CONNECTING YOU WITH THE TOURO COMMUNITY TO SERVE. TO LEAD. TO TEACH.

ISSUE 6 WINTER Our 2020 2020 VISION SUNDAY, MARCH 22, 2020 5:30 PM SILENT AUCTION ANDCOCKTAIL RECEPTION 7:00 PM DINNER AND PROGRAM

FOUR SEASONS HOTEL 3960 SOUTH BOULEVARD, LAS VEGAS NV 89119 PURCHASE YOUR TICKET TODAY GIVE.TUN.TOURO.EDU/2020­GALA $300 PER PERSON SEATING IS EXTREMELY LIMITED COCKTAIL ATTIRE

KEYNOTE ADDRESS BY HONOREES

BRIAN SANDOVAL FORMER GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF

2020 TOURO GALA SPONSORS

Touro University Nevada gratefully acknowledges the businesses, foundations, individuals and families who have sponsored this year’s Touro Gala. Through their generous sponsorship support, all proceeds from this evening’s event will directly benefit the Touro Scholarship Fund.

2 | | 2 WELCOMEWELCOME It is hard to believe that we are already in the year 2020. Our world is moving rapidly, especially with changes in healthcare and education.

At Touro University Nevada, we are always finding ways to strive for success both in and out of the classroom. As healthcare and education change, so must we. We are working together toward a brighter future and must never lose sight of what has made us successful. Touro has always been committed to improving our community as we educate the next generation of professionals.

Our donors and community partners have helped us forge a brighter future as medical education and healthcare transition to a more hands-on approach. You can see the impact our donors are making all around campus in places like the Michael Tang Regional Center for Clinical Simulation, the Stephen J. Cloobeck Regional Center for Disaster Life Support, the OptumCare Ultrasound Training Room, and the Caesars Entertainment Park inside the Sharon Sigesmund Pierce and Stephen Pierce Center for Autism and Developmental Disabilities.

In addition to providing the funding for these wonderful locations across campus, donor support is helping to fund scholarships that assist our students on their Touro journeys. Thanks to invaluable partners like the Engelstad Foundation, City National Bank, the Molasky Family Foundation, and others, our students can dedicate more time to their studies and less on how they are going to pay for their education.

As we work together for a better future with highly educated medical, healthcare, and education professionals, we want you to be a part of our journey. The sky is the limit for Touro University Nevada, and we need your help as we work together to perfect our “2020 vision.”

All my best,

Shelley Berkley CEO and Senior Provost Touro University Western Division 3 | TOURO YOU | 3 FUNDRAI$ING FOR TOMORROW

Touro students and faculty use one of the university’s two Anatomage tables during the opening of the Michael Tang Touro’s Donors Put University on Successful Path to Regional Center for Clinical Simulation and the Stephen J. Cloobeck Regional Improving Healthcare and Education in Southern Nevada Center for Disaster Life Support.

As medicine and technology continue The Tang Regional Center for Clinical Located adjacent to the Tang Center, the to evolve, donors are leading the Simulation provides students with Cloobeck Regional Center for Disaster efforts to help Touro University Nevada a more comprehensive educational Life Support is the only certified center prepare its students, faculty, and the experience into how the human body by the National Disaster Life Support community to provide a safer future works. With state-of-the-art simulation Foundation in the state of Nevada. The for everyone. equipment available whenever they Cloobeck Center offers Touro students, need, the Tang Center has had a faculty, staff, and members of the Touro’s focus on advancing medical profound impact on how students learn Southern Nevada community several education and disaster life support and practice medicine. courses, including Stop the Bleed training has created more collaborative Training, Basic Disaster Life Support and partnerships which have helped Because of Tang’s generous donation, Advanced Disaster Life Support training. transform the university’s fundraising students now know what an irregular vision for the future. heartbeat sounds like, what a breast Thanks to a generous grant from mass feels like, and several other the Governor’s Office of Economic A perfect example of how these examples that will better prepare them Development which supports workforce collaborations are benefiting the before they see patients at a hospital or innovations, Touro has been able to university and the Southern Nevada clinic. provide this life-saving training free community is the gift from the of charge to students, first responders, Engelstad Foundation, which will “Our students are technology natives. teachers, and officers throughout be used to help better prepare law They have no fear of learning new the valley. enforcement in the event of a mass technology because they grew up casualty incident. This gift will work with it,” said Dr. Wolfgang Gilliar, Dean The Cloobeck Center has also been used cohesively with the generous donations of Touro’s College of Osteopathic to train members of the Department of from Michael Tang and Stephen J. Medicine. “What I love about today’s Homeland Security, the Department of Cloobeck, whose on-campus centers students is that they are incredible Defense, and other local government bear their names. consumers. They know very quickly agencies and first responders to keep what works for them. What we still them better prepared. Collectively, these partnerships have need to do is help instill their critical already greatly benefited the university thinking skills so they can find out “Donors have helped us align our vision in the advancement of medical why something does or doesn’t work and get our centers moving in the right education and disaster training. for them.” direction,” said David Clegg, Touro’s

