Vitals
2024 IMPACT REPORT
HISTORIC GRADUATION
Tribal Medical Campus
Marks Milestone
DEAR FRIENDS,
As I reflect on 2024 at OSU Center for Health Sciences, I could not possibly be prouder of what our team has accomplished. As they say, this past year has been one for the record books.
A major milestone that drew international media attention was the historic inaugural graduating class from the OSU College of Osteopathic Medicine at the Cherokee Nation in Tahlequah. These 46 students are the first to graduate from the nation’s first tribally affiliated medical school, and we know a large percentage of this class are now doing their residency programs in rural Oklahoma communities. This campus is a key part of our strategic mission to train physicians who will someday serve rural and underserved communities in our state.
This year also saw some of our researchers garnering international media attention for CHS. Specifically, Dr. Kyle Simmons, a professor of pharmacology and the director of our biomedical imaging center, who is conducting groundbreaking research on the use of semaglutide for treating alcohol use disorder. As the world waits with anticipation on how GLP-1 medications can improve many aspects of human health and wellness, I’m grateful to see OSU Center for Health Sciences on the front lines making a difference.
In late summer, we hosted a “topping off” ceremony to mark 50% construction completion on the new veterans hospital in downtown Tulsa. We were joined by federal, state, county and city officials who have lent their unwavering support to this project, along with loyal donors and other partners who are working to make this big idea a reality. We look forward to completing construction in fall of 2025 and opening the hospital in 2026.
Another exciting effort underway is our OSU Medicine Virtual Care initiative. Advancing technology now allows us to reach across our state and provide specialty care where it’s desperately needed. Remote patient monitoring and virtual services in cardiology, stroke care, behavioral health and hospitalist care are just a few of the efforts OSU is leading to address both patient needs as well as health care workforce shortages. This technology is also allowing us to provide vital care to students in rural schools across Oklahoma.
And if these accomplishments weren’t enough, we saw a jaw-dropping 32% increase in enrollment at OSU-CHS this fall! This reflects the increasing demand for our graduate programs, particularly in the areas of forensic sciences and health care administration. Enjoy these and many other topics covered in this magazine, and please stay in touch throughout the coming year.
Go Pokes!
Johnny Stephens, Pharm.D. President of OSU Center for Health Sciences
OSU-CHS President Johnny Stephens with OSU College of Osteopathic Medicine students at the Veterans Hospital in Tulsa topping off ceremony in August 2024.
VITALS
MAKING HISTORY
Inaugural class graduates from OSU College of Osteopathic Medicine at the Cherokee Nation
Oklahoma State University College of Osteopathic Medicine at the Cherokee Nation celebrated a monumental achievement May 16, 2024 as its inaugural class of 46 medical students graduated from the country’s first tribally affiliated medical school.
“Tonight, we celebrate the realization of a dream, one that started over a decade ago when I served as president of OSU Center for Health Sciences,” said Dr. Kayse Shrum, OSU president. “We wanted to expand our efforts to better the health outcomes of rural Oklahomans while also growing the medical school.”
Approximately 20% of the inaugural class are Native American. It’s a substantial number compared to the less than 1% of Native American students enrolled in medical schools nationally. About 35% of the students from OSU-COM at the Cherokee Nation’s inaugural class matched with a rural or tribal residency program.
Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. said as the tribe celebrates this historic milestone, they also honor the resiliency of their ancestors.
“Today, their legacy lives on as this exceptional group of future doctors prepares to break barriers and forge new paths in health care,” Hoskin said. “Their dedication not only addresses the critical shortage of rural doctors but also increases the representation
of Native and Cherokee physicians within our health system and other tribal health systems in this state, ensuring top-notch care rooted in culture for generations to come.”
With health outcomes in Oklahoma ranking near the bottom nationwide, training physicians who will someday care for rural and underserved Oklahomans is a key mission of OSU-CHS.
“These graduates, who have completed their training in the heart of the Cherokee Nation, embody the values of service, compassion and excellence that define both the Cherokee Nation and Oklahoma State University,” OSU-CHS President Johnny Stephens said. “Their journey has been one of dedication, perseverance and cultural understanding. As they embark on their careers, they will carry with them the unique perspective and knowledge gained from this groundbreaking partnership.”
In August 2020, the inaugural class didn’t just make history by being the first students attending a tribally affiliated medical school, they also started classes in the middle of a global pandemic.
“The first semester of medical school is difficult. Compound the stress of moving, forming new relationships, and learning a high volume of complex information during a global pandemic, and then you begin to understand the challenges faced by the class of 2024,” said Dr. Natasha Bray, OSU-COM at the Cherokee Nation dean. “The class of 2024 demonstrated resilience and leadership. They developed deep friendships and a culture of support both in the learning environment and the community. They developed a deep, and I hope enduring, appreciation of the role of a physician in service.”
Dr. Ashton Glover-Gatewood, an enrolled member of the Choctaw Nation and descendent of the Chickasaw and Cherokee nations of Oklahoma, was working as a nurse and health care administrator at the Oklahoma City Indian Clinic when she applied to be part of the first class of medical students on the new Tahlequah campus.
“We’ve been through a lot as a class. I think we had a unique set of challenges, but we really grew together; we uplifted each other, and we helped each other,” Gatewood said. “I also feel a responsibility to represent my tribe. I hope that my story can inspire others to continue pursuing their dreams, especially Native students and women who may not have many mentors in their communities.”
