Faculty news
Posted: May 7, 2012
ATSU
ATSU President Jack Magruder was presented a King Foundation Education Hero Award by the American Red Cross at their Day of Heroes Banquet on March 23.
On April 3, Mayor Richard Detweiler awarded him keys to the city of Kirksville for his role in bringing the new dental school to town.
President Magruder also recently spent time with a special interest organization at Truman State University, named Mu Gamma Chi, which stands for Magruder Gentlemen’s Club. A women’s group, called Magruder’s Gems, also exists.The groups were named after Magruder, Truman’s former president.
Dr. Phelps & son Zach
ATSU President-designate, Craig M. Phelps, DO, ’84, has been named the National Basketball Athletic Trainers Association (NBATA) Physician of the Year for 2010-11. Dr. Phelps is the Phoenix Suns Team Physician, Internal Medicine, and was honored before the Suns game against the Dallas Mavericks on Jan. 30 at U.S. Airways Center.
The NBATA Physician of the Year award is an annual honor voted on by the members of the NBATA, designed to recognize a team physician for exceptional service and care for his/her respective team and visiting NBA teams, and also a commitment to service in the community and to NBATA charities.
Dr. Phelps has been on the Suns’ medical staff for 26 years.
Christopher G. Halliday, DDS, MPH, has been named inaugural dean of ATSU’s newest dental school, the Missouri School of Dentistry & Oral Health. He will begin his duties July 1.
Dr. Halliday, a rear admiral in the U.S. Public Health Service (USPHS), is assistant surgeon general and chief of staff to the surgeon general of the United States. He was director and chief dental officer of the Indian Health Service and chief professional officer of the dental category. During his term as chief dental officer of the USPHS, Dr. Halliday coordinated the delivery of oral health services by the Commissioned Corps Dental Officers from the Department of Health and Human Services, Department Barry Gossage/NBA/Getty Image of Justice, and Department of Homeland Security.
He received his doctor of dental surgery from Marquette University School of Dentistry and his master of public health from the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill School of Public Health.
Dr. Halliday has dedicated his professional life to serving underserved populations, working in diverse areas such as Barrow, AK, and American Indian reservations in New Mexico and Arizona.
Twenty-four-year ATSU veteran Ron Gaber, vice president for student affairs, retired from the University on March 16. Since 1988, Gaber has served in several positions, including faculty member, dean, and vice president.
Gaber said he plans to move on to other adventures and interests and that his time at ATSU has been “wonderful.”
“He has accomplished much at ATSU, and I am very grateful to him; he will be sorely missed,” said ATSU President Jack Magruder.
Thomas Van Vleck, MA, student affairs counselor, received ATSU’s Above and Beyond Compassion Award. The award recognizes compassionate deeds, service, or acts that demonstrate caring or support of another person or group beyond what might be typically expected.
ASDOH
Dr. Dillenberg
Jack Dillenberg, DDS, dean, was selected as a distinguished practitioner and fellow in the Dental Academy, National Academies of Practice. This honor is bestowed upon those who have excelled in their own profession and are dedicated and committed to interdisciplinary care. Dr. Dillenberg received the NAP Medallion at the annual NAP banquet in Arlington, Va., on March 23-24.
Michelle Gross-Panico, MA, RDH, associate director, dentistry in the community, was presented with the Commitment to Underserved People award by the Arizona Public Health Association on Sept. 22.
Gross-Panico has been a faculty member since 2006 and is dedicated to administering programs that meet the oral health needs of the medically underserved.
“I appreciate this honor and thank the Arizona Public Health Association for the award and the great work they do for Arizona,” Gross-Panico said.
Associate Dean of Education Scott W. Morrison, DDS, MSD, MAEd, and Maureen Romer, DDS, MPA, associate dean, post-doctoral education, were inducted as fellows of the International College of Dentists (ICD) at its 82nd annual convocation in Las Vegas on Oct. 10.
The ICD is an honorary organization for the recognition of outstanding and meritorious service to the dental profession and community. Almost 300 dentists from the United States were inducted into the college.
Michael K. Papademetriou, DMD, MS, is the new clinic director of the Orthodontic program. Dr. Papademetriou finished his dental degree at the Washington University School of Dental Medicine and completed his orthodontic training at the University of California in Los Angeles. He has been in private practice as an orthodontist for 21 years.
Jae Hyun Park, PhD, DMD, MSD, MS, director, Postgraduate Orthodontic program, was appointed sole editor of the upcoming Nova publication Computed Tomography: New Research.
Nova Science Publishers publish a wide array of books and journals from authors around the globe. As an editor, Dr. Park will accept and reject chapters, review incoming manuscripts, and invite and gather additional contributions.
