We are 2 month-old and Happy New Year!

I wish you all a very Happy New Year, filled with Joy, Love, Health and Prosperity.

I would like to thank your readership. The beginning of the year marks the 2 month-old for http://www.eyedrd.org/. It has generated about 10,000 page-views and is currently ranked #1,687,242 in the world according to the three-month Alexa traffic rankings. The site has attained a traffic rank of 212,245 among users in the US. Not too bad for a brand new blog. We will really celebrate when we are under 1 million at Alexa.

EyeDrD has been mainly osteopathic issue driven, but its goal is broader than the osteopathic community. We have posted more than 63 blog entries: some of them are passionate letters supporting the osteopathic profession against bias and prejudice, some about eye care and some about things I just find interesting. I hope you have found them to be well-researched and referenced. Hopefully next year you will help to make this site survive and grow by contributing your thoughts and voices to be heard. I hope to make this a premier osteopathic blog. I hope to provide a forum for discussions on any issues, even how controversial it may be.

Despite http://www.eyedrd.org/ is still in its infancy, I would like to report some of the best posts of the site based on its traffic and its contents.

Texas Medical Association House Of Delegates (TMA HOD) refused to endorse an allopathic school at UNTHSC

The following resolution submitted by the Tarrant County Medical Society to TMA HOD held in Fort Worth Summer 2009. TMA HOD disapproved this resolution calling for the support of an allopathic school in Fort  Worth or on UNTHSC campus.

Resolution 301 A-10

Subject: Support for Allopathic Medical School in Tarrant County

Introduced by:  Tarrant County Medical Society

Referred to:   Reference Committee on Science and Education

Whereas, There is a national and Texas physician shortage of most specialties; and 

Whereas, Texas lags behind nearly every state in physician supply with 157 physicians in direct patient 

care to every 100,000 population compared with the national average of 220:100,000; and  

 

Whereas, The Texas population is expected to grow to over 28 million people by the year 2020, further 

exacerbating our physician shortage, especially in the primary care, psychiatric, and geriatric specialties; and 

 

Whereas, Texas currently has nine medical schools, most of which are planning to expand their 10 enrollment size and the newest school affiliated with Texas Tech cost our state approximately $67 million in start up costs ; and

Whereas, The Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine (TCOM) affiliated with the University of North Texas also is expanding its enrollment size to 250 per class in order to increase the numbers of medical  students who pursue primary care training; and 

Whereas, TCOM continues to produce outstanding medical school graduates who perform above the 95 percentile on COMLEX and USMLE testing; and 

Learning Medicine in France

The following is another guest post by Yveline Van Anh 

You have the power to change your future. Sure, some things are meant to be and fate does have play a role in it, but we only have so much luck. You have to go and grab those chances.

My mother left Vietnam at the age of 19, eight years after the end of the Vietnam War. Her family had attempted to escape via the sea mere days after the end of the war, but the ship's engine broke down just miles away from international seas where her family could be rescued from foreign ships. It took the next eight years for them to get a visa and be allowed to leave. She arrived in France in 1983 and was sent to Rennes where she lived in a refugee camp with the rest of her family for a year. Refugees from all over the world were there. Meanwhile, she was in a country whose language she did not know.

UNT student journal and North Texas Daily practicing censorship?

Recently, there was worldwide media coverage of China’s censorship of the award ceremony of the Nobel peace price won by Mr. Liu Xiaobo within the country. China even discouraged other countries from participating in the award ceremony by threatening repercussions if they sent representatives. Communist and dictatorial regimes try to shape public opinion by suppressing the opposing views.   They believe that by suppressing dissenting views, they can shape the public's opinion. But there are always at least two sides on any issue. For example, the debate of extending the Bush tax modifications is either considered a tax hike or as tax cut depending on who you ask. But it is important to have have the discussion so that both sides can express their views and perhaps bring more information to the debate.

The push for adding a second medical school in Fort Worth at University of North Texas Health Science Center (UNTHSC) does not escape to this rule. As UNTHSC is part of  University of North Texas (UNT) system, I posted few blogs from EyeDrD.org on the Facebook of UNT system and North Texas Daily in order to present the opposing viewpoints to the necessity and the wisdom of the establishment of a second medical school.

A week later those posts were deleted and removed I was removed as a fan from the Facebook sites of UNT and North Texas Daily. I can no longer post on their walls. I wrote a letter to the editor-in-chief of North Texas Daily to inquire about the censorship on December 13, 2010 and have yet to receive a response. These actions lead to me to conclude that these sites are trying to stifle any discussion on the UNTHSC medical school.

Analysis of informal polling results of the resolution calling for degree change to MD, DO degree

A resolution calling for formal polling about changing the DO degree to MD, DO generated more than 600 page views after the first week of posting.

The resolution was submitted by a group of DO students and DOs to the Student Osteopathic Medical Association.

