Family Medicine Fellow Honored at DOC Awards

Family Medicine Fellow Honored at DOC Awards

Rachel Holt, OMS IV, wins Student D.O. of the Year

By Matthew Bates

Growing up in Bluffton, a small college town in northwest Ohio,
Rachel Holt, OMS IV, knew at an early age that she wanted to be a doctor.

“All of my life I have dreamed of becoming a physician,” Holt said. “Growing up I was always impressed with the physicians I came in contact with in my community. Their dedication to patient care and community service is something I hope to model in my future practice.”

Last Wednesday, Holt’s dedication was recognized at the Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine’s (OU-HCOM) annual Distinguished Osteopathic Commitment (DOC) Awards, established to honor outstanding students and faculty. Holt was named Student D.O. of the Year.

Holt, spending an additional year with the school as a family practice fellow, was nominated for the award last fall by her peers, and then selected by a committee of students and faculty members. Rachel was surprised when she was told in January that she would be the recipient.

“I was not at all expecting to be honored in such a big way. I feel very privileged to be recognized by my fellow students and faculty at OU-HCOM,” said Holt.

After graduating from Taylor University in Upland, Ind., Holt took a year off from school, working as a substitute teacher in northwest Ohio and as an anatomy and physiology instructor at a local community college before enrolling at OU-HCOM.

Holt’s devotion to research was among the accomplishments mentioned at the ceremony on Wednesday. At Taylor University, she was involved in research on the nervous system innervation of the circulatory system in rats. At OU-HCOM, she was awarded the Research and Scholarly Advancement Fellowship and worked with Jay Shubrook, D.O., associate professor of family medicine, on research involving diabetes care practices in nursing homes. After that program was completed, she continued to work with Dr. Shubrook on other projects centered on diabetes and cardiovascular disease research.

“The CORE Research Office is very proud of Rachel’s achievements,” said Grace Brannan, Ph.D., director of the Centers for Osteopathic Research and Education (CORE) Research Office. “We have worked closely with Rachel these past five years on numerous research projects. Rachel’s passion for patient care and safety are reflected in the studies she has done in the areas of diabetes and exercise stress testing. Her enthusiasm, energy, and evidence-based knowledge will surely make her an outstanding osteopathic physician.”

Holt completed her third- and fourth-year CORE rotations at St. Vincent Mercy Medical Center in Toledo, Ohio, and is finishing a year of additional training in OU-HCOM’s Family Medicine Fellowship program. After she graduates in June, she will start a residency rotation in Emergency Medicine at the affiliated hospitals of the Boonshoft School of Medicine at Wright State University.

“As I … move on to the next phase of my training, I hope to maintain a passion for learning and research that will, I hope, help me to provide excellent patient care,” said Holt.

A list of all award recipients follows:

2010 DOC Award Winners

Outstanding Clinical Science Faculty

CPC I: Paul Cadamagnani, D.O., professor of internal medicine; Nicole Wadsworth, D.O. (’97), assistant professor of family medicine and assistant dean of preclinical education
CPC II: Frank Schwartz, M.D., professor of endocrinology
PCC I: Joseph Holtel, D.O. (’86), assistant professor of family medicine
PCC II: Edward Schreck, D.O., assistant professor of family medicine and medical director of the family practice clinic

Outstanding Social Medicine Faculty

CPC I: Douglas Mann, Ph.D., assistant professor of social medicine and executive assistant to the dean
CPC II: Douglas Mann, Ph.D., assistant professor of social medicine and executive assistant to the dean

Outstanding Basic Science Faculty

CPC I: Richard Klabunde, Ph.D., associate professor of physiology
CPC II: Patrick O’Connor, Ph.D., associate professor of neuroscience
PCC I: Calvin James, Ph.D., associate professor of virology
PCC II: Patrick O’Connor, Ph.D., associate professor of neuroscience

Individual Recognition

CPC I: Colette McLemore, assistant director of multicultural programs; Tim Neely, OMM fellow
CPC II: Tim Neely, OMM fellow; Lindsay Westrick OMS II
PCC I: Leah Welsh, OMS II
PCC II: LaQuita Jones, OMS II

Outstanding CBL Facilitator

CPC I: Douglas Mann, Ph.D., assistant professor of social medicine and executive assistant to the dean
CPC II: Robert Woodworth, D.O., M.P.H., associate professor of social medicine

Outstanding PCC Facilitator

PCC I: Calvin James, Ph.D., associate professor of virology

PCC II: Tim Neely, OMM fellow

Outstanding Group Leadership

CPC I: Jordan Brown, OMS I, Jordan Farr, OMS I, Tim Neely, OMM Fellow, Tanikka Toler, OMS I
CPC II: Andrew Little, OMS II
PCC I: Therese Obioha, OMS I
PCC II: Paul Eichenseer, OMS II

Outstanding CPC Instructor of Record

CPC I: Richard Klabunde, Ph.D., associate professor of physiology

CPC II: Audrone Biknevicius, Ph.D., associate professor of anatomy

Clinical Preceptors of the Year

CPC I: Steven Clay, D.O., associate professor of family medicine; Randall Colucci, D.O. (’98), M.P.H., assistant professor of family medicine; Eduardo Robles, D.O. (’97), assistant professor of family medicine; Edward Schreck, D.O., assistant professor of family medicine and medical director of the Family Practice Clinic; Jay Shubrook, D.O. (’96), associate professor of family medicine; Penny Shelton, M.D., clinical assistant professor of family medicine
CPC II: Steve Carin, D.O., associate professor of internal medicine; David Drozek, D.O. (’83), assistant professor of surgery; James Guenther, D.O., clinical associate professor of obstetrics and gynecology; Matthew Kaufmann, D.O.; Mark McGee, M.D., assistant professor of psychiatry; Jean Rettos, D.O. (’04), part-time instructor of osteopathic manipulative medicine; Kanwaljit Singh, M.D., clinical assistant professor of hematology and oncology
PCC I: Hafiz Ayub, M.D., clinical associate professor of internal medicine; Jen-Tzer Gau, M.D., Ph.D., assistant professor of geriatrics; Joseph Holtel, D.O. (’86), assistant professor of family medicine; Peggy Lionberger, D.O.
PCC II: Jane Broecker, M.D., assistant professor of obstetrics and gynecology; Scott Johnson, M.D., clinical assistant professor of general surgery; Stephanie Ott, M.D., clinical assistant professor of rheumatology; Dawn Sammons, D.O. (’03); Frank Schwartz, M.D., professor of endocrinology; Nicole Wadsworth, D.O. (’97), assistant professor of emergency medicine

Outstanding OMM Mentor

CPC I: Tim Neely, OMM fellow
CPC II: Tim Neely, OMM fellow
PCC I: Robert Baker, OMS IV; Mirna Martinez, OMM fellow
PCC II: Leah Welsh, OMS II

Outstanding Research Mentor

Brian Clark, Ph.D., assistant professor of neuromuscular biology
Jay Shubrook, D.O. (’96), associate professor of family medicine

Outstanding Tutor

CPC I: Tim Neely, OMM fellow
CPC II: Stephanie Zaugg, OMS II
PCC I: Chintha Bastian, graduate student
PCC II: Tim Neely, OMM fellow

Class Advocate

CPC I: Lauren Fuller, OMS II; Mark Postel, OMS I; LaQuatre Rhodes, OMS I
CPC II: Lesley Ramos, OMS II
PCC I: LaQuatre Rhodes, OMS I
PCC II: Dominique Crosby, OMS II