AAO Convocation 2017 – Posters

There is a reason why medical students and physicians across the country look forward to convocation every year. It is a reunion between classmates, colleagues, and friends – all under the banner of Osteopathic Medicine. Taking place at the glamorous Broadmoor Hotel in Colorado Springs, this year’s convo was no different.

A few stand-out lectures included “Integrated Neuromuscular Release” by Lisa Ann DeStefano DO, “Introduction to Fascial Distortion Model” by Todd A Capistrant DO, “Balanced Ligamentous Tension” by Hugh M. Ettlinger DO, FAAO, “Ligamentous Articular Strain” by Thomas Crow DO, and of course “A Grape Introduction to Wine” by Student Doctors Masumi Asahi and Peter Lee.

This year, the fellows also had an outstanding presence in the annual Louisa Burns Osteopathic Research Committee’s (LBORC) Poster Presentation. 7 Lebanon fellows and 1 Pomona fellow presented on a variety of topics, including:

• “Rotating Small Group Instruction: A Non-Traditional Approach to Teaching Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine” by Brayden Healey
• “Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment in a Pediatric Patient with a Rare Genetic Microcephalic Condition” by Andrew Narver and Alyssa Horne
• “The Effect of Compression of the 4th Ventricle Treatment on Medical Student Anxiety” by Maranda Herner, Pamela Anderson, Meagan Wolfe, Kaitlin Best, and Elizabeth Pines
• “Differences in Students’ Perceptions of OMT Based on Type of OMM Rotation (Stand-alone vs Integrated OMM/FM)” by Samuel Kammerzell and Lee Kenyon

Special congratulations is in order for Brayden Healey for receiving 2nd place for his poster!

 

Fellows also were able to spend some free time going on hikes, exploring Garden of the Gods, and enjoying some Colorado sunshine.

 

 

COMP Fellow Presents at the A. Hollis Wolf Case Competition at AAO Convocation – Spring 2017

This year at convocation, our fellows represented WesternU COMP at the A. Hollis Wolf Case Competition.  Christine Koh, OMS-IV, presented a case titled, “To Helmet or Not To Helmet? The Role of OMT in the Treatment of Plagiocephaly.”  There were 13 other medical students from 13 other schools, each given 5 minutes to present a case in its entirety.  This created a very exciting, fast-paced environment for both the participants and the attendees.  It was an excellent experience being able to learn from other medical students and also to see the talents that the osteopathic field carries.  We look forward to representing COMP again next year at the 2018 AAO Convocation!

Lebanon Fellows Escape Room!

“Time is ticking…Sherlock Holmes is calling on all detectives far and wide. An alleged murderer, Barry the Butcher of London is set to be released. Sherlock Holmes’ reputation is on the line; we must uncover all the evidence proving Barry’s crime, or else, a murderer will be on the loose.”

You may be asking, “What does this story have to do with the NMM/OMM fellowship?” Well, it was the premise for one of the most memorable team building experiences this semester. We had the amazing opportunity to venture off campus to an escape room, an adventure game that involves solving a series of puzzles and clues that lead to a way out.

In the midst of the escape room, we worked furiously against the clock to patch together the evidence convicting Barry the Butcher of the crime and escaped 5 minutes before our time ran out. We accomplished such a feat by working together as a team, tapping into each individuals’ observation and problem solving skills. But, ultimately, this experience proved the great importance of communication within an effective team; there is no way we could have moved along in the puzzle without a game plan or brainstorming together how to solve the puzzles. Thanks to the NMM/OMM Fellows of Spring 2017, the London streets will remain free of Barry the Butcher, and Sherlock Holmes’ reputation continues on.

-Nicole Scherlie, OMS-III and the COMP-Northwest Fellows

WesternU Fellows and Students volunteer in local Asian-American communities – Spring 2017

Asian-American Health Professions Student Association (AAHPSA) is a student-run club providing preventative health care services that are geared towards the underserved communities. Their mission statement is to increase awareness of the osteopathic profession in the Asian community and to provide services to the university and Asian communities. As Fellows, we work with preceptors to participate in conducting free health screenings targeted toward Asian American populations around southern California. By having exposure to real patients, students have early clinical exposure to refine their palpatory skills and patient care.

– Peter Lee, OMS III, PdTF-I

2017 Spring Fellows Retreat – Lake Tahoe, CA

It was 11pm and we still had not heard from our Pomona counterparts. The once small flakes of snow had now accumulated into a blanket covering the entirety of our driveway.

“Any cell service, yet?” we asked each other. We glanced at the top of our phones, hoping to see the familiar letters “LTE”. However, in their place we were left with only the anxiety-producing words: “No Service”. Occasionally, we would step into areas of 3G – only to find out that a car crash took down a nearby pole, knocking out internet connection in nearly all of Lake Tahoe.

“Well, I guess we can head to bed… I hope they packed chains”.

Sometime between 5 and 6am, we woke up to the sound of tired shuffling. The Pomona fellows had arrived – after a grueling 12-hour journey through the night – only to get stuck in the snow and ice covered driveway of our rental house.
After a few failed attempts at re-placing the tire chains, the 15-passenger van was finally parked and emptied. Its exhausted cargo collapsed in whatever rooms, couches, or floor space was immediately available.

Clearly it was going to be an interesting retreat.

