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Amir Khiabani, Class of 2022, has been appointed to the National Board of Osteopathic Medical Examiner’s (NBOME) Special Commission on Osteopathic Medical Licensure Assessment. NBOME is recognized both nationally and internationally for its excellence in the areas of osteopathic physician testing and evaluation. This non-for-profit organization works to create numerous assessments that are distinct to osteopathy. In addition, NBOME strives to partner with other organizations on various assessment programs in order to protect the public by providing the ability to assess the competencies for osteopathic medicine and other related health care professions.

The NBOME reached out to National Student Osteopathic Medical Association (SOMA) to submit three nominations for a representative to be on this special commission. Khiabani was eligible to be nominated for a seat on this commission due to his senior leadership position as National SOMA Treasurer.

This Special Commission works to review the COMLEX-USA examination program, evaluate defensible alternative pathways for verification or assessment of fundamental clinical skills and other competencies, and assure the COMLEX-USA licensure examination pathway continues to evolve with the rapidly changing practice of osteopathic medicine, osteopathic medical education, and health care. In addition, Khiabani will provide representation of perspectives that reflect that of National SOMA as well as his constituents, osteopathic medical students.

Through his appointment, Khiabani will have the opportunity to help ensure that the perspectives of the osteopathic student body are continuously represented during discussions that can result in impacting their future. He hopes that appointment will equip him with the experience and resources to be an osteopathic physician that will confidently advocate for the profession.

“I believe that the role of a physician includes a tremendous amount of leadership, communication, advocacy and peer interaction,” Khiabani said. “Not only working within SOMA, but now having the ability to advocate for my fellow students directly to the NBOME aids me in fulfilling my mission to become a strong and effective leader and physician.”

Today, the Alabama College of Osteopathic Medicine (ACOM) hosted a groundbreaking ceremony for the college’s new simulation center. The new 10,000-square-foot building will encompass the existing simulation center and will add more than 7,000 square feet to the space.

Simulation is an integral component of ACOM’s curriculum and training. Clinical simulation is crucial to medical education, as it provides a way for students to engage in emergent clinical scenarios requiring medical knowledge, clinical skills, teamwork, and communication, in a controlled setting. It has been shown to increase critical thinking skills and patient safety leading to fewer medical errors.

“Our simulation program is truly incredible,” Carmen Lewis, PhD, Vice President of Institutional Effectiveness said. “It offers immersive experiences that are fully integrated throughout our curriculum during the first two years.”

ACOM and the Southeast Health system are committed to utilizing resources from the region to build this center. The college selected Dothanbased architecture firm Donofro and Associates Architects to lead the design, and Construction CGM, Inc. from Colquitt, Ga., as contractor. Bill Jones, Southeast Health Director of Design and Construction, will oversee the project. Through the construction of this new center, ACOM will be able to double the available training capacity by creating eight simulation bays and a larger skills lab, as well as additional study space for students. The project is anticipated to be completed in fall 2021.

The latest expansion on the ACOM campus symbolizes the continued growth of the college and success of its simulation program locally, nationally and internationally. ACOM has won three national simulation championships and one international simulation title since 2017, taking home the latest national Virtual Patient Challenge title at the American Medical Student Association convention on March 6.

“We are proud that this success represents the solid and strong foundation of medical education that all of our students receive,” said James C. Jones, DO, FACEP, ACOM Dean. “This is reinforced through their training in the simulation center.”

About the Alabama College of Osteopathic Medicine (ACOM)

The Alabama College of Osteopathic Medicine (ACOM) is a four-year, comprehensive osteopathic medical school located in Dothan, Alabama. As the academic division of Southeast Health, a regional health system, the private, non-profit college was founded in 2010 to help address the primary care physician shortage in Alabama and the surrounding region. ACOM is the third medical school in Alabama and the first osteopathic medical in the state. The college graduated its first class in 2017, and to date, approximately 61% of its graduates are pursuing future careers in primary care. For more information about ACOM, visit www.acom.edu.

ACOM is proud to announce that The SIMps have won the AMSACon2021 Virtual Patient Challenge! The Virtual Patient Challenge is a unique national clinical competition hosted by the American Medical Student Association (AMSA). Student teams must use timely critical thinking skills in order to implement their diagnosis and treatment strategies, during timed virtual patient encounters.

Preliminary rounds of the challenge were held in mid-December with 16-22 teams from various medical schools across the country, including two ACOM teams. Four teams advanced to the championship round, held on March 6th. Both ACOM teams advanced to this final round and competed against two other teams from osteopathic colleges. Each team was given two virtual case scenarios to evaluate. Evaluations were completed after each round, followed by a debrief session with a physician to review and host a live Q&A. In the end, ACOM’s team, The SIMps, edged out the competition to clench its second consecutive title.

In order to make this virtual challenge possible, teams used Body Interact, a real-time medical simulator aimed at developing clinical reasoning and decision-making skills through 3d virtual patients. The simulation allowed the participants to work together as a healthcare team of three to communicate with the virtual patient to conduct assessments, monitor vital signs, order diagnostic exams, perform interventions, and administer medications. The cutting edge experience the students accessed through Body Interact aided in integrating knowledge in the most innovative way.

ACOM is not new to the AMSA Virtual Patient Challenge. During last year’s challenge, ACOM’s team Cotard’s Delutionals won the inaugural title, making this ACOM’s third national title along with the international title received in Paris in 2017. The college is extremely proud of all the students who participated, and extends our deepest congratulations to The SIMps

The Alabama College of Osteopathic Medicine (ACOM) held the 2021 Wiregrass District Science Fair on February 26, 2021, as a reimagined and unique virtual experience due to COVID-19. Although a virtual science fair was not the ideal format, the College incorporated emerging technology to provide a successful experience for the participants. This year’s event showcased more than 30 elementary and middle school projects from Geneva and Houston counties.

The District Science Fair is an important event that gives students the opportunity to demonstrate what they have learned in their appropriate level math and science courses. In addition to having the opportunity to showcase their knowledge, the students were able to use this year’s fair to learn the skill of virtually presenting via Zoom. Middle school students, who advance from the local fair, will have the opportunity to participate in the Greater East Alabama Regional Science & Engineering Fair in March. The District Science Fair gave elementary school students the opportunity to learn the process of science fairs and gain experience in oral presentations, with the hope of inspiring them to participate in science fairs throughout middle and high school. This has been a great way for ACOM to support the science and math curriculum in the area and encourage future careers in science and healthcare fields.

Although virtual, the structure of this year’s fair, mirrored closely to that of past fairs without the in-person component. Students displayed their projects just as they would if being judged face-to-face, making their presentations in breakout rooms to ACOM faculty and medical students who were able to ask questions. Each student rose to the occasion and showed eagerness and excitement to showcase their hard work. With every answer and explanation, each student shined during their virtual performance, and their interest in science translated accordingly.

Fair organizer Caleb Hamilton, PhD, Assistant Professor of Biomedical Sciences at ACOM, stated, “Obviously, an in-person event would have been the ideal situation due to the essential interpersonal interaction, so we did our best to embody that type of experience as best as possible through Zoom.”

Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, ACOM is thankful to be able to provide this experience in a safe and socially distanced way and is encouraged by the interest to participate across the Wiregrass.