Friday, November 4, 2016

ACOFP President visits LUCOM in honor of October primary care month

Tue, 08 Nov 2016Asa Keimig: LUCOM Marketing and PR Coordinator

Liberty University College of Osteopathic Medicine (LUCOM) hosted Larry W. Anderson, D.O., FACOFP dist., American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians (ACOFP) President, on Thursday, Oct. 27. Dr. Anderson’s visit provided student-doctors with an incredible opportunity to hear from a speaker who has enjoyed a high level of professional success and is a leader in medical associations on both local and national levels. It also made student-doctors aware of national changes in healthcare along with the future of osteopathic family medicine.

The LUCOM-ACOFP leadership board and the LUCOM associate deans were able to interact personally with Dr. Anderson and his wife upon their arrival with a quick coffee break and tour of the Center for Medical and Health Sciences. While they were impressed with LUCOM’s facilities and the effectiveness of the curriculum, they were most impressed with the professionalism and attitude of the student body. “Sherin Cherian and her team are to be commended on the effort and success of this week. The events and the student turnouts for both were fantastic,” said Dr. Anderson.

Dr. Anderson is the most prominent speaker that LUCOM-ACOFP has hosted since its inaugural year (2014). “Having the President of the ACOFP come to our campus and speak to our student-doctors is tremendously impactful,” said Alexandra Kitzmiller, Class of 2019, LUCOM-ACOFP Secretary. “It allows our students to hear about what is going on nationally in primary care and to better prepare ourselves for a future career in primary care.” Kitzmiller expressed how the number one expectation of hosting events or speakers is to strengthen the relationship between LUCOM and the medical community. A relationship she believes extends far beyond the confines of Lynchburg, to a broader community of physicians on a national and even an international scale. “By hosting events and speakers, it allows us as student-doctors to further our education beyond the classroom and hear from those currently in and around the profession which we have chosen as our path,” said Kitzmiller. “As physicians we will be committed to lifelong learning and that can come in many different forms.” She is confident that bringing in outside physicians, speakers, community and religious leaders allows student-doctors to gain different perspectives from those outside of LUCOM. “What Dr. Anderson has been doing and continues to do as a leader in the field of family medicine has a tremendous impact on all of us, not only as student-doctors and future physicians but more importantly as patients and people,” she added.

LUCOM currently has over 15 different student organizations to address the interests, needs and desires of all students-doctors. “Each of us are here at LUCOM have different passions and different avenues of self-education that we would hope to learn more about,” said Sherin Cherian, Class of 2019, LUCOM-ACOFP President. “The professional organizations on campus are designed to do just that in providing various opportunities for us to gain hands on skills, education of what is currently changing in medicine and practical tips on how to be prepared for the profession we have chosen.” Cherian encouraged students to get involved with student organizations, step into leadership roles and promote other areas of personal interest to the clubs. “LUCOM stands apart from most other medical schools in that we are being provided every asset needed to become the best physician that we can be someday,” said Cherian. “High quality education that produces top caliber physicians, an environment of collaboration and support between students, various opportunities for leadership and personal growth, and a spiritual emphasis that directs our priorities and motives.”

Learn more about LUCOM student organizations.