OSTEOPATHIC HEALTH POLICY FELLOWSHIP

The Osteopathic Health Policy Fellowship is pleased to announce the graduation of John Paulson, DO, PhD, of Joplin, MO, as a member of the 2019-2020 class. Dr. Paulson, Chair of Primary Care Medicine at the Kansas City University of Medical Biosciences at Joplin, joins the ranks of more than 260 osteopathic physicians and other health care professionals to complete the national program that prepares leaders to engage in the formulation, analysis, and advocacy of policy that seeks to improve population health.

John Paulson, DO, PhD

During the Fellowship year, participants typically attend an intensive five-day academic orientation before beginning a regimen of nine three-day weekend seminars. Seminars are rotated among osteopathic colleges and the Washington, D.C., area. Between monthly seminars, Fellows complete extensive reading, research and writing assignments. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2019-2020 Fellows experienced an extended year. Beginning with orientation in August of 2019, face-to-face sessions were held as scheduled through February. As the pandemic developed, and the personal risk of travel and facility closures became apparent, the remainder of the year was completed virtually, with graduation held on December 6, 2020. Although presenting more challenging than the traditional year, the experience of incorporating the fast pace of emerging policy issues provided opportunities not previously experienced in the history of the program.

Established in 1994, alumni of the program have served as policy advisers in public and private forums to the profession, legislators at the local, state, and national levels, diverse health-centered institutions, and other health leadership groups. The program has distinguished itself by creating a prepared leadership bench and network for important roles in the future of osteopathic medicine and healthcare. Graduates of the program join a cadre of health policy experts from which the profession can draw to staff committees and task forces at the federal and state levels, testify on issues relevant to osteopathic medicine and education, and develop policy positions.

The AOA, AACOM, specialty colleges, and state and regional associations have supported the program continuously since its inception. The Osteopathic Health Policy Fellowship is primarily funded through the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine, along with support from the Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine and CONSULTUS Health Research Group. For additional information on the Osteopathic Health Policy Fellowship, please visit https://www.aacom.org/reports-programs-initiatives/leadershipinstitute/osteopathic-health-policy-fellowship. Questions may be directed to OHPF Co-Directors, Dr. Dan Skinner of Ohio University’s Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine (skinnerd@ohio. edu), and Dr. Al Pheley of CONSULTUS Health Research Group (alpheley@gmail.com).