ability. Brandon Bishop AMERICAN OSTEOPATHIC FOUNDATION 2021 VIRTUAL HONORS GALA
AOF WILLIAM G. ANDERSON, DO MINORITY SCHOLARSHIP Samaneh Bolourchi, OMS III Touro University College of Osteopathic Medicine - California
The AOF is proud to recognize Samaneh Bolourchi, OMS III, as one of five 2021 recipients of this prestigious $10,000 scholarship. A third-year student at Touro University College of Osteopathic Medicine – California (TUCOM), Student Doctor Bolourchi is leading efforts to improve diversity throughout the health care spectrum. She serves on TUCOM’s Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Achievement Committee and is president and founding member of the TUCOM White Coats for Black Lives chapter. She is the student member of the Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation (COCA) Diversity Task Force that is working to amend COCA accreditation standards to promote a culture of inclusion and address student concerns regarding diversity. Student Doctor Bolourchi recently completed the American Medical Student Association Leadership Program; in 2021 she was awarded the TUCOM Global Citizens Leadership Award and TOUCH Program Gold Recognition for more than 100 hours of community service. She also is working on a research project advocating skin tone representation and inclusive diagnostic terminology in Osteopathic medicine. A first-generation American, Student Doctor Bolourchi says an early exposure mentorship program that paired her with a Black female physician “invigorated my desire” to become a physician. "As a future DO, I will always strive to be a structurally competent physician for my underrepresented patients, using awareness, compassion and knowledge to advocate for their health and safety above all else.”
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As a future DO, I will always strive to be a structurally competent physician for my underrepresented patients Samaneh Bolourchi AMERICAN OSTEOPATHIC FOUNDATION 2021 VIRTUAL HONORS GALA
AOF WILLIAM G. ANDERSON, DO MINORITY SCHOLARSHIP Chassidy Sumler, OMS II Lincoln Memorial University – DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine
The AOF is proud to recognize Chassidy Sumler, OMS II, as one of five 2021 recipients of this prestigious $10,000 scholarship. Student Doctor Sumler is a second-year student at Lincoln Memorial University – DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine (LMU-DCOM), where she also earned a Master’s in Biomedical Sciences degree. Her leadership roles on campus include student ambassador, president of the Internal Medicine Club, and president of the school's American Medical Association student chapter. Growing up in rural Mississippi, Student Doctor Sumler says she “saw the need for physicians, especially those that look like me.” As a member of LMU-DCOM's MEND (Medical Education Navigating Diversity) Initative, she works to develop materials that will educate future physicians on diversity and equip them with the tools to serve all populations. Of her future, Student Doctor Sumler says “I plan to open a clinic in rural, underserved areas, specifically those that work with minority communities...I have seen the lack of focus and care in these communities because I am a product of these communities. My desire is to one day help bridge the gap between minority communities and quality health care.”
My desire is to one day help bridge the gap between minority communities and quality health care. Chassidy Sumler AMERICAN OSTEOPATHIC FOUNDATION 2021 VIRTUAL HONORS GALA
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AOF WILLIAM G. ANDERSON, DO MINORITY SCHOLARSHIP Janelle Torres, OMS III Nova Southeastern University Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine
The AOF is proud to recognize Janelle Torres, OMS III , as one of five 2021 recipients of this prestigious $10,000 scholarship. Currently in her third year at Nova Southeastern University Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine (NSU-KPCOM), Student Doctor Torres says her background as the first-generation daughter of minority immigrants has instilled in her a “commitment to giving back to others through service.” In medical school, she organizes events to serve most vulnerable, minority populations in the community, including fixing up a local women’s shelter and collecting clothing for children in need. Student Doctor Torres is a leader on campus as well. She is president of the NSU-DO Pediatrics Club, executive secretary for the Students for a National Health Program, and executive secretary of the Hispanic Osteopathic Medical Student Association (HOMSA). In this role, she works to expand the Medical Spanish course to include cultural and conversational aspects and improve health literacy in Hispanic minority populations. “I use what others may consider a 'disadvantaged' background to strengthen everything that makes me unique and put that towards helping others like me succeed … My role as a future Hispanic physician is an important one that I will not take lightly because it will enable me to continue to push for health equity in minority populations like mine.”
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My role as a future Hispanic physician is an important one...that I will not take lightly because it will enable me to continue to push for health equity in minority populations like mine Janelle Torres AMERICAN OSTEOPATHIC FOUNDATION 2021 VIRTUAL HONORS GALA
KAREN J. NICHOLS, DO LEAD SCHOLAR AWARD
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The American Osteopathic Foundation - Karen J. Nichols, DO, LEAD Scholar Award recognizes an osteopathic medical student whose Leadership, Excellence, Advocacy and Dedication stand out among their peers.
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AOF KAREN J. NICHOLS DO, LEAD SCHOLAR AWARD Janae Rasmussen, OMS IV A.T. Still University School of Osteopathic Medicine in Arizona
The AOF is honored to name Janae Rasmussen, OMS IV, as the 2021 Karen J, Nichols, DO LEAD Scholar. Currently a fourth-year student at the A.T. Still University School of Osteopathic Medicine in Arizona (ATSU-SOMA), Student Doctor Rasmussen is already an experienced advocate and leader. She participated in Arizona and Washington’s state advocacy events as well as the AOA’s DO Day on the Hill and the American Medical Student Association’s Advocacy Day. Her undergraduate degree included a minor in politics with an emphasis on health care policy. She leads many campus activities centered on diversity, inclusion and mental health for her fellow medical students, including as Director of Communications for ATSU-SOMA’s Medical Student Pride Alliance and mentoring with ATSUSOMA's Strategic and Intentional Mentorship Program. Her classmates elected her vice president for the Class of 2022, and she is president of the Association of Women Surgeon’s Chapter. She received the Council of Osteopathic Student Government Presidents’ TOUCH Award for community health in 2019 and 2020 and is a member of the Gold Humanism Honor Society. “As a policy advocate, I am excited by the prospect of improving health care literacy and developing better standards for preventative care. This begins with inclusivity and cultural sensitivity... As a future osteopathic physician, I will advocate for the right of all patients to receive quality care despite the many social determinants of health barriers.”
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As a policy advocate, I am excited by the prospect of improving health care literacy and developing better standards for preventative care. Janae Rasmussen AMERICAN OSTEOPATHIC FOUNDATION 2021 HONORS VIRTUAL GALA
PRESIDENTIAL MEMORIAL LEADERSHIP AWARD
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The AOF/AOA Presidential Memorial Leadership Award honors Osteopathic Medical students making strides toward becoming top student leaders by motivating people and organizations to move from where they are to where they need to be.
