LECOM Pulse Volume XIV, Issue 2

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Student Affairs

March 2022

LECOM Erie

LECOM Bradenton LECOM at Seton Hill LECOM at Elmira

Volume XIV Issue 2

The LECOM White Coat Ceremony: An Enduring Imprimatur

The Annual Event Across the LECOM Campuses Empowers Dual Classes We acquire the strength that we have overcome. ~Ralph Waldo Emerson As the ancient Roman poet, Horace explained: “No man ever reached excellence in any art or profession without having passed through the slow and painful process of study and preparation.”

There are few events that underscore that premise or that give rise to chest-swelling joy and fulfillment as does the grand tradition of the White Coat Ceremony. This event venerates one of the highpoints of the college year as a tribute to achievement.

The White Coat Ceremony for the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM) Bradenton Class of 2024 was held on August 14, 2021, at the Bayside Community Church in Lakewood Ranch, Florida. There are 195 students in the Class.

The second-year recipients of the characteristic garb had patiently awaited their White Coat Ceremonies for an entire year; the events having been postponed in 2020 due to precautionary measures in place during the height of the Covid Pandemic.

The event marked the moment when LECOM second-year students affirmed the beginning of their journey from preclinical education to clinical education. Supported by a gathering of friends and family, LECOM scholars received their white coats in a ceremony that calls to mind the history of the moment.

Harken to the nineteenth century, during which time a profound regard for science blossomed in contrast to the vagaries and mysticism of some who engaged in medical dabblings. To highlight the scientific undertaking associated with modern medicine, physicians comported themselves as scientists, wearing the symbolic apparel of the scientist - the white laboratory coat.

Since that time, the white coat and the White Coat Ceremony has taken on profound meaning that symbolizes the conversion of a lay person into a member of the healthcare profession.

The symbolic white coat signifies the zenith of a glorious experience for healthcare scholars, who so adeptly have primed themselves academically and mentally for the rigors of medical training. The august occasion signifies the readiness of the students to embrace the calling of medicine. The event reaches more profoundly to the purpose of a life dedicated to health care. The themes of perseverance, reliance upon friends made at LECOM, making time for collegial undertakings, and the importance of doing well on rotations were topics that were emphasized during the event.

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Student Affairs

March 2022

LECOM Erie

LECOM Bradenton LECOM at Seton Hill LECOM at Elmira

Volume XIV Issue 2

White Coat (cont.)

The distinguished speakers included, Mark Kauffman, D.O., LECOM Associate Dean of Academic Affairs; Eugene DiBetta, D.O., LECOM Class of 2009 as Alumni Guest Speaker; and Marc Kaprow, D.O., FOMA President, who delivered greetings via a Florida Osteopathic Medical Association (FOMA) video address.

During the ceremony, students pledged to uphold the standards of their chosen professions and to administer compassionate, quality care to their patients. In turn, LECOM reaffirmed its steadfast commitment to providing the highest level of medical education and clinical training as it guides and bolsters its scholars in the achievement of their goals.

LECOM Bradenton Dental scholars received their white coats in January of 2022, as did the LECOM Bradenton Class of 2025 medical and pharmacy scholars.

In Elmira, the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM) Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine students undertook a significant and symbolic step in their healthcare careers as they participated in their 2021 White Coat Ceremonies.

LECOM at Elmira, in New York, held dual White Coat Ceremonies on Saturday, August 21, 2021, for its 124 scholars in the Class of 2024 and 129 scholars and the Class of 2025.

The COVID-19 Pandemic paused the White Coat Ceremony last year, so the companion events, held in separate ceremonies on the noted date, were attended by enthusiastic family and friends of both classes. “This is a momentous day for our students, faculty, and staff - our first ever White Coat Ceremony at LECOM at Elmira,” noted Associate Dean of Academic Affairs, Richard Terry, DO, MBA. Dr. Constantino Lambroussis, Assistant Director of Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine for LECOM at Elmira and instructor of the History and Physical Examination Course offered the Keynote Address, affirming the sure success of the first-year students at LECOM at Elmira provided that they are willing to work hard and meet the challenge ahead of them.

His inspirational offering filled those gathered with a deep sense of purposeful spirit.

“As a proud LECOM graduate, I am privileged to be the guest speaker at the inaugural White Coat Ceremony for LECOM at Elmira,” remarked Dr. Lambroussis.

LECOM Erie and LECOM at Seton Hill students received their white coats during separate ceremonies highlighting the medical and pharmacy students in the Class of 2024 and 2025 from the respective campuses.

In Erie, second-year medical scholars were cloaked on August 28, 2021, with 248 recipients donning the white garb.

Second-year pharmacy scholars, numbering 116, received their white coats during a separate ceremony on the same day.

First-year medical scholars from LECOM Erie received their white coats on September 18, 2021, during a ceremony cloaking 280 students.

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LECOM Erie

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LECOM Bradenton LECOM at Seton Hill

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Student Affairs

March 2022

LECOM at Elmira

Volume XIV Issue 2

White Coat (cont.)

Gianpiero D. Martone, D.O., a graduate of LECOM Erie, served as the distinguished guest speaker at the medical school ceremony.

The first-year pharmacy scholars, numbering 96, also were cloaked on September 18, 2021.

Miranda Sue Ochs, Pharm.D., a graduate of the LECOM Erie School of Pharmacy, was the esteemed guest speaker for the pharmacy gathering.

All of the LECOM Erie ceremonies were held at the Erie Bayfront Convention Center in Erie, Pennsylvania.

Medical scholars from LECOM at Seton Hill received their white coats during two separate ceremonies on September 5, 2021, with the second-year scholars, numbering 84, receiving their white coats during an early morning ceremony.

First-year medical students were cloaked during a separate afternoon ceremony, with 111 scholars receiving the distinctive garb.

Both LECOM at Seton Hill events were held at the Palace Theatre in Greensburg, Pennsylvania.

A.J. Farris, D.O., LECOM at Seton Hill graduate, and Cathleen McGonigle, D.O., LECOM Erie graduate, offered the keynote speeches.

The speakers stressed the vast responsibility to uphold the profession that is borne by the student doctors and they emphasized their unquestionably profound impact upon their patients.

The cumulative events across the campuses venerate - as a commemoration of achievement - one of the highlights of the college year as the donning of the white coat marks the transition from preclinical to full clinical, hands-on training.

The White Coat Ceremony is a time-honored tradition at medical schools that serves as a ceremonial rite of passage - a pronouncement of a psychological contract that creates a bond between professionalism and empathy in the study and practice of medicine. Although the ramifications of the Covid Pandemic may have delayed the ceremony for some, the event this year was profoundly and particularly meaningful to all.

The White Coat Ceremony heralds the celebration and the culmination of a triumphant experience for all of the first-year medical and pharmacy students who have prepared themselves for the challenges that lay ahead. It signifies a readiness to embrace a calling – the great calling of medicine.

Although these events may serve as a capstone at LECOM to a year of hard work, sacrifice, and success, it also signifies a new beginning to commence with the total immersion of heart, mind, and self into one of the noblest professions on earth.

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Warm Retirement Wishes to an Enduring Member of the LECOM Family David P. Fried, Ph.D., Director of Student Affairs at the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM) is retiring.

The administration and all at LECOM wish Dr. Fried a happy and healthful retirement.

During his nearly decade-long time with the College, Dr. Fried has demonstrated himself as an outstanding professional, ever seeking the betterment of osteopathic education.

Dr. Fried received his bachelor of arts degree from Ohio Northern University (ONU) and he completed his master’s and doctorate degrees at Bowling Green State University (BGSU). He went on to serve a host of colleges and universities during his lengthy career in higher education, one that spanned fifty years.

