04/11/2024

2024 OSMA Annual Meeting Recap

This past weekend, OSMA members from across the state gathered together in Columbus for the OSMA Annual Meeting – an opportunity to network, share ideas, and conduct important policy work on behalf of their profession and their patients.

This year’s Annual Meeting activities kicked off on Friday evening at the Renaissance Hotel Polaris in Westerville. First on the agenda were meetings for the AMA delegation and Focused Task Force on State Legislation. Additionally, members enjoyed annual dinners honoring the OSMAPAC Board and Trustees and the OSMA Past Presidents. Following dinner, members socialized and mingled at the OSMA Foundation Reception, enjoying refreshments and hearing updates on the Foundation’s activities. These updates included information about The Disposables art installation, the Well-Being Care Service, and the Summer Scholars program. The OSMA Foundation was proud to announce it has awarded 7 medical students, one from each of Ohio’s medical schools, stipends for summer internships this year:

• Umida Burkhanova, Northeast Ohio Medical University
• Katherine Esser, University of Toledo College of Medicine
• Adam Beucler, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine
• Nikita Das, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine
• Josie Lowell, Wright State University College of Medicine
• Shannon Daley, Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine
• Saksha Krishnan, The Ohio State University College of Medicine

The OSMA Foundation was also excited to announce the creation of the Surekha and Deepak Kumar, MD Endowed Fund for Emerging Physician Leaders & Advocates. An outstanding and extremely dedicated OSMA physician leader, Dr. Deepak Kumar and his wife Surekha have committed to a gift of $50,000 to the OSMA Foundation to support residents and young physicians pursuing goals related to advocacy for the practice of medicine. They have challenged the OSMA membership to match their donation, creating a $100,000 endowed fund to award young future physicians monetary assistance to help in endeavors such as attending advocacy summits and events like the American Medical Association National Advocacy Conference (AMANAC).

The OSMA Annual Meeting and House of Delegates had an extremely productive day of policy work on Saturday, beginning with the opening session of the House of Delegates at 9am. After the Pledge of Allegiance, members recited the Oath of Hippocrates. Then the business at hand kicked off with numerous introductions and recognition of guests, leadership, exhibitors, and sponsors. Resolution Committee #1 began its open hearing around 10am, and once all testimony was complete shortly before noon, the committee went into its closed session. Resolution Committee #2 started its open hearing before lunch.

OSMA held a legislative awards presentation over lunch. The 2023 OSMAPAC Donor of the Year award was presented to Dr. William Sternfeld. Dr. Sternfeld is a retired surgeon in the Lucas County area, a longtime member of the OSMA of over 40 years, and has served in various leadership capacities, including OSMA President 2003-2004, and currently serves on the OSMAPAC Board. In addition to volunteering his time for the OSMA and OSMAPAC, Dr. Sternfeld has also contributed $1,000 or more to the OSMAPAC annually for numerous years. He has demonstrated a strong commitment and dedication to supporting the PAC and thus empowering OSMA’s advocacy agenda.

Next to present was OSMA's Physician Advocate of the Year Award, which recognizes an individual or individuals who have demonstrated the ability to effectively advocate at the local, state and/or federal levels on behalf of their profession and patients. The physician advocate goes beyond their primary role of providing clinical treatment to their patients by advocating for the well-being of their profession, patients and communities in which they serve.

This year, OSMA honored three Physician Advocates of the Year: Drs. Tani Malhotra, Amy Burkett, and Lauren Beene. These three physicians went above and beyond in their advocacy work over the past year, making extraordinary efforts to be active in organized medicine. They have set an incredible example, each in their own way, working to advance their profession and elevate the voices of their peers at the state, local, and national levels.

Resolution Committee #2 restarted their open hearing after the luncheon and awards and their closed session started just before 2pm. Once all reports were complete and approved by Committee chairs, the reports were made available to the OSMA HOD online for review before Sunday’s session.

