August 2020 Issue of RVU's Vista View by Rocky Vista University

Award Winning Newsletter

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VISTA VIEW

August 2020 Newsletter

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Congratulations, COM and MSBS Class of 2020! Inside: Learning Patient Care and PPE

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Increasing Diversity Efforts at RVU

Amidst the Pandemic, Dr. Bigham Keeps a Clinic Running

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RVu Students March to the Colorado state capitol to protest violence against black americans

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Learning Patient Care and PPE

Upcoming Marketing Initiatives

Congratulations, COM and MSBS Class of 2020!

Achieving New Heights

Imposter Syndrome Research Confirms Disproportionate Effect on Female Students

LGBTQ+ Pride Month Events

Increasing Diversity Efforts at RVU

Research and Grants

Amidst the Pandemic, Dr. Bigham Keeps a Clinic Running

Research MVP: Dr. Lon Van Winkle

Welcome to Our New Faculty and Staff

Promotions and Appointments

Students Redefine What it Means to be a Volunteer

Office of SIMS Expands VR Encounters

From the RVU Alumni Association

The Department of "Pretty-It-Up"

Campus Tidbits

Want to see even more photos from each RVU event? Visit our Facebook pages at: www.facebook.com/RockyVistaUniversity www.facebook.com/RockyVistaUniversitySouthernUtah

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Learning Patient Care and Personal Protective Equipment In anticipation of the start of their clinical externships, third-year students at RVUCOM participated in Fundamentals of Clinical Medicine (FCM), a course that prepares them, through hyper-realistic simulations and virtual reality, to meet with patients in a clinical setting. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, this year’s course also included online sessions, Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) workshops, and social distancing. The FCM course tests students on all of the knowledge and skills they have accrued over the past two years. "Students must demonstrate their skills in clinical reasoning and critical thinking, reviewing a patient's history, physical examinations, and oral presentations," explained Joseph M. Stasio, DO, FACOFP, Chair of the Department of Primary Care Medicine. A key emphasis of the simulations is the presentation of the diagnosis in a SOAP note format (SOAP being an acronym for subjective, objective, assessment, and plan). David Ross, DO, FACEP, Director of the Rural and Wilderness Medicine Track, who designed and supervised the hyper-realistic manikin simulation cases, said that the simulations were fairly complicated cases—more so than students would ever see as third- or fourth-year students—which they would need to compartmentalize into a four-minute-long presentation. “We wanted them to complete [the presentation] in that SOAP format because they will do that every time they see [an actual] patient.” Students rotated through workshops on surgical knot tying, suturing, and Advanced Cardiac Life Support/Basic Life Support (ACLS/BLS) and Intensive Care Unit skills. For the first time, local Emergency Medical Services personnel also assisted in the ACLS/BLS simulation workshops. Students participated in a workshop aimed at preparing them for providing healthcare safely during a pandemic. In this workshop, students (who were divided into groups of eight) learned about PPE and the extremely specific guidelines for donning and doffing masks, gloves, gowns, and more. As part of new FCM protocols, students also remained in PPE for the duration of the course and abided by social distancing guidelines. This workshop, and the FCM course as a whole, demonstrated the impact that the pandemic has had on the education of osteopathic medical students. This year, the FCM course introduced virtual reality as a learning tool. In a dedicated workshop, students wore Oculus Rift VR headsets that displayed 2D and 3D images of an interactive hospital room. As Susan Carter, MD, FACOG, FACS, Director of the Office of Simulation in Medicine and Surgery (SIMS), explained, VR is just another tool to reach different learners. “You have audio learners and visual learners...[virtual reality] is a combination of both.” The hands-on component of VR has also been proven to aid in retention of skills for longer periods of time. RVU will continue to integrate VR technology, including a women’s health module later this year and more immersive, augmented reality experiences into its curriculum delivery. With the goal of making VR a standard part of the curriculum, second-year students in the COM and PA (as well as MSBS students) will have access to their own VR subscription.

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Rocky Vista University

Class of 2020

The final weeks leading up to graduation were unlike those of any previous classes, marked by canceled travel plans, suspended celebrations, and rescheduled exams and post-graduation plans. However, the Class of 2020 still celebrated the momentous achievement of completing medical and graduate school, albeit in a virtual setting. The Commencement Ceremony itself was hosted virtually on May 1st via a pre-recorded video. Graduates shared the video with family and friends and MSBS students, who formally graduated two weeks later on May 16th, were also able to join in the virtual celebration. During graduation week, Class of 2020 received their regalia, commencement programs, and diplomas via mail. In lieu of the walk across the stage to be “hooded” by a loved one (which marks the student’s designation as a holder of a graduate degree), some graduates chose to recreate that rite of passage with family in the safety of their homes. As a gift from RVUCOM to the Class of 2020, each graduating senior received a 12-month subscription to COMBANK, a question bank designed to help students prepare for the upcoming COMLEX Level 3 examination. They were also gifted an engraved pen set and a free year of Alumni Association membership dues. In the video celebration, Clinton E. Adams, DO, FACHE, President and CEO, and Thomas N. Told, DO, FACOFP, dist., Dean and Chief Academic Officer of RVUCOM, congratulated the graduates on the completion of their respective programs. “There are as many stories about sacrifices, aspirations, overcoming great obstacles, and realizing the impossible dream, as there are graduates here today,” said Dr. Adams. The keynote address was then delivered by Lieutenant Colonel Thomas L. Ely, DO, FACOFP, FAAFP. He also conducted the Commissioning Ceremony, which recognized the ranking of 19 graduates from the Military Medicine Program. "I'm so excited but also nervous to start my residency," said Jordan Price, DO '20. "I am eager to see what this final chapter of my education will hold." "There is a lot going on in the world and some may look at this time as hopeless," says Iris Burgard, DO '20, "but I see a huge opportunity in front of [us]: the opportunity to work toward a better system for all patients. I believe wholeheartedly in the people who are a part of it and I am so excited to be joining [the profession]."

"I certainly never thought I'd be [in] residency during a pandemic but I'm proud to be starting residency and doing my part to help patients and communities get through this." Mary Rountree

Scarlett Kass, MSBS graduate, plans to start applying to medical school!

MSBS graduate Brycen Lauer's future plans include... RVUCOM Class of 2024!

"I am incredibly grateful to have journeyed through some of the hardest years of my life with some of the best people I know. I feel honored to be part of this profession and excited to [work with] such talented, compassionate physicians." Jennifer Irvine

To RVU students: "The days are long but the years are short. You won't feel like you are making progress but before you know it, you'll be done with medical school and working on your next goal." Cameron Lindemann

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Residency Program Specialties

Where has Class of 2020 gone? Following graduation, RVUCOM's Class of 2020 has moved to 36 different states for residency. Top States: Colorado: 28 California: 13 Texas: 11 Nebraska: 7 Washington: 7

Top Regions: Mountain West: 46 Midwest: 38 Pacific West: 26 South: 19 South Atlantic: 16 Northeast: 7

MSBS Students Matriculating into RVUCOM Class of 2024: 22 (76%)

Congratulations to the award recipients in the RVUCOM and MSBS Programs: President's Award: Neal Ferrin Dean's Award: Mia Nevala Valedictorian Award: Krysta Sutyak Excellence in Clinical Years: Anesthesiology: Alexander Wilkins Diag. Radiology: Rohindeep Singh Emergency Medicine: Iman Isayli and Jordan Price Family Medicine: Elizabeth Stoll General Surgery: Krysta Sutyak Internal Medicine: Mia Nevala OB/GYN: Natalie Poliektov Pediatrics: Amanda Wolf Psychiatry: Bransen Guild Subspecialty Medicine: Kate Wilcox Subspecialty Surgery: Jibran Khan PM&R: Melanie White Excellence in Clinical Medicine: Natalie Poliektov

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Excellence in Academic Achievement: Biomedical Sciences: Krysta Sutyak

William G. Anderson Residency Award: Bryce Bunn and Brent Wilkinson

Excellence in Basic Sciences: OPP: Elizabeth Stoll PCM: Brent Fowler Medical Humanities: Mary Rountree

Global Service Award: Krysta Sutyak

Excellence in Research: Natalie Poliektov President's Award (MSBS): Erin Herbstova Dean's Academic Excellence Award (MSBS): Adrianna Hammack MSBS Service Award Stephanie Gedney MSBS Humanitarian Award Vladimir Cardenas Colmenares

Military Service Award: Cameron Lindemann and Holly Spitzer Rural Service Award: Outstanding Academic Excellence: Charlotte Ballantine and Danielle Lattes Outstanding Clinical Excellence: Iris Burgard Special Recognition: Tara Bjorklund and Elizabeth Stoll Colorado Society of Osteopathic Medicine Award: Jibran Khan

Brandon Trusell Community Service Award: Hayden Springer

MSBS Votes on Class awards

Co-written by Courtney Arndt, Administrative Assistant for MSBS Program Even though we are all working and studying at home, this did not stop the MSBS Program from getting together at a virtual awards ceremony to celebrate the excellence we have seen this year. "In this time of chaos and uncertainty, you continue to rise to the challenge academically and professionally," said Francina Towne, PhD, Director of the MSBS Program, as she spoke to students. "This time has also highlighted an aspect of your character that will go on to serve you well as you move forward toward healthcare education and practice...and that is your resilience." The ceremony then moved on to honoring the class with a presentation of the following awards: • The MSBS Humanitarian Award was awarded to Vladimir Cardenas Colmenares, a student who exemplifies the qualities of graciousness and humility, advocates for social justice, and works for the betterment of all members of his community. •

The MSBS Service Award was awarded to Stephanie Gedney (pictured at left) after a vote by the MSBS Committee. She gave an outstanding contribution to the class through her leadership, character, collaboration, and service in their curricular and co-curricular endeavors. Stephanie serves in the SGA as the MSBS Secretary and is known for reaching out through coursework or collegiality to classmates who need assistance.