In response to a high level of interest about the topic, an informal survey was attempted to gauge opinion whether a formal polling about the degree change should be established. The survey was posted in the student doctor forums and the Facebook sites of the osteopathic and allopathic communities.

After 7 days of polling, only 115 votes were cast.

New York Times: Medical Schools in Region Fight Caribbean Flow

For a generation, medical schools in the Caribbean have attracted thousands of American students to their tiny island havens by promising that during their third and fourth years, the students would get crucial training in United States hospitals, especially in New York State. But in a fierce turf battle rooted in the growing pressures on the medical profession and academia, New York State’s 16 medical schools are attacking their foreign competitors. They have begun an aggressive campaign to persuade the State Board of Regents to make it harder, if not impossible, for foreign schools to use New York hospitals as extensions of their own campuses.

The entire article can be read at New York Times

It is a very good article about the competition between US medical schools and off-shore medical schools for clinical training sites. New York State has been an attraction state for importing physicians and medical students from abroad. Some of the off-shore medical schools have big bucks, $100 million over 10 years, to pay the local hospitals for their students to do rotations.

Texas budget shortfall and addressing physician shortage

This is an interesting by Mike Norman from Star-Telegram

You ought to be able to cut $20 billion or more out of a two-year state budget that started out at $182.3 billion, right? That's what the Legislature apparently will have to do next year.The governor, lieutenant governor and current House speaker have been working on it for almost a year. It's an ugly task.

First,you don't really have all of that money to work with. More than half of it comes from federal grants and other sources that state leaders and legislators don't necessarily control, so you have to focus on "general revenue-related" funds.

That's $80.7 billion in the current budget. That number is already $1.6 billion less than what it was before the last Legislature worked on it, delivering a spending reduction for

only the second time since World War II.

You can read the entire article from Star Telegram.

This deficit number keeps rising as recently suggested to be $25 billion by Texas Tribune. A push for a new medical school in Fort Worth is unwise and uncalled despite the claims of “cost free” to the state. In 2010, Texas produced 1,404 medical graduates and has only 1,390 residency slots available.

Operational Cost Comparison between the allopathic and osteopathic colleges at Michigan State University

The following testimony by Dean Strampel givent to UNT Board of Regents in November 2009.

The Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine experience started in the late 1950s among the members of the Michigan Association of Osteopathic Physicians and Surgeons with the idea to form a new school. The osteopathic profession “taxed” each individual physician $200 a year for ten years to create the Michigan Osteopathic College Foundation and the school started as the private Michigan College of Osteopathic Medicine in Pontiac in the 1969.  However, it quickly became evident that it was not financially viable, and the profession almost immediately began lobbying for the school to become a public institution.

                                                               

In the meantime, Michigan State University had formed an allopathic medical school, the College of Human Medicine, in 1966 because it was attempting to achieve AAU status and this was a requirement. Because of the strong lobby within the state from the osteopathic profession and the need in the state for primary care practitioners (particularly in rural areas), the Michigan legislature was receptive to funding an osteopathic medical school, and in 1969 Public Act 162 ordained that “A school of osteopathic medicine is established and shall be located as determined by the state board of education at an existing campus of a state university with an existing school or college of medicine.” Of the three schools that qualified, only MSU offered the fledging college a home, and in 1971, the private MCOM was moved to East Lansing. This simple decision has created an interesting environment.

Why is there such a rush in creating a MD school within 2 year time span even though the accreditation process timeline (less than two years) is unrealistic?

According to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, the following residency programs in Family Medicine, Internal Medicine, General Surgery, Pediatrics, and Obstetrics/Gynecology are required for the establishment of an LCME medical school.  Currently, among the potential affiliated hospitals with UNTMD[1]:

• John Peter Smith Hospital has ACGME residencies in Family Medicine (dually accredited by ACGME and AOA), Emergency Medicine, Obstetrics/Gynecology, Orthopedic Surgery and Psychiatry (dually accredited by ACGME and AOA).
• Methodist Medical Center has ACGME residencies in Family Medicine (dually accredited by ACGME and AOA), General Surgery, Internal Medicine, and Obstetrics/Gynecology.
• Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital, HCA Plano Medical Center and Plaza Medical Center are in the planning process of starting up ACGME residency programs.
• Cook Children’s Medical Center and Baylor All Saints Medical Center are not interested in establishing residency programs.
• None of the potential affiliated hospitals is planning to establish a residency program in Pediatrics.  Would this pass the LCME requirement for accreditation?

