tuncom hosts cosgp

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TUNCOM HOSTS COSGP Earlier this year, COSGP traveled to Las Vegas for its winter quarterly meeting.

As usual, the meeting was a huge success with tons of innovation, teamwork,

and collaboration. Notable highlights include COSGP’s National Research Poster

competition (see p. 6), a presentation from Ohio University Professor Dr. Stoner

on how to succeed as a leader, many important school discussions, and the ever-

popular COSGP superlatives. Of course, a meeting update would not be complete

without an e-high five, a virtual round of applause, and all the honorable mentions

to our host school, TUNCOM. Together, their faculty, administration, and

students provided an amazing site for our endless productivity, and we can’t

thank them enough. Even more so, we could not be more proud of the top notch

health fair they organized for the greater Henderson, NV community. Kudos!

February 21, 2016 February 29, 2016 April 13, 2016

®

THE LOREM IPSUMS WINTER 2016

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VOL 1516 | EDITION 3 2

WE ARE THE CHANGE By Alex Bauer, OMS-II from DMU-COM

I explicitly remember the very first time I

heard the term “DO.” In a meeting with

my undergraduate advisor, I asked the

difference between AACOMAS and

AMCAS. She brushed over my question

by replying that AACOMAS was for

students who wanted to be DOs instead

of Medical Doctors (MDs). That evening

I began exploring the osteopathic

profession and the ideals in which it

was built on, which became the spark to

the burning passion I now have for

osteopathic medicine. I found a

profession that took all of the aspects of

medicine that I didn’t like, and

addressed them at a foundational level.

I was able to let go of so many fears I

had about pursuing medicine as a

career. I could let go of my fear of

becoming an uncompassionate doctor

who didn’t listen to his patients, a

unified GME. We are at a crossroads

as a profession where we can map out

our own path. We can listen to what

our society wants from medicine, and

give that to them. Do patients want

more OMM incorporated into their

clinic visits, post-op visits, or even ER

visits? Great, then let’s use our OPTIs

to get DO residents the training they

need to provide those treatments. Do

patients want a physician that

coordinates with all their different

specialists to decide on the best

holistic care plan? Excellent, let’s

create more primary care physicians

who are trained in being that point of

contact that leads the inter-

professional medical team. Osteopathic

medicine has an amazing opportunity

to be the change in medicine that

America wants to see. I say: let’s DO it.

mission to address this issue for med students, interns,

residents, and physicians, in an effort to make the country well

aware that this is a concern in the health care community

and needs to be discussed. So, for the first time ever,

osteopathic medical students are being asked direct, real life

questions about their own mental health in order to kick-start

a conversation that proves we are not alone. The MHATF is

challenging DO students throughout the country to fill out a 10-

15 minute IRB approved questionnaire to help show the world

what’s really going on inside our heads. We encourage you to

do your part and support the elimination of mental health

stigma nationwide. The survey is open ONLY until February 21,

2016, so contact your SGA President and/or COSGP

representatives today to gain access to the survey, so that

together, we can try to #save400.

By Steve Bial ick, OMS-IV from RowanSOM

COSGP and SOMA are excited to announce the official launch

of the Mental Health Awareness Task Force (MHATF), a

campaign to promote emotional and psychological well-being

among health care professionals. A common theme among

osteopathic leaders this year has been resilience, and this

task force has been nothing shy of resilient. Statistics show

that a significant percentage of people reading this

newsletter feel burned out, have felt depressed, and may

have had suicidal thoughts throughout their time in medical

school, residency, or as a healthcare provider. In fact, some

reports show that almost physicians commit suicide

annually, and physicians report burnout. Medical

students and health care professionals often forego mental

health counseling in fear of judgment by their peers,

residency program directors, preceptors, etc. Thus, it is our

doctor who is afraid to touch his

patients, a doctor who refers patients

onto the next physician without

centralizing their care.

Through my interactions with the AOA

and other leaders of our profession as

SGA president at DMU-COM, it is clear

to me that our profession is no longer

asking for a seat at the table. We have a

seat, and society’s concerns for the

medical community have put us at the

head of that table. The public wants

DOs as their physicians, because we

have been trained from day one to

partner with them in providing holistic,

patient-centered health care.

Being a student at such a historical time

for our profession, I am so lucky to have

a front row seat in the transition to a


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INVALUABLE LESSONS IN A LIFE OF LEADERSHIP

By Katr ina Lin, OMS-II from OSU-COM

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Great leaders come from developing leadership skills, such

as being an effective communicator, listener, motivator,

planner, and executor. The experience gained in leadership

helps us honestly self-assess our unique leadership style,

teaches us how to be adaptable, and develops an

understanding of how best to achieve our goals. These tools

are invaluable to have on our tool belt, as we become great

physicians. While we practice these leadership skills, gain

valuable knowledge, grow as individual leaders, and develop

rich relationships, we are adding onto the readily usable

tools that we already have from our medical education.

