Chancellor’s Perspective – September 2024
Posted: September 5, 2024
Advancing research and community health
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
ATSU-SOMA
Friday, May 24
Mesa, Arizona
ATSU-ASHS Athletic Training, Audiology, Biomedical Sciences, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, Speech-Language Pathology
Friday, June 7
Mesa, Arizona
Upcoming ATSU commencement ceremonies
ATSU-ASHS Physician Assistant Studies and Doctor of Medical Science
Friday, September 13
Mesa, Arizona
ATSU-CHC
Friday, September 13
Santa Maria, California
Faculty and staff updates (as of August 31)
Recent promotions: Please view the list of employee promotions (PDF).
Accomplishment kudos: Please view the list of accomplishment kudos (PDF).
Anniversary milestones: Please view the list of employee anniversaries (PDF).
Professional development opportunities
Looking to learn more? ATSU offers many opportunities for professional development through Human Resources, Missouri Training Institute, Teaching & Learning Center, Still Healthy seminars, and UKG. ATSU-CGHS also offers faculty and staff discounts on programs and courses.
Ideas or concerns?
Please submit your ideas to ideas@atsu.edu. Each email will receive a personal response from me. Ideas are only shared with the sender’s permission.
If you see something you are worried about, please contact the anonymous Fraud Hotline to report situations or behavior that compromises ATSU’s integrity. The hotline is available 24/7 at 1.855.FRAUD.HL (1.855.372.8345) or fraudhl.com. Reference code “ATSU” when making a report.
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.