Alumni Pulse A Newsletter for midwestern university alumni

Dear Midwestern Alumni,

Peace and greetings to you all! I am deeply honored to introduce myself as the new Midwestern University Alumni Senate President. It is with great sense of pride and honor that I step into this role, following the incredible leadership of Dr. Joy Reese (College of Pharmacy, Glendale Class of 2006) and Dr. Bryce Larson (College of Dental Medicine-Illinois Class of 2015), who have served as President and Vice President, respectively. I extend my heartfelt thanks to them both for their intense dedication, unwavering commitment, and outstanding contributions.

I am equally grateful to our new Vice President, Dr. Peter Santos (Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine Class of 2002) and the entire Alumni Senate for their passion, commitment and representation of our beloved University. His efforts continue to strengthen our alumni community, and I am proud to work alongside such remarkable individuals.

In this issue of the Midwestern University Alumni Pulse, we are excited to highlight some of our incredible alumni who have traveled across the globe, making significant impacts in various fields. Their stories, and yours, are a testament to the far-reaching influence of a Midwestern University education and the power of our community to effect change both locally and globally.

As we celebrate these global achievements, let’s also remember the importance of making a difference in our own communities. Whether through volunteer work, mentorship or other forms of engagement, our contributions at home are just as vital.

Additionally, this issue brings you the latest news and updates from the University, showcasing our ongoing efforts to innovate and excel.

Thank you for your continued support and engagement. Together, we can build on our strong foundation and create an even brighter future for our alma mater.

With warm regards and best wishes,

CCOM Alumnus Teaches Ultrasound Worldwide, Provides Care in Underserved Areas

Blake Boggess, D.O., FAOASM, FAMSSM, FAAFP (Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine, Class of 2000)

Going geographically east after high school in Palos Verdes, California, has opened up great opportunities for me to care for domestic and global populations. I've utilized my Family Medicine and Primary Care Sports Medicine skills to teach and serve around the world as a Professor at Duke Medical School in the Departments of Orthopedic Surgery as well as Family Medicine and Community Health.

I attended Midwestern University’s Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine (CCOM) from 1996 to 2000, followed by a Family Medicine residency and Primary Care Sports Medicine (PCSM) Fellowship at Duke University where I stayed for my medical practice and now serve as full-time faculty, a team physician, and work with a seven-member PCSM physician team caring for 10 area high schools in North Carolina.

Dental Profession Takes CDMA Graduate Around the World and Back Again to the American West

Dan Nelson, D.M.D. (College of Dental Medicine-Arizona Inaugural Class of 2012)

Life is good! I've been very fortunate to be an owner/partner at Wood River Dental up in Sun Valley, Idaho after finishing my service in the United States Air Force in 2016. My little kiddos aren't so little anymore and keep my wife Linsey and I wonderfully busy. It's our favorite part of life for sure. In addition to the practice, my partners and I have started and run two additional businesses: Elevation Association (a community of dentists focused on personal and practice development) and the Dental Legacy Foundation (a 501c3 nonprofit currently focused on developing self-reliant dental clinics in Tanzania, Africa).

I've been super lucky to be a part of Elevation Association (EA), which focuses not only on developing practices, but also on the actual dentist. Because of that focus, EA has taken me from the jungles of Belize to surfing in Panama and hiking in El Salvador and the mountains of Idaho for some incredible CE adventures! I've also been blessed to be a founding member of the Dental Legacy Foundation, which is dedicated to providing care and building dental clinics in severely underserved communities in Tanzania. Along with other MWU alumni, we have helped to build two clinics and a badly needed water tower, performed thousands of procedures, and made life-long relationships with the beautiful people there. As Helen Keller once said, "Life is either a daring adventure, or nothing at all."

From Chicago to Cambodia: PA’s Journey of Learning and Service

Jason Radke, M.M.S., PA-C (College of Health Sciences, Downers Grove, PA Class of 2006)

First of all, I wanted to share how Midwestern University prepared me to be the clinician that I am today and opened a multitude of opportunities for me in my career. After I graduated in 2006, I started in emergency medicine at Mount Sinai Hospital in Chicago, and shortly after transitioned to outpatient pediatrics at a small private clinic in the Chicagoland suburbs. In both settings, the populations I served were both diverse and underserved and helped provide a context for my current work.

Presently, I am faculty at Rosalind Franklin University, serving as the PA Department Chair and Program Director. My foray into education came through invitations to provide guest lectures and mentorship by Midwestern University faculty. I owe my success to the opportunities provided by my colleagues at MWU.

