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Tue 31 Aug 2010

McLeod named inaugural John P. Wood, D.O.,

Posted by atstilluniversity under 2010, ASHS, KCOM
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MESA, Ariz. – Tamara Valovich McLeod, Ph.D., ATC, associate professor, athletic training at A.T. Still University’s Arizona School of Health Sciences (ATSU-ASHS), now holds the title of the inaugural John P. Wood, D.O., Endowed Chair for Sports Medicine. The endowed chair is a five-year appointment with an opportunity to renew.

“Dr. McLeod has earned a national reputation as an expert in sports medicine, especially in the areas of pediatrics and sports-related concussion,” said John Parsons, Ph.D., AT/L, athletic training program director. “This position is a fitting public recognition of her work, and relatedly, of the academic quality of the Athletic Training program at ATSU-ASHS.”

“I am honored to be named the inaugural John P Wood, D.O., Endowed Chair for Sports Medicine,” Dr. McLeod said. “Dr. Wood was an esteemed orthopedic surgeon and worked hard to promote the osteopathic medical profession. I hope to use this title and the associated funds to further our research and community outreach in athletic training and sports medicine, specifically related to pediatric sports medicine concerns and sport-related concussion.”

The endowed chair was created through funds established by John P. Wood, D.O., with gifts made by Dr. Wood during his lifetime and subsequently through his son, Mr. John P. Wood. John P. Wood, D.O., FAOAO, FACOS, was a 1927 graduate of A.T. Still University’s Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine (ATSU-KCOM). Dr. Wood’s contributions to the osteopathic medical profession were numerous, and he was very active in orthopedics and sports medicine throughout his distinguished career as an orthopedic surgeon.

Funds from the John P. Wood, D.O., Endowed Chair for Sports Medicine will support sports medicine education and research, while funding for orthopedic surgery will be used by ATSU-KCOM.

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Mon 30 Aug 2010

O’Brien earns U.S. President’s Volunteer Service Award

Posted by atstilluniversity under 2010, ATSU, Awards
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Andrea O’Brien, M.S., associate director of admissions at A.T. Still University, earns the prestigious 2010 United States President’s Volunteer Service Award.

KIRKSVILLE, Mo. – Andrea O’Brien, M.S., associate director of admissions at A.T. Still University, has earned the prestigious 2010 United States President’s Volunteer Service Award. The award recognizes individuals, families, and groups that have achieved a certain number of hours of service over a 12-month period or cumulative hours earned over the course of a lifetime.

“I am moved by the sentiment of someone thinking that what I have done is worthy of this type of award,” said O’Brien. “I have always just wanted to make a positive difference to those around me in whatever I have done, even if only by trying to be a positive role model — but always to leave things or people better than I first found them.”

O’Brien’s passion is working with older youth, college students, and young professionals, helping them develop in areas that set them apart in a positive way. “This award validates the amount of time I have spent helping others,” said O’Brien.

O’Brien’s recognition is a result of her countless hours of community service performed each year. As a member of the Kirksville Noon Rotary Club, O’Brien currently chairs the Rotary Youth Leadership Awards Academy (RYLA) Club Committee, works with high school youth to develop the Interact Rotary Club, and assists with community service projects for various youth and charity projects. She also chaired the Youth Recognition Leadership Awards Banquet and has been a member of several Rotary sub-committees serving youths.

Her dedication to serving others is exemplified in her current and past participation with numerous other organizations such as the First United Methodist Church, Chariton Valley Handicapped Association, Kirksville R-III Schools, National Perinatal Association & National Association of Neonatal Nurses, St. Luke’s NICU Foundation, March of Dimes, Missouri Cancer Pain Initiative, American Association for Premature Infants, and more.

Attributing her value of service above self to her family, her upbringing, and her own personal experiences, O’Brien thrives on helping others achieve and succeed. “The feeling of thankfulness that they ‘made it’ cannot be described in words. My heart just swells with pride for them,” she said. “Everybody needs to be shown unconditional love and support by somebody, and I am honored that when our paths cross I might help them in ways others can’t.”

