THE
LECOM
ONNECTION
Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine WINTER 2016
THE TIME HAS COME: The Crowning Fortune of Pharmacy
LECOM.edu
Moving Mountains and Making Miracles in Medicine – LECOM School of Pharmacy For over two decades, the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM) has been dedicated to helping people move their lives forward to help others. Whether one studies pharmacy, medicine, or dentistry, the purpose of one’s calling can be found on one of the three national campuses of the largest medical school in the country. From the start, LECOM has trained scholars in a secure and flourishing career that delivers care and compassion to those who most need it. The LECOM School of Pharmacy has its genesis at the very inception of the College; but the history of pharmacy, as an independent science, dates back to the early 19th century. Before then, the practice of pharmacy evolved from antiquity as a part of medicine. From its nascence, the very practice of pharmacy has found its optimal value when working in tandem with the medical field. Prudent minds agree that leading means having a very clear sense of one’s own identity, of one’s values, and that which one seeks to achieve. Accordingly, the profession of pharmacy has progressed from a product-based profession to a patientcentered profession, where pharmacists now are working in an expanding array of clinical settings, alongside physicians, nurses, and other health care professionals; actively involved in clinical decision-making and medication management. The demand for new pharmacists is robust, growing at 14% per year and accelerating faster than the average health care job growth rate. The LECOM School of Pharmacy has designed and implemented innovative and affordable student-centered pathways that allow one to achieve one’s goal of becoming a pharmacist. LECOM offers three pathways to the PharmD degree: the four-year Distance Education Pathway, the three-year Accelerated Pathway in Erie, and the four-year Traditional Pathway in Bradenton. New trends in the Doctor of Pharmacy curriculum provide complementary goals that enhance total and patient-centered care as fostered by the osteopathic philosophy taught at LECOM.
There are 133 pharmacy schools across the country. Given this number, what is it that makes LECOM stand out among other pharmacy schools? The answer can be found across the spectrum of the LECOM School of Pharmacy experience: highly trained faculty, surety of placement, superlative and innovative programs, community and clinical exposure, and an unremitting institutional pledge to exceptionalism. Throughout the flourishing expansion and appeal of the programs offered at the LECOM School of Pharmacy, those privy to the workings of pharmacy as a profession will have noticed that there has been a transformation within the pharmacy field during the last two decades. It is a change from issuing the Bachelor’s degree in Pharmacy to that of awarding the PharmD degree. Moreover and most important, the profession has transmuted from one that dispenses medicine to one that has become instrumental in comprehensive pharmaceutical management. Pharmacists now are integrally involved in clinical training, residencies, and fellowships. They hold the esteemed moniker of: “THE medication experts.” The goal of this issue is to clarify the role of the pharmacist such that all readers of this magazine will understand clearly the indispensable and collaborative position that pharmacists hold within the health care field. There is a time to watch and wait, climbing a step each day, grasping the chain of destiny one link at a time. There is a time to plan for something rich with profound meaning and to prepare for a purpose that can transform oneself and others. At the LECOM School of Pharmacy, all of that planning is put decidedly into action to find, through the glory of the climb, the purpose of one’s life. To the glory that is still to be, to the battle that tests the best of oneself, LECOM pharmacy students learn to move mountains and to make miracles in their calling.
Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine 1858 West Grandview Blvd. Erie, PA 16509 814-866-6641 • www.lecom.edu
John M. Ferretti, DO President/CEO Thomas J. Wedzik Chairman of the Board of Trustees Silvia M. Ferretti, DO Provost, Senior Vice President and Dean of Academic Affairs John D. Angeloni, DO Vice Provost, Clinical Professor of Family Medicine, Bradenton Hershey Bell, MD, MS (MedEd) Vice President of Academic Affairs and Dean of the School of Pharmacy Anton S. Gotlieb, DDS, MS Dean of the School of Dental Medicine Robert George, DO Associate Dean of Academic Affairs, Bradenton Pierre Bellicini Institutional Director of Communications and Marketing Eric Nicastro Assistant Institutional Director of Communications and Marketing Stephanie Bruce Communications and Marketing Specialist Nick Blake Public Relations Specialist Rebecca A. DeSimone, Esquire Chief Writer/Editor-in-Chief
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 & Marketing Department, at (814) 866-6641, or e-mail communications@lecom.edu.
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John M. Ferretti, DO - President/CEO 04 LECOM CONNECTION | WINTER 2016 | LECOM.edu
A MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT
The Core of the Calling -
A Cut Above Medical school is a complex environment. Whether one is a student, a faculty member, a member of the staff, a parent, or a visitor, one cannot fail to gain a sense of the purposefulness, focus, and energy that permeates academic life at the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine. Standards and expectations are high; commitment to academic excellence is palpable; and the guiding hand of responsible leadership at the helm of moral integrity provides a comprehensive educational experience second to none.
of its degree programs. The depth and the diversity of opportunity available to LECOM scholars support community initiatives and encourage the taking of responsibility in a way that balances goal-oriented achievement with dedicated service. Mutual respect between faculty and students bolsters a genuine regard for each other’s needs, enabling scholars to perform to their utmost and to form positive, long-lasting, and collegial relationships with faculty and students alike.
Such is our pledge of excellence - our LECOM pledge - for through our multiple degree programs, exceptionalism is the benchmark, the standard, and the refrain. Within each of our colleges and learning paradigms exist unparalleled educational offerings. From highly trained faculty to cutting-edge instructional techniques, each of our schools is distinctively a cut above.
In this and future issues of The LECOM Connection - four in all - each of our Schools of Medicine and degree programs will be featured in turn. The goal of this comprehensive presentation of our degree programs is to introduce and to familiarize the reader with the unsurpassed training, the specialized skills, the unremitting dedication, and the complete commitment to exceptionalism that is the hallmark of the LECOM experience.
Since its inception, LECOM has sought to provide the best in educational excellence and purposeful mission to each medical, pharmacy, and dental student who has crossed its threshold. As a direct result of this estimable training and mission, every medical professional who departs LECOM is fully prepared with superlative skill and expertise to treat the whole patient. Eager and ready to meet the challenges of medical practice, these scholars are deeply engaged in a sense of community and country.
And so, we begin with our School of Pharmacy. From our very inception, the LECOM School of Pharmacy not only inspired success, it launched it. From the research lab, to the hospital, in the clinic or in the corner pharmacy, the men and women of pharmacy are part of a team of highly skilled medical professionals who make a difference. A team, where difficulties mastered are opportunities won; where doubts are swept away by deeds; and where great effort produces greater triumph.
As a welcoming and vibrant community, LECOM is proud of its distinguished past and it looks forward to a flourishing future filled with unmatched success across each
We offer this probing insight into the heart of LECOM Pharmacy - the school, the program, the people, and the purpose; the core of the calling - always, a cut above.
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IN THIS ISSUE 07
Credos of Our Calling
08
LECOM Health Welcomes Corry Memorial Hospital
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President and Provost Receive Dignitas Award
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LECOM Leaders in the Field of Pharmacy
17
LECOM Mission Lauds Research Day
18
Taking the Distance out of Distance Education
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LECOM Medical Student Co-Authors Published Research Paper
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LECOM School of Dental Medicine Student Wins Research Award
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Student Scholarship Auction Galas Reach New Highs
31
Caroline A. Castrignano Memorial Student Scholarship Award
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Forensic Files: Jennifer Hammers, DO
34
LECOM Scholar Takes First Place at Prestigious Competition
35
Out at Third
36
LECOM Scholar Athlete Named 2015 Woman of the Year
37
In Memoriam: Jon M. Walro, PhD
DEPARTMENTS 38
COVER STORY 10
The Time Has Come: The Crowning Fortune of Pharmacy There is a difference between a career and a calling; between a position and a purpose; and between the acceptable and the exceptional. In the pages that follow, the reader will come to understand those marked and distinguishing characteristics that separate LECOM from the rest. This issue explores the role of pharmacy and the pharmacist – from whence they have come and the flourishing future that they have created. From their genesis as dispensers of medication to their now indispensable role as part of the collaborative medical team, pharmacists hold a vital place within the health care field – and LECOM pharmacists are leading that charge as they demonstrate to all, the reason that LECOM Pharmacy is A Cut Above.
Community is Our Campus
40 Student, Faculty and Alumni Notes
MISSION STATEMENT 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. The professional programs are dedicated to serve all students through innovative curriculum and the development of postdoctoral education and interprofessional experiences.
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CREDOS OF OUR CALLING •PREPAREDNESS• As the ancient Athenian historian, Thucydides, pointed out, “hope is an expensive commodity; it makes far better sense to be prepared.” Victorious achievement is the child of preparedness and determination. Success comes about when that preparation and opportunity meet. Of course, the will to succeed is important, but more important is the will to prepare. No one knows this truism better than does LECOM; as each day, it commits itself to affording its scholars the fullest and most thorough training and medical education possible to create superlatively prepared and completely capable medical professionals. Before anything else, preparation is the key to success, for he who is best prepared not only can best serve in his moment of inspiration, but can best triumph over adverse situations. Benjamin Franklin’s alliterative reminder that “Proper preparation prevents poor performance,” admonishes that by failing to prepare, one is preparing to fail. There is great wisdom in this maxim for often, an occasion of paltry preparedness has resulted in one’s losing the favorable outcome.
It wasn’t raining when Noah built the ark. ~ Howard Ruff
“If I had eight hours to cut down a tree,” noted Abraham Lincoln, “I would spend six of them sharpening my axe.” This clever and instructive quip evokes a significantly broader and grander message evidenced in the LECOM philosophy. Exemplary education, unparalleled training, and an ever-advancing pursuit of knowledge instilled within its students have propelled LECOM to the pinnacle of medical education - with countless physicians, pharmacists, and dentists serving as leaders in the health care arena. Since opportunities do not make appointments, one must be prepared fully when they arrive - readying oneself not for the world in which one now lives, rather preparing for the world in which one finds oneself. When that day arrives, as surely it will, LECOM is certain that preparedness will be an attribute possessed by its graduates - for such preparedness forms a hallmark of a LECOM education and an indispensable Credo of Our Calling.
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LECOM HEALTH WELCOMES CORRY MEMORIAL HOSPITAL TO THE FAMILY
A late autumn 2015 disclosure marked the attainment of yet another milestone in the inspiring story of LECOM as LECOM Health announced that Corry Memorial Hospital (CMH) would become part of its estimable health care network. The November communiqué that CMH would join Millcreek Community Hospital (MCH) as the second acute-care hospital in the LECOM Health system, was met with wide regional support as the addition of CMH to LECOM Health will carry great benefit to the Corry community. Corry Memorial Hospital now will have access to LECOM health-system physicians and to expanded medical services. This agreement is a substantial step for LECOM Health because the health care leader will serve as the parent company of two acutecare hospitals. The LECOM Health acquisition of CMH allows superlative health service to
reach into eastern Erie County, as well as into parts of Warren and Crawford counties.
rooms, two trauma bays, and an on-site helipad.
CMH is a 20-bed facility that often had experienced a low daily patient census due to a lack of physicians. As a critical access hospital, CMH will benefit significantly through its access to LECOM Health physicians; allowing Corry residents to receive the care that they need in their hometown hospital.
Recognizing the size and breadth of the LECOM Health network and of the significant player that it has become, Dr. John Ferretti, President and CEO of the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM) explained that the “training of doctors and health care professionals is our mission and our growing number of facilities and community partnership ventures underscores our steadfast dedication to that mission.”
The affiliation also will allow Millcreek Community Hospital residents to undertake their rotations at CMH. In 2012, CMH relocated from its existing building to a brand new, 75,000 square-foot facility that features new surgical suites; providing advanced technology for sameday surgeries. The emergency department provides indoor ambulance bays for patient transfers, and it features six patient exam
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The definitive agreement between the two health care notables is awaiting approval by the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office. Decidedly, a substantial benefit to the entire region, LECOM Health takes another step forward in its unremitting pledge to community betterment and whole-person care.
LECOM PRESIDENT AND PROVOST RECEIVE DIGNITAS AWARD Enduring Mission of a Distinctive Profession Highlighted at Seventh Global Summit Renowned author and political scientist, Dr. Norman Gevitz offered a probative Keynote Speech delving into the profound and purposed history of Osteopathic Medicine as his address capped an evening that paid tribute to two of the preeminent luminary figures in the profession. John M. Ferretti, DO, LECOM President and CEO and Silvia M. Ferretti, DO, LECOM Provost, Vice President, and Dean of Academic Affairs, received the venerable Thomas B. Hagen Dignitas Award at the Jefferson Education Society Seventh Global Summit held on November 6, 2015, at the Bayfront Convention Center. The Dignitas Award honors an Erie citizen who has made a significant contribution towards maintaining American values. The Latin word, dignitas, was reserved in ancient Rome for citizens whose civic behavior exemplified the Roman virtues of dignity and loyalty; attributes considered to be the highest ideals of the Republic.
The night hummed with expectation as the guests filled the conference hall in anticipation of the prestigious event. Thomas Hagen presented the honors to the LECOM President and Provost as a gathering of supportive onlookers applauded the many and notable contributions made by the Ferrettis to the community that they call home. “Ever aware of our footprint - a footprint set solidly in the American Values that have guided a free and faith-filled people - LECOM remains committed to its unflagging mission of providing exceptional education and community-service. For it is the difference that we have made to the lives of others that determines the significance of the life we lead,” stated John M. Ferretti upon receiving the Dignitas Award. Commented Silvia M. Ferretti, DO, “My brother and I stand before this gathering as representatives of the many men and women of LECOM - our LECOM family - whose
exceptional commitment and dedicated efforts have brought us to this place and who share with us a profound community-centered focus.” The discourse of the entire program expounded upon the whole body health principles of osteopathic medicine and upon the distinctive mission of those visionary leaders who, indefatigably, have advanced the profession to its estimable place at the pinnacle of health care and health care education. The Global Summit, its featured speakers, and the deserving recipients of the Dignitas Award underscored the plethora of contributions that LECOM has made to the osteopathic community. The time-honored endeavors that have defined a proud and noble profession carry the significant mission of whole person health care and health care education boldly into the 21st Century.
