Marian University Wood College of Osteopathic Medicine

What a blessing it was to see 72 MU-WCOM alumni representatives return to support the 2026 Hospital Day & Residency Fair through meaningful conversations around residency training, specialty exploration, mentorship, and life after medical school.

We closed the day with an alumni reception to reconnect, celebrate, and recognize the growing MU-WCOM physician community, which is now almost 1,500 alumni!

Thank you to our alumni for continuing to invest in the next generation of osteopathic physicians.

Thank you to everyone who joined us for the 2026 MU-WCOM Hospital Day and Residency Fair.

From interactive, in-person engagement with Student Interest Groups to meaningful conversations with hospitals and residency programs, the day was all about helping future physicians connect with the people and programs shaping healthcare.

Check out all the photos on flickr. https://hubs.la/Q04lDlvc0

Tuesday afternoon, MU-WCOM's third-year osteopathic medical students were excited to welcome American Academy of Neurology visiting professor Timothy Fullam, MD, for his lecture “A Perspective on the Sea: From Localization to Precision Therapy: Navigating the Evolving Field of Neurology.”

At this year’s Ascension Research Symposium, MU-WCOM students, alumni, and faculty were found in all corners, classrooms, and conversations, presenting posters and from the stage. Well done, and much appreciation for all your amazing research! We’ll see you all again next year!

Check out just how many from the MU-WCOM community participated:

Benjamin Leeds, DO '21
Alysha Scheeler, DO '23
Kiley Wardwell, OMS-2
Samina Akbar, Ph.D.
Sujana Vemuru, OMS-3
Shivani Suravarjjala, DO '24
Ethan Thornburg ’26
Austin Trinh ’26
Marsha DeSmet, Ph.D.
Brian Skinner, PharmD, BCPS
E. Jenkins, OMS-3
J. McGinty
Diana Heyden, OMS-2
Molly Noriega, OMS-3
Jessica Abbott, OMS-3
Lyree Mikhail, MD
Sumathi Velavan, MBBS
Megan B***e, Ph.D.
Robyn Fuchs, Ph.D.
Ced McAree
Bryce Bridgewater, DO '24
Alex Martinez, DO '25
Mike Pate
Brandon Wright, MS, OMS-2
Olivia Simcox, OMS-2
Henry Kotlinski, DO '25
Arielle Coy, DO '24
Hania Khan, DO '25
Mitchell Keeling, OMS-3
Nicholas Lo, OMS-3
Robert Dazé, DO '18
Molly Noriega, OMS-3
Maxwell Stoll ’26
Marsha DeSmet, Ph.D.
and Ella Moritz, OMS-2 with Cannula-Related Complications in Pediatric ECMO: A 37-Year Single Center Experience on the main stage

Marian University Indianapolis
Ascension
Ascension St. Vincent Indianapolis

This Throwback Thursday, we’re shouting out our Master of Science in Biomedical Sciences Class of 2026 with a look at their Hooding Ceremony prior to Commencement. Family, friends, faculty, and staff gathered in the packed Evans Center lecture hall to celebrate our new alumni.

Check out all the photos at https://hubs.la/Q04hxB_70.

Congratulations to our graduates and award recipients:
* Outstanding Academic Achievement: Lauren Butler
* Alternative Paths & Perseverance: Alec Haldeman
* Student Researcher: Martin Matov
* Common Good: Travis Gover (not pictured)
* Student Leadership: Ethan Thornburg
* Franciscan Spirit: Carl Suba
* BMS Alumni: Irish Starkey, M.S.

Congratulations to Dr. Robyn Fuchs on receiving tenure and promotion to Full Professor at Marian University College of Osteopathic Medicine!

Dr. Fuchs has demonstrated exceptional excellence in teaching, scholarship, mentorship, and service, while also providing outstanding leadership as Chair of the Department of Physiology and Pharmacology through her strategic vision, faculty support, and commitment to advancing the academic mission of MU-WCOM.

From her innovative and student-centered approach to physiology education, to her nationally recognized musculoskeletal research program, to her tireless institutional and professional service, Dr. Fuchs has made an extraordinary impact on our students, faculty, and college community. Her dedication to advancing medical education, fostering student scholarship, mentoring future physicians, and promoting compassionate, evidence-based healthcare truly embodies the mission and values of Marian University.