Born and raised in Erie, Pennsylvania and hailing from a dedicatedly hardworking family - his father was a steelworker, his mother, a custodian - Dr. Fried, as the youngest child in a large family, advanced to great achievement.

In 1972, Dr. Fried was appointed to serve as ONU’s first Sports Information Director, and he was promoted to Assistant Director of Public Relations, a position that he held for five years before earning his Masters Degree in Student Affairs in 1979. Dr. Fried’s professional career in Student Affairs has taken him to reputed colleges and universities across the midwest and eastern United States.

He came out of initial retirement in 2012 to become LECOM Director of Student Affairs.

LECOM is very proud and honored to have enjoyed the dedicated service that Dr. Fried has committed to the ever-present responsibilities of Student Affairs. Addressing the needs of the LECOM scholars and ensuring the advancement of their success are indeed prodigious undertakings.

All of those who know Dr. Fried will miss seeing him regularly on campus, but LECOM is fortunate that he will remain engaged in an Emeritus capacity with the Student Affairs Department and with the College that he has so influenced; he will participate part-time on campus as needed.

Dr. Fried always will serve as a positive example to those who follow in his footsteps.

The whole of the LECOM family extends all good wishes to Dr. David Fried as he turns the page in the next chapter of his life.

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LECOM Launching New Master of Science in Medical Cannabinoid Therapeutics Program Timothy Novak, D.B.A., M.S.A., FACHT, Dean of Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM) School of Health Services Administration (SHSA), recently announced licensing approval by the Florida Department of Education Committee for an independent four semester, 45-credit-hour, fully on-line Master of Science in Medical Cannabinoid Therapeutics (M.S. MCT) Program scheduled to begin on June 4, 2022.

The LECOM M.S. MCT curriculum focuses upon the business, compliance, efficacy, and pharmacokinetics of the rapidly expanding, multi-billion-dollar medical cannabis industry in the United States and around the world.

Graduate students will examine fundamental knowledge areas including economics, vertical business integration models, biosynthetic pathways, therapeutic drug design, government regulations and policies, ethics, public health impacts, and safety issues. Rigorous research and analysis will take place throughout the Program, culminating with a thesis or capstone project.

The primary goal is to formally prepare graduates to apply their findings to real-world decision making throughout the healthcare industry and to more effectively communicate and interact with local, state, and federal governments concerning a broad range of medical cannabis healthcare issues.

“Our goal is to provide students with the tools and relevant knowledge needed to create highly effective, formally trained, healthcare business industry leaders. We will help to prepare these talented professionals to understand and to solve the many and complex healthcare industry challenges facing our communities, nation, and the world today,” noted Dr. Novak.

“LECOM, as the largest medical college in the United States, is excited to offer this much needed and innovative medical cannabis master’s program to help expand understanding, protect whole person community health, and to encourage rigorous research into this fast-growing medical cannabis healthcare sector,” said Silvia M. Ferretti, D.O., LECOM Senior Vice President, Provost, and Dean of Academic Affairs.

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Philanthropists Return in Support of Erie Student Scholarship Auction with Grand In-Person Event The Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM) Student Scholarship Auction Gala held November 13, 2021, at the Erie Bayfront Convention Center was the 27th annual event - returning from its Covid-imposed hiatus.

With more than 700 guests filling the gathering place, bidders participated eagerly in the event that has become the glimmering gem in the student scholarship crown. The LECOM-sponsored benefit and fundraiser for future doctors, pharmacists, and dentists is an enthusiastically anticipated event that provides monies raised to assist the financial needs of matriculating medical students as they answer their healthcare calling.

The 2021 offerings at the Erie Scholarship Auction included hundreds of items, presented in a silent and in a live auction format. Enticing travel getaways to major sightseeing destinations, such as Amsterdam, drew competitive bidding exchanges.

Fabulous works of art, music collectibles, and memorabilia were displayed in brilliantly arrayed settings. Christmas and holiday decorations, for the festive season to come, offered early options for the holiday shopper seeking to take advantage of gift-buying opportunities.

Making any sports enthusiast beam with delight were coveted tickets to major sporting events presented in abundance. Wine and whiskey connoisseurs were not to be forgotten, and neither were those with an eye on fabulous and exclusive jewelry that abounded for the highest bidder.

All told, the Live Auction segment of the program included 28 items up for bid. The highest value item ($33,080) was that of a WJET24/FOX66/YourErie.com, Erie Reader, LECOM Radio, Lilly Broadcasting advertising package to run on local television and radio.

Grateful LECOM scholars worked at the Auction Gala as runners, ticket sellers, and as bid spotters for the Live Auction segment of the program.

The event welcomed several notable guests, including the new Erie County Executive, Brenton Davis and David Holmberg, President and CEO of Highmark Health.

The Presenting Sponsors, who philanthropically supported the fundraising mission with generous donations from $50,000-$100,000, included LECOM President and CEO, John M. Ferretti, DO; LECOM Provost, Senior Vice President and Dean of Academic Affairs, Silvia M. Ferretti, DO; David and Kim Holmberg; Millcreek Community Hospital President and CEO, Mary L. Eckert; Esther J. Fucci; Pegula Sports and Entertainment; the PGA Tour; and PNC Bank.

Even though the LECOM tuition rates are among the lowest in the country, many students still graduate with considerable indebtedness. Since 1994, LECOM has awarded tens of millions of dollars in student scholarships.

Every dollar raised at the Auction benefits LECOM students as they pursue their noble dreams of becoming osteopathic physicians, pharmacists, and dentists.

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LECOM at Seton Hill Collaborative Degree Program Scholar Excels “There are two ways of spreading light, to be the candle, or to be the mirror that reflects it.” Edith Wharton’s words could have been spoken about the remarkable relationship that is shared between the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM) and a host of colleges and universities that have entered into the highly successful Early Admissions Program (EAP) arrangement.

LECOM, with an exceptional history and with a proud heritage, has joined with worthy colleges year after year to carry forth the light from their respective lamps of learning to eager and enthusiastic students who seek to study medicine.

The EAP affiliation establishes a process that, for many qualified college students interested in pursuing the healthcare field, guarantees matriculation at LECOM. This process produces an efficient, smooth, and ultimately, an ideal transition from college into medical school.

The EAP has made it possible for students beginning their educational careers at affiliated colleges to be guaranteed a spot at LECOM to pursue their Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine Degree.

Bri Falatovich, a senior and an undergraduate biology major in the Seton Hill Osteopathic Medicine Collaborative Degree Program with the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine is part of the LECOM Early Acceptance Program. Next spring, after completing her undergraduate biology studies at Seton Hill, Falatovich will transition into the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine Degree Program at LECOM. Her involvement in the Biology Program at Seton Hill has afforded the aspiring medical student the opportunity to participate in a host of research projects.

In 2021, Falatovich conducted a research project focusing upon the COVID-19 virus. Under the guidance of Dr. Jamie Fornsaglio at Seton Hill, Falatovich worked with colleagues to discover the way in which COVID-19 impacts the expression of ACE2 (angiotensin I converting enzyme 2), an enzyme that reduces blood pressure. The collaborative tested 40 random participants at Seton Hill and then compared genotype and expression to COVID status. The team found that COVID-19 positive individuals had the highest ACE2 protein levels.

Later in 2021, Falatovich participated in the West Virginia University Cancer Institute Summer Undergraduate Research Program. She was one of only seven undergraduate students selected to conduct research at the Cancer Institute, researching zinc finger protein 71 and its functions in non-small cell lung cancer cells, one of the two key types of lung cancer.

