ACOFP President

By Ronnie B. Martin, DO, FACOFP dist.

June 20, 2008

ACOFP in the Lone Star State
ACOFP President-elect Jan Zieren, DO, FACOFP dist. is in Texas today representing the ACOFP at the TOMA and Texas ACOFP joint convention meeting in Addison, Texas. She is hosted by Rodney Wiseman, DO, FACOFP, ACOFP Governor and the multiple members of the Texas state society that play leadership roles for our association, including Dr. Robert DeLuca, the Chair of the Convention and Site Committee for the ACOFP and the Co-Chairman of this year’s ACOFP/AOA Convention in Las Vegas, Dr. Bruce Maniet and Dr. Jim Froelich III.

Dr. Zieren will bring the greetings of the board and update the members of the Texas State Society on the policies and actions of the association during her remarks at the noon luncheon on Saturday, as well as install the incoming President for the association, Nancy Beth Chasteen DO. Outgoing Texas ACOFP State Society President David Garza, DO FACOFP has served national ACOFP with distinction as well and has the gratitude of all in the profession.

Doctors of Nursing Practice Certification and NBME
I joined AOA President Peter B. Ajluni, DO and Robert W. Hostoffer, DO, President of the American College of Osteopathic Pediatricians, in signing on to a joint letter with the American Medical Association and other health care organizations to The National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME) regarding our great concern with the NBME’s participation in the Doctor of Nursing Practice certification examination process. This letter expresses our concern and evidence that Doctors of Nursing Practice (DNP) organizations will use the NBME’s involvement as a means of alleging equality between the training, knowledge, skills and scope of practice of DNPs and physicians. The ACOFP applauds the important role that mid-level practitioners play in the health care system as a component of a health care team led by a physician with a full scope of practice rights and abilities.

ACOFP Educational Program in Las Vegas, Nevada
It is not too early to register for the 2008 ACOFP/AOA Annual Convention to be held at the Venetian Hotel in Las Vegas, October 26 – 30, 2008. Join a thousand or so of your colleagues in the land of the neon sun tan to relax, revitalize and refresh yourself personally and professionally.

A feature educational event at the October Convention: Care Not Cure: Mini-Tutorial on Palliative Medicine. The program will address end of life issues that are intended to maximize quality of life and promote what is perceived to be more desirable by patients and their families at the terminal stage of life for many of our patients. The program re-emphasizes the fact that although cure may not always be possible, care is. While studies have shown that most patients prefer to die at home with their family present, countless individuals will spend their final days or hours in a hospital or nursing home, often alone and without adequate attention to their needs or desires and with inadequate pain and symptom control. This interactive two-hour program will review modalities for adequate pain control, and the unique role of osteopathic manipulative medicine. Relief of distressing terminal symptoms such as constipation, nausea and vomiting, dyspnea, hiccups, anxiety, depression, and insomnia will be covered including an in-depth discussion of OMM techniques for relief of these problems.

Make your plans early to attend and be sure to register with the ACOFP to have access to all of the educational and social events that will be provided for our members and participating physicians .

Looking for that Perfect Fit for your Career and Personal Goals?
Family medicine is a specialty that has both width and breath of practice styles and locations available to those who practice the discipline. It is said, if you have seen one family physician, you have seen one family physician. If you are looking for a change in practice challenges, to relocate, or change your personnel professional goals and adopt a new practice style that is more in tune with new vision and goals, or if you have the perfect position for a member of our profession, I encourage you to take the time to visit ACOFP’s interactive, online job board.

ACOFP CareerCenter is your resource for making online employment connections in the fields of osteopathic medicine. To find a job or fill a position, visit ACOFP CareerCenter today.

Back to Campus
Touro University Nevada College of Osteopathic Medicine (TUNCOM), ACOFP Student Chapter, in association with the Physician Assistant’s program, are reaching out to the homeless community of Southern Nevada by hosting seminars at the Las Vegas Rescue Mission. Lecture presentations were prepared by DO and PA students, and they include such topics as Wound and Foot Care, Diabetes, Nutrition, and Caring for the Sick Child; the program is funded by the Schutz Engel Purpose Trust. Alesha Scott is the ACOFP Student Chapter president.

Residents of the Las Vegas Rescue Mission are part of a recovery program that helps them rehabilitate from life-controlling addictions and prepare to rejoin society as responsible and productive citizens. The Las Vegas Rescue Mission seminar series has been very successful in educating the homeless, and has provided TUNCOM – the only medical school in Southern Nevada-- with the opportunity to promote the osteopathic philosophy in the community.

Make your opinions known! Send an email to me and ACOFP. Share your thoughts, make comments, and tell us what you have been doing in regards to osteopathic family medicine.

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