Draft-The Costin Institute for Osteopathic Medical Educators

Funded by the Osteopathic Heritage Foundation, the Costin Institute was an academic program for medical personnel. The program ended in May 2025 and has been repurposed into an annual scholarship for qualified CCOM students.

Costin Institute Logo

History of the Costin Institute

The Costin Institute for Medical Educators (Costin Institute) was established at Midwestern University (MWU) in 2003 through an endowment funded by the Osteopathic Heritage Foundation (Foundation) and named in honor of J. Richard Costin, D.O. 

Dr. Costin was a 1949 graduate of Midwestern University’s Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine (CCOM), and joined the staff of Doctors Hospital in Columbus, Ohio in 1954. He was a respected surgeon, teacher, and leader of the osteopathic profession and served as chair of the CCOM and Osteopathic Heritage Foundation boards. Dr. Costin served as Board Chair of the Foundation for nearly a decade and remained involved with the Foundation until his death in 2014.

Learn More about the Osteopathic Heritage Foundation

For more than 20 years, the Costin Institute provided training for osteopathic physicians and other medical professionals engaged in teaching and academic management. Program participants, known as Costin Scholars, engaged in a year-long educational experience including training in critical areas such as leadership, teaching and learning styles, and emotional intelligence, with the goal of becoming more effective educators and administrators.

Under the visionary leadership of former CCOM Dean Karen Nichols, D.O. and founding director Fran Daly, Ph.D., and the exemplary stewardship of Patricia Krohmer, and current CCOM Dean Thomas Boyle, D.O., the Costin Institute trained more than 300 medical education professionals. Today, Costin Scholars serve in leadership positions across the osteopathic profession including Robert A. Cain D.O., president and CEO, American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine (AACOM), Teresa Hubka, D.O., 128th president of American Osteopathic Association and numerous deans of colleges of osteopathic medicine throughout the U.S. 

Learn more about the Costin Institute alumni:

“The Costin Institute’s contributions to training some of the most effective leaders in osteopathic medical education are significant. These revered individuals are commended for their commitment to providing high quality medical education and training the next generation of osteopathic physicians, increasing access to whole-person care for patients,” said Terri Donlin Huesman, President and CEO, Osteopathic Heritage Foundation.

Over the last twenty years, the osteopathic profession has experienced transformational change, including unprecedented growth in the number of colleges of osteopathic medicine, changing learner needs and preferences, and evolution in osteopathic medical education curriculum. These factors have led to emerging and expanding professional development needs for medical educators, exceeding the scope of the Costin Institute as it was envisioned in 2003.

In response to these changes, MWU CCOM has sunset the Costin Institute effective May 2025. MWU is proud of the Costin Scholars and their contributions to the osteopathic profession and remains committed to providing high quality osteopathic medical education.

J. Richard Costin, D.O., Memorial Scholarship

To continue honoring Dr. Costin and the longstanding partnership between the Foundation and MWU CCOM, the endowment fund has been repurposed to create a new scholarship program at MWU. The J. Richard Costin, D.O., Memorial Scholarship will be awarded annually and provide substantial financial support to two CCOM osteopathic medical students who demonstrate empathy, leadership and professionalism, with a focus on underserved communities. The first J. Richard Costin, D.O., Memorial Scholarships will be awarded in the fall of 2025.

Learn More about Scholarships

Message from the Dean

Midwestern University and the Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine greatly appreciate the approval we have received from the Osteopathic Heritage Foundation to continue to honor J. Richard Costin, D.O. by offering two academic scholarships to deserving CCOM students on an annual basis. These scholarships will provide significant financial assistance to each awardee as they move forward in their osteopathic medical education. Dr. Costin’s legacy as one of the osteopathic profession’s finest physicians and surgeons will continue to be memorialized each year that these scholarships are awarded. It is our privilege to participate in this annual scholarship program in the memory of Dr. Costin. We are grateful to the Osteopathic Heritage Foundation for partnering with CCOM to establish this scholarship program that is supported by the endowment received from the Foundation.

Sincerely,

Thomas A. Boyle, D.O., M.B.A., FACEP, FACOEP, FAAOE
Dean, Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine

Costin Institute Alumni

Cohort 19 (2023-2024):

  1. George Chou, D.O.
  2. Lauren Deutsch, D.O.
  3. Lauren Fill, D.O.
  4. Magdalena Kotseva, M.D.
  5. Alison LePera, D.O., Ph.D.
  6. Briana Money, D.O.
  7. Stacia Sloane, D.O.
  8. Kenneth (Scott) Whitlow, D.O.