4 | FUNDRAISING FOR TOMORROW Administrative Director of Clinical Thanks to an increase in donor Simulation. “These partnerships have support, philanthropy efforts allowed for more collaboration between at Touro University Nevada Touro’s staff and faculty, who have have led to more naming also helped train these high-level opportunities, major gifts, and government employees. These trainings partnerships that demonstrate continue to improve each time.” the impact when everyone comes together to set the Gilliar said having the proper technology vision for the campus and available will also provide more Southern Nevada community. opportunities for interprofessional Touro University Nevada has education (IPE) among Touro’s since partnered with many Michael Tang visits with one of the healthcare programs. The integration new organizations which have led to an computerized manikins inside the Clinical of additional IPE opportunities is increase in mobile outreach, on-campus Simulation Center that bears his name. another critical component for the learning, desperately needed medical future of healthcare. services, and student scholarships. “The leadership shown by the Engelstad Foundation will not only transform our “We are poised to get to the next level In addition to their $1 million future, it will help us provide support of interactive IPE activities among all of contribution to enhance Touro’s mobile for some of our community’s most our healthcare professionals if we have outreach initiatives and the recent gift vulnerable populations.” the appropriate technology available,” to help better prepare law enforcement he said. “That is where philanthropy can during mass casualty incidents, the With a solid foundation in place, Touro truly make a difference. Medicine is a Engelstad Foundation provided Touro University Nevada is set to take its people profession. As a future leader, with a $3 million gift to endow its first fundraising efforts to the next level it is imperative for every professional in scholarship program. in 2020. From advancing students’ any specialty to be educated and step medical education to collaborations up as a team leader in a smooth and The Engelstad Scholars Program that help keep our community healthy, seamless manner.” will allow Touro to provide scholarship donors understand that their gifts are support for some of the nation’s making an impact that exceeds far Schyler Richards, Touro’s Vice President brightest students. Admission to beyond the university. of Advancement, said donors are medical school and other graduate shaping the future of the university healthcare programs is highly “Donations are compounded several because they understand the impact competitive, and the Engelstad times over because of the students, their gifts are making. Scholars Program will help provide staff, and community members who the scholarship support that is all benefit from them,” Clegg said. “These donors understand the often a deciding factor for students “Donors have made all of this training importance of investing in us as a who can select from numerous possible. That’s why their support is university, and we plan on returning admissions opportunities. The program so important.” that investment with quality healthcare will also help Touro attract a more providers and educators to make our diverse student body, specifically Gilliar credited donors with helping world a better place to live,” she said. students from first-generation families Touro’s students be better prepared as or at-risk communities who want to medicine continues its transformation Stephen J. Cloobeck’s generous gift helped pursue their academic studies at Touro. from the classroom to a more hands-on the university fund its on-campus Disaster style of learning. Life Support Center. “When donors make these “We need to teach our students types of gifts, fundamental skills so they can apply you can tell that the technology-supportive they truly see interventions that we dreamt about the value in what 20 years ago,” he said. “An investment we are doing in our students is an investment in as a university,” our own health. Donors are making Richards said. a better tomorrow for all of us.”

5 | HOT PROGRAMS TOURO YOU | 5 PROVIDING A BRIGHTER OUTLOOK FOR OUR VETERANS

Christy Molasky speaks during Touro University Nevada’s Veterans Day Ceremony. The Molasky Family Foundation provided the university with a second $25,000 gift to support student-veteran scholarships.

