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Trustee Chairman C.
Daniel DeLawder
tries out the
virtual reality
simulation in the
Virtual Haptic Back
Laboratory. Watching
DeLawder are, from
left, Board Interim
Secretary Thomas
Davis, M.S., Ph.D.,
interim secretary
for the trustees,
Trustee Vice
Chairwoman M.
Marnette Perry, Dean
John A. Brose, D.O.,
and Robert R.
Conatser, M.S.,
research associate. |
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Trustees
tour the College of Osteopathic Medicine
The Ohio
University Board of Trustees spent a day getting to know OU-COM
Members of the
Ohio University Board of Trustees visited the College of Osteopathic
Medicine Thursday, June 26, to meet with OU-COM leaders, learn about
the college and tour its Athens campus facilities.
Dean Jack
Brose D.O. welcomed the trustees with a brief history of
osteopathic medicine and a detailed profile of OU-COM. Brose noted
that the college’s emphasis on primary care, as opposed to specialty
care, contributes greatly to the college’s success. “We draw a lot
of outstanding students here because of our reputation for providing
an excellent foundation in primary care,” he said.
The trustees
learned about the Centers for Osteopathic Research and Education
(CORE), the college’s community outreach and service, and its
research activities. Brose specifically cited research projects by
John Kopchick Ph.D.,
Goll-Ohio Professor of
Molecular Biology, and the revenues his work brings to the
university.
The dean also
outlined some challenges and opportunities facing the college,
including the need to hire more clinical faculty and plans for
college growth. Brose expressed concerns about declining state
financial support and the debt management challenges facing medical
students today. On average, he said, OU-COM students graduate with
more than $170,000 in student loan debt—a figure that surprised many
of the trustees, including board chair C. Daniel DeLawder.
After the
presentation, Brose led the trustees on a tour of Grosvenor and
Irvine Halls. They observed part of a class in session, visited with
students in the Learning Resource Center and toured the construction
site of the Academic Research Center.
Larry
Witmer Ph.D., professor
of biomedical sciences, showed the trustees the anatomy lab, and
Steven Walkowski D.O. (’89), assistant professor of family
medicine, provided an overview of the osteopathic manipulative
medicine lab.
Brian Clark
Ph.D., assistant
professor of neuromuscular biology, and Robert Conatser, M.S.,
lab research associate for biomedical studies, led the trustees
through the Interdisciplinary Institute for Neuromusculoskeletal
Research, providing hands-on demonstrations of the Virtual Haptic
Back Laboratory and the Neuromuscular Physiology Laboratory.
Nicole
Wadsworth D.O. (’97),
assistant professor of family medicine, and Pat Polinski M.S.,
educational technologist for academic affairs, demonstrated
computer technology and learning classrooms used by students. The
visit concluded with a luncheon with the dean, faculty and students.
During the
luncheon, Trustee M. Marnette Perry complimented the college on its
community outreach and service programs, adding that she was unaware
of the extensive range of the effort.
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