Both of the research projects in which Falatovich participated depended upon the education that she garnered while in the classroom at Seton Hill. Falatovich has long known that she wished to pursue a future in medicine.

After visiting LECOM and Seton Hill while still in high school, Falatovich applied, interviewed, and was accepted, into the Early Acceptance Program.

“All of the faculty at Seton Hill, especially my advisors for the LECOM affiliation program, are so encouraging and helpful,” Falatovich noted.

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Collaborative Degree (cont.)

Bri Falatovich will graduate from Seton Hill in May of 2022 and begin medical school at LECOM in July.

The power of LECOM EAP associations, such as the enduring one with Seton Hill, have spread nationwide to attract students to one of four LECOM campuses, offering scholars a clear and attainable vision of achieving their dreams of becoming osteopathic physicians.

As the luminous brilliance of these lamps of knowledge lifted in unison continue to bring light to communities and to the world, LECOM looks forward to welcoming this assiduous scholar and to guiding her in the pursuit of her medical career aspirations.

Ivoclar Vivadent Dental Innovations Tour comes to LECOM School of Dental Medicine Bradenton Campus.

Submitted By Dr. Inessa Slipak On December 13, 2021, a special event was held at the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM) School of Dental Medicine campus. A day devoted to innovations in dental technology was sponsored by the Ivoclar Vivadent Company. LECOM School of Dental Medicine was the only Dental School in the United States that was selected to be part of the nationwide Ivoclar Dental Innovations in Technology Tour.

Ivoclar arrived on campus with a truck outfitted with new and innovative technology and set up a bevy of outdoor table clinics and lecture-based educational programs for the second- and third-year dental students and faculty. Students were able to view and learn about new scanners, dental mills, restorative equipment, and materials.

Lecture topics included digital removable complete dentures, as well as abundant information about the practice management aspect of dental technology. The event was extremely well received by students and faculty alike, and it is likely to become a yearly occurrence.

This event was organized as a collaboration between Ivoclar Vivadent and the LECOM SDM. The SDM team, under the auspices of Dr. Inessa Slipak, Director of Simulation, wishes to thank Dr. Katie Dinh and the whole of the LECOM SDM Administration for their fine efforts in making the day a grand success.

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LECOM Leader Appointed to National Board of Osteopathic Medical Examiners (NBOME) Executive Committee The Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM) has long espoused the tenet that a great leader's courage to fulfill his vision is derived from passion and committed to purposeful results.

That closely held belief once again was evidenced at the December 2021 National Board of Osteopathic Medical Examiners (NBOME) Trustee Meeting as LECOM Regional Dean, Richard A. Ortoski, DO., was elected by members of the NBOME to serve on the Executive Committee.

The Executive Committee consists of three elected officers and three members at large. Dr. Ortoski first was elected to the Board in December of 2015 and he has been associated with the NBOME since 2000.

The skilled physician-educator has served on multiple committees with the organization including: as Chairman of the Clinical Skills Testing Advisory Committee; the Sub-Committee on Quality Assurance for Clinical Skills Assessment; NBOME Standards and Assurances Committee; and on the NBOME Awards Committee. He also is an active Member of the NBOME Blue Ribbon Panel on Enhancing COMLEX-USA, serving as a Member of the NBOME COMLEX-USA Composite Examination Committee and of the NBOME Nomination Committee. For the past four years, Dr. Ortoski has served both as Chair and Member of the NBOME COMLEX Level 1 Advisory Committee.

As a LECOM leader, Dr. Ortoski serves as Chair of the Primary Care Education Department and he is Clinical Director of the Primary Care Scholars Pathway.

In 2016, Dr. Ortoski was appointed President of the Pennsylvania Osteopathic Family Physicians Society (POFPS). The POFPS is the noteworthy organization that represents family physicians who hold the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine Degree.

Dr. Ortoski has served on the Board of Trustees for POFPS for eight years; as Co-Chair of the POFPS Continuing Medical Education (CME) Symposium, held annually; and as Chairman of the POFPS Mentor Committee. He is a fellow of the American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians (ACOFP), which is the corresponding national organization to POFPS. The guiding force offered by capable and highly respected leaders, such as Dr. Ortoski, will further advance medical education, primary care, and ultimately, medical outcomes, throughout the state and, indeed, throughout the nation.

The majority of LECOM graduates become primary care physicians; and LECOM ranks proudly among the top medical colleges for graduating physicians who choose the field of primary care for practice. LECOM offers the Primary Care Scholars Pathway (PCSP), one of five of the only three-year medical degree

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Dr. Ortoski (cont.) programs in the nation. Dr. Ortoski serves as the Clinical Director of the PCSP, which encourages medical students to pursue a career as a primary care physician and to address the national shortage.

In addition to his many positions and accomplishments, Dr. Ortoski was re-elected as the Chair of the Erie County Board of Health. Dr. Ortoski has worked with the Erie County Health Department since 1992, serving in various roles, including Assistant Medical Director, Public Health Officer, and as STD Clinic Physician.

Guiding the evaluation of osteopathic students and residents in protecting public safety through patient care, Dr. Ortoski proudly advances the LECOM mission.

LECOM lauds the distinctive and extraordinary attainments of Dr. Richard Ortoski, a leader who serves as an exemplar of the constant and ready character that keeps LECOM ever in the vanguard of first-rate healthcare education.

LECOM Suncoast Classic Draws Largest Crowd The Fourth Annual LECOM Suncoast Classic, part of the PGA Korn Ferry Tour, proved to be a welcome event with more than 25,000 attendees joining the outing during the four days of competition.

According to LECOM trustee and tournament representative, Tomas Wedzik, the 2022 LECOM Suncoast Classic boasted the largest turnout yet.

The tournament, played at the Lakewood National Golf Club Commander Course, was won by PGA tour veteran, Byeong Hun An, who secured his first tour-sanctioned win with a one-stroke edge over four golfers tied for second.

An’s win came after leader Michael Gellerman four-putted the last hole.

2022 LECOM Suncoast champion, Byeong Hun An, poses with the trophy

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LECOM Scholar Receives American Osteopathic Academy of Orthopedics 2021 Student Osteopathic Distinction Award The imprimatur of achievement does not result from undertaking easy work, rather it results from the triumph over difficult tasks that demand one's best, both in mission and purpose.

At the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM), the flame of the lamp of learning burns brightly in scholars who are fueled by that mission and purpose.

Emily Kelly, a dedicated second-year LECOM scholar has been awarded a stipend of $900 as the recipient of the 2021 Student Osteopathic Distinction Award presented by the American Osteopathic Academy of Orthopedics (AOAO) Board of Directors and its Residents and Fellows Committee.

Kelly was chosen from a qualified group of individuals, including residents, fellows, and students, for her submission entitled, Retrospective Analysis of Whole-body Cryotherapy Adverse Effects in Division I Collegiate Athletes.

Emily Kelly presented her abstract during the 2021 AOAO Annual Fall Meeting.

The American Osteopathic Academy of Orthopedics (AOAO) was formed in 1941. AOAO currently has over 1,900 members, including Active, Life, Military, Retired, Honorary, Allied Health and Associate Members. Each year, members of the AOAO participate in the training of 500 Osteopathic Orthopedic Surgeons in 40 different residencies as Program Directors and Faculty.