U.S. NEWS RANKINGS PROVE WE’RE MEETING OUR MISSION
Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences has once again been recognized by U.S. News & World Report for its commitment to meeting the health care needs of rural and underserved patients in Oklahoma.
OSU-CHS was ranked No. 6 in percentage of graduates practicing in Health Professional Shortage Areas.
HPSAs designate areas and population groups, both rural and urban, that are experiencing a shortage of health professionals and can also be called medical deserts. More than 44% of OSU-COM graduates are practicing in HPSAs, according to U.S. News data.
“Being recognized again nationally by U.S. News & World Report is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our graduates to serve those living in physician shortage areas, and proof that we are meeting the mission of OSU College of Osteopathic Medicine,” said OSU-CHS President Johnny Stephens. “I’m so proud of our institution, our students and alumni, and our faculty and staff for their unwavering commitment to this mission — to meet the health care needs of rural and underserved communities.”
OSU-CHS was also ranked No. 19 in medical schools whose graduates practice in rural areas.
According to the National Rural Health Association, the patient-to-primary care physician ratio in rural areas is 39.8 physicians per 100,000 people, compared to 53.3 physicians per 100,000 people in urban areas. This uneven distribution of physicians has had an impact on the health of those living in rural areas.
“Since our founding in 1972, OSU College of Osteopathic Medicine has prioritized educating and training doctors to serve and practice in rural Oklahoma where there’s the greatest need,” said Dr. Dennis Blankenship, dean of OSU-COM. “We believe in encouraging and empowering those living in rural and underserved areas who may have dreams of becoming a doctor or who have a passion for serving others. By recruiting future physicians from small towns and communities in Oklahoma, we increase the chance they return to their hometowns or a similar community to practice medicine where they are needed most.”
The 2023-24 U.S. News & World Report rankings are from a survey of 196 accredited allopathic and osteopathic medical schools in the United States, which grant MD and DO degrees, respectively.
The Robert Graham Center, a division of the American Academy of Family Physicians, provided data and obtained the 2023 AMA Physician Professional Data from October 2023. Physician-level data from the 2023 AMA Physician Professional Data was used to construct the rural and HPSA rankings. This data includes each physician’s practice location, specialty, medical school, graduation year and whether that physician practiced in direct patient care.
In the past year, OSU Center for Health Sciences garnered national and international media attention for its medical research, scientific discoveries and historic graduation of the inaugural class of OSU College of Osteopathic Medicine at the Cherokee Nation.
OSU Paleontology Student Discovers New Dinosaur Species
Graduation of the OSU College of Osteopathic Medicine at the Cherokee Nation Inaugural Class
CONSTRUCTION MILESTONE CELEBRATED FOR VA HOSPITAL IN TULSA
Facility to be named James Mountain Inhofe VA Medical Center
Dignitaries, leaders and government officials came together to celebrate the ceremonial topping off of the new veterans hospital in downtown Tulsa in August 2024.
The project is a collaboration between the federal government, state of Oklahoma, Tulsa County, city of Tulsa, private philanthropy and Oklahoma State University.
The topping off ceremony commemorated the $176.4 million project surpassing its midway point and served as a thank you celebration for the designers, architects, builders and construction crews who have been working on the project since 2021.
In November, it was announced that the hospital will be named the James Mountain Inhofe VA Medical Center to honor the legacy of the late Oklahoma Sen. Jim Inhofe, whose unwavering support of the U.S. military, veterans and their families was a hallmark of his public service career.
The 319,000-square-foot, 58-bed medical-surgical hospital will bring a new level of care for the more than 65,000 veterans who live in and near the Tulsa area. Situated downtown in the OSU Academic Medical District alongside the new Oklahoma Psychiatric Care Center and the OSU Medical Center, the James Mountain Inhofe VA Medical Center will offer a seamless continuity of veteran care not seen before in Oklahoma.
The project should be completed in 2025. Ownership will then transfer to the Department of Veterans Affairs, who will staff, furnish and outfit the hospital, which is expected to open in early 2026. It will also create about 50 new OSU Medicine residency spots.
The VA hospital project is personal for OSU President Kayse Shrum.
“My father is a veteran who will benefit from this hospital,” Shrum said, but the project will have a positive impact beyond just veterans. “We know that doing the right thing by veterans will improve medical care for the entire community. New medical specialists, more medical residents and increased health care expertise for Oklahomans all across our state.”
U.S. Air Force veteran Cesar Latimer sings the national anthem.
Construction workers enjoy breakfast after the topping off ceremony for the Veterans Hospital in Tulsa.
Courtney Knoblock, Dr. Johnny Stephens and Dr. Kayse Shrum make remarks at a topping off ceremony for the Veterans Hospital in Tulsa.
EDUCATING FUTURE OKLAHOMA PHYSICIANS
$16M GRANT AWARDED TO OSU-CHS TO IMPROVE HEALTH IN
RURAL, TRIBAL AND UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES
The Health Resources and Services Administration awarded OSU Center for Health Sciences a $16 million grant to enhance the school’s recruitment, retention and training programs focused on rural, tribal, and urban and underserved populations in Oklahoma.
HRSA’s Medical Student Education Training Program grant will allocate $4 million to OSU-CHS each year over the next four years. The goal of the funding is to increase the number of primary care physicians practicing in Oklahoma.
