ATSU students recognized in Who’s Who

KIRKSVILLE, Mo. (2/11/09) – The 2009 Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges includes 25 A.T. Still University (ATSU) students who have been recognized as national outstanding campus leaders. Thirteen of ATSU’s Who’s Who students attend its Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine (KCOM) Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.) program, one attends KCOM’s master of biomedical sciences (M.S.) program, and 11 are students of ATSU’s online School of Health Management (SHM).

 

These students join an elite group of students from more than 2,000 institutions of higher learning in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and several foreign nations.

 

Students with outstanding academic achievement, service to the community, leadership in extracurricular activities, and potential for continued success have been recognized in the annual directory since its first publication in 1934.

 

The KCOM students are Emily Ermis, Daniel Felling, Jason Fletcher, Erik Gulbrandsen, Shannon Haught, Ingrid Hoden, Jusin Pace, Georgeanne Raftopoulos, Matthew Shupe, Paul Sibley, Kalista Trombley, David Van Wyck, Joel Virkler, and Erica Waddington.

 

The SHM students are Jeanine English, Jamila Ivy, Adam Ley, Elizabeth Lopez, Darrin McDermott, Abigail Mitchell, Mozella Moore, Tenna Nelson, Lucinda Shipley, Steven Tostrick, and Sheila Weagle.

 

ATSU will recognize these students at its 2009 Senior Awards banquet in May.

 

ATSU Board extends Magruder’s contract as president

Jack Magruder, Ed.D.

KIRKSVILLE, Mo. (2/10/09) – Peter W. Detweiler, chair of A.T. Still University’s Board of Trustees, announces that the Board has extended the contract of Jack Magruder, Ed.D., as president of the University beyond its original ending date of June 30, 2010.  According to Detweiler, this multi-year extension will permit President Magruder to lead ATSU through the next strategic planning cycle now under way and carry it well into its implementation.

 

“The Board is delighted with the progress of ATSU under Jack’s leadership and looks forward to his continued guidance as our president,” Detweiler said.  “The Board was enthusiastic and unanimous in its decision.”  The action this past weekend concluded a regular board meeting at the Mesa, Ariz., campus of ATSU.

 

Magruder, when told about his extension, said, “I am humbled, pleased, and delighted.  A.T. Still is very close to my heart, and I would like us to continue to flourish.”  As ATSU’s 10th president, Magruder said he is committed to working closely with students, faculty, and staff, as well as alumni and friends in both the Kirksville and Mesa communities and across the nation.

 

Beyond an upcoming accreditation site visit over the next week by a team from the Higher Learning Commission, Magruder will focus on strengthening the University’s governance structure, improving communication throughout the University, and beginning a strategic planning process with broad input from all constituents.

 

Magruder, who became acting president of ATSU on February 14, 2008, and president on April 1, 2008, also indicated that he will continue to focus on student learning and university-wide assessment.  Detweiler, the chief executive officer of Alliant Bank in Kirksville, Mo., said that Magruder’s talents and experience make him the right person to continue to lead ATSU.

 

Magruder began his academic career at Truman State University in 1964 teaching chemistry.  During his many years at Truman, he was not only a professor but successively held the posts of head of the division of science and vice president for academic affairs.  On July 1, 1994, Magruder was named the 13th president of Truman State University, a position he held until retiring from Truman on June 30, 2003, with the titles president emeritus and professor emeritus of chemistry. 

 

Magruder attended Northeast Missouri State Teachers College (now Truman State University), graduating with a bachelor’s degree in chemistry and mathematics.  He has a master’s degree in chemistry and science education from the University of Northern Iowa and a doctorate in chemistry and science education from the University of Northern Colorado.  Magruder is a 1992 graduate of Harvard University’s Institute of Educational Management.  He was honored in 1999 by the University of Northern Colorado as the recipient of the Administration Achievement Award and was granted an Honorary Degree of Doctor of Humane Letters from the Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine in 2002.  Magruder was honored by receiving the 2003 Hall of Fame Award from the Kirksville Area Chamber of Commerce.

 

Magruder served as a member of the Missouri State Fair Foundation Board and the Community Advisory Committee to the Missouri Foundation for Health.  He is also past chair of the Blue Ribbon Panel for Accountability, Credibility, and Efficiency for the Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission.  During his time at Truman, he served as a member of the Board of Trustees for The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association, past chair of the Missouri Coordinating Board for Higher Education Committee on Transfer and Articulation, past president of the Council of Public Liberal Arts Colleges, past president of the Council on Public Higher Education for Missouri, and past president of the Board of Directors of the Truman State University Foundation.  Prior to becoming ATSU’s president, Magruder served as a member of the Board of Trustees for ATSU, as well as chair of the Board’s Education/Research Committee.

