KIRKSVILLE, Mo. – A.T. Still University-Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine (ATSU-KCOM) graduate Plato E. Varidin, D.O., was selected as one of the American Osteopathic Association’s (AOA) Great Pioneers in Osteopathic Medicine.

As part of the AOA’s Greatness Campaign, AOA members nominated D.O.s, basic scientists, and laymen who have pioneered new frontiers for the osteopathic profession. Dr. Varidin, a 1954 KCOM graduate, was nominated by his peers for this honor that encompasses his career body of work.

“I had no previous knowledge of the award. This is the third year AOA is giving it out and to my knowledge, I am the only practical physician to win the award.” Dr. Varidin said. “They want to mimic pioneers like A.T. Still with this award. That is one hell of an honor.”

Dr. Varidin co-founded Warren General Hospital in Warren, Ohio, in 1956 and served as chief of staff in 1968. In 1972, he founded the Florida Society of American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians, which continues to be the largest and most active family medicine society in America. Dr. Varidin also founded the Lake Eerie College of Osteopathic Medicine, Bradenton Branch in 2000. He has graduated more than 900 students, interns, and residents since 1984 as director of medical education at Northside Hospital/Heart Institute in St. Petersburg, Fla., and University General Hospital in Seminole, Fla.

Dr. Varidin served as a member of the KCOM Board of Trustees from 1983-88 and KCOM Alumni Board from 1978-85, where he served as president from 1983-84.

Dr. Varidin’s late son, Mark Varidin, graduated from KCOM in 1984, and his grandson Anthony De Lucia is a 2008 KCOM graduate.

Dr. Varidin continues to practice part-time and lives in Seminole, Fla.

KIRKSVILLE, Mo. – The A.T. Still University-Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine (ATSU-KCOM) Class of 2013 will begin their first year of medical school with new student orientation Friday, August 21, and will continue orientation activities through Thursday, August 27.

Students will participate in a full schedule of orientation activities, including a welcome message by KCOM Dean Philip Slocum, D.O., ’76 on August 21; the President’s Barbeque at Thousand Hills State Park with ATSU President Jack Magruder on August 24; and the University’s annual Taste of Kirksville event, featuring area restaurants and caterers August 27 at the Thompson Campus Center. Classes begin Tuesday, August 25.

Perhaps the most important event for KCOM’s newest class of medical students is the Induction and White Coat Ceremony. The White Coat ceremony was established in 1996 and impresses upon first-year students the significance and symbolism of wearing a white coat. Students will receive their white doctor’s coat, as well as body-mind-spirit lapel pin. Held in conjunction with orientation, the ceremony will take place at 9 a.m. Saturday, August 22, in Baldwin Hall Auditorium at Truman State University.

“The White Coat ceremony symbolizes the admission into a professional class,” said KCOM Dean Slocum. “Students then have a greater expectation to act in a professional way – for the University, it represents a symbolic welcoming into the family of ATSU-KCOM and physician practitioners in training.”

This year, 3,231 applicants vied for the 172 positions in KCOM’s Class of 2013. The class includes 109 men and 63 women representing 30 states as well as Canada and Japan. The class has an average science GPA of 3.4 and cumulative GPA of 3.5.