A-N-T-I-P-Y-R-E-T-I-C

Plan to attend the Medical Terminology Spelling Bee, sponsored by the Student Osteopathic Medical Association (SOMA), on Tuesday, November 5. OOA members are invited to join the fun-filled evening as a guest or speller.

Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine Executive Dean and OU Chief Medical Affairs Officer Ken Johnson, DO, is the guest speller.

The fundraising and networking event begins at 6:00 pm and will be held at Walter Hall Rotunda (25 S. Green Drive) on the Athens campus and includes food, cash bar, and raffle prizes. Proceeds benefit the SOMA chapter and Good Works, a non-profit community organization in Athens County.

The cost is $20. To register either as a speller or guest, use this link and Venmo $20 to @Mirisha-Sheth. Can’t attend? Donations are welcome via Venmo.

See the flyer here.

OOA Advocates for Screening Coverage

Legislation that would improve cancer early detection and save lives is under consideration in the US Senate and the OOA has joined a coalition of advocates to urge its passage.

The Multi-Cancer Early Detection Screening Coverage Act would create a pathway to coverage for new technology. These MCED tests are intended to complement, not replace, existing early detection tests. According to published data, some of these tests can screen for more than fifty cancers simultaneously, including rare ones.

US Sen. Sherrod Brown is in favor of the measure. The coalition of 13 organizations sent him a note thanking him for his support and urging him to work to get the bill passed this year.

OOA Members Get Discount on CME Online

There are hundreds of programs available at The CME Center, a collaborative on-demand osteopathic platform to provide high quality online education. Lectures address clinical topics as well as practice management and health care regulation issues. All programs are eligible for AOA Category 1-A credit.

The OOA has 57 programs—all of which are 20% off the list price when you use the discount code OOAFamily.

The Ohio offerings include many sessions from the 2024 Ohio Osteopathic Symposium, including:

• Oh, Oh, Oh Ozempic
• ADHD in Adults: An Update for Primary Care Physicians
• Dermatology: Skin Concerns that Demand Attention
• Top Ten Things You Should Know in Pulmonary/Critical Care Medicine
• Update on Botulinum Toxin Therapy

See all of the OOA lectures here.

Disaster Readiness

The incidence of emergencies and disasters across the country has increased steadily since the 1980s. Last year, the US experienced a deadly wildfire in Maui and Hurricane Idalia in Florida. Two weeks ago, the historic flooding following Hurricane Helene devastated large portions of North Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia. This week, Hurricane Milton left Florida with tornados, flooding, and a massive power outage.

Physicians who want to assist during times of disaster can register their credentials with Provider Bridge, a free national platform that maintains a comprehensive registry of health professionals who may be accessed expeditiously by organizations engaged in preparing for and responding to local, regional, or national emergencies or public health crises.

Provider Bridge allows entities, such as state medical and nursing boards, hospitals, health care institutions, public health offices and emergency management, to search for verified medical professionals who are willing to assist in an emergency, deploy to a disaster site, or provide telehealth services.

The AOA has more information here about Provider Bridge.

Voting is Underway

Early in-person voting started this week on Tuesday and local county election offices began mailing absentee ballots on the same day. Ohioans must ensure their ballot is postmarked by the day before the election, which is November 4, to be counted. Voters can also return their absentee ballot in person to their county board of elections before the polls close at 7:30 pm on November 5.

In addition to a major Presidential race, the US Senate race, and a myriad of local issues, Ohio voters will also be asked to decide on a redistricting reform proposal. Issue 1 is an amendment to the Ohio Constitution that would change the state’s system for drawing political district maps for members of Congress and state legislators.

Collectively, there are more than 100 Ohio legislative seats on the ballot, though only a fraction of them are considered to be truly competitive races. Some Statehouse observers see the fight for Speaker of the Ohio House as one of the most significant political battles this fall. Speaker-challenger Sen. Matt Huffman (R-Lima) is looking to not only switch legislative chambers in this election but also to grab the gavel from current Speaker Jason Stephens (R-Kitts Hill).

Get the early voting schedule, sample ballot and more at the Secretary of State website here.