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Heather Ferrill

Heather Ferrill

DO, MS, MEdL

Vice President of Faculty Affairs and Dean of RVUCOM

Colorado Campus

720-874-2432

Education

  • Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO)
    Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine
    East Lansing, MI
    2000
  • Residency – Traditional Rotating Internship
    Chief Intern
    Mercy General Health Partners
    Muskegon, MI
    2000-2001
  • Residency – Neuromusculoskeletal Medicine / Family Medicine
    Chief Resident (2003-2004)
    University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine
    Biddeford, ME
    2001-2004
  • Master of Science in Medical Education and Leadership (MEdL)
    University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine
    Biddeford, ME
    2008-2010
  • Bachelor of Arts in Advertising
    Michigan State University
    East Lansing, MI
    1989

Professional Experience

  • 2017 – Present: Professor of Osteopathic Principles & Practice
    Rocky Vista University College of Osteopathic Medicine
  • 2015 – Present: Chair of Osteopathic Principles & Practice
    Rocky Vista University College of Osteopathic Medicine
  • 2013 – 2017: Associate Professor of Osteopathic Principles & Practice
    Rocky Vista University College of Osteopathic Medicine
  • 2013 – Present: Preceptor for Pre-Doctoral Fellows in OMM
    Rocky Vista University College of Osteopathic Medicine
  • 2010 – 2013: Associate Professor, Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine
    University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine
  • 2004 – 2013: Clinical Specialist NNM/OMM, Preceptor for Pre-doctoral Fellows in Anatomy and OMM, Preceptor for NMM and FP/NMM residents
    University Health Care and University Health Care for KIDS
  • 2004 – 2010: Assistant Professor, Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine
    University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine

Certifications and Licenses

  • Board Certification (2005, 2014)
    American Osteopathic Board of Neuromusculoskeletal Medicine
  • Board Certified (2004, 2013)
    American Osteopathic Board of Family Practice
  • Licensed to practice medicine in the state of Maine
    2001- 2015
  • Licensed to practice medicine in the state of Colorado
    2013 – present

Service and Contributions

Rocky Vista University College of Osteopathic Medicine

  • Chair, Department of Osteopathic Principles and Practice (2015 – present)
  • Faculty Advisor, Pediatrics Club (2014 – present)
  • Faculty Advisor, Obstetrics/Gynecology Club (2014 – present)
  • Co-Course Director OPP III and IV (2016 – 2017)
  • Chair, RVUCOM Faculty Council (2016 – 2017)
  • Course Director, OPP I and II (2013 – 2016)
  • Co-Course Director OPP I and II (2014)

University of New England, College of Osteopathic Medicine

  • Course Director, Osteopathic Clinical Skills I and II (2012 – 2013)
  • Course Director OPP II (2012 – 2013)
  • Course Director OPP I and II (2008 – 2012)
  • Assistant Course Director, OPP I and II (2006 – 2008)
  • Acting Chair, Department of OPP (2008)
  • Department Representative, Educational Committee on Osteopathic Principles (2005 – 2013)
  • Vice Chair, Committee on Admissions (2010 – 2012)
  • Faculty Advisor, Student American Academy of Osteopathy (2005 – 2013)
  • OPP Curriculum Committee (2005 – 2013)
  • Student Appeals Committee (2006, 2008)
  • OMM Faculty Search Committee (2006, 2009 – 2010)
  • Dean Seach Committee (2007)
  • Steering Committee (2008)
  • Admissions Committee (2008 – present)
  • Clinical Chairs Committee (2008)
  • Committee on Educational Programs (2005 – 2011)

American Academy of Osteopathy

  • Delegate to the International Federation of Manual/Musculoskeletal Medicine (FIMM) (2017-present)
  • Awards committee (2016 – present)
  • Louisa Burns Research Committee (2015-present)
  • International Affairs Committee (2014 – present)
  • Osteopathic Education Service Committee (2014-present)
  • Board of Trustees (2013-present)
  • Education Committee (2012-present)
  • Board of Governors (2011-present)
  • Post-Doctoral Standards Committee (2008-2011)
    • NMM residency program evaluator
    • In-Service Examination Committee member

Miscellaneous

  • Visiting Faculty, Deutsche Amerikanische Akademie fur Osteopathy (DAAO) (2008 – present)
  • Visiting Faculty, Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Osteopathische Medizin (DGOM) (2006 – present)
  • National Board of Osteopathic Medical Examiners
    • COMLEX-CE Faculty Item, Writer, OPP (2005 – present)
    • COMLEX-PE OMM Faculty, OMM Rater (2005 – present)

