The 117th Annual Spring Scientific Convention will be May 12-15, 2016. Join us in Dearborn to reconnect with colleagues and meet new friends. To learn more about the line up of speakers and the options for attendees, click HERE
NMOA Summer CME 
The Northern Michigan Osteopathic Association's 2016 Summer Conference will be June 16-19, 2016, at the Mission Point Resort on beautiful Mackinac Island. Registration is open. 

MOA Joins MHA in Pain Management Twitter Chat

Okemos, MI-  
The Michigan Health and Hospital Association (MHA) hosted a TwitterChat on the issue of pain management. With the hashtag- "MHAHealthChat" the hour-long event was a live question and answer forum on the social media platform, Twitter. The Michigan Osteopathic Association (MOA) was invited to participate, as well as the Michigan State Police, Beaumont Health System, University of Michigan Institute for Healthcare Policy & Innovation and Empowered Patient Coalition/Engaged Patients. The MOA was represented by David Best, DO.
A conference call was used to coordinate the Tweets and the MHA provided hashtags and questions to prepare the partners for the event.
 "The Twitter Chat with MHA was a great way to participate with other groups on an important issue. It allowed our voice to be heard among healthcare leaders and the communities they serve" said Dr. David Best. As social media becomes a greater communication tool, the MOA plans to participate in more TwitterChat events. Collectively, the groups that participated in the event have over 28,000 followers.  
 
For those who do not have Twitter accounts, you can view a history of the MOA Tweets, including the #PainManagement event, you can go to the MOA website (domoa.org) and see the MOA Twitter feed on the right hand side of the main page. The TwitterChat used the hashtags- "#SafeOpioidUse" and "#RxProblems."
 
As the Michigan legislature addresses the opioid crisis, from prescriptions to heroin trafficking, information from partnerships like the MHAHealthChat is valuable. For the MOA, this event allowed the knowledge gathered during the year-long effort of the Safe Opioid Use Task Force to be put to good use. 
MOA President Dr. Robert G. G. Piccinini Speaks
 at American College of Osteopathic Neurologists and Psychiatrists

Fort Lauderdale, FLA - Michigan Osteopathic Association (MOA) President Robert G. G.Piccinini, DO, dFACN, was a featured speaker at the Mid-Year Meeting and Scientific Seminar of the American College of Osteopathic Neurologists and Psychiatrists (ACONP). Dr. Piccinini held to talks - "Assessment for Homicidal Tendencies" and "Effects of Marijuana Legislation." 

The conference offered a full-slate of topics ranging from opioid issues to neurology complications in pregnancy. "We had a great turn out... it's a great privilege to be asked to speak to my specialty college" said Dr. Piccinini. 
Call for Science Research Exhibit Submissions 

The MOA will once again host a Scientific Research Exhibit (SRE) competition. The SRE competitions provide osteopathic medical students, residents, fellows and attending level physicians an opportunity to present their medical and scientific research to our profession. The SRE event demonstrates the very best of what osteopathic medicine is and reaffirms the profession's commitment to the advancement of science in osteopathic medicine. This program has grown each year and for the 2nd year we will feature Oral Presentations. 
NEW! Those attending the Oral Presentations will also earn CME credit. 
 
Due to popular demand, SRE posters will be displayed through Saturday afternoon. 

Awards
First place: $1,000
Second place: $750
Third place: $500
Best Oral Presentation: $500
Outstanding Case Report: $250

The deadline for submissions is April 1, 2016. For more information and to submit an exhibit, click HERE.
MOA Spring Conference Session on Opioids will include Lt. Gov. Brian Calley
The Michigan Osteopathic Association (MOA)117th Annual Spring Scientific
Convention will feature a special session on the opioid abuse crisis. The "Combatting the Opioid Mortality Crisis: The Perspective from the Governor's Task Force" session will feature an expert panel. The line up includes: 

Moderators: Tim Skubick, Senior Capitol Correspondent and host of WKAR "Off the Record" & David Neff, DO
Panelists: Michigan Lt. Governor Brian Calley; William Morrone; DO, President, American Osteopathic Association of
Addiction Medicine (AOAAM); Rep. Edward Canfield (R), DO; David Best, DO, Palliative Care and Addiction Specialist
Stephen Bell, DO, FACOI, Member Governor's Task Force and Chair of the MOA President's Ad Hoc Committee;
Robert G.G. Piccinini, DO, dFACN; Sherriff Michael Bouchard, Oakland County; Tom Clement, Attorney Generals Office;
Rep. Tom Cochran (D); Judge Donald Allen, 55th District Court Ingham County

The MOA created the Safe Opioid Use Task Force and that group delivered recommendations to Gov. Rick Snyder's Michigan Prescription Drug and Opioid Abuse Task Force. Lt. Gov. Calley chaired the task force and the MOA's Dr. Stephen R. Bell was a member. The MOA continues to be a source for expert opinions on the complex issue of safe opioid use. 

