Museum of Osteopathic Medicine surpasses $1 million in gifts, celebrates donors
A.T. Still University (ATSU) celebrated the Museum of Osteopathic Medicine surpassing its $1 million fundraising goal with a special donor recognition ceremony on Friday, Oct. 18, 2024, during the University’s annual Founder’s Day events on the Kirksville, Missouri, campus. Dozens of members of the ATSU community attended the event, including the ATSU Board of Trustees, faculty, staff, students, and administration.
ATSU Chief Advancement Officer Robert Behnen, MBA, welcomed and introduced guests, and Chancellor Craig M. Phelps, DO, ’84, delivered opening remarks and thanked those in attendance. As Dr. Phelps spoke to the audience, he recalled two years ago when the Museum of Osteopathic Medicine celebrated its accreditation from the American Alliance of Museums. It was at that celebration, alumni and friends were encouraged to support the museum through charitable gifts. Since that time, the museum has received generous contributions from 122 donors.
“Our alumni, our friends, and others have donated over $1 million dollars to help the museum be sustainable,” Dr. Phelps said. “Having sustainability means we can do more for the community, we can bring more people to this area. They can learn about the history of osteopathy, and they come from around the world.”
One of the event highlights included recognition of Lloyd Cleaver, DO, ’76, and his family for their six-figure donation to establish the Cleaver Family Endowment for the museum. In honor of the family’s generosity, the museum’s main gallery foyer was officially named the Cleaver Family Foyer.
Nathan Cleaver, DO, ’10; Lloyd Cleaver, DO, ’76; Mrs. Lloyd Cleaver; Jonathan Cleaver, DO, ’08; and David Cleaver, DO, ’06
“Funding this endowment is a decision we made out of gratitude for the medical career I have been privileged to pursue and the osteopathic education I received at ATSU-KCOM, the founding school of osteopathic medicine and home to the Museum of Osteopathic Medicine,” said Dr. Cleaver, who was joined by his family at the ceremony. “It is a privilege I share with my sons, David Cleaver, DO, ’06; Jonathan Cleaver, DO, ’08; and Nathan Cleaver, DO, ’10, who also chose to pursue this noble profession and attain their osteopathic medical education at ATSU.”
Additionally, Dr. Lloyd Cleaver was thanked for sharing his story of charitable giving through a museum fundraising appeal. That appeal sparked a wave of generosity from additional donors and raised more than $36,000 for the Museum of Osteopathic Medicine.
Following the Cleaver family’s recognition, Chris Paynter, DO, president of the Missouri Association of Osteopathic Physicians and Surgeons (MAOPS) Board of Trustees, announced a $100,000 gift commitment from the organization, which will establish the MAOPS Gallery Hall. The establishment of the hall will expand the museum’s exhibition space leading from Heritage Hall to the newly created Synapse Lounge.
Chris Paynter, DO, president of MAOPS Board of Trustees (second from left), announced a $100,000 gift commitment to establish the MAOPS Gallery Hall.
In addition to honoring the Cleaver family and MAOPS, John Drabing, DO, ’61, was recognized for contributing the final gift of nearly $50,000 to push the campaign past its $1 million fundraising goal. Dr. Drabing was not able to attend the ceremony, but his support was noticed by all in attendance as the event culminated with a drumroll and balloon drop.
Following the ceremony, attendees gathered for a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Cleaver Family Foyer and a reception in the museum’s main gallery.
Throughout the course of the campaign, charitable donations have included gifts of all sizes. Some of those gifts included Elsie Gaber, PhD, and Rob Gaber, DHL, naming Elsie’s Medicinal Garden, which was recognized as part of the accreditation celebration at Founder’s Day 2022. More recently, Sydney P. Ross, DO, ’59, designated funds to establish the Fred and Julia Ross, RN, Endowment for the Museum of Osteopathic Medicine and to name one of the window exhibit spaces in Heritage Hall. The endowment and naming of the window exhibit space are in memory of his parents.
Balloons drop on the audience as the Museum of Osteopathic Medicine announces $1 million raised.
All the names mentioned above are listed on the Wall of Honor at the Museum of Osteopathic Medicine. Spaces on the wall are still available to commemorate those who have represented and supported osteopathic medicine. To recognize a person or organization special to you, please contact Brad Chambers, director of development, at bradchambers@atsu.edu or 660.626.2180, or visit giving.atsu.edu/honor-wall to donate online.
David W. Bashline, DO, ’61, Cranesville, Pennsylvania, died Jan. 22, 2024, at age 88. He was born October 15, 1935, in Brooklyn, NY, son of the late McClelland and Alberta (Shrum) Bashline. David graduated from Grove City College. He furthered his medical education by going to Kirksville, MO College of Osteopathic Medicine and serving his internship at Saginaw Osteopathic Hospital in Michigan. As a licensed DO, David came to Albion, PA and opened his own family practice in January 1963. He was on the staff of Millcreek Community Hospital for 43 years, was a staff physician at SCI Albion and SCI Cambridge Springs and was the Northwestern School District doctor. Dr. Bashline was a life member of the American Osteopathic Association, Pennsylvania Osteopathic Association, American College of Osteopathic Family Practitioners, the Albion Sportsman’s Club and the Albion Masonic Lodge. He enjoyed hunting, fishing and photography and serving the people of the Albion community.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Mary Bashline, and a daughter, Heidi Bashline. David is survived by two daughters, Amy Nulph and her husband, Eric, of Seminole, FL, Kate Podoll and her husband, Kurt, of Pinellas Park, FL, a sister, Lynn McGrath of Erie, and three grandchildren – Mandi, Emily, and Hannah.
Janice M. Beaton, AuD, ’10, New Berlin, Wisconsin, died July 17, 2024, at age 70. Dear wife of Thomas for 44 years. Loving mother of son Alexander. Sister of Ellen (Ken) Greismer, Edward Ciechanowski (Margaret) and Christine Thuerk (David). Also loved by other relatives and friends.
Jan was employed as a Clinical Audiologist for 42 years. She received a Bachelor of Science degree in communicative disorders from Marquette University in 1974, a Master of Science in Audiology from Purdue University in 1976 and a Doctor of Audiology Degree from A.T. Still University in 2007. Janice worked for Aurora Health Care at the Aurora Summit Hospital in Oconomowoc. Janice had a genuine passion for helping the poor, the elderly and the disabled. Twelve years of her professional career were devoted to volunteering free part time Audiology service to Aurora Walkers Point plus an added three years following her retirement until April of this year. During her retirement she volunteered as a reader for the blind at LibriVox up until this past June. Jan was a hospice volunteer at Badger Hospice in Brookfield. Jan made many close friends with other avid tennis players and taught Mahjong. Jan loved traveling to all 50 states and many trips abroad. She passed comfortably in her home surrounded by a loving family and some very close friends. She was an angel among us.
Ronald J. Bitza, DO, ’74, Peoria, Arizona, died Aug. 30, 2022.
Forrest Bollow, EdD, Shelbina, Missouri, died June 1, 2024. Dr. Bollow was the director of the Office of Assessment & Accreditation. For over seven years, Dr. Bollow served our institution with dedication and passion. His commitment to ATSU will be deeply missed by all his colleagues who knew him. His job was not just a job. He truly loved the people he worked with and understood and appreciated the importance of helping every program with its accreditation documents.
Dr. Bollow’s patience, kindness, willingness to help others, and his fishing/boating stories will be especially missed. In this difficult time, our heartfelt condolences go out to Dr. Bollow’s family, friends, and colleagues. We know many are grieving this loss.
Earl P. Duffy Jr., DDS, Mesa, Arizona, died Aug. 14, 2024, at age 70. He was born and raised in Chicago, Illinois to Earl Senior and Lucille Duffy. After Duff graduated Dental School from Northwestern University he moved to Mesa, Arizona in 1980 to begin his dental practice. This is where he would meet and marry the love of his life. They went on to raise a beautiful family.
He loved to go fishing with his sons, woodworking, fix anything that was broken, and spend time in Flagstaff, Arizona.
Duff was a shining example of kindness and generosity. His infectious enthusiasm, humor, and ability to light up a room made him the life of any gathering. Duff’s impact on the world was immeasurable. His passion for his loved ones and his profession was evident in everything he did. He was a constant source of positivity, inspiration, and support to those around him. His laughter was contagious, and his genuine kindness knew no bounds.
He was an adjunct professor at A.T. Still University’s Arizona School of Dentistry & Oral Health.
Duff is survived by his loving wife Debbie of 42 years, three sons Ian, Kyle, and Shaun, three daughters-in-law Brooke, Rachel, and Alicia and his five granddaughters Rylee, Reagan, Reese, Clara, and Layla.
Duff will be deeply missed by all who knew him. His legacy of kindness, humor, and generosity will live on in the hearts of many.
Richard A. Hall, DO, ’76, Cass City, Michigan, died May 21, 2024, at age 78. He was born Feb. 19, 1946, to the late Alvin and Lela (MacRae) Hall in Detroit. Richard graduated from Owendale-Gagetown high School in 1964. He attended Central Michigan University, where he met the love of his life, Marjorie Krohn. They were married, July 19, 1969 in Elkton. Marjorie passed away Sept. 8, 2014. Richard started out as a chemistry teacher for Unionville High School, but soon realized that was not his calling. In 1972 he began medical school at Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine in Kirksville, MO. Upon graduation, he began his career in Cass City, where he practiced Family Medicine and served the community for 45 years. Richard poured all his time, energy and passion into his family and his patients, his two greatest loves in life.
He is survived by his children, Charlie (Bobbi) Hall of Greenville, Heidi Hall of Bay City and Elizabeth (Dwight) Thabet of Cass City, grandchildren, Dr. Alexander (Dr. Heidi Michael) Hall, ’22, Mitchell (Joanna Vuylsteke) Hall, Madison Hall, Anthony Thabet and Colin Thabet and great granddaughter, Penelope. In addition to Marjorie and his parents, he was predeceased by his “second mom” Dr. Thelma June MacRae.
Ira Hershman, DO, ’58, Coral Gables, Florida, died April 1, 2024, at age 90. Ira lived a life full of love, laughter, generosity and adventure both at sea and in the mountains. As a family physician, he was devoted to his patients. As a husband and father, he was steadfast. Ira was born in Brooklyn, New York, the youngest son of a Russian immigrant. He attended Erasmus Hall High School and Brooklyn College. He graduated as a DO from Kirksville College of Osteopathy and Surgery – now A.T Still University in Kirksville, Missouri. It was the sea and a job that drew Ira to Miami in the late 1950s. The Miami Springs Villas and its one-wall paddleball court was where he found his center of gravity and developed lasting friendships. There he courted Yvonne (Duke) Hershman, his wife of 60 years. He is survived by Yvonne and their daughter, Heather Bellow; son-in-law Robert Grien; grandchildren Stella Bellow and Ben Bellow; his daughter from a first marriage, Alisa Swanson, grandchildren Jay Siren and Michael Swanson and their families.
Thomas F. Kabisch, DO, ’93, Ann Arbor, Michigan, died May 28, 2024, at age 73. Dr. Kabisch opened his Integrated Medical office in Ann Arbor on E. Stadium in 1993. His dedication to his patients and family was without limits and he cared for all who were in need. Dr. Kabisch’s beautiful mind, eidetic memory, and passion for research, blessed him with a vast knowledge of the healing arts.
He was born March 6, 1951 in Portsmouth, Ohio, to Mary Lou (Nardi) Kabisch and Thomas Alfred Kabisch. He was raised in Riverview, Michigan and attended St. Cyprian Catholic School, Gabriel Richard High School (1969), and Eastern Michigan University. Dr. Kabisch was a graduate of the Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine (1993) and held degrees in many holistic healing arts. He was born and raised a Roman Catholic and was a member of Christ the King where he was a perpetual adoration chapel attendant, Mondays 1:00 am to 3:00, for over 10 years and a 4th of degree member of the Cardinal O’Hara Assembly of Knights of Columbus.
