School of Osteopathic Medicine Faculty
Boyd R. Buser
Vice President and Dean
Pikeville College School of Osteopathic Medicine
Office: Armington 220
Telephone: 606.218.5411
E-mail: bbuser@pc.edu
A native of Iowa, Dr. Buser received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Iowa. After earning his osteopathic medical degree from the Des Moines (Iowa) University College of Osteopathic Medicine in 1981, he went on to complete an osteopathic internship at the former Cranston General Hospital in Cranston, R.I. He is board certified in family practice as well as osteopathic manipulative medicine.
As past-president of the American Academy of Osteopathy, the New England Academy of Osteopathy, the Maine Osteopathic Association (MOA), and former chairman of the National Board of Osteopathic Medical Examiners, Dr. Buser maintains a leadership role within the osteopathic medical profession. A member of the American Osteopathic Association’s (AOA) Board of Trustees since 2004, he serves the AOA in a number of other capacities, including chairman of the Bureau of Emerging States’ Concerns and member of the Bureau of Osteopathic Clinical Education and Research. A fellow of the American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians, in 2007 Dr. Buser was elected to the Current Procedural Terminology editorial panel by the Board of Trustees of the American Medical Association. He is the first D.O. to be elected to the panel. He is a current member of the Kentucky Institute of Medicine and the Kentucky Board of Medical Licensure.
Dr. Buser has been active in the osteopathic profession internationally as well. He has taught extensively around the world over the past 15 years. He has represented the American osteopathic profession in a number of World Health Organization (WHO) initiatives, including the WHO Congress on Traditional Medicine, held in Beijing, China, in 2008. He is also an officer of the Board of Directors of the Osteopathic International Alliance.
Since earning his D.O. degree, Dr. Buser has received many awards for outstanding achievements within the osteopathic medical community. In 1994, the AOA, along with the American Osteopathic Foundation, named him the osteopathic profession’s Educator of the Year. The Maine Osteopathic Association presented him with the Roswell Bates Award in 1994 and the Distinguished Service Award in 1996 and 2007.
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William T. Betz
Professor of Family Medicine
Chair, Department of Family Medicine
Senior Associate Dean for Osteopathic Education
Office: Armington 456
Telephone: 606.218.5420
E-mail: wbetz@pc.edu
Classes taught
Clinical Rotations Survival
Clinical Skills
Clinical Skills Practicum
Dermatology
Ethics
HIV/AIDS
Internal Medicine
Pathology
Quality Improvement in Medicine
Surgery
Education
Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine
Kansas City University of Medicine and Bioscience
Master in Business Administration
University of Tennessee at Knoxville
Bachelor of Science in Chemistry
Baker University
Awards
G. Chad and Julianne Perry Endowed Chair of Family Medicine, 2002-2006
Fellow Award, American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians, 1999
Physician of the Year Award, Missouri Society of American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians, 1993
President’s Award, Missouri Association of Osteopathic Family Physicians and Surgeons, 1996
Rho Sigma Chi Honorary Osteopathic Fraternity, 1981
Sigma Sigma Phi National Honorary Osteopathic Fraternity, 1981
Personal
Dr. Betz is a native of Kansas City, Mo., where he spent the first 18 years of his professional career in family medicine, geriatric medicine, and palliative care. He moved to Pikeville College in July of 1998 as the initial chair of the department of family medicine and ultimately became the associate dean for clinical sciences. In 2006, Dr. Betz left Pikeville College to become the founding dean of the College of Osteopathic Medicine and vice president/chief academic officer of Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences in Yakima, Washington. He returned to Pikeville College to become the senior associate dean of Osteopathic Medical Education in April 2009. He enjoys the challenges of the development of new and innovative educational programs as well as travel with his wife Cheryl.
