PRESS RELEASES

December 6. 2007 - Spring Lake's Lakeshore Family Care Receives MOA Core Grant For Childhood Obesity Prevention Program

Okemos, Michigan— Timothy Kval, D.O., Gregory Stempky, D.O., and the staff at Lakeshore Family Care in Spring Lake are the recipients of a Michigan Osteopathic Association (MOA) Core Grant. Lakeshore received the grant in support of its office-based childhood obesity prevention program Children's Healthy Activity and Meal Plan (CHAMP).

“Our CHAMP program is a year-long, clinic-run rewards program designed to illicit change in children's behavior toward routine healthy eating and exercising. We used the success of the ‘ prize in the cereal box’ or the “play arcade games to win tickets and then exchange the tickets for prizes’ incentive programs and applied them to a healthy choices and lifestyle program,” said Dr. Kval.

The CHAMP program provides participating families with information, tips and recipes each month as well as rewards for those children who meet monthly goals for exercise and healthy eating. To keep participants committed to the year-long program, prizes and incentives increase each month progressing from stickers and sporting goods store coupons to basketballs, sleds and raffles for autographed sports memorabilia.

“We were really looking for a way to attack this problem of obesity. Instead of just educating, we’re trying to implement lifestyle changes in a more aggressive, proactive manner,” Dr. Kval said.

The Michigan Osteopathic Association established its MOA Core Grant program in 2007 to assist those osteopathic physicians who are taking the initiative to host health programs or clinics that embody the osteopathic values of prevention, wellness, and primary care–the core of good health. Lakeshore Family Care is one of four groups to receive a grant from this inaugural program.

The Michigan Osteopathic Association represents more than 7,000 osteopathic physicians and students and promotes osteopathic medicine in Michigan by shaping the health care delivery system to better serve the community. To learn more about the MOA and osteopathic medicine, visit the MOA website at www.mi-osteopathic.org.

Lakeshore Family Care, a member of Mercy General Health Partner’s Primary Care Network, is a primary care medical practice treating patients from newborns to seniors. With a goal to “provide comprehensive, quality health care in a timely fashion,” Drs. Stempky and Kval are board certified in family medicine and work to provide efficient, quality medical care to all patients. To learn more about Lakeshore Family Care, visit their website at www.lakeshorefamilycare.com.

October 26, 2007 - MDCH Issues Guidance to Communities on MRSA
Following Good Public Health Hygiene Practices Critical to Combating Disease

July 22, 2007 - American Osteopathic Association Installs Peter B. Ajluni, D.O., as 111th President
(CHICAGO)— The American Osteopathic Association (AOA) installed Peter B. Ajluni, D.O., a board certified osteopathic orthopedic surgeon from Bloomfield Hills, Mich., as the 2007-2008 president on June 22, 2007. Dr. Ajluni succeeds John A. Strosnider, D.O., of Pikeville, Ky., who passed away of pancreatic cancer on June 21.

“In my over 35 years as an osteopathic physician, I have seen this profession experience immense success and have witnessed the AOA grow into a nationally recognized medical association,” Dr. Ajluni said. “I am very proud to serve as president of this organization and continue the work of Dr. Strosnider.”

Dr. Ajluni, an avid hiker and jogger who has participated in a number of marathons and triathlons, chose “D.O.s: Fit for Life” as his presidential theme. This theme conveys the importance of osteopathic physicians serving as role models for their patients when it comes to health and fitness. In addition, President Ajluni will extend that focus to make the AOA a healthier and more fit organization for its members and the U.S. a better health care system for patients.

Dr. Ajluni is currently on leave from his position as a senior orthopedic surgeon at Mount Clemens (Mich.) Regional Medical Center (part of the McLaren Health Care System) where he also served as former chief of staff. He continues to serve as vice chair of the board of trustees at Mount Clemens. He also held staff privileges at Henry Ford Bi-County Community Hospital in Warren, Mich., and St. John North Shores Hospital in Harrison Township, Mich.