Cohort 18 (2022-2023):

  1. Darren Beck, Ph.D.
  2. Angela Carrick, D.O.
  3. Larissa Collier, Ph.D.
  4. Maria Cuevas-Nunez, D.M.D.
  5. M. Ryan Hubbard, D.O.
  6. Joerg Leheste, Ph.D.
  7. Steve Palatinus, D.D.S.
  8. Debra Williams, M.D., Ph.D.

Cohort 17 (2021-2022):

  1. George Borrelli, D.O.
  2. Cara Copeland, D.D.S.
  3. Behnam Darvishan, D.M.D.
  4. Jennifer Eastwood, Ph.D.
  5. Marie Fleury, D.O.
  6. Bridget Lombard, D.O.
  7. Eiman Mahmoud, M.D.
  8. Orhay Mirzapolos, D.O.
  9. Rebecca Siscel, D.D.S.
  10. Brandy Sreenilayam, Ph.D.
  11. Nicholas Wall, D.D.S.
  12. Shan Shan Wu, D.O.

Cohort 16 (2019-2020):

  1. Sofia Abraham-Hardee, D.O., Ph.D.
  2. Kaveh Adel, D.D.S.
  3. Carrie Baker, D.O.
  4. Andrew Behnke, M.D.
  5. Angela Cavanna, D.O.
  6. Masood Ghouse, D.O.
  7. Joseph Gigliotti, Ph.D.
  8. Anand Gupta, M.D.
  9. Tucker Leigh, D.O.
  10. Walter Rhodes, D.O.  

Cohort 15 (2018-2019):

  1. Douglas Beals, D.D.S.
  2. Melisa Burton, D.D.S.
  3. Jeffrey Cashman, D.O.
  4. Nicklaus Hess, D.O.
  5. Shannon Ramsey Jimenez, D.O. 
  6. Scott Johnson, D.M.D.
  7. Monica Kinde, Ph.D.
  8. James Kribs, D.O.
  9. Gretchen López-Hernández, Ph.D.
  10. James Lundy, Jr., D.O.
  11. Rizwan Moinuddin, D.O.
  12. Rebecca Moore, D.O.
  13. Victor Nuño, D.O.
  14. Brian Poustinchian, D.O.
  15. David Stephen, D.O.
  16. Jason Wells, Ph.D.

Cohort 14 (2017-2018):

  1. Tafline Arbor, Ph.D.
  2. Jen Atkinson, D.M.D.
  3. Jana Baker, D.O.
  4. April Brill, D.O.
  5. Cindy Funk, Ph.D.
  6. Ron Hedger, D.O. (did not finish)
  7. Mari Ann Herbert, D.O.
  8. Carol Kirila, D.O.
  9. Tina Marino, M.Ed.
  10. Perry Marshall, D.O.
  11. Jozia McGowan, D.O.
  12. Jennifer Montemayor, Ph.D.
  13. Robin Pettit, Ph.D. (did not finish)
  14. Kim Pfotenhauer, D.O.
  15. Lori Redmond, Ph.D.
  16. Valerie Sheridan, D.O.
  17. Tatiyana Trowbridge, D.D.S.
  18. Jason Walker, Ph.D.
  19. Randy Wymore, Ph.D.
  20. Timothy York, D.O.

Cohort 13 (2016-2017):

  1. Aaron Allgood, D.O.
  2. Jeff Aronowitz, D.O.
  3. Janis Coffin, D.O.
  4. Robin Dyer, D.O.
  5. William Elza, D.M.D.
  6. Paula Gregory, D.O.
  7. Tanya Kadrmas-Ianuzzi, D.O.
  8. Bill Meeks, Ph.D.
  9. Derek Meeks, D.O.
  10. Chris Parnell, D.O.
  11. Adriana Pollak-Lazzaro, D.O.
  12. Theresa Pulido, D.D.S.
  13. Mario Ramos, D.D.S.
  14. Sunny Sanders, O.D.
  15. Bilal Shafi, D.D.S.
  16. Mark Slivkoff, Ph.D.
  17. Nicole Zucconni, D.O.

Cohort 12 (2015-2016):

  1. Muneer Assi, D.O.
  2. Sheri Brownstein, D.M.D.
  3. W. Joshua Cox, D.O.
  4. Harold Haering, D.M.D.
  5. Calvin James, Ph.D.
  6. Devi Jhaveri, D.O.
  7. Lisa Szymanski, MOL
  8. Emily Whitis, M.Ed
  9. Kristin Wright, Ph.D.