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The Time Has Come The Crowning Fortune of Pharmacy The crowning fortune of one’s lifetime is to recognize the elusive pursuit that most ideally offers both gainful employment and purposeful contentment. The time has come for an honest discussion about Pharmacy: the reality that trumps the myth, the fact that conquers the fiction, and the powerful place that the profession of Pharmacy holds in the field of health care. The time has come to discuss this weighty and probative topic; to draw out the truths
that are seldom articulated and to lay bare the astonishingly appealing career that can be won with a Pharmacy degree. The rapid expansion and appeal of the programs offered at the LECOM School of Pharmacy offer an undisputed testament to the vibrant transformation within the pharmacy field throughout the last two decades. From issuing the Bachelor’s Degree in Pharmacy to now awarding the PharmD Degree, the profession has been reshaped, transforming itself from one that dispenses medicine
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to one that has become instrumental in comprehensive pharmaceutical management. In addition to the well-respected retail and community pharmacists that assiduously serve the public in their daily medication needs, pharmacists also are integrally involved in clinical training, residencies, and fellowships all are the quintessential medication experts. Pharmacy Clinical Services - those positions usually requiring residency - are growing incredibly robustly. Whether working in
It is not often that a man can make opportunities for himself. But he can put himself in such shape that when the opportunities come, he is ready. ~ Theodore Roosevelt
physician offices or in other health care practitioner offices; or whether serving in home health care services, pharmacists are finding themselves in constant demand as a new era in health care reshapes the profession like never before. Whether working in geriatric care, in nursing homes or in ambulatory care; whether serving the community in hospitals or in the retail/community pharmacy or in the pharmacy industry, the new generation of pharmacy practitioners are sought after - capable, competent, and concomitantly well-compensated. When we reflect upon our life, often we may wonder how we came to be found at a certain crossroad or exactly how we arrived at a particular point in life. This reflection most often is applied to career choices: that path taken comprised of individual choices made - one after the other. When we begin along a certain path in life, we do not have the luxury of seeing where our footsteps will lead us. Every decision we make along the way leads us to our destination. Armed with the right information and guided by a prudent understanding of the multiplicity of options, that destination truly can become a destiny. This is the time to make a conscious point to understand the breadth and depth of the field of medicine known as Pharmacy.
THE PILLARS OF THE COMMUNITY A pharmacy degree leads individuals to become educated to the highest level of the population. Innumerable career paths within the pharmaceutical industry are facilitated with this terminal degree. Those who seek to offer themselves as valued and trusted members of the community quickly will recognize the inestimable value in improving the health of all of those whom they encounter. Few individuals possess such skillful knowledge
and highly-trained ability to hold the health of the population in their capable hands.
to advance their therapies to best fit their individual situations.
Rebecca Miller Wise, PharmD LECOM Leader Highlights Medical Team Approach and the Indispensable Role of Pharmacy
For Dr. Wise, it is important that her patients understand fully the medications that they are taking and the reason that they are doing so. “Medication should not be taken simply because it is prescribed,” noted Dr. Wise.
Rebecca Miller Wise, PharmD, Director of Admissions and Assistant Professor of Pharmacy Practice at the LECOM School of Pharmacy in Erie, Pennsylvania, serves as an indispensable pharmacy practitioner in her capacity as a Certified Geriatric Pharmacist.
“I encourage patients to take control of their health and not to blindly ingest chemicals simply because someone said so,” she averred.
Dr. Wise works as a consultant for senior citizens who live independently; and she provides to them Medication Therapy Management (MTM) services, such as Comprehensive Medication Reviews (CMRs), Targeted Intervention Plans (TIPs), and medication education. “The ultimate goal of my position is to improve the quality of life for my patients by adjusting medication therapies to fit individual differences in each patient,” explained Wise. Through LifeWorks Erie - an educational and health service of the LECOM Institute for Successful Aging - patients meet with Dr. Wise at the facility or in their own homes. “I answer any medication-related questions raised by the patients and I review their medicine lists for appropriateness – prescription, Over-The-Counter (OTC) and herbal,” expounded Dr. Wise. “Each diagnosis has an appropriate treatment. I ensure that no dangerous drug interactions exist and I make certain that the schedule for medication administration is appropriate and realistic, and that every patient understands the importance of being compliant with each medication and the overall therapy,” she furthered In addition, Dr. Wise provides to her patients a list of “talking points,” - key topics to discuss with their physicians - specifically designed
Dr. Wise works with patients’ physicians to ensure that there is a mutual understanding in the prescriptive medication arena. “I work with physicians to improve patient therapies and to follow evidence-based clinical guidelines for geriatric care and for specific disease states to best match patients’ individual lifestyles,” clarified Dr. Wise. Dr. Wise’s work embodies the medical team approach to health care as she undertakes a definitive leadership position as a zealous advocate for the senior citizens with whom she partners. “I take on the role of ‘leader’ for my patients in their search for better health,” beamed Dr. Wise. “Often, I am the first health care provider to educate patients as to the specifics of their medication therapies and to offer suggestions for improvement. I partner with each of my patients, becoming part of the medical team in collaboration with their physicians and with other providers,” she stated. Dr. Wise is an inaugural class graduate of LECOM. Through a combination of her experiential rotations and a superlative internship, she learned the techniques of MTM services. “I learned the value of reviewing each patient’s medication list using my clinical knowledge based upon strong scientific evidence. Stated
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the sage pharmacist: “The very best therapy for any person is one that is individualized to best suit that person’s needs.”
CRITICAL COLLABORATORS AND CRISIS MANAGERS From working in critical care units at hospitals and clinics to serving as indispensable consultants to the medical team, pharmacists are charged by physicians to supervise and to oversee the dosing of certain medications, to order laboratory tests, and to calculate dosing. Such crucial ministrations are highly important aspects of critical care, affecting the renal functions and interacting medications of seriously ill patients.
Kathryn Samai, PharmD Critical Care, Crisis Management, and Hospital Pharmacy in the 21st Century Kathryn Samai, PharmD, Assistant Professor of Pharmacy Practice at LECOM Bradenton, serves as a pharmacist in the fast-paced practice of emergency and trauma medicine. Dr. Samai is on the LEVEL II Trauma Team at Blake Medical Center in Bradenton, Florida, and she describes her position as one for an “adrenaline junkie.” “It’s 10 p.m., and I hear the page overhead: ‘Trauma alert. ETA, 5 minutes,’” said Dr. Samai. “I grab a few medications from a supply kit, get my white coat, and I head to the trauma bays,” she furthered. It may sound like a scene from a TV hospital drama, but it is the real life scenario for Dr. Samai, who is tasked with determining when, which, and how much medication will be administered during a trauma. “The algorithm for trauma resuscitation is running through my head so that the team can depend upon me,” said Dr. Samai. “I have to be ready to anticipate, calculate, prepare, and monitor all medications that will be administered during this trauma. Will we need to intubate or give antibiotics that are dosed by a patient’s weight? I have to work quickly, accurately, and calmly,” she explained.
Dr. Samai said emergency medicine and trauma pharmacists are members of the trauma team that are not always noticed, but they provide an extremely vital service. “Most people don’t even know that I exist, or what emergency medicine and trauma pharmacy means,” commented Dr. Samai. “But I am part of an amazing, dynamic team. If you are an adrenaline junkie, this fastmoving, team-oriented practice might be for you,” she offered. It is not only trauma scenarios in which Dr. Samai is involved. She also is called into action during stroke alerts to rule out any medicine contra indications for a potent and time-sensitive thrombolytic agent called t-PA. She also attends cardiac arrests, myocardial infarctions, toxicological emergencies, and procedural sedations. Even when she is not attending procedures, codes, or traumas, Dr. Samai is very much on the front line of patient care at the hospital. “Physicians consult with me for medicationrelated questions and recommendations,” said Dr. Samai. “Many prospective students think that a hospital pharmacist sits in a basement in front of a computer all day, but that is simply not true,” she asserted. “When time is of the essence, having the drug expert present with the medical team can have a life-saving impact.” Being a pharmacist in the hospital and on a trauma team is a vital role, and it is one that Dr. Samai undertakes passionately. The medical team relies upon the hospital pharmacist to ensure that patients receive the best, evidence-based medication therapy available. Nurses, respiratory therapists, physicians’ assistants, and physicians combined view the hospital pharmacist as a pivotal and essential member of every 21st century medical team.
THE FLEXIBLE PROFESSION Pharmacists may choose positions that schedule four ten-hour days per week. Others
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may work seven days on and seven days off. Still others may prefer to schedule evening hours. A wide array of options for part-time work, work from home, and positions that float among various sites makes the almost $117,000 per year median salary for pharmacists extremely alluring. The pharmacy professionals at the community drug store address far more pressing needs than those of simply filling prescriptions. Of course, pharmacists dispense medicines, however before any medicine distribution takes place, they first scrutinize the information that they receive for any possible interactions with other medications or medical conditions. These consummate professionals also instruct patients as to the proper way in which to take medicines and pharmacists inform patients of the course to be taken if medication side effects arise. Pharmacists keep meticulous records, coordinate with insurance companies, supervise pharmacy technicians, and keep current with their own continuing education courses. Their vital blend of medicinal knowledge and interpersonal skills (required to operate a pharmacy counter) remain in constant demand. Solid employment growth and a high median salary make the retail pharmacist a top contender in the health care profession.
Gale Garmong, PharmD Finding Flexibility in Retail Pharmacy Gale Garmong, PharmD, is committed to enhancing patient care services provided at his retail practice site, and he hopes to advance the profession through pharmacy research and advocacy. Dr. Garmong also is committed to educating pharmacy and other health care profession students in experiential and didactic settings. His estimable undertakings are facilitated effectively through the flexible options accorded him as a retail pharmacist. A 2014 graduate of the LECOM School of Pharmacy, Dr. Garmong completed a community practice residency with the University of Pittsburgh and Rite Aid Pharmacy, and he has completed the American Pharmacy Association (APhA) Medication Therapy Management (MTM) and Immunization Certificate Programs and the NACDS Pointof-Care Testing Certificate Program. He is a member of the Pennsylvania Pharmacists Care Network Comprehensive Medication Management Collaborative.
Dr. Garmong’s community pharmacy patient care experience finds him practicing within a transitions of care program - providing MTM, participating in an accredited diabetes education program, immunizing, and attending to medication synchronization for patients. During his residency, Dr. Garmong was an integral member of interprofessional teams at a family health center and at a clinic aiding an under served community. Dr. Garmong employs a variety of teaching and precepting methods for Introductory Pharmacy Practice Experience (IPPE) and for Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experience (APPE) students and he has presented and lectured Continuing Education Programs focusing upon pharmacotherapeutics. Dr. Garmong has trained and coached pharmacists to provide MTM through his resident research project entitled: The Impact of Pharmacist Coaching on Targeted Medication Review Completion Rates in a Traditional Chain Community Pharmacy. His work in retail pharmacy demonstrates the depth and breadth of the pharmacy practitioner, as well as a career that offers variety, diversification, and flexibility of practice.
A CALLING LIKE NO OTHER The Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM) understands the purpose of the pharmacy calling and it stands apart in its ability to cultivate a true scholar, caring for students and ensuring their success before, during, and after their studies on campus. The abiding hallmark of LECOM is that of exceptionalism; attendant to that emblematic distinction is the diligent dedication required of LECOM students. LECOM is committed to partnering with students to help them achieve the measures of their success: on-time graduation, first attempt pass of licensure exam, and job placement. Faculty, staff, and administrators at LECOM are committed to education as the first priority.
Alejandro Vazquez, PharmD Retail and Retention in the Field of Pharmacy Alejandro Vazquez, PharmD, serves as the Director of Student Promotion and Retention, as well as an Assistant Professor of Pharmacy Practice at the LECOM Bradenton School of Pharmacy. When Dr. Vazquez is not molding minds of future pharmacists at LECOM, he is determinedly assisting those less fortunate as an ambulatory care pharmacist at the One Stop Clinic in Bradenton, Florida. “I practice as an ambulatory care pharmacist, specializing in chronic disease management,” said Dr. Vazquez. “The clinic is a community free clinic that focuses upon treating and managing the health concerns of indigent and homeless patients in Manatee County,” the compassionate pharmacist expounded. Dr. Vazquez shoulders the vital responsibility of treating the numerous afflicted and ailing patients seeking medical help who visit the clinic. “It is my duty, through collaborative practice with physicians at the clinic, to manage chronic disease for patients,” explained Dr. Vazquez. “When a patient presents to the clinic, their physician may refer them to me for management,” he furthered. One of the primary responsibilities undertaken by Dr. Vasquez entails the essential component of patient education as he serves to facilitate each patient’s ability to understand and manage disease. Dr. Vazquez educates the patients with whom he works and they rely upon him as they learn about their condition or disease. Dr. Vazquez teaches patients about the medications that he may be prescribing to them and he explains the complexities of those medications, as well as the need for medication adherence.
current medications, and manage side effects all within the scope of the disease for which they were referred to me,” elaborated Dr. Vazquez. The involvement of Dr. Vazquez in the health and wellbeing of his patients does not simply center upon prescribing medication; indeed, he works closely with physicians to determine the correct course of treatment for each patient in his care. Noted Dr. Vazquez, “I discuss each patient case with the referring physician, working in an interdisciplinary setting to provide quality, effective, evidence-based patient care.” Unquestionably, the role of the pharmacist is an integral one in the health care arena and it is one that Dr. Alejandro Vazquez performs with purpose and passion.
PURPOSE, PASSION, AND PROGRESS IN THE PHARMACY PROFESSION Creating a life that reflects one’s values and that satisfies one’s goals is a rare achievement. In a culture that relentlessly promotes avarice and excess as the good life, a person who finds contentment in doing good work and in making a genuine difference to society usually is considered an aberration. Ambition is only understood if it is to rise to the top of some imaginary ladder of success; yet, those who know true worth can see the value of a purposeful profession and the crowning fortune of Pharmacy.