AMERICAN OSTEOPATHIC FOUNDATION 2021 VIRTUAL HONORS GALA
AOF/AOA PRESIDENTIAL MEMORIAL SCHOLAR AWARD Aakangsha Jain, OMS III Nova Southeastern University Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine
Congratulations to Aakangsha Jain, OMS III, the 2021 AOF/AOAB Presidential Memorial Leadership Award winner. Student Doctor Jain is in her third year at the Nova Southeastern University Dr.BKiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine (NSU-KPCOM), where she serves asB Treasurer of the Student Government Association and the school’s National LiaisonB Officer for the Student Osteopathic Surgical Association. She has worked as aB student researcher on several projects through Cleveland Clinic Florida’sB Department of Neurosurgery and other institutions, with results published inB Clinical Neurology and Neurosurgery and other journals. The child of immigrant parents from India, Student Doctor Jain grew to “understand the difficulty in lack of access to health care, especially for those lessB fortunate. At a young age, I knew I wanted to help people like my father and myB mother.” This ignited an early passion for volunteering at local hospitals andB through medical service trips. In medical school, she served as President of NSUKPCOM's Sigma Sigma Phi chapter, managing the largest community serviceB organization on campus, and coordinated community service efforts with localB children's hospitals, nursing homes, and homeless organizations.
“As a physician, I will continue to be involved and use my skills and passion for service to aid my community, especially in underserved areas such as the one I grew up in. I aspire to one day work alongside a team that strives for excellence by providing service and furthering knowledge.”
I aspire to one day work alongside a team that strives for excellence by providing service and furthering knowledge. Aakangsha Jain AMERICAN OSTEOPATHIC FOUNDATION 2021 VIRTUAL HONORS GALA
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AOF W. DOUGLAS WARD, PHD, EDUCATOR OF THE YEAR AWARD Per Gunnar Brolinson, DO
The AOF’s W. Douglas Ward, PhD, Educator of the Year Award is one of the highest honors awarded by the AOF. It annually recognizes an educator whose commitment to teaching the tenets of osteopathic medicine has made a demonstrated impact on the educational arena and future generations of DOs. The AOF is honored to recognize Per Gunnar Brolinson, DO, as the 2021 AOF Educator of the Year.
Dr. Brolinson is the Vice Provost for Research at Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine (VCOM) as well as Medical Director of VCOM’s Impact Biomechanics Lab, Professor of Family Medicine and Discipline Chair of Sports Medicine, and the Medical Director Emeritus for the Primary Care Sports Medicine Fellowship at VCOM and Virginia Tech. The founder of VCOM’s Sports Medicine Fellowship and Sports Medicine Department, he is nationally known for the original “helmet studies” that led to safer helmets and fewer concussions in athletes.
Per Gunnar Brolinson, DO
I do not know of another osteopathic physician who represents the complete educator in teaching, service, and research with greater accomplishment.
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Dixie Tooke-Rawlins DO, FACOFP, President and Provost at VCOM. AMERICAN OSTEOPATHIC FOUNDATION 2021 VIRTUAL HONORS GALA
AOF EDUCATOR OF THE YEAR
Throughout a career in research, Dr. Brolinson has shed light on the dangers of concussions by studying concussion prevention, tolerance and treatment as well as identifying and treating traumatic brain injury. He has research currently in progress analyzing on-field impacts, using OMM to treat traumatic brain injury, and CARE 2.0: Concussion Assessment, Research and Education (CARE) Consortium. He serves as a Board Member at Virginia Tech’s Center for Innovation in Construction Safety & Health Research. He brings the same inquisitive, visionary style to his students as an educator, whether as a classroom instructor, in the clinical setting, or at continuing education courses nationwide. Since 2005, he has worked hands-on as an academic mentor for graduate research programs, serving on the dissertation and thesis committees for dozens of scientific and medical graduate students. Dr. Brolinson upholds high standards in education and research through his roles as chair of the American Osteopathic Board of Family Physicians’ Sports Medicine Conjoint Certification Examination Committee and chair of VCOM’s Institutional Review Board. He sits on the editorial boards for Complementary Therapies in Medicine, Journal of Science and Medicine in Sports and The Journal of the American Osteopathic Association. As a practicing sports medicine physician, Dr. Brolinson is the Team Physician for the U.S. Freestyle Ski Team, often traveling with them to events, and for the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. He also volunteers as a physician for the U.S. Olympic Committee. As an author and presenter, he has given almost 90 posters, abstracts and presentations and published more than 80 peer reviewed publications, in addition to lay publications and book chapters. Dr. Brolinson earned his DO degree from A.T. Still University - Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine and completed a pre-doctoral clinical fellowship in sports and preventative medicine at the Institute for Human Fitness at the University of North Texas Health Science Center – Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine as well as a traditional internship at Family Medicine Parkview Hospital in Toledo, Ohio. More recently, he finished a Faculty Development Fellowship in Clinical Research at VCOM. “While many speak about the need for more research in osteopathic medicine, Dr. Brolinson performs this research in the national realm and is highly regarded as to the validity of these studies. In addition, he leads faculty development for osteopathic research on all VCOM campuses, teaching and mentoring faculty and students on all aspects. Nationally he led and was successful in the recent designation of monies toward and invitation for more osteopathic physicians to submit research to NIH. I do not know of another osteopathic physician who represents the complete educator in teaching, service, and research with greater accomplishment than Dr. Brolinson,” says Dixie Tooke-Rawlins DO, FACOFP, President and Provost at VCOM. AMERICAN OSTEOPATHIC FOUNDATION 2021 HONORS GALA
ROCOVICH RESEARCH GRANT
Virtual
The American Osteopathic Foundation’s Rocovich Research Grant, given annually, recognizes outstanding scholarly work that advances osteopathic medicine and enriches its evidence base.
AMERICAN OSTEOPATHIC FOUNDATION 2021 VIRTUAL HONORS GALA
ORE-O RESEARCH GRANT
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The Osteopathic Research and Education for Orthopedics Grant represents a partnership between the AOF and the American Osteopathic Academy of Orthopedics Foundation to provide funding to resident and fellow orthopedic physicians who contribute to the science and knowledge of osteopathic orthopedic surgery through research.
AMERICAN OSTEOPATHIC FOUNDATION 2021 VIRTUAL HONORS GALA
AOF ROCOVICH RESEARCH GRANT Michael Stenta, OMS IV Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine
The 2021 Rocovich Research Grant recipient is Michael Stenta, OMS IV, at the University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine (OU-HCOM). The AOF Awards Committee selected Student Doctor Stenta based on a study he designed, "OMT Effects on Prolonged Post-COVID Olfactory Dysfunction." The study will use Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment (OMT) to target the olfactory nerve, aiming to decrease inflammation and damage with the goal of returning the sense of smell in patients affected by COVID-19. “By using OMT we believe that we can manipulate the body and the olfactory region to alter the fluid mechanics of a fluid stasis region and allow for the clearing of immune cells and debris from the olfactory area therefore re-establishing the sense of smell,” he writes. Student Doctor Stenta is in his fourth year at OU-HCOM, where he received the Outstanding Academic Leadership award in 2019 and serves as a mentor for fellow students. He previously worked as an Emergency Room Technician at Good Samaritan Hospital in Cincinnati and has participated in research exploring experimental synthesis of pure silica nanosheets for use as a catalyst substrate. Stevan A. Walkowski, DO, Chair and Associate Professor in OU-HCOM's Department of OMM, says that Student Doctor Stenta is “an exemplary student, a creative and courageous researcher, and a good human being.”
