Member Spotlight Archive
Lessons from the 2011 elections
A few statewide ballot measures, two governors’ races, some statehouse elections and a smattering of local races — Tuesday’s low-turnout, off-year elections hardly illuminated the 2012 election landscape.
Read more: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1111/67979.html#ixzz1dKcAFzWY
Physicians Getting Involved
Emergency physician, Joe Heck, DO is challenging Dina Titus for the 3rd congressional seat in Nevada. Dr. Heck graduated from the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine and completed his residency at Albert Einstein Medical Center. In addition to being an emergency physician in Henderson, Nevada, Dr. Heck also serves as an active member of the United States Army Reserve where he commands a U.S. Army Hospital. Most recently, Dr. Heck served as a state senator for the 5th district of Nevada from 2004 to 2008.
Recent polling shows Dr. Heck leading in the race by 3 points (48 - 45). Political experts have moved this race from “Lean Democratic” to “Toss-up.” Let us work together in order to help elect the first osteopathic physician to Congress! Please visit Dr. Heck’s website, www.heck4nevada.com, and offer your support.
Two DOs to run for U.S. Congress in November
The Osteopathic Political Action Committee (OPAC) is dedicated to electing and re-electing pro-physician candidates to Congress. This year, we have a unique opportunity to achieve this mission within the osteopathic profession.
In Florida and Nevada, two osteopathic physicians have the opportunity to become the first osteopathic physicians in history to be elected to U.S. Congress.
Florida 17
Rudolph “Rudy” Moise, DO is a family physician running for the open seat in the seventeenth congressional district of Florida. Dr. Moise was born in Port-au-Prince, Haiti and moved to the United States at age 17. Dr. Moise graduated from the Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine. He later earned a MBA and JD from the University of Miami. Dr. Moise also holds a Flight Surgeon Degree from the US Air Force School of Aerospace Medicine and serves as a Colonel in the U.S. Airforce Reserve. Currently, Dr. Moise faces nine other competitors in the August 24th primary. Please visit Dr. Moise’s website, www.rudymoise.com, and offer your support.
Joe Heck, DO, an emergency physician, will challenge Dina Titus for the third congressional district of Nevada. Dr. Heck, a Pennsylvania native, graduated from the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine and completed his residency at Albert Einstein Medical Center. In addition to being an emergency physician in Henderson, Nevada, Dr. Heck also serves as an active member of the United States Army Reserve where he commands a U.S. Army Hospital. Dr. Heck was a state senator for the fifth district of Nevada from 2004 to 2008. Please visit Dr. Heck’s website, www.heck4nevada.com, and offer your support. It is important that the osteopathic profession unite behind Drs. Heck and Moise in their bid for U.S. Congress. Now more than ever, we need a voice for osteopathic physicians in the United States Congress. It is time that the osteopathic community be represented by having the first DOs elected to Congress. Let’s do our part in helping our fellow DOs.
Nevada 3
Come see us at the OPAC Booth!
The Osteopathic Political Action Committee (OPAC) has a presence at all major meetings throught the year. At the Board of Trustees Meeting, House of Delegates, Convention, and several other meetings, you may stop by the OPAC booth and renew your annual OPAC membership, get your club sticker, pick up your latest OPAC diamond pin (awarded for lifetime giving), get information about the OPAC and the Club Receptions, or simply discuss the latest happenings in Washington and how it applies to the osteopathic profession. The picture is Charles Cascio, OPAC Director, at OMED in New Orleans earlier this November. We look forward to seeing you at all of the major meetings; just look for the white captiol dome that says OPAC!
Owen Vincent, OMS III, “Most Politically Active Osteopathic Student”
On July 17, during the OPAC reception at the annual House of Delegates meeting, the scholarship winner for the "Most Politically Active Osteopathic Student" was announced. Every spring, Osteopathic medical students complete a questionnaire and write an essay pertaining to the importance of being a politically involved student and how this has impacted their peers and their campus.
Owen Vincent, OMS III, from Lincoln Memorial University-DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine was awarded the "Most Politically Active Osteopathic Student" scholarship.
Owen serves as the public relations representative and webmaster for the Council of Osteopathic Student Government Presidents (COSGP). For the past two years, Owen has participated in DO Day on Capitol Hill. He also has coordinated fundraising drives for the American Cancer Society, advocated public health through the SOMA Unity Project, and engaged over twenty student organizations to complete community service projects and charitable donations.
According to Owen, "Medical student involvement in health policy will mean the difference between the maintenance of an informed physician population and the evolution of a politically active one."
Travis Snyder
Travis Snyder, a 3rd year osteopathic medical student at Touro University-Nevada was recently elected as the Director of Political Affairs of the Student Osteopathic Medical Association (SOMA). In 2005, he served as the Director of Political Affairs of the Nevada Chapter of SOMA. He has also been actively involved with in the Touro University Osteopathic Medical Student Government Association, serving as his class Vice President and Chief Financial Officer in 2006, and Parliamentarian in 2007.
Tyler Cymet
Physicians don’t often see themselves as politicians. However, in today’s world of increasing healthcare costs, politics can be as much a part of the osteopathic profession as medicine. Tyler Cymet, D.O., understands this fact. As an 11th District candidate for the Maryland Democratic State Central Committee, Dr. Cymet is taking political activism to the next level.
Robert Juhasz
Robert Juhasz, D.O. first learned of OPAC in the early 1990’s at the AOA House of Delegates and, understanding the importance of political involvement, has been a strong supporter ever since. In July 2005, Dr. Juhasz was elected to serve as a “member-at-large,” a two-year position created to rotate active members onto the OPAC Board.
Joseph Kuchinski
The U.S. Senate race in New Jersey is one of the most hotly contested races in the country. New Jersey Emergency physician Joseph Kuchinski, D.O. knows this election, like many others, will directly affect his life as an osteopathic physician. That is the main reason why Dr. Kuchinski recently hosted a physician fundraiser at his home for Republican nominee Tom Kean.
James Lally
James Lally, D.O., MMM, FACOFP is a busy man. As the President, Chief Medical Officer, and Director of Osteopathic Medical Education at Chino Valley Medical Center, his professional responsibilities leave few opportunities for other activities. However, Dr. Lally disputes the notion that busy people do not have time to be politically involved.