“Once the referral is received, I make every endeavor to educate my patients about their diseases,” commented Dr. Vazquez. “Through collaborative discussions with the patients, I may begin or stop medications, adjust doses of
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LECOM
Leaders in the Field of Pharmacy A COMMUNITY LEADER Jordan Daniel, PharmD, LECOM School of Pharmacy Class of 2014, has embarked upon a fruitful career path in the field of retail pharmacy, working in Woonsocket, Rhode Island, as a Clinical Pharmacist for CVS Health. Dr. Daniel is an integral member of the quality standards and clinical decision support team. “Managing quality improvement programs for the community pharmacy chain and reviewing internal and external materials for clinical accuracy and appropriateness are my main daily responsibilities,” explained Dr. Daniel. The capable pharmacist also serves as a Preceptor, teaching Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experience (APPE) to pharmacy students and to post-graduate pharmacy fellows who complete experiential rotations with his team. Dr. Daniel’s role is essential to the health care paradigm because as a community pharmacist, he serves as an indispensable source for those in the region who have health care management and medication needs. “Providing patient-centered pharmaceutical care is absolutely vital as it is of paramount importance to the lives of patients,” noted Dr. Daniel. “Community pharmacists are positioned advantageously to provide this sort of care as usually we are the most accessible health care professional in a patient’s community. Patients can rely upon their pharmacists not only to provide a wealth of important information to them, but also to protect them from potentially adverse drug events,” he furthered.
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Now, more than ever, pharmacists are in the forefront as definitive leaders on the health care team. Clearly, Dr. Daniel fits that characterization entirely. “Through my current position, I have the opportunity to support and lead our more than 24,000 pharmacists as they provide patient care on a daily basis,” expounded Dr. Daniel. “Currently, I am developing a new program that will enhance the quality improvement practices of all CVS Pharmacy locations, ensuring continued safe prescription dispensing processes,” he concluded. Dr. Daniel has made significant strides along the purposed path to his current position. Education and experience have been the undisputed keystone to his success, and he credits his learning experience at LECOM to his many noteworthy achievements in pharmacy. “In many cases, when employers are reviewing submitted applications to fill a position, the most important aspects of an application are a candidate’s prior experiences and accomplishments in those experiences,” explained Dr. Daniel. Those experiential attainments are found at the very core of the LECOM School of Pharmacy educational model. “The multitude of service and experiential opportunities at the LECOM School of Pharmacy facilitated great professional development and, ultimately, they significantly assisted me in career exploration and favorable application reviews by potential employers,” averred Dr. Daniel. “Student organization leadership roles and volunteer opportunities at LECOM helped to mold me as a pharmacist aspiring to be a leader in our profession,” the highly-qualified pharmacist asserted. Along with optimally applying the various skills that he gained from being an active participant in student organizations, Dr. Daniel relies upon that which he has learned in the LECOM classroom as he carries out his thriving pharmacy practice. Exceptionalism is the standard in the LECOM pharmacy education, and unquestionably, the result is found in the unparalleled leaders in the profession who are making a difference right in their own communities.
“Every day, I find it an honor and a privilege to serve our patients as a caregiver.” ~ Matt Madurski, PharmD A LEADER IN WORLD-RENOWNED HOSPITAL CARE Matt Madurski, PharmD, Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM) School of Pharmacy Class of 2013, serves as a pharmacist at the Cleveland Clinic, in Cleveland, Ohio. Since having been graduated from LECOM almost three years ago, Dr. Madurski has noted a comprehensive change in the field of pharmacy as he experiences the seminal and indispensable position that pharmacists now occupy in health care. In hospitals of all sizes, pharmacists always have been an essential resource on physician rounding teams. Now however, pharmacists are poised upon the very cusp of providing direct patient care through agreements with physicians. “I am living that very aspect of pharmacy practice now in my role at the main campus of the Cleveland Clinic - the home base of one of the largest health systems in the world. Every day, I find it an honor and a privilege to serve our patients as a caregiver,” Dr. Madurski affirmed. Dr. Madurski is deeply involved in the pharmacy functions at the Cleveland Clinic; and he has left his imprimatur of leadership upon the institution during the time that he has served with the system. “I have been involved in almost all aspects of pharmacy in the time that I have been at the Cleveland Clinic,” said Dr. Madurski. Those aspects include patient counseling, rounding with physician teams, working with drug information teams, training students and residents, and developing skills in internal medicine. Most recently, Dr. Madurski has assumed a new responsibility in product sterilization, ensuring that patient-specific IV and oral medications are made properly. His duties include those of overseeing technician compounding of IV medications and of ensuring stability and sterility of medications dispensed to all areas of the hospital.
“I have found that pharmacist involvement in patient-centered care has been invaluable; and indeed, many physician and nursing teams have commented about the benefit of having a pharmacist involved in patient decision-making,” remarked Dr. Madurski. “As a pharmacist who works on patient floors, I have rounded with physician teams and I have been able to offer input and suggestions to help improve patients’ overall care and to assist in their transition to life outside of the hospital,” furthered the LECOM alumnus. His leadership role ensures that the patients for whom he cares are as educated as possible about the medications that they are taking and that they understand fully the link that those medications have to their overall health. “I have direct access to patients in the form of medication counseling, answering their questions, and providing education for patients about their medication regimens,” commented Dr. Madurski. “I further that direct patient care by addressing nursing questions about IV compatibility, missing medications, and questions about medication administration. We are taught from the beginning of our pharmacy school experience that we are the experts in medications, and I definitely believe that my experiences have underscored this truism,” affirmed the LECOM leader. “We are called upon daily to supply input that helps our colleagues provide the best possible care, and that is the goal in the end,” he concluded. For many with aspirations to work in the field of medicine, the idea of such a career seems mysterious, especially if one has no family members (or friends) in the profession. Many who seek a pharmacy education are first generation college students and the knowledge gained through this degree program offers a powerful ability to change entire families for the better. A sole person who understands the health care system, who comprehends all of the most common chronic diseases, and who knows the way in which medications manage those diseases, can confer a significant and wholly life-affirming benefit upon the entire family and to all whom one encounters. Such career trajectory reflects, in part, the course taken by this laudable leader; for Dr. Madurski has endeavored upon a uniquely trodden path along his journey to the calling of his lifetime. His career as a pharmacist was realized after having worked as a newspaper journalist and as communications and public relations specialist for a decade before enrolling in pharmacy school. In fact, Dr. Madurski was working as a Communications Assistant at LECOM Erie when he made the decision to change careers. The accomplished pharmacist attributes his success to the wholly probative depth of experience that he found at LECOM.
Dr. Madurski is certain that the recent pharmacy evolution has resulted in a new and vibrant role for the pharmacist in patient care. @1LECOM | LECOM CONNECTION 15
“I was drawn to a pharmacy career as a direct result of the connections that I made working at LECOM as an administrator; and I am indebted to Drs. John and Silvia Ferretti for according to me the opportunity to move into a profession that challenges me daily while simultaneously allowing me to have a profoundly positive impact upon the lives of hospital patients,” expounded the grateful alumnus. “As a student, I had the opportunity to learn from enthusiastic faculty who encouraged me to consider different career paths in pharmacy; and through their guidance, I found my way into myriad leadership positions within the School of Pharmacy, including Class President and SSHP Executive Board membership. The success that I have found thus far in my career is attributable directly to the opportunities that my leadership roles provided - and all an extension of the encouragement of the LECOM faculty and staff,” averred Dr. Madurski.
- but most importantly the world needs dreamers who do. Dr. Bell is such a man.
Dr. Madurski continues a solid connection with LECOM, having worked with LECOM students on rotation at the Cleveland Clinic. He hopes to maintain that close association with his alma mater as he continues his purposed journey.
Also in 2009, Dr. Bell was the recipient of the John and Silvia Ferretti Distinguished Teaching Award at LECOM and in 2010, he was bestowed the William D. Miller AACOM Leadership Award for outstanding contributions to advancing the osteopathic profession.
Having already observed a plethora of student successes from those with whom he has crossed paths during the past two and a half years, Dr. Madurski offered, “I enjoy working with students and encouraging them in the same way that I was encouraged to pursue new and interesting opportunities.”
As the role of the pharmacist has increased to include additional responsibilities in the arena of patient care and has less encompassed its more well-known dispensing duties, the issue of professionalism has become a central aspect of pharmaceutical health care. With the foregoing in mind, it seems a fitting development that Dr. Bell was selected to serve on the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy (AACP) Professionalism Task Force to examine the current status of various pharmacy initiatives. Along with academic colleagues from seven other schools of pharmacy, Dr. Bell represented LECOM as he conducted his examination and analysis of professional attitudes and behaviors in student pharmacists, the topics of which included: leadership, inter-professional professionalism, honesty, ethics, internet professionalism, and admissions. Dr. Bell also completed a comprehensive assessment of the Task Force actions coupled with a sixteen (16) item compendium of recommendations. This body of work was published in the American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education and it provides a critical assessment of stratagems and programs designed to broaden the professional horizons of students and to facilitate the continued evaluation of pharmaceutical professionalism. LECOM takes great pride in the national import of the contributions of its faculty, as such participation underpins the groundwork of outstanding health care education. The academic proficiencies exhibited by the incomparable faculty at LECOM are evidenced in Dr. Bell’s accomplishments. LECOM pays tribute to his exceptional publication and to the forward thinking elements contained within his article as he continues to lead LECOM in the vanguard of pharmaceutical education.
There is little doubt that leadership roles are formed in the halls of LECOM; and from those enclaves of exceptionalism, they journey onward into the halls of other hallowed institutions to serve the public, to heal the sick, and to save lives.
A LEADER IN SUPERLATIVE EDUCATION The Dean of LECOM School of Pharmacy, Vice President of Academic Affairs, esteemed lecturer, distinguished Fellow, and a man with a resume rife with accomplishments and awards is also one of three physician deans at schools of pharmacy in the United States. Dr. Bell brings an inter-professional education focus to the forefront of medical instruction. For many, when passion and purpose coalesce, a career becomes a calling. Such is the very nature of Dr. Bell’s work. He has discovered his passion; and with all of his heart, he has given himself to it. It has been said that the world needs dreamers and the world needs doers
Dr. Bell began his life in Toronto, Canada. He was graduated from the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Toronto in 1982. Completing his family medicine residency at the University of Toronto and at Duke University, he achieved board certifications both in the United States and in Canada. His distinctions are many, serving as Duke University National Faculty Development Fellow, Fellow of the American Academy of Family Physicians, writing extensively in his fields of expertise, and receiving his Master of Science Medical Education degree from LECOM. In 2009, Dr. Bell was named one of twelve charter members of the National Academy of Osteopathic Medical Educators by the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine.
Engaged in the practice of “full-service” family medicine for more than two decades, Dr. Bell brought strengths, courage, and confidence to every experience in which he had an opportunity to aid his patients. Working in Flemington, New Jersey, in the oldest family practice residency program in the nation, Dr. Bell committed his work to patient care and to teaching. His work was transformative in its ability to provide hope and more importantly, to nurture and to restore health to the thousands for whom he cared over the last twenty years. Perhaps it is that nature that has driven Dr. Bell to his life-long focus for which he has provided numerous contributions to medical literature with articles that range from competency-based education topics to doctorpatient relationship matters. With aspirations seen only as possibilities,
- Continued On Page 42 16 LECOM CONNECTION | WINTER 2016 | LECOM.edu
LECOM MISSION LAUDS RESEARCH DAY More than 70 students and medical residents participated in the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM) Research Day 2015. The late October event highlighted one of the core components of the LECOM mission - research - as students and residents marked the noteworthy day with their presentation of abstracts, posters, and lectures. The LECOM mission statement pledges to prepare future osteopathic physicians, pharmacists, and dentists through programs of excellence in research. It is not surprising that this venerable occasion found students and residents alike determinedly presenting their scientific studies and sharing their findings. Research both varied and probative undertaken by LECOM students and residents for Erie-area hospital physicians - was plentiful. The highest honor for the Research Day Student Poster Session was awarded to
second-year medical student, Kaya Smith, for her research focusing upon human pathogencarrying ticks and possible pathogens at Presque Isle State Park. Second-year medical student, Sudha K. Ayla, received second place honors in the poster session with her study featuring the therapeutic use of essential plant oils and their ability to inhibit the growth of certain bacteria. Stacey L. Main, a second-year Master of Biomedical Sciences student, garnered the third place prize with her research focusing upon cerebellar structure and function after repeated prenatal exposure to valproic acid - a medication used for the treatment of seizures, bipolar disorder, and migraines. The Research Day Lecture Session was met with a plethora of analysis and study as the first place award was received by fourth-year medical student, Naveen George, for his study of the effectiveness of immunomodulatory therapies in the treatment of autoimmune encephalitis - a condition in which the immune system attacks the brain. Second place in the lecture format was awarded to third-year medical student, Kaitlyn Blackburn, for her research in analyzing digital anesthesia and a method of identifying the division of the proper digital nerve to improve the accuracy of digital blocks.
Ryan Huttinger, OMSII (right), explains his research poster: Platelet Monocyte Aggregates as Markers of Inflammation in Murine Models of Cardiovascular Injury to Andrew Glenn, OMSII, during the LECOM Erie
The lecture session third prize was bestowed upon second-year medical student, Yujie Li, for her research into the impact of MSG upon the cerebellar nuclei of newborns.
The Research Day Physician Poster Session found the first place prize being awarded to Nathan Weaver, DO. He studied the affect of the climate of pre-tournament training camps upon injury patterns in 2014 FIFA World Cup participants. Second prize went to Melissa Loveranes, DO. She presented research addressing unusual complications associated with gallstones, specifically small bowel perforation and intussusception. Mark W. Steehler, DO, won the third prize in the physician poster category for his research in comparing operative techniques for Bone Anchored Hearing Aid (BAHA) Implantation. In the Research Day Physician Lecture Session, first place was awarded to Shane R. Sergent, DO, for his study analyzing pediatric resuscitation. Second prize went to David J. Carl, DO, for his lecture addressing digital anesthesia issues and a method of identifying the division of the proper digital nerve to improve the accuracy of digital blocks. His lecture was presented in collaboration with third-year medical student, Kaitlyn Blackburn (who took second place in the Student Lecture Session). Third prize was awarded to Michelle Mitchell, DO, for her research into inter-professional education for the unique psychological needs of a patient diagnosed with gastric cancer. The entire 2015 Research Day event proved to be a resounding success and it underscored the profound and weighty value of LECOM research and the constant commitment to the mission which defines LECOM exceptionalism
Research Day in October 2015.
