Student Doctor Nicolaus Salm

E.L. Dr Burnham Wonderful World Scholarship Recipient

Next, we celebrate Mr. Nicolaus Salm, a medical student at Western University of Health Sciences, College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific-Northwest (COMPNW).

Nico is recognized as an exceptional student, educator, and community advocate.
As Clinic Coordinator for the East Linn Community Clinic in Lebanon, Oregon, he plays a pivotal role in delivering osteopathic manipulative treatment to uninsured and underserved patients. His leadership has strengthened clinic operations and ensured continuity of care, keeping osteopathic principles at the heart of the clinic’s mission.

His research in musculoskeletal ultrasound explores the dynamic relationship between structure and function—including innovative studies on lymphatic flow and tissue recovery following osteopathic treatment.

Since 2004, the Northwest Osteopathic Foundation has awarded tuition-assistance scholarships in memory of the beloved Dr. E.L. “Doc” Burnham. His family and friends initially raised over $10,000 to establish a legacy scholarship inspired by Doc Burnham’s joyful daily mantra: “Oh, what a wonderful world!”

Doc Burnham was a skilled physician and surgeon who co-founded the Gladstone Family Practice Clinic in 1959 and served on staff at Eastmoreland General Hospital for 35 years, until his retirement in 1980. As one of the founding doctors of the Northwest Osteopathic Foundation, he played an integral role in establishing and building the hospital. A lifelong member of the American Osteopathic Association and past President of the Oregon Osteopathic Association, he was honored with the Northwest Osteopathic Medical Foundation’s Founder’s Emeritus Award in 2003.

Thanks to the generosity of donors, this fund has continued to grow—and this year, we are honored to present the E.L. “Doc” Burnham Wonderful World Scholarship to Nicolaus Salm.
Committed to the Pacific Northwest, Nico envisions a lifelong career serving rural and underserved communities while balancing personal wellness and family life.
He truly embodies the compassion, curiosity, and humanity that inspired Doc Burnham’s legacy—and the spirit of osteopathic medicine.