After another hour or so of rest, the Lebanon fellows decided we would make the most of the sunny morning while the Pomona fellows slept off their stressful night. Fortunately, with the help of Izzy Pines & her gracious mother, we were able to get discounted lift tickets at Heavenly Resorts. The fresh powder and blue skies were greatly appreciated after our grey and stormy winter in Oregon. Lee and Nicole rented skis, while Maranda, Alyssa, and Mara tried their hand at snowboarding. All-in-all: successful day on the slopes.

DCIM103GOPROG0384809.

When we arrived back at the house, the Pomonans were in full-swing game mode. Tabletops were covered by the likes of Settlers, Otrio, and other strategic masterpieces. Dinner was soon underway, with the 3rd year fellows teaming up to create a delicious dinner consisting of fajitas, tacos, and rice desert.
After cleaning up, we began a few more get-to-know-you games. It was not long until new faces seemed like familiar family as we laughed and played into the late hours of the night.

On Sunday, we were awoken to the scents of a culinary masterpiece cooking in the kitchen. Mounds of meat, towers of fruit, and sizzling taters, greeted our eyes as we looked around the table. Thanks to some Souv Vide cooking, courtesy of Paul, our taste buds were not disappointed.

After venturing into Tahoe for a small walk near the lake, the most important part of the trip was underway – THE PYRAMID! After multiple diagrams, a few failed attempts, and some motivating speeches by Adam, we completed a full-on 5-level pyramid! Quite a success.

DCIM104GOPROG0445949.

DCIM104GOPROG0445950.

DCIM104GOPROG0456247.

Unfortunately, the blue skies had once again changed to an ominous grey, and snow fell with increasingly heavy force. After checking the weather report, we realized a leisurely departure on Monday would not be possible. With safety at the forefront of everyone’s mind, it was decided that some would leave Sunday night, with the rest taking off early Monday morning.

DCIM105GOPROG0586391.

Fortunately, all made it out safe-and-sound. A few stops for chain maintenance was necessary, but we made it out before another blizzard hit the following night.

DCIM105GOPROG0516341.

Even with all of the snow, itinerary changes, and internet headaches, this retreat showed us again how beneficial meetings like this are. It can be difficult working from two different campuses, a thousand miles apart. But during this weekend, we learned to connect, trust each other, and recognize our common goals. The Tahoe Retreat is an extremely invaluable experience for all of us. We start as two separate families, and leave as one cohesive unit.

DCIM105GOPROG0496338.

Thank you to Dean Crone, WesternU, and the NMM/OMM Faculty for your support of this mission and trip. The connections we build will last far longer than the cold fingers and toes at 5 in the morning. And we now know how much easier it is to drape chains over a wheel than try and drive over them 

-Lee Kenyon
On behalf of the Lebanon & Pomona Fellows, Spring 2017

Fellows’ Meeting with COMP Dean Paula Crone, DO – April 10, 2017

In the Spring of 2017, the NMM/OMM Department Fellows had an informal meeting with WesternU COMP Dean Paula Crone at a local Pomona restaurant, Metro Ale House. This wonderful gathering was motivated by Dean Crone’s strong support of the NMM/OMM Fellowship program. Over many appetizers, Dean Crone shared her insight from her experiences as a physician and medical educator. As a token of gratitude, the Fellows created a picture frame showcasing the Fellows’ biannual retreat to Lake Tahoe. Thank you so much to Dean Crone for this wonderful experience!

Knee Pain Workshop with PM&R Club – Spring 2017

On Monday March 27th, 2017, several of the NMM/OMM Fellows held a workshop for Knee pain and management. This workshop was attended by first and second year students from the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R) Club. The NMM/OMM Fellows used this opportunity to pass forward the knowledge they gained while at the AAO Convocation held in Colorado Springs the the prior week. In addition learning about common knee injuries and management, the fellows presented the lecture in an osteopathic perspective, encouraging students to assess structural abnormalities such as pes planus which could ultimately result in knee pain. The lecture was concluded by a question and answer session with the 5th year fellows who had recently matched into PM&R and Family Medicine/Sports Medicine.

– Masumi Asahi, OMS-III, PdTF-I

OMM Demo for DO Interview Day – Spring 2017

Every year, the Fellows participate in the Osteopathic Medicine presentation and demonstration during the various DO interview days. This gives the prospective medical students a brief glimpse as to what students at COMP learn in their osteopathic principles and practice (OP&P) course, as well as a live demonstration of a focused osteopathic exam and a few techniques.

* * * * * * * * * *

Carrying the Osteopathic Medical Profession Forward

As I looked around the lecture hall at all of the well-dressed interviewees, I can’t help but start to reflect back on my own journey to becoming an osteopathic physician. It only seemed like yesterday that I was sitting in their seats, excited and nervous as to what the future holds. Will I get accepted? What school will I attend? Allopathic vs Osteopathic? What specialty will I choose?

Looking back on the last 5 years seem like a blur: utilizing mnemonics to try and remember everything, trying to palpate a transverse process in OMM lab, boards, clinical rotations, sub-internships, audition rotations, residency interviews, and finally the match. It feels great to be on the other side, having already matched into my first choice program in family medicine!

The prospective students this interview season shared their experiences that helped shape their path towards a career in medicine, asked insightful questions, and were really excited to be at WesternU. And here I was, answering their questions, helping students assess their fellow interviewee’s eye levels, and going through a few OMT techniques in front of the lecture hall. I hope that I was able to make a positive impact on their interview experience at COMP and helped them get excited about the future of medicine.

