STUDENTS

Donors and families recognized at annual Human Gift Registry memorial

First-year medical students at WVSOM honored more than 70 people who donated their bodies to the school this year for teaching and research.

Families of the donors were invited to attend and were provided an opportunity to share special memories of their loved ones. Students in the Class of 2016 conveyed their appreciation for this profound contribution to their medical education and expressed how this final act of generosity from the donors has impacted their lives.

“With gratitude and deep thoughts we all thank you from our hearts,” Slava Agafonoff, Class of 2016 president, said on behalf of the first-year students.

Cheryl Rozario said the donations are invaluable to students’ education.

“One of the ultimate ways to give back to society is to donate a body for medical education,” she said. “This gives us knowledge and understanding that goes beyond the textbook.”

Mary Hamra, Ph.D., Human Gift Registry director, said the student journey to becoming a physician begins with the donors’ gift.

“This is a day for remembering, expressing gratitude and saying goodbye,” she told the families. “The decision of this gift was not an easy one. We are honored and humbled by that decision. Please remember this gift lives on in each and every one of our students.”

The service included words of appreciation from local pastor Mike Estep, a veteran appreciation by WVSOM military students and musical presentations by students and faculty.

PAX International Festival raises funds for trip

PAX Club members gave WVSOM students, faculty, staff and their families a chance to explore different cultures all while raising money for a mission.

The club raised more than $4,500 during the January event, according to Elspeth Clark, PAX treasurer. The money went toward medicine and other medical supplies for an annual mission trip to the Dominican Republic during Spring Break.

“The International Festival is a night to celebrate the diversity within our community as well as raise cultural awareness. By focusing on what makes us and our cultures unique we are provided with an opportunity to identify what is universal to us all,” Clark said of the event. “Underscoring the evening is that ultimately all the proceeds go to funding the club’s international mission trip. The financial success of the evening is reflected in having enough medications, clinic supplies and other critical items that are needed and used on the mission trip.”

The evening included cultural dishes from across the globe — highlighting countries in Europe, South America, North America and Asia. WVSOM President Dr. Michael Adelman offered magic tricks and others offered musical performances. Dancing, a fashion show and a silent auction were also part of the event. The International Festival is the club’s largest fundraising event.

Students learn valuable lessons in serving patients in underserved areas

by medical students GLENN HAYES AND JORDAN HARTSHORN During Spring Break 2013, 19 WVSOM students traveled to the Dominican Republic to provide much needed medical service to people living in underdeveloped communities around the city of Hato Mayor. The students were joined on the eighth annual trip by Sarita Bennett, D.O., an Osteopathic Principles and Practice instructor, and Richard Capito, M.D., an emergency medicine/ internal medicine physician from Charleston, W.Va. Working in conjunction with Community Service Alliance, the group was able to evaluate and provide care to more than 700 patients during the four days of clinic.

Throughout the year, the Pax Club hosts many fundraising events and reaches out to the Lewisburg community for financial support. This year, the club was able to take about $10,000 of much needed supplies and medications to be given out during the week.

“We are very thankful to the WVSOM community, businesses around Lewisburg and all of the friends and families who were willing to give to this cause,” said Glenn Hayes, Pax Club secretary and trip leader. “Without them, the trip wouldn’t have been possible.”

Medical school student Jordan Hartshorn shared that, “Having raised enough funds to provide every patient with a year’s supply of vitamins was one of our goals and seeing that manifested and realizing the health impact that will make was truly rewarding. Providing many patients with much needed year-long hypertension medicine as well as distributing prenatal vitamins to all of the early term mothers was also something our club should be proud of. We are taught that ‘good medicine’ is more than one office visit and I truly believe we were able to practice those ideals consistently during our time in the Dominican Republic”

The service project not only benefits hundreds of underserved people in the Dominican, it also provides a valuable opportunity for first- and second-year medical students to gain hands-on experience applying their skills in history taking, physical examination and diagnoses.

“I did not realize how much we have learned and retained during first year of medical school until I had a chance to participate in the PAX Medical Service Trip,” said Marta Tokar, a medical student. “This early clinical exposure gave me a chance to gain hands on experience and build up my confidence in patient interactions. I was able to not only practice, but also improve my exam techniques.”

Christian Medical & Dental Association visits Nicaragua

This year, the WVSOM chapter of CMDA had the privilege of traveling to Somoto, Nicaragua. The team consisted of 16 medical students, four physicians, one nurse, one pharmacist and 11 other vital volunteers/spiritual leaders.

Participants ventured out to a different community each day and were able to see almost 900 patients in five days. Upon arriving at their site each morning, they set up the clinic and began seeing patients immediately. Other stations included Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment, Pharmacy, Children’s Ministry, Women’s Foot Washing Ministry, and lastly, a Prayer and Evangelism Station.

Habitat for Humanity

WVSOM students traded in their textbooks for tools in midJanuary to help local families in need.

Students volunteered with Habitat for Humanity in conjunction with a day of service commemorating the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday. After a spiritual revival led by pastor Ron Sherrod of the Mt. Tabor Baptist Church, students worked to frame the walls for a new house in White Sulphur Springs as well as a variety of other house projects.

