January 2017: From the Desk of the President

By Marc B. Hahn, DO, FAOCA, President and CEO Jan 1, 2017
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From the Desk
of the President 
January 2017

Marc B. Hahn, DO
President and Chief Executive Officer

Greetings KCU Family:
 
Our University rang in the new year with two major announcements: approval from the Higher Learning Commission to move forward with our doctoral program in clinical psychology (PsyD); and an exciting new partnership with HCA Midwest Health to develop clinical training rotations for up to 100 College of Osteopathic Medicine students.
  • The only one of its kind in Missouri or Kansas, our new PsyD program is a 5-year, practice-oriented program that will expose students to a broad base of discipline-specific knowledge and training in profession-wide competencies set by the American Psychological Association. It will be housed within our College of Biosciences and help meet the growing need for psychologists to serve in integrated health care settings. Our new PsyD program is scheduled to begin this fall with an initial class of up to 20 students.    
  • In keeping with our commitment to student success, KCU has joined forces with HCA Midwest Health, Kansas City's largest health care network, to develop additional high-quality clinical training opportunities. Beginning this year, the partnership will develop clinical training rotations for up to 100 COM students, strengthening their ability to sharpen their medical skills as they work side-by-side with HCA medical staff. Bruce Williams, DO (COM '87), will serve as director of medical education for HCA Midwest Health and lead the partnership. Read more.  
Since my last newsletter, KCU has made great strides toward securing the $1 million Mabee Foundation challenge grant for the development of our Center for Medical and Surgical Simulation. The grant, which was announced at our Centennial Gala last October, will be made available if KCU meets our philanthropic goal of $7.5 million by October of this year. JE Dunn Construction got us off to a great start with the announcement of a $400,000 contribution toward the Mabee challenge during the Gala. We now have raised a total of $5.1 million! I extend a heartfelt thanks to all of our donors for their generosity during this campaign, and encourage other alumni and University supporters to consider making a pledge to help build this innovative center for medical training. 

Lastly, 2017 brings with it news that longtime KCU leader and supporter Marshall D. Walker, DO (COM '72), has stepped down from his position as chairman of the KCU Board of Trustees, effective Jan. 1, to spend more time with family. He will remain a trustee on the KCU board.

Dr. Walker's contributions to the University have been extraordinary, including serving as president and CEO from 2012 to 2013, as well as chair of the board of trustees since 2013. His leadership and guidance during a period of great change and opportunity for KCU were instrumental in setting the University on a steady, bright path for the future. Our deep appreciation goes to Dr. Walker for his many years of service and support, and we look forward to his continued contributions as a valued trustee. Vice Chair John P. Smith, DO, (COM '75), has been elected to serve as the board's new chairman. Dr. Smith has been an exemplary member of the KCU board since 2011, and we welcome him in this new role.

See below for additional updates and check out KCU News for the latest on what's happening at our University. Follow me @KCUMBpresident.
 
  
 
 
Marc B. Hahn, DO
Students Treat Patients in Kenya During Recent Medical Mission
 
As part of KCU's global health outreach, students and faculty, along with accompanying physicians from Colorado and Ohio, traveled to Kenya on a three-week mission to administer health care to 600 people in need. Director of the KCU Global Health Track, Gautam Desai, DO, traveled with 10 KCU students to a small village whose residents and others from surrounding areas rarely see, much less receive, medical attention. The mission team treated a number of seriously ill patients, including many with malaria. Global outreach trips such as this provide opportunity for service and a dynamic learning environment for our students. The missions are often life changing  - not only for the patients in the underserved regions, but also for our students. Read one of our stories from Kenya and watch the local news coverage on Fox 4. 
KCU Receives Reaccreditation for Continuing Medical Education
The Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) recently reaccredited KCU's CME activities through Nov. 30, 2020. CME coursework helps doctors meet the requirements for maintaining their licenses and specialty board certifications, as well as memberships in professional organizations. KCU has been providing CME opportunities for DOs and MDs alike since 2002. Read more.
KCU Researchers Present at KCMD Symposium
Jingsong Zhou, PhD, professor of physiology, and Abdulbaki Agbas, PhD, associate professor of biochemistry, presented their research during the Symposium on Musculoskeletal and Neuromuscular Diseases. The Kansas City Musculoskeletal Diseases Consortium (KCMD), in collaboration with The Heartland Institute for Clinical and Translational Research, hosted the event Dec. 2, 2016. Drs. Zhou and Agbas are focusing efforts on gaining better understanding of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). The KCMD encourages collaborative research to improve patient outcomes and is instrumental in developing grants to advance research funding. Read more.
  
We have more exciting news than ever before at KCU! In addition to the updates included in this month's e-newsletter, be sure to check out the current issue of KCU Magazine and visit KCU News regularly for other KCU stories, such as:
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