2006 CHAPTER REPORT

Class of 2008 Members:

Troy Akers

Ashley Austin

Michael Baze

Angela Bookout

Melissa Butts

Richard Card

John Casey

Melinda Coburn

Katie Collins

Rebecca Dale

Emily Esmaili

Michelle-Anne Gaudet

Elizabeth Gordon

Chase Grimes

Spencer Harris

Daniel Horrell

Stephen Hunter

Colleen James

Sarah Jarvis

Courtney Legum-Wenk

Megan Linahan

Michelle Linkous

Matthew Loichinger

Andrew Lothes

Abbe Martin

Omar Masri

Kerry Matthew

Adam McLaurin

Jacqualin Miller

Matthew Mitchell

Jeffrey Moore

Jessica Mowry

Darrick Neibaur

Justin Parker

Jason Parkinson

Kristen Payne

Kristina Price

Allison Raines

Jason Reese

Amanda Reese

Derek Riley

Brittney Roberts

Jesse Sally

Liliya Shevchenko

Robert Snow

Victoria Watts

Rebecca West

Stephanie Wilson

Christopher Worley

Class of 2007 Members:

Sofia Elainne Abraham

Estylan Dan Lebita Arellano

Ann Elizabeth Schleupner Austin

Sarah Elizabeth Cates

James David Danner

Samuel Patton Deel

Matthew Carlton Dorn

Megan Gwendolyn Cornwell

David Andrew Cotoni

Amy Wetzel Doolan

Melissa Rose Ellis

Robert Scott Fell

Elizabeth Anne Gersuk

Gleynora Jeane GilBhrighde

John M. Goad

Jordan Lynn Hill

John Edward Hughes

Justin Alan Jones

Joseph S. Jung

Joshua David Justice

Kristy Casey Kazemfar

Emily Mae Keener

Jon Son Woong Kim

Joshua Henry Knowles

James Lee Landero

Macy Little Latter

Sean Nicholas Martin

James Allen Maxey

Jonathan Edward McNeal

Kerri Marie Nardone

Justin S. Mitchell

Donald Jeffrey Neal

Amy Marie Pritchard

Astrid Kathrin Radermacher

Langan Phelps Robbins

Jason William Romesburg

Elizabeth Lynne Saft

Jonathan Michael Stuart

Gregory S. Vigesaa

Mary Carolyn Clements Vinson

Jaime Stephan Wagner

Katherine Irene Watson

Melissa Brandon Weimer

Douglas L. Wiley

Bryan L. Witt

Jeremy Jason White

Kristie Noel Wolfe

Jennifer Lynn Zaveckas

Introduction:

This year is Chi Chapter’s first year as an official chapter at the Virginia College of Osteopathic Medicine. The main goals of the Chi Chapter have been:

- To establish the chapter at VCOM, which took place in the Spring of 2007.

- To coordinate with VCOM Administration to construct the eligibility criteria for induction, which has tentatively been set.

- With the current criteria, invite and induct members of the Class of 2007 and 2008.

o 48 members of each class were inducted, totaling 98 current members.

- To continue providing service to The College and the local and distant communities within and surrounding Southwest Virginia.

Member Selection:

The membership eligibility has been tentatively selected by VCOM administration. Once the Executive Board has been elected in the Fall of 2007, both entities will work together to revise any current criteria and perhaps provide additional criteria.

Our criteria for invitation are currently:

1. Must have a 3.75 GPA or higher at VCOM

2. Must have above average rotation grades (mostly H or HP on rotations, no greater than 2 Ps and all S grades on modules)

3. Must have no current or pending academic deficiencies

4. Must be "on schedule" to graduate with your respective class, which means currently having passed COMLEX I scores, “on schedule” to complete COMLEX 2 CE and PE
prior to graduation, and completion of enough clinical rotations at this point so you can fit in a total of 9 OMSIV rotations before June. Candidates for the DO/PhD program must be on schedule to complete all DO requirements prior to the December of the year prior to graduation.