Community Service

The Community Outreach and Relief Effort (CORE) recognized members for their service. This year, 12 students received the honor. They were Bethany Brown, Stephanie Dillon, Jordan Gaal, Erin Goldman, Arianna Grimm, Justin Kazee, Waseem Khader, Laura Mader, Natalee Noche, Kayleigh Pung, Daniel Sapp and Alyson Shattls. Students were also acknowledged for their community service work during the awards ceremony. The Translating Osteopathic Understanding into Community Health (TOUCH) program encourages medical students to volunteer community service to the area. This year, WVSOM students volunteered 13,156 hours of their time to the community.

Murder Mystery Dinner

The Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Club gathered cowboys from the Old West to raise money for the Wounded Warrior Project. The club hosted the Murder Mystery Dinner in January and raised $573 by putting on a “dinner theater” performance with country characters. Some of the WVSOM faculty, staff and students who participated in acting out the performance were Dr. Fisk, banker; Dr. Thatcher, saloon owner; Dr. Hamra, playing Dr. Tricia Truehart; Dr. McLay, writer; Dr. Griffith, chief “hawk-who-watches”; Dr. Maloney, sharpshooter; Dr. Foster, blacksmith; Dr. Hanna, school teacher; Tyler Pittman, newspaper editor; Jonathan Daly, mayor; Kristin Wahlberg, marshal; and Kam Mueller, as Dusty Jones.

Student returns from Zambia

Austin Johnston, OMS III-IV, returned from Lundazi, Zambia, where he was the first WVSOM student to participate in a four-week international rotation overseas. Shown in the photo with Mathias Zimba and other members of the Rising Fountains Development Program, student doctor Johnston is involved in a community-based workshop on natural resources management — one of many factors affecting the health of people living in this most rural of WVSOM’s rotation sites. Johnston is serving patients in the Eastern region of the Statewide Campus program under the direction of Robert Gum, D.O.

MORE info For more information on international rotation opportunities as a WVSOM student, contact the Center for International Medicine and Cultural Concerns, which is coordinated by Adrienne Biesemeyer.

Events showcase osteopathic medicine

This year’s Celebrate Osteopathic Medicine (COM) Week focused on physicians and medical students who understand the importance of an international medicine experience. During COM Week, the WVSOM family learned about D.O.s who have served the needs of rural patients beyond our borders and heard first-hand accounts from students who participated in international rotations. The weeklong events educated and enlightened people on global medicine issues

Lewisburg Mayor John Manchester proclaims COM week.

rotations. As of 2009, almost 25 percent of all medical students (osteopaths and allopaths) have had an international rotation.

Dr. Karen Asher discussed the health care system in Sierra Leone, West Africa. She and her husband, WVSOM 1987 graduate Dr. Tom Asher, have been assisting students in family medicine and OB-GYN. The Ashers work at Kamakwie Wesleyan Hospital — a place that serves the health care needs of more than 600,000 people.

Average life expectancy in Sierra Leone is 56 years. Major infectious diseases include malaria, yellow fever, typhoid, Hepatitis A, schistosomiasis and Lassa fever.

Dr. Asher said that one of the most important aspects to providing international health care is education.

“We need to teach patients and educate them. Sometimes there are cultural morals to deal with, but education is something we have to spend more time on. It’s not enough to care for a patient,” she said.

Clinical rotations are offered at Kamakwie to medical students interested in international medicine. Asher said that an international rotation site will better prepare students who are interested in serving rural areas.

“Understanding international medicine is a lot like understanding

rural medicine,” she said. “There is recognition of a problem, diagnosis and then treatment, even if you aren’t the one providing that treatment. There’s a lot of outpatient care and you have to know when and where to send a patient.”

Asher said an international rotation is also the ultimate way to test your medical knowledge.

and focused on overseas clinical experiences that can improve health care for rural patients in the U.S.

Some of the highlights of the week included a presentation by Dr. Karen Steele, who has been pioneering to get osteopathic physicians recognized as full-fledged physicians in South Africa, and insight by students about the benefits of international clinical

Students offer Mini-Medical School

This spring, WVSOM’s second-year students offered a Mini-Medical School for community members who wanted to learn more about the human body and how it functions.

The four-week program, Healthy Living for Every Age, introduced participants to causes of common symptoms like chest pain, difficulty breathing, abdominal pain and fatigue. Systems examined included the cardiovascular system, respiratory system and gastrointestinal system.

Andrea Nazar, D.O., professor of Clinical Sciences, is the faculty advisor for the Mini-Med School program.

“This was WVSOM’s fourth year to offer a mini-medical school experience,” Nazar said. “It’s exciting to see the program evolve and to see deeper connections developing between our students and the community.”

One of the event organizers, Matthew White, Class of 2015, expressed enthusiasm for a new program format that was introduced this year.

“Each evening began with a common symptom presented exactly as a patient would typically present it in their physician’s office,” he said. “After starting with this common symptom, instructors took participants through a deeper understanding of the interconnectedness of bodily systems and how to recognize indicators of disease or other health conditions.”