Many groups and individuals have benefited from O’Brien’s commitment to helping those in need. By donating initial seed money that inspired more people to give, St. Luke’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit in Kansas City was able to open a room for parents of premature babies. An impoverished Kentucky family received extensive improvements to their home when O’Brien helped lead a week-long youth mission trip with First United Methodist Church. She led another week-long youth mission trip in Texas to rebuild a home destroyed by Hurricane Rita. Since 2006, O’Brien and her husband have hosted four international high school students, teaching them about America and helping her own sons and their friends learn about the cultures and customs of Germany, Denmark, and Belgium.

“Andrea is a terrific individual. She brought a level-headed, calming influence to the project we were working on together. She donated her time, travel, and energy to our project without asking for a single thing in return,” said Valerie Anderson, executive director of RYLA, who nominated O’Brien for the award. “That to me is what our organizational tagline for Rotary International ‘Service Above Self’ is all about.”

The President’s Volunteer Service Award is presented by the President’s Council on Service and Civic Participation in conjunction with the Corporation for National & Community Service. The Council was established in 2003 to recognize the valuable contributions volunteers make in communities and to inspire and encourage more volunteer service.

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Mon 23 Aug 2010

Thunderbirds Charities gives $75k to expand Dental Care West

Posted by atstilluniversity under 2010, ASDOH
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Community investment provides greater access to oral care in the West Valley, adds three jobs

MESA, Ariz. – Despite lean times, one charity wants to give more. In a significant community investment to increase access to oral care for the uninsured and underinsured in the West Valley, Thunderbirds Charities has awarded $75,000 to expand Dental Care West (DCW), a university-affiliated dental clinic run by A.T. Still University’s Arizona School of Dentistry & Oral Health (ATSU-ASDOH).

The expansion will add four operatories to DCW and brings three new healthcare jobs to the West Valley.

“This second gift from Thunderbirds Charities in less than three years shows a significant investment to increase access to quality oral care for the West Valley community,” said ASDOH Dean Jack Dillenberg, D.D.S., M.P.H.

In 2008, Thunderbirds Charities gave $150,000 to ATSU-ASDOH to support the Thunderbirds Special Care Unit at DCW, a dedicated wing serving patients with special needs.

“We are keen on providing support to expand facilities like DCW that assist families, children, and others in need,” said President David Rauch, Thunderbirds Charities.

The full-service community dental clinic provides oral care for families, children, elderly adults, and people with special needs. In fiscal year 2009-10, more than 5,700 patients received care at this facility.

With the latest expansion adding four new operatories, a classroom, lab and conference room, ATSU-ASDOH’s post-graduate dental students will get additional skills in special care dentistry. “We will add two full-time dental assistants and expand faculty coverage to our West Valley operations,” Dr. Dillenberg said.

The partial funding increases patient capacity at DCW by 44.4 percent and addresses the needs of the underserved that lack access to oral care in the West Valley.

In just two years, the West Valley community clinic has been attracting significant community investments from local funders but needs more to keep pace with the demand for oral care especially from elderly adults residing in Sun City and other Northwest Phoenix areas. Recent funders include the BHHS Legacy Foundation and the Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust.

“We are committed to providing a high quality educational experience for our students and an integral part of this is to serve fragile populations,” Dr. Dillenberg said.

The mission of Thunderbirds Charities is to assist families, children, and others in need and to improve the quality of life in Arizona communities through donations to Arizona based organizations. Since inception in 1986, the Thunderbirds Charities has given more than $65 million in charitable donations.

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Fri 20 Aug 2010

Romer is Health Care Hero

Posted by atstilluniversity under 2010, ASDOH, Awards
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Maureen Romer, D.D.S., M.P.A., has been named a 2010 Health Care Hero in the dental category by The Phoenix Business Journal. She received the award on Aug. 19 in a recognition breakfast held at the Arizona Biltmore Resort & Spa in Phoenix, Ariz.

A record crowd of 600 was on hand to celebrate the accomplishments of healthcare professionals from across the Valley. A total of 10 awards were presented in categories ranging from Researcher/Innovator to Service Philanthropy. Former A.T. Still University Arizona School of Health Sciences Dean Randy Danielsen, Ph.D., PA-C, DFAAPA was also a nominee in the Health Care Education category.

“This award is well-deserved. It is truly an honor to have Maureen as an ASDOH faculty member. She is an extraordinary credit to our school, the profession of dentistry, and all of us involved in healthcare,” said ASDOH Dean Jack Dillenberg, D.D.S., M.P.H.