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S. Michael DeAtley
Associate Dean for Basic Sciences
Associate Professor of Pharmacology
Office: Armington 454
Telephone: 606.218.5423
E-mail: sdeatley@pc.edu
Classes taught
Biochemistry
Histology
Medical Pharmacology
Physiology
Education
Doctor of Philosophy in Molecular Pharmacology
University of Kentucky College of Medicine
Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy
Mercer University
Awards
Faculty Congress President, Pikeville College School of Osteopathic Medicine, 2004-2008
Faculty Trustee, Pikeville College School of Osteopathic Medicine, 2004-2008
Student Government Award, Pikeville College School of Osteopathic Medicine, 2006
Student Advocate of the Year, Pikeville College School of Osteopathic Medicine, 2008-2009
Personal
Dr. DeAtley was born and raised outside of Maysville, Ky. As such he has been a lifelong Wildcat fan. He is a retired master scuba diving instructor and over the years has been blessed to have dived most of the exotic sites around the world. His hobbies include scuba diving, golf, UK sports, music, guitar, photography (land & underwater) and world travel with his better half Diana.
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Jeanne E. Gaska
Associate Professor of Pathology
Office: Armington 433
Telephone: 606.218.5425
E-mail: jgaska@pc.edu
Classes taught
Pathology
Education
Doctor of Osteopathy
University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth
Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine
Doctor of Philosophy in Microbiology
Rutgers University
Master of Science in Microbiology
Colorado State University
Bachelor of Science in Biology
Quincy University
Personal
Dr. Gaska is a native of Chicago, Illinois. Her osteopathic internship was at St. Barnabas Hospital, Bronx, N.Y., and her Pathology residency training at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey School of Osteopathic Medicine.
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Walter W. Gearheart
Associate Professor of Physiology
Office: Armington 415
Telephone: 606.218.5433
E-mail: wgearhea@pc.edu
Classes taught
Medical Physiology
Education
Doctor of Philosophy – Quantitative Genetics
Ohio State University
Master of Science - Genetics
University of Kentucky
Bachelor of Science – Biology (Pre-med)
University of Kentucky
Research
Watts, J., W. Gearheart and R. Rangel. 2009. Analysis of Health Trends for Patients of the
Pike County (KY) Health Clinic. Presented at the Appalachian College Association
Summit, Abingdon Va.
Title III Grant (Baptist College Health Sci, Memphis, Tenn). Development of
Pathophysiology Course Specific Enrichment Activities as a Component of the Title III
Learning Lab. W. Gearheart, PI. Funded, Summer 2007.
U.S. Dept. of Energy. South Carolina Consortium for Environmental Science. W.
Gearheart, PI and Coordinator, Morris College. Funded 2001-2003.
Gearheart, W.W. 1999. Alcoholism. In the Encyclopedia of Genetics. J.A. Knight, Ed.
pp7-10.
Gearheart, W.W. 1999. Behavior. In the Encyclopedia of Genetics. J.A. Knight, Ed. pp
42-46.
Gearheart, W.W. 1999. Sheep Cloning. In the Encyclopedia Of Genetics. J.A. Knight,
Ed., pp. 501-504.
Gearheart, W.W. and R. Goodwill. 1990. Divergent selection for pupa weight of Tribolium
castaneum in optimum and adverse environments. J. Anim. Breeding and Genetics
107:249.
Gearheart, W.W., D.S. Keller and C. Smith. 1989. The use of elite nucleus units in beef
cattle breeding strategies. J. Anim. Sci. 68:1229.
Gearheart, W.W., M.E. Davis and W.R. Harvey. 1989. The effect of adjusting for yearly
selection trends on variance component estimates. Can. J. Anim. Sci. 69:487.
Gearheart, W.W. and C. Smith. 1989. Multiple ovulation and embryo manipulations in the
improvement of beef cattle: Relative theoretical rates of genetic change. J. Anim. Sci.
67:2863.
Gearheart, W. and P. Fernandes. 1997. Learning in undergraduate science courses:
Beyond the rhetoric and theory, can we really do anything to help? Presented at the 4th
annual HBCU Faculty Development Network Symposium, Atlanta, Ga.
Gearheart W., 1998. Characterization of a hazardous waste landfill in Pinewood, S.C.
Presented at the 5th Annual Faculty Development Network Symposium, Miami Fla.