• The MSBS Dean’s Academic Excellence Award was awarded to Adrianna Hammack (pictured at right), for her demonstrated academic excellence. The MSBS Committee voted to award this to Adrianna, who asks thought-provoking questions in every lecture and has even been known for looking like “the wheels are turning in her head” as she listens intently to everything. • The MSBS President’s Award was awarded to Erin Herbstova, an outstanding student that embodies the University’s core values of integrity, collegiality, compassion, diversity, excellence, service, and innovation. The MSBS Committee unanimously chose Erin, the current MSBS President. To read more about why each student was selected for these awards, visit RVUblog. com

MSBS Celebrates End-of-Year Toast

by Courtney Arndt, Administrative Assistant for MSBS Program Due to the global pandemic, the MSBS Program was unable to hold their annual graduation party. This was incredibly disappointing news, but the MSBS Program was able to get creative and come up with their own Virtual Toast Party. During the Virtual Toast Party, MSBS students and faculty got together to celebrate the successes of the MSBS students. The MSBS Class President, Erin Herbstova, worked with her team to create fun superlatives for every student in the MSBS Program. The students even created superlatives for their MSBS Tutors; some were able to attend the event even though they were still in their academic year. Dr. Clinton Adams and Dr. Thomas Told congratulated the MSBS Class of 2020 on a successful year and left the students with wonderful advice on their future academic and career paths. To conclude the event, an “End of the Year” video was streamed to show all the fun the students had in the program before and during quarantine.

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LGBTQ+ Pride Month Events To promote LGBTQ+ Pride Month in June, the Marketing Department teamed up with students, faculty, and staff to host three Pride events. These events, held entirely on Zoom, sparked thoughtful conversations on gender, biases, race and intersectionality, and relationships among members of the RVU community. Jenifer Fisher, MLIS, Assistant Professor of Medical Humanities, led two Pride Month Movie + Discussion events at the end of June for the films Moonlight (2016), which touched upon the intersectionality of being black and queer, and A Secret Love (2020), which focused on the perseverance of love through the decades, especially in the face of adversity. In July, Jill Pitcher, DO, FACOFP, Professor of Family Medicine, and Zoe Roth, OMS II, President of the Student Government Association, were guest speakers at the LGBTQ+ Panel Discussion. The event was (virtually) packed with over 60 students, faculty, and staff who joined to hear insights about the challenges LGBTQ+ patients and physicians must contend with in the healthcare field. They also offered tips for how physicians can convey a culture of tolerance and ally-ship in their own practices. Read more about the event, as well as additional follow-up questions and answers at RVUBlog.com.

CO Faculty and Staff Recognized for Going Above and Beyond Every summer, the RVU community in Colorado comes together to celebrate individuals who have gone above and beyond in supporting the University’s mission of providing the most innovative and highest quality education to our students. The Colorado Awards Committee hosted the RVU Employee Awards through a Zoom session. Pre-recorded speeches recognized each winner for their creative brilliance, continuous service to RVU, and for implementing innovative initiatives, all while exemplifying RVU’s Core Values.

Cindy Johnson (top left), Executive Administrative Assistant to the Controller, was recognized as Administrative Support Personnel for her adaptability as RVU underwent significant changes in the past year and for always lending a helping hand. The Faculty Innovator Award was awarded to Sarah Neguse, MS, PA-C (top middle), Assistant Professor of Physician Assistant Studies, for achieving excellence in multiple areas, taking on additional responsibilities, and utilizing her talent and expertise to create a phenomenal learning environment for students. Finally, Cassidy Chambers, MPA (top right), Associate Director of Admissions, was recognized with the Staff Award for Excellence for working “tirelessly to create a system that would meet the needs of multiple departments simultaneously.” Congratulations to Cindy, Sarah, and Cassidy! Be on the lookout for RVU-SU Employee Award Ceremony, which will take place in September.

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Increasing Diversity Efforts at RVU

by Jacqueline Powell, PhD, Associate Professor of Physiology, and Daneka Souberbielle, Pre-Clinical Career Advisor On June 2nd, RVUCOM’s student-led diversity committees in both CO and UT collaborated to host Rest in Power, a virtual memorial, to commemorate the losses and honor the lives of Ahmad Arbery, Breonna Taylor, and George Floyd. With their deaths sparking national and global outrage against racial injustice and police brutality, the resurgence of the Black Lives Matter movement and ensuing protests supported by people of all races, ages, and genders have signaled a pressing shift in consciousness. As a society, we have reached a critical juncture with a dire need to create a new and better normal with equity, inclusion, and social justice serving as the foundational support. Together, we must begin to truly recognize, appreciate, honor, and understand that the great tapestry of humanity is designed by, and gains its beauty, strength, and resilience from, diversity. Although RVU advocates diversity as one of our seven core values, previously expressed concerns regarding the lack thereof within the employee and student populace—as well as the lack of educational initiatives to promote a more inclusive campus—still persist. As we begin the new academic year and with an increased interest to advance our commitment to diversity and inclusion, we would like to reintroduce the RVU-SU Diversity and Inclusivity (D&I) Committee. Comprised of employees and students representing a cross-section of the Southern Utah campus, the committee’s overarching goal is to support the core value of diversity by exploring those types of issues and promoting a more inclusive campus climate. As a leader in healthcare education, there remains a need for us to continue our focus on increasing awareness, knowledge, and training of culturally competent skills, attitude, and performance. As a committee, we want to provide strong support to our minority students and employees, as well as to our administration, faculty, staff, and student doctors as they strive to become more culturally proficient in interacting with and/or medically serving persons from diverse and underrepresented minority communities. Some additional aims and initiatives of the RVU-SU D&I Committee include educating the campus community about diversity and inclusivity through conducting campusspecific seminars, experiential activities, or trainings; supporting initiatives designed to promote a more diverse campus environment, such as providing recommendations and/or feedback when solicited; monitoring the overall campus climate with respect to diversity and inclusivity via collecting data from the yearly RVU Climate Surveys and aggregate bias incidence reports and sharing our findings with the Utah campus; and providing a safe forum for which faculty, staff, and students may share comments, refer questions, and make recommendations concerning diversity-inclusivity related policies, procedures on campus. The committee looks forward to working alongside the RVU University-level Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Advisory Council which was established to further support a welcoming and inclusive culture Working in tandem with the RVU-SU Diversity & Inclusivity Committee, the student-led Roadrunner D&I Task Force (formerly the UT Student Diversity Committee) keeps the pulse on the campus climate from the student perspective and makes recommendations that continuously improve the campus experience, as does its sister group in Colorado. The Task Force also plans and implements the Days of Diversity series, four student-centered events aimed at increasing cultural competencies critical to healthcare providers and improving campus cohesion. Daneka Souberbielle will serve as the new advisor to this group, continuing the integral work Vie Van Noy, Director of Student Life, has led over the last three years. Because awareness is the first element of effective inclusion initiatives, RVU has implemented a Bias Incident Report link, which can be found on the iNet. All reports will go to the Associate Dean of Students on the corresponding campus, who will then follow up with the appropriate individuals or departments. The form is open to all RVU faculty, staff, and students and is a vital tool that any individual can use in helping RVU fulfill its core value of diversity. In the spirit of maintaining an inclusive environment, moving forward all RVU-SU D&I Committee meetings will be open to the entire community. We invite and welcome all students and employees to actively join us as we continue to promote an equitable and inclusive campus culture while also honoring, respecting, and celebrating our exceptional differences. For any general questions, suggestions, or concerns, please feel free to directly contact Dr. Powell at jpowell@rvu.edu.

