1985

Eugene W. Laveroni, Jr., DO, FACOS (COM '85) – The American College of Osteopathic Surgeons and its officers, governors, and members recently honored Dr. Laveroni with the College’s highest award—the Orel F. Martin Medal—as a symbol of his outstanding career as an osteopathic surgeon, educator, and leader. Photo 1

1986

Eric Atwood, DO (COM '86) has been selected as the 2017 recipient of the VJ Reddy Memorial Award. The award honors V.J. Reddy, M.D., who served as Medical Director for Four County Mental Health Center in Kansas for many years. Dr. Atwood has served 20 years as the Director of Medical Services at Family Service and Guidance Center in Topeka, Kansas. Photo 2

1988

Daryl J. Callahan, DO, (COM '88) has joined Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas (BCBSKS) as the company's medical director of quality improvement, disease management, care coordination and medical policy. Before joining BCBSKC, he was the service chief at the U.S. Veterans Administration in Montana; prior to that he gained 12 years experience working at the Irwin Army Community Hospital at Ft. Riley. Photo 3

1998

Bradley Wargo, DO (COM '98) has joined the medical team at MidSouth Pain Treatment Centers at the surgery centers in both Southaven, Mississippi and Germantown, Tennessee. Photo 4  

2002

Patrick T. Birchfield, DO, MPH, FAOCOPM (COM '02) was promoted to Colonel in the US Army Medical Corps. Dr. Birchfield currently work as the Deputy Commander for Clinical Services (Chief Medical Officer) for the Fox Army Health Center at Redstone Arsenal Alabama. At the 2017 OMED he was installed as the President of the American Osteopathic College of Occupational and Preventive Medicine. He previously served as president-elect and program chair, treasurer, and vice-president and Chair of the Aerospace Division.

2004

Alana Fearey Longwell, DO (COM '04) was recently promoted to Medical Director of Hospitalist and inpatient rehabilitation at Newman Regional Health in Emporia, Kansas. Photo 5

2006

Amish Patel, DO (COM '06) is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Integrated Rehab Consultants. IRC specializes in rehab in post-acute facilities, and is the largest rehabilitation physician (also called a physiatrist) group in the country with more than 100 physicians.

Israel K. Brown Brantuoh, DO (COM '06) – The International Association of HealthCare Professionals (IAHCP) is pleased to welcome Israel K. Brown Brantuoh, DO, to their prestigious organization with his upcoming publication in The Leading Physicians of the World. The IAHCP is a networking organization where career minded individuals exchange ideas, educate, and empower one another.

2012

Clinton Rathje, DO (COM '12) has joined doctors Nagengast, Fallick and Olberding at General Surgery Associates. The practice is based in Lincoln, Nebraska. Photo 6

2014

Benjamin Roth, DO (COM '14) has joined the family medicine team at Altru Health Systems in Grand Forks, North Dakota.

Maggie Barnidge, DO (COM '14) has joined the Community Health Center of Southeast Kansas in Baxter Springs, Kansas.

2015

Ross Brockman, DO (COM '15) matched this spring to the allopathic Dermatology program at Oregon Health and Science University. He was also published in the May/June edition of Pediatric Dermatology (article title "Mimickers of Infantile Hemangiomas").

In memory of the alumni and friends we have recently lost.

William R. Masters (COM '57) | 4/24/2017

Byron D. Harbolt (COM '58) | 8/21/2017

David W. Leopold (COM '62) | 4/16/2017

Jimmy L. Ducey (COM '63) | 5/2/2017

Robert W. Hasselman (COM '65) | 6/17/2017

Thomas M. Kramer (COM '67) | 6/14/2017

James F. Holleman (COM '68) | 5/15/2017

T. David Griffin (COM '83) | 8/31/2017

John H. Lunetta (COM '07) | 7/10/2017

David W. Leopold, DO, FACOP (COM '62), passed away in April. He was one of several members of his family to graduate from KCU: his parents, Drs. Norman and V. Mae (COM ‘35) Leopold, sister Dr. Sarah Sue Leopold West and his uncle, Dr. Hershel Shockey. In addition, two of his uncles were also osteopathic physicians: Dr. V. A. Leopold and Dr. Roy Leopold.

Dr. Leopold specialized in pediatric medicine, both in practice and in education, and at one time served on the faculty at University of Osteopathic Medicine and Health Sciences in Des Moines, Iowa. He later opened a private practice in Arizona where he also served as department chair at Sierra Vista Regional Hospital. His leadership and honors in the osteopathic community were very distinguished, including his service as president of the American College of Pediatricians, becoming a Fellow in 1977 and being honored by that organization in 2012 as Pediatrician of the Year.

Byron D. Harbolt, DO (COM '58), departed from us in August. A rural family practice physician from Tennessee, Dr. Harbolt prided himself on being a country doctor and dedicated his life, and the efforts of it, to his community – efforts that included building a clinic and establishing a no-insurance, affordable practice that was once highlighted in a national broadcast of Eye on America.

During his time at KCU, Dr. Harbolt was a leader in several student organization including the National Association of Seventh Day Advent Osteopaths where he continued to be involved after graduation. Having a life-long compassion for the health of others, Dr. Harbolt's career centered on his commitment to service and a skill in leadership that served him, and his community, well. 

If you know of a KCU graduate, former faculty or staff member or friend of the University who has recently passed away, please email alumni@kcumb.edu.