College of Podiatric Medicine earns full accreditation

The Council on Podiatric Medical Education has granted the College of Podiatric Medicine (CPM) initial full accreditation through October 2016.

“A special thanks to the entire University, the Board of Trustees, CPM Dean’s advisory council, administration, faculty, students and staff for their support and commitment to excellence in attaining this milestone,” said CPM Founding Dean Lawrence Harkless, DPM. “We remain committed to excellence as we continue to develop and grow the College of Podiatric Medicine.”

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COMP alumnus leaves lasting legacy

College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific alumnus Don Arlan Anderson, DO ’87, touched the lives of countless patients. Following his unexpected death last year at the age of 53, he also left a lasting legacy at his alma mater, donating $4.2 million to Western University of Health Sciences.

Dr. Anderson ran a successful dermatology practice in Kingman, Arizona, and was well respected by colleagues and cherished by patients.

“He always gave more of his time. He was just that kind of person. Others came first,” said his daughter, Amerest Anderson, DC. “Because of that generosity and his ability to put people before himself, he was able to affect a lot of people.”

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A Tribute to Caring

Western University of Health Sciences’ annual “A Tribute to Caring” gala, which raises money for student scholarships, will take place on Saturday, Nov. 10, 2012 at the Disneyland Hotel in Anaheim.

The theme this year is “Look How Far You’ve Brought Us,” honoring all of the supporters who have helped make WesternU the outstanding academic and patient care center that it is today.

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WesternU Takes Part in Step Out: Walk to Stop Diabetes

More than 400 WesternU Team walkers and virtual walkers raised more than $8,200 for the American Diabetes Association Step Out: Walk to Stop Diabetes on Oct. 27, 2012 in Griffith Park, Los Angeles.

The WesternU Team goal was $10,000. Donations can still be made at www.diabetes.org. Click on any of the WesternU Teams to donate. Click here to read the full story and to view a slideshow.

WesternU students honor their first “patient”

Our Osteopathic Medical, Dental, Podiatry and MSMS students celebrated the gifts of their donor “patients” on Oct. 31, 2012 in WesternU’s HEC Lecture Hall 1. The Student Sponsored Cadaver Memorial Ceremony highlights the wonderfully talented students each class is blessed with. Pianist, guitarists, vocalists and compassionate, caring students shared their personal reflections of their time in Anatomy Lab the past 12 weeks.

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Zorro makes his mark at WesternU

Authors Isabel Allende and Sandra Curtis provided insight into the masked swordsman Zorro at Pomona’s Together We Read event held at WesternU Nov. 1, 2012.

The Together We Read event, sponsored by the Pomona Public Library, the city of Pomona and Western University of Health Sciences, is designed to foster an appreciation and love for reading. Click here for more information and a list of Together We Read activities. Click here to read the full story.

Preview Day

Registration is open for WesternU Preview Day on Saturday, Dec. 1, 2012 from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 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.

From the College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific:

Kudos on accomplishments

Congratulations to Dr. Brion Benninger , MD MSc, Professor/Vice Chair, Medical Anatomical Sciences, Lebanon, for completing his two-year project as an author of a novel textbook, Gray’s Clinical Photographic Dissector of the Human Body, which uses actual dissection photographs of Donor Cadaver Patients to aid future health care professionals and anatomists. The publisher is Elsevier and the book is now available for purchasing.

From the College of Allied Health Professions:

Leadership Symposium

Everyone is invited to join the celebration of Humanistic Leadership with the health science students in their 4th Annual Leadership Symposium on Wednesday, Nov. 7, 2012, 6-9 p.m. in Compatriots Hall in the Health Science Center (HSC). Panelists include Charles Ng, Vice Chancellor of Fiscal Services for the San Bernardino Community College District; Dr. Clinton Adams, Dean of the College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific at Western University of Health Sciences; Dave Demerjian, Head Deputy District Attorney of the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office, Public Integrity Division, and Sara Griffin-Gapasin, Associate Attorney at Egelsee LLP. Our panelist will be speaking about leadership styles, their experiences, and advice on successful leadership. Please join us! Refreshments will be served. Please RSVP with Jacque Mosco at 909-469-5397 or jmosco@westernu.edu.

Department of Physical Therapy Education News

Chair and Associate Professor Dee Schilling, PT, PhD, is serving as Co-Chair of the Benchmarks for Excellence in Physical Therapist Education Work Force, a sub-committee of the Academic Council Excellence Task Force with the American Physical Therapy Association. The committee has been charged with investigating and identifying mechanisms for determining and establishing excellence in PT education. The committee is responsible for submitting a proposal of evidence-based benchmarks of excellence against which programs could assess themselves and identify peer and aspirant programs.

