TCOM ALUMNITCOM ALUMNIN E W S L E T T E R

June 2013

Graduation Jubilation

Academic awards took center stage, along with their winners, at the annual TCOM Hooding ceremony Friday, May 17, 2013 at Will Rogers Auditorium.

Wade Walker Swanson• Dean’sAwardforScholarlyExcellenceinAcademics• President’sScholarAward• ExcellenceinEmergencyMedicineAward• WayneO.StocksethOMMStudents’Award

Robert Cates• Dean’sAwardforScholarlyExcellenceinResearch• DepartmentofOrthopaedicSurgeryChair’sAward• President’sScholarAward

Matthew Hamilton• Dean’sAwardforScholarlyExcellenceinClinicalStudies

Col. Dennis Shingleton (US Army, ret.), TCOM Chief of Staff,

conducts military commissioning

“Team Moore” family celebrates Shamier E’Lan Moore

Record number of graduates:

• The Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine: 173• The Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences: 156• The School of Public Health: 79• The School of Health Professions:

- Physician Assistant Studies- 68 - Physical Therapy - 29 (First class to graduate!)

505TOTAL UNTHSC GRADUATES FOR 2013

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—John Nance, health care safety pioneer in his keynote speech at UNTHSC’s 39th annual Commencement program

“TCOM students are truly gifted and exceptional people. They epitomize the very highest levels of character, initiative and compassion. They make us proud.”

—Michael Williams, DO, MD, MBA (TCOM ’81), UNTHSC President

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“You’ve got a massively wonderful career opportunity in front of you in every possible way. But please remember, teamwork is the key to turning our industry into a true health care system and that’s all up to you.”

More than 7500 family members and friends reveled in the pageantry of UNTHSC’s 39th Commencement ceremony Saturday, May 18, 2013 at Texas Christian University’s Daniel Meyer Coliseum.

UNTHSC President Michael Williams greets keynote speaker John Nance

TCOM 2013 Class President Sam Yi beams proudly

UNT Health Science Center2

With commencement ceremonies firmly in the rearview mirror, TCOM’s class of 2013 is all about looking forward as they head to residency and internship programs across the country in a variety of specialties. Each and every graduate who sought and was eligible for a residency placement met with success.

CLASSOF2013SPREADSFARANDWIDE

WHERETHEYARE

WHATTHEY’REDOING:RESIDENCIESBYTHENUMBERS

STATES WHERE TCOM’S 2013 GRADUATES WORK

23%Family Practice

18%Internal Medicine

12%Pediatrics

7%Obstetrics & Gynecology

+ + + =

www.unthsc.edu 3

Fort Worth native Russ Wier, (TCOM ’16) grew up in tiny Grandview, Texas, but his vision for the future is definitely big-picture: the former U.S. Marine Corps major serves as president of his class, represents TCOM on the campus’ new Student Veteran Association and was instrumental in adding military commissioning to this year’s (and all future) UNTHSC main commence-ment ceremonies.

Q: How long were you a Marine? Where did you serve?A: I joined in 2001 and flew transport helicopters to help with casualty evacuations during two deployments in Iraq. I also served as a forward air controller with an infantry battalion. I left active duty in June 2012 and started TCOM classes one month later in July.

Q: What attracted you to TCOM? A: Three things: First, I wanted to be back in my hometown with my family and two daughters. Second, I really liked the osteopathic philosophy and was influenced by several DOs I met in the military. And third, TCOM has such a stellar reputation that when you put it all together, it was an easy decision.

Q: You helped make military commissioning a part of this year’s main commencement service. How did that come about? A: Another first-year student, Blayne Street (TCOM ’16) really deserves the credit. He was a paratrooper in the U.S. Army 82nd Airborne Division and is president of the brand-new UNTHSC Student Veterans Association, a group that helps military veterans with the maze of benefits that help pay for their education. With huge help from Dennis Shingleton, the Chief of Staff in the TCOM Office of the Dean, we suggested that the military commissioning ceremony might be better placed, and the candidates better served, by being part of commencement rather than a separate event afterward. President Williams (TCOM ’81) approved the idea immediately and that was it.

Q: Any relation to country star Rusty Wier? A: My parents were big fans of his music around the time that I was born and they joke that they named me after him, but as far as I know, we aren’t related.

In the SPOTLIGHT

“I’m lucky: it was an honor to serve my country and it’s an honor to serve my TCOM classmates.”

THEEVIDENCE

HOWWE’VEGROWN

48%

52%

60%TOTAL PERCENTAGE RESIDENCIES IN PRIMARY CARE PROGRAMS

A LACK OF RESIDENCY AND INTERNSHIP SLOTS IN TEXAS IS FORCING MORE THAN HALF OF TCOM GRADUATES TO GO ELSEWHERE.

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TCOM GRADUATES THEN AND NOW

18 1731974 2013

First graduating class

PRIMARYCAREISOFPRIMARYIMPORTANCE

Abby Wier demonstrates proper technique to her dad, Russ Wier (TCOM ’16)

Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine 3500 Camp Bowie Blvd.

Fort Worth, TX, 76107

TCOM Class of 2017 White Coat Ceremony July 20, 2013 at 9:30 a.m. – Will Rogers Exhibit Hall

Tee-Off F.O.R.E. TCOM Golf Tournament Saturday, Sept. 28, 2013 – Fort Worth Rockford Golf Course

Reunion Weekend Oct. 11-12, 2013 – UNTHSC campus

Sign up for a lifetime TCOM Alumni Association membership and get connected with the entire TCOM family of graduates. For a one-time fee of just $100, you’ll receive a keepsake crystal paperweight and access to an unparalleled network of fellow graduates. And of course, you’ll also receive regular updates about your association, TCOM and UNTHSC.

Sign up now! Email “alumni@unthsc.edu” and tell us you want to be a lifetime member: we’ll handle the rest!

SAVE THE DATEMembership forA LIFETIME OF MEMORIES

PACE (Professional and Continuing Education) provides high-quality continuing education opportunities for physicians, physician assistants, pharmacists, nurse practitioners, nurses and other health care professionals.

Keeping Pace with PACE

32nd Annual Dr. Stanley Weiss Practical Topics in Primary CareJune 26 - 30, 2013 Pearl South Padre Hotel 310 Padre Boulevard South Padre Island, TX 78597 Reservations: (855) 88-PEARL (7-3275) Direct: (956) 761-6551

PACE Executive Director Andrew Crim says attendees can expect to learn about:

• State-of-the-art diagnostic, management and therapeutic strategies

• Interprofessional opportunities to apply to practice• Improved patient and practice management knowledge

and competence by interacting with peers from a variety of settings

SPACE IS STILL AVAILABLE! For more details, call PACE at 817-735-2539.