Newsletter - Alumni - Western University of Health Sciences

Alumni

Newsletter

An update from the Office of Alumni Relations - March 2008 Edition:

From My Perspective - A Message from President Pumerantz

Meeting Health-care Challenges (Appeared in the Inland Valley Daily Bulletin on February 20, 2008.)

Our nation is facing a national shortage of health professionals, an insufficient diversity in its work force, a growing number of people without health care insurance (6.5 million in California and 47 million nationally), and 40 million nationwide with some form of disability. These numbers will grow significantly in the years ahead as the baby boomers enter late life, when the risks of illnesses and disabilities are at their highest. As a nationally renowned health professions institution, Western University of Health Sciences considers this an important frontier. We have accepted this unique opportunity to respond positively and creatively to the need.

There is no shortage of individuals who wish to pursue health-care careers, but in order to respond to this, we must not just add new students to existing programs and bring on new disciplines. We must increase the work force in a unique way that reflects our university's philosophy of caring and compassion and scientific excellence. This means that we need to attract students whose No. 1 mission is to serve people.

As the university grows and expands, the campus environment is poised to take on four new programs by 2009: dentistry, podiatry, optometry and biomedical sciences. This is unprecedented in higher education. When these new colleges are added to the university, we will have created the largest graduate health professions university in the nation. The mix of these colleges will provide an enriched interdisciplinary curriculum as the different professions work together. This is an opportunity for each discipline to enrich the others.

The result will be a highly innovative learning environment. As a result, there will be a new breed of healers who can interact with their colleagues in the other professions to care for people and to improve the quality of life in our community. California is the nation's melting pot, and the health professions pipeline is a lengthy process that must be started early in the student's academic exposure. Recognizing this, we have partnered with the Pomona Unified School District and Cal Poly Pomona to devise a plan called the Career Ladder to academically nurture and provide financial support for children and spark their early interest in the health-care professions.

This is how we plan to meet the growing health-care challenges in our communities.

Best regards,

Philip Pumerantz, PhD
President, Western University of Health Sciences

University News & Anouncements
COMP
College of Pharmacy
College of Allied Health Professions
Dept of Physical Therapy Education
Dept of Physician Assistant Education
Dept of Health Sciences Education
College of Veterinary Medicine
College of Graduate Nursing

University News

WesternU Honored for Community Service: Western University of Health Sciences has earned national recognition for its commitment to community service. The Corporation for National and Community Service named WesternU to the President's Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll for exemplary service efforts and service to disadvantaged youth. Launched in 2006, the Community Service Honor Roll is the highest federal recognition a school can achieve for its commitment to service-learning and civic engagement. Honorees for the award were chosen based on a series of selection factors including scope and innovativeness of service projects, percentage of student participation in service activities, incentives for service, and the extent to which the school offers academic service-learning courses. The Honor Roll is jointly sponsored by the Corporation for National and Community Service and the Department of Education, the Department of Housing and Urban Development, USA Freedom Corps, Campus Compact and the President s Council on Service and Civic Participation. For the complete story, please visit WesternU News. Left: COMP Student Weili Zhang, OMSI, examines a patient during one of COMP's community outreach programs.

WesternU View Now Available On-Line: The University's magazine, WesternU View, is now available on the WesternU website. Please visit www.westernu.edu or http://www.westernu.edu/bin/news/WUView_Spring08.pdf to see the newest edition of the magazine. Check out the latest alumni news, "Life as an Army Doc in Iraq" written by Maj. Alea Morningstar, DO '96, and updates on the University research program and from each of the colleges.

WesternU In the News: A new section of the University website has been added to share with you when WesternU appears in the news: www.westernu.edu/inthenews/.

From the Archives

Kevin M. McCabe, DO '85, President of the Student Council, proudly indicates one of the two newly installed (1982) directional signs on the San Bernardino Freeway near the Garey Avenue off ramp in Pomona.