It’s a long, difficult road, but it sure is worth it. I would do it again in a heartbeat.

-Christle C. Guevarra, MS, OMS-IV

OMM FELLOW’S LEADERSHIP RETREAT – TAHOE, CA FALL 2016

Bright and early on Friday morning, three Lebanon fellows excitedly crammed into a compact car; the fourth would be driving down later that day. The sun was out, the birds were chirping, and there was a sense of good times to be had – it was time for the bi-annual COMP Fellows retreat at Lake Tahoe! The Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine Pre-Doctoral Teaching Fellows (OMM PDTF) work across both the Lebanon and Pomona campuses to deliver the OMM curriculum to first and second year medical students. Good communication and teamwork is imperative; this retreat is a way for each of us to meet our counterparts face to face, rather than on a screen. The weekend is dedicated to team building, fun, and fostering strong inter-campus relationships.

 

After being in a car for eight hours (with minimal pit stops and multiple intense podcast study sessions), we finally arrived at the rental house on Lake Tahoe. As we spilled out of the car and walked up to the entrance, we realized that there were multiple condos. And they all looked the same. The bad news was we had the wrong address, so we piled back into the small car, but the good news was the right house was only a couple of turns down the road. We reached the house, un-loaded (again), and opened the door to the sounds of the Pomona Fellows!

 

Dinner was frozen pizza, with a beautiful view of Lake Tahoe and great company; it was followed by a game of two truths and a lie. It was night of team building, lying, and fun. By the end of the evening, the faces that we see every week on the screen belonged to friends instead of strangers.

 

Saturday was beach day! Our activities included everything from paddle boarding, hours of sand volleyball, jumping into the “refreshing” lake, and creating the traditional Fellowship pyramid of team-building. The four-level pyramid triumphantly balanced for a few seconds before toppling over. Fortunately, no fellows were seriously harmed during the taking of this photo.

The 3rd year fellows set the food bar high as they worked together to make far too much pasta and salad for Saturday night dinner. After our delicious family style dinner, we played more games and donned the traditional “onesie” for comfort, and style of course.

Sunday morning brunch was a masterpiece created by the 4th year fellows, including pancakes and quiche. Some of them looked like pancakes some of them… well they were close, but they were all equally delicious. What a way to start the morning! This was followed quickly by the Lego game, requiring teamwork and trust to recreate the structure. The game begins with a structure that the teams must copy. The catch is that only one person can see the structure at a time and they only have thirty seconds to look at it. They cannot touch any Legos while doing this, so instead they return to their team and direct them using just their words. Trust me, it’s much harder than I’m making it sound. It requires A LOT of concentration, attention to detail, and communication. After one team (finally) built their structure, everyone broke off for their own adventures. Some people headed off to enjoy the beach again, while others headed to Tahoe City to wander downtown, enjoy some tourist-y shops, and eat sushi.

 

Everyone reconvened in the evening, most people collapsing on the couch or the porch hot tub. The 5th year fellows were in charge of dinner, and the food was yet again delicious: perfect salmon and chicken, some amazing broccoli, and tasty teriyaki infused pineapples. After dinner, we played more team building games before people crashed early, exhausted from the many adventures of the weekend.

Monday morning arrived, and unfortunately, it was time for everyone to pack up and go home. The weekend was incredibly busy, but great fun. Friendships were made, faces were put to names, and the team was built. I know I was sad to leave and say goodbye to my new friends down in Pomona, but I know we will all meet again for Convocation in the spring. I can’t wait!

 

Spring 2016 Fellows Retreat – When Team Building Actually Builds Teams

The end of the work week had finally arrived. It was a clear Thursday evening in Lebanon, Oregon. In other words, it was extremely cloudy with a chance of rain. Five of the COMP-Northwest fellows crammed into a luxurious Tahoe to begin the trek south. After fourteen hours, multiple caffeinated beverages, and a brief stop in Reno, they finally arrived in the skier’s paradise of Tahoe, Nevada where they would be meeting their Pomona counterparts for the bi-annual COMP Fellows Retreat.

For the last three years, the Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine Pre-doctoral Teaching Fellows (OMM PDTF) from Pomona and Lebanon have traveled to Tahoe for a weekend of bonding. Since the fellows are asked to assist in providing an identical curriculum at both locations, good communication is imperative. The fellows retreat enhances this by developing strong inter-campus relationships.

When we arrived in Tahoe, it felt like a highly anticipated family reunion. Whether you were a seasoned 5^th year or a green 3^rd year, everyone quickly became like old friends. Soon after the cars were unpacked, the group threw on their snow gear and adventured out into the surrounding community. As the sun began to set, we headed back to the condo excited for our first team building activity of the weekend – family feud. The premise is to guess arbitrary responses that random surveys allegedly report to be the most commonly given answers by the public. I am still not convinced that they are the most common, mostly just because I never got any of them right. Regardless, we debated, joked, and enjoyed each other’s company and by the end of the night we understood the need for multiple perspectives on any team.

After some much needed rest, Saturday morning started off with the second team building exercise of the weekend – cooking breakfast. The crucial task was delegated to the OMS/PDTF III. Together they created a culinary masterpiece, including breakfast burritos, quiche, sausage, hash browns, stir fry, and gourmet pancakes. Please note that no bias what-so-ever was incorporated into these last two sentences.

