LECOM Connection Summer 2021

CONNECTION Magazine of Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine

SUMMER 2021

The LECOM Mission Reflected on an Ever Broadening Map of Exceptional Regional Training Sites

CONNECTION Magazine of Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine

John M. Ferretti, DO President/CEO Silvia M. Ferretti, DO Provost, Senior Vice President and Dean of Academic Affairs Eric Nicastro Institutional Director of Communications and Marketing

IN THIS ISSUE FEATURE 06

The LECOM Mission: Reflected on an Ever Broadening Map of Exceptional Regional Training Sites

03

President's Message – Pillars of Exceptionalism

04

Credos of Our Calling – Resilience

05

LECOM Bradenton Interprofessional Research Day 2021

16

Blessings in a Bag

17

LECOM Scholar Works with Dr. Oz

18

LECOM Lauds Scholars Selected for Schweitzer Fellowship

19

LECOM Tops U.S. News & World Report Rankings

20

NOM Week 2021

22

Mark Kauffman, DO, Named ACOFP Fellow

23

Third-Year Scholar Awarded Dr. Vincent and Mary Hayes Lepore Scholarship

24

Susan Calderbank, DMD, Named Director of Patient Care for the LECOM Erie Fourth-Year Dental Clinic

25

LECOM School of Dental Medicine is Turning Heads

26

Commencement 2021

30

LECOM Alumna Arianna Gianakos, DO, Marks Noteworthy Achievement

31

LECOM Lauds Alumni Completing Conemaugh Graduate Medical Education (Med Ed) Program

32

LECOM Alumna Named President of the American College of Osteopathic Obstetricians and Gynecologists

33

Dogged Determination

34

Student, Faculty and Alumni Notes

Stephanie Bruce Senior Communications and Marketing Specialist Rebecca A. DeSimone, Esquire Chief Writer, Editor-in-Chief Copyright © 2021 Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine To submit editorial material or change address/unsubscribe: LECOM Communications & Marketing Department at (814) 866-6641 or communications@lecom.edu

MISSION STATEMENT The mission of the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine is to prepare students to become osteopathic physicians, pharmacy practitioners, and dentists through programs of excellence in education, research, clinical care, and community service to enhance the quality of life through improved health for all humanity. Serving as a guiding light and cornerstone in medical education and true to the core principles of its founders, the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine has expanded its reach to include exceptional programs in graduate studies designed to provide scholars superlative education in the respective areas of study. The professional programs are dedicated to serve all students through innovative curriculum and the development of postdoctoral education and interprofessional experiences.

John M. Ferretti, DO - President/CEO 02 LECOM CONNECTION | SUMMER 2021

PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE

PILLARS OF EXCEPTIONALISM in Word and Deed

John M. Ferretti, DO - President/CEO We live in a world assailed by words. For many of us, the constant and seemingly relentless barrage of words comes as a cacophony of sound as the meaning that underpins those words has been lost in the swirl of chatter and in the din of hollow phrases, of unsupported promises, and of lofty platitudes. In recent years, words have become a form of fustian dissonance, overused to the point of losing their meaning and the power that once they suggested.

Words come at us as pelting sands in a desert storm lifted on the winds of empty rhetoric.

Yet words, for centuries, have held their greatest power when they have been supported by concomitant actions. For words without action are as empty as the winds.

This phenomenon holds true for our state of current affairs as a society perhaps – but, since its inception, each word put forth by the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM) has been supported by action.

Each vision voiced in our strategic plan has been evidenced by the result. Each sentence articulated in the vanguard of osteopathic medicine has been reinforced by a team of leaders and by purposeful commitment to education and to the community that has transformed the field of education in osteopathic medicine to its very place as the largest medical school and the only osteopathic academic health center in the nation.

Virtue manifests itself in action; and virtuous words that manifest themselves in virtuous action form the essence of a remarkable

institution. That virtue is found in LECOM – in its promise articulated in words – in its words underpinned by action – in its action reinforced by results and guided by Providence.

proving ground of an estimable medical education honed and formed as a result of comprehensive training, transformed into meaningful words, and put into play through focused action.

Throughout American history, our people have toiled to build the greatest nation on earth. In times of challenge, we have stood together, proudly proclaiming our heritage based upon the pillars of our founding.

We introduce you to new students who have chosen LECOM to begin their journey in the noblest of callings, and we highlight scholars and alumni who are excelling each day in the field.

The same can be said about LECOM, which has accomplished this pinnacle of attainment through a consistent and unremitting commitment to excellence across its foundational pillars.

Decades have tested the LECOM commitment – doubted by their peers who scoffed at the founders’ vision of establishing an osteopathic medical school in the early 1990s, pressed by the rigors of the allopathic community’s persistent resistance to the osteopathic field, and sharpened by the recent pandemic and its attendant challenges – LECOM has never wavered in its single-minded focus to educate the next generation of healthcare and to better each community that it has come to serve.

The four pillars that define and underpin that glimmering LECOM mission, that create the indelible imprimatur of excellence are: education, community, research, and clinical care. These are the foundational plinths that serve to support the mission of a grand institution.

Indeed, the Four Pillars of LECOM represent the strength of that mission – rooted in superlative medical education and in an unyielding focus upon community betterment.

LECOM has sought to elevate the very paradigm of medical education; and the pillars of that purpose remain steadfast to this very day.

Make no mistake - words do matter! For words do not comprise empty promises filled with hope; rather they comprise hopeful results filled with purpose. LECOM is a testament to this truism - with Pillars strong and enduring.

Such has been the mission of LECOM and such is the reason that we mark each day in service to our noble calling.

In this issue of the LECOM Connection, we highlight our Pillars – education, community, research, and clinical care; and we feature our Regional Training Sites, the extended @1LECOM | LECOM CONNECTION 03

CREDOS OF OUR CALLING

Resilience

The Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM) holds, at its center, a belief that resilience is not only the ability to bear a difficult challenge, rather to turn that challenge into triumph. For it is true that patient endurance attains the greatest rewards. Resilience underpins all aspects of a medical, dental, or pharmacy calling; and LECOM has long understood that resilience is the purifying test of adaptability and consistency through which aptitude becomes ability.

Essential to all, it strengthens the internal fortitude as one travels the path from goals to accomplishment, unyielding to adversity. The founders at LECOM view resilience as a characteristic based upon inner strength, driving will, and unabashed vigor to persevere through all trials and travails.

LECOM educators inspire and encourage this profound characteristic throughout all elements of their training programs, recognizing that the ability to be resilient must become a habit so ingrained within the human state that it is stronger than the desire to rest.

Resilience is a crowning Winston Churchill quality; for excellence is not a singular act, but a habit through which those who endure find an ever-increasing confidence and peace. As patience bolsters the resilient heart, one discovers that there are few calamities that are not conquered by pliant determination.

Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.

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The scholars at LECOM are well aware that resilience is one of the most difficult disciplines; but it is to the one who learns to bounce back from seeming defeat that the final victory is won.

There is astounding power in possessing a cheerful strength committed to resilience. Steeped in that unswerving fortitude, it is he or she who will do more in the same time, who will do it better, and who will sustain it longer, than will the disconsolate or dour.

The necessity of resilience as an attribute comes as no revelation to those answering the call of the healthcare professions. The advantages resulting from an ever-enduring mind, body, and spirit are a driving force of a purposeful life.

LECOM appreciates and inculcates the unanimity of mind, body, and spirit. From that attribute of resilience, which denies the readiness for agreeable desires, which fortifies the heart with determination, which overcomes the proclivity to offer excuses, which refuses to quit in the face of seemingly insurmountable challenges – derives the heart and core of all victory.

Resilience is the triumph of one’s soul over adversity and it is an important Credo of our Calling.

LECOM BRADENTON

INTERPROFESSIONAL RESEARCH DAY 2021 Student and faculty researchers on the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM) Bradenton, Florida campus submitted a total of 175 projects submissions in the Interprofessional Research Day 2021 event. The abundance of participants – more than 800 – established a new campus record.

LECOM research directors and faculty members dedicated their expert mentorship and judging skills to enable triumphant results during the annual event.

Under the attentive auspices of Research Directors, Dr. Kevin Raisch, Dr. Michael Mueller, Professor Teri Runo, Dr. Purushottam Lamichlane, and Dr. Thomas Yoon, the collaborative and probative discovery sessions were well-presented and successfully delivered.

The event began on April 15, 2021 and all submissions were made on that single day during an 11-hour presentation period.

The Interprofessional Research Day was held in a completely virtual format and participation in the process was divided into separate steps that included a review and evaluation of two research posters, a review of video presentations, and a presentation quiz.

Employing the technologies of ZOOM, Survey Monkey, and the LECOM Media Suite, students and faculty were able to register their research projects and record their poster presentations in

a format that was capable of being viewed via a simple portal log-in from any Internet-accessible location. Research Day participation was then submitted to the respective Deans.

“The event is a testament to a ‘can do’ attitude, bolstered by careful coordination with our research directors, students, and IT team members all harnessing the power of digital systems to create success,” commented Dr. Tim Novak, Research Day coordinator.

Official poster scores resulted in 1st, 2nd and 3rd-place winners in each school who received cash awards of $500, $300, and $100 respectively.

The Research Day prize winners for the LECOM Bradenton Interprofessional Research Day 2021 are: SCHOOL OF DENTAL MEDICINE 1st Place: SDM-808 Effect of Chlorhexidine on Bonding Strength of Dentin Students: Jordan Carey D2, Leah Kimerer D2, Irene Thomas D2 Faculty Mentors: Dr. Hind Hussein, Dr. Nader Abdulhameed

2nd Place: SDM-814 Bonding Orthodontic Resin Cement to Stainless Steel Crown Under Load/Thermocycling Student: Melissa Matick D3 Faculty Mentors: Dr. Hind Hussein, Dr. Nader Abdulhameed 3rd Place: SDM-806 Periodontitis and Inflammation: Analysis of Cytokines for a Personalized Medicine Treatment of Periodontitis Students: Stanley John D3, Elborz Safarzadeh D4, Kimia Ahmadian D4 Faculty Mentors: Dr. P. Lamichhane, Dr. Tom Yoon, Dr. Dennis Youngblood, Dr. Julie Brown 4th Place: SDM-804 Effect of Chlorhexidine on Bonding Strength to Enamel Students: Jordan Carey D2, Leah Kimerer D2, Irene Thomas D2 Faculty Mentors: Dr. Hind Hussein, Dr. Nader Abdulhameed SCHOOL OF PHARMACY 1st Place Should Exergaming be Incorporated into the Plan of Care for Those with Frailty Students: Ashley Ball, Cara Hubbell, Emad Obid, Carla Ochoa, Raissa Polo Arias Faculty Mentor: Dr. Rachel Ogden

– Continued on page 39

@1LECOM | LECOM CONNECTION 05

FEATURE

The LECOM Mission: Reflected on an Ever Broadening Map of Exceptional Regional Training Sites The essence of clinical training at the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM) employs the underlying philosophy, Experience with Graduated Responsibility. This model has been successful in producing board scores higher than the national average on Part II and Part III of the COMLEX Boards; and it is attributable to a stellar 99 percent Match Rate of LECOM graduates into residencies. This model is deployed across all four LECOM campuses and clinical training sites.

To ensure this success, LECOM uses a Regional Campus Model. LECOM has implemented affiliate agreements with health systems, hospitals, private physicians; and the College engages nine Regional Deans (assigned to different geographic areas) who, with support staff, assist the Associate Dean in monitoring and managing students rotating at all facilities. Students are assigned to a base Regional Site where they complete mandatory third- and fourth-year rotations. * See Figure 1 LECOM has an Online Clinical Curriculum that is accessible to the student as well as to the clinical faculty. This curriculum includes online quizzes with end of rotation tests for all core third- and fourth-year rotations. This model is complemented by a National Shelf Test and a preceptor grade per rotation. This process allows for longitudinal monitoring of student progression in acquiring medical knowledge and skills. The Regional Deans mentor scholars, offer feedback, provide career counseling for students, and serve as liaisons with the clinical teaching faculty.

The Regional Campus allows LECOM to remain mission driven; with the four pillars of LECOM excellence stressing Education, Community Service, Clinical Care, and Research.

Using this paradigm, students experience the social milieu of the regions by enjoying a stable living arrangement and

06 LECOM CONNECTION | SUMMER 2021

engaging in opportunities for community service, continuity of clinical care, as well as broad research options. LECOM partners offer many postgraduate residencies, and students are welcomed by affiliate sites for elective and audition rotations.

The sites are geographically diverse; each site offers a variety of experience including hospital, outpatient physician offices, and rural and urban clinics.

The adjunct osteopathic and allopathic teaching faculty at these sites possess experience in Primary Care and non-Primary Care specialties.

Many instructors are Program Directors and/or teaching faculty of residency programs and they are acutely aware of the cultural and socioeconomic education that is required in the practice of modern medicine.