University Announcements

Alumni On-Line Community Coming Soon: The WesternU Office of Alumni Relations is pleased to announce the launch of a new comprehensive alumni on-line community: WesternU Connected. Features will include: personal profile pages, a searchable alumni directory, expanded career resources including searchable job opportunities, event registration, and on-line networking including chat rooms and message boards. What better way to stay in touch with your friends and classmates than to participate in this exciting new benefit. Watch your mail and e-mail for more information regarding the launch in late March and registration information. If you have any questions or suggestions, please contact the Office of Alumni Relations.

The WesternU Advi$or:

Will your will be known? It is startling that each year approximately seventy percent (70%) of the adult Americans who die leave no personally prepared statement of their will. We emphasize personally prepared, because a last will and testament is in place for those who do not choose to have their own unique document created: it is written by the law makers of the state, and is a one-size-fits-all document. This raises the question, "Who needs a personal will?" Many may presume, in the case of a modest estate, that a will represents unnecessary paperwork. This probably stems from the view that the sole function of this document is to outline property distribution. And while it is true that the will helps to avoid any potential confusion over specific ownership, the real purpose of a will should be seen in a much broader context.
Your will is really your final opportunity to communicate with those you care for most. So, even in cases where there may be no property distribution issues, the will offers a forum for:

naming an Executor for your estate

identifying your choice as the guardian for any minor children, in the event of the death of both parents

remembering individuals and families who would not otherwise be beneficiaries of your estate

remembering a favorite charity

Property Distribution: Even in the most modest estate, the distribution of specific items is often one of the most powerful forms of communicating. To begin with, a will allows you to name an Independent Executor -- one person, handpicked by you -- charged with the responsibility of gathering all that comprises your estate, and adhering to the terms specified in your will. Whether your wish is that your musician son receives the family piano, or that a special piece of jewelry be bequeathed to a favorite niece, the personally prepared will is the easiest way to ensure that your wishes are known -- and respected.
In the absence of a personal will, the settlement of an estate can be unnecessarily costly, and each state has its own set formula for property distribution. For example, when an individual dies without a will (dies intestate), and is survived by a spouse and two children, the law specifies distribution -- without respect to special needs or circumstances. In addition, if the children are minors the law may require that a guardian be appointed. And, while this is almost always the surviving spouse, the absence of a will means that a bond could have to be posted. Rarely does the "one-size-fits-all" will prepared by the state accurately reflect all the wishes of a decedent. And there is no provision for charity.
The Charitable Bequest -- A Powerful Planned Gift: For centuries, history reflects that individuals have used the last will and testament as a forum for expressing their philanthropic wishes. And the charitable bequest has become the easiest and most common method used by Americans to support the charity (or charities) of their choice. A bequest may be as general or as specific as the donor wishes. The will may designate a dollar amount, specific property, a percentage of the estate, or the bequest may be contingent on other events outlined in the will. And, should the donor desire, the purpose for which the bequest is to be used may also be expressed.
A Charitable Bequest May Reduce Estate Taxes: When a bequest is made to a qualified charity like Western University of Health Sciences or one of its colleges, it results in an estate tax deduction when the will is probated, and effectively reduces any estate tax owed. Depending on the size of the estate and the value of the bequest, this deduction can have a dramatic impact on the shrinkage due to estate taxes.
Next month, to begin the series of articles entitled A Willful Expression, we'll take a look at the requirements for a valid Will.
Olive B. Stephens
Gift Planning Administrator
Western University of Health Sciences
309 East Second Street
Pomona, CA 91766-1854
Phone: (909) 469-5211
FAX: (909) 466-5215
ostephen@western.edu
The information contained in this publication is provided as a service to its readers, and does not constitute legal advice. We try to provide quality information, but we make no claims, promises or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained in this publication or any associated source of information that may be referred to or mentioned herein. As legal advice must be tailored to the specific circumstances of each case, and laws are constantly changing, nothing provided herein should be used as a substitute for the advice of competent counsel.

Jobs for Alumni : Interested in finding a new job or just seeing what is out there? Check out the new job postings for alumni at the Alumni Career Resource Center.