Molasky Family Foundation Scholarship Assists Student Veterans on Their Journeys

Christy Molasky has always held a After her family relocated to A U.S. Air Force veteran who served deep passion for education and helping Oklahoma, Molasky returned to Las from 2014-18, Changsing was based others. She has also held great regard Vegas for college. Attending school in North Dakota and served as part of for military veterans and supports as a full-time student, she worked the first all-female nuclear alert team. their quest for higher education. two jobs and lived at home to save money. “I was in charge of operating the That is why she and her husband, nuclear intercontinental ballistic Alan Molasky, continued their Not only did her college experience missiles (ICBMs),” she said. “They didn’t support with an additional $25,000 give her strength as a person, it always let females work with ICBMs until gift in scholarship funds for Touro’s reminded her how important it was to the 1980s, and in 2015, I was lucky student veterans. get an education. If she can make that enough to be one of 90 females on the journey easier for someone else, team across all three missile bases.” “After all that our veterans have done she wants to do it. for our country, they deserve the After five years in the military, opportunity to further their education,” “Being able to provide someone with Changsing wanted to attend physical she said. “We are so happy that we can a scholarship is so important to me therapy school as she started the contribute to help make their dreams because education is a lifetime gift,” next chapter of her life. During her come true.” she said. first year at Touro in 2018, Changsing was awarded the Molasky Family The daughter of a musician, Molasky’s One of the recipients of the Christy Foundation scholarship. father moved the family to Las Vegas and Alan Molasky Family Foundation when she was a child. Her father Scholarship is Kelsey Changsing, She said the military pays for a lot of played with Frank Sinatra, Sammy a second-year student in the Touro the expenses of daily living, including Davis Jr., and other members of The University Nevada School of child care, healthcare, and housing, Rat Pack on the in . so each service member can dedicate the 1960s. more focus to their job instead of worrying about paying the bills.

6 | BRIGHTER OUTLOOK Christy Molasky from the Molasky Family Foundation presented Touro University Nevada with a $25,000 check to help fund student-veteran scholarships during the university’s Veterans Day Ceremony. Molasky Family Foundation scholarship recipient Kelsey Changsing is in the back row, second from the left.

Once a service member leaves the an education, and why veterans drives her desire to give back to military to pursue higher education, deserve help in achieving their goals. initiatives like Touro University Nevada. she added, they have to take these additional costs into consideration in “That ceremony helped reassure “Not just anybody can get into addition to readjusting to civilian life. me that our gift was going to the Touro. It’s very competitive, which right place,” she said about the speaks volume to the quality of the “Receiving the Molasky Family special event. students who go here,” she said. Foundation scholarship has helped “The graduation and placement rates with reducing the financial burden that Molasky said she gives to Touro are incredible. That is the type of comes with PT school since the GI Bill because she’s a big believer in the institution I want to support.” doesn’t cover everything,” she said. leadership, as well as its affiliation “Because of this gift, I’ve been able to with the Jewish faith. She loves how As Molasky continues to invest in focus more on my school work instead the university is constantly working to students like Changsing, she feels of worrying about how I’m going to pay give back to the community, whether blessed to know that she can help for my education.” through the education its students those who are trying to make the receive or the services they provide to world a better place. Both Molasky and Changsing’s those in need. commitment to pursuing education “Education is a lifelong gift. I was so makes the Molasky Family Foundation “Touro’s foundation is strong in that fortunate to receive my education,” Scholarship a perfect fit. it prides itself on giving back to the she said. “More people should give community. You see it every year when to Touro so we can help improve the “I’ve always felt that furthering one’s new students volunteer for their Day lives of our veterans, and ultimately, education can be critical to enhancing of Service before they start classes. our community.” one’s future,” Molasky said. It gets them introduced to the culture very early and working together for the For more information on scholarship In November, Molasky, Changsing, and common good. That really makes them support, please visit tun.touro.edu/ the Touro student-veteran community feel like part of a family,” she said. about-us/support-touro-nevada, came together for a special Veterans or call the Office of Advancement Day ceremony on the Touro University Raising her family in Southern Nevada at 702-777-3100. Nevada campus. Molasky spoke to the and understanding the desperate need guests about the importance of getting for doctors and healthcare providers

