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by: John Kalata, DO
Tidings of Comfort and Joy
“To cure sometimes, to relieve often, to comfort always.” My Dad, an osteopathic family physician who practiced until age 88, displayed these words above the scale in his main exam room. This sentiment was written by Dr. Edward Livingston Trudeau in the late 1800s. Dr. Trudeau, himself stricken with tuberculosis, founded a famous tuberculosis sanitarium on Saranac Lake in New York. In an era of limited therapeutic options, Dr. Trudeau learned that a cure was never guaranteed, but physicians always have the privilege of providing comfort to our patients.
Fast forward to 2023. We are blessed with incredible technologies to assist us with our care. Advances in imaging, targeted therapies, robotic surgery, percutaneous interventions, and artificial intelligence all contribute to our diagnoses and treatment. Despite all these advances, diagnoses elude us, suffering persists, and patients still die. The cure still isn’t guaranteed! Poor access to care, insurance constraints, and overregulation all interfere with the physician-patient relationship. We struggle to provide comfort, and some days there’s not much joy in the systems in which we practice.
As osteopathic physicians, we are uniquely blessed with the ability to rise above these limitations as we offer comfort to our patients. Caring for the whole patient — body, mind, and spirit — has always been a tenet of our profession. As I interact with our members, I am struck by our commitment to caring for the whole patient. Taking extra time to listen, returning that late night phone call, sharing some tears with a grieving spouse, holding a hand...comfort that is truly osteopathic...is what we DO.
The Christmas carol “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen,” sends a message of comfort and joy to a people waiting for a Savior. Regardless of our faith tradition, the holidays bring us closer together as we celebrate with family and friends. During this holiday season, I would like to thank each of you for the comfort and joy you bring to your patients. May you experience the joy of caring for patients, and that comfort of family and friends this season and always. Merry Christmas, Happy Hannukah, and Blessed Holidays to you and your families!!
by: Diana Ewert
“Life is made up of meetings and partings.
That's the way of it.”
- Kermit the Frog as Bob Cratchit, A Muppets Christmas Carol
Yes, the obligatory sappy quote for this year-end newsletter. The sentiment, however, is so appropriate. The physician profession itself is based on a series of meetings and partings. You bring new life into the world. You help those part from life with dignity and respect. It is one of the things I admire most about your profession… your profound humanity in providing patient care.
I’ve seen the elation and the flagellation that comes with being a physician. The elation when you share the word remission. The flagellation when you question if what was done was enough or was there something else that might have worked. You enter a profession where you know that a life beginning as a meeting will be a life that ends with a parting. And always, caring for your patients with heart, with empathy, and with a genuine humanness. How do you do it? I like a good roller coaster, but I can walk away from the ride. You can’t. And that alone is worthy of respect and awe.
If what we do on your behalf at POMA helps – even the least little bit – then it is worthwhile.
Have a wonderful holiday and blessed New Year.
by: Andy Sandusky
POMA Alerts State Board of Osteopathic Medicine of Website Deficiencies
In a letter from POMA President John J. Kalata, DO, POMA explains to the PA State Board of Osteopathic Medicine (SBOM) that information on its website does not reflect the status of decisions it has made pertaining to initial licensure. POMA shared this information gap is negatively impacting program directors and resident physicians planning for unrestricted licensure applications.
POMA has reported two significant and positive actions in the past two years taken by the SBOM. The first decision was to temporarily suspend the requirement for a physician trainee to complete a physical OMT exam before qualifying for an unrestricted license, (October 2022 SBOM Meeting Minutes, Pages 20-21). This suspension was necessary because the National Board of Osteopathic Medical Examiners (NBOME) suspended its corresponding testing program. The regulation is still needed because the NBOME is working on a successor program and when complete, the SBOM is likely to renew enforcement at that time. Unfortunately, the SBOM website does not reflect this decision. Here is what we know:
Resident physicians applying for an unrestricted license do not need proof of taking an OMT exam, Step 2, PE portion of the COMLEX test because enforcement has temporarily been suspended. This includes third party OMT test offerings. The question WILL remain on the electronic application, but the SBOM will mark it as “Not Applicable.”