Dr. Romer has served as the inaugural director of special care dentistry at A.T. Still University’s Arizona School of Dentistry & Oral Health (ATSU-ASDOH) since December 2006. She is also an associate professor and serves as co-director of the Advanced Education in General Dentistry residency program and the ASDOH special care clinics. Dr. Romer is co-principal investigator on a study on oral health-related quality of life of adult dental patients with developmental disabilities and for a HRSA grant on Workforce Development with the Arizona Department of Health Services. She is a member of the Arizona Governor’s Council on Developmental Disabilities Legislative Consortium.

Despite her numerous diverse activities, perhaps the strongest qualities advocating her as a Healthcare Hero are Dr. Romer’s compassion for, and dedication to, adults and children with special needs, and teaching ATSU-ASDOH students how to communicate and approach these patients. According to Dr. Romer, statistics say that 85 percent of people with disabilities can be treated in private practice, and yet many still can’t find offices willing to provide the dental care they need.

“I think for students, the advantage of working with patients with special needs is that they realize people with disabilities really can be treated in private practice,“ said Dr. Romer. “The majority of patients are very easy, nice, wonderful people, and once students have the opportunity to be exposed to this population, they realize it can be a fulfilling and rewarding experience.”

Community outreach is also a strong component of Dr. Romer’s professional and personal passion. In June 2009 Dr. Romer traveled with students and dental residents to the Alaskan Yukon to provide oral health services to this remote underserved area. Additionally, Dr. Romer trains and educates general dentists in the community about special care dentistry as director of Project C.A.R.E. that aims to educate Arizona dental health practitioners how to accept and treat the special needs patient with Compassion, Accommodation, Respect and Empathy in their practice.

Dr. Romer received her D.D.S. from New York University College of Dentistry in 1991. She graduated with an M.P.A. from Long Island University in 1997. She also served as associate professor, department of dentistry and department of pediatrics and director, special care dentistry at the Rose F. Kennedy Center, Children’s Evaluation & Rehabilitation Center, Albert Einstein college of Medicine-Yeshiva University from 2003-06. She has published extensively on special care dentistry and received the New York State Office of Mental Retardation & Developmental Disabilities Distinguished Service Award in 2006.

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Thu 12 Aug 2010

ASHS holds largest graduation to date

Posted by atstilluniversity under 2010, ASHS, Graduations
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484 students earn master of science or doctoral degrees

Randy Danielsen, Ph.D., PA-C, DFAAPA, delivers his keynote address at ASHS' commencement ceremonies Saturday, Aug. 7.

MESA, Ariz. – A.T. Still University’s Arizona School of Health Sciences (ATSU-ASHS) celebrated commencement ceremonies Saturday, Aug. 7 at the Phoenix Convention Center in Phoenix, Ariz. A total of 484 students received either master of science or doctoral degrees at the dual ceremonies.

This was the third time that ATSU-ASHS has held two separate ceremonies in one day. All 321 online graduates celebrated at the 10 a.m. ceremony, and the 1 p.m. ceremony was for the 163 residential program graduates.

Graduates received degrees in human movement, occupational therapy, physician assistant studies, audiology, health sciences, physical therapy, and athletic training.

As part of the ceremonies, Professor Emeritus status was awarded to keynote speaker Randy Danielsen, Ph.D., PA-C, DFAAPA, senior vice president of the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants Foundation and former dean of the Arizona School of Health Sciences.

“I am honored to have been awarded Professor Emeritus for my long and distinguished service with ATSU,” he said. “I shall cherish that tribute for the rest of my life. Being asked to be the commencement speaker this year was an exciting culmination to my service with the University.”

During his addresses, Dr. Danielsen urged graduates to remain committed to maintaining life-long learning skills and to put the interests of their patients above their own. “You must strive to treat patients with the highest possible standards, to respect the values, culture, and dignity of every patient, and to work respectfully with other health professionals to ensure the best care for your patients,” he said.

Founded in 1995, ATSU-ASHS is committed to educating and preparing its students to practice at the forefront of a rapidly growing healthcare system. ATSU-ASHS has 450 students enrolled in its five residential degree programs and approximately 1,500 in online programs.

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