OSTEOFACTS | Registration is Open!

January 10, 2020

	Registration is Open! The Ohio Osteopathic Symposium, the premier osteopathic conference in the state, is set for April 22-26 in Columbus—and registration is now open. The event will offer an estimated 30 hours of Category 1-A credits, the latest in the art and science of patient care, networking, and more. Keynote Speaker Kevin W. Sowers will discuss The Power of Purpose and how focusing on passion, partnership, and personal accountability can lead to individual and team success. A distinguished clinician, educator, and academic health care leader, Sowers is president of the Johns Hopkins Health System and executive vice president of Johns Hopkins Medicine. The native Ohioan has published extensively and speaks nationally and abroad on issues such as leadership, organizational change, mentorship and cancer care.
	OOA House Set for April 24-25 The OOA House of Delegates will be held in Columbus, April 24-25 in conjunction with the Ohio Osteopathic Symposium. The House, the policy-making body for the osteopathic profession in Ohio, is led by Speaker David A. Bitonte, DO, and Vice Speaker Michael E. Dietz, DO. Resolutions may be submitted directly to the OOA office or through your local district academy. If you want the OOA Board of Trustees to take a position on your resolution, it must be submitted by February 14. Otherwise, the final deadline is March 16. To serve as a delegate, contact your local district academy.
	Free Training for Medication-Assisted Treatment To help address the opioid crisis, the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (OhioMHAS) is offering free DEA DATA 2000 waiver trainings. This is a free 1.5-day training open to all physicians, nurse practitioners and physician assistants who hold an Ohio license and a current DEA number. Physicians who attend the 1.5-day training, obtain their waiver, and fulfill reimbursement criteria will receive $1,300. The training focuses on implementation of medication assisted treatment (MAT) into practice. Prescribing buprenorphine for MAT has been recognized as a critical component in the treatment of people with opioid use disorder. Currently, buprenorphine availability is limited in Ohio because it is the only form of MAT that requires prescribers to have a unique DEA license (aka, DATA 2000 waiver). Check the OhioMHAS website for upcoming dates and locations.
	Support Your Osteopathic Colleague As noted in a previous OSTEOFACTS, OOA President Charles D. Milligan, DO, had an accident that damaged his spinal cord and has relegated him to a wheelchair with very limited mobility while leaving his mental ability completely unaffected. He has remained engaged in leading OOA business throughout the course of his injury. We are encouraged by the incremental progress he has been making and look forward to much more. This tragedy has given Dr. Milligan and his family many new challenges to tackle but his positive attitude endures as he continues with daily physical therapy. To accommodate his transfer home, renovations were necessary to allow space for his wheelchair. A GoFundMe account has been created to help offset some large costs in this transition, such as a vehicle with a wheelchair lift, ramps, etc. Dr. Milligan would like to thank everyone for their well wishes. If you’d like to connect with him, contact his wife Darlene at 330-465-3041 (voice/text) to coordinate or send greetings to 1816 Paradise Road, Orrville, OH 44667-9400. Contribute to the GoFundMe here.
	Nominations are Open for OOA Awards The OOA is accepting nominations for: Distinguished Service Award Meritorious Service Award Humanitarian Award Trustees Award These honors will be presented at a special evening reception at the Ohio Osteopathic Symposium in April. Consider nominating yourself or a colleague. Send your letter of nomination to ctatman@OhioDO.org or use this form. A copy of the nominee’s CV is encouraged but not required. Get information about each award and a list of past recipients on the OOA website. photo: Robert W. Hostoffer, Jr, DO, recipient of the 2019 Distinguished Service Award
	State Loan Repayment Program Accepting Applications The Ohio Department of Health is now accepting applications for the Ohio Physician Loan Repayment Program (OPLRP). In exchange for loan repayment assistance of $25,000 annually, physicians commit to practice for a minimum of two years at an eligible site, accept Medicare and Medicaid, and see patients regardless of ability to pay. The following primary care specialties are eligible: Family Practice General Internal Medicine Internal Medicine/Pediatrics Obstetrics and Gynecology General Pediatrics Adolescent Medicine Geriatrics Psychiatry (General, Child and Adolescent, Geriatric) The application deadline is February 15. For complete details, see the ODH website.