October 16, 2015 - The DO Family Newsletter  
November 6-8, the Michigan Osteopathic Association will return to beautiful Grand Rapids for the 2015 Autumn Scientific Convention at the Amway Grand Plaza. 

Attendees - For more information on CMEs and the agenda, click HERE
Science Research Exhibits - Currently accepting submissions, click HERE.
Exhibitors - Exhibitor registration is open! For more information, click HERE.
Practice Managers - For more information on CEU Sessions, click HERE.







Remember! Grand Rapids has so much to offer in terms of nightlife, attractions, dining and more. Before your visit to Grand Rapids, be sure to get a list of all "GR" has to offer by visiting http://www.experiencegr.com/2015miosteo/

Grand Rapids Symphony
The Grand Rapids Symphony will be performing "The Romantic Concert" at the Devos Center. The tickets for this concert can be purchased through the ticket sales office by calling 616-454-9451 ext 4, or tickets can be purchased at the time of the concert by showing your convention badge I.D. at DeVos Hall Will Call window. For more information click HERE.
Save the Date!
The 117th Annual Spring Scientific Convention will be held May 12-15, 2016, in Dearborn, Michigan


The MOA Needs Your Input

We are conducting a survey & we need your opinions! The button below takes you directly to the survey, which will take about 10 minutes of your time to complete. 

Thank you for your participation & commitment to growing our DO Family
TAKE THE SURVEY
Friday, November 6
Amway Grand Plaza Hotel - Pearl Room
8:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m., Breakfast and lunch provided
6 hours of AAPC Approved CEU Sessions

Registration fee: $125 per person
*First time attendees at Autumn Convention will receive FREE 
registration for the PMP at Spring Convention!
For more information, click here or email Virginia Bernero.

Female Physician Task Force Meetings

Oct 3, OKEMOS - The Michigan Osteopathic Association (MOA) Female Physician Task Force has met in a series of meetings held at the MOA offices, with some joining via Zoom videoconferencing.  The Task Force seeks to engage female leaders and identify ways to help women become involved and stay involved. They are working to identify challenges women face in leadership/involvement, and their goal is to present action items to be implemented this year that specifically work to engage women in the MOA. The Task Force has completed 5 leadership meetings and will be presenting their cumulative document to the MOA.  "As a collaborative group, we have learned many unique challenges that all women face, and further developed some solutions to those problems in both the short and long term." said Dr. Emily Hurst, Task Force Co-Chair. Once the action items are presented to the MOA, look for reporting here in the MOA Pulse. 
Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy and the PJ Nicholoff Protocol 

Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a genetic disorder characterized by progressive muscle degeneration and weakness. It is one of nine types of muscular dystrophy. The cause of DMD is an absence of dystrophin, a protein that helps keep muscle cells intact. Symptom onset is in early childhood, usually between ages 3 and 5. The disease primarily affects boys, but in rare cases it can affect girls. 

Phillip James "PJ" Nicholoff was a vibrant, 31-year-old man living with DMD. He loved college and professional sports, traveling all over the country with his family to attend games. He had a degree in web design and a bright future ahead of him.

PJ had been treated with daily corticosteroids since the age of 6. He endured several pathologic fractures, likely a result of his steroid treatment and his limited movement. In November 2013, on a trip to Florida, he fractured his humerus and hip, and was transported by plane to a hospital closer to his northern home. PJ had orthopedic surgery to manage both of these fractures. After these repairs, he developed respiratory distress, shock, and died. Review of the medical record suggested that he had not received consistent corticosteroid replacement during his hospitalization.
Use of corticosteroids is part of the standards of care for Duchenne patients. Chronic use of steroids is accompanied by side effects, but rapid withdrawal of steroids can lead to serious, life threatening conditions as well. To raise awareness and increase correct action upon hospitalization of patients, a panel of experts in neuromuscular steroid care has developed a protocol to address rapid withdrawal from steroids, and subsequent acute adrenal suppression, which can be a life threatening condition. This protocol has been named the "PJ Nicholoff Protocol" in honor of the young man.

We are hoping to join in the effort to raise awareness of this protocol. Please take a moment and visit the links provided below to learn more. We hope our members will share the links and spread the word about the PJ Nicholoff Protocol. 

