California ACOFP Member e-Newsletter

Date

	IN THIS ISSUE:
		California Legislative What's New in February
		Career Listings
		Fellows Designation
		D.O. - Did You Know?
		Campus News
		Become a Fellow

	CA-ACOFP Resources
		CA-ACOFP Mission Statement
		CA-ACOFP staff
		Upcoming Events
		Volunteer Opportunities

	Save the Dates
		CA-ACOFP 34th Annual Convention
		ACOFP 45th Annual Convention
		DO Day on Capitol Hill

	CA-ACOFP Docs & Links
		Distinguished Fellows application

		DO Advocacy Center

		Fellows application

		National Career Center

		National Buyer's Guide

		State Officers Listing


If you are having problems viewing the e-mail, click here. February 2008 President's Message As the President for CA-ACOFP I want to welcome our new members, and thank our current members for renewing in 2008. I invite you all to attend the ACOFP 45th Annual Convention & Exhibition,March 12-16, 2008 at the Hyatt Regency in Denver, Colorado. Set aside time for updating your skills as an osteopathic family physician and to refresh yourself under the clear Colorado sky. The convention offers 30 1-A Credit Hours of CME, the Convention will feature a Day of the Kidneys and Arteries, a Day of the Heart, A Day of the Airways, a Day of Mind and Metabolism, and a Day of Medical Business. Also don't forget to make your calendars for the California Society ACOFP 34th Annual Convention and Family Medicine Update, August 7-10, 2008 in Anaheim, California. 2008 Presidential Candidate Health Care Proposals: Side by Side Summary We all know that the presidential candidates vary greatly in disclosing their health care plans for the country. Some candidates have issued detailed proposals, others claim they are coming. For OFP's to make an educated decision about who to vote for, they need the facts. But finding the facts is somewhat difficult. I recently discovered an online side-by-side comparison of the candidates' positions on health care. This comparison is prepared by the Kaiser Family Foundation with the assistance of Health Policy Alternatives, Inc. and is based on information appearing on the candidates' website's with additional information compiled from candidate speeches, the campaign debates and news reports. The sources of information are identified for each candidate's summary (with reference links). The comparison highlights information on the candidates' positions related to access to health care coverage, cost containment, improving the quality of care and financing. The web site states that the information will be updated regularly as the campaign unfolds. To create a custom presidential candidate health care proposal side-by-side summary, click here. Let's educate ourselves and then let's vote. Congratulations to Steve Barag, DO and Mark Schneider, DO who will become ACOFP Fellows during the upcoming ACOFP 45th Annual convention & exhibition in Denver,Colorado. We're proud of you! Sincerely, M. Jay Porcelli, DO, FACOFP dist 2008-2009 CA-ACOFP President P.S. California Legislative - What's New in February Bill Targeting Drug-Resistant Staph Infections Introduced in California Legislature The debate in Sacramento shifted from health care reform to Medi-Cal the week of February 8 after a state official revealed that about 160,000 children could lose coverage under Gov. Schwarzenegger's proposed budget cuts. The Senate Health Committee killed a compromise health care reform deal prompting some lawmakers to push for a piecemeal overhaul that might focus on expanding health insurance coverage for kids.
D.O. Did You Know?
CA-ACOFP donated $500 to OPSC for the development of a promotional osteopathic video clip. CA-ACOFP hosted a reception in October 2007 in San Diego for the ACOFP National Board of Governors. CA-ACOFP dues increased to $100 in 2008, to fund the hiring of staff and increase communications. A by-laws change will be submitted to you for your approval in August 2008 - the addition of a Student Academic Officer and the approval of Dr. Leslie Baladjay as the Academic Resident Officer on the Board. Presently, osteopathic physicians consist of one fifth of the physicians in the U.S. Armed Forces.

California Campus News
According to a September 2007 nationwide survey by Hispanic Business Magazine, COMP was recognized as the number one medical school for Hispanics in Southern California. COMP ranked second to Stanford in California and eighteenth nationwide on a point system for enrollment, faculty, student services, retention rate and reputation.

CA-ACOFP Career Listings
If you have a job opening that you would like to post, send the details including job description and contact information to CA-ACOFP Editor. The job listing will be posted in the next CA-ACOFP e-Newsletter.
CA-ACOFP & ACOFP Upcoming Events
Save the Dates!!! August 7-10, 2008 California Society ACOFP 34th Annual Convention and Family Medicine Update. “Best CME in the West” Anaheim, California - Disneyland Hotel 36 CME credit hours
Still time to Register - ACOFP 45th Annual Convention & Exhibition
March 12-16, 2008 ACOFP 45th Annual Convention & Exhibition Hyatt Regency Denver Denver, Colorado Online Registration Open Set aside time for updating your skills as an osteopathic family physician and to refresh yourself under the clear Colorado sky at the ACOFP’s 45th Annual Convention & Exhibition, March 12-16, 2008. Offering 30 1-A Credit Hours of CME, the Convention will feature a Day of the Kidneys and Arteries, a Day of the Heart, A Day of the Airways, a Day of Mind and Metabolism, and a Day of Medical Business. Extend your stay with a pre-Conference ski trip in the nearby Colorado Rockies.

DO Day on Capitol Hill, Washington D.C.
April 24, 2008 AOA/ACOFP DO Day Registration Now Open Quick Poll Click here to answer our quick poll: Are you seeing an increase in the number of patients using herbal medicines? Click here to see the results submitted to date.

Become an ACOFP Fellow Designee
Choose to be a leader in the Osteopathic Profession. Become an ACOFP Fellow Designee. Let's double the number of Californians to receive the Fellow Designation in 2009. If you are interested, please let Dr. Porcelli or Dr. Agresti know that you need a sponsor. Preparation and Application Process All you need is a current Fellow to sponsor you, and you are on your way. If you are interested, please let Dr. Porcelli or Dr. Agresti know that you need a sponsor. To earn the FACOFP or FACOFP dist. designation, an application must be submitted by your sponsor satisfying professional experience and education requirements along with an unpublished scientific paper pertinent to family practice and suitable for publication. ACOFP has partnered with TweakMyWords.com to offer ACOFP Fellow designee candidates reduced rates for professional editing from an experienced osteopathic medical editor. Submit your draft scientific paper to TweakMyWords.com for assistance in creating a product worthy of earning the FACOFP designation and publication in the Osteopathic Family Physician News. *Current FACOFP or FACOFP dist.* Designees Choose the future leaders in the Osteopathic Profession. Nominate an exemplary OFP to become an ACOFP Fellow.** Current FACOFP or FACOFP dist. designees interested in nominating an ACOFP member for the Fellows designation, nomination forms are available by calling 800-323-0794, or by e-mailing your request to fellowsinfo@acofp.org.

CA-ACOFP Staff
Ashley Costa Administrator for the CA-ACOFP acofpca@aol.com ph: 916-780-4749 Belinda Bombei Writer/Editor for the CA-ACOFP editor@TweakMyWords.com www.TweakMywords.com

CA-ACOFP Mission Statement To promote and advance the standards of family practice in the field of osteopathic medicine and surgery. To be the leader in the osteopathic profession in the provision of primary care. To promote access to health care to the American public. To enhance the public's awareness of services rendered by osteopathic family physicians. To encourage and improve the educational opportunities for the training of family physicians in osteopathic medicine and surgery.
Volunteer Opportunities
If you would like to serve on a 2009 state or national committee or board, please contact Dr. Porcelli at 909-622-5353.

Send us your news! The CA-ACOFP is the e-newsletter for and by our members. Please e-mail personal success stories or editorials items of interest to osteopathic family physicians to CA-ACOFP Editor