Event Speakers/Presenters

Jarod Banks is an OMS-III attending Lincoln Memorial University – DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine (LMU-DCOM) in Knoxville, TN. He is originally from La Crosse, WI. He attended college at Southern Virginia University with a BA in biochemistry and was awarded summa cum laude. Currently, he is doing a research year with the LMU-DCOM anatomy department. He is teaching the OMS-I anatomy course and is involved in various research projects such as an educational intervention using the anatomy wet lab and studying internal anatomical and effects of morbid obesity. In his spare time, he loves to mentor pre-health students, spend time with his family, and pursue his passion for health and fitness.

Dr. Thomas Castillo, D.O. earned his Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree at the Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine in 1977. He also has a Master of Business Administration from St. Ambrose University in Davenport, Iowa. He has lived and practiced in several locations in the midwestern United States. Now retired from full time clinical practice, he teaches at University of Wisconsin Depart of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences where he was named Educator of the year in 2023, that is a testament to an outstanding lifetime contribution to education.. He has always enjoyed teaching, starting at age 12 when he had started teaching guitar while learning to play himself. He believes that teaching is the best way to learn. He says that what defines a physician is compassion and he wants to provide complete and compassionate care to everyone, utilizing all of his God-given talents.

My name is Chad Clark. I am an OMS-2 at LMU-DCOM. I worked as a Critical Care and Cardiac Cath Lab RN from 2010 to 2023. I am excited to broaden my medical education in my last year of pre-clinical education. The foundation that my nursing career brings has allowed me to more fully appreciate the depth of opportunities available to medical students. Outside of healthcare, my interests include watching Sci-Fi movies with my wife, Rena, training and teaching martial arts, and playing tabletop role-playing games.

Rose is a board certified comprehensive ophthalmologist in private practice at Eye Associates of Orange County in Santa Ana and Mission Viejo since 2005. She completed her ophthalmology residency training in2005 in Detroit, Michigan through the Statewide Campus System of Michigan State University - College of Osteopathic Medicine. During her final year of residency she served as Chief Resident and was awarded the Patrick Murray Award. Dr. Cunningham-Ahumada was born and raised in Santa Ana, CA. She received her BA degree in 1996 from Williams College in Williamstown, Massachusetts where she was a double major in Biology and History. She studied medicine at Western University of Health Sciences - College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific in Pomona, CA and earned her D.O. degree in 2001. She completed her traditional rotating internship at Downey Regional Medical Center in Downey, CA in 2002 before moving to Michigan for residency. In her free time Rose volunteers for the Boy Scouts of America as a merit badge counselor and troop committee member. She is a certified Wilderness First Responder and enjoys the outdoors. She also enjoys karaoke, fruit and vegetable gardening at her home, and reading for pleasure.

Bio for Traci Groening, DO FACOG FACOOG Dr. Groening is a Regional Assistant Dean and Professor in the Department of Clinical Education at the Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine in Las Cruces, New Mexico. She also serves as the OBGYN Division Chief and Clerkship Director. She currently supports Osteopathic physicians on the state and national level as of the New an Ex-Officio Board Member and former President of the Osteopathic Medical Association. After graduation from Touro University College of Osteopathic Medicine in Vallejo, California, she returned to her hometown of El Paso, Texas, to complete OBGYN residency at the Texas Tech University Health Science Center El Paso/Paul L. Foster School of Medicine. She currently holds a Clinical Assistant Professor appointment there practicing General OBGYN with residents, midwives, medical students, nursing students, and midwifery students. Her interests in academic medicine include OBGYN simulation, mentoring and preparing students and residents for a career in OBGYN, and modeling professionalism within the entire medical team.

Dr. Smith is a Professor in the Department of Otolaryngology at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and School of Medicine. She is active in teaching and research, as well as having a busy clinical practice. She is fellowship trained in Laryngology, with focuses on laryngeal EMG, vocal fold paralysis, and surgical ergonomics.

Daniel Solano, D.O. is a board-certified ophthalmologist by the American Osteopathic Colleges of Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology. He earned his Doctorate in Osteopathic Medicine at Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. He completed his internship and Ophthalmology Residency at Doctors Hospital in Columbus, Ohio. Dr. Solano is a member of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, the Florida Society of Ophthalmology, the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery, the American Medical Association, and the Charlotte County Medical Society. Dr. Solano specializes in minimally invasive cataract surgery, glaucoma laser surgery, and eyelid reconstruction. He has been an ophthalmology consultant for the Tampa Bay Rays major league baseball team since 2021.

Dr. Winter completed his Bachelor of Arts in Spanish at Brigham Young University. He later attended medical school at Western University of Health Sciences and received his ophthalmology residency training at Oklahoma State University. His training continued with fellowships in Neuro-Ophthalmology at the University of Miami and Pediatric Ophthalmology at the University of Iowa. He began practice in 2013, and his interests include complex strabismus and optic disc drusen. His research is sponsored by a restricted grant from the Lynda and Johnny Stevens Neuro-Ophthalmology Special Projects Fund at the Loma Linda University Eye Institute.