Professional Societies and Affiliations

–

Publications and Presentations

Publications

Presentations

  • “Evidenced-Based Admission Decisions: Predicting Student Performance in Medical School”; AACOM; 2015
  • “An osteopathic approach to persistent mechanical low back pain: The Dirty Half Dozen”; Utah Osteopathic Medical Association Summer meeting; 2016
  • “Put them to sleep: using Osteopathy and Ayurveda to shift paradigms and help patients sleep”; American Academy of Osteopathy Annual Convocation, March 2016
  • “Pediatrics Masters Course Level 5: An Osteopathic Approach to children with ENT Disorders”; Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Osteopathische Medizin (DGOM), June 2015
  • “Pediatrics Masters Course Level 2: Introduction to Balanced Membranous Tension”; Deutsch-Amerikanische Akademie fur Osteopathie (DAAO), June 2015
  • “Ayurveda & Osteopathy, Intersections of health and healing”; American Academy of Osteopathy Annual Convocation, March 2015
  • “Get your Osteopathic Hands On!”; American Osteopathic Association, OMED 2014
  • “An osteopathic approach to sports injuries in children”; American Academy of Pediatrics National Conference and Exhibition, October 2014
  • “Pediatrics Masters Course Level 1: Introduction to Balanced Ligamentous Techniques”; Deutsch-Amerikanische Akademie fur Osteopathie (DAAO), May 2014
  • “An Osteopathic Approach to ENT Problems in Children”; American Academy of Osteopathy Annual Convocation pre-course, March 2014
  • “An Osteopathic Approach to ENT Disorders in Children”; American Academy of Osteopathy Annual Convocation, Student program, March 2014
  • “An Osteopathic Approach to Colic”; American Osteopathic Association OMED lecture for the American Academy of Osteopathy, October 2013
  • “Pediatrics Masters Course Level 5: An Osteopathic Approach to children with ENT Disorders”; Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Osteopathische Medizin (DGOM), June 2013
  • “Treating Children with Common Developmental and Neurological Issues: An International Osteopathic Perspective”; American Academy of Osteopathy Annual Convocation pre-course, March 2013
  • “An Osteopathic Approach to lymphatic treatment in children”; American Academy of Osteopathy Annual Convocation, Student program, March 2013
  • “An Osteopathic Approach to the Infant with Suckling Dysfunction”; American Osteopathic Association OMED lecture for the American Academy of Osteopathy, October 2012
  • “Pediatric Sports Medicine: The Young Athlete”; American Academy of Osteopathy and Pediatrics Special Interest Group sponsored course, March 2012
  • “Talking to your attending about Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment on Rotations, A student workshop”; American Academy of Osteopathy Annual Convocation, March 2012
  • “The Twig Unbent: Osteopathic considerations in the treatment of children”; Pantha Rhei, The Netherlands, September 2011
  • “Introduction to Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment”; Harvard Medical School and Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, August 2011
  • “Pediatrics Masters Course: Osteopathic Considerations in the Pediatric GI Patient”; AAO and Pediatric Special Interest Group sponsored course, March 2011
  • “The Child: Development of the Pediatric Head”; AAO sponsored course, April 2010
  • “Osteopathic Approach to the Female Pelvis”; American Academy of Osteopathy Annual Convocation, Student program, March 2010
  • “The Twig Unbent: Osteopathic Approach to Common Orthopedic Problems in Children”; AAO sponsored course, April 2008
  • “Pediatrics Mastercourse Level 5, ENT”; Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Osteopathische Medizin (DGOM), April 2008
  • “Pediatrics Mastercourse Level 2, Balanced Membranous Tension”; Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Osteopathische Medizin (DGOM), April 2008
  • “Pediatrics Mastercourse Level 2, Balanced Membranous Tension”; Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Osteopathische Medizin (DGOM), November 2006

Research and Studies

  • OMT and the Chronic Asthmatic. Poster presentation and A. Hollis Wolf presentation.
  • Comfort, Confidence, and the Well-Child Exam: A Pediatric Skills Training Lab. Poster presentation, American College of Osteopathic Pediatricians, 2014.
  • Affect of Workshop on Osteopathic Medical Students Comfort Discussing Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment Use With Attending Physicians. Poster Presentation, Touro University College of Osteopathic Medicine-California, 2012.
  • Affect of Workshop on Osteopathic Medical Students Comfort Discussing Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment Use With Attending Physicians. Poster Presentation, University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine, 2012.
  • The development of a rubric for evaluation of Osteopathic Manipulation Skills in second year medical students. 2009 – 2010.
  • Effect of Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment on the Duration of Middle Ear Effusion in Children Following Diagnosis of Acute Otitis Media as Measured by Tympanograms and Acoustic Reflectometry. 2007 – 2009.
  • Development of a formative and summative assessment rubric to evaluate osteopathic manipulative medicine skills in second year medical students. 2009 – 2011.
  • The Effect of Osteopathic Manipulation in the Mechanically Ventilated Patient. Study unable to be completed due to hospital IRB disbandment.

Grants

  • Pilot Implementation of an Osteopathic Principles and Practices Survey & Faculty Development Program to Increase the Use of Osteopathic Principles and Practices in Core Clinical Clerkships. AACOM; $10,000; 2016-present

Bio

Dr. Ferrill is an Osteopathically trained physician dually boarded in Neuromusculoskeletal Medicine (NMM) and Family Medicine (FM). She received her Doctorate of Osteopathy (DO) from Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine (MSUCOM) in 2000, completed FM/NMM residency training at The University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine (UNECOM) in 2004, and received her Master’s of Science in Medical Education and Leadership at UNECOM in 2010. Immersed in medical education since 2004, she has served as preclinical and clinical faculty, academic leadership as a Chair of Osteopathic Principles and Practices and as Associate Dean of Preclinical Education, and has the honor of serving as Dean of Rocky Vista University College of Osteopathic Medicine (RVUCOM) for both the Colorado and Utah campuses since 2021.  

She currently serves on the Board of Trustees for the Denver Osteopathic Foundation, the Colorado Institute of Family Medicine, and the Commission on Family Medicine.  She also serves on the Executive Board of the American Association of the Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine (AACOM) Board of Deans, and as an accreditation evaluator through the Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation (COCA).