Larry Weller earned bachelor’s and doctoral degrees in physics and a master’s in applied mathematics, all of which he put to work in nuclear engineering, aerospace and occupational health. But it was the lifelong learner’s final degree – a master’s of public health earned at age 76 from KU School of Medicine-Wichita – that continues to pay dividends today.

“The Weller fund was pivotal in allowing me to work on my internship and research unimpeded,” said Kipchoge VanHoose, a Master of Public Health student who surveyed health and social service agencies in Sedgwick County to determine whether they had language access plans and used trained interpreters. “I put a lot of hours into this study, and I only had the time because of the support from the fund.”

Have a spot on your skin you're concerned about? The Wichita Area Skin Cancer Screening Clinic is returning Saturday, May 4, to KU School of Medicine-Wichita, offering free skin cancer checks to the community.

The popular clinic is provided by Wichita-area dermatologists in partnership with the American Academy of Dermatology, KU School of Medicine-Wichita, United Way of the Plains and the Medical Society of Sedgwick County. More than 300 people received free screenings last year during the clinic, an increase from 269 screenings provided in 2022.

Graduating medical students from KU School of Medicine-Wichita celebrated during the annual Senior Banquet on April 5 at the Petroleum Club in Wichita. The banquet not only recognized students, but it also gave the students a chance to recognize outstanding faculty members and resident physicians.

It’s not often animals are seen in the courtyard at KU School of Medicine-Wichita, particularly a miniature donkey, baby goat, lamb and miniature pig.

April is National Stress Awareness Month, and it can be a particularly stressful time of year for medical students as many are taking exams while fourth-year medical students are preparing for graduation and residency. That's why Kathryn Mann, library associate in the George J. Farha Medical Library, wanted to make sure students had the opportunity to take a break. 

Two medical students from KU School of Medicine-Wichita, Connor Owen and Fernanda Reyes, teamed up with students and faculty from KU Medical Center in March to travel to San Pedro La Laguna, Guatemala, where they served in a rural clinic.

The International Educational Experience, organized by KUMC International Outreach, included guidance and mentoring from Dr. Francisco Mendez, a family physician in Guatemala who established a hospital for his community.

Led and supervised by KUMC faculty and Mendez, students had the opportunity to perform well-patient exams as well as conduct home visits on foot to extend the health check-ups to the surrounding rural communities in Guatemala. Since 2003, KUMCIO, a student organization, has fostered interest in international health and broadened medical student training in international medicine.

The clerkship director and a staff member with KU School of Medicine-Wichita's Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology presented at the annual OB-GYN education conference hosted jointly by the Council on Resident Education in Obstetrics and Gynecology and the Association of Professors of Gynecology and Obstetrics, while the OB-GYN residency program manager helped plan the conference.

Congratulations to Jennifer Thuener, M.D., assistant professor in our Department of Family & Community Medicine, on being recognized by the Wichita Business Journal as one of this year's 40 Under 40 honorees. Dr. Thuener served on the Medical Society of Sedgwick County's board of directors and received MSSC’s Dr. Joe Meek Young Physician Leadership Award in 2020.

KU School of Medicine-Wichita is proud to be one of the sponsors for the Party for the People, which on May 18 will celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Keeper of the Plains dedication. The public is invited to a free, family friendly celebration filled with re-dedication ceremonies, a vibrant powwow, art exhibits, food trucks, outdoor games, fireworks and free admission to the Mid-America All-Indian Museum.

As part of the Anesthesiology Residency Program's wellness curriculum, residents recently participated in a cooking class at the Derby Recreation Commission's Hubbard Arts Center, where they learned how to make a quick and healthy meal after a long day of work. 

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