Congratulations, Dr. Fuchs, on this well-deserved achievement and thank you for your continued leadership and service to MU-WCOM!

Congratulations to Dr. Erica Ausel on her promotion to Associate Professor with tenure!

Since joining Marian University, Dr. Ausel completely transformed the Anatomy, Histology, and Embryology course sequence in the M.S. in Biomedical Sciences program, earning consistently outstanding student evaluations and the 2025 Anatomage Research Pioneer Award for her innovative use of virtual dissection technology.

She recently spearheaded the integration of cadaveric dissection into the BMS curriculum, a monumental undertaking that has significantly strengthened student preparation for medical school and health professions programs.

A scholar in medical education, Dr. Ausel has published multiple peer-reviewed articles with numerous Marian University student authors and secured external funding including an AACOM Research Grant. She was recently recognized by Marian University with the 2025 Franciscan Values Award reflecting her deep commitment to our university's mission.

Please join us in celebrating, Dr. Ausel!

Congratulations to Dr. Catherine Steding on her promotion to Associate Professor with tenure!

Since joining Marian University, Dr. Steding has demonstrated remarkable professional growth as a faculty member in the M.S. in Biomedical Sciences program. She has developed her Medical Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and Genetics courses into engaging and highly rated learning experiences by graduate students.

Her research in chemoresistance mechanisms has provided meaningful mentorship opportunities for students, many of whom have gone on to present their work at state and national conferences. Dr. Steding has also contributed to the broader academic community through her role as Scholar-in-Residence for the Innovation in STEHM Education Learning Community and her election as MU-WCOM Faculty Association Secretary reflects the respect she has earned among her colleagues.

Her research in chemoresistance mechanisms has provided meaningful mentorship opportunities for students, many of whom have gone on to present their work at state and national conferences. Dr. Steding has also contributed to the broader academic community through her role as Scholar-in-Residence for the Innovation in STEHM Education Learning Community, and her election as MU-WCOM Faculty Association Secretary reflects the respect she has earned among her colleagues.

In teaching, Dr. McClelland has demonstrated exceptional dedication and creativity, leading the majority of MU-WCOM's Immunology curriculum while also voluntarily supporting the Biomedical Science Program and implementing high-impact innovations, such as comprehensive pathway visuals and practice questions, that earned consistently strong praise from students.

In teaching, Dr. McClelland has demonstrated exceptional dedication and creativity, leading the majority of MU-WCOM's Immunology curriculum while voluntarily supporting the Biomedical Science Program and implementing high-impact innovations such as comprehensive pathway visuals and practice questions that earned consistently strong praise from students.

Her scholarly productivity has been equally impressive, with two manuscripts under review, a third in preparation, an awarded NIH R15 grant for $375,000, and the mentorship of five student researchers whose work was disseminated at multiple regional and national conferences.

In service, Dr. McClelland has shown remarkable institutional commitment by simultaneously chairing both the COM Research Committee and the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee, while also serving as President of the Indiana Branch of the American Society for Microbiology and organizing public STEM outreach through her "Science with a Twist" events.

Across every dimension of academic life, Dr. McClelland has consistently exceeded expectations, and this recognition is a true testament to five years of outstanding dedication to her students, her research, and the MU-WCOM community.

Congratulations, Dr. McClelland!

MU-WCOM congratulates Dr. Megan B***e on successfully completing her third-year review at Marian University.

Dr. B***e earned her doctorate from the Indiana University School of Medicine and joined MU-WCOM in 2023 as an Assistant Professor of Anatomy. She is recognized for her high-quality teaching, thoughtful curriculum development, and dedicated service. Dr. B***e has contributed to curricular innovation by developing the Ultrasound Enrichment Program, which is especially valued by students and colleagues. She mentors osteopathic medical students in research and advances a growing program of scholarship in medical education.

In addition, she contributes meaningfully through leadership roles on key committees and active involvement in a range of institutional initiatives. Congratulations to Dr. B***e on this important milestone and her continued contributions to Marian University.