Class notes

1950s

Robert B. Vance, DO, ’58, Las Vegas, Nevada, recalls many changes at ATSU in the past 60 years.
“In our junior year, we (Atlas Quartet) sang ‘The Battle Hymn of the Republic.’ I’m the only one left of our four (Joseph Buder, DO, ’58; Thomas Swope, DO, ’58; and Richard
Chaplin, DO, ’58),” he says.
“Years later, I sang with the Tabernacle Choir.”
Dr. Vance sang with the choir for 13 years, and his wife, Marian, sang with the choir for 20 years. They also sang and traveled with Gladys Knight for seven years.

1960s

Scott R. Swope, DO, ’62, was honored as a Master Faculty by the Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine. Dr. Swope is a clinical associate professor with the college’s Department of Family Medicine and practices with Warren County Health Department in Springboro, Ohio.

Lester McDonald, DO, ’67, Cameron, Missouri, was honored with the Memorial Designation at the Missouri Association of Osteopathic Physicians and Surgeons 2016 Missouri Osteopathic Annual Convention in April.

Larry Wickless, DO, ’67, was named the 2016 board president for the American Osteopathic Foundation (AOF). Dr. Wickless, who is program director of internal medicine at Manatee Memorial Hospital in Bradenton, Florida, has served on the AOF Board of Directors since 2011.

1970s

Larry McIntire, DO, FOCOO, ’71, Joplin, Missouri, received the Physician of the Year award at the Missouri Association of Osteopathic Physicians and Surgeons 2016 Missouri Osteopathic Annual Convention in April.

M. Terrance Simon, DO, ’78, was honored as a Master Faculty by the Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine. Dr. Simon is a clinical associate professor with the
college’s Department of Family Medicine and practices with Family Practice Associates Inc. in Massillon, Ohio.

1980s

William T. DeRosa, DO, FACP, ’80, was named as the first chief of oncology services for Summit Medical Group MD Anderson Cancer Center in Berkeley Heights, New Jersey.

Jeffrey Dryden, DO, FACOI, CPE, ’82, West Plains, Missouri, received the Medallion Award at the Missouri Association of Osteopathic Physicians and Surgeons 2016 Missouri Osteopathic Annual Convention in April.

Kenneth Jones, DO, FAOCR, ’83, Clinton, Missouri, received the 5-Year D.O.c.-A-Day Award at the Missouri Association of Osteopathic Physicians and Surgeons 2016 Missouri
Osteopathic Annual Convention in April.

Richard Minter, DO, ’83, Macomb, Illinois, joined McDonough Medical Group as a board-certified family practice physician in January. Dr. Minter previously spent 31 years practicing with Northeast Missouri Associates Inc. in Lancaster, Missouri.

Anthony D’Angelo, DO, FACOO, ’84, St. Louis, Missouri, received the District Leadership Award at the Missouri Association of Osteopathic Physicians and Surgeons 2016 Missouri Osteopathic Annual Convention in April.

Janise T. Denton, DO, ’84, physician and associate medical director at Blessing Hospice and Palliative Care in Quincy, Illinois, retired in February. She is a former assistant professor
for ATSU-KCOM.

Cynthia Paulis, DO, ’84, was selected as the honoree in medicine during the 18th annual Woman of Distinction Awards Ceremony on March 22 in Oyster Bay, New York. Dr. Paulis was the first female class president in the history of ATSU-KCOM. She is board certified in emergency medicine and family practice, served four years as a lieutenant commander in the U.S.
Public Health Service, and was a medical director. She was involved in volunteer emergency medical service during Hurricanes Katrina and Sandy. Dr. Paulis retired from active medicine and became an award-winning journalist. She was a medical reporter for CBS in Texas. In 2012 she wrote an essay on Hurricane Sandy, which was included in Grammy award-winner Gloria Gaynor’s book, “We Will Survive.” Dr. Paulis has also received awards from both Nassau County and New York state as a Woman of Distinction and is a frequent lecturer for ATSU-KCOM and medical conferences.

Michael R. Jaff, DO, ’85, was elected to the Board of Trustees for Martha’s Vineyard Hospital in Edgartown, Massachusetts, in May.

Dwight Wagenknecht, DO, FACOS, ’86, Nevada, Missouri, was honored with the Memorial Designation at the Missouri Association of Osteopathic Physicians and Surgeons 2016
Missouri Osteopathic Annual Convention in April.

Milton A. Padgett, DO, ’87, is a new member of the International Association of HealthCare Professionals with his upcoming publication in “The Leading Physicians of the World.” Dr. Padgett serves as an internist at Kairos Health Solutions in Madison, Alabama.

