Campbell med school gets grants, welcomes new class and faculty

August 21, 2024

The Campbell University medical school has welcomed the class of 2028, capping a busy summer featuring myriad honors, grants and new faculty and staff.

About 50 percent of the students are from North Carolina, although the medical school is also composed of students from places such as California, Utah, Minnesota, Texas and New York, accepting students from throughout the U.S.

All students at the medical school will work to uphold the school's mission of caring for the underserved in rural areas of North Carolina and the Southeast.

"We are excited to welcome our new cohort, which embodies our commitment to diversity, excellence, and service," said Dr. Brian Kessler, dean of the Jerry M. Wallace School of Osteopathic Medicine at Campbell.

"Our students' broad geographic backgrounds, paired with our new faculty's expertise, strengthen our mission to deliver outstanding medical education while addressing the healthcare needs of underserved communities. Together, our students and faculty will continue to advance our vision of compassionate care and innovation in medical practice."

About 55 percent of the new students are women, and 14 percent are Campbell University graduates, including students from both undergraduate and graduate programs.

The average age of new class members is 23.

"These numbers show that we are truly meeting our mission," says Jennifer Patterson, director of admissions for the Jerry M. Wallace School of Osteopathic Medicine at Campbell.

The school also welcomed three faculty and staff members.

They are:

- Dr. Davin Townley-Tilson, assistant professor of Physiology. Townley-Tilson earned a master's degree in Public Health from the University of North Carolina and most recently was a research assistant professor at UNC.

- Dr. Rodrigo Santos, assistant professor of Microbiology and Immunology, earned his Ph. D. from the University of Sao Paulo, Brazil. Santos, who studied viral pathogenesis and virus-cell interactions, most recently worked at Bioagilytix in Durham and as a visiting scientist at N.C. State.

- Coty Calabro, a Behavioral Health clinician, completed her internship at Campbell's medical school.She earned a bachelor's degree in psychology from N.C. State and a master's in clinical mental health counseling from Campbell University.

Also, Dr. Joseph Cacioppo, director of Community and Global Health, received several grants. One grant, $50,000 from the Duke Endowment, will address barriers to healthcare in Harnett County through the implementation of Integrated Behavioral Health Services into a free clinic.

The American Academy of Dermatology Association awarded the medical school $2,000 in the form of a Good Skin Knowledge Community Grant, and the N.C. Health and Human Services/Office of Rural Health awarded an $150,000 state fiscal year Community Health Grant Year, three-year continuation,.

Dr. Snezana Petrovic, associate professor, Physiology and Pathophysiology, earned a $5,000 Curriculum Innovation Grant grant from International Association of Medical Science Educators.

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