Thank You for a Great OOS!

A big THANK YOU to attendees (in person and at home), speakers, moderators, poster presenters, exhibitors, and sponsors! The Ohio Osteopathic Symposium was a great way to celebrate Osteopathic Medicine Month, showcase the Ohio profession, network with friends and colleagues, and learn the latest in the art and science of patient care.

Special thanks to the national dignitaries who joined us: AOA President Ira P. Monka, DO, of New Jersey, and ACOFP President Brian A. Kessler, DO, of North Carolina. A special shout-out to our partners Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine and Osteopathic Heritage Foundations.

For those who participated in the April 18-21 conference, be sure to submit your attestation and evaluations online by May 17.

Check out the photos on Facebook, X, Instagram, and LinkedIn. Look for even more photos on the OOA website coming soon.

Harley Installed as OOA President

Douglas W. Harley, DO, of Fowler, was installed as OOA president for 2024-2025 at a special Symposium luncheon.

He is the Family Medicine Program Director for Cleveland Clinic Akron General. It is a 7-7-7 program that includes a six-year working collaboration with OUHCOM for the innovative Transformative Care Continuum program. Dr. Harley has served as program director for the last five years with a total of 15 years in graduate medical education at Akron General.

Dr. Harley has been active within organized medicine since 2005 when he completed his residency and joined the Ohio chapter of the American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians (Ohio ACOFP) Board of Governors. He is a past president of Ohio ACOFP and Ohio Academy of Family Physicians. In 2016, he was named Ohio ACOFP Family Physician of the Year.

The dedicated educator is an advocate for not only the osteopathic profession but also for the education of family physicians and the breadth of services they provide. He has full clinical professor status at HCOM and Northeast Ohio Medical University.

At home, Dr. Harley is a farmer, tending to pigs, chickens, and other animals.

Thank you to Nicklaus J. Hess, DO, for his service this past year as OOA president.

Keynote Speaker Gets Standing Ovation

Former Ohio Department of Health Director Amy Acton, MD, who became the face of the state’s efforts to fight COVID, was the Symposium keynote speaker.

Attendees gave Dr. Acton a standing ovation following her address, which detailed her experiences during the pandemic. “You can’t legislate your way through a problem that complicated, but you can give people the tools…and let them run with it,” she said about her role during the pandemic. “Every leader in whatever position…everyone had to solve problems in ways they never had before. My job was to hold the space and get information to you.”

Dr. Acton, who called her service “the honor of a lifetime,” said she is concerned because the country has yet to do a deep dive identifying best practices. She said the country is at risk if a new pandemic playbook is not developed.

Prior to her presentation, Dr. Acton visited with students who were participating in the Research and Scholarly Activity Competition. After her keynote, she talked individually with dozens of attendees and took photos.

House of Delegates Recap

Delegates elected officers, considered resolutions, and adopted new policy positions at the annual House of Delegates meeting held April 19. Speaker of the House David A. Bitonte, DO, presided over the meeting. At the conclusion, he retired as Speaker, a position he held since 2019.

The elected slate of officers includes President-Elect Edward E. Hosbach II, DO; Vice President Andrew P. Eilerman, DO; Treasurer Katherine H. Eilenfeld, DO; Speaker of the House Michael E. Dietz, DO; and Vice Speaker of the House Nathan P. Samsa, DO.

Amendments to the Constitution and Bylaws were approved and adopted, as were updated guidelines for the Ohio delegation to the AOA House of Delegates. In addition, delegates adopted seven new policy statements about:

1. Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP), Obstructive Sleep Apnea
2. Attending and Faculty Physician Participation in Ohio Osteopathic Symposium Poster Presentation
3. Recognizing Breast Implant Illness and Promoting Informed Consent for Breast Implant Procedures
4. Against the Use of High Fructose Corn Syrup
5. Access to Kidney Replacement Therapy for Undocumented Immigrants with Kidney Failure
6. Support of the Physical Exam in Education and Practice
7. Support for the Creation of Specialty and Sub-Specialty Osteopathic Recognition Training Exams

As part of a five-year review, delegates reaffirmed position statements on a variety of topics. Two resolutions were referred back to the author/district. Five resolutions will be forwarded to the AOA for consideration at the national House of Delegates in July.