Once the food was given a chance to settle, the group set out to see how far up the mountain we could climb before night fall. Over the next few hours many snow ball fights were initiated, alliances were formed, and laughter was shared by all. The day ended with a beautiful view and newly formed friendships.

Sunday morning was the day designated for hitting the slopes. Lake Tahoe boasts one of the largest concentrations of ski resorts in the world. It is truly a paradise for anyone who loves outdoors – a perfect fit for the fellows. Izzy and her mother were kind enough to gift all of the fellows with discount tickets for Heavenly Ski Resort, for which we were extremely grateful. A foot of fresh powder had fallen the night before and the conditions were excellent. Lee Kenyon, OMS IV/PDTF IV, decided to bring out his DJI Phantom and GoPro to record some first class videos. Visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Pt7aUiTBz8 to check out his Tahoe 2016 Spring Retreat edit.

We gathered at the condo Sunday evening and carried on a bi-annual fellows tradition as we put on our fanciest garb, apparel that is timeless (and ageless), the “onesie”. Once we had the proper attire, we began our third team building exercise of the weekend – “Lego memory masters”. The rules of this game were simple. Two teams were in separate rooms with one set of Lego pieces per team. There was one Lego structure built the living room that was going to be used as a blue print for each team to build an identical structure. One person from each team would have 30 seconds to view the blue print structure before returning to their team and attempting to only use words to describe what they saw. Each team would sequentially send out members to see the structure until they felt they had created an exact replica. As the game progressed, we began to realize how we needed to memorize less details in order to communicate our findings. This exercise emphasized the importance of clear communication when trying to solve a problem.

Before we knew it, Monday morning had arrived and it was time to pack the cars for the long trip home. I remember feeling disappointed that our time together was so brief. However, as we said our goodbyes and climbed into the cars there was a sense of accomplishment. We had a better understanding of who each individual was on the other side of the computer screen and we knew that we were able to perform well together. The end result was an increased desire to support each other when working as a team.

There are many reasons why each fellow valued this retreat, but among these was a deep sense that the weekend was time well spent. We left the Tahoe with knowing we had developed better communication skills and a deeper understanding of why each of us chose to take an active role in medical education. It is reassuring to know I am part of a team that is working towards a common goal and I could not be more excited about being part of the OMM fellowship.

-Chris Parker, OMS-III, NMM/OMM PdTF (Class of 2018)

Journal Club – Fall 2015

Journal Club – Fall 2015

Under the supervision of OMM/NMM Department Faculty Drs. Michael Seffinger, DO,  Ray Hruby, DO, and David Redding, DO, the Fellows reviewed the following journal articles during the weekly Journal Club meetings this semester:

• Guiney PA, Chou R, Vianna A, Lovenheim J. Effects of Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment on Pediatric Patients With Asthma: A Randomized Controlled Trial. J Am Osteopath Assoc. 2005;105(1):7-12. http://jaoa.org/article.aspx?articleid=2093071. Accessed November 8, 2015.
• Snider KT, Dowling DJ, Seffinger MA, et al. Effect of Table Trainer–to-Student Ratios on Outcome in Student Assessments of Cervical Muscle Energy Techniques. J Am Osteopath Assoc. 2015;115(9):556-564. doi: 10.7556/jaoa.2015.113.
• Vieira-Pellenz F, Olivia-Pascual-Vaca A, Rodriguez-Blanco C, Heredia-Rizo AM, Ricard F, Almazán-Campos G. Short-Term Effect of Spinal Manipulation on Pain Perception, Spinal Mobility, and Full Height Recovery in Male Subjects With Degenerative Disk Disease: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2014;95(9):1613-1619. doi: 10.1016/j.apmr.2014.05.002.
• Brumm LF, Janiski C, Balawender JL, Feinstein A. Preventive osteopathic manipulative treatment and stress fracture incidence amongst collegiate cross-country athletes. J Am Osteopath Assoc. 2013;113(12):882-890. doi: 10.7556/jaoa.2013.066.
• Kasparian H, Signoret G, Kasparian J. Quantification of Motion Palpation. J Am Osteopath Assoc. 2015;115(10):604-610. doi: 10.7556/jaoa.2015.121.
• Lopez D, King HH, Knebl JA, Kosmopoulos V, Collins D, Patterson RM. Effects of Comprehensive Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment on Balance in Elderly Patients: A Pilot Study. J Am Osteopath Assoc. 2011;111(6):382-388. http://jaoa.org/article.aspx?articleid=2094242. Accessed November 8, 2015.
• Schwerla F, Wirthwein P, Rütz M, Resch KL. Osteopathic treatment in patients with primary dysmenorrhea: A randomised controlled trial. Int J Osteopath Med. 2014;17:222-231. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ijosm.2014.04.003
• Cairney WJ, Dickerman JL, Brannan GD, Dogbey GY. Identification of distinctive characteristics, principles, and practices of the osteopathic physician in the current health care system. Osteopath Fam Physician. 2012;4:110-117. doi: 10.1016/j.osfp.2012.03.004
• Cerritelli F, Pizzolorusso G, Ciardelli F, et al. Effect of osteopathic manipulative treatment on length of stay in a population of preterm infants: a randomized controlled trial. BMC Pediatr. 2013;13:65. doi: 10.1186/1471-2431-13-65.
• Chappell C, Dodge E, Dogbey GY. Assessing the Immediate Effect of Osteopathic Manipulation on Sports Related Concussion Symptoms. Osteopath Fam Physician. 2015;7(4):30-35. http://www.acofp.org/ACOFPIMIS/Acofporg/PDFs/OFP/Interactive/JulyAug.pdf. Accessed November 8, 2015.
• Ault B, Levy D. Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment Use in the Emergency Department: A Retrospective Medical Record Review. J Am Osteopath Assoc. 2015;115(3): 132-137. doi:10.7556/jaoa.2015.026.
• Cao TV, Hicks MR, Zein-Hammoud M, Standley PR. Duration and Magnitude of Myofascial Release in 3-Dimensional Bioengineered Tendons: Effects on Wound Healing. J Am Osteopath Assoc. 2015;115(2)72-82. doi: 10.7556/jaoa.2015.018.
• Hodge LM, Creasy C, Carter K, Orlowski A, Schander A, King HH. Lymphatic Pump Treatment as an Adjunct to Antibiotics for Pneumonia in a Rat Model. J Am Osteopath Assoc. 2015;115(5):306-316. doi:10.7556/jaoa.2015.061.
• Lee AS, Pyle CW, Redding D. Accuracy of Anterior Superior Iliac Spine Symmetry Assessment by Routine Structural Examination. J Am Osteopath Assoc. 2015;115(8):482-489. doi:10.7556/jaoa.2015.102.