3rd and 4th Year Mandatory Core Rotations THIRD YEAR Internal Medicine (I, II, III) Surgery (I, II) Obstetrics/Gynecology (I) Psychiatry (I) Pediatrics (I) Family Medicine (I) Geriatrics/OPP Elective

Figure 1

FOURTH YEAR Emergency Medicine/Career Enrichment (I, II) Ambulatory Medicine (I,II) Rural/Underserved (I) Selective Medicine (I) Primary Care (I) Surgery (I) Electives (3)

Meet the Regional Deans Richard Ortoski, DO

Northwestern Pennsylvania Region

Katherine Lund, DO

Western Pennsylvania Region (NW)

Steven Wolfe, DO, MPH

Western Pennsylvania Region (SW)

Dayakar Reddy, MD

New York State/Elmira Region

Richard Terry, DO, MBA

New York State/Southern Tier Region

Michael DiGiorno, DO

New York City Region

Steven Ma, DO

Western Region

Randy Scott, DO

Northeastern Florida Region

David Leszkowitz, DO

Southeastern Florida Region

Travis Smith, DO

Central Florida and Eastern PA Regions

Figure 2

The Regional Deans are able to assess faculty needs at these sites through feedback, and a yearly Needs Assessment that is performed by the LECOM Faculty Development Department.

In fact, the online LECOM Master’s in Medical Education was developed secondary to this recognized need.

The following segments offer information about a few key sites from each region – highlighting all third- and fourth-year core rotations provided; other learning opportunities; and residencies/fellowships at the institution. * See Figure 2 The model is built with the end objective in mind, one in which all students obtain a residency in a specialty of their own interest and enter their field with medical knowledge and skills that will conclude with their success as a competent physician.

Northwestern Pennsylvania Region Allegheny Health Network (AHN), part of Highmark Health, Inc., is a large network of hospitals from Pittsburgh to Erie, Pennsylvania.

It is a fully integrated, multi-facility health system offering diverse exposures and experiences in urban and suburban settings.

The AHN Pittsburgh hospital system encompasses very diverse populations and sophisticated environments, including Level 1 and Level 2 Trauma Centers, and community hospitals.

AHN hosts most student clerkship rotations at five major teaching hospitals, including Forbes Hospital, Jefferson Hospital, and West Penn Hospital. For interested fourth-year students, AHN also offers an inpatient pediatrics experience at Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh.

AHN has 18 Residency programs, most of which are ACGME-accredited. These programs include Anesthesiology, Emergency Medicine, Family Medicine, General Surgery, Internal Medicine, Neurology, Obstetrics/Gynecology, Orthopaedic Surgery, Pathology, and Radiology.

AHN also offers a multitude of both accredited and non-accredited fellowships. Some of these fellowships include Pain Medicine, Cardiovascular Diseases, Endocrinology, Nephrology, Infectious Disease, Rheumatology, Hand and Upper Extremity Surgery, Cytopathology, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Colon and Rectal Surgery, and Surgical Critical Care.

AHN offers all third- and fourth-year mandatory rotations and it accommodates electives in specialties like Anesthesiology, Emergency Medicine, Orthopedic Surgery, Sports Medicine, Oncology/Hematology, and Pathology.

AHN has established a hands-on learning experience through a supportive, collaborative atmosphere. Students who rotate at AHN experience high-quality opportunities at a health system that emphasizes both undergraduate and graduate medical education.

From the top, Forbes Hospital, Jefferson Hospital, and West Penn Hospital.

@1LECOM | LECOM CONNECTION 07

As one of the largest GME programs in Pennsylvania, Allegheny Health NetworkPittsburgh is a sizable hospital system that offers diverse and outstanding training opportunities at all education levels.

AHN Saint Vincent Hospital has been providing patients with high quality care in the Erie region for over 100 years. The hospital is the latest addition to Allegheny Health Network, which is a regionally and nationally recognized health care system.

AHN Saint Vincent is a 371-bed hospital offering a wide variety of clinical services and programs. The hospital continues to remain a leader in Cardiac, Neurological, Orthopaedic, and Women's Services; serving Erie and the surrounding communities. The hospital network also includes a Cancer Institute, two Express Care facilities, a Surgery Center, and a Rural Health Clinic. It is rated the #1 Hospital in Erie; including Medical Excellence in Overall Hospital Care, Overall Surgical Care, and Patient Safety in Overall Hospital Care.

AHN Saint Vincent has two ACGME-accredited residency programs in Family Medicine and Emergency Medicine.

The hospital also offers fellowships in Colorectal Surgery and Sports Medicine.

AHN Saint Vincent provides all mandatory rotations for the third- and fourth-year students.

Additionally, the hospital system hosts electives in such specialties as Sports Medicine, Cardiology, Urologic Surgery, Palliative Care, Gynecology, and Emergency Medicine.

Students rotating at AHN Saint Vincent have access to a broad spectrum of learning opportunities. The hospital provides the benefits of a larger health system while having a smaller community feel.

From the top, AHN Saint Vincent Hospital, Millcreek Community Hospital, and UPMC Horizon.

AHN Saint Vincent Hospital is a comprehensive health system providing high-quality care to patients within their own community.

Millcreek Community Hospital (MCH), known formerly as Erie Osteopathic Hospital, was founded in 1956. MCH is an integral part of LECOM Health and Academic Health Center.

MCH is a full-service acute care hospital with 171 beds, which include 95 psychiatric beds, 16 acute detox beds, 14 inpatient rehabilitation beds, 6 ICU beds, and 40 medical surgical beds.

08 LECOM CONNECTION | SUMMER 2021

LECOM Health includes LECOM, Medical Associates of Erie (MAE) a Physician Practice Plan, and Graduate Medical Education. MAE has 60 physicians with 23 clinic sites, of which 12 are primary care and 11 are specialty clinics.

Geographically, they represent underserved, rural, and city locations.

To complement the physician practices, ACGME Graduate Medical Education Residencies consist of Family Medicine, Transitional Year, Internal Medicine, Psychiatry, and Orthopedic Surgery.

There are also five ACGME fellowship programs in Gastroenterology, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Geriatrics, Pulmonology, and Sports Medicine.

MCH offers all third- and fourth-year mandatory rotations and electives in such specialties as Ophthalmology, Orthopedics, Pathology, Radiology, Gastroenterology, Anesthesia, and Sports Medicine.

Students who rotate at MCH experience the Rural Critical Access Hospital - Corry Memorial and the Erie VA, which provides unique veteran services.

MCH is a center of excellence in geriatrics with an Institute of Successful Aging, including geriatric physician offices, senior living facilities, and a specialized geriatric hospital unit. The Institute recently has received more than eight million dollars in federal grants.

MCH is an exceptional community asset with physicians that are leaders in medical education.

UPMC Horizon offers the resources and expertise of the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) in a community hospital setting with a long tradition of teaching. Their approximately 250 physicians serve a wide geographic area covering Northwestern Pennsylvania and Northeastern Ohio.

One of their newer affiliations includes nearby UPMC Jameson, which allows for greater coordination of healthcare in the region.

The hospital offers a wide array of services, including Primary Care, Women's Health, and Surgery. In addition, UPMC Horizon has integrated with UPMC and other specialty hospitals to increase local access to specialties such as Surgical Oncology, Reproductive Endocrinology, and numerous subspecialties in Pediatrics.

UPMC Horizon has two campuses. The Greenville campus is an 89-bed, full-service hospital located in the college community of Greenville, Pennsylvania. The Greenville campus serves a geographic area of 250,000.

a Healthcare Baldrige and Truven Top 100 Hospital Award Winner in 2020, placing the hospital among the top 1% of all hospitals nationwide for performance, quality, and service.

The Shenango Valley campus is an 84-bed facility in Farrell, Pennsylvania. This campus features a growing Obstetrical service affiliated with Magee Womens Hospital in Pittsburgh and a comprehensive Radiation/Oncology service that is an extension of the world-renowned University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute.

Warren General is an 87-bed community hospital that provides Cancer Care, Orthopedics, General Surgery, Select Vascular and Thoracic Surgery, Renal Care, Rehabilitation, Home Health Services, Urology, and many others. The hospital offers a fullservice lab, Cancer Care Center, 24-Hour Emergency Care Center, and Walk-In Care.

Currently, UPMC Horizon has ACGMEaccredited Residency programs in Family Medicine and General Surgery.

UPMC Horizon offers most third- and fourthyear mandatory rotations. In addition, the hospital offers electives in specialties such as Cardiology, Gastroenterology, Infectious Disease, Wound Care, Pain Management, and Urology. Additionally, the hospital has strong surgical services in areas such as General and Minimally Invasive, Bariatric, Breast, Vascular, Orthopedic, and Thoracic Surgery.

Students who rotate at UPMC Horizon experience a generous amount of hands-on, engaging, and individual training in a close-knit community.

UPMC Horizon is a well-established teaching hospital that provides excellent care for its varied and expansive community, while also providing support for its rotating students and residents.

The hospital does not have any GME training programs at this time, but is pursuing a Rural Health LECOM Residency.

Warren General provides all third- and fourthyear mandatory rotations and electives in such specialties as General Surgery, Anesthesiology, OB/GYN, Orthopedic Surgery, Emergency Medicine, and Pathology.

Students who rotate at Warren General have one-on-one training in a community hospital that offers a wide scope of experiences.

Currently, since there are no residents at the site, the medical students are first-line learners.

Warren General Hospital offers a diverse spectrum of comprehensive care services in a rural community setting.

New York City Region/St. John’s Riverside

Western Pennsylvania Region

St. John's Riverside Hospital was founded in 1869 as the first hospital in Westchester County, New York.

Warren General Hospital, a partner hospital with LECOM Health and Allegheny Health Network, has been the primary provider of healthcare in the region since 1900. It was

St. John's Riverside is a 378-bed communitybased hospital system located just north of New York City in Yonkers. This system comprises the Andrus Pavilion, The Park

Warren General Hospital

St. John's Riverside Hospital

Care Pavilion, and the Dobbs Ferry Pavilion, in addition to the surrounding associated outpatient clinics. The hospital system has a strong commitment to education, housing the Cochran School of Nursing and a Regional Campus for LECOM. The hospital offers two ACGME-accredited residencies in Internal Medicine and Emergency Medicine, both of which work closely in conjunction with LECOM medical students.

Residents help mentor students as they proceed through their core clinical competencies.

St. John's Riverside offers all third- and fourthyear mandatory rotations and electives in specialties such as ICU, Anesthesiology, Infectious Diseases, Nephrology, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Underserved Medicine, and Orthopedics.

Located in a suburban community in close proximity to New York City, students rotating at St. John's Riverside are exposed to a diverse patient population and teaching staff.

St. John's Riverside Hospital is a comprehensive healthcare system offering dynamic medical experiences for trainees and physicians alike.

New York State/Southern Tier Region Arnot Ogden Medical Center (Arnot Health) was founded in 1888 to provide equitable care to Elmira, New York and to its surrounding communities. Recently, it was named a Top 25 Hospital in the State of New York. The threehospital system includes St. Joseph's Hospital, Arnot Ogden Medical Center, and Ira Davenport Hospital. The hospital system provides both suburban and rural care among its three major sites.

The Arnot Health main campus is a 256-bed tertiary medical facility with specialty services for cancer care, women's health, emergency medicine, and surgery. It is the preferred healthcare provider of top-quality diagnostic, ambulatory, and acute care, as well as rehabilitative and wellness services in the Twin Tiers Region.

There are six ACGME-accredited residency programs in Internal Medicine, Family Medicine (with a Rural Family Medicine track option), Emergency Medicine, General Surgery, and Psychiatry. Additionally, the Diagnostic Radiology residency program has been preaccredited. Arnot Health also offers fellowship programs in Gastroenterology, Endocrinology, @1LECOM | LECOM CONNECTION 09

and Geriatrics. All programs are very DO­ friendly and they give preference to LECOM graduates.

Students who rotate at Arnot Health complete all third- and fourth-year mandatory rotations on site and they also have access to electives in specialties such as Pulmonology, Cardiology, Hematology/Oncology, Endocrinology, PM&R, NICU, and Inpatient Addiction Medicine.

Students rotating at Arnot Health enjoy a variety of learning experiences in a city with a small-town feel.

Arnot Health is dedicated to serving its community and to educating future physicians in its progressive, high-quality, hospital system.

The Guthrie Medical Group was founded in 1910 in Sayre, Pennsylvania. Presently, it is an integrated system with a hospital and clinic on a single campus.

Guthrie is a 267-bed tertiary care teaching hospital located on a 15-acre facility. The hospital has been presented with multiple national awards, including Blue Distinction Designations for Bariatric Surgery and America's 100 Best Hospitals for Coronary Intervention.

Education also has been a pillar of the organization for a century and it continues to grow. The hospital maintains six residency programs in Anesthesiology, Emergency Medicine, Family Medicine, Internal Medicine, General Surgery, and Orthopedic Surgery.

Guthrie also has three fellowship programs in Pulmonary Disease and Critical Care, Gastroenterology, and Cardiovascular Medicine. In addition, the hospital also houses a fully accredited Bachelor of Science Nursing Program and allied health programs in Radiologic Technology, Respiratory Therapy, and Medical Laboratory Sciences.

From the top, Arnot Ogden Medical Center, Guthrie Medical Group, Mohawk Valley Health System Medical Group and Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center.

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The hospital offers all third- and fourth-year mandatory rotations and it also hosts more than 18 electives including Anesthesiology, Internal Medicine, and General Surgery, to name a few.