Dr. Ajluni served as AOA president-elect for the 2006-2007 term. He began his career on the AOA Board of Trustees in 1998 and was a member of the AOA’s Executive Committee from 2000-2005. In addition, he served as chair of the AOA Departments of Business Affairs, Educational Affairs, Professional Affairs and Governmental Affairs.
Aside from his involvement on the national level, Dr. Ajluni has also been an active member of state and local osteopathic medical organizations. He served as president of both the Michigan Osteopathic Association and the Michigan Osteopathic Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons.

After earning his degree in 1969 from the Chicago College of Osteopathy, now known as Midwestern University/Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine in Downers Grove, Ill., Dr. Ajluni completed an internship and residency at Mount Clemens General Hospital.

Dr. Ajluni resides in Bloomfield Hills with his wife, Judy. They have three children, Noelle (Kurt) Cassel, Mark and Matthew, and three grandchildren.

The American Osteopathic Association proudly represents its professional family of more than 59,000 osteopathic physicians (D.O.s); promotes public health; encourages scientific research; serves as the primary certifying body for D.O.s; is the accrediting agency for osteopathic medical colleges; and has federal authority to accredit hospitals and other health care facilities. More information on D.O.s/osteopathic medicine can be found at www.osteopathic.org.

* A photo of Peter B. Ajluni, D.O., is available upon request from the American Osteopathic Association.

Contact:
Nicole S. Grady
(800) 621-1773, ext. 8038 (Toll free)
(312) 202-8038 (Office)
(312) 593-6897 (Cell)
ngrady@osteopathic.org

or

Contact:
Mike Campea
(800) 621-1773, ext. 8043 (Toll free)
(312) 202-8043 (Office)
(312) 593-6509 (Cell)
mcampea@osteopathic.org

June 13, 2007 - Efforts Continue To Encourage Doctors To Stay In Michigan
MDCH Releases 2006 Survey Of Physicans
LANSING – More than a quarter of Michigan physicians in training say they plan to stay in Michigan, while another 42 percent remain undecided, according to the most recent results of the 2006 Michigan Department of Community Health’s (MDCH) Survey of Physicians.

The survey – conducted annually – also contains new information resident physicians who are recent medical school graduates completing their medical specialty training.

Physicians in residency programs were asked about their plans following completion of their residency and responded as follows:

• Approximately 26 percent said they plan to stay in Michigan; 30 percent plan to move to another state; and 42 percent have not yet decided.
• 69 percent say they have not yet started their job search.
• 55 percent say they plan to enter a partnership or group practice; 20 percent plan to do further subspecialty training.

For those planning to move away from Michigan, a “desire to be closer to family” and “weather” are the factors reported most often as contributing to this decision, followed by “entertainment/recreational opportunities,” “job opportunities for spouse/partner,” and “economic outlook of the state”, the survey indicates.

“We know from the survey data that about 66 percent of physicians in graduate medical training programs did not grow up in Michigan,” said Janet Olszewski, MDCH Director. “We also know that 26 percent of them attended a medical school in Michigan. It is important that we continue to educate medical students and residents about the benefits of practicing in Michigan.”

Keeping those physicians in Michigan is a priority, according to AppaRao Mukkamala, M.D., president of the Michigan State Medical Society, a professional association representing 15,000 physicians.

“Physicians in medical training programs play a critical role in the current delivery of patient care,” Mukkamala said, “and they are key to meeting the demand for physicians in Michigan in the future.” MSMS has predicted a 6,000 physician shortage by 2020, according to its 2005 survey.

The 69 percent of interns and residents who have not started their job search yet present an enormous opportunity,” said Anne Rosewarne, president of the Michigan Health Council and director of the Michigan Center for Health Professions.

“We know that physicians are likely to set up practice in the geographic area where they do their residency,” Rosewarne added. Survey results show that fifty-six percent of our active physicians did a residency in Michigan. We want to make sure we encourage our current medical residents to stay in Michigan, as well.”

