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OSTEOPATHIC OUTREACH Issue 4
a
Osteopathic Outreach
January Issue
KENTUCKY COLLEGE OF OSTEOPATHIC MEDICINE IN THIS ISSUE (ISSUE #4)
On November 20th, six KYCOM students volunteered at the first annual South Magoffin County Health Fair. The first and second year students were made up of members of Sigma Sigma Phi and D.O.Care clubs. The main task for the KYCOM volunteers was to take the blood pressure and body mass index of the attendees. While it was the first Health Fair for the community, there were still about 80 members from the county who attended. The Health Fair was put on by the Health Department of Magoffin County and by Big Sandy Diabetes Coalition part of Americorps VISTA (Volunteers in Service to America). South Magoffin is the more isolated part of the county making it less readily accessible to hospitals, health clinics, grocery stores, etc. It is the hope of the Health Department to continue hosting these health fairs and eventually build a community center in South Magoffin to host more events to encourage healthier lifestyles as well as a more cohesive community within the county. In addition to the BP and BMI checks performed by the KYCOM students, other services offered at the
Health Fair were HbA1c readings, free flu shots, dental health screens, healthier cooking tips, fingerprinting for child safety, and physician counselling. Healthier snacking options were also available for attendees of the fair. There were raffles held every 2 hours for those who had completed at least 3 of the listed activities. Raffle prizes included gift cards to Walmart and Food City so that the winners could purchase healthier food choices. Dr. Kelli Pratt, DO, who was the physician on hand at the Health Fair graduated from KYCOM. Dr. Pratt grew up in the Magoffin County area and returned to practice in Magoffin County after she finished her residency at UK’s-Chandler Hospital. She is an alum who is truly fulfilling the college’s mission of “bringing medicine to the mountains.”
Amanda Sturgill, who coordinated the KYCOM volunteers for the event, said, “it was really great how different health organizations came together to provide free health screenings to a community which is generally lacking in health services. It was really rewarding to take part in such a great event!”
How to make the most of 2015 (Pg. 2)
KYCOM Students Dedicate Trail honoring Dr. Gearheart (Pg. 3)
DO Student of the Month (Pg. 4)
Spotlight Faculty of the month (Pg. 5)
Up-Coming Activities (Pg. 6)
KYCOM serves at County Health Fair By Rachel Courtney OMS-II
OSTEOPATHIC OUTREACH | Issue 4 2
At the end of each year, I spend the last few days with great anticipation for the coming year. If you are like me, you would agree that some of that time spent making hard to achieve “New Year’s Resolutions”—many of which are simple “intentions” that are not followed by actions. Sadly, my well intentioned resolutions are usually marred by the lack of sustainable will-power and by February I revert back to my old habits of procrastination, laziness, and a lack of motivation to push through the myriad of challenges that life throws at me.
Fortunately, 2013 marked the transition point for me in my quest to overcome the difficulty I experienced in following through with my New Year Resolutions. I learned a few powerful tools that helped to make my 2014 a great year, and I am hoping these tools will also make my 2015 an even better year. The most important thing I learned two years ago was that will-power is weak if it is not supported by consistent, daily actions that are recorded and can be retrieved at your convenience. So, here are a few suggestions from my personal experience and research that can help you to make the best of the New Year!
1. Write down your goals: This is the
first and most important step in
keeping your resolutions, yet it is the
most easily missed step. As Einstein
has been credited with saying: “why
memorize what you can write down?”
Write down and put the list of your
goals in a place that will be visible
every day. This could be the bathroom
mirror or the door so that you can see
it each morning. Seeing this list forces
your subconscious to be aware of your
goals without much effort. You can
also re-inforce this by reviewing your
goals (or resolutions) weekly, monthly,
or quarterly.
2. Break down each goal to simple
tasks: Sometimes a goal that seems
too daunting loses its sense of terror
once you are able to break it into
manageable chunks. For example
completing a COMLEX Step 1 question
bank with 2300 questions before the
end of the semester can be a daunting
task to begin. But, if that task is
broken down to manageable parts
then it becomes easier to accomplish.
i.e. 46 questions done in 1 hour, 10
times each month over 5 months will
complete the 2300 questions. This can
also be applied to gym goals, such as
weight loss or building muscle.
Simply put: substituting 1 hour of
wasted time three times a week can
accomplish the most significant goals
in 5 months. Amazing!
3. Make consistent daily actions: This
advice may sound esoteric but it is
probably the most important. The
benefit of doing a single task daily
regardless of how you feel about it
trains perseverance. Soon, you will
discover that simple actions done daily
will build enough resolve to
accomplish your New Year resolution
regardless of how daunting it may
seem at first. Remember that even the
most accomplished athletes never
started at the top. It took daily simple
practices to get them to where they
are today.
