Event Speakers/Presenters

Andrew G. Conkovich, M.B.A., CHC, CHPC Vice President – Institutional Compliance Officer Andrew Conkovich has served as the institutional compliance officer for Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso (TTUHSC EP) since September, 2015. As the chair of the TTUHSC EP Values Based Culture committee, Conkovich assists the VBC team leaders in planning and hosting events and developing educational sessions designed to advance the university’s values. Conkovich holds a MBA from Indiana Wesleyan University and is a certified health care compliance officer and a certified healthcare privacy officer. Conkovich began his career in compliance in 2001 (after serving as a director of radiology for 20 years) as the first HIPAA privacy officer for the University of Louisville Hospital. Conkovich has established and enhanced the compliance programs, privacy programs and research compliance programs for several companies including the University of Louisville, Kindred Healthcare, and the University Hospital of LSU Shreveport.

Brittany Fisher is a PGY2 ONMM Resident at Mountain View Regional Medical Center in Las Cruces, NM. She completed her undergraduate degree in Neuroscience at The University of Tennessee - Knoxville prior to completing a masters degree in Biomedical Science at Lincoln Memorial University in Harrogate, TN. Brittany completed medical school at Lincoln Memorial University-DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine in Harrogate, TN. While in medical school she also completed a 1 year scholarship year teaching OMM to 1st and 2nd year students.

Janet Lynn Roseman, Phd, ReatTM, REACETM, R-DMT, is a medical educator specializing in spirituality and medicine and compassionate care. She is the Founding Director of The Sidney Project in Spirituality and Medicine and Compassionate CareTM, a medical education program for residents offering tools for physician/patient interactions and discussion of often taboo topics. She is the author of several books including If Joan of Arc Had Cancer, a book to help support women with cancer. She practices colorpuncture, a non-invasive form of color and light therapy based on acupuncture theory.

Dr. Gruhlkey is a well-known and respected figure in Allergy and Immunology. Dr. Gruhlkey is the Past-President of the Pan American Allergy Society which was the largest society for PCPs (Family & Internal Medicine) that implement Allergen Immunotherapy Testing & Treatment Clinics within the Primary Care Environment. Dr Gruhlkey also serves on the National Procedure Institute (NPI) and has trained over 3,500 primary care physicians, internists, pediatric physicians, and ENT Specialists in the discipline of Allergy Testing & Treatment. He is a well-known and respected figure within the Allergy and Immunology industry nationally and has been the recipient of numerous leadership awards throughout his career. Dr. Gruhlkey graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from Texas A&M University and an MD degree from The University of Texas Health Science Center – Houston. He completed his residency in Family Medicine at Southwest Memorial Hospital in Houston, where he served as Chief Resident. Dr. Gruhlkey received the Mead Johnson Award for Graduate Medical Education in 2000 and AMA Foundation Leadership Award in 2003. In addition to his Co-Founder & CMO role at Direct Allergy, LLC, Dr. Gruhlkey operates his own Primary Care Practice in New Braunfels, TX, consults on medical, legal matters, and sits on various boards within the healthcare community.

Joseph N. Benoit is Professor of Physiology at the Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine, Las Cruces, NM. He earned a Ph.D. in Basic Medical Science from the University of South Alabama and completed postdoctoral studies in microvascular physiology at Texas A&M University. His academic career spans more than thirty-five years and includes faculty appointments at five medical schools, as well as administrative appointments at the levels of dean and college president. His research interests are broadly centered on microvascular physiology, vascular smooth muscle regulation, splanchnic hemodynamics in chronic portal hypertension, and lymphatic physiology. More recent areas of scholarly pursuit include mathematical modeling of physiological systems, the use of artificial intelligence in medical education, curriculum design, faculty development, and teaching. In addition to research, he is active in the American Physiological Society and currently serves as the Chair of the AACOM Council of Osteopathic Researchers.

