AOMA Digest Spring 2021

Digest

INSIDE Volume 36, No. 1 Spring 2021

A Year to Remember AOMA in Action Osteopathic Community News

45 Years of Demonstrated Strength & Stability

Mutual Insurance Company of Arizona® Medical Professional Liability Insurance 602.956.5276 | mica-insurance.com

*The dividend declared for the 2020 policy year reflects the Company’s financial performance. Past performance does not guarantee future dividends. MICA’s insurance policies have exclusions, limitations, and terms under which the policy may be continued in force or discontinued. For costs and complete details of coverage, contact your insurance agent or MICA. **As a result of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, in April 2020, the MICA Board of Trustees held a special meeting to declare a $12M dividend to help ease the financial burden of making policy premium payments.

Volume 36, No. 1 Spring 2021

Digest

2020-2021 Board of Trustees President Richard Dobrusin, DO, MS (Ost), FACOFP President Elect Danielle Barnett-Trapp, DO Immediate Past President Christopher Labban, DO, HPF Vice President Brandon Abbott, DO, MPH, FAAP Secretary/Treasurer James Keane, DO, MEd Executive Director/Editor Josephine Zammuto Trustees Alphonse Ambrosia, DO, FACC Craig Cassidy, DO, FAOCO Donald Curran, DO Susan Del Sordi-Staats, DO Datcha Dorvil, DO, MPH David England, MS, DO Michelle Eyler, DO Kendra Gray, DO, FACOG William Jaffe, DO, FACOI Brendon Labban, DO Michael Lokale, DO, MSc (Oxon), FAAFP Donald Middleton, DO Julie Morrison, DO Homan Mostafavi, DO, MBA George Parides, DO, FACOI Bunnie Richie, DO, FAAN Resident Trustee Samantha Easterly, DO Student Trustees Issa Ismail, OMS II - SOMA Jay Olson, MS, OMS IV - AZCOM Speaker of the House of Delegates Jeffrey Morgan, DO, MA, CS, FACOI

The Official Publication of the Arizona Osteopathic Medical Association

Columns 2 President’s Message 4 Executive Director’s Message 8 AOMA in Action FEATURES 9 New Website. New Features for YOU! 11 Breath(e) 14 Compassion -Based Stress Management AOMA NEWS 18 Welcome New AOMA Members 18 In Memoriam 21 40th Annual Fall Seminar OSTEOPATHIC COMMUNITY NEWS 23 DOs in the News 24 Arizona Chapter of the American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians

25 A.T. Still University School of Osteopathic Medicine in Arizona 27 Midwestern University Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine 30 Tucson Osteopathic Medical Foundation Welcomes New Leadership 32 Calendar of Events 32 Advertisers Index

Vice Speaker of the House Charles Finch, DO, FACOEP

AOMA Staff Director of Membership and Communications Managing Editor Janet Weigel Director of Education Teresa Roland Operations Manager Kristen Strong

© 2021

1

AOMA Digest Spring 2021

President’s Message

A Year to Remember In my first president’s message, I quoted “may you live in interesting times”.

This year has certainly lived up to that. Today, I quote the late, great philosopher and rock icon Jerry Garcia, “What a long, strange trip it’s been.”

WHAT HAPPENED? When I was installed Richard S. Dobrusin, DO, as AOMA President in MS (Ost), FACOFP April 2021, we faced an 2020-2021 AOMA President enormous amount of uncertainty - as a country, as physicians, and as an Association.

As a country, the novel coronavirus began to sweep across our nation with devastating and unpredictable consequences. Hundreds of thousands of Americans lost their lives to the virus. Arizona emerged a “hot spot” for COVID-19 cases and the “new normal” became quarantine, social distancing, protective masks, and fear of the unknown.

As physicians, the search for personal protective equipment (PPE), the administration of COVID-19 tests, the pivot to telemedicine platforms to see patients, the hesitancy of our patients to seek medical attention, the trial and error of finding the best way to treat patients who were infected, and the worry about contracting the virus ourselves amplified the stress, concern, and anxiety. Many of our patients, family members, friends, and colleagues contracted the virus and too many succumbed.

As an Association, we were mourning the cancer diagnosis, and subsequent passing, of our former Executive Director Pete Wertheim. Before his death, we were able to gather with Pete and his family to honor him and celebrate his life.

AOMA Digest Spring 2021

2

Last year, AOMA needed to find a new office space due to a nonrenewal of our lease. We negotiated a very favorable lease for 65 months and a three-year renewal guarantee and in September 2020 moved to our terrific new location at 19th Avenue and Camelback.

AOMA Director of Membership and Communications Janet Weigel not only did her job but stepped up as our interim executive director. With our dedicated staff and volunteers, we successfully navigated the turbulent waters of early 2020.

We formed a search committee that I lovingly call the “dream team”. Through the expertise, leadership, and diligence of this committee, Josephine Zammuto joined AOMA as Executive Director in June 2020.

We witnessed a dramatic 2020 election cycle, impacting not only the state of Arizona, but our nation. With the skill and guidance of our contract lobbyist Steve Barclay, AOMA continued to be a key stakeholder in health care advocacy. We are pleased to have secured Mr. Barclay’s services for another three years.

WHAT IS HAPPENING NOW? Coronavirus is still plaguing the world, but the development and administration of vaccines gives us hope that in the not-to-distant future we can get back to pre-pandemic normality.

We have seen multiple bills proposed at the state legislature that could dramatically affect the health care of Arizona citizens. Bills concerning practice rights, scope of practice issues, and vaccinations are among the topics introduced. Our lobbyist Steve Barclay is actively informing us and representing us on these matters.

Accredited by both the American Osteopathic Association (AOA) and the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), AOMA continues to be a premier provider of continuing medical education (CME) for DOs and MDs.

President’s Message

Despite the coronavirus epidemic we successfully held multiple conferences virtually and our online CME catalog is robust and expanding.

The amazing staff of the Arizona Osteopathic Medical Association continues to support and drive our organizational goals. We all owe a debt of gratitude to Josephine Zammuto, Janet Weigel, Teresa Roland, and Kristen Strong. The Association is fiscally strong with outstanding incoming leadership team and great staff.

WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN? Despite a massive increase in the number of graduating osteopathic physicians, membership in state organizations has remained stagnant. We have many long-standing members who have been loyal to our organization and are now retiring from practice.

It should be a goal of all state organizations to actively recruit these new physicians and educate them as to the value of membership and its benefits. We must grow in numbers and strength to actively defend our practice rights and the quality of care in our state. We must continue to fund our political action committee (PAC).

Physicians must give generously and frequently to this fund to expand advocacy for our interests and those of our patients.

We are proudly celebrating the 100th anniversary of our fine organization. We have a talented group of bright and enthusiastic future leaders.

Our incoming president Dr. Danielle Barnett-Trapp is a dedicated physician, passionate educator, and dynamic force. She will be an excellent leader. Dr. Brandon Abbott will become president-elect and his knowledge, skills, and great personality will greatly benefit the Association. We are fortunate to have Dr. James Keane to be entering into the vice president position with his extensive legislative experience. Dr. Michael Lokale has agreed to step up as incoming AOMA secretary/treasurer, securing quality leadership succession for the next few years.

Dr. Chris Labban will be leaving the executive committee this year. He has been a tireless and dedicated leader for our great organization. We all owe him a great debt of gratitude and look forward to expressing that in person at a future date.

As the world emerges from the ravages of the pandemic, we recognize and celebrate the personal and professional contributions of our colleagues and coworkers. As one of my final duties as President, it was my privilege to present the 2021 President’s Award to Dr. Datcha Dorvil for her courageous service battling the coronavirus in northern Arizona.

There is an old Yiddish adage, “Man plans and God laughs”. This could not be truer for my year as your president. It has truly been an honor and a pleasure to work with the fine physicians and staff of the Arizona Osteopathic Medical Association in this capacity. It has certainly been a year to remember!

I wish you all good health and much happiness in the coming year.

3

AOMA Digest Spring 2021

Executive Director’s Message

Sunrise on the Next 100 Years I find it difficult to believe that I am quickly approaching the end of my first year as AOMA Executive Director. It has been a productive and educational year under the constraints of social distancing, virtual meetings, and working remotely.

While we are not back to normal, we are certainly Josephine Zammuto doing everything possible to AOMA Executive Director stay on track and maintain AOMA business continuity.

This year marks the 100th Anniversary of the AOMA. What a milestone! The world has changed dramatically since 1921, the year a group of dedicated osteopathic physicians had the foresight to band together and found the Arizona Association.

• One hundred years ago, Arizona had been a state for only nine years. Arizona’s 5th State Legislature convened. In 2021 we are in the midst of the 55th State Legislature.

• One hundred years ago Warren G. Harding was President of the United States, elected the previous year when women first participated in the national election after earning the right to vote. In 2021 we inaugurated the first woman vice president, Kamala Harris.