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Amidst the Pandemic, Dr. Bigham Keeps a Clinic Running For rural communities, the continuing spread of COVID-19 has led to additional strains on already limited healthcare resources. Most significant is the shortage of physicians and clinics, an issue that has been prevalent in small and remote towns since before the pandemic. When the number of COVID-19 cases began their exponential rise in March, the Doctor’s Volunteer Clinic—a clinic that provides access to affordable health services for the most vulnerable in the Southern Utah region—was suddenly left without the majority of its staff. This shortage of staffing diminished the safety net of services the clinic normally provides, such as primary and specialty care, mental health services, and dental care. One reason for the loss of staff was that, at 65+ years old, most of the partially retired physicians who volunteered at the clinic were now in the high-risk category for COVID-19. As a result, physician coverage was reduced to the single day of the week when the RVU-SU clinical team was onsite. Members of that team included: Brooks Beal, DO, Assistant Professor of Primary Care Medicine, Thomas Bigham, DO, Assistant Professor of Family Medicine; Mischa Coleman, DO, Assistant Professor of Osteopathic Principles and Practice; Mark Wardle, DO, Assistant Professor of Primary Care; and Ben Wilde, DO, FAAFP, Vice Chair of the Department of Primary Care Medicine. Though the clinic was still open on Fridays, Dr. Bigham quickly realized that this would not be a viable alternative for the uninsured, underinsured, and low-income patients who rely on the clinic for comprehensive care. “He volunteered himself to provide additional coverage at the clinic on Monday and Wednesday mornings so that the clinic could remain open three days per week for acute visits,” said Dr. Wilde. “In doing so, he ensured that patients would have reliable access to the clinic and would be able to receive the majority of its services.” For the clinic to continue operating in the midst of a pandemic, several changes had to take place. During the cooler months of March through May, explained Dr. Wilde, patients were welcomed by clinic staff at an outdoor desk and invited to wait for their appointment time in their cars. Dr. Bigham implemented telehealth appointments with patients who wanted the option of seeing their doctor from the comfort of their own home. “Dr. Bigham would initiate a video call to the patient’s phone or on a tablet that was provided to the patient. Many medical decisions, including prescriptions, order for testing, and specialist referrals were able to be provided via this telehealth approach,” said Dr. Wilde. Of course, there were still patients who needed to come for inperson examinations and procedures. These patients would be ushered to a dedicated exam room, and both the patient and physician would don appropriate personal protective equipment. Once temperatures rose into the triple digits, patients transitioned from waiting in their cars to a socially-distanced waiting room. The actual visit would take place with the patient in a room equipped with a monitor, speaker, and video camera and the physician would conduct the visit in an adjacent room. If a physical exam were required, protocols for donning PPE and reserving the dedicated exam room would be initiated. Simply put, if it had not been for Dr. Bigham’s consistent service to patients, the Doctors’ Volunteer Clinic would not have been able to care for as many patients as it currently has. “His unhesitating, enthusiastic example of volunteer service is a shining example of the positive difference one person can make in a community,” said Dr. Wilde. “We are fortunate and proud to have Dr. Bigham as part of our RVU family.” To learn more about the Doctor’s Volunteer Clinic or for ways to show your support, you can visit their website at https://www.volunteerclinic.org/.

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Students Redefine What it Means to Be a Volunteer

In April, RVU celebrated National Volunteer Week by spotlighting the incredible efforts of students as they helped their communities and those in need during the coronavirus pandemic. Erin West, OMS IV – CovidLine in Colorado As a Director of Volunteer Services for CovidLine, SD West oversaw the recruitment, onboarding, training, and scheduling of volunteers. At times, she also filled in as a Clinical Assistant. CovidLine, a project backed by the Innovation Response Volunteers and Clinica Colorado, focuses on bringing telehealth access to uninsured COVID-19 patients in Colorado. “I wanted to get involved in helping [COVID-19] patients in whatever way I was able to,” said SD West. “I’ve been on nightly meetings and have been working together with the rest of the team to create the system and workflow, solve problems, and come up with creative solutions.” For those wanting to volunteer during what is an undeniably unprecedented time, SD West recommended taking the initiative, especially as systems are still being developed to connect those who want to help to those in need. “This is not traditional volunteering where you step into a clearly defined role that is stable and [static],” so students should prepare to be leaders and innovators in the days ahead. “We need to be adaptable. If you see a need, become the way to meet that need,” said SD West. Whether it’s creating volunteer opportunities or just reaching out to others with words of encouragement, “there is still a lot we can do for our communities.” Bradley McCann, OMS III – Doctors’ Volunteer Clinic of St. George For SD McCann, one of the most challenging aspects of volunteering as a scribe for the Doctors’ Volunteer Clinic of St. George was switching over to telehealth appointments for patients. Despite this sudden change in healthcare delivery, “it has been a unique experience helping and meeting with patients from their homes. You get a more in-depth view on who they are as a person and not just as a patient.” While volunteering with the Doctors’ Volunteer Clinic, SD McCann saw the clinic quickly adapt to the current situation to continue helping their patients. “They do good work serving a population in need,” he said. “Many of the doctors are volunteers [who have put themselves] at risk to COVID-19.” SD McCann’s advice for those looking for ways to volunteer was to reach out to acquaintances and to ask local clinics what unique opportunities they have available for students. Jordan Eatough, PAS '20 – Arapahoe County Fairgrounds Multi-Agency Taskforce Emergency management and disaster relief have always been of interest to PAS Eatough. When the opportunity arose to work on a multi-agency taskforce to establish an alternate care facility for Tier-4 COVID-19 patients, he was one of the first volunteers from RVU onsite. At the Arapahoe County Fairgrounds, PAS Eatough and several other RVU students helped the Arapahoe County Sherriff’s Department and other agencies to design and set up a 54-bed temporary facility/field hospital. The students also helped the taskforce prioritize the right medical equipment and researched protocols pertinent to the treatment of COVID-19. As a proponent of interprofessional collaboration, PAS Eatough was impressed with how the taskforce brought different groups, organizations, and agencies together. “It has been fascinating to learn from [each agency’s] organizational skills and available resources to quickly make incredible things happen in a time of need,” he said. In turn, Jordan taught the other volunteers about the physician assistant profession and what exactly a PA can do. At the end of the day, this opportunity reinforced why he chooses to volunteer: “It truly makes me happy and helps remind me of the things that matter most to me in life. Service helps bring balance to life.” Read the full story, including other highlighted students, at RVUBlog.com.

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RVU Office of SIMS Expands Virtual Patient Encounters by Kelsey Link, MA, Coordinator for Office of SIMS

Prior to COVID-19, the Office of Simulation in Medicine and Surgery (SIMS) had been laying the groundwork to build a greater balance between simulation modalities—including task trainers, electronic manikins, and both live and virtual standardized patients. The rapid shift to online course delivery reinforced this idea, and the Office of SIMS is now equipped to offer patient scenarios using virtual reality, screen-based technology, and telehealth cases with live standardized patients. Oxford Medical Simulation Virtual Reality Oxford Medical Simulation provides immersive clinical scenarios in both virtual reality headsets and 2D computerbased versions. Users can address patients suffering from sepsis, asthma, heart failure, mental health concerns, and more, all while being scored in real-time based on their clinical reasoning. Each scenario provides feedback to the learner and can be repeated indefinitely. The Office of SIMS partnered with Oxford to complete a 60-day trial of the virtual medical cases. Over 450 users participated in the trial, including faculty and students from all three programs and on both campuses. In the collected feedback, students and faculty commented positively on the relevance of the scenarios, repetition and deliberate practice, and confidence-boosting effects of having cases available to them at any time. Over 500 patient cases were completed throughout the trial, totaling a time of 4 days and 8 hours. The RVU Board of Trustees approved the implementation of Oxford Medical Simulation into the curriculum. Second-year students in COM and PA, as well as MSBS students on both campuses will be provided with a one-year license for Oxford Medical Simulation cases hand-selected by their faculty instructors. Additionally, the Office of SIMS will hold an institutional license and virtual reality headsets available for training, events, and clubs. SIMULATIONiQ Virtual OSCE SIMULATIONiQ Virtual OSCE software provides video-based patient encounters. Students can complete telehealth cases with live standardized patients that connect remotely over the computer with the ability for faculty to observe and assess their performance. The Standardized Patient Program successfully implemented virtual OSCEs for the PA Class of 2021. Exam rooms were staged with a CPR manikin and a skeleton which the students used as ‘patients.’ The CPR manikin had an injection trainer pad attached to it for students to perform a procedures case. The students then used the CPR manikin and skeleton to perform a physical exam and verbalize their findings. Live standardized patients were set up remotely on the computers in the exam rooms to communicate and interact with students, while PA faculty observed and graded the interactions. For more information on the Oxford Medical Simulation platform, SIMULATIONiQ Virtual OSCE, or other Office of SIMS offerings, please contact Dr. Susan Carter at scarter@rvu.edu.

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The Department of "Pretty-It-Up" At the start of each school year, we receive many questions from new and current students alike, asking if and how we can help them, their clubs, their events, and their causes. The answer is that the Marketing Department at RVU can help in a wide variety of ways.

Kelli Petersen, MBA, Marketing Manager

As the manager of a dynamic and specialized team, Kelli's role is usually as the middle-(wo) man: she is often the person you will meet with when you want to start a new campaign or have an idea for a project but haven't fleshed it out yet. She then delegates projects to each team member, based both on their skillset and their availability. She heads up the weekly team meetings and monthly strategic meetings, sits on many University-wide committees and task forces, and helps her team with any necessary issues or questions. With such a small team, Kelli also tackles technical aspects of the department as needed, such as writing, video editing, graphic design and layout, photography, and website development. Contact Kelli for initial meetings or projects, overall questions about the department, strategic planning, regulatory issues, major events or news, urgent projects, website updates, or any concerns.

Kristen Kaiser, MA, Assistant Marketing Manager

Being the sole marketing employee at the Southern Utah campus means that Kristen often must wear five different hats at a time. She acts as the campus photographer (including employee headshots), sits on various committees, handles merchandise sales, meets with students and employees to discuss projects, and works with the community to increase RVU exposure. Recently, Kristen has taken on a much larger role: she is now overseeing the management of the RVU website (along with the campus websites). Over time, she will also be developing her role to include vendor relations and merchandise for the entire University. Contact Kristen if you have website updates, need to order merchandise or apparel (either campus), and have events and photography needs on the Southern Utah campus.

