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This Week@WesternU, July 23-27, 2012

by Rodney Tanaka

July 23, 2012

Read 4 mins

Preview Day

Registration is open for WesternU Preview Day on Saturday, Aug. 25, 2012 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., which highlights health education opportunities offered at Western University of Health Sciences.

Preview Day, held in and around WesternU’s Health Education Center (HEC), 701 E. Second St., Pomona, Calif., will provide potential students the opportunity to get more information about a health profession program of interest, hear about the admissions process, learn about financial aid, see curriculum firsthand, discover how to become a competitive applicant, and meet current students and faculty.

If you know of anyone who might be interested in learning more about any of our degree programs offered, please feel free to encourage them to visit our prospective student website for more information or to register for our Preview Day.

Harris Family CDHP joins committee on standards for medical diagnostic equipment

The Harris Family Center for Disability and Health Policy (CDHP) at Western University of Health Sciences has been named to the Medical Diagnostic Equipment Accessibility Standards Advisory Committee.

The committee advises the U.S. Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board (Access Board) in proposing standards for medical diagnostic equipment for people with disabilities. Click here to view the full story.

From the College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific:

WesternU alumnus Dr. Robert P. Colen dies at 51

Robert P. Colen, DO, a respected surgeon who was Western University of Health Sciences’ 2011 East West Scholarship Dinner honoree, died suddenly from a heart attack on Sunday, July 15, 2012.

Colen, a 1994 graduate of WesternU’s College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific, was an orthopedic surgeon in the Detroit and Metro Detroit area who specialized in trauma and fracture repair. Click here to view the full story.

Kudos on accomplishments

COMP-Northwest student Julien Diegel received the annual Ralph Ger Clinical Anatomy Award for his project, “Pericardiocentesis: Combining novel subxiphoid right sternoclavicular joint approach with a thorax dissection lab for a clinical experience,” conducted in Dr. Benninger’s Surgical-Radiological-Medical Research Dissection Lab. Julien had his abstract accepted at an international conference and was invited to provide a platform presentation, where he was judged by a panel of experts. The Ralph Ger Award is a prestigious annual award given by the American Association of Clinical Anatomists for outstanding recognition in clinical sciences, basic sciences and education of clinical anatomy. The recipient of this award is announced at the annual conference and receives a check and a certificate plaque. Julien conducted this research after hours and on weekends with Dr. Benninger, while maintaining a full OMS1 academic workload. Julien would like to thank his mentor Brion Benninger for his direction, insight and commitment in mentoring him.

From the College of Allied Health Professions:

Department of Physical Therapy Education News

California Senate Bill 924 “Direct Access to Physical Therapist Services and Professional Corporations” recently passed, just one vote short of being unanimous, out of the Assembly Business, Professions and Consumer Protection Committee. This bill will allow consumers to be directly treated by physical therapists just as it is currently in many other states. SB 924 will streamline health care delivery, increase consumer choice and reduce costs for consumers by allowing patients to go directly to a physical therapist, avoid extra co-pays and, if appropriate, begin treatment immediately. This bill also includes language allowing the lawful practice of physical therapy by a PT employed in medical, podiatric, and chiropractic corporations. The bill is now scheduled to be heard in the Assembly Appropriations Committee on Aug. 8.

From the College of Pharmacy:

Kudos on accomplishments

Dr. Gollapudi Shankar authored a recent publication: Shankar G (2012) Role of Serotonin from Thought and Anxiety to Weight Gain and Metabolic Syndrome. J Autacoids 1:e118.doi:10.4172/2161-0479.1000e118. Published May 17, 2012.

Dr. Karl Hess published an article with PharmD candidate Jonathan Pennachio: Pennacchio J, Hess K. FluMist Quadrivalent: Protection Against Additional Influenza B Strain. Pharmacy Today July 2012; 40: 36.

Drs. Karl Hess, Emmanuelle Schwartzman and Anandi V. Law were part of a team led by Nate Rickles of Northeastern University that published a recent article. This article will be featured in the next issue of AACP’s Academic Pharmacy Now (under journal spotlights): “Teaching Medication Adherence in US Colleges and Schools of Pharmacy,” Nathaniel M. Rickles, PharmD, PhD, Linda Garrelts MacLean, BPharm, Karl Hess, PharmD, Kevin C. Farmer, PhD, Afton M. Yurkon, PharmD, Carolyn C. Ha, PharmD, Emmanuelle Schwartzman, PharmD, Anandi V. Law, BPharm, PhD, Paul A. Milani, PharmD Candidate, Katie Trotta, PharmD Candidate, Sara R. Labella, PharmD Candidate, and Rebecca J. Designor, PharmD Candidate. Volume 76, Issue 5, 2012: Article 79. Click here to read the article.

From the College of Dental Medicine:

ADEA Dental School Virtual Fair Connects Thousands of Students

On June 26 and 27, WesternU College of Dental Medicine participated in the ADEA Dental School Virtual Fair, an online networking experience with live chats and presentations for prospective students. The fair drew nearly 3,050 registered attendees and 1,700 individuals logged in on the first day alone and visited the 37 schools and organizations exhibiting at the event. By the end of the second day, 70 percent of registered attendees had logged in from 47 states, Puerto Rico, and the District of Columbia, as well as 11 other countries. Other highlights included the eight live presentations given by dental education experts, including sessions on applying to and financing a dental education as well as exploring career options after dental school. The following College of Dental Medicine faculty and WesternU staff participated during the live chat sessions: Bradley S. Henson, DDS, PhD, Assistant Dean for Research and Biomedical Sciences; Elizabeth Andrews, DDS, MS, Assistant Dean, Academic Affairs; Kelley Williford, BA, Interim Assistant Director of University Recruitment/ University Recruiter; and Vanessa Riggins, Admissions Counselor.

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