• One hundred years ago, the Prohibition Era banned the production, importation, transportation, and sale of alcoholic beverages. Today, recreational use of marijuana is legal in 17 states including Arizona, the District of Columbia, Guam, and the Northern Mariana Islands.

• One hundred years ago, the world was recovering from the Spanish Flu pandemic. Today, the world is still dealing with the novel coronavirus pandemic.

AOMA Digest Spring 2021

4

Preserving business continuity for the health care community meant embracing technology at a rapid pace. Telemedicine took on many forms – phone calls, smart phone “video chats”, and virtual appointments via computer or tablet. Patients can “go to the doctor” from work or home and doctors can “see their patients” from anywhere there is an internet connection or telephone service.

We saw vaccine development advance at warp speed.

Within nine months of the initial outbreak of the virus. three pharmaceutical companies presented strong data from years of research to produce vaccines with enough safety and efficacy to receive FDA Emergency Use Authorizations. As more people become immunized, we hope to achieve herd immunity so that we can resume in-person meetings and events.

The Arizona Department of Health Services delivery model for the administration of COVID-19 vaccines became the prototype for the rest of the nation. To date, more than 2.8 million Arizonans have received at least one dose of the vaccine.

In a year of so much uncertainty when people were blaming downfalls on COVID and wishing for 2020 to just end, some people took up hobbies or tackled house projects, others discovered they could cook, and others rekindled relationships with friends and family on FaceTime, Zoom, and HouseParty. AOMA staff looked internally for opportunities to improve and pushed their creativity, resulting in big changes for the Association.

In September 2020, AOMA moved to its new office in CamelWest Plaza at 19th Avenue and Camelback Road in Phoenix.

AOMA also “moved” on the worldwide web. We changed our website address to azosteo.org.

No more hyphen and no need to type “www”.

Executive Director’s Message

After 25 years with the same brand identity, it was time to give new life to the AOMA logo. The redesign reflects the healing hands of osteopathic medicine, the colors in our state flag, and the mind-body-spirit philosophy.

Earlier this year we debuted a refreshed AOMA website with enhanced features and functionality, including a fully integrated learning management system (LMS). This improved technology positions the Association to remain on the forefront of delivering continuing medical education, both live and virtually.

Check out the new website and features on page 9 of this issue of the Digest.

Due to social distancing requirements, we were not able to hold our annual DO Day at the State Legislature. As an alternative, we created the Arizona Advocacy Workshop to provide training on the legislative process for physicians and medical students.

The on-demand program is available to all AOMA members on the Advocacy Resource page on the AOMA website. Member login is required to view the workshop.

d

n tio

Ariz

Me

ic a

ic ath

Osteop a on

l A s s o ci

a

The AOMA Executive Committee reviewed and restructured the Association’s standing committees, aligning similarly purposed committees to provide greater efficiencies.

On the legislative front, AOMA continues to protect the interests of its members. Legislation to expand reimbursement for telemedicine services, prior authorization simplification, AHCCS funding for graduate medical education, and liability protections are some of the key issues supported during the current legislative session.

In addition to reflecting on the past and celebrating the first one hundred years of AOMA, we are also looking toward the future and building on our foundation for the next one hundred years.

The Arizona Osteopathic Medical Association is a respected health care community leader, in Arizona and nationally. Our members serve in leadership positions at all levels, including the Arizona Board of Osteopathic Medical Examiners, the Federation of State Medical Boards, the National Board of Osteopathic Medical Examiners, the American Osteopathic Association, the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine, the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education, as well as numerous specialty societies and other organizations.

We are definitely “DO Proud” in Arizona. I encourage you to show your pride too with a hashtag #DOProudinAZ. The American Osteopathic Association’s 2021 OMED medical conference will be held at the Phoenix Convention Center on October 22 - 24, 2021, with the American Osteopathic Foundation Honor’s Gala at the Phoenix Sheraton on October 22nd. Arizona will be center stage during the Conference.

Sunrise on the Next 100 Years continued on page 6

5

AOMA Digest Spring 2021

Executive Director’s Message Sunrise on the Next 100 Years continued from page 5

Arizona is a top contender to become a new NBOME Testing Site. The state is uniquely positioned, geographically and economically, to be selected.

Osteopathic medical students and residents are the future of the profession and the Association. We have strong relationships with the Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine at Midwestern University and A.T. Still University School of Osteopathic Medicine in Arizona. We are increasing our involvement with statewide residency programs, providing resources for residency directors and networking and mentoring opportunities for residents.

The level of engagement of AOMA members in the governance of the Association is growing! The Arizona Board of Trustees and the House of Delegates have welcomed new leadership, but there is room for you to become involved. We are always looking for Committee members and future leaders. Reach out to me at jzammuto@azosteo.org to learn more.

We invite you to join us for a 100th Anniversary Gala on Friday, November 19, 2021 at The Scottsdale Resort in Scottsdale, Arizona. Since it will be one of first opportunities to gather as the Arizona osteopathic community, AOMA staff, Janet, Kristen, Teresa, and I look forward to celebrating with you as we reflect on our heritage, honor our leaders – past, present, and future, and commemorate our accomplishments.

Like the Arizona sunrise on the cover of this issue of the Digest, the sun is rising on the Arizona Osteopathic Medical Association. It’s time to soak up the sun. Come along with us, but don’t forget your SPF!

AOMA is celebrating its 100th Anniversary.

Save the date for Friday, November 19, 2021 for a gala celebration at The Scottsdale Resort.

Details and tickets available soon!

Education Made Easy.

Need CME? Hundreds of topics available on demand.

Visit the AOMA website under the Education tab or go to

www.docme.org Enter “AOMA” in the search bar to find AOMA-produced content.

Your purchases support the Association.

AOMA Digest Spring 2021

6

Executive Director’s Message

100th Anniversary Moments The first osteopathic physicians in Arizona were Washington Conner, DO and David Conner, DO who established their practice in 1898.

Lillian Green Balance, DO, was the first woman osteopathic physician to practice in Arizona.

In 1903, the Arizona Territorial Legislature passed a bill requiring all physicians (DOs and MDs) to pass the medical board exam.

The State Board of Osteopathic Examiners was established in Arizona in 1941 and originally only had three board members.

The Ellsworth Hospital, the first licensed osteopathic hospital in the state, opened in Safford, Arizona in 1942.

The Osteopathic Board of Examiners issued the first license to Charles Clifford Bradbury, DO in 1942. He held License #0002. License #0001 was not issued.

Tucson General Hospital, with its first location at 2834 East Grant Road, was founded in 1949. The osteopathic hospital operated in various locations until 2001.

Phoenix General Hospital, an osteopathic hosptial located at 19th Avenue and Indian School Road, was opened in 1963 and remained open until August 5, 1988.

In 1974, DOs earned the right to be consulting physicians at allopathic hospitals.

The first DO to join the staff of an allopathic hospital in Arizona was in 1976 at St. Mary’s Hospital in Tucson.

Mitchell Kasovac, DO was the first Arizona osteopathic physician to be President of the American Osteopathic Association.

The first osteopathic medical school in Arizona was established in 1995 at Midwestern University in Glendale, Arizona.

Karen Nichols, DO was the first woman President of the Arizona Osteopathic Medical Association and the American Osteopathic Association.

A.T. Still University established the School of Osteopathic Medicine in Arizona in Mesa, Arizona in 2007.

In 2016, AOMA and its stakeholders’ efforts resulted in the Medical Licensure Compact Act, allowing member states to streamline processes for multi-state licensure.

Currently, there are more than 6,000 active osteopathic physicians licensed by the Arizona Board of Osteopathic Examiners; approximately 4,000 are practicing in the state.

Thank you to the Tucson Osteopathic Medical Foundation for providing access to their historical archives.

7

AOMA Digest Spring 2021

AOMA in Action

AOMA in Action AOMA is the voice of osteopathic medicine in Arizona, representing the profession as a health care stakeholder and community partner.

This activity update covers the six-month period from October 1, 2020 to March 31, 2021.

