Student furthers research while pursuing Osteopathic training

November 1, 2000

Eric Sevensma is currently doing research for Roger C. Haut, PhD, Professor Of Osteopathic Surgical Specialties and Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine. Sevensma, a second year MSUCOM student, has a BA in chemistry from Hope College. He comes from a family of Dos and is the 4th member of his family to enroll at the Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine—the third in six years.

Sevensma started research in November of 1999 in a data entry position. Since then, he has taken a more active role. He is now assisting on several projects. Some of the projects that he has worked on are: histology measurements on the retropatellar cartalidge of rabbits with post-tramatic osteoarthritis, studying the impact of collisions on the tibiofemoral joint, testing a swine intestinal submucosal supplement (SIS), and a bone cement. Dr. Haut's funding for these projects comes from numerous sources. Among the most notable are the Centers for Disease Control and DePuy Orthopaedics, a division of Johnson & Johnson.

Doing research at MSUCOM has proved manageable for Sevensma, as Dr. Haut has given him flexible hours. Sevensma remarked, "This has proved very convenient, because I am able to do it on my own time—as long as it gets done." He has found the work satisfying and the opportunity to apply material learned in class extremely useful. In turn, the scientific research Sevensma has done has enriched the material he has learned in subjects like biochemistry, physiology, pathology, histology, and anatomy.

And the process of research has offered its own lessons. For example, Sevensma has discovered that "often times when dealing with a problem it is extremely difficult to concentrate on one variable, due to the complexities of the problem itself."

However, above all he stresses that researchers must enjoy their subject to become successful. Many of the rewards come from pure thought-process and problem solving. Sevensma said there "are many opportunities at MSUCOM for DO student research--you've just got to show the initiative."

By: Jason Mui

Jason Mui writes for the MSUCOM news bureau on a volunteer basis under a program established by MSUCOM's Martin Furey and MSU Service Learning Center's Richard Hatfield.