OSU-COM OFFERS FOUR MEDICAL EDUCATION TRACKS TO STUDENTS
OSU-COM has a mission to produce primary care physicians for rural and underserved Oklahoma, which is critical as the state is challenged by continued shortages of physicians.
According to HRSA, most counties and geographic areas in the state are designated as primary care Health Professional Shortage Areas.
“Oklahoma faces a severe physician shortage that is exacerbated in our rural communities. Training physicians who are prepared to live and work in these underserved communities is vital to addressing the health care needs of Oklahomans and tackling the major health care disparities facing our state,” said Dr. Natasha Bray, dean of OSU College of Osteopathic Medicine at the Cherokee Nation.
Some of the funding from the HRSA grant will bolster the school’s Rural, Tribal and Urban Underserved Medical Tracks. Currently, students enrolled in the tracks must complete a two-week summer externship, but with the additional funds, these will expand to a sixweek program where students will engage in track-specific clinical, didactic and community-based training.
Students participating in these medical tracks will also receive scholarships funded through the grant.
Part of the grant funding will also support OSU-CHS’ graduate certificate in medical sciences program for those who have earned a bachelor’s or graduate degree and want to pursue medical school.
The grant funding will also support mental health and wellness programs, academic success programs, faculty and staff support, preceptor development and training, career mentorship initiatives and faculty development. It will also fund and support outreach programs aimed at high school and undergraduate students who may develop an interest in medicine or are already thinking about a career in health care.
“This grant allows us to continue our mission to prepare the next generation of primary care physicians to serve their neighborhoods and communities. We are deeply committed to creating educational opportunities for students growing up in Oklahoma to become a physician to serve their community,” Bray said. “Training physicians who have the knowledge and skills to serve their home communities helps create a healthy and thriving Oklahoma.”
Rural Medical Track
Students get unique hands-on training and experience with physicians who understand the challenges and limited access to medical services in rural communities. Participants can also collaborate on innovative health care models like virtual medicine.
Tribal Medical Track
Students learn about Indigenous medicine, health disparities among American Indian populations and career opportunities in tribal health care through hands-on learning and experience. Students also complete special rotations at tribal clinics and hospitals reserved for TMT participants.
Urban Underserved Medical Track
Students obtain real-world training with physicians who know and understand the benefits and challenges of practicing in an urban and underserved clinic or health system. Through this track, medical students learn about various health disparities and receive training in treating patients in a free clinic setting.
Global Medicine Track
Global Medicine students gain experience working in countries with different medical, economic, environmental and cultural factors that influence quality of care. The track also gives students the chance to participate in humanitarian outreach and promote the tenets of osteopathic medicine worldwide.
OSU-COM STUDENT NAMED AACOM’S NATIONAL STUDENT DO OF THE YEAR
OSU College of Osteopathic Medicine student Paul Delgado was recognized as the National Student DO of the Year by the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine in April 2024.
She is also the first OSU-COM student to receive the honor.
“I am incredibly honored and humbled to be named National Student DO of the Year. As a first-generation Latina and the first recipient from OSU-COM, I know I share this win with my entire community,” said Delgado, who is completing her fourth year of medical school.
Delgado, who was born in Oklahoma and moved to Mexico with her family as a baby, was just 6 years old when she decided she wanted to be a doctor. At 13, she moved back to Oklahoma in order to pursue her dream.
“It was difficult. I was a teenager; I didn’t speak the language. I knew my ABCs and I knew that I was going into medicine,” she said.
“Over the years my passion for addressing many of the health inequities that impact historically marginalized communities has driven my work and commitment to medicine.”
Each year, every osteopathic medical school across the United States selects a student doctor of the year based on service to their institution, leadership skills and research experience. At OSU, medical students are nominated and then a Student Government Association selection committee chooses the OSU DO Student Doctor of the Year.
AACOM then selects the National Student DO of the Year from among the schools’ winners.
“I am so incredibly proud of Paul and her accomplishments. Her dedication to the field of medicine and her passion for meeting the health care needs of her community is inspiring. She is the embodiment of our mission at OSU College of Osteopathic Medicine — to serve the people living in rural and underserved areas of Oklahoma. She is truly deserving of this national recognition,” said Dr. Dennis Blankenship, dean of OSU-COM.
After she graduates in 2025, Delgado plans to complete an internal medicine residency with the goal of going into cardiology — and hopefully not too far away.
“Oklahoma is home, so we’ll see what happens,” she said.
CONTINUED GROWTH
OSU Center for Health Sciences again experienced record enrollment in the fall 2024 semester, continuing an almost 10-year trend of record enrollment growth.
32%
OSU-CHS is experiencing a 32% enrollment increase from the previous academic year, due in part to the growth of the graduate programs.
By September 2024, more than 1,800 students enrolled in one of five graduate programs, a 36.4% increase from 2023.
HEALTH CARE ADMINISTRATION
HCA enrollment Doctorate in HCA degree n Fall 2023 enrollment n Fall 2024 enrollment
The most significant growth occurred in the School of Health Care Administration (HCA). This was due in large part to the Doctorate in Health Care Administration degree, which doubled its enrollment numbers in the past year. 613
944 students enrolled
ATHLETIC TRAINING
30 students enrolled
BIOMEDICAL SCIENCES
106 students enrolled
FORENSIC SCIENCES
643 students enrolled
PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT
75 students enrolled
MEDWISE, PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT PROGRAM PARTNER TO ENHANCE EDUCATION AND TRAINING
In spring 2024, MedWise Urgent Care announced a strategic partnership with OSU Center for Health Sciences aimed at enriching the education and training opportunities for physician assistant (PA) students.
