by: John Kalata, DO

Be True to Your School

Summertime (and the Canadian smoke) have descended on Pennsylvania. Vacations are in full swing, sunshine and beach time await (especially on the shores of Lake Erie...no snow in August!!), and parents are now counting the days (hours) until school starts again! Graduation parties are over, and as kids return to school, our thoughts often turn to our own educational roots.

As President of POMA, I have the great honor of presenting POMA awards to recent graduates of our osteopathic medical colleges, most recently at LECOM’s graduation in Erie. Dates are being finalized for white coat and stethoscope ceremonies at PCOM, LECOM Erie, and LECOM Seton Hill, and we get to welcome our first year students to the profession with these gifts from the POMA Foundation. Interacting with our young physicians is one of the joys of leadership in our Association. Our colleges produce the finest osteopathic physicians. Our profession’s future is bright!

Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys wrote “Be True to Your School” way back in 1963. This simple line makes me reflect on the roots and the wings that our osteopathic education provided to each of us. Whether on City Avenue, 48th and Spruce Streets, West Grandview Boulevard, on the campus of Seton Hill, or on any other campus, our shared osteopathic roots gave each of us the foundation for a successful career. As we left our “nests,” our wings gave us limitless potential as osteopathic physicians.

How can we ever repay our schools for our roots and for our wings? Being a clinical preceptor, giving a donation, recommending a worthy student, talking to undergraduates, serving on a college committee are all ways we can give back. Let’s all remember our roots and our wings as our kids return to school.

Be like Brian Wilson. Be true to your school... and let your colors fly!

Enjoy the rest of the summer!

by: Diana Ewert

“There are only 129 days left until December 25. Where has this year gone? Seriously…” - Me

No… seriously. It feels as though Tammy was just coordinating housing for the AOA House of Delegates and now Labor Day weekend is looming. The stores are putting out Thanksgiving before Halloween along with some Christmas, Hanukkah, and New Year’s. I need that change in the air, the coming of fall weather, the first KC Chiefs football game (the real one, not preseason), the pulling out of warmer clothes and packing away of shorts, linen, and sandals. Fall is my favorite time of year, and it certainly feels like it shouldn’t be here now. But here we are, winding down with summer and preparing to greet the COM classes of 2027.

The first opportunity I had after I started with POMA was attending the LECOM White Coat Ceremony in Erie. It was so cool. Looking at a theater full of inspired and inspirational young adults about to tackle medical school. And not just a medical school – a college of Osteopathic Medicine. I looked past the students to their families. They were equally excited to see their children, grandchildren, brothers, sisters, nieces, nephews, or parents moving into a profession whose purpose is to care for people. As impressive as the students were, there was also an undercurrent of excitement among the DOs who were helping the students put on with their white coats. I wondered what they were thinking of these young people who were ready to take on the burden of becoming and Osteopathic physician. Of all the things I have done with POMA since coming on board in 2017, this continues to be the most inspiring and humbling. Each year there are these fresh faces, ready to immerse and embrace the osteopathic profession.

Dr. Kalata says your COMs gives you roots and wings. We pray so. Staying osteopathic with the challenges facing the profession now is critical. Stay rooted. Staying osteopathic also gives you wings. With wings you can rise above the noise that urges you to be something other than  distinct, to be just like them, when it comes to practice and board certification. Soar with your osteopathic identity. And always remember, you have a home at POMA.

by: Andy Sandusky

Scope of Practice Legislation and
Collective Bargaining - Focal Points for POMA

Last week, the POMA Government Affairs Committee (GAC), led by its Chair, Hans Zuckerman, DO, met and considered several bills on scope of practice. They include House Bill 1000, legislation that would provide for psychologists being able to prescribe medications for mental health conditions, working collaboratively with physicians. The GAC has not taken a position yet, but has many questions about the legislation, especially the very loose description of what a collaborative agreement represents. POMA plans to engage further on the bill to flesh out the details and estimate the patient safety concerns it has with the bill in its current form.

The scope of practice of physical therapists would be expanded via House Bill 1491. This legislation would permit a physical therapist to see a patient for 60 days without referring to a physician if the treatment has not been effective for the condition of the patient. Current law permits a 30-day period. The GAC recommended the POMA Board of Trustees oppose this measure, and last Saturday that is what the Board did. POMA believes that 30 days is a more than adequate amount of time for a patient who is not getting better from the treatment of a physical therapist, to be seen by a physician.

