Monthly College Update
for
February 2004
Update Archive

• MSUCOM was granted continuing accreditation with a seven-year cycle of full survey review by the American Osteopathic Association. A special thank you is extended to all faculty, staff, students, and SCS partners that assisted the college during the accreditation site visit.
  
• Nearly 95% of MSUCOM students matched with AOA approved post-graduate training programs. This match percentage was 20% higher than the next closest osteopathic medicine college.
  
• Over 85% of MSUCOM graduates in the Class of 2004 will remain in the state of Michigan at hospitals within the Statewide Campus System for their first year of training.
  
• Paul LaCasse, D.O., M.P.H., COM Class of 1978, has been named Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Botsford General Hospital, as part of a five-year succession plan that will make Dr. LaCasse president and CEO of the hospital in January of 2005, and then executive leader of the entire Botsford Health Care Continuum in 2009.
  
• The college celebrated Black History Month with its annual "Slavery to Freedom: An American Odyssey" series highlighted by presentations each Thursday during the month by Ms. Juanita Abernathy, Dr. Aldon Morris, Rev. Dr. Gardner Taylor, and Rev. Dr. Lawrence Carter. Additionally, the visiting minority scholars participated in various teaching activities during their campus visit. The college is appreciative of the many sponsorships received for these events and wishes to especially thank Metropolitan Hospital in Grand Rapids for its support of the events surrounding Ms. Abernathy's visit.
  
• Over 60 representatives from MSUCOM attended the annual Michigan Osteopathic College Foundation fundraiser ball on Saturday, February 21, at the Troy Marriott.
  
• On February 18, COM students conducted health screens for legislators at the Capitol. Over 30 students participated. They were supervised by Dean William Strampel, D.O., Cheryl Doane, D.O., Max McKinney, D.O., and Carol Monson, D.O..
  
• Amine Zein, D.O., currently an Internal Medicine Resident at Garden City Hospital, became the first osteopathic physician to gain certification as a physician in Lebanon.
  
• Sanford J. Vieder, D.O., MSUCOM Class of 1988, has been named the Emergency Medicine Residency Program Director and the Vice Chairman for the Department of Emergency Medicine at Botsford General Hospital.
  
• Continuing its Diversity Education Project, on February 16 the college hosted Dr. Hassan Khalil for a noontime presentation to students, faculty, and staff on "The Foundation and Pillars of Islam."

• Saturday, March 27, 7:00 p.m., Vegas Night, Hawk Hollow.
• Wednesday, March 31, 5:00 p.m., Spring Semester Faculty Assembly, E105 Fee.
• Friday, April 23, 1:00-5:00 p.m., MSUCOM Open House, Fee Hall.
• Thursday, May 6, 11:00 a.m., 2004 Hooding and Commencement Ceremony, Wharton Center.
• Wednesday, May 26, 11:30 a.m., SCS Membership meeting, Patenge Room.