Pumerantz Legacy Luncheon – September 1, 2015

By Richard Thai

 This Fall 2015 semester, the Fellows had the wonderful opportunity to sit with Western University Founding President Philip Pumerantz, PhD for a legacy luncheon. President Pumerantz has had a significant impact on the lives of thousands of health care professionals. Without President Pumerantz, we would not be here today living out our dreams to become osteopathic physicians. It was an absolute honor to sit down with Dr. Pumerantz and share our fondest memories as members of the WesternU community. We sincerely appreciate the continued support of the NMM/OMM Fellowship program by President Pumerantz and to show our token of gratitude we presented him with a beautiful photo collage created by Julia Kim and tribute video created by Richard Thai. With Dr. Pumerantz departing from the University President position, his legacy and the strong foundation he established will guide Western University of Health Sciences and the College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific into a bright future. Thank you for your perspiration, motivation, and dedication Dr. Pumerantz, you have truly made your mark on WesternU and your legacy will continue.

 

Fellows’ Meeting with the Dean – November 12, 2015

By Paul Smithedajkul

In the Fall of 2015, the NMM/OMM Department Fellows had an informal meeting with WesternU COMP Dean Paula Crone and Dr. Paul Aversano at a local Pomona restaurant, O’Donovans. This wonderful gathering was motivated by Dean Crone’s strong support of the NMM/OMM Fellowship program. Over appetizers and pizza, Dean Crone and Dr. Aversano shared many entertaining and inspiring stories of their experiences as physicians and medical educators. The Fellows shared many of their experiences as well- from wise 5^th year Fellows traveling to various residency interviews to energetic 4^th and 3^rd year Fellows eager to teach and contribute to WesternU. As a token of gratitude, the Fellows, led by Julia Kim, created a picture frame showcasing the Fellows’ biannual retreat to Tahoe, with space for pictures from upcoming semesters. Thank you so much to Dean Crone and Dr. Aversano for this wonderful experience!

SOMMCEP – Fall 2015

The Neuromusculoskeletal Medicine/Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine (NMM/OMM) Fellows under faculty supervision provide osteopathic manipulative treatments (OMT) once or twice a week per academic semester to WesternU staff, faculty and students with specific musculoskeletal complaints. This is a unique opportunities for the NMM/OMM Fellows who are 3rd, 4th and 5th year medical students to examine and treat patients with the skills they gain from teaching 1st and 2nd medical students, attending conferences and OMM workshops, and interacting closely with faculty members. Typically, a Fellow sees three patients per clinic and treats various musculoskeletal complaints such as chronic neck pain, double crush syndrome, carpal tunnel syndrome, adhesive capsulitis, etc. During the first half of the hour with a patient, a Fellow performs a history and physical examination, then, presents the case to a supervising faculty member. With the clinical insight from the faculty member, the fellow treats the patient the second half of the hour, at times with the help of COMP Squared students who are shadowing first and second medical at Fellow’s clinics for more clinical exposure. 5th years attest that their skills have grown from these clinics every year. These clinics challenge Fellows to integrate their medical knowledge with various osteopathic manipulative treatments and create a vision for how they see OMT as a part of their future practice.

OMM Fellow’s Leadership Retreat – Lake Tahoe, CA, September 2015

By Joel Walthall

The OMM Pre-doctoral teaching fellows at Western University of Health Sciences once again met for the bi-annual leadership retreat at Lake Tahoe.  The retreat, designed to unify fellows working on both the Northwest and Southern California campuses, was held in early September.  Fellows carpooled to the destination, with drive times ranging from 8-12 hours.  Following in the tradition established by previous fellows, this retreat was entirely fellow organized.

Housing this year consisted of a beautiful 10 bedroom home with an expansive view of the lake.  A large deck and hot-tub provided the prefect venue for outdoor breakfasts, and evenings of relaxation under the stars of the Sierras.

During the waking hours, numerous activities filled the schedule.  From hiking Rubicon peak, to relaxing on the beaches of Lake Tahoe and participating in team building activities, rarely was there a dull moment.  Of note, this year marked the first successful attempt to build a fellow’s human pyramid (or skyscraper) that reached four tiers.