@1LECOM | LECOM CONNECTION 17
Taking the Distance out of Distance Education LECOM School of Pharmacy Distance Education Pathway Makes Dream of Pharmacy Calling Possible for Alaskan Student Hailing from Ohio, Amanda Noel is now settled on Kodiak Island, in the Gulf of Alaska, where there are half as many bears roaming the area as there are people. Amanda must travel by airplane to the mainland for many of her needs, such as medical appointments, as there are no specialty services on the island. She is the mother of three children (a third child arrived in January), a veteran, and a military spouse. Amanda started upon her path to pharmacy school in 2004, after having worked
as a technician for four years at an independent pharmacy. During that time, Amanda became very interested in pharmacy and she began asking about pharmacy education, pharmacyrelated employment, and ultimately, about a career in pharmacy. Prior to this inquiry, Amanda knew nothing about pharmacy - or about the medical field. She would become the first in her family to seek education beyond high school. “I was blessed to work under the guidance of some truly wonderful pharmacists
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during those four years,� Amanda averred. She decided to pursue the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM) Distance Education Pathway, and as a means to fund her education, she enlisted to serve four years of active duty in the United States Coast Guard at a search and rescue unit followed by work at a logistics unit. Upon leaving active duty, Amanda pursued and completed her Bachelors of Science Degree at Texas A&M University in Corpus Christi, Texas.
“Upon being graduated from Texas A&M, LECOM was my very first choice for pharmacy school,” affirmed Amanda. “The osteopathic approach, its mission in education and medicine, and its view of the patient as a whole person attracted me to LECOM,” Amanda stated. “This whole-person care and training reflected the reason that I was drawn to the pharmacy profession in the first place.” she furthered. At that time, there was only a traditional pathway, to which she had intended to apply before she was unexpectedly relocated to Kodiak Island. “After moving to Kodiak, I thought that I was going to have to put pharmacy school on the back burner for a while,” Amanda reflected. She was living on an island that did not have a pharmacy school, and as she learned quickly, neither did the entire state of Alaska. Somewhat discouraged, Amanda felt that she was well past the point in her life during which she would be able to relocate to another state for pharmacy education. With a family and with all of the responsibilities attendant to it, relocating again was not an option. Shortly after settling on the island, she found that LECOM recently had introduced a Distance
iPad
9:45 AM
Education (DE) Pathway - to which Amanda applied immediately. “LECOM had been my first choice and now, it offered a distance pathway that was able to provide the education that I desired coupled with the ability to balance my other responsibilities in life. Knowing that I was able to continue to pursue my goals while tending to my other obligations and remaining in my own community was beyond my imagining,” remarked Amanda. “My community has been wonderfully supportive, the local doctors, the United States Pharmacy Health Services (USPHS), and the local pharmacists were extremely helpful and genuinely excited about this LECOM Program and about the access that it gives to our community - a community that is currently under served. A couple of pharmacists already have asked when I will be graduating, as they are considering retirement; but due to the lack of pharmacists to take their positions, they have not done so,” Amanda explained. During her time in the Coast Guard, Amanda had the opportunity to interact with several
Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment and Functional Anatomy of the Cervical Spine: An International Approach
Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment and Functional Anatomy of the Cervical Spine: An International Approach
Text, Images and Videos are © Copyright, The Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine
Living in Kodiak has allowed her to experience precisely that which constitutes an under served community, including the many challenges that it presents to patients and to health care workers alike. It is a very fulfilling and purposeful undertaking and it is one that will utilize all of her osteopathic pharmacy training. The pairing of pharmacy with osteopathic principles is a perfect blend, for it affords each pharmacist the superlative ability to counsel patients competently and compassionately, while working closely with the other health care providers to find team solutions that work optimally for the patient as a whole person. The distance from Kodiak to Erie indeed may be thousands of miles, but the true measure of a pharmacy calling is found in the highlytrained, caring, and compassionate LECOM scholars, like Amanda Noel.
Take your OMT skills to the next level.
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Written By: Andrea Orlandi, DO Michele Dalmasso, DO Randy Kulesza, Jr, PhD
USPHS medical personnel and she was drawn again to serve the country, a mission dear to her heart. She is also motivated to treat the under served populations locally and she plans to apply to the USPHS for a commission upon graduation from LECOM.
Written By: Andrea Orlandi, DO Michele Dalmasso, DO Randy Kulesza, Jr, PhD Text, Images and Videos are © Copyright, The Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine
This innovative publication about Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment of the cervical spine contains detailed anatomy descriptions with illustrations and 85 high definition clips (taken from different points of view) showing various osteopathic techniques divided into five categories: soft tissue, joint mobilization, high velocity-low amplitude, traction and intervertebral disc rehab.
This ebook is published by LECOM and is written from the perspective of both Italian and American physicians.
Download it today for $29.99 on Apple iBooks or Google Play.
For Apple, you must have an iOS device with iBooks 1.5 or later and iOS with 4.3.3 or later, or a Mac with iBooks 1.0 or later and OSX 10.9 or later. For Google Play, Android OS version 2.2 and above is required.
@1LECOM | LECOM CONNECTION 19
LECOM Medical Student Co-Authors Published Research Paper
Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM) medical student, Amber Dubiel (OMSI), co-authored an original research paper that was published recently in the journal, Neuroscience. Along with LECOM faculty member, Randy Kulesza, Ph.D., Dubiel participated in a study centering upon Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Using an animal model of ASD, the research explored the way in which the processing of sound directly affects language deficits experienced by individuals with ASD. Pursuing the Master of Science Degree in Biomedical Sciences at LECOM Erie, Dubiel embarked upon a research project with Dr. Kulesza, whose extensive research on ASD appealed greatly to Dubiel. Her step-brother is autistic and although he utilizes sign language, he is unable to speak. The research paper explores the way in which the auditory brainstem in the ASD model responds to sound stimuli, helping to explain the reason
that autistic individuals experience difficulty with verbal language, but respond well to nonverbal language, such as sign language. “This is an exciting new puzzle piece as to the reason that there are language deficits in individuals with autism,” noted Dubiel. A 2009 graduate of Lakewood Ranch High School, Dubiel received an undergraduate degree in Biomedical Sciences, with a minor in Public Health from the University of South Florida. After hearing LECOM Student Affairs Director Ron Shively speak about LECOM at a Pre-Med Club Conference, Dubiel’s interest to pursue a medical education at LECOM was stirred. “When I discovered that LECOM offered a Master of Science Degree and Biomedical Science Program, I knew that it would be the perfect stepping stone for me to prepare for medical school,” proclaimed Dubiel.
20 LECOM CONNECTION | WINTER 2016 | LECOM.edu
After completing the MS Degree in Erie, Dubiel was accepted to medical school at the LECOM Bradenton campus and she returned home to Florida. “Completing my degree has fitted me with a substantial advantage in my career goals and it has helped me to feel less overwhelmed here at LECOM,” stated Dubiel. “I had the valuable opportunity to experience a high level of exposure to key subjects in medical school before delving into further study,” she explained. Dubiel’s goal after medical school is to become an OB-GYN physician and to specialize in infertility medicine. In the meantime, she is considering organizing an OB-GYN club at the medical school while looking forward to returning to Erie for rotations.
MAE and LECOM Doctors Another Reason to Choose
LECOM Health Medical Associates of Erie (MAE) comprises part of the LECOM Academic Health Center. Along with the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM) and Millcreek Community Hospital (MCH), MAE add a multi-specialty group practice component to the ever-expanding osteopathic health care network. Medical Associates of Erie has more than 50 physicians at 17 locations across Erie County, with physician specialties that include: family practice, orthopedics and vascular surgery, neurology, urology, sports medicine, obstetrics and gynecology, internal medicine, pediatrics, geriatrics, and general surgery. LECOM Health employs primary care physicians and specialists who preside over all facets of clinical practice. Medical Associates’ expansive team of reputable physicians and health care specialists are replete with doctors who are adroit leaders in health and wellness. As the Clinical Practice arm of LECOM Health, the primary care physicians and specialists at MAE not only provide health care, but they teach it as well. The group sees over two thousand patients per week, making MAE one of the vital health care hubs in the region; all the more reason to choose a LECOM Health doctor.
@1LECOM | LECOM CONNECTION 21
LECOM HEALTH DOCTO
PLEASE CALL TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT WI
ANTHONY J. FERRETTI, DO Orthopedic Surgery and Sports Medicine LECOM Medical Fitness & Wellness Center (814) 868-7840
DANIELLE M. HANSEN, DO Geriatric and Internal Medicine LECOM Senior Living Center (814) 868-3488
Rodolfo Arreola, MD Bariatric and General Surgery LECOM Medical Fitness & Wellness Center (814) 868-2170
Mark D. Baker, DO Family Medicine West Grandview, (814) 868-1088 JFK Primary Care, (814) 899-0687
Sarah E. Breon, DO Family Medicine 4234 Buffalo Rd, Erie (814) 899-7777
Janet R. Bricker, CRNP 2625 Parade St., Erie (814) 452-6383
Erik O. Esper, DO Family Medicine 2820 West 12th St., Erie (814) 833-8800
Robert J. Esper, DO Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine 2820 West 12th St., Erie (814) 833-8800
Edward E. Janus, DO Internal Medicine 3123 W. 12th St., Erie (814) 836-9478
John J. Kalata, DO Family Medicine 404 E. 8th St., Erie (814) 454-1851
Beth Ricci, DO Family Medicine 1306 E. 38th St., Erie (814) 825-7440
Gary M. Ritten, MD Obstetrics & Gynecology LECOM Medical Fitness & Wellness Center (814) 868-7830
Paula A. (Gunduz) Ballarin, MD Obstetrics & Gynecology LECOM Medical Fitness & Wellness Center (814) 868-7830
Micalyn D. Baney, DO Family Medicine Waterford Family Practice (814) 796-6791
Nannette M. Crawford, MA CCC-SLP Garrett P. Clark, DO Speech Pathology Integrative and Lifestyle Medicine LECOM Senior Living Center LECOM Medical Fitness (814) 868-3488 & Wellness Center (814) 868-2179
Stephany F. Esper, DO Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine & Family Medicine 2820 West 12th St., Erie (814) 833-8800
Julia-Heya Karcic, DPM Podiatry 406 Peach Street, Erie (814) 453-5071 Wesbury, Meadville (814) 332-4575
Dominic M. Sciamanda, DO Family Medicine 2820 West 12th St., Erie (814) 833-8800
William A. Esper, DO Cardiology and Internal Medicine 4002 Schaper Ave., Erie (814) 866-2311
Jay Kiessling, MD Vascular Surgery LECOM Medical Fitness & Wellness Center (814) 868-7840
Chevelta A. Bostick-Smith, DO Obstetrics & Gynecology LECOM Medical Fitness & Wellness Center (814) 868-7830
Allen Evangelista, DPM Foot Specialist Plaza 38 Medical Center 2010 West 38th St., Erie (814)-868-5481
Patrick F. Leary, DO Sports and Orthopedic Medicine LECOM Medical Fitness & Wellness Center (814) 868-7860
Richard Sposito, DO Family Medicine 7686 W. Ridge Rd., Fairview (814) 474-2654
Marguerite Evanoff-Jurkovic, DO Integrative and Lifestyle Medicine LECOM Medical Fitness & Wellness Center (814) 868-2179
Susan M. Evans, PhD Clinical Psychology LECOM Senior Living Center (814) 868-3488
Karl J. Falk, DO Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine 4000 Sterrettania Rd., Erie (814) 835-6640
Kevin G. Falk, DO Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine 4000 Sterrettania Rd., Erie (814) 835-6640
Jason Lee, DPM Podiatry 2625 Parade St., Erie (814) 452-6383 LECOM Senior Living Center (814) 868-3488
Scott Lim, DO Dermatology 3243 West 26th St., Erie (814) 836-1300
Ryan Lynch, DO LECOM Senior Living Center 5535 Peach Street, Erie (814) 868-3488
Amanda Madurski, OD Optometry 4000 Sterrettania Rd., Erie (814) 836-0543
Chad Stratford, PA Sports and Orthopedic Medicine LECOM Medical Fitness & Wellness Center (814) 868-7860
Ruel Taylor, DO Urologist LECOM Medical Fitness & Wellness Center (814) 868-2170
Joshua Tuck, DO Orthopedic Surgery and Sports Medicine LECOM Medical Fitness & Wellness Center (814) 868-7840
Frank M. Tursi, DO Family Medicine 5637 Peach St., Erie (814) 864-0690
ORS & PRACTITIONERS
ITH ANY OF THESE HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS.