7 | THEN & NOW TOURO YOU | 7 DEVELOPING A SUCCESSFUL

GALA FOR STUDENT SCHOLARSHIPS

Annual Event Has Helped Raised Millions The Touro Gala has attracted high -profile keynote speakers for Students Since its Inception which has led to an increase in student scholarships. From left: Kerry Sanders, NBC News Reporter; Dr. Wolfgang Gilliar, Dean of the College of Osteopathic Medicine; , CEO & Senior Provost; Dr. Alan Kadish, President of the As Touro University Nevada prepares for its 2020 Gala, and University System; and Connie Kadish during the 2019 raising money to help the future generation of healthcare and Touro Gala. education professionals’ student scholarships will remain the evening’s primary focus. believe in the goal we are working toward enough to donate. The focus has been the same since CEO & Senior Provost The confidence we develop as a result helps fuel the fire as Shelley Berkley implemented the university’s first Gala in we fight for our dreams to enter the medical profession.” 2015. The Touro Gala has become one of the hottest tickets in town and continues to enhance the student experience for the Colton Cardon, a third-year student in the School of Physical university’s scholarship recipients. Therapy, said scholarships have helped him balance his time and finances as a father pursuing his dream. Since the Gala’s inception, millions of dollars have been given to student scholarships. “Receiving scholarships not only validates the hard work I put in day in and day out, but allows me to put my focus into what “I thought having an annual Gala would be a wonderful is truly important: my family and my studies,” he said. opportunity to not only expand the footprint of Touro throughout the community, but to help raise money for our “We are educating medical professionals who will greatly incredible students as well,” she said. benefit our community and abroad, and the members of this community understand how important that is,” Berkley said. When the university hosted its inaugural Gala at The Lou Ruvo “With their generous gifts, they’ve done a remarkable job Center in 2015, 350 guests were in attendance. At the 2019 helping our students succeed and will continue to do so for Touro Gala, a capacity crowd of more than 600 guests packed years to come.” The Four Seasons for the evening’s event. The 2020 Touro Gala will be held on Sunday, March 22 at High-profile keynote speakers have helped raise the Gala’s 5:30 p.m. at The Four Seasons Hotel. The university will image, including U.S. Congressman and Civil Rights icon John honor Caesars Entertainment and MGM Resorts International Lewis, former U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy, former during the evening’s event. Tickets can be purchased at Secretary of Veterans Affairs Anthony Principi, Peabody give.tun.touro.edu/2020-gala. award-winning NBC News reporter Kerry Sanders, and 2020’s Gala speaker, former Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval.

Scholarship recipient Victoria Lorah, a third-year student in the College of Osteopathic Medicine, said student scholarships provided by donors benefit her both financially and mentally.

“Receiving a scholarship is an incredible gift that works two- Physician Assistant Studies student and scholarship recipient fold,” she said. “First, it lightens the heavy financial burden we Niyat Teweldebrhan speaks about the importance of student scholarships during the 2019 Touro Gala. carry. More significantly though, it’s a statement that donors

8 | STUDENT SCHOLARSHIPS IMPROVING HEALTHCARE FOR A BETTER FUTURE Expanded Clinic at The Shade Tree Provides Patients and Students with Lasting Experiences

Touro University Nevada celebrates the opening of the newly expanded Stallman -Touro Clinic inside The Shade Tree.

From left: Dr. Wolfgang Gilliar, Dr. Ray Alden, Chris Creasey of Tutor- Perini Building Corp., Shelley Berkley, Linda Perez of The Shade Tree, Dr. Phil Tobin, Bonnie Patterson of The Shade Tree, and Dr. Rebecca Edgeworth.

For the last decade, Touro University Nevada’s physician Thanks to Shade Tree’s effort under the leadership of Tutor- assistant (PA) faculty and students have provided free Perini Corp., a generous community-wide effort totaling healthcare to hundreds of abused women and children living $500,000 helped completely transform the Stallman-Touro at The Shade Tree. Clinic, which now includes three examination rooms, a laboratory, reception area, and nurse’s station housed inside Located on the third floor of The Shade Tree is the Stallman- 750 sq. ft. of space. Touro Clinic where Touro’s PA students, under the supervision of faculty, provide free primary care services for the women Scheller said the completely redesigned clinic allows them to and children who are temporarily housed there. provide more thorough examinations and develop a deeper trust with their patients. That openness, she added, will make While the clinic provides a much-needed space for patients it easier for her and her classmates to treat their patients with to receive treatment, as well as an opportunity for Touro’s PA the quality and compassion they deserve. students to develop critical skills, conditions were not ideal. There were no individual rooms available as patient visits “Hearing about the stories these women have gone through were performed inside a 350 sq. ft. room containing two puts into perspective that I am going to have patients from hospital beds, partitioned by a blue curtain. all walks of life,” she said. “Being able to have those private conversations with them lets them know that they can trust Taylor Scheller, a PA student who spent three days a week at me as a provider. The expanded clinic will allow me to do that.” The Shade Tree for her community medicine rotation, said the close-knit space made it difficult for patients to completely Scheller is still deciding on a career in either open up to them while they performed their examinations. or emergency medicine after she graduates. Whichever career path she chooses to pursue, she said her Shade “Sometimes, patients chose not to discuss sensitive Tree experience has made her a more well-rounded and information with us because they didn’t want anyone else empathetic provider. to hear,” she said. “We want them to feel comfortable, and the more open they are with us, the better the care we can “Working with the patients at The Shade Tree prepared me provide for them.” for patients I will encounter long after I graduate,” she said.

