From the Desk of the President
October 2018
Marc B. Hahn, DO
President and Chief Executive Officer
Greetings KCU Family,
The past month was filled with a number of noteworthy events, a highlight of which was our 2018 Homecoming! Visitors enjoyed three days of Homecoming festivities, taking full advantage of opportunities to reconnect, recharge and receive some great continuing medical education. Additional details about this year's Homecoming follow, including our announcement of a $1 million matching scholarship fund.
We also celebrated a particularly significant milestone: the 25th anniversary of SCORE 1 for Health. A flagship program providing health screenings for underserved elementary school children in Kansas City's urban core, SCORE 1 also provides valuable hands-on clinical experiences for our first- and second-year medical students — invaluable training as they work to become our next generation of osteopathic physicians. Learn more in the news brief that follows.
I’m extremely proud of the role our University plays in "improving the well-being of the communities we serve." I thank all of our alumni, faculty and staff, who not only serve as ambassadors for our university, but also important role models and mentors for our students.
Homecoming Brings Together Alumni From Far and Wide
Our university welcomed a total of 367 alumni and guests from 30 different states on the KCU campus to attend our 2018 Homecoming celebration. This year's gathering brought together alums from forty-six different classes, including Dr. Richard Diskin (COM ’63), representing our earliest class, and Dr. Greg Prier (COM '01) from Honolulu, who traveled the farthest.Attendees had the opportunity to hear updates from university administration, attend CME sessions and participate in social events. They also received an update from alum William Mayo, DO (COM'81), the new president of the American Osteopathic Association. Dr. Mayo is one of three KCU alumni from his class — and one of 15 overall — to serve in this prestigious leadership role. During KCU's annual Alumni Awards Reception, graduates were honored for their significant contributions to our communities and the osteopathic profession. See our website for the names of this year's award recipients.
KCU Announces $1 Million Matching Scholarship Fund
During our 2018 Alumni Association Awards Reception, KCU alumnus Bradley Vince, DO (COM ’98), announced a $1 million challenge grant to create scholarships for our students. Thanks to Dr. Vince and his wife Patricia, Kansas City businessman Brad Bergman and the Jack and Glenna Wylie Charitable Trust, and support from KCU, we have been able to establish this terrific matching fund.Through September 2019, the fund will match 1:1 on unrestricted contributions up to $1 million, creating a $2 million scholarship endowment. Scholarships of $10,000 or more will be awarded based on merit, need and diversity. Please consider a contribution to help us secure the match, which will greatly benefit our students.
KCU Prepares for Climate Assessment
As you've been hearing about lately, KCU will begin implementation of a Campus Climate Survey to foster a campus climate rooted in diversity and inclusivity for our students, faculty, staff and administration. We’re excited to be teaming with Rankin & Associates, leaders in the campus climate assessment process, and look forward to identifying results that will allow us to continue to build upon our culture of inclusivity.
KCU is fully committed to advancing an environment characterized by openness, fairness and equal access for all students, faculty and staff. Look for our intranet page and other updates on the climate assessment coming soon.
Student Research Opens Dialogue, Prompts Resolution Addressing STDs
Two fourth-year KCU medical students are helping to advancing the treatment for sexually transmitted diseases. Mianna Armstrong and Megan McMurray’s research underscores the prevalence of STDs at an all-time high, based on the CDC’s report on 2016 data. They further propose that Expedited Partner Therapy (EPT) could significantly impact and slow the transmission of disease. As a result of their research and publication in the Journal of the American Osteopathic Association, the AOA drafted and approved a resolution to advocate for doctors to use EPT as outlined by the CDC where allowed by law. The Kansas City Star reported on their work, and the story was picked up nationally by a number of news outlets, including the Associated Press. Read more about Mianna and Megan’s research and findings on our website.
Joplin Partnership Prepares Students, Serves the Community
A new partnership between KCU-Joplin and the Community Clinic of Southwest Missouri is allowing second-year students to work alongside KCU-Joplin faculty in an evening clinic to serve the uninsured in the area. The partnership provides a unique and valuable opportunity for students to gain hands-on clinical experience in a multi-professional setting. Student doctors triage, evaluate and promote treatment for patients under the supervision of physicians while providing critical health care to underserved in the Joplin area. Learn more about the partnership and read the coverage in the Joplin Globe.
Score 1 Celebrates Silver Anniversary
One of KCU’s foremost community programs, SCORE 1 for Health celebrated its 25th year of service to elementary school children in Kansas City urban core. Marking the event, students from Scuola Vita Nuova visited campus for health care screenings performed by first- and second-year medical students. Additionally, a celebration luncheon was held to recognize founders of the program and the individuals who have given of themselves to make the program a resounding success.Since its founding in 1993, SCORE 1 has grown from partnering with 2 schools to perform 240 screenings, to partnering with 43 schools and screening 12,000 children annually. More than 500 first- and second-year students participate, with an additional 330 students soon joining the efforts on KCU’s Joplin campus. Watch the local TV coverage here.
Clinical Psychology Program Awards Diversity Scholarship
Incoming student Marla Moss was the proud — and surprised — recipient of the first KCU Clinical Psychology (PsyD) Diversity Scholarship. The scholarship is awarded to one incoming PsyD student from a diverse background with a minimum undergraduate or graduate 3.50 cumulative GPA in behavioral health education. It is renewable for three additional years for students who maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 and earn a minimum satisfactory grade on all courses/internship. Watch our Facebook video.