Cohort 11 (2014-2015):

  1. Martha Calden, D.O.
  2. Andrea Clem, D.O.
  3. Russell Cyphers, D.D.S.
  4. Caroyln Glaubensklee, Ph.D.
  5. Jennifer Gwilym, D.O.
  6. Kimberly Huntington-Alfano, D.O.
  7. Reji Mathew, B.D.S., M.D.S.
  8. Tom McDaniel, D.O.
  9. Jeffrey Morgan, M.D.
  10. Ray Newman, M.D.
  11. Jack Ramey, D.O.
  12. Frank Serrecchia, D.O.
  13. Anne Van Garsse, M.D.
  14. Alesia Wagner, D.O.
  15. Carol Wilkins, D.M.D.
  16. Miho Yoshida, D.O.

Cohort 10 (2013-2014):

  1. Albert Devlin, D.O.
  2. Daniel Boden, D.M.D.
  3. Heidi M. Stelter, D.O.
  4. Lisa Warren, D.O.
  5. Mary P. Owen, J.D., Ph.D.
  6. Melissa Pearce, D.O.
  7. Cristina Nituica, M.D.
  8. Rebecca Bowden, Ph.D.
  9. Robert Todd Kramer, D.M.D.
  10. Sarah Parrott, D.O.
  11. Stephen Jones, Ph.D.
  12. Steven A. Gustafson, D.O.

Cohort 9 (2012-2013):

  1. Ben Hudson, D.O.
  2. Cheryl McCormick, Ph.D.
  3. Curt Cackovic, D.O.
  4. Ben Huang, D.O.
  5. Christine Halket, D.D.S., M.S.
  6. Kurt Heinking, D.O.
  7. Steve Lam, D.O.
  8. Michelle Langaker, D.O.
  9. Kevin Overbeck, M.D.
  10. Gregory Schuster, D.D.S.
  11. Gregg Zankman, D.O.

West Coast Cohort (August 2012-June 2013):

  1. Brion Benninger, M.D.
  2. Janice Blumer, D.O.
  3. Todd Capistrant, D.O
  4. Debbie Danto, Pharm. D.
  5. Jay Danto, D.O.
  6. Katherine Fisher, D.O.
  7. Michelle Hovorka, MS.
  8. Brandon Isaacs, D.O
  9. Michael Jaczko, D.O.
  10. Louise Muscato, Ph.D.
  11. John Pham, D.O.
  12. Robin Richardson, D.O
  13. Mary Jo Robinson, D.O.
  14. Anita Showalter, D.O.
  15. Derrick Sorweide, D.O.
  16. Leslie Stevens, D.O.
  17. Dat Trinh, D.O.
  18. Stephanie White, D.O.

Cohort 8 (2011-2012):

  1. Kathleen Bewley, D.O.
  2. Gary Drahos, D.D.S.
  3. Robert Ellis, D.O.
  4. Tom Green, D.O.
  5. Tami Hendriksz, D.O.
  6. John Hohner, D.O.
  7. Shoen Kruse, Ph.D.
  8. Jay Morrow, D.D.S.
  9. James Pashayan, D.D.S.
  10. Richardo Perez, D.O., J.D.

Cohort 7 (2010-2011):

  1. Deborah Bennett, D.O.
  2. Robyn Drebelbis, D.O.
  3. Michael Geria, D.O.
  4. Kelli Glaser, D.O.
  5. Firhanna Khairullah, D.O.
  6. Margaret Lechner, M.S.
  7. David Lenihan, D.O., Ph.D., J.D.
  8. Glenn Nordehn, D.O.
  9. Keri Robertson, D.O.
  10. Melanie Smythe, D.O.
  11. Angela Wagner, D.O.

Cohort 6 (2009-2010):

  1. Matthias Beck, Ph.D.
  2. Jutta Betting
  3. Igne Bez
  4. Jeannie Biggs, M.Ed.
  5. Rita Getz, Ph.D.
  6. La Donna Johnson, D.O.
  7. Frank Licari, D.D.S.
  8. Lex MacNeil, D.D.S.
  9. John Meulendyk, D.O.
  10. Babak Mokari, D.O.
  11. William Moran, D.O.
  12. Brad Smith, D.D.S.
  13. Michele Tartaglia, D.O.
  14. Darryn Weinstein, D.O.

