Foundations' Funding Endows Research, Supports
Health Policy at Ohio University College of Osteopathic Medicine
Contact: Gary Snyder, OU-COM, at 740-593-2199
ATHENS, Ohio (June 16, 2000) -- The Osteopathic Heritage Foundations have committed more than $1.7 million to fund the establishment of a research chair position at the Ohio University College of Osteopathic Medicine (OU-COM) and to support the college's health policy fellowship initiatives.
According to Rick Vincent, foundation president, "the chair will be named in honor of a former foundation trustee." It will be created through a $1.5 million award, the largest commitment ever made to the osteopathic college in its 25-year history. This osteopathic medicine research endowment will allow OU-COM to attract one of the nation's top research scholars who will further the shared mission of the foundations and the college: to improve health care and quality of life in communities through education, research and service.
"The Research Chair will have a terrific impact on our ability to attract a preeminent medical researcher," said Barbara Ross-Lee, D.O., OU-COM dean. "This award raises the research profile of the college and the osteopathic profession, and aligns with Ohio University's goal to expand research capabilities and gain greater recognition as a major player in the research world."
According to J. Richard Costin, D.O., a trustee of the Osteopathic Heritage Foundation board, "the osteopathic college was chosen for the award because of its success in addressing the health care needs of Ohioans."
"We're very proud of OU-COM and the role the college plays in medicine in Ohio. We look at this as having a long-term effect and supporting medical research well into the future," said Costin. "We selected OU-COM also because of their ongoing research activities and the long-term opportunities for the future. We hope our support will set an example for others to follow."
In addition to the research chair endowment, the Osteopathic Heritage Foundations also awarded OU-COM $234,000 to further the work of the Osteopathic Heritage Health Policy Fellowship Program. The foundations will partner with OU-COM, which coordinates the fellowship, to train osteopathic physicians and allied health professionals in policy issues that impact health care on local, state and national levels.
"The osteopathic profession has done very well at health-care delivery to patients, but we need to look at the broader picture," said Vincent. "We have not done enough with regard to health on the societal and governmental levels. This fellowship program will continue to develop the osteopathic leaders that are needed in health policy."
The Osteopathic Heritage Foundations consist of the Osteopathic Heritage Foundation, the Osteopathic Heritage Foundation of Nelsonville, and the DH Foundation. The foundations comprise the largest and pre-eminent foundation structure promoting the osteopathic philosophy, and strive to make the communities they serve the healthiest in America.
The mission is to improve the health and quality of life in the community through education, research and service consistent with its osteopathic heritage.
The foundations work proactively with other agencies in identifying areas or issues where the investment of resources can make a significant difference in community health, quality of life, osteopathic medical education and research.
