OU-COM individuals honored at OOA convention

Students, alumni, faculty and staff were recognized at this year’s Ohio Osteopathic Association Convention

By Richard Heck

June 25, 2009

OU-COM students, alumni, faculty and staff received recognition and appointments to key leadership positions at the 111^th annual Ohio Osteopathic Association (OOA) Convention, June 18 - 21, in Sandusky, Ohio.

For the second year in a row, an OU-COM alumnus was installed as OOA president. Christopher Loyke, D.O. (’88), succeeded Barbara Bennett, D.O. (’84), as president, becoming the fifth OU-COM graduate to lead the statewide association.

A family physician from Cleveland, Loyke has been actively involved in organized medicine since the 1990s. He served twice as president of the Cleveland Academy of Osteopathic Medicine before joining the OOA board in 2001.

As an OU-COM clinical associate professor of family medicine at South Pointe Hospital, Loyke was twice named Outstanding Family Physician at the Centers for Osteopathic Research & Education (CORE) site. Loyke has a private practice in Sagamore Hills and serves as medical staff president at Parma Community General Hospital.

Also continuing service on the OOA executive committee is John Ramey, D.O. (’82), who is the new second vice president. He served as treasurer this past year.

Jean S. Rettos, D.O. (’04), who runs a local private practice, Athens Health Solutions, received the Young Family Physician of the Year Award from the Ohio chapter of the American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians.

Sharon Zimmerman, MPA, director of medical development and executive director of alumni affairs, received the sixth annual Osteopathic Spirit Award. Established in 2004, the award honors individuals who demonstrate extraordinary commitment to promoting the osteopathic profession. Recipients of the award must meet the following criteria:

• Promotes osteopathic public education and awareness.
• Provides volunteer service to either patients and/or the community.
• Exemplifies the spirit of caring that embodies the osteopathic profession.
• Has served the osteopathic profession for five or more years.

“Sharon has been an excellent role model, constantly giving and representing the osteopathic profession through her leadership, professional achievements and dedication,” wrote Timothy J. Barreiro, D.O., CORE clinical assistant professor of critical care medicine, who nominated Zimmerman.

Barreiro said Zimmerman was the leading force in the development of a comprehensive office of alumni affairs and the annual OU-COM continuing medical education events.

“Her most recent professional achievement has been her leadership in the college’s advancement efforts with regard to Ohio University’s new Academic & Research Center,” Barreiro wrote. “Sharon’s enthusiasm and determination have been at the forefront of an unprecedented rallying of graduates donating to this new center. She possesses a spirited and unrelenting drive that serves to move the OU-COM family forward and to new heights.”

Constance P. Cashen, D.O., CORE clinical professor of general surgery at St. Vincent Mercy Medical Center, received the Trustees Award. The award is given periodically for dedicated service to the OOA

Two OU-COM students placed in the OOA-CORE Research Poster Exhibition & Competition’s case report category. Family Medicine Fellow
 
 

Rachel Holt took first place with her presentation, “Stiff person syndrome followed by latent autoimmune diabetes of adulthood,” while
 

Kevin Baxter, OMS II, tied for second with his poster, “Panretinal acute multifocal placoid pigment epitheliopathy.” Holt won $1,000 and Baxter, $500.

Gilbert S. Bucholz, D.O., assistant dean emeritus, and J. Phillip Jones, D.O., professor emeritus of pediatrics, were honored with OOA Life Member Awards.

The OOA recognized a 2004 winner of OU-COM’s Phillips Medal of Public with the organization’s highest honor. Boyd W. Bowden II, D.O., of Columbus, a former American Osteopathic Association trustee, received the Distinguished Service Award, the highest honor given to an osteopathic physician who has shown outstanding accomplishments in personal, scientific and professional affairs, especially in service to the osteopathic profession in Ohio.

OU-COM and CORE faculty and/or alumni who presented or spoke at the convention included:

• Timothy J. Barreiro, D.O. (’97), CORE clinical assistant professor of critical care medicine (St. Joseph Health Center)
• Barbara Bennett, D.O. (’84)
• Jack Brose, D.O., OU-COM dean
• Robert A. Cain, D.O. (’88), CORE clinical professor of pulmonology (Grandview Medical Center)
• Constance P. Cashen, D.O., CORE clinical professor of general surgery (St. Vincent Mercy Medical Center)
• Nicole B. Danner, D.O. (’84), M.S., CORE clinical assistant professor of neurology (Firelands Regional Medical Center)
• Cynthia S. Kelley, D.O. (’01)
• Cheryl A. Leuthaeuser, D.O. (’98), CORE clinical associate professor of family medicine (South Pointe Hospital)
• Marc D. Schrode, D.O. (’87)
• Martha Simpson, D.O., M.B.A., assistant professor of family medicine
• Jay H. Shubrook Jr., D.O. (’96), assistant professor of family medicine
• Sharon E. VanNostran, D.O. (’98), CORE clinical assistant professor of family medicine (Cuyahoga Falls General Hospital)