Students and faculty from Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine (MSUCOM) made a strong showing at the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine’s (AACOM) 2025 Educating Leaders conference, taking first and third place for research presentations.
Third-year D.O. student Akila Nallabelli earned first place for her poster presentation, “Biomedical-based diabetes education for community health literacy by osteopathic medical students.” The project was co-authored by third-year students Chris Vela and Sunshine Liu, as well as Carolina Restini, Ph.D., Pharm.D., associate professor and thread director at the college. Third-year D.O. student Nikila Nallabelli earned third place for her work, “Osteopathic medical students: transportation access research and patient care in street medicine,” co-authored with third-year D.O. student Khaitlyn Figueroa, Dr. Restini and Richard Bryce, D.O., assistant professor at the college.
Akila Nallabelli and Nikila Nallabelli celebrate their winning posters at AACOM's 2025 conference, Educating Leaders.
Beyond the college’s award winners, other members of the “MSUCOMmunity” attended and presented at the conference. These presentations ranged from programmatic and academic foci to healthy habits for students and others. Among the highlights:
- “D.O.-Ph.D. program at MSU College of Osteopathic Medicine,” presented by Brian Schutte, Ph.D., associate professor and co-director of the college’s D.O.-Ph.D. program, and John Goudreau, Ph.D., D.O., associate dean of Research, co-director of the college’s D.O.-Ph.D. program and acting chair of the college’s Department of Neurology and Ophthalmology
- “Beyond item writing: using exam tags to inform teaching and learning,” presented by Jessica Wicks, director of Instructional Design and Assessment for the college, and co-authored by Academic Specialist Sara Potter, Associate Professor Martha Faner, Ph.D., and Senior Associate Dean of Medical Education Kirsten Waarala, D.O.
- Hands-on workshop “Healthy celebrating: substance use education with a twist,” led by Interim Director of Wellness and Counseling Cara Ludlow, LMSW, Associate Professor Lauren Azevedo, D.O., and Associate Professor J’Aimee Lippert, D.O.
- “Evidence-based education strategy on cannabis misuse impacts adolescent learning outcomes,” presented by D.O. student Basma Klump, Ph.D., and co-authored by Dr. Restini, D.O. student Krishna Gogineni, D.O. student Esha Garg and assistant professor Carrie Nazaroff, Ph.D.
- Second-year D.O. student and outgoing MSUCOM Student Government Association (SGA) president Isaac Gollapalli and first-year D.O. student and incoming MSUCOM SGA president Giovanna Russano attended the Council of Osteopathic Student Government Presidents’ two-day meeting.
MSUCOM's participation exemplified the college’s commitment to education, innovation and community service and outreach, as well as its growing impact on osteopathic medicine nationwide.
For more information about the conference, visit AACOM’s Educating Leaders 2025 site.