David Picone, DO, ’87, Harbor Beach, Michigan, joined Senior Life Solutions and will provide psychiatric services.

Timothy Jennings, DO, ’89, Chesterfield, Missouri, received the District Leadership Award at the Missouri Association of Osteopathic Physicians and Surgeons 2016 Missouri Osteopathic Annual Convention in April.

Benji Kitagawa, DO, ’89, joined Sanford Emergency & Trauma Center in Bismarck, North Dakota.

1990s

John Bailey, DO, ’90, joined the medical staff at Scotland County Hospital in Memphis, Missouri. He is a board certified orthopedic surgeon and will work at the hospital’s Surgery Center alongside the surgery team to treat orthopedic conditions. At the Missouri Association of Osteopathic Physicians and Surgeons (MAOPS) 2016 Missouri Osteopathic Annual Convention in April, Dr. Bailey was installed as MAOPS president-elect for 2016-17.

Veryl D. Hodges, DO, ’91, an internal medicine physician at Clopton Clinic in Jonesboro, Arkansas, was recognized for his dedication, leadership, and excellence in osteopathic medicine. He has served at the clinic for 12 years.

Patrick Kelly, DO, ’93, an orthopedic surgeon, opened a new practice in November 2015 in Andalusia, Alabama.

Michael J. Sassman, DO, ’94, Duluth, Minnesota, a vascular/ interventional radiologist, joined the Essentia Health- Duluth Clinic.

Capt. Raymond R. Batz, DO, ’96, Cedar Point, North Carolina, accepted the position of director of branch clinics for Naval Hospital Camp Lejeune on July 1, 2015, following the promotion to captain on April 1, 2015. As director of branch clinics, he oversees the primary care and medical readiness support of more than 30,000 marines onboard the largest Marine Corps base in the world through eight medical branch clinics.

Tammy Gleeson, DO, ’96, joined the thoracic surgery team at Southcoast Health in Fall River and Fairhaven, Massachusetts.

Christopher Nyte, DO, ’96, joined Providence Seaside Hospital in Seaside, Oregon, as an otolaryngologist.

Matthew Cormier, DO, ’97, joined Blessing Physician Services Palmyra Clinic in Palmyra, Missouri. Dr. Cormier previously served in Kahoka, Missouri, where he practiced primary care since completion of his residency program in 2000.

Victoria Damba, DO, ’97, Farmington, Missouri, received the Medallion Award and District Leadership Award at the Missouri Association of Osteopathic Physicians and Surgeons 2016 Missouri Osteopathic Annual Convention in April.

John Dubois, DO, FACOI, ’99, Eureka, Missouri, received the District Leadership Award at the Missouri Association of Osteopathic Physicians and Surgeons 2016 Missouri Osteopathic Annual Convention in April.

Mark Pelikan, DO, ’99, St. Louis, Missouri, received the District Leadership Award at the Missouri Association of Osteopathic Physicians and Surgeons (MAOPS) 2016 Missouri Osteopathic Annual Convention in April. Dr. Pelikan is the immediate past president of MAOPS.

Jill Stocker, DO, ’99, Yuba City, California, is a new member on the board of directors for Fit 4 the Cause, a Conejo Valley based nonprofit that provides fitness training and nutrition
education for special populations that cannot afford or attend traditional gyms under usual circumstances.

2000s

Jeffrey Davis, DO, ’00, Memphis, Missouri, received the Advocate of the Year award and the 5-Year D.O.c.-A-Day Award at the Missouri Association of Osteopathic Physicians and Surgeons (MAOPS) 2016 Missouri Osteopathic Annual Convention in April. In addition, Dr. Davis was named MAOPS president for 2016-17.

Lance Fisher, MS, PA-C, ’00, Crosby, Minnesota, joined the emergency department at Essentia Health-St. Joseph’s Medical Center as a certified physician assistant.

Eric Hagberg, AuD, ’00, Phoenix, Arizona, received the David P. Goldstein Outstanding Audiologist Award from the Academy of Doctors of Audiology. The award recognizes an individual for promoting audiology’s transformation to a doctoral degree with the AuD as its distinctive designator. Dr. Hagberg is a board member of the Audiology Foundation
of America and is one of the founders of the 18×18 movement.

Pedram Ilbeigi, DO, ’00, a board-certified urologist at Urological Institute of High Desert, was named a 2016 Top Doctor in Apple Valley, Colorado. Top Doctor awards are given to
healthcare practitioners who demonstrate clinical excellence while delivering the highest standards of patient care.