Students rotating at Guthrie learn in a ruralbased community with a strong emphasis on hands-on training. The hospital also has a high interest in Osteopathic Medicine. Guthrie provides the technological sophistication of a metropolitan hospital with the advantages of

a charming rural community. More specifically, hospital medical education offers leading educational opportunities in a wide variety of specialties and subspecialties.

The Mohawk Valley Health System (MVHS) Medical Group serves the geographic area of Oneida, Herkimer, and Madison counties in upstate New York.

MVHS has 201 acute-care beds, an Ambulatory Surgical Center, an Advanced Wound Care Center, a Critical Care Center, and a Brain and Spine Center. The health system comprises many facilities, including twenty-one primary care locations, a Children's Health Center, a Women's Health Center, and an Urgent Center.

MVHS has an ACGME-accredited Residency program in Family Medicine with Osteopathic Recognition and an accredited Fellowship program in Gynecology.

The health system has a rich history of medical education through its St. Elizabeth College of Nursing and Dental Residency programs, as well as through educational opportunities for all levels of medical students and a variety of allied health professionals.

MVHS St. Elizabeth offers most third- and fourth-year mandatory rotations and a wide range of electives in many subspecialties.

Students rotating at MVHS have access to treating a diverse patient population while on site.

MVHS has a strong focus upon medical education and community involvement, actively engaging the population and providing excellent care for patients in the foothills of the Adirondack Mountains in Upstate New York.

Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center (NFMMC) comprises a main downtown campus, as well as several suburban satellite campuses. The downtown campus is located just 5 minutes from world famous Niagara Falls, as well as from the Canadian border.

NFMMC is a full-service, 171-bed regional medical center with extensive inpatient and outpatient services. These facilities include The Heart Center of Niagara, Niagara Wellness Connection Center, Wound Center of Niagara, Niagara Metabolic and Bariatric Services, The OB/GYN Center, and UBMD Orthopedics and Sports Medicine. The Center also offers a comprehensive range of surgical services.

NFMMC has a residency program in Family Medicine that is ACGME-accredited. In addition to educating medical students, NFMMC is also a clinical education teaching site for pharmacy and nursing students.

Students rotating at NFMMC can complete all third- and fourth-year mandatory rotations on site and have access to electives in specialties such as Cardiology, Anesthesiology, Bariatric Surgery, and Obstetrics/Gynecology.

Regardless of the rotation specialty, students at NFMMC work with enthusiastic faculty members providing comprehensive care to a largely underserved population.

NFMMC is deeply committed to contributing to the health and well being of Western New Yorkers. These strong community ties are especially evident in the hospital advocacy efforts and management of clinics for those with limited access to medical care.

The Rochester Regional parent organization, Rochester Health Care, Inc., was founded in 1984.

The health system was established as an allinclusive healthcare delivery system to serve as the leading provider of comprehensive care for Western New York and for the Finger Lakes Region.

Rochester Regional is a consortium of nine hospitals, six of which are located in the Greater Rochester Area.

Overall, the consortium has 147 primary care and ambulatory care locations, 10 urgent care locations, 8 senior living facilities, 936 longterm care beds, 53 patient lab testing sites, and 5 global labs.

The primary teaching hospital locations are situated in Clifton Springs, Newark, Batavia, and Greece, New York.

Rochester General Hospital is a 528-bed hospital with the eleventh busiest emergency department in the country; and it is one of the top 100 best cardiac centers in the nation.

The consortium of sites serves a diverse population in urban and rural settings. The health system has eight residency programs that are accredited by ACGME. Programs in Diagnostic Radiology, Family Medicine, Internal Medicine (two programs), Interventional

Radiology, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, and Psychiatry are offered at various hospitals within the consortium.

Rochester Regional also sponsors twelve ACGME-accredited fellowship programs. Some of these programs include, Cardiovascular Disease, Nephrology, Primary Care Sports Medicine, Hospice and Palliative Medicine, and Gastroenterology.

Rochester Regional provides all mandatory rotations for the third and fourth years, as well as electives in specialties such as Radiology, Hematology, Plastic Surgery, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Obstetrics and Gynecology, and Infectious Disease.

Students who rotate at Rochester Regional have a variety of urban, suburban, and rural experiences.

Rochester Regional utilizes medical education to help fulfill its mission of delivering highquality, comprehensive care to its community.

Florida Region The St. Petersburg Regional Consortium has been a core LECOM clinical site for students since the LECOM Bradenton Campus founding in 2005.

In addition to rotating at St. Petersburg General, Northside Hospital, and Manatee Memorial Hospital, students also train at multiple private offices throughout the Bradenton, Sarasota, and Tampa areas.

Northside Hospital has been serving the Tampa Bay community since 1976. It is a 288bed hospital, offering a full range of services including comprehensive and interventional stroke care, preventive and corrective cardiac care, full-service orthopedic and spine treatment, a 24/7 ER, and general surgery.

Manatee Memorial Hospital is an acute care hospital located on the Manatee River in Bradenton, Florida. It is a 319-bed facility with over 550 physicians, residents, and allied health professionals.

Services include cardiac care and cardiovascular medicine, emergency care for all ages, surgery services, a weight-loss program, oncology, and women's and children's services.

From the top, Rochester General Hospital, St. Petersburg General, Northside Hospital, and Manatee Memorial Hospital.

@1LECOM | LECOM CONNECTION 11

The St. Petersburg Consortium hosts multiple residency programs.

Northside Hospital has an ACGME­accredited Internal Medicine residency program, along with an accredited fellowship program in Cardiology.

St. Petersburg Hospital has a Transitional-Year residency program in addition to a Family Medicine residency with ACGME accreditation that has earned Osteopathic Recognition.

Manatee Memorial Hospital also offers two ACGME-accredited residency programs in Internal Medicine and Family Medicine.

The consortium offers all third- and fourth-year mandatory rotations. It also accommodates electives in specialties such as Pathology, Neurology, Cardiology, and Radiology, in addition to exceptionally strong experiences in Internal Medicine and Family Medicine.

The Bradenton/St. Petersburg Regional Consortium was established in order to prepare students for a career in practicing community medicine.

Students rotating in this consortium have access to a broad array of experiences throughout Sarasota, Bradenton, and Tampa that largely emphasize internal medicine and outpatient office visits.

The Bradenton/St. Petersburg Regional Consortium maintains dynamic medical education opportunities among several highquality hospital systems in the area.

The Jacksonville Regional Consortium site for LECOM medical students began in 2017.

It comprises three separate, large hospital systems in the Jacksonville, Florida area, including Baptist Health, Orange Park Medical Center, and St. Vincent's Ascension Health.

From the top, Baptist Health, Orange Park Medical Center, St. Vincent's Ascension Health and Larkin Community Hospital South Miami.

The sites in the consortium have a variety of practice locations, from urban to rural, and they offer full­spectrum care for their patients. Saint Vincent's Ascension Health has been serving the Jacksonville area for over 130 years and it is part of the largest non-profit health system in the United States, in addition to being part of the largest Catholic health system in the world.

St. Vincent's Ascension Health has a Family Medicine residency program that is ACGMEaccredited with Osteopathic Recognition.

Multiple residency and fellowship options

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with ACGME accreditation are also offered at Orange Park Medical Center. These residency programs include Family Medicine, Emergency Medicine, Transitional Year, General Surgery, Dermatology, and Psychiatry.

There are three fellowship program opportunities at Orange Park; they focus upon Cardiovascular Disease, Hematology and Medical Oncology, and Hospice and Palliative Medicine.

Several of the hospital systems within the consortium also have residencies for pharmacy, nursing, and continuing education opportunities for doctors, nurses, and allied health professionals.

Jacksonville Regional Consortium offers all mandatory rotations for students' third- and fourth- years and it has a multitude of electives such as ICU, Anesthesiology, Orthopedics, Neurosurgery, Geriatrics, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Nephrology, Pediatrics, and Critical Care.

Students rotating at the consortium enjoy hands-on learning and diverse experiences with access to three large hospital systems in the Jacksonville area.

Jacksonville Regional Consortium provides an excellent variety of medical education opportunities throughout Jacksonville, Florida and its surrounding areas.

Southeast Florida Region/ Larkin Health System Larkin Health System (Larkin) is an integrated healthcare delivery system accredited by the Joint Commission. The three primary hospital sites are in South Miami, Hialeah, and Hollywood, Florida.

The Larkin Community Hospital South Miami Campus is a 146-bed medical/surgical teaching hospital, one of twelve designated Statutory Teaching Hospitals in Florida.

The Larkin Community Hospital Palm Springs Campus is a 247-bed acute care hospital located on a 15-acre campus in Hialeah, Florida; and it includes a primary stroke center, 24-hour ER coverage, and state-of-the-art facilities in specialties such as Orthopedic Surgery, Cardiac Implants, and Interventional Radiological procedures.

Larkin prides itself upon its extensive GME Program with a variety of accredited residencies at the South Miami and Palm Beach campuses.

Some of these programs include: Dermatology, Ophthalmology, Internal Medicine, Radiology, Anesthesiology, Psychiatry, Neurology, Orthopedic Surgery, and Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.

Additionally, some of the accredited Fellowship programs include Allergy and Immunology, Endocrinology, Addiction Medicine, Geriatric Medicine, Pediatric Dermatology, Sports Medicine, Sleep Medicine, Hematology/ Oncology, and Rheumatology. Larkin also facilitates additional teaching programs in Dentistry, Pharmacy, and Podiatric Medicine, and Surgery.

Larkin accommodates all third- and fourthyear mandatory rotations, with additional opportunities for electives in specialties such as Nephrology, Cardiology, General Surgery, Gastroenterology, and Endocrinology.

Students who rotate at Larkin will experience training at sites heavily invested in educating the next generation of health professionals, in addition to providing compassionate care of the highest quality.

The Larkin Health System network of acute care hospitals provides a complete continuum of healthcare services to its communities while remaining dedicated to medical education.

Central-Eastern Pennsylvania Region In an effort to improve health care for South Central Pennsylvania, United States Congressman, John Joyce, M.D., established a partnership between LECOM and the healthcare leaders of PA District 13 entitled the Homegrown Healthcare Initiative. This undertaking set forth a joint effort between the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (COM) and School of Pharmacy (SOP) to train students in South Central Pennsylvania with the expectation of establishing a pipeline of professionals from the region who will become future osteopathic physicians, pharmacists, and dentists.

Students are assigned to one of three hubs within the regional campus. The sites included are: James E. Van Zandt VAMC

in Altoona, Pennsylvania, Conemaugh Nason Medical Center in Roaring Spring, Pennsylvania, Conemaugh Memorial Medical Center in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, Fulton County Medical Center in McConnellsburg, Pennsylvania, and Keystone Health (Multi-Specialty FQHC) in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania.

Conemaugh Memorial Medical Center is the largest healthcare provider in west central Pennsylvania, serving five counties. It is a tertiary care regional referral hospital offering specialized services including a regional Level 1 Trauma Center, Level 3 Regional Intensive Care Nursery, and high-risk obstetrical care.

James E. Van Zandt VAMC in Altoona, Pennsylvania was established in 1950 and it provides veteran services to veterans in 14 counties. In addition to the main facility in Altoona, it also offers services in five outpatient clinics.

Fulton County Medical Center has provided comprehensive care to the region for over 70 years. This umbrella of care includes an 88bed critical access hospital for diagnostic and therapeutic services, a home care assistance program, and a skilled nursing-care facility.

Keystone Health originally was founded in 1986 to provide healthcare to migrant agricultural workers in the area. Today, it is the only federally-qualified Community Health Center serving the Franklin County community.

Conemaugh Memorial Medical Center has accredited residency programs in Family Medicine, Internal Medicine, Emergency Medicine and General Surgery. Conemaugh also has an accredited Sports Medicine Fellowship program.

Students rotating within this regional campus are able to complete all third- and fourth-year mandatory rotations on site, as well as to undertake electives in specialties such as Rural/ Underserved Medicine, Psychiatry, Infectious Disease, Pediatrics, and Neonatal ICU. Students rotating within this regional campus have ample one-on-one training and they gain unique experiences in rural and underserved medicine and veteran services.

The South-Central Pennsylvania Regional Campus provides comprehensive care to its communities while also training future healthcare providers to eventually practice in

From the top, Larkin Community Hospital Palm Springs, James E. Van Zandt VAMC, Conemaugh Nason Medical Center, and Fulton County Medical Center.

@1LECOM | LECOM CONNECTION 13

the area. The Homegrown Healthcare Initiative furthers the exemplary commitment of LECOM to the community and to quality of healthcare.

Midwest Region Western Reserve Hospital was founded in 2009; and it is a private, physician-owned hospital located in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio. The hospital is partnered with University Hospitals.

Western Reserve is an 83-bed full-service community hospital. The hospital provides access to advanced clinical procedures through specialties such as Bariatric Surgery, Cardiology, ENT/Otolaryngology, Head, Neck, and Plastic Surgery, Orthopedics, Pain Medicine, Vascular Surgery, and Women's Health. The hospital recently was designated as a Level 3 Trauma Center by the state of Ohio, and it is recognized as a 5-Star Quality Hospital by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).

From the top, Western Reserve Hospital and Kaiser Permanente San Diego Medical Center.

