This Week@WesternU, Dec. 4-8, 2023

Dec. 4-8, 2023

WesternU encourages collaboration and inspiration at first Research Symposium

The inaugural Western University of Health Sciences Research Symposium, held Nov. 18, 2023 in Pomona, California, featured 20 oral presentations and more than 40 posters by student trainees and postdoctoral fellows from all eight WesternU colleges on both the California and Oregon campuses.

The symposium met two important goals: to allow the entire research community to meet leaders in other research fields and make new connections that could develop into future collaborations, and to learn something new about topics or techniques participants maybe be less familiar with, said WesternU Senior Vice President for Research and Biotechnology Andrea Giuffrida, PhD, MBA.

Left to right: Lebanon Fire District Division Chief of Operations John Tacy and COMP-Northwest students Firefighter Judd Williams, Firefighter Ellen Williams, Firefighter Katelyn Williamson, Firefighter Jacob Guimond, and Firefighter Cameron Smith. Williamson is holding the white paper that this team, along with COMP-Northwest student Vanessa Hufnagel, recently published. (Courtesy of the Lebanon Fire District)

Lebanon Fire District and WesternU COMP-Northwest students publish white paper

For several years, the Lebanon Fire District has partnered with Western University of Health Sciences to establish a service-learning program called the WesternU Lebanon Fire District Emergency Alliance (WLEA). WesternU College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific-Northwest (COMP-Northwest) students volunteer as EMTs, firefighters and first responders with the District to complete requirements for graduation.

This year, WLEA students composed a white paper titled “The Strain of Healthcare on EMS in Oregon.” The white paper was done on behalf of the Lebanon Fire District and the Oregon Ambulance Association (OSAA) and was based on an earlier position paper released by the OSAA and the Oregon Fire Chiefs Association (OFCA).

College of Podiatric Medicine news

Congratulations to College of Podiatric Medicine student Savanah Santiago, who received the American Association of Women Podiatrists (AAWP) Founders Scholarship. Recipients were announced at the recent Scientific Conference in Alexandria, Virginia.

The mission of AAWP is to support and enhance the lives of women podiatrists through professional development, leadership, wellness, equality and inclusion.

From CPM and COMP

Matt Wedel, PhD, of COMP and CPM, is the lead author on a new dinosaur anatomy paper: Wedel, M.J., and Taylor, M.P. 2023. The biomechanical significance of bifurcated cervical ribs in apatosaurine sauropods. Vertebrate Anatomy Morphology Palaeontology 11:91-100. doi:10.18435/vamp29394.

The open-access paper is freely available here: https://journals.library.ualberta.ca/vamp/index.php/VAMP/article/view/29394

As we previously shared here, Dr. Wedel is coauthor on a new paper surveying dinosaur bones with bite marks. PeerJ recently published an Article Spotlight about the paper.

Dr. Wedel is also featured in a PeerJ video interview. Click the video image to view.

College of Graduate Nursing news

College of Graduate Nursing Professor and Associate Dean for Administration and Research Dr. Rodney Hicks recently published the following:

Hicks, R. W. (2023). Desk review explained as part of the manuscript review process. AORN Journal, 118(6), 349-351. http://doi.org/10.1002/aorn.14040

Hicks, R. W. (2023). A Review of AORN’s Research Priorities in Perioperative Nursing 2023- 2028. AORN Journal, 118(5), 284-286. http://doi.org/10.1002/aorn.14027

Farmer's Fridge

WesternU California has a new option for salads, wraps, bowls and sandwiches. Farmer's Fridge is in the HPC Student Commons, available all hours the building is accessible.

ORDER ON THE APP

Plan which meal you'll go for in advance, and view all nutritional and allergen information via the app. Reserve your meal for pick up later!