June 2005 Table of Contents
Goodson and Ryan: Championing OMM Paul Peter Koro Endowed Chair for Surgery: First endowed chair for CHS Questions about residency program? Medial ethics curriculum to be discussed Stephanie Griffith new national COSGP chair Staff Appreciation Day Round of Applause! New Employees

 

Leigh Goodson, Ph.D., is welcomed to the OMM department by JoAnn Ryan, D.O. Goodson has joined the OMM department to assist in student research. Background: Dr. Bruce Benjamin and students.

Leigh Goodson, Ph.D., OSU-CHS vice president for enrollment management and marketing, wears many hats. But as assistant professor of medical education, there's one that always fits her: research methodologist.

Her home department now is Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine (OMM), where current student research could change the landscape of documentation of OMM's effectiveness. Goodson joins JoAnn Ryan, D.O., chair of the OMM department, in assisting student research and enhancing curriculum.

In addition to teaching first and second year medical students, the OMM department has established a required third year rotation at the OSU Health Care Center. In addition, a structured elective fourth year rotation is offered. “Dr. Goodson's educational research background will let us study student satisfaction and teaching methodology. That, in turn, will enhance teaching,” Ryan says.

“We also are developing integration of OMM into all post graduate education,” Ryan says. An OMM residency is slated to be available by next summer.

OMM departmental research also is expanding. Student opinions about osteopathic medicine often hinge on research, so it's a good fit for her, Goodson says. Designing research studies, examining teaching methods and exploring research opportunities are ways she believes will help show the impact of OMM. Studies with the basic science and clinical studies departments already are underway.

“Our profession needs hard evidence of the efficacy of OMM,” Ryan says, adding that it is critical to prove and publish results. “Dr. Goodson's help will be invaluable in getting this accomplished.” Finding out how OMM works is important because “OMM is what sets us apart from other schools,” Goodson says.

Goodson, an assistant professor for the past four years, has a doctorate in research methods and evaluation and teaches research methodology and applied statistics. She has taught the laboratory portion of analyses of variance, a doctoral level statistics class, at OSU. She also tutors graduate students in elementary statistics, analyses of variance, multiple regression, and research design.

The new partnership doesn't mean just crunching numbers and stats; there's a human touch. “Not only is Dr. Goodson an asset to the department, she's also a fine teacher and good company!” says Ryan.

 

Paul P. Koro, D.O.

Doug Foster, D.O., assistant professor and chair of surgery, is leading fundraising efforts to found the Paul Peter Koro Endowed Chair for Surgery. Koro served as chairman of the department of surgery and professor of surgery from 1976 to 1988, returned to OSU in 1999 as senior associate dean for academic affairs and professor of surgery. He also served as interim dean. The creation of the endowed chair will serve as a memorial to Koro who was much beloved by faculty and staff, and will be the first endowed chair for the OSU Center for Health Sciences.

A goal of $1 million has been set to be raised from private foundations, corporations and individuals. The Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education will provide a matching $1 million, bringing the endowment fund total to $2 million.

The goal is to raise $1 million in pledges and gifts by July 1, 2006. Endowment funds will be used to pay for an annual lecture series, research and other expenses in the surgery department. Foster said he expects the lecture series to eventually grow into a three-day, nationally recognized education event.

Alumni, faculty, staff and others are asked to join the campaign to raise funds. Donation checks should be made payable to OSU Foundation. Include “Koro Endowed Chair” in the memo line of the check or include an attached note. Mail checks to Karen Senger, Development Office, OSU Center for Health Sciences, 1111 W. 17th Street, Tulsa, OK 74107. To make a donation other than by check or for more information, contact Senger at 918-561-8206, or at ksenger@osuf.org.

Senger said making a donation to fund the endowed chair is a touching and significant way to remember Koro. A special dedication event, which will include Mrs. Koro and other family members, will take place when funds are raised.

 

Questions about residency program? A Q&A form has been created to help answer questions about the recent negotiations between Ardent Health Services and OSU-CHS regarding its residency programs. You can submit your question to the management team on-line.