Accredited by the ACGME, Western Reserve Hospital offers residency programs in Family Medicine, General Surgery, Internal Medicine, Orthopedic Surgery, and Otolaryngology (ENT).

Western Reserve also has an accredited Podiatric Medicine and Surgery Residency, as well as experiential learning opportunities for healthcare providers and allied health professionals.

Western Reserve provides many third- and fourth- year mandatory rotations for LECOM students. The hospital also offers electives in areas such as Orthopedic Surgery, Intensive Care Medicine, ENT, Emergency Medicine, Pain Management, Anesthesiology, and Radiology.

Students rotating at Western Reserve train alongside students from several other medical schools in the area. They also have exclusive access to third-year clinical elective rotations at the site.

Western Reserve Hospital is dedicated to lifelong learning, community outreach, and to the overall wellness of the areas that it serves.

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Western Region The San Diego Regional Consortium is a community-based, ambulatory-focused regional campus that began in 2007.

Since that time, the consortium has seen tremendous program interest and growth, including increasing educational experiences and networking connections in California, Nevada, and Arizona.

The consortium utilizes various hospitals and private offices throughout San Diego County.

While some rotations are inpatient at different area hospitals, the majority are outpatient experiences.

Kaiser Permanente San Diego Medical Center, one of the facilities utilized by the consortium, has an accredited Family Medicine program.

Program connections in the area also assist students in identifying additional residency and fellowship programs of interest on the West Coast.

San Diego offers all third- and fourth-year mandatory rotations and provides electives in specialties including Neurology, Radiology, Neonatal ICU, Internal Medicine, Orthopedic Surgery, Psychiatry, and Pathology, to name a few.

Students who rotate at San Diego work with a diverse patient population at the only LECOM core site on the West Coast. This consortium is a great option for students who are from the area and/or have strong interests in completing their residencies there.

The San Diego Regional Consortium offers an extensive array of medical education opportunities in a highly competitive, soughtafter geographic area.

LECOM Scholar Joins the Global Battle of the Century

@1LECOM | LECOM CONNECTION 15

Blessings in a Bag A group of compassionate and mission-driven LECOM Bradenton scholars have established a nonprofit organization called DO More. The organization, based in Orlando, Florida, was formed during the Christmas 2020 holidays. At a time when many people found themselves daunted by the COVID bleakness, DO More stepped in with an uplifting encounter. Since that time, the mission to provide Blessings in a Bag has expanded to seven cities and fourteen sites across the nation, from New York to California.

The bag of blessings contains essentials such as toiletries, hygiene products, and nonperishable foods. As a team, the scholars promote online fundraising focused upon purchasing the needed items. They then come together to fill and donate the bags to a charity or church of the team's choice.

The project was founded by fourth-year LECOM student, Cody Barbari. “We have witnessed this charity thrive magnificently in a very short time,” remarked the caring scholar. In just under three months, the DO More organization raised more than $7,000 to benefit individuals living in underserved cities.

The motivated team has opened several sites; and students are rotating in periodic sessions to allow additional LECOM scholars the opportunity to participate in the venture.

The organization hopes to continue the charity by passing the mission to future classes to DO More for years to come.

LECOM is exceptionally proud of the work undertaken by this purpose-driven band of medical scholars.

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LECOM Scholar Works with Dr. Oz "Working with Dr. Oz and his team was an invaluable experience. I learned to craft complex medical knowledge into easily-digestible, entertaining, and informative health messages for the general public."

– Melissa Sussman, MPH

Melissa Sussman, MPH, returned to the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM) as a fourth-year student in May 2021, after completing her position as a Medical Student Researcher at The Dr. Oz Show in New York City, New York.

In an effusive and heartfelt letter to LECOM, Sussman emphasized her gratitude to the College for the exceptional education that underpinned her work and that facilitated the opportunities that she has experienced thus far.

Throughout her time with the show, Sussman provided content and information for scripts, medical animations, and media materials, building upon her preclinical and clinical knowledge, health policy background, and theater experience.

In February of 2021, and further underscoring Sussman’s accomplishments, her article entitled, Considerations of HLA, Renal Failure, Valproic Acid Use, and Current Treatment Guidelines in Clozapine-Induced Agranulocytosis, was published in the Hindawi Journal of Case Reports in Psychiatry.

“I am very thankful for the support of the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine and for the education that allowed me the opportunity to work with Dr. Oz and his talented and professional team at The Dr. Oz Show. The COVID-19 pandemic underscores the importance of media in educating the public and conveying health-based news and information in a clear, concise, and meaningful way. Working with Dr. Oz and his team was an invaluable experience where I learned to craft complex medical knowledge into easily-digestible, entertaining, and informative health messages for the general public. It was extremely rewarding to combine my passions for medicine, public health, and performance to enrich the lives of viewers. I shall carry these skills and experiences with me to enhance my future medical practice and to better serve my patients," commented the grateful scholar.

This case report examines risk factor screening for clozapine treatment and studies the current management protocol improvements for clozapine-induced agranulocytosis. This case was derived from Sussman's third-year clerkship at St. John’s Episcopal Hospital in Far Rockaway, New York.

From a medical student researcher on a television show to a published researcher, Melissa Sussman has shown herself to be an emblematic LECOM scholar evocative of the worthy endeavors of the medical calling.

LECOM extends its hearty congratulations to Melissa Sussman, MPH.

@1LECOM | LECOM CONNECTION 17

Sam Bennett Lassiter

Elizabeth Kan

Jennifer Haseleu

Laura Holton

LECOM Lauds Scholars Selected for Schweitzer Fellowship The renowned physician-theologian, Albert Schweitzer shared with mankind, decades of knowledge and wisdom. In 1952, he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, an event that marked a life lived with a profound purpose and an abiding wisdom.

The Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM) shares and inculcates the tenets of this famed philosopher, seeking out emblematic attributes within its student body.

Keeping with that fundamental message LECOM is pleased to announce that several scholars have been selected as the 20212022 participants of the Pittsburgh Schweitzer Fellows Program.

LECOM first-year medical students, Sam Bennett Lassiter and Elizabeth Kan will be continuing and expanding upon an established community betterment program known as Empowered Voices through Achieva. The program develops leaders in the direct service

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of improving health, promoting well-being, and assisting at-risk communities and under served populations. The duo will be building upon the lessons begun by previous Fellows as they incorporate a more individualized approach to the program. This approach includes the creation of personalized success plans and modules that foster growth and confidence to help struggling individuals succeed, facilitating their efforts to become independent in their personal and professional lives.

Jennifer Haseleu, a LECOM first-year medical scholar, will be working with schools around the Greater Pittsburgh area to educate youth about mental health wellness. She will be hosting workshops for the students that highlight healthful mental habits and coping skills. For the teachers, she will be hosting the National Council for Behavioral Health Mental Health First Aid courses, which teach the ability to recognize and respond to emerging mental health issues.

Fellow LECOM first-year student, Laura Holton, will be working with Life-Way Pregnancy Center to help break the cycle of health disparities faced by single mothers and their children. Holton will work with mothers to assist them in implementing simple, healthful changes in their personal lives that also can be shared with their children. The project will provide resources, increase overall health and wellness knowledge, and empower women to advocate for their own health and the health of their children.

By developing leaders in service who embody the legacy of Albert Schweitzer, M.D., the yearlong, direct service, interdisciplinary, experiential learning program for graduate students addresses the needs of disadvantaged citizens throughout southwest Pennsylvania. As the only course of its kind, the Pittsburgh Schweitzer Fellows Program attracts exceptional, emerging professionals, offering them an opportunity to experience the benefits and challenges of working with distressed populations. The Fellowship is open to graduate students studying in any curriculum across southwestern Pennsylvania, thereby providing a forum for scholars to interact with future professionals from a variety of disciplines.

LECOM scholars have participated in the Schweitzer Fellowship Program since 2006.

The Pittsburgh Schweitzer Fellowship Program is one of 13 chapters of the Albert Schweitzer Fellowship. To date, more than 3,800 Schweitzer Fellows across the United States have delivered more than 750,000 hours of service to people in need.

LECOM has held fast to the meaningful endeavors of physician-servants such as Dr. Albert Schweitzer. Recalling his words that, “Each of us has cause to think with deep gratitude of those who have lighted the flame within us,” the College takes great pride in extending its hearty congratulations to Sam Bennett Lassiter, Elizabeth Kan, Jennifer Haseleu, and Laura Holton.

NATIONALLY RANKED

LECOM TOPS U.S. NEWS & WORLD REPORT RANKINGS

The Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM) has been the seminal leader and an integral facilitator of the men and women of healthcare, whose pledge to a cause greater than themselves has brought forth the betterment of mankind.

The recent U.S. News & World Report data also stated that LECOM offers the lowest tuition among private medical schools in the United States. The $37,200 per year tuition allows those seeking a future as a healthcare professional to pursue the noble calling.

Indeed, it comes as little surprise that LECOM produces more Primary Care Physicians (PCPs) than any other medical school in the United States. This fact was reported in the recent publication of the U.S. News & World Report.

There is little doubt that these key and compelling attributes reinforce the consistently sound standing of LECOM as the largest medical school in the nation.

In compiling the data for the annual rankings of medical schools, the U.S. News & World Report employed data based upon the percentage of graduates who entered the Primary Care field between 2018 and 2020.

According to the report, 69% of LECOM students enter Primary Care residencies upon graduation. In 2020, approximately 372 of the 539 LECOM Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine graduates entered Primary Care programs, more than graduates of any other medical school in America.

In 2021, 2,390 students are enrolled in the College of Osteopathic Medicine Program at campuses in Erie and Greensburg, Pennsylvania, in Bradenton, Florida, and in Elmira, New York.

LECOM recognition by peers, college deans, and hospital Directors of Medical Education (DMEs), continues to grow unreservedly.

Consistently, LECOM has been graduating primary care physicians, offering the lowest tuition among private medical schools, and placing among the top schools for attracting excellent applicants.

The implicit message gained by reviewing the U.S. News & World Report facts and figures remains clear: osteopathic medical education stands solidly in the healthcare vanguard and it is doubly clear that LECOM is the unabashed leader in that field – superbly ranked and offering superlative medical education at an affordable cost.

LECOM currently enrolls more than 4,400 students across all disciplines, including its College of Osteopathic Medicine, School of Pharmacy, School of Dental Medicine, School of Health Services Administration, and Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences.

Over 15,000 LECOM alumni are delivering quality health care across the nation.

@1LECOM | LECOM CONNECTION 19

NOM Week 2021

LECOM Marks Quartet of Celebrations The Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM), Millcreek Community Hospital (MCH), and its entire affiliated osteopathic academic health center that is LECOM Health comes together annually during the week of April 18 - 24 to recognize the commitment and professionalism of American osteopathic physicians.

National Osteopathic Medicine (NOM) Week is an event that is celebrated each year by the American Osteopathic Association (AOA) and by all who recognize the comprehensive value and healthful lifestyle benefits associated with the osteopathic philosophy. The event draws together those within the osteopathic medical profession with a view toward a common goal – that of increasing awareness throughout the nation about osteopathic medicine and about the benefits, and comprehensive importance of doctors of osteopathic medicine (DOs). The event is held each year to coincide with the founding date of the AOA, which was April 19, 1897.

At LECOM, the physicians of today are training the doctors of tomorrow by nurturing within the students a full understanding and a pivotal importance of preventative health care and of the principles of osteopathic wholeperson medicine. Primary care physicians and healthcare professionals focus upon an all-inclusive approach to wellness and to the maintenance of health. The tenets of osteopathic medical education place an emphasis upon the musculoskeletal system and upon the interrelationship between this system with other body systems as essential components of basic health maintenance and of the prevention of disease.

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The NOM celebration elevates this objective and it seeks to disseminate the information of this most profound and comprehensive medical field to a wider population that remains intransigently adherent to, and seemingly comfortable with, a philosophy of merely treating symptoms.

The NOM event recognizes the contributions of osteopathic physicians and it honors their dedication to improving the health of their communities through education and awarenessbased efforts, as well as by delivering quality health services.

Osteopathic training offers superlative solutions to address the medical needs of a health care environment in flux by producing more primary care physicians and more physicians practicing in rural and underserved communities than those produced elsewhere. Practicing in specialty areas - including family practice, surgery, and psychiatry, countless thousands of DOs and osteopathic medical students traverse the United States.

LECOM has trained more than 8,100 osteopathic physicians since the College welcomed its first class in 1993. Today, more than 2,300 students are enrolled in the College of Osteopathic Medicine program at campuses in Erie and Greensburg, Pennsylvania, in Bradenton, Florida, and in Elmira, New York; making LECOM the largest medical school in the United States.

LECOM Health physicians, many of whom are LECOM graduates, work diligently every day to provide a compassionate, whole-person approach to medicine to patients across the region.

To recognize the role that osteopathic physicians play in the lives of local residents, mayors and key officials representing each of the cities in which LECOM hosts a campus issued an official Proclamation celebrating NOM Week.

“Osteopathic physicians are dedicated members of the medical community who are committed to championing and delivering improved patient outcomes through education and quality care across all specialties. Their distinctive medical training makes a difference in the everyday lives of the patients they treat,” noted LECOM President and CEO, John M. Ferretti, D.O. “LECOM takes great pride in training the next generation of physicians and it is thankful that these public figures have celebrated this service to mankind.”

