the lecom connection summer 2012

THE

Lake Erie College of Osteopathic MedicineONNECTION

Summer 2012

www.LECOM.eduCommencement 2012 page 6

Assistant Surgeon General Speaks to Pharmacy Graduates LECOM Contributes $500,000 to Erie County Government

In the last issue of The LECOM Connection, my message focused upon our twenty-year benchmark

- the epoch in our footprint of educational history and the step upon the threshold of that which demarcates all prodigious institutions of higher learning – in a word, our - “Legacy”

I wish now, to turn our attention toward that which underpins the making of such a “legacy”.

Legacies do not spring fully-formed onto the cover-pages of magazines; rather they are the result of a combination of elements, some of which form the central theme of this Message. Certainly, the setting of goals is the initial step; the achievement of them is the next step - and it is that all-encompassing second step that presents ones most obvious falters. One falters not because the goal is unachievable, rather because of unexpected obstacles and challenges that arise along the journey that make the goal appear unachievable.

It is imperative to understand that each goal is ever-attendant with a plethora of pitfalls that are attached to that goal. These pitfalls manifest themselves within our lives as a superfluity of obstacles, challenges, and problems that we must surpass in order to reach our destination. I submit that it is precisely from those pitfalls that are derived our strengths; the lessons that we must embrace and that we must welcome to augment the conscience of our character and to fortify the power behind our purpose. For it is from successfully learning to maneuver through these pitfalls and to overcome them that we define ourselves. In their absence, we fail to learn the valuable lessons that are required to realize our objectives and to find our better angels.

The mission of the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine is to prepare students to become osteopathic physicians, pharmacy practitioners and dentists through programs of excellence in education, research, clinical

care and community service to enhance the quality of life through improved health for all humanity.

Mission Statement

A Message from the President

2 LECOM COnnECtiOn / july 2012

Summum Bonum – The Making of a

john M. Ferretti, DO

It is precisely the struggles, obstacles, challenges, and problems, in-and-of-themselves that are instructive; the adversity that makes us see with clarity - and the continued surmounting of which form a “legacy”.

That said; there is another aspect of this message that pairs intrinsically with the foregoing. A word that in our progressive era has grown to become oft ignored, dismissed, stifled, or made to appear taboo. It is more than a word to those who rely upon it; and for those who do – it is an element of our existence. It is “faith”. When the founders of LECOM set upon the journey to establish a school of medicine, the path stretched before the group as a vertical climb. Naysayers abounded; educated, well-studied fact-finders were as harbingers of cynicism. Yet, the assemblage of determined physicians found that it was buoyed in the promise of something greater than itself. Slowly, it became clear that the seemingly impossible dreams were not impossible – rather they became highly improbable, and then somewhat attainable, and ultimately - glowingly successful. What encouraged that glowingly successful end result? Faith!

LECOM’s inspiring account of unlikely events, like those throughout history that have resulted in tremendous influences, were sustained by a belief in a confirmatory Providence. It is a perseverance of a principled mission that is reaffirmed within us when we act in accordance with our highest self and with the knowledge that there is a larger might that directs our course beyond the illusory present. Do we not show ourselves to be Quixotic-fools if we allow hollow criticisms to destroy that which we have created and therefore, to thwart our aspirations?

What then, calls us onward to continue? Surely, it is the faith that our mission is just, our goals are wrought with purpose, and our efforts are worthy in the service of something greater than ourselves. Albert Einstein offered an aphorism that resonates still: “There are only two ways to live . . . one is as though nothing is a miracle . . . the other is as if everything is.” In our College mission, we live for today, but we hold our hands and our hearts open to the possibilities of tomorrow as we anticipate the future and its consequent challenges with the knowledge that there is a kernel of Providence within every event - within every adversity and within every accomplishment.

We carry with us an unswerving belief and commitment to our faith – the imperceptible entity that guides our ambitions and motivations toward our summum bonum - the highest goal of living; which, like a wind is invisible, but sensed.

LECOM remains constant in the quest to advance our highest goal of living – making stronger our purpose, making clearer our vision, and making greater our legacy. We shall continue to learn through our trials, to grow from an inward journey of the soul, and to gain wisdom from our reliance upon Providence.

As we find the momentary ‘knight-errant’ glimpses of the importance of being true to our life’s calling, I invite each of you to embrace the adversities found in accomplishment and to be constant in faith, for within both of these entities can be found our summum bonum.

Legacy

Table of Contents

july 2012 / LECOM COnnECtiOn 3

The LECOM Connection invites you to contribute to our publication. If you have news of alumni achievements, research or student activities, please contact the Communications Department, at (814) 866-6641, or e-mail [email protected].

John M. Ferretti, DOPresident

Michael J. Visnosky, EsquireChairman of the

Board of Trustees

Silvia M. Ferretti, DOProvost, Senior Vice President and

Dean of Academic Affairs

Hershey Bell, MD, M.S. (MedEd)Vice President of Academic Affairs and

Dean of School of Pharmacy

Robert F. Hirsch, DDSDean of School of Dental Medicine

Robert George, DOAssociate Dean of Academic Affairs,

Bradenton

Sunil S. Jambhekar, PhDAssociate Dean

for Bradenton Operations,School of Pharmacy

Pierre BelliciniDirector of Communications

Michael PolinAssistant Director of

Communications and Marketing,Bradenton

Rebecca A. DeSimone, EsquireEditor-in-Chief

Eric NicastroContributing Writer & Photographer

Carmen MillerPhotographer

Table of Contents

Commencement 2012 6• AssistantSurgeonGeneralScottGiberson

speakstotheClassof2012• OutstandingGraduatesand

Purpose-DrivenGoals 8• 2012President’sAward 15• JoanMoore,DOSupportsScholarship 16

“SpendingWisely”-CollegeEconomics 17 LECOMPresident,Educators,andStaff CaptureAwardsatAACOM 18MCHResidentsSweepPOMAWritingCompetition 20

CelebratingNationalOsteopathic MedicineWeek 22LECOMProvidesAidtoErie CountyGovernment 24

Education

Community

On the CoverA display of LECOM’s 20-year history greeted guests on

commencement day at the Erie Bayfront Convention Center.

Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine

1858 West Grandview Blvd.Erie, PA 16509

814-866-6641 www.lecom.edu

Table of Contents


LECOMandBridgingTheGaps- PartneringforAlmostTwoDecades 26LECOMReceivesNationalRecognition forCommunityService 28NewExhibitatGWIZScienceCenter inSarasota 29

AnthonyFerretti,DO,ReceivesTopFloridaOsteopathicMedicalAssociationAward 30RichardTerry,DO,AppointedAssistant RegionalDeanofClinicalEducation 30FormerFloridaRepresentativeBillGalvano AppointedtoLECOMBoardofTrustees 31LECOMLosesaWise andJoyfulSpirit-PhilipB.Hultgren,PhD 32ErieCardiologist,WilliamEsper,DO, ReflectsMissionofLECOM 33

EventsinErieandBradenton 36

NewsworthyHappenings 42

Community

Faculty/Administration

Community is Our Campus

Alumni/Faculty/Student Class Notes

Courage


CrEdOS Of Our CALLinG

“Courage is resistance to fear, mastery of fear - not absence of fear”. ~Mark Twain

“Courage” has long been said to be the most important virtue of all - for from it emanates every act that one undertakes. Each deed that involves effecting a decision, no matter how overlooked, requires some level of courage.

Philosophers, Socrates and Aristotle theorized about it; orators, Ovid and Virgil spoke about it; and statesmen, Abraham Lincoln and Ronald Reagan esteemed it. Each of them knew that courage is the most important of the virtues for in its absence no other virtue may be practiced consistently. It is, therefore and rightly valued as the first of human qualities since, as Winston Churchill stated, “it is the quality that guarantees all others”.

LECOM, as an academic institution, would not have come to exist without courage; the courage displayed by its founders to persevere when told by experts that such a school was not needed. There will always exist those to voice disapproval and to proclaim wrong the path of the courageous. There will always exist difficulties that tempt one to believe the critics correct. Yet, to set a course of action and to follow it to its end necessitates courage. It is not the faultfinder who matters - not the critic who notes the stumble along the path, nor he who records wherein the doer of deeds could have better effected them - for those who truly live within

the trenches of life, where there is pain and loss, sweat and tears - only do they know courage. As medical practitioners, all come to know such pain and loss, sweat and tears, yet companioned with such adversities are attendant the greatest goods and the most prodigious triumphs of healing.

Courage is essential to the calling of medicine and to all of the health care disciplines, for in each profession will come a time wherein one’s courage to act will face the temptation to follow an easier path. LECOM understands that courage is at the heart of the medical practice. It is central to the way in which physicians interact with their patients and with the often split-second decisions with which care givers are frequently confronted.

Courage is a distinctive attribute that does not allow one to shrink from taking the correct course of action even though such action may meet with resistance, ridicule, or retaliation. It is an intrinsic quality by which a heart and a soul of focused integrity is promulgated through right action. It rises to moral and to ethical worth to imbue within its progeny a vision of the cherished pinnacle of human attainment.

For this reason, “The LECOM Connection” highlights “COURAGE” as a “Credo of Our

Calling”.

Thereare fewobjectivesmoreworthy ina life lived in theserviceofothers than

that of a focusedpurpose. Aristotle spokeof the value of purpose – dependent upononeself, rooted in balance, and facilitatedbylinkingoneselfwithhumanity. It formedthe “Golden Mean”. In a recent interviewwith the LECOM Connection, Rear Admiral(RADM) Scott F. Giberson echoed theperspicacityandphilosophicbedrockofthatgreat thinker as he responded to questionsabout his Report to the Surgeon General,hisviewsofthefutureofpharmacy,andhispersonal life credo –which he summarizedas“passion–balance–andbridge-building”.

RADMGibersonpersonifiesthequintessenceof a prodigious scientist – fixed in hiscommitmenttoeducationandpassionateinhisdesiretodefinethebettermentofhealthcare. LECOM was exceptionally proud to

RADM Scott Giberson’s “Golden Mean”

Purposeful Passion, Life Balance, and Building Bridges – The Admiral Discusses the Role of Pharmacists and his Model for Improving Patient and Health System Outcomes

havehadtheopportunitytowelcomehimasCommencement Speaker for the PharmacyClassof2012.

Proving, as Aristotle noted, that “pleasurein the job puts perfection in the work,”RADM Giberson was selected by SurgeonGeneral, Vice Admiral (VADM) ReginaBenjamin, as Director of the new Divisionof Commissioned Corps Personnel andReadiness(DCCPR).HeassumedhisroleinSeptemberof2011, transferringfromIndianHealth Service (IHS) as the National HIV/AIDSProgramPrincipalConsultant.Previousto this, VADM Benjamin selected RADMGibersontoalsoserveasChiefProfessionalOfficer for the Pharmacy Category in hiscollateraldutysinceMarch2010.

RADMGiberson began his Corps career in1994 and he has served in roles as clinicalpharmacist, chief pharmacist, senior public

healthadvisor,seniormedicalprogramofficer,divisiondirector,andprincipalconsultant.Ina career marked by exemplary leadershipand notable undertakings, RADMGibersonservedasaclinicalpharmacist in three IHSlocales. Hewasa foundingmemberof theIHS National Clinical Pharmacy SpecialistProgram and he served subsequently asfacultyattheIHSClinicalPharmacyPracticeTrainingProgramandas faculty atmultipleschoolsofpharmacy.

His extremely cogent and well-presented2011ReporttotheSurgeonGeneralentitled“Improving Patient and Health SystemOutcomes Through Advanced PharmacyPractice” addressed concerns within thepharmacyandhealthcarefieldswithaviewtowardsolution-orientedobjectives.

RADM Giberson spent more than threeyearsexaminingtheroleofpharmacyinthehealth care system. His report has drawnquite a good deal of national coverage andcommunitywideinterestacrossthemedicaldisciplines. RADM Giberson explainedthat the textualbasisof the report isbeingreceived and adopted within the currenthealthcareclimateinaveryencouragingandaffirmativeway.“Wehavereceivedpositiveresponse from multiple sectors within thehealth care communities and at the seniorlevels of national health care,” noted theAdmiral. He offered a further elaboration,articulating his wish that patients couldbe more readily involved in the nationaldiscourse; but overall finding the materialmoving in “the right direction” for thebettermentofoverallhealthcare.

Commencement 2012


School of Pharmacy dean Hershey S. Bell, Md, rAdM Scott Giberson, trustee Chairman Michael Visnosky, Esq. and President John ferretti, dO.

TheAdmiraladdressedthewayinwhichhisrecommendationswillaffectthosewhowillenter theworkforceasnewpharmacistsashe expoundeduponhis objective to inspireandtoadvancetheprofessionandtofurtheritscomprehensivemission.Heclarifiedthatthereportshouldbeviewedas“atool”–andhecontinuedtoexplicatehisfindingsthattheskillsandbenefitsofferedandprovidedwithinthepharmacyarenaarevastlyunderutilized.RADM Giberson elucidated that from anoutcomes-basedperspectiveadoptingsome of these expanded pharmacists’ roles, for every dollar spent, four dollars can bereturned in cost-containment mechanisms.Heacknowledgedthechallengesatpresentarising from a strained economy, yet alsoaddressed the need to reduce demands onthe health care system using pharmacistsat the highest level of their licensure andeducation.

RADM Giberson further explained that heviews the model set forth in his report asonewhichfacilitatesasymbioticrelationshipbetween provider and market as well asbetweenphysician andpharmacist. Ratherthancompetitionintheprovidermarketplaceas an implement of bettering total patientcare,RADMGibersondetailedthathewouldlike to see a mutually beneficial interplayamong the health care communities. Sucha result would meld the disciplines to“work as a cohesiveunit to thebettermentof comprehensive patient care”. Clearly,the notion that underpins “the model iseffective,” noted RADM Giberson. Hecontinued,“physicianshadtheabilitytostopitovertime,butfounditvaluable,aswe(andpatients)havebenefittedfromtheworkingsofsimilarmodelssincetheearly1960s”.

When asked about the advice that hewould offer to new pharmacists as theyface a changing economic climate, RADMGiberson tempered a sober response withthe evident heart of a passionate optimistand a reflective intellectual. “Climatescycle” he stated, “but, initiative, inspiredyoungminds, innovationandvision– thoseare constants” he explained. “We have

the right environment to undertake trulyadvanced and momentous achievements,”encouraged the Admiral. “LECOM has agood advocate in Dean (Hershey) Bell, fullof vision and innovation,” observed RADMGiberson. “LECOM is just suchaplace forthose achievements and it has the perfectsituationtoposition itselfasoneofthetoppharmacyschoolsinthenation.”

In summarizing his view of the role thatosteopathicschoolswillplayin21stcenturyhealthcare,RADMGibersonemphasizedthevalueoftheosteopathic“totalbodyviewofmedicine” expounding upon his experience in IndianHealth Service and particularizingthat “for many thousands of years thetotal body view of health careworkedwellfor American Indians and Alaska Natives.Wellness and overall health is where thenationneedstogo.”

Engagedinthearenaofnationalhealthcarefor more than two decades, it is evidentthat RADMGiberson has brought passion,

balance, and plenty of bridge-buildingto every experience in which he had anopportunitytoaidhispatientsandtofurtherthebettermentofhealth.

Perhaps it is that passion that has drivenRADM Giberson to maintain his life-longfocuscommitmenttoournationasawhole.AsAristotlewrote–life’shighestattainmentis found in a man who has discovered acallingofpurpose.Indeed,RADMGibersonhasdonejustthat–elevatingandadvancingthe health of a nation and bestowingproficient skill, acute intellect, andpalpablecommitment to his calling. It is just thatpurpose that carries forth his passion andthat passion that builds the bridges to abettertomorrow.

Itcanbesaidthatthegreatestrewardsinlifeare reserved for those who demonstrate anever-ending commitment to act until theyachieve a purposeful result. This level ofresolvecanmovemountains-andforRADMGibersonitappearsashis“GoldenMean”.

Most people say that is it is the intellect that makes a great scientist. They are wrong: it is character. ~Albert Einstein

Commencement 2012


Hershey Bell, Md, welcomes rAdM Scott Giberson.

Commencement 2012


Ali Abtahi, DO has served for four years in the United States Air Force. Earning the rank of Captain, Dr. Abtahi is no stranger to diligence and he is not one to shrink from a challenging situation. As a key officer in charge of manpower and personnel pro-grams for a 400-person intelligence unit and a 75-member F-15C flying unit, Dr. Abtahi was afforded a “Top-Secret” clearance by the United States government with attendant Air Force “command authority” that enabled his management of a half-million dollars in Air Force assets. During the 2005, “Summit of the Americas” conference, he provided mili-tary support to President George W. Bush. In 2007, he was honored with an award for “Best Staff” and with a personal achievement trib-ute as “480th Intel Wing, Personnel Officer of the Year”. Dr. Abtahi also has toured with the Air Force F-15C Flight Demonstration Team as public affairs representative, during which time he garnered the Air Force Achievement Medal for two consecutive seasons with the team.

