DO neurosurgeon recognized, osteopathic museum receives accreditation, ATSU program receives award

The DO profession is constantly making strides, thanks to the many wonderful DOs and osteopathic medical students who excel in their roles. Following are some recent professional recognitions and accomplishments the profession is currently celebrating.

Neurosurgeon joins Michigan orthopedic specialty group on heels of winning award

AOA Trustee Brian Fiani, DO, vice chair of the AOA’s Bureau of Emerging Leaders, will join the Mendelson Kornblum team in Livonia, Michigan, as the orthopedic specialty group’s first neurosurgeon starting in 2023. Mendelson Kornblum provides comprehensive orthopedic, spine and pain management care.

A current neurosurgeon at Weill Cornell Brain and Spine Center in New York City and a neurosurgery professor at Cornell’s medical school, Dr. Fiani will participate in committee positions at the spine political action advisory committee, the legislative committee and the political engagement committee.

Dr. Fiani is also a recipient of the 2022 resident achievement award from the American College of Osteopathic Surgeons (ACOS). The commemorative plaque and $2,000 award will be presented at this year’s clinical assembly of osteopathic surgeons Sept. 14-18 in Austin, Texas.

Osteopathic museum receives accreditation from American Alliance of Museums

The Museum of Osteopathic Medicine at A.T. Still University (ATSU) in Kirksville, Missouri, recently was awarded accreditation from the American Alliance of Museums (AAM), the highest recognition museums in the nation can receive. Accreditation will bring national recognition to the museum for its commitment to excellence, accountability, high professional standards and continued institutional improvement.

“The Museum of Osteopathic Medicine is the world’s repository of items related to the history of osteopathic medicine,” said Craig Phelps, DO, ATSU president. “Receiving AAM accreditation helps ensure the museum will continue to preserve this important history of a health care movement originating in America.”

Receiving the accreditation will give the Museum of Osteopathic Medicine new opportunities for growth, outreach and funding for museum work. The collections at MOM include more than 80,000 objects, photographs, documents and books dating from the early 1800s to the present.

The core of the collection consists of artifacts from the professional and private life of A.T. Still, DO, MD, most of them donated by Dr. Still’s daughter, Blanche Laughlin, and members of the family.

A.T. Still University program receives magazine award for second consecutive year

INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine has awarded its 2022 Inspiring Programs in STEM Award to A.T. Still University’s Dreamline Pathways program. INSIGHT is the largest and oldest diversity and inclusion publication in higher education, and the award honors colleges and universities that assist students from underrepresented groups in entering the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).

“Providing support and guidance to young students interested in pursuing an education and career in health sciences can make the difference for those students in realizing their dreams. When leaders in the field do more to foster access, we will ultimately find more success in building diverse and inclusive networks of health care professionals.” said ATSU President Craig Phelps, DO.

ATSU’s Dreamline Pathways program will be featured in the September 2022 issue of INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine. This is the university’s second consecutive year being recognized for the Dreamline Pathways program. ATSU partners with school districts and community-based organizations, offering experiential learning opportunities to students. These collaborations introduce kids to career opportunities in health care.

DRMC graduates included the first in their new neurological surgery program

The Desert Regional Medical Center’s (DRMC) graduate medical education program, which initially launched in response to the need for doctors in the Palm Springs, California, area, graduated 19 resident physicians and one fellowship-trained physician in June, including the first physicians in its seven-year neurological surgery program.

The class included eight in emergency medicine, eight in family medicine, three in neurological surgery and one in emergency ultrasound. Four of the family medicine doctors have plans to practice locally. Among the graduates was Brian Fiani, DO, who is joining the Mendelson Kornblum team.

“We continue to expand and focus on residency programs that meet the needs of the community along with those for which we have plenty of resources to train them,” said DRMC Chief Academic Officer Gemma Kim, MD, FAAF.

There are 10 additional neurosurgery residents still in training in this competitive program.