Veterinary Alumnus Works with Military Working Dogs and other Animals World-wide

Denise Sorbet, D.V.M. (College of Veterinary Medicine – Glendale Class 2020)

I organized a Canine - Tactical Combat Casualty Care Guidelines (K9TCCC) and Aeromedvac exercise utilizing a Boeing CH-47 helicopter. (Full Glossary on Midwestern's article.) This exercise validates Veterinary Support Surgical Team II's (VSST II) ability to plan, prepare, execute, and assess evacuation of a simulated Military Working Dog (MWD) emergency across multiple Roles of Veterinary Care in addition to Medical Regulation with non-organic support assets across the Korean Theater of Operations. Team II Soldiers continue to train and support sister branches within the Korean peninsula. Soldiers were able to expand and sharpen their Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) knowledge and skills in preparation for real world missions.

As part of VSST II, with 8th Security Forces Squadron (8SFS) Military Working Dog section, I organized and executed the first ever K9TCCC combined training with the Republic of Korea Army (ROKA) 2nd Military Working Dog section at Nonsan,Republic of Korea (ROK). This combined training has resulted in stronger alliance between our two nations and higher standard of care for their MWDs. The 8SFS MWD handlers also received valuable training from our Korean counterparts.

Navigating the Mighty Amazon: PA Graduate Provides Care in Peru

Jessica Denton, M.M.S., PA-C (College of Health Sciences, Downers Grove, PA, Class 2017)

I traveled to Peru in 2022 (right after travel opened again following Covid) for a vacation and travel adventure, which included 10 days on the Amazon River with the organization, Project Amazonas. I learned about Project Amazonas during PA school when I was interested in overseas trips and medical missions. They are a non-religious Peruvian-USA non-profit organization, which I preferred, who are dedicated to humanitarian, conservation, education and research activities to the Peruvian Amazon region of South America.

We were on a boat for 10 days. We would dock at villages at night, let locals know there was a medical boat in the area and would provide a clinic the next day. I also liked that they had a Peruvian doctor and dentist with us.

Putting Her Heart into Mission Trips: Perfusion Graduate Helps International Children Thrive

Roaya Braqa, M.S. (College of Health Sciences, Glendale Cardiovascular Perfusion Class of 2019)

I've been part of mission trips since my student days and chose to pursue medicine specifically to engage in opportunities that allow me to volunteer for missions worldwide. I've participated in four different missions, working alongside surgeons who travel a few times a year to operate on children born with congenital defects. I've had the privilege of accompanying Dr. Mark Turrentine, a pediatric cardiac surgeon, on several of these mission trips, including February 2020, December 2022, and September 2023. Each trip typically spans seven days, with five working days and two travel days. Dr. Turrentine, who has dedicated over 20 years to working with Gift of Life-Jordan, a non-profit organization focused on aiding refugee children from the Middle East, leads a comprehensive cardiovascular team during these missions, comprising of OR nurses, perfusionists, cardiologists, and physician assistants.

The team's objective is to perform two to three open-heart surgeries per day, with a commitment to providing care to children from different ethnicities such as Syrian, Palestinian, and Lebanese. Their ages can range anywhere from new-born babies through 18 years old.

Pharmacist’s Trip to Nicaragua Provides Care, Opportunity for Personal Growth

Sarah (Slater) Kjenstad, Pharm.D. (College of Pharmacy, Downers Grove, Class of 2012)

I had the immense privilege of traveling to Nicaragua in 2017 for an eight-day medical mission trip with Global Health Outreach (GHO), a ministry of the Christian Medical and Dental Association (CMDA). The organization has approximately 45 international mission trips each year, lasting 1-2 weeks, and traveling to numerous places including Zambia, Thailand, Ecuador, the Middle East, and Bolivia. Many trips offer general medical care, while others have a specific focus, such as orthopedics, refugee assistance, or aiding victims of human trafficking.

Our team had about 25 members, the majority of whom were clinical, while the rest were non-medically trained volunteers to assist in the day-to-day clinic operations. We flew into the capital of Managua on a Saturday. Then the next morning our team took a five-hour bus ride into the mountains and spent Sunday worshiping and readying an empty school for clinic.