In all, the retreat accomplished exactly what we hoped: it brought the fellows together in a way that helped create an atmosphere of collaboration and teamwork that would set the tone for the rest of the semester.  Thank you everyone for making this a successful retreat!

Human Pyramid at Lake Tahoe

Working together to perform the circle sit

Towel shuffle challenge

Group of fellows at the top of Rubicon Peak (2,150ft elevation gain in 2.4mi)

Ro-Advocacy: A Fellows Road Trip to Educate Pre-medical Students about Osteopathic Medicine – Oct 21-23, 2015

By AJ Picca, Vanessa Chan, Natalie Hollick

During the week of the AOA’s national OMED Conference in Orlando, some of the Fellows decided to forgo Mickey and Harry Potter to visit with some other young, eager and insightful individuals.  This week, three fellows took a trip up the California coast to discuss medical school and osteopathic medicine with aspiring health care professionals.

I’ve heard from someone, somewhere along the line that “nothing comes close to the Golden Coast.” Actually, now that I think of it, that someone was Katy Perry. With this idea in mind, we decided to take our advocacy tour not so locally, and drive north to interact with students along the coast of California.  We set up appointments with different pre-health professional clubs at the University of California Santa Barbara, University of California Santa Cruz, and the University of San Francisco.  All of our venues were beautiful in some of the newest and most modern university buildings.  Our presentation in Santa Cruz was presented on an outdoor patio on the second floor of the Career Services building, making for a beautiful, quiet, and warm setting.

Our tour gave us some great time to interact with students to discuss admission to medical school, a day in the life of a medical student, and to educate them about potential paths for their future careers.  Our OMM demonstration to all the clubs was interactive and entertaining.  We had students huddle close to the table to receive an up close look and explanation to many techniques including muscle energy, lymphatics, articulatory, soft tissue and HVLA.  We gave the students the opportunity to complete a mini-modified structural exam.

Looking back on our trip, it was a great way to spread awareness and shed light on our profession to the undergraduate community.  We received great feedback from the students that participated with us.  We were told on multiple occasions that we helped empower students and motivate them to stay focused on entering medical school.   They were extremely happy and appreciative to gain their first experience with osteopathic manipulative treatment.  Most importantly though, students were appreciative that we took the time to reach out to them and answer their questions.  And as teachers, and as Fellows, that was the best and most inspiring thing to hear.

Journal Club

Fellows came together for journal club every Wednesday to discuss and evaluate articles related to the field of Neuromusculoskeletal Medicine and Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine. We have reviewed the following journal articles this semester:

Accorsi, Alessandro, et al. (2014). Effect of Osteopathic Manipulative Therapy in the Attentive Performance of Children with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactiveity Disorder. The Journal of the American Osteopathic Association, 114(5), pp. 375-381.

Attali T, Bouchoucha M, Benamouzig R.Treatment of refractory irritable bowel syndrome with visceral osteopathy: Short-term and long-term results of a randomized trial. Journal of Digestive Diseases 2013; 14; 654–661.

Brumm LF, Janiski C, Balawender JL, Feinstein, A. Preventive Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment and Stress Fracture Incidence Among Collegiate Cross Country Athletes. J Am Osteopath Assoc. 2013;113(12):882-890.

Eisenhart, A., and T. Gaeta. “Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment in the Emergency Department for Patients with Acute Ankle Injuries.” Journal of the American Osteopathic Association 103 (2003): 417-21.

Guiney PA, Chou R, Vianna A, Lovenheim J. Effects of osteopathic manipulative treatment on pediatric patients with asthma: a randomized controlled trial. The Journal of the American Osteopathic Association, January 2005, Vol. 105, 7-12.

Hensel, DO, K. (2015). Pregnancy Research on Osteopathic Manipulation Optimizing Treatment Effects: The PROMOTE study. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 212(1), 108-108.

Jardine, WM, Gillis C, Rutherford, D. The effect of osteopathic manual therapy on the vascular supply to the lower extremity in individuals with knee osteoarthritis: a randomized clinical trial. Int J Osteo Med. 2012; 15:125-133.

Licciardone, JC et al. “A Randomized Controlled Trial of Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment Following Knee or Hip Arthroplasty” JAOA, May 2004, Volume 104, No 5, 193-202.

Lubbe, Dannella et al. Manipulative Therapy and Rehabilitation for Recurrent Ankle Sprain With Functional Instability: A Short-Term, Assessor-Blind, Parallel-Group Randomized Trial. Journal of Manipulative & Physiological Therapeutics , Volume 38 , Issue 1 , 22 – 34.

Noll, D. R. (2000). Benefits of osteopathic manipulative treatment for hospitalized patients with pneumonia. JAOA, 100.

Sharma D, Sen S. Effects of Muscle Energy Technique on Pain and Disability in subjects with SI joint Dysfunction. International Journal of Physiotherapy and Research 2014; vol 2(1): 305-11.

Snider, EJ., et al. Assessing palpation thresholds of osteopathic medical students using static models of the lumbar spine. JAOA. 2014 Jun;114(6):460-9.

Wells, MR, et al. Standard osteopathic anipulative treatment acutely improves gait performance in patients with Parkinson’s Disease. JAOA 1999; 99.2; 92-98.

