This Week@WesternU, March 19-23, 2018
Clinical researcher and health entrepreneur joins WesternU board
An accomplished clinical researcher and health entrepreneur has joined the Western University of Health Sciences Board of Trustees.
Sean P. Stanton, BS, CRC, has more than 20 years of experience managing clinical research studies. He co-founded Compass Research in 2004 and turned it into one of the premier research sites in the world. In 2016, Compass Research joined Bioclinica Research, a leading international clinical trial services provider. Stanton serves as Bioclinica’s Global Chief Operating Officer.
Click here to read the full story.
WesternU’s East West Scholarship Dinner to honor longtime pharmacy educator
Western University of Health Sciences will honor College of Pharmacy Professor Sam Shimomura, PharmD, at its annual East West Scholarship Dinner on Saturday, April 7, 2018 at the Hilton San Gabriel, 225 West Valley Boulevard, San Gabriel, California 91776.
The East West Scholarship Dinner raises money to provide scholarships each year to WesternU students in graduate nursing, osteopathic medicine, pharmacy, physical therapy, physician assistant education, optometry, podiatric medicine, dental medicine and veterinary medicine. Applicants from all ethnic backgrounds are selected based on academic excellence, community service and financial need.
To date, more than 300 WesternU students have received awards totaling more than $425,000.
Click here to visit the East West Scholarship Dinner website to buy tickets or become a sponsor: http://www.westernu.edu/east-west/.
Click here to read the full story.
Interprofessional kudos
College of Podiatric Medicine student Aleena P. Resendez and COMP student Byron Rastegari presented a case study poster on March 2, 2018 at the 34th Annual Latino Medical Student Association (LMSA) West Regional Conference at UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine. Resendez and Rastegari were awarded the 2018 LMSA Best Abstract Poster and Presentation.
“It was a really great opportunity to follow the care of the patient on a multidisciplinary level,” Resendez said. “What was unique about the patient’s experience was his level improvement and his motivation to upkeep his health. As a third-year podiatry student, implementing an integrated approach to treatment at an early stage of my career was beneficial for interdisciplinary collaboration, as well as the future health of my patients.”
The title of the poster is “Achieving Personalized Metabolic and Functional Care Goals in Adults with Type 2 Diabetes by Utilizing the Diabetes Cross-Disciplinary Index (DXDI©) to Improve Self-Management, Treatment Satisfaction, and Health Literacy,” by Aleena P. Resendez, Byron Rastegari, Cesar Ochoa, MD, PhD, John Nguyen, PT, DPT, Janelle Green, DPM, and Andrew S. Pumerantz, DO. The case study poster illustrates the impact of integrated, multidisciplinary care on a patient following an 18-month period. The poster was a collaborative effort between Western Diabetes Institute and the College of Podiatric Medicine.
2018 Photo Competition
University Student Affairs and Public Affairs are happy to announce the start of the 2018 Photo Competition. The competition is open to students, faculty and staff.
We have many artistic and creative individuals in our WesternU family, so we cannot wait to see your submissions! The theme of the competition is “WesternU Way,” so an ideal submission should reflect life at WesternU and fit one of these three categories: Action, Community, or On-campus Activities. Finalists will be chosen for public voting on Facebook in April and cash prizes will be awarded.
Submissions will be accepted until April 15, 2018. To read all competition details and rules and to submit your photo(s) please click on this link.
From the College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific:
WesternU celebrates Match Day
Four years of hard work comes down to one moment, one envelope. Inside is a dream realized.
Western University of Health Sciences’ College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific held Match Day celebrations on its Pomona, California and Lebanon, Oregon campuses March 16, 2018. COMP students joined other medical students across the country in learning where their residency match would take them.
Click here to read the full story and to view a slideshow.
WesternU COMP-Northwest medical students land residency programs
Student-doctors from Western University of Health Sciences’ Oregon campus celebrated another momentous by participating in Match Day, Friday, March 16.
A total of 102 students from the College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific-Northwest participated in the Match. Of those students, 55 placed into primary care fields including family medicine (24), internal medicine (21), pediatrics (nine), and OB-GYN (one). Students also placed into emergency medicine residency programs (10), anesthesiology (eight), general surgery (seven), and neurology (four), among other specialties.
Click here to read the full story.
Office of Community Engagement news
The Boys and Girls Club of the Greater Santiam recognized COMP-Northwest medical students for the 2017 Volunteer of the Year Award at this year’s Lebanon Distinguished Service dinner. The Volunteer of the Year Award acknowledges exceptional individuals, businesses and organizations that have shown a dedication to our community with exemplary service and community leadership.
COMP Northwest medical students have been serving the greater Santiam Boys and Girls Club for seven years, as part of their Service Learning education. Each year, 25 students volunteer by presenting engaging educational programs focused on “healthy choices” that include topics, such as, exercise, fitness, nutrition, stress management, study skills, and career planning. Congratulations COMP-Northwest service learning students!
Clinical trial
Clinical trial available for individuals with Type 2 Diabetes! This involves taking the oral agent liposomal glutathione, a natural antioxidant already present in the human body. $100 will be offered to eligible participants! If you are an individual with Type 2 Diabetes with no history of TB, HIV or liver function abnormalities, and are on no medications/on oral medications only, please contact research coordinator Albert Medina (amedina@westernu.edu, 909-469-8626) or principal investigator Dr. Vishwanath Venketaraman (vvenketaraman@westernu.edu) for further information.