The MDCH survey data provide a snapshot of where physicians practice and also what they practice, asserts Dr. Susan Sevensma, D.O., president of the Michigan Osteopathic Association.
“Comparing survey data from 2005 and 2006, the percent of active physicians indicating that they practice in a primary care specialty decreased by six percent,” Sevensma said. “The average of both years’ data falls below the minimum percentage of primary care physicians that health care planners say is necessary to operate an efficient health care delivery system. These data can help us determine where Michigan is non-competitive and where changes need to be made.”

Earlier this year, the Practice Michigan Advisory Council was formed to promote Michigan as a great place to live and practice for physicians and those considering medical school as a vocation.

The Council includes the four Michigan medical schools, regional graduate medical education consortiums, the Michigan State Medical Society, the Michigan Osteopathic Association, the Michigan Recruitment and Retention Network, the Michigan Health Council and the Michigan Economic Development Corporation. The first initiative will familiarize residents with Michigan from coast to coast and help them get involved with activities outside of their training. The group also holds regional resident receptions to highlight local communities and job opportunities.

Another career resource for residents is Medical Opportunities in Michigan (MOM), a website listing medical positions within Michigan. MOM (www.mimom.org) was developed by the Michigan Health Council for Michigan hospitals and practices to promote their opportunities. Currently MOM lists more than 500 physician opportunities.

The Michigan Department of Community Health Survey of Physicians 2006 also includes data on Michigan physicians’ employment characteristics, practice specialty, time spent providing patient care, practice capacity, plans to continue practice, education background, professional activities, use of computer technology, gender, and racial/ethnic background. For the first time, the annual survey also collected information from physicians entering their second or third year of a residency in Michigan. Other key findings include:

• 66 percent (about 24,500) of physicians fully licensed in Michigan are providing patient care services in Michigan. Another three percent are working as a physician in Michigan but spend no time in patient care. The remaining 31 percent are retired or working outside of Michigan.
• Residents spend 66 hours per week providing patient care; but 25 percent of these physicians spend more than 80 hours per week providing direct patient care.
• 47 percent of fully licensed physicians who are providing patient care report that their practice is nearly full and they can accept only a few new patients; another 16 percent report that their practice is full.
• 34 percent of active physicians indicate that they plan to practice medicine for only one to 10 more years.

Additional details on the physician workforce are contained in the full report, Michigan Department of Community Health Survey of Physicians 2006, available online at www.michigan.gov/healthcareworkforcecenter under Licensee Surveys.

May 30, 2007 - Dr. Boxman Recognized by Michigan Osteopathic Association for 30 Years of Service as Delegate
Dearborn, Michigan— On May 9, 2007, Donald Boxman, D.O., of West Bloomfield, was recognized by the Michigan Osteopathic Association (MOA) at its House of Delegates meeting for 30 years of service as a delegate. The House of Delegates meeting was held in conjunction with the MOA’s 108th Annual Postgraduate Convention and Scientific Seminar at the Hyatt Regency in Dearborn, Michigan.

The duties of an MOA delegate include attending the annual House of Delegates meeting and acting as a liaison between regional osteopathic physicians and the state association to provide input on the development and implementation of MOA policies, recommendations for policy to be forwarded to the national association (the American Osteopathic Association) and to guide the association’s efforts on its legislative agenda.

May 30, 2007 - Dr. Berry Recognized by Michigan Osteopathic Association for 30 Years of Service as Delegate
Dearborn, Michigan— On May 9, 2007, Andrew Berry , D.O., of Commerce Township, was recognized by the Michigan Osteopathic Association (MOA) at its House of Delegates meeting for 30 years of service as a delegate. The House of Delegates meeting was held in conjunction with the MOA’s 108th Annual Postgraduate Convention and Scientific Seminar at the Hyatt Regency in Dearborn, Michigan.

The duties of an MOA delegate include attending the annual House of Delegates meeting and acting as a liaison between regional osteopathic physicians and the state association to provide input on the development and implementation of MOA policies, recommendations for policy to be forwarded to the national association (the American Osteopathic Association) and to guide the association’s efforts on its legislative agenda.