SOMA students and faculty meet with Arizona legislators
Posted: February 17, 2011
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The 2011 Arizona D.O. Day at the Legislature took place Feb. 15 in Phoenix, Ariz., at the state capitol. The day is sponsored by the Arizona Osteopathic Medicine Association (AOMA). Sixteen SOMA students; SOMA Dean Thomas McWilliams, D.O.; Craig Phelps, D.O., executive vice president for strategic initiatives, ATSU; and SOMA Professor Mitchell Kasovac, D.O., participated. Both Drs. McWilliams and Phelps serve on the AOMA Board of Trustees as vice-president and secretary/treasurer, respectively.
“Each year, there is coordination within the osteopathic community to set up a day for a lobbying effort to take place among osteopathic physicians and students and members of congress and staff,” said Dr. McWilliams.
SOMA students and faculty visited with Arizona Representative John Kavanagh, Senator Sylvia Allen, Senator Al Melvin, and Senator Nancy Barto as well as others to discuss health information exchange technology, ATSU, and healthcare reform. “The event was a great opportunity to create an awareness among legislators about ATSU, SOMA, and osteopathic medicine, “ said Dr. McWilliams. “Students’ interest and participation were high.”
“SOMA students were enthusiastic, helpful, and helped light up the faces and rooms of everyone visited,” added Dr. Phelps.
The national event, which focuses on healthcare reform at the national level (D.O. Day on the Hill), will be held on April 7 in Washington, D.C.