Advocacy/Legislative Affairs • Lobbied for and/or against legislation that impacts the health care profession and delivery of patient care • Distributed $6,100 from the AOMA PAC to 21 state legislators on health committees and in leadership • Represented AOMA on the Arizona Healthcare Advocacy Coalition (AHAC) • Conducted four Legislative Affairs Committee meetings • Presented the first Arizona Advocacy Workshop providing training for physicians and students on the legislative process in Arizona Member Services • Launched the new AOMA website with a fully-integrated learning management system (LMS) • Enhanced functionality of AOMA member profiles in the new AOMA website • Introduced monthly payment options for AOMA membership dues Continuing Medical Education • Sponsored 20.0 hours of AOA Category 1-A CME credits and AMA PRA Category 1 creditsTM for the AOMA 40th Annual Fall Seminar in November 2020 • Represented AOMA on the AOSED CME Committee

Public Health • Represented AOMA on The Arizona Partnership for Immunization (TAPI) Steering Committee • Represented AOMA on the Arizona Telemedicine Stakeholder meetings • Represented AOMA at the Arizona Rural & Health Policy Forum • Represented AOMA on various other stakeholder task forces and committees American Osteopathic Association (AOA) • Attended the AOA House of Delegates as a virtual event on October 13 & 14, 2020 • Participated as an Exhibitor in the OMED Virtual Exhibit Hall in October 2020 Arizona Osteopathic Charities • Raised more than $3,000 in the 2021 Waste Management Phoenix Open Birdies for Charity Campaign • Announced the Annual Scholarship Essay Contest to AZCOM and ATSU-SOMA students The Future of the Osteopathic Profession • Student doctors served as moderators at the AOMA 40th Annual Fall Seminar • Announced the AOMA Clinical Case Competition and Poster Forum to osteopathic medical students and residents

Protect your profession.

Contribute to the AOMA Political Action Committee Purpose AOMA Political Action Committee (PAC) is an essential vehicle for preserving and fostering the osteopathic medical profession in Arizona. The PAC allows us to endorse and support those candidates for state public office who share our concern about the future of health care and improved access to quality care in Arizona.

Your PAC contribution can help make a difference in the ongoing fight to protect physician rights, scope of practice, and quality health care for Arizonans.

Contribute online! Go to azosteo.org/PAC or scan the code.

AOMA Digest Spring 2021

8

Features

New AOMA Website - New Features for YOU!

The Arizona Osteopathic Medical Association recently launched its new website with some significant enhancements.

1. New URL - No more hyphen! The new website address is azosteo.org. No need for the “www”.

2. Refreshed website design. Same reliable resources in an updated, user friendly format.

3. Fully integrated website, database, and learning management system. With a single log on, you have access to your membership status, personal and professional contact information, members-only content and features, and your CME Credit Tracker including the ability to compile all your CME certificates in a single location for your convenience.

4. Expanded profile features. Add a photo, practice description, professional biography, and other content to your profile to inform patients and colleagues about you and your practice. Let them know if you are accepting new patients, whether or not you practice OMM, list payments options/ insurance networks, and more. (See page 10 for a sample physician profile.)

5. Multiple practice locations. You can include up to three practice locations in your profile.

6. Enhanced security and convenience. Stateof-the-art software insures your security when paying dues and registering for AOMA activities.

7. Automatic renewal payment options. Never let your AOMA membership expire! When you pay by credit card and select the automatic payment authorization option.

8. New dues payment options. Physician Members have the option of paying dues in a single annual payment or 12 monthly payments (convenience service fees apply).

In the coming year you will see new features and functionalities added to the AOMA website. Your Association is committed to improving resources for our members and advancing our ability to respond to your needs.

azosteo.org

New Website. New Features. continued on page 10

9

AOMA Digest Spring 2021

Features New Website. New Features. continued from page 9

The new AOMA website allows you to include the pertinent and important information about you and your practice so that colleagues and patients can find you.

A member-only benefit, you manage and monitor your online profile content. include your bio Upload your photo

PROVIDE INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR PRACTICE

include multiple office locations

AOMA Digest Spring 2021

10

Features

Breath(e)

By Herchran Singh, OMS II, ATSU-SOMA Nobody tells you what to do when someone dies. My worst nightmare took place today - Monday, November 16, 2020. I had a long day already, having stayed up until 3:30 am studying for an exam, which took place in the morning. Shortly after that I joined an online meeting for student government. I was genuinely in good spirits and had plans to call home tonight to catch up with everyone. I even had the pleasure of chatting with a close friend, but I got a call in the middle of it from my sister. When I texted to ask if I could call her back, she immediately called me again and I knew it was an emergency.

“PLEASE CALL DADDY!!! HE WON'T ANSWER!!!” Prabu screamed through gasps and tears.

“Prabu, take a deep breath, tell me again - what is going on?” I asked.

Prabu desperately explained that she had been on the phone with my dad when he was telling her he had chest pain and was not feeling well. She said he was driving somewhere, and he stopped talking, but she could hear him breathing heavily. She called for him, “I BEGGED HIM, I BEGGED AND I BEGGED for him to respond.” In a panic, she called me to call the police, and I immediately did upon hearing this and did my best to direct them to the route he would take to pick up my mom (I had texted home to confirm this is where he was going).

The police took my report and said they were on their way. During this brief conversation, my sister had tried calling me three times and was sending a whirlwind of texts asking for information that I simply did not have.

I did not know what was going on, I was not there, and I had no immediate way of getting there.

I called home to tell my kid brother to ask the neighbor to drive the route with him to help locate our dad. Of course, he forgot his phone at home, and we had no updates from him.

It was an agonizing hour on the phone with just my sister wailing due to the uncertainty and stress of the situation. No one was reaching out to us and we could not get a hold of anyone. Finally, when I got a hold of our neighbor his words to me were, “Your dad is no more.”

I am currently at the airport about to fly home with two masks and a face shield on. My backpack is full of notes and a textbook and some clothes and sanitation wipes. I am numb and all I can think about is how hard it is to breathe.

2020 has robbed many of their breath. George Floyd in my home state of Minnesota and other victims of police brutality and racial inequity stifling them to death. Patients, families, and citizens of the world have lost their breath to COVID-19 pandemic, and others still are suffering from the consequences of the smoke and fires burning throughout the west coast.

Breathing is vital to life. It accounts for at least two of the vital signs that physicians use to acutely assess the state of a patient. So then how is that in 2020 (a year that used to symbolize a far off future with flying cars and artificial intelligence that could fix any problem), we are struggling to manage something as basic as breathing.

I have found myself in a particularly unique position during this infamous year. I moved to Portland, Oregon where some of the most passionate and difficult protests are being held in the battle against police brutality for the rights of Black Lives.

I participated on Day 100 of the protests and I distinctly recall how unreal it seemed when peaceful marchers were attacked with tear gas by the National Guard and Police. The news did not cover what I saw on the ground. The headlines described riots - I saw panicked marchers retreating when the police declared the riot and threw tear gas into the crowds. As medical students my classmates and I were handing out water bottles to people simply for hydration - by the end of the night we had used our water to help retreating protestors wash out their eyes. My dad specifically told me not to attend any protests because a) he was worried about my safety, and b) he was sincerely concerned about the spread of coronavirus. I disobeyed him - but I think he would have been proud of me for fighting for the rights of the marginalized. I credit him with the strength he has always given me to do what is right.

Breath(e) continued on page 12

11

AOMA Digest Spring 2021

Features Breath(e) continued from page 11

This leads me to the next aspect of the unique lens through which I observed the past year. I am fortunate to be pursuing my dream of becoming a physician who serves the underserved. But I am even more fortunate to be able to do so as a second-year medical student rotating at a community health center. I have had several patient interactions and conversations with medical providers - all of which truly emphasize how real this pandemic is. My dad updated the entire family, every single day about how bad the pandemic was getting, and how careful everyone needed to be.

He was the only one in our family who regularly called all the kids who were out of state for school, and the grandparents who were home alone most days. He genuinely cared about everyone’s well being and took it upon himself to make sure that people were taken care of. He specifically targeted me with his annoying (and now missed) rants about being safe and staying indoors because the fires in the Portland area had led to ridiculously poor air quality. Although I personally did not suffer tremendously from the fires because I had the ability to stay indoors, several of the patients I saw and read about did. Irritation in the lungs, difficulty breathing, and allergic reactions were some of the common complaints. Once again, my dad was right. He worked in IT, but he inspired me to become a physician because the core of this career is the ability to make the extra effort to care for another human being.

In Sikhism, we say that when you die, your body will return to dust and your soul becomes one with God. My sister said she begged God to save our dad. She said she could hear him breathing and she felt as though God said he saved him. I believe my dad was saved, not to live another day on Earth, but as a part of God. I am grateful that as the last human breath passed from my father’s lungs, he was not alone and he passed without any suffering. I am grateful that my sister was there for him and that my dad is now watching over us. I am grateful that this year, someone has passed on to some place better and is able to breathe.

Student Doctor Herchran Singh and her father Gurninderjit Singh. She is in her second year at A.T. Still University School of Osteopathic Medicine in Arizona, assigned to a community health center in Portland, Oregon, part of the Northwest Regional Primary Care Association.

Let’s get Social!

Like us on Facebook

Follow us on twitter

www.facebook.com/azosteo

www.twitter.com/az_osteo

Find us on Instagram

Connect on LinkedIn

arizona-osteopathicmedical-association

arizona-osteopathicmedical-association

Login and update your profile! https://azosteo.org AOMA Digest Spring 2021

12

Features

AOMA Career Center: Connecting Talent with Opportunity Looking for that ideal candidate?

