Greetings to you, our members. As our 2024-2025 POMA year comes to a close, I wish to extend to all of you a heartfelt thanks for being part of a wonderful year for POMA and our Osteopathic physicians, residents, and students. POMA is, beyond doubt, the premier affiliate of the AOA. AND this is true because of the high quality and compassionate care that you provide to your patients and still afford time to support POMA by your participation in POMA committees, the Board of Trustees, and other POMA functions. 

This year POMA has accomplished numerous achievements. The Publications Committee has now published its second virtual Journal, a remarkable achievement in organizational communication. The Committee on Digital Engagement has, to date, created its 80th podcast, another advancement in organizational and professional communication. Our POMA Foundation sponsored regular programs, including physician wellness, resident wellness, and providing our Osteopathic medical students with white coats and stethoscopes, continue. The POMA Foundation continues with its grant program and the Sketchy scholarships, which were, again, very successful this year. A big “shout out” goes to Pam Goldman, D.O., the chairperson of the Foundation.  

There have also been numerous administrative accomplishments that have occurred along the way. Our “not so new” CEO, Andy Sandusky, has become well-embedded into the structure and function of POMA. He continues to learn about the rich history of POMA and has gained an appreciation for what our predecessors have gone through in order to get POMA to where we are today. Andy has restructured the budget and established a relationship with a public relations firm in order to continue POMA’s crusade with regard to the CRNP legislation. His innovative forethought is bringing POMA into the 21st Century in grand style while still maintaining the critical transparency so necessary for a leader. 

The POMA Public Policy Committee has conducted a complete review of the POMA Policy Compendium. Government Affairs Committee, under the guidance of our new lobbyist, Tyler Burke, continues its oversight of relevant legislation at the Capitol. With all this going on (and I am most sure that I have overlooked something) POMA is blessed to have such a hard-working and dedicated staff. The culture of the Headquarters is one of commitment, loyalty, and teamwork, something that is hard to find in other organizations. 

Please continue your support of the POMA Foundation and POMPAC. Thank you again for a great POMA 2024-2025 year. 

Trout season has officially begun, flowers are popping up daily, and even the weather is cooperating here in Pennsylvania… at least a couple of days a week. It must mean it is time for the POMA Annual Meeting and Clinical Assembly! As I write this, my staff colleagues and I are collaborating and working tirelessly to bring you the best professional development/CME product possible. We have an excellent lineup of speakers covering all the hot topics you need to know to sharpen your skills and continue to provide excellent patient care. 

We will start off the event with our conference Keynote Speaker, Dave Raymond, who is famously the man behind the Philly Phanatic. Dave is an excellent motivational speaker, and he will share with you his journeys in life that will no doubt leave you inspired and energized to tackle the educational sessions POMA has planned for you. Dave Raymond is a sought-after speaker and has motivated the companies of Morgan Stanley, AstraZeneca, McDonald’s and now, POMA! We are delighted to start the conference off in dramatic and fun fashion. 

POMA also uses this clinical skills-sharpening gathering as an opportunity to meet, deliberate, and decide on policies of POMA and the POMA Foundation. The POMA House of Delegates represents the highest level of policy making for POMA.  The House of Delegates is a representative body, made up of POMA members distributed throughout the POMA Districts. There are several resolutions that are expected to be considered, two of which, if successful, will change the POMA Bylaws. POMA and the Foundation will each have board meetings as well.   

This is also a time for celebration as a new President will be installed, George Wolters, Jr., DO. We will have a banquet in Dr. Wolters’ honor that will serve as a crescendo on the governance side of the festivities. It will be a great time to honor both the outgoing President, William Swallow, DO and the incoming. And I would be remiss if I did not thank William Swallow, DO for his great work over the past year – not only for the POMA organization, but also working with me in my first year as a new CEO.  The year seems like a blur, but when you look back at what was accomplished under Dr. Swallow’s leadership, you realize what a successful year it was! 

I sincerely hope you will join us in person at Kalahari for our Annual Clinical Assembly and while you are there, enjoy the fellowship, fun, food, and festivities we have planned for you. I also look forward to meeting and talking with attendees. And of course, you can participate virtually at a later date, which is always an option if you cannot come in person. I hope to see you there!

Happy National Osteopathic Medicine Week! This week, we celebrate YOU and that work you do every day to provide superb osteopathic care to patients across the Commonwealth. As a national leader of osteopathic medicine, do you know these facts about Pennsylvania: 

• The number of active DOs licensed in PA: 12,500 
  
• The current number of POMA members: 3,300 
  
• The number of osteopathic medical students in PA: 2,720 
  
• Pennsylvania is home to four colleges of osteopathic medicine. 

NOM Week aims to bring members of the osteopathic family together in pursuit of one common goal: raising awareness of osteopathic medicine and DOs in communities big and small throughout the country. POMA is distinctively osteopathic in healthcare, advocacy, and leadership. We are #POMAProud #DOProud! 

Gary C. Burke, DO
Virtua Cardiology 
1 Brace Road, Suite C 
Cherry Hill, NJ 08034 
Active Out-of-State Member  

Bradley E. Loiben, DO     
565 Coal Valley Road 
Clairton, PA 15025 
Active Member — District 8 

Umang Patel, DO 
St. Mary Medical Center 
1201 Langhorne Newtown Road 
Langhorne, PA 19047 
Active Member — District 14 

Norbert P. Zemankiewicz, DO   
Maryland Vascular Specialists 
110 Old Padonia Road, Ste. 101 
Cockeysville. MD 21036 
Active Out-of-State Member