UNE COM was well represented at OMED this year in Baltimore, MD. National SOMA recognized a number of COM students amongst their ranks: For two years in a row, a UNE COM student has held the position as SOMA Region Trustee: Sam Culver, OMS-III ended her term, and Joanna Sajdlowska, OMS-II was newly elected. Alumna, Briana Barbosa-Angles, DO ’18 was also a SOMA Trustee and is now a PGY-2 resident at UMass Family Medicine. Justine Lazatin, OMS-IV completed her term on the National Board of Directors as the National Community Outreach Director (2018-19) and was newly elected SOMA Convention Director for 2019-20. “I am so privileged to be able to shape SOMA member and chapter leader convention experiences,” Student Doctor Lazatin states, “to ensure that their passions and interests are represented in our programming, and that areas where more learning is needed is put forth.”
In addition, Jonathan Shecter, OMS-IV and Dean Cataldo, OMS-III helped author a resolution within SOMA to adopt and promote non-stigmatizing language for substance use disorders. Of the national organization, Student Doctor Lazatin states, “SOMA has opened up such unbelievable opportunities for me and I know that I would not be the passionate UNE COM medical student, the residency candidate, or the future osteopathic physician that I am today without this organization or the people in it.”
Abraham Halstein, OMS-II, Student Government Association (SGA) VP, Valerie Pendleton, OMS-II, SGA President, and Joanna Sajdlowska, OMS-II, UNE COM SOMA President, were inducted into Omega Beta Iota; Abraham Halstein, OMS-II and Valerie Pendleton, OMS-II also won the Innovative Presentation Award from the Council of Osteopathic Student Government Presidents.
Alumnus, Robert Danoff, DO '86, won the American Osteopathic Foundation (AOF) Physician of the year award. Martin S. Levine, DO, AOF Board President, states, “Dr. Danoff has done so much to honor the profession, empower his patients and to educate the community. He is a true advocate for advancing programs and services that promote osteopathic medicine and enhance patient-centered care.”
UNE COM REPRESENTS THE BEST OF THE PROFESSION AT OMED 2019
Left: Second-year COM students, AJ Halstein, Valerie Pendleton, and Joanna Sajdlowska;
Right: Robert Danoff, DO '86 (photo courtesy of the AOF)