Dr. Dick Workshop

Every semester the Fellows have a workshop with the well respected Dr. Lorane Dick who was Department Chair of Osteopathic Principles and Practice Department, College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific, Western University from 1986-1989.This semester three of the Fellows brought their babies to be treated by Dr. Dick and the Fellows. Each child in terms of size, personality and developmental stage brought a different experience for the Fellows. Next, Dr. Dick taught new visceral techniques that could be utilized in the hospital and additional treatments for patients who suffered traumatic accidents. Lastly, Dr. Dick set aside the time to have a discussion with each of the fellows asking them about their personal goals and challenges. She has been a vital part of each Fellow’s personal and professional growth. Fellows appreciate these workshops, which enrich and equip them with more insight and skills to carry on to their students and patients.

AAO Convocation Poster Presentations

The AAO Convocation was located in Louisville, KY and as usual the fellows had the opportunity to attend the conference, which includes lectures, hands on seminars and research poster presentations. This year the Fellows from the Lebanon campus had a great presence during the poster presentations. Out of the 32 posters presented, the northwest campus had 4 posters and 8 fellows represented. This was the most from any single campus represented in the competition.

There was an original research poster presented by Andrew Narver and Joel Walthall titled Frequency of Viscerosomatic Reflexes in an Outpatient Clinic: Feasibility Study. It was a study on comparing barral visceral dysfunction and back somatic dysfunction as an attempt to elucidate presymptomatic viscerosomatic reflexes. The Study was well done and well presented.

There was a case study write up presented by Katie Markelz titled Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment in Severe Nausea and Vomiting in Pregnancy: A Case Study. She used various OMT modalities on a pregnant patent who was suffering from sever nausea and vomiting and showed a reduction of symptoms over the course of 3 weeks. Her study suggests OMT is a valuable adjunctive treatment to pharmaceutical management of pregnant patients with severe nausea and vomiting.

Then there was a poster, which won 1^st place in the educational research category presented by Molly McCormick, Lee Kenyon, Kraig Wasik, Nicolette Rosendahl and Brian Gould. The poster was titled The Flipped Classroom: A non-Traditional Approach to Teaching Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine. The project was exploring the effects of long term retention and general attitude of students towards “flipping” the classroom where the information within the Powerpoint presentation was to be reviewed prior to lecture while the time slot for the lecture was used to facilitate synthesis and practical application of the material.

We were very proud to have such a great showing from COMP-Northwest and hope this is the beginning of a long tradition of presented research specifically in the Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine field.

 

Tikker Workshop

While at the 2015 American Academy of Osteopathy Convocation, the WesternU Undergraduate Fellows had the unique opportunity to help pass down the historical A.T. Still’s Foot Manipulation techniques unto approximately 200 practicing clinicians.  Having trained with Dr. John Martin Hiss D.O., Dr. Rue Tikker D.P.M. collaborated with both Dr. David Redding D.O. and Dr. Rebecca Giusti D.O. with the hopes of sharing the knowledge he had indirectly received from the “Father of Osteopathic Medicine” himself.  In an ironic role-reversal, the Fellows served as table trainers for some of the nation’s most well-known and respected osteopathic physicians.  As medical students, the Fellows walked between the OMM tables, palpated along side those who have had years to perfect their osteopathic touch, and answered the physicians’ questions regarding the techniques.  Although it was a challenging experience, it was also a humbling and rewarding opportunity to give a piece of history back to the physicians who continue to serve as mentors and role models for the osteopathic community.

-Ashley Garispe

 

Outreach

Last month, I had the opportunity to represent the OMM Fellowship and WesternU at UC Irvine with Gina Moses, AACOM’s associate director of recruitment and application services. After an amazing presentation on osteopathic medicine, I was able to lead the students in a modified structural examination, explain how to incorporate a structural exam in the clinic, speak about why I chose osteopathic medicine and WesternU, as well as answer any of the students’ questions.

Coming back to an undergraduate campus and talking to pre-medical students who are just beginning their journey in medicine was truly an amazing experience.

-Christle Gueverra

The Day the Power Went Out:

The fellowship trains student doctors in being leaders, team players and teachers. No one in the fellowship is safe from being trained in the art of improvisation and flexibility. One February day at COMP-Northwest provided just this opportunity

On this day, like many others, there were lectures scheduled to be given by fellows.. Extensive work had been done in preparation for making the “perfect” presentation. The Prior years’ Powerpoint^TM presentations and videos had been reviewed . Relevant anatomy and treatments were cross checked with the literature. A video chat with our Pomona counterparts had been performed to ensure consistency between campuses.. The lecture Powerpoint^TM was created and cleared by faculty. A copy was posted to the Blackboard^TM website so the students could have a digital copy. The ECHO^TM recording was set to begin streaming at 1:00 pm PST and the camera angles had been coordinated. The fellows presenting had poured hours of effort into fine tuning each image and presentation animation. Even more hours had been spent rehearsing the presentation with family, other fellows and faculty input. The presentation was crisp and planned to the minute.

On this particular day, a storm brewed as it crossed the Willammette Valley. Strong winds, reaching 60-80 mph, crossed the valley as they headed toward Lebanon. Hours before the lectures were to start, a gust caught a power pole and ripped it from its position in the earth. Lights flickered out and a low roar came from the generator as the backup power source began to light the hallways. Without power, the podium contents were replaced with equivocal paper weights. There would be no lights to illuminate the room, let alone projector, cameras, Powerpoint, or video to capture.