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It has been a joy to work with Mr. Stenta. He embodies warmth, humanity, curiosity and determination to do the right thing.
Stevan A. Walkowski, DO, Chair and Associate Professor Michael E. Stenta AMERICAN OSTEOPATHIC FOUNDATION 2021 VIRTUAL HONORS GALA
AOF/AOAO-FOUNDATION ORE-O RESEARCH GRANT Yash Chaudhry, DO
The 2021 recipient of the Osteopathic Research and Education for Orthopedics Grant is Yash Chaudhry, DO. Dr. Chaudhry is an orthopedic surgery resident at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (PCOM). He received his DO degree from the Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine in 2019. He spent a year at Johns Hopkins Hospital’s Department of Orthopedic Surgery as an Adult Reconstruction Research Fellow, where advisor Harpal S. Khanuja, MD, called him his best research assistant yet: “Chaudhry consistently does more than expected. He has a proven track record of completing research projects, and I am certain he will improve our understanding through this research.” Dr. Chaudhry earned this grant for a proposed study that tracks sleep patterns with smart watches in orthopedic patients. Sleep deprivation has been shown to be a major cause of dissatisfaction among joint replacement patients, with no particular treatment successful at addressing this problem. Dr. Chaudhry’s study proposes using wearable technology to identify sleep disruptions. In addition to conducting prior research on hip fractures in obese patients and postoperative hemoglobin, Dr. Chaudhry has completed three medical mission trips to Latin America and the Caribbean. He earned the Center for Chronic Disorders of Aging’s Resident Award and the AOA Bureau of Emerging Leaders’ Resident/Fellow Scholarship for DO Day on Capitol Hill in 2019. He serves on the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons’ Resident Education Committee and is a member of the AOAO.
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I am very thankful for the grant and the opportunity to expand on this field of knowledge. Yash Chaudhry, DO AMERICAN OSTEOPATHIC FOUNDATION 2021 VIRTUAL HONORS GALA
AOF PHYSICIAN OF THE YEAR AWARD Steven G. Smith, DO
The AOF Physician of the Year Award is among the American Osteopathic Foundation’s highest honors. It recognizes one Osteopathic Physician each year whose extraordinary accomplishments, integrity, commitment to service and patient health are unmatched. It is with great honor the 2021 AOF Physician of the Year is awarded to Steven G. Scott, DO.
Dr. Scott is Chief of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, Medical Director of the Polytrauma Rehabilitation Center, and Medical Director of the Inpatient Pain Program at James A. Haley’s Veterans’ Hospital (Haley) in Tampa, Florida. He is also Co-Director for the VA Center of Innovation on Disability and Rehab Research. An originator of the U.S. Department of Veterans’ Affairs (VA) polytrauma system of care, his program at Haley is a model for all other VA polytrauma sites to meet emerging needs of the veteran population. Steven G. Scott, DO
I have yet to see another physician in this country who has the healing power and the kindness of Dr. Scott. Gabriela Ryan, M.A., OMS I
AMERICAN OSTEOPATHIC FOUNDATION 2021 VIRTUAL HONORS GALA
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AOF PHYSICIAN OF THE YEAR
A pioneer in the treatment of traumatic brain injuries (TBI), Dr. Scott has completed research studies on improving arm function, rehabilitating vision loss, and improving mental health/anxiety disorders after TBI. He also studies issues affecting those serving in our nation’s armed services, such as treatment and costs of combatrelated blast injuries. Laura A. Bajor, DO, Dr. Scott's colleague at Haley, says “During my time under his leadership, I have watched Dr. Scott challenge the medical status quo time and again. He constantly drives new initiatives and has brought about improvements in TBI patient care too numerous to recount...I have no doubt his tenacity and dedication have improved outcomes for thousands of patients.” Dr. Scott serves as Assistant Professor in the Department of Neurology, as Division Director of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, on the Dean’s Committee, and on the Graduate Medical Education Council at the University of South Florida's Morsani College of Medicine in Tampa. He also sits on the Professional Standards Board of Central Florida Healthcare System. A committed educator, Dr. Scott established the first sports rehabilitation fellowship program in the United States at Mayo Clinic in 1987 and the first spinal cord injury fellowship and PM&R residency in Florida in 2001. Through grand rounds and peer education, he is training new generations of physicians in polytrauma medicine. He also contributes to the foundations of medical education as chapter author for Frontera’s Essentials of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and War Trauma: Principles and Practice of Management. Colleen E. Jakey, MD, FACS, Chief of Staff at Haley’s Veterans said, “I have been honored to work with and watch Dr. Scott transform the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Service at our hospital since 1991. He is an invaluable asset to our team, and inspirational DO, and a true hero to our patients and their families.” Dr. Scott graduated from the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine in 1978 and completed a traditional internship at the Osteopathic Hospital of Maine as well as a residency in physical medicine & rehabilitation at Mayo Clinic’s School of Graduate Medical Education. In his distinguished career, Dr. Scott has received a Letter of Appreciation from the VA Under Secretary for Health and a Certificate of Appreciation from the State of Florida Department of Veterans Affairs. "I have yet to see another physician in this country who has the healing power and the kindness of Dr. Scott. As I began to work closely with his staff it became very apparent that the program that Dr. Scott has created in Tampa is a beacon of hope for weary and wounded veterans. He has assembled an astounding team of professionals who, under his mentorship, are saving lives and creating remarkable patient outcomes daily,” says Gabriela Ryan, M.A., a veteran, employee, and incoming osteopathic medical student, one of countless peers and patients who have been inspired by Dr. Scott. AMERICAN OSTEOPATHIC FOUNDATION 2021 HONORS GALA
OUTSTANDING RESIDENT OF HTE YEAR AWARDS
Virtual
The Outstanding Resident of the Year (OROTY) Award was established to recognize and honor outstanding residents who embody a great spirit of altruism and whose combination of clinical promise, leadership, dedication, and commitment to osteopathic patient-centered care, separates them from others. In partnership with the specialty societies, the AOF’s Outstanding Resident of the Year Award is given annually to honor and co-recognize outstanding residents and acknowledge professional excellence.
