Class notes

1990s

Don Gibbon, DO, ’90, competed in the International Natural Bodybuilding Association and Professional Natural Bodybuilding Association Natural Olympia held at the Golden Nugget Hotel in Las Vegas from Nov. 8-9. Competitors represented more than 30 countries across six continents, with no anabolic steroids or other performance enhancing drugs permitted. On Nov. 8, Dr. Gibbon won the amateur Grand Master (age 50+) category, becoming the amateur world champion. Having qualified to compete as a professional, he made his professional debut on Nov. 9, competing in the professional Grand Master category. He finished fourth in the world.

Dr. Gibbon, age 60, returned to competitive bodybuilding in 2023 after a 35-year hiatus. He was the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) Junior Iowa state champion in 1988 while a student at ATSU-KCOM. He has been competing in triathlons and other endurance events since that time. An emergency medicine physician and healthcare insurance executive, he retired in June 2022.

Capt. Sean Barbabella, DO, ’96, a decorated U.S. Navy veteran, was appointed as President Donald Trump’s personal physician. Dr. Barbabella previously served as the commanding officer of Naval Health Clinic Cherry Point in Havelock, North Carolina. Specialized in emergency and tactical medicine, Dr. Barbabella has devoted his career to serving as a Navy physician. Following his graduation from ATSU-KCOM, he completed his residency at Portsmouth Naval Medical Center in Virginia. His military service includes multiple tours in Iraq and Afghanistan. He was awarded the Legion of Merit by the Marines during a year deployment to Afghanistan in 2011-12 where he served as 2nd Marine Division surgeon. He was also awarded a Purple Heart for his 2009 deployment to Afghanistan where he was a pioneering physician of the Mobile Trauma Bay, a large armored vehicle used in combat to treat wounded soldiers on the battlefield.

2000s

Rachel M. Klamo, DO, MS, FAAFP, ’06, was named the 76th president of the Michigan Academy of Family Physicians.

Abigail Mitchell, DHEd, MSN, MBA, RN, CNE, FHERDSA, ’09, was appointed associate dean for graduate and Doctor of Nursing Practice programs at D’Youville University, located in Buffalo, New York. She has been a full professor since 2017, with more than 24 years in higher education and 30 years in leadership and management. A graduate of ATSU-CGHS’ Doctor of Health Education program, she recently obtained her master of business administration degree through Capella University. Dr. Mitchell has published more than 25 manuscripts in peer-reviewed journals and has been a keynote speaker for various nursing conferences locally, nationally, and internationally. She is a certified nurse educator and is a fellow with the Higher Education Research and Development Society of Australasia. She is also a Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education accreditor and an editor for Nursing & Palliative Care journal. In her spare time, she plays the bagpipes for the Celtic Spirit Pipe Band of western New York.

2010s

Leonard Perry, MPH, ’11, was honored by Youngstown State University’s (YSU) Bitonte College of Health and Human Services during its 15th annual Alumni Recognition Dinner. During his career, Perry worked as a member of the District Board of Health of Mahoning County for 35 years. Perry was also the director of the Department of Environmental and Occupational Health and Safety at YSU, where upon his retirement, he was conferred the title administrator emeritus. Perry is now a doctoral candidate in health sciences at YSU. He is an honoree for Health Professions.

Mark Harrington, DO, ’15, an ATSU-KCOM graduate, was named venue medical director of Red Bull Arena by Major League Soccer.

Shirlene Samuel, DO, ’15, was reappointed by Texas Governor Greg Abbot to the Texas Medical Board District Four Review Committee. A graduate of ATSU-KCOM, Dr. Samuel is a board-certified pediatrician at Austin Regional Clinic in Austin, Texas. She is a member of the American Association of Pediatrics and American Osteopathic Association. Additionally, she serves in the children’s ministry at Red Rocks
Church Austin and has served as a gubernatorial appointee on the Review Committee for two years.

Nadia Thyberg, DO, ’15, joined Children’s Hospital Colorado, Colorado Springs, as a hospitalist. A graduate of ATSU-SOMA, Dr. Thyberg completed her pediatric residency at the Naval Medical Center in San Diego and was stationed in Okinawa, Japan, as a Navy pediatrician.

Sherron S. Cook, DHSc, ’19, MS, PA-C, ’08, was honored as a Pinnacle Lifetime Member by the Inner Circle. Currently, Dr. Cook is spearheading a functional medicine service plan aimed at Native American women aged 30-50. By leveraging her experience with tribal clinics and the Indian Health Service, she aims to address pre-diabetic and metabolic issues prevalent in these communities.

Donald “Donny” Roshan, DO, ’19, was announced as the leader of the new Phelps Health Weight Loss and Bariatric Center in Rolla, Missouri. Dr. Roshan is a Rolla native and ATSU-KCOM graduate who is passionate about helping the community reach their health goals. The center will feature surgical and nonsurgical weight loss solutions, personalized nutritional counseling, and ongoing support to help patients achieve and maintain their weight loss goals.

2020s

Ethan Burlingame, DO, ’21, joined Aspirus Lake View Two Harbors Clinic in Two Harbors, Minnesota. A graduate of ATSU-KCOM, Dr. Burlingame is a member of a number of professional societies, including the Minnesota Academy of Family Physicians, American Academy of Family Physicians, and American Medical Association.

Jameson Laub, DO, ’21, joined Southwest Health System in Cortez, Colorado, as a family medical doctor. Dr. Laub is a graduate of ATSU-SOMA.

David Erpenbach, DMSc, ’22, was named inaugural program director for the Doctor of Medical Science program at South College in Knoxville, Tennessee. Dr. Erpenbach previously served as a clinical coordinator and assistant professor.

Lauran Chambers, DO, ’24, was appointed as resident representative to the Iowa Osteopathic Medical Association Board of Directors. Dr. Chambers is a graduate of ATSU-KCOM and is completing a family medicine residency in her home state of Iowa.