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by Kirsten Brown
OU-COM will welcome the
president of Ohio Osteopathic Association (OOA) and its
executive director Wednesday, May 3. President David A. Bitonte,
D.O., and Executive Director Jon F. Wills will make a
presentation covering issues relevant to the future of the
osteopathic profession, with a question and answer session, from
noon to 1 p.m. in Irvine 194. Their visit is sponsored by
Student Government.
Bitonte also currently serves
as medical director for Ohio KePRO, which serves 1.8 million
beneficiaries as the Medicare quality improvement organization
for Ohio. He also is an American Osteopathic Association Health
Policy Fellow. Besides his present presidential position,
Bitonte also has acted as a past president for the American
Osteopathic College of Anesthesiologists, the Akron-Canton
Academy of Osteopathic Medicine and the Stark County Medical
Society. In the past, Bitonte held the position as chief of
anesthesiology at Alliance Community Hospital.
Last week, Bitonte and Wills
visited Washington, D.C., to take part in D.O. Day on Capitol
Hill. There, they joined with hundreds of osteopathic physicians
from Ohio and the nation to discuss existing and future public
policy that affects the medical profession with U.S.
Congressmen.
“D.O. Day on Capitol Hill
provided our students the opportunity to be osteopathic
advocates by meeting with members of Congress to discuss issues
important to the profession,” Bitonte says. “D.O.s
and osteopathic medical students were able to provide expertise
to those who develop public policy impacting the health care of
all Americans.”
A group of OU-COM students,
including first-year student Rebecca Teagarden, joined
Bitonte and Wills in Washington. Wills and Bitonte will reunite
with students for breakfast at 8:45 a.m. in Grosvenor West 111.
At 10:30 a.m., the two guests will take a tour of OU-COM with
Jill Harman and meet with Dean Jack Brose, D.O.
“I have learned that Dr.
Bitonte is a very active participant in the osteopathic and
larger medical community. For example, I had the privilege of
being in a discussion with a number of students and physicians,
which included Dr. Bitonte, and an aide for Sen. George
Voinovich. During this meeting, Dr. Bitonte was quick to voice
very knowledgeable and substantive opinions on issues such as
access to care, reform of the current student loan situation,
Medicare reimbursement, etc.,” says Teagarden.
“We look forward to having
everyone join Student Government in welcoming Dr. Bitonte and
Mr. Wills during the lunch hour and throughout the day.
“Additionally, being able to
show off the recent improvements to OU-COM and the caliber of
students currently here are reasons for all who have been
involved in the planning and carrying out of this visit to be
excited.”
Over the years, it has become a
tradition for OOA presidents to visit OU-COM, Bitonte says.
“It’s a pleasure working with
the students,” he says.
Students can find more
information on the OOA available at its
Web site.
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News for
the week of
May 1
–
May 6
News for
the week of
April 24
– April 29
News for
the week of
April
17
– April 22
Anderson Minority Health Month
lecture cancelled
Social Work Chairman Greenlee
continues Minority Health Month presentations with ‘Appalachian
Cultural Competence’ Tuesday at noon
H. Paul Kim, D.O. (’94), is the
final speaker for Career Medical Specialties Week
D.O.C. Awards held Wednesday evening
in Irvine 194
Annual Kenyan Children’s Fund Benefit to be held Thursday, April
20, at 6 p.m.
News for
the week of
April
10
– April 15
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