Share Your News & Revise Personal Information: Have you married, started a new job, had a baby, or received a fantastic promotion? Update WesternU on your achievements so that we can share them with your fellow classmates. Please send any news to alumni@westernu.edu.You also can update your personal information (work information, mailing address) on the WesternU Alumni Website by clicking Update Information Form .

Suggestion Box: The Office of Alumni Relations would like to hear your views about alumni services at WesternU. If you have any thoughts about alumni events, participation, or would like to propose ideas, please contact Dorothy Buchanan at (909) 469-5233 or dbuchanan@westernu.edu.

College of Pharmacy

Faculty News:

The College of Pharmacy welcomes its newest addition to the faculty, Doreen Pon, PharmD. Dr. Pon joined the College in February as an Assistant Professor of Pharmacy Practice and Administration with a focus in Oncology. She received her PharmD from UCSF and her specialty residency in oncology at the NIH in Maryland. Dr. Pon previously worked at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles where she was working as a Hematology/Oncology Clinical Pharmacy Specialist for about 10 years.
Eric Gupta, PharmD, Assistant Professor of Pharmacy, was profiled in the California Pharmacist (Volume LV, No. 1), a quarterly publication of the California Pharmacists Association. To view the complete article, please visit WesternU News.
Cynthia Jackevicius, PharmD, Associate Professor of Pharmacy, recently completed a study that is receiving significant media attention from such press as Reuters, Reuters India, The Canadian Press, Reuters UK, WebMD, theheart.org, Scientific American, drkoop.com, U.S. News & World Report, and The Washington Post. The study looked at over 4,000 patients using an acute MI registry and administrative data from prescription drug claims, vital statistics, use of physician services and hospital discharge databases to determine the prevalence, predictors and outcomes of patients who filled versus those who did not fill their prescriptions immediately post-MI. The main results included: 1 in 5 of all prescriptions were not filled after MI survivors left the hospital; 25% of patients did not fill all of their prescriptions; patients who filled none of their prescriptions had an 80% higher chance of dying in the year following their heart attacks vs. those who filled all their prescriptions; if some of the prescriptions were filled, patients had a 40% increased chance of dying in their first year vs. if they filled all their prescriptions; patients who were educated in the hospital about their medications were more likely to fill their prescriptions. (Jackevicius CA, Li P, Tu JV. Prevalence, predictors, and outcomes of primary nonadherence after acute myocardial infarction. Circulation 2008;117:1028-36.)
Sunil Prabhu, PhD, Assistant Dean Enrollment Management and Associate Professor Pharmaceutical Sciences, and his graduate students, Naveen Kanthamneni, MSPS student, and Chan Ma, MSPS '07 on recently published an article in Drug Delivery 15. (Prabhu S, Kanthamneni N, Ma C. Novel Combinations of Rate Controlling Polymers for the Release of Leuprolide Acetate in the Colon. Drug Delivery 15 (2): 119 " Å“ 125, 2008.)
Kabir Lutfy, PhD, Associate Professor of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, and his team completed the manuscript publication in Neuropharmacology 2007. (Marquez P, Nguyen AT, Hamid A and Lutfy K: The endogenous OFQ/N/ORL-1 receptor system regulates the rewarding effects of acute cocaine. Neuropharmacology 2007; doi:10.1016/j.neuropharm.2007.11.003.)

CPhA Alumni & Friends Breakfast: Over 35 College of Pharmacy alumni, students, faculty, and friends joined Dean Dan Robinson at the WesternU CPhA Breakfast held on Saturday, February 9, in Sacramento.

Above left: Professor Roger Klotz signs the guest book at the CPhA Breakfast. Above right: Dean Dan Robinson welcomes guests to the breakfast.

Above: WesternU College of Pharmacy students enjoy the CPhA Alumni and Friends Breakfast.

