President Magruder and new board member Ron Winkler

KIRKSVILLE, Mo. – The A.T. Still University (ATSU) Board of Trustees met October 17 in Kirksville, Mo., during Founder’s Day weekend for its quarterly meeting and elected its newest member, Ronald Winkler of Kirksville. Winkler is president of Winkler Communication Services, a telephone and fiber cable installation and repair company that has served northeast Missouri since 1991. Winkler will serve a three-year term. The board now has 17 members.

The board also made a number of other personnel changes, including saying goodbye to former chair Peter Detweiler, CEO of Alliant Bank in Kirksville, whose term expired, and re-electing members Cynthia Byler, D.O., of St. Louis, Mo.; Carl Bynum, D.O., M.P.H., of Warson Woods, Mo.; Manuel Bedoya, D.M.D., of Tucson, Ariz.; Clyde Evans, Ph.D., of Needham, Mass.; and John Robinson, of Phoenix, Ariz.

New officers were also appointed: Dr. Bynum as chair; Kenneth Jones, D.O., of Clinton, Mo., as vice chair; Dr. Byler as secretary; Robert Uhl, of Phoenix, Ariz., as finance committee chair; and Dr. Evans as chair of the education/research committee.

The next board meeting is scheduled for February 2010 in Mesa, Ariz.

Horton family celebrates alumnus during ATSU Founder’s Day

Robert L. Horton, D.O., '41

KIRKSVILLE, Mo. –  Robert L. Horton, D.O., a 1941 graduate of the Kirksville College of Osteopathy & Surgery (KCOS), now A.T. Still University-Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine (ATSU-KCOM), will always be remembered as a compassionate osteopathic physician, faithful husband, and loving father. His loved ones continue to honor his legacy with memorial gifts that can be found on ATSU’s Kirksville, Mo., campus.

Celebrating his legacy

On October 17, during ATSU’s Founder’s Day week, members of the Horton family gathered on campus to remember Dr. Horton, who died in December 1942. The reunion was a long time dream of Dr. Horton’s wife, Nellie (Horton) McCoy, age 90, a resident of Twin Pines nursing home. Her son, born in 1942, Robert L. Horton, Ph.D., travelled from Oregon and his son, Robert A. Horton, Ph.D., travelled from Wisconsin for the gathering.

While on campus, the family visited the Medicinal Garden at the Still National Osteopathic Museum to view a tree that the family donated in Dr. Horton’s memory and also spent time in Centennial Park admiring a newly engraved granite capstone dedicated in Dr. Horton’s honor.

About Dr. Horton

Dr. Horton left his home state of Ohio to follow a dream of becoming a doctor, seeking a professional career as his family before him had, dating back to the 1830s and continuing to this day through the Horton descendants. That dream brought him to medical school in Kirksville where he would meet his wife, Nellie Robertson of nearby Brashear, Mo. While attending KCOS he became a personal assistant to Charles Still, D.O., son of the college’s founder, Andrew Taylor Still, M.D., D.O.

Upon graduation from KCOS, the Horton’s made their way to Climax Springs in the Ozarks of Missouri. With no other doctor for many miles, Dr. Horton established a clinic in his home and relied on Nellie to provide nursing support. Dr. Horton planned to establish a much needed local hospital before his untimely death just one year following his graduation from medical school.

Students enjoy participating in the ATSU's annual 5K run/1 mile walk on October 17

KIRKSVILLE, Mo. – Faculty, staff, students, alumni, family, and friends joined in celebration of A.T. Still University’s (ATSU) annual Founder’s Day Celebration, held October 15-17.

Festivities included the inaugural Tinning Founder’s Day Osteopathy lecture presented by Edward G. Stiles, D.O. “I was overwhelmed when I was selected to give this lecture,” Dr. Stiles said. “I enjoy teaching and have had a ball in my career. I hope the same for these students.”

President Jack Magruder led the annual graveside ceremony honoring University founder A.T. Still, M.D., D.O. The first memorial ceremony took place December 2, 1919, and each year a wreath is placed on his grave. “(Still was) humble, intellectual, and spiritual in his thinking. He had an honest desire and the competence to treat people and alleviate pain and suffering,” Magruder said. “He gave all he had, all the time. And people loved him for it.”

ATSU Board of Trustees Chair Pete Detweiler and President Magruder kicked off the all-campus meeting by discussing the University’s financial stability and growth during the economic downturn.

Associate Vice President of Admissions and Alumni Services Lori Haxton, M.A., recognized alumni from the classes of 1984 and 1959, awarding gold medallions and pins for 50th anniversary honorees.

School of Health Management (SHM) Interim Dean Kimberly O’Reilly, D.H.Ed., M.S.W., discussed SHM’s past, talked about the present, and outlined the future. She hopes to further develop SHM’s partnership with the A.T. Still Research Institute, is looking forward to other joint initiatives within the university, and moving each program within SHM toward further accreditation.

Closing out the meeting, Dean Philip Slocum, D.O., recognized Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine (KCOM) students and staff for their accomplishments, including the outstanding devotion KCOM students give towards community service. In the past year, students have given more than 1,000 volunteer hours to the City of Kirksville.