Gina Marzulla, Graphic Designer and Marketing Coordinator

Chances are that you already know Gina's work and see it as least 5-10 times a day when you're on campus. She is the designer of most University marketing collateral, from fliers on the walls or screens to department brochures. She routinely works with most, if not all, student clubs and departments to develop any materials they need. This includes posters, logos and apparel designs, and digital graphics. Gina is also the primary Colorado campus photographer. Contact Gina if you need materials for an event or project, apparel or flier approval, department brochures, advertisements, a photographer at your event, or other branding needs.

Catherine Lewis Saenz, Communications Coordinator

Catherine is secretly the voice of RVU: she is the one who posts on social media platforms, writes most of the press releases and Vista View articles, coordinates with the media, assists with official statements, and maintains the RVU blog. A true lover of analytics, Catherine oversees all social media channels for both campuses and continuously develops her strategy for increasing our online and public reach. Contact Catherine if you need help writing an article, would like to contribute to the blog or Vista View, have important news you would like to share, or are creating an RVU-affiliated social media account.

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Upcoming Marketing Initiatives

Much of the time, the Marketing Department is working behind the scenes, helping individual departments or students with their projects or events. What many don't realize, however, is that Marketing often organizes its own initiatives and events to increase collegiality on campus and to promote excellence in everyday processes. • Photo Contest: we will be hosting an annual photo contest on each campus in the fall, to encourage those amateur photographers among us to submit their best work. Winning entries will be displayed all year long on campus. • Quarterly Deals: the popular merchandise sale will return in the fall with a new, customizable, seasonal RVU product. Past quarterly deals have included sweatshirts, polos, and blankets. • Project Request Form: much like the handy Helpdesk ticket system, Marketing will be introducing a project request form in which people can fill out details for their project or need. This will further streamline the new project system and will allow the requester to follow up on project status. • Awareness Events: Marketing will be working on materials, articles, and/or events to promote the following causes in September: Suicide Prevention Week (9/6), National Assisted Living Week (9/13), National Voter Registration Day (9/22), and more. • Housing Portal: Marketing will be developing a housing portal for incoming students, which will allow them to view available apartments near the campuses.

Introducing the New R VU Website

If you have visited RVU.edu recently, you'll see a very different website. After two years of committee meetings, designing mockups, hosting surveys for opinions, and innumerable meetings, the Marketing Department—with the help of the Information Services Department—has launched the new RVU website. While the previous website hosted both campuses in one place, the new website has branched into three separate sites: one for the University, one for the Colorado campus, and one for the Southern Utah campus. The idea behind this separation was to accommodate current students and employees better by keeping their campus information to one place. Meanwhile, prospective students or employees, as well as the media and community, will find most of the information they need on the University website. As with any big venture, the website will continue to be developed on an ongoing basis. To offer feedback for features or changes or if you are interested in joining the website committee, contact kpetersen@rvu.edu.

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

End-of-Year Award Winners

Congratulations to all winners at the Student/Faculty Award Ceremony, hosted by the Student Government Association.

Colorado Campus

Faculty • A.T. Still Award for Excellence in Teaching: Dr. Christopher LaFontano • Fighting Prairie Dog Award: Dr. Ian George and Dr. Elizabeth Moffett • William Osler Award for Excellence in Teaching: Dr. Ian George • Outstanding PCM Faculty: Julie Kasperski, MSc • Clinical Medicine Award for Outstanding PCM Faculty: Dr. Ann Trawick • Clinical Medicine Award for Outstanding Skills and Assessment: Sarah Neguse, MS, PA-C • Expository Instructor Award: Whitney Lambarri, MS, PA-C, and Dr. Joel Roberts • Student Club Advisor of the Year: Dr. Susan Carter and Dr. David Ross Staff • Staff Member of the Year: Dr. Zeerak Haider • Administrative Member of the Year: Amy Maupin • Unsung Hero Award: Chuck Leary Students • Student Organization of the Year: AMWA and SNMA • Student of the Year: Elizabeth Kuge and Zoe Roth • A.T. Still Student Award: Nicole Wong • Student Congeniality Award: Mercedes Harvey, Jack Strickland and Talia Gergely • Student Service Award: Elizabeth Kuge and Deandra Kuruppu

Southern Utah Campus

Faculty • Clinical Faculty of the Year: Dr. Dale Woodbury • Academic Faculty of the Year: Dr. Chris Edwards • Faculty Rookie of the Year: Dr. Michele Coleman • Faculty Student Advocate Award: Dr. Nena Mason • Clinical Education Faculty of the Year Award: Dr. Andrew Nigh Staff • Staff Member of the Year: Bryan Walker • Helping Hands Award: Lynne Stephenson, MEd • Backbone Award: Vie Van Noy, MS, and Terry Meyer • Staff Rookie of the Year Award: MaryAnn Maher • Clinical Education Staff of the Year Award: Dawnett Hann Students • RVU Student of the Year: Telyn Peterson • Fellow of the Year: Taylor Yancey • Student Researcher of the Year: Nathan Balkman • “Above & Beyond” Award: Rachel Leavitt • Most Impactful Student: Mikala Russell and Paul Yang • Most Compassionate Student: Ryan Braumann and Trevar Dahl • Community Involvement Award: Manuela Marin Salcedo and Madelaine Khosti • Terrific Tutor Award: Lindsay Ellson • Congeniality Award: Edwin Davis and Will ByrneQuinn

Esteemed Professors Named Emeriti Chairs RVU has named Walter Buck, PhD, Professor of Structural Medicine, and Michael Tieman, MD, FACS, Professor of Surgery, Emeriti Chairs of the Department of Structural Medicine and the Department of Specialty Medicine, respectively. For thirteen years, Dr. Buck has served on the RVU faculty as Chair and Course Director in the Department of Structural Medicine. During his time at RVU, Dr. Buck has made significant contributions, many of which are now woven into the fabric of the University’s academic programs and student life. He retired in July of 2020. Dr. Tieman came to RVU in 2012 and later accepted the position of Professor in the Department of Specialty Medicine. Dr. Tieman also worked with the Department of Clinical Education and has taken on the additional role of Director of the Student Advisory Program in the Department of Student Affairs, as well as coordinator of the Pet Therapy Program at RVU. Read about their accomplishments at RVUblog.com.

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

Danielle Coleman, OMS III, co-wrote an article in the July/August issue of Colorado Medicine Magazine, titled, "Bent, but not broken: The 2020 medical student experience." In the article, she (along with University of Colorado student Jacob Leary) wrote about how the COVID-19 pandemic challenged expectations of medical students, while bringing to light the serious nature of health disparities.

David J. Park, FACOFP, FAAFP, Vice President and Campus Dean of RVUCOM-SU, participated in the American Gastroenterological Association's Call to Action Conference on Non-Alcoholic SteatoHepatitis (NASH), representing the ACOFP. This event brought together gastroenterologists, hepatologists, endocrinologists, and primary care providers to improve diagnosis and management of NASH.

Chasity Edwards, Assistant Director of the Office of Simulation in Medicine and Surgery, earned a Certified Healthcare Simulation Educator (CHSE) credential from the Society for Simulation in Healthcare. The comprehensive CHSE credential covers educational design and healthcare simulation principles.

Thomas N. Told, DO, FACOFP dist., Dean of RVUCOM, was awarded with Presidential Award of Excellence, an honor bestowed upon one faculty member per year. He was awarded for his dedication to osteopathic medical education. As part of a team that informed RVU’s founding owners, he helped them see the vision for serving the Mountain West and its rural communities. Dr. Told was integral in the creation of tracks and special programs, simulation initiatives, and new programs.

Jing Gao, MD, Associate Professor and Director of Ultrasound, was among the 10,000+ participants of the COVID-19 Meets Ultrasound webinar, a joint effort by the American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine and the Chinese Ultrasound Doctors Association. Dr. Gao, along with other experts, discussed the role of ultrasound in the diagnosis and treatment of COVID-19, and the protection of medical personnel during the pandemic from a global perspective. Watch it here: https://live.polyv.cn/splash/1359667. Beatriz Linn, MD, Staff Physician at Rocky Vista Health Center, received the annual Award for Excellence in Teaching by the residents in the HealthONE Internal Medicine Residency Program. Jennifer Badolato, Director of Practice Management, said of Dr. Linn: "Her dedication to the education and excellence in medical leadership and devotion to helping others while increasing public awareness of preventive medicine are among her many attributes. Dr. Linn’s untiring commitment does not stop with her commitment to medicine—she is truly vested in the future of the residents."