Mark Your Calendar:

March 16, 2008: APhA 2008 Alumni and Friends Reception will be held from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at the Hyatt Hotel-Elizabeth H Room. WesternU also will be participating in the joint California reception which is scheduled from 7:00-9:00 p.m. at The Hyatt. Please check your APhA program for the final room assignment.
April 17, 2008: The College of Pharmacy Ray Symposium will be held on the WesternU Campus in Prem Reddy Hall in the Health Professions Center. The Symposia speaker will make a presentation from 5:00-6:00 p.m., followed by a reception from 6:00-7:30 p.m. in the Student Commons. For more information, please visit the Ray Symposium website.

COMP

COMP Alumni & University Administrators Recognized at OPSC Meeting: The Osteopathic Physicians & Surgeons of California (OPSC) honored several COMP alumni and University administrators at its annual convention in Palm Springs in February. WesternU President Philip Pumerantz, PhD, received the Supporter of the Year award. College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific (COMP) Dean Clinton Adams, DO, FAAFP, FACHE, received the Lifetime Achievement Award. Alan Cundari, DO '85, chair of COMP's Department of Family Medicine, received the Most Valuable Physician award. Award recipients also included: James Lally, DO '91, MSHPE '93, Physician of the Year award; Geraldine T. O Shea, DO '93, 2008 OPSC Award; Natalie Nevins, DO '97, MSHPE, Richard E. Eby Humanitarian Award; Mark E. Eastman, DO '93, Most Valuable Physician award. Also, COMP alumna Brooke Alexander, DO '96, took the oath of office as the new OPSC President. To view the complete story, please visit WesternU News.

AOA President runs with COMP: More than 70 students, faculty and staff from WesternU's College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific joined American Osteopathic Association President Peter B. Ajluni, DO, on a 5-K fun run in February. The run was organized by COMP and the Student Osteopathic Medical Association to promote President Ajluni's "DOs: Fit for Life" initiative. Before a physician gives a patient advice about exercising and eating healthy, they must embrace that lifestyle themselves, said President Ajluni, an avid marathoner and triathlete. "Physicians have to be role models for their patients, for their communities and for their own families," he said. Obesity is one of the biggest issues in health care, said Allan Belcher, DO '11. The fun run is an activity everyone can participate in, and this type of activity unites the class, he said. "We are honored to have Dr. Ajluni come out," he said. President Ajluni followed the run with a visit to campus and a lunchtime talk with COMP students among other activities. Left: Dean Clinton Adams and AOA President Peter Ajluni join COMP students and University staff and faculty for a 5K-Run in Claremont, California.

COMP Alumna Speaks About Life after Medical School: Medical students may only look ahead four years to graduation. College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific alumna NaNotchka M. Chumley, DO 93, MPH, wants them to look 15 to 20 years ahead at their career. Medical schools do not always emphasize the idea that medicine is a business, Dr. Chumley said. But students should be aware that finding a permanent job or going into private practice is difficult. "I m trying to give them a 15-year glimpse," she said. "Before you finish medical school, you need to know about your residency and career path. You cannot wait until you're in the midst of it." Dr. Chumley returned to campus on Tuesday, February 26 to talk about "Life after Medical School: Residency and Beyond," part of WesternU's celebration of Black History Month. The noon discussion in the HPC North conference room was sponsored by the Student National Medical Association. Dr. Chumley specializes in family medicine and serves as chief physician for Crenshaw Community Health Center in Los Angeles. Her involvement is appreciated. Talking with alumni helps students get a sense of what it is like to practice medicine, said Ann Kellogg, DO '10, president of SNMA, who also wants to enter family medicine. "I like the diversity in practice," Kellogg said. "For me it's also a moral issue. I'm compelled to go where the greatest need is. Primary care leads to more affordable care and improves access." For the complete story, please visit WesternU News. Left: NaNotchka M. Chumley, DO '93, MPH, (third from right) talks with COMP students about preparing for life after medical school.

