university advancement 2004 highlights - Western University of ...

STATE OF THE UNIVERSITYDr. David Redding, below left, explains the proper method of OMM to students inthe new lab.COLLEGE OF OSTEOPATHIC MEDICINE OF THE PACIFICIt’s all about change atthe College of OsteopathicMedicine of the Pacific.During the summer of2004, improvements weremade to most of the college’steaching facilities, includingthe enhancement of twolecture classrooms and theexpansion of the OMM lab.In early 2005, COMP welcomed its newdean — Clinton E. Adams, DO. Dr. Adams previouslyserved for 30 years with the UnitedStates Navy, where he attained the rank ofRear Admiral and served as Command Surgeon,United States Fleet Forces Command inNorfolk, Virginia.Under Dr. Adams’ leadership, COMP plans tofocus on increasing research positions withinthe college as well as implementing a facultypractice plan which places additional faculty atWesternU’s medical center.Another change set for fall 2005 will be theintroduction of a revamped curriculum forfirst- and second-year students. The biggestrevisions come in the form of the curriculum’snew structure — courses are now organizedinto blocks of instruction, allowing for theteaching of one subject area at a time.At the start of their first year,students will begin with theIntroduction to the Study ofMedicine course, a new block.During the weeklong course, studentswill be introduced to criticalthinking, medical informatics andjournal reading.Another change is the additionof a Service Learning block, whichexpands upon the students’ existingcommitment to volunteerism.Within the block, students will berequired to produce a reflectivepaper or project based on theirservice to the community. Publichealth will be integrated into theservice learning module — aninnovation spearheaded by COMP.Joining the COMP faculty as itsnew chair of Basic Sciences is Dr.Nissar A. Darmani. Dr. Darmani is arenowned researcher and widelypublished. He comes to WesternUfrom the A.T. Still University ofHealth Sciences at KirksvilleCollege of Osetopathic Medicine.4 Spring 2005 www.westernu.edu