Medical ethics curriculum to be discussed Dr. Ed Erde, professor of family medicine at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey School of Osteopathic Medicine in Stratford, NJ, will provide consultation on developing a comprehensive curriculum in medical ethics on Friday, June 17. Faculty, staff, and students are invited to a presentation being given by Dr. Erde from 11 a. m. to noon in D-107. He will discuss the medical ethics curriculum at his osteopathic medical school and discuss ideas about developing a comprehensive curriculum at OSU College of Osteopathic Medicine. Last year, a bioethics task force was formed by Dr. Fernandes to discuss the creation of a seven-year medical ethics curriculum at the College of Osteopathic Medicine. Dr. Erde will consult with the task force to help in that endeavor. Since this curriculum change will reach through all years of a medical student's undergraduate years and residency years, it has potential to impact the curriculum in many places, according to task force member Nancy Van Winkle, Ph.D.

 

Fourth-year OSU medical student Stephanie Griffith, has traveled a unique path on her way to the OSU College of Osteopathic Medicine.

Griffith says after high school graduation, she had no real goal. “I was so indecisive I couldn't decide what shoes to wear without calling a friend,” she says, only half-joking. Nearing age 30, she reached what she calls a “do or die” milestone and enrolled at Tulsa Community College (TCC). By the time she was through, she had excelled academically, was the international president of Phi Theta Kappa honor society, and knew she wanted to be a doctor.

While attending TCC, she worked on a research project with OSU's Robert S. Conrad, Ph.D., and credits him for helping her decide. “He treats students like colleagues and he made me feel like the idea of being a doctor was possible,” she says. Soon, the single mother of four children graduated magna cum laude from the University of Tulsa with a degree in biology. She entered OSU medical school in 2002.

Griffith says her family, and fellow student and friend Jim Meissen are supportive and inspire her. Today, learning, service and a growing list of accomplishments have replaced indecision. She recently was named national chair of the Council of Osteopathic Student Government Presidents (COSGP) and assumes duties in July. COSGP is comprised of student government executive boards of the 22 osteopathic medicine schools. As part of her role she will be the only student serving on the American Osteopathic Association board of trustees.

She also is president of the Class of 2006, and most recently has served COSGP as national legislative affairs representative.

In addition to other duties, Griffith will work on a project she created called Translating Osteopathic Understanding into Community Health (TOUCH). The national initiative encourages increased commitment to community service and public health by osteopathic students and physicians.

“Students giving 50 documented hours of community service get a pin. One school will receive a national TOUCH award for its exceptional commitment to public health,” Griffith says. She's also spearheading a research project to document TOUCH involvement through residency and into practice. Eventually, both osteopathic and allopathic involvement will be measured.

Griffith is a 2003 recipient of a College Alumni Association scholarship. Her aunt, Mary Beth Todd, D.O., graduated from the College in 1978.

 

The weather was warm and windy as OSU faculty, staff and students gathered under a yellow and white striped tent for the annual Staff Appreciation Day and picnic. Committee members Sandra Hale, Lisa McCutcheon, Ryan Miller and Betty Jo Westerfield assisted Jan Barber, Staff Advisory Council president and SAC members at the event. Lunch by Mexicali Border restaurant, awards and drawings for prizes highlighted the picnic.	Good sport and amigo Jim Hess, Ed.D., VP of healthcare administration and COO, welcomes guests to Staff Appreciation Day.   Award of Excellence recipients are Don Pressnall, classified staff and Percy Brown, professional/ administrative staff.
Lisa (Riggs) Jenkins (right) received the prestigious Clyde B. Jenson Staff Advisory Council Leadership award, presented by Jan Barber. Nominees included Marty Coleman, Debbie Martin, Crystal Remy, Loretta Smart, Sandra Hale and Lisa McCutcheon.
Award of Excellence nominees included Don Pressnall, Lisa Jenkins, Linda Kay, Elisha Ortiz, Shirley Quintana, Lee Stidham (not shown), Christina Barnaby, Jan Barber, Kim Hart, Michelle Trudell, classified staff.
Professional/administrative Award of Excellence nominees were Misty Taylor, Janey Hope, Cindy Joice and (not shown) Kim Penick, along with recipient Percy Brown.