Dr. Lupo T. Carlota is a pioneer of the scientific study and practice of acupuncture. He perfected MRA (Meridian Regulatory Acupuncture,) a scientifically-advanced, simplified System of Acupuncture and founded the Medical Acupuncture Research Institute of America in the early 1970s. He has helped doctors establish acupuncture as part of medical practice over the last 50 years. Dr. Carlota was one of the first to use acupuncture after it was publicly introduced to America in 1972. He spent the last fifty years in research, development, teaching, and providing a Certified Training Program for doctors to start using MRA—after completing a comprehensive 5-day hands-on course. He advanced the breakthrough "Quantum Theory of Acupuncture"in 1976 at the International Acupuncture Society Convention held in Taipei, Taiwan that explained for the first time the scientific basis of acupuncture. Subsequently, he became the first westerner invited to give a series of lectures at the medical centers of Beijing, Nanjing, and Shanghai in 1983. A former member of the National Advisory Council on Complementary and Alternative Medicine, National Institutes of Health (NIH,) he chairs the American Board of Acupuncture Medicine.

Michael Frederich, MD, FAAFM, FAAHPM has been involved in hospice and palliative medicine since 1981 and worked for twenty years as a full-tme hospice and palliative medicine physician for 20 years before moving to Las Cruces, NM in 2010. He currently teaches pre-clinical material at Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine in Las Cruces, NM and is co-course director for the Mission Medicine Course which contains elements of palliative care and bioethics.

Mitchell R Moriber, DO, for the past 13 years has had a particular interest in catastrophic biologic events and community resilience, speaking on topics of Community Resilience, Pandemic Mitigation, and Bioterror to local, State, and national organizations. He is an Emergency Medicine/EMS Medicine Physician serving as Medical Director for numerous Public Safety Agencies in West Texas. He served on the Texas Disaster Medical System Steering Committee contributing to the Mass Fatality Management and High Consequence Infectious Disease Subcommittees. He was consultant to the Emergency Medical Task Force Medical Directors Committee. He is a past member of the Disaster Preparedness and Response Committee and the Medical Directors Committee of the Texas Governors’ EMS and Trauma Advisory Council. He is Past-Secretary of the Disaster Section of American College of Emergency Physicians and frequent contributor to the Disaster Section Newsletter. He served on the ACEP Disaster Preparedness and Response Committee and as Legislative Affairs Lead of the EMS High Threat Emergency Care/Casualty Care Subcommittee. He is a member of the ACEP Biosecurity Niche. He is a member of the Texas College of Emergency Physicians EMS and Government Relations Committees. He represented ACEP at the CDC discussion group ‘Clinical Management of Botulism’ and ‘Crimson Contagion’. He is Founder and Chairman of the Catastrophic Guidelines and Triage Committee and is Chairman of the Taylor County Texas Local Emergency Planning Committee. In 2019 he received the Journey of Excellence Award for Outstanding Dedication to the Texas Emergency Healthcare System.

Robert S. Rosenberg, DO, FCCP has over 30 years of experience in the field of sleep medicine. Board certified in Sleep Medicine, Pulmonary Medicine, and Internal Medicine. Dr. Rosenberg serves as the Medical Director of the Sleep Disorders Center of Prescott Valley, Arizona. Dr Rosenberg's outpatient sleep lab is the center in Northern Arizona for Inspire the implantable sleep therapy medical device. He is the only sleep specialist in Northern Arizona who treats pediatric patients. Often lecturing at medical conventions on sleep topics, Dr. Rosenberg is on the board of directors for the American Sleep Association. Dr. Rosenberg is a newspaper columnist addressing Sleep Questions. His advice has appeared in O, The Oprah Magazine, Prevention, Women’s Health, Woman’s World, Parenting, and Ladies’ Home Journal, among others. Dr. Rosenberg is the bestselling author of Sleep Soundly Every Night, Feel Fantastic Every Day. His most recent book is The Doctor's Guide to Sleep Solutions for Stress & Anxiety. Dr. Rosenberg frequently appears on television & radio to discuss sleep disorders. Learn more about Dr. Rosenberg by visiting www.AnswersForSleep.com.

