Lincoln Memorial University-DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine (LMU-DCOM) fourth-year student Andrew Woods has received the American Osteopathic College of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (AOCPMR) Student Exemplary Service Award.
AOCPMR student members are recognized with the Exemplary Service Award for their work, service, and interest in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R). Requirements for the award include participating in local Adaptive Sports, Special Olympics or other sports events that involves individuals with physical disabilities, participating in PM&R skills clinics, shadowing physiatrists and allied health professionals in their clinics, and actively participating in AOCPMR conferences and leadership.
Woods serves as president of the Medical Student Council for AOCPMR and has served in various positions on the Medical Student Council as well as in the AOCPMR student chapter at LMU-DCOM. He enlisted in the US Army Reserves in 2015 before starting at LMU-DCOM and went on to be commissioned through the Medical Student Stipend Program (MSSP) as a 2nd Lieutenant in 2019. He currently serves as a 1st Lieutenant and will be promoted to captain upon graduation.
“This award came from years of dedication to PM&R, perseverance through hardships, and a commitment to growing the field of PM&R,” Woods said. “After meeting the stringent criteria associated with the award, including volunteer, research, and leadership requirements, I applied and was awarded the AOCPMR Exemplary Service Award.”
Woods is a Chattanooga, Tennessee, native who lived in Nashville until he was 13 before moving to the suburbs of Philadelphia until being admitted to LMU-DCOM. He decided to pursue physical medicine and rehabilitation after an ankle injury he suffered playing ice hockey at Rutgers University where he earned his bachelor’s degree in exercise science. He felt like LMU-DCOM could provide him with a great opportunity to pursue the field due to Dr. Michael Wieting and the guidance he could provide. LMU-DCOM Senior Associate Dean Wieting is a professor of physical medicine and rehabilitation and osteopathic manipulative medicine.
“Dr. Wieting has been a great resource and mentor for me as I have navigated the PM&R landscape,” Woods said. “It is great to have his advice from his years of experience just a phone or Zoom call away.”
Woods resides in Lexington, Kentucky, and is completing his rotations in London, Kentucky. He and his wife welcomed a baby daughter in November.
He has applied for residency positions with a variety of PM&R programs and is look forward to finding out what is in store for his future in physiatry on Match Day.
The DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine is located on the campus of Lincoln Memorial University in Harrogate, Tennessee. LMU-DCOM is an integral part of LMU’s values-based learning community and is dedicated to preparing the next generation of osteopathic physicians to provide health care in the often-underserved region of Appalachia and beyond. For more information about LMU-DCOM, call 1.800.325.0900, ext. 7082, email dcom@LMUnet.edu, or visit us online at http://med.LMUnet.edu.