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OUTSTANDING RESIDENT OF THE YEAR IN ADDICTION MEDICINE Ethan Weckstein, DO
The AOF, in partnership with the American Osteopathic Academy of Addiction Medicine (AOAAM), proudly recognizes Ethan Weckstein, DO, as the 2021 Outstanding Resident of the Year in Addiction Medicine. Dr. Weckstein is currently in his fourth year in a psychiatry residency program at the Loyola University Medical Center (LUMC), where he has worked with the Psychiatry Department Chair to start LUMCs first bupenorphine/naloxone clinic to treat patients with opioid addictions. He has presented several grand rounds lectures about the clinic as well and presented at the 2019 OMED Conference on PTSD and addiction. Dr. Weckstein earned his DO degree from Midwestern University/Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine in 2018. He served on the AOAAM Board from 2018-2019. He also works as an outpatient psychiatrist at Northern Michigan Psychiatric Services and an inpatient psychiatrist at the Chicago Behavioral Hospital.
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I am so honored to be receiving this award from the AOF and AAOAM.
Ethan Weckstein, DO AMERICAN OSTEOPATHIC FOUNDATION 2021 VIRTUAL HONORS GALA
OUTSTANDING RESIDENT OF THE YEAR IN ANESTHESIOLOGY John Carter, DO
The AOF, in partnership with the American Osteopathic College of Anesthesiologists (AOCA), proudly recognizes John Carter, DO, as the 2021 Outstanding Resident of the Year in Anesthesiology. Dr. Carter is currently Chief Resident in his anesthesiology residency program at Doctors Hospital in Columbus, Ohio. He graduated from the Western University of Health Sciences College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific-Northwest (COMPNorthwest) in 2018. “It is an absolute honor, and I am humbled to receive the AOF/AOCA Outstanding Resident of the Year Award in Anesthesiology! I would like to share my gratitude to my family, my colleagues at Doctors Hospital, and all of my mentors, as none of this would be possible without their support. This is truly a shared accomplishment, as my attendings and colleagues have nurtured my educational growth and made my residency an enjoyable experience. I strive to live up to their example and share the same enthusiasm and knowledge of the profession with those around me.” An experienced researcher with many published abstracts, oral and poster presentations at local and national meetings, Dr. Carter recently served as principal investigator on a study comparing emergence times between the use of endotracheal tube and laryngeal mask airway after general anesthesia. Through OhioHealth, he also worked on quality improvement programs to help manage patients’ pain after surgery.
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This is truly a shared accomplishment, as my attendings and colleagues have nurtured my educational growth and made my residency an enjoyable experience. John Carter, DO AMERICAN OSTEOPATHIC FOUNDATION 2021 VIRTUAL HONORS GALA
OUTSTANDING RESIDENT OF THE YEAR IN ALLERGY AND IMMUNOLOGY Ryan Shilian, DO
The AOF, together with the American Osteopathic College of Allergy and Immunology (AOCAI), proudly recognizes Ryan Shilian, DO, as the 2021 Outstanding Resident of the Year in Allergy and Immunology. Dr. Shilian earned his DO degree from the Touro University College of Osteopathic Medicine – California (TUCOM) in 2014. He completed an internal medicine residency at University Hospitals Regional Hospital in Cleveland and worked as a hospitalist at the institution for a year before entering a pediatric & adult allergy/immunology fellowship at Case Western Reserve University/ University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center. He was elected Chief in both his residency and fellowship programs. Much of his research has been published in peer-reviewed journals and picked up by media outlets including Physician’s Weekly and HealthDay News. His work has earned a grant from the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine, where he also served as a research mentor for medical students, and won awards from the Cleveland Academy of Osteopathic Medicine at its Annual Conferences in 2019 and 2020. "It is an honor to be the recipient of the AOF/AOCAI Outstanding Resident of the Year Award." said Shilian, "I would like to thank my mentors, colleagues, family, and friends for their guidance, love, and support. This award is a reminder of my firm commitment to the tenets of Osteopathic medicine.
This award is a reminder of my firm commitment to the tenets of Osteopathic medicine. Ryan Shilian, DO AMERICAN OSTEOPATHIC FOUNDATION 2021 VIRTUAL HONORS GALA
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OUTSTANDING RESIDENT OF THE YEAR IN FAMILY MEDICINE Joshua A. Herring, DO
The AOF, together with the American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians (ACOFP), proudly recognizes Joshua A. Herring, DO, as the 2021 Outstanding Resident of the Year in Family Medicine. Dr. Herring is completing a family medicine residency at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida. A Captain in the United States Air Force Medical Corps, Dr. Herring formulated the Complementary and Alternative Medicine Clinic within his residency program to integrate OMT/OPP as well as acupuncture therapies to improve pain and function in patients. Through the Air Force, he completed an Aerospace Medicine Series and Commissioned Officer Training. He earned his DO degree from the Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine – Virginia Campus in 2019, where he served as a national board exam and peer tutor. His current leadership experience includes Chair of the ACOFP Resident Council’s OMT Subcommittee. “Being awarded the AOF/ACOFP Resident of the Year award in Family Medicine tells me that hard work and dedication to something that you are passionate about can have rewards beyond the satisfaction of improving a process or helping a patient. This award is an homage to the various projects around the clinic and hospital that I have been working on as well as the services provided to our patients. My wife has also been key to my persistence and dedication. She has been very supportive throughout this journey into medicine and provides encouragement and an outside opinion along the way consistently.”
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...hard work and dedication to something that you are passionate about can have rewards beyond the satisfaction of improving a process or helping a patient. Joshua Herring, DO AMERICAN OSTEOPATHIC FOUNDATION 2021 VIRTUAL HONORS GALA
OUTSTANDING RESIDENT OF THE YEAR IN MILITARY MEDICINE LT Larissa Brandenburg, DO
The AOF, together with the Association of Military Osteopathic Physicians and Surgeons (AMOPS), proudly recognizes LT Larissa Brandenburg, DO, as the 2021 Outstanding Resident of the Year in Military Medicine. Dr. Brandenburg is currently Senior Flight Surgeon for Training Wing Six of the United States Navy, providing care for more than 500 naval aviators and student naval flight officers. She has been a leader within AMOPS for six years, serving as President of the UCOM's AMOPS student organization, President of the Residents of RAMOPS and as the resident member on the AMOPS Board of Trustees. She received the AMOPS Junior Student Osteopathic Officer of the Year and Resident of the Year awards in recognition of her leadership. Dr. Brandenburg graduated from Touro University College of Osteopathic Medicine – California (TUCOM) in 2019 followed by a traditional rotating internship at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, then Student Naval Flight Surgeon training at the Naval Aerospace Medical Institute in Pensacola, Florida. “Aside from personally participating in research with journal submissions and poster presentations, mentoring is one of my other passions. I wouldn’t be where I am today without the touch of many mentors who crossed my path throughout my early career. This continues to inspire me to give back to the osteopathic community and the military community.”
