Message from the President Alesia J. Wagner, DO, FACOFP

(left) Dr. Kamajian receiving AOF's 2009 Physician of the Year Award.
(Below) Dr. Kamajian and Dr. Wagner.

Having recently returned from the AOA/ACOFP convention in New Orleans, I am proud to bring back news on the exciting accolades awarded to ACOFP-CA Board member, Steven D. Kamajian, DO, FACOFP of Glendale, California. During the annual American Osteopathic Foundation (AOF) Honors Celebration on November 1, 2009 in New Orleans, the Foundation selected Dr. Kamajian as their 2009 Physician of the Year.

The AOF Physician of the Year Award recognizes the extraordinary accomplishments of an osteopathic physician, who through their service brings a sense of pride to the profession, and whose actions promote the science of medicine and the betterment of public health. This individual exemplifies the best of what osteopathic medicine is all about. This award honors those who achieve greatness through integrity, commitment to service, and community involvement.

The following introduction given at the Honors Celebration eloquently describes Dr. Kamajian’s commitment and dedication to his patients and the osteopathic profession:

“As a private General-Family Practice physician from southern California, Dr. Kamajian has dedicated twenty-three years of his life to his patients, and brings a long history of volunteerism to the profession. He has been an active member of many local, state, and federal osteopathic organizations both in his specialty of Family Medicine and DO societies as a whole.

He has taught in both allopathic and osteopathic medical schools and serves as Medical Director for several nursing facilities. In 2006, he was elected as the first osteopathic Chief of Staff at Glendale Adventist Medical Center, one of the largest hospitals in southern California.

One of Dr. Kamajian’s greatest achievements was the creation of the Westminster Free Clinic some sixteen years ago. Since its creation, he has continued to drive 60 miles each way every Wednesday evening, after a full day’s work in his own office, to help those less fortunate. The Clinic does not just provide health care; it provides “life care” to those who visit the clinic. Through his efforts, the Westminster Free Clinic has grown from a one-man operation to a multimillion dollar a year facility supported by local, state, and federal grants. In addition to the Westminster Clinic, Dr. Kamajian has also runs free health clinics at churches in the communities of Glendale, Westlake Village, and Thousand Oaks.

Dr. Kamajian has established a trust and instilled confidence that “he” will always be there for the sick in need of care, whether they can afford to it or not. Many say that true wealth is not how much you have but how many you have touched. It seems quite apparent that Dr. Kamajian has touched thousands of lives and will continue to touch many more as time goes on.”


But the accolades do not stop here. In 2009, Dr. Steve Kamajian was named a top 10 finalist for the prestigious J.H. Kanter Prize for his exceptional work to minimize disparities in health care.. Dr. Kamajian was selected as a finalist from more than 50 practicing physicians submitted from around the nation, military and US territories.
Congratulations Dr. Kamajian.  Your dedication in optimizing U.S. health care for all patients, regardless of gender, ethnicity, geography, language, education, religion, employment, or insurance is inspirational and the light you are shining on osteopathic medicine in California and across the national is shining bright.

Alesia J. Wagner, DO, FACOFP ACOFP-CA President

 

Around California

Are Your Treating Your Computer Better Than Yourself?

Written on 11/11/2009 by Ali Hale


Most of us work and play at our computers. We might abuse them from time to time, but we try to take good care of them. We install virus-protection software, we carry our laptops in a special case, we reboot the computer when it’s getting slow, and so on. If something goes wrong – an odd error message, or the blue screen of death – we take action to fix it. Do you take such good care of yourself? Or do you end up working yourself into the ground, ignoring the first symptoms of problems?

Here are some dos and don’ts which are probably part of your computer’s regime: how about making them part of yours too.

Written on 11/11/2009 by Ali Hale

Read the complete article

 

 

Message from the Resident Board Member Laura Sobieck, DO

Tips for Staying Health this Holiday Season

With the Holidays right around the corner, I thought I would take some time to remind residents about ways to stay healthy. As residents, we are constantly advising our patients on ways to prevent illness but often our lives get so hectic that we do not remember to put these tips into practice in our own lives. Between the stress of being on-call, erratic sleep schedules and increasing patient loads from seasonal illnesses, residents are more prone to illness. Here are some helpful reminders about keeping yourselves healthy during the Holidays:

1. Do not allow patients to breathe on you! Remember to politely ask patients to turn their heads during an exam and cover their mouths when they cough or sneeze.

