Drs. Norma Cavazos and Joyce Scott, Class of 1994

A grant funded by the United Health Foundation is helping ATSU graduates take their mind off tuition, allowing them to focus on what really matters—providing quality healthcare to patients, especially patients in underserved communities.

Established in 2009 with a $100,000 grant from the United Health Foundation, the Connect the Docs Graduate Loanship Program started by providing loan repayments to two qualifying ASDOH graduates who secured jobs in community health centers. Inaugural recipients Elizabeth Magallanes, DMD, ’09, and Brenden Davis, DMD, MPH, ’09, each received $25,000 to repay his or her student loan at the end of each year for two years.

“I think this is a wonderful way to get dentists into underserved communities, especially if graduating students know early on that this funding would be available if they choose employment at an underserved site,” Dr. Davis said.

Today, the program has grown to include primary care loan repayments for KCOM graduates as well. To date, the United Health Foundation has provided a total of $400,000 to eight recipients including six dentists and two primary care providers.

KCOM’s inaugural recipients include 1994 graduates and friends Joyce Scott, DO, and Norma Cavazos-Salas, DO. Dr. Scott practices alone in Celina, Tenn., and Dr. Cavazos-Salas practices in Mission, Texas, both underserved communities.

“The loan repayment program is a win-win for everyone involved,” said Kate Rubin, United Health Foundation president. “By helping alleviate medical school and dental school debt, health professionals can invest their talents and passion in the underserved communities that need them most. Providing critical medical and dental services to populations that have historically had limited access to care is a true game changer.”

ASDOH Dean Jack Dillenberg, DDS, MPH, feels that the program is a tangible expression of the School’s model of social innovation, which blends quality education with an unflinching commitment to community service.

“Society is getting a benefit beyond care for their teeth,” he said. “They are getting the benefit of understanding the whole person health concept.”

Said KCOM Dean Margaret Wilson, DO, ’82, “The expansion to include KCOM has been a tremendous chance to help our graduates who are working with underserved patient populations. We are so fortunate and grateful to have this support.”

A.T. Still University students, staff and faculty celebrated its inaugural Relay For Life event benefiting the American Cancer Society on May 4, 2013.

The University’s Relay For Life event was initiated and organized by ATSU students from various healthcare programs. More than 200 students, faculty and staff participated in fundraising events leading up to the culmination event which was held on the Mesa campus.

“It was such an honor to work with the students and faculty of A.T. Still University,” said American Cancer Society Community Relationship Manager, Ashley Minchella. “It brings me absolute joy to welcome the students and faculty of A.T. Still University to the Relay For Life family. This 2013 committee should be so proud of the success’ they made and the legacy they have left for their fellow peers and University!”

An astounding $32,000 was raised and will go to support the American Cancer Society. Additionally, ATSU Relay For Life committee members are proud to report that donations are still coming in.

Participants launched the event Saturday evening with an opening ceremony honoring those who have overcome, are battling, or who have been lost to cancer. Activities continued through the night – including a camp-out on the University’s front lawn – and ended early Sunday morning.

“The faculty, staff, students, family and friends, who participated in or who supported the event, made an incredible impact to not only the lives of those living in Arizona facing cancer, but everywhere,” said Bridget Spooner, ATC, event chair. “We fought back against cancer this past year and in my opinion, we won!”

A complete photo album may be viewed by visiting the official ATSU Facebook page

Josh Heenan, MS, Human Movement, ’12, is head strength and conditioning coach for Sacred Heart University’s (Fairfield, Conn.) baseball program. The team is looking for their third consecutive Northeast Conference Championship and NCAA DI bid to the national tournament.

Heenan also is in charge of the fitness division at Moore Physical Therapy in Southport, Conn. “We have over 50 baseball players in our athletic development program from high school to pro ball,” said Heenan. “We also have 30 other clients from weekend warriors to Olympic hopefuls in multiple sports. Every high school athlete that has spent at least a year with us has gone on to play Division One college in their sport of choice.”

In addition, Heenan says that he has been accepted at the University of Natural Medicine in Sante Fe, NM, where he will begin classes online in August to specialize in manual manipulation, acupuncture, and soft-tissue therapy.

Norman Gevitz, PhD, has been appointed senior vice president – academic affairs for A.T. Still University (ATSU), effective July 2013. Currently, Dr. Gevitz is professor of history and sociology of medicine and director of the Academic Medicine Scholars Program at New York Institute of Technology, College of Osteopathic Medicine.

“Dr. Gevitz will be joining ATSU at a very pivotal time in our history,” President Phelps said in his announcement. “He brings us tremendous depth and strength in all the right areas. He has a distinguished career in health sciences teaching and scholarship, a long and proven track record of securing and sustaining funding, and years of outstanding academic leadership. Also, in true ATSU fashion, Dr. Gevitz has a deep and abiding commitment to community service.”

Prior to his time in New York, Dr. Gevitz served for 12 years as chair of the Department of Social Medicine at Ohio University College of Osteopathic Medicine. He has also held various academic administrative positions, including co-director of the undergraduate rehabilitation counseling degree program at the Illinois Institute of Technology and director of the medical humanities program at the University of Illinois Chicago College of Medicine. Dr. Gevitz is a respected and prolific author and editor, focusing on the history and future of osteopathic medicine, as well as the history of dentistry, pharmacy, and medical ethics. 

“As the chief academic officer for the University, Dr. Gevitz will continue to strengthen ATSU’s growing academic programs and our unwavering commitment to excellence in all we do,” President Phelps said. “I am abundantly confident that Dr. Gevitz is prepared for this critically important leadership role, and I look forward to working with him in implementing ATSU’s Strategic Plan, including key initiatives of interprofessional education, a center for teaching and learning excellence, and diversity.”

A.T. Still University’s  Kirksville College of Medicine (ATSU-KCOM) and School of Osteopathic Medicine in Arizona (ATSU-SOMA) alumni met the evening of April 17 following sessions at the Arizona Osteopathic Medical Association (AOMA) conference to connect with one another and receive updates from Craig Phelps, DO, ’84, FAOASM, president, ATSU, and Kay Kalousek, DO, MS, AAHIVS, FACOFP, dean, ATSU-SOMA. Below is a recap of the highlighted updates:

•  Former members of the Board of Trustees and other leaders of osteopathic medicine were in attendance and recognized at the event, including Carl Bynum, DO, ’75; John Crosby, JD, executive director, AOA; and Mandy Weaver, executive director, AOMA.

•  Tom McWilliams, DO, ’76, FACOFP, associate dean of Graduate Medical Education, ATSU-SOMA, and Deloss McWilliams, were recognized with the Honored Patron Award for their generous giving to the University.

• Dr. Kalousek has heard from many medical leaders around the country that SOMA’s innovative model of education is that of the future. She has been the dean of ATSU-SOMA since  July 2012.

•  ATSU-SOMA and ATSU-KCOM continue to collaborate and exchange best practices to further ATSU’s position as a leader in healthcare education. Healthcare communities and institutions around the nation recognize the quality of ATSU-SOMA’s programs, as evidenced by the fact that 100% of this year’s students were matched with the residency of their choice.

 Please visit the alumni Facebook page to see additional photos: https://www.facebook.com/ATSU.Alumni.