Ohio Speaker Davidson, First Lady Taft Among Recipients of Phillips Medal at OU-COM's 25th Anniversary Convocation September 9
Note: For more information or to arrange interviews with medal recipients, please contact Kevin Sanders, writer/editor, at (740) 593-0896. Photos (300 dpi) of Phillips Medal recipients are available via Internet delivery at
www.oucom.ohiou.edu/media/davidson.jpg;
www.oucom.ohiou.edu/media/taft.jpg;
www.oucom.ohiou.edu/media/wood.jpg; and www.oucom.ohiou.edu/media/vincent.jpg
ATHENS, Ohio (September 1, 2000) -- On Saturday, Sept. 9, Ohio House of Representatives Speaker Jo Ann Davidson will deliver the keynote address at Ohio University College of Osteopathic Medicine's (OU-COM) 25th annual Convocation Ceremony. The ceremony -- which takes place at 11 a.m. in Nelson Commons -- welcomes OU-COM's entering class of medical students.
In addition to welcoming OU-COM's Class of 2004, Dean Barbara Ross-Lee, D.O., will present the college's highest honor, the Phillips Medal of Public Service, to four recipients. The Phillips Medal of Public Service is awarded to those individuals who have made outstanding contributions to
health care, education and public service.
This year's recipients are Davidson; Douglas Wood, D.O., Ph.D., president of the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine (AACOM); Hope Taft, Ohio's First Lady; and Richard Vincent, chief executive of Osteopathic Heritage Foundations. Among the past recipients are former Ohio Gov. James Rhodes; former U.S. Sen. John Glenn; former Democratic presidential nominee Michael Dukakis, J.D.; and William Anderson, D.O., surgeon, civil rights leader and past president of the American Osteopathic Association.
During ten terms in the Ohio House of Representatives, five years of which as speaker, Davidson concentrated a significant portion of her efforts on health-care reform. Under her leadership, the General Assembly passed legislation to make it easier for small businesses to afford health insurance for their employees, improve access to obstetrical care and eliminate outdated regulations that were impeding health-care delivery. In 1991, the National Republican Legislators Association named Davidson "Legislator of the Year." Also in 1991, she was inducted into the Ohio Women's Hall of Fame. In 1992, she was given the YWCA "Women of Achievement" award and last year she won the Good Housekeeping Award for Women in Government.
Wood began his career as a D.O. in 1966, when he graduated from the Kansas City College of Osteopathic Medicine. He began residency training at Mount Clemens General Hospital in Michigan and, after completing his residency, spent 17 years in the hospital's hemodialysis unit. At Mount Clemens, Wood was appointed to serve in several positions including director of medical education, director of comprehensive health educational systems and program director of internal medicine residency training programs. In 1985 he was named "Outstanding Nephrologist" by the Michigan Kidney Foundation and was honored by the state of Michigan for his contributions to the diagnosis and treatment of kidney disease. After earning his Ph.D. in 1986 from Wayne State University in Detroit, Wood became associate dean, and eventually dean, of the Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine. Since becoming president of the AACOM, Wood has lead a crusade for medical education reform through his position at AACOM as well as through his membership on the Council on Graduate Medical Education and as executive preceptor of the administrative medicine program at the University of Wisconsin.
First Lady Taft has shared her concern and wisdom through volunteer work. Her outstanding efforts have led to the establishment of Citizens Against Substance Abuse, Ohio Parents for Drug Free Youth and the Ohio Alcohol and Drug Policy Alliance. She has also worked with Cincinnati Restoration Inc., a mental health agency, and the President's Commission for Drug Free Communities. In recognition of her efforts, Taft as been given numerous awards including Cincinnati Enquirer's "Woman of the Year," the Golden Rule Award for Outstanding Volunteer Service by J. C. Penney, the F.B.I. director's "Community Leadership Award," the Oak Tree Award from the Ohio PTA and the Peace of the City Award from the Jewish Community Relations Council of Cincinnati. Because of her labors in the fight against drugs, Taft received the National Leadership Award from Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America and the Parent Award from Parents Resource Institute for Drug Education. In 1996, she was inducted into the Ohio Women's Hall of Fame.
In the past 30 years at Doctors Hospital of Columbus, Vincent has helped to bring about many forward-looking, progressive changes in the administration of health care. During his time as president and chief executive officer there, Doctor's Hospital expanded its health delivery system to include more than 20 affiliate and subsidiary corporations and has served a proportionately higher number of uninsured and underserved patients than its competitors. Under his leadership, Doctors Hospital became a founding member of the Centers of Osteopathic Research and Education (CORE). Vincent has also served on many organizations including the Columbus Area AIDS Coalition, the Central Ohio Council of Boy Scouts and the Franklin University Alumni Board. He has been awarded many honors such as Alumnus of the Year by Franklin University, the Trustees' Award by the Ohio Osteopathic Association (OOA) and the Award of Merit by the American Osteopathic Healthcare Association. He also currently serves on OU-COM's Advisory Board.
The Phillips Medal is named for Jody Galbreath Phillips and her late husband, J. Wallace, both longtime friends of Ohio University. It has been awarded to outstanding men and women since the college's inception in 1976. Participating in the ceremony along with Ross-Lee will be Alison Clarey, D.O., former president of the OOA, and William Burke, D.O. ('88), executive vice chairman of the Ohio University Alumni Association Board of Directors.
Also held at the Convocation Ceremony is the presentation of the annual Standard of Excellence Awards, which are awarded to college personnel who have made outstanding contributions to the college's achievements and visibility over the past year. Ross-Lee will present awards to Diana Arnold, technical director of cardiovascular lab; Audrone Biknevicius, Ph.D., associate professor of anatomy; Rosemary Butcher, records management officer; Steven Clay, D.O., assistant professor of geriatric medicine; John Coen, assistant coordinator of CHIP; Lynn McCormick, director of business operations; and Elaine Soper, Ph.D., coordinator, faculty and curriculum development and Northwest CORE administrator.
Students will give tours of OU-COM from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. on Sept. 9. The tours leave from the lobby of Grosvenor Hall on OU's West Green.
For more information on the convocation program, contact Chip Rogers, director of advocacy, at (740) 593-2174.