Through this collaboration, MedWise serves as a clinical rotation site for PA students at its urgent care facilities, offering invaluable hands-on experience under the guidance of seasoned professionals.
MedWise has also made a donation to support the OSU-CHS program through a contribution to the OSU Foundation.
“MedWise relies on a competent team of physician assistants to manage their clinics and it provides an excellent training site for OSU PA students to acquire knowledge and skills from MedWise PAs who manage care plans for their patients. We are excited about the opportunity this partnership provides for our students,” said Amy Harrison, PA-C, and director of the OSU-CHS Physician Assistant program.
Dr. Dennis Blackstad, president of MedWise, and an OSU-CHS alumnus, highlighted the significance of the partnership in fostering hands-on learning experiences for PA students.
“As a proud OSU-CHS alum, I am thrilled that we can provide this opportunity for PA students to have hands-on learning experiences in our world-class facilities,” Blackstad said. “These students will have the unique opportunity to learn from the very best in their classrooms at OSU and in our MedWise Urgent Care centers.”
In addition to educational experiences, the partnership creates a pathway for OSU-CHS PA graduates to explore employment opportunities in underserved urban health care settings, addressing critical gaps in patient care.
MedWise currently operates more than 14 urgent care clinics in the Tulsa area with additional clinics expected to open soon.
DR. ROBIN DYER RETIRES AFTER 30 YEARS OF DEDICATED SERVICE TO OSU-CHS
Dr. Robin Dyer wanted to be a physician to help people, and she has done just that for more than three decades. Few have made the immeasurable impact she has on OSU Center for Health Sciences, its students, her colleagues and the field of osteopathic medicine. She retired in August 2024.
Dyer had finished her master’s degree in music education and was teaching in Newcastle, Oklahoma, when her father had a heart attack. He survived but it prompted Dyer to change careers and pursue medicine.
Dyer graduated in 1992 from OSU College of Osteopathic Medicine and practiced OMM and family medicine in Tulsa before returning to the classroom at her alma mater.
“What is there not to love about teaching? You are trying to pass on to others your love of whatever your passion is. For me, that was OMM. I simply love the ability OMM gives DOs to help people immediately feel better, simply by using your hands and your listening skills. I’ve always hoped I could ignite that love in my students,” she said.
Dr. Dennis Blankenship, dean of OSU-COM, and Dr. Natasha Bray, dean of OSU-COM at the Cherokee Nation, both had Dyer as an instructor when they were medical students, and both refer to her as a mentor.
“She is a kind, talented physician who cares deeply about her patients and her students. She shows great dedication, loyalty and devotion to the osteopathic profession and to OSU-COM,” Blankenship said. “She has been a great mentor to me and countless other physicians and educators throughout the years. She’s also a great historian of the osteopathic profession and our school.”
Bray said she will miss Dyer’s expertise and wisdom that she is always willing to share, and the love she has for medicine and teaching.
“I miss all my friends — the faculty and staff — that I have made over the past 30 years. I definitely miss the students. It is so fun and rewarding to watch them go from interview day to their white coat ceremony to the first two years of classes then into rotations and finally graduation. The next thing you know you are referring patients to them, or you are going to your former students as their patient, or working alongside them as a peer,” Dyer said.
“That’s probably one of the most rewarding things you can imagine. I feel like we have succeeded in training them to want to give back to our college.”
OSU MEDICINE EXPANDS VIRTUAL CARE ACROSS OKLAHOMA
In order to bridge the gap of health care access that is much needed in Oklahoma, OSU Medicine is utilizing the latest technologies to bring the expertise of its physicians directly to rural hospitals across the state.
OSU Medicine is currently providing virtual behavioral health emergency room consults, as well as hospitalist services for McCurtain Memorial Hospital and Cleveland Area Hospital respectively. Emergency room behavioral care is now available at the Atoka County Medical Center, and those services will soon be available at Coal County General Hospital, Roger Mills Memorial Hospital in Cheyenne, and Carrus Lakeside Hospital in Bristow. Tele-stroke services are now offered at hospitals in Anadarko, Fairfax and Stroud, while virtual cardiology services are ongoing with Choctaw Nation in Poteau.
“Oklahoma State University has been pioneering telehealth services for more than 25 years,” said Dr. Johnny Stephens, president of OSU Center for Health Sciences. “OSU continues to innovate as the leader in telehealth and virtual care, as technology continues to broaden the possibilities of reaching across the state to provide specialty care. Through these efforts,
we are working to address both patient needs as well as health care workforce shortage issues.”
While OSU is a leader in educating and returning physicians to practice in rural and underserved areas, the need is still great. Virtual care services are vital to connecting Oklahomans to health services, Stephens said.
A pilot project with 15 rural schools impacting 13,000 students was launched in fall 2024 to provide urgent and behavioral care services.