To learn more about the PJ Nicholoff protocol, click HERE

For the PJ Nicoloff Protocol in a PDF file, click HERE

Note: PJ Nicholoff was the beloved nephew of the CEO and Executive Director of the MOA, Kris Nicholoff. While devastated by the loss of PJ, he hopes the lesson learned will help other families avoid such a tragic loss.
MSUCOM 4th Year Medical Student's HPV Research Selected as COSGP Outreach Category 1st Place Winner at the 2015 BIOM International Seminar

Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine fourth year student, Kayla Jelinek, has been selected as the Council of Osteopathic Student Government's 1st place
winner in the Outreach Category at the 2015 BIOM International Seminar. Jelinek's research, titled "Determining the Most Prevalent HR HPV Genotypes Among Women in Two Regions of Peru," aims to determine the most cost-effective Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination approach in Peru.

With the help of a grant from the American Medical Association Foundation, Jelinek and her team of researchers began cervical cell sample collection in Peru in August 2015. Collaboration with Universidad C�sar Vallejo in Trujillo, Peru has allowed for continued sample collection through November 2015. Jelinek will use molecular techniques to identify 13 different high risk HPV genotypes in the cervical samples. Seven of these genotypes are covered by current HPV vaccination, while six are not.

Jelinek plans to determine which high risk HPV genotypes are most prevalent among Peruvian women, and if the current Gardasil vaccines are sufficient in design to protect against HPV-induced cervical cancer, or if a new vaccine design is needed. As a first place winner, Jelinek will present her research at OMED 2015 in Orlando, Florida.

Medical Mission Peru Receives Legislative Tribute

Oct. 6, LANSING - The Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine (MSUCOM) was recognized for the Medical Mission Peru program in a Legislative Tribute at the state Capitol in Lansing, Michigan. Faculty, students and alumni who traveled to the Amazon Basin in Peru were presented the tribute by Sen. Steve Bieda in the Speakers Library. William Strampel, DO, Dean of MSUCOM, Joe Gorz, DO, and Anthony Agrusa, DO, receive the tribute on behalf of the group.  The program includes providing medical services to low-income Peruvians, as well as gathering data for research projects. To date, the program has treated over 9,000 patients. "It is an honor ... It is our hope that this recognition will expand awareness of our work and the need for the Peru medical elective , as well as other elective in impoverished regions of this world" said Dr. Gorz.

For more information on the project, and to keep up to date, visit their webpage and blog by clicking HERE
Flu Shot Event at Capitol
Oct. 6, LANSING - The Michigan State College of Osteopathic Medicine (MSUCOM) in conjunction with the Michigan Osteopathic Association (MOA) and the Michigan Association of Osteopathic Family Physicians (MAOFP) held its annual Legislative Flu Shot Day at the Capitol Building in Lansing between the hours of 10:00 a.m. & 2:00 p.m. Throughout the event, a total of 297 public officials, staffers and other attendees were vaccinated. The event was free and open to the public, as part of outreach to strengthen the awareness of osteopathic medicine and the importance of vaccinations.

"This event hosts one part of community health, and we are proud to have our legislature leading the example in this preventive measure," said 2nd year MSUCOM student Ashley Weitekamp, President of Community Integrated Medicine.

Students participating in the event honed both their clinical and advocacy skills while giving the legislature a dose of osteopathic preventive care. More than 50 volunteer physicians and medical students from MSU, MOA and MAOFP assisted in administering the flu shots. All students were trained to administer shots through Community Integrated Medicine Public Health Systems.

Volunteers administer flu vaccines to public officials, including
Rep. Edward Canfield, DO, and past-president of the MOA





To see more photos from Legislative Flu Shot Day, visit our Facebook photo album, click HERE
In Memoriam






October 2 of 2015 saw the passing of Eugene N. Sands, D.O.
Click here for a local obituary

Sept. 26 saw the passing of Donald R. Eck, DO
Click here for a local obituary 

September 25 of 2015 saw the passing of Gregory Harrington III, DO

June 18 of 2015 saw the passing of Hugh L. Grover, DO

May 1 of 2015 saw the passing of Sara Dora, DO

February 1 of 2015 saw the passing of Richard O. Wagner, Jr., DO

To see a list of all Michigan Osteopathic Association members who have passed, click HERE.
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The MOA Pulse is a member benefit for sharing news and events. If you have any news items you would like to share, or if you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact:
Todd Ross
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Michigan Osteopathic Association
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