Tracy L. Marx, D.O., assistant professor of family medicine, presented a reading of the play “Confessions of a Reluctant Caregiver” during the American Osteopathic Association’s 114th Annual Osteopathic Medical Conference and Exposition—OMED 2009 in New Orleans in earlier this month.

Playwright and former OU-HCOM employee Merri Biechler wrote the play, inspired by her own experience as a caregiver for both her mother and father, after each received a terminal cancer diagnosis. Marx uses the play during a two-week course in pain management and palliative care to engage her students about issues of end-of-life care.

Five individuals associated with OU-HCOM received awards from the American Osteopathic Foundation during the conference honors ceremony.

The winners include:

• William J. Burke, D.O. (’88) – director of the family practice residency program at Doctors Hospital in Columbus and an associate professor of family medicine -- 2009 Merck/Schering-Plough CAP Excellence Award-Residency Program of the Year, $5,000 award
• Jan Saunders, D.O. (’87), clinical professor of orthopedics Grandview Medical Center in Dayton2009 -- Pfizer Fit for Life Physical Fitness Award, $5,000 award
• Jeremy Riehm, OMS IV -- Welch Scholars Grant, $2,000 award
• Sara Thorp, OMS II -- Russell C. McCaughan, D.O., Education Scholarship, $400 award
• Janice Bacak, spouse of Stephen Bacak, D.O. (’09), Donna Jones Moritsugu Memorial Award.

John Howell, Ph.D., associate professor of biomedical sciences, and doctoral student Meng-Yun Chen, provided haptic simulation for visitors to an OU-HCOM information booth, where Gillian Ice, Ph.D., associate professor of social medicine, was also promoting the college’s International Programs.

Burke presided over this year’s OU-HCOM Society of Alumni and Friends luncheon in place of President Jeffrey Stanley, D.O. (’82), who was attending the Annual Clinical Assembly for Osteopathic Surgeons in Chicago. Dean Jack Brose, D.O., provided a college update at the luncheon, which serves as the society’s annual business meeting.

Jason Smith, D.O., a second-year family medicine resident and clinical instructor for OU-HCOM at South Pointe Hospital, represented the CORE at the annual SOMA event and the new residency fair at the convention. Besides promoting the benefits of the CORE, Smith continuously screened the new CORE video.