The second major decision by the SBOM was to suspend enforcement of the regulatory requirement for a 1-year AOA rotating internship, because they no longer exist, (February 8, 2023, SBOM Meeting Minutes, Pages 25-26). The SBOM is clear in its regulatory draft it wants to change the regulation permanently. Until then, the SBOM will not enforce the need to have a 1-year internship when trainees are applying for an unrestricted license. Again, the SBOM website does not reflect these decisions. Here is what we know:
Resident physicians applying for an unrestricted license do not need proof of completing a 1-year AOA internship. This includes obtaining an AOA PGY1 approval letter from the AOA.
The SBOM met this past Wednesday, December 13th and recognized POMA’s letter, and it will investigate changing the information on the website. Until then, POMA can only share with you what has been documented at the SBOM meetings.
We would like to extend a warm welcome to our new District Program Manager, James Eirkson. James will be supporting POMA’s district and community programs and activities. Prior to POMA, James worked for 8 years at the Pennsylvania Funeral Directors Association and 7 years at the Pennsylvania Association for Nonprofit Organizations. You can reach James at [email protected].
Get to know James!
What is your favorite food? Vietnamese Pho Soup
Do you prefer coffee or tea? Tea
What's your favorite movie? A Christmas Story
If you could have one superpower, what would it be? Ability to fly!
What are some of your hobbies or things you enjoy doing outside of work? Cooking, camping, hiking, reading, spending time with family
What about this job has you most excited? I'm excited to support POMA members coming together and connecting through local, statewide and virtual events.
What do you want our members to know about you or what do you hope to be able to accomplish? I love asking questions (the POMA team can attest to this) and I’m excited to learn as much as I can about Osteopathic Physicians and their unique philosophy and practice of medicine. I look forward to engaging with members to learn about their challenges, and how POMA can best support them, to ensure the work I DO benefits POMA members and adds value to their membership.
Join us for Mocktail Mania -
Registration is Open!
The POMA Wellness committee has teamed up with Blind Tiger Spirits to host a virtual mocktails event on Thursday, January 25 at 7:00pm. Each participant will receive five 8.4 ounce mocktails mailed directly to them prior to the event. We'll discuss the history of mocktails, how various mocktails are created, and how to turn mocktails into cocktails. Join us for a fun event and unwind with your colleagues!
The cost is $10 to participate. Limited spots are available - RSVP today!
Have questions? Contact Jason Leeper, [email protected].
Dear Fellow POMA Members,
I want to wish you all a very happy holiday season. In this time of joy, we must be honest that our wellness can be tested. Our workload increases as medical appointments and illness are greater in the winter months. Personally, we deal with the added positive and negative stresses with family, friends and office gatherings. This can lead to feelings of being overwhelmed and can be isolating at times. As physicians, we cannot forget about our own personal wellness.
We cannot in good conscience look out for the best wellbeing of our patients if we are not taking care of ourselves. We need to acknowledge our mental and physical wellness needs. Physicians need to ensure we are doing things that we enjoy and that decrease our stress during this busy time of year. This could be taking a walk, reading for pleasure, or watching Christmas movies with family. For me, I love running. My family and I enjoy winter runs together and racing local road races. This helps with our physical and mental wellbeing.
POMA's Physician Wellness Committee is working to provide you with resources and opportunities to support you. The committee is hosting events at the POMA District 8 Winter Seminar in January, the POMA Clinical Assembly in May, and Steps 4 All in April. We are also hosting a virtual mocktails event on January 25th. Registration is open and we hope you will participate.
Our wellbeing, our mental health, our physical health needs to be acknowledged and is important. If you need assistance with anything, we are here for you. Let’s help each other, help our staffs and help our patients by being a good example of how to care for oneself. If we do it, others we follow.
Sincerely and graciously,
Angela Jenny, DO
Chair, Physician Wellness Committee
District Dish
District 14
It was a packed house as POMA members gathered in Newtown last night for dinner, drinks and networking. George Wolters, Jr., DO, POMA Vice President, kicked off the meeting by welcoming all 32 attendees. Pamela Goldman, DO, POMA Past President, provided an update on the current activities of the POMA Foundation, and Jonathan Oline, DO, POMA Trustee-at-large, provided updates from POMA leadership on topics ranging from the upcoming elections for district delegates to legislative updates to activities of POMA’s new Military Affairs Task Force. The evening concluded with a product theater presentation on Platelet-Rich Plasma Injections. Special thanks to Richard Purse, DO, District 14 Chair and POMA Trustee, for organizing this well-attended meeting.
The next District 14 event is tentatively set for January 18, 2023 – we hope to see you there!
All Pennsylvania medical students and residents training in Pennsylvania are invited to submit their research into the 2024 POMA Clinical Assembly Digital Poster Session!
Abstracts must be submitted no later than February 16, 2024 to Melanie LaPenta, PCOM GME. Submissions will be reviewed in February and first authors will be informed of the decision to present no later than March 11, 2024. Posters will be shared at the POMA Clinical Assembly, May 1-4, 2024 and made available for viewing on the POMA website beginning in May 2024.
Click here to learn more.
Perfect, Good Enough, Better than it Was...
by: Lisa Witherite-Rieg, DO
As physicians, most of us are wired for perfection. Face it, few professions are expected to be 100% accurate 100% of the time. If you hire a gardener to plant 10 shrubs and one dies, you consider 90% a pretty good yield (and you replace the dead shrub if it is in a “noticeable” location). If you buy 2 dozen filled cupcakes and one has a little less filling or frosting, no big deal. But, as a physician in the course of patient care, if you miss a diagnosis, choose a wrong treatment, or misinterpret a test result, the outcome may be catastrophic. It is stressful. Not only can serious harm come to your patient for overlooking or blatantly missing subtle details, but medical liability can ruin a career (and one’s spirit).
I am not advocating for mediocrity, by no means. My family jokingly refers to me as having “CDO” — that is “OCD in alphabetical order as all things should be”. However, that tendency can be harmful when spilling over into other areas of life. For years, I drove those close to me crazy with my checking, double-checking, replacing finishing touches and over-planning and preparing. Sure, from time to time I arose the “hero” when I pulled out a threaded needle to fix a popped button, the backup copy of the boarding passes when someone misplaced their original ticket, and the flash drive with every file of meeting minutes from the beginning of time — but not without cost.
The holiday season can be the most stressful time for perfectionists — with the additional details, obligations, and decisions, energy can be expended in unintended places and personal well-being will be neglected. Now retired from medical practice, I look back on how I navigated working full time, decorating three themed trees, baking legions of cookies, creating those perfect gifts (yes, many hand-crafted), and attending nearly every community, church and work-related holiday event — completely missing the “peace on earth," and forgetting to breathe.
READ MORE >>
The POMA Foundation continues to expand our programs that promote the osteopathic tenets of mind, body and spirit for patient care and for the physicians who treat them.
We gift first-year osteopathic medical students with their first white coat, stethoscope and learning scholarships. We award over $50,000 to residency programs to fund wellness activities and combat burnout. We gifted 47 portable OMT tables to osteopathically recognized residency programs across the state. We awarded over $115,000 to grant recipients to make a difference in their communities.
Your tax-deductible gift of $20, $30, $40 or more will make a huge difference to help the POMA Foundation continue accomplishing its mission.
Donate Today!
Flu season begins in October, peaking between December and February. Protect yourself and your family by following these easy tips:
- Prevent the spread of germs by washing your hands frequently.
- A flu vaccine is recommended for everyone 6 months of age and older, per the CDC.
- The RSV vaccine is recommended for pregnant patients and adults 60 years and older, per the CDC.
- Don't get too run down; get 8-10 hours of sleep every night.
- Eating fruits and vegetables, and staying hydrated boosts your immune system to naturally fight off infection.
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View the
newsletter online!
From all of us at POMA, we wish you happiness and joy this holiday season and throughout the coming year!
Table of Contents...
1. President's Perspective
2. Executive Opinion
3. Policy Points
4. Welcome James!
5. Community Collaborative
6. District Dish
7. Digital Research Session
8. How Are You DOing?
9. Year-End Giving
10. Protect Yourself this Winter
10. Upcoming District Events
11. Member Appreciation Giveaway
12. Welcome New Members
13. Military Appreciation
14. District Competition
15. Classified Ads
16. Check Out the POMA DOes... Podcast
17. POMPAC
18. Follow POMA on Social Media
Upcoming District Events
District 8
Hockey Night with the
Johnstown Tomahawks
Saturday, January 6
6:00 pm - Doors Open
7:00 pm - Puck Drop
1st Summit Arena
Johnstown, PA
District 12
Splash Off the Winter Blues
Sunday, January 14
12:30 pm - Refreshments
1:30 pm - Pool Time
DuBois Area YMCA
DuBois, PA
District 14
Business Meeting &
Product Theater
Thursday, January 18
6:30 pm
Rocco's at the Brick
Newtown, PA
District 45th Annual Hockey NightSaturday, January 276:05 pmMohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza
Thank you for being a POMA member! We are stronger, louder and better with you!
Each month, POMA is holding a drawing to show our appreciation for YOU! Congratulations to Lincoln Moser, Jr., DO of Bethlehem, PA - winner of the November giveaway!
Click here to enter this month's drawing for a $25 Amazon gift card. Thank you for all you DO!
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.
Thomas J. Amadio, DO
Geisinger Medical Center
100 North Academy Avenue
Danville, PA 17822
Active Member – District 6
Taylor D. Campbell, DO
178 Deeds Road
Latrobe, PA 15650
Active Member – District 8
Amy I. Kim, DO
125 Verdae Crest Drive
Greenville, SC 29607
Active Out-of-State Member
Ethan S. Nulton, DO
Jefferson Regional Medical Center
565 Coal Valley Road
Jefferson Hills, PA 15025
Active Member – District 8
Juan A. Perez, DO
145 North 6th Street, 2nd Floor
Reading, PA 19602
Active Member – District 11
Julianne D. Rees-Swartz, DO
30 West Swartzville Road
Reinholds, PA 17569
Active Member – District 5
Nicholas M. Reinthaler, DO
7175 Saltsburg Road
Pittsburgh, PA 15235
Active Member – District 8
Patrick R. Shannon, DO
25 Colony Boulevard
Blairsville, PA 15717
Active Member – District 8
Steven A. Sluck, DO
Geisinger Medical Center
100 North Academy Avenue
Danville, PA 17822
Active Member – District 6
Yuqi Wang, DO
233 College Avenue, Suite 101
Lancaster, PA 17603
Active Member – District 5
Alexia M. Zgurzynski, DO
15 Freeport Road, Suite 100
Pittsburgh, PA 15116
Active Member – District 8
POMA wants to support and honor our military members!
Whether you are active duty, reservist or retired; Army, Navy, Air Force; POMA wants to hear from you! Click here to share your military history with us or email [email protected].
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 more. Click here for a complete list of challenges.
The winning District receives a hefty traveling trophy, special recognition at the POMA Clinical Assembly, and bragging rights. Contact your District Leadership for more details.
Current Standings as of December 15th:
1st Place – District 1
2nd Place – District 4
3rd Place – District 12
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
DOCTORS WANTED — DOs
Full-time or part-time. MD at HOME is expanding appointments to patients by telehealth/Zoom and home visits to elderly and disabled home bound. Full-time. Annual income $130,000 plus. Will discuss all details in interview. MD at Home, Inc. 717-840-4646. Fax CVs to 717-840-8086 or email [email protected].
PRN Medical Space — Ready exam rooms for Drs on the go! Five locations in Philadelphia and Bristol. Call 215-669-4001.
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 the POMA DOes... podcast series? We have released 47 episodes, which are available on YouTube and everywhere you listen to podcasts. Our most recent episodes focus on “Concussion: Keep Your Head in the Game" and "APOMA - Tireless Supporters of the Osteopathic Profession.”
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!
  
 
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