9 | BLAzING THE TRAIL IMPROVING HEALTHCARE | 9 Investing in the Greater Good Former Journalist- Turned Banking Executive Helps Touro Forge New Community Partnerships

After graduating from BYU with his efforts for the Orange County and San broadcast journalism degree in the Diego regions. early 1980s, Stowell first worked as Paul Stowell, Touro Advisory Board an on-air reporter in New York City and Although his job responsibilities have Member and Nevada Regional Executive later returned to Arkansas at a local taken more of his time, his commitment for City National Bank CBS-affiliate before moving to Southern to education has remained at the Nevada in 1986. forefront. It’s why he is so deeply Photo courtesy of City National Bank passionate about Touro University During an interview with Peter Thomas, Nevada and its effort to help educate then President at Valley Bank of Nevada, the next generation of healthcare and Thomas asked Stowell if he would be education professionals. Paul Stowell never imagined he’d have interested in working for their a career in banking. marketing team. His personal passions align perfectly with City National Banks’, he added, Born in Livermore, Calif., his father “I went to school for journalism and making it an easy decision to stay worked as a corporate pilot for Kaiser knew nothing about banking,” Stowell involved with Touro. Industries, and later, as chief pilot for recalled with a laugh. an oil company. His job required him Education has always been something to constantly relocate his family, with Less than a year later in 1987, Stowell dear to Stowell’s heart. As the Nevada Stowell living in California, London, decided to leave his broadcast journalism Regional Executive for City National Miami, New Jersey, and Arkansas career for good and take a chance on Bank, he’s worked tirelessly to keep a throughout his youth. this new opportunity after learning more successful partnership with Touro. about the banking industry. Stowell said the constant moving “Education is at the forefront of City shaped his cultural upbringing that has Since then, he’s grown with several National Bank’s community outreach, helped define the person he is today. different banks in Nevada. In 2000, and healthcare is at the forefront of One of those experiences included he went into management with a our business model,” he said. “We attending Little Rock Central High community bank called Business Bank pride ourselves on servicing the School in Arkansas, the first school to of Nevada. City National Bank acquired medical industry and the healthcare be desegregated in the South after the Business Bank of Nevada in 2007 where professionals who make it great. famous Brown v. Board of Education Stowell has been ever since. That’s why Touro is the perfect fit for us.” Supreme Court case. While the industry has changed Stowell said he views his role as a Attending Little Rock Central, home tremendously throughout the last 30 business development officer and makes of the “Little Rock Nine,” helped years, Stowell has always managed it a personal mission to give back to the open Stowell’s eyes to the fact that the marketing, advertising, public, and university. He was adamant on leading access to education was not the investor relations. For the last year, the charge to make City National Bank same for everyone. Stowell has handled those duties and one of the Vegas Golden Knight’s biggest the marketing and public relations corporate partners when the team was