Statistics show that the interest in osteopathic medicine continues to increase dramatically.

According to the AOA 2019 Osteopathic Medical Profession Report, the osteopathic medical profession has expanded 63% since 2010, and it has increased nearly 300% during the last three decades.

A record number of new osteopathic physicians – nearly 7,000 – graduated nationally in 2019.

The AOA estimates that there are more than 151,000 osteopathic physicians and students in the United States; and that by 2030, more than 20% of all practicing physicians will be Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine.

NOM Week is ever a highlight of a unified mission committed to the osteopathic philosophy of providing the best in patient care; and LECOM continues to mark triumphantly this worthy event.

Join the

LECOM Family of Physicians Treating Erie’s Families

We are the physicians of Medical Associates of Erie - the Clinical Practices of LECOM. Our goal is to provide to our patients the very best osteopathic, whole person care – mind, body and spirit – for a lifetime of optimal health.

You can become part of the only Osteopathic Academic Health Center in the nation led by the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine.

Currently, we are seeking physicians in ENT, Neurology, Pediatrics, Family Medicine, and Rheumatology for our expanding practices.

Please contact Dennis Styn at (814) 868-2504 or dstyn@lecom.edu to learn more about available opportunities.

WELCOME TO WELLNESS WELCOME TO LECOM HEALTH

LECOM Health doctors. Choose one today to join a health system that will focus on your overall wellness for life.

Visit LECOMHealth.com/clinical-practices

Mark Kauffman, DO NAMED ACOFP FELLOW

The 2021 Class of the American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians (ACOFP) Conclave of Fellows was recognized recently during the ACOFP 58th Annual Convention and Scientific Seminars. This honorary designation is bestowed upon candidates who have contributed outstanding national and local service through teaching, authorship, research or professional leadership, and who demonstrate dedication to ACOFP, as well as commitment to the health and welfare of their patients and to the future of osteopathic family medicine.

The Conclave of Fellows selected Associate Dean of Academic Affairs at LECOM Bradenton, Mark Kauffman, DO, into its 2021 Class.

Common Sense Approach and the COMLEX Level 2-PE Review Guide, as well as more than twenty journal articles, and the COMLEX 2-PE Interactive Video Series.

The assiduously skilled physician-educator has a lengthy history expanding the depth and breadth of the medical field.

Dr. Kauffman is active in the American Osteopathic Association (AOA) as a Bureau of Osteopathic Education Committee Member and he serves as a Board of Trustee of the Florida Society of the American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians.

Dr. Kauffman attended St. Francis University in Loretto, Pennsylvania, where he received his undergraduate degree in Physician Assistant Studies in 1990; he earned his Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine Degree from LECOM in Erie, Pennsylvania in 2000.

Dr. Kauffman’s areas of expertise include history taking and physical examination, having published three texts, including History and Physical Examination: A

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Dr. Kauffman was the recipient of the 2020 LECOM/LECOMT Research Support Grant to conduct an in-depth Analysis of COVID-19 and Other Pathogens on Restaurant Surfaces.

In 2017, he also was awarded the LECOM Distinguished Citizen Award, an honor bestowed upon the member of the LECOM community who has supported the development of LECOM programs through service and patronage.

LECOM luminary and emeritus, Robert George, DO, sponsored Dr. Kauffman for the Fellow designation, referencing Dr. Kauffman’s scientific paper entitled, AMA USMLE COMLEX Equality Statement Impact on Residency Program Applicant Selection.

LECOM extends its hearty congratulations to Dr. Mark Kauffman in recognition of this estimable honor.

Third-Year Scholar Awarded Dr. Vincent and Mary Hayes Lepore Scholarship A hallmark of work ethic and passion in the calling of medicine, the Dr. Vincent and Mary Hayes Lepore Scholarship was recently awarded to Kayla Trautman, a third-year medical student at LECOM. Trautman, in accordance with the Scholarship requirements, will present her Match results into an OB/GYN Residency in her fourth year of study.

The Scholarship was begun by Dr. Vincent Lepore in loving memory of his parents, Dr. Vincent and Mary Hayes Lepore. The senior Dr. Lepore was born and raised in Youngstown, Ohio; and he met his wife while both were attending Youngstown State University (YSU).

Dr. Lepore attended and graduated from medical school in Rome, Italy in 1957, during which time their son and only child, Vincent, was born.

The family returned to Youngstown and Dr. Lepore served his internship at St. Elizabeth

Hospital, completing his residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology in 1963.

During his expansive career, Dr. Lepore delivered more than ten thousand babies.

In 2011, Dr. Lepore was awarded the Mahoning County Medical Society Physician of the Year Award. He was a member of the voluntary clinical faculty at the Northeast Ohio Medical College where he taught Obstetrics and Gynecology until his death in 2016.

Mary Hayes Lepore was by her husband’s side, supporting him during their entire married lives.

The Dr. Vincent and Mary Hayes Lepore Scholarship endures as a testament to a life lived in the noble service of medicine and LECOM is especially proud that Kayla Trautman will continue in the path established by this medical luminary.

@1LECOM | LECOM CONNECTION 23

Susan Calderbank, DMD Named Director of Patient Care for the LECOM Erie Fourth-Year Dental Clinic

Dr. Susan Calderbank has been named the Director of Patient Care for the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM Erie) Fourth-Year Dental Clinic.

Dr. Calderbank is a 1977 graduate of the University of Pittsburgh. She comes to LECOM from private practice in Greenville, Pennsylvania.

In addition to being a staff dentist at Presbyterian Shadyside Dental Center at Montefiore Hospital since 2014, Dr. Calderbank also has served as an attending dentist at the University of Pittsburgh Dental GPR Residency Program.

Since 1977, she has been affiliated with UPMC Horizon as a Medical Associate; and she is a team member with the UPMC Health Systems First Survivorship Team for Head and Neck Cancer Patients.

For thirteen years, Dr. Calderbank served on the Pennsylvania State Dental Board, and she was the first woman ever to chair the Board.

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Indeed, Dr. Calderbank has served on a host of estimable committees and since 2010, she has been an Expert Witness for the Pennsylvania State Board of Dental Examiners. She was also the Pennsylvania State Board Representative to the American Association of Dental Examiners, and the Pennsylvania State Board Liaison to the Northeast Regional Board of Dental Examiners.

Dr. Calderbank holds fellowships in the Pierre Fauchard Society, the International College of Dentists, and the American College of Dentists.

In April of 2003, Dr. Calderbank received the Pennsylvania Dental Association Special Public Service Award in recognition of her commitment to raising awareness of the Oral Complications of Cancer Therapies. This honor came as only the second time that the Award was presented, and the first time in more than 100 years.

Dr. Calderbank also is a speaker for the prestigious American Dental Association Seminar Series and she was a speaker at the 2020 CDCA Annual Meeting in Nashville, Tennessee. She is a designated consultant to the American Dental Association Speaker Series Program.

LECOM School of Dental Medicine is Turning Heads In July of 2012, the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM) School of Dental Medicine (SDM) welcomed students in Bradenton, Florida, establishing yet a new era in the betterment of healthcare education. The first class of dental students was graduated in 2016.

the foremost reason for choosing LECOM, surpassing even the affordable tuition aspect.

Since that time, a steady and unremitting throng of prospective student interest has been generated by the great success of the Dental Program at LECOM. An amalgam of state-ofthe-art and cutting-edge facilities, first-rate professional teaching faculty, and early handson clinical practice have made the LECOM SDM first on many scholars' Must Apply list.

Moreover, the NDBE Level 1 and Level 2 first-time pass rates are regularly in the high 90-percent range. A scrupulous examination of records, including enrollment, graduation data, community benefit, dollars expended, value-ratios received by communities, and a comparative analysis of other colleges and universities show that LECOM is leading the way in cutting-edge education while offering it at a very affordable rate. The LECOM results are evocative of the prospective students who have made the LECOM School of Dental Medicine THE school of choice for superlative dental education.

In the LECOM School of Dental Medicine, a powerful curricula factor seems compelling for students who unequivocally listed the clinical and didactic training (respectively) as

Consistently, boasting On-Time Graduation Rates of 100%, the LECOM School of Dental Medicine indeed is turning heads.

@1LECOM | LECOM CONNECTION 25

COMMENCEMENT 2021 Highlighting Exemplary Graduates As Hippocrates opined, “Wherever the art of Medicine is loved, there is also a love of Humanity.” This keen observation is emblematic of LECOM graduates who truly are connected to one another and to others in the broader community. Their choice of medicine was not by accident, for medicine is nothing without a love of humanity.

Each year at Commencement, the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM) highlights and recognizes the academic and notable achievements of its graduating class. Several scholars who have proved exemplary are chosen for acknowledgement and they have been recipients of various estimable awards. As these graduates go forth in the profession as doctors, a love of humanity will be a central part of who they are, and who they will become.

As iron sharpens iron, scholars sharpen each other; they lead, encourage, and inspire each other in a quest for knowledge and virtue. They strive together, forging bonds that are the foundation of enduring friendships, deepening their intellectual prowess, and becoming prepared to embark upon the calling of a lifetime. LECOM is pleased to share with you, the reader, a few brief stories of these accomplished graduates.

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Yusra Mansour

Helen Brown

Keriann Clements

Yusra Mansour, an exemplary scholar and 2021 graduating medical student at the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM) was selected for the College of Medicine Excellence in Research Award. Recently, she matched into Otolaryngology - Facial Plastic Surgery - at Henry Ford Macomb Hospital in Michigan.

Helen Brown is a graduating scholar from the Erie Campus, and she is the recipient of the Charles F. and Ruth J. Blatt Military Honor Award. As a Second Lieutenant MSC, in the United States Air Force Reserve (USAFR), Helen found her life transforming in a short spanse of time.

The Toledo, Ohio native is the youngest of four children, having attended the University of Toledo where she majored in Biology and minored in Chemistry.

Brown was accepted into the Health Professions Scholarship Program through the Air Force just before starting school in 2017.

That key event has allowed her to pursue her medical education while serving the nation through her commitment and dedication to the armed forces.

Since her junior year of high school, Keriann Clements has had a dream of becoming a pharmacist. The passion for pharmacy, an enduring one for the native of Oil City, Pennsylvania, prompted her to enroll in the LECOM Early Acceptance Program (EAP). In only three years, Clements earned her bachelor’s degree from Mount Aloysius College before enrolling, full time, in the LECOM School of Pharmacy in Erie.

College of Medicine Erie Excellence in Research Award

Her older brother, Mansour Mansour, completed the LECOM 2014 Post Baccalaureate Program and subsequently, he matriculated into the College of Medicine and graduated in the LECOM Class of 2019. Currently, he is an Emergency Medicine resident in Michigan.

The skilled graduate “fell in love with research and its role in medicine,” while working intensely in the LECOM Auditory Research Center in 2018, with Dr. Randy Kulesza. For more than three years, Mansour worked in the laboratory investigating changes in the auditory and vestibular brainstems in human and animal models of Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Under the auspices and guidance of her mentor, Dr. Kulesza, Mansour produced 15 manuscripts, 11 of which she was first author; and 24 research presentations. This love of research additionally prompted Mansour to pursue a PhD in Anatomy Education. She focused upon the comparison of virtual and in-person interactive learning sessions using drawing and 3-Dimensional models.

Mansour intends to continue her basic science and educational research throughout her career as a physician and an educator.

Charles F. and Ruth J. Blatt Military Honor Award

Brown also spent time throughout medical school volunteering with local fire departments as an EMT, and serving her community while gaining further medical experience.

These experiences afforded her irreplaceable friendships; moreover, they brought her together with the man who would become her husband. The couple was married on October 3, 2020, during the Pandemic.

The assiduously dedicated scholar recently matched into her top choice residency program in General Surgery at Keesler Air Force Base in Biloxi, Mississippi.

“I am beyond thankful for every opportunity that my time at LECOM has offered me, and I am honored to be recognized for my military service. I am incredibly excited to continue the next steps of my journey while taking with me all of the amazing memories that I have enjoyed at LECOM.”

LECOM School of Pharmacy Ambassadors Award

At LECOM, Clements earned acceptance into the Rho Chi Society Academic Honor Society, a noted imprimatur of the pharmacy profession.

She also joined Christian Pharmacists Fellowship International and the Student Society of Health-System Pharmacists.

In addition to her academic and professional endeavors, Clements became a wife and mother during her time at LECOM; she gave birth to a son in April of 2021.

Complementing her Pharmacy Degree, she also earned her Master of Science in Medical Education Degree while enrolled in the LECOM Pharmacy Program. “These last three years have been the most challenging and life-altering years that I have ever experienced,” Clements explained, acknowledging her multiple extracurricular activities, internships, and growing family.

The proficient graduate now has realized her longtime dream of becoming a pharmacist.

“I am so proud of all I have accomplished; and it would not have been possible without the support of many members of the LECOM faculty and many classmates who I am honored to call friends,” affirmed Clements.

@1LECOM | LECOM CONNECTION 27

Nouhad Alame

Darrin Weinzierl

Michael Dougherty

A career path as a business intelligence data analyst for General Motors seemed all but settled for Nouhad Alame. However, after only a scant two months working on the global automotive stage, the Detroit native knew that she had made a mistake.

