UNE College of Osteopathic Medicine graduates 123 students at its 27th annual commencement
Stephen C. Shannon, D.O., M.P.H., former dean of UNE’s College of Osteopathic Medicine, delivered the commencement address at the University of New England’s College of Osteopathic Medicine commencement ceremony on Saturday, June 7, 2008 at the Merrill Auditorium in Portland.
Thousands of family members and friends gathered to witness as the College of Osteopathic Medicine awarded 123 doctors of osteopathic medicine degrees to its largest class yet.
Fifteen masters in public health students also received their degrees during the ceremony.
The University also awarded its Pioneer of Osteopathic Medicine Medal, and recognized two longtime faculty members with Professor Emeriti status:
Stephen C. Shannon, D.O., M.P.H.
Commencement Speaker
Stephen C. Shannon, D.O., M.P.H., has been president of the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine (AACOM) since January 2006. Prior to assuming this position, he served as vice president for health services and dean of the College of Osteopathic Medicine at the University of New England for 10 years. He served as chair of the AACOM board of deans from July 2003 to June 2005.
Dr. Shannon earned his doctor of osteopathic medicine degree in 1986 from the University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine in Biddeford, Maine, and his master’s of public health degree in 1990 from the Harvard University School of Public Health. He is board certified in preventive medicine and osteopathic family practice.
He also has a long history of leadership and service in public health. Dr. Shannon was instrumental in the development of a master of public health program within the university, has served on numerous public health boards and commissions and is a founder and past chair of the board of the Maine Center for Public Health.
Dr. Shannon has strong professional interests in public health and preventive medicine, health professions workforce, rural health and medical education.
Gene Yonuschot, Ph.D.
Professor Emeritus
Gene Yonuschot, Ph.D., has been a vital member of the University of New England and the College of Osteopathic Medicine for nearly 30 years. Dr. Yonuschot arrived at UNE in 1978 as associate dean for basic science in UNECOM, and has since devoted himself to the development, management and furthering of UNECOM education worldwide.
Dr. Yonuschot was no stranger to the world of osteopathic medicine when he arrived at UNE, having previously served as chairman and associate professor of biochemistry at the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine. During this time he became the first elected chairman of the Faculty Council.
In 1982 Dr. Yonuschot became a tenured professor of biochemistry and held the position of executive associate dean of the college, a one-year position created during a search for a new dean, because accreditation rules prohibit a Ph.D. from holding the dean’s title. In 1984 he completed a sabbatical that hypothesized that a rise in calcium was a necessary and sufficient event leading to cell division.
For more than 20 years Dr. Yonuschot served as professor of biochemistry at UNECOM. During this time he developed an asynchronous distance biochemistry course that currently serves more than 340 students each year around the globe. Dr. Yonuschot also developed a distance post-baccalaureate pre-health science program.
Before he began his academic career, Dr. Yonuschot served in the U.S. Army as an airborne demolition expert from 1955 to 1958, during which he earned his high school equivalency. He then went on to earn his bachelor’s degree in physical sciences in 1963 from the California Polytechnic College and earned his doctorate in biochemistry in 1969 from the University of Missouri, Columbia.
James Novotny, Ph.D.
Professor Emeritus
James Novotny, Ph.D., has an extensive history of contributions to the University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine, as well as to the field of osteopathy. He has been a faculty member of UNECOM since its establishment in 1978, and served as chairman of the department of microbiology from 1978–2005.
Dr. Novotny earned his Ph.D. in viral immunology from the University of Maryland, where he also received an M.S. in viral pathogenesis and a B.S. in microbiology. He has researched and published prolifically, co-authoring dozens of research presentations and studies in environmental and marine virology and clinical microbiology. Dr. Novotny has also been the principal investigator or co-investigator for grants and contract awards totaling $3.2 million.