5. Must be considered in good standing with VCOM (e.g., no current or pending behavioral infractions, no academic probation, etc.)

6. Must have participated in at least one significant extracurricular patient care experience at VCOM (e.g. Appalachian Volunteer event, VRHA event, RAM event, Mini Med School, VRHA event, Peds Outreach, International Mission trip, etc.)

7. Must have been active in at least one VCOM Student Organization

8. Must be willing to provide advice or counsel to other medical students or potential medical students on the values and benefits of being an osteopathic physician.

Monthly Meetings:

Once the Executive Board has been established, these will be set.

Service Projects/Activities:

At the current time, Chi Chapter members have participated in the following events. These events have not solely been organized and carried out by the Chi Chapter, however, with the election of the Executive Board, certain activities will be taken over by the Chi Chapter while others will be supported by and integrated into Chi Chapter activities.

- Heritage Hall Nursing Home Holiday Drive

o This will continue to be an annual event during which time students and faculty pick the names of residents from the facility. An entire day is spent with the residents talking, playing games, and providing a companion. The residents also receive a gift from each of the participants.

- Jonesville, VA Health Fair

o Grant funds are used to set up an annual student-run health fair during which medical screening is provided for the following:

§ Osteoporosis

§ Skin Cancer

§ Hearing

§ Vision

§ Cholesterol

§ Glucose

§ Sports Physicals

o Educational materials are also available to all patients.

o The grant funds used for this project also go to support:

§ The Wise County Health Fair

§ The Stuart Pain Clinic

- Dr. A. T. Still’s Birthplace Clean-up

o Each year students travel to the birthplace of Dr. Still to provide a “touch-up” to the grounds and ensure proper maintenance is provided. This takes place in Jonesville, VA. Such activities provided include cutting the grass, laying new brick, and various other landscaping projects.

- Remote Area Medical Volunteer Corps

o Each year students from all over the country participate in this massive health fair for thousands of community residents. In 2006 over 7,000 patients were seen. Some of the various screenings provided include:

§ Cholesterol

§ Mammograms

§ Musculoskeletal screening with OMM offered

§ Pap Smears

o This will continue to be an annual event.

- Spring Into Summer 5K

o This 5K race takes place on the cross country course on the campus of Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, VA. This community service project raised a little over $2000 for the American Cancer Society and awarded over $1200 in awards and prizes to race participants. We had 88 race participants, 30 volunteers, and more than 30 sponsors for event. We were also awarded a $500 student grant from the Medical Society of Virginia Foundation for the event.

- Adopt-a-Town

o In conjunction with the Virginia Rural Health Association

o Our participants pick a town in Virginia every year and provide the following:

§ Head Start physicals for kids

§ Holiday dinner

§ Hygiene baskets

- Research Opportunities

o Annual VCOM Research Day

§ This is a two day event hosted by VCOM during which outside presenters, faculty, and students conduct presentations about their current and ongoing projects. In 2007, two Chi Chapter members placed in the competition which is judged by members of the research community, faculty, and the presenters.

o VOMA Annual Poster Presentation

§ Chi Chapter members, among others, presented their research projects at the annual VOMA conference. This year 1 Chi Chapter member placed in the competition.

Upcoming Events:

- RAM in Grundy, VA the 12^th-14^th of October, 2007.

- Nursing Home visits for the Fall and Winter holidays.

- VCOM Research Day

- Adopt-a-Town

o Grundy, VA

o Farmville, VA

o Stuart, VA

o Galax, VA

Future Ideas:

- Formulate a formal board preparation committee for the COMLEX and USMLE exams. We will look to establish a database of information from past examinees in regards to their preparation, materials used, and what they felt worked and did not work. This information will be used as a tool for future students to provide insight into studying for their boards.

- Research collaborations will continue to be sought after. This will include opportunities to work with current faculty, outside organizations, and rotation site attendings.

- Galax, VA Health Fair in conjunction with Willing Partners

Respectfully submitted by the President of the Chi Chapter.

Sincerely,

George Mueller

Chi Chapter President