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.
- 30 -
News for
the week of Oct
17 –
Oct 22