Colleen S. Myers, DO, ’00, Coraopolis, Pennsylvania, released her second novel, “Can’t Forget,” in June. The book is a sequel to her first novel, “Must Remember.”

Todd D. Seamons, MS, PA-C, ’00, Provo, Utah, is a new member of the International Association of HealthCare Professionals with his upcoming publication in “The Leading Physicians of the World.” Seamons is a certified physician assistant at Revere Health.

Kristin A. Severson-Solberg, DO, ’00, New Richmond, Wisconsin, was honored by the American College of Osteopathic Internists as a fellow in October 2015. Dr. Severson-
Solberg serves as the medical director for Christian Community Homes and for Adoray Hospice, and she has an internal medicine and geriatric specialty practice at Hudson Physicians.

Laura Tinning-Griffeth, DO, ’00, Grand Rapids, Michigan, was featured in the winter 2016 issue of Communique, a publication from Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine, for her work in providing OMM to pregnant women and newborns.

Jeremy Baird, DO, ’02, Jackson, Missouri, accepted the position of emergency services medical director at Southeast- HEALTH.

Katheryn Cordero Norris, DO, ’02, received the Washington Osteopathic Medical Association’s Physician of the Year award. Dr. Norris is a physician at Yakima Valley Farm Workers
Clinic, Grandview Medical- Dental Clinic, and serves as the residency director for Sollus Northwest Family Medicine Residency Program.

Eric Bass, DO, ’03, Camas, Washington, joined Vancouver Radiologists as a board-certified radiologist specializing in neuroradiology.

Nina Hsieh, MS, ’03, Phoenix, Arizona, was promoted to assistant athletic trainer for the Los Angeles Lakers.

Hans F. Laursen, DO, ’03, became a partner at the Southern California Permanente Medical Group in Urgent Care at the Kaiser South Bay Medical Center in Harbor City, California,
in February. Dr. Laursen completed his residency at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles and is board certified in family medicine.

Peter Tran, DO, ’03, joined Kauai Medical Clinic in Lihue, Hawaii, as a board-certified urologist.

Thomas Albert, DPT, ’04, joined the Los Angeles Dodgers baseball organization as an assistant athletic trainer, following four seasons with the Cleveland Indians as rehab coordinator.

Keenan Robinson, MS, ’04, was named as the U.S. National Team high performance director by USA Swimming.

David Tannehill, DO, ’05, St. Louis, Missouri, received the 5-Year D.O.c.-A-Day Award at the Missouri Association of Osteopathic Physicians and Surgeons 2016 Missouri Osteopathic Annual Convention in April.

Larnie Boquiren, MS, ’06, Culver City, California, served as sports medicine manager and head athletic trainer for USA Water Polo during the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. She earned her master’s degree in sports health care.

Mathew Miller, MS, ’06, was featured on NBC’s reality series “Strong.” He was one of 10 trainers on the fitness show and competed with teammate Nicole Bentley to win $500,000.
Read more on p. 15.

Rebeccah Rodriguez-Regner, DO, ’06, San Diego, California, was selected for the Rio 2016 Olympics USA medical team.

Annette Schnabel, DPT, MBA, ’06, Princeton, Illinois, is the new president/CEO of Perry Memorial Hospital, effective May 1. She joined the hospital executive team in December 2014 as vice president/chief operating officer.

Kathleen Kelly, AuD, ’07, opened a new audiology clinic in Petoskey, Michigan. Her practice is affiliated with Hearing Health USA, a nationwide network of hearing centers and audiology clinics.

Dana Rice, MHA, RN, ’07, was named senior vice president and chief quality officer of Capella Healthcare in Franklin, Tennessee.

Mathew Severidt, DO, ’07, joined Deer Creek Health Center in Toledo, Iowa, as a general surgeon.

Judy Huch, AuD, ’08, Oro Valley, Arizona, was appointed as a commissioner to the board of the Arizona Commission for the Deaf and the Hard of Hearing.

Andi Selby, DO, ’08, MS, ’07, Joplin, Missouri, joined Mercy Clinic as a family medicine physician in March.

Ashley Albers, DO, ’09, Flat Rock, North Carolina, was promoted to hospice medical director of Four Seasons Compassion for Life in March 2016.

Mathew J. Bateman, PhD, DHEd, ’09, was appointed interim dean of Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine School of Dental Medicine, effective July 1. Prior to his appointment,
he served as the director of institutional planning, assessment, and accreditation and as research professor of anatomy.

