Osteopathic Principles and Practice
Faculty and Staff
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Seated: Karen M. Steele, DO, FAAO, Associate Dean for Osteopathic Medical Education; David R. Essig-Beatty, DO, Division Chairperson. Standing: Simeon Hain, GTA; Robin Tuckwiller, LPN; Tammy Lindsay, OPP Administrative Secretary; To Shan Li, DO, Assistant Professor; Zachary J. Comeaux, DO, FAAO, Professor; William W. Lemley, DO, FAAO, Professor; James W. Kribs, DO, Assistant Professor; John M. Garlitz, DO, Assistant Professor; Erin Burns, Project Manager & Site Coordinator; Sarah Steele-Killeen, DO, Clinical Instructor
"An osteopathic physician looks upon the study of osteopathic diagnosis and treatment as a lifelong discovery process that combines art and science." p. 555, Foundations for Osteopathic Medicine 2nd Ed. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Philadelphia 2003.
Karen M. Steele, D.O., F.A.A.O.
Dr. Karen Steele received her Doctor of Osteopathy degree from KCOM in 1978, after which she established a private family practice in Portland, Oregon which included obstetrics. In 1986 she returned to KCOM to complete an OMM Residency. She remained on faculty at KCOM in the OMM Department from 1987 to 1992, where she was director of the OMM hospital consultation service.
In 1992 Dr. Steele came to WVSOM, where she now serves as Associate Dean for Osteopathic Medical Education and maintains an OMM specialty practice with a concentration on the osteopathic treatment of children.
Her research interests include the effect of OMT on otitis media in children, and she is currently Principle Investigator of a multi-center study looking at the duration of middle ear fluid in young children who receive osteopathic manipulative treatment in addition to standard medical care for treatment of acute otitis media. She is board certified in Neuromusculoskeletal Medicine by the AOBNMM, Family Practice by the AOBFP, credentialed by the Cranial Academy and earned the Fellowship in the American Academy of Osteopathy in 1995. She is a past President of the American Academy of Osteopathy.
For questions or comments, email me at ksteele@wvsom.edu.
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David R. Essig-Beatty, D.O.
Dr. David Essig-Beatty is a Professor of Osteopathic Principles and Practice (OPP), having previously taught at Kirkville College of Osteopathic Medicine (KCOM) and University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey - School of Osteopathic Medicine. He completed an Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine (OMM) residency in 1989 at Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine and is certified in neuromusculoskeletal medicine.
Dr. Essig-Beatty is OPP Division Chairperson and editor and co-author of Manipulation in Motion (WVSOM 2008) and A Pocket Manual of OMT (Lippincott Williams & Wilkins 2006). His first book Manipulation At Home: Exercises Based On Osteopathic Structural Exam is available from the WVSOM Bookstore.
David lives in Lewisburg with his wife, Mary, Curator of the Greenbrier Miliary School Museum, and their two children, Jacob and Ella.
If you have comments or questions, email me at dessig@wvsom.edu.
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Zachary J. Comeaux, D.O., F.A.A.O.
Dr. Zachary Comeaux came to osteopathy after a career in theology, social work, and carpentry. He had, after graduating from Ohio University COM in 1988, established a rural practice in Laurelville, Ohio and began pursuing a special interest in Osteopathic treatment in the primary care setting.
Working with veteran clinician Robert Fulford, D.O., he has developed theories and protocols to extend this work under the title of Facilitated Oscillatory Release. Dr. Comeaux came to WVSOM in 2001 and contributes the teaching of osteopathically integrated primary care medicine. He has recently published, Fire on the Prairie - the Life and Times of A.T. Still, founder of osteopathic medicine as well as Harmonic Healing: A Guide to Facilitated Oscillatory Release and Other Rhythmic Myofascial Techniques.
He and his wife, Linda, appreciate the rivers and mountains, the trout, and the birds which make the SE West Virginia special.
"My object is to make the osteopath a philosopher and place him on the rock of reason. Then I will not have to worry of writing details of how to treat an organ of the human body, because he is qualified to the degree of knowing what has produced variations of all kinds in form and motion." A.T. Still, Research and Practice, 1910
If you have comments or questions, email me at zcomeaux@wvsom.edu
[back to top]John M. Garlitz, D.O.
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Dr. John Garlitz joins the OPP Division and Robert C. Byrd Clinic OMM Department in July, 2007. He attended WVSOM where he was an OPP Graduate Teaching Assistant. He received his Doctor of Osteopathy degree in 1997. He completed a traditional rotating internship and family practice residency at Carson City Hospital in Michigan. He is currently board certified in Family Practice.
Since the completion of his residency, Dr. Garlitz has maintained a primary care practice with a large proportion of his practice devoted to Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine. In 2005, he began to study medical acupuncture.
He currently resides in Union with his wife, Toby, and their two children, Elijah and Katrina.
“If the student does not surpass the teacher, then the teacher is a failure – old Zen tradition”
If you have comments or questions, email me at jgarlitz@wvsom.edu.
[back to top]James W. Kribs, D.O.
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Dr. Jim Kribs is the WVSOM OPP Course Coordinator. His practice at the Robert C. Byrd Clinic specializes in OMM and orthopedic medicine for all ages complemented by pain-control injections. Dr. Kribs completed an OMM residency at the Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine and is board certified in neuromusculoskeletal medicine and OMT.
He currently resides in Lewisburg with his wife, Jennifer and their three children, Maisie, Caleb, and Joshua.
If you have comments or questions, email me at jkribs@wvsom.edu.
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William W. Lemley, D.O., F.A.A.O.
Dr. William Lemley is the coordinator of the OPP OPTI curriculum and is presently developing the 3rd and 4th year OPP curriculum. He is a graduate of the Kansas City College of Osteopathic Medicine and is certified in Family Practice and OMM.
He resides in Lewisburg, WV with his wife, Marta, and enjoys chasing his grandson, woodworking, and playing bluegrass rhythm guitar in The Ramp Supper Band.
If you have comments or questions, email me at wlemley@wvsom.edu
"I never say always, and I always don't say never."
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To Shan Li, D.O.
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Dr. To Shan Li is an Assistant Professor of Osteopathic Principles and Practice at WVSOM. He graduated from the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine and completed his residency in Family Practice. His interests include acupuncture, nutrition, and complementary approaches into patient care. He has practiced both family medicine and urgent care. In addition, he earned his board certification in neuromusculoskeletal and osteopathic manipulative medicine in 2005. Dr. Li currently practices Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine (OMM).
He lives in Lewisburg with his wife and two children.
If you have comments or questions, email me at tli@wvsom.edu.
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