2. Wash your hands more often! We all know to wash our hands before and after examining patients, but don’t forget after touching door handles, railings, and other fomites.

3. Sleep! This one is easier said than done, but catch sleep whenever you can. For example, take a nap during a quiet afternoon on call because you never know what the night may bring.

4. Stay hydrated! Remember, we need at least 8 glasses of water a day when we are well. If we’re sick, we should be drinking at least 10-12 glasses of water a day.

5. Eat healthy. This is difficult when we’re stuck in the hospital and don’t have too much of a choice, but even taking a multivitamin a day, or replacing our vitamins with Emergen-C can help support our immune systems.

6. Stay connected! We know that health is not just physical, but also mental, so remember to stay connected with family and friends. Even an hour spent with friends can help you unwind and de-stress! It’s about quality, not quantity at this stage in our careers!

 


Message from the Student Board Member Allison Byrne OMS IV 


Hi, fellow students.

As many of you may or may not know, on October 16th, 2009, the FDA officially approved the Gardasil vaccine for males aged 9-26. This is only the first part of the process, which next entails a vote by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, which is expected to be a favorable vote due to positive clinical trials in males. This is the link for the article announcing this new use for the drug: http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm187003.htm.

I have been asked by several male patients during my 3rd and 4th years why this vaccine was not available for men, which prompted me to tell them that it was still being researched and hopefully the day would come when it would be approved. Be prepared to answer questions from parents and patients about this vaccine and get used to educating, because it is a mainstay of family medicine.

On another note, now that it is mid-November, I would like to wish all my classmates at Touro and all of my pseudo-classmates at Western good luck during this hectic match season! I hope interviews are going well, you are getting enough sleep, and are still learning great things while on rotations.


ACOFP-CA 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.

 

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In This Issue:

Message from the ACOFP CA President: Congratulations to Dr. Kamajian. Read my full message to find out why.

ACOFP CA Launches California Osteopathic Job Board. Members Can List and View Jobs for Free. (You will need to log in with your ACOFP CA member username and password - don't worry if you don't know them. The website can automatically email to you upon your request.)

ACOFP-CA Resources

Upcoming Events

Save the Dates

 

ACOFP 47th Annual Convention & Exhibition
New Dates! March 18-21, 2010
ACOFP 47th Annual Convention & Exhibition
Venetian/Palazzo Hotel
Las Vegas, Nevada

ACOFP-CA 34th Annual Scientific Medical Seminar
August 5-8 2010 Disneyland Hotel
35 credits pending AOA approval

ACOFP-CA Docs & Links

Distinguished Fellows Application

DO Advocacy Center

Fellows Application

National Buyer's Guide

 

ACOFP Board of Directors

Alesia J. Wagner, DO, FACOFP
President (2009-2011)
Canyon Country , CA

M. Jay Porcelli, DO, FACOFP
Immediate Past President & Secretary
Pomona, CA

Ernest H. Agresti, DO, FACOFP Treasurer
Roseville, CA

Linda M. Agresti, DO, FACOFP Convention Chair
Granite Bay, CA

Steve Kamajian, DO, FACOFP
Director
Montrose, CA

Jim Lally, DO, FACOFP
Director
Chino Hills, CA

Rick Hirsch, DO
Director
Upland, CA

Steven H. Barag, DO, FACOFP
Rancho Cucamonga, CA

Laura Sobieck, DO
Resident Downey Regional Medical Center

Allison Byrne OMS IV
Student @ Touro University-CA

Ethan Allen, DO, FACOFP
Director - Emeritus
Norwalk, CA

Volunteer Opportunities

If you would like to serve on a 2010 state or national committee or board, please contact Dr. Wagner at 661-678-2459 or alesia.wagner@ushworks.com