A Year in Review

Has it really been a year since Dr. Wiseman issued a gavel to  the new President of the American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians?

Well, it started off with a blast, literally. Those of you who were there might recall the implosion of the building in downtown Austin. It was quite the show. Once the dust settled, we made our way home to the neighboring state of Oklahoma.

My first official trip as President started well. I made my way to Vallejo, CA. As I entered I was questioning whether I had found my way to a set used in the movie Top Gun. I later learned that in fact the campus is a decommissioned US Navy base. After the campus tour and visits with faculty and administration, I was treated to dinner with a number of medical students and afforded the opportunity to bring greetings and discuss the joys of osteopathic family medicine.

In the beginning of June my wife and I headed to the opposite corner of the US, Rockport, Maine. In addition to visiting with the Executive Committee of the state association and membership, I was treated to a lesson in lobster dissection and consumption, by none other than Dr. Buser.

From there our journey took us to Florida to meet with the Board of Governors for the annual Board strategic planning retreat. This year’s retreat was a bit challenging, as Pete had announced his retirement, but a replacement had not been identified.

The House of Delegates was in mid-July, where many Governors also represent their state osteopathic medical societies. As the Delegate for the ACOFP, I presented testimony to the AOA Board of Trustees speaking against an amendment that appeared to make it more challenging for an osteopathic organization to gain a seat in the House than for a non-osteopathic group. The requirements should at least be the same, in my opinion.

The following week I took a return trip to Orlando for the Florida State ACOFP Society meeting. There I engaged with students, residents and faculty (COM and residency programs) in a variety of settings.

My next trip was to Hershey, PA. Yes, this is home to the giant chocolate company of the same name. I left Maine thinking that they had fed me well, but it is hard to compete with a suit case loaded with chocolate when headed home!

I took the long way home from Hershey, stopping along the way for a visit with Mike Park and the folks at Alston and Bird in Washington DC. There I was prepared for comments to be shared in the HHS headquarters regarding the opioid issues facing the United States.

The ACOFP Search Committee convened in Chicago to interview applicants who had applied for the Executive Director’s position. Six individuals were interviewed initially, then three were invited for a second interview. It was through this process that our current Executive Director was hired.

As you are aware, OMED was in San Diego. That trip brought exciting news for me. An agreement was reached with the favored candidate for the Executive Director’s position. Also, it was during this meeting that meaningful conversation with AOBFP about the future of OCC and certification began in earnest. Finally, the ACOFP Foundation articulated a proposal, which I will allow that body to reveal when the time is appropriate.

Some of the excitement was short lived, as Dr. DeLuca and I accepted an invitation to the AAFP Congress of Delegates. While there, the American Board of Family Medicine announced their pilot program for MOC, which subsequently lit up social media!

I attended one meeting in November in Wichita, where it was revealed that a proposed osteopathic medical school may be built. I was pleasantly surprised to encounter a pair of medical school classmates, who had completed residency and stayed there. Greetings were delivered from the ACOFP during lunch.

In December, it was off to Indianapolis. There, in addition to presenting comments to the state society meeting, I visited the Marian Campus. At this meeting students and faculty alike met with me in an informal setting for discussions about Osteopathic Family Medicine.

After the New Year, things became a bit hectic again.

The coolest trip of the year was to Des Moines, Iowa. Literally, the coolest, the temperatures were in single digits the whole weekend! To complete the blizzard-like conditions was the blowing snow! In addition to addressing the state society and installing a new president, I enjoyed visiting with Governor Cohen and Past President de Regnier.  

The AOA LEAD Conference in Las Vegas afforded me the opportunity to visit with many of the state society leaders, once again, in addition to the AOA leadership. It also provided a chance to introduce our new executive director to similar folks from other specialty societies within the AOA.

I would like to wrap with a series of Thank Yous.

To Pete and now Bob: thanks for all of your dedication and hard work. You do amazing work running the office and keeping the Board on track.

To all of the state society executive directors: each of your respective states presents you with unique challenges. Thanks for all of your hard work. The same goes to the state officers. Your greetings, warmth and hospitality have been very much appreciated throughout the years.

To the Board of Governors, to the Committee Chairs and to the Committee members: thank you for your dedication to the ACOFP and to the osteopathic profession. Keep up the good work. To Dr. DeLuca, thanks for your support and insight. Good luck and safe travels in YOUR year!

Duane G. Koehler, DO, FACOFP dist. 2018 - 2019
ACOFP President