Faculty News

Animated Conversation: Elizabeth Rega, PhD, Associate Professor of Anatomy, was a featured speaker at the Animex International Festival of Animation & Computer Games in Middlesbrough, England in February. She was joined by representatives from Pixar, Dreamworks, Rhythm n Hues Studios and others to provide animators, directors, students, artists, designers, writers and educators an educational forum for creative exchange of expertise. About 250 people attended her hour-long session on age, gender and population variation in the creation of realistic animated humans. Dr. Rega's expertise in human and primate anatomy has been utilized in numerous film projects, including Pocahontas, Mulan, Brother Bear, Tarzan, Hollow Man and most recently Sony Picture's Beowulf. She is also a frequent consultant to Walt Disney Imagineering on the morphology and history of ethnic diversity in film, animation and entertainment.
Donald Walters, PhD, Associate Professor of Pharmacology, was selected by the National Board of Osteopathic Medical Examiners (NBOME) as a 2007 Item-Writer of the Year for Level 1 of the osteopathic medical boards licensing exam. The NBOME's Product Committee, which uses an objective system of evaluation to assess questions submitted for consideration for use on the College of Osteopathic Medicine Licensing Exam (COMLEX) Level 1, determined that Dr. Walters submitted the best test items from a field of more than 200 item-writers who contributed to the NBOME during the year. The NBOME went on to say that Dr. Walter's test items are a model for the type and format of items needed to produce the COMLEX for the osteopathic profession.

Mark Your Calendar:
April 26: COMP and the Office of Alumni Relations are coordinating a CME Conference scheduled for Saturday, April 26, 2008. This day-long conference will feature presentations on various topics such as plastics, home medicine and OMT. Please watch your e-mail and mail for additional information and registration information. This conference has 10 1/2 AOA Category 1A Credits available.

Volunteer Opportunities: Shadowing Opportunities: The College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific is looking for COMP alumni who are willing to allow prospective DO students to shadow their practices. We receive many requests each week from prospective DO students who would like to view physicians' practices in all specialties. Prospective students are very excited to establish their medical school careers and they will be appreciative for the opportunity to ask questions and view your work for as little or as long as you can spare. Are you interested in being an influence on a future physician? If yes, please contact Tricia Murdoch at tmurdoch@westernu.edu or by phone at (909) 569-5246.

Employment Opportunities for COMP Alumni! Are you interested in returning to academic medicine? COMP has a number of positions available throughout the year. If you would be interested in teaching, please visit COMP Faculty Listings or the general University Employment Opportunities for additional information.

College of Graduate Nursing

Faculty News

Sonja Mack, RN, MSN, Assistant Professor and Coordinator of CGN's Clinical Simulation Laboratory, gave a podium presentation at the 2008 Human Patient Simulation Network (HPSN) in Tampa, Florida in February. She talked about incorporating high fidelity simulation into nursing curriculum.
Marci Horowitz, RN, MSN, Assistant Professor, gave a podium presentation at the American Association of Colleges of Nursing Annual Master's Conference in Newport Beach in January. She presented her qualitative research on the transition of CGN's MSN-E students as Registered Nurses into the work force.

Graduate Nursing Information Sessions: Do you know someone who is interested in entering the nursing profession or earning an advanced degree in nursing? The College of Graduate Nursing is offering information sessions to inform prospective students about our curriculum, admissions process, and facilities. For more information, please visit www.westernu.edu/xp/edu/prospective/upcoming.xml#Nursing_Information_Sessions_.

College of Allied Health Professions

From the Dean: In today's competitive job market, new grads have to be smart not only about landing a new job, but also about keeping it. Presenting one's experience in a positive (yet truthful) light is crucial in obtaining employment after graduation. The present job market will afford many opportunities to new grads this year. However, getting a job may not be as difficult as keeping it. Here are the ten tips that may assist you in your first year of employment.