For more information, visit 117th Annual Spring Scientific Convention

Michigan State University (MSU) and WKAR-TV have developed a mobile application to help the residents of Flint find community resources to help them in the ongoing water crisis.

The "Empower Flint" app provides a checklist of steps people can take to protect themselves, their families and pets as they battle elevated lead levels in the water supply. The app was released March 1 and was developed by a team of researchers and specialists from MSU, the College of Communication Arts and Sciences, and WKAR-TV in collaboration with the people of Flint.
"Our goal was to build something that adapts to the needs identified by Flint residents, and that stands the test of time as community needs evolve," said Kami Silk, MSU associate dean for research and professor of communication and agbio research. "Our hopes are that the app will fill an information gap and be embraced as coming from a trusted and familiar voice in Flint: MSU."
The "Empower Flint" app is available for both Apple iOS and Android platforms and can be found on Google Play and in the Apple App Store. 





Infectious Disease Information Resource

The Michigan Health and Hospital Association (MHA) offers a great webpage with resources on infectious diseases. The page offers links to information on everything from influenza to the Zika virus. MHA Infectious Disease Resource page. 
CMS Extends EHR Incentive Program Hardship Application Deadline to July 1, 2016: 
CMS is allowing eligible professionals, eligible hospitals, and critical access hospitals to apply for Medicare Electronic Health Record (EHR) Incentive Program hardship exceptions until July 1, 2016 to avoid adjustments to their Medicare payments in 2017.  The hardship exception application forms is posted on the CMS website.

FDA's New Action Plan addresses Opioid Abuse Epidemic: The U.S. Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) new action plan on opioids will re-examine the risk-benefit paradigm for opioids, and ensure that the agency considers their wider public health effects when assessing new drugs for approval. More

JAOA dedicates issue to advancements in OMT research: Studies published in the current issue of The Journal of the American Osteopathic Association (JAOA) strengthen the evidence base for using osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT) to reduce pain. Additionally, two case studies found OMT alleviated patients' post-concussion symptoms. More

Outsmarting Antibiotic Resistance: Antibiotic resistance poses a threat to the health of humans and animals. Leading agriculture, animal health and veterinary medicine experts at Michigan State University are using their collective research power to address the biologically complex issue. More

CDC Offers Information on Antibiotic Resistance: The CDC offers information and infographics on healthcare-associated infections (HAIs), and the role antibiotic resistance plays in combating HAI's. More

Zika Virus Update: Interim Guidelines for Health Care Providers Caring for Infants and Children with Possible Zika Virus Infection. More

DO Represents the AOA at briefing on Arthritis' impact on Veterans:
Partnership with the Arthritis Foundation is the AOA's latest effort at increasing the profession's visibility on Capitol Hill. More


If you have an article or online resource you would like to share with the DO Family, please contact: Todd Ross, Manager of Communications 517.827.0615 - tross@domoa.org
 
In Memoriam






Feb. 15, 2016 saw the passing of Howard Rossman, DO

Feb. 4, 2016 saw the passing of Gerald Reznick, DO
Click here for a local obituary

Feb. 4, 2016 saw the passing of Jack Lighton, DO
Click here for a local obituary

Jan. 26, saw the passing of Wayne Meech, DO

Dec. 11, 2016 saw the passing of Joseph T. Rogers, DO

Dec. 1 of 2015 saw the passing of William A. Athens Sr., DO

Nov. 22 of 2015 saw the passing of Jesse J. Cardellio, DO

To see a list of all Michigan Osteopathic Association members who have passed, click HERE.
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
Manager of Communications
Michigan Osteopathic Association
517/827-0615
Michigan Osteopathic Association | 800.657.1556 | www.domoa.org