The American Osteopathic Foundation (AOF) is proud to recognize Michael Stenta, OMS IV, as the 2021 recipient of our Rocovich Research grant.

The AOF Awards Committee selected Student Doctor Stenta based on a study he designed, "OMT Effects on Prolonged Post-COVID Olfactory Dysfunction." The study will use Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment (OMT) to target the olfactory nerve, aiming to decrease inflammation and damage with the goal of returning the sense of smell in patients affected by COVID-19.

Student Doctor Stenta is a fourth-year osteopathic medical student at the Ohio University – Heritage College of Medicine (OU-HCOM), where he is also a leader on campus. He received the Outstanding Academic Leadership award in 2019 and serves as a mentor for fellow students. He previously worked as an Emergency Room Technician at Good Samaritan Hospital in Cincinnati.

Stevan A. Walkowski, DO, Chair and Associate Professor in OU-HCOM's Department of OMM, says that Student Doctor Stenta is “an exemplary student, a creative and courageous researcher, and a good human being.”

The $3,000 AOF Rocovich Research Grant, given annually, recognizes students and early-career physicians who are advancing the profession by contributing to scholarly work through research and publication on the biomechanical, biomedical, or clinical aspects of OMT.