Celebrate with Us in Athens

Attendings, retired physicians, residents, and medical students are all invited to the 125th Celebration in Athens on Saturday, February 17. The afternoon includes networking with OOA leadership, a buffet of food and drinks, prizes, and more.

The OOA Board of Trustees will be meeting that day at the HCOM campus.

RSVP here.

The VOC Goes Live Next Friday!

The VOC (Virtual Osteopathic Conference) kicks off next Friday morning, February 16. The weekend conference offers a total of 48 credits.

Not available at the weekend? No problem. You can view the lectures on-demand or listen to them like a podcast. Whatever is most convenient for you.

Only need a few credits? No problem. You can purchase any number of credits in eight-hour blocks.

Your OOA membership gets you a discount! Register for The VOC here.

Measles Case Reported in Dayton

On Saturday, the Ohio Department of Health (ODH) reported the state’s first measles case of 2024. The infected child is from Montgomery County.

ODH is working with Public Health – Dayton & Montgomery County and other impacted health departments to identify and notify those who may have been exposed. For more information on this case, see the Dayton & Montgomery County news release here.

Ohio had one measles case in 2023, and 90 in 2022, when an outbreak centered in central Ohio totaled 85 cases. Those cases were the first in the state since 2019.

Measles prevalence has been increasing recently internationally and there have been recent reported cases in the United States, as well.

Measles is extremely contagious and can spread to others through coughing and sneezing. If one person has measles, up to 90% of those who come into contact with that person and who are not immune will also become infected.

ODH reminds clinicians and public health officials to remain alert for signs and symptoms of measles, particularly among persons who have not yet received a measles-containing vaccine (MCV) including those who may have postponed or missed doses. Providers should also consider outreach to patients who are eligible for MCV to encourage routine immunization.

Measles is a Class A reportable disease. If measles is suspected, facilities should implement appropriate infection prevention and control measures and report any case, suspected case, or positive laboratory result immediately via telephone to the local public health department in which the patient resides. Prompt recognition, reporting, and implementation of infection prevention and control measures are critical to limiting the spread of disease.

Resources

• ODH Infectious Disease Control Manual Measles Chapter
• CDC Measles Guidance for Healthcare Providers

Resolved, Your Voice Matters

The OOA House of Delegates will be held on April 19 in conjunction with the Ohio Osteopathic Symposium. The House is the policy-making body for the osteopathic profession in Ohio.

Resolutions are now being accepted and may be submitted directly to the OOA office or through your local district academy.

Policy positions guide the OOA’s work related to legislative and regulatory issues. These position statements start as resolutions in the OOA House of Delegates where they are debated and ultimately approved or disapproved.

The submission deadline is March 15. Email your resolution to Teri Collins at tcollins@OhioDO.org.

OOA Joins Another Legal Brief

At every opportunity the OOA works to protect the practice of osteopathic medicine and advocate for Ohio DOs. Advocacy can come in many forms—including amicus briefs in court cases important to physicians and patient medical care. These friend of the court briefs allow the OOA, in partnership with the Ohio Hospital Association and Ohio State Medical Association, to advise courts of additional, relevant information to consider. Cases are sometimes decided on grounds asserted by an amicus.

The most recent amicus was filed last month in Lyon v. Riverside Methodist Hospital after a Franklin County Court of Common Pleas judge found non-economic caps in medical malpractice cases are unconstitutional. That decision was appealed and the OOA and medical associations filed the amicus curiae in the 10th District Court of Appeals.

Information about other amicus briefs is on the OOA website here.

Support Students: Shelter and Shadow

Many medical students scramble to find and pay for housing while doing rotations away from their home site. It’s a similar situation during residency interviewing season as the costs for transportation, lodging, meals, and application fees add up.

The OOA continues to develop a list of physicians who can help these future colleagues and provide a free place to stay. This OOA-assisted housing service simply connects interested medical students with volunteer physician hosts. The program is neither associated with nor coordinated by any college of osteopathic medicine (COM). The transaction is between the student and physician without any guarantees from the OOA or the student’s COM.