Darrin Weinzeirl is the recipient of the LECOM School of Pharmacy Dean’s Award, an honor presented to the member of the graduating class who, in the judgment of the Dean, has exemplified the unique combination of character, moral, academic, and ethical behavior expected of a pharmacy professional.

A non-traditional student with a career and family, Michael Dougherty was prepared to meet challenges along his medical school journey.

LECOM School of Pharmacy Student Leadership Award

Recognizing that her true interests lay squarely in the healthcare field, Alame enrolled in the LECOM Health Sciences Post-baccalaureate Program; and before long, she was accepted into the LECOM School of Pharmacy.

As a previous retail pharmacy technician and an intern employed by large chain pharmacies, Alame looked forward to her interactions with the community. After three years of pharmacy education and mentorship along the way, Alame decided to advance her clinical experience beyond the level of Doctor of Pharmacy.

Indeed, Alame’s time at LECOM brought her career aspirations clearly into focus. “I grew to know my areas of interest and I was set upon a career as a clinical pharmacist in internal medicine or in critical care,” the graduate noted.

Armed with her PharmD credentials, Alame will return to Michigan for a residency program at McLaren Oakland Hospital in Pontiac.

She carries with her the LECOM School of Pharmacy Student Leadership Award, an honor bestowed upon those members of the graduating class who have demonstrated outstanding leadership and commitment to the mission of the school through service as an officer in a student club or organization.

“I could not have made it this far without benefitting from the rigors of the fast-paced curriculum at LECOM or without the support of my professors and faculty in the School of Pharmacy,” Alame stated.

28 LECOM CONNECTION | SUMMER 2021

LECOM School of Pharmacy Dean’s Award

“In high school, everyone expects one to have his or her life planned out.” the Nicktown, Pennsylvania, native explained. “My uncle was a pharmacist, and while I had a very light grasp of all that he actually did in the field of pharmacy, I knew that he enjoyed his job and I thought that it might be something that I would enjoy too,” admitted the successful graduate.

Weinzeirl was accepted into the LECOM Early Acceptance Program through Saint Francis University. It was his undergraduate courses that sparked and illuminated his passion for the calling.

“During a biology class, I began learning about multidrug-resistant (MDR) organisms. That event piqued my interest; and I decided that I would like to enter a profession where I would deal directly with these elements,” he explained.

“I realized that the pharmacy profession is a direct route to securing hands-on experience dealing with MDR pathogens and all manner of infectious diseases,” Weinzeirl expounded.

After three years at Saint Francis University, Weinzeirl began his studies in the LECOM School of Pharmacy Program in Erie where he further developed and honed his scholarship.

Following commencement, Weinzeirl will undertake his residency with St. Vincent Hospital in Erie. The Dean’s Award recipient “hopes to continue to grow as a pharmacist and to prove to the world the undeniable asset that is the profession of pharmacy.”

Pennsylvania Osteopathic Medical Association Outstanding Student Award

“At the end of the day, I knew that I would have no regrets pursuing something that I truly enjoy, no matter the ups and downs along the way,” Dougherty commented.

The LECOM at Seton Hill Problem Based Learning Pathway afforded Dougherty the ability to have time for self-study and to dictate his own schedule, something that he found extremely important. The Program also facilitated his need to remain close to his family in Philadelphia.

Dougherty credits LECOM pre-clinical education with preparing him for board exams. The recent graduate also welcomed the opportunity to volunteer with a local underserved medical clinic; and he worked with LECOM faculty to publish a case report and present posters, all of which proved beneficial in his application for residency programs.

Dougherty is the LECOM at Seton Hill 2021 recipient of the meritorious Pennsylvania Osteopathic Medical Association Outstanding Student Award. The Award is presented to a member of the graduating class who has represented the high ideals of the osteopathic profession with a demonstrated desire to serve the citizens of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania through the practice of medicine.

Dougherty succeeded in his objective of securing an anesthesiology residency with Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia, placing him near family and in his coveted residency. “LECOM truly provided me with the tools to succeed,” said Dougherty.

Amanda White

Chantal Zony

Amanda White envisioned a pharmacy career from an early age. The LECOM Two-Plus-Three Early Acceptance Program allowed White to embark upon the journey of a lifetime while she was still in high school.

Chantal Zony had been a nurse for five years when she decided to pursue a career in the field of pharmacy.

LECOM School of Pharmacy Academic Excellence Award

After completing two years at Mercyhurst University, White began her pharmacy studies at the LECOM Erie campus.

“These past five years have flown by, but I have learned so much about the pharmacy profession and about myself along the way,” reflected White.

The LECOM graduate proved herself to be an exceptional scholar, excelling in her studies and upon graduation, garnering the LECOM School of Pharmacy Academic Excellence Award. The laudable honor is bestowed upon the member of the graduating class who holds the highest academic standing after three years of study.

“I shall always be grateful to LECOM for its rigorous curriculum, supportive professors, leadership opportunities, and for the lifelong friends who I have made through this program,” beamed White.

White ventures forward into an acute-care residency with St. Vincent Hospital in Erie with her future vision to become a clinical pharmacist.

“I am excited to use all that I have learned at LECOM to make a positive impact upon the care of my future patients,” stated White.

LECOM School of Pharmacy Award for Exceptional Community Service

As a wife and the mother of young twins, Zony found the plan to attend pharmacy school on the other side of the state somewhat daunting.

The Coatesville, Pennsylvania native called upon her fortitude to follow her dream.

“At first, I did not want to leave my children and move six hours away to school, but my supportive husband assured me that he would take care of them and that everything would be fine,” Zony explained. “I’m forever grateful to him.”

Zony’s persistence and perseverance buoyed her through the rigors of pharmacy school. She relied upon her classmates for group study sessions and she spent long nights in study to ensure that she knew the course material.

"LECOM truly provided me with the tools to succeed."

– Michael Dougherty

Zony’s determination was fruitful and the pharmacy scholar was soon inducted into the Rho Chi Academic Honor Society. The resilient healthcare professional also continued working as a nurse while completing her pharmacy internship.

Augmenting a plethora of academic responsibilities, Zony also made time to participate in community service activities.

“Those ventures provided great pleasure and they afforded an outlet to my classmates and me to serve outside of class and to interact with members of the community,” related the LECOM graduate.

@1LECOM | LECOM CONNECTION 29

LECOM Alumna Arianna Gianakos, DO Marks Noteworthy Achievement piece entitled, Sex-Specific Analysis in the Orthopaedic Literature as a feature article in the journal, Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research. Her work analyzed and evaluated gender disparity in orthopedic surgery.

In each issue of the LECOM Connection, readers meet Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM) scholars and alumni, practitioners and professionals, who, in their academic achievements and explorations, and in their daily work stir the heart of their Alma Mater with great pride.

In that continued spirit, LECOM extends renewed congratulations to Arianna Gianakos, DO, a 2016 graduate of LECOM Bradenton and currently an orthopedic resident at Robert Wood Johnson Barnabas Health Medical Center in Jersey City, New Jersey.

Dr. Gianakos matched into her top choice fellowship at Harvard-Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts with a fellowship in a foot and ankle specialty. She is the first Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine ever selected for the prodigious program. The Harvard-Massachusetts General Hospital Foot and Ankle Fellowship is one of the most highly regarded fellowships in the United States.

A bevy of important research has buoyed Dr. Gianakos’ success. She has submitted a plethora of orthopedic surgery peer-reviewed publications, orthopedic surgery book chapters, podium presentations, and poster presentations. She was the lead author of a

30 LECOM CONNECTION | SUMMER 2021

Dr. Gianakos also was lead author of an article entitled, Microfracture May Reduce Radiologic and Clinical Outcomes of Ankle Distraction Arthroplasty at Medium Term Follow Up, featured in a podcast series offered by the journal, Foot and Ankle International.

As a stalwart LECOM advocate, Dr. Gianakos recognizes the importance of her role models and mentors; leaders in medicine from LECOM and throughout the country who have become the pillars of her career.

“I am especially grateful to the wonderful LECOM professors who helped guide my medical school training so that I would be confident in myself as a physician as I entered residency,” averred the accomplished alumna.

Noting three factors that make a great orthopedic surgeon - a foundation of sound medical education, clinical knowledge, and research - Dr. Gianakos explained that her goal as a rising foot and ankle fellow is to utilize the skills that she has gained as a physicianscientist to continue her commitment to remain in the forefront of research in the field of foot and ankle surgery.

There exists a close alumni community with a common history and a shared purpose at LECOM; one that takes particular note of its

progeny. “During the last few years, I have had the opportunity to present my research nationally and internationally and I have received several scholarships along the way,” wrote Dr. Gianakos in her latest letter to the LECOM Administration.

Recently, Dr. Gianakos received the first ever IONA and Sports Medicine International Travel Fellowship Award. The mini fellowship consists of six months of sports medicine and in-office needle arthroscopy training during which she will have the opportunity to work with world leaders in the USA and in Europe. As Dr. Gianakos will be the first fellow in this program, the logistics of the fellowship is still evolving, but she is scheduled to begin the program in the summer of 2022.

The LECOM alumna also was accepted this year into the PhD Program at the University of Amsterdam, with Harvard as the United States sponsoring institution. Currently, Dr. Gianakos is undertaking courses for her PhD in Gender Studies in Orthopedic Surgery, which she hopes to complete at approximately the same time that she completes her dual fellowships.

The grateful LECOM graduate reiterated laudatory remarks about the College in her recent letter to the Administration; and LECOM echoes its profound pride in the accomplishments of this distinguished alumna.

LECOM Lauds Alumni Completing Conemaugh Graduate Medical Education (Med Ed) Program Two graduates of the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM) - Doug Pazehoski, DO and Jennifer Silvis, DO - recently completed the Conemaugh Graduate Medical Education (Med Ed) Program.

Conemaugh provided the scholars with a variety of probative clinical experiences to complement their rigorous LECOM medical training.

Doug Pazehoski, DO joins the Emergency Medicine Department at Conemaugh Memorial Medical Center. Dr. Pazehoski completed his medical education at LECOM at Seton Hill. The Greensburg native received his undergraduate education at the University of Pittsburgh.

care, trauma surgery, and emergency surgery at the University of Connecticut, Hartford Hospital.

Dr. Silvis is a Beaver County, Pennsylvania native, and she has served honorably in the United States Air Force since 2003. Currently, she has dual assignments as a flight surgeon and general surgeon for Critical Care Air Transport. As a medic in the Air Force, Dr. Silvis completed combat tours of duty in Afghanistan and Iraq, and she was awarded the prestigious John M. Templeton Jr. Military Call to Service Scholarship in 2018.

LECOM commends these two distinguished graduates on their recent accomplishments.

Jennifer Silvis, DO will return to the Conemaugh Health System on October 1, 2021, specializing in Surgical Critical Care. Dr. Silvis completed her medical education at LECOM and undertook her residency in general surgery at Conemaugh Memorial Medical Center. In August of this year, she will complete a fellowship in acute care surgery with a special focus in surgical critical

@1LECOM | LECOM CONNECTION 31

LECOM Alumna Named President of the American College of Osteopathic Obstetricians and Gynecologists On April 11, 2021, the American College of Osteopathic Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOOG) inaugurated Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM) alumna, Marydonna Ravasio, DO as its 2021 President.

A highly awarded and esteemed practitioner, Dr. Ravasio was recognized in 2014, by the United States Merchant Marine Academy with the Outstanding Professional Achievement Award.

Dr. Ravasio is a graduate of the United States Merchant Marine Academy, where she earned her first Bachelor of Science Degree by completing dual majors in Marine Engineering and Marine Transportation. She was the only woman to be graduated with a dual major distinction in the Class of 1989.

Passionate about teaching and lifelong learning, Dr. Ravasio has been involved with osteopathic medical student education during their core elective rotations; and she works with residents at Magee Women’s Hospital in Pittsburgh.

After working as an engineer, she returned to the classroom to complete her Pre-Med curriculum at the University of Pittsburgh, where she distinguished herself as a Summa Cum Laude graduate, majoring in Biology and minoring in Chemistry.

A 1998 graduate of LECOM, and finishing a residency at York Memorial Hospital, Dr. Ravasio began her career as an OB/GYN at Reynolds Army Community Hospital in Fort Sill, Oklahoma. There, she served for three years as Department Chief and Graduate Medical Education (GME) Coordinator.

Dr. Ravasio now devotes her time and expertise to an OB/GYN practice in Butler County, Pennsylvania.

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LECOM is proud of its distinguished alumni, those who have committed themselves to the calling and whose lifelong efforts have underscored a noble mission.

Indeed, Dr. Marydonna Ravasio is such an alumna; and LECOM extends its sincere congratulations to her in proud acknowledgement of her recent appointment.

Dogged Determination LECOM Welcomes New Security Team Member

The Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM) Police Department has a new partner, Coyote, a 14-month-old German Shepherd from King County Search and Rescue Dogs, an organization overseen

by County Sheriffs and State Emergency Management Teams in Bellevue, Washington.

The LECOM Erie addition is named after the well-known Search and Rescue K-9, Coyote, a control dog deployed after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.