Tom was a motorcyclist throughout his life, owning many classic motorcycles, and was delighted with his current Indian motorcycle. He loved life fully and shared his love of old movies, vintage ties, flying planes and fixing everything from cars and clocks to craniums. He was a distinguished dresser and recognized by his Fedora or Panama straw hat.
Tom is survived by his wife, Mary Calagias Kabisch; son, Nathanial (Leilani Benatovich) Kabisch; daughters, Yasamina (Dimitrias Lekkos) Kabisch and Telana (Ignacio Diaz) Kabisch; sisters, Denise (Kerry Flynn) Kabisch and Mary Karen (Ed) McClellan; nieces, Katharine (Joe) Wilkinson and Elisa (Devin) Collingridge; and great nieces and nephews, Eloise, Lawson, Dominic and Gianna. All love him dearly.
Shamshudeen Khan, DHSc, ’16, MS, ’11, Westlake, Ohio, died June 30, 2024, at age 62. Dr. Khan was born January 21, 1962. Beloved husband of Adrienne Rose Khan for 32 years. Dearest father of Deena, Xavier, Lara, Damien, and Gabriel. Loving son of Basmattie Naitram and Naitram Hector (both deceased) and loving brother of Merlin (deceased), Dorean, Ganesh, Mohan, Suroj, and Data (deceased).
Sham immigrated to the U.S. in the 1980s. He was a self-taught man and a lifelong learner. He became a proud graduate of Cuyahoga Community College (Western Campus) with an Associate of Science, an Applied Associate of Science in Respiratory Care, and an Applied Associate of Science in Surgical Physician Assistant. Healthcare became his life’s passion. He worked in the respiratory neonatal unit at MetroHealth and later in the pulmonary unit at The Cleveland Clinic Main Campus, where he had success in weaning lung transplant patients off ventilators. Upon passage of the state boards in physician assistant, he secured a job in surgery at Elyria Memorial Hospital and worked for several years there before accepting a position in general surgery at Fairview Hospital. Sham continued his education later in life and earned his master’s degree and his doctorate degree from A.T. Still University. He always felt the most satisfying part of his work was restoring people to better health.
In addition to his career as a healthcare provider, Sham was also a small business owner who sought to provide quality, affordable housing to individuals as a means of giving back to the community. The best part of Sham was that he was a selfless family man. His wife and children meant the most to him, and he meant the most to them. He will be greatly missed. Peace be upon you, dearly beloved.
Richard C. MacDonald, DO, ’65, Camden, Maine, died Nov. 25, 2023, at age 88. Born on 10/25/1935 to Ernest (from Leeds, England) and Katherine in Philadelphia where he and his sister, Kitty Lou, attended Germantown High. Here, he starred on the track and swim teams and was student council president. Dick spoke often about how being dyslexic taught him to never shy away from a challenge. He became passionate about sports and attended Springfield College to study physical education. There, he fell in love with Patricia Harlow. They were married in 1959, true partners until her death in 2022. They then moved to Kirskville, MO where Dick attended osteopathic medical school, graduating in 1965, and where Pat gave birth to Rick and Barbara. Dick then began the practice of osteopathic manipulative therapy in Annapolis, MD with his half-brother, Ernest (Rick). The brothers testified in front of Congress establishing osteopathic Medicare reimbursement. Dick and Pat had their 3 child, Douglas, here. In 1974, the family moved to Maine where he practiced at Waterville Osteopathic Hospital, was president of the MOA (1983) and received the Distinguished Service Award for outstanding lifetime contributions to the Osteopathic profession (2017). Here he treated many athletes and could be seen running in the dead of winter with icicles on his beard training for the Boston Marathon. Dick had an adventurous spirit enjoying family canoe trips to Moosehead Lake, exploring esoteric healing arts, UFOs and cryptozoology.
In 1987, Dick and Pat moved to Palm Beach Gardens, Florida joining Dr. John Upledger’s institute. While teaching CranioSacral Therapy, Dick inspired hundreds of students across the country, in Europe and New Zealand while forming lasting friendships. Together, Dick and Pat loved treating infants and children with disabilities here and in Mexico. Upon semi-retirement in 2006, they returned to Maine to live closer to his nephew, Skip, and family in Dover Foxcroft, volunteering at the YMCA, taking trips up the Allagash and aboard the schooner Mary Day. Later, Dick and Pat moved to the mid-coast living closer to Barbara in their final years.
Dick and Pat’s children extend sincere gratitude for the wonderful staff at Bartlett Woods and Quarry Hill where they lived and to the healthcare providers at Pen Bay Medical Center where he passed. Dick will be remembered fondly for his dedication to family, sense of humor and devotion to helping and healing people. He was predeceased by his parents, wife (Pat), sister (Kitty), and half-brothers Frank, Warren, and Ernest. He is survived by his children Rick (Verleen & Caroline), Barb (Shawn & Declan) and Doug (Amy, Molly & Otto), nieces, nephews, and close friends.
Karen Mercer, AuD, ’07, Montrose, Colorado, died Aug. 1, 2024, at age 67. She was born in 1956 in Wilmington, Delaware, to Tom and BG Mercer. Karen’s dad worked for Dupont and as the family grew, they moved quite frequently as her dad was transferred from Delaware to Santa Ana, California, to Dallas, Texas, then to Atlanta, Georgia. They moved back to Wilmington, Delaware, when Karen was 9. By that time there were four kids and a childhood filled with a large extended Irish Catholic family who often sang together in four-part harmony.
Karen graduated from Concord High School in Wilmington, Delaware, and went on to obtain an associate’s degree at Harcum College, Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, then to State University of New York Geneseo to start a bachelor’s degree. She finished her bachelor’s degree in speech pathology/audiology with a minor in psychology at West Virginia University. She then moved to Colorado and received a master’s degree in audiology from the University of Northern Colorado in 1980. She completed her doctorate in audiology at Still University in 2006. Her first audiology job was at a private practice in Glenwood Springs, Colorado, where she stayed for seven years. There she found a love of the outdoors, skiing and hiking while living in a log cabin (with a lot of mice as roommates) and took up country swing dancing which she taught at Colorado Mountain College. While in Glenwood she also started writing music and had her first music duo with her friend Lee Martin. They performed for a number of years together.
In 1987 she moved to Northern California for a short stretch as a part-time audiologist/musician. Then in late 1987 her wanderlust took hold and she moved to New Zealand where she worked as an audiologist for the Department of Health for a year. She then made her way to Australia on her way back to her beloved Colorado and landed in Montrose. In 1990 she opened her private practice, Southwest Hearing, in Montrose. At first there were a small number of patients which over the years grew to thousands. She loved them all and eventually retired in 2018. Also in 1990 she and “music love” Glenda Fletchall started the famed duo “Gotta be Girls”… and started writing their own music. The “Girls” performed frequently around Western Colorado and Arizona. Eventually two more “Girls” were added to the Band … they were HOT! In 2012 she stepped out of the band to write, perform worldwide and record three CD’s, the last being in 2024.
In the early 1990s Karen married and in 1996 her beautiful daughter, Bridgit Elizabeth Baldus was born. Soon Bridgit, the apple of her eye, became her ever present sidekick at Southwest Hearing. In 2017 she finally met the love of her life, Neil O’Keeffe, the man she called her soulmate. They had seven wonderful years of adventure and camaraderie together. In 2022 she was diagnosed with cancer. During the following two years, Neil was ever present by her side, helping her through the many challenges she faced. They were married in 2024 in a private backyard ceremony.
She will be greatly missed by her husband Neil O’Keeffe, daughter Bridgit Baldus, her parents Tom and BG Mercer, siblings Amy Jones, Mark Mercer and wife Talia Schiff, Tommy Mercer and wife Priscilla and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins, all of whom she loved dearly. And last but not least, too many friends to count … She touched so many people!
Albert L. Pick, DO, JD, ’67, Alpharetta, Georgia, died Oct. 11, 2023, at age 99. Albert, also known as “Uncle Buddy” to his family and friends, lived most of his early life in Oklahoma City Oklahoma. He is the last surviving immediate family member from father Michael Pick, mother Rachel Pick, sister June Galoob, sister Carolyn Stone. He is survived by his wife Barbara.
Buddy enjoyed a very active and interesting life. He never missed the opportunity to tell a joke. Always starting conversations with a joke he had created or heard about. His accomplishments included degrees In Petroleum Engineering, Osteopathic Doctor of Medicine (General Surgery), Juris Doctorate. Other activities include airplane pilot, champion tennis player, World War II Naval officer. He often traveled around the country visiting family members offering help and support to all.
Ronald J. Proctor, DO, ’79, Osage Beach, Missouri, died Feb. 13, 2024, at age 69. He was born in St. Louis, Missouri, on August 11, 1954, in St. Anthony’s Hospital. He inherited his restless spirit and curiosity from his ancestors, who had traveled across the continents and the oceans in search of new lands and experiences. He was always fascinated by the wonders of nature and the mysteries of the universe, and he dreamed of visiting other places and realms. He made many of those dreams into reality.
Ron grew up in Tularosa and Alamogordo New Mexico where he enjoyed exploring and climbing mountains with his dad and Grandpa Foss. He loved going to White Sands and running up and down the sand dunes with his sister and having lunches in the park with his family. It was always fun taking the vacuum to their dog Cindy after arriving back home from an adventure – trying to get the white sand out of her black hair. (Even if she didn’t think it was a lot of fun.) Carlsbad caverns was another favorite. Ron could have gone there every weekend. He always felt drawn to exploration. Later when Ron moved to St. Charles, Missouri he and his friends, Rick Post, Jay Brakensiek, and Mark Cowen and sometimes Lonnie Bush would explore undiscovered caves in the Missouri hills. The stories were often quite scary, but he always made it back home with a smiling face (and usually covered in mud). His merry band of adventurers were some of the very few to reach the back of Fischer’s cave, where they found a tin can engraved with the names of explorers from the 30’s. Bennet Springs was another place Ron loved going to with his family. That’s where Ron and his sisters learned just about everything there is to know about fishing and camping from their Dad. Ron simply loved life and his family.
He pursued his passion for science and medicine at Truman State University, where he graduated medical school in 1978. During these years he spent a lot of time with his friends and began his ongoing collecting of sports cars, usually ones way too small for a man of his height. He was commissioned in the Air Force, traveling far and abroad as a flight surgeon. He once caught a photograph of a Soviet airman who was taking a picture of him at the same time while their planes were flying near each other (probably neither were allowed to do that). He then embarked on a series of remarkable adventures that took him to the most remote and exotic places on Earth, and beyond. He explored Egypt, getting in a little trouble when he claimed not to have seen the sign prohibiting climbing the great pyramid, the islands of the Pacific, living for several years in Hawaii and much more. He encountered many dangers and marvels along the way, and he made friends with people of many different cultures. Throughout his life he visited more than 43 countries and was a polyglot learning numerous languages.
Ron did have a complicated relationship with colors, being colorblind, sometimes his choices mystified others. From bright orange shoes and sports cars to a van with royal purple and blue shag interior. Those around him often would marvel at these combinations that colored his world. He was not only a fearless explorer, but a caring generous physician. He was called Dr. Ron by many patients who he cared for with a heart of gold and a healing touch. He spent many years working in the E.R. being vitalized by all the chaos, while he also ran his own private practice. He chronicled his amazing adventures through memories he built with his children through games, stories, and adventures, taking them climbing, exploring and caving. He was an avid chess player and sci-fi fan, reading and watching about worlds he couldn’t travel to in person. He was a man of honor, compassion, and courage, who inspired many to follow their dreams and to make the world a better place.