Service Awards

Warren Finn, Ph.D., received his 30-year service pin and Ellen Stockton her 25-year service pin at the Staff Appreciation Day.

Fifteen-year service pins went to (from left) Janey Hope and (3rd from left) Mahalia Hawkins. Twenty-year pins were awarded to (second from left) Susan Eubanks, Janice Giacomo, Michelle Bartlett, Sheila Mayes and William Meek, Ph.D. Not shown: Jerry Cozby, David John, Ph.D., and Gary Stone, 15 years; William Eddy, D.O., Joseph Price, Ph.D., and Charles Sanny, Ph.D., 20 years

Five year service pins went to (shown from front left): Kathy Woody, JooHee Kim, Betty J. Westerfield, Melissa Crawford, Tami Ross, Mary Williams, Loretta Smart. Second row: Cathy Ramsey, Deborah Chambers, Percy Brown, Theresa Bycroft, Shelly Handelman, Shirley Graham, Ray Stowers, D.O. Back row: Gary Windle, William Childers and Jonathan Franklin. Ten-year service pins went to (far right): John Hustis, Jenny Alexopulos, D.O., and Joan Stewart, D.O., M.P.H. Not shown: Lisa Crockett, Carol O'Daniel, Lana Rusch, Stanley Sherman, five years; Leigh Goodson, Ph.D., 10 years.

 

Felix Anyomi (left), a Ph.D. graduate student and Matt Hoffman (right), D.O./Ph.D. student, are awarded second and first place, respectively, in the Best Student Micrograph Competition at the Oklahoma Microscopy Society Spring Workshop and Meeting by Society president Greg Strout (center). Hoffman received a $50 prize and Anyomi a $20 prize. Hoffman's image was from nerve cell work with advisor Dr. Kenneth Miller and Anyomi's image was from mouse kidney work with advisor Dr. Al Rouch. Both images were acquired from using equipment in the OSU-CHS electron microscopy laboratory.

 

Karen Senger, director of development for OSU-CHS, and Marlo Duffy, associate vice president for development, greet a guest at a recent OSU Physicians clinic open house at Country Club Gardens grand opening.

Colony Fugate, D.O., Dan Fieker, D.O., Larry Cherry, D.O. from OSU, and (seated) Sherri Wise, president of the Osteopathic Founders Foundation (OFF) at OSU Physicians at Country Club Gardens. OFF donated $75,000 to help equip the new clinic.

An accreditation team from the American Academy of Forensic Science will visit and assess OSU's forensic sciences program this fall. Robert Allen, Ph.D., associate professor of forensic sciences & biochemistry and associate director of the forensic sciences graduate program, said OSU is one of only five programs in the nation chosen by the organization to be assessed this fall for accreditation.

Edward Goljan, M.D., professor and chair of pathology, and J. Martin Beal, D.O., associate professor of obstetrics and gynecology, have been named Outstanding Educators by the OSU College of Osteopathic Medicine's Class of 2005. Students choose faculty recipients who have touched their lives and who have taught them how to be better clinicians and physicians, says Dana Livingston, director of student affairs. Both were grand marshals at commencement exercises and were honored at the senior awards banquet.

Bruce Benjamin, Ph.D., and Karen Merz, Ph.D., spoke at the 38th Society of Teachers of Family Medicine in May in New Orleans. Their topic, "Collaborative Teaching: Creating a Teachable Moment in the Classroom", is part of on-going research in collaborative teaching.

Media hits: Karen Wicker, director of external affairs, reports that OSU-CHS received a total of 75 media stories for the April-May reporting period. Watch faculty members on Cable Channel 20, and look for upcoming OSU System advertisements on KOTV-Channel 6 and in the Tulsa World.