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This [award] continues to inspire me to give back to the osteopathic community and the military community. LT Larissa Brandenburg, DO AMERICAN OSTEOPATHIC FOUNDATION 2021 VIRTUAL HONORS GALA
OUTSTANDING RESIDENT OF THE YEAR IN OBSTETRICS AND GYNECOLOGY Ankita Mahajan, DO, MPH
The AOF, together with the Medical Education Foundation of the American College of Osteopathic Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOOG), proudly recognizes Ankita Mahajan, DO, MPH, as the 2021 Outstanding Resident of the Year in Obstetrics and Gynecology. Dr. Mahajan is training at an Obstetrics and Gynecology Residency with the AMITA Health Consortium in Chicago, where she is Chief Resident and a respected leader among peers. Her fellow residents elected her to represent their program to both ACOOG and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. As the inaugural resident mentor for Midwestern University’s Student Osteopathic Obstetrician and Gynecologist Association, she provides guidance to help medical students interested in women’s health succeed and navigate the difficult process of residency applications. Dr. Mahajan earned her DO degree from the Alabama College of Osteopathic Medicine in 2017 and a Master’s of Public Health with Community Health Promotion (with Honors) from Texas A&M Health School of Rural Public Health in 2011. She was Inaugural National Chair of Professionalism & Ethics for the American Medical Student Association from 2016-2017 and received her school’s William E. Glover Dean’s Service Award in 2017. “I am overwhelmed with gratitude to be selected for this award amongst all of my incredible and well-deserving colleagues. It is my honor to provide compassionate, patient-centered care, and remain a steadfast patient advocate in our extraordinary field. I will continue to pay forward all the knowledge, time, and relentless passion set by my educators before me to inspire a new generation of OBGYNs to reach their highest potential.”
I will continue to pay forward all the knowledge, time, and relentless passion set by my educators before me. Ankita Mahajan, DO, MPH AMERICAN OSTEOPATHIC FOUNDATION 2021 VIRTUAL HONORS GALA
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OUTSTANDING RESIDENT OF THE YEAR IN ORTHOPEDICS Richard M. Michelin, DO
The AOF, together with the American Osteopathic Academy of Orthopedics (AOAO), proudly recognizes Richard M. Michelin, DO, as the 2021 Outstanding Resident of the Year in Orthopedics. Dr. Michelin graduated from the Midwestern University – Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine (AZCOM) in 2017. He is currently a PGY-4 and Chief Resident of Education/Academics in an orthopedic surgery residency at Riverside University Health System. Next year he plans to enter an adult shoulder and elbow reconstructive fellowship at Cedars Sinai – Kerlan Jobe Orthopaedic Institute. As a physician, Dr. Michelin prioritizes opportunities to mentor and perform research. He volunteers through both the MediGOAL and CLU Alumni mentorship programs, hosts orthopedics club lectors, and serves on the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgery’s Resident Education Committee. He has participated on numerous research projects, authored published articles in The Journal of Arthroplasty and Journal of Clinical Orthopaedics, and been a judge at AOAO Annual Fall Meeting Student Research Poster Symposium. In his words, “Osteopathic medicine has not only equipped me with vast musculoskeletal knowledge that I have used to build a career in orthopedic surgery, but it has also instilled in me principles that I use in everyday interactions with my colleagues, friends, and family. It is a true honor to be given this award and I hope to continue to carry on the Osteopathic tradition and help pave the way for others for many years to come.”
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I hope to continue to carry on the Osteopathic tradition and help pave the way for others for many years to come. Richard M. Michelin, DO AMERICAN OSTEOPATHIC FOUNDATION 2021 VIRTUAL HONORS GALA
OUTSTANDING RESIDENT OF THE YEAR IN OSTEOPATHIC MEDICINE Anna Mercer, DO
The AOF, together with the American Academy of Osteopathy (AAO), proudly recognizes Anna Mercer, DO, as the 2021 Outstanding Resident of the Year in Osteopathic Medicine. Dr. Mercer is in her second year of an Osteopathic Neuromusculoskeletal Manipulative Medicine Residency at St. Barnabas Hospital in Bronx, New York. She earned her DO degree at the Nova Southeastern University Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine (NSU-KPCOM) in 2020, where she concurrently completed a Pre-doctoral Osteopathic Principles and Practices Fellowship. Dr. Mercer recently had a study published in The American Academy of Osteopathy Journal title “CRI over MRI: A Cranial Approach to Dizziness,” in addition to other research experience and poster presentations. She also served a term as vice chair of the Student American Academy of Osteopathy’s Executive Council. Graduating from medical school and starting residency during a pandemic makes this award especially meaningful, she says: “I am so honored to receive this outstanding recognition. 2020 was a challenging year for everyone and in a special way for us first-year physicians. Thank you for this generous award and for recognizing the effort and care I provided during the past year of profound suffering. “
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Thank you for this generous award and for recognizing the effort and care I provided during the past year of profound suffering. Anna Mercer, DO AMERICAN OSTEOPATHIC FOUNDATION 2021 VIRTUAL HONORS GALA
OUTSTANDING RESIDENT OF THE YEAR IN RADIOLOGY Jessica Behringer, DO
The AOF, together with the American Osteopathic College of Radiology (AOCR), proudly recognizes Jessica Behringer, DO, as the 2021 Outstanding Resident of the Year in Radiology. Dr. Behringer earned her Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree in 2016 from the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine at Seton Hill before completing a Diagnostic Radiology residency at Franciscan Health Olympia Fields, Illinois, in 2021, where she served as Chief Resident. She recently started a Neuroradiology Fellowship at Yale School of Medicine, with expected completion in June 2022. Dr. Behringer is an active researcher, with several published abstracts and case reports. She is a leader, currently serving as an Awards Steering Committee member for the American Alliance of Academic Chief Residents in Radiology and Director of Public Relations and PowerRad of the RadDiscord. She is also president and founder of Franciscan Health Women in Radiology group. “To me, this award is a reflection of hard work and dedication to my residency program for the last five years. I hope this award inspires other residents to strive for leadership positions and to transform the field of radiology for the better. I am honored to receive this award and proud to represent my program, Franciscan Health Olympia Fields, as well as women in radiology.”
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I hope this award inspires other residents to strive for leadership positions and to transform the field of radiology for the better. Jessica Behringer, DO AMERICAN OSTEOPATHIC FOUNDATION 2021 VIRTUAL HONORS GALA
STATE EMERGING LEADER AWARDS
Virtual
In partnership with Osteopathic State Affiliates, the AOF proudly recognizes exceptional new physicians in practice who provide service to others through Osteopathic tenants and principals, advocacy efforts, community service, and philanthropic spirit. All Osteopathic State Affiliates are invited to recognize and advance one DO each year who are in their first 10 years of practice. From this group, one is selected to receive the coveted James M. Lally, DO, National Emerging Leader Award.