Make it obvious that you are giving your all without erecting a billboard. Arrive early; don't vanish at the stroke of five.
Show enthusiasm about learning new technologies. It is normal to feel apprehensive, but never say "I can't do it"; Eagerly approach new tasks.
Display a positive attitude. Remaining optimistic will not only help you appear confident, but will also help you deal with on the job pressures.
Dress appropriately for your work environment. Casual dress is acceptable only if it mirrors the attitude of the company as a whole.
Befriend the support staff. Secretaries can make or break a new hire. Help out making photocopies and overseeing the phones if they need help. Passing out some cups of coffee never hurt either.
Offer help to co-workers without being asked. This selfless behavior shows that you have the potential to be a team-player.
Admit your mistakes. Accept the consequences for mistakes you may have made; don't repeat it. No one is perfect, so don't pretend as if you are.
Know when to keep your lips sealed. Talking about the boss and other co-workers never won anybody friends. In contributing to the rumor mill, you will only succeed in destroying your own credibility.
Formulate reasonable expectations. It may take time for your boss to reward quality work. Be patient; good work does not go unnoticed.
Achieve a balance between work and other aspects of life. Throwing yourself 100% into your job may cause burn-out. Stay healthy. Don't forget the importance of exercise, sleep and leisure time.

Department of Physical Therapy Education

Congratulations on Clinical Specialization: The American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties (ABPTS) held a Ceremony for Recognition of Clinical Specialties as part of the opening ceremonies on February 6, 2008, at the Annual Combined Sections Meeting (CSM) of the American Physical Therapy Association. Over 7,000 physical therapy professionals registered for the four-day conference which was held this year in Nashville, Tennessee. The following persons are among the 828 Physical Therapists nationwide in 2007 who met the requirements of the ABPTS and have attained and/or renewed certification as clinical specialists in their respective practice areas. They include graduates of either the entry-level Masters of Physical Therapy or Transitional Doctor of Physical Therapy Program, clinical faculty and adjunct faculty at Western University of Health Sciences. Congratulations on such an accomplishment and a distinction well deserved!

Orthopedic Certified Specialist (OCS):

Gregory Bonomo, PT, DPT, OCS â “ MPT Class of 2000, DPT Class of 2005
Antonio Dimaano, PT MPT, OCS â “ MPT Class of 2004
David Gutkind, PT, DPT, OCS - DPT Class of 2006 and Clinical Faculty
Kenyon Krause Grant, PT, MPT, OCS â “ MPT Class of 1999
Jennifer Hsieh, PT, MPT, OCS â “ MPT Class of 1999
Janet Konecne, PT, DPT, OCS â “ Adjunct Faculty
Sue Lin, PT, DPT, OCS - MPT Class of 2002, DPT Class of 2005
Hien On, PT, MPT, OCS â “ MPT Class of 2004
Neil Shimabukuro, PT, MPT, OCS â “ MPT Class of 2000
Stephan Stern, PT, DPT, OCS â “ DPT Class of 2003
Barbara Johnston Thomas, PT, MPT, OCS â “ MPT Class of 2002

Orthopedic Certified Specialist (OCS) and Sports Certified Specialist (SCS): Christopher Ivey, PT, MPT, OCS, SCS â “ MPT Class of 2000
Neurologic Certified Specialist (NCS): Cathelyn Timple, PT, DPT, NCS and Clinical Faculty

Faculty News: Dee Schilling, PT, PhD, Chair and Associate Professor of the Department of Physical Therapy Education, was an invited presenter of two separate studies at APTA's CSM noted above. Presentations included a peer-reviewed poster Traditional vs. Rapid Recovery Treatment Protocols for Unilateral Total Hip Arthroplasty and a peer-reviewed lecture presentation Rapid Recovery is a Team Effort: Examining the Individual & Collaborative Roles of the Surgeon, Clinician, Researcher on the Journey to Successful Patient Outcomes. Eight faculty from the Department of Physical Therapy Education and a total of 17 DPT students, with representatives from each of the classes of 2008, 2009, and 2010 were among those professionals from across the United States who attended this national conference.

