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Espinoza inducted
into AOA Mentor
Hall of Fame
Residents, interns,
students laud CORE
assistant dean
By
Angelina Young
Nicholas D.
Espinoza, D.O.
(’90), was inducted
into to the American
Osteopathic
Association (AOA)
Mentor Hall of Fame
on Nov. 2, 2009,
at the AOA’s 114th
Annual Osteopathic
Medical Conference
and Exposition.
“I appreciate this
very flattering
recognition, but the
only limelight I
look for is getting
the young students
interested in
osteopathic
medicine,” Espinoza
said. “This really
validates what we’re
doing,” said
Espinoza. “It’s what
we like to call
‘passing the
torch.’”
Espinoza was
nominated to the
Mentor of the Year
Hall of Fame by
Nicholas J.
Pfleghaar, D.O.,
(’09). Pfleghaar is
now a resident at
Mercy St. Vincent
Medical Center,
where he did his
clinical rotations.
Espinoza is the
assistant dean for
the Centers of
Osteopathic Research
and Education (CORE)
at St. Vincent’s, a
position he has held
since 2007.
Espinoza quickly
became a mentor and
personal friend to
Pfleghaar.
“Dr. Espinoza has
taken the time,
while at the
hospital, and even
on his own free
time, to give me
guidance with my
medical career and
just life in
general. He is one
of the first persons
I think of when I
need some advice,”
Pfleghaar said. “Dr.
Espinoza puts his
whole heart into his
job; it’s quite
obvious when he is
teaching, mentoring
and working with
students that he
loves what he does.”
Bonnie Hay, M.S.Ed.,
CORE Administrator
at Mercy St.
Vincent, works
closely with
Espinoza. “He has
been a wonderful
support to students,
interns, and
residents at Mercy
St. Vincent, as well
as a great boss,”
Hay said.
Espinoza received
the CORE/Mercy St.
Vincent Outstanding
Family Physician
Faculty Award from
its 2009 interns
last June.
Also last year,
OU-COM students
honored Espinoza
with the Best Family
Medicine Physician
Award.
Espinoza works with
the Mercy Family
Medicine Residency
program, where the
residents say how
supportive he
is—always taking
time to teach not
only during clinical
rounds but in the
clinic as well.
‘Time is more
limited now, but we
both make an effort
to keep in contact.
I couldn’t imagine
not keeping in touch
with Dr. Espinoza
and his family,”
said Pfleghaar. “I
cannot think of
anyone who deserves
this award more than
Dr. Espinoza. He is
a true example of
the quality teachers
that make great
doctors and he loves
working with
students.”
According to the
AOA, nomination
criteria for Mentor
Hall of Fame include
fostering a
long-term
development from
with a mentee, and
encouraging mentees
to develop
individual talents
and strengths by
acting as an advisor
and guide. The
mentor must
facilitate mentees
in acquiring the
skills and resources
needed to succeed as
scholars and
professionals, and
act as an advocate
and leader in
professional
matters. Finally,
the mentor must
demonstrate respect
and a sincere and
active interest in
the well-being of
mentees.
The AOA believes
that mentoring is an
essential component
of the learning
experience for
students, interns,
residents, and young
practitioners,
according to the AOA
website. Because of
mentors, the AOA
believes mentees
become physicians
who are first and
foremost dedicated
to quality health
care, the goals of
the profession and
the
patient/physician
relationship.
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