GREGORY W. COPPOLA, DO Integrative and Lifestyle Medicine LECOM Medical Fitness & Wellness Center (814) 868-2179
JAMES Y. LIN, DO Geriatric and Internal Medicine LECOM Senior Living Center (814) 868-3488
Ranko Barac, DO Internal Medicine 4000 Sterrettania Rd., Erie (814) 835-6640
Carmine D. D’Amico, DO Cardiology Medical Associates of Erie LECOM Senior Living Center (814) 868-3488
John M. Ferretti, DO Geriatric Medicine 2010 West 38th St., Erie (814) 868-5481
Vincent S. Fierro Jr., DO Gastroenterology 2010 West 38th St., Erie (814) 866-3986
David E. Fox, DO Family Medicine 2625 Parade St. (814) 452-6383
Douglas A. Fronzaglia, DO Geriatric and Internal Medicine 600 Wesley Way, Meadville (814) 332-4575
Fernando Melaragno, DO Geriatric Medicine and Internal Medicine Harborcreek, (814) 899-7777 Corry, (814) 664-3984
Kevin J. Mikielski, DO Cardiology and Internal Medicine 4002 Schaper Ave., Erie (814) 866-2311
Eric Milie, DO Internal Medicine 2010 West 38th St., Erie (814) 868-5481
Gladys E. Morrissey, PA Sports and Orthopedic Medicine LECOM Medical Fitness & Wellness Center (814) 868-7840
Jason L. Goldberg, DO Internal Medicine 2625 Parade St., Erie (814) 452-6383
Douglas B. Grisier, DO Family Medicine 537 West 18th St., Erie (814) 456-1009
Steven T. O’Donnell, DO Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine Millcreek Medical Arts Building (814) 864-0690
Gary L. Peterson, DO Family Medicine 5637 Peach St., Erie (814) 864-0690
David J. Bodosky, DO Family Medicine 210 East State St., Albion (814) 756-3434
Bryant E. Bojewski, DO Internal Medicine 2820 West 12th St., Erie (814) 833-8800
E. Stella Dogun, MD Pediatrics 2625 Parade St., Erie, (814) 452-6383 West Grandview, (814) 868-1088
John E. Dudzinski, DO Family Medicine 115 East Main St., North East (814) 725-8774
Jan T. Hendryx, DO Lifestyle and Integrative Medicine LECOM Medical Fitness & Wellness Center (814) 868-2179
Yvonne T. Hoogland, MD Rheumatology LECOM Medical Fitness & Wellness Center (814) 868-7860
David L. Beaton, DO Obstetrics & Gynecology LECOM Medical Fitness & Wellness Center (814) 868-7830
Philip C. Devore, DO Family Medicine 115 East Main St., North East (814) 725-8774
Steven F. Habusta, DO Orthopedic Surgery and Sports Medicine 2625 Parade St., Erie (814) 452-6383
William R. Phelps, MD General Surgery LECOM Medical Fitness & Wellness Center (814) 868-2170
Christopher Rial, DO Sports and Orthopedic Medicine LECOM Medical Fitness & Wellness Center (814) 868-7860
LECOM Brian Viviano, DO Gastroenterology 2010 West 38th St., Erie (814) 866-6835
William H. Wismer, DO Dolan Wenner, DO Internal Medicine, Gastroenterology Internal Medicine 2010 West 38th St., Erie 4000 Sterrettania Rd., Erie (814) 866-3986 (814) 835-6640
Stephanie Young, CNM, MSN Certified Nurse-Midwife 2625 Parade St., Erie, (814) 452-6383 LECOM Medical Fitness & Wellness Center, (814) 868-7830
Armando Ricci, DO Family Medicine 1306 E. 38th St., Erie (814) 825-7440
H E A LT H
MILLCREEK COMMUNITY HOSPITAL
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Join the LECOM Health
LECOM Health LECOM Family doctor? of Physicians doctor? treating Erie’s Families LECOM Health doctors belong to the only academic health
We are the physicians of Medical Associates of Erie - the center headquartered in northwestern Pennsylvania – LECOM Health doctors belong to the only academic health Clinical Practices of LECOM. Our goal is to provide to our LECOM Health. center headquartered in northwestern Pennsylvania – patients the very best osteopathic, wholeHealth. person care – LECOM mind, body and spirit – for a lifetime of optimal health. LECOM Health doctors provide medical care and teach at Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine, the nation’s LECOM Health doctors provide medical care and teach
You can become part of the only osteopathic Academic at Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine, the nation’s largest medical school. Health Center in the nation led by the Lake Erie College of largest medical school. Osteopathic Medicine. LECOM Health doctors accept all major insurances.
LECOM Health doctors accept all major insurances. Currently, we are seeking physicians for Neurology, LECOM Health doctors’ primary hospital is Millcreek Community Orthopedics, Pediatrics and Urology for our LECOM Health doctors’care, primary hospital is Millcreek Community Hospital, the region’s leading hospital for geriatric expanding practices. Hospital, the region’s leading hospital for geriatric care,
behavioral health, rehabilitation, wound care and orthopedics. behavioral health, rehabilitation, wound care and orthopedics. Please contact Dennis Styn at (814) 868-2504 LECOM Healthtodoctors can refer patients for specialty care or dstyn@lecom.edu learn more about LECOM or Health doctors canfor refer anywhere – Cleveland, Pittsburgh, wherever is best thepatients for specialty care available opportunities.
anywhere care and convenience of the patient.* – Cleveland, Pittsburgh, or wherever is best for the care and convenience of the patient.*
LECOM Health doctors belong to Medical Associates LECOM Health doctors belong to Medical Associates of Erie and practice Family Medicine, Gastroenterology, of Erie and practice Family Medicine, Gastroenterology, General Surgery, Geriatrics, Integrative Medicine, General Surgery, Geriatrics, Integrative Medicine, Internal Medicine, Obstetrics/Gynecology, Orthopedics, Internal Medicine, Obstetrics/Gynecology, Orthopedics, Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine, Podiatry and Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine, Podiatry and Primary Care and Medical Specialties. Primary Care and Medical Specialties. *Specialty care insurance coverage depends upon a patient’s insurance company. *Specialty care insurance coverage depends upon a patient’s insurance company.
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Care. Compassion. Community.
LECOM School of Dental Medicine Student Wins Research Award Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine School of Dental Medicine (LECOM SDM) second-year student, Yoo Jin Chung, at left, has received an award for her research into the importance of patients practicing effective denture hygiene. Recently, Chung received the award for Most Outstanding Presentation in Clinical Research at the Hinman Student Research Symposium held in Memphis, Tennessee. Chung’s project evaluated the completeness and effectiveness of communication between dentists and patients in maintaining denture hygiene for patients who have lost their natural teeth. The Symposium highlighted 94 oral and poster presentations featuring research projects prepared by dental students and graduate students from across the United States. The judges awarded only eight prizes.
When her mentor, LECOM faculty member, Ruth Rojas, DMD, mentioned the need for better denture hygiene, Chung embarked upon her own research. The study was directed by LECOM faculty member, Thomas H. Ward, DMD. “There are so many research papers and products out there that claim to support great denture hygiene; however, patients were not using the recommended methods,” observed Chung. “One day, if people focus enough upon research like ours and upon the actual delivery of those methods, more patients may be able to keep their beautiful dentures longer,” she affirmed. Originally from Seoul, South Korea, Chung completed her undergraduate degree in 2011, majoring in Chemistry at the University of New Orleans. Before starting dental school, Chung gained experience in research working for the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). While there, she had numerous papers published that highlighted a variety of projects related to sugar. In her second year at the LECOM School of Dentistry, Chung began the research project to help other dental students - including her husband, second-year student, Curtis Dugas - become familiarized with research. “My goal is to inform prospective and current students that there are many valuable opportunities available for research,” expounded Chung. Chung recalled seeing the joy expressed in the eyes of her first denture patient after the grateful patient received a complete denture set. The LECOM scholar knew that she found the purpose of her calling.
Yoo Jin Chung with husband and second-year LECOM School of Dental Medicine student, Curtis Dugas.
@1LECOM | LECOM CONNECTION 25
LECOM STUDENT SCHOLARSHIP AUCTION GALAS REACH NEW HIGHS The Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM) extends its sincerest gratitude to the generous donors and volunteers who brought about the eagerly awaited and highly successful pair of annual auction gala events in Erie, Pennsylvania and in Bradenton, Florida.
The beaming bidders had the opportunity to take part in silent and live auctions that featured a wide range of artwork, collectibles, holiday crafts and decorations, jewelry, electronic devices, event tickets, luxury travel getaways, apparel, gift cards, and gift certificates.
Each year, the College conducts fundraisers for the sole purpose of providing scholarships to LECOM students. Through these untiring efforts and as a result of the unwavering generosity from LECOM supporters in Erie and Greensburg, Pennsylvania and in Bradenton, Florida, LECOM students were awarded $4 million in scholarship aid during this academic year.
The auctions are highly anticipated events for true sports devotees, who bid with the hope to win coveted memorabilia, ticket packages, autographed jerseys, and other rare items, such as the Sawgrass PGA Tour Championship Golf Package that raised over $4,000 during the live auction in Erie.
The Auction total in 2015 was the highest in LECOM history. Every dollar raised supports scholarships for LECOM osteopathic medicine, pharmacy, and dental students. In 2015, the final combined item tally noted more than 1,100 offerings donated to the Erie and Bradenton auctions. The auctions are instrumental in helping LECOM train and educate the next generation of health care professionals. Since the inception of the auction events, deserving students have received more than $21 million in scholarship funds. “The LECOM Scholarship Auction is our single biggest fundraising event,” noted John M. Ferretti, DO, President and CEO of LECOM. “It’s about LECOM helping young men and women who seek to dedicate their lives to the health professions and we are extremely grateful to everyone who helped to make the event so successful,” Dr. Ferretti stated.
A television advertising package secured the very highest bid during the Erie live auction segment, gaveling down at over $17,000. That success was preceded by a $11,000 bid on a three-year lease of a Mitsubishi Outlander Sport, donated by Interstate Mitsubishi. During the live auction, Erie Bayfront attendees also bid on items such as a 14K white gold Princess blue and white diamond ring, two separate European travel destinations, a signed Rolling Stones Guitar, and a host of coveted VIP sports packages. Former Pittsburgh Steelers Defensive Back,
The Erie event, held at the Bayfront Convention Center, found over 1,000 people gathered to bid and banter at the eagerly anticipated annual LECOM Student Scholarship Auction.
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In addition to the magnanimous Dwayne Woodruff. bidding battles engendered by the auction festivity, well-recognized philanthropists, business leaders, and other notables gathered to offer their support.
Guests dining at the LECOM Bradenton Auction.
Three former members of the Pittsburgh Steelers - Offensive Linemen, Robin Cole, J.T. Thomas, and Defensive Back, Dwayne Woodruff, pictured at lower left, attended the Erie auction to meet the guests and to present a signed Jersey to LECOM Provost, Vice President, and Dean of Academic Affairs, Silvia Ferretti, DO. The equally awaited sister event for LECOM Bradenton, was held at the Hyatt Regency in Sarasota on October 26, 2015, during which time event attendees at the LECOM Student Scholarship Auction Gala and Dinner gathered to bid and dine in a delightful night of philanthropic purpose. LECOM students could be observed at every turn as they greeted guests, served as bid watchers, jewelry models, item distribution coordinators, and remained generally everpresent to thank the attendees whose support of the event through item donations or sponsorships makes their dream of a medical education possible. A travel package to Paris, another to Tuscany, a Sammy Sosa autographed baseball, and an iHeart Radio Marketing package garnered headturning bids. From a baroque pearl necklace to Apple watches, from stunning furs to stylish handbags, there was something wonderful to accommodate every taste and interest. Both the Erie and Bradenton events can be viewed as the highlight of pre-holiday gift preparations for many; but most assuredly, the LECOM event is the source of a proud and purposed endeavor that makes possible a noble career in health care for countless deserving students.
From the top: Guests browse the rows of items at the LECOM Erie Auction; Guests survey items at the LECOM Bradenton Auction; Joe Bizzarro, of Interstate Mitsubishi, presents the Mitsubishi Outlander Sport that was donated for the LECOM Erie Auction.
@1LECOM | LECOM CONNECTION 27
The Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine continues growing rapidly, attracting some of the brightest candidates for the College of Osteopathic Medicine, School of Dental Medicine and School of Pharmacy. While LECOM maintains the second lowest private medical school tuition in the country, these students face mounting debt as they complete their education. Each year, the college conducts fundraisers only for the purpose of providing scholarships to our students. Through these efforts and support from our friends in Erie and Greensburg, PA and Bradenton, FL, LECOM students were awarded $4 million in scholarship aid this current academic year. And, since we began our scholarship fund, deserving students have received more than $21 million. On behalf of the entire administration, employees and students of LECOM, the 2015 Student Scholarship Fund Committee thanks you.
