11/22/2021

Council Q&A with John R. Corker, MD, FACEP

OSMA Thought Leadership

OSMA Council Members work tirelessly on behalf of our nearly 10,000 members to ensure OSMA is meeting the needs of physicians and responding to the ever-changing healthcare landscape.

Over the past year, the role of the Council members has become even more important as OSMA has responded to the COVID-19 pandemic. Providing feedback on COVID support, guiding our physician well-being programs and supporting advocacy efforts and public health campaigns are just a few of the ways Council members have been on the front-lines of helping OSMA work toward our mission of bringing physicians together for a healthier Ohio.

Get to know your OSMA leaders!

John R. Corker, MD, FACEP

• District 2, At-Large Councilor
• Emergency Medicine
  
• 9-year OSMA Member

Q: Tell us about your medical career. What is your role and where are you currently practicing?

A: I am entering my fifth year of independent practice, and was recently elected a partner with Emergency Medicine (EM) Specialists, Inc. I have worked with this independent, democratic group since moving back to Ohio from my residency training in Texas. We staff the Kettering Health Network in and around Dayton, where I have the privilege of working with the medical students at the Wright State University Boonshoft School of Medicine, as well as the Wright State and Grandview Hospital EM residency programs. I work part-time with Qualified Emergency Specialists, Inc (QESI), staffing the TriHealth network in Cincinnati and the event medical teams for the Reds and Bengals. I maintain both Ohio and Texas medical licenses, and still return to Texas from time to time to assist at a small, critical-access community hospital when the need arises.

Q: How long have you been a member of OSMA? What are the different ways you have been involved in the organization over the years?

A: I am entering my 9th year as a member of OSMA. I got involved as a first-year medical student at Wright State in 2009, and proceeded to serve several leadership roles in the OSMA Medical Student Section (MSS) during my time in Dayton. After stops in Washington DC and Dallas TX, I returned to Ohio upon residency graduation in 2017, quickly renewing my membership. I was recently elected to my second term as an At-Large Councilor, and have been appointed by the OSMA president to serve on the Auditing and Appropriations committee. I have served on the OSMA Delegation to the American Medical Association (AMA) as both a medical student and again currently. What’s more, I helped develop the OSMA Young Physicians’ Section (YPS) as part of its steering committee, and have served as its inaugural Chair since 2019. I am a proud supporter of our OSMA PAC, as well as our rejuvenated OSMA Foundation.

Q: What are you looking forward to in working with the OSMA Council this coming year?

A: I am excited to serve in my second term as an At-Large Councilor and am grateful for the confidence of my colleagues across the state. Through various projects and sub-committees, we are working hard to further strengthen the long-term sustainability of our association, to enhance and promote the tremendous value of OSMA membership, and to refine and implement important policy initiatives as directed by our House of Delegates (HOD). In the coming year, I am most excited about the continued growth of our YPS and working with our advocacy staff to preserve and strengthen the role of physicians as leaders of both our health care teams and our communities.

Q: What do you see as some of the biggest issues facing healthcare in the coming year? How can OSMA work to address these issues?

A: The three biggest issues facing health care in the coming year are our ongoing COVID-19 global pandemic, the escalating quality and safety concerns associated with patients receiving medical care from non-physicians, and singularly focused profiteering of insurance companies at the expense of the health and well-being of both patients and their physicians.

Our OSMA has done a tremendous job forging collaborative partnerships around the state to promote the dissemination of reliable information and best practices regarding infection control and vaccinations against COVID-19. Moving forward, we must model proactive and empathetic leadership in productively addressing information gaps and vaccine hesitancy through education and shared decision-making with our patients.

In addition, our advocacy continues to push back against ill-conceived attempts in the statehouse to create a two-tiered, “separate but equal” health care system by promoting the independent practice of medicine by non-physicians. We have already successfully advocated against many such bills to date, and will no doubt require continued vigilance in the name of safety for our patients who deserve the highest quality care.

Finally, whether through targeted media pressure, independent practice support or even litigation, it is important for OSMA to leverage its resources to support our members and practices in their continued struggles with burdensome prior authorization and retroactive denial of payment for the life-saving and affirming care that we provide in the best interest of our patients.

Q: What are some of the ways in which OSMA has supported your medical practice?

A: Just recently, OSMA assisted my practice in a dispute with an insurance company over non-payment for professional services rendered, despite clear precedent for their legitimacy and necessity. In addition, OSMA provided valuable guidance and support throughout the pandemic to help us navigate and secure vital government support that kept us afloat during a time of unprecedented challenges for our practice. Finally, OSMA provides regular practice bulletins with valuable information and updates regarding the myriad of practice-related items that affect us on a daily basis.

Q: How can Ohio physicians get involved in OSMA and get the most out of their membership?

A: It all starts with a conversation! Reach out to one of your colleagues who you know is an OSMA member or email membership@osma.org to express your interest.

If you are within the first 10 years of your practice or under the age of 40, check out our YPS web page at osmayps.org to learn more about the unique benefits and services that we provide for young physicians. Take advantage of exclusive member benefits for loan refinancing, products and services for your practice, personal travel and more. Visit our CME portal and keep an eye out for communication about our latest offerings. Support our OSMA Foundation and peruse its various scholarship and grant opportunities.

Finally, join us at our next meeting to network with physicians from across the state, learn more about the collaborative work that we do, and ensure that your voice is heard in our internal policy deliberations at the House of Delegates. Whatever your niche or professional interest, our OSMA is here to support your practice and enhance your professional satisfaction.

If you’d like to get in touch with OSMA leadership or learn more about Council, please email council@osma.org.