This Week@WesternU, Feb. 21-24, 2017
From the College of Optometry:
Kudos on accomplishments
College of Optometry Professor and Director of Research Pinakin Davey, PhD, OD, FAAO, was awarded the Young Optometrist of the Year Award by the California Optometric Association at the annual House of Delegates meeting at San Francisco. He was nominated by his peers at Inland Empire Optometric Society. The criteria for the award were that nominees must be COA members and have practiced more than one, but not more than 10 years with nomination from one of 25 affiliate societies of COA. Candidates were judged on activities completed since their licensure, particularly contributions to local, state and national associations, committee memberships, academic and professional awards, professional public/ community service, continuing education lectures provided, research conducted and publications.
From the College of Podiatric Medicine:
Dean’s Distinguished Lecture
The second annual College of Podiatric Medicine Lawrence B. Harkless Dean’s Distinguished Lecture will be held at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, March 30, 2017 in WesternU’s Health Education Center, Lecture Hall I. The Ohio State University President Michael V. Drake, MD, will give the keynote presentation, “Higher Education, Healthcare and The Future of America.” Click here to view a flier.
From the College of Pharmacy:
Ray Symposium
The College of Pharmacy will hold the 2017 Ray Symposium at 4 p.m. Thursday, April 20, 2017 in HEC Lecture Hall I. Keynote speaker Dana Goldman, PhD, Leonard D. Schaeffer Chair and Distinguished Professor of Pharmacy, Public Policy and Economics at the University of Southern California, will talk about “Re-Thinking Value in an Era of Health Reform.” Click here for more information and to register.
From the College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific:
Global and Community Health Track
For four years, College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific students participate in an innovative approach to learning about issues pertinent to the global and community health. The Global and Community Health Track is an optional educational opportunity that allows students to gain an understanding of why global and community health initiatives have the potential to reduce poverty, build stronger economies and promote peace. This Track is critical to the success of our future physicians and the transformation of health care in our communities. Click here to watch a video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z4VH-J1PH1Q&t=42s
Kudos on accomplishments
Brion Benninger, MD, MSc, Professor & Executive Director, Medical Anatomy Center (MAC), was the guest speaker presenting on Innovative Technology Uses for Emergency Departments at Samaritan Health Services, Albany, Oregon in January. Dr. Benninger delivered his presentation wearing Google Glass and discussed past, present and future glass uses, additional ultrasound probe options and alternative uses of ultrasound. He finished with describing a novel imaging technique to improve CT scan interpretation called Global Illumination, which he is helping to develop. The presentation created a flurry of ideas from local physicians for Dr. Benninger to contemplate and integrate as potential pilot research studies initially conducted at COMP-Northwest then progress to clinical studies based at the Samaritan Health Care Services Hospitals. Dr. Benninger has developed valuable liaisons between the arenas of basic science, clinical medicine, medical education and medical technology companies.
From the College of Veterinary Medicine:
Kudos on accomplishments
CVM Associate Professor Mohammad Mir has been awarded a substantial R15 grant by NIH for his project titled “Preferential Translation of Host Cell Factors by Hantavirus Nucleocapsid Protein.”
CVM alum Molly Ragusa Martony, DVM ’12, has just been accepted at University of Florida’s aquatic animal residency program, a zoological residency with a strong aquatic animal focus that takes one person every three years. The first year is associated closely with UF and small aquatic facilities, the second year is entirely at Sea World Orlando, and the third year spends time at a major zoo such as Disney or Busch Gardens.
From the Graduate College of Biomedical Sciences:
Kudos on accomplishments
Click here to read the latest accomplishments from Assistant Professor Fanglong Dong, PhD.
From University Advancement:
Thank-a-Thon
On Feb. 15, students representing the College of Allied Health Professions, College of Graduate Nursing, College of Podiatric Medicine and the College of Pharmacy participated in the Office of Annual Giving’s Thank-a-Thon. The students called alumni donors to personally thank them for their gifts made in 2016. Calls from current students inspire our donors to continue making and increasing their generous gifts to WesternU.
OPSC Conference
This past weekend, WesternU was at the Osteopathic Physicians and Surgeons of California Annual Convention at the Hyatt Regency Mission Bay in San Diego, Calif. COMP and Advancement staff hosted a booth in the exhibit hall where they engaged more than 100 alumni and a few students who were in attendance. Also during the conference, COMP Assistant Professor Brian Loveless, DO ’02, was installed as the organization’s new president.
Random Acts of Humanism
Last Tuesday, in recognition of both Valentine’s Day and Random Acts of Kindness Week, the Alumni Office launched their newly renamed and expanded program, “Random Acts of Humanism.” Staff distributed more than 500 classic Valentine’s Day cards and lollipops on the Esplanade to WesternU students, faculty, and staff. The Office has also been accepting nominations for a deserving student to be surprised with a special Random Act of Humanism. Stay tuned for more news on that around the end of this month.
From Learning Enhancement & Academic Development (LEAD):
Wellbeing Initiative
On Feb. 14, LEAD hosted a “Write a Love Letter to Yourself” event. More than 130 students from all nine colleges stopped by LEAD to write themselves a positive note and indulge in a Valentine’s Day treat. The event is part of the ongoing LEAD Wellbeing Initiative, aimed at increasing and practicing Mind, Body, Self, and Social awareness as part of a balanced lifestyle. Students who stopped by and liked the new LEAD Facebook page were given a chance to enter into a drawing to win an additional treat. Congratulations to the winner Yescenia Perez, DMD ’20. LEAD Wellbeing Initiative events occur regularly throughout the semester to remind everyone that “A student who feels well, does well.”