Sponsors of the 2015 LECOM Erie Scholarship Auction Presenting Sponsor - $50,000 PNC Bank
Principal Sponsor - $35,000 Mary L. Eckert John M. Ferretti, DO Silvia M. Ferretti, DO First National Bank Esther J. Fucci The Hakel Fabrizio Financial Group
Platinum Sponsor - $30,000 Vantage Healthcare
Gold Sponsor - $15,000
Building Systems Incorporated Church & Murdoch Electric Erie Community Foundation Hubbard Bert, Inc. Interstate Mitsubishi Millcreek Community Hospital Medical Staff Morgan Stanley, Gary and Shawn Liebel Richard P. Olinger Nancy Peaden, In Memory of Durell Peaden, MD POMA Rabe Environmental Systems Inc. Scott Enterprises, Nick and Kim Scott
Silver Sponsor - $7,500 John and Colleen Bloomstine Erie Otters Hockey Club Vincent Fierro, DO Hagan Business Machines Paul and Debbie Hakel Insurance Management John and Alice Joyce Suzanne Kelley, DO
LM Wander & Sons Networking Technologies Power Wellness Management Seton Hill University Walgreens WICU, WSEE, & The CW Lilly Broadcasting
Richard Terry, DO and Maria Terry Victorian Princess John and Sandy Wojtkielewicz WJET, Fox 66, Your Erie.com Judith Zboyovski
Bronze Sponsors - $3,200
A. Anthony & Sons, Inc. Aflac Allegheny Health Network George H. Althof Plumbing, Inc. Antique Gallery Arnett Carbis Toothman John Balmer, DO and Patricia Balmer Micalyn Baney, DO and Daniel Baney Ranko Barac, DO and Melissa Barac, PharmD Barber National Institute Sherri Bauer Real Estate Alicia Bautina Zoe Bawtree Pierre and Loretto Bellicini Philip Cacchione, DO and Beth Cacchione Christopher Carbo, DO and Ann Marie Carbo Chautauqua Regional Economic Development Garrett Clark, DO and Marie Clark Corry Memorial Hospital Thomas R. Czarnecki, DO Dickie, McCamey & Chilcote, P.C. e4 Services Edinboro University Engel O’Neill ENT Specialists of NW Pennsylvania Erie Bank Erie Bayhawks Basketball Erie Brewing Company Erie Radio Company Erie Times-News
Arent Fox, LLP Baltimore Orioles Benco Dental Hershey Bell, MD and Marianne Bell Coppola Family Fund CyBex Steve and Dana DeMetriou Phil and Chris English Karl Falk, DO First Niagara Bank Lawrence Gabel, PhD and Marilyn Gabel Gannon University Healogics Health Fusion and Sol Lizerbraum, DO Jan Hendryx, DO Howard Industries Kada Gallery Mark Kauffman, DO and Michele Kauffman, JD Marquette Savings Bank Medical Associates of Erie Employees Meisinger USA North West Mutual Penelec/First Energy Corporation PGA TOUR Riedman Companies Rite Aid Raymond Seifert, DO and Carol Seifert, MD Spring Hill Suites by Marriott Stevens & Lee/Financial S&Lutions, LLC
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Patron Sponsors - $1,600
Jeffrey Esper, DO Ronald Esper, DO and Kathleen Esper Fast Signs Frank Fatica, DO Fiber Solutions Marie France and Dr. Wolfgang Schwargerl Irving Freeman, JD and Julie Freeman, JD Friends of Sean Wiley Douglas Fronzaglia, DO and Angela Fronzaglia Robert George, DO and Goldie George Jason Goldberg, DO Danielle Hansen, DO and Corey Hansen Randy Heemer, Pharm D and Bojana Stevich Heemer, Pharm D Highmark Howard Hanna Real Estate Interim HealthCare of Erie Janitor Supply John Kalata, DO and Roberta Kalata Christine Kell, PhD King Communications Dolores Kutzer, PharmD Patrick Leary, DO
LECOM Sports Medicine James Lin, DO and Emma Lin Sidney Lipman, DO and Karen Lipman LifeWorks Erie George and Paula Lyons Malady & Wooten Maleno Development Maplevale Farms Joseph McCormick Construction Company Fernando Melaragno, DO and Kimberly Melaragno Mercyhurst University Eric Milie, DO and Christina Milie Millcreek Community Hospital Psychiatry Miller Travel Services Joan Moore, DO Marlene Mosco Northwestern Mutual Financial Northwest Savings Bank Oasis Footwear LLC Rachel Ogden, PharmD and Daniel Ogden Richard Ortoski, DO Presque Isle Downs
Red Shelf, LLC Joyce Savocchio Scallywags Pirate Ship James and Lore Schaffner Schaffner, Knight, Minnaugh & Company, P.C. School of Pharmacy Class of 2016 Regan Shabloski, DO and Cheryl Moore, DO Stairways St. Vincent Health Center Aaron Susmarski, JD Mark Terrell, EdD Frank Tursi, DO UPS Foundation Village Surgicenter Michael J. Visnosky, Esq. Vital Source Brian Viviano, DO and Elizabeth Viviano Dolan Wenner, DO and Alyssa Wenner Westminster Place Partnership Jeffrey Young, DO Kathy Zboyovski
Sponsors of the 2015 LECOM Bradenton Scholarship Auction
Emerald Sponsor - $20,000 Benco Dental
Diamond Sponsor - $15,000 Meisinger USA
Platinum Sponsor - $10,000 John M. Ferretti, DO Silvia M. Ferretti, DO Robert George, DO and Goldie George Hyatt Regency
Silver Sponsors - $5,000 Coltene-Whaledent Kavo-Kerr / Pelton and Crane Premier Dental Products SDI North America Shofu Dental Corporation Vanessa Fine Jewelry Whip Mix Corporation Willis Smith Construction
Bronze Sponsors - $2,500
Friends of Military Families (Grow Financial) HBKW Insurance – Joe Kelly Orlando Magic Prime Parking Systems Regions Bank Wells Fargo
Patron Sponsors - $1,600
John Angeloni, DO Francis Curd, DDS and Pam Curd Anthony Ferretti, DO Anton Gotlieb, DDS and Susan Gotlieb Mark A. Romer, DDS Jeff and Edie Myers Tim Novak Bank United Creekside and Lost Creek Apartments FOMA
FOMA District 7 HCA Healthcare (Blake Medical Center/ Doctors Hosp) HH Staffing Jackson Landscape Professionals, Inc. Jan-Pro of Manasota John and Michelle McKay – TBC Consultants K&K Enterprises of Sarasota Lift Air Lakewood Ranch Communities Manatee Memorial Hospital Neal Communities Pittsburgh Pirates and Bradenton Marauders Prime Care – Steven Coppa, DO Schroeder-Manatee Ranch Suncoast Family Medical Assoc. TGM Properties – The Yacht Club and Palm Aire VitalSource
@1LECOM | LECOM CONNECTION 29
EARN YOUR MASTERS IN HEALTH SERVICES ADMINISTRATION DEGREE ONLINE The LECOM MHSA Program will prepare you with the knowledge and skills required to plan, direct, and coordinate medical and health services. With the MHSA degree you will be ready to step into an administrative role in hospitals, health care facilities, public health organizations or private practices. • Designed to provide working professionals with the skills needed to become top health care administrators; • Over 90% of the courses are delivered Online by experienced faculty members; • 18-month and 24-month programs meet busy professional schedules; • Current LECOM students and alumni are eligible to be awarded a LECOM MHSA Scholarship up to a maximum amount of 50% off the tuition cost*. LECOM is proud to introduce a distance education program to prepare qualified health care leaders to meet the challenges of 21st Century medicine. For more information, contact us at 941-405-1535 or mhsa@lecom.edu
*Students must apply to the MHSA program prior to enrollment deadline to qualify.
LECOM Writer Presents
Caroline A. Castrignano Memorial Student Scholarship Award To impute our recovery to medicine, and to carry our view no further, is to rob God of His honor, and is saying in effect that He has parted with the keys of life and death and has placed our lives out of His own reach. ~ William Cowper LECOM is pleased to announce the winner of the second Caroline A. Castrignano Memorial Scholarship Award.
touching awareness that obviously has developed within the heart of this medical student,” concluded DeSimone.
Monica Scarsella is living out her faith unabashedly, both in the journey through her medical training and in her life as a whole. The third year OMS student’s piece, the winner of the Caroline Castrignano Memorial Student Scholarship Essay Contest, offered examples and inspiration of a faith-filled purpose juxtaposed against the medical calling. Scarsella’s message underscored the value of faith in God and the way in which that faith, integrated with medicine, is not only possible, but essential.
Monica Scarsella was delighted upon learning that she had won the prize. “Thank you for informing me of this wonderful news; I am so honored!” Scarsella enthused. Scarsella further detailed that the funds will help her to defray the burdensome cost of her medical education.
Her essay was determined by the scholarship founder, LECOM Chief Writer and Editor-in-Chief of the LECOM Connection, Rebecca A. DeSimone, Esquire to most aptly address the faith-based theme of the contest. The essay, addressing the thematic question of “Theistic Realism: How Does Faith in God Underpin Your Calling to Medicine?” garnered the significant sum of $2,500 for the third-year medical student. “The decision proved exceptionally difficult,” admitted DeSimone, “in that several of the essays vied estimably for the award, making it into the final round of consideration.” “The winning essay was a well-crafted piece, offering a narrative of thoughtfully depicted events that presented inquiring and philosophical, but above all - real-world - assessments of faith-filled awareness,” affirmed DeSimone. “The essayist’s voice was strong and her impressive breadth of personal experiences were put to good use. Scarsella’s was a piece that encouraged the reader to see faith as more than merely a set of inert beliefs locked safely away in one’s heart. It calls upon the medical practitioner to understand faith as a world view seeking action and transformation, while at the same time offering a
The Scholarship was offered in memory of DeSimone’s mother, the late Caroline A. Castrignano, who succumbed to cancer in 2009; with the goal of the award to benefit the future of a health care professional who has found purpose in the calling of medicine. DeSimone established the Scholarship in 2012, in honor of her mother stating, “my mother was a woman of deep faith and of steadfast character; and during all of my formative years, she was to me a beacon that shone a conviction of conscience, a heart of compassion, and life of purpose.” “Having lost my mom to lung cancer in 2009, there are few words that sum up the compassion and care that I observed in the medical professionals who tended to her throughout her battle against an unrelenting and brutal disease.” DeSimone added, “I am profoundly aware of the immeasurable abilities and services that medical teams offer every day to thousands of people suffering from similar illnesses.” LECOM congratulates and recognizes Scholarship Award recipient, Monica Scarsella, OSMIII in tribute to Caroline A. Castrignano and to all “moms” who have set the course for their children through example and faith.
@1LECOM | LECOM CONNECTION 31
FILES
Jennifer Hammers, DO During the Thanksgiving break, in her sophomore year of high school, Jennifer Hammers, DO - the now Deputy Chief Medical Examiner for the New York City, Brooklyn office - perused the library, selecting a book to read during the brief respite from her studies. The main character of the book that she chose happened to be a medical examiner. The subject and storyline wholly lassoed the interest of Dr. Hammers.
Dr. Hammers knew that she wished to work in the medical field, and serving as a forensic pathologist seemed a good way to fulfill her aspiration. “I was a sickly teen and I was in the hospital a good deal,” noted Dr. Hammers. “I didn’t want to spend any more time in a hospital as a doctor. I started looking into forensics,” she continued.
“The book appealed to me because the main character was a medical examiner,” said Hammers. “She was a woman, and I’m not sure if that fact played any part in it, but she was a very intriguing character. In an age before the CSI television show craze really hit, I read this book and I thought that the character was interesting - and I was fascinated by her equally interesting job,” recalled Dr. Hammers.
Dr. Hammers knew that she wanted to be involved in every aspect of the forensic world, not simply in one specific role. This objective led her to become a forensic pathologist. The position of Medical Examiner allows her to be involved in all of the many critical and important tests and analyses that are instrumental in solving a case. Dr. Hammers sought not to be confined to just one of those critical aspects, she wanted to have a hand in every one of them.
The book, which also delved into the world of forensic investigators and DNA testing, sparked Dr. Hammers’ interest in pursuing a career as a forensic pathologist, a goal that she since has achieved.
“I review all of the results of all of those tests and I put it all together to determine the way in which a person passed away,” expounded Dr. Hammers. “I am the one person that knows every aspect of the process and I have the
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responsibility and the privilege to give the family an answer. That’s what I really live for,” she added. Dr. Hammers knew exactly the steps needed to achieve her goal of becoming a medical examiner. “The only way to be that person was to attend medical school,” she pronounced. Dr. Hammers was interested in becoming an osteopathic physician from the very start of her studies. Preferring to study in Pennsylvania, Dr. Hammers placed the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM) at the top of her list. Dr. Hammers’ goal and her sole reason for attending medical school was to become a medical examiner. “Many osteopathic schools want to train primary care physicians and they are interested in retaining them in their area,” said Dr. Hammers. “My situation was different and I attended medical school knowing that I wanted to be a forensic pathologist. LECOM provided the latitude and the wealth of options
I had sought in a medical school,” Dr. Hammers affirmed. Dr. Hammers was drawn to LECOM, in part, because the school had just introduced its Problem-Based Learning (PBL) Pathway, a learning style in which she had great interest. “I remember saying to my parents, ‘I really love LECOM, but I do not feel the Lecture Discussion Pathway (LDP) is going to suit my particular style of learning, but PBL would be just perfect for me. If I get in, I’m going to LECOM,’” recalled Dr. Hammers. “The entire feel of LECOM fit me. It was not as hectic as a big city school; the focus of the programs was still in training primary care physicians, but LECOM had the foresight and vision to think more globally,” reflected Dr. Hammers. Dr. Hammers believes that she made the best possible decision for her career by choosing LECOM. Noting the diversity of the student population and the “forward-thinking” of Drs. John and Silvia Ferretti, Dr. Hammers described her experience at LECOM as that which “made her into the highly skilled pathologist” that she is today. For Dr. Hammers, that PBL Pathway provided the best possible learning experience, and it allowed her to gain the knowledge necessary to become a very capable forensic pathologist. “LECOM is quite broad minded,” said Dr. Hammers. “I was accepted into PBL - which I loved - and I felt as if it were something that so few schools were offering. It was a great way of learning and understanding osteopathic medicine. When I talk to students now, I always mention the different pathways,” Dr. Hammers commented. Dr. Hammers was graduated from LECOM in 2004, and from there, she traveled to Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburgh, where she completed her residency in anatomic and clinical pathology. In 2008, Dr. Hammers began her fellowship with the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in New York City, a position which continued until 2010, when she became a medical examiner with the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Boston, MA.
There she remained until June 2013, when she returned to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner of New York City, where she is now the Deputy Chief Medical Examiner at the Brooklyn office.
Dr. Hammers. “Those are the cases that really mean something - the ones that provide closure for grief-stricken families and friends,” she explained.
From the Brooklyn office, Dr. Hammers oversees the boroughs of Brooklyn and Staten Island, which, on average, see six to eight deaths per day.
Dr. Hammers said that giving those answers is not always easy, but she believes that her LECOM osteopathic medical training enables her to connect with those families who are looking for answers.
Each morning begins with a list of the new cases - “all the patients who have passed away and all of the bodies that are in the mortuary,” said Dr. Hammers. The highly-trained medical examiners review the circumstances of the death to determine if an autopsy will be performed. From there, a death certificate can be signed and family members can be informed accordingly.
“Truly, one cannot undersell the value of osteopathic medicine, even if one is not treating living patients,” said Dr. Hammers. “It pairs very well in my field, and I have been served well in that profession. LECOM leadership is very insightful about medical education and in promoting their students, particularly those who seek to demonstrate leadership skills,” the medical examiner emphasized.
Often, Dr. Hammers finds herself in a teaching role or in court. “I go to court and I testify if needed,” said Dr. Hammers. “I also give lectures, and on occasion, I present findings in hospitals,” she noted.
In the end, she says, “It all begins with being a good physician.”
The position is a rewarding one as the work Dr. Hammers performs often answers very important questions, specifically for family members who are grieving the loss of a loved one.
“One cannot be a good pathologist if one is not a good physician,” stated Dr. Hammers. It is abundantly clear that armed with a LECOM education, Dr. Jennifer Hammers is both.
Dr. Hammers recalled the sudden death of a middle-aged man while on a cruise with his wife. The man, an active father who kept in shape, succumbed in his sleep to a sudden and catastrophic blockage of an artery. “His wife told me that he lived healthfully and that he was on the treadmill every day,” said Dr. Hammers. “She asked how this was possible. I told her the most likely reason was genetic, and that their children could be at risk,” furthered Dr. Hammers. Genetic heart defects can be an unexpected killer, and making sure that people are aware and educated about those defects is of the utmost importance. Medical examiners have an important role in public health. Accurate recordings of causes of death and the reasons that people die are extremely important pieces of information. “Our job in high profile cases is not nearly as important as are the everyday deaths of people that nobody knows about,” confided @1LECOM | LECOM CONNECTION 33
LECOM Scholar Takes First Place at Prestigious Competition A full work-up performed by a neurologist revealed no answer to the problem. Shortly thereafter, two new skin cancers appeared on the patient’s arm. Precisely at that time, a pathologist discovered that the original cancer had grown along a nerve, which caused paralysis and possibly seizures. It then metastasized to the skin.
but I think many patients hear ‘squamous cell or basal cell cancer’ and they do not think it is serious. Nonmelanoma skin cancers are the most common type in America, with over two million people diagnosed each year. This case of a skin cancer causing paralysis is an example of just how dangerous squamous cell carcinomas can be,” commented Lowe.