The Student AOAO group began in 2006 and it stems from the vision of forming a student-run organization under the AOAO. The field of orthopedics is a specialty that is growing in importance and popularity. The founders of the student AOAO believe that students interested in the specialty of orthopedic surgery can contribute to the growth and success of AOAO. This idea is not novel; in 1989, students came together to organize a surgical society known as SOSA. That club grew substantially and today, students in osteopathic schools across the nation combine their knowledge to hold conferences, to gain experience, and to obtain a residency in the demanding field of surgery.

Their success awaits, determinative of their efforts to hone and to shape their labors into a future of medical triumphs. Indeed, Emily Kelly is forging such a path in the field of Orthopedics, and LECOM extends enthusiastic congratulations to this determined and focused scholar.

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LECOM Supports Operation Veterans’ Stand Down Dental students from the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM Bradenton) participated in the Manatee County Operation Veterans’ Stand Down event on November 6, 2021.

The event centers upon providing support and assistance to homeless and life-challenged veterans.

LECOM understands and recognizes that real heroes - the men and women of the United States Armed Forces - dedicate themselves, often unnoticed, to the betterment of the world.

At LECOM, leadership, faculty, staff and scholars celebrate the character and selfless nature of those in uniform. Indeed, the College challenges everyone to rise to the credo: "Not for ourselves, but for others." LECOM holds high this pledge, not as an aphorism, a catch-phrase, or a casual maxim, but as the very essence of the LECOM mission.

It is little surprise then that under the auspices of Dr. Sharon Colvin, the LECOM scholars provided to the veterans who participated in the event much needed dental care items: toothbrushes, floss, toothpaste, mouthwash, and denture care necessities.

Operation Stand Down sets aside a time for the community to connect with area homeless veterans and to begin to break down the barriers that may be keeping these heroes on the streets or in less than suitable living situations.

The “hand up, not handout” philosophy of Operation Stand Down requires the work of countless volunteers, businesses, and local, state, and national organizations.

These organizations provide direct services (including medical, dental, and spiritual) to ensure that veterans are receiving the benefits that they deserve and to provide referrals for those struggling with mental health, employment, housing, or addiction issues.

The whole of LECOM pauses to reflect and to thank these proud Americans for their service. They ensure an eternal Spring as guarantors of American freedoms - and as an integral part of an extended LECOM family. The LECOM dental scholars were honored to give back to those who have given so much.

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DO Students Perform Stellarly at Annual Winter Seminar Congratulations to the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM) students who placed notably at the Cleveland Academy of Osteopathic Medicine 57th Annual Winter Seminar!

Phoung Daniels, OMS3, placed in three separate categories for the 2022 Poster Research Awards. She placed first in the Osteopathic Focused Scholarly Activity category with her piece entitled, The Effectiveness of Osteopathic Manual Manipulation on Pain Management in Patients with Fibromyalgia: A Meta-Analysis.

She placed second in the Case Report category with her piece entitled, Tracheobronchomalacia Associated with Common Variable Immunodeficiency; and second in the Original Research category with her piece entitled, Efficacy of Epinephrine Rinse in Allergen Immunotherapy with Aeroallergen and Venom.

The Cleveland Allergy Society also held their Annual Conference at the Ritz-Carlton. Daniels presented an update on the studies in which she has been involved. She received a research scholarship from the AllergyImmunology Fellowship Program at University Hospitals sponsored by Dr. Robert Hostoffer. As a result of that Allergy-Immunology Sub-Fellowship, she has published eight papers.

Indeed, LECOM fared notably well at the Seminar. In the category designated Case Report, Marc Trommer, OMS4, placed first with his piece entitled, The Effect of Osteopathic Manipulation on the Overall Outcome in Patients with Migraine Headaches.

In the category designated Original Research, Emily Shuffstall, OMS3, received an Honorable Mention with Effects of Combining Essential Oils on Growth Inhibition of Staphylococcus Aureus. In the Category designated Osteopathic Focused Scholarly Activity, Zachary Hostoffer, OMS3, placed second with his piece entitled, Exploratory Analysis of the Effects of OMT on Chronic Neck Pain.

Ryan Doyle, OMS3, placed third with his piece entitled, Does the Use of OMT Reduce HIT-6 Survey Scores in the Treatment of Migraine Headaches. Ezra Klein, OMS4, received an honorable mention with her piece entitled, Still in the Hospital: How OMT Can Be Used to Decrease Postoperative Length of Stay.

NBOME CHANGES COMING The NBOME is making several significant changes in its COMLEX exams. First and foremost, starting May 10, 2022, COMLEX Level 1 exams will transition from the three digit numeric scores to only pass or fail outcomes. No numeric scores or discipline subscores will be reported. Passing standards for Level 1 have not been changed and are scheduled for review in 2023-24.

NBOME also reminds students that the Board has approved a new maximum number of examination attempts, changing the limit to four. That change takes effect July 1, 2022.

Finally, the NBOME has announced a partnership with Peason VUE, the global leader in computer-based testing, to provide delivery of the COMLEX examination series. Peason VUE’s involvement begins with COMLEX Level 3 in January 2023, Level 1 and Level 2-CE in May and June 2023.

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Noteworthy Strides - LECOM Alumnus Works with Famed Violinist Jasper Yung, D.O., a 2009 graduate of the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM-Bradenton) has been making truly noteworthy strides during the last decade. The Senior Emergency Medicine and Internal Medicine Staff Physician at Henry Ford Health Systems in Detroit, Michigan has made his alma mater proud.

Dr. Yung recently was part of a YouTube video presentation entitled, Bach Double Violin Concerto – a Tribute to Healthcare Workers with Joshua Bell.

Musicians with the Detroit Medical Orchestra (DMO), of which Dr. Yung is a member-violinist, had the opportunity to be part of the musical collaboration with the famed violinist.

The DMO is a group of musicians who work in the medical field. Featuring more than 70 physicians, medical students, and other health care professionals, the mission of the Detroit Medical Orchestra is to deliver healing through music. The objective is realized through free symphonic performances in the heart of downtown Detroit.

Bell, the world-renowned violinist, reached out to the DMO during the Covid-19 Pandemic to highlight these talented healthcare professionals and to show the balm upon the soul that music can provide. “The collaboration resulted in a vibrant music montage that Bell sought to assemble to showcase musicians who are medical professionals,” explained Dr. Yung.

Despite not recording simultaneously with other musicians, the project meant more to Dr. Yung than simply taking part in it. “It feels very satisfying to know that I am part of something much larger than just myself,” the musician-healer stated. “As part of an orchestra, individually, we provide our part, our music, but we actually add to a collective whole,” he concluded.

Indeed, that tenet exemplifies the heart of the skilled physician, that of being part of a team and seeking to restore health and wellness to the afflicted. Dr. Yung explained that being part of the DMO has afforded him the opportunity to give back to the community while reconnecting with music.

Dr. Yung has facilitated orchestra special appearances at the Henry Ford West Bloomfield Hospital as part of the hospital healing arts program. The program creates a serene environment for patients through artwork and performances. “The patients really loved the concerts. It enables them to see that healing is a multifaceted process beyond medical procedures,” Dr. Yung commented.

The Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine is exceptionally proud of its progeny as they deliver their skills and talents to a world in need; and Dr. Jasper Yung typifies that pride with every note.

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LECOM at Elmira Students Assist With New Healthcare Initiative A joint effort between the Food Bank and healthcare partners, along with support from local medical students, will allow clients to receive the food they need to make enduring strides toward total wellbeing.

The Health Meets Home Program, in its pilot stage, will create the ability for many to access nutritious food and to learn about the effects of food upon health outcomes.

Students at the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM) and organizers at Arnot Health are seeking to provide needed health and nutrition to participating families by screening patients to select ten households who are pre-diabetic and at risk of food insecurity.