Searching for a job?

Update Your Member Profile and WIN! Patients are looking for you! Help patients find you and your practice!

One of the many benefits of AOMA membership is the Find a Physician public directory on the AOMA website.

Buying or selling a practice?

Need office space?

Have space for rent?

AOMA members receive a 20% discount off all Career Center products.

Call the AOMA office to obtain the promo code.

Discover the difference the AOMA Career Center can make for you.

Go to the Career Center tab at azosteo.org

Keep your contact information up to date and you could win a $100 VISA gift card. Please take the time to visit the new AOMA website and login to update your professional profile information for the online AOMA Directory. Deadline to be entered into the gift card drawing is May 31, 2021.

Go to azosteo.org to upload a photo to your profile, add your practice description, or take an online CME course.

Visit often for future enhancements and features!

AOMA gratefully acknowledges all its members for your support of the osteopathic medical profession and your association.

Your membership ensures that AOMA is looking out for you and enables us to accomplish great things on your behalf.

Thank you!

13

AOMA Digest Spring 2021

Features

Compassion-Based Stress Management Contributed by Mutual Insurance Company of Arizona (MICA) Many physicians are fueled professionally by compassion, but some realize too late they are out of gas and burnout is at the next exit. Research has identified common contributors to physician stress and burnout including long working hours, electronic medical records and other administrative burdens, patient satisfaction scores, debt, and perceived interference in clinical care. Recently, two more contributors have been added to the list: compassion satisfaction and secondary stress (Doolittle, 2020).

Understanding these contributors may lead physicians to never-before-considered stress management and burnout prevention techniques to add to their toolbox.

ProQOL (Professional Quality of Life) is an organization dedicated to studying compassion satisfaction and compassion fatigue and is focused on “helping” professionals, such as physicians, advanced practice health care professionals, social service workers, teachers, attorneys, police officers, firefighters, and clergy. ProQOL’s Compassion Satisfaction and Compassion Fatigue theory posits there are good or positive aspects of helping or treating patients as well as bad or negative aspects. See proqol.org for more information.

Compassion Satisfaction ProQOL’s compassion satisfaction measures the joy or pleasure professionals derive from their work. Another definition of compassion satisfaction is “positive cognitive and emotional consequences as a result of feeling empathy” (Hansen et al., 2018).

Compassion Fatigue Compassion fatigue, the opposite of compassion satisfaction, is a measure of the negative feelings that professionals derive from their work (Professional Quality of Life Measure, 2019). ProQOL’s researchers began to see “vicarious traumatization” or “secondary traumatic stress” within their compassion fatigue findings (ProQOL, 2019). Secondary stress is related to treating and taking care of people in intense medical or trauma situations (Doolittle, 2020). Some physicians and other members of the health care team internalize AOMA Digest Spring 2021

14

the trauma or suffering experienced by their patient (Doolittle, 2020) and develop secondary stress, which is an effect or descriptor, not a diagnosis (ProQOL, 2019). Signs of stress include failing to make eye contact, feeling impatient, and redirecting conversations to keep them “light,” (Esposito, 2016), which are also signs of compassion fatigue.

Effects of Stress and Burnout on Compassion Researchers combined the results of five survey tools, including the ProQOL tool, with responses to two questions, “How well does your health care organization support you?” and “How well do your friends support you?” The survey tools also asked about physicians’ coping mechanisms.

The researchers concluded the array of “emotional coping strategies suggests a disposition of wellness and tenacity among those physicians with lower levels of burnout, secondary stress, and higher levels of compassion satisfaction”(Stamm, n.d.). Perhaps teaching physicians how to use acceptance, grit, positive reframing, and strategy planning may be new ways for physicians to manage stress and prevent burnout.

Compassion-based Stress Management ProQOL’s ideas for managing stress and preventing burnout are specific to the concepts of compassion satisfaction or compassion fatigue “Self-compassion” is a stress management skill that must be learned and honed. Many physicians and health care professionals acquired the skill of self-compassion, which is necessary for compassion toward others, but lost it while many never mastered it. “Mindfulness,” another stress management skill supported by multiple studies, is effective in helping physicians manage work-related stress (Amuti-Kareaga et al., 2018). Critical incident debriefing is another way of preventing post-traumatic stress disorder and may be effective in preventing fatigue and secondary stress (Manfredi & Huber, 2017).

Features

*Married, Single, Divorced, Widowed **Inpatient, outpatient, or both ***At least 3 times per week or 20 min

Self-compassion Self-care can increase compassion satisfaction, decrease compassion fatigue, and prevent burnout (Baer et al., 2012). As positive as it sounds, self-care does not come naturally to some physicians and other health care professionals who have dedicated their career to treating and caring for others.

Dr. Kristin Neff, Associate Professor of Educational Psychology at the University of Texas, developed a selfcompassion self-assessment and score interpretation.

See https://self-compassion.org/test-how-selfcompassionate-you-are/. Physicians should consider assessing their self-compassion skills by going through Dr. Neff’s eight exercises for learning and practicing self-compassion at https://self-compassion.org/ category/exercises/#exercises. Other self-compassion activities include routine exercise or achieving physical fitness, healthy eating, restful sleep, and outside hobbies.

Self-compassion Exercises

1. How would you treat a friend?

2. Self-compassion breaks 3. Exploring self-compassion through writing 4. Supportive touch 5. Changing your critical self-talk 6. Self-compassion journals 7. Identifying what we really want *Awareness of the stressor and attempt to reduce the negative outcome. Perseverance and seeking social support are examples. **Humor is an example. ***Identifying a problem then developing and implementing a solution or managing the problem.

8. Taking care of the caregiver

Compassion-based Stress Management continued on page 16

15

AOMA Digest Spring 2021

Features Compassion-based Stress Management continued from page 15

Mindfulness Mindfulness is paying non-judgmental attention to experiences of the present moment, including emotions, cognitions and bodily sensations as well as external stimuli. Some medical schools now include it in the curriculum in the belief they can teach mindfulness. Mindfulness meditation and mindfulness-based interventions, such as mindfulnessbased cognitive therapy, are two techniques used by physicians to alleviate compassion-fatigue and increase compassion-satisfaction Mindfulness meditation does not require an hour with a yoga mat, burning candle, or soft lighting Dr. Maiyasha Clairborne, an integrative medicine physician writing for kevinmd.com, offers a quick easy mindfulness meditation method called the 60-second vacation (Clairborne, 2017). Mindfulness meditation can take the form of a live or online class or a smart phone or tablet application. Meditations can be guided by someone else or self-guided.

Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy is a combination of cognitive therapy and meditation.

The therapy helps physicians and other health care

professionals identify their negative thoughts, feelings, and moods, and see themselves as separate from them.

It may involve working with a group and individually.

Dr. Ronald Epstein, professor of medicine at Rochester University and author of Attending: Medicine, Mindfulness, and Humanity, believes the keys to good clinical care, listening skills, clinical judgment, and compassionate care are mindful selfreflection and self-regulation (Yip, 2017). “Medicine and meditation, etymologically, come from the same root: to consider, to advise, reflect, to take appropriate measures”(Yip, 2017). He recommends developing four mindfulness skills for quality care. ÂÂ Paying full attention to the patient and deliberate consideration of the patient’s symptoms, body language, verbal cues, and physical examination. ÂÂ Positive thinking about curiosity leads to digging deeper into questions and deeper understanding of the patient. ÂÂ An attitude of openness and letting go of preconceptions. ÂÂ Putting aside the extraneous, such as this afternoon’s schedule or dreading an appointment with a difficult patient, and focusing only on the patient.

The 60-Second Vacation

1. Go to a quiet corner 2. Close eyes 3. One deep breath 4. Second deep breath 5. Third inhale think of warm sun and cool breeze, ocean air, flowers, sound of the ocean 6. Third exhale think of releasing all tension, relaxing all muscles, slowly from head to toe 7. Fourth inhale think of sand under your feet supporting you 8. Fourth exhale imagine strength of that support moving up your body 9. Fifth deep breath saying, “Ahhh” as you exhale, then smile AOMA Digest Spring 2021

16

Features

Informal Debriefing Many health care organizations and teams use Critical Incident Stress Debriefing (CISD) after a traumatic patient care experience or event that is based on studies demonstrating the process’ effectiveness for preventing post-traumatic stress disorder. CISDs are structured and often led by a psychologist or trained mental health professional. They require planning and scheduling.

Spontaneous sharing can be therapeutic for physicians and other health care professionals but is not always appreciated by the listener, especially a non-health care professional. The timing of the conversation or the details of the experience may not be acceptable to the listener. Sometimes the listener is a colleague struggling with his or her own compassion fatigue. Francoise Mathieu developed Low Impact Debriefing for “helping” professionals to manage the difficult things they see and hear every day (TEND, 2019) without burdening the listener.

