Stephanie Ibekwe

A voice for women in medicine

When Dr. Stephanie Ibekwe’s mother, Sarah, came home from her nursing job, she would tell her daughter stories about her patients and the conversations she had with them. “Nursing is pretty stressful, but my mom had an amazing way of handling things,” she said. “My mom really loved to build relationships with her patients, and…
HSC School of Public Health alum, Casie Stoughton

Two years in, this public health leader remains focused on pandemic protections in Amarillo

By Sally Crocker   It has been a long, challenging two years for public health professionals working on the front lines of their communities in response to COVID-19. Casie Stoughton, MPH, RN, Director of Public Health for the Amarillo Department of Public Health, understands the challenges well, from the initial months in early 2020 when COVID-19…

DSWOP endows Drs. Dralves and Jessica Edwards Scholarship

By Steven Bartolotta Honoring one of the pioneering families at the Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine (TCOM) at The University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth, the Dallas Southwest Osteopathic Physicians, Inc. (DSWOP) has endowed a scholarship honoring Drs. Dralves and Jessica Edwards.  The fully funded $25,000 scholarship was generously donated by…
Dr. Christopher Hull, TCOM alum

The healing power of hats: How one TCOM alum brings smiles to faces with his unique collection

By Steven Bartolotta In 1998, Christopher Hull, DO and 1979 Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine alum, was wearing a signature hat from his vast collection, as he walked through a hospital hallway. A patient came up to him and asked if he was wearing a welder’s hat. “Yes,” said Dr. Hull with a smile. Patient and doctor struck up a friendly conversation about…
Dr. Albert Yurvati

TCOM’s Dr. Albert Yurvati receives prestigious Charles L. Ballinger Distinguished Osteopathic Surgeon Award

By Steven Bartolotta One of the most distinguished and decorated alumni in the history of the Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine, Albert H. Olivencia-Yurvati, DO, PhD, FACOS, FICA FAHA, is the 2021 recipient of the Charles L. Ballinger Distinguished Osteopathic Surgeon Award from the American College of Osteopathic Surgeons.   Dr. Yurvati, a 1986 graduate of…

TCOM’s ‘Car Doc’ is working around the clock to help COVID patients

By Steven Bartolotta There are tireless workers, and then there is Martin McElya, DO. The 1995 Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine (TCOM) graduate and his north Dallas Neighborhood Medical Center practice have been a beacon of hope as they took swift action and came up with a way to safely test and treat patients during the…
TCOM alumna Dr.Megan Jenkins-Turner stands in wooded trail holding a piece of paper that says, "I matched at UI Health in General Surgery Prelim"

Following her heart, TCOM student takes a chance and matches late into specialty of her dreams

By Steven Bartolotta It was another late night in July for Megan Jenkins-Turner, DO, waiting for her husband to get home from work, and surfing the internet hoping to find an open General Surgery residency position. Dr. Jenkins-Turner had graduated from the Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine months earlier, but was without a job and a residency, all…
School of Public Health Class of 2021 Graduate and SPH Leon Brachman Community Service Award, Joanna Li.

Nutrition, service and lessons of public health drive, motivate SPH honors graduate in her work

By Sally Crocker Working as a Public Health Nutritionist in the Greater New York area is a big job. School of Public Health (SPH) 2021 honors graduate Joanna Li understands the job well from experience, having spent three years traveling through different boroughs and neighborhoods to deliver nutrition counseling and services to women and children. Li worked through a program called WIC, short for the federally-funded Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and…
Sydney Manning, HSC School of Public Health Honors Graduate, Class of 2021

Circle of life brings SPH honors grad to a new day, new opportunities

By Sally Crocker  The study of turkeys, fish, native wolves and other wildlife helped one of this year’s HSC commencement award winners find connections to the people side of public health and her future career path. Sydney Manning, Master of Science (MS) in Epidemiology student at the HSC School of Public Health (SPH), was selected as…
Recent HSC Class of 2021 grad, Dr. Samantha Watson

Pharmacy graduate overcomes difficult journey to fulfill her dreams

By Krista Roberts  When Samantha Watson was in middle school, she dreamed of becoming a doctor. Through many ups, downs and detours along the way, she realized her dream Friday when she finally held that title, Doctor of Pharmacy, from the HSC College of Pharmacy.   “It’s very surreal,” Watson said. “The magnitude of it hasn’t hit me yet.”  Her journey is one of sheer determination…