During his time at UNE until his retirement in 2007, Dr. Novotny served in many important capacities, among them: the COM admissions committee from 1978–2007, COM curriculum committee from 1978–1988, UNE faculty senate vice-chair from 1984–1986 and chair 1986–1988, UNECOM AOA self-study committee chairperson 1979–1984 and 1994–2002. Dr. Novotny also developed the microbiology curriculum for the MSPA program in 2005. He served on the UNE faculty assembly as a representative 1998–1999 and a senator from 2000–2002.
An active member of the southern Maine community, Dr. Novotny served on the board of directors of the Pine Tree Council of the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) from 1985–1987, and served on the BSA troop committee from 1980–1985 and as chairman from 1983–1985. He was an active Little League baseball coach for many years. Dr. Novotny was an institutional representative to the Research Directors of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine AOA, Chicago, IL, from 1984–2003 and a COMLEX-Level 1 Item Writer, Medical Immunology and Virology National Board of Osteopathic Medical Examiners from 1998–2000. He has also been an adjunct scientist with Bigelow Laboratories for Ocean Sciences in West Boothbay, Maine, since 1995.
Dr. Novotny is a member of the American Academy of Microbiology National Registry of Microbiologists (Public Health and Medical Laboratory Microbiology) and the American Society for Microbiology. He was certified by the State of Maine Department of Health and Human Services to serve as director of the UNE Petts Health Center Microbiology Laboratory from 1989–1992, as well as by the College of American Pathologists External Comparative Evaluation program in diagnostic clinical microbiology from 1989–1992.
Dr. Novotny lives in Kennebunkport with his wife of 49 years, Marilyn Sanders Novotny; they have two sons, Jim Jr., and John, and two daughters, Lynanne and Laura.
J. Chase Rand, D.O.
Pioneer of Osteopathic Medicine Medal Recipient
J. Chase Rand, D.O., has been involved with the University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine since its beginnings. One of the founding faculty members of UNECOM, Dr. Rand served as chairman of the curriculum committee (1976-1998), as well as chairman of the department of general/family practice from 1978 to 1998. Most recently he led efforts in the development of a geriatrics practice that eventually resulted in the creation of our MatureCare practice, the largest geriatrics practice in the state. Dr. Rand is a certified medical director in long-term care with the American Medical Directors Association.
Dr. Rand is a graduate of the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine and interned at Doctor’s Hospital in Columbus, Ohio. He is certified by the American College of General Practitioners (ACGP), which is now the American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians (ACOFP), and holds a certificate of added qualification in geriatrics in the ACOFP.
Among his many notable accomplishments, Dr. Rand was president of the Maine Osteopathic Association in 1969, and an active board member and chairman of the peer review committee. He has also served as chairman of the ACGP scholarship committee, and secretary/treasurer of the Cumberland County Osteopathic Association. He has conducted a successful family practice in Westbrook since 1963. As a staff member at the Osteopathic Hospital of Maine in Portland, he was instrumental in establishing the Osteopathic Family Practice residency program at that hospital, the second in the United States, where he served as the residency director until the merger of OHM with Maine Medical Center. As director of this program, he trained over 70 family practice physicians.
He left his family practice to concentrate on geriatric care. His growing interest in geriatrics recognized the impending need for geriatric education and service and, as a result, he developed a large geriatric practice in greater Portland with four nurse practitioners in 10 nursing homes. Eventually he partnered with UNE to establish MatureCare, now Maine’s largest group practice devoted to long-term care and elder services.
Dr. Rand served on the drug utilization review committee for the State of Maine Department of Human Services, the medical review team of Rhode Island Health Care Review, and the board of directors of the Professional Review Organization of Maine. He is also past chairman of the Maine chapter of the Arthritis Foundation and a member of the American Heart Association/Maine Affiliate Board of Directors.
Dr. Rand’s service, scholarship and patient care were acknowledged when he was awarded fellow status by the American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians in 1993. He was awarded the Maine Osteopathic Association (MOA) Distinguished Service Award in 1978, as well as the MOA General Practitioner of the Year Award in 1992.
Dr. Rand currently retains courtesy staff privileges at Maine Medical Center and Mercy Hospital in Portland, Maine.He lives in Raymond and has three sons, Steven, Jeffrey and Douglas.