Midwestern University Announces New Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine Proposal

Midwestern University is advancing veterinary education with the development of the Midwestern University College of Veterinary Medicine–Illinois on the Downers Grove Campus. In June, Kathleen H. Goeppinger, Ph.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of Midwestern University, announced the decision to add veterinary medicine to the healthcare degrees offered on the Downers Grove Campus in response to the growing need for skilled veterinarians who can provide comprehensive care for large and small animals. In addition, the new College will help address the need for critical research to aid in public health and the demand for qualified professionals to serve as leaders and educators within the veterinary profession. The proposal for the new college is currently being reviewed by the American Veterinary Medical Association Council on Education (AVMA COE).

The establishment of the Midwestern University College of Veterinary Medicine–Illinois comes at a time when the demand for veterinarians in the United States continues to rise. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, there is a projected 20 percent growth in employment for veterinarians from 2022 to 2032. This growth is driven by increased consumer spending on pets, expanding treatment options, a growing and aging pet population, and workforce retirements and turnover. Currently, there is only one veterinary medicine school in Illinois.

AZCOPT Students Provide Free Eye Care for Resettling Refugees

About a dozen Midwestern University students from the Arizona College of Optometry (AZCOPT) and members of the University chapter of Student Volunteer Optometric Services to Humanity (SVOSH) assisted close to 185 refugees from Afghanistan, Latin America, Ukraine, and several parts of Africa with their eye care this year. The students were joined by six optometrists and two opticians from the Arizona chapter of Volunteer Optometric Services to Humanity (VOSH) to provide full, comprehensive eye exams and eyeglasses, as well as sunglasses. The optometry team also checked their new patients for several conditions including glaucoma, and offered referrals for eye surgery if needed.

An important part of the entire process was addressing language barriers. Six language translators assisted the team to help communicate in Arabic, Dari, French, Russian, and Ukrainian, and online flyers were made available in Arabic, Dari, English, Pashto, Spanish, Swahili, and Ukrainian.

International Health Club Encourages Students to Explore Global Issues

Students attending Midwestern University have several opportunities to learn about and participate in global health initiatives and international medicine. The University’s library maintains an online database offering information about how to prepare for international health experiences and rotations, information about Doctors of Osteopathy CARE (DOCARE) International, travel resources, and other important information.

On the Downers Grove Campus, the student-run International Health Club provides a platform for students and faculty to exchange ideas, share experiences, collaborate with organizations, and access resources related to global health, education, and awareness. “We host different talks, organize events and fundraisers focused on global health, education, and awareness,” said Sahar Virani (CCOM ’26), the current club president. “It’s a good organization for anyone to join and it is open to all students because learning more about other cultures and international health, in general, makes you a more culturally competent healthcare provider, which I think is important for anyone regardless of where you want to practice.”

HS Lopez Foundation Grant Provides Access to Healthcare Career Exploration for Rural High School Students

Midwestern University is pleased to announce a partnership with the H.S. Lopez Family Foundation to create new opportunities for high school students in Arizona's rural areas to explore careers in the health sciences.

A $14,000 grant provided by the H.S. Lopez Family Foundation funded a scholarship that identified six exceptional high school students from rural Arizona and covered their housing, meals, transportation, and related costs (as well as those for a family member if the student was under 18 years old) to visit Midwestern's Glendale Campus and attend the eight-day Health Careers Institute for High School Students (HCI) in June. The HCI was a highly competitive program that selected 64 of the top-performing high school students from around Arizona and provided a free, hands-on summer program full of interactive experiences, presentations, mentoring, and learning about healthcare careers from faculty and student volunteers representing Midwestern's 25 graduate-level programs.

A heartfelt thank you to the HS Lopez Foundation for their generous grant. Your support is making a lasting impact on the futures of rural high school students and the communities they will go on to serve.

For more info about the Summer Heath Careers Institute on Midwestern’s Glendale, AZ and Downers Grove, IL Campuses, go to our dedicated webpage.

CCOM Graduate Honored for Global Service and Expertise in Tropical Disease

Terrie Taylor, D.O., a 1981 graduate of the Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine, was recently honored with the 2024 Distinguished Service Award from the American Osteopathic Association. This is the Association’s highest honor, given in recognition of contributions to the osteopathic profession.

Dr. Taylor, now a University Distinguished Professor of Tropical Medicine in the Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine and an MSU Research Foundation Professor, is widely recognized for nearly 40 years of research and clinical service for patients with malaria. She spends six months each year in the Paediatric Research Ward at Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital in Malawi, a landlocked country in southeastern Africa. She also coordinates elective rotations in Malawi for MSU osteopathic students to help broaden their global health experience.

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