THE QUARTERLY PUBLICATION OF THE AMERICAN COLLEGE OF OSTEOPATHIC PEDIATRICIANS
Spring 2017 Issue
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President's Message
Achievement Summary
By Carl Backes, DO, FACOP, FAAP
ACOP President
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Carl Backes, DO, FACOP, FAAP |
This will be my final President’s Message. This April, Ed Packer, DO, FACOP will assume that responsibility.
It has been an honor to serve the ACOP these past two years. We have opened many doors with our ongoing goal of standing strong in support of osteopathic pediatricians.
I’d like to summarize our achievements and plans for the immediate future:
- We have planned an outstanding ACOP 2017 Spring Conference in Louisville, Kentucky. In addition to the scheduled conference, there is an additional allergy/immunology session Thursday, April 6, 2017 with the remainder of the conference following April 7-9, 2017.
- The ACOP Board will be hosting an ACOP strategic planning session April 5-6, 2017 to discuss goals of the ACOP as the single accreditation system is finalized in 2020.
- A slate of candidates has been selected for the 2017 ACOP Board of Trustees election. Eligible members will receive an online ballot soon. New officers and trustees will take office at our Spring Conference in Louisville.
- The ACOP signed on to support the Opioid Funding letter to Congress.
- We have selected the winners of our ACOP Harold H. Finkel, DO and Arnold Melnick, DO Community Pediatrician of the Year Award and our ACOP 2017 Career Achievement Award. They will be honored at the Spring Conference in Louisville.
- The ACOP Board of Trustees meeting will be held on April 6, 2017 from 6:00 to 9:00 pm in Louisville.
- The ACOP is advocating that osteopathic pediatric students and residents apply for research training applications through the AOA in both the Physicians-in-Training Research Program and the Osteopathic Medical Students Research Program. These programs are designed as mechanisms for supporting the research training of the applicant and enabling the applicant to conduct basic science, clinical or health services research projects that will make a significant contribution to osteopathic medicine and encourage osteopathic research throughout their careers.
- The ACOP continues to look at options for Osteopathic Continuous Certifications (OCC). “The Ohio Chapter, American Academy of Pediatrics (Ohio AAP) has an interest in becoming a provider/portfolio sponsor of the American Osteopathic Board of Pediatrics (AOBP) for Osteopathic Continuous Certification (OCC). In the Osteopathic Continuous Certification process, Component II; Part II and Component IV are equivalent to the Maintenance of Certification (MOC) Part II and IV programs for the ABP. The Ohio AAP has a proven track record of experience and holds designations from the American Board of Pediatrics (ABP) and the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) for MOC.”
- As of 2016, the ACOP In-service Examination engages the NBOME to provide the online testing conversion, publishing and administration with ITS.
- Nationwide Children’s Hospital of Columbus is presently the only pediatric program with Osteopathic Recognition. It is hoped that all children’s hospitals and ACGME-approved pediatric training programs complete this application.
- The ACOP is encouraging ACGME Pediatric programs to promote Plus One ONMM for osteopathic pediatric residents.
- All pediatric programs are again encouraged to apply for one of their osteopathic pediatric residents to receive the American Osteopathic Foundation Award. The ACOP is a proud member of the AOF and it is a distinguished award with a financial component for one of our osteopathic residents.
- A draft resolution from the ACOP has been sent requesting that the AOA seek ACCME accreditation (AMA PRA Category I CME Credit).
As I said in August 2016, the ACOP must grow in numbers and promote what we represent - an osteopathic approach to our patients using an additional tool, OMM, to diagnose and treat our patients and an educational source for us and osteopathic students, residents and fellows.
Finally, I am honored to have been asked to present the Annual Watson Memorial Lecture. I will discuss Osteopathic Pediatrics – Past, Present and Future: Medical Education in the Era of Single Accreditation.
PULSE IS AVAILABLE ON YOUR SMARTPHONE AND TABLET!
JOIN ACOP TODAY!
SAVE THE DATE!
ACOP Pediatric Track at OMED 2017
October 7-10, 2017
Philadelphia, PA