The Columbus Osteopathic Association (COA) honored two individuals with awards at its Annual Meeting, April 22, 2009, at Eddie Merlot’s Restaurant in Columbus. 

 

William F. “Rusty” Emlich, Jr., DO, received the James F. Sosnowski, DO, Distinguished Service Award, and Robert L. Cox, DO, received the William I. Linder, DO, Advocate Award. 

 

Emlich has been a leader within the osteopathic medical profession at the local and state levels, serving as COA president in 1998-1999 and Ohio Osteopathic Association president in 2007-2008.  He is board certified in Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology.  In addition to his busy medical practice, he also serves as clinical preceptor for Doctors Hospital Internal Medicine Residency Program and as assistant clinical professor for Ohio University College of Osteopathic Medicine.

 

Cox, a radiologist, retired January 1, 2007, after 40 years at Doctors Hospital.  He served both his Radiology residency and Internal Medicine residency at Doctors.  Cox was awarded Life Membership status by the OOA, COA, American Osteopathic Association, and American Osteopathic College of Radiology.  Throughout his career he has been a mentor and teacher to countless students, interns, and residents and a champion for osteopathic medicine.

 

The Sosnowski Distinguished Service Award is given annually to a COA member in memory of the only osteopathic physician killed in Vietnam. The award, established in 1988, honors those who have made lifelong contributions to the osteopathic profession and/or the community.  Captain James F. Sosnowski, DO, was killed February 16, 1968, when a mortar shell directly hit the makeshift field hospital near Tay Ninh, Vietnam, where he was examining an American soldier.  Both he and his patient were killed instantly.  Sosnowski was two weeks shy of his 28th birthday.  He was a resident in Internal Medicine at Doctors Hospital and entered the military in 1976 during the first draft of osteopathic physicians.  He was the first Doctors Hospital staff member to lose his life in the service of his country and the only DO listed on the Vietnam Memorial in Washington DC.

 

William I. Linder, DO, a family physician, served for many years as writer and editor of the COA’s publication The Advocate.  The Linder Advocate Award was created in 1997 to honor his memory.  The award recipient does not have to be an osteopathic physician but must be a strong supporter of osteopathic medicine.

 

During the business portion of the meeting, COA’s out-going president, Terrence M. Philbin, DO, an orthopedic surgeon, was recognized for his dedicated leadership, and John A. Cocumelli, DO, a family physician, was installed as COA president for the 2009-2010 program year.  

 

Members elected officers for COA Executive Council and delegates to the OOA House of Delegates.  Robert S. Seiple, DO, conducted the election.

 

The educational program, Evidence Based Medicine Approach to Treatment of OAB, was presented by George Ho, MD.  The meeting was sponsored by Astellas Pharma.