This extremely uncommon occurrence was central to Lowe’s case study on the issue.
“I am grateful for the opportunity to spread the word about neurotropic squamous cell carcinoma, to exchange knowledge with other budding researchers, and to travel to Washington, DC,” said Lowe of the upcoming National American College of Physicians (ACP) Competition where Lowe next will be presenting her study.
“This happens in five percent of squamous cell cancers of the head and neck,” said Lowe, “but rarely does it occur in the periphery. That is the worthy reason for the study,” Lowe affirmed. Lowe entered her case study at the WPACP Poster Competition in early November, where she – the sole medical student – faced approximately 50 internal medicine residents from UPMC and AGHN hospitals.
When LECOM student, Erin Lowe (OMS4), entered her research case at the Western Pennsylvania American College of Physicians (WPACP) Poster Competition in November of 2015, she gave little thought to winning it. However, her well-received research poster entitled, Arm Yourself with Knowledge: A Skin Cancer that Causes Paralysis, a case study on cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma, proved to be a WPACP Conference highlight. The study stemmed from a case that occurred during Lowe’s third year of clinical work in her General Surgery Rotation at WCA Hospital in Jamestown, NY. At that time, the case appeared to be a simple manifestation of treatable skin cancer. Once the cancer was removed however, unexpected issues were evident. This seemingly common skin cancer had caused paralysis in the patient. “An elderly gentleman had a common skin cancer on his wrist. The cancer was excised with clear margins in 2012,” noted Lowe. “He then began experiencing progressive weakness of his arm and he suffered seizures,” she furthered.
“I walked into the Western Pennsylvania American College of Physicians Poster Competition thinking, ‘I must be in the wrong place,’” recalled Lowe. “I was the only medical student among these amazing residents who were presenting such fascinating research and case reports. I went for the experience and to grow as a physician, never expecting to win,” commented the humble victor. Nonetheless, Lowe’s preparedness and effort enabled her to best the competitors in the clinical vignette portion of the competition. “I prepared fully and I was passionate about my work and that must have come across in my presentation,” mused Lowe. “I was ecstatic to win the First Place award and I was deeply honored to represent LECOM and WCA Hospital,” averred Lowe. Erin Lowe’s study has been accepted for publication in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology and she hopes that her research will be beneficial to the diagnosis and treatment of skin cancer. “Generally, there are three types of skin cancer: melanoma, squamous cell, and basal cell,” Lowe noted. “We all know that melanomas are deadly,
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Moreover, Lowe is thankful for the education and guidance that she has received throughout her medical training at LECOM, as well as during her clinical rotations at WCA Hospital. “I am so grateful for the education that I have received at LECOM,” beamed Lowe. “Our second-year dermatology course, taught by Dermatologist and Clinical Assistant Professor, Scott Lim, DO, was a fabulously informative introduction into cutaneous carcinomas. I also spent a month rotating with Dr. Lim in his private office in Erie where I learned so much. I have been blessed with excellent mentors who are affiliated with LECOM. Dr. Timothy Brown and Dr. William Geary, both physicians at WCA Hospital, were co-authors on this case report, without whose guidance and expertise I could not have completed the work on this project,” remarked the modest researcher. Marking this triumphant success, LECOM offers its hearty congratulations to this accomplished scholar.
A St. Petersburg, Florida native, Jiannetti was drafted by the New York Mets as a third baseman in the 2000 Major League Baseball (MLB) first-year player draft. With no thoughts of medical school at the time, he embarked upon a decade-long baseball odyssey that took him across the United States, through Canada, and even to Italy. After playing baseball for five seasons in the Mets system and after reaching Double-A status, Jiannetti played in the independent Triple-A Atlantic League. In 2007, he was signed by the Detroit Tigers to play shortstop, as well as second and third base. During his baseball career, Jiannetti achieved a .291 batting average and 102 home runs. Sharing the field with notable teammates, David Wright, Scott Kazmir, and Mike Piazza made Jiannetti’s experience a memorable one. With four championship team wins and after having been in the playoffs seven times, Jiannetti explained that he was thrilled to “play a game professionally that he had so loved as a boy.” When Jiannetti turned 30 years old, he realized that he needed to work toward a new career. “It can be tough having no job or insurance for the six months when we are not playing baseball,” Jiannetti confessed. Pharmacy seemed the perfect new path for the seasoned player. “I took the prerequisites for two years, then the Pharmacy College Admission Test, and I decided pharmacy school was the way I wanted to go,” Jiannetti pronounced with enthusiasm.
OUT AT THIRD
Former New York Mets Baseballer Chooses New Career Path at LECOM Former New York Mets third baseman, Joseph Jiannetti, has stepped away from a successful 11-year professional sports career to follow his calling. Trading in his uniform and mitt to study pharmacy at the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM) where he is now a first-year student, Jiannetti made the decision to end his baseball career in 2012. After attending St. Petersburg College in Florida, where he found that he enjoyed science, and after discussing the profession with friends who were enrolled in pharmacy school, Jiannetti became interested in becoming a pharmacist.
Having become particularly familiar with discipline and hard work during his years in professional baseball, Jiannetti understood that attending pharmacy school would entail a complete lifestyle change coupled with a new form of discipline and steadfast determination. “I was 18 years old when I began to play baseball professionally,” noted Jiannetti, “and I had to learn quickly how to act like a professional. Never be late, make certain that the job is done, and work hard in every task undertaken. Those were lessons learned in baseball that are very applicable to scholarship in pharmacy,” explained the savvy student. Joseph Jiannetti is eagerly looking forward to clinical rotations where he will experience working in a pharmacy. “There is so much out there and I am ready to learn. It is all very thrilling for me,” he remarked. Joe Jiannetti may be out at third, but he is home at LECOM.
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LECOM Scholar-Athlete Named 2015 NCAA Woman of the Year She was an eight-time All-American during her career at Clarion and the 2014 Division II Diver of the Year, as selected by the College Swimming Coaches Association of America. In 2014, Day was the recipient of the Elite 89 Award, an award that she received for being the college athlete with the highest GPA who competed at an NCAA championship. In 2015, she was presented the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Pete Nevins Award for Scholar Athlete of the Year, and she also earned the Clarion Undergraduate Award for Achievement in Organic Chemistry and Analytical Chemistry. Winning the 2015 NCAA WOTY award was the pinnacle of an incredible undergraduate career, and Day admitted that she was taken aback when her name was announced as the winner. Kristen Day, with NCAA officials – at the NCAA Convention in January.
LECOM is proud to announce that first-year medical student, Kristin Day was named the 2015 NCAA Woman of the Year (WOTY) at a ceremony in Indianapolis in October, 2015. The WOTY Award is presented to a female student-athlete who has excelled in the areas of academic achievement, athletics, community service, and leadership. Day, a national champion diver, certainly exemplifies those qualities. Now a member of the Erie medical Class of 2019, she is attending LECOM on a postgraduate scholarship from the NCAA. She began her studies at LECOM with the goal of becoming an orthopedic physician serving central Pennsylvania, near her hometown of Reynoldsville. Day was inspired to become an orthopedic physician by a surgeon who had treated her during her youth. “When I was younger, I was a gymnast with elbow issues,” said Day. “My orthopedic surgeon truly helped me to return to health, and that event inspired me to look into this field,” she expounded.
as quickly as possible,” she said. “He truly demonstrated to me the way in which one can care and be involved with patients on a deeper level, and I wished to carry that objective back to my hometown,” she affirmed. Having been graduated from Clarion University of Pennsylvania, Day is the first student-athlete from a Pennsylvania school to receive the prestigious WOTY honor in the 25-year history of the Award. At Clarion, she majored in chemistry, with biochemistry as her focus. Day finished her undergraduate career with a 4.0 GPA while completing 153 credits. Her exceptional work in the classroom resulted in her earning back-to-back Capital One Division II Academic All-American honors. On the diving board, Day was one of the most decorated divers to hail from Clarion; and perhaps one of the best divers ever to have competed in the NCAA Championships. Day is a three-time NCAA National Champion, winning the 1-meter dive in 2014 and 2015, and the 3-meter dive in 2015 with an NCAA-record of 539.35 points.
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“Shock!” she described as her first emotion upon being named the winner. “I was really excited, thankful, and humbled that they would pick me. It was an incredible experience. I did not expect to win at all. Being there with all of those girls was incredible and I’m grateful for that opportunity,” she averred. The NCAA honored ten exemplary college athletes with the 2016 Top 10 Award. Day received the prestigious award at the NCAA Convention in January. The tribute recognizes former student-athletes for their successes on the field, in the classroom, and in the community. Day is also an accomplished gymnast, having won a gold medal on the trampoline while competing for the United States at the Loule Cup in Portugal in 2011. Day’s steadfast commitment to community service matches her commitment to the classroom and diving board. Her family launched an annual ATV Ride for Research event, with the objective of raising funds for cancer research and for other disease research, including Alzheimer’s Disease and Juvenile Diabetes. Day serves as the CFO for the event, which has raised a total of
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IN MEMORIAM
LECOM Mourns the Passing of
Jon M. Walro, PhD
Remembering Jon M. Walro, PhD as a dedicated and committed Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM) instructor touches upon only a fragment of the heart and soul of this tireless educator. Since 2012, Dr. Walro served as an integral part of faculty of LECOM at Seton Hill in Greensburg, Pennsylvania where he instructed human embryology, histology, and gross anatomy courses. As an invaluable member of the LECOM family, his loss is felt profoundly, not only at Seton Hill, but throughout his extended family and across the LECOM campuses. His was a life that left its caring and educationally nurturing imprint upon all who had the privilege to cross his path; one in which the great satisfaction that he derived from working with his students was reflected in the capable scholars molded by his tutelage. LECOM long will remember him as a bright ray of light emanating from our lamp of learning. Jon M. Walro was graduated from Allbright College in 1974 and he received his doctorate in zoology from Ohio University in 1980. In 1986, he joined the anatomy faculty at Northeast Ohio Medical University (NEOMED) in Rootstown, Ohio, where he served as Director of Human Development and Structure, and Director of Surgical Anatomy, until retiring in 2012. He was awarded the title of Master Teacher at NEOMED in 2010. In 2012, he joined the faculty of LECOM at Seton Hill and in 2015, he received the Masters in Medical Education Degree from LECOM, in Erie, Pennsylvania. Life brings often devastatingly altering events to us, and we, who are confined by these earthly bonds, know only our pain in his loss. We are unaware of his heavenly joy. May the thought of that joy and of the many students whose lives he enriched with knowledge bring comfort to his family in this dark hour.
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COMMUNITY IS OUR CAMPUS
Seton Hill Alzheimer’s Walk
Erie Trail of Treats
In September 2015, the LECOM at Seton Hill Neuro Club participated in the Greensburg Walk to End Alzheimer’s Disease; raising a total of $2,266 for the fight to end the debilitating and deadly disease.
In October 2015, the annual Trail of Treats was held at the Millcreek Mall in Erie; and LECOM Erie students volunteered their time by distributing goodies to area children and educating them about the way in which certain medicine can look like candy. Above: LECOM School of Pharmacy student, Sara Harstad, educates a young trick-or-treater about those potentially dangerous similarities.
Erie SOMA Gift Giving
Erie Relay for Life Event
In December 2015, ten LECOM Student Osteopathic Medical Association (SOMA) students gathered at the LECOM Senior Living Center to distribute Christmas gifts to each of the residents of the Center. The students spent time talking with the residents and with the residents’ families as they spread holiday cheer throughout the Center.
Relay for Life LECOM was held at the Medical Fitness and Wellness Center on Saturday, October 24, 2015, as nine teams and 64 participants raised a total of $2,029 for the fight against Cancer.
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COMMUNITY IS OUR CAMPUS
LECOM Erie Pediatrics Club and Safe Kids Erie
Donation to Emmaus Soup Kitchen
In December 2015, members of the LECOM Erie Pediatrics Club and Safe Kids Erie gathered at the Peach Street Babies-“R�-Us to promote home safety. Members of the Pediatrics Club who took part in the event included Erin Jones, Megan Church, Eric Wong, Ashley Markowski, Shruti Varma, Melissa Hubley, and Raahil Malhotra. Safe Kids Erie Coordinator, Patty Puline, was also in attendance.
On January 9, 2016, the LECOM College of Medicine first- and secondyear students held a MedBall to raise funds for the medical Class of 2019, as well as for the Emmaus Soup Kitchen in Erie. The Emmaus Soup Kitchen suffered an arson attack last fall. On January 22, 2016, a group of first-year medical students presented Emmaus Director, Mary Miller, with a check for $500 as a donation to be applied toward repair of the soup kitchen. Pictured above are: Shruti Konda, Vishesha Patel, Mary Miller, Heather-Lynn Rohrer, Christian Menezes, and Anoosha Kasanagott.
Bradenton Remote Area Medical Clinic
Bradenton Health Screenings at Turning Points
In November 2015, forty LECOM dental students and five LECOM faculty members participated in the Remote Area Medical (RAM) Clinic at Manatee Technical College in Bradenton. The two-day event utilized the time and talents of 740 volunteers who provided nearly $1 million in free health, dental, and vision services to more than 1,500 patients. Pictured above are: third-year dental students, Michelle Ho and Terence Cooper; Remote Area Medical founder, Stan Brock; and second-year dental student, Christopher Ramke.
The LECOM Bradenton Student American Pharmacists Association (APhA) provided glucose and blood pressure screenings as well as information to the public about healthful living to mark Healthy Sarasota Week (November 14-20, 2015). In total, roughly 160 blood pressure and blood glucose tests were provided to those in attendance and more than 400 citizens received educational information and materials.
