by: Joseph M.P. Zawisza, DO

The Caboose

You probably already know that I like trains. They’re really neat! They are an incredibly efficient form of transportation, carrying thousands of tons of cargo long distances. Though it takes a considerable amount of energy to get the train moving, once it is moving it takes very little energy to keep it going because of the momentum it builds up as it goes along. Conversely, it takes a tremendous amount of force to stop the train once it is moving. I’d like to think of POMA as the train I was lucky enough to engineer this year.

Certainly not through my efforts alone, the train has been on an incredible journey. If you include the leadership conference I attended in San Diego, the journey has taken me personally over 10,000 miles this year. Back here in Pennsylvania, I’m pleased to say that we hit all of the stops on our route. A year ago, I promised you that by this time we would have a podcast series, and not only have we published seven outstanding episodes but we are developing episodes that will have educational content for which you can receive CME credit. Imagine chipping away at your CME credit requirements just by hitting play on your phone as you commute to work each day.

Next stop, we worked with the state legislators and nurse practitioners to negotiate a pilot project to determine if independent practice by non-physician clinicians is really in the best interest of Pennsylvanians. Through the good faith we showed in these negotiations we have gained a significant amount of respect and recognition with our state legislators, who now regularly seek the input of POMA before making decisions that affect physicians and their patients. And most recently, our advocacy to the State Board of Osteopathic Medicine to help osteopathic students, interns, and residents overcome the hardship of the requirement to take an in-person OMM exam when there are very limited offerings has paid off.

Along those lines, I’m proud to say that I personally visited each of the three osteopathic medical school campuses in Pennsylvania this year, giving each student a chance to meet with me and let me know what POMA is doing well and what we could do better. Additionally, I’ve met with residents from every area of the state during our Professional Guidance for Young Physicians meetings, and even got to spend time with some specific programs during their POMAF Wellness Grant activities. As a teaser to our physicians-in-training, wait until you see what Dr. Witherite-Rieg has planned for the year coming up!

Our final stop on this ride will be Valley Forge, where I am excited to see you in-person next week for our first-ever hybrid Annual Clinical Assembly, which hasn’t had a live offering in three years! In addition to the outstanding educational content that you have come to expect from POMA (which we can now accredit ourselves thanks to the work of several earlier trains!), we will hold all of our usual governance meetings and a Family Reunion to celebrate our ability to be together again as we install Lisa Witherite-Rieg, DO, as our new president!

As I conclude my final President’s Perspective piece, I will tell you that my favorite train car is the caboose. Sadly, cabooses have widely faded into obscurity. But neither I nor POMA plans to do the same. The caboose, although it signals the end of a train, has many important functions. One of them is to keep an eye on the rest of the train, making sure it stays on the tracks. Another equally important function is to make sure that the very tracks that it has just passed over are ready for the next train which will soon follow. And so, as Lisa’s train leaves the station and takes POMA on its next journey, I thank each of you for the honor of serving as your president this year and for helping me to keep POMA on the Move!

by: Diana Ewert

"I'm wearing my cranky pants today and they make my butt look amazing." - Author Unknown but probably an Association Executive

There are times in our lives when the veneer begins to crack a bit with the strain of deadlines and reports and the myriad of issues that pop up at the least expected times in the least desirable setting and, well… I get cranky. I announce to the team (perhaps warn?) when I have officially entered cranky meeting mode. As a team, we are pushing through to get deadlines met, scripts written, menus set, budgets done, Zooms added to an overfilled calendar, energy solicitor calls, resolutions completed, did I mention budgets? Patience is short, communication terse. As we push through to get to the endpoint – that apparently continues to move outward of its own volition - we look for that light at the end of the tunnel and pray it's not a train… (no offense Dr. Zawisza).

Then I pause, draw a breath, and think about you and what you go through for your patients.

You experience frustrations every day. Prior authorization. Unfunded mandates. PDMP searches. Electronic health records. End of day charting. Hospital admissions. On-call conversation. All the while putting in the extra for the profession as you add in the POMA volunteer conference and Zoom calls. TeamPOMA cannot help you in a clinical sense (unlike some, we know we are not physicians), but we can help you in a community sense. POMA meets your educational needs so you can renew your license and tracks your CME for one less worry about pulling together two years’ worth of program certificates. POMA responds to legislative and regulatory changes that impact your ability to provide osteopathic medical care to your patients. POMA collaborates with other organizations to represent the osteopathic perspective. In short, POMA has your back. And POMA will collectively continue to do all we can to keep you out of cranky pants.

It’s been two very long years since we’ve been able to gather. Next week, we will congregate and celebrate the profession. It will be a reunion of our osteopathic family, and I can’t wait for those osteopathic hugs! Be safe, be well, be there! See you in Valley Forge.

by: Andy Sandusky

Government Affairs Update

The election season is upon us as the Primary Election is set for May 17.  Redistricting has forced some incumbent lawmakers to run against each other and some other incumbents, are facing candidates from their own party who are not satisfied with the status quo.  The Primary will also bring to certainty, who the Republican nominee for Governor will be, facing Josh Shapiro in the November General Election.  All 203 house seats and 25 senate seats are up for election this year. POMPAC has made important and strategic investments in the political process to augment POMAs advocacy efforts.    

