by Kevin M. Sanders

On Dec. 14, the Ohio University College of Osteopathic Medicine received a $50,000 check from the American Osteopathic Association (AOA) to support its Family Health^® radio series. The presentation of this check and a visit by an AOA public relations representative marked a renewal of national support for the radio program.

This year’s grant is part of a two-year commitment from the AOA, with another $50,000 to come next year. The AOA had previously supported Family Health^® on an annual basis, but that support stopped in 1997.

“It is our intent at the AOA,” says George Thomas, D.O., president of the AOA, “to help Family Health^® have more widespread reach across the country.

“The program has a wide and bright future, in the sense that it is a very good educational vehicle for the patient and a mechanism to emphasize the importance of osteopathic medicine.”

Family Health^®, a daily series of 2-1/2 minute radio programs, is heard on more than 225 radio stations and reaches 11 million listeners daily in the United States. The series is also heard worldwide on the U.S. Armed Forces Radio Network; all stations receive the program monthly, free of charge, on compact disc. The program provides practical, easy-to-understand information on common health problems and the latest health-care developments.

“I’m very pleased that the American Osteopathic Association has decided to once again be a major underwriter of Family Health^®,” says Carl Denbow, Ph.D., OU-COM special media project director. “This support has made it possible for our show to continue during this time of tight budgets in the higher education system of Ohio. We will work closely with the public relations office of the AOA to make sure that its goals for this show are met, especially in terms of marketing the program to stations in specific target areas.”

Karyn Szurgot, director of public relations for the AOA, says, “Since 1981 OU-COM and Ohio University’s Telecommunications Center have produced a quality family health radio program that has helped to educate consumers about their health as well as about D.O.s and osteopathic medicine. The AOA hopes that its renewed financial support will help to increase the number of radio stations using the Family Health^® radio program, nationally and internationally.”

Jon Wills, executive director of the Ohio Osteopathic Association, noted the statewide organization has supported Family Health^® since it first hit the airwaves in 1981. “We are happy to help facilitate expanded support for this high-quality program,” he says.

“This generous support from the American Osteopathic Association allows OU-COM to bring important medical information to people throughout the United States and around the world,” says Jack Brose, D.O., dean of OU-COM. “Community service is a major priority of our medical school, and Family Health^® helps to meet that mission.”

“I think this is a great opportunity,” says Thomas, “to become more involved with participating stations and to have more airings of the Family Health^® radio series.

“That would have a great impact of bringing the message of what a D.O. is to the American public as a whole.”