Davis, M.E., J.J. Rutledge, L.V. Cundiff, W. Gearheart, and E.R. Hauser. 1987. Efficiency
of beef production: VII. Prediction of cow efficiency ratios for progeny weaned and
slaughtered. J. Anim. Sci. 64:50.
Davis, M.E., W.R. Harvey, M.D. Bishop and W.W. Gearheart. 1988. Use of embryo
transfer to induce twinning in beef cattle: Embryo survival rate, gestation length, birth
weight and weaning weight of calves. J. Anim. Sci. 67:301.
Keller, D.S., W.W. Gearheart and C. Smith. 1989. A comparison of factors reducing
selection response in closed nucleus breeding schemes. J. Anim. Sci. 68:1553.
Fulwood, W.W. Gearheart and K. Meier. 1995. Mechanism of phorbol ester-induces cell
death in El4 cells. Proceedings of the 9th National Conference on Undergraduate
Research.
Personal
Dr. Gearheart is a native of the Appalachian area of Eastern Kentucky, growing up and attending school just north of Pikeville (Harold and Allen elementary school and Prestonsburg high school). He taught at the undergraduate and graduate level in South Carolina, the Caribbean and Tennessee before joining the PCSOM faculty. Dr. Gearheart enjoys reading, sports and spending time with his wife Adrienne, daughter Mckenzie and son Zachary.
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Laura Griffin
Associate Professor of Osteopathic Principles and Practices
Office: Armington 416
Telephone: 606.218.5434
E-mail: lgriffin@pc.edu
Classes taught
Osteopathic Principles and Practices
Education
Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine
University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine
Bachelor of Science in Biology
State University of New York at New Paltz
Board certification
Neuromusculoskeletal Medicine and Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine
Family Medicine
Awards
Fellow, American Academy of Osteopathy, 2009
Faculty Member of the Year, Pikeville College School of Osteopathic Medicine Student Advocate Association, 2009
Personal
Dr. Griffin is a native of Red Hook, N.Y., but lived in Maine for nine years while attending medical school and completing her residency. She then lived in Grand Rapids, Mich., for seven years while teaching at Metro Health Hospital, before moving to Pikeville in 2008 to join Dr. Buser and the faculty at PCSOM. Dr. Griffin enjoys movies, reading, making stained glass artwork, cooking, gardening, spending time with family and her cat and sheepdogs.
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Steven R. Harris
Associate Dean for Academic Affairs
Associate Professor of Pharmacology
Office: Armington 450
Telephone: 606.218.5422
E-mail: sharris@pc.edu
Classes taught
Biochemistry
Histology
Human Physiology
Medical Pharmacology
Molecular Pharmacology
Physiology
Education
Doctor of Philosophy in Pharmacology & Toxicology
University of Georgia
Masters of Science in Pharmacology & Toxicology
Auburn University
Bachelor of Arts in Biology and Chemistry
LaGrange College
Awards
Teaching Excellence Award, Pikeville College School of Osteopathic Medicine, 1999-2009
SAA Outstanding Faculty Award, Pikeville College School of Osteopathic Medicine, 2008
Staff Member of the Year, Pikeville College School of Osteopathic Medicine, 2008
Administrator of the Year, Pikeville College School of Osteopathic Medicine, 2003-2005
Personal
Dr. Harris was born in North Carolina but lived most of his life in Georgia. Following postdoctoral training at the National Cancer Institute, he moved to Pikeville in 1998 to organize and teach the medical pharmacology course at PCSOM. Since that time he has taken on administrative responsibilities as associate dean for Basic Sciences from 2002-2008, and as associate dean for Academic Affairs from 2008-present. He enjoys various sports activities including golf, football, baseball and basketball, as well as spending time with his wife, Barbara, and kids.