It is clear that Dr. Abtahi sees “service” as the highest spiritual discipline. As a man whose deep love of country and his commitment to service in all capacities has constantly guided his work ethic, this physician-airman under-stands that the goal of “service” is possessed with a dual effect; it extinguishes self-laudato-ry overstatement and it centers one upon the truest purpose of life. He has found that his truest purpose lies within his commitment to his country and to his calling of medicine.

Additionally, Dr. Abtahi is deeply involved with organ donation education and he volun-teers with the Center for Organ Recovery and

Proud to Serve His Country – Prepared to Answer His CallingMedicalGraduate EmbodiesLECOMMission

Education based in Pittsburgh. The high stan-dard of his professionalism coupled with the unfaltering pledge to public service evinces his love of country and of his dedication to a greater purpose. Abtahi explained that one of the core tenants ingrained in every Air Force Officer is that of “service before self.”

At its essence, it means the success of the mis-sion comes above one’s own needs or desires...many airmen have paid the ultimate sacrifice with this value in mind. With many of my friends still serving on active duty, it is the least I can do to continue this core value of giv-ing 100% of myself to the service of others; particularly in the medical profession where it is needed the most,” concluded Abtahi.

Lewis Carroll once said “if you don’t know where you are going, then any road will get

you there”. Dr. Abtahi knows well the path along which he travels – that path is filled with purpose – and to be sure, it was one that was hard-earned.

Self-described as half Salvadorian (mother) and half Persian (father), he was born and raised in Rolla, Missouri, a small agricultural town about two hours southwest of St. Louis. His very humble beginnings entailed his sin-gle mother laboring at two jobs to provide for his four-person family, of which Ali Abtahi was the youngest and only male. He faced the burden of funding his own education; a chal-lenge that he met with decided vigor. He did “whatever it took, living for four years in an unheated garage with a mattress for a bed and with furniture dug out of dumpsters”. Abtahi explained that he worked two jobs - phleboto-mist and restaurant host - to pay tuition. In need of financial assistance, he joined the Air Force ROTC program where he received a mil-itary scholarship that enabled him to become the only member of his family to earn a four-year degree.

Truly, Ali Abtahi understands a path wrought with challenge and he welcomes the purpose that can be derived from such challenge. He has found along his journey, a keen devo-

Commencement 2012 Outstanding Graduates and Purpose-Driven Goals

Ali Abtahi, dO, Class of 2012, (left) helped promote osteopathic medicine by appearing with danielle Hansen, dO, Class of 2005, on WSEE-tV’s “the insider”, hosted by newsman Scott Bremmer.

Commencement 2012


tion to “excellence” – a tenet embodied by, and inculcated at, LECOM. He has learned that such excellence is not found within a singular act, rather it is found within those continual acts that become as habits to one’s character. “Leadership by example”, said Dr. Abtahi. “The best leaders I knew were not al-ways the best at everything they did, but they were the ones who always gave their best. They constantly drove themselves to become better through perseverance and thus, they served as inspiration to others. Ultimately, if you do only that which you know you can do - you never do very much...and surely no one will be following you.” He understands that limita-tions can be nurtured within the mind, but if one seeks instead to nurture possibilities then one’s purpose becomes limitless.

It is that limitless purpose that Dr. Abtahi seems to exude in all endeavors and one that he plans to carry forward into his medical calling. Recently, he represented LECOM to promote National Osteopathic Medicine Week during a broadcast of “Erie Insider” on WSEE-TV.

Dr. Abtahi is a graduate of the University of Missouri from whence he earned his Master of Science Degree in Cell and Molecular Biolo-gy. His post-LECOM graduation undertaking focuses upon his plan to complete a general surgery residency at Wright State University Hospital in Dayton, Ohio.

The greatest barrier to success is the fear of failure, recognizes Dr. Abtahi. “The Air Force was instrumental in training me to become a leader who harnesses fear, who recognizes the possible, and who breaks through adversity. LECOM furthered this mentality by pushing me to my academic brink and by leading me to become the best physician I can possibly be. I’m excited to see where the next set of chal-lenges may lead me during my surgical train-ing,” he said. He understands that obstacles are the impediments that one sees when one takes an eye off the goal – and if past is pro-logue, it is clear that Dr. Ali Abtahi has no in-tention of meeting insurmountable barriers.

The passing of each year inscribes into the history of LECOM those in-delibly etched memories and achievements of the scholars who have held high the bar and who have borne the standard of all that is LECOM. This 16th class to graduate from LECOM leaves upon its legacy a mark of excellence and of outstanding achievement; and as family, friends, and colleagues gathered to rejoice for a world that will be made better by those who are answering their health care callings – LECOM pauses to reflect upon some of the graduates whose stellar undertakings have sparkled brightly among the College’s constellation of excellence.

Kevin Bartolomucci, DO – Spirit and Courage Lead Graduate to Overcome All Odds to Earn Degree Greensburg native, Kevin Bartolomucci, DO is a Primary Care Scholars Pathway graduate who, after taking a year hiatus to undergo cancer treatments, graduates with remarkable flourish. He is the recipient of the American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians Outstanding Senior Scholarship Award. The honor is bestowed upon the member of the graduating class who has demonstrated the characteristics necessary to be an exemplar within his class. What more inspiring role model can be found in a doctor who has endured and triumphed over cancer as a patient?

Dr. Bartolomucci graduated Magna Cum Laude from Duquesne University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Health Science. He considered himself fortunate to be selected for the LECOM Primary Care Scholars Pathway, but his career aspirations were sidetracked at the end of his second year of medical school when unexpectedly, he was diagnosed with Ewing’s Sarcoma. The rare diagnosis would first require that he undergo multiple surgeries; it would then necessitate that he miss his third year of school in order to accommodate a rigorous 12 month cycle of radiation and chemotherapy treatment. Optimistically, Dr. Bartolomucci discerned a silver lining through the darkness of cancer treatment. “I whole-heartedly believe that my struggle with cancer has put me in a better position to fulfill my goal of becoming a family physician; one who is capable of providing patient-centered care. I also believe that I will be better equipped to prepare my patients for their long journey with a chronic illness,” he stated. Dr. Bartolomucci was determined to be cancer free by June, 2011 and he was able to return to school to complete his final year of medical studies.

He was accepted into the family medicine residency program at Latrobe Area Hospital and he begins caring for patients this summer. Dr. Bartolomucci is grateful to LECOM for “having faith in me and for standing beside me in good times and in bad”. He credits the education that he received at LECOM as one that will allow him to excel as an osteopathic family physician.

Commencement 2012


Sohini Sokar, DO – From Teacher to Physician, Pharmacist becomes a DO Sohini Sarkar, DO, came to Erie as a LECOM pharmacy faculty member who decided to pursue medicine. Dr. Sarkar calls South Brunswick, New Jersey home. She was accepted to the Doctor of Pharmacy program at Rutgers, Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy in Piscataway New Jersey, from where she was graduated with honors, receiving her PharmD degree in May of 2006.

“The love and support from my mom, sister, and grandmother has carried me through all of my academic challenges,” remarked Dr. Sarkar. Completing her residency in Medical Literature Evaluation/Drug Information at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital/Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy, her passion for teaching and patient care led her to pursue teaching as a career. However, as a young woman searching for a position as an assistant professor, she found a challenging market. “Interviewing at LECOM, I was offered a position as a professor and clinical pharmacist utilizing all of the skills that I had acquired through college and residency,” continued Dr. Sarkar. She emphasized her gratitude for the position calling it “the perfect blend of didactic and clinical skills”. She deeply valued her first two years at LECOM as a full-time professor and clinical pharmacist.

“I truly have passion for academia and medicine,” affirmed Dr. Sarkar. While at Millcreek Community Hospital, she was afforded the opportunity to work with cardiologist Kevin J. Mikielski, DO, who inspired her to pursue her dream of becoming a physician. “I was grateful for my acceptance to LECOM and I continued much of my teaching and pharmacy organization responsibilities. I felt that I could offer much to the medical community by combining my PharmD with my DO training,” she said. The dual degrees provided Dr. Sarkar with a greater understanding of pharmacy merged with a comprehension of disease and diagnostics.

Dr. Sarkar noted that the osteopathic training was instrumental to her dream of being a well-rounded physician. The additional hands-on training that only LECOM could offer is invaluable to Dr. Sarkar. “I do not have the words to express how appreciative I am for the opportunity to attend Medical School at LECOM,” emphasized Dr. Sarkar. She concluded, “Without the support and kindness of each of my colleagues in pharmacy, the faculty, staff, and physician mentors, I could not have fulfilled my dream of becoming a physician”.

Marissa Elaine McNeal, DO – Student Government Leader Takes Her Community Service Experience into Practice Marisa Elaine McNeal, DO, received the College of Medicine Dean’s Award. The prize is awarded to the member of the graduating class who, in the judgment of the Academic Dean of the College of Medicine, exemplifies the unique combination of character, moral, academic, and ethi-cal behavior expected in an osteopathic medical stu-dent. Born and raised in Towanda, Pa., she attended Gettysburg College, re-ceiving her undergraduate degree in Health Sciences.

While at LECOM, Dr. McNeal served as SGA President. She notes that her leadership position provided to her many opportunities for cam-pus and community involvement Dr. McNeal credits LECOM with nurturing within her the precious value of giving back to the commu-nity through volunteer work, which she continued while on rotations during her last two years of medical school. This summer, Dr. McNeal will begin an Internal Medicine residency at Wilson Hospital in John-son City, N.Y.

Jamie Melichar, DO – Hospital Volunteer Finds Path To Career at LECOM Bradenton The path to the medical profession is most chal-lenging and many find their way to it in remark-able and motivating ways. Jamie Melichar, DO’s experiences as a teenage hospital volunteer led her onto the path to become an osteopathic physician.

As a 17-year-old junior in high school, Dr. Melichar found a head start in her medical training when she volunteered as a patient care technician and phleboto-mist at Morton Plant Mease North Bay Hospital in New Port Richey, Florida. “My experiences through the years have allowed me to appreciate the complexity of balancing medicine with compassionate care,” said Dr. Melichar, a 2007 graduate of the University of South Florida.

Commencement 2012


It is precisely the compassion for the patient that stands as the hallmark of osteopathic medicine and it is that selfsame compassion that remains steadfastly at the core of the LECOM philosophy. Not surprisingly, it is that philosophy – treating the patient mind, body, and spirit – that Dr. Melichar appreciates the most.

“The founder of osteopathic medicine, Andrew Taylor Still, said: ‘To find health should be the object of the doctor - anyone can find disease’,” recounted Dr. Melichar. “This is the most eloquent description of the os-teopathic physician. Osteopathic medicine is a philosophy that helps us remember that a patient is more than just that which we see on a lab report or an X-Ray. Patients are complex puzzles with multiple components that osteopathic physicians must respect – as well as treat.”

Dr. Melichar played an active role as a LECOM student. She served as President of the Student American Academy of Osteopathy Club, Vice President of the Florida Osteopathic Medical Association (FOMA) student chapter, and she served as a member of the Integrative Medicine Club. In 2010, Dr. Melichar received FOMA’s Student Award.

Between studying and serving as a club officer, she gave birth to her daugh-ter, Natalie, whom she calls “her inspiration.” Dr. Melichar continues along the path of her medical calling - taking her training and skill to Florida’s Largo Medical Center for a family practice residency.

As the way stretches broadly ahead of her, Dr. Melichar asseverated, “I am very well prepared to move to the next stage of my training and to begin residency.” She credits her experiences at LECOM for having laid the groundwork for her to continue to build upon the foundations that the College instilled within her and to travel the road of a calling filled with purpose and compassion.

Michael Heck, DO – Former Musician Finds His Rhythm in Osteopathic Medicine Music and medicine are intertwined by rhythm. For years, Michael Heck, DO pursued his passion and he kept a steady rhythm as a musician. Now, the 33-year old father of one will monitor the rhythms of his patients’ heartbeats as an osteopathic physician.

“Music and medicine go hand-in-hand,” contended Dr. Heck. “Medicine, like music, is an art, which must be practiced and perfected.” He knows that the best musicians are those who can practice a skill relentlessly, for hours upon end; as does a medical student by perfecting his or her skills through constant study and training. It is this ability to practice that “differentiates between a skilled guitarist and the fellow who can pluck out a couple of chords,” explained Dr. Heck.

Dr. Heck’s musical talents began in the elementary school choir. From there, he studied the saxophone and drums; and later he honed his guitar skills as a member of his high school rock band–“Wish”. After seven years

of teaching guitar and drum lessons in a music store and playing gigs in smoke-filled clubs, Dr. Heck decided to change keys in the score of his life to become a physician. With the support of his family, he left the musical arena to return to school and earn his Biology degree from Virginia Commonwealth University. He entered LECOM Bradenton in the fall of 2008.

One of Dr. Heck’s challenges – aside from the rigorous medical school curriculum – was dedicating quality time to spend with his family. His wife, Laura, is a dental hygienist and the couple has an 11-year old daughter, Lizzie.

“Balancing medical school with family life has been a challenge,” commented Dr. Heck. “Although I do have more demands upon my time and more responsibilities, I have a great support system. Medical school is difficult no matter how you slice it, but I am glad that I have had my family’s support.”

Dr. Heck is grateful to LECOM for preparing him well for the next stage of his career: a psychiatry residency at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville. “Neuroscience research is only beginning to reach a point where we are able to examine the brain and to unlock its secrets,” he said. “I am particularly interested in the neuroscience of the emotional effects of music and of the way in which this information may better be applied as treatment in psychiatry and music therapy.” The lengthy and arduous road to a purposeful osteopathic mission in the life of Dr. Heck may blend his love of music and his passion for medicine after all – and that is music to everyone’s ears.

Miciah Jones, DO – No Longer Knocking on Doors for Sales, New DO Finds Door Open for Him in Medicine Where there is a will, there is a way, states the adage – and so it is for LECOM Bradenton graduate and Class of 2012 President, Miciah Jones, DO. Finding a will to help defray the expense of undergraduate school, Dr. Jones traveled door-to-door, selling books for the Southwestern Company.

The experiences of knocking on doors, trudging through neighborhoods, and dealing with the ups and downs of salesmanship in a town far from his own, gave him the wherewithal to pursue his dream of becoming a physician.

“I was a 19-year old student selling books door-to-door in Minnesota,” recalled the Chicago native. “I made $3,000 that summer; averaging 75 hours a week for 13 weeks. Truly, it put matters into perspective. Many people don’t know what it means to grind away and to motivate oneself; whether it may be selling books or taking care of a patient, one must go into it with a positive attitude.”

dr. Jones with step-father Bruce Jones, Md.dr. Heck with father-in-law William Viglione, Md.

Commencement 2012


That positive attitude has carried Dr. Jones through medical school; and he made the choice to pursue that calling later than most students. Upon high school graduation, he considered pursuing a marketing career. However, after majoring in exercise physiology at Florida State University, Dr. Jones seriously began considering a career in medicine. Inspired by his step-father, Bruce Jones, MD, a family practice physician, the FSU graduate chose LECOM “because of its curriculum and commitment to professionalism”. “I had aspirations of playing soccer overseas or perhaps becoming an entrepreneur,” mused Dr. Jones, who worked as a personal trainer. He explained that he always had enjoyed the sciences and he found great interest in learning about the human body. “As I got older, I found that medicine truly was my calling,” he concluded.

Dr. Jones noted that he particularly appreciated talking with the students during his LECOM interview day; and he recalled the sparklingly clean building and the air of professionalism that emanated from the student body. “That setting makes for a great learning environment,” he stated .

Dr. Jones undertook a leadership role during his first year at LECOM. He was named President of the Class of 2012 - a role he greatly valued and seriously honored.

“Class leadership is very important to me,” said Dr. Jones, who is off to Olympia Fields, Ill. for an internal medicine residency at Franciscan St. James Health Hospital. “Efficiency and work ethic are the keys to accomplishment. We had a very diverse class with people interested in a variety of areas; it was exceptionally important that we gave back to the community and that we spread the word about LECOM.”

Likewise, there is no doubt that LECOM finds it exceptionally important to spread the word about these accomplished and caring graduates, who will carry the shining imprimatur of their college to all points along their paths as they live to serve in the calling of their lives.