OSU Virtual Medicine is also partnering with Percipio, an artificial intelligience-driven digital health company, on a pilot program that began this fall. This innovative, AI-embedded smartphone app will create a real-time snapshot of individual patient and community health, provide scalability, tailored and targeted interventions, along with promising data for research and educational outreach.
OSU Medicine’s Virtual Care also deployed one of two mobile care units this fall to provide primary care services to serve rural areas in southeastern Oklahoma. The free virtual care clinics will be based at OSU Extension offices in select rural counties.
how a telehealth cart works, and the exterior (above) and interior of the Virtual Care mobile unit outfitted for primary care.
From left: Dr. Bradley Anderson, OSU Medicine’s first medical director of Virtual Care, demonstrates
CARE THAT GOES BEYOND
Innovative and patient-centric approaches to health care are leading to new partnerships and expanded services that allow OSU Medicine to continue its mission of service, research and access to high quality health care in northeast Oklahoma.
Addressing the demands for specialty care, OSU Medicine has opened a new outpatient endocrinology clinic and expanded its pulmonology, mental health and surgery expertise.
Through a growing partnership with the Cleveland Area Hospital, OSU Medicine is delivering much-needed board-certified expertise in obstetrics and gynecology, cardiology, surgery, emergency medicine and hospitalists coverage, which supplements existing services and benefits rural communities near Cleveland.
In addition to a world class Magnetom Prisma 3T MRI, which provides exceptional image quality for diagnostics, screenings and research, a second MRI, the Siemens Vida 3T Wide-Bore Scanner, will be ready for scheduling at the OSU Biomedical Imaging Center in January 2025.
Enhancing the patient experience is a top priority at OSU Medicine and renovations continue at clinics throughout Tulsa creating comfortable, safe, state-of-the-art facilities for patients and their families.
Future growth includes a new freestanding clinic in Collinsville scheduled to open in 2025 offering primary care, urgent care, specialty care and radiology services.
OSU MEDICAL CENTER EXPANSION
In 2025, OSU Medical Center will begin construction on a $200 million building expansion. This new building will include a pharmaceutical research lab, eight state-of-the-art operating rooms, and a sky bridge connecting OSU Medical Center to the new Veterans Hospital across the street. Completion is anticipated in 2027.
Construction of a five-story onsite parking garage that started in January 2024 will be completed in spring 2025. The project includes over 1,000 parking spaces, advanced security cameras, and open-concept stairwells designed to enhance patient and employee safety.
PROJECT ECHO TRAINS AND MENTORS HEALTH AND EDUCATION PROFESSIONALS
Project ECHO (Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes) is a collaborative model of medical education and care guidance that empowers clinicians in rural and underserved communities to provide specialty care to more people where they live.
Project ECHO utilizes a digital platform so health care providers in rural and underserved areas can regularly receive training, consultation and mentoring with a team of specialists on patient cases.
It not only allows local primary care physicians, nurses, physician assistants and clinicians to provide specialty care to their patients, but it also saves those patients time and money.
Since OSU-CHS started its Project ECHO program in 2017, it has offered ECHO lines in 35 different specialty care fields and is currently offering 17 health care ECHOs covering an array of topics including addiction medicine, congestive heart failure, diabetes management, hypertension management, psychiatry, veteran care and many more.
Project ECHO has also expanded into education offering five lines for administrators, teachers, coaches, counselors and health professionals in Oklahoma schools to improve student learning, health and wellness.
With funding from a Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust grant, Project ECHO launched 11 lines in FY24 including congestive heart failure, diabetes management in primary care, hypertension management in primary care, school nurses and diabetes care and community health workers.
Project ECHO partnered with the OSU Human Performance and Nutrition Research Institute to expand the existing pediatric obesity line and launched the Athletic Training-Sports Medicine ECHO and the Building Healthy School Communities ECHO, a program that shares expert knowledge of best practices to build and maintain healthy school communities.
Project ECHO is funded through grants from the Anne & Henry Zarrow Foundation, Oklahoma State Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services and Oklahoma State Department of Health.
Project ECHO plans to launch more lines in the future including AI in Education, forensic psychiatry, peroxisomal disorders, as well as Nutrition: Food is Medicine, and strength and conditioning.
POTENTIAL HEALTH COST SAVINGS IN 2024
7,932 participants in health care ECHO sessions.
77 out of 77 Oklahoma counties served in 2024
PROJECT ECHO’S REACH IN 2024
9,051
Total ECHO attendance
7,932
Total health ECHO attendance
If participants then treat 10 patients , that’s 79,320 patients treated.
If patients aren’t referred to an outside specialist for care, the potential cost savings is $1,173 per patient.
79,320 patients treated provides potential cost savings of more than $93 million .
22 Average attendance per ECHO
Data as of Oct. 15, 2024*
ADVANCING RESEARCH
OSU-CHS’ Centers for Excellence build on the mission to improve the health of rural and underserved communities by addressing health challenges and promoting collaborative research.
TEAMS COMPETE TO FIND SOLUTIONS TO HEALTH ISSUES AT RURAL HEALTH INNOVATION CHALLENGE
In June 2024, the Center for Health Systems Innovation and the Public Health Institute of Oklahoma awarded $43,000 in prize money to the winners of the Rural Health Innovation Challenge on the OSU Center for Health Sciences campus.
Teams participating in the challenge each brought an issue affecting their community’s health and presented an innovative solution to a panel of judges.
