TCOM ALUMNITCOM ALUMNIN E W S L E T T E R

May 2013

Rural Student Physicians Receive Up Close Trainingpending time in a rural community and gathering information about the community’s unique medical needs is

an essential part of training,” says John Bowling, DO, Professor and Assistant Dean of Rural Medical Education. That’s why 13 first-year students in the Rural Osteopathic Medical Education of Texas (ROME) program recently traveled to Bonham, Texas (pop. 10,000). They met with Jim Tarpley, DO (TCOM ’00), a native of the area who runs a family practice and also serves as occupational medicine physician for Clayton Homes, a local manufactured housing company that employs more than 200. The students donned hard hats and safety glasses for a plant tour, observing the workers’

strenuous tasks and discussing potential hazards. The class then caravanned to Tarpley’s office to learn how he provides pre-employment exams, jobsite injury treatment and general consulting on employee health. “Dr. Tarpley hosted us in his clinic after hours to discuss life and practice as a family physician in a smaller town,” says Russ Wier (TCOM ’16). “We got a terrific glimpse at life in a rural community and how a physician plays a vital role within it.” “On-site training is a key element in educating the rural physician,” says Dr. Bowling. “This is an example of how we expose students to real-life situations in the rural environment so they see exactly how a rural physician can and must interact with his/her community. This solid preparation is why U.S. News & World Report ranks us 15th in the nation in ‘Rural Medicine,’ which is a very high ranking indeed.”

The students saw high-powered tools that dispense 2-inch nails coated with adhesive chemicals – as well as a nail that had been recently removed from a worker’s leg.

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IN THIS ISSUE

• Dr. Williams Named to Blue-Ribbon “Hospital of Tomorrow” Panel

• In the Spotlight: Dr. Rob Dickerman

• Unleash Your Inner “Tiger” at MSGA Golf Tourney

• Did You Know? Family Medicine Scores Props!

Pictured above and right: Jim Tarpley, DO (TCOM ’00) shows TCOM ROME students how he performs pre-employment exams on factory workers.

UNT Health Science Center2

ichael Williams, DO, MD, MBA, Interim President of UNT Health Science Center, has been appointed to a blue-ribbon panel of visionary health care executives tasked with guiding the development of a national health care forum created by U.S. News & World Report.

Called “Hospital of Tomorrow,” the November 2013 forum in Washington, D.C. will address critical challenges facing the health care industry. The Advisory Council will meet regularly to spotlight pioneering strategies for the changing health care landscape. “This appointment gives Fort Worth a unique ‘seat at the table’ during critical senior-level health care discussions regarding our industry’s future,” Dr. Williams said. “It’s an honor to be part of such a distinguished group.”

MThe other members of the Advisory Council are:

• StevenJ.Corwin,MD,CEO,New York Presbyterian University Hospital of Columbia and Cornell

• DelosCosgrove,MD,PresidentandCEO,Cleveland Clinic• KennethL.Davis,MD,PresidentandCEO,Mount Sinai Medical

Center• VictorJ.Dzau,MD,PresidentandCEO,Duke University Medical

Center• PatriciaGabow,MD,formerCEO,Denver Health and Hospital

Authority• DeanGruner,President,ThedaCare• ElizabethNabel,MD,President,Brigham and Women’s Hospital• Ronald.R.Peterson,President,The Johns Hopkins Hospital• GregoryPoulsen,SeniorVicePresidentforInnovation,

Intermountain Health Care• LouisA.Shapiro,FACHE,PresidentandCEO,Hospital for

Special Surgery• PeterSlavin,MD,President,Massachusetts General Hospital

Dr. Michael Williams Named to U.S. News & World Report “Hospital Of Tomorrow” Advisory Council

TCOM’s Department of Family Medicine scored major props at the recent American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians (ACOFP) Annual Convention and Scientific Seminar in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Did You Know?

•SanaF.Muntajibuddin,DO,FamilyMedicineResident,took first place for her original research, “CDC Physical Activity Guidelines in Relation to Obesity and Health Attitudes in Underserved Youth.”

•WilliamGriffin(TCOM’15)was elected President of ACOFP’s National Student Association.

•TCOM’sACOFPstudentchapterreceived the CommunicationsAward,one of only four chapters to be so recognized.

•JanetLieto,DO,CMD,DivisionofGeriatricsassistantprofessor,received her fellow award.

Dr. Sana F. Muntajibuddin William Griffin TCOM Class of 2015 Dr. Janet Lieto

“The event concept has been met with more enthusiasm than we anticipated, evidenced in part by the caliber of professionals who have stepped up to form the Advisory Council. I am honored to be working with this brain trust to shape an event that will address—on the highest level—the critical challenges facing hospitals today.” —Brian Kelly, Editor and Chief Content Officer of U.S. News & World Report.

Dr. Michael Williams

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Rob Dickerman, DO (TCOM ’98), PhD (GSBS ’98), is no stranger to recognition: both Newsweek and American Way magazines have named him among the top neurosurgeons in the country. He runs his

own practice with the North Texas Brain and Spine Institute and also serves as Director of Neurosurgery at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Plano.

