More than 500 osteopathic physicians (D.O.s), medical students
and guests are expected to attend the 107th Ohio Osteopathic
Convention at the Cincinnati Marriott at RiverCenter and
Northern Kentucky Convention Center from Thursday, June 23,
through Sunday, June 26. The Ohio Osteopathic Association (OOA)
sponsors the four-day scientific seminar during which physicians
receive continuing medical education credits (CME), recognizing
their efforts to stay abreast of advances in the art and science
of patient care.
David A. Bitonte, D.O., will be installed as OOA’s 2005-2006
president during the Inaugural Banquet & Awards Ceremony. He
succeeds Jeffrey A. Stanley, D.O. (’82), a vascular
surgeon from Cleveland. William F. Emlich Jr., D.O. (’86),
of Columbus, is convention chair.
OOA President Stanley will present OU-COM Dean Jack Brose,
D.O., with a check for $194,170 at a Friday luncheon.
The money is part of the Ohio Osteopathic Foundation (OOF) Loan
Challenge Match started a year ago at the 2004 OOA Convention
when Brose reported the OU-COM received a $2.6 million award
from the federal government to support
student loans because of the college’s outstanding record in
training primary care physicians. But to qualify for the
funding, it was necessary for the College to provide a 1-to-9
dollar match, money OU-COM did not have allocated in its budget.
That's when the OOF Board of Trustees stepped in and pledged to
give $1 for every dollar contributed, up to
$100,000.
Thanks to the OOF, and contributions from D.O.s across the state, OOA
district
academies, the Auxiliary, osteopathic hospitals, OU-COM and
others, the goal of $289,772 was reached — giving OU-COM
students a $2.6 million financial boost, which will support osteopathic
medical students entering primary care as well as building the future of osteopathic medicine
in Ohio.
“This project shows what can be achieved when the osteopathic
community mobilizes to support osteopathic medical education,”
says Brose. “Students will benefit for years to come, and OOF can
take pride in this accomplishment.”
Convention attendees will hear from a number of experts
including Beth M. Vlerick, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid
Services presidential management fellow, who will provide an
update on the much-publicized prescription drug benefit program
for seniors that takes effect next year. Other lectures cover a
variety of health-care topics including: “New Therapies in COPD,”
“The Latest in Thyroid Disease,” “How Low Should LDL Go,”
“Cardiovascular Disease in Women,” “Surgical and Non-Surgical
Advances in Treating Knee Arthritis,” “Low Back Pain
Rehabilitation Techniques” and “An Integrative Approach to Pain
Management.” Osteopathic manipulative treatment workshops and
Practice Management seminars are also on the schedule.
In addition to the CME sessions, leaders of the state’s
osteopathic medical profession will gather during the convention
to shape and influence Ohio’s health-care agenda at the OOA
House of Delegates. The House of Delegates, the organization’s
policy-making body, will consider emerging trends in medicine
including childhood obesity, do not resuscitate orders and
advance directives, electronic medical records, insurance
identification cards for patients, exclusive credentialing,
medical errors and formulary medications. Physicians from
throughout the state are elected to serve as delegates.
A number of special awards will be presented at the convention.
·
The OOA’s highest honor, the Distinguished Service Award, will
be given to Harold Thomas, D.O., a family physician practicing
in Euclid and Garfield Heights.
·
Two physicians, Marie A. Keener, D.O., and Randolphe G. Roulier,
D.O., will receive the Trustees Award. The honor, initiated
directly by the OOA Board of Trustees, recognizes outstanding
contributions to the osteopathic profession in Ohio.
·
The family of M. Bridget Wagner, D.O. (’94), will accept
the Humanitarian Award. Wagner, who died in a plane crash last
year, was active in numerous medical missions and programs
providing care in underserved areas throughout the world.
·
State Rep. James P. Trakas will receive the Meritorious Service
Award, given to an individual who is not an osteopathic
physician in recognition of outstanding accomplishments in
scientific, philanthropic or other fields of public service.
Trakas represents the 17th House District, which encompasses
southeast Cuyahoga County.
·
Richard A. Vincent, M.B.A., president of the Columbus-based Osteopathic
Heritage Foundations, will receive the J.O. Watson, D.O.,
Memorial Lecture Award. The award is named for one of Ohio’s
most respected D.O.s.
·
In addition, 14 physicians will receive OOA Life Membership
awards for their lifetime commitment to the profession and the
association.
- 30 -
News for
the week of June 20 – June 25
News for
the week of June 13 – June 18