ATSU and the Still National Osteopathic Museum unveiled the Dr. Thomas Quinn, D.O., Reading Room, research center, and new artifact storage area. This marks the third museum move due to growth of the collection and helps to consolidate facilities for researchers and staff duties. Dr. Jamie Archer, Brit. Osteopath, of Ulna, England, signed over the first artifact to the museum’s new collection space— a hand built useable replica of Dr. Still’s treatment chair designed in the 1900s. Dr. Archer built two of the artifacts using Dr. Still’s notes, photographs, and references by significant D.O.s of the time. These are the only two devices known in existence. Dr. Archer later demonstrated the chairs use at the continuing medical education program on Saturday.

Friday night was filled with food and fun at Still-A-Bration 2009, where faculty, students, staff, family, and friends enjoyed games, food and dancing.

The annual 5K run/1 mile walk on Saturday capped the weekend’s festivities with more than 60 participants. Second-year KCOM student Tyler Hill took home the men’s 5K title with a time of 16:36. First-year student Cara Lucas led the women with a time of 23:48.

Creating an environment for healthy living through a unique wellness partnership

MESA, Ariz. - Valley of the Sun YMCA will celebrate the grand opening of the East Valley Family YMCA (EVFY) on the campus of A.T. Still University (ATSU) on Saturday, Oct. 24, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. A variety of activities are scheduled, including a drawing for a 32” flat screen TV, and attendees will be able to tour the new state-of-the-art facility and receive information about the YMCA’s programs and the benefits of membership. The event is free and open to the public.

The new facility, which is the seventh YMCA in the East Valley, will encompass 32,000 square feet and will feature amenities including a fitness center, teen center, gymnasium, 25-yard competitive lap/fitness pool, a family adventure aquatic area, and a Lifestyle Concierge who will assist members in determining their successful path to a healthier life. The EVFY, in partnership with ATSU, will offer unique life-enhancing programs and fitness facilities to East Valley community members as well as to University students, faculty, and staff. Through a partnership that began in 2002, ATSU and EVFY have focused on creating innovative, wellness-oriented programs that will eventually be utilized in YMCA’s across the Valley of the Sun.

“We are excited to have the YMCA on ATSU’s campus,” said ATSU Provost Craig Phelps, D.O. “We are collaborating with the YMCA on a number of unique programs that will improve the health status of its members and the greater East Valley communities. This partnership with the YMCA also allows ATSU to continue working within the community to improve health professions education opportunities for East Valley residents, our students, and programs.”

“We feel the EVFY benefits tremendously by having access to ATSU’s top-notch educators and students who are dedicated to serving the community’s health and wellness needs,” said Damon Olsen, East Valley Family YMCA Executive Director. “The ability to leverage the resources of the Arizona Health & Technology Park as well as Mesa’s ‘Power Road Knowledge Corridor’ will provide unprecedented growth possibilities to the EVFY and opportunities to our members.”

The EVFY, which began construction in August 2008, is the latest addition to the Arizona Health & Technology Park in Mesa, a 132-acre business park that currently includes ATSU’s Arizona School of Health Sciences, Arizona School of Dentistry & Oral Health, and School of Osteopathic Medicine in Arizona, as well as HealthSouth’s 40-bed rehabilitation hospital which opened in August 2009. Future plans for expansion of the Arizona Health & Technology Park will include medical offices and health technology/biomedical research and development facilities.

“The University is very fortunate to have been able to partner with organizations within the Arizona Health & Technology Park that share our vision for keeping the community, students, faculty and staff focused on improving wellness,” said ATSU Assistant Provost Gary Cloud, Ph.D. “Healthy lifestyles matter to ATSU.”

Arts, crafts sale, clothing drive set for October 5-9

MESA, Ariz. (Oct. 2, 2009) – Students in A.T. Still University’s Arizona School of Health Sciences (ATSU-ASHS) Occupational Therapy program will observe Mental Illness Awareness Week (MIAW) by holding an arts and crafts sale and clothing drive on the ATSU campus in Mesa, Ariz., on October 5-9. Proceeds will benefit the Arizona State Hospital, which provides treatment and rehabilitative services to the state’s mentally ill.

The arts and crafts for sale were created by patients during treatment at the Arizona State Hospital, and include everything from wind chimes to seasonal and holiday décor. The gently used clothing collected during the drive will be used in a hospital program that teaches patients vocational and business skills in a retail-like setting and allows patients to purchase necessary items using tokens earned during their stay.

“The students have really taken the lead to reach out to the hospital to make a difference,” said ATSU Assistant Director of Counseling Services Art Matthews. “They are truly inspiring young professionals who epitomize our mission by demonstrating compassion, integrity, and ability.”

“We hope the money raised and donated items will help patients to maintain their dignity and feel hopeful and prepared for their new lives back in their communities,” Matthews added.

About 60 million Americans experience mental or behavioral health problems in any given year. One in 17 lives with the most serious conditions such as major depression, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia. MIAW, which has been held during the first week in October since its inception in 1990, was designated by Congress to promote public education about serious mental illness.

“Treatment works if you can get it,” said Matthews. “We need to remove stigma and promote the help that is available on campuses and in local communities, because no one is immune from mental illness. It doesn’t discriminate.”