Another scope of practice concept being considered by the General Assembly (but has not been introduced yet) deals with permitting LPNs to pronounce death in a hospice setting exclusively. The POMA Board also adopted the recommendation of the GAC on this concept, to support its limited scope change. However, POMA’s position is predicated on the condition that education be provided to LPNs on the process.

Finally, the Public Policy Committee (PPC), chaired by Joan Grzybowski, DO, considered recommending a policy statement on collective bargaining rights of physicians. The issue was referred to the PPC by the POMA Executive Committee. The PPC reviewed the policies of other notable national organizations, including the AMA and AAFP, to determine they supported the concept. The PPC ultimately recommended to the POMA Board a position that states, “POMA supports the right of physicians to engage in collective bargaining as long as it is consistent with the Osteopathic Oath.” This past Saturday, the POMA Board agreed with the recommended position in a unanimous vote.

POMA Board holds Quarterly Meeting

Last weekend, the POMA Board of Trustees held their quarterly meeting in-person in Pittsburgh. The board received oral reports from several committees, including updates on resident and student outreach, military and veteran engagement, and governance review work. They also  discussed and approved several policy positions from the government affairs and public policy committees (see article above for more information), in addition to approving several life memberships. POMA President John Kalata, DO, also presented a report from the POMA Foundation with a motion to change the leadership of the Foundation. The board voted to approve the changes with Pamela Goldman, DO, assuming the role of Foundation Chair and Lisa Witherite-Rieg, DO, assuming the role of Vice Chair. Board member Valeri Roth, DO, was also selected as the POMA-sponsored physician in the AOA Leadership Academy.

The majority of the meeting was devoted to strategic planning. The board reviewed data that was collected throughout the summer and began posing questions and pondering ideas to incorporate into Phase 3 of POMA's strategic plan. Work will continue over the next few months to develop the plan that will be presented and finalized in November. Thanks to everyone who completed the survey - your input is critical to the strategic planning process!

Dear fellow POMA members,

I am COL Regan Shabloski, DO, and I have proudly served both the military and osteopathic community for over 26 years. It has been a great honor to serve and be a part of both of these great callings.

I know I am not the only person who serves/served in both worlds. In my role as the chair of the POMA Task Force on Military and Veteran Physician Engagement, we are exploring ways to use the knowledge and experiences gained in the military to serve our osteopathic community, while also working to become a beacon for military physicians to call upon for resources and support throughout their military and osteopathic journeys. We are creating resources regarding licensure, civilian practice transitioning, military networking, and wellness support.

Right now, I am calling on the osteopathic community to share your history of military service, to help us begin to build our community from within our current ranks. Please complete the form linked here (username:  or email [email protected] with information regarding:

    • If you served?
    • What is your current status (Active, Reserves, Retired)?
    • And what branch?

With this information, the task force and POMA can truly gauge the involvement of the osteopathic community in the military and begin to tailor benefits and resources, especially for this community from osteopathic medical school through retirement.

Thank you for your service to both the military and osteopathic communities. I hope everyone across our great state is having a great and joyful summer.

Sincerely and Respectfully,

COL Regan Shabloski, DO
Chair: MVPE 

District Dish

District 4

POMA District 4 gathered in Scranton on Thursday, August 17th for fun, friendship and food. The members received an update from district leadership regarding osteopathic happenings and finalized plans for upcoming events, including a Penn State tailgate, a day at Knoebels, and a CME Saturday in October. They also heard a  presentation on COPD. 

The award-winning District 4 will hold their next social event on September 9th with a tailgate at Penn State. The next business meeting will be held on September 14th in Wilkes-Barre with a product theater presentation discussing alcohol dependence. If you have any questions or want to get more involved, contact Darlene Dunay, District 4 Chair, at [email protected].

The POMA Foundation is now accepting applications for the Osteopathic Medicine Community Enhancing Grant program. This grant seeks to support projects that make a lasting impacts in the community, address a pressing need, or presents a unique approach to an ongoing challenge. Grant activities will benefit patients, osteopathic physicians, and their communities. The RFP is linked here.

The POMA Foundation is excited to engage directly with those supporting the osteopathic profession, its principles and its practices to support projects that impact the community.

Additional details about the grant, eligibility, application instructions, and contact information for questions is included in the RFP. We also have a short video that goes into greater detail of this grant or listen to Episode 38 of the POMA DOes... podcast series.