Yes, with each leadership journey comes sacrifice,

obstacles, and plenty of sweat and tears. However, the

lessons, relationships built, influences made, and services

provided to others are priceless. Thus, I challenge

osteopathic students across the country to take a leap into

the world of leadership, and you will be surprised what that

experience will bring to your mind, body, and spirit.

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Defeating medical school takes a tremendous amount of

hard work and enduring determination. This fight seems

impossible without devoting all our time to studying and

studying some more. It feels like a second wasted is a point

off of a test score and more importantly, is knowledge we did

not gain. We use this as an excuse not to take on more

responsibility by dismissing opportunities of leadership.

However, I encourage you, as an osteopathic student, future

physician, and a future leader in medicine to start embracing

leadership because the lessons learned in leadership go far

beyond the walls of an educational institution.

As we step into the field of medicine, we are expected to be

leaders in a few short years. We are expected to gain the

skills of reliably leading teams and to have the confidence in

giving comforting and decisive answers. Patients, family

members, and friends look to us as future leaders in the

community who are willing to serve and make a positive

difference for those around them.

GLOBAL HEALTH UNVEILS MOBILE APP On February 1, 2016, COSGP’s Global Health Committee relayed details about a

project that has been in the works since the start of this academic year. The

committee proudly presented their iPhone/Android mobile app that became the

first of its kind that will help students log their experiences throughout their

global health endeavors. As students travel far and wide, the app serves as an

electronic journal to gather, organize, and record their thoughts and memories

throughout their trip. “DOServe” will be available for download in app stores real

soon, stay tuned for details.



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AZCOM/MWU LAUNCHES CULTURAL COMPETENCY SCHOLARSHIP By Zinnia Daas, OMS-II from AZCOM

Diversity Culturally competent care is care that respects both diversity in the patient population and factors that can affect health care such as language, communication styles, beliefs, attitudes, and behaviors. Not only does it encompass racial and ethnic differences, but it may also include marginalized populations the provider identifies with that are still at risk for discrimination and have unique health care needs that can result in health disparities. Health care providers and organizations must work together to provide culturally competent care to truly overcome the systemic barriers that increase the probability of patients experiencing negative health consequences, receiving poor quality care, and, most importantly, being dissatisfied with care they receive.

Reflective Awareness Current interventional efforts are addressing cultural competency in the health care setting. Health care providers are attending workshops and training sessions that focus on reflective awareness, empathy, and active listening techniques without oversimplifying the diversity within a population or increasing the likelihood of fundamental attribution errors. This is a step in the right direction, but it raises an important question: Why should this training only begin at the professional level? It should commence at the educational level and be integrated into the curriculum as physicians are receiving their training in basic sciences and clinical skills. With the support of the AZCOM/MWU administration, the school’s student government association was able to create a new scholarship for the medical students at Midwestern University: “Promoting Cultural Competency in Healthcare.” The purpose of this scholarship is to both aid and encourage student doctors who wish to attend conferences and training workshops that promote the platform of cultural competency in health care. While these conferences can’t cover every detail about all languages, cultures, or religions, they are formative opportunities for health care professionals to receive training in cross-cultural issues and create policies that reduce administrative and linguistic barriers that affect the patient-physician interaction today.

Empathy It is our responsibility as future health care professionals to promote and exhibit cultural competency in order to provide the best patient-centered care possible on a daily basis. Empathy, compassion, respect, and humility are attitudes that have the potential to strengthen the patient-physician relationship and can help health care providers acquire information about the patient’s culture that they would like to incorporate in the decisions regarding the medical care they receive. A culturally competent health care system can help improve the quality of care a patient receives and can contribute to the elimination of racial and ethnic health disparities that exist today. This scholarship is a testament to Midwestern University’s commitment to promoting cultural competency by supporting the education of its student doctors on issues centered around patient diversity and the quality of health care.


OMS DAY OF WELLNESS

February 10, 2016 OMS Day of Wellness was a novel project as part of

COSGP's Mental Health Awareness Task Force

(MHATF) Initiative. Across the country, student

government associations rallied together to give their

students a day to reflect on their own mental health,

and an opportunity to learn about healthy practices for

the mind, body and spirit. Featured above are some of

the amazing events that took place (from top to

bottom): The Wall of Gratitude at WVSOM, Puppy

Therapy at OSU-COM, Folk Music Therapy at VCOM-

CC, and FitFest at UNECOM.


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LESSONS LEARNED: TODAY’S LEGENDS, TOMORROW’S LEADERS Lesson #1 – Never Forget Where You Come From: The Story of Dr. Mercy Obeime

By Taiwo T. Ajumobi , OMS-I from RowanSOM

Like many medical students, my dream

of being a doctor began when I was a

child. In the late 1990s, I was seven

years old and the TV show “ER” was

extremely popular. I loved that show

and it was one of many factors that

influenced my desire to become a

physician. Excited about my decision, I

boldly announced to my mother, “I’m

going to be the first female doctor.”