From his childhood dog Cindy to his college dogs Strider and Sammy and all the rest of his furry fluffy friends, his love and compassion extended well beyond just the humans whose lives he touched. He discovered the love of creating stained glass, woodworking, and many varied games. He had a passion for trying out new hobbies and learning to excel at the skills required in each venture, always happy to teach others the things he had mastered.
He is survived by his wife, Dee Anna Treece, his children; Shaun and Carolina Brune (Son and Daughter in law), Justin and Jennifer Proctor (Son and Daughter in law), Larissa Proctor (Daughter), Stephanie and Thomas Talley (Daughter and Son in law); his grandchildren Julian Proctor, Izzy Watts, Mitchel Watts, Mia and Elanna Brune, Maddie and Ainsley Talley, his Mother, Ruth (Foss)Faulkner, his siblings Donna McGinnis Smith and Gene Smith (Sister and Brother in law) and Joyce Pillow and Jon Dyer (Sister and Brother in law), along with so many cousins, nieces and nephews, and his many friends and admirers. He loved and was loved by far too many to mention. He will be greatly missed by all who knew him and by all who will know his stories. He was a true hero and a legend, who lived a life of adventure and wonder. He now rests among the stars, where he always belonged. He was preceded in death by his Father, James Proctor. Ron was an amazing Father, Son, Brother, Husband, and Friend, who will always be loved. Travel well, until we see each other again.
Leslie R. Schmeltz Jr., AuD, ’01, Mesa, Arizona, died July 23, 2024, at age 81. Les was a proud Yooper, born in Ishpeming, Michigan on May 18, 1943. He spent his youth there, graduating from Ishpeming High School in 1960 and then attending college at Northern Michigan University, receiving a Bachelor of Science. Les continued his education at University of Wisconsin Stevens Point receiving his Master of Science.
After college, Les moved to Bettendorf, Iowa and worked as a school audiologist for the Area Education Agency for over 30 years and raised a family with his first wife Leena Schmeltz (Alasimi). Later in life, Les relocated to Mesa, AZ and went back to school to earn his doctorate degree in Audiology from A.T. Still University of Health Sciences in 2001. He then served as an Associate Professor of Audiology at A.T. Still University of Health Sciences from 2005 until his retirement in 2020. Recently retired, he retained his role as the Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Early Hearing Research and Intervention (JEHDI). Les had a particular interest in the development of an information management system for tracking infants with hearing deficits, providing resources for researchers and clinicians conducting testing and medical interventions for young people with hearing disabilities. He also traveled the country doing assessments of clinical programs.
Les was well known by his family and friends for his playful sense of humor and kind demeanor. He was an avid golfer, hiker, and reader and also wrote several books including Hands on Applesoft (1987), Playing the Stock and Bond Markets With Your Personal Computer (1981), Word Processing with Your Microcomputer (1982), and Backyard Money Machine (1993).
Les is survived by his wife Diane Elizabeth (Bushnell) Schmeltz of Mesa, AZ, daughters Lisa Marie (Schmeltz) Bloom (Jason Bloom) of Bartlett, IL, Linda Aili Schmeltz (Gregory Bryant) of Los Angeles, CA, half-brother Llewellyn J. Pope of Negaunee, MI and his beloved dogs Dora and Bobby. He was preceded in death by his parents Leslie R. Schmeltz Sr. and Mary Elizabeth Schmeltz, and his sister Joy C. Schmeltz Phillips.
David W. Swayze, DO, ’59, Punta Gorda, Florida, died April 18, 2024, at age 95. Dr. Swayze was born on November 10 1928 to Laura and Wade (Wayne) Swayze in Flint Michigan and was a Florida resident for the last twenty years. He graduated from Flint Central High School in 1947 and joined the Army in 1948 and became a Paratrooper and Gliderman before being honorably discharged in June of 1952. Dr. Swayze attended Flint Junior College, N.E. Missouri State and Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine in Kirksville, Missouri. He was a physician as a General Practitioner and then an Anesthesiologist. He was a member of the American Osteopathic College of Anesthesiologist, St. Andrews South Golf Club, American Medical Association, a lifelong member of the AASR Masonic Jurisdiction, The American Legion, BPO Elks and the International Anesthesiology Research Society. Dr Swayze enjoyed playing golf, backgammon, solitaire and watched every episode of Gun Smoke.
Dr. Swayze is survived by his wife, Marie, four children, Ramona; Matthew, DO, ’86; Rebecca; and Mitchell; four stepchildren, James, Jeffrey, Andrew and Laurie; 14 grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren. He is also survived by one sister, Shirley and a nephew, Scott. He is preceded in death by his parents and stepfather, Nathan Jones.
As we turn the pages of this Still Magazine, I am filled with immense pride and gratitude for each student who has chosen ATSU for health professions education. This edition is particularly special as it captures the essence of our community through photos of white coat ceremonies, commencements, and all the moments in between.
The events featured throughout this issue are not just ritual. They are symbolic of the hard work, perseverance, and commitment our students have shown throughout their time with us. Commencement ceremonies were a celebration of achievement, where we watched our graduates take the next step into their professional lives. White coat ceremonies, equally profound and joyous, marked the beginning of journeys filled with knowledge, compassion, and the promise to uphold the highest standards of care.
This edition also includes some remarkable moments captured by our very own students. These photos provide a unique perspective into their daily lives, showcasing their experiences, camaraderie, and dedication. Our students are a constant source of inspiration, and the photos they have shared with us are snapshots of memories they will carry throughout their lives.
Additionally, we have the privilege of sharing stories of our dedicated ATSU board, faculty, and staff members. Their commitment to our university goes beyond the campus walls to our communities, making a better environment for our partners, neighbors, and friends.
As you explore these pages, I hope you feel as connected to our university as I do. Whether you graduated recently or many years ago, you are a part of a growing and flourishing legacy. ATSU thrives because of your support, passion, and involvement. Thank you for being an integral part of our story.
Yours in service,
Craig M. Phelps, DO, ’84 ATSU Chancellor
For George, DO, ’76, and Elaine Pipes, the last 66 years have gone by in a flash. Since their marriage in 1958, they have walked through life side by side, hand in hand.
Today, they both work at ATSU on the Kirksville, Missouri, campus. Dr. George is a family medicine physician overseeing residents at Kirksville Family Medicine, and Elaine is the office manager at the Museum of Osteopathic Medicine. As newlyweds, however, they struggled to make ends meet.
They grew up near Milan, a rural community in northeast Missouri. Shortly after Elaine graduated from high school, they got married and worked in Kansas City, coming home on weekends to help on their family farms. While they shared a lot of love, they had very little money.
After several months, and expecting their first child, the couple moved back to the Milan area permanently to be near family. They found a small rental house and began setting up their home. But, like any young couple, they were in need of several items, including a stove for cooking and canning.
Elaine had her heart set on a stove she found at the Skelly Oil Company gas station in Milan, which sold a variety of household appliances. Called “the burner with a brain,” the large stove came with several burners that would turn down automatically if the stovetop got too hot. It also came with a hefty price tag of more than $400.
When Dr. George told Elaine they couldn’t afford it and they needed to save that money for a tractor, she was crushed. He instead found her an apartment-sized stove for $99.
“I’ll admit it, I really pouted about it,” Elaine says. “I would complain to my mother-in-law about it. She was the sweetest lady. I loved them, and they loved me.”
Then one day, as Elaine was complaining again about using that “awful” smaller stove instead of the burner with a brain, her mother-in-law threw a piece of paper at her and said, “Here, just win you one.” It was an advertisement from the local newspaper about a jingle contest that said, “Why would you like to have, in 25 words or less, a burner with a brain stove?”
“I told her, ‘Well, I just will!’” Elaine recalls, laughing.
For a pregnant and determined Elaine, this was a challenge. She went home, jotted down her jingle on the form, cut it out of the newspaper, and put it in an envelope. But she needed her last stamp for her brother’s birthday card.
The envelope laid on the kitchen counter for a long time, until finally, Dr. George walked by and asked Elaine if the envelope was supposed to be mailed. She told him yes, but how she didn’t have an extra stamp for the “jingle thing.” She then told him to just throw the envelope away because she had since gotten over the challenge.
Seeing her disappointment and trying to be supportive, Dr. George told her he had 3 cents for a stamp and put the envelope in the mailbox. They went on about their day, and neither one of them said anything else about it.
Weeks later, on a hot summer day, Elaine was at her mom’s house, and Dr. George was out in the field farming with her dad. They were canning green beans in a steamy kitchen when Elaine’s mom noticed a strange car pull up. A man wearing a suit stepped out. Elaine recognized him as Russell Riggen, the funeral director of Riggen Funeral Home in Milan.
Riggen walked to the door and asked for Mrs. George Pipes. Elaine’s mom ushered him inside. When he stepped into the kitchen, he looked at Elaine and told her she better sit down. Her mind racing and expecting bad news, Elaine sat down and held her breath as she waited to hear what he had to say.
After several seconds of silence, he said, “You just won $5,000.”
Confused, Elaine looked at him and laughed.
Riggen then began to explain by reminding her of the jingle contest she entered. It was a contest across 48 states with one winner – Mrs. George Pipes. Suddenly, Elaine remembered Riggen was not only a funeral director, but he also owned the Skelly gas station. Since the form Elaine submitted came from his store, he was told to get in touch with her about the prize and setting up an award banquet.
Elaine and her mom were in complete shock. After Riggen left, they were barely able to contain their excitement, so they drove out to the field to flag down the men. They waved and honked the horn to get their attention. Dr. George was the first to see this display and, thinking his wife was in labor, jumped off the tractor to ask if she was all right. When Elaine told him the news, Dr. George grabbed her and gave her the biggest hug.
To this day, Elaine can’t remember the jingle she wrote, but she remembers every detail of the events that unfolded afterward. That $5,000 changed the course of their lives, although she never used the money to buy the burner with a brain. She kept using the apartment-sized stove for years afterward, and Dr. George bought a tractor to get their own farm started.
They farmed for several years and raised two children, Lori and Andy. As the rise of big machinery in farming began, Dr. George and Elaine quickly realized their farm would not be large enough to generate the income necessary for their children’s education. At the time, it was common for families to make a good living by farming in the summer and teaching in the winter.
Dr. George planned to get a degree to teach science at the Milan High School for a teacher who would be retiring in the next few years. In the meantime, Elaine got a job as a teacher’s aide. She took the kids to school with her, and Dr. George drove 100 miles round trip to Kirksville to attend Northeast Missouri State College, now Truman State University.
In two and a half years, Dr. George earned his teaching degree as planned, but without notice, the science teacher in Milan decided not to retire. This news left Dr. George and Elaine disappointed and uncertain of what they should do next. They decided to press on, and Dr. George taught one year at Kirksville Junior High while Elaine got a job at Truman as secretary for the dean of students.
As time passed, Dr. George’s interest in science grew. He had several friends from the Truman science program who began attending Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine (ATSU-KCOM) to become physicians. He decided he, too, would pursue medical school.
Dr. George hoped to attend ATSU-KCOM because of his connection to several students and his roots with osteopathic medicine. He and Elaine were both delivered by and grew up with doctors of osteopathic medicine (DOs). However, he was denied acceptance because of his age. At 34 years old, he was just past the cutoff.
Disappointed yet again, Dr. George continued teaching. He also started working part time in the evenings at Laughlin Hospital, which formerly stood across the street from ATSU-KCOM, taking care of animals in the research labs. After work, he would often stop by the ATSU-KCOM anatomy lab to visit friends.
One night, outside the anatomy lab, Dr. George and his friend, Sam Price, DO, ’76, who had also been denied acceptance because of his age, ran into a man wearing a long white coat. The man asked what they were doing and if they were students. Dr. George quickly explained they were visiting some friends who were students, and while they had applied to the program, they had been denied because they were “too old.” The man responded, “Oh, is that right?”
