Editor’s Note: As of Friday, Oct. 21, the American Osteopathic
Association has
said on its Web site that “all plans for the 2005 Unified
Convention” are proceeding.
Osteopathic
physicians from across the nation will convene Oct. 23–27 in
Orlando, Fla., at the Orange County Convention Center for the 2005
Unified Osteopathic Convention. Celebrating the theme, “Osteopathic
Medicine: A Profession United for Excellence in Health Care,” the
occasion marks the first time in history that all 23 osteopathic
practice groups, along with osteopathic medical schools and other
osteopathic affiliates, will converge simultaneously.
“The first Unified Osteopathic
Convention will be a groundbreaking event,” says AOA President
Philip Shettle, D.O. This unity was a long-term goal of the late
Frank J. McDevitt, D.O., the AOA president in 1981-82, who chaired
the AOA Bureau of Conventions from 1984 until his death in 2004, say
officials at the AOA.
“It was Dr.
McDevitt who set into motion our profession's first Unified
Osteopathic Convention,” says George Thomas, D.O., the AOA president
in 2004-05. “It's time that we all met together to discuss the
future of osteopathic medicine and to learn new ways to improve
patient care. Collaboration is the key to our future success.”
AOA Executive
Director John Crosby, J.D., says, “When the AOA Campaign for
Osteopathic Unity began in 1998, we imagined a moment when
osteopathic medical professionals would come together to learn from
each other and continue finding solutions for providing the
highest-quality patient care. Our entire osteopathic family will
have the opportunity to gather in Orlando this October.”
William Anderson, D.O., former
president of the AOA and an associate dean of Kirksville College of
Osteopathic Medicine of A.T. Still University of Health Sciences,
will be the keynote speaker at the 2005 Unified Osteopathic
Convention, Monday, Oct. 24, in the Orange County Convention Center.
Anderson is responsible for the development of osteopathic medical
education programs for students, interns and residents at hospitals
within the St. John Health System in Michigan.
“We are
very successful as a profession — we are growing, we are alive and
we are well — and all of us should be proud to be a part of it,”
says Anderson.
Anderson was a frequent visitor to
OU-COM and was the keynote speaker at several major college events,
including graduation.
The AOA also will
unveil its new brand at the convention. The new branding initiative
is part of Shettle’s “pride in the profession” campaign during his
year as president.
The convention will
host a number of activities, including:
The commercial
and scientific exhibits will kick off Saturday, Oct. 22 (5–8 p.m.);
and will continue Sunday, Oct. 23 (10 a.m.–5 p.m.); Monday, Oct. 24
(9 a.m.–1 p.m. and 2:30–5 p.m.); and ends Tuesday, Oct. 25 (9 a.m.–5
p.m.).
Sunday starts
with a breakfast seminar, “Pain and Depression: Symptom Presentation
and Therapeutic Management” (6:30–7:45 a.m.), sponsored by Eli Lilly
and Company. Other first day highlights include the AIDS/HIV Seminar
(8–10 a.m.), the 7th annual AOA International Seminar (8 a.m.–4
p.m.), the Public Health Seminar (1–5 p.m.), the End–of–Life Care
Seminar (1–5 p.m.) and the Young Physicians – Prep for Practice
seminar (3:30–5:30 p.m.).
Sunday’s
annual joint socioeconomic program of the AOA and the American
College of Osteopathic Family Physicians (ACOFP) is “Pay for
Performance and Quality Trends” (1–3:30 p.m.). The AOA and the ACOFP
will host a joint dinner program, “Hiring and Keeping Excellent
Office Staff” (3:30–5:30 p.m.).
Monday’s early
morning AOA breakfast seminar is “Treatment Opportunities in
Dyslipidemia,” sponsored by Merck/Shering-Plough Pharmaceuticals.
The
osteopathic medical colleges will host alumni luncheons (1:15–2:30
p.m.) at the Orange County Convention Center, the Peabody Orlando
and the Rosen Plaza Hotel. More didactic sessions (3–5 p.m.) will be
followed by a host of evening functions.
Tuesday begins
with the 22nd annual Fun Run and Fun Walk (6–8 a.m.) and ends with
the AOA President’s Reception (7–10 p.m.). Between these events are
morning and afternoon didactic sessions. Tuesday’s AOA breakfast
seminar, sponsored by AstraZeneca, is “Setting New Sights —
Achieving New Targets: Why Benefits Outweigh Risks of Dyslipidemia
Management.”
Wednesday is
packed with didactic programs and evening events sponsored by
organizations serving the osteopathic medical profession, starting
with an AOA breakfast seminar, “HPV Vaccine: Are We Closer to
Preventing Cervical Cancer and Other HPV–related Diseases?,”
sponsored by Merck.
Thursday’s joint
session, “Continuity of Care in Bipolar Disorder: Assessment,
Treatment and Side Effect Management” (6:30–9:30 a.m.), will close
the convention and is sponsored by Eli Lilly and Company.
A complete schedule
for the convention can be found
here.
Presentations
and Research Findings
Oct. 23–27:
Experts in a variety of fields will make presentations. Topics
include:
-
Public Health
Issues Related to Disasters and Terrorism
-
Autism
-
War Trauma and
Rehab
-
Quality
Measurement/Pay-for-Performance in Health Care
-
Joint Cracking and
Osteoarthritis
Exhibits
Oct. 23–25:
In
addition, more than 175 commercial and scientific exhibitors will
provide information on the latest medications and products.
Exhibitors include Pfizer Inc., Eli Lilly & Company, AstraZeneca,
Wyeth Pharmaceuticals, all of the colleges of osteopathic medicine,
as well as numerous osteopathic practice groups and state societies.
Community Outreach
Oct. 22:
The National Osteopathic Medical Association, an organization
representing minority D.O.s, and the Orlando Union Rescue (OUR)
Mission will host a community health fair to provide much-needed
medical care and health information to area residents and residents
of the mission. OUR Mission is the city’s largest faith-based,
non-profit organization dedicated to helping the community’s
homeless achieve productive, self-sufficient lifestyles. The health
fair will offer screenings for blood pressure and diabetes, classes
on childhood obesity and self-breast exams and information about
proper bathing techniques for infants and children, car seat safety
and bicycle helmet safety. The fair will be held at OUR Mission
Home, 1525 West Washington St., from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Oct. 25:
The Advocates of the American Osteopathic Association will team up
with S.T.A.R.S. (Supplies to Assist Our Students) of West Orange to
bring needed school supplies to children, such as backpacks,
notebooks, pens and pencils. The AAOA is a charitable organization
helping to promote and support the public health and educational
activities of D.O.s. The event will be held at the Peabody Hotel,
9801 International Drive, beginning at 9 a.m.
The AOA proudly represents its
professional family of more than 56,000 osteopathic physicians,
promotes public health, encourages scientific research, serves as
the primary certifying body for D.O.s, and is the accrediting agency
for all osteopathic medical colleges and health-care facilities.
More information on the osteopathic medical profession can be found
at www.osteopathic.org.