Participants competed for the best ideas to address issues in four critical categories: Cardiovascular and Community Health,
Diabetes and Obesity, Mental Health and Substance Use, and Social Drivers of Health.
“One third of our state population lives in rural areas; the health of that population greatly affects the availability and cost of care in Oklahoma, which affects all of us,” said Marjorie Erdmann, CHSI director. “Programs like the Rural Health Innovation Challenge give people the opportunity to increase awareness of the work they’re doing and tell their story to people who may be able to help both with funds and support outside of this competition.”
Sponsors for the event included Aetna Better Health of Oklahoma, Humana Healthy Horizons in Oklahoma, Oklahoma State Department of Health, Choctaw Nation, OSU Medical Center, Oklahoma Complete Health and GRAIL
CENTER FOR INDIGENOUS HEALTH RESEARCH AND POLICY
The Center for Indigenous Health Research and Policy at OSU-CHS brings together scientific collaborators, Indigenous leaders and community leaders to eliminate health disparities and cultivate health and wellness in Native American communities.
A $10 million grant has enabled CIHRP to expand and grow health and nutrition initiatives in native communities. The grant was awarded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Minority Health.
The grant established the Center for Indigenous Innovation and Health Equity, which included six tribes and tribal groups, and supported revitalization of traditional foods and improved healthy eating patterns.
The extended grant will expand food sovereignty programs by adding five new Indigenous tribes and partners that will learn from the original initiatives and develop their own based on their traditions and culture.
CENTER FOR INTEGRATIVE RESEARCH ON CHILDHOOD ADVERSITY
Two years ago, CIRCA was awarded $9.5 million from the National Institutes of Health for phase two of its program that supports research of Adverse Childhood Experiences, or ACEs.
ACEs are a leading public health problem and include child abuse and neglect as well as parental mental illness, domestic violence, incarceration, drug or alcohol abuse and divorce. These affect more than 60% of Americans, and Oklahoma has one of the highest rates of ACEs in the U.S.
CIRCA-sponsored researchers are studying the effects of ACEs on multiple biological and behavioral systems to identify more effective ways to prevent and treat the effects of ACEs.
Todd Vanderah, director of the Comprehensive Center for Pain and Addiction at the University of Arizona Health Sciences; Frank Porreca, Cosden professor of pain and addiction studies and associate department head of Pharmacology at U of A College of Medicine — Tucson; Suresh Garimella, president of U of A; Michael Dake, senior vice president of U of A Health Sciences; Johnny Stephens, OSU Center for Health Sciences president; and Don Kyle, CEO of the National Center for Wellness and Recovery.
NATIONAL CENTER FOR WELLNESS & RECOVERY
NCWR moved into its new bench chemistry lab space in the Helmerich Research Center on the OSU-Tulsa campus in 2024. Ten new researchers were hired to fuel the initiatives at the heart of NCWR’s mission.
NCWR continues to invest in addiction treatment, research, education and technology in conjunction with strategic collaborations. The research partnership with the University of Arizona continues to yield innovative solutions in pain management and scientific advances that could ultimately help save lives.
The recent Opioids in Pain and Addiction Symposium, hosted at the U of A’s Health Sciences campus, gathered leading experts in neuroscience, addiction treatment and pain management. Researchers, clinicians and health care leaders convened to share scientific advancements and explore new treatments for opioid use disorder and chronic pain. Attendees gained valuable insights into the intricate neuroscience underlying addiction and substance use disorder.
The symposium highlighted the critical need for collaboration and interdisciplinary research in tackling the growing challenges of opioid and substance use disorders. Emphasizing the importance of innovation, the event underscored how groundbreaking research and partnerships are essential for advancing effective strategies in addiction recovery and pain management.
OUTREACH & ENGAGEMENT
OSU Center for Health Sciences hosts and sponsors several events throughout the year to introduce and promote health professions to high school and undergraduate college students across Oklahoma.
STRETCHED
YOUTH MEDICAL MENTORSHIP
DR. PETE’S IMMERSION CAMP
WHITE COAT SOCIETY
Donor support makes a difference for our students
OSU Center for Health Sciences’ White Coat Society fund is an invaluable resource for the president of OSU-CHS to address pressing and immediate needs of students. From financial assistance for educational resources to emergency aid during unforeseen circumstances, gifts to the White Coat Society ensure students have access to the support they need to thrive academically and personally.
White Coat Society members can join at the $5,000 or $10,000 level, which can be pledged over a fiveyear period. Contributions to the fund directly impact the well-being and success of future health care professionals, creating an environment where every student can pursue their educational aspirations without barriers.
Members also receive invitations to exclusive events, updates from OSU-CHS leadership and opportunities to learn more about how the fund makes a difference to students.
For more information about the White Coat Society, contact Mindy Frech at mfrech@osugiving.com.
$3.55 million amount raised for scholarships $27.8 million amount raised for institutional support and scholarship funding
OSU-COM
ALUM
DONATES $250,000 TO ESTABLISH ENDOWED SCHOLARSHIP
In 2024, OSU College of Osteopathic Medicine alumnus Dr. Adam Smith made a significant contribution to the institution that shaped his career.
Smith, a bariatric surgeon and founder of Ultimate Bariatrics, donated $250,000 to establish the Adam B. Smith, DO, DFACOS Family Endowed Scholarship. The scholarship aims to support students pursuing their medical education at OSU-COM.