Medical students will make weekly visits to those selected, delivering to them tailored Food Bank boxes, along with basic cooking supplies and healthy recipes. The pilot program begins in the fall of 2022. Successful outcomes will lead to an ongoing partnership. “Increasingly, medical professionals are asking their patients about food insecurity because it impacts health,” commented Matt Griffin, Food Bank Director of Health and Nutrition.

An organization known as Feeding America recently reported that 13% of residents in the six-county service area of the Food Bank are at risk of food insecurity and thus, they also risk increased medical complications due to lack of access to nutritious food. Isabelle Corgel, Food Bank Health and Nutrition Programs Manager, explained that the Program pre-screening process has revealed those numbers locally may be as high as 38%.

Access to nutrition-dense food and to resources could keep neighbors healthy and may prevent their serious illness and the need for costly medical interventions. Dr. Beth Dollinger with Arnot Health is a boardcertified orthopedic surgeon who also is certified in culinary medicine. She noted that many patients who experience food insecurity are unaware of the resources available to them.

Through this process, LECOM and Arnot Health will gain a clearer understanding of the way in which to address hunger and to support patients by providing access to healthful food and to other critical resources.

“In the Southern Tier, $71 million a year in healthcare costs is associated with food insecurity,” Griffin expounded.

From left to right: Stephanie Craig, MS4; Dr. Beth Dollinger; Isabelle Corgel (Food Bank of the Southern Tier); Matthew Griffin (Food Bank of the Southern Tier); Dr. Kayla Penta; Jacob Merrill, MS2; Dr. Kristina Cummings

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LECOM IT Department To Implement Additional Security Measures The IT Department will soon be implementing Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) to add more security to student and faculty/staff user accounts. When implemented, an extra verification step will be required to safeguard online accounts.

MFA will be implemented for email, portal and canvas access for faculty, staff, and students. After MFA is activated on accounts, individuals will be able to add a safe and secure two-step verification method for online credentials selected from a range of authentication options such as phone call, text message, or mobile app notification.

MFA for email access was activated for faculty and staff in December of 2021. MFA for student email access began March 1, 2022. MFA was also added to the LECOM Portal authentication process. When a student, faculty, or staff member signs into the portal, periodically the system will ask the user to sign into the LECOM email account and the user may also be prompted for a verification code. MFA for Canvas access will be activated later in March of 2022.

The disabling of USB flash drive access on all LECOM computers has also been implemented. The use of USB flash drives greatly increases the potential for viruses, malware, and for other malicious items to enter the network. Student computers will not be impacted.

Faculty and staff are advised to store files on their OneDrive storage as part of the Office 365 license. To access OneDrive, select the LECOM Student, Faculty and Staff Email link on the home page of the LECOM Portal. Sign into the LECOM account and select OneDrive from the list of applications. Files stored on OneDrive can be accessed from anywhere and they can be shared with LECOM faculty, staff, and students.

Please remember to save a copy of these files on a network drive to be backed up. Protected data must not be stored on OneDrive.

LECOM Erie Students Ease Critical Blood Shortage The Erie community has experienced an unprecedented critical blood shortage exacerbated by the Covid-19 Pandemic.

To combat this shortage, third-year pharmacy student and Class of 2022 SGA President, Melissa Zhang, organized a LECOM Blood Drive with he Community Blood Bank of Northwest Pennsylvania and Western New York. More than 100 LECOM medical and pharmacy students donated blood during the event, collecting enough blood to save over 300 lives.

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Financial Aid Update: Scholarships - A Way to Reduce Loan Debt The Financial Aid Team often is asked about scholarship opportunities. The LECOM Student Scholarship Fund was established to assist LECOM students. The monetary awards are applied to the student account to pay tuition charges and reduce loan debt. This year $3,804,911 in LECOM Institutional Scholarships were awarded to 2,024 deserving LECOM students.

Currently, the Scholarship Committee is reviewing applications for the Pegula (Buffalo Sabres), Atlanta Braves, Cleveland Browns, Cleveland Cavaliers and Baltimore Orioles Scholarships. The Committee will identify recipients and award another $242,625 to LECOM students.

Ninety-seven LECOM students are participating in the Health Professions Service Program and have received $3,352,790. Another sixteen students have agreed to serve in the National Health Service Corps upon graduation and have received $370,561 this year.

All told, more than $7,770,887 in scholarship dollars have been awarded to LECOM students. The Financial Aid Office sends out external scholarship opportunities as we receive information. We have also provided more information at Scholarships for Graduate Professional Students - LECOM. We are always here to assist if you have questions as you complete a scholarship application.

PGA Visits Simulation Laboratory at LECOM School of Dental Medicine.

Submitted By Dr. Inessa Slipak On February 15, 2022, several members of the PGA participating in the 2022 LECOM Suncoast Classic visited the LECOM School of Dental Medicine. As part of their tour, the players explored the Simulation Laboratory and they were treated to a mini lesson on the use of dental technology such as a CAD CAM Scanner.

The group participated in a scan on the dental mannequins and they designed a crown restoration.

Dr. Inessa Slipak, Director of Simulation, explained to the golfers that dental technology enhances the patient experience and it allows the dentist to create more accurate restorations for patients. She also explained that LECOM students begin using this technology as early as their first year of dental school.

The guests enjoyed their visit, learning a bit about all that is involved in dental education; and they now have a greater appreciation of the profession of dentistry.

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Victoria Carroll Elected District 5 Trustee at ASDA Annual Session The ASDA House of Delegates Annual Session is the official meeting during which current and future leaders from every American dental school gather to vote on association policy, elect national officers, and to determine the association priorities for the coming year.

The LECOM Chapter President, Victoria Carroll, attended the Session in Louisville, Kentucky where she was elected District 5 Trustee for 2022-2023.

Carroll’s responsibilities include managing the district cabinet, mentoring leaders, monitoring councils and committees, and presiding over the district meeting. In addition, Carroll is a representative and mentor of the ASDA Chapters for the dental schools in District 5 that include the University of Florida, Nova Southeastern University, LECOM, University of Alabama, University of Mississippi, Louisiana State University, and the University of Puerto Rico.

Give Kids a Smile 2022 Submitted by Victoria Carroll, D3 LECOM ASDA Chapter hosted the annual Give Kids a Smile (GKAS) event on February 12, 2022. The American Dental Association sponsors GKAS events across the nation to celebrate National Children’s Dental Health Month.

Approximately 6,500 dentists and 30,000 dental team members volunteer at local GKAS events to provide free oral health education, screenings, preventive and restorative treatment to more than 300,000 children. At the Bradenton event this year, more than 180 children were provided with free dental services.

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LECOM Scholar Creates Summer Internship Program LECOM Bradenton second-year student, Dylan Thibaut, President of the Bradenton Student Research Association, created his own summer internship program to provide fellow students with the skills to conduct and to publish their own research.

Central to the program is Thibaut’s own book entitled, The Beginner’s Guide to Academic Research and Biomedical Education, which he self-published and has made available on Amazon.

Fifteen students participated in the summer program and, by virtue of a pre- and post- test measuring research skills and knowledge, the program had a statistically significant favorable impact upon participants.

As a result, Thibaut reported that twelve of the fifteen interns currently are conducting research or are in the process of publication.

Three manuscripts are undergoing peer review, one has been accepted for publication, and two others are nearing submission. Four additional studies are in progress.

Thibaut and his interns in the program have engaged in key investigations such as: donor conception, microRNA and cancer progression, HLAs and their role in autoimmune diseases, osteopathic education reform, scleroderma, bullous pemphigoid, goiter, teaching English as a second language, microbial metabolism education, and medical biochemistry education studies.

