Wednesday, February 9, 2022

Liberty University College of Osteopathic Medicine (LUCOM) Office of Admissions hosts "Operation Sparky" — an event designed for Liberty University pre-med students to visit LUCOM and receive an inside look at what to expect as a future Liberty University osteopathic medical student through lab demonstrations. Digital image captured on Thursday, Feb. 3, 2022.

Chris Breedlove, Director of Marketing

Liberty University College of Osteopathic Medicine (LUCOM) held its first evening open house of the year for the Liberty University Pre-Medical Honor Society (PMHS) on Thursday, Feb. 3. The event, referred to as “Operation Sparky,” was designed to give undergraduate students who plan to practice medicine an inside look at LUCOM labs and facilities. Liberty University second-year osteopathic medical students, who also serve as LUCOM ambassadors, provided anatomical and osteopathic demonstrations, as well as CPR demonstrations and showcased high-fidelity simulations.

Liberty University second-year osteopathic medical student Matthew Clark demonstrates an osteopathic manipulative treatment approach during "Operation Sparky" on Feb. 3, 2022.
Liberty University second-year osteopathic medical student Matthew Clark demonstrates an osteopathic manipulative treatment approach during “Operation Sparky.”

“Operation Sparky” was hosted by LUCOM Office of Admissions as a continuation of a conversation that started last fall. “LUCOM Admissions was invited by the Liberty University Pre-Med Advisor and Professor of Biology Dr. Mark Blais to make its annual presentation to the members of the pre-med society before Christmas break. We met in Liberty’s science building on main campus and presented to the club members about the LUCOM admissions process, enjoyed dinner, and participated in a question-and-answer session,” said Michael W. Neville, PharmD, BCPS, FASHP, assistant dean for admissions and student life.

The goals of the program were to (1) welcome Liberty University undergraduate pre-med students into the Center for Medical and Health Sciences, (2) connect pre-med students to current LUCOM student-doctors, and (3) showcase major academic and osteopathic themes, giving participants a chance to practice selected rudimentary skills.

“One of my favorite take-aways from the event was watching the students’ reactions to witnessing Osteopathic treatments being done amongst medical students. Watching pre-med students engage and ask questions, begin to understand how the anatomy and physiology relate to various OMT techniques, and get to see medical students already diagnosing and treating somatic dysfunctions was a real privilege for me. I wish I could have had a similar experience when I was a pre-med student,” said Logan Haley, LUCOM OMS-I Graduate Teaching Fellow.

Liberty University second-year osteopathic medical student Daniel Daugherty demonstrates anatomical dissection during "Operation Sparky."
Liberty University second-year osteopathic medical student Daniel Daugherty demonstrates anatomical dissection during “Operation Sparky.”

The mission of LUCOM exists to educate osteopathic physicians in a Christian environment. “Operation Sparky” strengthens the mission by promoting connections between undergraduate and graduate students, as well as physicians, and develop familiarity with what is expected as a future Liberty University osteopathic medical student.

“When I was a pre-med student, I had the opportunity to tour LUCOM and see the anatomy lab. This really inspired and motivated me. I hope this event did the same for the current pre-med students,” said Hannah Berguson, LUCOM Class of 2024. “I think it is so important to mentor those who are where we once were. Getting to answer their questions, like, “Is it really as bad as they say?,” is important to me and hopefully helps them on their journey. The pre-med students were really excited and eager to learn. A lot of them really wanted to know what life is like in med school and that was fun to discuss.”

View pictures of Operation Sparky at Facebook.com/LibertyMedicine.