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Welcome to the D.O. or DO Not Podcast. My name is Ben Berg, a “nontraditional" premedical student who graduated from Albany University and is now doing postgraduate work at Hunter College in New York to get ready to apply to osteopathic schools 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 and networking. It was a great experience that I would recommend to any premedical student. Attending the conference as a representative of the podcast provided me with an incredible opportunity to be surrounded by great osteopathic physicians as well as administrators. Speaking for myself, this experience truly affirmed my desire to become an osteopathic physician.

In this episode of D.O. or Do Not, we have Janette Martin, M.Ed., Director of Admissions at Idaho College of Osteopathic Medicine (ICOM). She gives some insight as to what makes ICOM special, including its wide range of clinical sites spreading across Idaho, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming, Montana, Utah, and New York. For our premedical audience, Dr. Martin gives helpful advice regarding applying to medical schools and how to help your application stand out to admission committees. She touches on personal statements, extracurricular activities, letters of recommendation, prerequisite courses, as well as advice for nontraditional applicants.

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In April of 2022, the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine (AACOM) graciously invited the D.O. or Do Not Podcast to attend their national meeting, the “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 premedical student liaison, attended the conference to continue our 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 to any medical or pre-medical students interested in learning more about the inner workings of osteopathic medicine and osteopathic medical education.

In today's episode, we talk with Dr. Laurie Curtin, the chief research and policy officer of the NRMP. Dr. Curtin received her Ph.D. in developmental psychology from the University of Houston. With over 10 years of experience at the NRMP, Dr. Curtin has helped to usher in some of the most substantial changes made to the match process, including the recent unification of D.O. and M.D. matches. In this episode, Dr. Curtin provides listeners, both premedical and medical students, with valuable information about navigating the match and what to expect during the culmination of a medical student's education. We are extremely fortunate to have had the opportunity to interview her and hope you enjoy this episode.

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In April of 2022, the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine (AACOM) graciously invited the D.O. or Do Not Podcast to attend their national meeting, the “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 premedical student liaison, attended the conference to continue our 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 to any medical or pre-medical students interested in learning more about the inner workings of osteopathic medicine and osteopathic medical education.

In today's 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 won Student Doctor of the Year this year at the AACOM conference and is currently preparing 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 to medical students and premedical students alike. We hope you enjoy this episode. 

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In today’s episode, we interview Dr. Philip Nizza, D.O., a board-certified infectious disease physician. Dr. Nizza went to medical school at NYITCOM, 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 type of 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." You can also use the following link https://alumni.nyit.edu/giving/nyitcom and then select Natalie Assalone Scholarship from the dropdown menu.

We hope you are moved by this episode.

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In April of 2022, the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine (AACOM) graciously invited the D.O. or do not podcast to attend their national meeting, the “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 our 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 to any medical or pre-medical students interested in learning more about the inner workings of osteopathic medicine and osteopathic medical education.

Mr. David Bergman, J.D. is Vice President of Government Relations for the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine (AACOM). His team works with Congress and agency professionals to directly advocate for the osteopathic profession. Mr. Bergman comes from a family of M.D.'s and has worked in medical policy for many years. Upon learning of osteopathic medicine, he quickly embraced the osteopathic profession and what it stands for. In this episode, Mr. Bergman discusses the contributions he and his AACOM team have made on behalf of D.O.’s and his goals for the future. For any listeners interested in becoming more involved in AACOM, medical policy, or advocacy, this episode is a must-listen that we are sure you will enjoy.

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Welcome to the D.O. or DO Not Podcast. My name is Ben Berg, a “nontraditional" premedical student who graduated from Albany University and is now doing postgraduate work at Hunter College in New York to prepare to apply to osteopathic schools for the 2023 application cycle. I was lucky enough to attend AACOM's “Educating Leaders 2022” conference in Denver, Colorado. Attending the conference afforded me an incredible week of lectures and networking. It was a great experience that I would recommend to any premedical student. Attending the conference as a representative of the podcast provided me with an incredible opportunity to be surrounded by great osteopathic physicians as well as administrators. Speaking for myself, 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 premedical student liaison, interview Dr. Helene Cameron, Ph.D. 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 premedical students matriculate into osteopathic medical school, as well as provides crucial information and dates about the upcoming application cycle. 

Send us a text

In April of 2022, the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine (AACOM) graciously invited the D.O. or Do Not Podcast to attend their national meeting, the "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 our 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 to any medical or pre-medical students interested in learning more about the inner workings of osteopathic medicine and osteopathic medical education.

In today’s episode, we interview Jeanne Sandella, D.O., a family medicine-trained physician who currently serves as Vice President of Professional Development Initiatives and Communications for the NBOME (National Board of Osteopathic Medical Examiners). Dr. Sandella will discuss important topics relevant to current and incoming osteopathic students across the country, including the  Level 1 switch to pass/fail, changes surrounding the Level 2 PE, and her thoughts on D.O. students who feel pressure to take both COMLEX and USMLE to secure their desired residency programs.

We hope you enjoy this episode.

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Today, we are excited to hear from Dr. Sadia Riaz.

Dr. Riaz is a board-certified hematologist/oncologist. This specialty deals with disorders of the blood as well as various tumors and cancers. Training is intensive, with three years of internal medicine residency followed by three years of fellowship.

Dr. Riaz started her career in an accelerated seven-year program at NYITCOM, followed by post-doctorate training at a large academic institution.

She then went on to private practice, followed by a decade working in academics focusing on oncology and transplant medicine, and finally transitioning back to private practice.

In this episode, Dr. Riaz discusses her journey and the challenges she has faced as a Muslim female in medicine today. She also draws on her own experiences and shares her advice for women who are seeking careers in similarly competitive subspecialties of medicine.

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Dr. Jeremy Polman, D.O., is a third-year internal medicine resident and aspiring gastroenterologist in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Dr. Polman attended Lincoln Memorial University-DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine for medical school and Baton Rouge General for internal medicine residency. He is passionate about teaching and has even worked for an online education company throughout his residency that helps thousands of D.O. and M.D. students prepare for both USMLE and COMLEX. He also recently published a book, Osteopathic Medicine: A Core Concepts Approach, to further simplify learning the osteopathic principles. Tune in today to listen to Dr. Polman’s path to osteopathic medicine and all that he has contributed to the osteopathic profession thus far!

On today’s episode we interview Dr. James Jones, who currently serves as Dean at Alabama College of Osteopathic Medicine (ACOM) in Dothan, Alabama. Dr. Jones attended medical school at Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine (TCOM), after which he trained in Emergency Medicine in the LSU Charity Hospital program in New Orleans. He is a strong advocate for the principles of osteopathic medicine and even acquired a fellowship in Integrative Medicine. Tune in today to hear about Dean Jones’ path to osteopathic medicine as well as what ACOM has to offer under his leadership!