Thibaut extended his thanks to a number of supportive LECOM faculty and staff who contributed to the success of his program. They include: Dr. Othman Ghribi, Dr. Kevin Raisch, Dr. Mark Kauffman, Dr. David Boesler, and Dr. Jerry Goodman; as well as outside research supporters including, Dr. Kersten Schroeder, and Irina McLaughlin.

Beyond the interest and the passion for research lay all of the usual words: discipline, persistence, focus — but, most of all, endurance. Thibaut is no stranger to endurance. His time as a LECOM student highlights that attribute, both as a committed scholar and as a member of the LECOM Bradenton Student Research Association, who hold high the venerable standards of osteopathic research and education.

Thibaut has demonstrated that a strong mind and a determined purpose are the necessary elements of performance. His efforts have resulted in the work that is left behind, but also in the people and their successes that his mission has touched.

LECOM prides itself in seeing the development of such special and unique gifts, not only within its students, but moreover, within its staff, faculty, and extended family. As a collaborative of inspirational researchers, Dylan Thibaut and his program interns have shared those gifts and findings with the whole of the medical community.

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LECOM Interprofessional Research Day 2021 Generates 131 Abstracts Research is creating new knowledge. ~Neil Armstrong The Annual Interprofessional Research Day was held at LECOM Erie on October 29, 2021, and it featured 131 abstracts submitted by students and residents. Submissions were provided by students in the School of Pharmacy and in the College of Medicine.

Each abstract submitted was presented as a poster or as a talk via Zoom on October 29, 2021.

Presentations were undertaken live in the morning and afternoon. Submitted posters were available for viewing on the portal throughout the week of October 25, 2021, and remained available throughout the first week of November.

Awards were bestowed upon the top three poster presentations and to the top three oral presentations in two categories: students and residents. Winners are listed below and they take with them the hearty congratulations of LECOM. The Research Day was a resounding success, showcasing great scientific merit. The College extends deep appreciation to the participating LECOM faculty, resident physicians, and students, as well as to the judges of the poster and the oral sessions, and to the event organizers, particularly Dr. Speelman, Director of Research for the College of Medicine and to Dr. Silvia Ferretti for providing the generous event prizes.

LECTURE SESSION •1st Prize ($500): Clair Stoudemire The Effect of Clinical Anatomy Integration on Medical Student Academic Performance and Learning Approach.

Clair Stoudemire, Mark Terrell, PhD, Sarah McCarthy, PhD, Raj Gulati, MD, Chris Fonner, PhD, Randy Kulesza, PhD; •2nd Prize ($250): Kayla Sweigard Analysis of Vitamin A Metabolism and the Role of STRA6 in Myeloid Leukemia Cells Kayla Sweigard, David Duriancik, PhD; •3rd Prize ($100): Brachman Herzig Acute Organ-Specific Biomarker Response is Associated with Patient Outcomes After Traumatic Injury.

Shimena Li, Brachman Herzig, Junru Wu, Michael Kail, Sultan Abdelhmaid, Eunseo Sung, Anna Rosengart, Jilian Bonaroti, Michael Neal, Jishnu Das, Upendra Kar, J. Sperry, Timothy Billiar.

POSTER SESSION •1st Prize ($500): Lindsey Schwanke Effects of Frankincense Oil on Percent Viability of HPV16 Infected Keratinocytes.

Lindsey Schwanke, Gregory Delost, DO, Diana Speelman, PhD, Nancy Carty, PhD, and Christopher Keller, PhD, FNAOME;

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Research Day (cont.)

•2nd Prize ($250): Robert Waters, MS Reinforcing Comprehension of Medical Microbiology and Immunology Topics Through Online Drawing Workshops.

Robert Waters, MS, Mark Andrews, PhD, FNAOME, Delbert Abi Abdallah, PhD, Nancy Carty, PhD, and Christopher Keller, PhD, FNAOME; •3rd Prize ($100): Katherine O’Donnell Effectiveness of Using a Meditation App to Reduce Anxiety and Improve Well-being During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Katherine T. O’Donnell, Melanie Dunbar, PhD, and Diana L. Speelman, PhD. CLINICIAN PRESENTATIONS LECTURE SESSION •1st Prize ($500): Yusra Mansour, DO Can't Touch This: The Ventral Nucleus of the Trapezoid Body is Spared in an Animal Model of Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Yusra Mansour, DO, Randy Kulesza, PhD;

•2nd Prize ($250): Ganesh Arun, DO Pauci Immune Glomerulonephritis Vasculitis Secondary to COVID-19 Infection.

Ganesh Arun, DO, David Barlow, DO, Fatima Qadri, MD, Ibrahim Katerji, MD, Dayakar Reddy, MD; •3rd Prize ($100): Grace Yi, DO VTE in COVID-19: Determining a D-Dimer Threshold.

Grace Yi, DO, Hope Okpokam, MD, Uma Yoganathan, MD, Dayakar Reddy, MD, Justin Nistico, DO. POSTER SESSION •1st Prize ($500): Mitchell Meagher, DO Routine Repeat Imaging of Pediatric Blunt Solid Organ Injuries Is Not Necessary.

Kelsey L. Fletcher, MD, Mitchell Meagher, DO, Brianna L. Spencer, MD, Madison E. Morgan, BS, Shawn D. Safford, MD, MBA, Scott B. Armen, MD, Joshua P. Hazelton, DO, and Lindsey L. Perea, DO; •2nd Prize ($250): Emily Rey, DO Making the Diagnosis: Increasing the Cellular Yield of Pathology Samples Through a Motorized Rotating and Aspiration Device.

Emily Rey, DO, Jennifer Huber, Roople Risam, MD, Adrian Gonzalez, PA, and Edwin Acosta, MD; •3rd Prize ($100): Barry Dockery, MS, DO Training Room to Transplant.

Barry Dockery, MS, DO and Patrick Leary, DO.

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Research Day (cont.)

The LECOM Interprofessional Research Day 2021 provided exceptional opportunities for LECOM to affect and to positively influence the research community and to spotlight its solid leadership role in the advancement of the understanding of the wide-ranging implications of these important issues.

The Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine stands in the vanguard of the promise of our time, having grown with each passing year to become an inscrutably unmatched healthcare leader – superlative in education, solidly in the forefront of clinical care, a champion of community outreach, and ever advancing profound, meaningful, and developing research.

Remembering Dexter Honeycutt - Foundational LECOM Librarian The Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM) has been shaken by the loss of one of its longstanding family members. Dexter Honeycutt served as the LECOM Bradenton Librarian since the campus founding in 2005. He was a cherished and stalwart friend of LECOM.

His tenacious battle against the scourge of lung cancer closed all too soon the chapter of his 73-year journey. Dexter was an inexhaustible lover of knowledge. His commitment to research, to the advancement of scholarly attainment, and to the futures of the students with whom he would interact was unparalleled.

It has been said that to build up a library is to create a life. Indeed, Dexter has created many lives.

Educated at Bowling Green University with a major in Public Culture, Radio and TV, Dexter found joy in the visual arts - particularly photography. His depth of knowledge of artifacts and photography underscored many memorable campus conversations among administrators and faculty.

LECOM family, friends, students, and colleagues will long remember Dexter as the cheerful, yet tireless steward of the LECOM Library and as a guardian of the books that open wide the doors of knowledge.

He was a standard bearer for his wife, Trish, of forty years, and for his two children, Christopher and Catherine, who carry forth his weighty legacy of faith, family, and love of knowledge.