In January, Dr. Park published two articles in Angle Orthodontists and the Journal of Clinical Pediatric Dentistry: “The congenitally missing maxillary lateral incisor treated with atypical extraction pattern” and “Localization of Osterix and OPN in periodontal ligament during orthodontic tooth movement in rats.” Both publications are SCI journals, and Dr. Park is an associate editor of the Journal of Clinical Pediatric Dentistry.
Maureen Romer, DDS, MPA, was promoted to associate dean, post-doctoral education. She now oversees the administration of all post-doctoral programs at ASDOH, including the AEGD and Post Graduate Orthodontic program.
ASHS
Randy Danielsen, PhD, PA-C, has been named dean and assumed his duties April 1. Dr. Danielsen was most recently senior vice president of the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants Foundation. Prior to that he served as ASHS dean and professor from 1995- 2010.
Brandi Buchanan, OTD, OTR/L, assistant professor, occupational therapy, and Rachel Diamant, PhD, MS, OTR/L, BCP, associate professor, occupational therapy, traveled to Hermosillo, Mexico, in Nov. 2011 as an official delegation of the Phoenix Sister Cities Organization via the Disability Awareness Committee.
Second-year OT students Cari Campbell, Jacqueline Clark, Brandon Hepworth, and Robert Simmons and OT alumna Rachael Feierstein, MS, OTR/L, ’11, also traveled with the group.
Together with Feierstein, Drs. Diamant and Buchanan provided educational OT lectures on the value and meaning of play and how to position children with a variety of disabilities for successful engagement in their daily occupations to therapists, psychology and PT students, and members of the community and Sister Cities committees.
Dr. Burch
Ann Lee Burch, PT, EdD, MPH, MS, was selected as vice dean. She assumed the title Jan. 1 and began transitioning into her new role. Dr. Burch is immediate past department chair for physical therapy and will continue that role until a replacement chair is hired.
As vice dean, Dr. Burch serves as chief operating officer for ASHS, working to improve efficiency of procedure, exploring potential for new programming, and implementing the School’s strategic plan. Dr. Burch also continues to serve as chair of the University-wide Diversity Initiative.
“When I was selected as vice dean I had five minutes of excitement followed by an immediate reaction of rolling up my sleeves and getting to work,” said Dr. Burch.
Her plans for the year include furthering community-based health teaching experiences for faculty, staff, and students and improving the communication flow among administration, faculty, and staff.
Dr. Burch received her EdD (2005), MPH (2000), and MS and PT (1989) from Columbia University in New York City and her BA in psychology (1981) from University of Rochester.
Dr. Burch has been with ATSU since 2008.
Troy Hale, AuD, CCC-A FAAA, joined the audiology department in October as an assistant professor with a primary role as director for the AFA Institute to develop an audiology clinic as part of ATSU’s Doctor of Audiology program.
Kenneth Lam, MEd, ATC, postdoctoral research fellow, research support, co-authored “Utilizing the clinical outcomes research education for athletic trainers (CORE-AT) LITE module to facilitate the collection and tracking of patient-rated outcomes during patient care: a feasibility study” with Bart Anderson, MS, assistant professor, athletic training. Their research was funded by Warner/Fermaturo and an A.T. Still University Board of Trustees Research Grant from July 1, 2011- June 30, 2012.
Ken Pavlicek, PhD, is the new associate dean of enrichment. In his new role, Dr. Pavlicek will lead ASHS’ quality assessment and enrichment team. Dr. Pavlicek will work to provide enrichment opportunities for all faculty, staff, and administrators within the school and to assess how well ASHS is achieving its goals as individuals, as programs, as departments, and as a whole.
Tracie Rogers, PhD, director, human movement, completed the 2011 NYC Marathon on Nov. 6. Dr. Rogers and her husband ran as part of a 20-person team, Team Chances, which raised $120,000 for Chances for Children, an Arizona- based charity that develops fitness and wellness programs in area schools.
Dr. Rogers trained for 10 weeks, and she and her husband crossed the finish line together in four hours, 28 minutes. Nearly 50,000 runners from as far as Italy, Germany, and Japan ran the 26.2 miles.
“The streets were lined with supporters cheering for us. We wrote our names on our shirts, and the fans yell for you like they are your friends. It was unbelievable,” said Dr. Rogers.
KCOM
Dr. Wilson
Margaret Wilson, DO, ’82, has been named dean and began her duties May 1. Dr. Wilson has served as chair of the Department of Family Medicine, Preventive Medicine, and Community Health since 1995 and has been a professor in that department. She also serves as medical director and staff physician for the Northeast Missouri Family Health Clinic in Kirksville, Mo., and has hospital staff affiliation at Northeast Regional Medical Center in Kirksville.
“I am very humbled and honored to have the opportunity to serve this great institution as dean of KCOM. I am very proud of my alma mater, the students, faculty, and staff, and I look forward to being able to work toward KCOM’s continued success,” Dr. Wilson said.