In addition, undergraduate students often turn to the OOA looking for DOs to shadow. Many COMs require prospective students to get to know a DO and request a letter of recommendation as part of the application process. Allowing a shadow is a great way to enhance awareness of the osteopathic medical philosophy.

For more information and to sign up for either or both of these programs, see the Volunteer & DO Your Part page on the OOA website.

Register and Book Your Room

The Ohio Osteopathic Symposium is April 18-21. Have you made plans to attend? Have you registered? Have you made your reservation at the Columbus Hilton?

Register, book your room, and check out the program here.

The Symposium, the largest osteopathic CME conference in the state, is a mix of lectures on timely topics, engaging speakers, and a celebration of the Ohio osteopathic family. Since its start in 2010, this collaborative program of the OOA and OU-HCOM has remained true to its primary objective: provide practical and clinically relevant information.

Attend in-person or online. As always, your OOA membership gets you a discount on registration!

Upcoming Deadlines for Certifying Boards

Application deadlines are quickly approaching. Below are deadlines in February and March for osteopathic certifying boards.

American Osteopathic Board of Anesthesiology clinical exam – March 5 (final deadline)

Pediatric and Adult Allergy and Immunology initial and OCC subspecialty exams – Feb. 16 (first deadline)

American Osteopathic Board of Family Physicians initial primary, subspecialty, and OCC exams – Feb. 16 (first deadline)

American Osteopathic Board of Internal Medicine early entry initial certification exam – Feb. 9 (final deadline)
 
American Osteopathic Board of Neurology & Psychiatry initial primary, subspecialty, and OCC exams – Feb. 18 (first deadline)

American Osteopathic Board of Obstetrics & Gynecology initial primary written exam – Feb. 19 (first deadline)
 
American Osteopathic Board of Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology initial primary oral and written qualifying exams – March 1 (first deadline)

American Osteopathic Board of Orthopedic Surgery initial primary written exam – March 1 (first deadline)

American Osteopathic Board of Pediatrics initial subspecialty and subspecialty OCC exams – Feb. 23 (final deadline); initial primary exam – March 8 (first deadline)

American Osteopathic Board of Radiology initial primary written exam – March 31 (first deadline)

American Osteopathic Board of Surgery initial primary and subspecialty written qualifying exams – March 3 (first deadline)

For questions, contact Chaunessie Baggett at CBaggett@osteopathic.org.

Make a Statewide Impact

The State Board of Emergency Medical, Fire, and Transportation Services (EMFTS) is seeking nominations for seat #15 on its Trauma Committee.

Seat #15 is designated for an administrator of an adult or pediatric trauma center with substantial experience. Of note, EMFTS does not appoint more than one member to the Committee who is employed by or practices at the same hospital, health system, or emergency medical services organization.

The Committee generally meets every other month.

Interested candidates should contact the OOA Office at 614-299-2107. A CV and letter of interest are required as part of the nomination process.

Know an Osteopathic Legend? Nominate Them

The OOA is accepting award nominations to recognize physicians who have made significant contributions to the osteopathic profession and/or their communities. Award recipients will be honored at the Ohio Osteopathic Symposium in April.

Nominations are due by February 15 for the following awards:

Distinguished Service Award
Meritorious Service Award
M. Bridget Wagner, DO, Humanitarian Award
Trustees Award
George L. Eckert, Jr, DO, Mentor of the Year

Read more about the awards, see a list of past recipients, and submit your nomination here.

Ohio ACOFP Seeking Award Nominations

Nominees for Ohio ACOFP awards should be family physicians with a demonstrated commitment to osteopathic philosophy, patient care, community involvement, education, or enrichment of self and others.

Nominations are due for the following awards by February 15:

Family Physician of the Year
Distinguished Service Award
Young Family Physician of the Year
Family Medicine Resident of the Year

A list of past recipients and nomination form are here.