Cohort 5 (2008-2009):

  1. Robert Cain, D.O.
  2. Millicent Channell, D.O.
  3. Allan Dovigi, D.D.S.
  4. Rebecca Giusti, D.O.
  5. John Graneto, D.O.
  6. Ann Habenicht, D.O.
  7. Kate McCaffrey, D.O.
  8. Jo Ann Mitchell, D.O.
  9. Daniel Pearce, D.O.
  10. Stephen Pulley, D.O.
  11. Laura Rosch, D.O.
  12. Edward Rosick, D.O.
  13. Greg Thompson, D.O.
  14. Rynn Ziller, Ed.D.

Satellite Cohort – Columbus (August 2007-June 2008):

  1. Thomas Baker, D.O.
  2. Deborah Blackwell, D.O.
  3. Francis Blais, D.O.
  4. William Burke, D.O.
  5. Nicholas Espinoza, D.O.
  6. John Galante, D.O. (did not finish)
  7. Dennis Kane, D.O.
  8. Michael Keleher, D.O. (did not finish)
  9. Tom McEldowney, D.O. (did not finish)
  10. Ngozi Osuagwu, D.O.
  11. James Perez, D.O.
  12. Richard Costin, D.O.
  13. Philip Starr, D.O.
  14. Geraldine Urse, D.O.
  15. Nicole Wadsworth, D.O.
  16. Bruce Wehan, D.O. (did not finish)

Cohort 4 (2007-2008):

  1. Dominic Costabile, D.O.
  2. Alissa Craft, D.O.
  3. Paula Crone, D.O.
  4. Tessa Damm, PA-C
  5. Major Kristi Dreyer, D.O.
  6. Martin Forsberg, D.O.
  7. Mitchell Hiserote, D.O.
  8. Teresa Hubka, D.O.
  9. Brian Loveless, D.O.
  10. Kathleen Naegele, D.O.
  11. Andrew Pumerantz, D.O.
  12. Brent Sanderlin, D.O.
  13. Mark Sanders, D.O.
  14. Leonid Skorin, D.O.
  15. Mary Jo Voelpel, D.O.

Cohort 3 (2006-2007):

  1. Margaret I. Aguwa, D.O.
  2. James, Binkerd, D.O.
  3. Rajivinder Brar, D.O., Ph.D.
  4. Joe Brown, D.O.
  5. Hasco William Craver III, D.O.
  6. Maria Daly, D.O., FACOFP
  7. D. Thomas Dayberry, D.O., Ph.D.
  8. Lisa Ann DeStefano, D.O., NMM
  9. Gail Feinberg, D.O., FACOFP
  10. Lisa Gouldsbrough, D.O.
  11. Charles S. Guernsey, D.O., MBA
  12. Scott Helf, D.O.
  13. Jacqueline Kaari, D.O., FACOP
  14. Kendi Hensel Pim, D.O.
  15. Melicien Tettambel, D.O.
  16. Gerald Thrush, Ph.D.
  17. Richard Virgilio, D.O., M.S.
  18. Sanjay Vyas, D.O.
  19. Daren Wannamaker, D.O.    

Cohort 2 (2005-2006):

  1. Alan Cundari, D.O.
  2. Ava Stanczak, D.O.
  3. Charles Finch, D.O.
  4. Eric Thomas Cochran, D.O.
  5. John Bowling, D.O.
  6. Kay Kalousek, D.O.
  7. Ken Reed, D.O.
  8. Patricia Baumann, D.O.
  9. Rodey Wassef, D.O.
  10. Thomas Boyle, D.O.

Inaugural Cohort (October 2004–September 2005):

  1. Vance D. Powell, Jr., D.O., FACOOG, FAODME
  2. Lawrence Keith Sands, D.O., MPH
  3. Terence Sullivan, D.O.
  4. Steve M. Scheinthal, D.O., FACN
  5. Karen J. Nichols, D.O.
  6. Donald Sefick, D.O., MBA
  7. Sarah Minor, D.O., FACOEP
  8. Richard Multack, O.D., D.O., FOCCO, CS, ECN, CHSM, MBA
  9. Beth A. Longenecker, D.O.
  10. Cathy Macyko, M.D.
  11. Isaac J. Kirstein, D.O., FACOI
  12. Dawn A. Fairley, D.O., FACOFP
  13. Kathy Burke, D.O.
  14. Jennifer Alexander Ferrell, D.O.

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