Abstract
The 2019 ACOFP Annual Convention was the culmination of a great year for osteopathic family medicine. Through the leadership of Dr. Duane Koehler this past year, our profession has a very bright and exciting future. The ACOFP Board and I, as the 2019-2020 President, will continue with programs that will focus on “keeping osteopathic family medicine osteopathic.”
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The 2019 ACOFP Annual Convention was the culmination of a great year for osteopathic family medicine. Through the leadership of Dr. Duane Koehler this past year, our profession has a very bright and exciting future. The ACOFP Board and I, as the 2019-2020 President, will continue with programs that will focus on “keeping osteopathic family medicine osteopathic.”
LEADERSHIP
Over the next year, we will look for new ways to engage members, better communicate, and improve perceptions of osteopathic training and certification.
Last year we conducted a communication audit to identify new ways to tell our story. The staff team remains committed to trying new things, including increasing our social media presence. We are making new connections, creating more videos and educational content, posting to LinkedIn, and have started an Instagram account that was quite popular at the Convention.
Another way we’re looking to increase engagement is through our volunteer opportunities. To make for more meaningful volunteer experiences and successful results of each committee, the ACOFP Board reviewed and approved updated committee charges and goals for the coming year. We are taking a closer look at how each committee functions this year to determine if we are achieving our goals. If goals have not been reached, there may be other ways we can engage with members.
As one means to help increase member engagement, we formed a few new committees.
First, we have created a Knowledge, Learning & Assessment Advisory Committee. The goal of this group is to convene the chairs of committees that produce content, programs and services. There is an opportunity to better connect these groups to maximize efforts in a strategic way.
A Residency Program Directors Committee was established to maintain and advance the process of osteopathically-focused graduate medical education and increase the number of programs that enhance in this process.
The Family Medicine Chairs Committee was created to work with the US-based Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine Family Medicine/Primary Care departments to encourage osteopathic medical students to consider family medicine as a career, to encourage students to choose osteopathic recognized residency programs and to foster the osteopathic spirit and solidarity. Also, this group will help strengthen ties between COMs/Family Medicine Residency Programs with Osteopathic Recognition and the ACOFP by promoting the unique characteristics of Osteopathic Principles and Practices.
Last, but not least, the Preceptorship Committee has been charged with identifying and educating high-quality preceptors to promote excellence and innovation with third and fourth- year osteopathic medical students to enhance their interest in osteopathic family medicine.
EDUCATION
ACOFP’s education goal is to be the leading source of osteopathic post graduate instruction in the country. At the Residency Directors workshop during ACOFP ’19, there was a great surge of excitement when the AOBFP, AOA and the ACOFP jointly announced the initial phase of changes in the certification process. This culminated many years of work by these groups to streamline both initial and re-certification process.
We will continue our efforts to keep the dialog open with AOBFP and AOA to ensure that initial certification and OCC evolve in a way that maintains their high quality, osteopathic focus, but is flexible, more cost-effective and reflective of today’s learning style preferences.
We are excited about a new program for residents: Early Entry into OCC During Residency Training. A resident enrolled in an ACGME Family Medicine residency may be provisionally enrolled in OCC prior to completion of training by meeting certain requirements. Residents must complete two of three yearly AOBFP InService Exams during their residence, and pass the AOBFP Early Entry Initial Certification (EEIC) cognitive exam during year three of residency. Upon satisfying these requirements and verification of residency completion status, certification will be granted and the individual will be officially enrolled in OCC.
ADVOCACY
As part of our Federal & State Legislation Committee, the “Act Now” subcommittee is being formed to engage with new professionals and others interested in supporting Direct Primary Care legislation and resources. Also, they will work to support legislation in favor of physician-led health care teams opposing unsupervised practice of medicine by other health professionals.
ACOFP not only advocates for members with government agencies but also within the medical profession and affiliates. The ACOFP Congress of Delegates passed several important resolutions that will be forwarded to the AOA House of Delegates in support of cooperation between the ACOFP, AOBFP and the AOA regarding the continued focus on the osteopathic component of our education and evaluation programs.
As you can see, ACOFP has several new and exciting initiatives in the pipeline. This summer the Board will strategize a viable and visible pathway forward for our profession. Our goal is to not only keep pace with change and support the osteopathic agenda but to proactively exert ourselves as the leaders for our specialty and the professional home for osteopathic family physicians.
Robert C. DeLuca, DO, FACOFP dist.
2019 - 2020 ACOFP President