Questions about the validity of hospitals' concerns for training DOs

The following letter dated on December 22nd, 2008 by Greg Smith, D.O., PhD, MDiv, FACOFP, TCOM Class 1983

I would like to respond to UNT awarding the MD degree at TCOM. I feel I have a unique perspective to speak, in that I am currently the associate Dean at our nation’s newest Osteopathic Medical School. I have 160 students that are honored to be allowed to be part of the Osteopathic profession, and proud to know that they will be entering into the one profession, who turns out a majority of their physicians as primary care providers.  Chancellor Jackson, to a man and woman they are proud of their DO degree, and have chosen it over an MD degree! We a health care crises looming, and in fact here; our nation is in dire need of primary care providers and the Osteopathic profession in general, and TCOM in particular has always met that need. Furthermore, I travel yearly to China, at the request of the Chinese government, because they see the value of the Osteopathic profession, helping them change their physician training toward primary care, where now they are only specialty driven.

As I have helped set up our Osteopathic school, in a state that for 120 years has been predominated by MD's, I have found all the private and city hospitals to being open to both my medical students and future residents in the Osteopathic profession.

Questions about the composition of the MD study group

The following letter dated on December 22nd, 2008 by Adam B. Smith D.O., FACOS

I am writing this letter in response to the “study group” appointed by the President of UNT-HSC to consider granting the MD degree at the institution which houses the Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine.

While this is an extremely emotional issue to me personally I will try to keep my points factual.  In order to provide background on myself I have included a Curriculum Vitae in additional to the personal points I will provide.

I grew up in Ardmore, Oklahoma which at the time was much smaller than it is now.  In my town I witnessed firsthand professional prejudice against Osteopathic physicians up until the late seventies and early eighties when there were just not enough qualified MD physicians to keep the hospital viable at which time the Osteopathic physicians in town who had quite successful practices were allowed to obtain privileges at the hospital.

 

Eye Health Stats

Sometimes I am surprised by some eye trivia. For example, the American Academy of Ophthalmology publishes some interesting and trivial facts about blindness and eye health. It is sobering to realize that eye care has progressed in the last 100 years and that we just now learning how to treat many of the eye maladies. But comparing the US to the rest of the world really shows how lucky we are to live in the United States.

Comparison between Michigan and Texas COM

The following Open Letter to UNT Board of Regents and Chancellor on March 29th, 2009

The recent public hearing at UNTHSC regarding the proposal to add an M.D. degree to UNTHSC clearly showed the passion among the osteopathic community for their heritage and the acknowledgement of the prestige of an M.D. degree held by the local business and hospital leaders. Proponents of the M.D. degree argue that it will bring prestige and research funding to the school.

Despite the general consensus that Texas College of Osteopathic College (TCOM) is a great success story, it is ironic that the proponents of the M.D. program are willing to waste resources of duplicating a parallel program to produce M.D. physicians instead of DO physicians. This is absurd in business sense and purely discriminatory towards the osteopathic community because M.D.s and D.O.s are all physicians, period!

Dr. Scott Stoll exposed the untrufullness in Dr. Ransom's Letters dated on Sept 14th and 25th, 2009

The following is a communication by Scott Stoll, DO, PhD
   Former Chairman of Department of Osteopathic Medicine-UNTHSC
   Former Tenured Professor-UNTHSC
   Former UNT Health Board Member
   Former Director of Physical Medicine Research Institute

Perhaps like many of you, I read with great interest and anticipation the letters recently written by Dr. Scott Ransom dated 9/14/09 and 9/25/09 (Official version of the MD school initiative timeline). Dr. Ransom distributed these letters via email to a wide audience of individuals invested both in the future of this campus and the provision of medical education in this community.  Overall, I am struck with somewhat conflicting impressions.  I am heartened by Dr. Ransom’s belated yet important effort toward truthfulness, however; I remain disappointed that Dr. Ransom does not directly acknowledge and accept responsibility for his deceptions which have so painfully divided our campus and community.  The latter part of Dr. Ransom’s letter dated 9/25/09 is a refreshingly direct depiction of the current rationale for an MD school at the UNTHSC, however; the misunderstanding and prejudice expressed are frankly embarrassing and insulting to the both MDs and DOs alike.  Our students, staff, faculty, community leaders and citizens deserve an honest and frank discussion of these issues.  Unfortunately, the atmosphere at UNTHSC still seems to preclude an open and honest debate.

The Debate over the DO degree Title: A call for osteopathic education reform

The debate over the letter perfect was covered by the DO magazine in 2008.

DO to OMD: is it right? by  Anthony Silvagni, DO, PharmD

The following is a call for reform of osteopathic education

Thanks to the efforts of osteopathic forefathers to gain equality with allopathic medicine at every level, osteopathic medicine has enjoyed its greatest growth over the past few decades. Unfortunately, the call for changing the DO degree title has become louder and louder; www.osteoreform.com has launched a grassroots campaign for change to MD, DO degree. Even though people entering this profession are well aware of its minority position in the medical field, they still choose it because they want to become a different and better kind of physician with a holistic approach to patient care. It is true that there is lack of public recognition of the DO degree, but the underlying lack of pride in the profession is the main reason because the profession has failed to train them to become a different kind of physician. It should be reminded that 15% of 2000 DOs in California refused to trade in their degree during the DO and MD merger in 1962 because they were proud of their professional skills despite blatant discrimination and limited access to care for their patients at that time.¹ Nowadays, graduating and practicing DOs see more similarities than differences with allopathic medicine, the perception that OMM is the only distinction separating the profession from allopathic medicine and the use of OMM has been in decline.² Sadly, extra 200 hours of OMM instruction to our students failed them miserably according to the examination of basic competence levels in Musculoskeletal Medicine by orthopedic standards designed by Freedman and Bernstein⁵; 70.4% of osteopathic students and 82% of allopathic failed the test.⁶