Low Impact Debriefing 1. Self-awareness: Physicians and other health care professionals may be desensitized to certain details. Think about the details you want to share and the details the listener truly needs. Respectfully abbreviate the parts of your story the listener may find objectionable.

2. Fair warning to the listener: Giving the listener an indication of the seriousness of your story gives the listener a chance to prepare. An example might be, “I just experienced a difficult situation and need to share it. It involves X, Y, or Z.” 3. Listener’s consent: After warning the listener, ask for his or her consent or permission to tell the story.

4. Limited disclosure: Once your colleague consents, decide how much to share. Start with the least graphic details and progress the details as needed or appropriate.

Resources The Arizona State University Center: Mindfulness, Compassion, and Resilience offers free resources for achieving and maintaining mindfulness.

Midday Mindfulness Sessions for building mindfulness skills and increasing compassion satisfaction live and recorded https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=EXdNyFYhAlg&feature=y outu.be Mindfulness Scripts for guided meditations https://mindfulnesscenter.asu.edu/ resources Mindfulness Resources include readings, online guided meditations and resources, mindfulness practices, and recommendations https://mindfulnesscenter.asu.edu/ sites/default/files/resources/center_ for_mindfulness_resources.pdf

The University of Colorado provides mindfulness strategies https://anschutzwellness.com/ coping-covid-19-practicalmindfulnessstrategies/

The University of Utah Mindfulness Center offers free mindfulness resources.

How to Practice Mindfulness https://mindfulnesscenter.utah. edu/practice-mindfulness.php

Colorado State University’s Center for Mindfulness recommends books, apps, and websites, and offers some free resources.

Audio recordings of guided mindfulness meditations https://counselingcenter.utah.edu/ services/audiomindfulness.php

Free 9 minute guided breathing video https://mindfulness.colostate.edu/ guided-mindfulness-exercise/

The University of Utah School of Medicine Graduate Medical Education Wellness program recommends mindfulness apps and websites https://medicine.utah.edu/gme/ welllness/mindfulness.php

Mindful Mondays for mindfulness education and tools https://mindfulness.colostate.edu/ mindfulness-events/

17

AOMA Digest Spring 2021

AOMA News

Welcome New AOMA Members 1st Year

3rd Year

Patrick Martinez, DO Family Medicine – Board Certified Gilbert, Arizona 480-649-6600

Elizabeth Clements, DO Psychiatry – Board Certified Phoenix, Arizona 602-521-3600

Hani Rashid, DO Rheumatology – Board Certified Glendale, Arizona 480-443-8400

Out of State

Rachael B. Smith, DO Obstetrics & Gynecology Phoenix, Arizona 602-521-5700 2nd Year Chauntelle Vidinha, DO Family Medicine – Board Certified Kingman, Arizona 928-753-9629 Ashley Casano, DO General Surgery – Board Certified Mesa, Arizona 480-969-4138 Christina Hoang, DO Pediatrics Tucson, Arizona 520-324-7840 Brian Jahnny, DO Emergency Medicine Kingman, Arizona Michelle Tom, DO Family Medicine Winslow, Arizona 928-289-6100 Valerie Van Ravenswaay, DO Family Medicine Flagstaff, Arizona 928-779-3366

Rami Kassis, DO Internal Medicine Grand Rapids, Michigan Carol Rogala, DO Emergency Medicine Beaumont, California Helen Kuehlman, DO Family Medicine Belle Fourche, South Dakota Richard Land, DO Psychiatry Fresno, California Melissa Lantz, DO Diagnostic Radiology – Board Certified Largo, Florida Michelle Shukhman, DO Internal Medicine Tarzana, California

In Memoriam We are all diminished when one of our members leaves us.

We will miss them and continue on in their memory for the betterment of our profession.

Richard Bruce, DO Richard Emerson, DO James Martin, DO Dennis Parker, DO M. Dale Parry, DO Jerome Stewart, DO

AOMA Digest Spring 2021

18

AOMA News

Physician Members Lauren Bowen, DO General Practice Neurology Phoenix, Arizona 480-961-2365 David Francyk, DO Family Medicine – Board Certified Phoenix, Arizona 602-955-8700 Keiko Fakhraie, DO Family Medicine – Board Certified Kingman, Arizona 928-681-8530 Michelle Gabbert, DO Internal Medicine – Board Certified Phoenix, Arizona Patrick Gaylor, DO Internal Medicine – Board Certified Phoenix, Arizona 480-961-2303 Brian Goodman, DO Family Medicine - Board Certified Show Low, Arizona 928-537-4300 Dorothy Hines, DO Internal Medicine – Board Certified Tucson, Arizona 520-290-0300 Deborah Joule, DO Family Medicine – Board Certified Tucson, Arizona 520-760-4100 Felicitas Koster, DO Psychiatry – Board Certified Forensic Psychiatry – Board Certified Mesa, Arizona 480-344-6270

Helene Labonte, DO Internal Medicine – Board Certified Geriatric Medicine – Board Certified Palliative Medicine – Board Certified Scottsdale, Arizona 480-301-8087

Homer Schreckengost, DO Family Medicine – Board Certified Phoenix, Arizona 480-307-3846

Mark Lathen, DO Anesthesiology – Board Certified Oro Valley, Arizona 520-744-1141

Merlyn Smith, DO Family Medicine – Board Certified Safford, Arizona 928-428-8010

L. Markham McHenry, DO Family Medicine/OMT – Board Certified Scottsdale, Arizona 480-525-5775

Chad Taylor, DO Family Medicine – Board Certified Kingman, Arizona 928-753-9629

Ankur A. Patel, DO Nephrology – Board Certified Phoenix, Arizona 480-610-6100 Nayan Patel, DO Gastroenterology – Board Certified Transplant Hepatology – Board Certified Scottsdale, Arizona 480-614-2215 Vikki Owen, DO Family Medicine – Board Certified Waddell, Arizona Joseph Ring II, DO Family Medicine – Board Certified Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine Globe, Arizona 928-425-8151 Jenna Sangkam, DO Family Medicine – Board Certified Glendale, Arizona 623-537-6000

Nancy Sein, DO Rheumatology – Board Certified Scottsdale, Arizona 480-587-5054

Susannah Thurman, DO Radiology – Board Certified Scottsdale, Arizona 480-809-4880 Karen Weber, DO Internal Medicine – Board Certified Marana, Arizona 520-682-4111 Dale Wheeland, DO Family Medicine – Board Certified Tucson, Arizona 520-544-2622 David White, DO Emergency Medicine Williams, Arizona This list encompasses new memberships from October 1, 2020 through March 31, 2021.

19

AOMA Digest Spring 2021

AOMA News

Recruit a new member, receive a $100 credit!

Do you know someone who isn’t a member of the Arizona Osteopathic Medical Association . . . and should be? Recruit a new member and you’ll both receive a $100 credit toward membership dues or continuing medical education fees!

Recruiting new members is simple: 3 Review your network of colleagues.

You may be surprised who is not a member.

3 Check their membership status using the online member directory or by calling the AOMA office at 602-266-6699.

3 Ask them to join! Express how membership has benefited you.

For details on how to recruit a new member* and receive your credit, visit the AOMA website at https://azosteo.org under the Members tab or contact Janet Weigel, Director of Membership and Communications, at janet@azosteo.org. *New member must be an active, dues paying member. Does not apply to recruitment of “out-of-state” or “retired” members.

AOMA Digest Spring 2021

20

AOMA News

40th Annual Fall Seminar On November 6-8, 2020 more than 200 physicians came together virtually for the AOMA 40th Annual Fall Seminar. The theme of the expanded event was Come Together and Dig On covering two and one-half days and offering 20 hours of lectures.

Dr. Andrew Taylor Still said “D.O.” means Dig On and that is exactly what we did during the Seminar, “digging” on the themed music, engaging in timely and pertinent lectures, and competing for prizes.

Many thanks to the AOMA Professional Education Committee for developing an excellent CME program.