Delegates also heard an advocacy report from OOA Lobbyist Danny Hurley; an OOPAC update from Jennifer L. Gwilym, DO; and a State of the State from outgoing President Nicklaus J. Hess, DO. They also honored OOA members who passed away since the last meeting. The In Memoriam video can be seen here.

OOA Award Winners Honored

The OOA presented its annual awards during the Symposium. These outstanding leaders were honored for remarkable contributions to the osteopathic profession and their communities. They have demonstrated exceptional leadership, compassion, and service.

Distinguished Service Award
Paul A. Martin, DO
He was also chosen to deliver the JO Watson, DO, Memorial Lecture and received a plaque commemorating the honor prior to his presentation.

Trustees Award
David A. Bitonte, DO

George L. Eckert, Jr., DO, Mentor of the Year
Paul M. Levy, DO

M. Bridget Wagner, DO, Humanitarian Award
Robert S. Pema, DO

Meritorious Service Award
John D. Schriner, PhD

Learn about these individuals as we highlight them on OOA social media next week.

In addition, 25 physicians earned life member status this year. Thank you to these Ohio DOs for a lifetime dedicated to advancing the osteopathic profession: Richard W. Adams Jr., DO; David A. Bitonte, DO; Larry D. Buchanan, DO; Carolyn R. Bullock, DO; Gloria P. Catterlin, DO; Deborah L. Cole-Sedivy, DO; Louise A. Doyle, DO; Maureen C. Gallagher, DO; Paul E. Gray, DO; Douglas C. Gula, DO; Keith L. Henson, DO; Joseph M. Kuhn, DO; David R. Lance, DO; Daniel K. Madsen, DO; Andrew H. McLaughlin, DO; James D. McNerney, DO; Gary L. Moorman, DO; Daniel N. Moretta, DO; Judith A. O’Connell, DO; Terry D. Roode, DO; George P. Saridakis, DO; Charles S. Sheldon, DO; R. Alan Spencer, DO; Mark J. Tereletsky, DO; and Michael Vacante, DO.

Life membership may be granted by the Board of Trustees to any member who has reached a certain age or who has completed 50 years of osteopathic medical practice, whichever comes first, and who has been in good standing for 25 consecutive years immediately preceding.

Ohio ACOFP Installs New President, Presents Awards

Garrett L. Kirkpatrick, DO, of Cleveland, was installed as Ohio ACOFP president during the organization’s Annual Meeting at the Symposium. He practices at Cleveland Clinic - Beachcliff Family Medicine in Rocky River.

The 2024-2025 Board of Governors is:
President: Garrett L. Kirkpatrick, DO
President-Elect: Nicklaus J. Hess, DO
Secretary/Treasurer: Marc D. Richards, DO
Past President: Jill Y. Porter, DO

Governors:
Sharon L. George, DO
Jennifer J. Hauler, DO
Kristin L. Oaks, DO
James A. Schoen, DO

OU-HCOM Department Liaison:
Jennifer L. Gwilym, DO

The breakfast meeting, presided over by Dr. Porter, outgoing Ohio ACOFP president, included an update of activities at the national level by ACOFP President Brian A. Kessler, DO. Special recognition was given to Dr. Gwilym, who was named 2024 ACOFP Outstanding Female Leader. She is the first Ohioan to receive this national honor.

Ohio ACOFP awards were presented at the Cocktail Awards reception to:

Family Physician of the Year
Cheryl A. Hammes, DO

Distinguished Service Award
Melinda E. Ford, DO

Young Family Physician of the Year
Shandra C. Basil, DO

Family Medicine Resident of the Year
Frances “Frankie” Kokos, DO

HCOM Provides Update, Recognizes Leaders

Kenneth H. Johnson, DO, HCOM Executive Dean and Chief Medical Officer at Ohio University, discussed the innovative curricula, expansive clinical education network, and more when he provided a college update during an OOS luncheon.