Click here to view a flier.
Medical Anatomy Center news
Brion Benninger, MD, MSc, Professor of Medical Innovation, Technology & Research and Clinical Anatomy, demonstrated and taught musculoskeletal and eFAST ultrasound examinations at The Association of Military Osteopathic Physicians & Surgeons annual national meeting which took place this year at the joint Fort Lewis-McChord military bases in Tacoma, Washington March 9-11, 2018. Dr. Benninger demonstrated finger and conventional ultrasound probes as well as GE’s latest hand-held system to military attendees. This is a valuable meeting for our WesternU military students as they are exposed to cutting edge technologies and skills as well as the variables which are part of the diverse world of military medicine training and delivery of health care. Our military students received demonstrations on innovative simulation and aeromedical evacuations.
From the College of Veterinary Medicine:
Kudos on accomplishments
CVM Associate Professor Babak Faramarzi was recently invited to be the keynote speaker for the 5th International Surgery and Diagnostic Imaging Conference as well as the 13th National Veterinary Surgery Conference. Both conferences were held in Tehran, Iran. The keynote presentations were titled, “Biomechanics of locomotion and lameness” and “Veterinary Medicine Curriculum: Paradigm Changes in Teaching.”
From the College of Dental Medicine:
Kudos on accomplishments
Jeffrey L. Turchi, DDS, is being installed as Chairman of the ADEA GoDental committee at the ADEA meeting in Orlando. He has been a committee member for the past three years.
On February 28, 2018, First 5 LA published a press release titled “Early Childhood Matters: Rx for a Health Start: From Nutritious Bites to Pearly Whites.” WesternU CDM was featured in the article “Something to Smile About,” focusing on a success story at one of CDM’s school-linked oral health centers, and the impact the experience had on a 4-year old boy. Please see the article in full: http://www.first5la.org/index.php?r=site/article&id=3959#STSA
Dr. Marisa Watanabe was the guest editor of her themed journal titled “Advancing Oral Health Equity With Innovative Dental Approaches” in the Journal of the California Dental Association March 2018 issue. The themed journal included five articles, four of which focused on research here at WesternU CDM, and one outside article providing quality improvement implementation in private practice:
“Financial Considerations for Sustainability in School-Based Oral Health Centers,” by Josih Hostetler, Director of Community Partnerships, Dr. Huong Le and Curtis Le, along with CDM colleagues Dr. Watanabe, Dr. Jenny Tjahjono, and Dean Friedrichsen.
“The Impact of School-Based Oral Health Centers on Absence Rates and Dental Pain in a K–8 School” by Dr. Watanabe and CDM students Misa Yoshioka, DMD ’19, and Jihae Cho, DMD ’21.
“Leveraging Informatics To Relieve Barriers to Oral Health Care in Disadvantaged Communities,” by CDM student Corey Stein, DMD ’18, Dr. Alexander Lee, and Dr. Watanabe.
“A Four-Year Study on Risk-Based Recare Interval and New Cavitations in Nontraditional Dental Clinics,” by Dr. Jamie Parado, Dr. Shirley Kang, Yesha Patel, Dr. Keith Boyer, and Dr. Watanabe.
The entire journal can be accessed here: https://www.cda.org/Portals/0/journal/journal_032018.pdf
From the College of Pharmacy:
Kudos on accomplishments
Congratulations to College of Pharmacy Dean Daniel Robinson for his recognition as a California Pharmacist Association Hall of Famer! This award is given to a long and distinguished history of service, achievement in several arenas, character, innovation, trend setting and altruism. An individual who has been an inspiration to the practice of pharmacy. Dr. Robinson joins the honor roll in California of all Pharmacy greats. http://myemail.constantcontact.com/CPhA-Awards-Recipients-Announced-for-2018.html?soid=1102959881256&aid=s_2ZFT0H8fA
Drs. Hata, Shimomura, Nguyen (PharmD Class 2016), Melissa Nuesa (PharmD candidate 2018), and Sandy Hoang (PharmD candidate 2018) published an article in the California Journal of Health-System Pharmacists (CJHP) to help practitioners better realize the structure and framework of Medicare Part D, and identify plans that best suits the patients they serve. Hata M, Shimomura S, Hoang S, Nguyen E, Nuesa M. 2018 Medicare Part D Primer. CJHP 2017; 29(5):133-43.
AACP Interim Meeting Activities
Dr. Anandi Law attended the Board of Directors meeting, presented at Council of Faculties forum, and led the cons debate team as part of ALFP cohort 6 against cohort 14, on term limits for administrators.
Dr. Janice Hoffman provided a presentation on skills needed by future pharmacists to be an integral part of a team. The presentation was titled, “An Innovative Leadership Model for Healthcare Teams: Preparing Student Pharmacists for Value Participation.”
Dr. Jason Wong presented his poster titled, “Implementation of a Self-care Elective for International Post-Baccalaureate Pharmacy (IPBP) Students,” at AACP Non-prescription Medicine Academy. He received the Most Creative Poster Award.