@1LECOM | LECOM CONNECTION 39
NOTES
STUDENT NOTES College of Medicine Erie Campus
Benjamin L. Gough (OMS4) was a contributing author to the First Aid segment of the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) Step 1 2016. Brittney Hoffman (OMS2) was named the Student DO of the Month for October 2015, by the LECOM Erie Medical Student Government Association. Hannah Mirzakhani (OMS2) was named the Student DO of the Year for the Erie Campus. Micaela Owens (OMS2) was named the Student DO of the Month for November 2015, by the LECOM Erie Medical Student Government Association. Lee H. Quist (OMS3) was awarded a $10,000 scholarship at the Community Foundation for the Alleghenies Apollo Awards in October 2015. Erin Lowe (OMS4) competed in the Western Pennsylvania American College of Physicians Poster Competition taking first place among 50 UPMC and AGHN internal medicine residents. Her study, Arm Yourself with Knowledge: A Skin Cancer that Causes Paralysis, has been entered into the national competition to be held in Washington, D.C.
College of Medicine Bradenton Campus Amber Dubiel (OMS1) co-authored Prenatal Valproic Acid Exposure Disrupts Tonotopic c-FOS Expression in the Rat Brainstem, with Randy Kulesza, PhD. The piece was published in Neuroscience.
College of Medicine Greensburg Campus Jun U. Elegino (OMS2) received a Looking to the Future Medical Student Scholarship from The Society of Thoracic Surgeons. Elegino also was named the Student DO of the Year for Greensburg Campus.
College of Medicine Bradenton Campus Kristen Balkham (OMS4) was named the Student DO of the Year for the Bradenton Campus.
School of Pharmacy Bradenton Campus Liz Faville (P3) and Ashley Cubillos (P4) won the LECOM School of Pharmacy Clinical Skills Competition and competed nationally at the American Society of Health System Pharmacists Annual Meeting in December. Jennifer Amoako (P3) was selected to complete an advanced experiental rotation at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Kaylee Toole (P3) received a student leadership award at the American Society of Health Systems Pharmacists Annual Meeting. Kenny Navarette (P2) received the Patient First Award from the Memorial Hospital Pembroke, in Pembroke Pines, FL., for his integral part in ensuring that a 17-monthold child was prevented from receiving an overdose of weight-based amoxicillin.
School of Dental Medicine Bradenton Campus Yoo Jin Chung (D2) won the Most Outstanding Presentation in Clinical Research Award at the Hinman Student Research Symposium, held at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center. Chung received the honor for her research focusing upon the importance of patients practicing effective denture hygiene.
FACULTY NOTES College of Medicine Erie Campus
Randy Kulesza, PhD, had his research study, Prenatal Valproic Acid Exposure Disrupts Tonotopic c-FOS Expression in the Rat Brainstem, published in Neuroscience. Kim Moscatello, PhD, was appointed to the position of Director of Curriculum and Student Achievement in the College of Medicine.
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Patrick Leary, DO, was a member of a collaboration of six major professional associations, including the American Osteopathic Academy of Sports Medicine, that published, Selected Issues in Injury and Illness Prevention and the Team Physician: A Consensus Statement, which provides an overview of selected medical issues that are important to athletic team physicians. Dr. Leary was also a co-author of the NCAA InterAssociation Consensus Recommendations for the Cardiac Care of College Student-Athletes. Regan Shabloski, DO, presented a lecture about blast injuries at the International Association of Bomb Technicians and Investigators Region 5 (Northeast U.S.) Training Conference.
College of Medicine Bradenton Campus Santiago Lorenzo, PhD, co-authored a study entitled, Hot Environments Decrease Exercise Capacity and Elevate Multiple Neurotransmitters. The piece was published in the Life Sciences Journal. Tim Novak, MSA, was selected for an at-large board seat on the Bradenton Area Economic Development Corporation Board of Directors.
School of Pharmacy Erie Campus Kimberly Burns RPh, JD, was co-author of Pharmacy Practice and the Law, Eighth Edition, a book that reviews federal law and policy as it applies to pharmacy practice. Dr. Burns also participated in a panel at a virtual seminar and she offered a presentation entitled, Addressing Prescription Drug Abuse and Understanding Pharmacy’s Collateral Damage. Andy Chen, PhD, was the co-author of a publication entitled, Fluorescence Dilution Technique for Measurement of Albumin Reflection Coefficient in Isolate Glomeruli, that was published in the American Journal of Physiology – Renal Physiology. Frank Etzler, PhD, had the book chapter, Tablet Tensile Strength: Role of Surface Free Energy, published in Advances in Contact Angle.
NOTES Michael Madden, PhD, was the co-author of a poster, An Unusual Etiology for Anca Vasculitis: A Cautionary Tale, that was accepted for presentation by the National Kidney Foundation at their spring meeting. The abstract will be printed in the American Journal of Kidney Disease. Kathleen Kelly, PharmD, passed the board exam to become a Certified Pain Educator. Abbey Krysiak, PharmD, presented three in-service lectures to psychiatric residents at Millcreek Community Hospital. The topics focused upon mood stabilizers, lithium, and first generation antipsychotics. Bojana Stevich-Heemer, PharmD, was elected as the Chair of American College of Clinical Pharmacy (ACCP) Hematology/ Oncology Practice Research Network (PRN). Rebecca Wise, PharmD, passed the certification exam to become a Certified Geriatric Pharmacist (CFP).
School of Pharmacy Bradenton Campus Sachin Devi, PhD, was invited to write a chapter entitled, Structure and Function of Hepatic Parenchymal Cells, in the reference book Comprehensive Toxicology. Ningning Yang, PhD, published an editorial titled, An Overview of Viral and Non-viral Delivery Systems for MicroRNA, in the International Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation. Kenneth Bauer, PharmD, presented a Continuing Education lecture titled, Cancer of the Breast, Prostate and Lungs: What Every Pharmacist Should Know About the Three Leading Types of Cancers, at the Florida Pharmacists Association Meeting.
Antonia Vilella, PharmD, was selected as an item writer for the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy for the Naplex and PCOA exams. Julie Wilkinson, PharmD, and Katherine Tromp, PharmD, were invited to write a chapter entitled, Headache, in the Handbook of Nonprescription Drugs for the American Pharmacists Association. Sunil Jambhekar, BPharm, reviewed applications for the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy awards. Deepak Gupta, MS, was invited to publish, Preformulation and Formulation Approaches for Improving the Permeability of BCS Class III Compounds, for the Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences.
ALUMNI NOTES Class of 1998 Brian Kessler, DO, joined Lincoln Memorial University – DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine in Cumberland Gap, TN, as the college Dean.
Class of 2002 James A. Betler, DO, won the Physician Volunteer Award from the Allegheny County Medical Society for his leadership in organizing free Cancer Screenings in the Pittsburgh area. Christopher Gehrlein, DO, was named the full-time Medical Director at Rochester Manor and Villa in Rochester, PA.
Class of 2003
Class of 2007 Nicholas Loafman, DO, was inducted into the Montrose (Michigan) Sports and Community Hall of Fame for his achievements on the Montrose Rams high school football and wrestling teams. Dr. Loafman is an orthopedic surgeon at South Haven Health System in South Haven, MI.
Class of 2008 Ariane Conaboy, DO, was recognized for her volunteer projects, most recently, a coat drive to benefit Angel’s Attic through the Lackawanna County, PA, Medical Society. Joshua Lynch, DO, has gained recognition for his personal touch as an emergency room doctor at Millard Fillmore Suburban Hospital in Buffalo, NY, according to The Buffalo News. He cares for those who are battling addiction and suffered near-death experiences. Dr. Lynch also serves at DeGraff Memorial Hospital in North Tonawanda, NY, and at United Memorial Medical Center in Batavia, NY. Renee Triplet, DO, is a Clinical Assistant Professor in the Division of Emergency Medicine at UBMD Pediatrics and at the University at Buffalo Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences in Buffalo, NY.
Class of 2009 Matthew Benenati, DO, is a general surgeon at Novant Health Surgical Associates, which has offices in Bolivia, Sunset Beach, Southport, and Wilmington, NC. Christopher Betz, DO, joined Bristol Hospital Multi-Specialty Group, in Bristol, CT. Dr. Betz spent a portion of 2014 and 2015 working with the medical staff of the Boston Red Sox. Samanda Durand, DO, joined Renown Medical Acupuncture in Reno, NV.
Marcus Campbell, PharmD, gave a presentation for the St. Petersburg General Hospital Family Medicine Residency and interns entitled, New Approaches Outpatient DM Management.
Robbie Wall, DO, was named the Medical Director of Electrophysiology Services at The Heart Center at Mercy Hospital of Buffalo.
Fallon Enfinger, PharmD, presented a Continuing Education lecture titled, Using Drugs During Pregnancy and Lactation, at the Florida Pharmacists Association meeting.
Brian Vaske, DO, joined the Center for Pediatrics at Wheeling Hospital in Wheeling, WV.
Class of 2005
Xenia Schneider, DO, has been accepted to a three-year fellowship where she will train in pulmonary/critical care at Valley Hospital Medical Center in Las Vegas, NV.
Stephanie Peshek, PharmD, published a book entitled, Professional Skills for the Pharmacy Technician.
Kimberly Lehman, DO, is a Board Certified Dermatologist at Premier Medical Group in Clarksville, TN.
Cecil Thomas, DO, recently moved from Erie to Wanganui, New Zealand to pursue his plan to practice international medicine.
Class of 2004
Kim Perttu, DO, practices in the Family Medicine Department at the Essentia HealthHayward Clinic in Hayward, WI.
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NOTES Class of 2011 Lauren D. Juyia, DO, is an obstetrician at Oak Hill Hospital in Spring Hill, FL. Elizabeth Lindsey, DO, is an OB-GYN at McLaren-Greater Lansing Okemos Women’s Health in Okemos, MI. Victoria Reinhartz, PharmD, is a pharmacy practice faculty member at LECOM Bradenton.
Class of 2012 Andrea Finocchiaro, DO, is a family medicine specialist at Mohawk Valley Health Systems Medical Group in New Hartford, NY. Susan Ratay, DO, is a family medicine physician at University Hospitals Ashtabula Health Center in Ashtabula, OH. Andrew Trout, DO, joined Generations Family Medicine, Inc., in Gahanna, OH where he will offer preventative and primary care.
Class of 2014 Evan Miller, DO, travelled to Nepal in May of 2015 to provide aid to those suffering after devastating earthquakes and aftershocks struck the country.
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his studies in the field of competency-based education have been recognized internationally. With his work garnering much acclaim, Dr. Bell served as part of the team that developed the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) Outcome Competencies. Beginning in the mid-1980s, Dr. Bell introduced the concept of “physician competency” that focused upon the way in which doctors and patients interacted. In 1997, the Society of Teachers of Family Medicine developed core competencies for family medicine; and in 2003 the aptly named “Bell Model” was adopted at the national level of the American Osteopathic Association to teach such educational methods to osteopathic physicians as they learn to minister to the needs of patients.
$60,000 since its inception. She served on the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee for two years at Clarion, helping to raise money for a local cancer treatment center.
Truly, Dr. Hershey Bell is a man who has discovered a calling of purpose; elevating his medical labors to a craft and his craft to an art by bestowing his adroit leadership ability, skill, keen intellect, and obvious love of his work upon every task that he undertakes. With the field of Pharmacy as the focus of that purpose, and as an unabashed leader in that field, those skills and talents, are carried forth daily to new generations of medical professionals in training.
Day is the fourth Division II student-athlete to receive WOTY honors since the inaugural award was presented in 1991. She credits her success to her parents, who instilled in her a strong work ethic. “My parents ingrained in me a passion to work hard,” she said. “Ever since I was very young, I’ve had huge goals. I work hard for those goals and I never let anything set me back. I just want to show them what I can do...I am the opposite of a procrastinator. As soon as there’s an opportunity for work to be done, I do it,” she pronounced. Now, Day seeks to become a source of inspiration to others – much like the orthopedic physician who had treated her those many years ago. Kristen Day begins that inspirational career as an orthopedic physician here at LECOM.
Class of 2015 Chris Sedgwick, PharmD, a PGY-1 resident at Aurora Health Care Metro in Milwaukee, WI, authored an article entitled, How to Capture 1,000 Words. The piece was published in the November/December 2015 edition of Student Pharmacist.
Visit smile.amazon.com to automatically support LECOM each time you shop. AmazonSmile is a simple way for you to support Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine. When you shop online at smile.amazon.com and select Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine as your charity, Amazon will donate 0.5% of the purchase price of eligible purchases to the LECOM Student Scholarship Fund.
Student Scholarship Fund 42 LECOM CONNECTION | WINTER 2016 | LECOM.edu
LECOM Summer CME In Toronto, Aug 14-19, 2016 The LECOM Summer CME in Toronto, Ontario offers a unique learning experience for physicians and health care professionals seeking the opportunity to learn the latest information on medical advancements and treatment options. LECOM clinical faculty will present topics from the perspective of a primary care physician. Attendees can earn up to 20 Category 1-A CME credits.*
Fees:
Standard Registration: $1,500 Adjunct Faculty**: $1,200 Commuter Registration: $450 Standard and Adjunct Faculty Registration includes CME fee, five (5) nights lodging at Park Hyatt, Toronto, and breakfast Monday through Thursday. Commuter Registration only includes CME fee and breakfast. It does not include a hotel stay.
Visit LECOM.edu/CME to register.
*LECOM anticipates AOA CCME approval for 20 Category 1-A Credits. All lectures will be held between 8 a.m. and 1 p.m. allowing time for afternoon activities around Toronto. **For questions about registration or to receive your adjunct faculty discount code, please contact the LECOM CME Conference office at (814) 860-5125 or email us at cme@lecom.edu. A passport will be required for traveling to and from Canada. Please visit travel.state.gov for passport and travel information.
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@1LECOM The Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine continues to expand rapidly; attracting some of the brightest candidates for the College of Osteopathic Medicine, School of Dental Medicine, and School of Pharmacy. LECOM maintains the second lowest private medical school tuition in the country. Yet, medical students face mounting debt as they complete their education. Each year, the College conducts fundraisers solely for the purpose of providing scholarships to LECOM students. Through these efforts and with support from the LECOM community, LECOM students were awarded $4 million in scholarship aid during this current academic year. Since beginning the LECOM scholarship fund, the College has awarded more than $21 million to dedicated scholars. Your support of the LECOM Student Scholarship Fund will help deserving students to fulfill their dreams of becoming physicians, dentists, and pharmacists.
Help the students of today . . . . . . become the health care professionals of tomorrow. Donate online at lecom.edu/alumni or by sending your contribution to: LECOM Student Scholarship Fund 1858 West Grandview Blvd. Erie, PA 16509
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