SHM
Rita Dichele, MA, MHA, ’07, CT, adjunct instructor, health administration, has been invited to be a contributing writer to Aging News, a newspaper published by the American Society on Aging. She was also recently certified in thanatology, death and dying, and bereavement.
Dichele writes professionally and is a featured blog writer for www.ecarediary.com, an educational website designed for the caregiver.
Dichele’s work history comprises more than 25 years in the field of human services where she served in many capacities working with diversified individuals in non-profit agencies, municipality and state governments, and the insurance and healthcare industries.
Full-time MPH program faculty members presented at the National Rural Health Association’s 17th Annual Rural Multiracial and Multicultural Health Conference, “New Horizons in Rural Health Care: Vision or Mirage,” held Dec. 7-8, 2011, in Daytona Beach, Fla.
Presentations included “Demographics of Rural Border Health Maternal and Child Health Issues” by Michael Samuels, DrPH, professor; “Infant Mortality Issues in Rural Border Areas” and “Rural Border Workforce and Its Health Impact” by V. James Guillory, DO, MPH, professor and director of research; “Pediatric Health Issues in Rural Border Areas” and “The Role of Lay Outreach Workers (The Promotora Program)” by Mary Katherine Smith, DrPH, MPH, MCHES, assistant professor; “Herd Immunity: An Illustration of How and Why Vaccination Rates Matter” and “Pre-Hospital Care and the EMS Workforce” by David Denali, PhD, assistant professor; and “Integrating Behavioral Health Services into Primary Care” by Susan Randers, PhD, assistant professor.
Shachi Shantinath, PhD, DDS, MPH, associate professor, public health – dental emphasis, joined SHM in February. Dr. Shantinath will teach online and work with dual degree students.
Dr. Shantinath received her dental degree from Northwestern University Dental School and completed a pediatric and dental public health residency. She received her MPH from Harvard and her PhD in clinical psychology with additional focus in health psychology from the University of Vermont.
Sarah Spencer, BA, associate director, online admissions, received ATSU’s Above and Beyond Compassion Award. The award recognizes compassionate deeds, service, or acts that demonstrate caring or support of another person or group beyond what might be typically expected.
SOMA
Dr. Kalousek
Kay Kalousek, DO, MS, AAHIVS, FACOFP, has been named dean and will assume her duties July 1.
She is currently associate dean for academic and student affairs for the College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific (COMP) at Western University of Health Sciences in Pomona, Calif. She earned her DO from COMP, where she also serves as associate professor of family medicine.
Dr. Kalousek brings considerable clinical expertise to the dean’s position. She has been a consulting and supervising physician in a medical group and clinic and holds staff membership in a West Covina, Calif., hospital. She also has engaged in numerous volunteer activities to provide free medical care for the homeless.
“Dr. Kalousek will continue the path of innovation and excellence as the new dean of SOMA. She will work closely with our other deans to help ATSU educate highly competent and compassionate healthcare professionals,” said ATSU President Jack Magruder.
Jonathon Kirsch, DO, C-NMM/ OMM, director, osteopathic principles & practices, was named a fellow of the class of 2011 by the American Osteopathic Association (AOA) Health Policy Fellowship.
The AOA Health Policy Fellowship is sponsored by Ohio University College of Osteopathic Medicine and New York Institute of Technology, College of Osteopathic Medicine. It has been in existence for 17 years, and its purpose is to prepare doctors of osteopathic medicine to participate in, and be a resource for, healthcare policy development at both the state and national levels.
The program takes a year to complete and includes nine weekend seminars, consisting of lectures by and discussions with leading health policy administrators, advocates, and experts in the field.
The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) awarded SOMA a $950,000 grant for pre-doctoral training in primary care. Frederic Schwartz, DO, ’69, FACOFP, associate dean, SOMA community campuses, is principal investigator of the project; Mara Hover, DO, director, SOMA clinical affairs unit, is co-principal investigator.
“The project’s goals are to establish a master’s of public health degree track for SOMA trainees and to develop competencybased evaluation mechanisms for third- and fourth-year students’ clinical experiences,” said Dr. Schwartz.
“HRSA has been wonderfully supportive in recognizing our efforts to train physicians who will select needed specialties and begin practice in underserved communities,” said Thomas E. McWilliams, DO, FACOFP, interim dean, SOMA. This grant expands opportunities in public health training and helps align our evaluation process with those that will be used during the student’s residency training.”
Senior Vice President – Academic Affairs Douglas L. Wood, DO, PhD, (founding dean) and Thomas E. McWilliams, DO, FACOFP, interim dean, were featured in “Learn by doing: ATSU-SOMA nourishes with early, consistent clinical experience,” published in The DO (Oct. 2011). The article commended SOMA’s trailblazing, clinically focused, communitybased curriculum and highlighted the School’s inaugural graduation held in June 2011. The DO is a publication of the American Osteopathic Association.