Faculty Notes

Recent Appointments

KCUMB takes great pride in its faculty and their accomplishments. The following notable appointments and achievements are recognitions of their dedication, expertise and teaching excellence that reach beyond the classroom.
Please send submissions for Faculty Notes to Lisa Cambridge, lcambridge@kcumb.edu.

• Marc B. Hahn, D.O., executive vice president for academic and medical affairs; provost and dean of the College of Osteopathic Medicine, was specially recognized on April 26, 2013, at the AACOM Annual Awards Banquet in Baltimore, Md., on for his leadership as AACOM’s Inaugural Chair of the Joining Forces Advisory Group. The Joining Forces Advisory Group is an expansive effort to support members of the military, veterans and military families in areas of employment, education and wellness.
•  Abdulbaki Agbas, Ph.D., M.Sc., associate professor of biochemistry was recently awarded the Frontiers Trail Blazer award for his research on the development of a biomarker for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) or Lou Gehrig’s disease. The Trail Blazer award is sponsored by the Frontiers/Heartland Institute for Clinical and Translational Research. There is no diagnostic test for ALS and it can only be diagnosed after the disease has progressed enough for the significant symptoms to be revealed. Identification of biomarkers associated with ALS would be a critical step to early diagnosis.
• Linda K. Adkison, Ph.D., associate dean for curricular affairs and professor of genetics, was appointed to serve on the selection committee for the 2013-2014 Hedwig von Ameringen Executive Leadership in Academic Medicine (ELAM) Program for Women fellowship. The program prepares senior women faculty at schools of medicine, dentistry, and public health to effect sustained positive change as institutional leaders. Since 1995, ELAM has graduated more than 700 women who serve in leadership positions − department head through university president − at over 180 academic health centers and organizations internationally. 
• Elizabeth K. McClain, Ph.D. , Ed.S., assistant dean of clinical education and assistant professor in clinical affairs, has been selected as a 2013 National Academy of Osteopathic Medical Educators Fellow. NAOME is a community of outstanding educators who have met rigorous standards of academic excellence. The purpose of the academy is to foster and value the scholarship of teaching and learning, and provide role modeling and support for educators in osteopathic medical education programs.
• W. Joshua Cox, D.O., FACOFP, associate professor and chair of family medicine, is secretary of the 2013-2014 Board of Governors for the Missouri Society of the American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians. The MSACOFP plays a crucial role in helping the osteopathic physician succeed through its community, continuing medical education opportunities and advocacy.
• Amy M. DeBaets, Ph.D., assistant professor of bioethics, was recently accepted as a 2013-2015 Faculty Scholars Program cohort in the Program on Medicine and Religion at the University of Chicago.  The focus of the Faculty Scholars Program is to investigate the spiritual aspects of medicine from the perspective of practicing physicians. Its ultimate aim is to create conditions conducive to the spiritual renewal of the practice of medicine by renewing physicians themselves. Dr. DeBaets is one of four faculty scholars accepted for this two-year wave of a decade-long program supported by the John Templeton Foundation.
• John J. Dougherty, D.O., FACOFP, FAOASM, FAODME, professor and associate dean for clinical education and medical affairs, has been appointed to the Board of Governors for the Missouri Society of the American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians. The MSACOFP is a network of osteopathic family physicians dedicated to providing quality family medical care in Missouri.
• Alan G. Glaros, Ph.D., professor and associate dean for basic medical sciences, was recently appointed as a national faculty chair for the National Board of Osteopathic Medical Examiners. Dr. Glaros will serve as the chair of the Preventive Medicine/Health Promotion Division. NBOME is the leading organization for the assessment of competencies of the osteopathic medicine and related health-care professions.
• Marc B. Hahn, D.O., executive vice president for academic and medical affairs; provost and dean, College of Osteopathic Medicine, is co-chair of the AACOM Blue Ribbon Commission for the Advancement of Osteopathic Medical Education. The purpose of the commission is to identify unique opportunities for the osteopathic profession to offer leadership in medical education leading to the improvement in the health of the U.S. population in the 21st century.
• Jeffrey N. Joyce, Ph.D., vice president for research and professor of pharmacology, was recently appointed as chair of the Academic Review Board for the Journal of Research Administration. The journal is published by the Society of Research Administrators International.