Ronnie B. Martin, DO, FACOFP-dist. to be Inaugurated as the 55th President of the ACOFP (2008-2009)

DENVER, March 3 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Ronnie B. Martin, DO, FACOFP-dist. of Parker, Colo., will be inaugurated as the 55th president of the American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians during the 45th ACOFP Annual Convention and Exhibition scheduled for March 12-16 in Denver, Colo.

For more than 50 years, the 25,000-member organization has been advocating for the health and welfare of patients served by osteopathic family physicians through its mission of "promoting excellence in osteopathic family medicine through quality education, visionary leadership and responsible advocacy."

Dr. Martin also has firm beliefs in the importance of access to timely, quality and appropriate healthcare for all patients and the importance of wellness and preventative medicine practices.

He dedicated his early professional career to the service of his patients by practicing osteopathic family medicine primarily in rural and underserved settings, while his more recent efforts have been concentrated on the promotion of public health, advocacy for osteopathic medicine, the advancement of osteopathic medical education and supporting osteopathic family physicians.

What Makes D.O.s Unique?

Osteopathic physicians are one of only two groups of physicians who are licensed and qualified to practice medicine and surgery in all 50 states. The practice of osteopathic medicine is as diverse as the professionals who choose the profession.

Osteopathic medicine has a century-old tradition of caring for diverse groups of people, often in rural and underserved locations. It has a traditional emphasis on family medicine and primary care, but the profession has also grown to become a scientifically based, outcome-directed profession.

Osteopathic family physicians continue to honor their history and heritage by maintaining emphasis on treatment of the total patient, concentrating on wellness and preventive medicine and focusing on the relationship between structure and function.

D.O.s utilize a patient-centered style of practice by working with their patients to foster healthy lifestyles through the prevention of illness rather than the treatment of disease. They use Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment (OMT) to promote the body's natural ability to heal itself.

Changing the Colorado Landscape

In 2006, Dr. Martin was selected as Chief Academic Officer and Dean of Rocky Vista University College of Osteopathic Medicine, a new state-of-the-art educational facility slated to matriculate its first class of osteopathic students in August. The college, located in Parker, Colo., will be Rocky Vista University's pioneer program. The university also has plans to establish healthcare education programs for professionals in fields such as nursing, pharmacy, physician assistants and public health for the state of Colorado and the Mountain West Region.

"Rocky Vista University is committed to osteopathic philosophy and heritage, serving the needs of our students, faculty and patients today as well as into the future, and advancing both the science and art of the practice of osteopathic medicine across the state," said Dr. Martin.

The Man Behind the Mission

Dr. Martin, a board-certified osteopathic family physician, is a 1974 graduate of Southwestern Oklahoma University College of Pharmacy and a 1979 graduate of the Oklahoma State University of Osteopathic Medicine and Surgery. He completed his post-graduate training through the Rural Consortium of Enid Regional Hospital and the Tulsa Regional Hospital.

Dr. Martin practiced family medicine and was engaged in the clinical education of medical students and graduates in both Enid and Tulsa, Okla. from 1980 until leaving active practice in 1999 to pursue a full-time career dedicated to medical education. After serving as Chairman of the Department of Family Practice at Des Moines University College of Osteopathic Medicine from 1999 to 2001, he became Chairman of the Department of Family Medicine at Nova Southeastern University College of Osteopathic Medicine in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. in 2001. In 2003, he was promoted to the position of Associate Dean for Academic Affairs at Nova Southeastern University College of Osteopathic Medicine.

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Source: Rocky Vista University College of Osteopathic Medicine

CONTACT: Sarah Goertz of the Rocky Vista University College of
Osteopathic Medicine, +1-303-373-2008, ext. 109

2008-03-03 18:19:41 0303467 PRNEWSWIRE