Lectures presented during the livestreaming Seminar were: • COVID-19: What We Have Learned So Far Joseph Zachariah, DO • COVID-19 on the Navajo Reservation Diana Hu, MD, FAAP • Public Health Response to COVID-19 Andy Yorgason, DO, MPH, MHPE, FACOEM • Telehealth: Best Practices and the Pandemic Learning Curve Shannon Scott, DO, FACOFP • Leading in Chaos Karen Nichols, DO, MA, MACOI, CS-F • Physician Burnout & Happiness Strategies Dennis Friedman, DO • Financial Assistance in a COVID World Patrick Hayden, MBA • Telemedicine Liability During COVID Jeremy Hodder, DHSc, MSc, Pg Dip Law, BScN (Hons), CPHRM, RN; Susan Jones, BA, LPN, CPHRM

• A Domesticated Epidemic Andrea Raby, DO; Nick Beissel, Shelly Beissel • Wellness: It’s Not Just the Absence of Burnout Lori Kemper, DO, MS, FACOFP • Deciphering Dietary Patterns Aaron Allgood, DO; Shipra Bansal, MD • Whole Person Self Care in Daily Small Bites Tala Dajani, MD, MPH • Stump the Doc Competition Student Teams from Midwestern University Arizona College of Medicine (AZCOM) and A.T. Still University School of Osteopathic Medicine in Arizona (ATSU-SOMA) Moderator Lori Kemper, DO, MS, FACOFP • Severely Elevated Asymptomatic Hypertension Is it an Emergency?

David Bryman, DO • Painful Somatic Dysfunctions, Using CCP and the Rapid Structural Screening Brad Klock, DO, FAAO • 5 Things EVERY Medical Provider Should Know About Abnormal Uterine Bleeding in Adolescents Fareeda Haamid, DO • Melanoma Update Chad Taylor, DO • The Role of Interventional Cardiology in Congenital Heart Disease John Breinholt III, MD, FACC, FSCAI, FAAP • Cardiac Amyloidosis William Jaffe, DO, FACOI Missed the Fall Seminar? Look for many of these lectures to be available soon on demand on the new AOMA website at azosteo.org.

Come Together and Dig On continued on page 22

21

AOMA Digest Spring 2021

AOMA News Come Together and Dig On continued from page 21

This year’s Stump the Doc Competition Medical Knowledge Competition was redesigned as a “Family Feud” style game format.

Competing for ATSU-SOMA were John Berberich, OMS III; Amy Lee, OMS III; Luke Ong, OMS III; and Jayna Patel, OMS IV. Faculty coaches for the ATSU-SOMA team were Denise Sackett, DO, and Christine Morgan, EdD. Coached

by William Peppo, DO, the AZCOM team was represented by Priyanka Atit, OMS IV; Dylan Rudd, OMS III; Kyle Sherwin, OMS III; and Hannah Wilson, OMS III. For the fourth year in a row, the team from Midwestern University Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine took home the coveted Golden Femur Award in the Competition. The close game ended in a final score of 28 to 22.

Thank you to the judges Aaron Allgood, DO; Estelle Farrell, DO; and Michelle Mifflin, DO for their participation. Congratulations, also, to the members of the audience who won prizes by correctly answering a question in the Ask the Audience portion of the contest: Richard Adams, DO; Deb Hudak, DO; and Richard Dobrusin, DO. The support of our sponsors and advertisers is vital to the success of our CME events. We are grateful for Pfizer’s presentation of a product theater on pain and osteoarthritis and the Mutual Insurance Company of Arizona’s (MICA) support for the Stump the Doc Competition.

Thank you to our Fall Seminar advertisers: Ensemble Real Estate Solutions, Health Current, MICA, SoFi, and WestPac Wealth Management.

While there was not an Exhibit Hall, participants did have the opportunity to win prizes! Congratulations to the physicians who correctly answered the Question of the Day and were entered into the drawings. Each winner received a $50 VISA gift card.

AOMA Digest Spring 2021

22

Midwestern University

[Body Donation Program] You Can Make a Difference for the Future of Healthcare.

Your gift will help educate compassionate healthcare professionals for tomorrow.

Call 623-806-7990 for more information.

Midwestern University Body Donation Program Tomorrow’s Healthcare Team

20195 North 57th Avenue Glendale, Arizona 85308 azbodydonation@midwestern.edu www.midwestern.edu/bodydonation

Gift Card winners: • David Bruce, DO • Brad Croft, DO • Roy Frieband, DO • Michael Herrera, DO • Deb Hudak, DO • Robert Luberto, DO • Patrick Marsh, DO • Barb Tilben, DO • Bonnie Watson McDonald, DO Save the dates November 5-7, 2021 to attend the 41st Annual Fall Seminar at the El Conquistador Tucson, a Hilton Resort in Tucson, Arizona.

It might have been 30o outside in Flagstaff, Arizona, but George Hershey, DO was cozy by the fire at home as he participated in the Fall Seminar.

AOMA News

AOMA Members Participate in COVID PSA Campaign AOMA was well-represented in the Arizona Hospital and Healthcare Association's Slow the Spread public awareness campaign encouraging Arizonans to help health care workers who are working tirelessly to save lives. The videos featured physicians, nurses, and other health care workers from across Arizona.

Thank you to the following AOMA members who participated in the regional videos now appearing on Facebook and Twitter: • Brandon Abbott, DO - Flagstaff • Michael Aranda, DO - Prescott • Danielle Barnett-Trapp, DO - Phoenix • Tasha Harder, DO - Flagstaff • Marc Kaplan, DO - Sierra Vista • Christopher Labban, DO - Mesa • Emily Leider, DO - Flagstaff • Michael Lokale, DO - Tucson

Dr. Tracy Middleton Elected to NBOME

Tracy O. Middleton, DO, FACOFP, was elected to the National Board of Osteopathic Medical Examiners (NBOME) Board of Directors. Dr. Middleton was elected at the annual NBOME Board Meeting held virtually in December 2020.

Dr. Middleton is an educator, mentor, and leader in osteopathic family medicine. She is board certified in Family Medicine and osteopathic manipulative medicine, with experience in private practice, as a residency attending physician, and as an academic physician. As Chair and Clinical Professor of Osteopathic Community and Family Medicine at Midwestern University, Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine, she is devoted to the enhancement of osteopathic medical education, curricular reform, and developing new learning experiences, and enjoys mentoring students and faculty.

NBOME is an independent, not-for-profit organization that provides competency assessments for osteopathic medical licensure and related health care professions.

Dr. David Tessler Named 2020 Champion of Mission

Check out the videos and share them with your patients and colleagues! https://www.azhha.org/slowthespread

The Southwest Chapter of the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation recognized gastroenterologist David Tessler, DO, FACG, FACOI, with a Champion of Mission Award at its 3rd Annual Night of Champions held virtually on November 19, 2020.

Dr. Tessler was honored by the Chapter for his contributions in research, education, and support for the Chrohn’s and colitis community. He serves as the Co-Chair of the Medical Advisory Committee for the Chapter. Additionally, Dr. Tessler is a member of the Patient Care Committee for the American College of Gastroenterology and is the Medical Director for Central Arizona Endoscopy. He is in private practice with Central Arizona Medical Associates in Mesa, Arizona.

23

AOMA Digest Spring 2021

Osteopathic Community News

The ACOFP 58th Annual Convention & Scientific Seminars was held as a virtual event March 11-14, 2021. Great topics! Congratulations to ACOFP staff on another successful program.

The 2021 ACOFP Congress of Delegates was held virtually on March 10, 2021. Thank you to the Arizona delegates who represented our state society.

• • • • • • • • • • •

Karen Acevedo-Mogharbel, DO Anthony Dekker, DO Michelle Mifflin, DO Tracy Middleton, DO Danielle Barnett-Trapp, DO Deborah Bennett, DO Shannon Scott, DO Denise Sackett, DO Kimberly Klatt, DO - Resident Delegate Valerie Holt, OMS I - Student Delegate Yanji Li, OMS III - Student Delegate

Mark your calendars for next year’s Convention scheduled for March 17-22, 2022 at the Hotel Anatole in Dallas, Texas.

Check out the AzACOFP website for Resources for Family Practice Physicians including telemedicine services and low cost PPE Go to www.azacofp.org All family physicians are invited to join the AzACOFP, a community of Arizona family physicians, residents, and osteopathic medical students committed to osteopathic principles. The Society supports its members through education and networking.

Membership is just $100 per year.

To join, contact AzACOFP by calling 602-354-5208 or email acofp@azosteo.org.

Osteopathic Osteopathic Community Community News News

Features

ATSU-SOMA Alumnus Works to Bridge the Gap for Indigenous People In honor of Native American Heritage Month, Mitchell Ornelas, DO, ’19, returned to A.T. Still University-School of Osteopathic Medicine in Arizona (ATSU-SOMA) to share his personal mission to serve indigenous populations.

Dr. Ornelas partially grew up on the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR) in Oregon.

While he was attending ATSU-SOMA, he decided to learn more about his heritage, specifically his biological father who he had never met. Through a DNA test Dr. Ornelas learned that his father was mostly from the Pacific Islands and Southeast Asia. Understanding his heritage led Dr. Ornelas down a path to finding his purpose as a physician.

“Understanding my true identity, who I am, how I identify, helped me figure out what I wanted to do,” Dr. Ornelas said. “Pacific Islanders and Native Americans experienced very similar historical traumas.

As I now identify as both cultures, I want to serve as a person that can connect the two.”