“By using hands-on techniques and tools such as ultrasound, sigmoidoscope and heart and lung simulators, participants were able to gain a better understanding of what it means to be an osteopathic physician,” concluded co-organizer Sharon Parker.

AWARDS WVSOM student scholarships presented at awards ceremony

WVSOM recognized first- and second-year medical students for their achievements in school and the community during the annual Springs Awards Ceremony on May 15.

A TOTAL OF

Molly Janney

THE DR. ROLAND P. SHARP

PRESIDENT’S AWARD AND

FOUNDATION AWARD OF EXCELLENCE

$36,200

Scholarship money and certificates of appreciation were distributed to recipients.

FOR STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT is given to a student based on academic performance, osteopathic professional interest, leadership and citizenship to a first-year student.

Holly Overmiller

THE FREDRIC W. SMITH MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP is awarded to a student completing his or her first year of medical school. The student must plan to practice family medicine, be in the upper two-thirds of the class and have a strong interest in the school and community.

Jordan Hartshorn

THE PAUL KLEMAN, D.O., FAMILY PRACTICE STUDENT AWARD recognizes a student member of the Kappa Chapter of the WVSOM American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians.

was rewarded to faculty, staff and students this year.

Patrick Craft and Ryan Farnsworth

A SPECIAL AWARD PRESENTATION made by WVSOM President Michael Adelman, D.O., J.D., recognized Student Government Association President Patrick Craft and Vice President Ryan Farnsworth. The award recognizes service and leadership to the school and the student body.

Byron Dodson

THE JAMES R. STOOKEY, D.O., MANIPULATIVE MEDICINE SCHOLARSHIP was formed in honor of James Stookey, vice president for academic affairs and dean from 1988 to 2002. The scholarship is given to a student with a grade point average of no less than 90 percent who has demonstrated proficiency in manipulative medicine. Adele Plazak

THE STUDENT D.O. OF THE YEAR AWARD was developed by the Council of Osteopathic Student Government Presidents (COSGP), a division of the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine (AACOM). This prestigious award acknowledges a student’s commitment to his or her school, community and the osteopathic profession. Based on votes cast by her classmates, Adele Plazak received the recognition for WVSOM.

Ryan Farnsworth and Scott Brown

WVSOM ALUMNI ASSOCIATION SCHOLARSHIPS were given to two second-year students. The students exemplify scholarship, osteopathic professional interest, leadership and citizenship.

This year 11 students received funding from the scholarship. They were Cathy Balogh, John Ford, Isaac Grabiel, Camilia Makhyoun, Matthew Marrington, Christine Moore, Elizabeth Reynolds, Sasha Rihter, Erik Stapleton, Travis Weinsheim and Courtney Verrecchia.

THE MOSS SCHOLARSHIPS are presented to first-year students who are not W. Va residents. Kennith “Conley” Coleman

Wisam Khader

THE LORETTA MOORE MEMORIAL AWARD recipient is chosen by a vote of first-year students to a classmate who has overcome obstacles in order to succeed.

Joshua Jewell and Elizabeth Endicott

THE DR. WILLIAM B. MULLEN & JENNIFER WHITE SCHOLARSHIP is a new scholarship created in recognition of Dr. William B. Mullen of Logan, W.Va., who cared for patient, Jennifer White, in the last decade of her life until her passing in December 2011. The recipients are students from either Logan or Mingo counties. THE RONALD P. BILLIPS MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP was formed by a 2002 WVSOM graduate to honor his friend and classmate killed in a car accident. The award is given to a first-year student who is a graduate of Big Creek, Iaeger, Mount View, Princeton or Bluefield high schools in West Virginia or Graham, Tazewell, Richlands or Pocahontas high schools in Virginia.

Julia Murray

RANDY DAILEY’S MEMORIAL AWARD is given to a second-year student from West Virginia who demonstrates a commitment to academic excellence and service.

Cheryl Rozario and Joseph Brandt

THE GREENBRIER MILITARY SCHOOL ALUMNI ASSOCIATION SCHOLARSHIP is presented to two students who excel academically and show strong leadership, determination and discipline in their studies. Soham Dave, Adele Plazak and Eric Schweller

THE CHERYL & MICHAEL ADELMAN WVSOM LEADERSHIP SCHOLARSHIP is awarded to third year students who have demonstrated character and leadership during their time at WVSOM and who have the potential to be a future leader in the osteopathic profession.

The Family Medicine Club

THE FREDRIC W. SMITH COMMUNITY SERVICE RECOGNITION honors a campus organization or club that demonstrates a commitment to the Lewisburg community, the WVSOM community and his or her colleagues. Timothy Wolff

WVSOM’S DIVERSITY TASK FORCE SCHOLARSHIP is given to a student who demonstrates an interest in osteopathic medicine and an interest in eliminating the inequities of individuals. Danielle Simpson and Molly Janney

THE MCGRAW-HILL/LANGE MEDICAL STUDENT AWARD FOR ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE is awarded based on academic achievement to students to help offset textbook costs.