Smith pursued his medical degree at the Oklahoma College of Osteopathic Medicine and Surgery, which became OSU-COM in 1988, the year he graduated.
Smith founded Ultimate Bariatrics in 2004, which now has three locations in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, and served as president of the American College of Osteopathic Surgeons Governing Board.
“I have always attributed my success to my experience at OSU-COM,” Smith said. “I wanted to give back to my alma mater so more students can have the experience that I had, so I reached out to the OSU Foundation and started working on the implementation of an endowed scholarship that will attract qualified students to attend OSU-COM.”
The Adam B. Smith DO, DFACOS Family Endowed Scholarship will provide leadership scholarships to students and reflects Smith’s commitment to fostering the next generation of osteopathic physicians.
“Dr. Smith’s donation not only honors his legacy but also paves the way for future physicians to benefit from the education and opportunities that OSU-COM provides,” said Dr. Dennis Blankenship, OSU-COM dean. “His generosity and dedication to the field of medicine continue to inspire and shape the future of health care.”
INVESTMENT IN RESIDENCY
OSU College of Osteopathic Medicine continues to strengthen its residency programs through important partnerships and invaluable legislative support.
accredited OSU Center for Health Sciences residency and fellowship positions
accredited Osteopathic Medical Education Consortium of Oklahoma (OMECO), staffed by the OSU-CHS Office of Graduate Medical Education residency positions
In all, OSU and OMECO offer 510 residency positions in clinics and hospitals across Oklahoma.
SPECIALTY MATCHES
n Family Medicine — 21.29%
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n OBGYN — 9.68%
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*Matched in specialties including anesthesiology, general surgery, neurology, pathology, plastic surgery, physical medicine and rehabilitation, ophthalmology, orthopedic surgery, radiology and urology.
IN AND OUT-OF-STATE MATCHES
n Primary Care in Oklahoma — 36%
n Specialty in Oklahoma — 25%
n Primary Care Out-of-state — 21%
n Specialty Out-of-state — 18%
ADA
Gunner Parent, D.O.
Osteopathic Medical Education Consortium of Oklahoma (OMECO) Chickasaw Nation Family Medicine
DURANT
Caitlin Alexis Cosby, D.O. Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences AllianceHealth Family Medicine
Jantzen Josef Faulkner, D.O. Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences AllianceHealth Family Medicine
LAWTON
Benjamin Matthew Kirkland, D.O. Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences Comanche County Family Medicine
Shilpa Rajan Mathew, D.O. Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences Comanche County Family Medicine
Tegan Tyann Maxson, D.O.
Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences Comanche County Emergency Medicine
Zachary Vineyard, D.O.
Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences Comanche County Emergency Medicine
Bailey Elizabeth Wiggins, D.O.
Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences Comanche County Emergency Medicine
Mc ALESTER
Colton Larry Smith, D.O.
Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences Family Medicine
NORMAN
Angus Black, D.O. Osteopathic Medical Education Consortium of Oklahoma (OMECO) Griffin Memorial Psychiatry
DeAngela Coleman, D.O.
Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences Norman Regional Medical Center Emergency Medicine
Charlee Dawson, D.O.
Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences Norman Regional Medical Center Emergency Medicine
Breanna Elizabeth Jacobitz, D.O.
Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences Norman Regional Medical Center Emergency Medicine
Hope Kliewer, D.O. Osteopathic Medical Education Consortium of Oklahoma (OMECO) Griffin Memorial Psychiatry
Lucas Christopher Morton, D.O. Osteopathic Medical Education Consortium of Oklahoma (OMECO) Griffin Memorial Psychiatry
OKLAHOMA CITY
Harisha Chinthalapally, D.O. University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center Internal Medicine
Diego Dominguez Garcia, D.O. University of Oklahoma Dean McGee Eye Institute Ophthalmology
Alexander Joseph Eddy, D.O. University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center Diagnostic Radiology
Elizabeth Payton Garrett, D.O. Integris Health Emergency Medicine
Limayre Beatriz Gramajo, D.O. St. Anthony Hospital Obstetrics and Gynecology
Sarah Beth Hanna, D.O. Integris Health Emergency Medicine
Conner Howard, D.O. University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center Family Medicine
Kolton Matthew Kardokus, D.O. University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center Internal Medicine
Megan Allene Long, D.O. Integris Health Family Medicine
Kaylee Rae Martin, D.O. University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center Pediatrics
Krisha L. Murphy, D.O. Integris Health Family Medicine
Emily Rose Nighbor, D.O. University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center Pediatrics
McKenzi Elise Ormsbee, D.O. Integris Health Emergency Medicine
Jordyn Prince, D.O. St. Anthony Hospital Obstetrics and Gynecology
Jayden J. Ray, D.O. University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center Anatomical and Clinical Pathology
Thomas Richardson, D.O. Integris Health Emergency Medicine
Alma Rios Wilson, D.O. St. Anthony Hospital Family Medicine
Kennedy Summer Sherman, D.O. St. Anthony Hospital Family Medicine
Katherine Mischelle Sunday Integris Health Emergency Medicine
Alexander Tirado, D.O. Integris Health Emergency Medicine
Philo Waters, D.O. University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center Anesthesiology