Dr. Ornelas currently works at the Seattle Indian Health Board (SIHB) where he strives to offer an inclusive patient experience to help overcome common health disparities experienced in his community. SIHB offers training to employees to provide knowledge and resources about the indigenous community in their effort to provide holistic care. Osteopathic medicine resonates with the patients Dr. Ornelas sees, as he says it blends well with their spiritual beliefs.

Dr. Ornelas advised the medical students to find a mentor, attend professional conferences that correlate to their chosen specialty, and develop connections with other health care professionals through networking.

He also offered advice to anyone who may not have experience working with the indigenous community.

“Be respectful, willing to learn, and willing to understand different practices. There are over 500 different tribes in this country. Not everyone thinks the same or practices the same, even if they are from the same culture.” Dr. Ornelas said. “Come from an approach that you’re not judging or trying to force this person to do something.”

ATSU Named HEED Award Recipient for Fourth Consecutive Year A.T. Still University of Health Sciences (ATSU) has been named a recipient of the 2020 Health Professions Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) Award from INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine, the only diversity and inclusion publication in higher education.

The award process consists of a comprehensive, rigorous application with questions relating to recruitment and retention of students and employees — and best practices for both — continued leadership

support for diversity, and other aspects of campus diversity and inclusion.

“This HEED Award further demonstrates the commitment ATSU has placed on cultural proficiency, diversity, equity, and inclusion,” said Clinton Normore, MBA, vice president of diversity & inclusion. “Earning the award once is a tremendous accomplishment.

Earning the award four years in a row is transforming.

Though we are extremely honored to have earned the award, we are humbled by work yet to be done.”

25

AOMA Digest Spring 2021

Osteopathic Community News

ATSU-SOMA Alumnus Completes Rural Training Track Program Morgan Hungenberg’s mother was on her way home from work in eastern Colorado when her vehicle collided with a deer.

She needed to see a doctor and proceeded to call every one she could find in the area. None could see her for at least three weeks.

Such was, and is, the situation in rural areas across the country, where residents often face a lack of access to health care. Her mother’s experience highlighted this for Hungenberg, DO, ’17, who soon interviewed and was accepted at A.T. Still University’s School of Osteopathic Medicine in Arizona (ATSU-SOMA). It’s a big part of why after graduating, Dr. Hungenberg pursued opportunities not only to practice in rural areas, but develop ways to encourage other medical school graduates to do the same.

Dr. Hungenberg completed the University of Colorado Family Medicine Residency – Morgan County Rural Training Track (RTT) in 2020. The residency program includes one year in Denver, Colorado, before physicians relocate 80 miles northeast to Fort Morgan, Colorado, for years two and three.

While in the 11,000-population town, residents work in Salud Family Health Centers clinics and do inpatient work at Colorado Plains Medical Center.

The program aims to resolve the shortage of physicians in rural areas by immersing participants in rural medicine and encouraging them to grow roots in their communities.

In Dr. Hungenberg, that goal had a head start. She grew up in rural northern Colorado with an eye toward a health care career and firsthand knowledge of area health care shortages. When she decided to pursue medical school, ATSU-SOMA’s mission of serving the underserved and its “1+3” structure made it an easy choice. Dr. Hungenberg’s second-through-fourth year site was North Country Healthcare in Flagstaff, Arizona, a federally-qualifed community health center.

She did additional rotations in that area, including on the Hopi Reservation where she worked with doctors in environments with extremely limited resources.

AOMA Digest Spring 2021

26

While in medical school, Dr. Hungenberg got involved in a University of Denver project examining the rural medicine shortage. She was tasked with examining data from physician and community interviews and helping develop curriculum to get students interested in rural medicine and maintain that interest going forward.

There are many challenges in keeping physicians in rural areas. Spousal satisfaction, Dr. Hungenberg said, is a chief concern, with a lack of quality employment and other opportunities often cited as a reason physicians leave for urban and suburban areas. Loan repayment programs, too, are only a short-term fix, with many physicians leaving rural areas after fulfilling their time commitments.

Dr. Hungenberg said a key in reversing the trend is for physicians to develop ties to the community.

When they are involved in organizations, or have opportunities to develop new programs, that investment can help make one see a place as home.

“If you’re established in the community, your kids are raised in the community, they’re going to the schools, you’re heavily involved, you’re more likely to stay,” she said.

Dr. Hungenberg is getting to do those things, right in the place she wants to be. She grew up in Greenley, Colorado, which is close to Fort Morgan and her family. Salud Family Health Centers, a network of Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHC), also offers her opportunities to serve a broad range of underserved patients.

“It’s nice to be able to continue working in an FQHC. I like the model, I like caring for the underserved,” she said. And she’s earned high praise, according to The Fort Morgan Times.

“Dr. Hungenberg is the embodiment of our dreams for the RTT,” said Dr. Shaun Thompson of the Williams Family Foundation, one of the partners in creating RTT. “She is a great family doc, trained here in Fort Morgan, and has decided to make her home in Morgan County and to begin her practice here while contributing to educating future rural family doctors as an attending physician.”

Bridges Program Opens Opportunities for Aspiring Osteopathic Medical Students AOMA MWU Banner 0416.indd 1

Midwestern University is proud to announce a new diversity initiative aimed at increasing opportunities for aspiring medical students to pursue a career in osteopathic medicine.

The Midwestern University Bridges Program provides qualified students in the University’s College of Graduate Studies Biomedical Science Programs in Downers Grove, Illinois, and Glendale, Arizona, who are members of underrepresented minority and economically or environmentally disadvantaged populations, with a clear path to achieving the goal of becoming an osteopathic physician.

Students admitted to the Biomedical Science Master of Arts and Master of Science Programs who meet the Bridges Program eligibility requirements can apply for admission to the Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine through American Associations of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine Application Service for provisional early acceptance by July 1 of the year preceding completion of their Biomedical Science Program. Eligibility requires a minimum overall and science GPA of 2.75 in the undergraduate program and an MCAT score of 490 or higher.

The program offers students an excellent foundation in pre-medical education by giving them the ability to increase basic science knowledge and improve study skills. Graduate faculty mentoring and counseling will help the students to stay on track for success.

AZCOM Student Receives Diversity Scholarship Dajamen Mitchell (AZCOM 2024) is one of four recipients of the new Midwestern University Diversity Scholarship, which provides need-based scholarships for qualified students.

Mr. Mitchell has a long history of supporting and launching campus organizations that address diversity and health care disparities. As an undergraduate student, he was active in his school’s NAACP chapter, and as a Biomedical Sciences graduate student at Midwestern University, he was a founding member of the Black Student Alliance (BSA) on the Downers Grove Campus and served as the organization’s president. Now a first-year medical school student on the Glendale Campus, Mitchell has helped to establish a chapter of the Student National Medical Association (SNMAAZCOM), an organization dedicated to increasing minority representation in medicine and creating socially competent physicians.

AZCOM Students Celebrate Match Day Although the COVID-19 pandemic precluded public Match Day gatherings, AZCOM students from the Class of 2021 still celebrated the next step in their health care careers by opening their coveted match envelopes. Ninety-three percent of AZCOM’s graduating class successfully matched this year.

The largest AZCOM graduate matches were to internal medicine (82 students), family medicine (50 students), emergency medicine (23 students), surgery (21 students), psychiatry (10 students) and anesthesiology (9 students). Ten students matched to Military residencies and 63% of the total matches are in primary care (internal medicine, family medicine, pediatrics, and obstetrics/gynecology.)

The total number of 65 students (28% of the class) is staying in Arizona for postgraduate training.

Congratulations to the Class of 2021!

27

AOMA Digest Spring 2021

Osteopathic Community News

Arizona Regional Brain Bee Goes Virtual!

On Wednesday, March 3, 2021 Midwestern University virtually hosted 73 of the country’s top high school students for the 22nd Annual Arizona Regional Brain Bee, an educational competition similar to a spelling bee with a focus on neuroscience. The 2021 Arizona Regional Brain Bee at Midwestern University was presented in partnership with the BHHS Legacy Foundation.

This year, due to COVID-19 restrictions, the Arizona Regional Brain Bee was held via an online Zoom meeting. Because other regional Brain Bees across the nation were canceled due to the pandemic, participants from as far away as Texas, New England, and North Carolina were invited to join local Arizona students to test their knowledge of the human brain and how it governs human behavior, and the science that helps medical professionals understand brain function.

Questions ran the gamut from identifying physical features of the brain itself to naming brain disorders and diseases to surgical and medical practices that modify neural behaviors.

Brain Bee

AOMA Digest Spring 2021

28

The top three Brain Bee finishers, in order, were Neha Nedumaran from Phillips Exeter Academy in Exeter, New Hampshire; Sanjana Pulaparthi from Westborough High School in Westborough, Massachusetts; and Avinash Murlikrishnan from BASIS Chandler. Ms. Nedumaran went on to compete at the National Brain Bee, which was hosted virtually on April 10 & 11, 2021 by Northeast Ohio Medical University (NEOMED).

