Class notes
Posted: August 26, 2010
1950s
Maynard Amelon, D.O., ’51, was the subject of a profile in The Desert Sun newspaper in March. At 19 and a pre-med student at the University of Missouri in Columbia during World World II, Dr. Amelon was drafted into the U.S. Army military police, where he trained sharpshooters, patrolled brothels in what was then British India, rode on motorcycle patrol, and served as sergeant of his platoon of young rookies.
From Centralia, Mo., Dr. Amelon practiced medicine in Michigan for 56 years before moving to Palm Desert, Calif.
Robert H. Pearson, D.O., ’57, Woodcliff Lake, N.J., is seeing his stories turned into a musical. “Tell it to the Doc” is based upon the stories and experiences of Dr. Pearson, now retired, during his more than 50 years of practice as a family physician in Bergen County, N.J. Dr. Pearson wrote the dialogue and songs that became the basis for the musical. The production is being organized as a fundraiser for Community Hospice of Bergen County. For more information, visit www.tellittothedoc.com.
1960s
Joseph P. Molnar Jr., D.O., ’66, Charles City, Iowa, has been elected to a one-year term on the Iowa Osteopathic Medical Association Board of Trustees.
Albert L. Pick, D.O., J.D., ’67, Atlanta, Ga., is pictured with his diploma from The John Marshall Law School. He graduated Cum Laude. Dr. Pick attended law school after a long and satisfying experience as a surgeon. He said that while law school was hard, osteopathic medical college was harder.
1970s
Navy Lt. Cmdr. Corey Pritchard, son of Charles L. Pritchard, D.O., ’70, Kirksville, was featured in an article that appeared on the front page of the Kirksville Daily Express that highlighted his Navy career and his experiences as a boy raised in Kirksville. In addition to operating a $57 million F/A- 18 Super Hornet, he serves as a department head and tactics instructor for his squadron, the Strike Fighter Squadron 22 or VFA-22.
Oklahoma State Rep. J. Michael Ritze, D.O., ’73, Broken Arrow, Okla., is 
pictured with Lt. Gen. Thomas Stafford from Weatherford, Okla. Several Oklahoma legislators toured the Stafford Space Museum in Weatherford recently, guided by Gen. Stafford, who was commander of Apollo 10 in May 1969, the first flight of the lunar module to the moon.
Richard A. Feely, D.O., FAAO,’78, Chicago, Ill., was installed as president of the American Academy of Osteopathy (AAO) during the academy’s convocation held in March. He is board certified in six specialties: family practice, osteopathic manipulative medicine, acupuncture, disability evaluation, independent medical evaluation, and quality assurance and utilization review. He earned a certificate of competency from The Cranial Academy and is a fellow of the AAO, The Cranial Academy, the American Academy of Disability Evaluating Physicians, and the American Academy of Medical Acupuncture. He serves as an adjunct associate professor at the Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine of Midwestern University.
Karen M. Steele, D.O., FAAO,’78, Lewisburg, W.Va., has been re-elected
to the office of governor of the American Academy of Osteopathy (AAO). She is professor of osteopathic principles and practices and associate dean of osteopathic medical education at the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine. Dr. Steele is a past president of the AAO.
Jan M. Willcox, D.O., ’78, Blacksburg, Va., has been named vice dean for the Virginia Campus, Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine.
1980s
Arthur L. Berman, D.O., ’81, Largo, Fla., made a poster presentation at the 45th Annual Meeting of the European Association for the Study of the Liver. The presentation, entitled “Phase 2 Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study of Nitazoxanide plus Peginterferon and Ribavirin in HCV Genotype 1 Naïve Patients: Week 12 Substained Virologic Response Rate,” is one of several clinical trials for which Dr. Berman served as principal investigator.
George B. Clavenna, D.O.,’82, Clive, Iowa, has been named Physician of the Year by the Iowa Osteopathic Medical Association.
Craig M. Phelps, D.O., ’84, ATSU executive vice president for strategic initiatives, has been named for a second consecutive year to the coveted annual list of “Top Docs” in Phoenix Magazine.
Catherine M. Kimball, D.O.,’85, Waterville, Maine, was reelected to the office of governor of the American Academy of Osteopathy. She has served on the board since 2001. Dr. Kimball has served more than 12 years as chief of the medical staff at Inland Hospital in Waterville, Maine, and is a member of the hospital’s board of trustees, currently serving as secretary.
1990s
Joyce E. Scott, D.O., ’94, Celina, Tenn., has successfully passed the boards for family practice and geriatric medicine and has been recertified. Visit www.drjoycescott.com to learn more about her practice and her many interests.
John C. Collins, D.O., ’97, professor of osteopathic manipulative medicine at ATSU-KCOM, has been named Family Physician of the Year by the Missouri Society of the American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians.
Mark S. Pelikan, D.O., ’99, Florissant, Mo., has 
joined Esse Health, one of St. Louis’ largest independent physician groups. Dr. Pelikan is board certified by the American Academy of Family Physicians and focuses primarily on adult care.