During the Symposium, Dr. Johnson surprised two attendees with Trillium awards: Douglas W. Harley, DO, and David A. Bitonte, DO. Dr. Harley was recognized for his dedication to osteopathic medical education. Dr. Bitonte was honored for his many years of health policy work as OOA Speaker and Vice Speaker. Dr. Johnson created the award in 2013 to recognize those who make exceptional efforts to the osteopathic profession and help HCOM to thrive and grow. Native to all 88 Ohio counties, the trillium is the official state wildflower and was used historically for medicinal purposes.

The HCOM Society of Alumni & Friends presented awards during the Saturday evening reception. Congratulations to:

Medal of Merit
Ralph Crew, DO

Distinguished Service Award
Douglas W. Harley, DO

Outstanding Alumnus
Sarah Ondrejka, DO

Honorary Alumnus
Laura (Whitt) Yamarick

Outstanding Recent Graduate Award
Stephanie Deuley, DO

Researchers Present their Work

The annual Research and Scholarly Activity Competition included both virtual and in-person components with virtual presentations held in advance of the April 20 event. The competition was open to students, interns, residents, and fellows with cash prizes in three categories. The winning presenters were announced immediately following the poster session.

Biomedical/Clinical Research
First Place
Caroline Kruithoff, OMS II
Heritage College
Efinaconazole as a Potent Antifungal against Trichophyton rubrum and Trichophyton mentagrophytes

Second Place
Kushanth Mallikarjun, MD, PGY-1
Mount Carmel Health System
Ultrasound versus Magnetic Resonance Imaging in the Evaluation of Axillary Lymphadenopathy in Breast Cancer

Social/Behavioral Medicine/Medical Education Research
First Place
Daria Kuperberg, OMS II
Heritage College
Exploration of Ukrainian Female Refugees’ Perceptions of Mental Health

Second Place (TIE)
Suzanne Chaar, OMS II
Heritage College
Foundational Knowledge Regarding Childhood Obesity: A Review of Medical Providers

Second Place (TIE)
Jessica Chebra, OMS II
Heritage College
Children’s Emotional and Physiological Responses to Images associated with COVID-19

Second Place (TIE)
Kieran Gormley, OMS II
University of Pikeville Kentucky College of Osteopathic Medicine
Patient-Physician Communication Gaps about Chronic Disease in Rural Appalachia

Case Reports
First Place
Tillie Schumann, OMS III
Kansas City University College of Osteopathic Medicine
SMARCA4-deficient Carcinoma of the Gastroesophageal Junction

Second Place
Kara Renner, PGY 2
Cleveland Clinic Family Medicine
Breaking Through Barriers: Osteopathic Treatment for Patients with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities

People’s Choice Award
Breanna Santoso, OMS II
Heritage College, Dublin Campus
Insertional Achilles Tendinopathy with Gastrocnemius Recession

OOF Holds Annual Meeting at OOS

The Ohio Osteopathic Foundation Board of Directors met Thursday during the Symposium. The Board elected officers and discussed student engagement, membership, and fundraising, among other topics.

The 2024-2025 Board includes:
Chair: Douglas W. Harley, DO
President: Heidi Weber, MBA, CAE
Vice-Chair: Andrew J. Eilerman, DO
Treasurer: Edward E. Hosbach II, DO

Directors:
Katherine H. Eilenfeld, DO
Sharon L. George, DO
Jennifer L. Gwilym, DO
Nicklaus J. Hess, DO
Mark S. Jeffries, DO
Paul T. Scheatzle, DO
Sean D. Stiltner, DO

The current OOF campaign encourages a $125 donation to mark the OOA’s 125th anniversary. Make your tax-deductible donation here. The OOF was founded in 1963 to support osteopathic education and research in the state.