DO - Ohio University College of Osteopathic Medicine

Noteworthy
Ronald Moomaw, D.O (‘80), will join other renowned experts on the National Commission on Correctional
Health Care to draft recommendations for improving the quality of health care in jails, prisons and juvenile
confinement facilities. Moomaw’s three-year term on the 38-member commission begins in
October 2006. At that time, he will join one of seven task-oriented committees charged with
establishing best practices for correctional health care, monitoring correctional health-care services
and ensuring a high standard of care at correctional facilities. Moomaw, who has been involved
in correctional health-care issues throughout his career, is currently chief psychiatrist for the
Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections. He also served on the governing boards
of several correctional facilities in Ohio, including Oakwood Correctional Facility in Lima.
Moomaw joined the OU-COM Society of Alumni and Friends as a board member this year.
Keith Watson, D.O., associate dean for graduate medical education, chaired the steering committee of the first
osteopathic medical education summit held in Chicago Jan. 26-29. The summit, which was funded by the
Osteopathic Heritage Foundations, American Osteopathic Association and American Association
of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine, brought together a gathering of 70 policymakers, administrators,
educators and physicians to participate in frank discussions about the future of osteopathic
medical education and a potential critical shortage of physicians by the year 2020, as projected
by the federal Council on Graduate Medical Education. As chairman, Watson was responsible for
overseeing organization and direction of the summit. The summit examined four key areas
affecting medical education: 1) workforce; 2) recruitment, particularly for medical schools and
graduate medical education; 3) funding issues for medical education and postgraduate training
programs; and 4) defining standards for evaluating the quality of medical education.
As a member of Ohio Gov. Bob Taft’s Medicaid Administrative Study Council, Brian Phillips,
chief information officer for OU-COM, will have a hand in enhancing health-care services in the
state. Tasked with examining the administration of Ohio’s Medicaid program and coming up
with a plan for creating a new Medicaid department, the council has until Dec. 31 to issue a
final report. The General Assembly is expected to enact recommendations into law by July 1,
2007. Phillips’ was appointed, in part, because of his background in health information technology
and his current work in computerizing medical records.
George F. Dunigan, OOA and OU-COM director of government relations, received the 2006 Ohio Osteopathic
Association Meritorious Service Award in June. The award, the highest honor that the association confers, recognizes
outstanding accomplishments in scientific, philanthropic or other fields of public service. Dunigan
has been an advocate for osteopathic medicine for the past 31 years. As a lobbyist for the Ohio
Osteopathic Association he was instrumental in securing passage of the 1975 legislation calling
for the creation of an osteopathic medical school at Ohio University. He helped the profession
build support for OU-COM among state lawmakers. He continues as an advocate today, working
daily with key governmental officials at the state and national level on policy issues related to
medical education, Medicaid, workers compensation and professional liability insurance.
Larry Robinson, D.O. (‘02); Benjamin Forrester, D.O. (‘03); Darnell Ladson (‘03); Suzanne Morgan, D.O.
(‘04) and Jean Rettos, D.O. (‘04), were named 2005 Humanism and Excellence in Teaching Award recipients.
This honor, which the Arnold P. Gold Foundation sponsors, recognizes residents who have excelled at teaching
and exhibited a high level of compassion toward patients, families, students and colleagues.
–Joy L. Rodgers and Kevin Sanders
summer 2006 3