AOA BOT and HOD Update

First, let me apologize for the hiatus.  It has been two weeks since my last blog. 

Those two weeks were filled with the AOA Board of Trustees meeting and House of Delegates.  Also that week was the AODME board retreat.  Finally, the AOA’s COPTI, PTRC and COPT – the GME Cluster – met this past week. 

Some updates on all in the coming days!

AOA Board of Trustees

·         The AODME sponsored repeal of resolution 29 – discussed in an earlier blog – was approved.  This resolution calls for the AOA’s Bureau of Osteopathic Medical Education (BOME) – now led by the able hands of Don Sefcik, DO – to produce a White Paper on the AOA’s Approval of ACGME training.  This makes sense since it is made up of Directors of Medical Education, College of Osteopathic Medicine (COM) reps, OPTI reps other educators and intern/resident and a student.

·         A resolution from the Bureau of OGME Development to codify the exceptions for program directors of OGME programs was approved.  I will elaborate on this in a later post.

·         The concept of “Independent Inspectors” for OGME programs was endorsed.   This will begin in July 2013.  Specialties will be able to approve inspectors from a short list (3 to 8) provided by the AOA.

·         The OGME fee schedule discussions were tabled...for now.  This will return closer-in to 2013 and the implementation of the previous bullet.

·         The concept of OPTI Academic Sponsorship and expanded Base Institution definitions for OGME were endorsed by the board.

The AOA House of Delegates followed and was exciting was usual, but did not include any large OGME issues. 

One particular note was the AOA's support of the new NRMP "All in" proposal (see left column).  This would require all entrants in the NRMP match to go through the match.  As the OGME follower knows, this is a significant departure from current practice where COM grads can sign outside of the match.  While this was approved by the NRMP board it is not final.  Comments can be offered here.  The NRMP is specifically looking for comments on "Programs accredited by the ACGME and the AOA."

Finally, following the Board and House meetings, the new AOA appointment book was released.  This contains a nice mix of volunteers whose service to the profession and OGME are greatly appreciated!

The AODME has made a commitment to keep our membership, and the blOGME universe, informed of AOA happenings through many of these appointments.

Finally, the week included the inauguration of Martin Levine, DO as the new AOA President.  Dr. Levine's inaugural address is worth a view or read.  He urged us to "Think Osteopathically" and to "Practice It, Prove It, Publish It and Promote It"

blOGME intends to continue to do just that!!