About two days later, Dr. George and Dr. Price each received letters from ATSU-KCOM saying they were accepted, pending completion of two additional courses to meet the requirements. They later learned the man in the white coat was John Stedman Denslow, DO, ’29, a pioneer in osteopathic research and husband of Dr. A.T. Still’s granddaughter, Mary Jane Laughlin.
Dr. George and Elaine Pipes serve as grand marshals for the 2024 ATSU-KCOM Commencement Ceremony.
The rest of Dr. George and Elaine’s story is now history. Dr. George graduated from ATSU-KCOM as a DO, and Elaine spent 30 years as manager of his medical office until he retired from active practice.
Dr. George’s postgraduate education included an internship at Kirksville Osteopathic Medical Center and fellowship at Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology, Washington University Medical Center in St. Louis. He also completed a U.S. Army Flight Surgeon Course with Academy Health Sciences in Fort Rucker, Alabama, as well as a scientific program and Federal Aviation Administration Aviation Medical Examiner Seminar with the Aerospace Medical Association in New Orleans.
During his years of practice, Dr. George served as part of a medical health team in La Paz, Bolivia, a lieutenant colonel and state flight surgeon with the Missouri Army National guard, and director of medical education and vice chair of the Board of Governors for the Kirksville Osteopathic Medical Center. The American Association of Physician Specialists named him a Distinguished Fellow in 1991 and Family Practitioner of the Year in 1995.
When Dr. George retired from active practice and began overseeing residents at Kirksville Family Medicine, Elaine joined the Museum of Osteopathic Medicine and became part of ATSU-KCOM’s interview process for selecting student applicants. She received the ATSU Employee Excellence Award in 2007 and honorary Kirksville Osteopathic Alumni Association membership in 2010. In addition to these honors, Elaine served as president of the Auxiliary of the American Association of Physician Specialists and, as a personal goal, learned to fly a plane at age 50, holding membership with the Missouri Pilot’s Association.
Flying became an outlet for Dr. George and Elaine during their years of maintaining a busy practice. Dr. George was always fascinated with flying, even as a child. During medical school, they saved enough money for him to take lessons and get his pilot’s license. Eventually, they were able to buy an engineless helicopter, fix it up, and fly it to nursing homes around the area to see patients. This was the first of several helicopters and planes they would own and restore throughout their lives.
“It’s been a wonderful, wonderful journey,” Elaine says. “It’s not been easy. We still have our farms, but we live in Kirksville now. We have a great family, both Lori and Andy are registered nurses, and we have three beautiful, independent granddaughters.”
In recognition of their lifelong dedication to ATSU-KCOM and the osteopathic profession, Dr. George and Elaine were asked to be grand marshals at the 2024 ATSU-KCOM Commencement Ceremony in May. Humbled by the honor, the couple led the procession of graduates into Baldwin Auditorium, holding hands every step of the way.
“We’ve had a good life, and we are as one,” Dr. George says. “We did it together and helped each other.”
A new class of healthcare professionals is stepping into the spotlight, ready to make their mark on the world. These ATSU graduates embody the dedication, resilience, and innovation needed to lead in the ever-evolving and rapidly advancing healthcare field. As they have transformed from student to professional, they carry with them the knowledge, compassion, and values instilled by the University, which will guide them as they shape the future of healthcare. Whether they go on to pioneer new treatments, advocate for underserved communities, or advance healthcare education, these rising stars are poised to illuminate the path forward, inspiring others and making a profound impact on the lives they touch.
ATSU-ASDOH
Friday, May 10 Mesa, Arizona
Program Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD)
Number of graduates 78
Commencement speaker Lily T. Garcia, DDS, MS, FACP Dean, Texas A&M School of Dentistry
“Take a moment to look around you and capture the moment when you and so many others are excited and hopeful for what lies ahead. Make the most of it, be a part of a wonderful community, guard the privilege and respect you earned, and guard this privilege knowing you’re a little bit of humble and a little bit of cautious, because you never want to let it go.”
Joshua Teague Rutherford, DMD, ’24
on his desire to give back to his community as the first dentist from the Fort Belknap Reservation in north-central Montana, representing the Aaniiih and Nakoda Tribes.
“I’m the first dentist from my reservation, my tribes, and my community, so that’s also an honor to carry that with me. I hope to not be the last, though.”
on her passion for dentistry, connecting with patients, and supporting her community.
“I love that dentistry lets you connect with people in a really unique way. It’s one of the only fields in healthcare where you’re able to see patients for their entire lives as long as you’re in the same area. I love building connections, and I love building relationships with my patients, and I feel like that has a really unique way of preventing future problems while solving current ones. I’m looking forward to being able to give back to my community and helping people out whenever I can.”
on why she pursued dental school, how she will be helping vulnerable populations, and her future plans.
“Growing up, my mom had several language barriers, and going to the dentist was very challenging for her. So I think for me, it’s just realizing that I want to be able to eliminate those barriers for people who struggle with that, like when my mom did. In the future, I’ll be pursuing an orthodontics residency program in Chicago.”
on his excitement to help patients and continue his education in orthodontics.
“I just love helping people, changing their outlook on life. I had messed up teeth when I was younger, and I loved my orthodontist and had a great experience. And then it changed my self-confidence moving forward, so I wanted to be able to do that for others.”
Commencement speaker Maxine Clark Founder, Build-A-Bear Workshop CEO, Clark-Fox Family Foundation Inspirator, Delmar DivINe
“Dentists are entrepreneurs, especially when you work in your own practice or partner with others. I want to encourage you to look inside at what makes you happy, how you like to be treated, what you love, what makes you smile every day, and what you are passionate about. Listen to your heart.”
Nicole Brubaker, DMD, ’24
on her decision to pursue dentistry and help her community.
“Giving someone’s smile back just makes the world of difference in somebody’s life, so the fact that I will be able to do that back in my community is really important and special to me.”
on his future plans, increasing his skillset, and making a difference for those in need.
“I’m ready to take on the world and help treat other patients, those who are in need. … I had extensive dental work growing up. I had braces for five years, and I had two oral surgeries while I was in middle school. So I always had a problem with self-confidence growing up. I want to be able to have that impact in other people’s lives and change the way they feel about themselves, and just give back to the community and those who need the help.”
on his path to dental school and his career path moving forward.
“For me, dentistry wasn’t my first goal. … Over time, I found out I want to help people, I want to be in the healthcare field, I love working with my hands, and I love art, too. In a way, I feel like I’m an artist in dentistry. … For the community I serve, I want to be able to help the people, especially those in the marginalized community.”
Programs Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) Master of Science in Biomedical Sciences (MS)
Number of graduates 169
Commencement speaker Jennifer McArthur, DO, ’93 Associate Member, Division of Critical Care Medicine, Department of Pediatric Medicine, St. Jude Children’s Hospital
“From the moment you started osteopathic training, the first moment you stepped in this medical school, your faculty taught you about the importance of the patient as a whole person. You have learned the importance of looking at healthcare as holistic and treating a person as a whole person, not just a disease.”
James Liu, DO, ’24
on being a first-generation immigrant, the first doctor in his family, and a bridge between Eastern and Western cultures.
“As a first-generation student, I’m big into mentorship. I want to get into academia. I really want to give back and serve because I was once that little kid that didn’t know what was next. I want to be that mentor I never had growing up.”
on her decision to pursue medical school and next steps.
“I actually had a previous career as an attorney, a lawyer. I was a Special Victims Unit prosecutor, and some things happened in my life, professionally and personally, that made me want to kind of go from more of that side of things to being a healer and a helper.”
Ellie Glasner, DO, ’24, and Jacintha Thomas, DO, ’24
on their future plans and giving back to their communities.
“I hope to give back to the community I’m from, Fargo, North Dakota. They helped me become a doctor and gave me opportunities to get into this career, so I hope I can go back and serve the people of that community.” –Dr. Ellie Glasner
“I’m from Iowa City, from the Midwest. I love the community. They’ve always been supportive, given me great opportunities, and I’d love to go back and train under those doctors that helped take care of me and my family growing up.” –Dr. Jacintha Thomas
Programs Master of Education in Health Professions (MEd) Master of Health Administration (MHA) Master of Health Sciences (MHSc) Master of Public Health (MPH) Master of Science in Kinesiology (MSK) Doctor of Education in Health Professions (EdD) Doctor of Health Administration (DHA) Doctor of Health Sciences (DHSc) Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)
Number of graduates 243
Commencement speaker Alan Morgan, MPA CEO, National Rural Health Association Member, ATSU Board of Trustees
“This, beginning right now for each of you, is the place where health system redesign begins. I cannot strongly enough encourage each of you to share this perspective. A perspective and a reality in where each of you going forward is driving health system innovation in the face of challenge.”
Breanna Adkins, EdD, ’24
on how her degree helped her obtain a full-time faculty position and better prepare her students in occupational therapy.
“I feel that I’ve been able to really give my students a more unique learning experience, more evidence-based learning experience, making sure I’m providing the best student assessment methods that align with the research. It led me into my dissertation topic, which was the occupational therapy education assessment practices, something that hasn’t really been explored too much in my field. I’m excited that this degree is going to help me continue to explore that research area.”
on why he pursued this degree, how this program is elevating his teaching, and what he plans to do in the future.
“I wish that all medical students would have an element of what is given in this program, because it would widen their world a lot more and make them think a little bit differently. … What’s being taught here is now being embedded in that population, and hopefully, it will have a domino effect that goes beyond me.”
on why she pursued the Master of Public Health-Dental Emphasis program and how this degree will help her career.
“I wanted an opportunity to excel in my own workplace. During the pandemic, I looked at how things were going in public health and thought, we can do better. … This degree will give me the opportunity to advance in my own workplace organization. I also started my own business during the pandemic, during this program, so I hope I can grow my business as well.”
Krista Cox, MHSc, ’24, and Nichole Gale, MHSc, ’24
on how their degrees are advancing their careers.
“I am an occupational therapy assistant, and when I started the program, I was a staff member for the school that I work for. … I am now faculty. It has helped me immensely, and I feel like I’m more present and able to connect with our students more because of the experience.” –Krista Cox
“A lot of my mentors that I look up to in the dental hygiene world have master’s degrees, and I thought that would be a great first step in doing what I really want to do, which is teach CE courses.” –Nichole Gale
Commencement speaker Danielle Barnett-Trapp, DO, ’11 Clinical Associate Professor, Midwestern University College of Osteopathic Medicine Member, ATSU Board of Trustees
“As you step forward from this day, you enter a world of unpredictable challenges. In today’s healthcare environment burnout is rampant. It’s not a matter of if you’re going to experience it, it’s when. When the times get tough, when the emotional burden gets too hard to carry, remind yourself of the journey to get to this day. Recall that grit, that resilience, that perseverance, and remember your why.”
Tahmin Akiha-Hassan, DO, ’24
on her future plans and what she wants to achieve as a physician.
“What I really want to become is a good doctor that’s conscious of the people that she’s treating. I want to be a doctor that’s there for the community, and I want to be, at the end of the day, somebody that can treat children. My goal is now going into residency with my heart open, my mind open, ready to learn and take what ATSU-SOMA has given me and hopefully flourish.”
on his decision to pursue osteopathic medicine and make the greatest impact for his patients.
“I wanted to become a doctor because first I was very interested in just athletics and sports and just helping the athlete get to the next level, but I knew I could really make an impact further than that, not just athletes, the most vulnerable populations.”
on achieving her lifelong goal of becoming a psychiatrist and her next steps.
“I matched at SUNY, upstate in Syracuse, New York, and so I am going to be a psychiatrist and hopefully go from there to become a child and adolescent psychiatrist. So there’s more to the journey, but I’m really excited to be here.”
on his path to medical school and his excitement to help patients and clinicians.