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STATE EMERGING LEADER COLORADO Regan A. Stiegmann, DO, MPH, FACLM
The AOF and the Colorado Society of Osteopathic Medicine (CSOM) are excited to name Regan A. Stiegmann, DO, MPH, FACLM, the 2021 Colorado State Emerging Leader.
Regan A. Stiegmann, DO
Dr. Stiegmann is a Major in the United States Air Force (USAF) Medical Corps and Flight Surgeon for the 10th Operational Medical Readiness Squadron, 10th Medical Group, United States Air Force Academy. She also works as Director for the Digital Health Track at Rocky Vista University College of Osteopathic Medicine (RVUCOM) and is adjunct clinical faculty at both RVUCOM and the University of Colorado School of Medicine.
Dr. Stiegmann graduated from RVUCOM in 2014 and completed a traditional rotating internship before entering a preventive medicine residency through the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, where she earned a Master’s in Public Health degree. Her leadership and advocacy have been recognized at every level: She received the USAF Company Grade Physician of the Year, 10th Company in 2018, an Excellence in Public Health Award from the United States Public Health Service (USPHS), and the President's Award at RVUCOM.
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STATE EMERGING LEADER FLORIDA Sean McCann, DO
The AOF and the Florida Osteopathic Medical Association (FOMA) are excited to name Sean McCann, DO, the 2021 Florida State Emerging Leader.
Dr. McCann received his DO degree from the Nova Southeastern University College of Osteopathic Medicine (NSUCOM) in 2013 and completed a family medicine residency program at Florida Hospital East Orlando, where he was elected Chief Resident. Sean McCann, DO
He is currently on the clinical faculty for the Advent Health Family Medicine Residency in East Orlando, training family medicine residents in an outpatient clinic setting. He is also lead team physician and medical director for the Orlando Solar Bears ECHL Hockey team. Awards and recognitions include Advent Health’s Faculty of the Year in 2020, the American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians’ Resident Teacher of the Year Award, and his residency program’s Community Service Award for more than 120 volunteer hours. “An excellent professor once told our medical school class, ‘Be good to the osteopathic profession, and the osteopathic profession will be good to you.’ It’s been an honor to work every day to improve the life of my patients and expand the reach of our profession. I’m excited to continue both my personal and professional growth within the osteopathic community–and it’s a true privilege to receive this recognition.”
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STATE EMERGING LEADER GEORGIA Mehrdod Ehteshami, DO, MPH
The AOF and the Georgia Osteopathic Medical Association (GOMA) are excited to name Mehrdod Ehteshami, DO, MPH, the 2021 Georgia State Emerging Leader.
Dr. Ehteshami is an emergency physician with Tanner Health System/Higgins General Hospital and West Georgia Health, where he chairs the Emergency Department in Public Health. He is on faculty at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine - Georgia Campus (PCOM-GA) Emergency Medicine department and writes a monthly column in Decaturish, a news provider for Decatur, Georgia and the Atlanta Metro area. Mehrdod Ehteshami, DO
After graduating from PCOM-GA in 2010, Dr. Ehteshami completed a family medicine residency at Piedmont Columbus Regional Health in Columbus, GA. He served on the American College of Family Physicians’ Legislative Committee and on the Board of Trustees for Leaders Inspiring Fruitful Tomorrows, a nonprofit that provides scholarship, mentoring, and educational opportunities for students interested in medicine, law, and business. Dr. Ehteshami says "The honor of being seen among a group of incredible physicians in my beautiful state of Georgia as a young physician leader means, to me, that work and ethics consistent with the foundations of our profession are valuable; that, today, with the challenges we are faced with as a profession and as a society, sound leadership is of the utmost importance."
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STATE EMERGING LEADER INDIANA Mitchell W. Smith, DO
The AOF and the Indiana Osteopathic Association (IOA) are excited to name Mitchell W. Smith, DO, the 2021 Indiana State Emerging Leader.
Dr. Smith graduated from the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine Bradenton (LECOM-Bradenton) in 2010, earning its Academic Excellence Scholarship along the way. He completed an internal medicine residency at St. Vincent Health in Indianapolis and fellowship training in allergy and clinical immunology at the Henry Ford Health System in Detroit. Mitchell W. Smith, DO
Currently, Dr. Smith is a practicing allergist and clinical immunologist at Allergy Partners of Greenwood. He also works as a primary and subinvestigator at Indiana Clinical Trials Center. As a leader, Dr. Smith served as President of the Indiana Allergy, Asthma and Immunology Society in 2017 and presently holds seats on Allergy Partners’ CME Committee and the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology’s (AAAAI) Allergic Skin Diseases Committee. He completed the AAAAI Leadership Institute in 2019.
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STATE EMERGING LEADER MISSISSIPPI Richard Calderone, DO
The AOF and the Mississippi Osteopathic Medical Association (MOMA) are excited to name Richard Calderone, DO, the 2021 Mississippi State Emerging Leader.
Richard Calderone, DO
Dr. Calderone has now been in practice for nearly three years and continues to be an outstanding early career physician who is making a difference in our state every day – not only as an internist and pediatrician, but also as a leader committed to mentoring and developing students and postdoctoral trainees who advance the osteopathic profession,” says Seger Morris, DO, MBA, and Makayla Merritt, PhD, MPH, MOMA President and Executive Director.
Currently, Dr. Calderone is the Medical Director of the Anticoagulation Clinic at Forrest General Hospital in Hattiesburg, where he also is Medical Director of the hospital’s IMPACT “Pre-op” program and on the core faculty for its family medicine residency program. He is a prolific researcher, with many publications and presentations to his name, and a sub-investigator for MediSync Clinical Research in Hattiesburg. Dr. Calderone graduated from a dual track DO and MPH program through William Carey University College of Osteopathic Medicine and the University of Southern Mississippi College of Health in 2014. He completed a combined internal medicine and pediatrics residency at the University of Mississippi Medical Center/Children’s Hospital of Mississippi and recently finished his preventive medicine/population health fellowship at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
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STATE EMERGING LEADER OHIO Chelsea A. Nickolson, DO
The AOF and the Ohio Osteopathic Association (OOA) are excited to name Chelsea A. Nickolson, DO, the 2021 Ohio State Emerging Leader.
Chelsea A. Nickolson, DO
Dr. Nickolson is the Associate Program Director and Director of Osteopathic Education at Grandview Medical Center in Dayton, Ohio, part of the Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine (OU-HCOM). A 2013 graduate of Lincoln Memorial University (LMU) - DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine, she completed her residency in internal medicine at Grandview Medical Center in 2016. She also holds a Master’s in Business Administration from LMU.