Q: One of your favorite quotes comes from General George S. Patton: “Accept the challenges, so that you may feel the exhilaration of victory.” Can you explain why you like that quote?Dr. Dickerman: As a career, neurosurgery can often be brutal, to put it bluntly. But overcoming the various challenges feels rewarding. First, there’s a dearth of residencies – fewer than 100 in the country. I was fortunate to join North Shore University-Long Island Jewish Medical Center, where I eventually became chief resident. Then there are the significant challenges of trauma cases. You find yourself addressing serious brain or spinal cord injuries with just minutes of preparation. I’ll never forget when I first got there, I was thrown into the fire – suddenly there was somebody’s brain in front of me.

Q: How did you cope? Dr. Dickerman: Frankly, at first, I wanted to quit every day because it was so hard and I was so tired. But I saw everything related to neurosurgery and I mean everything. To this day, after eight years in private practice, I still haven’t seen some of the conditions I treated there. And thank God I went there. If I’d gotten some plush residency, I wouldn’t have been as well prepared when I got out. God had a plan.

Q:You’re a specialist in sophisticated surgeries, including pioneering minimally invasive techniques, yet you’re cautious about performing them. Why? Dr. Dickerman: Nine out of 10 patients don’t need me. They just need to fix their diet and exercise. When they tell me they don’t have time, I tell them to make time. They feel better and give me the credit. But they really did what it took to get better.

Q: How has your TCOM training helped you? Dr. Dickerman: I’m proof that there’s nothing you can’t do if you’re from TCOM. Students there have a huge opportunity to go anywhere they want to go and help whomever they want to help – it’s up to them. The fact that I got in is a blessing.

In the SPOTLIGHT

Pictured: Top, left to right at last year’s tournament: Brady Bowen (TCOM ’14), Hayley Marshall (TCOM ’15), Andrew Bui and Rafael Perez (both TCOM ’14). Above right: Arthur Bredeweg and Margaret Mou (both TCOM ’15).

Ben, Arnie, Jack, Tiger...and you! “There are a lot of risks in what we do, but we can help a lot of people. That’s the bottom line.”

he second annual Tee-Off F.O.R.E. TCOM Golf Tournament will be held Saturday, Sept. 28, 2013, at Fort Worth’s Rockwood Golf Course. Organized by TCOM’s Medical Student Government Association

(MSGA), the tourney is completely run by students and proceeds directly fund the student-administered “MSGA Above and Beyond Scholarship.” “Alumni and corporate friends will receive invitations soon,” says MSGA President Steven Maher (TCOM ’14). “This is a great opportunity for alums to get acquainted with current TCOM students and start building bridges between classes.” Last year’s tournament attracted nearly 100 students and alumni for a sun-and-fun outing on the links.

For more information, please visit the event website at www.regonline.com/tcomgolf or call John Myers (TCOM ’16) at 817-301-7358.

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TexasCollegeofOsteopathicMedicine3500CampBowieBlvd.

FortWorth,TX,76107

TCOM Class of 2013 Hooding, Awards And Reception May 17, 2013 from 3-5 p.m. – Will Rogers Auditorium

TCOM Class of 2013 Commencement May 18, 2013 at 3 p.m. – Daniel-Meyer Coliseum (TCU)

Eighth Annual Texas Conference on Health Disparities May 30-31, 2013 – UNTHSC campus

TCOM Class of 2017 White Coat Ceremony July 20, 2013 at 9:30 a.m. – Will Rogers Exhibit Hall

Sign up for a lifetime TCOM Alumni Association membership and get connected with the entire TCOM family of graduates. For a one-time fee of just $100, you’ll receive a keepsake crystal paperweight and access to an unparalleled network of fellow graduates. And of course, you’ll also receive regular updates about your association, TCOM and UNTHSC.

Sign up now! Email “alumni@unthsc.edu” and tell us you want to be a lifetime member: we’ll handle the rest!

SAVE THE DATEMembership forA LIFETIME OF MEMORIES

PACE (Professional and Continuing Education) provides high-quality continuing education opportunities for physicians, physician assistants, pharmacists, nurse practitioners, nurses and other health care professionals.

Keeping Pace with PACE

32nd Annual Dr. Stanley Weiss Practical Topics in Primary CareJune 26 - 30, 2013 Pearl South Padre Hotel 310 Padre Boulevard South Padre Island, TX 78597 Reservations: (855) 88-PEARL (7-3275) Direct: (956) 761-6551

PACEExecutiveDirectorAndrewCrimsaysattendeescanexpecttolearnabout:

• State-of-the-art diagnostic, management and therapeutic strategies

• Interprofessional opportunities to apply to practice• Improved patient and practice management knowledge

and competence by interacting with peers from a variety of settings

Reservations must be made by Tuesday, June 4, 2013. After this date, reservations will be accepted on a space-available basis. For more details, call PACE at 817-735-2539.