Brenden Davis, DMD, MPH, ’09, Ellensburg, Washington, opened a private dental practice, Northwest Oral Health Outreach. Through his new practice, Dr. Davis treats patients at 12 nursing homes and assisted-living centers around the region.

Heather Martin, DO, ’09, joined Scotland County Hospital at Memphis Medical Services in Memphis, Missouri, as a family practice physician.

2010s

Michael Brown, DO, ’10, Smithville, Missouri, received the District Leadership Award at the Missouri Association of Osteopathic Physicians and Surgeons 2016 Missouri Osteopathic Annual Convention in April.

Aneesh Garg, DO, ’11, completed his fellowship at Andrews Sports Medicine and Orthopaedic Center and American Sports Medicine Institute and serves as a physician for Chicago Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine in Chicago, Illinois. Dr. Garg served as a team physician for the USA Men’s National Soccer Team during a two-week tournament in Guadalajara,
Mexico, in May and will serve as a U.S. National Team physician for USA Soccer in 2017.

Cheryl Holden, DHSc, RN, ’11, and Kathleen Mathieson, PhD, CIP, associate professor, doctor of health sciences, ATSU-CGHS, co-authored “The electronic health record system and hospital length of stay in patients admitted with hip fracture,” which was published in the June 2015 issue of American Research Journal of Nursing.

Joshua Horowitz, DO, ’11, Ironton, Minnesota, joined Cuyuna Regional Medical Center’s Pain Management Center in September.

Jonathan Parker, DO, ’11, a physician at Avalon Medical Center in Muscle Shoals, Alabama, is certified as a diplomate by the American Board of Obesity Medicine. This designation represents the highest level of achievement in the medical specialty of obesity medicine.

Matthew Tate, MS, PA-C, ’11, Bakersfield, California, joined Adventist Health/Community Care – Taft as a certified physician assistant.

Christopher H. Topel, DO, ’11, completed his neurology residency in Austin, Texas, and vascular neurology fellowship in San Antonio. He will serve as an assistant professor at the
University of Texas Health Sciences in San Antonio.

Jared Engles, DO, ’12, is a new anesthesiologist for Bothwell Regional Health Center in Sedalia, Missouri.

Javair Gillet, MS, ’12; Derek Bunker, DPT, ’14, MS, ’08; and Matthew Rhea, PhD, professor, kinesiology, ATSU-CHGS, had their study, “A Description and Comparison of Cardiorespiratory Fitness Measures in Relation to Pitching Performance Among Professional Baseball Pitchers,” accepted for publication in Sport.

Andrea Heller, DO, ’12, joined the internal medicine team at Cole Memorial Medical Group and Cole Memorial Hospital in Coudersport, Pennsylvania. She also specializes in hospice
services.

Judy Hsu, DO, ’12, Worcester, Massachusetts, joined UMass Memorial Medical Group and specializes in family medicine with obstetrics at Barre Family Health Center.

Robin Hunter-Buskey, DHSc, CDE, PA-C, CCHP, ’12; Kathleen Mathieson, PhD, CIP, associate professor, doctor of health sciences, ATSU-CGHS, and Joan Leafman, PhD,
associate professor, doctor of health sciences, ATSU-CGHS, co-authored “The effect of self-monitoring blood glucose among inmates with diabetes,” which was published in the October 2015 issue of Journal of Correctional Healthcare.

Tanesha Tutt, DHEd, MS, CHES, ’12, was commissioned as an officer in the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps in May. As a lieutenant senior assistant scientist at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Dr. Tutt serves as a health educator and education subject matter expert for CDC’s Informatics Fellowship Program and Population Health Workforce Development Initiative.

Carrisann Woods, DO, ’12, Branson, Missouri, joined the Women’s Center at Cox Medical Center Branson, specializing in obstetrics and gynecology care.

Debra A. Bierwas, DHSc, DPT, ’13, and Joan Leafman, PhD, associate professor, doctor of health sciences, ATSU-CGHS, co-authored “The evidence based practice beliefs and knowledge of physical therapy clinical instructors,” which was published in the July 2016 issue of The Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice.

Ashley Broce, DO, ’13, Joplin, Missouri, joined Freeman Primary Care at Webb City Neighborhood Care specializing in internal medicine.

Abrahim Caroci, DMD, MS, ’13, was selected by the Association of University Centers on Disabilities to be profiled for his work during his Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities (LEND) fellowship in pediatric dentistry at the University of Rochester LEND program. Dr. Caroci is completing a pediatric dentistry residency at University of Rochester-Eastman Institute for Oral Health.