“I actually liked art in high school and English, and never thought I was going to do medicine, but it was really some anatomy classes and other science classes in college that piqued the interest. I worked in dermatology for a few years after college and found that I really liked patient care, but now I’ll be going into radiology, which is kind of the polar opposite of dermatology.”
Number of graduates Distance learning 140 Residential 134
Programs Distance learning Master of Science in Athletic Training (MSAT) Master of Science in Biomedical Sciences (MSBMS) Doctor of Athletic Training (DAT) Post-Professional Doctor of Audiology (AuD) Postprofessional Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) Residential Master of Science in Occupational Therapy (MSOT) Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology (SLP) Doctor of Audiology (AuD) Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT)
Nicole Babiarz, MS, ’24
on being a member of the first speech-language pathology class and her future plans.
“It was really awesome just to be able to be that first class at A.T. Still University, and kind of pave the way for it, the other classes that will be coming through the same program. I actually have a clinical fellowship at South Mountain Post Acute, and I will be completing my year there in the medical setting.”
on advocating for the speech community and continuing her education in speech-language pathology.
“I was a speech-language pathologist assistant for six years. … I wanted to continue to show what speech-language pathology is all about. It’s not just speaking. It’s also cognition. It’s swallowing. So I wanted to help more people that could use more services.”
on choosing ATSU and how the program has helped him in his clinics.
“In the Cayman Islands, we don’t have a lot of DPTs. I’ve always been looking for more challenges to keep getting better and better, so that I can practice and give the best to my patients. … Based on ATSU’s evidence-based practice model, where they always ensure we use high-quality evidence to support whatever we practice, I’ve been able to add that to my practice.” –Dr. Philans Ankrah
“I intend to start my own private practice there. I’m in talks right now, hopefully with somebody else to partner up. And I do want to lend some of my years of expertise toward teaching and some instructional stuff, if possible.” –Dr. Jay Brahmbhatt
Last month was a special time for A.T. Still University (ATSU). Students were back on campuses, and two special events reminded us of the great work and progress faculty, staff, and students have accomplished in our mission fulfillment.
First, a big thank you to A.T. Still University-Missouri School of Dentistry & Oral Health Dean Dwight McLeod, DDS, MS, and Missouri Region Interim President Gaylah Sublette, MBA, for arranging the National Institutes of Health (NIH) National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR) Forum in St. Louis. The event featured NIDCR Acting Director Jennifer Webster-Cyriaque, DDS, PhD, and was attended in person and virtually by over 60 faculty and staff. Dr. Webster-Cyriaque provided an update on America’s oral health, research findings and opportunities, and ideas for ATSU to be involved. ATSU oral health and interdisciplinary research projects were highlighted by faculty, staff, and alumni. Thank you to everyone who helped with arranging and hosting this successful event. For more details about the event, please visit ATSU News.
From August 21-26, over 75 ATSU faculty, staff, and students attended the National Association of Community Health Centers’ Community Health Institute & Expo in Atlanta, Georgia. Nineteen students were involved in presenting research through presentations and poster sessions. Multiple ATSU faculty and staff were also involved in presentations, committees, and workshops. Kim Perry, DDS, MSCS, chief partnership officer, ATSU, and her staff, along with Joy H. Lewis, DO, PhD, FACP, professor and chair, public health, ATSU-SOMA, were instrumental in making the conference a success for ATSU attendees.Thank you to all involved!
ATSU winter break
This year, University employees will have an additional day to spend with family and friends during ATSU’s annual winter break. The University will be closed beginning Monday, December 23, 2024, and will reopen Thursday, January 2, 2025.
Board of Trustees update
ATSU’s Board of Trustees appointed officers and elected a new member at its quarterly meeting July 19. The following trustees were elected as officers: Isaac R. Navarro, DMD, MPH, ’08, of Visalia, California, chair; Danielle Barnett-Trapp, DO, ’11, of Anthem, Arizona, vice chair; and Kimberly Perry, DO, MBA, MHCM, FACEP, FACOEP, ’91, of St. Louis, Missouri, secretary.
Special thanks to outgoing trustees Rosie Allen-Herring, MBA, of the Washington, D.C., area, and Bertha Thomas of Kirksville, Missouri, who faithfully completed their terms of service to the board as of July 19. ATSU is a better place to learn and work thanks to their thoughtful, compassionate, and critical stewardship.
Newly elected candidate to the Board of Trustees is Renee Clark, MA, of the Washington, D.C., area. Ms. Clark has spent her entire professional career in client service industries. She began as a public accountant for one of the big four accounting firms before she transitioned to pursue her passion in higher education and nonprofit fundraising. Ms. Clark currently serves as senior director, annual giving and membership strategy for individual giving at National Geographic Society. In this role, she is responsible for growing and managing the society’s mid-level giving program. Prior to this role, she served as the assistant dean for development and alumni relations at the law school of George Mason University. Ms. Clark earned her master of accountancy at the University of Virginia in 2007.
The following trustees will continue their service on the board: Reid Butler, JD, of Phoenix; Marco Clark, EdD, of South Bend, Indiana; Jonathan Cleaver, DO, FAOCD, FAAD, FASMS, ’08, of Kirksville, Missouri; Linda Eremita, MUA, of Pittsburgh; Herb Kuhn, of Lohman, Missouri; Michelle Mayo, PhD, of Marina, California; Alan Morgan, MPA, of Stafford, Virginia; Linnette Sells, DO, FAOASM, ’82, of Fernandina Beach, Florida; Floyd Simpson, CFA, CAIA, of Philadelphia; John R. Thurman Jr., DO, ’12, of Burlington, Iowa; Michael Torgan, MBA, NHA, of Los Angeles; and Felix M. Valbuena Jr., MD, DABFM, FAAFP, of Bloomfield Hills, Michigan.
2024-2025 strategic plan focus areas
1. Flexible and engaged learning.
Supporting faculty and staff efforts to remain on the cutting edge of new learning models is critical to advancing scholarship and student success. $70,000 in internal grant funding will be available to support this initiative, and application materials will be distributed University-wide in September. Questions regarding the application process should be directed to internalgrants@atsu.edu.
2. Developing ATSU’s present and future leaders.
John Gardner, PhD, MEd, director of policy & employee education, Title IX & civil rights coordinator, and ATSU’s Human Resources team will be developing leadership educational opportunities for interested faculty and staff.
3. Recruiting and retention.
Significant progress was made last year in these two areas, and ATSU will continue to support the efforts of deans, Student Affairs, and Communication & Marketing.
2024-25 financial aid disbursement
Kudos to Deanna Hunsaker, DHEd, MBA, assistant vice chancellor, enrollment services; Katie Clay, MEd, director, enrollment services; and Student Affairs and Finance team members involved in securing Title IV aid for ATSU students. It was a challenging year, and Lori Haxton, MA, vice chancellor, student affairs, and her team did an amazing job making a big difference for our students.
Location updates
Kirksville, Missouri: The Synapse Tech Lounge is firing away serving as a dedicated space for students, faculty, and staff to hang out, relax, and try a little virtual and augmented reality. Progress continues on the FLATS (Forest Lake Area Trail System) trail adjacent to campus, and remodeling continues on student apartments.
St. Louis, Missouri, has completed improvements in the perio surgery suite, and additional opportunities are being evaluated. Congratulations also on a successful Joint Commission visit with our partner Affinia Healthcare.
Mesa, Arizona, is gradually seeing walkers return to Bucky’s Trail as temperatures finally get below 100 degrees, we hope.
Santa Maria, California, has added individual student study spaces and is preparing for its second graduation and festivities.
Recent white coat ceremonies
Arizona School of Health Sciences (ATSU-ASHS) Audiology Class of 2027 Saturday, April 13
ATSU-ASHS Physical Therapy Class of 2025 Friday, May 31 Mesa, Arizona
Arizona School of Dentistry & Oral Health (ATSU-ASDOH) Class of 2028 Friday, July 12 Mesa, Arizona
ATSU-ASHS Physician Assistant Class of 2026 Friday, July 12 Mesa, Arizona
School of Osteopathic Medicine in Arizona (ATSU-SOMA) Class of 2028 Friday, July 12 Mesa, Arizona
Missouri School of Dentistry & Oral Health (ATSU-MOSDOH) Class of 2028 Friday, July 12 Kirksville, Missouri
Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine (ATSU-KCOM) Class of 2028 Saturday, July 13 Kirksville, Missouri
College for Healthy Communities (ATSU-CHC) Class of 2025 Friday, July 26 Santa Maria, California
Recent ATSU commencement ceremonies
ATSU-ASDOH Friday, May 10 Mesa, Arizona
ATSU-MOSDOH Friday, May 17 Kirksville, Missouri
ATSU-KCOM Saturday, May 18 Kirksville, Missouri
College of Graduate Health Studies Friday, May 24 Mesa, Arizona
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In closing
Thank you for taking a few minutes to become familiar with some of the recent ATSU milestones and initiatives. I am always amazed by the cumulative effects of the good works of our faculty, staff, and students.
Yours in service,
Craig M. Phelps, DO, ’84 Chancellor
A.T. Still University of Health Sciences 800 W. Jefferson St., Kirksville, MO 63501 | 660.626.2391 5850 E. Still Circle, Mesa, AZ 85206 | 480.219.6010 1075 E. Betteravia Rd., Ste. 201, Santa Maria, CA | 805.621.7651 Office of the Chancellor | chancellor@atsu.edu ATSU Communication & Marketing | communications@atsu.edu
A.T. Still University of Health Sciences serves as a learning-centered university dedicated to preparing highly competent professionals through innovative academic programs. The University is committed to continuing its osteopathic heritage and focus on whole person healthcare, scholarship, community health, interprofessional education, diversity, and underserved populations.
As we navigate an era of unprecedented innovation, ATSU remains dedicated to our osteopathic heritage and equipping our students with the knowledge and skills necessary to excel in a rapidly evolving healthcare landscape. In this issue of StillMagazine, we explore the importance of listening to and thoroughly examining patients, the transformative role of artificial intelligence (AI) in our health professions programs, and demonstrating how technology and tradition can synergistically come together to enhance both education and patient care.
AI technology holds immense promise in revolutionizing healthcare education by providing new tools and resources for teaching, learning, and research. At ATSU, we are integrating AI into our curricula to create immersive and interactive learning experiences. These advancements allow our students to engage with complex healthcare scenarios in ways previously unimaginable. Turn to Page 12 to discover how we are harnessing the power of AI to enhance the educational experience.
Despite the many benefits AI offers, it cannot replace the human element essential for providing compassionate, whole person healthcare. Linnette Sells, DO, ’82, shares her insights on the enduring importance of physical exam skills on Page 24. Additionally, our faculty at the St. Louis Dental Center showcase an innovative approach to a complex patient case on Page 30, highlighting the ongoing interplay between cutting-edge technology and hands-on clinical expertise.
Furthermore, ATSU’s Board of Trustees is committed to the University’s ongoing development and innovation. As we continue to grow, our governance structure has been updated to reflect our four locations and to lay a solid foundation for future leadership. The new structure includes a chancellor overseeing the entire University system, supported by two regional presidents – one for Kirksville and St. Louis, Missouri, and another for Mesa, Arizona, and Santa Maria, California. This streamlined approach enhances efficiency and ensures responsible use of resources, all in support of ATSU’s mission and vision.
Through your continued support, we are shaping the future of healthcare education and driving positive change in the communities we serve. Thank you for being a part of our journey.
Yours in service,
Craig M. Phelps, DO, ’84 ATSU Chancellor
When Renée J. Crawford, DO, ’20, spoke at ATSU’s Championing the Legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. event on Jan. 16, she captivated the audience with her unique point of view, depth of knowledge, and passion for serving the underserved.
Dr. Crawford, a graduate of ATSU’s School of Osteopathic Medicine in Arizona (ATSU-SOMA), strives to be a clinically excellent, culturally proficient, and socially conscious physician. She hoped those tenets would shine through in her speech.