Recognition of Alumni Clinical Instructors: The Department of Physical Therapy Education is excited to have alumni serving as Clinical Instructors for the current students during their clinical education experiences in the curriculum. The support of the following alumni during this last year is much appreciated by both the students and the program, and we look forward to their continued role in mentoring our students: Tim Dodson, Kaiser Clinic, Orange; David Gutkind, Fortanasce Physical Therapy, Arcadia; Ben Cooley, Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center; Kelley Luebbers Coley, Rancho Rehab Center, Rancho Cucamonga; Sylvia Weber, St. Jude Medical Center, Fullerton; Tony Kelly and Mike Greenbaum, Hoag Hospital, Newport Beach; Kelly Hilliard, California Childrens Services, Fullerton; Steve Ho, Huntington Memorial Hospital, Pasadena; Julia Turko Previch, California Childrens Service, Claremont; Karla Plooster, Arcadia Physical Therapy; Kristina Salib, Physiotherapy Associates, Upland; Christy Marilo, Gallagher Pediatric Therapy, Fullerton; Julius Cruz, Hospital of the Good Samaritan, Los Angeles; Alain Villabroza, Queen of the Valley Hospital, West Covina; and Leah Friedman, Lake Arrowhead Physical Therapy. We are always looking for quality clinical education opportunities and are eager to have even more alumni involved in our clinical education program. Please contact Georgeanne Vlad, Director of Clinical Education, at (800) 249-9133 or gvlad@westernu.edu or Tiffany Witherspoon, Clinical Education Assistant, at (909) 469-5545 or twitherspoon@westernu.edu if you are interested and able to participate as a Clinical Instructor at your clinical facility. We are now soliciting clinical placements for 2009 and would be happy to hear from you!

Alumni Volunteer Opportunity: As our entry level DPTE applicant pool has continued to increase, likewise the geographic distribution of the applicant pool has become increasingly widespread. Often the geographic location of the applicant makes it challenging to visit our campus and have the opportunity to meet with faculty or students. Therefore we are seeking your assistance to volunteer to serve as an alumni contact in your area for accepted applicants. Responsibilities would be varied and could range from email contacts to face to face meetings. For further information regarding this opportunity please contact Amber Del Pozo in Recruitment at (909) 706-3531.

Department of Physical Therapy Education Information Sessions: Do you know someone who is interested in physical therapy? The Department of Physical Therapy Education is offering several information sessions this fall to inform prospective students about our curriculum, admissions process, and facilities. For more information, please visit www.westernu.edu/xp/edu/prospective/upcoming.xml#DoctorofPhysicalTherapyInformationSessionsDPT.

Department of Physician Assistant Education

Thank YOU! The Department of Physician Assistant Education would like to thank all of the alumni that assisted with PA applicant interviews. Your assistance and input was greatly appreciated as the PA 2010 class was filled.

Student News: Jennifer Kissee, PA-S, '08, was the recipient of the California Academy of Physician Assistants community Outreach Scholarship. This award is given to a student who demonstrates good academic standing, community outreach, and other philanthropic activities while being a student.

Alumni Updates:

Congratulations to Joyce Suzuki, MS, PA-C, '03, who was married to Richard Bond on September 29, 2007.
California Emergency Physicians (CEP) has hired a significant number of WesternU physician assistant graduates. Several of our alumni have worked their way up the administrative chain: Cama Garcia, PA-C, '95, has been a regional PA Lead for CEP PAs in the East Bay area; Jane Salinas, PA-C, '98, recently was appointed as a new regional PA Lead for the San Diego/Georgia region.

PA Alumni Preceptor Profile: Meet Roxanne Hampton, MSHPE, PA-C, a 1999 graduate from the Western University Physician Assistant Program and a Physician Assistant student preceptor since 2000. Roxanne is currently employed by Central Avenue Urgent Care Clinic in Montclair where she completed her three months preceptorship and began working with the group part time immediately after graduation. She joined the urgent care team as a full time employee in 2000 and continues to enjoy working with all the supervising physicians and physician assistants at the clinic.