10 | GREATER GOOD still in its infancy stages, and through every step of the way. His passion partnership. Not only are they Touro’s the partnership, has successfully for education and healthcare drives banking partner, they manage the brought Touro into the fold. him to help improve the Southern university’s endowment fund, and have Nevada community. provided leadership support for Touro’s As an Advisory Board Member, he scholarship programs and mobile already knew about the great work As he works to develop collaborative healthcare outreach initiatives. Touro was doing in healthcare and partnerships that make Nevada a better education. He wanted the Golden place to live, he encourages others to do Stowell said he is more than excited for Knights to know too. the same. Touro University Nevada, he Touro’s future. Collaborations in business said, is helping to provide us with and education have helped the university With Stowell’s help, the Vegas Golden better futures. make an impact throughout Southern Knights Foundation has committed Nevada and beyond, and it will take more more than $75,000 to Touro University of the same to keep it thriving, he added. Nevada with gifts providing funding We pride ourselves on servicing the for the Center for Autism and medical industry and the healthcare Stowell will continue to help find more Developmental Disabilities and professionals who make it great. business leaders and community the university’s third mobile Touro is the perfect fit for us. members to give back to Touro. He never healthcare clinic for Southern imagined he would leave journalism for Nevada’s low-income seniors. banking, but he always knew he’d do “We are talking about the future of his part to improve the place he’s called “Touro is a quality university that our community and our state here. home for the last 33 years. deserves our time and support,” he It warrants everybody’s support,” he said. “It’s literally our future in terms of said. “We all suffer from ailments and “We give to Touro because we are educating the healthcare providers who challenges, and Touro is educating investing in the future of our healthcare will take care of us. It’s ensuring that we those who can help us enjoy a better system, whether it’s educating future will have a good quality of life.” quality of life. If you don’t have doctors physicians or delivering healthcare to and healthcare providers, what do those who don’t have access through New partners have continued to invest you have?” the mobile healthcare units,” he in Touro, which has helped the university said. “We have forged a very special remain one of the highest-quality Under Stowell’s leadership, City relationship with Touro and we are proud institutions in the United States. For the National Bank has demonstrated time of that relationship.” last four years, Stowell has been there and again their commitment to this

Paul Stowell, Touro CEO and Senior Provost Shelley Berkley, Vegas Golden Knights President Kerry Bubolz, and former CEO of Nevada HAND Mike Mullin during the unveiling of the university ’s 3rd mobile healthcare clinic.

11 | ALUMNI PROFILE TOURO YOU | 11 FORGING A NEW PATH IN MEDICINE

Physician Assistant Student Finds Second Calling After Career in Law Enforcement

Five years ago, Heather Rhoden was While working for the Gaming Control Rhoden eventually applied to Touro working as an enforcement division Board, she and her husband had serious University Nevada’s School of Physician agent for the Nevada Gaming talks about what her future held after a Assistant Studies in early 2018 but was Control Board. career in law enforcement. Rhoden also not selected for the class. She admitted had a friend who worked as a physician that her grades from her undergraduate Her background in law enforcement assistant (PA) and she relished the years were not strong, but her was rooted while growing up in thought of working in healthcare. determination to work in medicine St. Louis, where her stepfather worked never wavered. as a police officer. After graduating In 2014, while working fulltime for the with a psychology degree from the Gaming Control Board, Rhoden also took She attended the spring open house at University of Missouri, Rhoden began biology and organic chemistry classes Touro in March 2018 where she learned her professional life working for the at UNLV. When her professors told her about the Masters of Science in Medical St. Louis Police Department. that she needed to dedicate 100% of her Health Sciences (MHS) program. attention to school, she left her job and “I was intrigued by law enforcement immersed herself in healthcare. Three weeks after completing her because I always wanted to help people, application, Rhoden was accepted into and I wanted my career to be community Rhoden said quitting was bittersweet, the MHS program. focused,” Rhoden, 41, said. because she possessed a deep love for the job and the people she worked with. “Luckily, I finished an immunology class In 2006, she relocated to the Las Vegas at UNLV before taking immunology at Valley where she took a job with the As she readied herself for a new career Touro, so I had some familiarity with the Nevada Gaming Control Board. in healthcare, Rhoden took every job material when I first started,” she said. available to gain as much experience Rhoden found the MHS program very “I saw pretty much everything working as possible. rigorous, but with the help of campus for the Gaming Control Board. I handled tutors and her classmates, she excelled patron disputes on slot machines; made “I worked as a certified assistant in the classroom. sure convenience store employees had to get patient experience, and worked their gaming licenses displayed; checked as a scribe at Desert View Hospital in “Having classmates who were extremely video cameras to make sure customers Pahrump,” she said. “I knew it’s what I knowledgeable and in the same boat weren’t trying to cheat on their bets,” needed to do in order to better prepare as myself really helped me get through she said. “But the one thing I loved most myself for a career in medicine.” MHS,” she said. “The camaraderie we about my job was that I was able to built was phenomenal.” interact with people on a daily basis.”