Arpit Mehta, PharmD – Commitment to Community and Profession Lead Graduate to State and National ServiceArpit Mehta, PharmD feels strongly that his training at LECOM has successfully pre-pared him for an excellent and challenging future in Phar-macy. Dr. Mehta is a member of the New Practitioners sec-tion of the American Society of Health-System Pharma-cists and he is the recipient of the Pennsylvania Society of Health-System Pharmacists Student of the Year Award.

Arpit Mehta started the LECOM Health Fairs and he proved an instrumental leader of many organizations at the College. “My interest and career in Health-System Pharmacy started in 2004 as a Certified Pharmacy Technician at Howard County General Hospital, in Columbia, Maryland” recalled Dr. Mehta. He worked part-time at

the Johns Hopkins affiliated hospital while completing his Bachelor of Science degree in Biology and minor in Economics at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. Upon completion of his Bachelor’s de-gree, Dr. Mehta enrolled in the Pharmacy Post-Baccalaureate Program at LECOM; from there he was accepted to the LECOM School of Phar-macy where he continued to explore Health-System Pharmacy. As an intern at UPMC Hamot Hospital in Erie, Pa., Dr. Mehta developed and matured as a pharmacy student, noting the experiences offered by LECOM as invaluable to his growth.

As Vice-President of the Student Government Association (SGA) and President of the Student Society of Health-System Pharmacists (SSHP), he noted that the experiences gained with these positions and others prepared him for a future as a Health-System Pharmacy leader. From LECOM, Dr. Mehta plans to conduct a two year PGY1/PGY2 combined Health-System Pharmacy Administration residency at West Penn Allegheny Health System in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania along with a Multidisciplinary Master of Public Health degree from the University of Pittsburgh.

Rebecca Bollinger, PharmD - State Pharmacists Recognize Advocacy of LECOM Graduate The 2012 Class brims with note-worthy distinction in such stu-dents as Rebecca Bollinger, PharmD, a pharmacy student scholar who, as the President of American Pharmacist Associa-tion, was one of the recipients of the American Association of Col-lege Pharmacy Walmart Schol-arship for teaching in 2011. Ac-tive in pharmacy advocacy, Dr. Bollinger finished her clinical rotations with the Pennsylvania Pharmacist Association. She was instrumental in authoring a pro-posal that was submitted to the Pennsylvania Senate regarding allow-ing pharmacy interns to provide immunizations. The last line of her proposal was incorporated into the pending Senate Bill. “I am most excited to know that by taking the time to put my thoughts into words and then to present them to my colleagues, I have essentially helped to bring about a change in the law and pharmacy education,” affirmed Dr. Bollinger.

Born and raised in Altoona, Pennsylvania, Bollinger completed her undergraduate studies in Chemical Biotechnology at East Stroudsburg University. She pursued a PhD at Carnegie Mellon University. Bol-linger chose her pharmacy path at LECOM because she sought a career that combined science with one-on-one interaction with people. There is little doubt that her career will involve lobbying efforts coupled with a keen interest in community service. A newlywed of sorts, Bollinger has been married for just over one year and she resides near Pittsburgh with her husband, a dog, and two cats.

Commencement 2012


Mitchell Ranzenberger, PharmD – Lake Erie Swim Reveals Character of a True Champion Mitchell Ranzenberger, PharmD notably swam across Lake Erie while in the pharmacy program at LECOM. Ranzenberger, who swam nearly 24 miles to cross Lake Erie, became the 12th person ever to success-fully swim the lake. Of the 57 people who have attempt-ed to swim across Lake Erie, he holds the distinction of being among the select few who have actually completed the challenge. Dr. Ranzen-berger knows that being the best is not so much about overcoming the barriers that others erect as it is about overcoming the barriers that one places in front of oneself.

For Dr. Ranzenberger, his mission had nothing to do with the barri-ers of breaking records, rather it did have everything to do with having the vision to dream, the courage to recover from adversity, and the de-termination never to lose sight of a purpose. His purpose was to swim in memory of three of his close friends who had committed suicide; dedicating his race to them and to suicide awareness. For that reason, and for those friends that he lost to suicide, Dr. Ranzenberger took the perilous plunge.

The Kansas City native attributes success to an indomitable will and a focused determination. Recalling the event, he stated “if I didn’t have my team there, I wouldn’t have made it”. With the encouragement of his wife and three children - his support team, which accompanied

him in a power boat and kayaks, and buoyed by friends and onlookers, Dr. Ranzenberger completed the crossing from Long Point, Ontario to Freeport Beach in North East Township in eighteen hours. It was a memorable moment for Dr. Ranzenberger and it was an extraordinary first for a LECOM student. Such events do not build character, they reveal it; and LECOM is proud to recall the accomplishment of this amazing athlete and scholar in his triumphant achievement.

Breanna Coletta, PharmD – First in Her Family to Practice in Health Care, Graduate Learned Value of Patient Care Breanna Coletta, PharmD calls Northeast, Pa. her home. As one of five children in her close knit family, her mother is a high school principal and her father is a grape farmer, Dr. Coletta will be the first in her family to practice in the health care arena. Her deci-sion to enter the pharmacy field was solidified when her grandfather became very ill. During his care, her grand-mother grew increasingly concerned as to whether she was making the best decisions regarding his care. Absent needed information and with no one to whom she could turn for guidance, Dr. Coletta’s grandmother feared that the medications were causing more harm than good. She decided at that moment that she would be a person that any of her patients could approach to obtain information that they needed about medica-tions.

Dr. Coletta expressed her good fortune to have attended LECOM

LECOM School of Pharmacy dean Hershey S. Bell, Md, was on shore to give congratula-tions as ranzenberger emerged from Lake Erie at freeport Beach in north East, Pa.

Mitchell ranzenberger, Pharmd, 2012, helps a young patient with his medications.

dr. ranzenberger with his father Steven ranzenberger, dO.

Commencement 2012


and to have been able to remain near her family. She has signed with Walmart to remain within the Erie region that she calls home and to give back to her community. Dr. Coletta emphasized that during her rotations she developed solid associations and deep respect for faculty members and for the amount of time and effort that they devote to making their students great future pharmacists. “Experiencing the excellent mentorship that they provided to me has compelled me to want to be a preceptor in the future and to impact students’ lives as positively as they have impacted mine” averred Coletta.

Kelley Moore, PharmD and Brett Moore, PharmD – Older Sister Takes Cue from Brother to Pursue Pharmacy DegreeIn the category of sibling success stories, broth-er and sister - Kelley Moore, PharmD and Philip (Brett) Moore, PharmD graduated together with the 2012 Class of the LECOM School of Pharmacy. The siblings hail from Rimersburg, Pa. where the genesis of their health care interest was formed. “Three years ago, I was sitting in an undergraduate classroom with no idea what I wanted to do with my life,” recalled Kelley. Her family had been encouraging her to apply to LECOM, knowing that her brother, who is two years younger than Kelley had been accepted into LECOM. Phillip was accepted into the 2 + 3 matriculation program through the University of Pittsburgh at Titusville that led him to LECOM’s pharmacy school.

“As a LECOM graduate, now ready to begin the next chapter of my life, I cannot believe that I once questioned my future career path,” mused Kelley. She praised LECOM providing her with a different perspec-tive regarding her pursuit of a career in pharmacy. “They supplied all of the opportunities necessary to develop and sharpen the core skills needed for a successful future,” she asserts. The high standards that LECOM sets for its students were evident to her brother as well. Philip explained that “LECOM aided my efforts by having a very approach-able open door policy with educators”. He noted that many of the educators are still practicing pharmacy themselves, which facilitated a real world practical application within the classrooms. “Rotating with preceptors was a blessing” affirmed Philip. He clarified that “they directly applied classroom material to real-time cases” proving most beneficial for him.

“I believe that my education at LECOM helped me to mature and to learn a great deal about pharmacy, leadership, and future initiatives,” stated Philip. Kelley has accepted a position as a staff pharmacist with Walmart in Minneapolis, Minn. Of LECOM, Kelley commented “the

College’s unique demonstration of encouragement and motivation has unveiled a radiant future for me with endless possibilities”. Broth-er, Philip plans to work for Walmart in Minneapolis, as well, and to further pursue his MBA.

Brandon Flohr, PharmD - Graduate Can Trace His Pharmacy Roots to Texas in the 1880sBrandon Flohr, PharmD’s path to pharmacy school was paved long before he entered LECOM Bradenton in the fall of 2008.

Both his great-grandfather, Richard Siebens and grandfather, Edward Beverly, were pharmacists and the two men owned the Smith Brothers Drugstore in McKinney, Texas. Smith Brothers Drugs opened on the square in downtown McKinney in 1880. It was the oldest continuously run business in the bustling town until its closing in 2008.

Dr. Flohr’s father-in-law, aunt, and uncle are pharmacists as well. “The tradition of the hometown pharmacist is built upon patient interaction,” said Flohr. “Everyone knows the neighborhood pharmacist. They are first in line to help with patient care outside of the doctor’s office.”

Despite an influx of chain pharmacies permeating most towns, Dr. Flohr insists that there is still room for the small, hometown pharmacy. “I truly believe that the small town pharmacies can survive,” he confirmed. “They may not be able to compete with the bigger names, so they have to make their service unique; they have to carve out a niche – like compounding – to make them stand out from the big companies.”

Dr. Flohr’s mission and his determination are reminiscent of the innovative and indomitable foresight that two decades ago, laid the groundwork for LECOM. That very spirit and pioneering vision is effervescent in Dr. Flohr. It is patient care that remains at the core of the LECOM School of Pharmacy mission and it is patient care that he sees as his objective.

“There were many moments when I was on clinical rotations that I was able to help somebody,” he recalled. “To help someone and to touch someone’s life is the reason that we are in the health care field in the first place.”

Dr. Flohr’s call to pharmacy took him 900 miles from his hometown of Dallas to Bradenton, Fla. After marrying in his home state of Texas in 2010, he returned to Florida, while his wife, Melissa remained in Texas to continue her nursing career. “It is challenging to be away from home,” he admits, “but, I love the learning environment at LECOM with small class sizes and availability of faculty – and that played into my decision to travel the distance to Bradenton.” Dr. Flohr returns to join his family fraternity of pharmacists in the Lone Star state with his position reserved at CVS Caremark Pharmacy in Dallas. His advice to those interested in a pharmacy career is simple: “Love what you do”.

Those who know LECOM are aware ofhowtheschooladvocatesthepursuitof

excellenceineducationandapurposeinourmission that translates into great success.Our success has come through the workof individuals suchas themanwehonoredat Commencement for his dedication tobuildingthedreamthathasbecomeLECOM.

AsoneofthefoundersofLECOM,Dr.DennisAgostini’s history with the school creatingclinical education opportunities for ourstudentsparallelsthegrowththathasmadeourcollegethelargestmedicalschoolinthecountry.

Thecombinationofhishonorablecharacter,vibrant spirit, and singular focus uponimprovementcomprisesjustonepartofthereasonthatLECOMhasselectedDr.Agostinias the recipient of the 2012 President’s Award. He committed more than twentyyearsofunparalleledservice to thecollege.Thisfitting tribute recognizeshis esteemedpositions at LECOM, including those ofAssociateDeanofClinicalEducation,ClinicalProfessor of Emergency Medicine andBiochemistry, and Chief Academic OfficeroftheLakeErieConsortiumforOsteopathicMedicalTraining.

As Associate Dean, Dr. Agostini built theclinicaleducationprogramfromoneteachinghospital to more than 100 hospitals andclinicswhereourstudentspursuetheirthird-andfourth-yeartraining.Today,nearly2000clinical adjunct faculty teach our students.As the LECOMT Chief Academic Officerhe worked diligently to attract new postgraduateteachinghospitalsasthatprogramgrewfromonehospitaltonearly40.

Dr. Agostini grew up in Erie and attendedGannon University. He did not start outto become a physician. He first went toCleveland and earned a Ph.D. in PolymerChemistry from Case Western ReserveUniversity in 1971. But later, he returned toPennsylvaniatobecomeaphysician.

2012 President’s Award – Dennis E. Agostini, DO

After receiving his Doctor of OsteopathicMedicine degree in 1978 from thePhiladelphia College of OsteopathicMedicine,hetrainedwiththeFamilyPracticeResidencyProgramatMillcreekCommunityHospital in Erie. He also became certifiedin Emergency Medicine. He has earned alifetime certification from the AmericanOsteopathicBoardofFamilyPhysiciansandheenjoysthestatusofLifetimeFellowintheAmericanCollegeofEmergencyPhysicians.

In keeping with LECOM’s commitmentto serve not only our community but our

Country, Dr. Agostini earned the rank ofMajor while providing medical services intheU.S. Army ReserveMedical Corps as amilitaryphysicianduringtheGulfWar.

In serving the health care needs of ourcommunity, he became Director ofEmergency Services and Chair of theDepartment of Emergency Medicine atMillcreekCommunityHospital.Dr.Agostinihas served as chair and/or member ona number of professional committees,associations, and boards; and he is theauthorofnumerouspublications.

LECOM is particularly pleased to recognize Dr. Dennis E. Agostini, DO as a most deserving

and dedicated physician, educator, administrator, and patriot – and the recipient of the 2012 President’s Award.

Michael Visnosky, Esq. and John ferretti, dO congratulate dennis Agostini, dO (center) after his award.

Commencement 2012


“Example is not the main thing in influencing others, it is the only thing”. Such are the words of Albert Schweitzer and such is the life’s purpose of Joan Moore, DO. With this announcement, her luminescent example is recognized and extolled by LECOM as Dr. Moore steps forward with delighted dedication to announce the establishment of the Marie L. Mazzio and Dr. John D. Latorella Memorial Scholarship Award. The Scholarship Award will benefit a deserving LECOM student exhibiting need of financial support. The memorial award is instituted in honor of Dr. Moore’s mother, the late Marie L. Mazzio and it is jointly named for Dr. Moore’s uncle, Dr. John D. Latorella.

Dr. Moore dually credits her mother and uncle with the realization of her life’s dream. “They were the inspiration, the champions, and the collectively dynamic force that shaped the person that I grew to become,” asseverated Dr. Moore. “There was nothing more central or more important than education; there was nothing more valued or more encouraged than giving back to others; there was no purpose or attainment more meaningful than family.” Imbued with those core life lessons, Dr. Moore found her passion in her calling to medicine.

Dr. Moore has committed herself to work that is unique and highly characteristic of LECOM. Her general practice of medicine in radiology and oncology spanned over 30 years, during which time Dr. Moore took successful multitasking to an art form. She served concomitantly as Professor of Radiology and she devoted much of her time as Medical Director for the Anthony Correctional Center in West Virginia. She was an acclaimed Division Surgeon in the United States Army Reserves from which she has retired as Lt. Colonel and she served as Medical Director to the Army EMT course for over a decade.

All this and so much more, she selflessly credits as the resultant effect of the enthusiastic encouragement and dedicated guidance of her mother and uncle.

Dr. Moore’s mother, Marie L. Mazzio, personified the pioneering ‘woman of tomorrow’ before the notion of an educated and accomplished woman became conventional. Marie Mazzio was a certified public accountant and she offered a vigor and dynamism that set high the bar for her children. With a determined and singularly focused mission, Marie ensured an education for her children; her son – became an attorney and her daughter became a physician. Their achievements filled Marie Mazzio with deep and ebullient happiness. It is with beloved admiration and unparalleled respect for her mother’s vision and unremitting love for her children that Dr. Moore sought to put in place this scholarship award.

Dr. John D. Latorella embodied the epitome of an American doctor - one who lived in Winthrop, Mass. and practiced in Boston; one who was a surgeon-soldier in World War II; and one whose life’s work centered upon the principle and fundamental purpose of service

to others. Whether it was service to his country or service to the patients who packed his office in Boston, those who came to know “Dr. John” departed his presence feeling soul-touched and spirit-restored. “He was a man who cared for the ‘whole person’ at a time when the now-recognized benefits of osteopathic medicine were still in the fledgling stages,” explained Dr. Moore. “When he died, 46 years ago, people poured into the streets of Boston to pay their respects.” The Latorella family of five siblings was well-educated and successful; exhibiting always a joy of life that they shared with each other and with their children. To them and to all, Dr. John Latorrella gave of his healing hands

with a happy and exultant heart.

It is little wonder that Dr. Moore has demonstrated through her actions and to all those whom she has touched in practice and in community, a character built upon giving back and giving to others. She embodies the very principles of the legacy that came before and she reflects the very mission and purpose of the Lake Erie College

of Osteopathic Medicine. For her mother and uncle – who so clearly shaped her destiny, Dr. Joan Moore marks their gifts with her own gift to the future of medicine.