The comments posted regarding the survey in Sermo

The following are 21 comments generated by the survey:

Med/Peds

Not a DO. However, if the students want this change, why not change the osteopathic schools to allopathic schools and merge the governing bodies?

Pediatrics

Interesting concept. DO's are qualified to sit for both MD and DO board exams yet an MD can only sit for the MD boards as they lack OMT training. Many DO's chose osteopathic training for personal reasons and may not want the MD designation however.

Family Medicine

A while back, California (IIRC) offered to convert its licensed DO's into MD's. Many refused the offer. BTW, I'm an MD myself. Also, in Texas, three board members are supposed to be DO's, who have a lot of political power in the state.

Family Medicine

In a strange turn of events, the local Osteopathic medical school in Fort Worth, TX will soon be adding a MD degree to their program:

http://untsystem.unt.edu/news/09-November/09-11...

Survey Results of the Resolution calling for change to MD,DO

I posted the resolution put forth by Jacqui O'Kane calling for Degree Designation Change of DO to MD, DO. To many non-medical professional, this seems to be a trivial point. But to some of us doctors, out title is part of our identity. This question had been put out as a survey question in Sermo, a network of practicing MDs and DOs. Only 76 doctors responded in 48 hours.

Pre-determined outcome at the UNT Board of Regents Meeting

The following summary of the meeting in November 2009 by George Cole, DO, former TOMA president.

This has been a truly momentous week for TOMA and for the osteopathic profession. On Friday morning, your humble servant was joined by AOA executive director John Crosby, AOA president Larry Wickless, Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine Dean Bill Strampel, David Garza, Robert DeLuca, Jim Froelich, Scott Stoll and Joanna Gibbons in our effort to educate the UNT Board of Trustees regarding the risks of the allopathic degree proposal. The Academic Affairs committee of the board was chaired by Dr. Charles Mitchell, an orthopedic surgeon from Mesquite, who looked out upon a packed room of interested persons. Your representatives presented comprehensive information that included the historic relationship of TOMA and TCOM, the growth of the osteopathic profession in the U.S. and in Texas, the exorbitant costs of creating and maintaining an allopathic degree program, and the unintended consequences that could ensue from the massive commitment of UNT in underwriting this proposal. The Price-Waterhouse-Coopers report was summarized by their representative, and TCOM Provost Tom Yorio and president Scott Ransom delivered strong personal endorsements for the proposed degree.

After three hours of presentation of facts and opinions from both sides, the board took about 3 minutes to vote unanimously to continue planning for this venture.

Dr. Scott Stoll 's testimony at UNT Board of Regents

The following verbal testimony on November 20, 2009 by Scott Stoll, DO, PhD
                           Former Chairman of Department of Osteopathic Medicine-UNTHSC
                           Former Tenured Professor-UNTHSC
                          Former UNT Health Board Member
                          Former Director of Physical Medicine Research Institute

I am sincerely humbled and honored to be among such distinguished public servants and I appreciate this opportunity to address the UNT System Chancellor, Board of Regents and this audience. My name is Scott Stoll. I received my DO from TCOM and my PhD from UNT. Upon graduation from TCOM, I was awarded the Wayne O. Stockseth Award for the Most Outstanding Osteopathic Graduate and have proudly worn the watch to this day.

I am an osteopathic physician specialist. I am residency trained and am both MD and DO board certified. Next month, I will complete 20 years of service to the State of Texas through my work at UNTHSC. A little over a year ago, in September 2008, I was promoted to full professor with tenure in recognition of my efforts in teaching, research, clinical service, administration, and community engagement. My wife Myra and I give annually to a UNT College of Arts and Sciences scholarship fund as well as to the UNTHSC Foundation. As a proud alumnus, I bleed Eagle Green and was looking forward to another 20 years of service and retirement from the University of North Texas Health Science Center.

However, as you all know, the events of this last year have been difficult and traumatic for me and my family and left me with no real choice but to resign effective in January 2010.

Forbes lacks sensitivity to Salzberg's insults onto DO profession

After 6 weeks of insulting blogs posted by Dr. Salzberg on Forbes, Forbes has failed to respond to the outcry of the osteopathic community and its patients. Hundreds of letter to editor and comments, Forbes has remained silent on the issue. The least that Forbes could have done and can still do is to do a fair coverage of DOs' contributions to the healthcare of this great nation.


