Spring presents a flurry of biologic activity, it is also a time during which your Board has been very active. We hope you have had an opportunity to navigate the updated website. In the past, members have been concerned with not being able to communicate with the AOAO Board. We have added a section to the home page (scroll to the bottom at www.aoao.org) where members may submit questions, to be addressed by the Board. If you are interested in what the Board has been doing, send us your questions.
The AOAO Board conducted a strategic planning meeting the weekend of March 3rd in Dallas, Texas. The focus of this meeting was to develop short, midrange, and long term goals with regards to member engagement (new benefits), CME, the identity of the AOAO and its strategic partnerships. Our purpose for this session was to create a plan for the AOAO to remain relevant, evolve in the new Single Accreditation environment and to better serve our members. I will continue to update you on our plans and progress.
On the national front, this past February Dr. Lee Vander Lugt and I attended the AOA Board of Trustees mid-year meeting. There were a couple of interesting facts that came through to me during this meeting. As the Single Accreditation System moves along, training in osteopathic programs should not present a road block for fellowship training; although each program has the authority of whether or not to take an osteopathic physician. Many ACGME accredited programs now recognize COMLEX as an acceptable board exam.
During this meeting, several resolutions were passed by the Board of Trustees, two of which I feel will impact AOAO the most.
- Resolution: The Board authorized the AOA to seek ACCME accreditation and allocated the funds necessary. Impact: The AOAO may be able to jointly sponsor, with the AOA, our educational meetings to provide CME for allopathic speakers and attendees.
- Resolution: AOA will establish an agreement with the ACGME, which will provide specialty affiliates the AOA I.D. number, email addresses, mailing addresses of all residents in ACGME training. Impact: This will help maintain contact with residents and fellows both during and after their training.
In recognition of impactful activity, I would like to personally recognize and commend the AOBOS Sports Subspecialty Committee (made up of AOAO Sports Section members) who have completed the process to offer an exam in Osteopathic Orthopedic Sports Subspecialty Certification, which will be held in October in Atlanta. More details are available in this issue under the AOBOS Update.
I hope to see you all at the 58th Postgraduate Seminar at The Terranea Oceanfront Resort in Rancho Palos Verdes, CA this May.