Held virtually April 20 – 22, 2021, participants of the Educating Leaders 2021 American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine, or AACOM, conference were able to engage in three days of presentations, interactive sessions, special events and programming focused on experiences and issues that our nation’s health care and medical education systems are currently experiencing.
AACOM was founded in 1898 to lend support and assistance to the nation's osteopathic medical schools, and to serve as a unifying voice for osteopathic medical education. The organization represents and advances the continuum of medical education to improve the health of the public.
The conference offered attendees more than 150 educational presentations that included the latest research and scholarly work across the osteopathic medical education platform.
Dr. J’Aimee Lippert, pre-clerkship director of the Osteopathic Principles and Practice program in the college and Dr. Carrie Nazaroff, assistant professor in the Division of Human Anatomy presented a discussion about how to weave osteopathic principles and practice into a student’s first year experience.
“This discussion covered the collaborative work accomplished between anatomy and OMM to creatively discuss and incorporate these concepts in the first semester curriculum, and our efforts to make all of this happen in the setting of the pandemic restrictions,” Lippert said. “It was a wonderful opportunity to showcase the work done by these two departments to synergistically and positively engage with the students in very challenging circumstances.”
Additional college faculty, staff and students presented on other important topics as well.
“Presenting at a virtual conference is becoming the new norm,” said third-year osteopathic medical student Brittany Ladson. “It was a great experience being able to communicate with other participants throughout the duration of the conference with their unique chat function. My favorite part of the conference was seeing what other osteopathic physicians and students are doing in their community to make it a better place!”
Conference attendees also found the virtual format to be highly accessible and informative with interesting and thought-provoking material from across the medical education spectrum.
“Many elements were actually better conducted in this virtual format, including the ability to view posters at leisure, participate in chats regarding content, and most beneficially, to continue accessing presentations and material for a period following the event,” Lippert said. “AACOM and the planning team for this year’s conference did an incredible job on this endeavor.”
Registered attendees can view recorded sessions here.
Congratulations to the following faculty, staff and students on their presentations:
- Creation of a DEI scorecard for implementation in osteopathic medical schools
- Debalina Bandyopadhyay, PhD, Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine; Erik Guercio, MA, American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine; Tanisha King-Taylor, PhD, Ohio University Heritage College of Medicine; Linda Grace Solis, PhD, University of the Incarnate Word School of Osteopathic Medicine; Hector Eduardo Velasco, MD, PhD, Touro University College of Osteopathic Medicine - California; Robert Jason Walker, PhD, Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine
- Osteopathic tapestry: Weaving osteopathic principles and practice into the first semester experience
- J'Aimee Lippert, DO, Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine; Carrie Nazaroff, PhD, Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine Not presenting: Kirsten L. Waarala, DO, Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine
- Student performance in medical biochemistry and genetics: Comparing live classroom vs. Zoom delivery
- Raquel P Ritchie, PhD, Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine. Not presenting: Martha A. Faner, PhD, Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine - Detroit; Kirsten L. Waarala, DO, Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine; Carol A Wilkins, PhD, Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine.
- Lessons learned from a multi-institutional wellbeing curriculum for medical students and residents
- Stuart Grande, PhD, Geisel School of Medicine, Dartmouth; Kaushal Nanavati, MD, Upstate Medical University; Catherine Pippas, MD, CoreWellness; Chaya Prasad, MD, MBA, Western University of Health Sciences College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific; John R. Taylor, PsyD, Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine; Michael Witt, MD, Arnot Health. Not presenting: Nicky Beaudoin, BS, CoreWellness; Jeffrey Levy, MD, CoreWellness; Barrie Maylott, BA, CoreWellness.
- Women leaders in medicine: Is it easier, harder, or even different?
- Karen J. Nichols, DO, Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education; Katherine M. Ruger, EdD, Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine.
- Reimagining the osteopathic foundations curriculum
- Julianne Purcell, Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine; Deb Young, PharmD, Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine. Not presenting: Darren L. Grunwaldt, DO, Metro Health Hospital.
- Change in opinions of residents before and after a domestic/intimate partner violence training
- Veronica Takov, DO, McLaren Macomb. Not presenting: Grace Brannan, PhD, GDB Research and Statistical Consulting LLC; Mariah Burnell, DO, McLaren Macomb; Shannon McMann, DO, McLaren Macomb; Kegan Michael Rummel, DO, Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine.
- Self-directed learning: fostering the meta-skills of SDL and clinical reasoning at MSUCOM
- Jessica M Wicks, PhD, Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine. Not presenting: Kim Peck, MBA, Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine; Kim Pfotenhauer, DO, Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine; Kirsten L. Waarala, DO, Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine.
- Investigating nurse collaboration with residents
o Esther F Castro, MPH, Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine. Not presenting: Saif Ahmed, DO, MS, Henry Ford Wyandotte Hospital; Bill Corser, PhD, Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine; Nikhil Goyal, MD, Henry Ford Health System; Kassem M Makki, BA, Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine; Neha Saini, Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine; Lianne M Strimpel, BS, Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine; Diane Wyatt, Henry Ford Wyandotte Hospital.
- School- based opioid awareness and presentation approach
- Brittany Morgan Ladson, BS, Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine.
- Impact of COVID-19 on students at MSUCOM: Curriculum, advising and wellness
- Christian-Gabriel R Dondonan, BS, Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine; Sahar B Rammaha, BS, Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine. Not presenting: Martha A. Faner, PhD, Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine; Kim Pfotenhauer, DO, Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine; John R Taylor, PsyD, Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine; Kirsten L. Waarala, DO, Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine.