Osteopathic medicine in the news: Nov. 11, 2020

Two recent high-profile events—the media spotlight on White House physician Sean Conley, DO, and the backlash to an offensive FIGS ad that targeted female DOs—provided new visibility for the osteopathic medical profession. The expanded news cycle mobilized our osteopathic community in a tremendous effort to combat misinformation and set the record straight.

Placing DOs in top-tier news stories and broadcast interviews has long been an AOA priority. Expert physician sources weigh in on the news of the day, as well as contribute research and perspective that sets the news.

If you are interested in being featured as an expert physician source in content produced by respected news outlets, please email [email protected]. Where possible, we will try to match your expertise with the needs of the media.

The following is a sampling of recent articles that feature DOs. The AOA helped place DOs in some of these articles; others solicited a DO source without the AOA’s involvement. This is the first article in a new series sharing recent news coverage that features DOs. Additional news stories that feature DOs or osteopathic medicine are available here.

Women’s Health: This article about health habits that optimize immunity features the following quote from Lisa Ballehr, DO, an Institute for Functional Medicine certified practitioner: “I aim to get 20 to 30 minutes of movement every day. Consistent, moderate exercise allows your body to recover and build immunity quicker than over-exercising or not exercising at all.”

ABC News: A recent article featured reactions from moms of color to Vice President-Elect Kamala Harris’ historic win.

The article featured Ashley Denmark, DO, a family physician, children’s book author and philanthropist, and shared a quote from an interview Dr. Denmark conducted with Good Morning America, where she said: “To share [the] VP-elect’s historic election with my children was so refreshing because she mirrors us. She has broken barriers wide open, which will allow for Blacks, Southeast Asian, women, and [historically Black college and university] graduates to go through and follow in her footsteps.”

MedPage Today: This op-ed by AOA CEO Kevin Klauer, DO, EJD, addresses the recent media mischaracterizations of osteopathic medicine and provides clarifying information about osteopathic medicine. Key quote: “There is the implication, or in some cases outright claim, that doctors of osteopathic medicine (DOs) are less qualified than doctors of allopathic medicine (MDs). DOs are less common than MDs, but not less than.”

Medical Economics: This article about the future of telehealth quotes AOA President Thomas Ely, DO. In the article, Dr. Ely says that 25% to 30% of primary care patients can be seen via telehealth with satisfactory outcomes, but there’s still work to be done. “Physicians are going to have to develop best practices for using this technology, and the use of the technology must be incorporated into medical education,” [Dr. Ely] said. “What is still needed, however, is to ensure compensation is commensurate with the type of service provided.”

World Economic Forum: This Q&A about COVID-19 vaccines features Andrea Amalfitano, DO, dean of the Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine and a professor of pediatrics, microbiology and molecular genetics. Dr. Amalfitano delves into how the COVID-19 vaccine differs from a flu shot, whether we’ll need several injections and if we can scale it up.

Related reading:

Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, KHN and others cover osteopathic medicine after media missteps

Osteopathic medical profession fights back after CNN, MSNBC mischaracterize DOs