A Call to Arms

By Lon D. Lynn, DO

 

Over 25 years ago when I was the president of the Hillsborough County Osteopathic Medical Society, I wrote an article for the newsletter with the same title. I felt the need to warn the physician members of the Hillsborough County Osteopathic Medical Society (HCOMS) of the impact of the sale of the Good Samaritan Hospital of Carrollwood to the University Community Hospital. They had plans to close the only Osteopathic Graduate Medical Education program in Hillsborough County: The Internship at Good Samaritan Hospital of Carrollwood. This would have been a tragedy for our profession and our community.

 

After I wrote the letter, I received a number of physician inquiries from all parts of the county asking how they could make a difference. Some had no direct impact on the patient population of the hospital, because they practiced in Hillsborough’s south county, like Fred Taylor, DO. What could be done? My answer then was: “Let your voice be heard”. Tell the hospital administration your feeling about the importance of keeping Osteopathic Graduate Education in Hillsborough County.

 

Amazingly, the leadership of the University Community Hospital responded by going beyond just keeping the Internship; they opened a full Family Practice Residency. This residency produced a number of distinguished Board Certified physicians including one who later became the president of the HCOMS, Doug Nelson, DO. Just a few doctors from Hillsborough County made the significant difference then, and we can do it again on an equally important matter.

 

I am making another “Call to Arms” by asking all Osteopathic Physicians and healthcare providers from all medical professions to join together and “Let our voice be heard”. Join the American Association of Osteopathic Physicians now and help promote the Osteopathic Principles while also supporting the Osteopathic profession, through publicly demonstrating the caring side of the Osteopathic Physician.

 

We know that we are well trained and have a full and unrestricted license to practice the art and science of medicine, but for a profession of 128 years, there is a lack of public knowledge about Osteopathic Profession.

 

It is time for a change! It is time to positively present the Osteopathic Physician to our community, to our state, and to our country. Osteopathic Physicians are going to be taking the lead in a new program to offer free medical care to US military veterans. We are going to ask each of our members to offer one free visit per month to a veteran. The American Association of Osteopathic Physicians has set up an email portal for the veterans to contact. The program will be explained to them and the AmAOP office will contact the closest participating DO or other member’s office to set the appointment. The visit will be completely free to the veteran and will be used to springboard into obtaining otherwise difficult to access medical services.

 

I am excited to announce the launch of this program for veterans with the physicians and partners of the American Association of Osteopathic Physicians. Please join us in this important The Veterans’ Promise program!