Stephen C. Shannon, DO, MPH
President

Annual Meeting to Address Critical Concerns, Landmark Opportunities

Next week, the osteopathic medical education community will gather in North Bethesda, Maryland, for AACOM’s 2009 Annual Meeting. Now projected at just over 400, the attendance will constitute our largest gathering to date, excepting last year, when our numbers also included the Association of Osteopathic Directors and Medical Educators.

Some of you may think it’s strange that we have attracted such high attendance in this year marked by a significant economic crisis, but I believe the numbers reflect a recognition that our nation’s health care and medical education systems are at a critical crossroads. Never have we confronted more complex challenges—from finding a voice in the national debate on health care reform, to maintaining the highest level of educational quality in our fast-growing enterprise. At the same time, we have been given an opportunity to access monies related to the new Administration’s stimulus package that will allow colleges of osteopathic medicine to pursue research and educational initiatives that are important to our profession, and to our health care system’s future. And, a growing positive awareness of osteopathic medicine and medical education gives us all the ability to have a greater impact on the students and the communities we serve.

We have had great success in organizing Annual Meeting programs around these areas, and I hope you will take a moment to view our online program. A few highlights:

Keynote Speakers:

• John Howe, III, MD, President and CEO, Project HOPE, on Global Health Care Issues and Trends.
• Neera Tanden, JD, Counselor for Health Reform, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, on National Health Reform
• Mary Wakefield, PhD, RN, Administrator, Health Resources and Services Administration, on HRSA in an Era of Health System Reform.
• Howard Fineman, Newsweek political columnist, on The New Administration and the First 100 Days.

And, we recently confirmed the following special session:

Tapping into the Stimulus Package: A Conversation with Key Funders

Join your colleagues for a special session with representatives from some of the medical education community's largest funding agencies. Hear how they are currently expanding their programs as part of the new Administration's American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, and what funding mechanisms are becoming available.

• Daniel G. Mareck, MD, Director, Division of Medicine and Dentistry, Bureau of Health Professions, Health Resources and Services Administration
• Jean Slutsky, PA, MSPH, Director, Center for Outcomes Evidence, Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
• John Bartrum, JD, MBA, Associate Director for Budget, National Institutes for Health (Invited)

But just as important will be the opportunity to spend time talking with one another, sharing strategies and innovative ideas, and enjoying the tremendous collegiality that remains a hallmark of osteopathic medical education.

There truly has never been a more important time for us to gather, and I hope I will be able to welcome you at the conference next week. Note that while online registration is now closed, you may register onsite at the conference hotel.