Episode 69: Ashton Gatewood and Her Experiences as a Native American Osteopathic Medical Student
playlist_add
Today on DO or Do Not, we have Ashton Gatewood, an osteopathic medical student at the Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences. Gatewood is a member of the Choctaw Nation and a descendant of Cherokee and Chickasaw ancestors. Before enrolling in medical school, she worked as a nurse and health care administrator at an Indian Health Services clinic in Oklahoma City for almost five years. While at OSU-COM, Ashton was distinguished in January as the OSU-COM Student Doctor of the Year and recently was runner-up for National Student D.O. Doctor of the Year. In this episode, Gatewood discusses her Cherokee and Chickasaw ancestry along with her unique experiences as a Native American osteopathic medical student.
More episodes from D.O. or Do Not: The Osteopathic Physician's Journey for Premed & Medical Students
1 day ago
Episode 76: Sami Nandyal D.O. Family Medicine Resident
In April of 2022 the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic medicine or AACOM graciously invited the D.O. or Do Not podcast to attend their national meeting, “Educating Leaders” conference in Denver, Colorado. Our two producers, Lerone Cark, MS-II at the New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine and Brooke Pillegi, MS-II at the Alabama College of Osteopathic Medicine, as well as Ben Berg, our pre-medical student liaison, attended the conference to continue or mission of promoting awareness of osteopathic medicine by interviewing leaders in the field.
We would like to thank Dr. Robert Cain, president of AACOM, Joseph Shapiro, director of media relations and Helene Cameron, Vice President of medical education services for having us at the conference and supporting the podcast. We had an amazing experience and would recommend the conference for any medical or pre-medical students interested in learning more about the inner workings of osteopathic medicine and osteopathic medical education.
On todays episode we talk with Dr. Sami Nandyal, a recent medical school graduate from Ohio University at Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine in Athens, Ohio. She had won Student Doctor of the Year this year at the AACOM conference and is currently getting ready to start her family medicine residency at the University of Cincinnati. Dr. Nandyal talks about her experiences in medical school and why she has such a strong passion for family medicine, her experience with board exams, and her involvement with her community. She also gives great information and advice for medical students and pre-medical students alike. We hope you enjoy this episode.
playlist_add
Jun 21, 2022
Episode 75: Dr. Philip Nizza D.O. Infectious Disease & The Natalie Assalone Nizza Memorial Award
On today’s episode we interview Dr. Philip Nizza, D.O. a board-certified infectious disease doctor. Dr. Nizza went to medical school at NYIT COM, followed by a three-year internal medicine residency at North Shore University Hospital and ultimately a two-year infectious disease fellowship at Memorial Sloan Kettering in New York, arguably the most prestigious Cancer Center in the world. Dr. Nizza discusses with us his responsibilities as an ID physician as well as how his D.O. degree shaped his experience and perspective on medicine and patient care.
Dr. Nizza goes on to share with us how he met his wife, Dr. Natalie Assalone, during medical school at NYITCOM and how they built their life together through residency and raising children in a “two physician household.” He ultimately relates Natalie’s battle with a rare cancer and her tragic death. He touches on the unique experience of love and loss made more difficult through the lens of a skilled physician.
This episode touches on heavy topics and difficult experiences that many of us do not expect to encounter in our lives, however, Dr. Nizza’s story is an inspiring one and teaches us the many valuable lessons he has learned despite the hardships he has faced.
Dr. Nizza and his family have created the Natalie Assalone Nizza Memorial Award in her honor which gives $5,000 annually to a graduating student who demonstrates dedication as a parent while simultaneously balancing their passion for medicine.
Last year the award was given to Dr. Larysa Aheyeva who grew up in Belarus and moved to America to better her daughter's life. She is training to become an OB/GYN.
This year the award went to Dr. Yisroel Grabie, a father of three who matched at Staten Island Hospital for Internal Medicine.
Dr. Nizza has asked that anyone moved by Natalie’s story consider a donation, no matter how large or small, to the scholarship fund. Donations can be made through the NYIT.edu website by clicking in the right upper quadrant on the “give” icon, choosing other and typing in Nizza Memorial.
We hope you are moved by this episode.
Click the link https://alumni.nyit.edu/giving/nyitcom and then select Natalie Assalone Scholarship from the dropdown menu.
playlist_add
Jun 7, 2022
Episode 74: Dr. Helene Cameron PhD Vice President of Undergraduate Medical Education Services for AACOM
Welcome to the D.O. or DO not podcast, my name is Ben Berg, I am a “nontraditional’ premedical student who graduate from the albany University and am now doing post graduate work at Hunter College in New York to get ready to apply to Osteopathic School for the 2023 application cycle. I was lucky enough to attend AACOMs “Educating Leaders 2022” conference in Denver, Colorado. Attending the conference afforded me an incredible week of lectures, networking, and it was overall a great experience which I would recommend to any premedical student. Attending the conference as a representative of the podcast, it was an incredible opportunity to be surrounded by great osteopathic physicians as well as administrators. Speaking for me personally, this experience truly affirmed my desire to become an osteopathic physician. The reason for the trip was so that I represent the Premedical student perspective and share my experience with our premedical listeners who are interested in osteopathic medicine - and that is what we are going to do in this episode.
Tune in to listen to Ben Berg, our pre-medical student liaison, interview Dr. Helene Cameron PhD. Dr. Cameron serves as the Vice President of Undergraduate Medical Education Services for AACOM (American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine). In this interview Dr. Cameron offers insight into how AACOMAS (AACOM Application Service), which is a subsidiary of AACOM, works to help pre-medical students get into osteopathic medical school; as well as providing some crucial information and dates about the upcoming application cycle.
playlist_add