4. Get a support system: Having a
support system of friends or family
that can encourage you to accomplish
your goals and to hold you
accountable proves more effective
than going at it by yourself. Your
support system—gym or study buddy,
friend, spouse, or partner —will hold
you accountable to your goals and will
enable you to stick to those
unpleasant tasks like studying,
working-out, or learning a new skill;
especially on those days when your
will-power wanes.
5. Read: This goes without saying.
Everything you aspire to accomplish
has been in some way attempted
before. If you desire to play the guitar
like a professional, golf like a pro,
dance like a ballerina, or score a near
perfect score on the COMLEX or
USMLE exams, there has been
someone who has attempted it and
left a blue-print. Remember, you don’t
need to re-invent the wheel! Simply
find out what you can do to build on
someone else’s idea. Most of the
world’s knowledge is hidden in books,
articles, magazines, or literature.
Reading unlocks this vast wealth of
knowledge to you.
While this list is not exhaustive, I hope these few tips will help to send you off in the right direction. If all else fails, REMEMBER TO READ. There is more literature on accomplishing your New Year resolutions that you can look to.
Good luck with the New Year! Photo Credit: lfb.org
Welcome to 2015: How to make the most of the Year By Elvis Njere, OMS-II
OSTEOPATHIC OUTREACH | Issue 4 3
Early in December, the City of Pikeville officially named one of the new trails at Bob Amos Park in memory of Dr. Wayne Gearheart. The trail was formerly marked as the orange trail and is a branch of the paved trail found behind the running track at Bob Amos Park.
The city of Pikeville hopes to have a ribbon cutting ceremony in the spring for the opening of this trail named the W.W. Gearheart Wellness Trail, and two others trails cleared by the KYCOM Emergency Medicine Club. They also hope to place a memorial plaque at its location.
The original trailblazing work was completed last year by the Emergency Medicine Club was spearheaded by their president at the time, Peter Sheesley, OMS-III, and local Boy Scouts. The W.W. Gearheart Trail is 0.75 miles long and graded as an easy hike making it accessible for anyone. This year the Emergency Medicine Club and Muslim Student Doctors’ Association completed maintenance on the trail and helped blaze two additional trails off of the W.W. Gearheart Wellness Trail. One trail, 1.75 miles long, travels to the cut-through overlook and is rated as a moderate to strenuous climb due to its increase in elevation. The other trail is approximately 1 mile and loops back to the W.W. Gearheart Trail. All three trails offer great views of Bob Amos Park, Pikeville, and surrounding areas.
Second year KYCOM student, Andrew Pollard, remembers Dr. Gearheart fondly: “Dr. Gearheart was truly a motivational and inspirational professor and an even better person. He was greatly concerned about the health and welfare of Eastern Kentucky, which was shown in his research. The dedication of this hiking trail is the perfect way to honor such a great man.”
Dr. Gearheart taught Physiology to 1st year medical students and Nutrition to 2nd year students, and had recently become very passionate about healthy living, including eating well and exercising. So this trail is only fitting in his honor since his last year alive was spent advocating for healthier lifestyles.
KYCOM Students Dedicate Trail in Honor of Dr. Gearheart By Kristin Podboy, OMS-II
OSTEOPATHIC OUTREACH | Issue 4 4
Q: What made you decide to pursue a
career in Medicine?
A: I became interested in medicine
during high school. I used to volunteer
at Nationwide Children's Hospital in
Columbus, OH, which sparked my
interest in medicine. In College, my
shadowing experiences and interest in
science solidified my decision to pursue
a career in medicine.
Q: What motivates you to do community service?
A: Community service is something I've
been doing since a very young age. For
me, it is a way to connect with the
community I am living in and to give
back to the community.
Q: As a 2nd Year Medical student what are the biggest challenges you face in balancing medical school and community service?
A: The biggest challenge this year has
been learning how to prioritize my time
so that my classes are not suffering. The
beginning of any semester is always a
challenge for me. It takes time to get a
feel for my classes, but I have learned to
be more efficient in studying which has
helped quite a bit.
Q: How did you get involved
with the Magoffin County
Health Fair and what other
volunteer events did you do?
A: I am a member of Sigma Sigma
Phi which represented KYCOM at
the event. We helped with the B.P
and BMI checks. This was a
great opportunity to both practice
my skills and to help a community
in need. I also helped CMA and
Hospice Care in sorting donated
items for the people in need. My last
volunteer event for December was
doing interview-tours because I enjoy
interacting with potential students.