12 | NEW PATH Dr. Steven Prinster, Director of Touro’s “The MHS program made PA school MHS program, said Rhoden is a prime much more manageable,” she said. example of how the MHS program “It provided me with a well-rounded Having classmates who were benefits students who pursue PA school introduction to the material and has extremely knowledgeable and or medical school after finishing the helped me with my study routines in the same boat as myself challenging curriculum. as well.” really helped me get through MHS. The camaraderie we built “Heather was a phenomenal student Dr. Phil Tobin, Director of Touro’s PA was phenomenal. who understood that while MHS was program, said Rhoden’s understanding tough, it was there to help her on of the material from her time in MHS has her journey to becoming a physician benefited her greatly during her first six Although she won’t graduate until assistant,” he said. “Students who months of PA school. November 2021, Rhoden is already complete our MHS program before looking forward to her next step after taking that next step to PA or “We have a rigorous curriculum in our PA PA school. medical school have a more thorough program, but having the background of understanding of the material which the MHS program has helped Heather She wants to stay in Southern Nevada benefits them in the future.” tremendously,” he said. “Her foundation and pursue a career in either emergency for the material is there, and her medicine or urgent care. Her affinity for In December 2018, after six months connection with the community will working with the community will never of learning new concepts, Rhoden was make her a fine physician assistant.” leave her, as she also hopes to volunteer accepted into Touro’s PA program and with the National Disaster Medical started in July 2019. Since the relationships she built during System, an organization of healthcare her year in MHS were so beneficial professionals who volunteer to help “My husband couldn’t come to the White to her success, Rhoden and her MHS people affected by natural disasters. Coat ceremony in September 2019, classmates in PA school are paying and I was afraid nobody was going to it forward to others by holding study Like she did as a police officer for cheer for me when I walked across the groups to help their new classmates 20 years, Rhoden looks forward to stage,” she admitted. “But when they better understand the material. continuing to help others. called my name, the student section erupted because my classmates “That’s one of the great things about wanted me to know that I wasn’t alone. Touro is that help is available whenever It was incredible.” you need it., she said. “The closeness we built in MHS has carried over into PA Rhoden is excelling in her first year of PA school, and everyone else is benefitting school, thanks to a solid foundation laid from it during these study sessions.” by the MHS program and the friendships she’s cultivated along the way.

I was intrigued by law enforcement because I always wanted to help people, and I wanted my career to be community focused.

Above Left: Heather Rhoden during September’s White Coat Ceremony on her journey to becoming a physician assistant. Right: Heather Rhoden during Spring Commencement 2019 after she graduated from the Masters of Science in Medical Health Sciences Program (MHS).

13 | A TOURO CONNECTION TOURO YOU | 13 THE IMPORTANCE OF RESEARCH WITH PATIENT CARE Touro Students and Faculty Completing Important Research As Healthcare Evolves Paulina Awuah, a student in the College of Osteopathic Medicine, discusses her project with Dr. Ray Alden, Provost, during 2019’s Research Day. Touro University Nevada’s students and faculty are leading the charge as the institution emphasizes research on its focus on education and patient care. Occupational therapy students Shaylee Ewing and Jessica Marx presented their research on the “Effects of Living Skills Students across all programs are presenting well-researched Interventions with Homeless Youth Population.” projects on their journey to becoming highly-qualified physicians and healthcare professionals. By presenting their “We wanted to see what occupational therapy could do to research, some of which takes years to complete, both Touro help these populations, and we found that family-coping and the medical community are becoming more informed as interventions, community-based resource education, modern medicine advances. and vocational training will help decrease alcohol use and increase quality of life,” Ewing said. “The most important part of research is helping the students understand the correct questions to ask their patients,” said Dr. Mindy Renfro, Associate Professor in the School of Physical Therapy. “Students need to be involved with research The most important part of so they can better treat their patients.” research is helping the students Students from the schools of Physical Therapy and understand the correct questions Occupational Therapy recently displayed their research projects to the campus community for students, faculty to ask their patients. and staff to learn about their types of research, including the effectiveness of certain exams, depression, quality of healthcare for marginalized populations, and more. As healthcare progresses, Dr. Renfro said it’s important After several months of research, occupational therapy for Touro’s students to be informed of how their fields are students Denise St. Peter and Christina Carmichael presented advancing. Staying updated on, and participating in research, their poster, titled “More Than Just A Pet…” which discussed will make students more well-rounded clinicians, she added. how service dogs can be utilized to improve the occupational performance of veterans. “Our students need to be able to keep up with the changes in their field and give the treatments they need to give,” she said. “We were able to see that there is a significant correlation “If our students were taught the way I was taught 45 years between how service dogs can be used to improve self- ago, we’d be in trouble. But we are lifelong learners, and our compassion, their physiological and psychological symptoms, students are showing us that.” and community participation,” St. Peter said. “With further research and larger studies with greater sample sizes, we are Touro University Nevada will host its 14th annual Research hopeful that this will be a treatment that will be incorporated Day on March 12 at 4 p.m. on the Touro campus. to improve our veterans’ lives.”