“I wanted to highlight Dr. King’s foundation and why he fought for what he fought for. I went to our founding documents, the Bill of Rights, the Constitution, and the Declaration of Independence,” Dr. Crawford says. “I went to Dr. King’s foundation, the Bible, and from a theological standpoint, the focus was to inspire us to be a good neighbor. So, in whatever role you play at ATSU, you need to look out for those you interact with.”
During her time at ATSU-SOMA, Dr. Crawford was recognized as a Graduate Health Professions scholar, awarded the 2019-20 ATSU Diversity Excellence Award for her work with ATSU Diversity & Inclusion and the Student National Medical Association, and named ATSU-SOMA 2020 Student DO of the Year.
Now, she is a chief resident at Phoenix Children’s Hospital Pediatric Residency Program Alliance. As a resident, she received the Phoenix Children’s J. Kipp Charlton, MD, Resident Humanitarian of the Year award for the 2022-23 academic year. In addition to support she’s received from ATSU-SOMA and Phoenix Children’s, she credits her success to the mentors she’s had throughout her healthcare journey.
A Southern California native, Dr. Crawford knew she wanted to be a doctor when she was just 5 years old. However, medicine wasn’t the only thing on her mind – she also had a passion for basketball. She attended Point Loma Nazarene University in San Diego on an athletic and academic scholarship. She majored in biology and was pre-med, and played point guard for the women’s basketball team, becoming team captain in her senior year.
In her gap year before attending ATSU-SOMA, Dr. Crawford was a substitute teacher and enjoyed teaching preschool, kindergarten, and second grade, solidifying her desire to be a pediatrician. She also was an assistant coach for Varsity girls’ basketball and head coach for freshman and Junior Varsity girls’ basketball.
On the day of her speech at ATSU, Dr. Renée Crawford (second from right) was joined by (left to right) Clinton Normore, her aunt Mary Shumate, Dr. Craig Phelps, and her uncle John Shumate, a former NBA player.
When it came to her speech, Dr. Crawford not only focused on Dr. King, but she drew from her religious background as well as her love for sports and Disney movies. She opened with a quote from Dr. King’s speech at the annual meeting of the Medical Committee for Human Rights in 1966: “We are concerned about the constant use of federal funds to support this most notorious expression of segregation. Of all the forms of inequality, injustice in health is the most shocking and the most inhuman because it often results in physical death.”
She then took listeners on a journey through America’s healthcare system, highlighting how even through the passage of certain laws, including the Hill-Burton Act of 1946 and the Civil Rights Act of 1964, racist ideologies still crept into healthcare, contributing to health disparities and certain patients not getting the care they need.
“Our question for today is, if I don’t stop to help, what will happen to this community?” she asked the audience.
Dr. Crawford believes the best way for healthcare professionals to advance equality and justice in healthcare is simply by learning.
“We’re lifelong learners. Our goal should be to ensure our patients get access. We have to be socially conscious and aware of things affecting our patients,” she says. “When you take continuing education, you’re learning about new guidelines and clinical pathways and ensuring all your patients get access to care.”
At Phoenix Children’s, Dr. Crawford does just that and continues the work she did at ATSU-SOMA. As an intern, she joined the Diversity and Inclusion committee and Health Equity committee. She also is an integral part of the residency program’s Health Equity Advocacy Leaders (HEAL) curriculum. Through this program, all residents participate in the evidence-based Health Equity Pearl curriculum and HEAL rounds.
The Health Equity Pearl curriculum is a resident-designed, -led, and -sustained curriculum all residents present during the academic half-day conference. HEAL rounds are case reports of clinical cases seen in the program’s institution, which spark multidisciplinary discussion on how to pursue health equity for patients and their families. HEAL rounds are designed to extend beyond the residency program to inspire transformational change within the hospital system and achieve health equity for all patients and their families.
Through these programs, Dr. Crawford aims to foster an inclusive environment and give back to the community, further promoting Dr. King’s philosophy of being a good neighbor.
Artificial intelligence (AI) is seemingly everywhere. It’s become a popular topic in conversation and daily news headlines. While many people may feel intimidated or uninformed about AI, chances are, they are more familiar with it than they realize. One doesn’t have to be an expert on the latest technology to know how to ask Siri or Alexa to set a timer or add items to a grocery list. However, AI-based applications, like these personal assistants, are becoming more common to everyday life, including life at ATSU.
AI WROTE THIS ABOUT ITSELF
AI has undergone a remarkable evolution since its inception. The concept of AI emerged in the mid-20th century, with pioneers such as Alan Turing proposing the idea of machines that could exhibit intelligent behavior. Early AI systems focused on rule-based reasoning and symbolic manipulation, but progress was limited by computational power and the complexity of real-world problems. However, the field experienced a resurgence in the 21st century, driven by advances in computing technology, the availability of vast amounts of data, and breakthroughs in machine learning algorithms.
Today, AI permeates many aspects of our lives, from virtual assistants like Siri and Alexa to recommendation systems, autonomous vehicles, and medical diagnostics. Deep learning, a subfield of machine learning, has been particularly influential, enabling AI systems to learn from large datasets and make complex decisions with human-like proficiency. While AI has made tremendous strides, challenges remain, including ethical concerns, biases in algorithms, and the need for transparency and accountability in AI systems. Nevertheless, AI continues to transform industries and societies, promising a future of unprecedented innovation and opportunity.
WRITING WITH AI
Using ChatGPT, version 3.5, with the prompt “Please provide a paragraph or two on the history of AI and where it is today,” the previous two paragraphs were displayed within seconds. (Please and thank you go a long way, right?) Using the same prompt two more times, it gave similar versions of this response with slightly different wording, demonstrating its ability to offer multiple perspectives and levels of detail.
Responses will vary by the application and version used. In this writer’s experience, prompts are key to getting desired responses. According to ChatGPT, prompts play a vital role in guiding, clarifying, customizing, controlling, and optimizing interactions with AI systems. Essentially, quality inputs yield quality outputs. However, it is important to be aware of “AI hallucinations,” which are incorrect or nonsensical responses.
What is an AI HALLUCINATION? A term used to describe a false, irrelevant, or misleading output generated by AI
WHERE IN THE WORLD OF AI IS ATSU?
As ChatGPT mentioned previously, AI has been around for decades. However, in the last few years, the use of generative AI has exploded with its powerful capability to produce complex and creative outputs of text, images, video, and more. Navigating the world of AI is daunting, and at times overwhelming, with new applications launching on a regular basis.
“AI is fueling many new tools because it can facilitate writing code. One example is the ability for virtual worlds to progress very quickly,” says Bryan Krusniak, MBA, chief information officer, ATSU. “There are new developments to learn about almost every day.”
The growing influence of AI applications stretches across industries, including education and healthcare, where ATSU intersects. ATSU has recognized it’s not a matter of if, but how, AI will be used throughout its operations. The University’s approach has been to embrace the technology and explore its uses by finding early adopters and supporting their endeavors.
“The University is actively exploring AI’s emerging role in healthcare and education,” says ATSU Chancellor Craig M. Phelps, DO, ’84. “We are using this opportunity to find innovative ways to learn, work, teach, and advance healthcare research and practice.”
Innovation is central to ATSU’s mission, and the University is filled with faculty and staff who are aligned with the mission and inclined to pursue activities propelling the University forward. Projects and initiatives using new learning technologies of AI, augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), mixed reality (MR), and extended reality (XR) are popping up across the University. These projects include enhanced learning activities, research projects, curriculum development, chatbots, customer relationship management, call monitoring, lead acquisition, and so much more.
The University views AI as a tool to enhance human intelligence and capabilities, not replace it. When used accordingly, the technology has the potential to increase efficiency across ATSU, and ultimately, empower students to become next-generation healthcare professionals.
“AI is a powerful tool,” Krusniak says. “Especially when put in the hands of those who have existing subject matter expertise.”
IMMERSIVE TECHNOLOGIES
AR(augmented reality) – overlays digital information or virtual objects onto real-world environment
VR (virtual reality) – completely immersive digital environment simulating reality
MR (mixed reality) – combines elements of AR and VR
XR (extended reality) – umbrella term for all of the above
AI ON CAMPUS
A number of ATSU programs are integrating AI into their labs and clinical activities. Jonny Brennan, MD, DMD, MPH, ’11, assistant professor and associate dean, innovation and curriculum, ATSU’s Arizona School of Dentistry & Oral Health (ATSU-ASDOH), has been at the forefront of the latest technology in dentistry. He says the School is carefully and judiciously stepping into AI with a few projects underway.
One of those projects is VideaTeach, an AI-powered gamified tool teaching students how to diagnose and plan treatment for oral diseases. Since October 2019, ATSU-ASDOH has partnered with VideaHealth AI to use this tool in the classroom where students view a series of dental radiographs and identify any problem areas. At the end of the series, students are shown their answers alongside AI’s answers. This provides an asynchronous, objective feedback mechanism for students to learn how to read dental radiographs early in their academic program.
VideaTeach provides an asynchronous, objective feedback mechanism for students to learn how to read dental radiographs.
Additionally, ATSU-ASDOH shared more than 1 million anonymized images and just as many metadata points with those images to give VideaTeach greater predictive success. VideaHealth AI has built its platform seamlessly into the School’s electronic dental record, allowing ATSU-ASDOH the ability to turn on its AI predictive technology as soon as the School completes development of its AI policy and implementation plan, which is in progress.
“We have one current faculty-supervised, student-led research project partnering with Overjet AI related to predictive analysis of 2D radiographs and are exploring another potential project with them around our new 3D Tomosynthesis technology by Portray,” Dr. Brennan says. “In addition, we are exploring potential research opportunities in collaboration with ATSU’s Missouri School of Dentistry & Oral Health (ATSU-MOSDOH) around using AI within a VR/AR/MR/XR context to develop a virtual campus where dental students from both programs can have a shared experience.”
Across campus at ATSU’s School of Osteopathic Medicine in Arizona (ATSU-SOMA), the Anatomy department added the Microsoft HoloLens 2 to its virtual anatomy curriculum last year. HoloLens 2 is an untethered MR headset enabling users to view computer-generated content displayed against their real-world surroundings. It adapts to the user’s hands, allowing students to touch, grasp, and move anatomical structures. It even allows students to “peel back” layers and study anatomical intricacies by simply stepping toward the model.
“At ATSU-SOMA, we have embraced MR using the Microsoft HoloLens 2 to harness the power of collaborative learning,” says Anna Campbell, PhD, associate professor and chair, anatomy, ATSU-SOMA. “Students engage in enriching discussions while navigating holographic anatomical models. They apply their knowledge of anatomy to real-world clinical cases. It is truly a unique learning experience.”
HoloLens 2 is an untethered MR headset enabling users to view computer-generated content displayed against their real-world surroundings.
In Missouri at ATSU’s Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine (ATSU-KCOM), the original school of osteopathic medicine also keeps at the forefront of new learning technologies as medical education and clinical practice evolve. The College is looking at several AI applications for skill development and medical procedures.
“While AI cannot take the place of a physician’s ears, eyes, or hands, it will be useful in practicing new skills with high fidelity through simulation,” says Patricia Sexton, DHEd, FNAOME, ’08, associate dean, medical education, ATSU-KCOM. “We currently have a few early implementations on which our students practice in the human patient simulation lab.”
AI IN ONLINE EDUCATION
The University’s online college, ATSU’s College of Graduate Health Studies (ATSU-CGHS), is integrating AI in its education, research, and practice through course design, curriculum and program development, differential diagnoses, research analysis, and more.