Roxanne entered WesternU's Master of Science in Health Professions Education in 1996 while she waited for her acceptance into the physician assistant program. In the fall of 1997 she was able to leave her financial and real estate career behind to realize her ambition, since her undergraduate studies, to have a career as a health care provider and educator and she became a member of Western University's Physician Assistant Class of 1999. She became a preceptor for the physician assistant program in 2000 taking the opportunity to combine her graduate studies to teach the physician assistant students in the clinical setting and to stress the importance of patient education. Roxanne and her husband, Tex (Byron), are both enjoying their second careers. Recently Tex retired from the Dream Company, Disney, and took a new position that requires less commuting time and Roxanne has become the lead PA at the urgent care clinic. With new directions in their lives, both have time to spend together, time to pursue outdoor activities and time to travel.

When asked what changes in the profession she has encountered in her years of practice, Roxanne stated that her patients have become more aggressive in the their treatments and that she has been swept up with the electronic age that has become available for the health care profession. Her PDA has become her constant quick reference source. She also applauds all the new legislation that has benefitted the physician assistant profession. And when asked what changes she would like see in the future of her profession, she "would like to see more public education made available for patients and more information made readily available to broaden the identity of physician assistants and their role as a member of the health care team."

Alumni Volunteer Opportunity: Physician Assistant alumni are invited to interview PA applicants to fill the new class to start in August of 2008. PA Alumni have always played a valuable role in the interview process. The interview dates for March are 13 and 14. Interviewer orientation takes place at 8:30 AM and the interviews will last until approximately 12:30. Please contact Barbara Howell at (909) 469-5370 if you are interested in participating in the interviews.

Physician Assistant Education Information Sessions: Do you know someone who is interested in training to become a physician assistant? The Physician Assistant Education Program is offering several information sessions to inform prospective students about our curriculum, admissions process, and facilities. For more information, please visit www.westernu.edu/xp/edu/prospective/upcoming.xml#Physician_Assistant_Information_Sessions__MSPA_.

Department of Health Sciences Education

Make a Difference: Some 35 million people, or, 1 in 8 Americans live in the state of California. To meet the growing health care needs of the state, California s health workforce must change in size, distribution, and preparation. The Department of Health Sciences at WUHS seeks to meet the health care needs of the community by preparing professions in the area of Health Professions Education, Management of Health Care Delivery Systems and Community Health Promotion. If you or someone that you know has a passion for creating positive health related effects in our region they should investigate opportunities at http://www.westernu.edu/xp/edu/cahp/mshs_about.xml .

College of Veterinary Medicine

Accreditation Update: The College of Veterinary Medicine welcomed the AVMA Council on Education (COE) accreditation team in February. The COE team also traveled to numerous California locations to interview third year preceptors. The College has enjoyed Provisional Accreditation status since 2003, and the COE visit was the final step in achieving Full Accreditation status.

Faculty News

South Korea's SBS Television interviewed Teresa Morishita, DVM, PhD, Professor of Veterinary Medicine and an expert on food safety, and Peggy Schmidt, DVM, Assistant Professor of Veterinary Medicine and an expert on food animal medicine, for a program on bovine spongiform encephalopathy on December 19, 2007. The program will air in South Korea.
Hrvoje Smodlaka, DVM, PhD, Assistant Professor of Veterinary Medicine recently published "Macroscopic Anatomy of the Heart of the Ringed Seal (Phoca hispida)" H. Smodlaka, R. W. Henry, J. Schumacher and R. B. Reed. Anat. Histol. Embryol. 37 30-35 (2008).

Mark Your Calendar:

April 5: CVM Open House, 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m., WesternU Campus. Tour the Banfield Veterinary Clinical Center, low cost pet microchipping, and much more!
April 23: CVM Honors Day, WesternU Campus
May 29-31: The first Avian Diseases and Conservation Conference will be held at the College of Veterinary Medicine from May 29-31. The conference will take place on the WesternU Campus. For more information, please visit the conference website at www.westernu.edu/avianconference.

If you do not wish to receive future alumni updates, please send an e-mail to alumni@westernu.edu requesting that the Alumni Office not contact you via e-mail. We will be happy to honor your request. Please allow two weeks for the removal to be processed.

Last Updated:05/11/2008

Tell a Friend