Rather than cancelling class or erupting into mass chaos, the change was grasped as an opportunity. The presenting fellows (Abigail Schenkel and Joel Walthall), didn’t bat an eye as they continued to prepare for their presentations. Students changed into “OMM Attire” in dark bathrooms with the help of cell phone flashlights before entering the ‘natural light’ OMM lab. They were greeted with open arms by their presenters as they were recruited to gather around the stage.

Counterstrain was taught from the stage in a form not seen in a normal day. Rather than watching LCD screens, large projectors or iPads, students packed onto tables and the floor around the stage. Students’ undivided attention was paid to their presenters’ descriptions of functional anatomy on skeletons. Demonstrations of how to evaluate tenderpoints and treatment positions were done with 50+ students surrounding a single table. Students discovered success in Counterstrain diagnosis and treatment in the dark, with a palpable new energy for Osteopathy. It was evident how comradery grew, as students worked together to look up treatments in their manuals in the dark.

Near the final hour of the block of lectures, the power returned. A unanimous request came from the crowd to finish the day without the projector. Upon returning to the 21^st century, the depersonalization of powerpoint presentations and cameras separating students from observation became more apparent.

This brief experience was one of the most moving experience of the semester in regard to resilience learned while in the fellowship. Rather than giving up or losing sight of the task at hand, the fellows adapted to their environment and provided an educational experience that was arguably more “educational” than our use of modern technology affords for teaching manual medicine.

-Andrew Narver

Tahoe Fellowship Retreat

Traditions are made with a passing of information and events from generation to generation. In the Fellowship, there are several ways the torch is passed on the fellowship: term to term, 5^th year fellows to 4^th year fellows to 3^rd year fellows, faculty to fellows to students, just to name a few. One tradition that occurs at the beginning of each term is the Fellows Retreat in Tahoe. Fellows from both the Pomona and Lebanon campuses meet near Lake Tahoe for a long weekend. The goals of the weekend are many, but mainly to get to know each other so that we may function as a more effective and efficient team across the two campuses.

Our adventure starts on a Friday with a 500 mile drive. The Lebanon fellows traveling in a pick-up truck; the Pomona fellows in a 16 person van. On Saturday, a fair number of fellows hit the slopes of Northstar Ski Resort. The group consisted of beginners through experts on the hill and everyone had fun together. Plenty of somatic dysfunction occurred in our bodies from that day of fun, but thankfully our fellow fellows were happy to treat us! Sunday was a day for relaxation, traditional pyramid forming, and a few more team building games. Our hopes were for some ice skating; sadly, Northstar’s ice skating rink was full so instead we enjoyed s’mores near an outdoor fire pit.

Even though our team is split by 1,000 miles our goals for educating students are the same. With the experiences we share and build together at Tahoe, we prepare ourselves to work synonymously and create a great learning environment for students.

Spring 2015 fellows who attended the Tahoe Retreat

The 3^rd year fellows show of their impressive culinary skills

Andy Narver, PdTF-III takes a moment on the slopes for a suboccipital release on Vanessa Chan, PdTF-IV

A pristine view of Lake Tahoe in the morning

Vanessa Chan, PdTF-IV practicing her yoga by the lake

The group enjoying s’mores and the fire at Northstar

Shred heads meeting together for a quick picture before hitting the slopes at Northstar

Matt Siri, PdTF-V treating Christle Gueverra, PdTF-III after a fun day on the mountain

Richard Thai, PdTF-III treating Christina Deedas, OMS-IV

The weather graced us with a gorgeous sunset the evening before we left for home

by Amelia Servin, PdTF-IV

Introspective Palpation

Our fellows kicked off the semester with our first workshop by Dr. Sanchez this week! Dr. Sanchez’s workshop entitled “Waking the Hands” delved into the importance of the mind and body connection in osteopathy. This session highlighted listening only with your hands—but with a slight twist. You do not follow the tissues or attempt to treat the somatic dysfunction, instead we pay attention to the message the patient’s body brings. We had three access points of palpation, which included the occiput, sacrum, and ankles. After we cleared our mind, took a deep breath, grounded ourselves and closed our eyes, we listened to Dr. Sanchez’s questions: “Relax your own body. Ask for permission to listen.” “Are you feeling a fascial drag?” “Do you feel the hypertonicity of the musculature?” “Do you feel resistance or tension?” As we tried to piece the body’s story together by palpating three different areas, we had a discussion in terms of where we thought the main trigger point or affected tissue was located. To make a full circle, we followed our thoughts into a structural exam to see if we could find more evidence to diagnose the root of the problem. This exercise left us with a truly reflective experience. After assessing the five models, we learned that the underlying cause of a patient’s chief complaint may actually surprise a practitioner. Is the problem structural in nature? Is it biopsychosocial or emotionally seeded? Our lesson learned is to always, always dig a little deeper into a patient’s story. I would like to share a powerful statement Dr. Sanchez concluded with: “The body is a lot smarter than we are. But if you listen, truly listen, it will eventually reveal itself.”

 

-Nirvi Shah, OMSIV, PdTFIV

Fellows Meet with President Pumerantz!

Yesterday, we (the Pomona Fellows) had a chance to meet with the WesternU President, Dr. Phillip Pumerantz! We thanked him for the amazing fellowship opportunity, and filled him in on what we have been working on this semester, and upcoming projects within the department. As a thank you, we framed this awesome picture taken by WesternU’s Jeff Malet and gave it to Dr. Pumerantz as a gift. We are so grateful to have had the chance to sit down with him, and would love to make this a tradition each semester.