by Brooke Bunch

Charles T. Mehlman, D.O. (’89), M.P.H., will kick off the Alumni Research Series sponsored by the offices of Alumni Affairs and Research Wednesday, May 4.

Mehlman, the attending pediatric orthopedic surgeon at Cincinnati Children’s Medical Center, will discuss the importance of clinical research as well as the elements of pediatric sports medicine. Mehlman will outline the characteristics of a well designed research project, discuss how to get involved in research and why one gets involved in research.

According to Mehlman, clinical research is critically important for any medical student. Mehlman is the director of musculoskeletal outcomes research and the director of pediatric orthopedic resident education at the medical center.

“Without a doubt the most important skill any medical school can offer its medical students relates to the critical evaluation of the medical literature,” he says. “The day after you graduate, that medical knowledge has already started to depreciate. It’s all about life-long learning.”

In addition, says Mehlman, clinical research drives medical decisions in the 21^st century.

“We’re moving beyond the ‘I think therefore I am’ version of medicine to the state of ‘science dictates X, Y or Z treatment,’” he says. “We’re moving beyond what some would call an artisan approach to medicine and evolving into the scientific practice of medicine.”

Using his experience from pediatric sports medicine, Mehlman will also be providing an overview on child medical care and the injuries kids sustain.

Mehlman says he is looking forward to coming back to Ohio University

“It’s flattering to be invited back as an alumnus; it’s a big deal for me” he says. “You have a responsibility to give back to the school that gave you your training.”

Mehlman is the first of four speakers to lecture this year for the series. The series, says Sharon Zimmerman, director of alumni affairs, will provide OU-COM alumni an opportunity to inspire and mentor students interested in research.

"Hopefully, our visiting alumni will inspire our students," says Zimmerman, " to 'shadow' our research-oriented graduates and from the experience, begin the journey of becoming a top-notch researcher such as Dr. Mehlman."

After graduating from OU-COM in 1989, Mehlman completed a rotating internship and an orthopedic surgery residency at Grandview and an internal medicine residency at Akron General Medical Center. After completing a pediatric orthopedic surgery fellowship at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, he went on to earn an M.P.H. degree in clinical effectiveness and outcomes research at the Harvard School of Public Health.

Mehlman will speak at noon to 1 p.m. in Irvine 194. Lunch will be served. The event is co-sponsored by Student Government.