Douglas Jones, PhD, Associate Professor, Pharmacology, at the Midwestern University College of Graduate Studies, served as the Faculty Academic Director for the event. Gen Fitzgerald, a second-year medical student at the Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine who won the Arizona Regional Brain Bee as a student at Desert Vista High School in 2013, served as the lead judge for the competition. Midwestern University faculty and student volunteers served as judges, question readers, timers, and scorekeepers in Zoom breakout rooms.

Osteopathic Community News

Arizona will be in the spotlight for

OMED 2021 October 22 - 24, 2021

Phoenix Convention Center Hosted by the American Osteopathic Association, OMED 2021 will be a hybrid event offered in person and virtually.

Complete information will be available in early Summer.

SAVE THE DATE! 7th Annual FOMC Virtual Conference Saturday, August 14, 2021 8 am to 5 pm and Sunday, August 15, 2021 8 am to 12:15 pm VIA ZOOM Open to all health care professionals.

Registration coming soon!

http://osteopathic.org

29

AOMA Digest Spring 2021

Osteopathic Community News

TOMF Welcomes New Leadership

By Steve Nash, Executive Director, Tucson Osteopathic Medical Foundation New year, new faces for leadership at Tucson Osteopathic Medical Foundation (TOMF) as it enters its 35th year of service to the profession and people of southern Arizona.

Tucson/Sierra Vista plastic surgeon Jamie M. Moenster, DO starts her term as chairman of the TOMF Board of Trustees. Moenster earned her osteopathic medical degree from Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine and trained in surgery and plastic surgery at South Pointe Hospital in Warren Heights, Ohio. Tucson dermatologist Christopher Weyer, DO is her husband.

Howard R. Zveitel, DO will serve as chair-elect.

Although he resides in Tucson, Dr. Zveitel is an emergency department physician at the Veterans Administration Hospital in Phoenix. He is a graduate of Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine and did his internship and residency at Tucson General Hospital. He chairs several key Foundation committees.

Rodolfo Jimenez, DO begins his climb up the officer ladder as secretary/treasurer.

Jimenez is the CEO, CMO and a practicing physician at United Community Health Center in Green Valley. He oversees 14 sites for this group of federally qualified health centers. He grew up in Southern California, graduated from Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine, and trained at Tucson General.

AOMA Digest Spring 2021

30

Psychiatrist Kristine T. Norris, DO was also unanimously elected to the Board. Dr. Norris grew up in Tucson, the daughter of a family medicine physician and a nurse practitioner mother. Norris earned her undergraduate and MPH degrees from the University of Arizona and her DO degree from Kirksville. Her husband, Bradley Norris, DO, is a Tucson orthopedic surgeon. She replaces long-time TOMF Board member Kenneth Snow, DO, who retired to Utah.

The remainder of the Board is the same: urologist Kenneth Belkoff, DO; internist Scott Biehler DO; pediatrician Valerie Ebert, DO; pediatrician Patricia Eck, DO; internist Issa Hallaq, DO; family practitioner John Harris, DO; internist Jerry Hutchinson, Jr., DO; family practitioner John Manfredonia, DO; and pulmonologist Franz P. Rischard, DO. Tucson Osteopathic Medical Foundation was created in 1986 after the sale of Tucson General Hospital. It provides funding for small projects aimed at improving community health. More than 75 Southern Arizona organizations have received grants. Additionally, TOMF awards scholarships for students attending Arizona osteopathic medical schools. Since 1987, a total of 58 students have benefited from more than $1,000,000 awards.

Osteopathic Community News

• Are you in compliance with Arizona’s opioid laws and regulations?

• Are you utilizing the best practices for prescribing opioids to patients?

• Do you understand how Medication Assisted Treatment can help patients?

ANNOUNCING

www.AzRxEd.org AzRxEd.org Arizona Opioid Prescriber Education Program FREE online training on opioid laws, prescribing guidelines, and Medication Assisted Treatment.

Fully-accredited continuing medical education for Arizona license renewal requirements for all providers.

• 1.5 AMA PRA Category 1 CreditsTM • 1.5 AOA Category 2B Credits • 1.5 contact hours (0.15 CEUs) of continuing pharmacy education credit

• 1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 CreditTM • 1.0 AOA Category 2B Credit • 1.0 contact hours (0.10 CEUs) of continuing pharmacy education credit

• .5 AMA PRA Category 1 CreditTM • .5 AOA Category 2B Credit • .5 contact hours (0.05 CEUs) of continuing pharmacy education credit

Accreditation is provided by: • Arizona State University Office of Interprofessional Continuing Health Education • Arizona Osteopathic Medical Association • Arizona Pharmacy Association State Targeted Response Grant: This program was made possible by grant number H79TI080250 from SAMHSA. The views, opinions, and content of this program are those of the Arizona Osteopathic Medical Association and Arizona State University and do not necessarily reflect the views, opinions or policies of SAMHSA or HHS. Questions? Contact AOMA at 602-266-6699 or communications@az-osteo.org.

AOMA Digest Summer 2020

31

31 31

Fall 2020 AOMAAOMA DigestDigest Summer

Osteopathic Community News

2021 Calendar of Events June 26, 2021 AOMA Board of Trustees Meeting Virtual Meeting July 12-14, 2021 AOA Annual Business Meeting Chicago, Illinois July 16-18, 2021 AOA House of Delegates Virtual Meeting August 14 & 15, 2021 7th Annual Flagstaff Osteopathic Medical Conference Virtual Event October 22-24, 2021 OMED 2021 - AOA Phoenix Convention Center Phoenix, Arizona

November 5-7, 2021 AOMA 41st Annual Fall Seminar El Conquistador Tucson - A Hilton Resort Tucson, Arizona November 5, 2021 AOMA Board of Trustees Meeting Tucson, Arizona November 6, 2021 AOMA House of Delegates Tucson, Arizona November 19, 2021 AOMA 100th Anniversary Gala The Scottsdale Resort Scottsdale, Arizona

Advertisers’ Index MICA.........................................................Inside Front Cover The CME Center ...........................................................Page 6 AOMA Career Center...................................................Page 13 Midwestern University Body Donation Program...........................................Page 22 Arizona Osteopathic Charities......................................Page 24 Triviciti Health.............................................................Page 29 SoFi..............................................................................Page 32 Centurion.....................................................Inside Back Cover A.T. Still University Osteopathic Medicine Center Arizona.......................................Outside Back Cover

Opinions expressed in the AOMA Digest are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect viewpoints of the editors or official policy of the AOMA, or the institutions with which the authors are affiliated, unless explicitly specified. AOMA Digest does not hold itself responsible for statements made by any contributor. We reserve the right to edit articles on the basis of content or length.

Although all advertising is expected to conform to ethical medical standards, acceptance does not imply endorsement by this magazine. The appearance of advertising in the AOMA Digest is not an AOMA guarantee or endorsement of the product, service or claims made for the product or service by the advertiser.

AOMA Digest Spring 2021

32

Patients need your full focus. Stop worrying about student loans. about student loans.

SoFi is here to help you take down student debt—with exclusive student loan benefits, for members. Plus, access financial education tools, guides, calculators, and more.

Claim your 0.25% rate discount‡ toward your student loans. Checking your rate will not affect your credit score.

SoFi.com/AOA Terms and Conditions Apply. SOFI RESERVES THE RIGHT TO MODIFY OR DISCONTINUE PRODUCTS AND BENEFITS AT ANY TIME WITHOUT NOTICE. To qualify, a borrower must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident in an eligible state and meet SoFi's underwriting requirements. Not all borrowers receive the lowest rate. To qualify for the lowest rate, you must have a responsible financial history and meet other conditions. If approved, your actual rate will be within the range of rates listed above and will depend on a variety of factors, including term of loan, a responsible financial history, years of experience, income and other factors. Rates and Terms are subject to change at anytime without notice and are subject to state restrictions. SoFi refinance loans are private loans and do not have the same repayment options that the federal loan program offers such as Income Based Repayment or Income Contingent Repayment or PAYE. Licensed by the Department of Business Oversight under the California Financing Law License No. 6054612. SoFi loans are originated by SoFi Lending Corp., NMLS # 1121636. (www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org)

& Arizona Osteopathic Charities 1951 W. Camelback Rd. Ste 105 Phoenix, Arizona 85015

Check out the NEW AOMA website at azosteo.org

Exclusive Member Benefit: Update your profile, including your photo, information about your practice, and whether or not you are accepting new patients.

As the founding institution of osteopathic medicine, A.T. Still University is proud to support the Arizona Osteopathic Medical Association

Learn more at atsu.edu