The following letter to editor of Forbes

Dear Editor:

I would like to bring to your attention about the 2 blogs posted by Dr. Salzberg on osteopathic medicine. The mispresentation in an insulting manner of osteopathic medicine as a profession has caused an uproar and comments on the blogs over the past few days. I do not know what motives behind the blogs against Osteopathic medicine are? is he trying to get notoriety? The two blogs have totalled 50,000 viewings and 310 comments.

Open Letter to UNTHSC Educators: Take a stand against discrimination!

Dear my former TCOM/UNTHSC professors and faculty members:

First, I would like to apologize to you all for taking the liberty to write to you about the issue that would affect the future of TCOM and UNTHSC. UNT Health Science Center leaderships have been planning to start up an allopathic medical school on campus for the past two years. The stated reasons for supporting of such a plan include the prestige of an MD school, potential of increase in research funding and clinical rotation sites.

I would like to extend my deep gratitude to you all for having been doing a great job of teaching us despite the limited resources at the early days. You have been instrumental to the success of TCOM, its graduates and students. TCOM has been ranked among the top 50 medical schools for primary care for the past 9 years and the students have achieved the highest average scores in COMLEX step 1, 2 and 3 for the past few years in a row. Recently, TCOM was placed at the top over all the medical schools in Texas according to the study of “medical social mission” published in the Annals of Medicine. You are actually helping to train physicians of the future responding to the health care needs of the state of Texas.

Dr. Scott Stoll: Longterm needs versus short-term gains

The following comments made at UNT Board of Regents, March 26th, 2009 by Scott Stoll, DO, PhD.

“My name is Dr. Scoït Stoll and Í am a Professor and Chairman at UNTHSC-TCOM. I am an alumnus and have had the honor and privilege of serving here for 18 years.

I would like to express my sincere appreciation to the Chancellor and the UNT Board of Regents for coming to Fort Worth to discuss the option of adding an MD degree program on the UNTHSC campus. I believe that the reason you have seen so many letters to public officials, editorials, lobbyists, and formal resolutions is that individuals apposed to adding an MD degree program were concerned that their voices would not be heard or listened to. This meeting helps to alleviate this concern.

“Caveat Emptor:” 'Personal Ambition is Not Answer to North Texas' Physician Shortage

Imagine having a low-cost yet highly effective antibiotic (TCOM DO's) to treat your infection (physician shortage). Then all of the sudden, someone, perhaps with initial good intention, hijacks the drug and tells you he's developing a brand-name medication (MD school) that is  equally as effective as your ole reliable antibiotic (DO school) and it's completely FREE?

Sounds incredible, right? Yet, this is exactly what Scott Ransom, DO, president of the University of North Texas Health Science Center (UNTHSC) in Fort Worth, Texas is proposing. Dr Ransom wants to give Texas and Tarrant County this new prescription (MD-designated medical school) at no cost even though the current one (TCOM’s DO-designated medical school) has been working great for four decades. How nonsensical is that?

Former president of TCOM alumni association supports osteopathic identity of UNTHSC

The following letter to UNT Chancellor on December 14th, 2008 by Jim Froelich, DO, TCOM class 1981, Former president of TCOM alumni association

The recent departure of Dean Marc Hahn from TCOM has caused great concern among many alumni.  Despite the verbiage describing his departure as a voluntary resignation, you and I know better.   Similarly, Dr. Palmarozzi’s removal seems uncalled for and has created great unrest and anger among her peers.  The leadership that Dr. Hahn and Dr. Palmarozzi have provided has been critical to the college.  They have established then maintained primary care, osteopathic orientation and highest quality education as the heart, soul and core of TCOM.  The loss of these fine physician administrators is regrettable and a major loss to TCOM and the HSC.

These and other events at the Health Science Center have brought to light several troubling questions concerning the leadership and direction of the HSC.  Since Dr. Ransom’s arrival, we have watched an exodus from TCOM of some of the finest osteopathic educators, physicians and researchers in the nation.  Unfortunately their replacements are much less oriented to osteopathic medicine and the bedrock of primary care.  Research and specialty training are displacing primary care as the educational focus and the “new direction” of the institution.  Is that by Dr. Ransom’s design, your design or is this “new direction” the course charted and supported by the UNT Board of Regents? 

Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine (TCOM)’s achievements and contributions to the health care needs of Texas

TCOM graduates make significant contributions to health care in Texas.  In a recent study of medical social mission[1], TCOM ranked best among the seven medical schools in Texas.  The study evaluated the numbers of “graduates who practice primary care, work in medically underserved communities or are themselves minorities.”[2]  This record of accomplishment and the institution that it belongs to should be celebrated and expanded to accommodate even more students.  UNTHSC should be proud that it already has a medical school that has graduated more than 3,000 alumni.  These graduates have served well the community in Tarrant County and Texas by producing 65 percent of its graduates specializing in primary care and 34 percent serving in small towns of fewer than 25,000 people. About 585 osteopathic (D.O.) physicians practice in Tarrant County, including 245 specialists and 340 in family practice. More than 36 percent of the primary care physicians in Tarrant County are osteopathic physicians.[3]

TX-ACOFP's support of osteopathic identity of UNTHSC

The following letter to DOs dated on December 22nd, 2008 by Nancy Chasteen, DO, President TxACOFP

I have been quiet for the past several weeks on the issue of the joint M.D. degree plan for UNTHSC. Initially, I had some strong feelings and made them known. I have read all of your letters, all of the information that has been gathered and the information and rationalization from Dr. Ransom.  I have not changed my mind from my first reaction.

There is nothing to be gained for the osteopathic profession, the people of the State of Texas, the school or our graduates in pursuing this course. Those resources that are now limited will only be further strained by being made to cover two programs. Osteopathic physicians, and especially TCOM graduates, have provided more primary care to the citizens of Texas proportionately than all the MD programs combined. The changes anticipated for medicine will rely even more heavily on primary care physicians. If we don’t have those doctors available, it leaves the door open for justifying the use of physician extenders to provide that care. This is something even the MD’s would not like to see happening.

Resolution calling for Degree Designation Change to MD, DO

The following resolution calling for a formal Poll for Degree Designation Change to MD, DO, Submitted by a group of DO students and DOs.

this resolution was defeated at SOMA spring convention 2010.

1. WHEREAS, According to a study conducted by the AOA in 2000¹, only 11% of Americans recognize the DO degree designation.  Although more may recognize it today, one can reasonably expect that the percentage continues to be in the minority, and

2. WHEREAS, Numerous other healthcare providers who are not fully licensed physicians are now designated “doctor,” including NMDs, DNPs, DPTs, DPMs, DCs, and ODs, and

3. WHEREAS, Other countries (such as Australia, Canada, and the United Kingdom) issue a DO degree that stands for “Diploma in Osteopathy,” and those who are granted this degree are limited manual medicine practitioners instead of fully licensed physicians. These similar degrees are confusing for everyone in the global medical community, and

Letter of hispanic support of osteopathic identity of UNTHSC

The following letter to UNT Chancellor dated December 19, 2008 on by Hector Lopez, DO, Commissioner USDHS Commission to End Health Care Disparities, AOA Chair Council Minority Health Issues

  

As a proud 81 TCOM class graduate, and TOMA’s first Hispanic President, I was amused with the whispered “allopathic TCOM change” rumors, but shocked to hear that two of TCOM’s premiere staff members had been terminated in order to accomplish a detrimental change of direction for our beloved Alma Mater.  I recall my father telling me that if our home was on fire, we better not stand around talking about it. Thus, I am glad that you will soon have a meeting of the minds to discuss this crisis of identity by our TCOM leadership and the future direction of UNTHSC.

Côte d'Ivoire : Gbagbo et Ouattara ont prêté serment

Côte d'Ivoire : Gbagbo et Ouattara ont prêté serment

There are two claimants for the presidency of Ivory Coast. The outgoing president Gbagbo, lost the election to Mr. Ouattara 46% to 54% according to the electoral commission supervised by the UN. However, the Constitutional Council, appointed by president Gbagbo, invalidated the electoral commission’s results and gave victory to the outgoing president. With the military support, Mr. Gbagbo was sworn in for a new term this morning.

The international community, the UN, USA, European Union and France, recognized the electoral victory of Mr. Ouattara, who is also recognized by the current Primer Minister of Ivory Coast. Mr. Ouattara sent a swear-in in writing this morning.

There is going to be chaos and violence in Ivory Coast. One should wonder when Africa should be able to get out the ordeals of dictatorship, corruption, and misery.

Letter of support of osteopathic identity of UNTHSC

The following letter dated on December 10th, 2008 by David Garza, DO,  FACOFP, FAAFP,

TCOM class 1989, President of TCOM Alumni Association 2008-2009, TOMA Board of Trustees, and Former President of Texas ACOFP

During their Fourth Quarter Board meeting on Saturday, December 6, 2008, the TOMA Board of Trustees overwhelmingly supported and then approved the following position statements in the form of motions from the floor.  I believe the first two were unanimous, and the third may have had one dissenting vote based on language, not intent.  They are as follows:

1)   The Texas Osteopathic Medical Association opposes the granting of an MD degree by the University of North Texas Board of Regents.

2)   The Texas Osteopathic Medical Association supports and re-affirms Texas statutes that prohibit the University of North Texas System from awarding the MD degree.

3)   The Texas Osteopathic Medical Association Board of Trustees supports the appointment of a task force to formulate an immediate course of action to address issues affecting the osteopathic integrity of UNTHSC/TCOM including, but not limited to, the concept of granting the MD degree by any entity of the University of North Texas System.