2000s
Gregory K. Janik, M.S., ’00, Dallas, Pa., was married to Regan A. Litz on July 4, 2009, in Dallas. Janik is an associate clinical professor in the athletic training education program and head athletic trainer at King’s College in Wilkes-Barre, Pa.
Lisa M. Koch, Au.D., ‘03, Gallipolis, Ohio, 
participated in February in a mission with Operation We Care at the Amang Rodriguez Medical Center in Marikana City, Manila, Philippines. The team performed 116 major operations and 180 hearing screenings, and dispensed 2,000 eye glasses during five days. Dr. Koch also was successful in facilitating the pursuit of funding for a cochlear implant for a 10-year-old girl who was profoundly deaf, and provided the local ENT with a screening audiometer. Dr. Koch, who is an ASHS adjunct faculty member, is pictured above being recognized for her work with Operation We Care.
Jason R. Sparks, D.O., ’06, Liberty, Mo., and his wife, Amanda, are the parents of a girl born April 8. Jada Brey Sparks weighed 6 pounds and was 19 ½ inches long. The Sparkses are also parents of a son, Gabriel John Sparks. Grandparents are John R. Sparks, D.O., ’74, and his wife, Penny, of Kirksville.
Charles E. Clark, D.M.D., ’07, Phoenix, Ariz., was recently elected to the Arizona Dental Foundation (ADF) Board of Directors. Dr. Clark, a pediatric dentist, has been involved with the ADF almost from his first day at ASDOH. During those four years, he volunteered for many Give Kids A Smile events, completed ADF-sponsored Special Needs Training, and turned his participation in the 2006 Ironman Arizona Triathlon into an ADF fundraiser. Originally from Seattle, Dr. Clark completed a pediatric dentistry residency program at Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin in Milwaukee.
Aaron A. Davis, D.O., ’08, Wichita, Kan., was interviewed on the radio program “Issues 2010 with Steve McIntosh” about the work he and Maryclaire O’Neill, D.O., ’08, Albuquerque, N.M., did in earthquake-ravaged Haiti earlier this year working with Heart to Heart International.
Jonathan D. Richey, D.O., M.H.A., ’08, Holly, Mich., is pictured with his wife, Ashlie, and their daughters, Caitlyn and Lauren. Dr. Richey is completing a dermatology residency at Pontiac/Botsford in Michigan.
Patricia Sexton, D.H.Ed., ’08, associate professor
of family medicine at ATSU-KCOM, has received the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine’s Society of Osteopathic Medical Educators Award for her leadership in the creation of the National Academy of Osteopathic Medical Educators.
Robyn Powell Flores, D.M.D., ’09, Pismo Beach, Calif., appeared on the April 13 episode of “Wheel of Fortune,” winning more than $38,000 and a trip to Cabo San Lucas. Dr. Flores said, “It’s always been a dream of mine to get on the show and play; I never imagined that I would win.” She is employed by Community Health Centers of the Central Coast. A portion of her winnings is being donated to organizations that support local oral health initiatives.
Jodan D. Garcia, PT, DPT, ’09, Atlanta, Ga., has accepted a teaching position at Georgia State University.
2010s
Kristiina K. Huckabay, Au.D., ’10, Seattle, Wash., has been named a Professional Leadership Award recipient by the Audiology Foundation of America. Dr. Huckabay is a clinic supervisor at Virginia Mason Center in Seattle, where she coordinated annual CEU conferences for the Listen for Life Center and Dreambuilders’ Ball. She has also served as a lecturer and clinical supervisor at the University of Washington.
Pamela Robinson, Au.D., ’10, presented “Understanding Testing” at the Delaware Statewide Early Hearing Detection and Intervention Conference in March.
Johnnie E. Sexton, Au.D., ’10, Wilmington, N.C., has been named a Professional Leadership Award recipient by the Audiology Foundation of America. Dr. Sexton has worked with children who are deaf and hard of hearing for 33 years and was one of the first education audiologists in North Carolina. He is also founder and chair of Project EARS, a non-profit foundation dedicated to issues related to children with hearing loss.
KCOM graduates honored for TOMA service
These ATSU-KCOM graduates were honored in May for their years of service in the Texas Osteopathic Medical Association (TOMA) House of Delegates:
David R. Armbruster, D.O., FACOFP, ’63, Pearland, 40 years; David M. Beyer, D.O., ’68, Fort Worth, 25 years; Robert L. Peters Jr., D.O., FACOFP dist, ’58, Round Rock, 33 years; Jeffrey D. Rettig, D.O., FACOFP, ’87, Groesbeck, 13 years; Laura S. Stiles, D.O., FACOFP, ’75, Mesquite, 13 years
In addition, Clay W. Gilbert, D.O., ’63, Irving, was honored with TOMA Life Membership, which is awarded for exemplary service to the osteopathic profession. Dr. Gilbert is retired from his family medicine and anesthesiology practice and has been a TOMA member in good standing for 46 years. During this time, he has championed the profession by providing outstanding care to his patients, fitting the profile of a local, unsung hero.