Maria A. Chang, PT, DPT, MHA, ’13, presented “A Literature Review of Possible Adverse Effects of Repeated Botulinum Toxin A Injections to Decrease Spasticity in Adults affected by Stroke” at the American Physical Therapy Association: NEXT Conference and Exposition in June 2014 and at the California Physical Therapy Annual Conference in September 2015. She also presented “Reversing Abnormal Hypertonia in Post-Stroke Patients using the Neuro-IFRAH/Al-Oboudi Approach” at the European Stroke Conference held in Venice, Italy, in April 2016.

Jonna Laslovich, DMD, ’13, MPH, ’11, started her own practice, Laslovich Orthodontics, in Butte, Montana.

Marco Nuñez, MS, ’13, Anaheim, California, is the new head athletic trainer for the Los Angeles Lakers.

Sara A. Warren, DO, ’13, Jefferson City, Missouri, received the President’s Award at the Missouri Association of Osteopathic Physicians and Surgeons 2016 Missouri Osteopathic Annual Convention in April.

Erik Salley, PT, DPT, MA, OCS, MDT, ’14, received the 2015-16 Humanitarian of the Year Award during the American Physical Therapy Association’s Combined Sections Meeting
held in Anaheim, California. Since 2009, Dr. Salley has served as project coordinator with International Development & Relief Board, based in Africa.

A.J. Seeliger, MS, ’14, is the new strength and conditioning coach for Nashville Sounds, a Triple-A affiliate of the Oakland Athletics baseball team. This is his fourth season with the A’s organization.

Justin Silverstein, DHSc, ’14, presented “Causal Factors for Upper Extremity Positional Nerve Injuries as Seen by Somatosensory Evoked Potentials in Patients Undergoing Thoracolumbar and Lumbosacral Spine Surgery” at the April 2016 International Society for the Advancement of Spine Surgery conference in Las Vegas, Nevada. Eric Mathews, PhD,
associate professor, doctor of health sciences, ATSU-CGHS, was the second author on the study and served as Dr. Silverstein’s project facilitator. In addition, Dr. Silverstein was recognized by Marquis Who’s Who for excellence in neurophysiology.

Joseph Weber, DHSc, MS, MBA, ’14, Simpsonville, South Carolina, was named founding director for a new Physician Assistant Studies program at Presbyterian College. Dr. Weber
began his service July 1, and the college anticipates launching the program in summer 2018.

Lynn Anidi, DHSc, MBA, ’15, presented “Effect of performing WARM-up and cool-DOWN exercises on the flexibility of the calf and hamstring PRIOR to a 50 minute workout” at the
143rd annual meeting of the American Public Health Association in Chicago, Illinois, on Nov. 2, 2015.

Rabi Gautam, DHSc, ’15, and Eric Mathews, PhD, associate professor, doctor of health sciences, ATSU-CGHS, had their article, “Knowledge and beliefs about cancer in the African-American population,” accepted for publication in Journal of Health Disparities Research.

Bonni Kinne, DHSc, ’15, co-authored “Using the Wii to improve balance in older adults: A systematic review,” which was published in the October 2015 issue of Physical & Occupational Therapy in Geriatrics.

Darren Krein, MS, ’15, is the new strength and conditioning coach for the Indianapolis Colts. Krein, who earned his master’s in kinesiology from ATSU, organizes continuing education efforts for other coaches while at the NFL Combine.

Jessica Markbreiter, MS, ’15, Half Moon Bay, California, is the athletic trainer for Half Moon Bay High School.

Anne Marie McCauley, DHEd, RN, ’15, Lancaster, Pennsylvania, was named director of the allied health/healthcare management programs for Immaculata University.

Janelle Mostad, AuD, ’15, joined Essentia Health-Duluth Clinic in Duluth, Minnesota. Cristina Tipei, MS, PA-C, ’15, Visalia, California, joined Family HealthCare Network’s Woodlake Health Center as a physician assistant.

Kelly Boyce, MS, ’16, is the first female head athletic trainer for the Arizona Diamondbacks baseball team. She was a certified athletic training intern with the D-backs from 2012-15.

Renee Dufault, DHEd, MAT, ’16, spoke at the Autism Awareness Conference on April 23 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. She is the founding director for the Food Ingredient and Health
Research Institute. Read more on p. 13.

Angie Harrell, DHSc, ’16, and Eric Matthews, PhD, associate professor, doctor of health sciences, ATSU-CGHS, had their article, “Relationship between Number of Clinical Sites and
Job Placement Rates of Graduates,” accepted for publication by Radiologic Technology.

Michael Kates, DO, ’16, joined Marquette Family Medicine Residency program in Marquette, Michigan, in July.