These motions were then discussed with the board members of the TCOM Alumni Association, who also agreed unanimously to support and echo TOMA’s position statements.  The minutes from the TOMA meeting can be found at their website at http://www.txosteo.org/.  I am sharing this information with you merely to keep you up to date with accurate information on this topic.  Thank you for your attention.

We have gone through this before

The following letter to UNT Chancellor dated on December 22nd, 2008 by Jay G. Beckwith, DO, MACOI

Let me extend Happy Holidays and best wishes to you and your family.  I am Jay Beckwith, DO, and would like to present a quick background on myself.

I received my undergraduate degree from Texas Christian University, attended Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine, and completed my rotating internship in Tulsa, Oklahoma.  I completed three years of internal medicine at Detroit Osteopathic Hospital and became a Fellow at Tufts Medical School in Boston, MA.  I was the first DO physician ever at Tufts Medical School.  After leaving Boston I taught and ran the GI Department of Kansas City College of Osteopathic Medicine and was voted Teacher of the Year.  I relocated to Fort. Worth, Texas and was Chairman of the Department of Internal Medicine at the hospital and taught at TCOM for over 25 years.  I was voted Teacher of the Year at your institution.  I was the last part-time employee of TCOM.  I still have students come through my service and have been involved in training residents and interns all of my medical practice.  I am Past President of the American College of Osteopathic Internists, a national organization.  I was chairman of the Fort Worth Air Power Council, a businessman’s organization limited to 200 members only by invitation, and have been the only doctor to be president of that esteemed institution. 

I write all of this not to flatter myself, but hopefully you will begin to see that the mail you have received or receiving now, and much more to come in the future, is from people with character, class, integrity, and not with a special agenda.

Man who lost his sight every time he had sex

A man was forced to seek medical help after going temporarily blind every time he had sex. No, this isn't a tabloid headline. It actually happens. The victim of this predicament never lost his sight with other strenuous physical activity except when he climaxed during intercourse. This is a rare but true phenomenon!  

 It was reported that was not due to embolism to the vessels (ophthalmic artery) supplying the eye as it is a recurring condition in this young man. It can be speculated that vasoconstriction of ophthalmic artery is the cause and the patient is treated with a vasodilator. I suspect that the patient may have an optic nerve with cup-disc at risk, meaning that the blood vessels traveling through a narrow space within the optic nerve. Vasodilator or baby aspirin could possibly help to prevent the transient mini-stroke/ visual loss in this patient and hot have to explain embarrassing health details to potential partners.

 You can see all more of the details here.

Question of the forced resignations of Dean Hahn and Department Chair Palmarozzi

The following letter dated on December 22nd, 2008 by John Jones, DO, TCOM class 1987, TCOM alumni association board member

The forced resignation of Dean Marc Hahn from his position at TCOM/UNTHSCFW was a huge mistake.  As dean, he had led TCOM to the number one position on COMLEX I and II CE, administered by the National Board of Osteopathic Medical Examiners.  Not only that, he also had oversight over great expansion in the college's impact and program development.  He was popularly supported by the alumni, because of his great leadership.  He has served the college and the university well.

Why have you allowed this to happen on your watch?

Dr. Stoll: Dr. Ransom’s inappropriate leadership and the resultant negative impact on UNTHSC culture

The following  memorandum transmitted to the UNT Board of Regents and Chancellor, on November 20, 2009 by Scott Stoll, DO, PhD.
                   Former Chairman of Department of Osteopathic Medicine
                  Former Tenured Professor-UNTHSC
                  Former UNT Health Board Member
                 Former Director of Physical Medicine Research Institute

This memorandum is intended to accompany my testimony delivered in front of the UNT System Chancellor and Board of Regents on Friday, November 20, 2009 regarding the MD Option at UNTHSC in Fort Worth.  The existence of an MD School in Fort Worth is no threat to TCOM.  The creation of an MD School outside of UNTHSC is also welcome.  It is only the creation of an MD School at UNTHSC and the associated initial and longstanding diversion of UNTHSC resources and attention which is harmful to our institution, city, county, region, and state.

It is clear that Dr. Ransom is committed to the goal of creating an MD School within UNTHSC regardless of the costs. 

Refractive Errors in the US

Refractive Errors: Some of us have to wear either glasses or contact lenses in order to see clearer. The corrective devices (glasses, contact lenses, and magnifiers) help to bring the image onto the retina. There are four typical refractive errors, which cause our vision to be blurred if we do not wear corrective devices.

• Myopia or nearsightedness--Close objects appear sharp but those in the distance are blurred. The eyeball is longer than normal from front to back, so images focus in front of the retina instead of on it.
• Hyperopia (hypermetropia) or farsightedness--Distant objects can be seen clearly but objects up close are blurred. The eyeball is shorter than normal, so images focus behind the retina.
• Astigmatism--Objects are blurred at any distance. The cornea, lens, or both are shaped so that images aren't focused sharply on the retina.
• Presbyopia or aging eye--The eye loses its ability to change focus due to the natural aging process. This usually occurs between ages 40 and 50.

