Osteopathic Intelligence Blog

“All I want is normal.” After surviving a devastating car accident in July 2025 that left him with multiple spinal fractures, broken ribs and legs, brain swelling and severe sepsis, Terry spent more than a…

When Suhas Babu thinks about why he’s in medical school, he starts with his heart. Born with congenital heart disease he underwent open-heart surgeries in elementary school and again in high school. Growing up, he saw health care from two perspectives: as a patient in a large, academic medical…

Mahan Hadjian didn’t expect to find himself at the cutting-edge of national research, but that’s exactly where he landed thanks to a prestigious fellowship at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Hadjian recently spent a…

A routine moment of hands-on practice turned into something far more memorable—both professionally and personally—for second-year medical student Bryant Pace. He was practicing point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) on his pregnant wife, Shambree, when he made a…

When Kansas City University (KCU) second-year osteopathic medical student Bryce Merriman crossed the finish line of the Kansas City Marathon, he wasn’t just completing 26.2 miles. He was proving something to himself about endurance, balance…

From fleeing Vietnam as refugees in the 1970s to becoming one of the most respected osteopathic surgical families in the Bay Area, the Nguyen family story is one of perseverance, purpose and pride. Huy Nguyen,…

For fourth-year Kansas City University (KCU) osteopathic medical student Nicolette Duong, medicine is more than a profession — it’s a commitment to advocacy, dignity and showing up when it matters most. Duong’s passion for underserved…

It started as a joke. Thomas Parpana was in a lecture about cancer when he felt a lump in his neck.  “I noticed there was a growth under the right side of my jaw,” Parpana…

Peter Khoury once had a seat in the boardroom. Now, the aspiring dermatologist is headed to the exam room. As a young boy, Khoury learned that timely, appropriate care could be difficult to find. “Growing…

The journey to become a physician begins with a traditional and powerful symbol of purpose and responsibility. Kansas City University (KCU) College of Osteopathic Medicine welcomed 428 new students across its Kansas City and Joplin…