Inspired by the Search and Rescue Dogs who responded to the devastation following 9/11, the University of Pennsylvania Penn Vet Working Dog Center (PVWDC) was opened on

September 11, 2012, and it serves as a national research and development center for detection dogs.

With the United States national security under constant threat from attacks, detection dogs are one of the best tools available to detect and mitigate potential threats. Search dogs also are critical for locating victims of natural and manmade disasters.

The special scenting ability of dogs allows them to serve in important ways, such as in undertaking cutting-edge research to support global health or conservation detection.

As pioneers in the working dog field, PVWDC increases collaborative research and the application of the newest scientific findings and veterinary expertise to optimize the performance of lifesaving detection dogs.

Donated to the PVWDC by Iron Sight Breeders in Bradenton, Florida, Coyote began training at the PVWDC in May of 2020.

LECOM is delighted to have Coyote on the Security Team. Considered a force-multiplier, Coyote will assist in the array of protective and detection tasks as needed by the College.

Officer Carlos Vidal and Coyote. @1LECOM | LECOM CONNECTION 33

STUDENT NOTES The Atlanta Braves awarded scholarships to three LECOM Bradenton students during a spring training game on March 20, 2021.

Natalie Schmidt, D3, and Mark Miller, OMS2 each received $10,000 scholarships. Karla Antonetti-Negro, P4, received a $5,300 scholarship.

College of Medicine Zohha Alam, OMS1, is participating in a retrospective clinical research project with a mentoring physician at the Advanced Organ Disease and Transplantation Institute, part of Tampa General Hospital. Alam also will shadow other physicians and participate in a series of lectures.

Weam Altaher, OMS3, Hasan Alhelo, OMS2, Devon Chosky, OMS4, and Randy Kulesza, PhD, Dean of the LECOM Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, co-authored an article entitled, Neonatal Exposure to Monosodium Glutamate Results in Impaired Auditory Brainstem Structure and Function, published in Hearing Research.

Shefali Amin, OMS4, Christine Lomiguen, MD, Assistant Director of Pathology, Justin Chin, DO, Master of Science in Medical Education student, and Mark Terrell, EdD, Assistant Dean of Medical Education, co-authored a piece entitled, Addressing Challenges in Humanistic Communication during COVID-19 Through Medical Education, published in Frontiers in Communication.

Fourth-year students, Kyle Auger, Kasey Coutinho, and Gregory Shedlock joined Nicole Myers, DO, Acting Director of Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine, and Santiago Lorenzo, PhD, Associate Professor of Physiology, in writing, Effects of Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment and Bio-electromagnetic Energy Regulation Therapy on Lower Back Pain, published in De Gruyter.

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Yasmany Baez, OMS1, is participating in the eight-week 2021 Clinical Research Training Center Summer Predoctoral Program at the Institute of Clinical and Translational Services at Washington University in St. Louis.

Through this Program, Baez will take courses and participate in a mentored research project. He will perform RNAseq analysis of ATLL cell lines treated with allele-specific antisense oligonucleotides.

Mitchell Boshkos, OMS1, is participating in the Clinical Rotations and Future Training Program hosted by Cleveland Clinic – Akron General Medical Center in Akron, Ohio.

During this eight-week Program, Boshkos will rotate through various clinical departments, gaining exposure to clinical medicine and to an academic medical center. He will be responsible for conducting patients’ histories and physicals, pre-rounding on patients, presenting findings to respective attending physicians, and contributing as a member of the comprehensive care team.

Alyson Burchell, OMS4, and Yusra Mansour, OMS4, offered a poster presentation entitled, Leveling Up: A Long Range Glycinergic Projection From the Superior Olive to the Thalamus, during the 2021 Association for Research in Otolaryngology Virtual Meeting.

Mansour also offered an oral presentation entitled, The Untouchable VNTB: Protection in an Animal Model of Autism Spectrum Disorder. Randy Kulesza, PhD, Dean of the LECOM Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, presented a talk entitled, Distribution of Excitatory and Inhibitory Inputs on Human Coincidence Detector Neurons, a presentation that he co-authored with Mansour.

Adam Burke, OMS3, is the recipient of the Spirit of Volunteerism Scholarship. The scholarship affirms and recognizes the efforts of osteopathic students and/or residents who have donated their time and effort as a medical volunteer beyond that which is usually accomplished as a medical student or resident. During his first year at LECOM at Seton Hill, Burke organized a program highlighting PTSD among first responders.

Gregor Dudiak, OMS1, co-authored an article entitled, Prior Authorization Delays Biologic Initiation and is Associated with a Risk of Asthma Exacerbations, published in Allergy and Asthma Proceedings. Dudiak’s research was accepted for presentation at the 2020 AAAAI Annual Meeting and the abstract was published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology.

Emily Gerlick, OMS1, is participating in a clinical research program for medical students at the Veterans Affairs Caribbean Healthcare System in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Through this program, Gerlick will work with staff physicians and under the direction of the Associate Chief of Staff for Research and Development Service. Acceptance into this highly competitive program included a bilingual interview in Spanish and English, skills that she will utilize throughout this summer course.

Kaitlyn Kilpatrick, OMS2, and Anupam Bishayee, PhD, Professor of Pharmacology, co-authored an article entitled, Effect of Pomegranate Juice on Vascular Adhesion Factors: A Systematic Review and Metaanalysis, published in Phytomedicine.

Joanna Oh, OMS1, Alaeddin Abukabda, PhD, Assistant Professor of Physiology, and Mohammed Razzaque, PhD, Professor of Pathology, collaborated on a manuscript entitled, COVID-19 Pandemic: Non-pharmaceutical Interventions and Addressing Polypharmaceutical Interventions and Addressing Polypharmacy for Better Clinical Outcomes, published in the journal, Advances in Human Biology.

Syeda Rasool, OMS1, co-authored a drug evaluation entitled, Osilodrostat for the Treatment of Cushing’s Disease, published in Expert Opinion on Pharmacotherapy.

Deepak Salem, OMS3, and Ronald Fecek, PhD, Assistant Professor of Microbiology and Immunology, were co-authors on a review entitled, Cutaneous Melanoma: Mutational Status and Potential Links to Tertiary Lymphoid Structure Formation, published in Frontiers in Immunology.

Lindsey Schwanke, OMS2, Derek Chen, OMS4, Christine Lomiguen, MD, Assistant Director of Pathology, and Justin Chin, DO, Master of Science in Medical Education student, co-authored an article entitled, Adult Popillia Japonica as an Otorhinolaryngologic Invasive Foreign Body in a Rural Area, published in Cureus.

Shreya Sudadi, OMS2, is the recipient of the American Society for Investigative Pathology Monga-Hans Trainee Scholar Award for Excellence in Cardiovascular Research.

The honor is bestowed upon students showing exceptional aptitude in the area of cardiovascular study.

Peter Swain, OMS3, Haylie Kromer, OMS4, and 2019 graduate, Jalla Mustafa, DO, are recipients of the A.T. Still, DO, Osteopathic Skills and Knowledge Scholarship, marking a clean sweep for LECOM. The award honors a student or resident that exemplifies a superior knowledge and interest in osteopathic manipulation, the theories that govern it, and the will to preserve the tenets of osteopathic medicine.

Kaitlyn Thomas, OMS3, was elected Chairperson of the Student American Academy of Osteopathy (SAAO) Executive Committee. As Chair, Thomas will serve as a voting member on the American Academy of Osteopathy Board of Trustees and she will coordinate the SAAO Program for Convocation.

This summer, LECOM Bradenton student, Briana Williams, OMS1, is participating in the University of Pittsburgh Department of Emergency Medicine Summer Research Immersion Program. Williams is paired with a mentor and she is working on a research project focusing upon healthcare disparities in the Hispanic and African American communities, specifically those involving substance abuse and opioid addiction. The program includes weekly lectures featuring emergency medicine researchers, a Friday Journal Club, and clinical activities.

School of Pharmacy Tarshay Boyd, P4, wrote articles entitled, Intensive Glycemic and Blood Pressure Control Effects on QT Prolongation and Relationship Between Metabolites and Lipids in People with Diabetic Retinopathy, published in Diabetes in Control.

Leyany Feijoo Ramos, P4, contributed articles entitled, Hyperglycemia and the Link Between Diabetes and COVID-19 Deaths and Are Women with Diabetes at a Higher Risk of MI? to Diabetes in Control.

Laura Martinez Lopez, P4, contributed a number articles: The Bright Side of Having Diabetes During COVID-19; Is Metformin the Best Choice for Type 2 Diabetes Patients?; Using CGM Provides Less Staff Exposure to COVID-19; Tirzepatide a Potential Drug for Weight Loss; and Dapagliflozin as a Possible Diabetes Prevention Drug? to Diabetes in Control.

Brenda Oppong, P4, wrote articles entitled, Metformin vs. Sulfonylureas: Heart Failure Hospitalization; Benefits for Patients with Type 1 Diabetes Using the New Omnipod®5; Bariatric Surgery and Cardiovascular Disease; and The Risk Factor Responsible for Half of America’s Diabetes Cases, published in Diabetes in Control.

Joan Prifti, P4, contributed an article entitled, Diabetes and Its Contributions to Early COVID-19 Outcomes, published in Diabetes in Control.

School of Dental Medicine Shelby Anderson, D3, Leah Kimerer, D2, and Gwen Stokes, D1, were recipients of the 2020-2021 LECOM Student Government Association (SGA) Outstanding Student of the Year Awards.

Brooke Fecko, D3, and Emily Paszko, D2, were recipients of 2020-2021 LECOM SGA Distinguished Leadership Awards.

Avery Greene, D2, and her husband, Ben, welcomed a son, James Alexander Greene, on April 21, 2021.

Rodolfo Ibarria, D2, is the recipient of a $4,000 scholarship through the SarasotaManatee Section of the National Council of Jewish Women. In its 21st year, the scholarship program recognizes and promotes the education of “non-traditional students” who are continuing their education after a lapse of five or more years.

Stanley John, D3, was the recipient of the 2020-2021 LECOM SGA Award for Impactful Research.

Gwen Stokes, D1, married Matthew Gostomski May 23, 2021, in Conewango Valley, New York.

Anusha Vempaty, D3, was the recipient of the 2020-2021 LECOM SGA Volunteer of the Year Award.

Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences Robert Waters, a candidate in the LECOM Doctoral Program in Microbiology Education, along with Mark Andrews, PhD, LECOM at Seton Hill Director of Examination Management and Evaluation, Delbert Abi Abdallah, PhD, Assistant Professor of Immunology and Microbiology, Nancy Carty, PhD, Assistant Director of Problem Based Learning, and Christopher Keller, PhD, Director of Microbiology and Immunology, received First Place for the poster entitled, The Effect of Drawing Microbiology Concepts on Short Term Retention Before and After Interrupted Learning at the Annual American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine meeting. The poster is part of Waters’ PhD dissertation project.

FACULTY NOTES College of Medicine

Alaeddin Abukabda, DMD, Assistant Professor of Physiology, and Mohammed Razzaque, PhD, Professor of Pathology, co-authored an article entitled, COVID-19 Pandemic: Impacts of Social Lockdown on Nutritional Health and Beyond, published in Advances in Human Biology. @1LECOM | LECOM CONNECTION 35

Karen Bendeum, MD, Associate Professor of Pediatrics, Christine Lomiguen, MD, Assistant Director of Pathology, and Travis Smith, DO, Regional Dean-Jacksonville, Florida, are the 2021 recipients of the John M. and Silvia Ferretti Award for Distinguished Teaching, which is presented to members of the clinical and pre-clinical faculty who have been recognized for outstanding service in stimulating and guiding the intellectual development of students at LECOM. The award is dedicated by Anthony J. Ferretti, DO, Associate Dean of Preclinical Education, John M. Ferretti, DO, LECOM President/ CEO, and Silvia M. Ferretti, DO, LECOM Provost, Senior Vice President, and Dean of Academic Affairs, in honor of their parents, John and Silvia Ferretti.

Roger Biringer, PhD, Associate Professor of Biochemistry, wrote an article entitled, The Rise and Fall of Anandamide: Processes That Control Synthesis, Degradation and Storage, published in Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry. Another piece entitled, Endocannabinoid Signaling Pathways: Beyond CB1R and CB2R, was published in the Journal of Cell Communication and Signaling. Dr. Biringer also contributed, A Review of Non-Prostanoid, Eicosanoid Receptors: Expression, Characterization, Regulation and Mechanism of Action to the Journal of Cell Communication and Signaling.

Anupam Bishayee, PhD, Professor of Pharmacology, was a contributing author on an article entitled, MicroRNAs and Long Noncoding RNAs as Novel Therapeutic Targets in Estrogen Receptor-Positive Breast and Ovarian Cancers, published in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences. Dr. Bishayee also co-authored a second piece published in the journal entitled, Divergence of Intracellular Trafficking of Sphingosine Kinase 1 and Sphingosine-1-Phosphate Receptor 3 in MCF-7 Breast Cancer Cells and MCF-7Derived Stem Cell-Enriched Mammospheres.

Dr. Bishayee along with Sarah Jamieson, OMS2, contributed to a third article entitled,

36 LECOM CONNECTION | SUMMER 2021

Xanthohumol for Human Malignancies: Chemistry, Pharmacokinetics and Molecular Targets, published in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences.