Ronald L. Cook, DO MBA, Professor and Braddock Chairman, is currently serving as the Chief Health Officer for Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center. Receiving his undergraduate degree in Microbiology at Texas Tech University in 1985, Cook obtained his Master’s in Zoology in 1989 and medical degree from Texas College Osteopathic Medicine in 1993. Completing his Residency in 1996, he joined Texas Tech’s Faculty in Family Medicine and has since held key roles including City of Lubbock Health Authority and Medical Director for Lubbock Cooper Independent School District. Dr. Cook, board-certified in Family Medicine, has been a prominent figure in the Texas medical community, holding memberships in several associations. His significant contributions during the COVID-19 pandemic, including over 80 press conferences, earned him Special Recognition from Lubbock’s Mayor and Council Members, as well as the Paul Harris Fellow Award. Dr. Cook’s distinguished career has been marked by numerous awards such as America's Best Physician, reflecting his commitment and dedication to the field of medicine.

Roshny Vijayakar DO is a second year resident in Osteopathic Neuromusculoskeletal Medicine at MountainView Regional Medical Center in Las Cruces, NM. She holds a bachelor's degree in Environmental Science and Chemistry from Williams College. Before moving to New Mexico, she spent six years in the rural south, first as a Community Health Fellow at Project Horseshoe Farm and then as a medical student at the Alabama College of Osteopathic Medicine. She has been presenting and publishing original research since she was in high school, and is currently engaged in a cohort study to determine the role of osteopathic manipulation in nausea and vomiting of pregnancy. She is proficient in medical Spanish and Hindi, volunteers at the local asylum shelter, and enjoys making patients and their families smile. Her career goal at present is to expand the research, teaching, and practice of osteopathy in psychiatry and family medicine.

Dr. Samuel Hager is an osteopathic physician completing his residency training in Osteopathic Neuromusculoskeletal Medicine (ONMM) at MountainView Regional Medical Center in Las Cruces, NM. Dr. Hager was raised in Bismarck, ND and received his undergraduate education at St. John's University in Collegeville, MN. He graduated with a bachelor's degree in biochemistry and a minor in theology. He graduated osteopathic medical school from Des Moines University in Iowa. He is currently in his third year of post-graduate training. He serves as the resident member of the American Council for Graduate Medical Education's Review Committee for ONMM. He has professional interests in osteopathic manipulation, musculoskeletal sonography, and musculoskeletal injection procedures.

Sidney Alvarez is a multi-Emmy Award-winning television journalist, responsible for marketing and public relations for Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine. At Burrell, Sidney uses his TV background to develop cutting-edge content that entertains, educates, and inspires. The majority of his career was in New York City serving as a communications lead and storyteller. He also was the host of the TV show and podcast Plugged In and served as an anchor/reporter with NBC, ABC, and Warner Brothers affiliates across the country. Sidney earned a master’s degree in Media Management from Parsons The New School in New York City and a bachelor's degree in Communications from the University of New Mexico. He is also a board member of the Public Relations Association of the Southwest and a member of the New York City Press Club and Public Relations Society of America. He is also a national speaker on brand journalism and storytelling.

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Thomas A. Chávez, Ph.D. is a research faculty member at the University of New Mexico School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Division of Community Behavioral Health. He is also affiliated with the UNM HSC Transdisciplinary Research, Equity, and Engagement in Behavioral Health center (TREE). His scholarly work has centered on Latinx behavioral health including immigrant access to educational and medical care, immigrant trauma, substance use, and culturally centered intervention. In addition, he is a practitioner and educator of traditional medicine (Curanderismo) of the U.S. Southwest and directs the RAICES Community Education on Traditional Medicine: https://www.facebook.com/groups/265892640251846.

Zayna Abdulla is a current OMS-II student at Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine. Zayna graduated Magna Cum Laude from University of Arkansas at Little Rock with a bachelor's in Biology and English. She is currently the Burrell OB/GYN club president as well as the American Medical Student Association (AMSA) co-president. Alexis Thompson is a current OMS-II student at Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine. She received her Bachelors of Science in Health Sciences from the University of Central Florida. Alexis went on to pursue a Masters in Medical Science from the University of South Florida and Masters Degree in Public Health from George Washington University. Alexis currently serves a President for Wombs of the World Foundation, a nonprofit that focuses on improving maternal-child internationally.