Coincidentally, later that same day I had

my first appointment with Dr. Rose, a

female pediatrician. Disappointed to

discover that my title of “first female

doctor” had already been claimed, I

then informed my mom, “I’m going to be

the first black woman doctor.” Not long

after that, I met a family friend who not

only was a black female physician, but

she was also Nigerian so I couldn’t

even aspire to become the first Nigerian

female physician in America. Despite

my disappointments to set world

records through medicine, my passion

for medicine stayed with me and

motivated me to enjoy learning, to

challenge myself academically as well

as in other areas of my life, and has

made me determined never to give up

on myself or my dreams. In addition, I

seek to learn about physicians who are

making differences in medicine and

health care. In particular, I want to

know about physicians who are not

necessarily being recognized for being

the first, but rather for being the best.

Their stories teach me, and hopefully

others, what excellence looks like and

how we all might one day achieve our

own versions of it.

One physician I had the privilege to

learn about is family medicine physician

Dr. Mercy Obeime. Dr. Obeime

immigrated to America from Nigeria in

1989 and is currently the Medical

Director of St. Francis Neighborhood

Health Center in Indianapolis, Indiana.

In her clinic, she has worked tirelessly

with Hoosier Healthwise, a state funded

health care insurance program, to

ensure access to health care and other

necessary resources for low-income

families in Indiana.

Although she works to provide the

utmost care for her patients in America,

she never forgot her people in Nigeria.

A 2001 visit to Nigeria inspired her and

her husband, Dr. Chris Obeime, to

create The Mercy Foundation to help

provide desperately needed medical

attention and care to the people in her

native country. Since its first mission

trip in 2004, the Foundation has sent

$800,000 worth of medical supplies to

Nigeria. The Mercy Foundation has

garnered national recognition, and Dr.

Obeime has herself received such

prestigious awards as the National

Spirit of Women Award in 2003 as well

as the Indiana Tony and Mary Hulman

Public Health Award, among others.

Timmy Global Health, founded by Dr.

Charles Dietzen, partnered with The

Mercy Foundation in 2010 to ensure that

the people of Uromi, Nigeria receive

reliable medical care and resources.

That 2001 visit to Nigeria also resulted

in Dr. Mercy Obeime becoming an

advocate for global access to

healthcare. She was one of a group of

celebrities –including Bono of U2, Chris

Tucker, George Clooney and others−

who had an opportunity during the 2005

G8 Conference to advocate for debt

forgiveness of the world’s poorest

nations. More recently, she participated

as a guest panelist on the BBC World

Service radio program, “World Have

Your Say”.

Dr. Obeime’s story serves as a reminder

that greatness is defined not by one’s

origins or the accolades received, but

rather by how one uses their knowledge

and skills to help those in need. When

asked how she had accomplished so

much, she said there was no magic

formula, humbly claiming, “It just

happened.” Because of her tireless

efforts to promote adequate health care

for all, the people in Uromi, Nigeria –a

place few had ever heard of until she

created The Mercy

Foundation–and the people in

Indiana are all living better


and healthier lives.

In the same way, as osteopathic medical students, we strive to care

for those who don’t have adequate access to health care. With the field of

osteopathic medicine expanding, the face, education, and ethnic backgrounds

of osteopathic physicians are also changing. Some of us come from rural

areas, some from the suburbs, and others from the inner-city. Some of us even

come from different countries or have families who currently reside outside the

United States. In our lifetimes, we have been exposed to different health disparities

and conditions.

As the leaders of tomorrow, we are our communities’ best advocates, because we

fully know and understand the underlining problems that have led to the health

conditions present in the community. It is this reason why we cannot and should

not forget the communities we come from. What remains constant in every

community is that people desire physicians who do no harm and most importantly

can provide care that improves their body, mind, and spirit. As future DO physicians,

that is exactly what we are called to DO.

COSGP’s 2016 National Poster Competition was held at TUNCOM in Henderson, Nevada at COSGP’s winter quarterly meeting

in January. About 20 student researchers presented their research at the competition, but ultimately, there were three

winners (shown above). from ATSU-KCOM (left) placed first with her poster entitled

“Hydroxysafflor Yellow A and the Cardiac Permeability Transition Pore.” from TUNCOM (center)

placed second with her poster entitled “Modulation of complement cascade by mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) in age-related

macular degeneration (AMD).” from TouroCOM-CA (right) placed third with her poster entitled

Assessing the Efficacy of Community Based Screening on “Schistosomiasis Prevalence and Community Awareness in Rural

Tanzania: a Two Year Pilot Study.” COSGP congratulates all participants and commends the amazing research taking place


2016 COSGP NATIONAL POSTER COMPETITION BRINGS A+ RESEARCH TO HENDERSON, NEVADA

tuncom hosts cosgp

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