For example, Erin Breitenbach, PhD, MEd, professor and chair, health education, ATSU-CGHS, is developing a recommended methodology for AI use in curriculum development. She has a dual purpose to her work. First, her goal is to ensure assignments, discussion posts, and other coursework continue to optimize critical thinking skills in students and are not easily produced using an AI prompt. Second, her goal is to maximize efficiency and accuracy in the development and fine tuning of learning outcomes and rubrics.
“AI is an accelerant, an opportunity to enhance what we do in our role as instructors,” Dr. Breitenbach says. “We need to be asking ourselves how we can leverage AI to make us work better as instructors.”
From a research standpoint, students and faculty are using ATLAS.ti, an AI-powered research analysis tool for qualitative research. This tool facilitates data analysis, allows for collaboration with team members, and automatically codes and summarizes documents, providing customized results. It saves time with manual tasks, allowing faculty and students to focus more time on their actual research.
Further, ATSU-CGHS is engaging students in its AI integration. In one course from the Doctor of Education in Health Professions program, ATSU-CGHS involved students in evaluating the presence and usefulness of a course chatbot, serving as a virtual help desk agent. Additionally, students were asked to examine ATSU-CGHS’ plagiarism policy and the University’s academic integrity policy to determine whether they fully encompassed emerging AI technology.
Students analyzed pros and cons of AI and presented recommendations to ATSU-CGHS deans. The deans reviewed recommendations, developed a position statement on AI use for the College, and revised its plagiarism policy based on student recommendations. ATSU-CGHS also made recommendations to the University for revisions of its academic integrity policy.
“All six departments in ATSU-CGHS have engaged students and faculty to ensure we are promoting the ethical use of AI. We want to recognize the many benefits AI offers, while also teaching responsible use and maintaining academic and professional integrity,” says ATSU-CGHS Dean Marisa Hastie, EdD, MS, ACSM EP-C, PN-1, FACSM. “Many courses now have assignments that provide opportunities for students to use AI for brainstorming, writing refinement, review, etc. Our team is learning alongside our students in exploring this powerful and evolving tool.”
AI IN A COURSE
Tricia Dabrowski, AuD, associate professor, audiology, ATSU’s Arizona School of Health Sciences (ATSU-ASHS), integrated AI into her Audiologic Rehabilitation course. As she considered how AI could be used, she questioned whether traditional course assessment methods reflected student knowledge and understanding of learning objectives and prepared them to apply concepts during clinical rotations and patient care.
Previously, the course grade was weighted heavily on the student’s ability to develop a five-week group aural rehabilitation program. Course content included lesson plan development and facilitation skills, which limited time spent on rehabilitative methods, like communication and speech perception training or development of patient resources. Dr. Dabrowski hoped time spent developing this group program would increase the likelihood of its implementation when students entered clinical practice.
As Dr. Dabrowski experimented with AI to see how it might affect this course component, she discovered ChatGPT completed this heavily weighted assignment in 15 seconds. Realizing a different approach was needed, she reconsidered what she truly wanted students to learn, which was how to provide comprehensive audiologic rehabilitation to patients. Helping students understand the benefits associated with each rehabilitative technique became more important than developing their group program.
The new course introduces students to the importance of patient-centered care and age-related hearing changes, which limit an older patient’s success with amplification. Students spend more time investigating the patient’s perspective and researching supporting perceptual training, benefits of communication strategies, and consequences of communication behaviors. Throughout the course, students use AI tools to investigate ways to improve quality of care, design decision aids, identify community-based referral resources, and show how easy it is to design and implement group audiologic rehabilitation programs. The follow-up discussions generated by these activities proved to be an invaluable course asset.
“I’m still refining the course design as we consider ways to use AI and to evaluate the quality of the provided content, but the first attempt felt like we were moving in the right direction,” Dr. Dabrowski says.
AI IN TEACHING AND RESEARCH
In the Doctor of Physical Therapy program at ATSU-ASHS, assistant professor Sara Parker, PT, DPT, just completed her first year teaching the Documentation & Clinical Reasoning course. In this course, students learn how to document in all aspects of the profession, and writing patient goals is an important component. Traditionally, goals have been taught using the SMART (specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, time-bound) framework.
“In previous first-year comprehensive practical documentation, it was apparent students had not grasped the concept of including all components of the SMART framework,” Dr. Parker says. “This can lead to poor clinical reasoning and, ultimately, lack of reimbursement for skilled services.”
To address students’ difficulty with writing patient goals, Dr. Parker tried to find an innovative way to teach students this skill. She considered the growing popularity of ChatGPT and thought this course was a perfect fit for implementing AI. She then collaborated with Julie Speer, PhD, MS, and Brittany Williams, MS, from ATSU’s Teaching & Learning Center and received approval from ATSU’s Institutional Review Board for a research project titled “AI-based Learning Activity to Teach Physical Therapy Students How to Write SMART Goals.”
As a learning activity and research project, Dr. Parker’s hope was for students to explore using AI in a guided and healthy way, produce accurate and comprehensive SMART goals with real-time feedback, and learn how to use ChatGPT as a tool for future learning. It was delivered to students as a survey with four parts: playground to introduce ChatGPT, guided prompts to learn about SMART goals, clarifying lecture, and practice developing patient cases and writing their own goals.
From the data, Dr. Parker found statistically significant improvements in students’ ability to identify SMART goal components and write them accurately. She says many students retained this knowledge and used this tool to help them modify their goals in later assignments. She also says one of the greatest benefits of this activity was the real-time or formative feedback the platform provided. Students were able to see their mistakes and fix them immediately, without waiting for instructor feedback.
“The intent of the activity was to provide students with a tool to learn materials throughout their career,” Dr. Parker says. “I believe AI-based learning has limitless possibilities; however, we need to ensure we scaffold it in a safe way to uphold academic integrity.”
SPECIAL INITIATIVE FUNDING
To encourage further exploration of AI across the University, ATSU made financial support available to faculty and teams pursuing innovative projects using this technology. In early 2024, ATSU’s Division of Research, Grants & Scholarly Innovations announced seven proposals were funded under this one-time, internal AI/MR Innovation in Health Professions Education Grant competition. Collectively, $28,476.55 was awarded for seven proposed projects.
“AI is everywhere you turn,” says Milton Pong, PhD, associate professor, ATSU-SOMA, and a recipient of ATSU’s special initiative funding. “We think it has a place in medical education, too. The challenge is finding the right place. Instead of threatening what we do, we hope AI can help us do our jobs better. It may take a few iterations to get to where we want to be, so our project will start us on this journey.”
Another recipient of the special initiative funding is Brittney Hulsey, DMSc, PA-C, associate professor and program director, physician assistant studies, ATSU-ASHS, who took an interprofessional approach to using AI by collaborating with Dr. Anna Campbell and third-year medical student Anna King from ATSU-SOMA. The project, “Beyond the Surface: Augmented Reality in Procedural Skill Development in Physician Assistant Education,” assesses the feasibility and value of integrating AR technology in a physician assistant clinical skills course.
The project’s aim is to enhance learning and course delivery by using the Microsoft HoloLens 2 technology in combination with physical models, ultimately improving students’ anatomical understanding and procedural skills. The current course relies on physical models to teach students to perform medical procedures. However, physical models are limited in showing underlying anatomical structures, which are critical for comprehensive understanding of the procedures performed.
“While students are presumed to possess foundational knowledge of anatomy from prior coursework and preparatory materials, the existing training setup lacks direct visualization of relevant anatomical landmarks and spatial relationships,” Dr. Hulsey says.
She hopes using AR technology alongside physical models will address these limitations. By overlying specific holographic models onto the physical models, this innovation will allow students to see and identify anatomical landmarks necessary for successful procedures in real time.
“It is possible a comprehensive visual understanding will contribute significantly to students’ knowledge and preparedness in performing procedures and understanding complications with an anatomical basis,” Dr. Hulsey says. “By combining AR with traditional methods, the study will reflect a flexible education delivery system that accommodates diverse learners.”
HOW WILL AI AFFECT ATSU STUDENTS?
With AI and other technologies advancing by the day, it is difficult to predict what challenges and opportunities ATSU students will face by the time they become practicing professionals. At the rate AI has advanced in the last year alone, this technology could, and likely will, look much different several years from now when current first-year students enter their respective professions. As with everything, students will need to be lifelong learners and adjust with the times.
“When it comes to advanced technologies, what do we need to teach our students, and how do we prepare them? ATSU needs to continue preparing students for what could be,” Krusniak says. “One of ATSU’s core professional attributes (CPAs) is critical thinking, and this component will be crucial for students to be able to evaluate and validate AI responses.”
The CPAs are a set of five cross-curricular meta-skills inherent to all ATSU graduates. They enable graduates to select, adapt, and apply their discipline-specific knowledge and skills to varying situations. This enhances their competence as healthcare professionals and ultimately improves outcomes in aspects of their professional roles.
The future of healthcare lies in the hands of professionals equipped with the knowledge and skills to use advanced technology effectively. As AI gets smarter, the demand for healthcare professionals who understand how to leverage AI as a tool will continue to grow. By integrating AI into curricula and preparing students to navigate its complexities, ATSU is not only shaping the next generation of healthcare leaders but also ensuring they are well-prepared to meet the evolving needs of patients and healthcare systems.
FUNDED PROPOSALS
“Development of an Interactive Artificial Intelligence (AI) Virtual Reality (VR) Dental Simulated Patient as a Learning Activity for Dental Students” – $4,950 Richard Allinson, DDS, assistant professor, ATSU- MOSDOH, with collaborators Grishondra Branch- Mays, DDS, MS; Graziela Batista, DDS, PhD; Leila Nasiry Khanlar, DDS, PhD, MSc; Dave Kojic, DMD, PhD, MS; Hanan Omar, BDS, PhD, MSc; and Ammar Musawi, MDS, BDS, MPH
“Use of Virtual and Mixed Reality in Enhancing Dental Education” – $5,000 Amira Elgreatly, BDS, MS, FAGD, associate professor, ATSU-ASDOH, with collaborators Ahmed Mahrous, BDS, MS, FACP; Jonathan Brennan, MD, DMD, MPH; Erin Maruska, DMD, MPH, FAGD; William Madaio, DMD; and Klud Razoky, BDS, NZDREX
“Beyond the Surface: Augmented Reality in Procedural Skill Development in Physician Assistant Education” – $2,000 Brittney Hulsey, DMSc, PA-C, associate professor and program director, ATSU-ASHS’ Physician Assistant Studies program, with collaborators Anna Campbell, PhD, and Anna King, OMS III, from ATSU-SOMA
“AI-Assisted Crown Margin Identification: A Comparative Faculty Development Program” – $4,526.55 Ahmed Mahrous, BDS, MS, FACP, associate professor, ATSU-ASDOH, with collaborators Jonny Brennan, MD, DMD, MPH; Amira Elgreatly, BDS, MS, FAGD; Mindy Motahari, DMD, MAEd; Tamer El-Gendy, DMD, BDS, MS; and Ann Spolarich, PhD, RDH, FSCDH
“Harnessing the Power of AI Image Generators/Manipulators for Creating Custom Innovative Anatomical Resources” – $3,500 John Olson, PhD, professor, and Anna Campbell, PhD, associate professor and chair, anatomy, ATSU-SOMA
“Holographic Medical Imaging Overlays: An Interactive Medical Image Holographic Visualization System for 3D Headsets in an Educational Environment” – $3,500 John Olson, PhD, professor, ATSU-SOMA
“Finding a Place for Artificial Intelligence in Foundational Medical Science Education” – $5,000 Milton Pong, PhD, associate professor, ATSU- SOMA, with collaborators Timothy Shipley, PhD, and Robert Lewis, PhD
A HUMAN-TO-HUMAN Q&A
with Kevin Farberow, DHSc, ’12
Dr. Farberow is vice president of strategic partnerships at Atropos Health, an organization rapidly transforming medical data into real-world evidence, closing evidence gaps in medicine, and expediting research. He also holds positions with the Medical Reserve Corps and Community Emergency Response Team. In addition, he stays apprised of advances in technology and remains engaged with the global health community, including participating in the recent Intelligent Health AI global summit in Basel, Switzerland.