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Dr. Told was also awarded with the first-ever MSBS Super Supporter Award. “Without his guidance, expertise, and constant support, this program would not be what it is today,” said Dr. Francina Towne. "[He] has been an integral part of the MSBS Program from its inception." Cole Zanetti, DO, MPH, Co-Director of the Digital Health Track, recently served as a key expert for The Economist's Intelligence Unit (EIU) on the report, "Reinvigorating Value-Based Health Care (VBHC): Exploring the Role of Technology Innovation." The EIU conducted a research program to explore the intersection of VBHC and technology. The RVUCOM-SU chapter of the Student Association of American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians (SAACOFP) was honored with the 2020 Program of Excellence Award: Clinical Skills Development by the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP). "I can’t speak highly enough of the student leaders involved in this group’s ongoing success and recognition at the national level," said Dr. Ben Wilde. "In the three years since the RVUCOM-SU SAACOFP’s inception, [the student leaders] have quickly

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

established a pattern of success. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m thrilled to see that, as they have focused on personal ways to build up their peers and serve this community, their efforts have earned a more widespread recognition, praise, and respect."

Alexander Knippenberg, OMS III, Emily GudvangenSherwood, OMS III, and Tess Schultz, OMS III, were selected to receive the Colorado Springs Osteopathic Foundation scholarship for their third year of medical school. Students are chosen for the CSOF scholarship based on their demonstrated leadership, academic achievement, motivation, and service to their community.

Andrew Black, OMS III, Emily Gudvangen-Sherwood, OMS III, Jessica McArthur, OMS III, and Tess Schultz, OMS III, were selected to receive the Denver Osteopathic Foundation scholarship. Each student exhibited a passion for providing osteopathic medicine to a certain demographic or specialty: rural, female, underserved, and pediatric patients, respectively.

Colorado Medicine, a local health care-focused publication created by the Colorado Medical Society, features a section in each issue for osteopathic medical students to submit written pieces and share their thoughts, as well. The reflections will be published bi-monthly. If you would like to submit an essay, contact Alexis Horst in the Writing Center at ahorst@rvu.edu for assistance with editing and submission guidelines. In the May/June Issue, Dellvin Nguonly, OMS II, wrote an article titled, "Finding comfort in a 'village' through the pandemic." He described the comfort of feeling like part of village within the Cambodian culture and equated it with finding a village during the pandemic among loved ones and peers. In the July/August Issue, Theresa Sanborn, OMS III, wrote an article titled, "Medicine: Gains and losses in meaning." She wrote of how the pandemic exacerbates the feeling of isolation which is already present in medical school. She also described how the state of public health has blended into medical life in unexpected (and somewhat informative) ways.

ACOP Club Receives Student Club of the Year Award The American College of Osteopathic Pediatricians (ACOP) club at RVU was honored as Student Club of the Year by the ACOP. "[RVU's ACOP club] is one of our newest clubs and this year, they blew us away with their commitment to their community and to educating their students," wrote Roxanne Waggoner and Kali Sanford, ACOP Student Trustees. "Over the year, they held nine educational events, seven community service events, [and] had incredible student involvement in volunteer projects and research."

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Finding a New Way to Honor RVU’s Body Donors With the cancellation of the Donor Memorial Ceremony in early May, members of the RVU community found a new way to honor the body donors who, when the time came, donated their bodies to medicine to enrich the education of RVU’s student doctors. The Donor Memorial Committee—led by Rebekah Withers, OMS II (Chair); Melissa Henderson, PhD, Vice Chair of the Department of Biomedical Sciences, Claire Levinson, OMS II; Svetlana Morrell, OMS II; and Prakhar Singal, OMS II—chose to memorialize the donors by giving a portion of the original event’s budget to the Food Bank of the Rockies. The Committee also sent out thank you cards (pictured at right) to each of the donors’ families, conveying how much their gift had meant to the Class of 2023. A quote by Isaac Newton was chosen to reflect the sentiment of the class, which will be commemorated with a plaque.

Imposter Syndrome Research Confirms Disproportionate Effect on Female Students The International Association of Medical Science Educators (IAMSE) Annual Conference, which was held virtually on June 13-16, showcased over 120 poster and oral presentations from osteopathic medical schools around the country. Of those presentations, the conference awarded first place to Courtney Shill Russell’s, OMS III, for her poster titled "Imposter Syndrome and Class Gender Rations in Osteopathic Medical Schools." SD Shill Russell’s co-authors—Carson Russell, OMS III; Bryan Daines, OMS III; Garrett Clement, OMS III; Jessica Carlson, OMS II (who presented on behalf of the team); Isain Zapata, PhD, Assistant Professor of Research and Statistics; and Melissa Henderson, PhD, Vice Chair of the Department of Biomedical Sciences—evaluated the relationship of Imposter Syndrome (IS) and medical school class gender ratios and also investigated the relationship of IS and common medical school admissions standards, such as MCAT scores. The team’s methodology included examining responses from students belonging to a class where gender ratios are different across several universities, including RVUCOM, A.T. Still, Touro NY, and Idaho COM. Data was analyzed through a Generalized Linear model and IS was defined as present in subjects who answered yes to five or more targeted questions about self-perception among their peers. In addition, the relationship between students and their cumulative science GPA (SciGPA) and MCAT scores was incorporated into a logistic regression model. SD Shill Russell and her co-authors found that IS is more common among female osteopathic medical students, but that there is no significant relationship between class ratios and the likelihood of female students experiencing IS. There is also no significant correlation between IS, MCAT performance, and SciGPA—meaning that it is felt psychologically but does not affect student performance. For her role as the first author for the poster presentation, SD Shill Russell received a plaque, a one year membership to IAMSE, and access to one series of the IAMSE Audio Seminars.

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Research and Grants Furthering the Pursuit of Innovation and Exploration in Healthcare and Education

An important resource for students, faculty and staff, the Office of Research and Scholarly Activity provides support and guidance for research activities, such as statistical consulting, an intramural grant program, and a searchable database of extramural grant opportunities. Congratulations to all faculty and students with scholarly achievements! Please continue to communicate any achievements to Dr. Amanda Brooks, Director of Research and Scholarly Activity Benjamin Brooks, PhD, Assistant Director for the MSBS Program, published a manuscript, entitled, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Characterizing Epitope Binding Regions of Entire Antibody Panels by Combining Experimental and Computational Analysis of Antibody: Antigen Binding Competition" as part of the special issue "Computational Approaches: Drug Discovery and Design in Medicinal Chemistry and Bioinformatics" in the journal Molecules. The manuscript proposes a process to use computational and experimental data to identify the epitope for monoclonal antibodies to improve drug and vaccine discovery. Dr. Brooks also completed a study and published a manuscript entitled â&#x20AC;&#x153;Localization of the interaction site of herpes simplex virus glycoprotein D (gD) on the membrane fusion regulator, gH/gL" in the Journal of Virology. The manuscript details how herpes simplex virus fusion protein interface at the molecular level. We would like to congratulate Dr. Ben Brooks for his service on two National Institute of Health special emphasis panels for COVID-19 R01/R21 and Small Business (SBIR) grants. Susan Carter, MD, FACOG, FACS, Director of the Office of Simulation in Medicine and Surgery, was a speaker at the American College of Surgeons "Sim Centers' COVID-19 Responses on Inventive and Supporting Initiatives Implemented During Quarantines" webinar. Dr. Carter presented "The Move to Virtual and Mixed Reality at Rocky Vista University." She commented, "It was a great opportunity to highlight RVU's early and rapid adaptation universitywide." Read more on Page 11.

William (Tyler) Crawley, OMS IV, spoke at the International Association of Medical Science Educators Virtual Conference in June. He presented, "Diversity in Healthcare Education: How Confronting Biases Starts in the Classroom," in which he discussed ways to better integrate diversity into the education of medical professionals. Patrick Flannery, OMS II, published research in ACS Chemical Neuroscience titled, "Nothing Ventured, Nothing Gained: Regulations Cripple Potentially LifeSaving Research of Illicit Substances." This research discusses how the scientific community is unable to acquire illicit substances for research purposes, due to regulations of illicit substances. It posits that a reclassification of illicit substances would allow for extensive testing in research settings. The work of a team of human factor and trauma experts including Anthony J. LaPorta, MD, FACS, Professor of Clinical Surgery and Military Medicine, and his students has culminated in Congressional approval for four "Expeditionary Medical Ships" that are a direct result of the last five years of their research. In addition, the team has also contributed new chapters in Trauma Team Dynamics, a training book. Nena L. Mason, PhD, Associate Professor of Anatomy and Ultrasound, published research in BMC Medical Education titled, "Using Formalin Embalmed Cadavers to Teach Fracture Identification with Ultrasound." The objective of the study was to assess the utility of using formalin-embalmed human cadavers to teach first-year medical students to use ultrasound to identify skeletal fractures.