The value and the pivotal importance of such a man cannot be overstated. Indeed, Dexter Honeycutt will be remembered by LECOM as one whose very soul and spirit labored ceaselessly to build a better tomorrow.

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Alumni, Student and Faculty Notes ALUMNI NOTES 1998 Marydonna Ravasio, D.O., has been elected President of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. She practices medicine in Butler County, Pennsylvania.

2008 Maxwell McClure, D.O., has joined the Ozark Center New-Directions in Joplin, Missouri where he practices in psychiatry.

Thomas Frimpong, D.O., has joined the practice of Artesian Valley Health Center in Wichita, Kansas. He specializes in neurological surgery and pain management.

John Jakovich, D.O., has joined the New Ulman Medical Center in New Ulm, Minnesota where he specializes in rehabilitation associated with strokes, brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, and back and neck issues.

2011 April Conlon, PharmD, recently completed certifications in Integrative Health Care and Medication Therapy Management. Dr. Conlon has accepted an appointment as an Ambulatory Care Clinical Pharmacist with the Western New York Veteran Affairs Medical Center in Buffalo, New York.

2012 Hsin Kwung Li, D.O., has joined the Mohawk Valley Health System Cancer Center as a radiation oncologist serving cancer patients in Utica, New York.

Danielle Badd, D.O., has been welcomed by the Ramos Center for Interventional and Functional Pain Medicine in St. Petersburg, Florida.

Svien Senne, D.O., a member of the Prairie Lakes Healthcare System, Watertown, South Dakota has become a recognized leader in the Prairie Lakes area, providing key information to the community regarding the COVID-19 and ramifications of the Pandemic upon the elderly.

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Alumni Notes (Cont.)

2013 Brian Ware, D.O., will be the lead physician at Old Fort Family Medicine in Old Fort, South Dakota specializing in delivering a holistic approach to patient care involving a broad range of evidence-based treatment, including traditional therapies blended with homeopathic, natural, osteopathic, and alternative approaches.

2015 Ryan Carbaugh, D.O., has been named to the staff of Ephraim McDowell Health in Illinois where he practices in gastroenterology.

Michael Shumaker, D.O., has joined the Ohio-based Southwoods Pain and Spine Center as a spine surgeon.

2016 Jason Bankert, D.O., has been welcomed as a rheumatologist at the Altoona Arthritis and Osteoporosis Center in Altoona, Pennsylvania.

2018 Matthew Firman, D.O., has joined the medical staff of Geneva General Hospital and Soldiers and Sailors Memorial hospital in Buffalo, New York.

Jessica Kassover, D.O., has been added to the staff of the Intercoastal Medical Group, Bradenton Florida as an internal medicine physician.

Diana Hricova, D.O., has been appointed to the staff of the Monongahela Valley Hospital, in Pennsylvania.

Steven Archambault, D.O., has joined the Wright Center for Community Health in Scranton, Pennsylvania.

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Student Notes MEDICINE Mellissa Sussman, MPH is returning to LECOM as an OMS4 after completing her position as a Medical Student Researcher for the Dr. Oz Show in New York City, New York.

Thaddeus J. Sullivan, OMS4, had a case report accepted by the Ear, Nose and Throat Journal entitled, Colon Cancer with Metastatic Involvement of the Thyroid Incidentally Found at Excision of Parathyroid Adenoma.

Peter Swain, OMS3, Haylie Kromer OMS4, and Jalla Mustafa, DO, from the Seton Hill campus are the recipients of the A.T. Still, DO Osteopathic Skills and Knowledge Scholarship.

Leah Labranche, Ph.D is the first LECOM graduate of the LECOM Ph.D. Program. Her dissertation examined the effects of 3D stereoscopic anatomy.

Jayanth Rajan, OMS2, has been selected to participate in the prestigious UH-LECOM Allergy-Immunology SubFellowship Program.

Sean Briceno, OMS2, co-authored a new publication entitled, The Neurophysiology of Caffeine as a Central Nervous Stimulant and the Resultant Effects on Cognitive Function in Cureus.

Joseph Hoppes, OMS1, organized the 14th Annual Conquer Chiari Walk Across America, a fundraising and awareness event in support of those diagnosed or personally affected by Chiari. The Walk was held on September 25, 2021.

Emily Kelly, OMS2, has been awarded a stipend as the recipient of the 2021 Student Osteopathic Distinction Award presented by the American Osteopathic Academy of Orthopedics Board of Directors.

McKenzie Warshel, OMS4, presented a unique surgical case to the Southwestern Surgical Congress.

Briana E. Williams, OMS2, was offered an opportunity to be part of the Summer Research Immersion Program at the University of Pittsburgh Emergency Department.

Katie Lynch, OMS2, at LECOM at Seton Hill, along with several other co-authors are now published in the Journal of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition (JPEN) with their study entitled, The Breath Print Represents a Novel Biomarker of Malnutrition in Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension: A Proof-of-Concept Study.

LECOM Erie student, Ashton Amos, OMS2, recently was named the recipient of the National SOMA New Member Scholarship. Amos was recognized for leadership skills in the field of osteopathic medicine. The Scholarship, one of five awarded annually, is sponsored by the Student Osteopathic Medical Association (SOMA) Foundation and by Advocates for the American Osteopathic Association (AOA).

Niki Nourmohammadi, an OMS3 student at LECOM at Seton Hill, recently was published in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology. The article was entitled, Quantification of Adverse Skin Reactions Secondary to Mask-Wearing Using 3-D Imaging Technology: A Prospective Cohort Study.

Kaitlyn Thomas, OMS3 at LECOM at Seton Hill, recently was elected as the National Executive Council Chairperson for the Student American Academy of Osteopathy (SAAO).

Shefali Amin, LECOM Erie OMS4, published a piece entitled, Addressing Challenges in Humanistic Communication During COVID-19 through Medical Education, with co-authors Justin Chin, DO; Assistant Professor of Pathology and Medical Education, Christine Lomiguen, MD; and Assistant Dean of Medical Education and Professor of Anatomy, Mark Terrell, Ed.D. The article appears in Frontiers in Communication

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Student Notes (Cont.)

PHARMACY TyJanae Maloney, P2 chaired the Erie Heart Walk for the American Heart Association (AHA). The event, held on September 30, 2021, attracted the participation of hospitals, businesses, and schools. LECOM actively participated in the event as the American Pharmaceutical Association (APhA) LECOM Chapter designated the Heart Walk as its major community service activity.

The LECOM Erie Chapter of the College of Psychiatric and Neurologic Pharmacists (CPNP) participated in the Out of the Darkness Walk on September 25, 2021. The annual event was held at the Presque Isle Rotary Pavilion where seventeen pharmacy students participated in support of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP).

During the last year, the brothers of Kappa Psi Epsilon Eta have hosted a number of inspirational and philanthropic events.

Laura Andress P2, Philanthropy Chair for the LECOM Erie Chapter of the College of Psychiatric and Neurologic Pharmacists (CPNP) participated with student volunteers in the Out of the Darkness Walk held on September 25, 2021. The Chapter partnered with the American Pharmacists Association (APhA) to hold a Canned Food Drive, a virtual event that raised $130 and through which was donated 110 pounds of nourishing food to the Food Bank of Manatee.

Cassandra Darling, P2 has been chosen to receive the APhA 2021 Colonel Jerry W. Ross Scholarship. Colonel Ross was a trailblazer in military pharmacy. His 30-year Air Force career spanned the ranks from Airman Basic to Colonel, and from pharmacy technician to Medical Group Commander.