At 3pm, the OSMA Advocacy Boot Camp was presented by Monica Hueckel, OSMA Vice President of Advocacy, and Joe Rosato, OSMA Director of Government Relations. Sean McCullough, Director of Policy & Legal Counsel also gave a short update as part of the Boot camp. Attendees learned about the legislative and regulatory processes and got a crash course on how to be an effective, successful advocate for their profession and their patients. Monica provided details of the major issues OSMA is currently working on at the Ohio Statehouse. Later, members of the Young Physician Section, Senior Physicians Section, Women Physicians Section and International Medical Graduates Section (IMG) held their meetings. At 6pm, attendees enjoyed a networking reception which gave students and alumni from all 7 Ohio medical schools a chance to connect and socialize. Immediately before the presidential inauguration, several medical student poster presenters were given awards.

The OSMA Past Presidents in attendance ceremonially passed the Presidential medallion ending with Dr. Brian Santin, Immediate Past President, finally placing the medallion on Dr. Elizabeth Muennich. Dr. Santin issued the oath of office to Dr. Muennich as she was inaugurated as the next OSMA President, and members celebrated afterward with a reception and refreshments.

Dr. Elizabeth Muennich is a dermatologist practicing in Butler County, and has been an OSMA member for almost two decades. She has historically served the OSMA in various leadership roles, and has been instrumental in both the OSMA Membership Task Force and Physician Wellness Task Force. She also serves on the Board of the OSMA Foundation, and is a dedicated supporter of the OSMAPAC. 

The final day of the OSMA Annual Meeting started off with breakfast and District caucuses meeting in various locations prior to the opening of the House. At 9:30am, the House of Delegates opened. The business of the House kicked off with numerous reports and presentations to provide updates to the HOD, including:

• AMA Update – Dr. Richard Ellison, Chair of the Ohio Delegation to the AMA
• OSMA Foundation Update – Dr. Susan Hubbell, Chair of the OSMA Foundation
• OSMA Budget Update – Dr. Andrew Thomas, OSMA Secretary/Treasurer
• Credentials Report – Dr. John Corker, Chair of the Committee on Credentials
• Approval of the 2023 House of Delegates Minutes
• Final floor actions on Resolutions from our House of Delegates > (*Member login required)
  
  

Next on the agenda were elections.

Election results were as follows:

• John Bastulli, MD was officially elected by acclamation to the office of President-Elect of the OSMA.
  
  
• The following District Councilors were elected by acclamation for a term of two years:
• District 1 – Anu Mital, MD
• District 3 – Jocelyn Wray, MD
• District 5 – Mary LaPlante, MD
• District 7 – Bernadette Anderson, MD

• Results of the elections for three At-Large Councilors (conducted March 20 through 11:59 pm April 6) were announced:
• Lauren Beene, MD
• Christopher Brown, MD
• Christopher Paprzycki, MD
  
  

• Tani Malhotra, MD was elected as delegate to the AMA, term Immediate-12/31/2024.
  
  
  
• The following were elected as delegate to the AMA, term 1/1/2025-12/31/2026:
• Robyn Chatman, MD
• Richard Ellison, MD
• Deepak Kumar, MD
• Tani Malhotra, MD
• Alisha Reiss, MD

• The following were elected as alternate delegate to the AMA, term Immediate – 12/31/2024:
• Asheesh Bothra, MD
• Samip Parikh, MD

• The following were elected as alternate delegate to the AMA, term 1/1/2025 – 12/31/2026:
• Asheesh Bothra, MD
• Samip Parikh, MD
• Amy Burkett, MD

• Laurel Barr, MD was elected as alternate delegate to the AMA, term Immediate – 12/31/2025.
  
  

Consent calendars reported from Resolution Committees:

Resolution Committee #1’s consent calendar was adopted with the exception of 2 extractions - Resolutions 16 and 17, which were pulled from the calendar for further discussion. Ultimately, both items were amended and adopted as amended by final vote of the House. Resolution Committee #2’s consent calendar was then adopted, with the exception of 5 extractions – Resolutions 20, 28, 29, 35, and 36. Three of these were further amended by the House before being adopted as amended by final vote. An amendment was proposed to Resolution 29, but did not pass by vote of the House, so the resolution passed as amended by the Resolution Committee. Resolution 36 was referred to the OSMA Council. Policy work was completed before noon on Sunday and Annual Meeting concluded with a meeting of the OSMA Council.