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Michael LaFontaine
Associate Professor of Medical Biochemistry
Office: Armington 437
Telephone: 606.218.5427
E-mail: mlafonta@pc.edu
Classes taught
Biochemical Toxicology
Enzyme Mechanisms
General Chemistry
Medical Biochemistry
Nutrition
Organic Chemistry
Proteomics, Genomics and Vaccines
Education
Ph.D. in Chemistry, Biological/Organic Division
University of Kentucky
B.S. in Biology
University of Michigan at Flint
Awards
Faculty Community Service Award, Ferris State University, 2007
Personal
Dr. LaFontaine is a native of Michigan, where he lived until graduating from college. Following a short stint as a wildlife biologist, he returned to school to earn a Ph.D. in biological chemistry, working on projects in neurochemistry at the University of Kentucky. His first academic appointment was at Central Connecticut State University, where his professional work shifted to a focus on pharmacology and pharmacokinetics. Prior to serving at PCSOM, he was a faculty member at the College of Pharmacy at Ferris State University where he was promoted to associate professor. Dr. LaFontaine and his wife, Melanie, have two children, Kaitlyn and Connor, and he enjoys outdoor activities such as climbing, backpacking, caving and adventure racing.
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Randy G. Litman
Associate Dean for Clinical Sciences
Associate Professor of Osteopathic Principles & Practice
Chair, Department of Osteopathic Principles & Practice
Office: Armington 457
Telephone: 606.218.5428
E-mail: rlitman@pc.edu
Positions at Pikeville College School of Osteopathic Medicine
Associate Dean for Clinical Sciences
Associate Professor of Osteopathic Principles & Practice
Chair, Department of Osteopathic Principles & Practice
Education
Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine
Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine
Hospital Affiliation
Pikeville Medical Center
Department of Medicine
Personal
Dr. Litman is a primary care internist from Philadelphia, Pa. He has been involved in medical education since 1994, and was appointed to the faculty of two Philadelphia area medical schools and five nursing schools before joining the Pikeville College School of Osteopathic Medicine in 2004. He has been married for over 30 years and has two children.
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Warren A. Lushia
Assistant Professor of Biochemistry
Office: Armington 440
Telephone: 606.218.5426
E-mail: wlushia@pc.edu
Classes taught
Medical Biochemistry
Education
Doctor of Philosophy, Plant Pathology
University of Kentucky
Bachelor of Science, In Vitro Cell Biology and Biotechnology, Minor: Chemistry
State University of New York at Plattsburgh
Awards
Golden Apple Award for Excellence in Teaching, Pikeville College School of Osteopathic Medicine, 2007, 2009
Pikeville Research Projects
Development of a novel procedure for mitochondrial transformation
Antibiotic resistance in bacteria
The potential of corn stalk rot fungi for cellulosic bioconversion in fuel ethanol production (Awarded grant support through Kentucky Science and Engineering Foundation)
Personal
Dr. Lushia was born in Scotland, but grew up in the Plattsburgh area of northern New York, in the Appalachian Adirondack mountains. When his dreams of becoming a rock star were crushed by a lack of talent, he pursued his love of science that eventually lead him to graduate studies and post-doctoral training at the University of Kentucky before joining the faculty at Pikeville College School of Osteopathic Medicine in 2004. In addition to his role in educating future medical doctors, Dr. Lushia has spent a lot of time pursuing research interests and establishing the laboratories at PCSOM as cutting-edge research facilities. During his free time, Dr. Lushia enjoys golf, pool, non-fiction TV, playing guitar and heavy metal music.
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Kartik Rangaraj
Assistant Professor of Medical Physiology
Office: Armington 436
Telephone: 606.218.5417
E-mail: krangara@pc.edu
Education
Medical University of America
Pennsylvania State University
Personal
If one were to follow the flowing mountain springs, at the foot of it can be found Dr. Raj-a professor of the awesome Appalachia-a place where one must embrace the tradition of the mountains, and in return, it shall warmly protect your way of life. “Dr. Raj,” lovingly known to his students, joined the PCSOM family during the fall of 2008 as the assistant professor of medical physiology.
“My aim is to ignite the fire of my students or thereby pursue methods that would yield such results. This is my dream. If you want to master a subject, teach it!” says Raj, who comes to Pikeville as a youthful medical graduate with much enthusiasm. “This is an exciting time to be part of the PCSOM family; a revolution is taking place with limitless potential. I intend on utilizing these increasingly available resources in the mountains, where not only does one find life, but life will flow to you.