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Research and Grants Furthering the Pursuit of Innovation and Exploration in Healthcare and Education

Not only does ultrasound imaging decrease radiation exposure, but medical students were able to quickly learn to independently scan and identify fractures in ultrasound images. Dr. Mason also published research in the Journal of Emergency Medicine called â&#x20AC;&#x153;A Narrative Review of Common Uses of Ophthalmic Ultrasound in Emergency Medicineâ&#x20AC;?. This is a broad scope, yet detailed review of the common uses of ultrasound technology in assessing ocular emergencies in emergency department settings. The review is targeted at the practicing emergency physician to summarize current literature regarding ocular point-of-care ultrasound, and provide succinct descriptions of the techniques used to perform these exams. Regan Stiegmann, DO '13, MPH, CoDirector of the Digital Health Track, published research in the American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine titled, "Inspiring Medical Students to Choose Primary Care Through Lifestyle Medicine Education." This research studies how the integration of lifestyle medicine into medical school curriculum has the potential to inspire medical students to choose a primary care specialty, as students become more adept at addressing and treating the root causes of chronic disease. Bryan Beaty, OMS IV, and David Park, DO, FACOFP, FAAFP, Campus Dean of RVUCOM-SU, published research titled, "Diagnosis of Myocardial Infarction in a Patient with Left Bundle Branch Block and Negative Sgarbossa Criteria," in the Journal of the American Osteopathic Association. The paper describes the case of an 84-year-old man experiencing acute cardiopulmonary symptoms who was negative for modified Sgarbossa criteria, but later had a confirmed diagnosis of MI on transfer to a cardiac center. This case illustrates the necessity of good clinical judgment and a high index of suspicion for atypical presentation alongside any diagnostic algorithm.

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Juhyun "June" Lee, OMS IV, and Jing Gao, MD, Associate Professor and Director of Ultrasound, published research titled, "Effect of Hydration on Doppler Velocity of Renal Arteries," in the Journal of the American Osteopathic Association. The paper examines the differences in arterial Doppler velocities of normal adult kidney before and after hydration, as the effect of hydration on kidney hemodynamics has not been previously explored via Doppler sonography. Sidra Bhuller, DO, and Cosmina Cristea, DO, Residents in the HealthOne Surgery Residency Program, received awards for their respective posters at the HCA Rocky Mountain Healthcare Symposium. Dr. Bhuller received 2nd place for her poster, "Obscure gastrointestinal bleeding localization using preoperative super selective mesenteric angiography and intraoperative methylene blue injection: A case report and literature review." Dr. Cristea received 3rd place for her poster, "Inferior Mesenteric Arteriovenous Fistula Presenting as Bowel Ischemia: Case Report." Jing Gao, MD, Associate Professor and Director of Ultrasound, and David Park, DO, FACOFP, FAAFP, Campus Dean of RVUCOM-SU, published research titled, "Ultrasound Shear Wave Elastography to Assess Tissue Mechanical Properties in Somatic Dysfunction: A Feasibility Study," in the Journal of the American Osteopathic Association. It discusses the challenge of subjectivity in assessment of somatic dysfunction. However, development and use of radiological imaging techniques to confirm or quantify muscle tissue stiffness associated with somatic dysfunction could be of benefit in osteopathic clinical practice, training, and further research.

Research and Grants Furthering the Pursuit of Innovation and Exploration in Healthcare and Education

Journal of Pharmacy Practice. The publication considered how pharmacists and medical professionals can advocate for patients with chronic conditions that need access to hydroxychloroquine.

Boris Joutovsky, OMS IV, Alexander Ortiz, OMS IV, Camille Bentley, DO, MPH, FACOFP, Chair of Department of Tracks and Special Programs, and Jing Gao, MD, Associate Professor and Director of Ultrasound, published research titled, "Portable Ultrasonography to Assess Adult Hepatosteatosis (HS) in Rural Ecuador," in the Journal of the American Osteopathic Association. Their research focused on the incidence of HS in rural communities of the Ecuadorian Chimborazo region and aimed to validate portable US as an effective method of disease screening in rural settings.

Erin West, OMS IV, Rebecca Ryznar, PhD, Associate Professor of Molecular Biology, David Ross, DO, FACEP, Associate Professor of SIMS, and Anthony J. LaPorta, MD, FACS, Professor of Clinical Surgery, published research in the Journal of Surgical Education titled, "The Effect of HyperRealistic Trauma Training on Emotional Intelligence in Second Year Military Medical Students." The objective was to interpret emotional intelligence data before and after hyperrealistic immersion trauma training for military second-year medical students with a larger sample size than previously used.

Sameeha Husayn, OMS IV, Jeremy Brown, OMS IV, Colby Presley, OMS IV, Kelsey Boghean, OMS IV, and Jacquelyn Waller, PharmD, Assistant Professor of Pharmacology, published a review article, titled "Hydroxychloroquine Alternatives for Chronic Disease: Response to a Growing Shortage Amid the Global COVID-19 Pandemic," in the

Several faculty members in the PA Program had been accepted to present at national and international conferences, which were subsequently canceled to due the pandemic. Note: only the first three authors are shown: • Cathy C. Ruff, MS, PA-C; Darcy Solanyk, MS, PA-C; David Eckhardt, MS, PA-C; et al. "Measuring Learner Progress during Pre-Clinical Training using a Competency-based Approach." AACOM annual education conference. • Nicole Michels, PhD; Joel Roberts, MD; Mr. Eckhardt; et al. "Transcending The IPE Requirement: Collaborating To Support A Relationship-Centered IPE Program." AACOM annual education conference. • Lise Johnson-Dyhr, PhD; Ms. Ruff. "Integrated Assessment in a Competency-based Didactic Curriculum." International Association of Medical Science Educators. • Mr. Eckhardt and Tina Underwood, MA Ed, CHSE. "Preparing Physician Assistant Learners to Interview Adolescent Patients Using Simulation." Physician Assistant Education Association national education forum and International Pediatric Simulation Symposia and Workshops. • Sarah Neguse, MS, PA-C; Whitney Lambarri, MS, PAC; and Ms. Ruff. "The Use of Rubrics to Assess Learner Progression in Clinical Skills in a Competency-based Curriculum." Physician Assistant Education Association national education forum. • Ms. Solanyk, Dr. Johnson-Dyhr, and Ms. Ruff. "Milestones and Progress: the RoadMAP to Success." Physician Assistant Education Association national education forum. See back cover for upcoming research events!

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Research and Grants Furthering the Pursuit of Innovation and Exploration in Healthcare and Education

Every year, RVU's Military Medicine Program has a strong showing at the Military Health System Research Symposium with oral and poster presentations. However, with the cancellation of the MHSRS annual symposium, we want to recognize the students and faculty who had been accepted to present. Note: only the first three authors are shown: Accepted for Poster Presentation: • Christopher Wilkinson, DO '20; Qamrul Choudhury, PhD; Rebecca Ryznar, PhD. "Expanding Clinical Experience in the COVID-19." • Andrew Warren, OMS III; Dr. Ryznar; Joshua Calvano, OMS IV. "First Responder Stress and Implementation of a Livestreaming Patient Data Platform in a Mass Casualty Incident Drill." • Amanda Sniadach, OMS III; Sunjin Oh, OMS III; Jacob Doyle, OMS III. "The Effect of Race, Gender, and Marital Status on Emotional Quotient in HPSP Students."

• Jason Corless, OMS IV; Bradley McCann, OMS IV; David Ross, DO, FACEP. "Assessment of Illuminance and Perception of Red/Green Polychromatic Light Compared Against White, Red, and Blue Light." • Peter Lampman, OMS III. "Simple Hand Surgery in an Austere Environment." • Anthony LaPorta, MD, FACS; Dr. Ryznar; Susan Carter, MD, FACS, FACOG. "Warm Zone Care: Lessons Learned from Large-Scale Active Shooter Training Prior to the Stem School Shooting." Accepted for Oral Presentation: • Dr. LaPorta; Michael Kreiser, OMS II; Mackenzie Berry, OMS III. "The Effect of Immersion Trauma Training on Resiliency and Hardiness in Military Medical Personnel." • Christopher Brazell, OMS III; Dr. LaPorta; Charles Curtis, DO '20. "Surgery at Sea: Trauma Support on Fast Littoral Troops Transports at High Sea Conditions."

Research MVP: Dr. Lon Van Winkle Lon Van Winkle, PhD, Professor of Medical Humanities, has been involved in many research projects this year and has recently also contributed to the following published works. Note: only the first three authors are shown: Published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health: • Co-Authors: Alexis Horst, MA; Brian Schwartz, PhD, MLIS; Jenifer Fisher, MLIS. "Selecting and Performing Service-Learning in a Team-Based Learning Format Fosters Dissonance, Reflective Capacity, Self-Examination, Bias Mitigation, and Compassionate Behavior in Prospective Medical Students." • Co-Authors: Dr. Schwartz; Ms. Horst; Ms. Fisher. "Fostering empathy, implicit bias mitigation, and compassionate behavior in a medical humanities course." • Co-Authors: S.L. Rogers; Nicole Michels, PhD. "Implicit bias mitigation in healthcare professional education: implications for life-long learning." • Co-Authors: Chiu Yuen To; M. Freeman. "Consumption of a Branched-Chain Amino Acid (BCAA) During Days 2-10 of Pregnancy Causes Abnormal Fetal Growth in Mice: Implications for BCAA Supplementation in Humans." • Co-Author: Rebecca Ryznar, PhD. "Changes in Dietary Protein, Amino Acids, Folate and Other Nutrients or Toxins Regulate Embryonic and Fetal Growth and Development: Implications for Transgenerational Metabolic Disorders in Adults." Other Publications: • "Commentary: Fostering bias mitigation and compassionate behavior in dental and other healthcare professional students and practitioners." Published in Archives of Dentistry. • Co-Authors: Dr. Michels; M.J. Brooks; B.B. Calderon. "Promoting implicit bias mitigation and compassionate behavior in healthcare professionals: implications for pharmacological treatment outcomes." Published in Frontiers in Pharmacology: Pharmaceutical Medicine and Outcomes Research. • Co-Authors: P.M. Iannaccone; Dr. Ryznar. "From Single Stem Cells to Organoids, Organ Repair, and Public Health. Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology: Stem Cell Research and Frontiers in Genetics: Stem Cell Research.