In his nomination letter, Matt Harney, Executive Director of the OOA, says Dr. Nickolson "perfectly represents the spirit of this award... [she is] a dedicated and energetic osteopathic physician who tirelessly works to shape the future of the osteopathic profession.” In 2018, OU-HCOM students recognized her dedication to education with the Outstanding Primary Care Physician Award. She has also earned the LMUDCOM Student of the Year and TOMA Spirit of Excellence Award. Her leadership includes local, state and national positions. She presently serves on the OOA Board of Trustees and was previously president of the Dayton District Academy in 2019-2020. She is also the current new physician in practice representative on the AOA Board of Trustees.
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STATE EMERGING LEADER OREGON Sarah Julane Wolff, DO
The AOF and the Osteopathic Physicians & Surgeons of Oregon (OPSO) are excited to name Sarah Julane Wolff, DO, the 2021 Oregon State Emerging Leader.
Dr. Wolff is a family physician with Providence Medical Group as well as Clinical Rotations Coordinator for the Western University of Health Sciences and Patient Education Assistant Lead for Care Access Research. She graduated from the Western University of Health Sciences – College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific and completed a family medicine residency at Family Medicine of Southwest Washington in 2019. Sarah Julane Wolff, DO
Currently a board member of the Heatherington Foundation for Innovation and Education in Health Care, a philanthropic organization with mission of creating healthy communities, Dr. Wolff opened new doors for young leaders as the first student to serve on the OPSO Board of Directors. She also held terms as resident ambassador to the National Board of Osteopathic Medical Examiners, resident member on the AOA Board of Trustees, and terms on the AOA Bureau of Emerging Leaders. Dr. Wolff gives back to her community and worldwide through multiple mission trips and local outreach. Says OPSO Executive Director David Walls, “I have come to know Dr. Wolff as a compassionate, caring, and engaging individual who inspires the best in others through her honest and genuine approach.”
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STATE EMERGING LEADER TENNESSEE Travis Groth, DO
The AOF and the Tennessee Osteopathic Medical Association (TOMA) are excited to name Travis Groth, DO, the 2021 Tennessee State Emerging Leader.
Dr. Groth is a hospitalist and a family medicine physician with the Blount Memorial Physician Group in Alcoa, Tennessee. He completed his residency through the East Tennessee State University Kingsport Family Medicine program, where he was Executive Chief Resident. He graduated from Lincoln Memorial UniversityDeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine in 2011. Travis Groth, DO
A leader at each career stage, Dr. Groth is currently Vice President of TOMA’s East Region; he previously served on its board. He also held terms as both President and Vice-President of the Blount County Medical Society. “I have been truly blessed with great mentors throughout my medical career. I was told from a young age that 'If you love what you do, you will never have to work a day in your life.' This rings true in my ears when I get to talk to kids and adults of all ages in my full spectrum primary care practice. I also have an incredible family with a wife and three daughters that are always there when I get home to offer hugs and support!”
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AOF JAMES M. LALLY, DO NATIONAL EMERGING LEADER Kendra M. Gray, DO
The AOF National James M. Lally, DO, Emerging Leader Award recognizes early career physicians poised to become the next generation of leaders in medicine. From all State Emerging Leader recipients, one National Winner is chosen each year, selected by osteopathic peers and industry leaders across the country. Selected at the State Emerging Leader for Arizona by the Arizona Osteopathic Medical Association (AOMA), the AOF is thrilled to name Kendra M. Gray, DO, the 2021 James M. Lally, DO National Emerging Leader. Dr. Gray is a board-certified obstetrics and gynecology physician specializing in high-risk pregnancies as well as an obstetric hospitalist at Phoenix Perinatal and Associates in Mesa. In addition to active practice, she is an Associate Professor and Director of the OB/GYN Clerkship at A.T. Still University College of Osteopathic Medicine in Arizona and a Clinical Professor at the University of Arizona (UA) College of Medicine.
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Kendra Gray, DO
“Dr. Gray stands out among her peers through dedication and advocacy for the Osteopathic profession and her patients.
Josephine Zammuto, AOMA Executive Director. AMERICAN OSTEOPATHIC FOUNDATION 2021 VIRTUAL HONORS GALA
NATIONAL EMERGING LEADER
“Dr. Gray stands out among her peers through dedication and advocacy for the Osteopathic profession and her patients. She is an enthusiastic young physician with a passion for lifelong learning, teaching, giving back, and innovation. The Arizona Osteopathic Medical Association is proud to call her one of our own,” says Josephine Zammuto, AOMA Executive Director. Leadership comes naturally to Dr. Gray, from teaching students and residents serving various committee appointments. She is a current member of the AOMA Board of Trustees as well as Arizona’s Health Care Cost Containment System Pharmacy & Therapeutics Committee and Maternal Mortality Review Committee. The Association of Professors of Gynecology & Obstetrics recently recognized Dr. Gray with its 2021 Excellence in Teaching Award; she has also received AOMA’s President’s Award. She is no less prolific an author and researcher. Recent peer-reviewed publications include articles on race in medical education published in the Journal of Osteopathic Medicine, caesarean wound closer in obese patients in The Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology – Maternal Fetal Medicine, and studying the body during the second and third stages of labor. Her original research has resulted in multiple published abstracts and oral presentations at state and national conferences; she also sits on the Reviewer Panel for the Comprehensive Handbook Obstetrics & Gynecology. Amid the rigorous demands of physician practice, teaching and research, Dr. Gray also makes time to volunteer in her community. She organized a “Soap for Hope” event and clothing drives to help people experiencing homelessness. She completed a medical mission trip to Honduras through Global Brigades in 2014, and regularly volunteered with the Phoenix Children’s Hospital. Dr. Gray graduated from Midwestern University Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine in 2014 and completed an obstetrics & gynecology residency and maternal fetal medicine fellowship at the UA Banner University Medical Center. She previously earned a Master of Clinical and Translational Sciences from UA. She has completed additional training in preventing bias in maternal care and fetal echocardiology, as well as the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists’ Congressional Leadership Conference and the Council on Resident Education in Obstetrics and Gynecology’s Resident Workshop: Preparing to be Teachers and Leaders.
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DONNA JONES MORITSUGU MEMORIAL AWARD
Virtual
In partnership with the Advocates for the American Osteopathic Association (AAOA), the Donna Jones Moritsugu Award recognizes partners and spouses of graduating osteopathic medical students for their unwavering support.