Bertalan Dudas, MD, Assistant Dean of Research and Scholarship, co-authored a publication entitled, Substance P Immunoreactive Fiber Varicosities Appear to Innervate Galaninergic Perikarya in the Human Hypothalamus, published in Brain Connectivity. Dr. Dudas also published a book entitled, Atlas of the Human Hypothalamus.

John Kalata, DO, Professor of Family Medicine, has been elected District Chairman for the Pennsylvania Osteopathic Medical Association (POMA). Eric Milie, DO, Clinical Associate Professor of Internal Medicine, has been elected District Vice Chairman, and Patrick Leary, DO, Clinical Professor of Sports Medicine, has been elected District Secretary/Treasurer.

Gaboardi, DDS, Assistant Professor of Endodontics, and Inessa Slipak, DDS, Assistant Professor of Restorative Dentistry, received Educator of the Year honors.

Don Millner, DDS, Assistant Professor of Restorative Dentistry and General Practice Preceptor, was named Preceptor of the Year.

Mary Badaway, PharmD, Assistant Professor of Pharmacology, and Dewen Raja, MD, PBL Facilitator, each were named Facilitator of the Year. Simulation Clinic Faculty, Patrick Cardinale, DMD, and Mark Stanford, DDS, were named Sim Faculty of the Year.

Nader Abdulhameed, BDS, has been appointed as the LECOM School of Dental Medicine Director of Research. Dr. Abdulhameed joined LECOM in June of 2018, as an Assistant Professor in Restorative Dentistry.

Monika Murillo, MD, Clinical Assistant Professor of Infectious Diseases, is a recipient of the LECOM Outstanding Service Award, which is presented to members of the LECOM staff who have unselfishly assisted others for the overall betterment of society and promotion of the mission of LECOM.

Hind Hussein, BDS, Assistant Professor of Restorative Dentistry, and Nader Abdulhameed, BDS, LECOM School of Dental Medicine Director of Research, coauthored an article entitled, In Vitro Wear of Dual-cured Bulkfill Composites and Flowable Bulkfill Composites, published in the Journal of Esthetic and Restorative Dentistry. Drs. Hussein and Abdulhameed, along with Shelby Anderson, D3, Melissa Matick, D3, Avery Greene, D2, and Mark Zmiyiwsky, DDS, Assistant Professor of Restorative Dentistry wrote a second piece entitled, A Standardized Method to Determine the Proper Working Distance for Dental Magnification Utilizing Neutral Ergonomics Positioning, published in Stomatology Edu Journal.

The journal, Frontiers in Public Health, published a commentary by Mohammed Razzaque, PhD, LECOM Professor of Pathology, entitled, Microbial Resistance Movements: An Overview of Global Public Health Threats Posed by Antimicrobial Resistance, and How Best to Counter.

Thomas Yoon, DDS, has been promoted from LECOM Assistant Professor to Associate Professor. Dr. Yoon serves as the Assistant Dean of Clinical Education and Course Director of Periodontology. He is also a diplomate of the American Board of Periodontology.

Christine Lomiguen, MD, Assistant Director of Pathology, and Justin Chin, DO, Master of Science in Medical Education student, contributed to an article entitled, Perceptions of the Osteopathic Profession in New York City’s Korean Communities, published in the Osteopathic Family Physician Journal.

School of Dental Medicine Several members of the LECOM School of Dental Medicine were named as recipients of the 2020-2021 LECOM Student Government Association (SGA) Awards. Kathleen

Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences Randy Kulesza, PhD, Dean of the LECOM School of Biomedical Sciences, and Yusra Mansour, OMS4, co-authored a piece entitled, A Rare Variation of the Glossopharyngeal Nerve, published in Anatomy and Cell Biology. They also cowrote, A Case of Mistaken Identity: Doubled Superior Cervical Ganglia, published in the International Journal of Anatomical Variation.

Dr. Kulesza and Mansour contributed to a third piece entitled, Brainstem Quadruple Aberrant Hyperphosphorylated Tau, BetaAmyloid, Alpha-Synuclein and TDP-43 Pathology, Stress and Sleep Behavior Disorders, published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. A fourth article entitled, Distribution of Glutamatergic and Glycinergic Inputs onto Human Auditory Coincidence Detector Neurons, was published in the journal Neuroscience.

ALUMNI NOTES Class of 2002 Brett Hartman, DO, has been named Medical Director of the Richard M. Fairbanks Burn Center in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Class of 2004 Marlene Hassenfratz, DO, has been appointed Medical Director of Brooks-TLC Hospital System in Dunkirk, New York.

Donna Wilson, DO, has been appointed Medical Director of Cape Regional Physicians Associates Ambulatory Practices in Cape May Court House, New Jersey.

Class of 2005 Kevin Kraeling, DO, has been named Chief Medical Officer of Meadville (Pennsylvania) Medical Center. He is a former Director of the Hospital Emergency Department and former Medical Staff President.

Class of 2008 Emmanuel Nwogu, DO, has joined the Carthage (New York) Area Hospital staff as an OB-GYN provider.

Christina Sanders, DO, has been appointed Medical Director of ECMC Synergy Bariatrics, an affiliate of the University of Buffalo (New York) Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Science. Dr. Sanders is a boardcertified general and bariatric surgeon. She joined UBMD in 2018, and she also serves as a Clinical Assistant Professor of Surgery at the University of Buffalo.

Class of 2009 Surgeon Benjamin Maxon, DO, has joined the orthopedic team at South Bay Hospital in Sun City Center, Florida. Dr. Maxon is board certified by the American Osteopathic Board of Orthopedic Surgery and he is a member of the American Osteopathic Association.

Class of 2010 Jaime Babiak, PharmD, was named as one of the Erie 40 Under 40 for 2021, by the Erie Reader, in an annual listing of young talent and emerging leaders, innovators, and entrepreneurs who are contributing to the success of the Erie community. Dr. Babiak serves as Director of Operations for the LECOM Institute for Successful Aging.

Class of 2013 Jeremy Morrison, DO, has joined the primary care staff of Grace Cottage Family Health in Townshend, Vermont.

Class of 2014 Gianpiero Martone, DO, was named as one of the Erie 40 Under 40 for 2021, by the Erie Reader, in an annual listing of young talent and emerging leaders, innovators, and entrepreneurs who are contributing to the success of the Erie community. Dr. Martone serves as LECOM Health’s Medical Director of Psychiatric Services.

In June of 2021, Becca Mokhiber PierceWilliams, DO, graduated from the MaternalFetal Medicine Fellowship Program at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. During that time, Dr. PierceWilliams authored a cohort study highlighting the clinical course of severe and critical COVID-19 patients in pregnancy. Since completing her fellowship, she has relocated to North Carolina, where she joined Atrium Health as one of nine Maternal-Fetal Medicine physicians in a very busy practice at Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte.

Class of 2015 Benjamin Gangewere, DO, has been named Director of the Penn Highlands Psychiatry Residency Program with Penn Highlands Healthcare in DuBois, Pennsylvania. Dr. Gangewere is certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and he has served as an Adjunct Clinical Professor for LECOM students.

Kira Weaver, DO, was the subject of a feature in the Hazelton (Pennsylvania) Standard-Speaker for her multiple roles as an emergency room physician at Lehigh Valley Hospital – Hazelton and as a volunteer prehospital physician and Medical Director at Valley Regional advanced life support ambulance.

Class of 2016 Ryan Fitzmaurice, PharmD, contributed an article entitled, Why Won’t My Insurance Cover My Prescription? to Pharmacy Times.

Marianne Jacob, DO, married Andrew Shenoy on April 17, 2021, in New York.

Class of 2018 Danielle Bazer, DO, has matched into the Johns Hopkins University and National Institute of Health Fellowship in neurooncology.

@1LECOM | LECOM CONNECTION 37

NOTES

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38 LECOM CONNECTION | SUMMER 2021

Kayla Guidry, DO, had a piece entitled, Intraocular Lens Dislocation, accepted by The New England Journal of Medicine. The item was published in Images in Clinical Medicine.

Sable Muntean, DMD, presented her poster entitled, Achieving Optimal Esthetic Results Using Custom Healing Abutments for Restorations Over Dental Implants, at the Annual Academy of Osseointegration Virtual Meeting.

Matthew Partan, DO, co-authored an abstract entitled, Predicting Autologous Hamstring Graft Diameter in the Pediatric Population Using Preoperative Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Demographic Data, published in The American Journal of Sports Medicine.

Class of 2020 George McConnell, PharmD, contributed an article entitled, Using Glucagon-like Peptide 1 Receptor Agonists in Type 1 Diabetes, to Diabetes in Control.

Mit Suthar, PharmD, contributed articles entitled, Type 2 Diabetes Delayed by Menopause Hormone Therapy and Does Age at Diagnosis in Familial Diabetes Affect Type 2 Risk? to Diabetes in Control.

Alton Stone, DMD, has joined Payne and Payne Dentistry in Marianna, Florida.

Chardae Whitner, PharmD, contributed an article entitled, Antibiotic Treatment Increases Risk for Type 1 Diabetes, to Diabetes in Control.

Doug Pazehoski, DO, has joined the Emergency Department staff of Conemaugh Memorial Hospital in Johnstown, Pennsylvania.

Todd Prol Jr., DO, contributed to COVID-19

by Cases: A Pandemic Review, a clinical account written by frontline providers and the first textbook highlighting Coronavirus cases.

Class of 2019 Rodney Kryzhanovskiy, DMD, has joined Spodak Dental Group in Delray Beach, Florida. Dr. Kryzhanovskiy is a member of the American Dental Association, the Academy of General Dentistry, the Florida Dental Association, and the Virginia Dental Association.

Wherever Life Takes Show Your LECOM PrideYou with Each Email You Send LECOM alumni can keep their lecom.edu address – for life Keep a consistent method of contact as your career develops and be instantly recognizable to other LECOM alumni! For more information, contact issupport@lecom.edu.

– Continued from page 05 2nd Place: SOP-617 Evaluation of Esmolol in Refractory Ventricular Fibrillation Students: Michael Zabik, Jennifer Yankah, Hop Nguyen, Yarittza Almora, Diana Lee, Yazaely Cremata Faculty Mentor: Dr. Danielle Moore 3rd Place: SOP-602 Evaluation of Low Molecular Weight Heparin for Thromboprophylaxis in Coronavirus-2019 Students: Jackson Tran, Keila Perez, Maivel Salieb, Sebastian Saldarriaga, Victoria Tang, Yadiel Nieves, Faculty Mentor: Dr. Kristen Mendoza COLLEGE OF OSTEOPATHIC MEDICINE First place: COM-480 Ewing’s Sarcoma: A Result of Conflict Between Public Health and Industry?

Student: Erin Ritzer OMS2 Faculty Mentor: Dr. Paul Danahy Second Place: COM-485 An Evaluation of Food Insecurity Among Patients at the Eastside Clinic Student: Carly Deihn OMS3 Faculty Mentor: Dr. Beth Dollinger

Third Place: COM-455 The Effect of Exercise on Restless Leg Syndrome Symptom Severity: a Meta-analysis Student: Jacob Robinson OMS3 Faculty Mentor: Dr. Bridget Keller Fourth Place: COM-464 Treatment of Moderate OA with Stem-Cell Directed Regeneration Therapy Student: Kate Yacona OMS3 Faculty Mentor: Dr. Paul Danahy SCHOOL OF HEALTH SERVICES ADMINISTRATION

Third Place: SHSA-030 A Review of Value Based Purchasing Reform and the Financial Effects on Safety Net Hospitals Student: Sara Luby Faculty Mentor: Dr. Rahmat Tavallali LECOM is proud of the fine work and assiduously well-considered submissions undertaken by its scholars; and the College extends proud congratulations to these - and all participants - in this worthwhile annual event.

Masters in Health Services Administration First Place: SHSA-017 Prenatal Healthcare in Oneida County New York Student: Stephanie Scharbach Faculty Mentor: Dr. Lisa Tavallali Second Place: SHSA-014 Disparities in Virtual Care: The Impact of Digital Literacy on Telemedicine Usage Student: Lindsay Voltz Faculty Mentor: Dr. Rahmat Tavallali

LECOM School of Health Services Administration Teaching the Business of Healthcare

Healthcare is big business. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment in healthcare occupations is projected to grow 15 percent from 2019 to 2029, much faster than the average for all occupations, adding about 2.4 million new jobs. Expertly trained health services administrators are essential to meet these demands effectively.

The LECOM SHSA programs provide students with indispensable knowledge, leadership, and communication skills required to plan, direct, and coordinate medical and health service organizations such as hospitals, health care facilities, public health care organizations, pharmacies, private practice groups and senior living centers.

LECOM School of Health Services Administration offers degrees in Masters in Health Services Administration (MHSA), Doctor of Health Care Administration (DHA), Masters in Public Health (MPH) and Master of Science in Biomedical Ethics (MSBE).

For more information, contact us at (941) 405-1535 or mhsa@lecom.edu.

College of Osteopathic Medicine • School of Pharmacy • School of Dental Medicine School of Health Services Administration • Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences www.LECOM.edu • @1LECOM

@1LECOM | LECOM CONNECTION 39

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