ACOS-MSS

What inspires you to keep showing up every day? For ACOS Governor Olutayo Sogunro, D.O., FACOS, the answer is simple: making a difference in patients' lives when they need it most—and helping train the next generation of surgeons to do the same. In this video, Dr. Sogunro reflects on the privilege of caring for patients during some of the most challenging moments of their lives and why surgical education and mentorship are essential to the future of our profession. ▶️ Watch her message and share what inspires you in your career.

KENDALL’S CHALLENGE RECAP 💚 Thank you to everyone who participated, donated, and supported the Kendall Nicole Eich Foundation during this challenge! Your enthusiasm and generosity helps advance the Foundation’s mission of supporting children and families affected by brain cancer. From every mile walked to every smile shared, Kendall’s Challenge was a powerful reminder of what we can accomplish when our community comes together for a meaningful cause. Congratulations to our winners for their remarkable performance and mileage! Thank you for helping us honor Kendall’s legacy and make a lasting impact! 🩺👏💚

Join us for the next installment of the DO You Know series featuring Dr. Joseph (Joe) Rosenblatt, an accomplished osteopathic pediatric orthopedic surgeon and Program Director of the Orthopaedic Surgery Residency Program at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (PCOM)! 🩺 In this conversational discussion, Dr. Rosenblatt will share his journey to becoming an osteopathic physician and how his decision to pursue a DO education shaped his career in orthopedic surgery. He will reflect on the experiences that inspired him to choose osteopathic medicine, the challenges and opportunities of matching into one of the most competitive surgical specialties, and how osteopathic principles continue to influence his approach to patient care and surgical practice! 👏

🚨 Fall Conference opportunities are here! 🚨 Applications are now open for the 2026 ACOS-MSS Fall Conference Travel Scholarship and Conference Registration Scholarship, and abstract submissions are officially being accepted! Whether you’re planning to present your research, expand your surgical knowledge, or connect with osteopathic surgeons and fellow medical students from across the country, don’t miss these opportunities to be part of the Fall Conference. Apply for these scholarships, submit your abstract, and find all the necessary information through the Linktree in our bio or the QR codes featured in this post!

Congratulations to this month’s Student Doctor of the Month, Adam Mowery, OMS-II at Meritus School of Osteopathic Medicine! Adam has distinguished himself through exceptional leadership, service, and dedication to his peers, serving as Vice President of both his school's ACOS-MSS chapter and the Student Government Association. 👏 In these roles, he has been instrumental in creating opportunities for student engagement, professional development, and community outreach. Beyond campus, Adam actively serves the Hagerstown community through volunteer work, mentorship, and advocacy while contributing to clinical and population health research and maintaining outstanding academic performance. His integrity, compassion, and commitment to servant leadership embody the values of osteopathic medicine, making him a well-deserved recipient of this recognition!

Congratulations to this month’s Student Researcher of the Month, Micheal Coffin, an OMS-IV at William Carey University College of Osteopathic Medicine! Michael is an incredibly hardworking and accomplished researcher who is currently completing a dedicated neurosurgery research year, building an impressive academic portfolio.  Beyond his own accomplishments, he consistently creates opportunities for his peers by connecting students with projects, encouraging collaboration, and helping others become more involved in research.  He embodies what it means to be an osteopath and is going to make a wonderful neurosurgeon! 👏

The residency application process can seem overwhelming, but you don’t have to navigate it alone! Join ACOS-MSS for Navigating ERAS, a discussion designed to help you better understand the ERAS application process and prepare for the road to residency 🩺 Moderated by Dr. Kelly Van Fossen, this session will cover key application components, important timelines, and practical strategies to help you approach ERAS with confidence. Whether you’re just beginning to think about residency or preparing to apply, you’ll leave with valuable insights and actionable advice! 👏

Students & Residents: Don’t Miss These ACOS Opportunities! 🔬 Quick Shot & Podium Presentations at ACA 2026 Deadline: July 1 Present your research at ACA 2026, strengthen your CV, and share your work with leaders in osteopathic surgery. 🧠 Lead, Mentor, and Research with ORIGINS Deadline: July 1 Serve as a Co-PI, mentor medical students in virtual research projects, and help advance osteopathic surgical research. 👥 Join the Resident Section Executive Committee Deadline: July 15 Develop leadership skills, expand your professional network, and help shape the future of resident programming. 🎥 Resident Surgical Video Competition Deadline: July 31 Showcase your surgical expertise and have your video featured at ACA 2026 in New Orleans. Build your CV. Expand your network. Make your mark in osteopathic surgery. Visit facos.org/ResOpps to learn more and submit your application.

Congratulations to our 2025-2026 Student Researcher of the Year, Olivia Simcox, OMS-II at Marian University Wood College of Osteopathic Medicine! After being recognized as our December Student Researcher of the Month, Olivia has been selected for this annual honor in recognition of her exceptional dedication to scientific inquiry and scholarly achievement. Olivia’s research spans neurointerventional surgery, neuroimaging, and chemistry, with contributions to multiple peer-reviewed publications, including Alzheimer's & Dementia, and abstracts featured in Stroke: Vascular and Interventional Neurology. She has presented her work at major national and international conferences and was recognized as a Best Oral Presentation Finalist at MU-WCOM Research Day. Through her work with Goodman Campbell Brain and Spine and Indiana University School of Medicine, she continues to demonstrate outstanding initiative, technical skill, and scientific curiosity, making her a deserving recipient of the 2025-2026 ACOS-MSS Student Researcher of the Year Award! 👏