14 | IMPORTANT RESEARCH CLASSNOTESNOTES

Do you have NEWS Did you receive a NEW Move to TO SHARE? PROMOTION? a New CITY?

OSTEOPATHIC MEDICINE Get NICKY GIOVINE, DPT17 GRADUATES MARRIED? & SAM LONGO, DPT17 Dr. Nicky Giovine and Dr. Sam Longo, SUzANNE ROOzENDAAL, DO09 both 2017 graduates of the School of Dr. Suzanne Roozendaal works PHYSICAL THERAPY GRADUATES Physical Therapy, were recently married. in Las Vegas as an emergency medicine physician. MICHELLE REYES, DPT13 zAIVY MATTA, DPT17 & IAN GILKISON, DPT13 & LOGAN BRETNEY, DPT17 ORI DEVERA, DO15 Dr. Michelle Reyes and Dr. Ian Gilkison, Dr. Zaivy Matta and Dr. Logan Bretney, Dr. Ori DeVera was named one of both 2013 graduates of the School of both 2017 graduates from the School MyVegas Magazine’s “Top 40 Under 40” Physical Therapy, were married on of Physical Therapy, were married professionals in November 2019. Sept. 22. on Dec. 6.

NURSE PRACTITIONER AARON HARWARD, DPT14 KYLE WARNER, DPT18 GRADUATES Dr. Aaron Harward has worked for FIT Dr. Kyle Warner and his wife Madison Physical Therapy for the last six years. SANDY OLGUIN, DNP15 welcomed their second child, Brooks, He has served as director of the FIT Dr. Sandy Olguin works as an Assistant on Oct. 3. Summit location in St. George, Utah for Professor of Nursing at the University the past three years. He and his wife MATTHEW HOBBS, DPT18 of Nevada, Reno. In addition to working Jessica have been married for 12 years. Dr. Matthew Hobbs and his wife Amber as a nursing faculty, Dr. Olguin is They have two children; seven-year-old welcomed their second daughter, President and CEO of the non-profit Gramm and three-year-old Ivy. Haddisyn, on Nov. 23. Dr. Hobbs Nevada Nurses Foundation (NNF), was also promoted to the Director which provides scholarships and zAKI AzFAL, DPT15 of Registered Physical Therapists professional development opportunities Dr. Zaki Azfal had his case report, rehabilitation and sports clinic in for nurses across the state. titled “Return to Advanced Strength Saratoga Springs, Utah. Training and Weightlifting in an Athlete PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT Post-lumbar Discectomy Utilizing OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY GRADUATES Pain Neuroscience Education and GRADUATES CRISTINA BELANGER, PA08 Proper Progression: Resident’s Case Dr. Cristina Belanger is now an Report,” published in The International RYAN MCGIVEN, OT09 Assistant Professor in the Touro Journal of Sports Physical Therapy in Ryan McGiven works as a certified hand University Nevada School of Physician October, 2019. therapist at a private, outpatient clinic Assistant Studies. Before rejoining in Layton, Utah. He and his wife have Touro, Dr. Belanger spent 11 years as four sons: 12-year-old twins, a nine- both a hospitalist and year old, and a seven-year old. PA at a North Las Vegas clinic. We’d love to hear from you and your fellow alumni! Please send your class notes to Steven Slivka, Communications Manager at [email protected].

15 | FACULTY PROFILE CLASS NOTES | 15 Touro University Nevada 874 American Pacific Drive NONPROFIT ORG Henderson, NV 89014 U.S. POSTAGE PAID LAS VEGAS NV PERMIT NO. 2722

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