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Welcome to our New Faculty and Staff! Hollyann "Holly" Bagot Administrative Assistant, MSBS Program, RVU-SU

mental Studies.

After living in three other states (California, Colorado, and Texas), Holly now calls Utah home, with its beautiful red rocks and incredible national parks. She graduated from the University of San Diego with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Environ-

No surprise, Holly worked in the environmental field as an Environmental and Community Planner for almost 10 years. Prior to that, she worked at her alma mater in the Housing and Residential Life; suffice to say, she is now happy and excited to be at RVU in a campus environment again after all these years. The students, Holly says, is what inspires her about her field of work. “For me, [it's] a privilege to support a program that will set the path for students to become doctors at a time when the world needs them the most.” When not at work, Holly can be found at a hot yoga studio, baking cookies, or with her husband and two (ridiculous) cats on the couch, rewatching episodes of New Girl. She may be small at just 5’3” (taller than anyone else in her family!), but she’ll make a big impression! "Who’s that girl?" It’s Holly! Katherine "Kathi" Fischer Administrative Assistant, Office of Student Affairs, RVU-CO

Accounting.

Name a county or city in Colorado and odds are Kathi has lived there. Growing up in a Navy family, Kathi moved from California to the Centennial State in 1989. She received her Associates Degree in Business Administration with an emphasis in

Kathi is no stranger to the healthcare industry. Prior to RVU, she was a Patient Access Representative at UCHealth Highlands Ranch Hospital in the Emergency Department. Due to the added risks of working in a hospital during a pandemic, Kathi decided to transition to the academic side of healthcare. She’s excited about working as part of a team that has been "warm, welcoming, and helpful!" Before the hospital, Kathi had been the Executive Assistant and Office Manager

for Peaksware, a software development company. Kathi enjoys spending time with family and devoting her time to a variety of hobbies: e-biking, hiking, camping, gardening, reading, crocheting, going to concerts, and watching movies. She also loves traveling to tropical locales, especially the Caribbean, but will always have a soft spot for the national parks of the West including Grand Tetons, Yellowstone, and Glacier. Kathi is also always looking for the next adventure to put on her bucket list. “I’ve been sky-diving, para-gliding, para-sailing, rock climbing, white water rafting, hut trips...” Next, she has her eyes set on the Via Ferrata in Telluride. Kathi has also been married for 14 years. She and her husband met almost 20 years ago on Match.com: "I think we may have been one of the original success stories!" She has four amazing sons, all grown up, and three beautiful grandchildren. And last but definitely not least: "I have the best dog in the whole world named Bug!" Welcome, Kathi! Ricarda Hallstrand, PhD Professor of Microbiology, Dept of Biomedical Sciences, RVU-SU Traveling has been a part of Dr. Hallstrand’s life since she was very young. Born in Berlin, Germany, her family made the move to Huntsville, Alabama when her father was brought onboard as a NASA aerospace engineer at the Marshall Spaceflight Center during the Apollo years. She later relocated to the sunny beaches of Southern California then to the Pacific Northwest for the last 25 years. Dr. Hallstrand earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Biology from the University of California San Diego, followed by a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Microbiology and Immunology and a post-doctoral fellowship in Viral Pathogenesis from the University of California Los Angeles. She then traveled to the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, Sweden to complete a fellowship in Immunology. This eventually led to a decade-long career in biomedical research as a staff scientist at a number of institutions, including the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, located in Seattle. Her academic teaching career began in 2001 at Concordia University, where she taught general biology, microbiology, immunology, and biochemistry courses. “My position

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Welcome to our New Faculty and Staff! at Concordia also provided the opportunity to maintain a small research program and to mentor students in research and thesis work.” Up until 2018, she also served as the biology section chair for the Oregon Academy of Sciences. Now at RVU, Dr. Hallstrand is “excited to work with graduate and medical students and to be able to teach intensively in the area of microbiology and infectious disease.” As for her new home, she’s looking forward to getting to know the St. George area, including building connections with Dixie State University and Dixie Regional Medical Center. When not at work, Dr. Hallstrand enjoys traveling and outdoor activities like skiing (downhill and x-country), camping, and hiking. “Several years ago, my husband and I hiked to the bottom of the Grand Canyon and were able to stay at Phantom Ranch Lodge before hiking back up. A very memorable experience—not because I loved the hike back out, but because I was glad to learn that I could do it!”

Dr. Hallstrand and her family have traveled to the San Juan and Gulf Islands off the coast of Washington state and British Columbia. They enjoyed hiking, whale-watching, sailing, kayaking, cycling, and just relaxing. “Our favorite islands are Orcas Island and Galiano Island. Sitting at water’s edge at Montague harbor on Galiano Island watching the sailboats and floatplanes come and go on a summer day is amazing.” When not traveling, Dr. Hallstrand also loves cooking and enjoys trying new recipes. “We are Portland Timbers (soccer) fans! [But] we’ll have to switch our soccer allegiance to Real Salt Lake.” Welcome, Dr. Hallstrand!

In Memoriam McKenzie Eschler Clinical Research Assistant, Office of Research and Scholarly Activity McKenzie passed away unexpectedly on August 8th. She was a student at Dixie State University, studying exercise science and planning to graduate in December to pursue a career in clinical research. She was described as a healthy, happy, and enthusiastic person. McKenzie had only recently come to RVU and was excited for the learning opportunities. She was inspired by the field of research because one "[grows] through knowledge because of the research being done in the world." "McKenzie was an incredibly positive, happy person who was excited to start her career at RVU," said Dr. Amanda Brooks. "Although she was not with RVU long her absence will be felt and her smile will be missed."

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Roy Merrill Former Practice Administrator of Rocky Vista Health Center Roy passed away on April 11th in Reston, Virginia. He had spent his entire career in healthcare administration, including helping to open the Anschutz Cancer Center in Denver. His expertise in the field proved to be instrumental in the success of RVHC. He joined the staff in 2013 and subsequently led the clinic from 25% capacity to 100% capacity. He oversaw four classes of Internal Medicine residents before retiring in 2017. He was buried in Arlington National Cemetery, as a Navy veteran. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to Patients Rising, which has established the Roy Merrill Memorial Fund to provide healthcare navigation support for seniors living with multiple chronic and life-threatening illnesses.

Promotions and Appointments

Qamrul Choudhury, PhD, (RVU-CO) has been promoted to Professor of Physiology. He previously served as Associate Professor of Physiology. Dr. Choudhury has been with RVU since 2010.

Christopher LaFontano, DO, (RVU-CO) has been appointed as the Chair of the Clinical Anatomy and Osteopathic Principles and Practice (CA-OPP) Department. He will also continue to serve as Assistant Professor of OPP. Dr. LaFontano began at RVU in 2017.

John Coulter (RVU-SU) has been promoted to the position of Senior Technician in the Facilities Department. Previously, he served as Technician. John has been with RVU since 2018.

Amy Maupin (RVU-CO) has changed positions from Administrative Assistant for the Office of Student Affairs to the Administrative Assistant for the Department of Clinical Education. Amy began at RVU in 2019.

An K. Dang, PhD, (RVU-CO) has been promoted to Assistant Professor of Structural Medicine in the Clinical Anatomy and Osteopathic Principles and Practice (CA-OPP) Department. Previously, she served as a Post-Doctoral Anatomy Fellow and Instructor. She has been with RVU since 2018.

Jennifer Montemayor, PhD, (RVU-CO) has been promoted to Professor of Physiology. She previously served as Associate Professor of Physiology. She will also continue to serve as the Director of Preclinical Education in Colorado. Dr. Montemayor has been with RVU since 2010.

Andrew Fordham (RVU-CO) has been promoted to VA Certifying Official, in addition to continuing to serve as Financial Aid Counselor. He is now the go-to person for RVU's veterans, providing assistance with VA certifications and HPSP. Drew has been with RVU since 2017.

Teresa Moore (RVU-CO) has been promoted to Institutional Assessment and Curriculum Administrator in the Department of Preclinical Education. In this role, she will coordinate and develop systems and processes related to curriculum and outcomes management. Teresa began at RVU in 2013.

Sandy Hiltman (RVU-CO) has been promoted to Admissions Process Administrator from Admissions Coordinator. In this new role, she will handle admissions processes for all University programs to ensure excellent customer service for our candidates. Sandy has been with RVU since 2014.

Rebecca Ryznar, PhD, (RVU-CO) has been promoted to Associate Professor of Microbiology. She previously served as Assistant Professor of Microbiology. She will also continue to serve as Director of the PhysicianScientist Track. Dr. Ryznar has been with RVU since 2016.

Lise Johnson-Dyhr, PhD, (RVU-CO) has been promoted to Associate Professor of Physician Assistant Studies. She previously served as Assistant Professor of Physician Assistant Studies. Dr. Johnson-Dyhr has been with RVU since 2018.