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Cathryn J. Rehmeyer
Assistant Professor of Pathology
Office: Armington 441
Telephone: 606.218.5431
E-mail: crehmeye@pc.edu
Education
Doctor of Philosophy, Plant Pathology
University of Kentucky (2005)
Dissertation: “Sequencing of chromosome ends and characterization of a
telomere-linked helicase gene family in the rice blast fungus Magnaporthe
oryzae.”
Master of Arts, Secondary Education with Biology Emphasis
Morehead State University (2003)
Bachelor of Arts, Teaching Biology, Music minor
Transylvania University (1995)
Research publications
Rehmeyer, C.J., W. Li and M.L. Farman. Telomere-linked helicase gene families unique to
fungal subtelomeres encode a novel domain and conserved motifs that distinguish them
as a RecQ subfamily. In preparation, Fungal Genetics and Biology.
Rehmeyer, C.J., W. Li and M.L. Farman. (2009) The telomere-linked helicase (TLH)
gene family in Magnaporthe oryzae: revised gene structure reveals a novel
TLH-specific protein motif. Current Genetics. Epub Apr 10.
Rehmeyer, C.J., W. Li, and M.L. Farman (2006) Organization of chromosome ends in the
rice blast fungus, Magnaporthe oryzae. Nucleic Acids Research. 34 (17): 4685-701.
Dean, R.A., Talbot, N.J., Ebbole, D.J., Farman, M.L., Mitchell, T., Orbach, M.J., Thon,
M., Kulkarni, R., Xu, J., Pan, H., Read, N.D., Lee, Y., Carbone, I., Brown, D.,
Soanes, D.M., Djonovic, S., Kolomiets, E., Rehmeyer, C.J., Li, W., Harding, M.,
Kim, S., Lebrun, M., Bohnert, H., Butler, J., Calvo, S., Ma, L., Nicol, R., Purcell,
S., Nusbaum, C., Galagan, J.E., and Birren, B.W. (2005) Analysis of the genome
sequence of the plant pathogenic fungus Magnaporthe grisea, the causal agent of
rice blast disease. Nature. 434 (7036): 980-6.
Li, W., C.J. Rehmeyer, C. Staben, M.L. Farman. (2004) TruMatch – A BLAST
post-processor that identifies and reports bona fide sequence matches. Bioinformatics.
21(9): 2097-8.
Li, W., C.J. Rehmeyer, C. Staben, M.L. Farman. (2004) TERMINUS – telomeric
end-read mining IN unassembled sequences. Bioinformatics. 21(8): 1695-8.
Awards
Class of 2009 Golden Apple Award (for teaching excellence), Pikeville College School of Osteopathic Medicine, 2007
Graduate Research Fellowship, National Science Foundation, 2003-2006
M.S. Fuller Travel Award for travel to the 2005 MSA annual meeting in Hilo, Hawaii, Mycological Society of America, 2005
Program for Excellence in Science awardee, AAAS/Science, 2004-2006
Travel award to present research at the 9th U.S.-Japan Seminar on Plant Pathogen
Interactions: Genomic and Genetic Analysis of Plant Parasitism and Defense, Shizuoka,
Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan, 2003
Benjamin Cummings Publishing Campbell Biology Prize, Second Place, 1994
Personal
Dr. Rehmeyer joined the PC family in January 2006. She enjoys gardening, backpacking, fishing, hunting, playing music and travel. She lives in Pikeville with her husband, John, and young daughter, Vivian.
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John E. Rehmeyer
Instructor in Family Medicine
Executive Director of A-OPTIC
Office: Community Technology Center 424
Telephone: 606.218.5162
E-mail: jrehmeye@pc.edu
Education
Master of Arts in English Education
Morehead State University
Bachelor of Science in English Education
California University of Pennsylvania
Personal
John Rehmeyer grew up on a farm in Tolna, Pa., the south-central portion. He has spent the past 10 years in Kentucky, mostly in the Knobs around Lexington and Pikeville for the last three. After undergraduate school near Pittsburgh, Pa., he spent a few years farming and building houses. Since moving to Kentucky, he has taught English and Humanities in the public schools. He became the executive director of A-OPTIC in April 2009. He enjoys spending time with his daughter, reading, hunting, fishing, playing music and travelling with his wife Cathryn.