Connor Lee West, D.O. University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center Pediatrics
STILLWATER
McKayla Mariah Muse, D.O. Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences Stillwater Medical Center Internal Medicine
TAHLEQUAH
Emma Suzanne Berry, D.O. Osteopathic Medical Education Consortium of Oklahoma (OMECO) Cherokee Nation W.W. Hastings Family Medicine
Sydney Grace Blevins, D.O. Osteopathic Medical Education Consortium of Oklahoma (OMECO) Cherokee Nation W.W. Hastings Family Medicine
Khaled Elsayed, D.O. Osteopathic Medical Education Consortium of Oklahoma (OMECO) Internal Medicine
Mackenzee Thompson, D.O. Osteopathic Medical Education Consortium of Oklahoma (OMECO) Cherokee Nation W.W. Hastings Family Medicine
TALIHINA
Aaron Jeffrey Place, D.O. Osteopathic Medical Education Consortium of Oklahoma (OMECO) Choctaw Nation Family Medicine
Kristyn Robling, D.O. Osteopathic Medical Education Consortium of Oklahoma (OMECO), Choctaw Nation Family Medicine
TULSA
Cameron Barton, D.O. Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences Internal Medicine
Emilie Folz Burruss, D.O. Osteopathic Medical Education Consortium of Oklahoma (OMECO) Obstetrics and Gynecology
Zachary Canaday, D.O. University of Oklahoma School of Community Medicine Emergency Medicine
Abigail Lauren Carroll, D.O. Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences Internal Medicine
Shelby Yarnell Cummins, D.O. Osteopathic Medical Education Consortium of Oklahoma (OMECO) Family Medicine
Alexander William Douglas, D.O. Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences Internal Medicine
Lana Danae Duke, D.O. Osteopathic Medical Education Consortium of Oklahoma (OMECO) Family Medicine
Bryan A. Dunford, D.O. Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences Anesthesiology
Jim Enoh, D.O. Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences Psychiatry
Lacy Evans, D.O. University of Oklahoma School of Community Medicine Family Medicine
Claudia Monique Fisch, D.O. Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences General Surgery
Katherine Fischer, D.O. Osteopathic Medical Education Consortium of Oklahoma (OMECO) Pediatrics
Zachariah D. Fisher, D.O. Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences General Surgery
Hayden M. Fox, D.O. Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences Diagnostic Radiology
Holton Fox, D.O. Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences Emergency Medicine
Brandon Frank Garner, D.O. Osteopathic Medical Education Consortium of Oklahoma (OMECO) Family Medicine
Kasey Gill, D.O. Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences Emergency Medicine
Baylie C. Givens, D.O. Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences Anesthesiology
Ashton Glover-Gatewood, D.O. University of Oklahoma School of Community Medicine Obstetrics and Gynecology
Jennifer Reneé Grizzle, D.O. University of Oklahoma School of Community Medicine Internal Medicine
Bingham Hightower, D.O. Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences Internal Medicine
Paige Johnson, D.O. University of Oklahoma School of Community Medicine Pediatrics
Mahnoor Khalid, D.O. University of Oklahoma School of Community Medicine Internal Medicine
Abdurrahman Khattab, D.O. University of Oklahoma School of Community Medicine Internal Medicine
Khangeun Lee-Thompson, D.O.
Osteopathic Medical Education Consortium of Oklahoma (OMECO) Pediatrics
Kristen Ashley McPherson, D.O. Osteopathic Medical Education Consortium of Oklahoma (OMECO) Obstetrics and Gynecology
Mackenzie Moody Ferguson, D.O. Osteopathic Medical Education Consortium of Oklahoma (OMECO) Obstetrics and Gynecology
Addison L. Nakashima, D.O. In His Image Family Medicine
Amy Michele Oatman, D.O. University of Oklahoma School of Community Medicine Psychiatry
Megan Olson, D.O.
Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences Diagnostic Radiology
Colton Papa, D.O.
Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences Psychiatry
William Thomas Redmond, D.O. Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences Emergency Medicine
Kristie K. Roberts, D.O. University of Oklahoma School of Community Medicine Internal Medicine
Dalton Sanders, D.O. Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences Emergency Medicine
Sarah Kay Schultz, D.O. Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences Psychiatry
Ahmed Shaban, D.O. Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences Internal Medicine
Kelsey Renee Snider, D.O. University of Oklahoma School of Community Medicine Obstetrics and Gynecology
Alexis McKinzie Spence, D.O. University of Oklahoma School of Community Medicine Family Medicine
Elise Laine Stephenson, D.O. University of Oklahoma School of Community Medicine Pediatrics
Carter Jacob Stewart, D.O. Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences Emergency Medicine
Alyssa Stewart, D.O.
Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences Emergency Medicine
Sam Streck, D.O. Osteopathic Medical Education Consortium of Oklahoma (OMECO) Pediatrics
Bethany Sutterfield, D.O. Osteopathic Medical Education Consortium of Oklahoma (OMECO) Family Medicine
Brett Shaw Szymanski, D.O. Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences Diagnostic Radiology
Elizabeth Valle, D.O. Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences Emergency Medicine
Alexandra Byington Weindel, D.O. Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences Anesthesiology
Joshua West, D.O. Osteopathic Medical Education Consortium of Oklahoma (OMECO) Pediatrics
Cole Williams, D.O. University of Oklahoma School of Community Medicine Emergency Medicine
Lauren York, D.O.
Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences Psychiatry