For, if as the Bible illuminates, “it is in the giving that we receive”, or as the Hindu scriptures explain, “they who give, have all things; they who withhold, have nothing” – Dr. Moore advises “give back and give thanks” – there is going to be some person in each of our lives to whom we attribute that power of self that we came to discover. Each of us has cause to think with profound gratitude of those who have lighted the flame within us. For Dr. Moore, she extends her gratitude to continue the brightly burning lamp of learning, the circle of compassion, and the selflessness of giving to the benefit of the LECOM family and to enrich the future of medicine – and wouldn’t her mother and uncle smile broad and beaming smiles to know just how far their gifts will extend?

The Lamp of Learning Burns Brightly for Dr. Joan MooreMarie L. Mazzio and dr. John d. Latorella Memorial Scholarship Award

“They were the inspiration, the champions, and the collectively dynamic force that shaped the person that I

grew to become. There was nothing more central or more important than education; there was nothing more valued or more encouraged than giving back to others; there was no purpose or attainment more meaningful than family.”

Joan Moore, dO presents the Memorial Scholarship Award to Susan Overkamp, dO, Class of 2012

Commencement 2012


It was the entrepreneurial spirit that allowedBenjaminFranklintobuildwealth,toservehiscommunity, and to create a better world forfuturegenerations.However,BenFranklindidnotmerelyleavetheworldwithhisnumerousinventionsorwithayoungcountrycalledthe“UnitedStatesofAmerica”;healsocontributeda legacy of boundless personal wisdom andadvice from hismanywritings - some of hisbestadviceisfinancial.

ArecentreportgeneratedbytheAssociationof Independent Colleges and Universities ofPennsylvania(AICUP)hasexposed, forsome-athought-provoking,attention-grabbing,andostensibly curious “discovery”. Indeed, formost,itmaynotbedeemed“discovery”atall–itmaybejustgoodoldcommonsense;orasFranklinwouldinstruct,“dotherightthing,andlivebelow-notat -yourmeans”.

Withsuchanaphorisminmind,AICUPhas determined that private dollarsspent to educate future scholars arebetterutilized,moreeffectivelyspent,andresult inmorefavorableoutcomesacrosstheboard than thoseexpendedbystate-operated institutions of higher learning.AICUP echoing Franklin’s maxim: “if youknowhowtospendlessthanyouget,youhavethephilosopher’sstone”.

Herearethefactsaskeenly,methodically,andscrupulouslyparsedbytheAICUP:

After studying independent college anduniversity costs across the Commonwealthto assess multitudinous factors such asdegree,graduationrate,economicimpact,andminoritybenefit;thensubsequentlycomparingthose findings to state-funded and state-supportedinstitutions–thebottomlineresultsunequivocallydemonstratethatindependentlyoperatedcollegesanduniversitiessavedollarswhilemakingthegreatestandmostfavorableeconomic impact upon the communities andregionsinwhichtheschoolsarelocated.

TheAICUPstudywasconductedbywayofascrupulousexaminationofrecords-includingenrollment, graduation data, communitybenefit, dollars expended, value-ratiosreceived by communities, and comparativeanalysis of colleges and universities across

the Commonwealth. AICUP’s results areevocative of fellow Pennsylvanian, Franklin,who counseled, “Spend one penny less thanthycleargains”.

As for maintaining low-cost tuition –independent and privately run schools leadstate-managed institutionsby largemeasure.Between 2006 and 2012, a nation-wideevaluation of room-and-board costs foundthe average total net price of a per studenteducation increased by only $450 in private,non-profit four-year institutions. When onlytuition and fees were considered, net prices

per student actually decreased. Comparethosefindingstothecostoftuitionsthatstateinstitutionsrecordedandthestudychartedanacross-the-boardnearly40%percentincreaseforeachstudent.

Benjamin Franklin cautioned, “think whatyou do when you run in debt: you give toanother power over your liberty”. Duringthe 2009-10 school year, first-time, full-timeundergraduates at Pennsylvania independentcolleges and universities receiving financialaidgarneredanaverageof$16,150ingrantaidfrom federal, state, and institutional sources.State-fundedschools-provingthestatesman’sadagethat“greatspendersarebadlenders”-almosttripledthatnumber.

Meanwhile, transmuting value to the dollar,independent colleges have demonstratedtheir commitment to increasing access forlow income students. Graduation rates forminorities attending independent schoolsalso topped those graduating from stateinstitutions.

Independent colleges and universitiesthroughout Pennsylvania are the first choiceforpost-graduateworkintheCommonwealth.With 65% percent of advanced degreesawarded, independent college students werefoundmorelikelytoearnadegreewithinfouryearsthanweretheirpublicschoolcounterparts.Thousands of undergraduate, graduate, andprofessionalstudentswhosepermanenthomeaddress iswithinPennsylvaniaandwhowereawarded degrees over the past several yearschose to remain within the Commonwealth.This“choice”servestoquellthe“braindrain”;the consequence of which presents greatpublicbenefit.

The report further underscored the factthat Pennsylvania’s independent

colleges and universities remain amajordriverofconsumerspending

within the Commonwealth with over$16.1 billion dollars in economic impactgeneratedwithintheregion.Studentsand their families, as well as thefaculty and staff, often patronize

localrestaurantsandretailers.

Independent colleges and universitiespayover$4.58billiondollarsinsalaries

each year to almost 80,000 employees;making independentcollegesanduniversitiesthe fourth largest private sector employer intheCommonwealth.

The taxpayer costperdegree forprivateandindependentcollegeswasjustover$3,000perstudentascompared to thestate-funded taxexpenditureperstudentdegreethatsurpassed$22,000.

The current national economic crisis andthe attendant challenging fiscal climate hasemphasized to most discerning Americans,that taxpayer funds need to be spent wiselyand efficiently. Nowhere is that fact moreevident than in the field of higher education.Independentcollegesanduniversitiesare themost efficient investment Pennsylvania canmake inhighereducation. Takinga linefromBenjaminFranklin’sAlmanac-“apennysaved”trulyis“apennyearned”.

As a Nation Examines Spending, a Return to American Foundational Values Proves Instructive – “Spend Wisely”

Illustration courtesy of AICUP: Making an Impact, The Economic Impact of Independent Higher Education in Pennsylvania, 2012

.

Education


Education


The American Association of Colleges ofOsteopathic Medicine (AACOM) AnnualMeetingandAwardsBanquetheldonMarch31,2012inWashington,D.C.wasthesettingforaneveningthathighlightedanaccolade-filled program for the President of LECOM,two award-winning LECOM educators, andtheschool’sDirectorofCommunications.

All told, LECOM was honored with sixseparate tributes at the AACOM annualmeeting.

AACOM presented the 2012 Robert A.Kistner Award to LECOM President John

LECOM President, Educators, and Communications Department Capture a Bevy of Awards at AACOMLECOM President receives national Medical Education Award; dr. richard Ortoski and dr. Mark Andrews Accept Awards in innovation; dr. richard Keller is inducted into nAOME; and Pierre Bellicini Garners Media triumph

M. Ferretti, DO. The Robert A. KistnerAward is named for the distinguished Dr.Kistner,who served at theChicagoCollegeofOsteopathicMedicine for26years. Theaward is presented to an individual whohas made a significant contribution toosteopathicmedicaleducation. Dr.Ferretti,President,CEO,andco-founderof theLakeErie College of Osteopathic Medicine, hasmade substantial contributions both tothe education of the next generation ofphysicians and to improving health carefor the underserved. Under his unfalteringleadership, LECOMhasbecome the largest

medicalcollegeintheUnitedStates.

Inacceptingtheaward,Dr.Ferrettiaffirmedhis commitment to the purposeful missionfirst established by LECOM and he furtherexplicated his profound honor in beingrecognizedwith an award that paid tributeto Dr. Kistner as an outstanding medicaleducator of our time. While the KistnerAward may be conferred upon a recipientfor past achievements, Dr. Ferretti avowedhis determination to press ever onwardto achieve even greater advancements inhealth care training and instruction. In his

(L-r) richard Ortoski, dO, Pierre Bellicini, Christopher Keller, Phd, Mark Andrews, Phd and President John ferretti, dO accepting awards.

Education


remarks, LECOM’s President affirmed theunlimited potential coupled with estimablegoals that can be conquered in medicaleducationthroughcompanionedeffortswithorganizationssuchasAACOM.

On the heels of that inspirationalmoment,cameyetanotherroundofhonors.

AACOM’s Society of Osteopathic MedicalEducators (SOME) Innovation in MedicalEducationAwardsrecognizedtheeducationalinnovationsthathaveresultedinmeaningfulchangeatthedeveloper’sinstitution.

Richard A. Ortoski, DO,wasnamedastherecipient of the very firstMarguerite ElliottInnovation in Clinical Medicine EducationAward based upon his development of thePrimary Care Scholars Pathway (PCSP)Enrichment Module. The Society ofOsteopathic Educators requested entries inthecompetition towhichDr.Ortoski,Chairof theLECOMDepartmentofPrimaryCareEducation and Clinical Professor of FamilyMedicine and Human Sexuality submittedthe foundational work-product that hecreatedtoestablishthePathway.

Dr. Ortoski established the enrichmentmodulecurriculumforthePCSP-oneofthetwo,three-yearpathwaysofferedatLECOM.Whentheprogrambeganin2007,itwastheonly three-yearmedical degree program inthecountry.

Dr. Ortoski serves as the Clinical Directorof thenewPrimaryCareScholarsPathway,anacceleratedpathway into the specialtiesof Family Medicine and General InternalMedicine. He received his Doctor ofOsteopathic Medicine Degree from thePhiladelphia College of OsteopathicMedicine. From there he pursued his post-doctoral training at Flint OsteopathicHospital in Flint, Mich. (now GenesysRegional Medical Center). Dr. Ortoski iscertifiedinFamilyMedicineandAdolescentandYoungAdultMedicinebytheAmerican

Osteopathic Board of Family Physiciansand he operates an active family medicinepractice in the Erie-Fairview area. In 2011,Dr.OrtoskiwasnamedastheFellowoftheAmerican College of Osteopathic FamilyPhysicians. As part of the LECOM familysince its inception in 1993, Dr. Ortoskicontinues to lecture and to coordinate thecollege courses that focus upon primarycaremedicine,physicaldiagnosis,andtopicsinvolvinghumansexuality.

The awards continued to flow at AACOMwithMark A. W. Andrews, Ph.D.acceptingthe Innovations in Basic Science MedicalEducationAward.Dr.AndrewsisaProfessorofPhysiologyandtheDirectorofExaminationManagement and Evaluation for LECOMatSetonHill.

While Dr. Ortoski’s award was presentedto him in the clinical education area, Dr.Andrewswasawardedhishonorinthefieldofbasicscience. Theawardwaspresentedin recognition of Dr. Andrews’ educationalappraisal project that centered upon theassessment of basic medical scienceknowledge demonstrated by matriculatingstudents during preclinical years, andbeyond.

Dr. Andrews was enthusiastic aboutthe introduction of the new awards. Heexplained that the InnovationAwards “maybring some life to the educational researchside of AACOM, which truly is deservingof emphasis and support, especially inconsiderationoftheexcellentworkthatthevariousCOMsaredoing”.

Dr. Andrews is a Specialist in Physiologyand Biophysics and past Director of theIndependent Study Pathway at the LECOMEriecampus.AsaDirectoratLECOMatSetonHill,Dr.Andrewsworkscloselywithstudentsand faculty to assure a quality, integratedbasic and clinical science education, andto develop lifelong learning skills within

LECOM is especially proud of these honorees. The College recognizes and lauds

the significant body of work together with the indefatigable effort that was

expended by all of the recipients to carry them to this estimable outcome.

the students. Passionately involved ineducationalresearch,ProfessorAndrewshasauthoredanumberofpublicationsandhasbeen a well-received presenter at nationalandinternationalmeetingsofeducators.Hewas honored as the LECOM DistinguishedEducatoroftheyearin2006.

Dr. Andrews has numerous publicationsand researchgrants focusingupon thewayinwhichOsteopathicManipulativeTherapymay aid recovery of muscle function. Hiswork has been noted and published in anumberofnewspaperarticlesandperiodicalssuchasUSAToday,Newsday(NY),FitnessMagazine, and RunnersWorld, and he is aregular contributor to Scientific AmericanandScientificAmericanMind.

Dr. Andrews, along with Christopher C. Keller, PhD, Director of Microbiology/Immunology at LECOM was inducted intothe National Academy of OsteopathicMedical Educators (NAOME). NAOMEis a community of outstanding educators(termed Fellows) who have met rigorousstandardsofacademicexcellencewithinthelast five years. Membership is earned forfive-yearintervalsduringwhich,Fellowsareasked to mentor and to support academicexcellenceandscholarshipintheosteopathicmedicaleducationprofession.Dr.Kellerhaslong served LECOM as Assistant Professorof Microbiology and Immunology and asthe Director of the Laboratory of HumanPathogens. During his NAOME term, Dr.Kellerwill continuehishistoryofestimableleadership as an instructor and mentor ofacademicscholarship.

TheLECOMCommunicationsandMarketingDepartment,ledbyPierre Bellicini,receivedafirst place award in theBestAdvertising-Multimedia category for the College. Thenew TV ad campaign, “Can You Hear theCalling?” received the first place prize intheAACOMExcellence inCommunicationscompetition.

Education


Millcreek Community Hospital (MCH)ResidentssweptthePennsylvaniaOsteopathicMedical Association (POMA) 104th AnnualClinical Assembly Writing Competition thisyear with particularly noteworthy distinction.AwardswerepresentedtofiveMCHresidentsattheconferencegatheringinValleyForge,Pa.

The award recipients this year penned theirpieces to feature a wide range of medicaltopicsfromSpinalCordInjurytoOsteoporosis.

Takingthefirstplaceaward,LECOMgraduate,FernandoMelaragno,DO, foundthatroutinescreeningforthyroiddysfunctionofpsychiatricinpatientadmissionswasnotbeneficialandithadnopositiveaffectupontherapyinthisgroup.Dr. Melaragno compared local populationsto national averageswith a pivotal aspect ofhis presentation addressing cost-effectivemedicine. “Reductionofunnecessarycost inthehospital isaplacewherewecanhaveanimpactfromday-to-day,”explainedthedoctor.“Sometestsareantiquatedandpracticesneedtobemadecurrent.Costeffectivemedicineisimperativetodayasinsurancecompaniesplayanincreasingroleinhealthcare.”SpecializinginEndocrinologywithagoalofdecreasingandpreventingtheseveremorbidityandmortalityassociated with diabetes, Dr. Melaragno isgrateful to LECOM for the wherewithal tofollowhisdream.BornandraisedinErie,Pa.,Dr. Melaragno noted that LECOM made itpossibleforhimtoremainnearhis“bigItalianfamily”towhomheisveryclosewhileprovidingtheopportunityforhimtostudywithina“greatlearningenvironmentandstillbeabletopursueaspecialty”.Dr.MelaragnoisveryproudofhisGoldenQuillAwardandhenotedthatLECOMandMillcreek’sresidentresearchrequirementallowed him the occasion to pursue such aninterestingtopic.

The secondplacehonorwasbestoweduponJoshuaTuck,DO,aUniversityofNewEnglandCollege of Osteopathic Medicine graduate,whosepieceaddressingNail-PatellaSyndromewas of resounding note. His win this yeardenotes the third time that Dr. Tuck hasbested the competition, having earned threeconsecutive POMA Annual Clinical EssayContestawards.Dr.Tuckplacedsecondin2010

MCH Residents Sweep the POMA 104th Annual Clinical Assembly Writing Competition

andthirdin2011.His2012entrywasentitled“Nail-Patella Syndrome in an Amish Family - A Case Series and Review of Current Literature”. ThisstudyfollowedoneAmishfamilyafflictedwith a rare genetic disorder known as NailPatellaSyndrome.TheOhiofamilywastreatedattheShriner’sHospitalforChildreninErie,Pa.Nail-Patella Syndrome consists of absent orhypoplasticfingernails,dislocatedradialheads,iliachorns,andabsentorhypoplasticpatellae.The paper focused upon genetic inheritancepatterns, physical characteristics, and long-term limitations related to the disease. Dr.Tuck noted that his interest in Nail-PatellaSyndrome first became piqued during hissecond year of residency training, whilecompleting a pediatric orthopedic surgicalrotationatShriner’sHospital. Hecreditstheorthopedic surgery residency at MCH andLECOMwithaffordinghim,andall residents,anampleability toexperienceawidevarietyofadultandpediatricorthopedic injuriesanddiseases. “Theseopportunities, alongwith aclinicalfacultydedicatedtoresidenteducation,make the pursuit of quality independentresearchpossible,”affirmedDr.Tuck.Dr.Tuck

explainedthatthediverseclinicalexperiencesprovided in the MCH orthopedic surgeryresidencyprogramexposedhim to advancedsurgical treatments that he might otherwiseneverhaveseen.