 

ATSU enrolls more than 4,000 students in its Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine, Arizona School of Health Sciences, Arizona School of Dentistry & Oral Health, School of Osteopathic Medicine in Arizona, and the online School of Health Management.  The University has campuses in Kirksville, Mo., and Mesa, Ariz.

 

The University offers graduate degrees in osteopathic medicine, dentistry, human movement, athletic training, audiology, physical therapy, physician’s assistant studies, health administration, health education, public health, geriatric health, health science, and occupational therapy.

 

Originally established as the Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine, ATSU is the founding school of osteopathic medicine begun in 1892 by Andrew Taylor Still, M.D., D.O.

 

ASDOH dean to be featured at institute of medicine workshop in Washington, D.C.

Jack Dillenberg, D.D.S, M.P.H.

MESA, Ariz. – Jack Dillenberg, D.D.S., M.P.H., dean of A.T. Still University’s Arizona School of Dentistry & Oral Health (ATSU-ASDOH), is scheduled to be a featured speaker at an Institute of Medicine workshop entitled “Sufficiency in the U.S. Oral Health Workforce in the Coming Decade” in Washington, D.C., on February 9-11.

 

According to Tracy Harris, D.P.M., M.P.H., senior program officer for the Institute of Medicine, the workshop will give attendees the opportunity to hear from and examine a variety of perspectives of how the oral healthcare workforce affects access to oral healthcare services. “We are pleased that Dr. Dillenberg will discuss how the education and training of this workforce contributes to existing challenges,” she said.

 

Registration for the workshop is already closed, having reached its capacity of approximately 200 attendees. The workshop is open to the public, and attendees include a mixture of healthcare professionals, policy makers, and educators.

 

$38K grant to fund transcription of A.T. Still’s personal papers

KIRKSVILLE, Mo. (Jan. 28, 2009) – The Missouri State Library Office of the Secretary of State (Library Services and Technology Act Federal Grant Program) has awarded the Still National Osteopathic Museum’s International Center for Osteopathic History and the A.T. Still Memorial Library $38,761 to transcribe and digitize the historical handwritten personal papers of Andrew Taylor Still, M.D., D.O., the founder of osteopathy.

 

According to Debra Loguda-Summers, museum curator and project director, the museum and library have shared responsibilities for maintaining the historic documents represented by Dr. Still’s papers and have experienced an ever-increasing demand for access to his correspondence, manuscripts, notes, Civil War records, and documents reflecting his philosophy, holistic perception of patients, and his unique, homespun approach to both.

 

“This grant will allow us to transcribe and place online with the Missouri Digital Heritage database more than 560 pages of Dr. Still’s documents for patrons throughout Missouri and the world,” said Loguda-Summers.

 

The project, which begins in February, is scheduled to be completed by January 2010. Visit http://www.sos.mo.gov/mdh/ for more information on the Missouri Digital Heritage Database.

 

SHM welcomes interim dean

Kimberly O'Reilly, D.H.Ed., M.S.W.

KIRKSVILLE, Mo. (Jan. 20, 2009) – The online School of Health Management bid farewell to its dean of three years, Jon Persavich, Ph.D., on December 17 and welcomed Kimberly O’Reilly, D.H.Ed., M.S.W., who served as SHM’s vice dean for the past three years, as interim dean.

 

Dr. Persavich accepted a position with the Online Learning Division of Corinthian Colleges, Inc., as division vice president of education and provost, where he will be responsible for more than 30 campuses, more than 500 adjunct faculty, and more than 12,000 students.

 

Under Dr. Persavich’s leadership, SHM’s student body grew four-fold in the last two-and-a-half years, leading SHM to expand its existing facility in July. Their $350,000 construction more than doubled the size of their facility, allowing SHM to increase staff to accommodate their growing student body. 

 

Dr. O’Reilly assumed her role as interim dean December 18 and is looking forward to the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.

 

“I am blessed with the opportunity to promote a University in which I believe and with a team that is capable, dedicated, and excited about the future of SHM,” said Dr. O’Reilly. “We face the challenge of promoting quality education that is engaging, beneficial, and desired. We are fortunate to be a part of a dynamic group of schools which share a passion for education in the health field, and we have the unique opportunity to join forces with each of the schools within the University to bring a collective and diverse understanding of health management and education to our students.”

 

Dr. O’Reilly is an alumnus of Purdue University, Indiana University, and ATSU-SHM. She practiced in the field of mental health for five years prior to entering higher education. Since 2004, she worked in online education teaching, creating assessment plans, developing and designing curriculum, developing programs and individualized education plans, and providing both faculty and student support services.