Gregor Dudiak, OMS1, at LECOM at Seton Hill, is the first author of an article published in Allergy and Asthma Proceedings. The piece is entitled, Prior Authorization Delays Biologic Initiation and is Associated with a Risk of Asthma Exacerbations.

DENTISTRY Leah Kimerer, D3, recently received the Award for Excellence in Student Research at the 26th Hinman Student Research Symposium at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center. The research topic was entitled, The Effect of Chlorhexidine on Bonding Strength to Dentin.

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Faculty Notes MEDICINE M. Gupta, DO, Resident MCH, had a piece entitled, Fear of Missing Theoretical Underpinnings and Relationship with Mental Health, published in the World Journal of Clinical Cases.

Anupam Bishavee, Ph.D., Professor of Pharmacology, had a piece entitled, Guava (Psidium Guajava L.): A Glorious Plant with Cancer Preventive and Therapeutic Potential, published in Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition.

Randy Kulesza, Ph.D., LECOM Professor of Anatomy had a piece entitled, Distribution of Glutamatergic and Glycinergic Inputs onto Human Auditory Coincidence Detector Neurons, published in the journal, Neuroscience.

Travis Smith, DO, LECOM Associate Dean of Clinical Integration and Assessment, had a piece entitled, A Case of COVID-19 Mimicking Acute Appendicitis in Multi-System Inflammatory Syndrome, published in the journal, Cureus.

C. A. Valencia., Ph.D., LECOM Associate Professor of Genetics, had a piece entitled, Deleterious Variants in ABCC12 are Detected in Idiopathic Chronic Cholestasis and Cause Intrahepatic Bile Duct Loss in Model Organisms, published in the journal, Gastroenterology.

Mohammed S. Razzaque, M.B.B.S., Ph.D., LECOM Professor of Pathology had a piece entitled, Exacerbation of Antimicrobial Resistance: Another Casualty of the COVID-19 Pandemic?, published in Expert Review of Antiinfective Therapy.

C. M. Lomiguen, DO, MCH Resident, had a piece entitled, Combating Diagnostic Delay of Endometriosis in Adolescents via Educational Awareness: A Systematic Review, published in Cureus.

C. Thompson, co-authored Prolonged Chronic Stress and Persistent Iron Dysregulation Prevent Anemia Recovery Following Trauma, published in the Journal of Surgical Research.

P. He, M.D. Ph.D., LECOM Assistant Professor of Biochemistry, co-authored a piece entitled, Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Emergency Psychiatry Millcreek Community Hospital, Erie, PA, published in Comprehensive Psychiatry.

D. Bhattacharya, Ph.D., LECOM Assistant Professor of Pharmacology, had a piece entitled, Teratogenic Effects of Maternal Drug Abuse on Developing Brain and Underlying Neurotransmitter Mechanisms, published in NeuroToxicology.

Sujayita Mazumder and Anupam Bishayee, Ph.D., LECOM Professor of Pharmacology had a piece entitled, Garlic Constituents for Cancer Prevention and Therapy: From Phytochemistry to Novel Formulations, published in Pharmacological Research.

C. Heyd, D.O., LECOM Clinical Instructor, had a piece entitled, Vestibular Dysfunction in Cochlear Implant Candidates: Prevalence and Outcomes, published in the American Journal of Otolaryngology.

D. A. Nikolla, D.O., had a piece entitled, Comparison of Suction Rates between a Standard Yankauer and Make-Shift Large Bore Suction Catheters using a Meconium Aspirator and Various Sized Endotracheal Tubes, published in the Journal of Clinical Anesthesia.

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Faculty Notes (Cont.)

B. L. Risavi, D.O., LECOM Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine, had a piece entitled, An Itchy Rash and Muscle Weakness, published in Clinical Case Reports.

G.R. Delost, D.O., LECOM Clinical Assistant Professor of Dermatology, had a piece entitled, Burden of Skin Disease and Associated Socioeconomic Status in Asia: A Cross-Sectional Analysis from the Global Burden of Disease Study 1990-2017, published in JAAD International.

Richard Terry, D.O., LECOM Associate Dean of Academic Affairs Elmira, had a piece entitled, Benefits of Developing Graduate Medical Education Programs in Community Health Systems, published in the Journal of Community Hospital Internal Medicine Perspectives.

V. Soti, Ph.D., LECOM Assistant Professor of Pharmacology, co-authored a piece entitled, Coronavirus Disease 2019: An Overview, published in International Journal of Community Medicine and Public Health.

M. S. Syed, Ph.D., LECOM Assistant Professor of Pathology, and V. Soti, Ph.D., LECOM Assistant Professor of Pharmacology, co-authored a piece entitled, Post-Treatment Lyme Disease Syndrome: Need for Diagnosis and Treatment, published in the journal, Cureus.

C. Lambroussis, D.O., LECOM Assistant Professor of OPP, co-authored a piece entitled, Post-Treatment Lyme Disease Syndrome: Need for Diagnosis and Treatment, published in the journal, Cureus.

J. Gnarra, Ph.D., LECOM Professor of Microbiology and Immunology, and T. Smith, D.O., LECOM Associate Dean of Clinical Integration and Assessment, co-authored a piece entitled, Predicting Osteopathic Medical Student Performance on the United States Medical Licensing Examination Step 2 Clinical Knowledge from Results of the Comprehensive Osteopathic Medical Licensing Examination Level 2-Cognitive Evaluation, published in Cureus.

H. Addelhady, Ph.D., LECOM Associate Professor of Pharmacology, co-authored Folate Functionalized Lipid Nanoparticles for Targeted Therapy of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus, published in Pharmaceutics.

DENTISTRY Thomas Yoon, D.D.S., LECOM Assistant Professor of Periodontology co-authored a piece entitled, Evaluation of Length and Location of the Maxillary Sinus Intraosseous Artery using Computerized Tomography, published in the Journal of Periodontology.

Shanele Williams, D.D.S., co-authored a piece entitled, Untreated Caries among U.S. Working-Aged Adults and Association with Reporting Need for Oral Healthcare, published in the Journal of the American Dental Association.

PHARMACY Kylee Gross, Pharm.D. and Elizabeth Steadman, Pharm.D. had a piece entitled, Impact of a Pharmacy-Led Fall Prevention Program for Institutionalized Older People, published in Senior Care Pharmacy.

Deepak Gupta, Ph.D., LECOM Professor of Pharmacy and Katherine Tromp, Pharm.D., LECOM Assistant Professor of Pharmacy Practice, had a piece entitled, Utilization of Active Learning Approaches in Medicinal Chemistry and Subsequent Correlations with North American Licensure Examination and Pharmacy Curriculum Outcomes Assessment Scores, published in Current Pharmacy Teaching and Learning.

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PROVOST ANNOUNCEMENT The Provost’s Office wishes to announce that the vending machines in the LECOM Erie Cafeteria will be removed on April 6, 2022, by the vendor, AVI. As with many other companies and businesses, at the present time AVI is unable to find sufficient workers to fill the machines.

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Volume XIV Issue 2

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

March 14-18

NRMP Residency Match Week

April 27-30

POMA 114th Annual Clinical Assembly

May 29

Commencement, LECOM Erie and LECOM at Seton Hill

June 5

Commencement, LECOM Bradenton

LECOM Erie Jamie Murphy jmurphy@lecom.edu 814-866-8117

LECOM Bradenton Ron Shively rshively@lecom.edu 941-782-5930

LECOM at Seton Hill Alyssa Trimeloni atrimeloni@lecom.edu 724-552-2868

LECOM at Elmira Jessica Kohler jwoods@lecom.edu 607-442-3500