Gaining thedistinguishedspotsofHonorableMention were Philadelphia College ofOsteopathic Medicine graduate, PreethiRavichandran, DO; Western University ofHealth Sciences graduate, Jeffrey Biehn, DO;andLECOMgraduate,MichaelCorum,DO.

Dr. Preethi Ravichandran, centered her topicupon “Investigating Medication Compliance in Osteoporosis Patients within Erie, Pennsylvania”. Medication compliance isa challenging subject as patients across thenation fail to takemedications as prescribedby their physician. “Patients with silent,asymptomatic diseases are often non-compliant for multiple reasons. Theseinclude high cost of medication, concernabout medication side effects, and distrustof medications in general,” explained Dr.Ravichandran. Her researchproject exploredmedication compliance in osteoporosis and

Michael Zal, dO presents the first place writing award to fernando Melaragno, dO.

Education


dr. Melaragno (left) with honorable mention winners (L-r) Jeffrey Biehn, dO, Michael Corum, dO and Preethi ravichandran, dO.

it surveyedmore thanone thousandpatientswithintheErieregiontoinvestigatetheissue.Dr. Ravichandran commented that LECOMsupported her ideas, providing guidanceand resources to facilitate her research. Dr.Ravichandran notedwith deep gratitude that“to be a part of a community hospital withthe LECOM medical school affiliation giveseach individual the encouragement to growasaphysicianandtomakedreamsbecomeareality.”

Dr.Biehn’stopic“An Evidenced-Based Review of the Therapeutic Effects of Hypothermia after Spinal Cord Injury” was developed toprovide readerswithanunderstandingof thetheory behind hypothermia as a treatmentprotocolforspinalcordinjuryandtoevaluatethecurrent literature for itspossibleuse. Dr.Biehn became interested in the experimentaltreatmentmodalitywhenBuffaloBills’footballplayer Kevin Everett sustained a spinal cordinjury in 2007. His dramatic neurologicrecoveryexceededexpectationsanditcaused

Dr.Biehntoponderthebenefitsofintravascularhypothermia.Unfortunately,Dr.Biehnexplain-ed “there isapaucityofclinical trialson thissubject,butaplethoraofexperimentalanimalstudies;therefore,Ifeltitpertinenttoprovideaconcisereviewofthepublisheddatainordertoevaluatethepossiblerationalefortheuseofhypothermia in the acute setting”. Dr. Biehnattributed the success of his paper to theatmosphereatMCHOrthopedicDepartmentand its focus upon the educational goals ofconducting high-quality research pertinentto his specific interests. “The faculty andadministratorswerealwaysthereandeagertohelpinanycapacity,”affirmedDr.Biehn.

“The Socioeconomic Influence on the Prescribing and Use of Narcotic Analgesics in Orthopedic Pain Management”wasthetopicscrutinized by Dr. Michael Corum, a PHY-2in Orthopedic Surgery at MCH. The paperrepresentedhisfirstsubmissiontothePOMAessaycontest. Thestudyexploredtheuseofnarcotics by patients seen in an orthopedic

office as compared to an orthopedic clinictreating socioeconomically disadvantagedpatients. Dr. Corum noted that “MCH andLECOM provide its students and residentsan extremely diverse clinical experience bysettingupopportunitiestoworkwithinofficesettingsaswellasincommunitybasedclinics”.He further explained that having attendingphysiciansandstaffsodedicatedtoresearchcreated the outstanding environment forconductinghighcaliberresearch.

Thelaudableshowingofthesefinephysiciansin this year’s POMA writing competitionunderscores the fact that the LECOMmethodology is highly beneficial to itsresidents.LECOMisveryproudofitsmyriadprograms and of its unflagging support ofsuperior research and residency training;moreover–LECOMistremendouslyproudtopaytributetothesefivephysician-scholarsinrecognitionoftheiradmirableachievements.

Community


The Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine, Millcreek Community Hospital,

and the Erie community came together during the week of April 15th to recognize the commitment and professionalism of American osteopathic physicians. National Osteopathic Medicine (NOM) Week is an event that is celebrated each year by the American Osteopathic Association (AOA). The event draws together those within the osteopathic medical profession with a view toward a common goal – that of increasing awareness throughout the nation about osteopathic medicine and about the great proficiencies, benefits, and comprehensive value of doctors of osteopathic medicine (DOs). It is held each year to coincide with the founding date of the AOA, which was April 19, 1897.

At LECOM, the physicians of today are training the doctors of tomorrow. The College is nurturing within its students, the comprehensive understanding and pivotal importance of preventive health care and of the principles of osteopathic whole-person medicine. Primary care physicians and health care professionals focus upon an all-inclusive approach to the maintenance of health.

To ensure the health of the citizens who live near LECOM campuses, medical and pharmacy students used NOM Week as a platform to

LECOMANDTHEERIECOMMUNITYCelebrate

NATIONALOSTEOPATHICMEDICINEWEEK

ERIE

City of Erie Mayor Joseph Sinnott (right) presented a proclamation for national Osteopathic Medicine Week to Michael Pham, OMS2 (left) and Kristi Braunlich, OMS2 (center).

present the osteopathic message and to start people thinking of ways to make their own lives healthier.

In Erie, the students set up health screening and information tables at the Millcreek Mall. More than 70 students, representing 15 different clubs and organizations, provided handouts and information on various health-related topics. Visitors learned about women’s

health, travel safety, heart health, skin safety, osteopathic medicine, poison prevention, and so much more.

Bradenton medical students organized two health and wellness fairs held at Buffalo Creek Middle School and Manatee High School in Bradenton. In Greensburg, the Emergency Medicine Club from LECOM at Seton Hill took osteopathic medicine to an older generation

BRADENTONCity of Bradenton Mayor Wayne H. Poston (fifth from left), proclaimed national Osteopathic Medicine Week with LECOM Associate dean of

Academic Affairs robert George, dO (center) and LECOM third-year medical students (L-r) Anthony dominick, Katherine Lambert, Kimberly feltner, Kelly rosborough and Alan Mashraghi.

Community


with a “game day” at the Redstone Highlands Senior Living Community where they assisted the residents with social activities.

The significance of osteopathic medicine was not lost upon the Mayor of Erie, who enthusiastically lauded the value of the osteopathic medical field. As part of the local acknowledgments, Erie Mayor, Joseph Sinnott presented an official proclamation to representatives from LECOM’s Student Government Association (SGA) and Provost, Senior Vice President and Dean of Academic Affairs, Silvia Ferretti, DO. Christine Kell, PhD; Susan Lazarro; Regan Shabloski, DO; Theodore Makoske, MD; Hershey Bell, MD; Patricia Epple, President Pennsylvania Pharmacy Association; and Kristina Braunlich, OMS2, SGA President participated in the program. The tribute was held on the LECOM campus on April 17, 2012 with the proclamation recognizing the contributions of osteopathic

SETONHILL

L-r: Samuel fam (OMS2, 1st Vice President, SGA); nicholas Swerchowsky (OMS3, Class of 2014 President); Kai Schlingmann (OMS3, former SGA President); Mayor ronald E. Silvia, Phd; Anna Jones (OMS2, SGA President); Kaitlyn Mainwaring (OMS2, 1st Vice President, Class of 2015); Margaret Ciavarelli (OMS2,

SGA Secretary); Kristin Gales (OMS2, 2nd Vice President, Class of 2015); and Heather Krasa (OMS2, 2nd Vice President, SGA).

physicians in the Erie area and honoring their dedication “to improving the health of their community through education and awareness-based efforts, as well as by delivering quality health services.”

The mayors of Greensburg, Pa. and Bradenton, Fla., likewise recognized the impact that LECOM students, along with faculty and staff, have on their communities.

For those who ask the question “what is a DO?” – NOM Week provided the answers. Osteopathic physicians are fully licensed to prescribe medication and to practice in all specialty areas. Currently, there are more than 78,000 DOs and 19,000 osteopathic medical students in the United States. At LECOM, the future of osteopathic medicine is a bright and promising one – and NOM Week is ever a highlight of a unified mission to shape the future of medicine.

LECOM medical students hold up a sign celebrating national Osteopathic Medicine Week during a career fair at Manatee High School in Bradenton, fla. from L-r: Jenifer Bryant (OMS2), Cydney Godman (OMS2) and Kristen Wetherell (OMS2)

Angela Virgilio (OMS2) takes the blood pressure of one of the many visitors to the blood pressure screening table during the wellness fair.

Josephine Shen (OMS2) (far left) describes the OMM techniques that Eric Krohn (OMS2) is performing on Joanna Aiken (OMS2).

Community


LECOMANDTHEERIECOMMUNITY

Celebrate

NATIONALOSTEOPATHICMEDICINEWEEK

LECOM President and CEO John M. Ferretti galvanized the ever-present commitment of the College to underscore civic service as he announced a landmark contribution by the school that will bolster the coffers of Erie County while simultaneously bettering the community.

LECOMProvides$500,000toAidErieCountyGovernmentThe Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine will give $500,000 to the Erie County government over a five-year period. The county will use the funds for two important projects that will support emergency services and improve the county library. The announcement was made in partnership by

Erie County Executive, Barry Grossman and LECOM’s President during a news conference at the Blasco Memorial Library in late May.

The announcement of the community gift entailed discussions between college officials and government leaders that resulted in LECOM retaining its tax-exempt status in exchange for the county receiving the contribution. The Erie County Board of Assessment Appeals dropped a challenge to LECOM’s educationally based tax-exempt status with the government’s receipt of the funds.

The county Public Safety department will use most of the funds, $350,000, to purchase and to install mobile computers in 40 fire vehicles and in 63 ambulances; all vehicles used by volunteer and municipal fire departments throughout the county. The computers link directly to the county dispatch center and the devices will improve communications between emergency crews on the scene and the dispatch center.

(L-r) Silvia ferretti, dO, John ferretti, dO, Erie County Executive Barry Grossman and Michael Visnosky, Esq. dedicate the new computer lab named for the two LECOM leaders.

Community


The Blasco Library will receive the remaining $150,000 to upgrade computer equipment used by library patrons to access the Internet, to search library catalogs, and to educate children. Additionally, LECOM is funding the creation of the Dr. John M. Ferretti and Dr. Silvia M. Ferretti Family Learning Center. The new area located in the library computer lab will provide early childhood learning computers and software that parents and children can explore together. The LECOM contribution also will allow the library to replace all 34 of its computers in the Internet lab and to transform the online catalog into a user-friendly search engine.

“For years, LECOM has contributed to the quality of our community by providing outstanding education programs that focus on the health and safety of our residents,” recognized County Executive Grossman. Previously, LECOM agreed to support educational activities by providing $620,000 over five years to the School District of the City of Erie.

Attorney Michael Visnosky, Chairman of the LECOM Board of Trustees, worked on the plan with county officials and he secured approval of the agreement with the Trustees. In a separate arrangement, LECOM will provide

$55,000 per year to the City of Erie and help pay for a traffic light near the main campus.

“We think it is the proper approach for LECOM to contribute this way,” said Attorney Visnosky. “We try to tailor our projects where they meet our mission.” Thus, the decision was made to promote emergency services and to improve education.

LECOM President, Dr. John Ferretti, noted that LECOM has embraced the principal of service from the very inception of the College. LECOM is a cornerstone of the Erie community and as such, the College is committed to assisting the county during these economically challenging times.

“The College remains solidly in the vanguard in its duties to serve,” affirmed Dr. Ferretti, “whether as a good corporate citizen, donating hundreds of thousands of dollars in educational and community grants to the city, county, and school district, or as a major sponsor of numerous charitable and cultural events, or most importantly, through the volunteerism of our faculty, staff, and students in donating countless hours to improve the life of the less fortunate and those in need.”

It is exceedingly apt that the Family Learning Center at the Blasco Library will be named in honor of Dr. Silvia Ferretti and Dr. John Ferretti. For they are nothing less than the standard-bearers of exceptional community leadership rooted in service and economic development. They are exemplars of the pledge to family and to an ever-burning lamp of learning. As LECOM celebrates its 20th anniversary, it is a time to reflect upon the many accomplishments that LECOM has achieved in only two short decades. The school has provided untold economic benefit to the Erie community with students and scholars making the Erie county region their home. The presence of a medical college and related health care operations has consistently insulated the Erie region from experiencing “brain drain” – as many LECOM graduates remain within the area to establish thriving practices that treat and care for thousands of its neighbors. LECOM has built the luxurious 31 million Health and Wellness Center and it has developed programs that reach into the most underserved areas of the Erie community. It is – without question – the proud parent of a growing community and one whose foundation of purposeful service has formed the core of all that is LECOM.

LECOMhasnevershirkedfromitstime-honoredcredo:“not for ourselves, but for others.” ThemagnanimousgifttotheErie

Countygovernmentisyetanotherexampleoftheintegrityofa

collegetruetoitsmotto.LECOMremainsaninspirationforall-notonlyforthepurposeofcharityduringchallengingeconomic

times,butforleadershipbothinpublicandprivatelife.

todd Geers, Erie County director of Public Safety, demonstrates lap-top computers that will link emergency vehicles directly to the 9-1-1 dispatch center.

Community


Providing community service, promoting public health in underserved communities,

and training community-responsive health and social service professionals are principles that are, and that have remained, at the core of all that is the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine.

The Director of the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine Bridging the Gaps (BTG) program, Raeann Carrier, PhD, understands those core principles and she is very proud to note LECOM’s 20th Anniversary of medical scholarship as it coincides with BTG’s 20th Year of service. For 17 of those years, LECOM has been a steadfast and unswerving “community service partner” with BTG.

As BTG celebrates the history and growth of bridging those gaps, it seems a fitting time to reflect upon the history of the program and the way in which it grew into existence. In a world

LECOM and Bridging the Gaps – Partnering for almostrife with imbalances and incongruences, BTG found its purpose in providing support to the crucial work of organizations that serve the most vulnerable within local communities. The BTG organization has sought to produce a group of health and social service professionals who possess both the passion and skill to advocate coupled with the care and compassion for those facing the direst of needs. BTG-involved students evidence a changed perspective after participating as community allies who serve to reduce the barriers to health and well-being created by poverty and education deficits. The daily commitment of the BTG educational and medical partners is essential to fostering the betterment of society. As LECOM looks to the next decade in health care education, it will remain resolute in its fundamental pledge of purposeful community service which has come to form a cornerstone of its hallmark educational principles.

As the LECOM mission unites with the BTG purpose, the resultant blend of commitment to service resonates throughout the region. In the absence of such community service, quality of life becomes contracted and society as a whole becomes dispirited. LECOM holds as a tenet the principle that service is as vital to the person who serves as it is to the recipient of the service. It is the way in which one finds purpose and it underscores the essence of societal growth and development. The mission of community service, and of its consequent commitment to serve, encompasses the fundamental substance of LECOM. With the aphorism of “The Community is our Campus” as the credo of the College, the institutional mission of LECOM recognizes that the magnitude of social complexities will require that all citizens and institutions make an earnest commitment to service as a way of life and as the purposeful responsibility of humankind. Providence and a caring heart, rather than governments or mandates, lead one to service. With a core rich in purpose and with a soul sustained by grace, it can be said that volunteers may well be the only human beings upon the face of the earth who reflect the compassion of a nation with their unselfish caring, patience, and humanitarianism. LECOM is proud to train such men and women and prouder still to note the value that their deeds carry to others.

LECOM understands the principle of service; yet more than mere “understanding” - it practices that very principle in all of its endeavors as it encourages broad-based student participation in service-related programs such as BTG. As an annual project, each summer, many LECOM students choose to voluntarily sacrifice their only break in four years of medical school to participate in the seven-week “Bridging the Gaps” session. Each year, LECOM’s BTG interns develop projects to serve the Erie community sites to which they were linked.

That service-based mission and parallel objective is shared by the BTG Program organizers. Integrating the educational preparation of health care and social service

Making a Difference

Shawna Kubasky, OMS3 worked with children at the Barber national institute in Erie.

Community


professionals with the offering of health-related services for the benefit of the underserved and the fiscally disadvantaged public, the program is a liberator for many people throughout the region. This cutting-edge program has placed LECOM students into several social service and healthcare agencies where they serve to make a valued difference within the lives of the people who attend those groups. BTG-involved medical students provide service to underserved populations while learning to be community-responsive health and social service practitioners.

Program Director Dr. Carrier has served as a principal team leader for the past several years and she continues to offer the merit of her skill, aptitude, and knowledge in each of the many areas in which she advises and guides students. BTG provides truly significant service within a system of care that is frequently indifferent to the needs of vulnerable populations. Dr. Carrier has demonstrated consistent enthusiasm about the program and about its myriad benefits. She understands the attributes necessary to become a health care provider in every sense of the word, previously noting that “BTG facilitates a wonderful experience for our students. It provides an outlet for them to develop and to practice the humanistic domain of medicine. They’ve spent a year in the classroom learning with their brains, they now get seven weeks to learn with their hearts.”

