By Joseph D. Allgeier, DO, FACOFP

Engagement

Our 30th FSACOFP Annual Convention was a big success! We had more than 400 osteopathic physicians registered, and the lectures and exhibits were well attended. All of this was possible because of the tireless efforts of our convention planning committee, led by Dr. Bridget Bellingar. I want to thank Drs. Jamie Goodman and Andy Gross for their significant contributions of time and talent and the Bodkin Management Group for ensuring that everything ran smoothly. Dr. Robert George was deservedly presented with the 2010 Distinguished Physician of the Year Award. Congratulations, Dr. George! The Convention Committee is already back at work preparing for next year’s convention at our new venue, the brand new Hilton Bonnet Creek.

I want to thank personally our immediate past-president, Dr. Steven Cimerberg, for his leadership and direction over the past year. He was instrumental in solidifying our relationship with the newly formed FSACOFP Foundation, which will enable us to expand resources for our students, residents and the membership as a whole. Furthermore, the foundation is involved in providing public education to the citizens of Florida.

Engagement. That is the word that comes to my mind when I think of our Board of Trustees and our Executive Committee members. These are individuals who do not just volunteer their time and energy and show up at board meetings—they are truly involved and committed to the mission of our society, to advance quality patient care through osteopathic family physicians in Florida. With the recent creation of the Emeritus Board and the subsequent bylaw changes, we are able to bring in new board members who can contribute new ideas and energy to our organization and at the same time draw upon the wealth of experience and knowledge from the members of the Emeritus Board.

As the new president of the FSACOFP, I will continue to focus on the main objectives of our society:

• To promote and provide quality cost-effective health care and patient education in all health related matters;
• To promote public health, encourage scientific research and support high standards of osteopathic education;
• To identify, promote and advance the standards of osteopathic family practice in the field of osteopathic medicine and surgery;
• To encourage and improve the educational opportunities in Florida for the training of osteopathic family physicians in all branches of osteopathic medicine and surgery, including all osteopathic family practice training programs;
• To promote the department of osteopathic family physicians in all Florida hospitals and colleges;
• To promote improved understanding by the public of the services rendered by the osteopathic family physician;
• To abide by the Code of Ethics of the American Osteopathic Association; this shall be the Code of Ethics of this society;
• To cooperate with the American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians (ACOFP), the American Osteopathic Association (AOA) and the Florida Osteopathic Medical Association (FOMA); and
• To conduct at least one educational program annually.

To effectively meet the above objectives, we need a strong membership base. I encourage each of you to reach out to your osteopathic family physician colleagues, students and residents and encourage them to come on board! All are welcome to join our quarterly board meetings; meeting dates and locations are posted on our website as well as within this newsletter. In addition to those information sources, we are now on Facebook and Twitter to improve communication of timely issues impacting osteopathic family in Florida.

This organization exists to assist you, our members. If there are issues impacting your practice and you believe the FSACOFP needs to address them, please do not hesitate to contact me.