The previous edition of Communi-Qi included a brief article about the upcoming initiation of the YSU DAOM program. As the implementation date approaches (January 8, 2009), excitement regarding YSU’s first doctoral level program with its specialty in Reproductive Medicine continues. Plans have been actualized to expand our library resources consistent with the doctoral program offerings as well.
In addition to the new physical and the new name (Learning Resource Center) as described above considerable effort has been made to expand greatly both our print and electronic on line resources in preparation for the doctoral program launch. By the time the DAOM cohort arrives in January 2010, all YSU students will be able to access resources of several full text data bases from any computer terminal. Included among those data bases is the Althealthwatch resource that includes access to 180 full text journals. Final contracting arrangements are in process for faculty. Among the DAOM faculty who will teach in the first trimester are long time part time YSU faculty members Dawn Upchurch, Ph.D. and Margo DeLeaver, M. D., Dawn Upchurch, who holds a John’s Hopkins doctorate and is a UCLA healthcare researcher, will teach several research methodology courses.
Margo DeLeaver brings a background in both western medicine and TCM and will teach the Case Presentation course. Two Reproductive Endocrinologists, Ashim Kumar, M.D. and Gary Hubert, M.D. will join the YSU faculty and will teach the Western Reproductive Medicine courses in the program. Maureen Rozenn, L. Ac. and John Neiters, L.Ac., who reside and practice in the Bay area, will team teach a course in TCM Reproductive Medicine. An additional TCM Reproductive Medicine Component will be taught in the first DAOM trimester by Denise Weisner, L. Ac..
Each DAOM faculty member faces the challenge of the intensive half day to full day course sessions, a factor that highlights the importance of the collaborative nature of the doctoral program to include the engagement of the diverse experiences and perspectives of the DAOM cohort members, many who have been in practice for ten or more years, as an essential component in the teaching/ learning process.
DAOM Director, Dr. Yvonne Farrell was fortunate to have secured the half time services of a program assistant, Mark Franco, L. Ac. Among Mark’s duties will be the follow up of inquires and tracking of admissions files. Mark graduated from Samra University in 1998 and has been most recently associated as a special project researcher at Good Samaritan Hospital in Los Angeles. He has also had valuable experience as an admissions director at Samra as well as a clinical supervisor and instructor at Emperor’s College. Mark offers the additional skills of fluency in Spanish and martial arts proficiency.