Bradley Thornock, PhD, (RVU-SU) has been promoted to Associate Professor of Medical Humanities. He previously served as Assistant Professor of Medical Humanities. Dr. Thornock has been with RVU since 2017.

Michael Jorgensen, PhD, (RVU-CO) has been promoted to Associate Professor of Structural Medicine. He previously served as Assistant Professor of Structural Medicine. He will also continue to serve as Director of the OPP Fellowship. Dr. Jorgensen has been with RVU since 2016.

Ben Wilde, DO, FAAFP, (RVU-SU) has been promoted to Associate Professor of Primary Care. He previously served as Assistant Professor of Primary Care. He will also continue to serve as Vice Chair of the Department of Primary Care Medicine. Dr. Wilde has been with RVU since 2017.

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From the Rocky Vista University Alumni Association

V U A LU M N I

A SSO C I AT ION

In Memory of Erik Close, DO '13 It is with great sadness that we share the passing of Erik Close, DO â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;13. Our thoughts are with his family and loved ones during this difficult time. Dr. Close lived a life in service of others. He wanted to help people and was a natural problem-solver. As a medical student, Dr. Close went above and beyond, traveling to Antigua and Guatemala numerous times to treat patients in need. "He was a very bright student academically and also possessed genuine warmth and great personality," said Dr. Camille Bentley, Chair of the Department of Tracks and Special Programs. "When we were together, he always had a big smile on his face. He loved music and dancing and was looking forward to his career in Ortho." After RVU, he completed his residency in orthopedic surgery at the McFarland Clinic and joined the staff in 2018. "Erik had plans to join us again in Guatemala in the near future," continued Dr. Bentley. "His passing was a harsh awakening to those of us that knew him but not of his deep struggle with life." Celebrations of Dr. Closeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s life will be held this year and next. If you would like to honor Dr. Close, please visit https://bit.ly/3a6blrV.

"If you are quiet, you might be able to hear his boisterous laugh from above."

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From the Rocky Vista University Alumni Association Sean M. Bergsten, DO '16, has recently joined the medical staff at Pocatello Women's Health Clinic—a member of Bingham Healthcare—as an obstetrician and gynecologist. He completed his residency at Cleveland Clinic Akron General. The practice is located in Pocatello, Idaho. Iris Burgard, DO '20, wrote an article for the July/August issue of Colorado Medicine, titled, "It is my turn." In the article, she discusses how her situation as a graduating medical student in a pandemic forced her to examine both her privilege and her passion to better serve her community. Beau Condie, DO '20, was awarded 2020 Volunteer of the Year by the Denver Osteopathic Foundation (DOF). This award is given to a fourth-year medical student who has given their time and talent to volunteer for a DOF program. Dr. Condie worked with DOF and fellow students to prepare, organize, and present "Food, Fun, and Fitness" in schools around the Denver Metro area. Sindi Diko, DO '18, published research in the International Urogynecology Journal titled, "Identification of obstetric anal sphincter injuries (OASIs) and other lacerations: a national survey of nursemidwives." She and her co-authors performed a cross-sectional national survey of certified nurse-midwives, assessing classification and identification of obstetric anal sphincter injury and other delivery lacerations. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00192-020-04304-6

Maria Gallo, DO '13, joined the Weld County Department of Public Health and Environment (WCDPHE) as a medical advisor, as part of the Medical Doctor Consultation Clinic within the Public Health Services division. "[She] will provide the medical oversight necessary for the Department to continue to offer

A LU M N I A SSO C I AT ION robust clinical services programs," said deputy director Mark Lawley. She will provide the division's nurses with limited consultations and treatments on clients who are receiving services. She also provides support for women's health and immunization services at WCDPHE. Christopher Healy, DO '13, recently joined The Center Orthopedic and Neurosurgical Care as an orthopedic provider in September. He completed a fellowship at Stony Brook University and his residency at Hofstra Northwell Health School of Medicine. The Center is located in Bend, Oregon. Kathryn Huff, DO '16, was accepted into the Pediatric Orthopedics and Scoliosis Surgery Fellowship at Cleveland Clinic/Akron Children's Hospital in her home state of Ohio. She is currently completing her residency program at Valley Orthopedic Surgery Residency.

Kyle Kubes, DO '16, was accepted into the Twin Cities Orthopedic Adult Reconstruction and Trauma Fellowship at Hennepin County Medical Center (a Level I Trauma Center). Currently, Dr. Kubes is a PGY-IV Orthopedic Surgery Resident at Community Memorial Health System in Ventura, California. Brian Russ, DO '16, has been accepted into an Emergency Medicine Ultrasound fellowship. He has been working as an Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine at University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS). He and his wife, fellow RVU alum Abigail Russ, DO '16—who is currently in the Pediatric Emergency Medicine Fellowship at UAMS—are also expecting a baby boy in October!

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Campus Tidbits

The OPP Fellows' Clinic at each campus has reopened! They will incorporate updated policies and procedures to decrease the risk of exposure to COVID-19 for staff and patients. In Utah, the clinic is located in the Medical Office Building in Suite 102 across the street from the campus. Appointments are available for students on Mondays and Fridays from 8-11am and can be scheduled at utfellows@ rvu.edu. In Colorado, the clinic is located within Rocky Vista Health Center and is available for appointments on Mondays. Call the clinic at (720) 875-2880 to make an appointment.

In June, two representatives of the RVUCO chapter of Student Osteopathic Medical Association (SOMA) attended the virtual SOMA Summer House of Delegates. Jonathan Evers, OMS II, President of the SOMA chapter, and Jeffrey Edwards, OMS II, National Liaison Officer, were invited to represent RVU and their fellow student doctors. "There were many resolutions approved at this session that will either be adopted as official SOMA policy or communicated directly with the AOA!" said SD Evers. Here are some of the key resolutions that were approved: • Encouraging the American Osteopathic Association (AOA) and American Medical Association (AMA) to publicly support federal policy (U.S. Code §1498) that would improve insulin affordability; • Joining the National Call to Action to address the effects of Climate Change on National Health; • Lobbying the Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation (COCA) to adopt a single licensing exam for DO students; • Advocating through SOMA for increased Medication Assisted Training (MAT) waivers for medical students.

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The Primary Care Podcast is the creation of Ross Tanick, OMS III. The latest episode is with Mark Andersen-Nissen, a doctor of physical therapy who discusses how he works with primary care providers to carry out the best possible care and treatment for patients with musculoskeletal injuries and chronic disorders. This is a fun, inter-professional discussion about how the two related fields overlap, how they are distinct, and how to work together to benefit patients. Find it on any podcast platform and be sure to subscribe!

Amanda Brooks, PhD, Director of Research, gave an inspiring presentation at the Women in Research event on June 25th, which was co-hosted by the RVU-SU American Medical Women’s Association (AMWA) Club and Medical Research Club. She presented to approximately 30 participants on the multiple ways for women to get involved in research opportunities at RVU. She also shared her personal experiences with biases and struggles as a woman in the medical research world, providing helpful tips for navigating a path to success amid the various roadblocks commonly encountered by women. "Dr. Brooks truly led a presentation that both captivated and empowered her audience," said Holly Bagot, Administrative Assistant for the MSBS Program. "Dr. Brooks is a true advocate for gender equality and the advancement of women in research. Her words resonated with each member of the audience and every female left feeling a little more confident in their pursuit of both future research and career opportunities in the medical field."

Ian George, PhD, Associate Professor of Structural Medicine, completed his oneyear term as Chair of the Faculty Senate. To honor his service, Dr. Clyde Jensen carved a gavel and lamp (pictured at right) from 150 million-year-old sandstone, which is found in Southern Utah. Dr. Jensen will be taking over as Chair for the next year.

The Office of Research and Scholarly Activity is excited to announce a "Shark Tank"-like research competition for students, sponsored by the RVU Alumni Association. Student applications are due by midnight on September 11th. Our faculty “sharks”—Dr. Brian Schwartz, Dr. Ben Brooks, Dr. Nena Mason, Dr. Rachel Linger, and Dr. Jim Small—will each sponsor a student project with $1,000 and their mentorship. The top 10 student projects will pitch their idea to the sharks on October 1st at 8:00 am on a live Zoom event. We are so excited to support research in this way!

The Vista View is created and published by the Rocky Vista University Marketing Department. Kristen Kaiser Catherine Lewis Saenz

Gina Marzulla Kelli Petersen

Julie K. Rosenthal

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

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August 2020 Issue of RVU's Vista View

Articles inside

The Department of "Pretty-It-Up"

RVU Office of SIMS Expands Virtual Patient Encounters

Students Redefine What it Means to Be a Volunteer

Amidst the Pandemic, Dr. Bigham Keeps a Clinic Running

Increasing Diversity Efforts at RVU

CO Faculty and Staff Recognized for Going Above and Beyond

LGBTQ+ Pride Month Events

MSBS Votes on Class Awards

Rocky Vista University Class of 2020

Learning Patient Care and Personal Protective Equipment

Campus Tidbits

Welcome to Our New Faculty and Staff

Promotions and Appointments

In Memory of Erik Close, DO '13

Achieving New Heights

Research MVP: Dr. Lon Van Winkle

Finding a New Way to Honor RVU’s Body Donors

Research and Grants

Upcoming Marketing Initiatives