Friday, November 3, 2017

LUCOM student-doctors place second in podium presentation at ACOS assembly

Fri, 03 Nov 2017Asa Keimig | LUCOM Marketing

Liberty University College of Osteopathic Medicine (LUCOM) student-doctors recently placed second for a podium presentation during the American College of Osteopathic Surgeons (ACOS) Annual Clinical Assembly. The assembly was held at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center in National Harbor, Md. The group exemplified several of the college’s core values of: scholarship, teamwork, leadership, service, professionalism, and integrity throughout the entire conference. The group consisted of Kevin Keating and Brandon Beck, Class of 2019, and Sarah Robinson, Class of 2020.

Under the direction of Anthony J.M. Bauer, PhD, associate professor of Physiology, the group presented, The Anti-Inflammatory Potential of Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine Using a Murine Model of Sepsis Induced Ileus. It placed second in the General Surgery category.

The poster showed a standardized therapeutic approach incorporating elements of osteopathic medicine to ameliorate the sequelae of sepsis induced ileus in mice. “The challenge was to try and adapt something that they are doing to people, to a mouse. Usually it is the opposite.” said Dr. Bauer. “We used modes that select and carefully address a specific problem and we wanted to do it in a more holistic way.”

The group developed a specific pen, weighing roughly 100 grams, that rolls across the abdominals in a process known as Osteopathic Repetitive Abdominal Compression (ORAC). The focus was on triggering an anti-inflammatory response in the GI tract and attempting to show that this process could improve muscle contraction. They conceded to look at the mechanism that was being triggered by the procedure.

The group attests their success to Dr. Bauer for his guidance and mentorship that he provided to the group. “We would not have had this opportunity without Dr. Bauer, and its satisfying to see the results of all our hard work and long hours,” said Keating. “Over the past couple of years, I have developed my research skills and by doing these types of extra-curricular activities it helps embody that lifelong learner that is expected in all physicians.”

For Beck, Dr. Bauer’s lab opened his eyes to the importance of research and data-driven interventions in clinical practice. “Dr. Bauer has been the best research mentor I could have ever worked with,” he said. “I wasn’t initially interested in research, but working in Dr. Bauer’s lab has shown me a really exciting side of the research process that I plan to continue in residency.” Beck plans to continue to view medicine through this lens to provide the best care for his future patients.