Once the election is over, Harrisburg will kick into high gear on the state budget which is due at the end of June.  It is likely the fight will come down to one margin, with the Democratic Governor Wolf wanting to increase spending on worthy programs using federal stimulus dollars and the Republican-led General Assembly fearing new investments without reoccurring funds, is a recipe for fiscal disaster. For these competing reasons, there is likely to be a growth in spending but not as high as the Governor wants and not as low as the Republicans want.  Compromise will need to win the day.

During the budget negotiation process, many other bills will be considered that are important to Osteopathic physicians and their patients.  These will include issues on scope of practice, public health, insurance reform and others.  The POMA Government Affairs Committee has been busy considering multiple bills that could see action in preparation for the foreseeable advocacy needs through June.  POMA members should keep their eyes open for emails asking for your involvement in contacting your elected officials at important inflections points in the process.  POMA will need your help to be successful in some of these battles!  Stay tuned…

Happy National Osteopathic Medicine Week!

This year's NOM week is April 18-24, 2022 and it 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 leadership represented Pennsylvania's osteopathic physicians as they accepted multiple proclamations from local government officials across the state throughout this past month. You can visit our Facebook page for all the details and read some of the local news writeups regarding these events.

From all of us at #TeamPOMA, we want to thank all of our members for all you DO!

We Have a Winner!
District Competition 2021-2022

Congratulations to POMA District 12 on winning the inaugural district competition!

District 12 achieved this feat by organizing CME and social events, such as Goat Yoga; submitting articles for the POMA blogs, “How Are You Doing” and “Another Voice” and organizing a food drive for their local food pantries.

District members will be rewarded with a POMA sponsored event in their district, recognition at the POMA Clinical Assembly and House of Delegates, priority seating and a traveling trophy. 

POMA District 4 earned second-place honors and District 8 earned 3^rd. There is no time to rest on their laurels though as the 2022-2023 competition has already begun. Click here for details on how you can support your district's efforts.

As of 4/20/22 the district standings are:

• T-1 District 4
• T-1 District 6
• T-3 District 1
• T-3 District 9

District Dish

District 10

District 10 members gathered on Friday, April 9th virtually and in person at the Blue Bell Inn for their monthly meeting. They received updates on the AOA House of Delegates, the POMA Clinical Assembly, PCOM CME and open house events, and local residency events. The members decided to use district funds to organize an event at a Philadelphia Phillies game and to hold a CME dinner, both in June. The members also enjoyed the product theater from Fox Chase Cancer Center regarding surgical management of non-small cell lung cancer. District 10's next event will be Friday, May 6th. We look forward to seeing you there.

District 14

District 14 members came together in person on Tuesday, April 6th, at Bella Tori at the Mansion in Langhorne. District leadership discussed the upcoming POMA Clinical Assembly, Steps 4 All 2022, pending state legislation affecting the osteopathic community, and possible local social and CME opportunities. The membership also received updates on breast cancer surgery from Fox Chase Cancer Center.  District 14 leadership is in process of organizing the next event, so stay tuned for more details.

Virtual Charity Event

There is still another week to get your steps in!

POMA Districts 4, 6 and 9 are hosting STEPS 4 ALL 2022 to get you outside and moving!  Every step you take will raise money to a charity of your choice, without even opening your wallet!

This is a FREE virtual event for all POMA members and their families which will run the entire month of April.

Be inspired to welcome spring by getting out to walk, run, bike or hike and break free from the winter blues.

Click here for more information.

Have You Subscribed to the POMA DOes... Podcast?

In January, POMA launched its new podcast series, POMA DOes... We are providing a voice for osteopathic medicine by sharing insights on issues important to osteopathic physicians, residents and students, and those who embrace the osteopathic philosophy. Episodes 1-7 have already been published. The most recent episode was titled "How DOs Shape Capitol Hill" and discussed our advocacy efforts.

POMA DOes... is available through all of the popular podcast platforms, services and apps. Find us on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Amazon Music, Spotify, Podcast Addict, Audible and YouTube - listen and subscribe today! Episodes are released on the second and fourth Fridays of the month.

View the
newsletter online!

Table of Contents...

1. President's Perspective
2. Executive Opinion
3. Policy Points
4. Register for POMA's 114th Annual Clinical Assembly
5. NOM Week
6. We Have a Winner - District Competition
7. District Dish
8. Steps 4 All
9. POMA DOes... Podcast
10. SoFi Loan Refinancing
11. COVID-19 News Update
12. Upcoming District Events
13. Welcome New Members
14. Classified Ads
15. Under the DOme
16. POMPAC
17. Follow POMA on Social Media
18. APOMA
19. Be a Mentor

Upcoming District Events

POMPAC is the collective
voice of the osteopathic profession in Pennsylvania.

Send your personal check to POMPAC c/o POMA, 1330 Eisenhower Blvd., Harrisburg, PA 17111, or charge your contribution to your credit card!

PAC contributions are not tax-deductible.

Follow POMA on social media for all the latest news!

APOMA

Pennsylvania Osteopathic Medical Association | 1330 Eisenhower Blvd., Harrisburg, PA 17111
(717) 939-9318 | www.poma.org