LECOM takes great satisfaction in inculcating the notion of “learning with the heart” to its students, stressing the value in assisting people and in bettering their conditions while concurrently teaching them to better their own conditions. In this way, there exists mutual learning about the way in which the lives of others are entwined with one’s own.

For many of the LECOM students who choose to participate in BTG, the hands-on personal experience of truly affecting the life of someone in need of care constitutes a significant manifestation of “making a difference”. The classroom, though flush with the newest

advancements in innovative medical education cannot produce the soulful response of a senior citizen receiving urgently required care or of the appreciative countenance of a neglected young mother as she acquires skills to care for her child. The future healthcare professionals involved in BTG learn about the way in which to be gentle with the young, empathetic with the aged, concerned for the struggling, and aware of both fragile and firm alike as they encounter daily challenges throughout the health care community. Students learn that lightening the burden of someone else is at the heart of that which it means to be participant in this world; and they begin to more fully comprehend that this indisputable truth in the link of humanity is shared by all. The moral test of an individual turns upon the way in one reaches out to those who are in the dawn of life - the children; those who are in the twilight of life - the elderly; and

those who are in the shadow of life - the ill, the disadvantaged, and the handicapped.

LECOM’s mission is nothing less than to spur a renewed sense of self-examination, a new wisdom that embraces a season of service. Volunteers, such as those who work in the BTG program, are vital to enabling this country to live up to the true promise of its heritage, not by top-down intervention, rather by bottom-up fellowship. LECOM, with its mission to guide its students to an awareness of community, sets this venerable example by supporting those organizations such as BTG that encompass analogous objectives. BTG promotes health care, wellness, education, and it improves the well-being of children and adults throughout the region. With BTG, LECOM will continue to play a pivotal role in improving the health of individuals, of communities, and of the nation for decades to come.

Learning with the Heart

two decades

Jennifer Saad, OMS3 assists patient during her Bridging the Gaps service.

Community


For the sixth successive year, the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine has been named to the President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll. The prestigious accolade of recognition from the National Community Service Corporation in Washington, D.C. is the highest Federal recognition bestowed upon a college or university for its commitment to volunteerism, service-learning, and civic engagement.

The President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll pays tribute to the work of students, faculty, staff, and alumni who support local communities through their commitment of time and service.

“The Honor Roll schools should be proud of their work to elevate the role of service-learning on their campuses,” said Eduardo Ochoa, the United States Department of Education Assistant Secretary for Post-secondary Education. “Galvanizing their students to become involved in projects that address pressing concerns and that enrich their academic experience has a lasting impact both within the communities in which they work and upon their own sense of purpose...I hope that we shall see more and more colleges and universities following their lead.”

LECOM Medical and Pharmacy students in Erie, Greensburg and Bradenton volunteered over 30,000 community service hours, helping local community organizations during the 2010-11 academic year. Many of these volunteer hours are attributed to LECOM programs such as Bridging the Gaps, which places medical students with local social service and health care agencies helping underserved populations. Other student-run activities provide after

LECOM receives national recognition for Community Service

school tutoring and mentoring with the Erie YMCA, the Erie Housing Authority, and the Florida Sheriffs Youth Ranch.

LECOM students also participated in Habitat for Humanity home building projects, elementary and middle school reading programs, YMCA Healthy Kids Day, and a health initiative for Greensburg seventh grade students. LECOM continued a partnership with Wellsville USA, supplying volunteers to provide healthy living lessons for Erie school children.

The Corporation for National and Community Service, which has

administered the Honor Roll since 2006, admitted a total of 642 schools for consideration in their accolade assessment. Of that total, 513 were named to the Honor Roll, 110 received the recognition of Honor Roll with distinction, 14 were identified as

finalists, and only five received the Presidential Award.

As a member of the Honor Roll, LECOM highlights its strong mission of volunteerism

and service-learning efforts and it underscores its principle as a civic-minded institution. LECOM is ever cognizant of the contributions to service that are incumbent upon the medical professionals that it educates and it has consistently and soundly supplied a crucial facet of neighborhood betterment in the many areas in which it has been involved in the Erie area. Placing the highest value upon indefatigably expanding its community engagement offerings, LECOM welcomes the challenges of continuing to demonstrate its ability to support and to promote all aspects of service with an ever-increasing involvement in the enhancement of its community.

“Galvanizing their students

to become involved in projects

that address pressing concerns

and that enrich their academic

experience has a lasting impact

both within the communities

in which they work and upon

their own sense of purpose...I

hope that we shall see more and

more colleges and universities

following their lead.”

“The Honor Roll schools should

be proud of their work to elevate

the role of service-learning on

their campuses...”

Community


A collaborative project developed by Sarasota’s GWIZ Science Center and IVIR Incorporated, a Lakewood Ranch-based medical simulation, en-gineering, and pioneering research enterprise, has resulted in the creation of a trailblazing ex-hibit at the science center.

“Meduzone” is a 5,000-square-foot interactive medical education and science exhibit that occu-pied the entire second floor of the GWIZ Center. The exhibit ran through the end of June.

“Meduzone” consists of a career zone, an inter-active zone, an operation simulation area, a 3-D learning zone, and a medical artifacts and com-puter quiz area.

LECOM along with several local medical com-panies and colleges helped to develop and to sponsor the exhibit. The Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine sponsored the career zone, providing ample written information ex-plaining all that is required to become an osteo-pathic physician, pharmacist, dentist, or other related health care practitioner. The career zone also informs visitors about the various employ-ment opportunities within the medical field and the way in which to obtain them. In addi-tion, LECOM provided information detailing the various college requirements necessary to achieve specific medical degrees and the con-comitant estimated salary wages of each.

The Lakewood Ranch Medical Center sponsored the cardiovascular system area and it provided information for that zone while the South Flor-ida Museum in Bradenton provided medical artifacts; CAE Healthcare of Sarasota supplied a human simulation mannequin that re-creates heart failure; and Biolucid, a Sarasota medical animation and communication solutions com-pany, donated a 3-D hologram to demonstrate the way in which the human system reacts to specific medications.

The idea to create the exhibit manifested itself last year when Molly Demeulenaere, the Ex-ecutive Director of GWIZ, met IVIR Resource Manager Pamela Ferrara at a medical luncheon. “We really felt that GWIZ is a very important community asset,” Ferrara averred, explaining

LECOM and Local Medical Companies Sponsor new Exhibit at GWiZ Science Center in Sarasota

that the project blends amusement with an at-mosphere of informative learning for children.

The attitude expressed by the GWIZ-IVIR team is echoed by LECOM as it supports public health care education as a vital aspect of community service.

The “Meduzone” is the first medical exhibit of its kind established during the twenty-two year history of the GWIZ Center. The group is con-sidering taking the exhibit on a national tour with a view toward encouraging people of all ages to enter the medical science and education fields.

LECOM trustee Joan Moore, dO checks out X-rays with GWiZ program director Jennifer Holt.

GWiZ presented LECOM President and CEO John ferretti, dO with a wooden replica of the LECOM shield. the wood structure was made in GWiZ’s fabrication lab. Pictured with dr. ferretti are GWiZ program director Jennifer Holt, fabrication Lab director Eric McGrath and GWiZ Board President Kelley Lear.



AnthonyJ.Ferretti,DO,AssociateDeanofClinicalEducationatLECOM’sBradenton

CampuswasthehonoredrecipientonSaturday,February25,2012,astheFloridaOsteopathicMedicalAssociation(FOMA)bestoweduponhim the highly praised Distinguished ServiceAward. The respected accolade and accom-panyingawardispresentedtoanindividualinrecognitionofoutstandingaccomplishmentsinscientific,professionalandosteopathiceduca-tion;inservicetotheosteopathicprofessionortocitizensofFloridaatastateornationallevel.Theprize is thehighestandmostprestigioushonorthattheFOMAcanbestowuponanin-dividual.

TheeventwasheldinWeston,Fla.asawell-attendedgatheringlaudedthevoluminousac-complishments achieved throughout Dr. Fer-retti’sdistinguishedcareer.

Indeed, the award was well-deserved in that Dr. Ferretti’s successes and

undertakings are many and far-reaching.

Firstandforemost,itmustbementionedthatDr.Ferrettiwasadedicatedandsteadfastof-ficerintheUnitedStatesmilitary.AsaMajorin theU.S. Army Reserves, hewas activatedtoserveinDesertShield/DesertStormintheearly1990s.Later,asaLieutenantColonel,Dr.FerrettiservedasamemberintheU.S.ArmyMedical Team and as a Field Surgical TeamCommander.AsColonel,in2003,hewasacti-vatedonceagainforIraqiFreedom.Hisserviceto thisnationand to themissionof liberty isoneofwhichLECOMisveryproud.

Dr. Ferretti’s medical training and expertiseareequallyprodigious inthathehasdirectedcountless medical facility operations and hehasheldpositionsofleadershipthathavebeennoticeably effective throughout his terms.During the last threedecades,hehasbeenaMemberoftheDepartmentofSurgeryatMill-creekCommunityHospital(MCH);PastResi-dencyDirectorofMCH’sorthopedicresidencyprogram,andChairmanfortheDivisionofOr-thopedicsatthehospitalwherehehasservedon the board of directors. Dr. Ferrettiwas amemberofthefoundingboardofLECOMandcurrently,heservesasamemberofLECOM’sparent corporation,Millcreek Health System.HeisalsoPastPresidentofPOMA-DistrictVIIandPastChiefofStaffatMCH.

The pooled skills of physician, administrator,soldier,andscholarfindapurposefulcongru-enceinAnthonyFerretti,DO,asheinfluencesliveswiththeloveofhisworkandwiththepro-ductive results of a passionately manifestedcareer. LECOM applauds this fitting FOMAtributetoamanwhocarrieswithhimenthu-siasmandfervor intohiseveryendeavorandwhosecontagiousspiritisapositiveexemplartotheentirearenaofhealthcare.

Anthony Ferretti, DO Receives Highest Award from Florida Osteopathic Medical Association

RichardTerry,DOhasjoinedtheLECOMfaculty;appointedtoAssistantRegional

DeanofClinical EducationandChiefAca-demicOfficer of Lake ErieConsortium forOsteopathic Medical Training (LECOMT), he hopes to expand student clinical rota-tionsitesacrossEastandCentralNewYork State and into the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

With the influential and sweeping view ofLECOMpeeringever-optimisticallyintothefuture,thegrowthoftheCollegeisanendur-ingandcontinualinitiative.AstheCollegeof Medicine expands, LECOM is unceas-inglyseekingnewclinicalrotationsites.AstheformerPresidentoftheNewYorkStateOsteopathicMedicalSociety,Dr.Terrypos-sessesarobustbackgroundinclinicalapti-tudesthatwillassisttheCollegeinincreas-ing clinical education opportunities acrosstheEastandCentralregionsofUpstateNewYorkandNorthEast,Pennsylvania.

Dr. Terry comes to LECOM as the formerClinicalAssociateProfessorofFamilyMedi-cineattheNewYorkCollegeofOsteopath-ic Medicine and SUNY Upstate Medical University. Working with Arnot OgdenHealthSysteminElmira,NewYork,Dr.Terryisalready recruitingadjunctclinical facultyand rotation sites. Additionally, he servesastheAcademicOfficerforLECOMT.HisworkatLECOMT includes thatofcreatingnew residency programs for post-doctoraleducation.

Dr. Richard Terry Appointed Assistant Regional Dean of Clinical Education



No one knows that maxim better thanLECOM’s newest board member, former

Florida State Representative Bill Galvano. Infact,Galvanohasearnedareputationforhisre-markableabilitytojoinpeopletogethertobuildsuccess; and for allwhohave come to knowhim,bothpersonallyandasastaterepresenta-tive,hisleadership,integrity,andachievementsarestellar.

Bill Galvano was first elected to the FloridaHouse of Representatives - District 68, inNovember of 2002 after which, he won re-election for threesuccessive terms. Inhisfi-nalterminthestatehouse,GalvanoservedasChairman of the Rules andCalendarCouncilandasChairmanoftheSelectCommitteeonSeminole Indian Compact Review. He alsoservedontheFullAppropriationsCouncilandon the Joint Legislative Budget Commission.Galvano is noted for his important work asChairof theHealthyFamiliesCommitteeandfor his leadership on the Committee on theFuture of Florida’s Families. RepresentativeGalvanoconsistentlyhasbeen recognizedbynumerousorganizationsforhisworktoprotectchildrenandtosupportthedisabled.

AsthepastChairmanoftheeight-countyBayAreaLegislativeDelegation,heearnedthees-timableChair’sCup forExcellence inRegion-alism forhiscreationof theTampaBayAreaRegional Transportation Authority. Recently,GalvanowasbestowedtheManateeChamberofCommerceStatesmanAward,FloridaSher-iffsAssociationLegislatorof theYearAward,

“Coming together is a beginning. Keeping together is progress. Working together is success.” ~Henry Ford

and the Healthy Families Florida LeadershipAward.

In addition to serving as a trustee of MoteMarine Laboratory, Galvano is a member ofthe Bradenton Kiwanis, theManatee CountySheriffsAdvisoryCouncil,theManateeCountyGoldStarClub,and theManateeCountyBarAssociation. Through the Phil Galvano GolfClassic, Representative Galvano raised morethan one-million dollars forManatee Countypublicschoolstoprovideenhancededucation-alopportunitiesforstudentsandteachers.Heandhiswife, the formerJulieArmeForrester,havebeenmarriedfor19yearsandtheyaretheproudandmuchsatisfiedparentsofthreechil-dren:Michael,William,andJacqueline.

Galvano earned an Associate’s Degree fromManateeCommunityCollegebeforereceivingaBachelor’sDegreefromtheUniversityofFlor-idaandaJurisDoctoratefromtheUniversityofMiami,SchoolofLaw.

HejoinstheLECOMBoardofTrusteesbring-ingwithhimadepthandbreadthofsignificantknowledgeandexpertiseinpublicandpoliticalaffairs. Though foundationally securing theabilitytoconnectwithlegislativeentitiesandinprovidinganamalgamofmanifoldcommunityassociations, Representative Galvano placesLECOMfrontandcenterintherealmofcom-munityandregionalinteraction.TheLakeErieCollege of Osteopathic Medicine is honoredtowelcomeBillGalvano as its newest boardmember.

Former State Representative Bill Galvano Appointed to LECOM Board of Trustees

Theclinicalcampusmodelhasbeendevel-opedandinstitutedbyDr.TerryforLECOM.It carrieswith it innovativeandpioneeringattributes including ongoing curriculumfor students,web-based lectures, student-structured learning that facilitates regionalinteraction throughout the year, regularOMT training, ongoing didactic sessions,aswellascontinuingstudentadvocacyandsupport. Dr.Terryenthusiasticallypointedoutthatthisprogram“isaneverbeforetriedmodelthatwillofferunparallelededucation-alopportunities”.

Recently,Dr. Terrywas conferred the esti-mable “American College of OsteopathicFamily Physicians’ Educator of the YearAward”.Dr.RichardTerryisa1988gradu-ateoftheNewYorkCollegeofOsteopathicMedicineinOldWestbury,N.Y.andheholdsanMBAfromtheUniversityofMassachu-setts.Heconcludedaoneyearrotatingin-ternshipattheInterfaithMedicalCenterinBrooklynandhecompletedhisresidencyinFamilyMedicineattheUniversityofRoch-ester/HighlandHospitalinRochester,N.Y.

Dr. Terry has been an innovative educatorin osteopathic education for almost twodecades.HehasservedastheDirectorofOsteopathicMedicalEducationsince2002andastheDirectoroftheFamilyMedicineResidencysince1998atUnitedHealthSer-vicesHospitals-oneoftheoldestandmostsuccessfulduallyaccreditedprogramsinthecountry.

Dr.Terry’s further interests focusupontheareas of obesity and eating disorders. Heis the founderandMedicalDirectorof theSouthernTierEatingDisorderProgram. Inaddition to presenting numerous regionalandnationalprogramsandpeerreviewpub-lications,Dr.Terryhasco-authoredabookaddressing weight management entitled“Tomorrow’sWeigh-TheNo-DietWaytoLoseWeight”.

Dr.Terryisanavidrunnerwithninemara-thonstohiscredit.HeresidesinApalachin,N.Y.withhiswifeandfivechildren.LECOMeagerly welcomes this innovative and ac-complished physician-educator to theLECOMfamily.