Q: How are you able to balance the demands of Medical School and your commitment to Community Service?
A: I believe that if you are truly
interested in something, you
will find the time for it. I have
become better at prioritizing
my time. I make sure to take
time off from studying which is
needed for everyone, but I try to use
that free time for volunteering or other
activities that I enjoy
Q: What advice would you give to the current medical students and prospective students regarding being involved with community service?
A: I would tell others that it's alright
not to spend hours and hours on
one single project. You can give the
same time to multiple projects of
your choice. This will enable you to
experience different service
opportunities.
D.O Student of the Month: Harika Kantamneni OMS-II
OSTEOPATHIC OUTREACH | Issue 4 5
What do you think is the future of health care in the U.S?
It is an exciting time to work in a healthcare system that is patient-centered. It has become more necessary to put the patients as a members of their healthcare teams. Eventually the patient will need to take more initiative for their health and wellbeing.
How are you able to manage the demands of a medical career and family?
I'm envious of the younger generation, who now look at their career as part of their total life. My career became my focal point, my family suffered. I wasn't able to make it to my son's games and my daughter's plays. The younger generation has been able to put career as part of family. Be aware that your professional life is just as important as your personal life and family.
What has been one of your biggest challenges and what is most rewarding for you in your practice as a Physician and Dean?
When I first started in practicing as a DO physician, the medical community had not accepted osteopathic physicians as readily as they do today. I had to convince the medical community that as an osteopathic physician I was a competent and quality minded physician. The most rewarding part of my career as a Dean is watching people walk across that stage during graduation. It is a thrill to see students pick up their diplomas with big smiles after achieving their goals.
As an Academic Dean and physician, what advice would you give to students who desire to pursue a combined career as a physician and an academician?
I never [times five] planned to go into academia. It is one of the most rewarding and the most frustrating part of my life. The reward is in seeing people achieve their dreams and passions. The frustration comes from seeing people waste their time in trivial pursuits that distracts them from achieving their goals. "Never put yourself in a position where you give someone control over your life".
What is some business advice you would give to medical students?
Physicians do not have the best business acumen. So it's important that they find professionals who have that business experience; whether it is an attorney, or a business adviser. You also have to listen to their advice.
Can you tell us a little bit more about the AOF and how students can be more involved in it?
American Osteopathic Foundation (AOF) is a philanthropic organization that started many years ago as an organization to raise funds, honor students, faculty, and physicians in the osteopathic profession. They used to give out osteopathic stamps (seals). I got involved because of a young lady, who works for the foundation, who tugged at my sense of duty. I didn't know anything about the foundation, hadn't given any money. She bent my ear.
I believe that a part of the osteopathic philosophy is to give back. There is always someone who is part of the profession (students), who needs some type of financial support. Students can form a habit of donating to charities in need. It is necessary to build this habit when you are poor. If you do so, then, as you grow in the medical profession, your involvement and donations will also increase. Knowing that I am helping some students, research, education, makes being a part of AOF a worthwhile endeavor.
Spotlight Faculty: Dr. William Betz D.O., M.B.A., FAACS By Harika Kantamneni, OMS-II
OSTEOPATHIC OUTREACH | Issue 4 6
January 9th at 5:00 PM: Evaluations for 1st Semester Classes Due!
Contact: Mr. Brad Marcum ([email protected])
January 9th at 4:00 PM: ACOOG: Infertility Talk with Dr. Norman Assad
Contact: Lilian Ng ([email protected])
January 9th at 3:00- 5: 00 PM: IV-Arm Workshop at the Simulation Lab
Contact: Kristin Podboy ([email protected])
January 12th at 6:00 PM: SGA General Assembly Meeting
Contact: Allie Whitley ([email protected])
January 13th at 6:00 PM: SIGNAP: Concussion Talk with Dr. Clark
Contact: Rachel Feinauer ([email protected])
January 15th at noon: SOMA Meeting/ D.O. Day on the Hill Info Session
Contact: Brian Chaffin ([email protected])
January 16th and 17th at 9:00 AM: Medical School Interviews
Contact: Missy Holland ([email protected])
January 19th : Martin Luther King Jnr Day Holiday
Contact: Have Fun!!
January 30th at 11:00 AM: Deans Forum (Tentative)
Contact: Fritz Stine ([email protected])
February 15th : Call for Abstracts_Ohio Osteopathic Symposium
Contact: Dr. Peter Zajac ([email protected])
Upcoming Events in January
OSTEOPATHIC OUTREACH | Issue 4 7
Osteopathic Outreach
147 Sycamore St. Pikeville, KY 41501
