Friday, April 14 • 2023

The OSMA 2023 Annual Meeting kicked off Friday evening at the Renaissance Hotel Polaris in Westerville. Official Annual Meeting business started with meetings of the AMA delegation, Young Physician Section, and Focus Task Force on State Legislation. Additionally, members enjoyed annual dinners for the OSMAPAC Board and Trustees Dinner, and Past Presidents gathered offsite for dinner also. To round out the night, the OSMA Foundation hosted a special reception, complete with a silent auction. Those in attendance were able to socialize and mingle with peers while enjoying refreshments and learning about the Foundation and its recent activities, including the Summer Scholars program.

Saturday, April 15 • 2023

The OSMA Annual Meeting and House of Delegates had an extremely productive day of policy work on Saturday, beginning with the opening session of the House of Delegates at 9am. Members kicked off the business at hand with numerous introductions and recognition of guests, leadership, exhibitors, and sponsors. Resolution Committee #1 began its open hearing around 10am, and once all testimony was complete around 11:30am, the committee went into its closed session. Resolution Committee #2 started its open hearing before lunch.

OSMA held a legislative update over lunch. Monica Hueckel, OSMA VP of Advocacy, provided information on OSMA’s current advocacy efforts, and gave a call to support the OSMAPAC. The OSMA Physician Advocate of the Year award was presented, honoring Dr. Alan Levy for his years of service as the Chair of the OSMA Focused Task Force on State Legislation, and the OSMAPAC Donor of the Year award was presented, honoring Dr. Karen King for her years of service leading the OSMAPAC Board of Directors. Resolution Committee #2 restarted their open hearing just after 1pm and their closed session started before 2pm. Once all reports were complete and approved by Committee chairs, the reports were made available to the OSMA HOD online for review before Sunday’s session.

At 4pm, the OSMA Advocacy Boot Camp was presented by Monica Hueckel and Joe Rosato, OSMA Director of Government Relations. Attendees learned about the legislative and regulatory processes and got a crash course on how to be an effective, successful advocate for their profession and their patients and earned free CME. Afterwards, members enjoyed a networking reception and immediately before the inauguration, several medical student poster presenters were given awards.

The OSMA Past Presidents in attendance ceremonially passed the Presidential medallion ending with Dr. Lisa Egbert, Immediate Past President, finally placing on Dr. Eric Drobny. Dr. Egbert issued the oath of office to Dr. Drobny as he was inaugurated as the next OSMA President, and members celebrated afterward with a reception and refreshments.

Sunday, April 16 • 2023

The final day of the OSMA’s Annual Meeting started off at 9:30am Sunday with the opening of the House of Delegates.The business of the House kicked off with numerous reports and presentations to provide updates to the HOD, including regarding the OSMA Budget, credentialing, and approval of the 2022 House of Delegates Minutes.The House established a quorum with 98 seated delegates.

Next on the agenda were elections.

Elizabeth L. Muennich, MD, PhD, FAAD was elected OSMA President-Elect by acclamation.

District Councilors were also re-elected by acclamation:

• District 2 – Shannon Trotter, DO
• District 4 – Karl Fernandes, MD
• District 6 – Denise Bobovnyik, MD
• District 8 – Marla Haller, DO

At-Large Councilors election results were reported, with John Corker, MD, Gary Katz, MD, and Anne Taylor, MD being elected by the statewide at-large vote.

AMA delegation elections were conducted live via electronic vote. The following were elected:

• John Corker, MD
• Louito Edje, MD
• Gary Katz, MD
• Christopher Paprzycki, MD
• Andrew Rudawsky, MD
• Christopher Wee, MD
• Colette Willins, MD

The following AMA Alternate Delegates were elected:

• Anthony Armstrong, MD
• John Bastulli, MD
• Stephen House, MD
• Tani Malhotra, MD
• Shannon Trotter, DO
• Carl Wehri, MD

Resolution Committee #1’s consent calendar was adopted with the exception of 1 extraction, which was pulled from the calendar for further discussion. It was ultimately, by vote of the House, not adopted. An additional resolution previously adopted as part of the consent calendar was asked to be reconsidered by the House, but by vote of the House, the reconsideration motion did not pass and the resolution was adopted as part of the Consent Calendar as amended by Resolution Committee #1.

Resolution Committee #2’s consent calendar was then adopted, with the exception of 4 extractions. The first two extractions were amended by addition and then adopted as amended. The third extraction was proposed to be referred to Council instead of being adopted as amended by the Committee but referral was voted down. An additional amendment was proposed after the referral motion, and that amendment was accepted, after which point the resolution was adopted as amended. The fourth extraction had a proposed amendment, and was also proposed to be referred to Council. The referral motion did not pass, and neither did the proposed amendment. The resolution was not adopted, as recommended by Resolution Committee #2. This concluded the activity of the HOD, and the Annual Meeting finished with a meeting of the OSMA Council.

Other Happenings

April 2023

OSMA Alliance Annual Report by Jennifer Scerbo, OSMA Alliance President

Under the leadership of Immediate Past President Tom Swan, the Alliance has resumed in person meetings with a virtual option as an alternative.  Our theme for this past year has been healthy minds, healthy bodies.

Lake County Medical Alliance hosted the OSMA Alliance September 15-16th for our yearly Fall Focus meeting. We kicked off our meeting on Thursday with a few optional activities including hiking and walking up the Observation Tower at Holden Arboretum, a happy hour at Taproot Yoga studio, and dinner outside on a local restaurant’s patio. Friday the 16th we met at University Hospital’s TriPoint Physician Pavilion and learned about the Ohio Opioid Education Alliance’s Beat the Stigma campaign, participated in chair yoga, received an update from Todd Baker, CEO of the OSMA, enjoyed learning abut the Physician Tribute Garden and walking on the Physician Wellness Walk on the hospital’s property, conducted a brief business meeting, and wrapped up our time together with a brainstorming session with Jacque Daley-Perrin about the OSMA Foundation Well-Being CARE Service.

I attended the OSMA Foundation event in Independence on Tuesday October 25th to represent the OSMA Alliance as well as learn more about the https://www.osmawellbeing.org/ anonymous survey.

Our first meeting of 2023 was held virtually on January 31, 2023. On Thursday March 9th, we met at the Columbus Medical Association where Todd Baker helped us brainstorm our future as an organization as well as ways to collaborate with the OSMA. Some members joined us virtually.

We will be hosting our 82nd Annual Meeting in Columbus the evening of April 27th for an optional dinner at Cap City Fine Diner at Bridge Park and then an all-day meeting at CMA on Friday April 28th. Kathy Harter will be installed as the next OSMA Alliance President with guest appearances by the OSMA and our American Medical Association Alliance President, Jacqueline Nguyen.

We appreciate our partnership with the OSMA.

With gratitude,
Jennifer Scerbo