TheskiesaredarkeroverLECOMtodayasthecollegefamilytakesheart-heavynoteofthelossofPhilipB.Hultgren,PhD,ProfessorofPhysiology.Dr.Hultgrenwasavitaland

foundationalthreadrunningthroughthefabricthathascometoformthetapestryofallthatisLECOM.Thebrightcolorofhisspiritandthevibrantcheerfulnessthataccompaniedhispresencefromclassroomtotheworldatlargeimbuedthosearoundhimwithhisinfectiousjoy.LECOMcollectivelyextendsitsdeepestandmostsincerecondolencestotheentireHultgrenfamily.

Dr.HultgrenhasbeenpartoftheLECOMcommunitysincetheveryinceptionoftheschool.Intheearly1990s,healliedwiththefounderstolendhisenthusiasticsupportandhisindefatigableenergytothedevelopmentofthevisionarydreamthatwouldbecometheLakeErieCollegeofOsteopathicMedicine.Hisbuoyantoptimismandskilledexperience,carriedwithhimfromhisyearsofprofessorshipatKirksvilleCollegeofOsteopathicMedicine,broughtnotonlyagreatmanofsciencetoLECOM,butonesteepedinthefullunderstandingoftheosteopathicprinciples.

AtLECOM,Dr.HultgrenservedasAssistantDeanofResearchfrom1995-2006,facilitatingfacultyandstudentresearch.HealsodesignedtheLECOMresearchfacility.Inaddition,Dr.HultgrenservedasCourseDirectorofPhysiology.In2005,HersheyS.Bell,M.D.andDr.HultgrendevelopedtheMasterofScienceinMedicalEducationProgram.Dr.HultgrenwasapublishedresearcherintheareaofCardiovascularMedicineandhewasanactivememberintheAmericanPhysiologicalSociety,theAmericanHeartAssociation,andtheInternationalSocietyforHeartResearch.Dr.Hultgren’sgreatestlovewasforhissons,BobbyandErik,andheguidedthemdevotedlyintheireducationandsportingendeavors.Dr.Hultgrendemonstratedthatahappyspiritdoesnotsuggestthatallisperfect;ratherthatonehasdeterminedtolookbeyondimperfection-forheknewthattobehappywastobewise.

Indeed,Dr.Hultgrenwasawiseman.Dedicatinghislifetoscience,heleaveshisearthlybodytothecallingthathesolovedinthenameofresearch.Hecommittedhislife’schargetoabatingmisery-hiswork,hispurpose,hisresearch,andhisverymissionwastoheal;yetinsodoing,hisebullientspiritscatteredjoyaroundhim.Inthejoysofhisachievements,inthestudentsthathetouchedwithhisgiftofknowledge,andinthefamilythatisLECOM-Dr.PhillipB.Hultgrenwillleavehislegacy.

AsperDr.Hultgren’srequest,hisbodywasdonatedtomedicalsciencethroughtheHumanityGiftRegistry.Thefamilyhasrequestedthatdonationsmaybemadetothe“LECOMDr.PhilipHultgrenMemorialScholarship”,1858W.GrandviewBlvd.,Erie,PA16509.

LECOM Loses a Wise and Joyful Spirit -

Philip B. Hultgren, PhD, Professor of Physiology



An interviewer once asked theanthropologist, Margaret Mead:“What is the first sign that you look

forthattellsyouaboutanancientcivilization?”The examiner had inmind perhaps a tool oranarticleofpottery. Ms.Mead stunned thequestioner by answering, a “healed femur”.“When someone breaks a femur, they can’tsurvive to hunt, fish, or to escape enemiesunless they have help from someone else,”she explained. “Thus,” the anthropologistcontinued “a healed femur indicates thatsomeoneelsehelpedthatperson,ratherthanabandoning them and saving themselves”.Meadconcluded,“Isn’tthatwhatphilanthropyis all about? Healing femurs of one sort oranother?”

Certainly, William Esper, DO is not anorthopedic physician, but he has beenpassionately “healing femurs” for quite sometime. The Erie cardiologist and internalmedicine specialist is a volunteer of the firstorder.Regularly,Dr.Esperprovideshismedicalservices to the St. Paul’s Neighborhood FreeClinic, anorganization that serves thosewhohave the most desperate medical needscoupled with the most distressed financialstraits – Erie’sworking poor. The FreeClinicserves those individuals who have slippedthroughthecracksofsociety–aproblemthatis increasing with the dire and deterioratingeconomicclimate.Dr.Esperisreadytoprovidecare. In 1993,whenDr. Esperwas asked toassist at the clinic, he was informed that hewouldnotbetreatingonlyheartpatients,ratheranypersonwhomayneedhelponagivenday.“That idea appealed a lot tome” affirmsDr.Esper,whosecheerfuleyesandanimatedsmiledisplay aneagerness to roll uphis sleeves inservice.

Unmistakably,“service”hasbeenatouchstonefortheErienativewhohasspentmostofhislifeinthecallingofmedicineandinofferinghis

“Healing Femurs” - Erie Cardiologist, William Esper, DO, Reflects Mission of LECOM

skill and his profound compassion to others.As an Adjunct Professor of Medicine andClinicalInstructorinCardiologyatLECOMandasonewhoprovideshispracticeasarotationsiteforLECOMmedicalstudents,Dr.Esperhaslongbeendevotedtohiscommunity.Dr.Esperhails from a large Erie family of osteopathic

physicians, which include his many cousins.HisdaughterJessicaEsperEmbreciaisathird-yearmedicalstudentatLECOM.Since1995,Dr.WilliamEsperhasbeenaskilledandexpertfaculty member at LECOM, amplifying hissupport of the school since LECOM openedits doors in 1992. Dr. Esper reflects andpersonifies the LECOM credo of sound andsolidcommitmenttocommunityservice.

Recently,Dr.WilliamEsperwasrecognizedinthe St. Paul Neighborhood Clinic Newsletterforhisoutstandingvolunteerwork.Eachday,volunteershelptoreshapethisnation;menandwomenfromacrossthecountrywho,throughtheir own sacrifice, dedication, and generoushearts, have improved the lot of their fellowcitizens.Dr.Esperissuchaman.Thevalues

thattheyexhibitaretheveryvaluesthatsocietymustencouragetofulfillthegloriouspromiseofAmerica. Stirredbythepovertywithinhiscommunity, Dr. Esper works with doctors,nurses,anddentiststosupportafreemedicalclinic that now serves thousands of people.Hisearnestandoptimisticparticipationserves

asamessageinaworldgrowingincreasinglyself-absorbed

Dr. Esper is one who is actively making adifferenceinthelivesoffellowhumanbeingsbecause he believes sincerely that it is theright course to take. As an ordinary persondoingextraordinaryactstochangethefaceofhiscommunityforthebetter,Dr.Esperoffersa motivational, inspirational, and thoughtprovokingexample toallwithinhis sphereofinfluence.Hisworkisrelevantinsignifyingallthat one can accomplish in service to othersand in reshaping communities. LECOMcelebratesDr.WilliamEsperasanoutstandingcommunityservantwhoseinexorablespiritwillbe“healingfemurs”formanyyearstocome.

“It’s a great feeling to help good people who are just down on their luck.” ~Dr. William Esper

Health Care Awareness


If one sits upon the sidelines, it is quite likely that one will never make the decisions that affect life.

With health care laws in the crosshairs, eco-nomic crisis spanning the globe, and families struggling as never before in recent decades, LECOM is reflecting upon its position as a leader in health care education to impart a message of involvement upon alumni, administrators, and its present student body.

Edmund Burke admonished that “all that is nec-essary for the forces of evil to win in the world is for enough good men to do nothing”. That aph-orism is intended to impart upon the reader the reality that in the absence of action, governing bodies will effectuate decisions that will contra-vene the objectives of the majority. An under-standing gained through acquiring information and increasing awareness is essential to a fully

With 20 Years as a Leader in Health Care Education – LECOM Encourages Alumni and Administrators Alike to “Become involved”

functioning society. Such notion is equally true within the field of medicine.

Prodigious purpose in the arena of health care demands commitment and involvement; to become supremely aware of, and intimately in-volved in, the pivotal issues of this time; issues that affect family physicians, their practices, and their patients. There exist wide-ranging op-portunities for physicians to become involved and to shape the future of medicine.

Issues that influence physicians and patients on a daily basis, particularly malpractice reform and access to care, are areas in which one may choose to become involved. Examination of the effect of the current health care law is another area that requires scrutiny.

To those who may contend that they lack the time to become involved in the efforts of or-

ganized medicine, LECOM hopes that they will consider devoting a more focused effort to make the time. If doctors fail to step up and to become involved, someone else is going to make those decisions in the place of the physician. It is likely, given the current environment, that it will be government or governmental bodies car-rying out those decisions. If that happens, the outcomes may not be beneficial for the medical community and certainly, they will not be ben-eficial for patient care.

LECOM asseverates that there are several ways in which physicians may become involved in medical action organizations:Examine the objectives of your state Os-

teopathic Medical Society Political Action Committee or join the PAC;

Contact colleagues in the area who are in-

Physicians from more than a dozen states have entered residency and fellowship programs offered through the Medical Education department at MCH. they are (left to right, seated): diana trister, dO; Stephen Watkins, dO; Zarinah Hud, dO; Sean Larner, dO; Jessica Morel, dO; farzad Pouranian, dO; Bo Xiao, dO; Jessica Svingen, dO; Andi Woodbury, dO; Sehee Kim, dO; (left to right, standing): John J. Kalata, dO, MCH director of Medical Education; nicholas Crossman, dO; richard Mitchell, dO; Justin Aleia, dO; russell Samofal, dPM; Jason Carlson, dO; daniel Jones, dPM; Adam deBusk, dO; Sean Kelly, dO; Michael McCafferty, dO; Eric Brewer, dO; Anand Popuri, dO; nicholas Loffredo, dO; desmond Paul-Coker, dO; Michael frazier, dPM; Peter Hoftiezer, dO; tyner Kuehn, dO; Justin Weisenberger, dO; Brandyn Mason, dO; and richard Goodrich, dO.

Millcreek Community Hospital Welcomes Largest Class of New Residents and FellowsThelargesteverfirst-yearclassofinterns,residentsandfellowshavestartedtheirpost-graduatemedicaleducationatMillcreekCommunityHospital(MCH).Twenty-ninephysicianshavefilledthefirst-yearpositionsforInternalMedicine,FamilyMedicine,Psychiatry,OrthopedicSurgery,Otolaryngology,Ophthalmology,SportsMedicine,NeuromusculoskeletalMedicine/OsteopathicManipulativeMedicine,Gastroentrology,Geriatrics,andPodiatry.Ofthosenewresidentsandfellows,13areLECOMgraduates.

AsthefoundinghospitalofLECOM,MCHhasalongtraditionofpost-graduatemedicaltraining.MCHisamemberoftheLakeErieConsortiumofOsteopathicMedicalTraining,whichnowhas38teachingaffiliateswithmorethan800post-graduatetrainingpositions.

Alumni


“Action is eloquence” ~William Shakespeare

volved in medical organizations and join a local osteopathic medical society;

Advocate to local, state, and federal legis-lators about issues that affect practice, pa-tients, and health care;

Focus upon not only improving patient care, but also upon improving population health and health care reform on a grand-er scale;

Carry an attitude of empowerment and enthusiasm as a force that unites good health care teams.

It can be said that vision in the absence of action constitutes nothing more than a wish and action in the absence of vision produces nothing more than chaos; therefore, well-defined objectives and thorough understanding of the needs of the profession are indispensable for the betterment of health care and for the benefit of the medical profession as a whole.

In the arena of human life, fruitful results fall to those who put their good qualities into action. All too often, history has shown that inaction breeds doubt and fear while action creates con-fidence and courage. If one hopes to conquer

the doubt and fear, one must not sit silently by contemplating it; one must venture forth and become involved.

Dale Carnegie once said that “we cannot live only for ourselves. A thousand fibers connect us with our fellow men; and among those fibers, as sympathetic threads, our actions run as causes, and they come back to us as effects.”

Accordingly, good actions give strength to our-selves and they inspire good actions in others. Leadership is practiced not so much in words as in attitude and action. There are risks and costs

Steven Habusta, dO, director of the MCH Orthopedic Surgery residency program, congratulates Josh tuck, dO, and Jeffrey Biehn, dO, physicians who have completed the five-year residency program. dr. tuck, chosen “AOA resident of the Year,” begins a one-year fellowship in orthopedic sports medicine in Massachusetts, then plans to return to Erie. dr. Biehn is entering a fellowship in spinal surgery at the texas Back institute. Other residents pictured participated in research and presented findings June 22 at the LECOM Medical fitness & Wellness Center. they are, left to right: Michael Corum, dO; Joseph Borruso, dO; nicholas Loffredo, dO; robert Ogg, dO; Warren rogers, dO; Geoffrey Cornelsen, dO; randy Pearce, d.O; Hans Joseph, dO; tyler Christman, dO ;Jeffrey Jenks, dO; Bryan Jarvis, dO; timothy Volk, dO; Michael Sobolewski, dO;daniel Cowley, dO; thomas revak, dO; and Brandon trale, dO.

MCH Orthopedic Surgery Residents Excel in Clinical ResearchTheMCHOrthopedicSurgeryresidentskeepaclosewatchonpatientcasesthatpresentuniquediagnosesthatcanbestudiedtoimprovehealthcare.Theresidentspresenttheirresearchfindingsduringworkshopsatthehospital.Manyofthoseresearchpapersandposterswillbesubmittedtomedicaljournalsandwritingcompetitions.MCHresidentshavecompetedeffectivelyinrecentyearswinningtophonors. Seepage20forthePennsylvaniaOsteopathicMedicineAssociationessaywinnersfromMCH.With21currentresidents,theMCHOrthopedicResidencyisoneofthelargestinthecountry.

to a program of action, but they are far less inca-pacitating than the long range risks and costs of apathy.

The medical community, in the present envi-ronment, faces an onslaught of change. It is in-cumbent upon its practitioners to remain aware, astute, and involved.

When one does nothing, one accepts powerless-ness; when one becomes involved, there is an im-mediate sense of hope and accomplishment at-tendant with the knowledge that one is working for a principled goal or purpose. The entire no-tion of purpose is based upon a keen awareness of the interdependence of humankind involved in one another. Goals and objectives find suc-cess or failure because of people who are willing to become involved to affect change. Only by at-tracting the very best people may great deeds be accomplished.

LECOM is confident in the quality of its people and of the resolute objectives of its alumni, ad-ministrators, and students alike. It is with ener-getic enthusiasm that LECOM hopes that each of those groups will – become involved.

Community is Our Campus/Erie


PPhA President Speaks at LECOMThechiefexecutiveofficerofthePennsylvaniaPharmacistsAssociation,PatriciaA.Epple,CAEvisitedtheLECOMEriecampustocongratulatethepharmacystudentsfortheirachievementinwinningtheScriptYourFutureawardinMarch.

Bowling dO’sThe‘BowlingWithDO’s’isanannualsocialgatheringforaneveningofbowlingatRollingMeadowsLanes.It’sachanceforstudentstospendsomefreetimewiththefacultymemberswhohelpedtrainthem.(top row, L-r): Micalyn Baney, dO; richard Ortoski, dO; Beth ricci, dO; Amando ricci, dO; Mark Kauffman, dO. (Bottom row, L-r): ravi Chekka, Md; Christen nardozi, dO.

(L-r) Vice President of Academic Affairs and dean of LECOM School of Pharmacy Hershey S. Bell, Md, Matt Madurski, Brittany Pryor, Lia Phan, Patt Epple, Kelcey noble, Kim Andrews, Andy rayer, Brenda Cheung, Chelsea rashid.

(top row L-r): Second-year medical students talha Masood, James nash, Alise farr, Paul Chenowith, todd fogelsong, richard Ortoski, dO. (Bottom row, L-r): Second-year medical students Lauren Young, Seth Maurer, Esther Hutchinson.Mark Kauffman, dO

rhyan Maditz, OMS2

Community is Our Campus/Erie


relay for LifeLECOMEriestudentsandfacultymembersparticipatedintheRelayforLifeonMarch24th,2012attheLECOMMedicalFitnessandWellnessCenter.Fromthisevent,theLECOMStudentGovernmentAssociationpresentedacheckfor$9,430.45totheAmericanCancerSociety.

Presenting the relay for Life check to the American Cancer Society are (L-r) theodore Makoske, Md, Assistant Professor and SGA advisor, Molly reichard, development Specialist for the American Cancer Society and students Kristi Braunlich, OMS2 and Michael Pham, OMS2.

Clutch, the Erie BayHawks mascot, walks with second-year medical students (L-r) Kristina Braunlich , dhavel Patel, Edward Conuel and (far right) Prashant Patel.