To wrap up National Physical Therapy Month, the Physical Therapy Advocacy Club (PTAC) volleyball and basketball tournaments continue with the final games scheduled for Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday, Nov. 5-6 and 8-9 in Centennial Park at 12:05 p.m. and 12:30 pm.

From the College of Pharmacy:

Kudos on accomplishments

Dr. Sheryl Chow was recently elected as a Fellow of the American Heart Association (FAHA) affiliated with the Council on Clinical Cardiology. This is indeed an honor in recognition of her scientific and professional accomplishments and volunteer leadership and service. She is now among an esteemed group of cardiology and stroke professionals. She was inducted at a session in Los Angeles held Nov. 3, 2012.

Dr. Janice Hoffman won the election to become President-elect of the American Society of Consultant Pharmacists (ASCP) California chapter.

From the College of Optometry:

College of Optometry Associate Dean creates endowed scholarship

A new endowed scholarship in the College of Optometry will encourage high academic achievement and political involvement in furthering the profession.

College of Optometry Associate Dean of Clinical Affairs Robert Gordon, OD, FAAO, DPNAP, and his wife, Andrea Silvers, OD, have established an endowed scholarship to benefit optometry students.

“We wanted to help a student progress through their optometric education and hopefully not have to worry as much about the financial implications of attending school,” Dr. Gordon said. “Having been the beneficiaries of scholarships when we were in school, we know how important they are.”

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Kudos on accomplishments

College of Optometry faculty gave the following lectures at the American Academy of Optometry Annual Academy Meeting in Phoenix, Ariz. Oct. 24-27, 2012:

“Demyelinating Disorders and Ocular Manifestations: MS or not MS?” by Dr. Tiffenie Harris

“Primary Eye care for the Hypertensive Patient: Management of Hypertensive Crises” by Dr. Tiffenie Harris

“ODs Instrumental in Fall Prevention” by Dr. Valerie Wren

College News

Click here to read the latest College of Optometry news.

From the College of Dental Medicine:

Kudos on accomplishments

Assistant Dean for Research and Biomedical Sciences Bradley Henson, DDS, PhD, was invited to speak at the University of Michigan School of Dentistry on Oct. 18 in celebration of the U of M Rackham Graduate School’s 100th anniversary. Dr. Henson spoke about his head and neck cancer research program, the importance of research, scholarship, and biomedical sciences in dental education, and the ways in which WesternU’s College of Dental Medicine is creating a model dental curriculum for the 21st century. The day included meetings with faculty and graduate students from throughout the university and was capped off with a banquet in Dr. Henson’s honor.

From University Advancement:

Grants and gifts

Dr. Bradley Bakotic, CEO of BAKO Pathology Services has provided the College of Podiatric Medicine with a $5,000 gift designated for the Dean’s Scholarship Fund.

COMP received a grant of $80,172.73 from The San Diego Foundation’s San Miguel Associate Medical Scholarship Fund. The scholarship money is intended for medical students intending to go into a primary care residency.

CVM received a grant of $300,000 from PetSmart Charities. The money will enable the college to acquire and equip a second mobile surgical van. The van will provide spay/neutering services to area animal shelters, with an emphasis on pediatric dogs and cats.

Kudos on accomplishments

WesternU’s Public Affairs Department received a Capella Award from the Public Relations Society of America at the PRSA’s recent award ceremony. Capella Awards recognize superior work in public relations, marketing, branding and communications in several fields, including education. WesternU won for the university folder “Caring. Science. Humanism.” which was done in conjunction with University Student Affairs. The folder was designed by Paul Gettler, a graphic designer in Graphics and Branding. Rick Clapper is the Graphics and Branding director.

Alumni News

On Monday, Oct. 29, the WesternU Alumni Association hosted a pizza lunch for nearly 100 students in the DVM 2013 Class. These students were back on campus from their clinical rotations, and the lunch gave them an opportunity to catch up with one another after several months apart.

From the Pumerantz Library:

Family Fun Day

On Saturday, Nov. 10, 2012 you are invited to bring your children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews to Family Fun Day at the Harriet K. & Philip Pumerantz Library. Come join us in celebrating WesternU’s paleontologists and enjoy the Paleo CSI Exhibit. Activities for children and cookies will be offered from 1 to 4 p.m.

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