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.

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.

KIRKSVILLE, Mo. – As A.T. Still University’s School of Health Management (ATSU-SHM) continues to grow, the first full-time faculty members in the school’s history will begin new positions and further strengthen the academic program.

Five faculty will begin full-time positions for ATSU-SHM: David Line Denali, Ph.D., Colleen Halupa, Ed.D., Lynda T. Konecny, D.H.Ed.,  Dr.P.H, Susan B. Randers, Ph.D., and Mary-Katherine Smith, Dr.P.H. Each will serve as assistant professor for the Master of Public Health (M.P.H.) or Doctor of Health Education (HED) program. Although their backgrounds are diverse, they each bring a wealth of experience to the school and to their future students. SHM Interim Dean Kimberly O’Reilly, D.H.Ed., M.S.W., said the full-time positions will be an important part of enhancing the online student experience.

 “The full time model also allows us to improve our human connection with our students,” she said. “Having the consistent faces working with our students helps our student body to feel more a part of the University.  Lasting connections through student organizations and faculty mentoring is just as important to online students as it is to residential students.”

 Dr. Denali received his Ph.D. in Health, Physical Education and Recreation from the University of New Mexico in 2004, as well as two Master’s degrees: one in Public Health from the University of New England, the other in Social Work from the State University of New York at Albany. He previously served as the Public Health Emergency Preparedness Division Manager at the county level in New Mexico. He will work for the M.P.H. program.

 Moving from adjunct faculty to her new position in the HED program, Dr. Halupa has a doctorate in education, curriculum and instruction, along with a Master’s degree in administration. She formerly worked for the Air Force for 20 years as a medical technologist, a laboratory manager, an accreditation/compliance director, and as program director for the Air Force Medical Laboratory Training Programs.

 Another University staff member, Dr. Konecny, is transferring positions. She has worked in Admissions and Alumni services for ATSU for the past four years. In 2008, she received her D.H.Ed. from SHM and she has also served as adjunct faculty for SHM’s health education program. She previously obtained her M.S. in counselor education/college student personnel from Emporia State University in Kansas, and she will be taking a position in the HED program.

 A licensed psychologist, Dr. Randers received her Ph.D. in psychology from the University of Maryland and her M.P.H in community health from the University of Texas School of Public Health. She currently practices in Florida, and she is a member of Florida’s Regional Behavioral Health Assessment Team, part of Florida’s Crisis Consortium. She will be in the M.P.H. program.

 Finally, Dr. Smith will join Dr. Randers and Dr. Denali as assistant professor for the M.P.H. program. She received her M.P.H from Texas A&M Health Science Center School of Rural Public Health and her Dr.P.H. from the University of North Texas. Previously, she worked as an epidemiology program planner, and she is a Certified Health Education Specialist.

KIRKSVILLE, Mo. – A.T. Still University’s School of Health Management (ATSU-SHM) has appointed Erin Breitenbach, Ph.D., to its Health Education program chair position, effective August 1.

Dr. Breitenbach has served as an instructor for SHM since the beginning of 2008. Educated at the University of Texas at Austin, she received her B.A. in kinesiology in 1991 before achieving her master’s, and then doctorate degrees in health education, completing the latter in 1998. Putting her education into practice, she conducted academic research on health education, using it to coordinate health education outreach programs for a managed care program. Her experience also includes clinical cancer research for a National Cancer Institute-designed comprehensive cancer center, as well as for a private oncology clinical research center.

“Dr. Breitenbach brings a wealth of knowledge about health education and a clear plan to take the health education program to the next level,” said SHM Dean Kimberly O’Reilly, D.H.Ed., M.S.W.  “She shares the University’s goal of improving the healthcare industry through compassion, education, and research.”

As the program chair, Dr. Breitenbach will manage both SHM’s master’s and doctorate health education programs. Specifically, she will manage program associations, health education curriculum, students, and faculty, as well as the dissertation process for doctorate students. The School of Health Management is the University’s online school and offers degrees in health education, geriatric health, health administration, and public health, providing flexibility for future healthcare professionals.

Motivational speaker Kevin Eikenberry

KIRKSVILLE, Mo. – Virtual classmates will meet face-to-face to celebrate the completion of their education at A.T. Still University-School of Health Management’s commencement ceremony on Saturday, June 6.

As graduates gather in Ophelia Parrish Performing Arts Center on the campus of Truman State University in Kirksville, motivational speaker Kevin Eikenberry will deliver the keynote address. A two-time best-selling author, speaker, and consultant, he is the Chief Potential Officer of The Kevin Eikenberry Group, a learning consulting company. He has worked with numerous Fortune 500 companies and well-known organizations, including the American Red Cross, John Deere, Shell and the U.S. Marine Corps. As an author, he has published “Remarkable Leadership: Unleashing Your Leadership Potential One Skill at a Time “(2007) as well as “Vantagepoints on Learning and Life” (2006). As a motivational speaker, Eikenberry emphasizes the extraordinary potential of both people and organizations and that all aspects of life, including learning and work, should be fun.

Both learning and work have paid off for SHM’s graduating class and the number achieving a degree is higher than ever this year. A total of 162 students from 31 different states will be honored: graduates from last summer, graduates from last fall and winter, and this spring’s expected graduates. The majority, 74 students, will receive a master of public health; in addition, 31 will receive a master of health administration, 10 will receive a master of geriatric health, and eight will comprise the second group ever to receive a doctorate of health education. Finally, 34 will receive certificates in Public Health, and five will receive a certificate in Health Administration.

“Graduates of ATSU are using the osteopathic principles to change the face of health care in the United States and this year’s ATSU-SHM graduates are no different,” said SHM Dean Kimberly O’Reilly, D.H.Ed., M.S.W. “The School of Health Management is excited to graduate its largest class to the field of medicine and mind, body, and spirit care.”

While he is in Kirksville, commencement speaker Eikenberry will also address the public at a gathering at Napoli’s Italian Restaurant on Friday, June 5. He will speak on “Leading in a Climate of Change” at 7 p.m.; the event is free of charge to the community.