Congratulations to our 2025-2026 Student Doctor of the Year, Katie Nichols, OMS-II at Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine – Seton Hill! Following her recognition as our December Student Doctor of the Month, Katie has been selected for this annual honor in recognition of her outstanding leadership, service, and commitment to the surgical field. As president of her ACOS-MSS chapter, she has organized numerous events and created valuable opportunities for medical students to gain exposure to surgical skills and careers in surgery. Katie is also deeply involved in serving her community and consistently demonstrates a passion for supporting and mentoring her peers. Drawing on her previous experience as a surgical physician assistant, she brings a unique perspective and unwavering dedication to osteopathic surgical education. Her leadership and commitment make her a deserving recipient of the 2025-2026 ACOS-MSS Student Doctor of the Year Award! 👏

Starting fourth year and beginning Sub-I’s can be challenging. Join us for an interactive discussion on tips and strategies to stand-out during rotations! 🩺 Please complete the survey in our Linktree so we can address the topics you are most interested in learning about! If you are an incoming PGY-I interested in participating in this event, there is a section at the bottom to indicate your interest. We can't wait to see everyone there! 🎉

Congratulations to this month’s Student Researcher of the Month, Hunter Czajkowski, OMS-II at UIWSOM! 🎉 Hunter has built an impressive portfolio of orthopedic research, with numerous peer-reviewed publications in leading journals and presentations at national conferences, including the annual meeting of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Her work focuses on shoulder pathology, surgical outcomes, and patient-reported outcomes, while her leadership in research coordination and mentorship has helped foster a collaborative scholarly environment among her peers. Her dedication to advancing orthopedic knowledge and improving patient care makes her highly deserving of this recognition. 👏

Congratulations to this month’s Student Doctor of the Month, Sohail Khan, OMS-III at Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine - Middletown! 🎉 Sohail has distinguished himself through exceptional leadership in surgical research, directing a transplant outcomes research group of more than 80 medical students, residents, and attending physicians. Under his leadership, the group has produced numerous peer-reviewed publications and national conference presentations across major surgical and transplant organizations. Beyond research, Sohail has demonstrated a remarkable commitment to service and mentorship, earning the 2024–2025 TOUCH Platinum Award for completing more than 947 volunteer hours while also mentoring students from underrepresented backgrounds and tutoring fellow medical students. A U.S. Marine Corps Captain, Sigma Sigma Phi member, and Gold Humanism Honor Society inductee, Sohail exemplifies the dedication, leadership, and service that define the next generation of osteopathic surgeons. 👏

📱 ACOS-MSS is now on LinkedIn and Facebook! Go follow our new Facebook and LinkedIn accounts to stay up to date on ACOS-MSS news, leadership opportunities, educational resources, conference updates, member spotlights, and more. Whether you’re presenting research, attending conferences, participating in surgical skills workshops, or celebrating a professional milestone, be sure to tag us so we can highlight your accomplishments. Help us grow our online community by following our new pages and showcasing the incredible work being done by osteopathic medical students across the country! Search for ACOS-MSS or follow the links in our Linktree! 👏

Join us on June 8 at 8PM EST for one of our most anticipated events as we welcome Program Directors from a wide range of surgical specialties, including General Surgery, Urology, Orthopedic Surgery, Ophthalmology, Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery, Neurosurgery, Cardiothoracic & Vascular Surgery, and Trauma/Acute Care! The registration link is in our Linktree (in the bio) 👏

Fred Scott, D.O., is connecting with the next generation of osteopathic surgeons through mentorship and outreach. Earlier this month, Dr. Scott and his wife, Debbie, visited Marian University Wood College of Osteopathic Medicine to speak with students interested in General Surgery about the unique opportunities and challenges of rural surgical practice. During the discussion, students learned about the realities of providing surgical care in underserved communities, while Debbie shared perspective on life as a physician spouse in a small town. Thank you Dr. Scott for your work advocating for rural healthcare and for expanding the osteopathic surgical community!

Please join us on June 1st on 8PM EST for our next D.O. You Know Series installment! This will be an exciting event, highlighting Dr. Mangano, a pediatric neurosurgeon at Cincinnati Children’s and past President of ACOS. Please register using the link in our Linktree! 🧠🩺

Join the ACOS-MSS for Kendall's Challenge, a 42-Day Walking, Running, and Cycling Challenge in support of brain cancer patients and their families! 🧠 Anyone anywhere can participate! We'll be connected via an app, tracking our individual and collective miles. We'll share encouragement, motivation, photos, and more! Get in shape. Stay in shape. Train for a big race, take a break from med school, or pursue a personal goal. All fitness levels are welcome! Traveling during Kendall's Challenge? Even better! You can help us add a spot to our Love Goes Further map. Register today at lovegoesfurther.org! Please use the “18+ Student” option ($30) which will include the link to the Kendall's Challenge App and a 2026 Kendall's Challenge T-shirt. The ACOS-MSS member with the top total milage and ACOS-MSS chapter with the top total milage will both receive a prize! You will be able to create a team for each of your individual chapters prior to June 1st (app design is still pending this feature). How far will you go to make a difference?  "No matter how far we go our love goes further."

Interested in getting involved with research but not sure where to begin? 🔬 Join Dr. Debasis Mondal for a practical discussion on the fundamentals of lab-based research, identifying opportunities, and ways to build meaningful research experiences early. Follow the link in our Link Tree to register! 👏