The OSU College of Osteopathic Medicine’s 29th annual Osteopathic Scrub Run is Saturday, April 5. The annual event is organized by OSU osteopathic medicine students. Race proceeds benefit Lifeshare Transplant Donor Services of Oklahoma.   Photo: 2007 Scrub Run start line

Med-Xtravaganza, the OSU College of Osteopathic Medicine open house for prospective students, parents, college advisors and undergraduate faculty is Friday April 4. Our medical students, faculty and staff will provide information on admissions criteria, a tour of our facilities and hands-on demonstrations of labs. The annual event also allows prospective students the opportunity for one-on-one interactions with current medical students. 

     
OSU Medicine students will learn more about organ transplantation at the Colby Cassani Foundation Endowed Lectureship Friday, April 4. Kirby D. Slifer, D.O., from the Nazih Zuhdi Transplant Institute at Integris Baptist Medical Center in Oklahoma City is guest lecturer. Dr. John and Starla Cassani established the endowed lectureship through the Colby Foundation. The couple funded the lectureship to educate students and professionals about organ donation and transplantation after the death of their young son, Colby, whose organs were donated. Dr. Cassani is a 1980 graduate of the College.

The 19th annual OSU Research Symposium showcased research projects. Awards announced by David Wallace, Ph.D., assistant dean for research and meeting organizer, are: OMECO poster presentations: Hooby Yoon, D.O., Using FDG PET/CT to evaluate neoadjuvant therapy response in newly diagnosed bronchogenic carcinoma, first place; Stephanie Burgess, D.O., Patrick Cody, D.O. and David Hogan, D.O., The Impact of Vital Signs During Mass Casualty Disaster on Triage Categorization, second place; Franklin Mayhue, M.D. and Christy Mareshie, D.O., Pre-hospital IV Fluid Warmer Performance at Low Ambient Temperatures and also Kristopher Avant, D.O. and Paul Maitino, D.O., A Simple Technique to Reduce Notching of the Anterior Femur in Total Knee Arthroplasty, tie for third place. 

Outstanding Medical Student Oral Presentation: Stephanie Reed, MS-II, Glutaminase is Increased in the Rat Dorsal Root Ganglion Following Inflammation, first place. Runners up: William Hanner, MS-II, Sex differences in the renal handling of protein from high casein and high soy diets in mice; Krystal Vonfeldt, MS-I, Pathogenic and Non-pathogenic microbial flora in normal and diseased human livers: Role in liver homeostasis.

Outstanding Graduate Student Oral Presentation:  E. Matthew Hoffman, Optimization of immunohistochemcial methods for primary sensory neuron characterization, first place.

Lisa Jenkins, director of the Osteopathic Medical Education Consortium of Oklahoma office, said this year’s event included posters from all seven OMECO sites. Christopher Thurman, D.O., is OMECO research chair.

Eugene Field Elementary School third- through fifth-graders studied nutrition, healthy eating, anatomy, exercise and obesity at a Mini-Medical School for Kids. The OSU Medicine chapter of the American College of Osteopathic Pediatricians created this pilot program, which is being considered as a model for the national ACOP organization. Teachers received materials for classroom follow-up. Sponsors included the Oklahoma Educational Foundation for Osteopathic Medicine, OSU-CHS Student Senate and the OSU-COM Alumni Association. Photo: Brenda Voelkelt and Mackenzie Jenkinson, MS I, assist young learners.

On a recent Friday, OSU Medicine’s Dunlap Auditorium rocked…and papered…and scissored during SPINE (Students Providing in Neighboring Environments) Club’s rock, paper, scissors competition. Alex Roby emceed while Rob Moody and Jeff Hill refereed. Rusty Buck, (center with referees), won the competition. Students, faculty and staff participated. Contestants brought paper and scissors which, along with tournament proceeds, will go to Eugene Field Elementary School, OSU-CHS’ adopt-a-school.

Roby and Moody created the club and want it be the campus leader in volunteer efforts and fund raising for good causes. It also is intended to create a sense of fun, unity and philanthropy.

“Our goal is to be the top club in terms of fund raising and volunteering,” Roby said. Plans call for more volunteer efforts and drives soon. Dana Livingston, director of student affairs, said the OSU-CHS Office of Student Affairs is thrilled to have the new club, and added that “it will introduce fun projects and philanthropy to medical students, who sometimes forget how to have fun but never forget how to give.”                                         

There are no club dues and membership is open to students, faculty and staff. Meetings are on the second Wednesday of the month, dubbed argyle Wednesday (a day to wear your argyle clothing items). Club governance is being finalized and a board of directors formed. Club members will have an equal voice. Any member can take the floor and be heard, with one requirement: They must hold a can of refried beans while talking. It is just another example of seriously fun attitudes. As Roby said, “This (life) is a stage; you should smile while you are on it.”