(L-r): Second-year medical students Hye-rim Stuhr, Matt Chiu and Edward Conuel walk to raise funds.

Community is Our Campus/Bradenton


Summer Camp Physicals:EightLECOMBradentonosteopathicmedicalstudentsprovidedfreesummercampphysicalsfor89 BoyScoutsinManateeCountyonMay12.The3rdannualeventwassponsoredbyLECOM.AssistantDeanofClinicalEducationAnthonyFerretti,D.O.wastheattendingphysicianfortheevent.Fromleft(StudentsarecurrentOMS4):RiannaSonny,CarolineDavis,PatriciaChun,LeanaGaribova,AssistantDeanofClinicalEducationAnthonyFerrettiDO,KirkSzustkiewicz,MichaelYoung,JoshuaWatsonandCharlesMiller.

dania rehman Award:Third-yearpharmacystudentDaniaRehmanreceivedanationalawardforherleadershiponpublichealthissuesfromDeanHersheyS.Bell,MD.RehmanreceivedtheUnitedStatesPublicHealthService(USPHS)ExcellenceinPublicHealthPharmacyPracticeAward.TheUSPHSrecognizesandencouragesstudentstobecomeinvolvedinpublichealthissuesintheircommunityaswellastoincreaseawarenessofthePublicHealthServiceanditsmissiontoprotect,promoteandadvancethesafetyofthenation.

Operation Prom:BayshoreHighSchoolstudentsreceivedasoberingreminderaboutthedangersofdrinkinganddrivingthankstotheLECOMBradentonannualOperationPromevent.InconjunctionwithManateeCountyemergencyoperationspersonnel,LECOM’sEmergencyMedicineClubmembersstageditsannualre-enactmentofadrunkendrivingcrash.ManateeCountySheriff’sOffice,EMS,FireRescueandBayflitepersonnel,shownwithDanielMartino(OMS2),respondedtotheschool’sfootballstadiumasthoughthecrashwerereal.LECOMstudentsposingascrashvictimwerepositionedinandoutsideofwreckedcars.


Community is Our Campus/Bradenton


Articulation Agreement with State College of florida: LECOMSchoolofPharmacyandtheStateCollegeofFlorida(SCF)havepartneredtofacilitatetheadmissionofSCFgraduatesintotheLECOMDoctorofPharmacyprogram.

ThearticulationagreementestablishingtheSCF-LECOMSchoolofPharmacyEarlyAcceptanceProgramwassignedMarch13atSCF’sBradentoncampus.

“TheLECOMSchoolofPharmacyispleasedtopartnerwiththeStateCollegeofFlorida,”saidHersheyS.Bell,MD,DeanoftheLECOMSchoolofPharmacy.“ThisisagreatopportunityforSCFstudentswhowishtopursueapharmacydegreetodosolocally.”

TheEarlyAcceptanceProgramcallsforLECOMtoreservefiveslotsforSCFstudentswhocompleteanundergraduate(associate)degree,includingorinadditiontorequiredhigher-levelmathandsciencecourses.

Medical Science Academy:LECOMBradentonhelditsannualMedicalScienceAcademytwo-weeksummerprogramJune11-22forhighschoolstudents.Studentsexperiencedanacademicmedicalschoolenvironmentbyparticipatinginsmallgroupinstruction,hands-onlaboratoryexperimentsandclinicalshadowingexperience.Thirty-twoMSAstudentsparticipatedinaProblemBasedLeaning(PBL)curriculuminwhichgroupsofeightstudentsandamedical-studentfacilitatorutilizedacasepresentationformattoexploreselectedmedicalconcepts.ThelaboratoryexperiencesaredesignedtoexposeMSAstudentstohands-onpracticalclinicalskillssuchassplinting,suturingandbasicwildernessFirstAid.

SCf President Lars Hafner, Phd; LECOM Vice President of Academic Affairs and dean of the School of Pharmacy dean Hershey S. Bell, Md; SCf faculty member Anthony Gambino, Phd; SCf Board of trustee member Craig trigueiro, Md; LECOM Associate dean for Bradenton Operations Sunil Jambhekar, Phd; LECOM Vice President of Medical Education and Program development Chet Evans, dPM.

Primary Care Olympics


Gold Silver Bronze


Primary Care OlympicsLECOMErie’sDepartmentofPrimaryCareEducationheldthe2012PrimaryCareOlympicsattheLECOMMedicalFitnessandWellnessCenteronSaturday,March10,2012.Therewere12studentand3residentteamswithapproximately150totalparticipants.Teamscompetedinvariousathleticactivitiessuchastrackrelay,golf,spinnning,swimming,andbasketball.

Gold WinnersTeam 15:(TopRow,L-R):JohnCremin,AndrewAgnew,ZebulunCope,BenDodsworth,DanielFosselman.(BottomRow,L-R):StephenCasey,LeonardCostantini,JacobSeymour,JamesDavisSilver WinnersTeam 2 (Seton Hill):(TopRowL-R):DanielYing,KyleSchroering,KunalVani,KaiSchlingmann,BrettDavenport.(BottomRowL-R):PatOlsen,NickSwerchowsky,BenMiner,AmyHausner,NateKrigerBronze WinnersTeam 6 (Orthopedic residents): (TopRowL-R):Drs.DanCowley, HansJoseph,JoshTuck,KentKim,TonyFerretti.(BottomRowL-R):BrianJarvis,JeffJenks,RobOgg,NickolasLoffredo

A Proud Accomplishment


The essence of clinical training and first-ratemedical education embodies experiencewithgraduated responsibility - a concept that haseverbeenembracedandadvancedatLECOM.It seems that theU.S.News&WorldReporthasnoticedthispersuasivecombination.The well-known rating arm of the nationallyrecognized magazine recently increasedthe LECOM Primary Care ranking among allmedical colleges countrywide in its yearlycompendiumofcollegeratings.TheLakeErieCollege of Osteopathic Medicine rose fromnumber#63in2011tonumber#52in2012inthereportannouncedonMarch12,2012.LECOM’s recognition by its peers (CollegeDeans and hospital Directors of MedicalEducation)continuestogrow.LECOMisoneof only a few osteopathic medical schoolsin the nation to make the prodigious U.S.News list. LECOM also has demonstrated afavorable showing in areas that include: thetoptenmedicalschoolsforgraduatingprimarycare physicians, the lowest tuition amongprivatemedical schools, and the top schoolsforattractingapplicants.Bolsteringthereport,LECOMtakessatisfactionthat from its inception it has been aninstitutionthathaseschewedstrictadherenceto the formulaicmodalities inwhichmedicalstudents found themselves ensconcedwithinclassroomsor laboratory settings impatientlyawaitingthemomentwhentheywouldventureinto the real world of patient care. LECOMhas long viewed such practice as divergentfrom keeping pace with the changing needsofhealthcareeducation.LECOMsupportsan

LECOM Advances in u.S. news and World report rankings

expansivecurriculumthatdoesnotlimitclinicalexperience to only third-year and fourth-yearyear medical students; rather its “Pathway”modelsallowstudentstogainexperienceandexposure toactualpatientcare in theclinicalsetting.Asaresult,medicalstudentsareableto connect the diseases that they observe inpatientstothesciencethattheyarestudyingintheclassroom.Byprovidingcaretotherealpublicwho exhibit genuine illnesses,medicalscholars at LECOM are afforded a valuableedge upon traditional medical education.The resultant effect is that primary care isrecognized at LECOM as a valued practicearea. LECOM teaches its medical studentsto connect the diseases that they observe inpatientstothesciencethattheyarestudyingin the classroom. Abundant programs andservicesatLECOMreadystudentsforthenextgenerationofmedical care and it seems thatthe rating-makers at U.S. News and WorldReporthavetakennotice.

ThelatesteditionofU.S. News and World ReportBestMedicalCollegeRankingsshowsLECOMcontinuestoimproveitsreputationamongthenation’sleadingmedicalschools.#1 MedicalCollegesOver1000Students#2 LowestTuitionAmongPrivateMedical

Colleges#5 MostApplied-toMedicalColleges#7 CollegesGraduatingtheMostPrimary

CarePhysicians#27forprovidingthemosttuitionassistance#52forPrimaryCarerankingsamongall

medicalcolleges

Alumni Notes


Alumni Notes Class of 1998Brian Kessler, dOisthe2012recipientoftheAmericanCollegeofOsteopathicFamilyPracticePaperCrestAwardforhispaperAnalyzing the Impact of Accountable Care Organizations of Healthcare Delivery, the Primary Care Physician and the Medicare Patient.Class of 2003Louise del negro, dOreceivedDelawareCommunityCollege’s(DCC)StarAlumniAward,whichhonorsaDCCalumnusforprofessionalachievement.DelNegrowillbehonoredonSept.28atHarrah’sCasinoinChester,Pa. Class of 2005Lauren donatelli-Seyler, dOhascompletedanacutecaresurgeryresidencyinLasVegasandreturnedtoErie,joiningUPMC-Hamot’sshockandtraumaunitinJuly.Class of 2006Jamie Broekhuizen, dOhasjoinedKishHealthPhysicianGroupinSandwich,Ill.Dr.

BroekhuizencompletedherresidencyinfamilymedicineatKalamazooCenterforMedicalStudiesinMichigan.William Harvey, dOrecentlyjoinedSt.AlexiusHeart&LungClinicinBismark,N.D.,asananesthesiologist.Dr.HarveycompletedhisanesthesiologyresidencyatRushUniversityMedicalCenterinChicago,Ill.,andhisinternalmedicineinternshipatMedicalCollegeofWisconsininMilwaukee.Christina Lucas, dOhasopenedRockwoodFamilyPracticeinSouthGate,Mich.HerpracticeincludesOMTconsultationsatRiversideFamilyPhysicians.Class of 2008Kevin Capp, dO isnowatTitusvillePrimaryCare,inTitusville,Pa.HecompletedhisfamilymedicineresidencyatMillcreekCommunityHospital.robert J. thurick ii, dOhasopenedaprivatepracticeat6SouthOakStreetinMt.Carmel,Pa.Dr.ThurickisalsomedicaldirectoratRidgeviewHealthcareandRehabilitationCenter.Samuel urick iii, dOofAliquippa,Pa.,isengagedtoDanaAlexandraofHopewellTownship.HeattendedLakeErieCollegeof

OsteopathicMedicineinBradenton,Fla.HecompletedresidencyatMercyHospitalinPittsburgh,Pa.HeiscurrentlyemployedasanInternalMedicinePhysicianatSt.ClairHospitalnearPittsburgh.Class of 2012Jamie Melichar, dOreceivedascholarshipfromtheSunCoastOsteopathicFoundation.Benjamin Cox, dO receivedascholarshipfromtheSunCoastOsteopathicFoundation.Sara Lammers, PharmdreceivedascholarshipfromtheVolusia/FlaglerCounty(Fla.)PharmacyAssociation.

Faculty NotesPatrick f. Leary, dO,Erie, co-authored Considerations in the Management of Concussion with an Illustrative Case Example in the March/AprilissueoftheOsteopathicFamilyPhysician.Dr.LearywillserveaschairmanoftheAmericanOsteopathicAcademyofSportsMedicine’s28thannualclinicalconferenceMarch6-9,2013inColoradoSprings,Co.

August 9 Millcreek Community Hospital Golf tournament, Lake Shore Country Club, fairviewAugust 13 - 16 LECOM Summer CME Conference – Las VegasSeptember 6 LECOMt Board of directors Meeting – ClearwaterSeptember 7 LECOM Bradenton Hospital daySeptember 15 LECOM Erie White Coat CeremonySeptember 17 u.S. Constitution daySeptember 29 LECOM at Seton Hill White Coat Ceremony

Upcoming Events

Mind+Body+SpiritLECOMbelievesthatwhenmind,bodyandspiritcometogethertheimpossiblebecomessuddenlypossible.Itisthismissionthatwestriveforeveryday.Itisacallingeachandeveryoneofourstudentsembodiestobecomethebesttheycanbe.Toseehumanpotentialtakentothenextlevel–andbeyond.

Faculty & Student Notes


Ali Moradi, Md, MPH,Bradenton,hadhisarticleRight Atrial Leiomyosarcoma: A Very Rare Cardiac TumorpublishedintheJournalofClinicalandExperimentalCardiology.Julie J. Wilkinson, Pharmd,Bradenton,hasbeenacceptedintotheAmericanAssociationofCollegeofPharmacy’sAcademicLeadershipFellowsProgram(ALFP).TheALFPisayear-longprogramdesignedtodevelopthenation’smostpromisingpharmacyfacultyforrolesasfutureleadersinacademicpharmacyandhighereducation.Julie K. freeman, Jd,SetonHill,hasjoinedtheGreensburg,Pa.CommunityDevelopmentCorporationBoard.Shewillserveathree-yearterm.Amy Yonick, MLiS,SetonHill, co-authoredCarnegie Library of Pittsburgh LYNCS: Bringing a Library to the Pittsburgh Public Market, whichwaspublishedintheJournalofLibraryInnovationVol.III.Seher Khan, Phd,Erie, publishedTargeted Therapies for Philadelphia Chromosome-Positive Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia at www.uspharmacist.com.

Student NotesClass of 2015 Zebulon Cope (OMS Erie), Scott Cooper (OMS Erie)andJessica rimkus (OMS Bradenton)werenamedPaulAmbroseScholarsandattendedtheAmbroseScholarssymposiuminWashington,D.C.Theprograminvitedonly46medicalstudentsfromacrossthecountrytolearnaboutpreventivemedicineeducationwithsupportfromtheAssociationofPreventionTeachingandResearch.Beth Koh (OMS Seton Hill)hasbeenchosenasanAlbertSchweitzerFellowfor2012-2013.FellowsarechosentoaddresshealthdisparitiesandthesocialfactorsofhealththroughoutthegreaterPittsburgh(Pa.)areaincludingGreensburgwhereKohwillworkwiththePressleyDaySchoolstudents. Class of 2014Chelsey rashid (Pharm. Erie)receivedanawardfromtheCatholicCampusMinistry

Associationfor“excellenceinappropriatingthefaith”duringalumniweekendatSt.BonaventureUniversity(SBU).Rashidco-foundedStudentsforPrayer,Action,ReflectionandKnowledge(SPARK)atSBU.Kai Schlingmann (OMS Seton Hill)hasbeenappointedasastudentmemberoftheAmericanAcademyofOsteopathyFoundationBoardofDirectorsforatwo-yearterm.tolulope Akindo (Pharm. Bradenton)wasoneof12studentsinthecountrytoreceiveanAmericanSocietyofHealthSystemsLeadershipScholarship.Amy Blanchette (Pharm. Bradenton) receivedascholarshipfromtheBlakeMedicalCenterAuxiliary. Class of 2013Jeremiah Libby (OMS Bradenton) receivedaSunCoastOsteopathicFoundationscholarship.Mitchelle rodriguez (Pharm. Bradenton) receivedascholarshipfromtheBrowardCountyPharmacyAssociation.

October Pharmacist MonthOctober 9 LECOM Alumni reception and AOA OMEd 2012, San diegoOctober 25 LECOM Erie research dayOctober 27 LECOM Bradenton Scholarship Auctionnovember 3 LECOM Erie Scholarship Auctionnovember 6 LECOM Erie Early Acceptance Affiliate Campus daynovember 9 LECOM Erie Admissions On Campus daynovember 19 LECOM Bradenton Pharmacy Career daydecember 5 – 6 MS Med Ed Capstone Conference, Erie

Asoneofthelargestandmostprogressivemedicalcollegesinthenation,LECOMoffersaunique,affordableandinnovativeeducationinosteopathicmedicine,pharmacyanddentalmedicine.Aroundthecountry,LECOMgraduatespracticeatahigherleverineveryspecialtyofmedicineandpharmacy.Theyhearacallingtohelppeople.Totreatdisease.Togivehope.Thesearethestudentsofthe21stcenturyandtheonesthatwillmakeadifferenceinpeople’slivestodayandtomorrow.

1858 West Grandview Blvd. Erie, Pennsylvania 16509(814) 866-6641 www.lecom.edu

Save the DateLECOM

Student Scholarship FundAuction 2012

ErieSaturday

November 3, 2012We invite you to join us for a “Holiday Celebration.”

Come and bid on your choice of many fabulous items in Erie and Bradenton.

The LECOM Student Scholarship Fund helps deserving students

manage the high cost of medical, dental and pharmacy school.

BradentonSaturday

October 27, 2012

the lecom connection summer 2012

Documents

osteopathic physicians

founders of lecom

initial step

plethora of pitfalls

pharmacy graduates lecom

president2 lecom connection

mission statementa message

unexpected obstacles