Dr. Stoll's Tenure Resignation

The following resignation dated September 4, 2009 by Scott Stoll, DO, PhD.

I hereby resign my tenured faculty position at UNTHSC effective January 31, 2010. Over these next 5 months, and thereafter as appropriate, I will do everything in my power to assist you (or the new dean) to make a smooth transition of my responsibilities to whomever you deem appropriate.

I began medical school here at TCOM in 1985 and, with the exception of my PM&R PGY2-4 years off campus, have studied or worked at this institution ever since. I am an alumnus of TCOM for my medical degree, UNT for my graduate degree and OMCT for my internship. I have served as chairman of the Manipulative Medicine Departmental and Executive Director of the Physical Medicine Institute for over 10 years and have progressively worked my way from Assistant to Tenured (F1111) Professor. I have received millions in competitive federal research grant funding. As a clinical department chairman, I have been a member of the board of the UNTHSC clinical practice plan this entire time. I have always maintained an active clinical practice and have positively contributed financially to my department and the institution. This year alone, I have generated YTD over $370,000 in clinical revenues and show a surplus of revenue over expenses (profit for UNTHealth) of over $100,000. I have been extensively involved in teaching medical students, fellows and residents every year since I began Working at TCOM and have now accumulated 20 years of service to UNTHSC and the State of Texas. Until recently, I believed that I would spend my entire career and retire from UNTHSC.

Dr. Stoll's resignation from TCOM Dean Search Committee

The following letter by Scott Stoll,DO, PhD August 9, 2009

I would like to resign my position as Co-Chairman of the TCOM Dean Search Committee and terminate any further service to this committee effective immediately. As you know, I became profoundly disappointed by a series of deceptive communications and actions put forth by the top administration at UNTHSC in the late fall of 2008. I found this lack of leadership integrity to be tremendously damaging to this institution I accepted this position in January of 2009 as a sign of my good faith and hope for an improvement in the integrity of UNTHSC top leadership. I have continued service to this committee despite an ongoing lack of acknowledgement by this leadership of any wrongdoing or any evidence of contrition. Unfortunately, this president continues to manipulate the truth as a means to his own ends. This leadership method has persisted and has been refined to the point that I cannot in good conscience continue service to this important TCOM Dean Search Committee as I believe my participation in this selection process in part facilitates the deceptions.

A series of assessments of UNTMD from a leadership insider

Dear Readers:

I have tried to wrap up the UNTMD issue as the lack of credibility of the UNTMD financial plan was exposed.  I do want to move on to cover other issues. However, I have just learned the “old news” about the process of how the UNTMD business plan was developed from a longtime insider. The MD study group was set up as a farce as the decision had already been made prior to its establishment.

I am going to post a series of Dr. Scott Stoll’s communications to the UNT Board of Regents and UNTHSC community. These communications from a longtime insider like Dr. Stoll will provide us how a university administration really functions and the kind of leadership that UNTHSC currently has.

We're one month old

Dear Readers:

This week marks the one month-old date for EyeDrD.org, I would like to thank you all for coming reading this blog website. The site has attracted more than 2500 page views. I would like to convey my deep gratitude to my friends, who have provided technical support, editing and designing of the blog posts. I am also deeply appreciative of a few post guests who have helped to start this blog.

The blogs have been emphasizing on the issues on osteopathic medicine and the future direction of my alma mater, the University of North Texas Health Science Center. The site has been able to educate the public about the relevance and the contributions of osteopathic medicine to healthcare needs of the nation. Also, I have used it as a forum to inform the public of Texas about the credibility (rather the lack of) of the proposed second medical school in Fort Worth.

The blogs have been first-class quality and have been able to attract the publications of its commentaries in Star Telegram and in the Brownsville Herald. Gruntdoc.com and KevinMD.com have also been gracious to pick up the debate of physician shortage in Texas provided by EyeDrD.org. I want to thank them for their support. Studentdoctor forums and google have been the main sources of traction to the EyeDrD.org. I have learned a lot from them.

The website’s intention is to provide a forum for discussion of all ranges of issues, not limited to medicine or osteopathic medicine. I would welcome any guest posting and let have your voice or opinion to be heard.

Sincerely,
Tayson Delengocky

Letter to Chairman of UNT Board of Regents

The following letter by Charles Hall, DO, TCOM graduate 1985

Chairman Smith:

I am responding to the letter just emailed to me concerning the establishment of an MD School across from the Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine.   If in fact, you have more facilities for another 100 medical students, then they should be osteopathic medical students. Why? 

The faculty and education plan is already in place to train more osteopathic medical students who are trained to be far better at fulfilling the rural and urban medical needs of the Texas patient populations.  The Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine has received many awards verifying the acceptance and  fulfilling the challenge of providing the medical care of rural Texas, as well as the urban and metro areas.