A call to serve

I have been asked, “How did you become involved in ACOFP?” The very short answer is simple: I was asked.

When  I  was  a  medical  school  student  in  Kansas  City,  I  began  looking  at  leaders  in  my  class  and  at  my  school,  as  well  as  local,  state and national leaders. Many of these leaders were the same person. What made them so special? Why were they sought after? What was their motivation? Why did I care?

I cared because these were the individuals who were driving the evolution of our profession—a profession and a philosophy that I believed in and embraced. I wanted to be part of that evolution, and  I  wanted  to  know  what  my  role  was,  which  I  discovered  as  I  studied  the  osteopathic  oath.  I  was  meant  to  advocate  for  my  patient through my involvement in organized medicine.

After graduating from what is now Kansas City University College of Osteopathic Medicine; completing my internship; and beginning practice, one of my first goals was to seek out Jackson County Osteopathic Medical Association President William Betz, DO, and ask him for an application. From there, I attended meetings, and I was asked to sit on the Board of Governors. I was honored to be asked, and I expressed my willingness and commitment.

After my involvement in my district, I was asked to sit on a state committee.  I  again  was  honored  and  embraced  the  opportunity  to  make  an  impact  at  the  state  level.  Eventually,  I  was  asked to  join  the  executive  committee  of  the  Missouri  Association  of   Osteopathic   Physicians   and   Surgeons   (MAOPS),   becoming   president in 2004. As I continued to serve MAOPS, I was asked to join a committee for  the  Missouri  Society  of  the  ACOFP  (MSACOFP).  I  had  been  a  member since 1987 but not involved to a great degree due to my commitment with MAOPS. So I joined the Convention Committee and others. Then I was asked to become a delegate to the ACOFP Congress of Delegates.

After serving as a delegate and a committee member, I was asked to  join  the  MSACOFP  Executive  Committee  and  later  became  MSACOFP  president  in  2011.  As  I  attended  the  ACOFP  Congress  of Delegates, ACOFP Conventions & Scientific Seminars, ACOFP Intensive  Update  and  Board  Review  (now  Intensive  Osteopathic  Update) and OMED, I was advised to become an ACOFP Fellow by a few of my mentors—Wilbur Hill, DO, FACOFP dist.; Phil Accardo, DO  FACOFP;  Joe  Yasso,  DO,  FACOFP;  James  DiRenna,  Jr.,  DO, FAAFP; Alan Brewer, DO, FACOFP; and Elaine Joslyn, DO, FACOFP, among  others—so  I  pursued  that  and  became  an  ACOFP  Fellow  in 2012. Then, I was encouraged   by   2012–13   ACOFP   President   Paul   Martin, DO, FACOFP dist., to seek a committee appointment. The following year, 2013–14 ACOFP President Jeff Grove, DO, FACOFP dist., discussed what committee(s) I should be appointed to, and the 2014–15 ACOFP President Carol Henwood, DO, FACOFP dist., approached me about serving on the ACOFP Board of Governors. In all of these instances by all of these leaders, I was asked.

My   service   and   commitment   to   family   medicine   and   the   osteopathic profession is a labor of love. I believe our philosophy of the art of medicine provides our patients added opportunities for  quality  care  at  lower  cost  for  improved  patient  and  provider  satisfaction.  In  the  roles  I  have  served,  I  have  done  my  best  to  promote osteopathic medicine as the route to the quadruple aim. I  believe  we—the  osteopathic  profession—have  demonstrated  that.  But,  if  I  had  not  been  asked,  would  I  have  come  this  far?  Perhaps, but being the introvert that I am, perhaps not.

I  have  been  honored  and  humbled  to  serve  in  the  many  roles  I  have served in for our profession. Yet, I have not taken these roles lightly.  I  have  seen  them  and  embraced  them  as  an  opportunity  to make an impact for the profession I believe in and the patients I love.

What a privilege it is to be asked to serve. To be asked to be put in  a  position  to  advocate  on  behalf  of  your  profession  and  your  patients. To be seen as an individual whose experience, thoughts and opinions are respected enough to get the attention of a group who  will  collectively  consider  the  best  way  to  move  forward  for  those we serve. I have had the honor and privilege to serve with and for some of the finest and most respected physicians that not  only  the  osteopathic  profession,  but  also  the  entire  medical  profession, has ever known.

Now I serve you and the osteopathic family medicine community as president of the  American  College  of  Osteopathic  Family  Physicians.  This is  a  most  prestigious  role  and  an  awesome  responsibility.  I  am  the  face  and  voice  of  the  largest  specialty  in  the  osteopathic  profession.  I  am  very  honored,  and  I  am  very  humbled. I have never aspired to this role, yet I find myself here, and I have committed to serve to the very best of my ability.

I  am  so  blessed,  as  well,  because  I  am  not  serving  alone.  I have a  committed  and  passionate  Board  of  Governors  and  a  dedicated staff team to support me. I also have the experience and  advice  from  my  predecessors  to  guide  me.  My  goal  is  to  move  osteopathic  family  medicine  forward  for  ACOFP,  for  the  osteopathic  profession,  for  our  osteopathic  family  physicians  and—most of all—for our patients.

I  was  asked,  and  now,  I  am  asking  you.  Will you  share  your  opinions,  your  time,  your  talents,  your  ideas,  your  passion,  your  enthusiasm  and  your  resources  with  ACOFP?  We  want  you,  we  need you and we are asking; I am asking: Will you serve?