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Lincoln Memorial University (LMU) in Harrogate, Tenn., and ramp it up entertainment in Hasbrouck Heights, N.J., announced today that they have signed an exclusive agreement to develop a reality television, web and mobile-based series tentatively titled “Black Bag Warriors.”
The concept for the series was generated by Dennis Gelbaum, CEO and managing director of ramp it up entertainment. Gelbaum conceived the idea after reading about fourth-year LMU-DCOM student Dena Krishnan in the September 27, 2010, issue of People magazine. In “Notes from a Country Doctor,” (people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20427066,00.html) writer Alicia Dennis profiled Krishnan and her experiences attending house calls. House calls are a frequent experience during fourth-year rural rotations for the osteopathic medical students at LMU-DCOM.
“Black Bag Warriors” will feature LMU-DCOM students as they pursue their fourth year clinical rotations in rural Appalachia. During the clinical rotations phase of medical school, students are assigned to mentor physicians, known as preceptors, who teach the students in clinical settings. During their fourth year of osteopathic medical school, LMU-DCOM students are required to complete a rural primary care rotation. Many of the physicians involved in these rotations have occasion to make home visits to their patients. As a result, LMU-DCOM students receive valuable experience in treating patients in this unique setting.
“‘Black Bag Warriors’ is the docu-drama reality based series I have dreamt of developing and producing,” said Gelbaum. “Our focus will be on our fourth-year osteopathic medical students at LMU-DCOM as they make their rounds in the heart of Appalachia, providing a glimpse of a world of poverty, pride and persistence most of us have never seen. They will go house to house in some of the most underserved rural parts of America, providing the best patient care they can provide under these less than ideal circumstances and learning what healing is all about.”
“The decision to participate in a reality series production is an innovative and groundbreaking one, and it is something that we considered with great care,” said Ray E. Stowers, DO, vice president and dean of LMU-DCOM. “Perhaps this series will even revive some interest in the centuries-old practice of house calls in medicine.”
“We hope to show viewers the quality care our students and our partner physicians in the community are providing to the patients of Appalachia,” said Stowers. “Often such care involves going literally extra miles to visit these patients in their homes. We believe the LMU-DCOM students that get to experience house calls gain extra insight and expertise into quality patient care. When I was a practicing family physician in rural Oklahoma, I made regular house calls as part of my practice and support this value being passed on to the LMU-DCOM students.”
“We look forward to working with Dennis Gelbaum and ramp it up entertainment,” said Stowers. “His extensive experience in the field as well as his knowledge and familiarity with osteopathic medicine made him a great fit for this project.”
“‘Black Bag Warriors’ will be character driven, intimate and hopeful in tonality, creating warmth and celebrating life,” said Gelbaum. “We will go on a journey that will motivate, inspire and often teach us something unexpected. The stories of the students, the doctors, the patients and their families will always be engaging, dramatic, funny and very personal...but never predictable. Our medical students will wish they could do more - as if making house calls and being a black bag warrior isn’t enough!”
Gelbaum is an international- award-winning creative director, producer, director and author. His books include the novel “Beyond Reasonable Doubt” and “Something About Going Home,” a book of original poetry with illustrations by Christina Qualiana. Gelbaum is featured in the book “50 Great Writers You Should Be Reading” by Danielle Hampson and Don McCauley. He is also the inventor of the Buddy Light Illuminated Safety Leash. Gelbaum’s recent work includes creating and producing the multimedia series “Fall in Love with America Again;” directing promos to launch “Guitar Hero 5,” “Animal Crossing City Folk” and “Mixed Messages” for Nintendo; creating and co-directing Get Wii Fit with Alyson,” an interactive website and web-based series sponsored by Nintendo featuring Disney Channel star Alyson Stoner; creating and directing a multimedia campaign for Special Olympics Texas; producing a fundraising and awareness video for Worldfund; creating and producing a multimedia campaign for Bazooka Bubble Gum including a video with over 2 million views; and creating hours of long and short form programming and content for theatrical release, broadcast, web and mobile.
The DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine at LMU was founded in 2007 on the University’s main campus in Harrogate, Tenn. The school is located near the historic Cumberland Gap, where Tennessee, Kentucky and Virginia meet. LMU-DCOM’s mission is to prepare outstanding osteopathic physicians who are dedicated to the premise that the cornerstone of meaningful existence is service to humanity. LMU was founded as a living memorial to President Abraham Lincoln on February 12, 1897, and it strives to give students a foundation for a more productive life by upholding the principles of Abraham Lincoln's life. The University is committed to teaching, research and service and has enjoyed rapid growth over the last decade as enrollment has increased by 154%. The University has expanded from its liberal arts core and now offers advanced and professional degrees. LMU students run the gamut, from first-generation college students to working professionals seeking to complete their degree to professional students pursuing their doctorates.
ramp it up entertainment, a creative boutique and full service multimedia company, creates unique opportunities for people, institutions, companies and brands to tell their story.
The DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine is located on the campus of Lincoln Memorial University in Harrogate, Tennessee. LMU-DCOM is an integral part of LMU’s values-based learning community, and is dedicated to preparing the next generation of osteopathic physicians to provide health care in the often underserved region of Appalachia and beyond. For more information about LMU-DCOM, call 1-800-325-0900, ext. 7082, e-mail dcom[.]lmunet.edu, or visit us online at lmunet.edu/dcom.
For more information, contact: Amy Drittler, Associate Director of Public Relations. LMU, P: 423-869-7108, F: 423-869-7078 - E: amy.drittler[.]LMUnet.edu
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