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School Department News

Osteopathic Medicine

WCU Breaks Ground for New Buildings
Friday, June 7, 2013 - 9:32am

Hattiesburg, Miss., June 7, 2013 - William Carey University officials held groundbreaking ceremonies for Phase IV of the College of Osteopathic Medicine (WCUCOM) complex and the Carey Chapel on Thursday, June 6. Phase IV of the WCUCOM will be the 7379-square-foot Anatomy Building, which will cost $1,324,500 and will provide medical students with increased space for laboratory work. The 2630-square-foot Carey Chapel, which will be located directly behind Chain Garden, will cost $761,540 and will provide an area for worship, as well as wedding ceremonies for students, faculty, and staff. 

At the start of both ceremonies Dr. Tommy King, president of WCU, gave a welcome  and recognized those whose contributions have made these building projects possible. Chairman of the Board of Trustees Odean Busby gave the invocation for the Phase IV ceremony, and Dr. Daniel Caldwell, dean of the Cooper School of Missions and Biblical Studies, gave the prayer for the chapel ceremony. Dr. Scott Hummel, provost, made closing remarks and gave a prayer for guidance and blessing for the projects.
 

Dr. King said that these are “important steps in the growth of William Carey during this exciting time of progress.”
 

WCUCOM Students Chosen as Scholars for GE-NMF Primary Care Leadership Program
Wednesday, May 8, 2013 - 1:29pm

Hattiesburg, Miss., May 7, 2013 - Two first-year William Carey University College of Osteopathic Medicine (WCUCOM) students, Karla Ruiz and Binh Q. Vu, have been chosen by the National Medical Fellowships, Inc. (NMF), and their National Advisory Committee (NAC), as 2013 scholars for the GE-NMF Primary Care Leadership Program (PCLP).  These students are among a distinguished group of students chosen to be a part of an innovative service-learning externship, which provides future healthcare professionals with a valuable opportunity to examine the challenges and rewards of primary care practice in community health centers (CHCs) across the United States.

Scholars will participate in a 200 hour service-learning opportunity during the summer of 2013 where they will be actively engaged in healthcare services, leadership training, and institutional project activities relevant to both academic programs and host sites. In addition, scholars will participate in and interact with a network of organizations and individuals from academic institutions, the NMF alumni group, and program advisors who will help guide and mentor participants throughout the externship. The overall mission of this program is to develop a pipeline of future primary care professionals and to build capacity at CHCs.
Ruiz’s hometown is Lakeland, Fla., and she will complete her project at the Health Care Center for the Homeless in Orlando, Fla.

Vu’s hometown is Houston, Texas, and his site will be the CommuniCare Health Centers in San Antonio, Texas. His service project is, “Addressing obesity and diabetes in underserved communities.”  Vu plans on becoming a pediatrician upon graduation. Other awards he has received include the National Health Service Corps Scholarship and the Wal-Mart Scholarship.

WCUCOM Student Named Paul Ambrose Scholar
Wednesday, May 8, 2013 - 1:22pm

Hattiesburg, Miss., May 7, 2013 - Joshua Stake of Jacksonville, Fla., a second-year medical student at William Carey University’s College of Osteopathic Medicine’s (WCUCOM), has been accepted as a 2013 Paul Ambrose Scholar. He was selected for this highly competitive and impressive award from among a national pool of medical students’ applicants with interests in public health and prevention (both MD and DO). As part of the program, Stake will attend a leadership symposium in Washington, D.C., June 20-23, and conduct a community-based health education project. Dr. Italo Subbarao, associate professor of medicine and associate dean of planning, assessment, and competency development at WCUCOM, will accompany him to D.C. as his mentor. Stake’s project is focused on implementing best practices to help prevent childhood obesity in the Hattiesburg community.

The Paul Ambrose Scholars Program exposes health professions students to influential public health professionals and prepares them to be leaders in addressing population health challenges at the national and community level. Since 2002, more than 460 students from over 160 academic institutions have become Paul Ambrose Scholars, equipped with leadership and organizational skills in public health education that can only be found outside of the classroom.
 

Ross Excellence in Anatomy Award Presented to Josh Holifield of Laurel
Tuesday, April 30, 2013 - 10:42am

Hattiesburg, Miss., April 30, 2013 - Josh Holifield of Laurel, son of Dana and Connie Holifield, recently received The Randolph J. and Brenda H. Ross for Excellence in Anatomy Award given to a first-year medical student at William Carey University’s College of Osteopathic Medicine (WCUCOM). Dr. Tommy King, president of WCU, presented it to him during Honors Day Convocation on April 24. The award, established by Dr. Ross and his wife, is given the medical student who has the highest Grade Point Average in anatomy.

Dr. Ross is Chairman of the Department of Surgery at Hattiesburg Clinic. The recipient of the award must be from Mississippi and plan to practice in Mississippi upon graduation. The award consists of an engraved medallion and a cash stipend which is credited to the student’s tuition for his or her second year of medical school.

Dr. Ross has been a strong advocate for the WCUCOM since its inception. In 2007, the WCU Board of Trustees and Dr. Tommy King committed to open the COM to address the severe shortage of physicians in Mississippi and surrounding areas. It was recognized at that time that a medical school would positively impact the healthcare of rural Mississippians. In 2008, the COM was officially established, and in 2010, WCU welcomed the inaugural class. Holding provisional accreditation by the Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation (COCA), the WCUCOM is the state’s second medical school and one of 29 institutions that offers a degree in osteopathic medicine in the U.S.
 

Mayor Signs National Osteopathic Medicine Week Proclamation
Thursday, April 18, 2013 - 1:23pm

Hattiesburg, Miss., April 18, 2013 - On Tuesday, April 16, (center) Mayor Johnny DuPree signed a proclamation during the city council meeting declaring April 14-20 to be National Osteopathic Medicine Week and urging all citizens and community organizations to support this observance by helping to educate residents about DOs and osteopathic medicine. Looking on as Mayor DuPree signed the proclamation was (left to right) Dr. James Turner, dean of the William Carey University College of Osteopathic Medicine (WCUCOM), and medical students Nicholas Swindle, Katy, Texas; Nandini Mehta, New York, NY; Evan Harsh, Fayetteville, Ark.; Alexis Cates, Mandeville, La.; Jamie Bishop, Prattville, Ala., and Jason Eversole, Fort Worth, Texas.