Q: What are some benefits and challenges you’ve experienced with AI?
A: There are lots of benefits I’ve experienced firsthand by using AI. For example, comparing clinical outcomes or even therapeutic areas of focus across multiple international health systems, I was able to quickly generate a summary report detailing all the variables I wanted to contrast by country. On the other hand, there are a host of notable challenges I’ve faced using AI applications. Using the previous example, ensuring scholarly sources are retrieved or cited is an issue with certain AI applications. In another example, I’ve come to appreciate the accuracy of AI applications depends on multiple factors, including training data, update frequencies, and even bias.
Q: What role will AI play in healthcare?
A: I think a more appropriate question is what role will AI not play in healthcare?! From returning results on complicated clinical questions, to summarizing or even translating languages of real-world evidence derived from real-world data, all the way to helping refine hypotheses.
Q: Which areas of healthcare do you think AI will havethe biggest impact and why?
A: One of the healthcare areas I foresee AI having the biggest impact is in alleviating clinician burnout and automating administrative tasks in clinical workflow, including drug discovery, prior authorization, and claims adjudication.
Q: Is AI ready to take over the healthcare world?
A: AI is just not ready to be unilaterally relied on for clinical decision support without a human in the middle. Additionally, until the percentage of AI hallucinations improves, be conscientious of the positive and negative results before totally relying on AI.
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Linnette Sells, DO, FAOASM, ’82, serves as a member of ATSU’s Board of Trustees. She is a former emergency room and urgent care physician and former team physician for Georgia Tech. An Operation Desert Storm veteran, Dr. Sells served in the U.S. Air Force as chief of the emergency department at MacDill Air Force Base. Dr. Sells also served as ATSU-Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine’s (ATSU-KCOM) family medicine clinic director and faculty member from 1986-90.
As told by Dr. Linnette Sells
As a DO, I was taught the skills of physical exam with emphasis on touch and palpation. I learned the importance of subtle changes in the musculoskeletal and lymph systems affecting a patient’s health. I learned every human system affects the whole person. During my years in practice, I have witnessed the deterioration of these valuable skills in lieu of ordered testing based on history and chief complaints.
I have recently retired after 40 years in practice. Lab tests, X-rays, CT scans, and MRIs are now being ordered on patient complaints, often prior to the patient being seen by the doctor or provider. Artificial intelligence (AI) programs may be used to diagnose and work up patients again without physically touching the patient. In the past, we didn’t have this technology readily available, and we used physical exam findings to guide our diagnosis and treatment. So, should the physical exam be negated? I do not believe this valuable tool should be eliminated from our arsenal in caring for our patients.
An example of a patient who needed a physical exam was a 10-year-old male with ankle pain and inability to bear weight. His mother wasn’t happy with him because he was seen for an ankle sprain six months prior and had not been doing his prescribed exercises. He complained the night before of a possible re-injury but had no significant trauma. He was seen by his pediatrician and had an X-ray taken, which was negative. An ACE wrap was applied, and he was told to do activity to tolerance.
I saw the young man later that day because he was complaining of increased pain and his mother wanted him to get pain medication. On my physical exam, the skin of the ankle joint was warm, and he was tender to palpation along the entire ankle mortise with no ecchymosis or ligamentous laxity. His pain markedly increased on checking the joint’s range of motion. Due to the joint exam findings, I ordered labs, which showed elevated white blood cell count and erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and later, the C-reactive protein (CRP) was markedly elevated. This young patient had a septic joint and osteomyelitis, not an ankle sprain. He had emergency surgery.
Another example of the need for a full physical exam was in the follow-up of a 72-year-old male who complained of an uncontrolled cough, which had been worse at night for a month. He was seen in two prior office visits by other providers who treated him for bronchitis with steroids, antibiotics, and cough medication. The electronic medical record (EMR) for the prior visits stated the lungs were clear and heart had a normal rhythm.
On my physical exam, I noted the patient had decreased breath sounds in lung bases, a third heart sound, and irregular heart rate, which was not picked up by the medical technologist who used an automated cuff. He also had +2 edema of his legs bilaterally. His thorax had tightness and somatic changes. This man had early congestive heart failure due to atrial fibrillation, not bronchitis.
The efficiency of EMR with templates simplifies the documentation of physical findings, but it is so easy to click the necessary categories without really doing the entire exam of that system. An example of an incomplete exam was with an 18-year-old male I saw for severe abdominal pain and fever. He was seen 24 hours prior in a local emergency room and told he had acute gastroenteritis, which was going around his school at the time. He said they asked about his symptoms, which were fever, nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain, and he had vital signs taken, blood drawn, and IV hydration, along with antinausea medicine. He was told he had a reactive high white blood cell count, and the rest of his labs were normal.
My exam exhibited a young man in distress trying to maintain a “quiet position” with tachycardia, a rigid abdomen, decreased bowel sounds, and a temperature of 102. Deep palpation elicited rebound and guarding. My diagnosis without labs was acute appendicitis with probable rupture/peritonitis. His ER records were a five-page EMR document showing a very thorough exam had been completed, including head, ears, eyes, nose, throat, lungs, heart, abdomen, and neurological exam with muscle and deep tendon reflex testing. According to the document, all findings were normal. However, the patient stated no one performed a physical exam; they just ordered labs and an IV.
Before the mandatory male genital exam was removed from the pre-participation physical, I found several testicular masses, which were early cancer, inguinal hernias, and a syphilis lesion. During those pre-participation exams, also finding a heart murmur or enlarged lymph node could be life-saving. My staff asked why it took me longer to do the exam than other providers who only took a few minutes to sign the athlete’s form.
My first day on a student rotation at an Air Force base clinic, I awaited my first patient who was late. He shuffled in and told me he wanted to start an exercise program because he had become a couch potato following his military retirement. He was mid-40s, seemed to have a very slow gait, and struggled with muscle weakness. I proceeded to do a complete physical exam. He had a positive Babinski sign and ankle clonus – I had never seen positives! He also had poor muscle tone and weakness with testing. I had to take this information to my attending physician who was already unhappy because I was so slow. I told him my findings and suspected my patient had amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. He laughed and shook his head, muttering about medical students always looking for zebras. On examining the patient, he reluctantly agreed, and later, the neurologist confirmed the diagnosis.
When I was running the ATSU-KCOM family practice clinic, we admitted a 10-year-old female with vague abdominal pain and dehydration due to nausea and vomiting. I tasked our family medicine resident to do a full physical exam to see if we could make a more specific diagnosis. Surprisingly, the patient had hypertensive changes on examination of her eye grounds and cardiomegaly with high blood pressure. She also had somatic dysfunction of thoracic and lumbar areas. Based on these unusual findings, we checked her norepinephrine level. This led us to look for a paraganglioma, which was found in her abdomen and surgically removed.
A 45-year-old female CrossFit athlete went to the ER with 10 out of 10 pain in her left pelvis. Labs and an abdominal and pelvis CT scan were ordered. She stated the ER provider did not touch her hip. The scan was negative, and the only positive lab was plus 1 leukocytes in her urine. She was treated with an antibiotic and told to follow up with a urologist.
I saw the patient in the urgent care clinic afterward – she entered using her grandmother’s walker. On physical exam, she had severe palpable pain in her left pelvic innominate. The X-ray was negative, but because of her pain level, I ordered a CT scan and labs looking for markers of bone inflammation. Her CRP and erythrocyte sedimentation rate were markedly elevated, and the CT scan was read as inflammatory changes in the bone marrow. A bone biopsy showed acute lymphoblastic leukemia.
“My cancer diagnosis would have been markedly delayed if Dr. Sells had not immediately examined and pinpointed the source of my pain.” – A 45-year-old female patient and CrossFit athlete
Recently, I moved and went to a new provider. I asked for an annual physical exam. My vital signs were taken, and I filled out a medical history and review of symptoms. I happen to be a 70-year-old CrossFit athlete, so I don’t look my age. My provider looked in my ears and listened quickly to my lungs and heart. That was it! The provider then ordered a few basic labs and asked if I was up to date on my health maintenance testing: colonoscopy, mammogram, etc. I’m sure I’m not the exception. Essentially, I could’ve had a televisit for this exam.
Telemedicine is now being offered in many clinical settings, and it has its uses. However, as a “hands-on” DO, I have found this very difficult because of the possibility of a missed or erroneous diagnosis. Even a simple complaint of a sore throat without being able to visualize or palpate makes for a tentative diagnosis. I tended too often to recommend the patient be seen in the clinic.
One of the common complaints against doctors in Google reviews from patients is the fact they were never touched, which means they had no physical exam. My husband is also a DO and specialized in physical medicine and rehabilitation. He always did a thorough neurological and musculoskeletal exam. His patients were amazed and often stated they’d never had that extensive of an exam, even though they had multiple surgeries for their complaint.
I can cite many more examples of this medical trend. While the cases I highlighted in this story had some unusual diagnoses, they could have been any typical patient visit. As providers, we all tend to succumb to the pressures of clinical practice. With the number of patients we must see in a day, the ease of possible false documentation in EMR, and the notion testing can replace the need for physical exam, we are now on a downward spiral that could shortchange our patients and delay or miss diagnoses impacting their medical care and health. What role will AI play in the healthcare of our patients? Can we use these great technologies as tools to improve each patient’s care without sacrificing the patient- doctor relationship and provide compassionate healthcare?
As DOs and ATSU-educated healthcare providers, we have been tasked with a mission statement to provide whole person healthcare. The tenets of osteopathic medicine say structure and function are reciprocally related. I believe we should be leaders in bringing back the physical exam as it is a strong and vital component of a patient’s healthcare.
I entreat and challenge every one of my colleagues and future healthcare providers to re-examine their mindset on office visits and the physical exam. Let us not lose the skills we learned at ATSU and bring back the physical exam.
BENEFITS OF PHYSICAL EXAM
Guide the provider in ordering necessary versus unnecessary testing.
Find physical manifestations to aid patient preventive healthcare.
Improve diagnosis by being able to judge patient reaction to exam.
Build rapport, trust, and communication through touch and eye contact.
Add more information into AI programs to improve diagnosis and treatment.
Aid additional providers with accurate physical findings for comparison.
PHYSICAL EXAM EDUCATION AT ATSU
“The physical exam is essential to the development of the doctor-patient relationship, which is central to the practice of medicine. The physical exam is also a cost-effective way to evaluate and guide the use of necessary technology. Technology offers another tool in providing care, but it will never replace the doctor at the bedside who touches and converses with the patient to build a connection and alleviate human suffering.
ATSU-KCOM continues to teach the clinical skills needed to be the best bedside physician and, at the same time, incorporates the use of current technology to augment care. This high-tech/high-touch approach to medical education is part of what makes our graduates stand out.”
– Margaret Wilson, DO, ’82 ATSU-KCOM Dean
“ATSU-School of Osteopathic Medicine in Arizona (ATSU-SOMA) takes tremendous pride in training our students to excel in their osteopathic physical examination techniques as we prepare them to become osteopathic physician leaders in our nation’s most vulnerable communities. Our students’ current and future patients deserve the healing touch of human kindness that osteopathic medicine provides.”
– Sharon J. Obadia, DO, FNAOME, ’97 ATSU-SOMA Dean
“Teaching our students to provide hands-on, whole person healthcare is a hallmark of ATSU. A few years ago, a former classmate, who is an orthopedic physician and uses his hands to help patients daily, shared how he and all the other providers at a Florida health system were asked to attend a lecture on the importance of touching patients. This health system was getting so many negative comments from patients saying the doctor never touched them during their visit, experts were asked to come in and encourage the providers to perform physical exams – and this was before COVID.”
