Dr. Margaret (Maggie) Wilson, Dean of Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine spoke today about ATSU and KCOM.  Maggie was born and raised in Kirkville, and went to Truman State University for her undergraduate studies. She considers herself very fortunate to have been given the opportunity to come back to Kirksville and work at ATSU.  She explained how AT Still University grew out of KCOM –which was the first DO school in country.  ATSU is comprised of six individual schools on two separate campuses.  The campus in Arizona has three schools, and the Kirksville campus also has three – KCOM, ATSU College of Graduate Studies, and the MO School of Dentistry and Oral Health.  They are considering starting another branch in CA that will be the home of a Physician’s Assistant. She also talked about the history of the University and of Dr. A. T. Still himself, saying that the University Museum houses much information about history of medicine. She encouraged all of us to visit. A.T. Still was the founder of osteopathic medicine. He thought that many who practiced medicine were unaware of what a negative toll it was taking on the human body back in the 1800s, and he believed in a more holistic approach, in which the human body has a greater ability to heal itself if taken care of properly. This was not a popular sentiment back then but today there are plenty of people seeking this type of treatment so he was quite a visionary. Maggie said there are 59 DO schools in the country.

Specifically, at KCOM a class consists of about 170 people. Many of the students are from the Midwest, but there are students from all over the world.  The get about 3,000 applications per year, to conduct around 500 interviews in order to seat a class of 170, so the college is fairly selective. Most students are about 24 years old, and have a 3.6 AVG GPA.  They spend their first two years on campus, and then can be shipped out all around the country to do internships. On campus some classes are lecture style but they incorporate experiential learning whenever possible through the use of the human patient simulation lab, and other resources available. Aside from teaching and learning in the classroom there is a lot of medical research that takes place at TASU as well.  When a student graduates from KCOM their educational experience is not over.  After completing their degree they must do 3-7 more years, depending on their specialty area, in residency. Maggie thinks KCOM and the Kirksville and area communities are great partners.  Her students are involved in the community and conduct a lot of service work in their field while they live here in Kirksville. Pictured below are Dr. Wilson and Club President Jon Peck.

 

October 10th:       Regular Club Meeting.  Joe N. and Wayne B. will greet us and Jim B. will lead us in

                                prayer.

October 10th:       Josh Alton, comedian will present a wholesome and funny evening at Whippoorwill

                                Acres on Hwy 63 Lancaster. Tickets are $20 each if purchased prior to the show. At the

                                door, they will be $25.00. Seating is limited. Contact Elise G. or Susan Chidester

                                with questions.

October 13-16th:  Rotary Group Study Exchange from Dominican Republic will be in the area and they

                                are looking for host families to put them up in the evenings.  If you are interested

                                please contact Debbie Boughton at the Chamber office or Amanda Langendorfer.

October 17th:       Regular Club Meeting.  Doug N. and Marilyn R. will greet us and Chanda C. will lead us

                                in prayer.

October 24th:      Rotary Leadership Institute Part One will be in Kirksville from 5:45-8:45 on the 24th

                                and 29th.  

October 27th:       Noon Club Duck Dash at Days Inn swimming pool.  More details in the

                                announcements section above.

October 29th:      Rotary Leadership Institute Part One (Second Session).

November 2nd:    District Foundation Dinner at Arrowhead Stadium.

November 8th:    CVA Showcase at Newman Center.  More details to come in the following weeks.

November 11th:   Rotary Leadership Institute Part Two will be in Kirskville from 5:45 - 8:45 on the 11th

                                and 21st.

November 21st:   Rotary Leadership Institute Part Two (Second Session).

November 26th:  Joint Service Luncheon.

December 14th:   Salvation Army Bell Ringing day for our club.

 

 

June 30-July 2nd:    Burgundy Brigade Reunion.  Details about this event will be forthcoming.

 

 

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------