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AOF/AAOA DONNA JONES MORITSUGU MEMORIAL AWARD 2021 Recipients Alphabetical by School Valerie Finlay - partner of Evan Finlay A.T. Still University School of Osteopathic Medicine in Arizona Rachel Pope - partner of Spencer Pope Alabama College of Osteopathic Medicine Olivia Parmley - partner of Jacob Parmley Arkansas College of Osteopathic Medicine Ben Martinez - partner of Megan Martinez Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine Meghan Gee - partner of Zachary Gee Des Moines University College of Osteopathic Medicine Jessica Ewen - partner of Riley Ewen Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine-Virginia Meredith Rose Sommers - partner of Adam Sommers Liberty University College of Osteopathic Medicine Maria Hanelin - partner of Tristan Daniel Cooper-Roth Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine Jessica Isaacson - partner of Graham Isaacson Midwestern University/Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine George Yassa, DO, - partner of Mirette Atnas New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine Tylis Mays - partner of Derika Mays New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine – Arkansas Allison Richards - partner of Chad Richards Nova Southeastern University Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine Savannah Daniels - partner of Devin Daniels Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine Taleesa Crawford - partner of Benjamin Crawford Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences
AMERICAN OSTEOPATHIC FOUNDATION 2021 VIRTUAL HONORS GALA
AOF/AAOA DONNA JONES MORITSUGU MEMORIAL AWARD 2021 Recipients Alphabetical by School Brie Shaw - partner of Ian Montgomery Shaw Rowan University School of Osteopathic Medicine Eshe Shaw - partner of Kareen Shaw Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine Rachel E. McDougal - partner of David Tan McDougal Touro University Nevada College of Osteopathic Medicine Connor Dragomanovich - partner of Hannah Dragomanovich Touro University College of Osteopathic Medicine-CA Harmony Elizabeth Caton Stratton, MD, MPH - partner of Samuel Stratton University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine Dorothy Morris - partner of John Morris University of Pikeville-Kentucky College of Osteopathic Medicine Kelly Feng - partner of Marc Nichols University of the Incarnate Word School of Osteopathic Medicine Jordan G. Moran - partner of Hardeep Singh Western University of Health Sciences/College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific (CA) Jordan Jacobs - partner of Justin Jacobs Western University of Health Sciences/College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific – Northwest (OR) Stephanie Hall-Campos - partner of Zachery Campos William Carey University College of Osteopathic Medicine
AMERICAN OSTEOPATHIC FOUNDATION 2021 VIRTUAL HONORS GALA
MISSION MOMENT
The Welch Scholars Grant was established by Sterling Welch, DO, an Osteopathic physician who set up a fund at the American Osteopathic Foundation through a bequest in his will to support educational endeavors of Osteopathic medical students. Each Welch Scholar is nominated by their Osteopathic College or School based on financial need, combined with outstanding academic achievement, participation in extracurricular activities, and strong commitment toward furthering osteopathic medicine. Thanks to the support of additional donors over the years and strong financial management, the Welch Fund has grown. And even with the tremendous expansion of Osteopathic Colleges across the country, now almost 60, the fund still strives to support one student from each College and School of Osteopathic Medicine with a Welch Scholars Grant to help defray the many costs associated with medical school. Since 2002, the foundation has awarded more than one million dollars to nearly 600 Osteopathic medical students across the country. Learn more at www.aof.org/Welch.
AMERICAN OSTEOPATHIC FOUNDATION 2021 VIRTUAL HONORS GALA
INNOVATIVE COLLABORATIVE PROJECTS One of our farthest-reaching strategic collaborations is the Foundation’s multi-year partnership with Scripps, one of the world’s top research institutions, on the advancement of the DETECT Study. Our collective goal is the early identification of viral outbreaks through the collection of health information from fitness wearables. Knowing that early warnings can give public health officials - across the US and globally - more time to act. We are honored to have been asked to serve as a lead information driver for this critical heath study.
Scripps DETECT Study The Scripps Research Institute, one of the world’s top research institutions, has developed an app to support its virus tracking research that accesses heart rate information through fitness wearables. With a free user-friendly, app-based platform, MyDataHelps, participants can donate their heart rate, activity and sleep data, as well as log respiratory symptoms and the timing of any treatments taken. This real-time, crowd-sourced information could help complement traditional public health methods, leading to earlier detection and containment of current and future outbreaks in different geographical locations.
Learn more about the DETECT Study and how to participate at https://detect.scripps.edu/.
AMERICAN OSTEOPATHIC FOUNDATION 2021 VIRTUAL HONORS GALA
LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD Jeff Heatherington, LHD (hon)
The AOF Lifetime Achievement Award is the American Osteopathic Foundation’s highest honor. Established in 2008 and selected by the AOF President, the Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes rare individuals who have changed osteopathic medicine for the better through their commitment, advocacy, leadership and courage. The 2021 recipient of this award is Mr. Jeff Heatherington, LHD (hon).
Mr. Heatherington is the President of The Heatherington Foundation for Innovation and Education in Health Care, a nonprofit organization dedicated to building healthy communities in the Portland, Oregon region. It is an outgrowth of FamilyCare Health, which Jeff founded in 1984 to coordinate health benefits and access to care for approximately 130,000 Oregonian Medicaid and Medicare members. In 2018, FamilyCare Health shifted its focus improving the health of citizens in the state and has donated more than $10 million toward this goal.
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Jeff Heatherington, LHD (hon)
Jeff is an individual whose unwavering support of, and contributions to, the Osteopathic profession have solidified an enduring legacy. Jeffrey S. Grove, DO, FACOFP, (dist) AOF Board President AMERICAN OSTEOPATHIC FOUNDATION 2021 VIRTUAL HONORS GALA
LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
“Jeff is recognized as a health care and business leader in Oregon and nationally, with an unwavering dedication to creating innovative health care strategies, improving the health of his community, and ensuring the wellbeing of his employees. FamilyCare was the first health plan in the state to integrate physical and mental health coverage in 1997 and the first to attain certified Coordinated Care Organization status. It was a leader in recognizing the importance of primary care physicians in overall health management and reimbursing them at commercial rates. In 2019, the Heatherington Foundation made a historic $1 million donation to the AOF to endow and expand the impact of the AOF’s William G. Anderson, DO Minority Scholarship. Research indicates that minority students interested in medicine have greater difficulty finding scholarships, loans or grant funding. Now one of the largest educational scholarship programs in our portfolio, the Anderson Minority Scholarship enables more support for minority students pursuing medical education and the importance of diversity and inclusion in Osteopathic medicine. Mr. Heatherington earned his BA in political science at Willamette University in Salem, Oregon, in 1965 (and serving as Barney Bear, the original Willamette mascot!) and was honored as a 2020 recipient of the school's Sparks Medallion. He gives back to the school as well, through service on its alumni board and grants to create the Heatherington Scholars in Public Health and the Heatherington Pre-Health Internship and Research Fund to expand health education opportunities. He is a volunteer leader. As well as his seat on the AOF Board of Directors, he serves on the Boards of the Oregon Symphony, Oregon Health Council, and Oregon State Bar Disciplinary Board. In addition, he is one of the founders of the Western University of Health Sciences College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific-Northwest in Lebanon, Oregon.
AMERICAN OSTEOPATHIC FOUNDATION 2021 VIRTUAL HONORS GALA
Virtual SPONSORS
2021