Don't wait — applications are due Monday, September 11, 2023.

APOMA just returned from the POFPS educational event in Hershey held August 4-6. We had a 50/50 raffle and a raffle for 1 free night at Kalahari next year to support the scholarship fund where we raised about $400. We also had our first hidden yellow rubber ducks contest. If you found one, you received a Hershey Chocolate Bar and a 1-year membership to APOMA. Thank you to the POFPS board for inviting us.

That Saturday, we also gave out our 2022-23 scholarships to osteopathic medical students. This year's recipients are:

Khin Oo, OMS-III, LECOM - Student Government President
Cassandra E. Holub, OMS-III, LECOM - SOMA President
Daniela Garzon-Aljure, OMS-III, LECOM @ Seton Hill - Student Government President
Kyle Hamilton, OMS-III, LECOM @ Seton Hill - SOMA President
David A. Peters, OMS-III, PCOM - Student Government President
Jeremiah Kinsey, OMS-III, PCOM - SOMA President

These six young Osteopathic leaders also received a 1-year membership to APOMA. Congratulations to each of them!

Thank you to everyone who donated to the scholarship fund! We are now accepting donations for the next year. If you are interested in donating, please contact us at [email protected]. Also, if you are interested in becoming a member, please email us. The cost is $25 per year and you support the Osteopathic Community. 

View the
newsletter online!

Table of Contents...

1. President's Perspective
2. Executive Opinion
3. Policy Points
4. POMA Board Holds Meeting
5. Community Collaborative
6. District Dish
7. POMA Foundation Launches Community Grant Opportunity
8. APOMA Updates
9. Upcoming District Events
10. Membership Dues Renewal
11. Welcome New Members
12. District Competition
13. Classified Ads
14. Check Out the POMA DOes... Podcast
15. Under the DOme
16. POMPAC
17. Follow POMA on Social Media

Welcome New Members!

The following physicians have applied for membership in the POMA. According to Article VI, Section 2 of the POMA bylaws, if no written objection is received within 30 days after publication, the following will be accepted for membership.

Amy B. Capoocia, DO
2946 Conestoga Road
Glenmoore, PA 19343
Active Member – District 2 

Michael Fasano, DO
703 Rutter Avenue
Kingston, PA 18704
Active Member – District 4 

Brendan S. Tanner, DO
2149 South Queen Street
York, PA 17403
Active Member – District 5

District Competition

The third annual POMA District Competition is running from April 1, 2023 – March 30, 2024. Districts receive points based on holding events; survey participation; writing in publications (POMA and external); membership retention; and various additional items.  Click here for a complete list of challenges.

The winning District will receive a hefty traveling trophy, special recognition at the POMA Clinical Assembly, and bragging rights.  Contact your District Leadership to share ideas and for more details.

Current Standings as of August 18:

1^st Place – District 4
2^nd Place – District 12
3^rd Place – District 11
4^th Place – District 7

Want to help earn your district some points? Submit an article to the newsletter or participate in a POMA survey.

Find out additional ways by contacting your district leadership.

CLASSIFIED ADVERTISEMENTS

PRN Medical Space - ready exam rooms for Drs on the go! Five locations in Philadelphia and Bristol. Call 215-669-4001 or visit PRNmedical.space.

PRACTICES WANTED - 
Retiring physicians, part-time or full-time practices, call 215-669-4001.

CLASSIFIED AD
RATES
— Per insertion —

Member Ads*: $10 for the first 20 words, $.25 for each additional word. $2 each for special services: all caps or all bold type.

Non-member Ads: (Payment must be received in advance.) $50 for the first 20 words, .50 each additional word. $5 for each special service (listed above).

*Please Note: Member ad rate to be used only by POMA members and only for their medicine- or practice-related ads. Charges for other types of members’ ads will be calculated using the non-member ad rate.

POMA does not take a position of endorsing any organizations, individuals or services whose classified advertisements appear in this publication. The POMA Newsletter reserves the right to select and edit all advertisements submitted.

POMA DOes...Podcast

Have you tuned into POMA's podcast series, POMA DOes... Episodes 1-39 have been published and are available on YouTube and everywhere you listen to podcasts. Our most recent episode focuses on “Setting Realistic Expectations.”

Have an episode idea? Let us know! New episodes for POMA DOes... are released on the second and fourth Fridays of the month. Subscribe so you never miss an episode!

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!

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