Michigan state Rep. Edward Canfield, DO, was first elected to public office in 2014. At the time, he told The DO that he had a desire to make a greater impact on his community.
“I tell my kids all the time, ‘We need to try to make a difference,’ ” Dr. Canfield said. “I want to show my kids that sometimes you have to serve. It’s not just all about making a living.”
Dr. Canfield and DOs in six other states will be providing a physician voice in their state governments in 2017. Here’s a list of DOs elected to state office. Beyond the following DOs, the AOA is not aware of other DOs serving in state office; please email
thedo@osteopathic.org if there’s a DO not on this list that the AOA should know about.
Kansas: Gregory Lakin, DO (R), was elected to his first term in the state House of Representatives.
Michigan: Edward Canfield, DO (R), was re-elected to a second term in the state House of Representatives. Dr. Canfield joined the Michigan House in 2015.
Missouri: Two DOs, Keith Frederick, DO (R), and James W. Neely, DO (R), will serve in the state House of Representatives. Dr. Frederick has served since 2011; Dr. Neely has served since 2013.
Ohio: In 2017, Terry Johnson, DO (R), will begin his fourth term in the state House of Representatives.
Oklahoma: Dale Derby, DO (R), was elected to his first term in the state House of Representatives, while J. Michael Ritze, DO (R), was elected to his fifth.
Texas: J.D. Sheffield, DO (R), was re-elected to the state House of Representatives, where he has served since 2013.
West Virginia: Samuel Muscari Sr., DO (D), won the county commissioner race in Wyoming County. Tom Takubo, DO (R), was elected to a four-year term in the state Senate in 2014.