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Julia H. Smith
Gross Anatomy Laboratory Instructor
Office: Armington 010
Telephone: 606.218.5401
E-mail: jsmith@pc.edu
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Tracy L. Soltesz
Associate Professor of Anatomy
Office: Armington 424
Telephone: 606.218.5466
E-mail: tsoltesz@pc.edu
Classes taught
Undergraduate
Medical Terminology
Graduate
Cell Biology and Developmental Microanatomy
Gross Anatomy
Medical Neuroscience
Education
Doctor of Philosophy in Biomedical Sciences (Anatomy)
Marshall University School of Medicine
Master of Science in Biomedical Sciences (Anatomy)
Marshall University School of Medicine
Bachelor of Science in Biology
Carlow College
Awards
Gender Equity Award, American Medical Women’s Association, 1998
Class of 2003 Most Caring Professor Award, Marshall University, 2000
Personal
Dr. Soltesz is a native of Zelienople, Pa. She moved to Huntington, W.Va., to complete her graduate work and has remained in the region ever since completing her Ph.D. Dr. Soltesz started teaching at Pikeville College in the undergraduate biology department in 2000. She moved to the School of Osteopathic Medicine in 2007. She enjoys gardening, reading, needlepoint, music and movies. Dr. Soltesz and her husband, Dr. Harold Chittum, keep both marine and freshwater aquaria and enjoy spending time with their Boston terrier, Baxter, house rabbit Esther Bunny and cats Fran, Eddie, Bennie and Sophie.
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Edward G. Stiles
Professor of Osteopathic Principles & Practice
Office: Armington 434
Telephone: 606.218.5424
E-mail: estiles@pc.edu
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Peter Zajac
Associate Professor of Family Medicine
Director of Clinical Skills Training and Evaluation
Office: Armington 431
Telephone: 606.218.5429
E-mail: pzajac@pc.edu
Dr. Peter Zajac, D.O., currently serves as an associate professor of Family Medicine and director of the medical school’s Clinical Skills Training and Evaluation Program.
Dr. Zajac was previously an assistant professor of Family Medicine and clinician, and chair of International Clinical Rotations at Lincoln Memorial University-DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine (LMU-DCOM). Prior to that, he was an osteopathic family practice residency program director and medical director of a rural family practice teaching facility affiliated with Clarion Hospital in Clarion, Pa. He was also chairman of the Department of Family Practice and OMM and a member of the Medical Executive, Credentials and Medical Education committees at Clarion Hospital.
A graduate of La Salle University in Philadelphia, Pa., Dr. Zajac received his D.O. degree from the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (PCOM). He completed a traditional osteopathic rotating internship at the Hospital of Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine/Graduate Hospital Health System and a residency in Family Medicine at Delaware Valley Medical Center in Langhorne, Pa. He is board certified in family practice by the American Board of Osteopathic Family Physicians. In addition to lecturing, as well as teaching and training medical students, interns, residents and allied health professionals, Dr. Zajac has practiced as both an urban and rural physician in Pennsylvania and Tennessee, providing a full scope of inpatient and outpatient care.
Dr. Zajac has served as a faculty member and speaker for Primary Care Network/EDUS, as an adjunct clinical assistant professor for the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine, a contributor to the HEALTH TALK Column in the Clarion News, a member panel/chief examiner and OMT Subject Matter expert for the PA OMT Exam Administration, CPT instructor for the Clarion County Career Center, and an evaluator for the National Board of Osteopathic Medical Examiners (NBOME). Among other professional interests, such as research and continuing medical education, he remains active as a member of both national and state osteopathic medical organizations and as a student teaching preceptor for the American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians (ACOFP).
Dr. Zajac has volunteered and enjoys working in the community along with spending time with family, friends, colleagues and close ones.
147 Sycamore Street
Pikeville, Kentucky 41501
606.218.5250
1.866.BEARS.00
www.pc.edu