Our Board

President's Message: Aug 22, 2021

Greeting FOMA District 7 Members, Associate members and LECOM Students,    

I am hoping all of you are enjoying the hot summer weather and are safe and healthy.  Unfortunately, I was also hoping with the roll out of the COVID 19 vaccines at the start of this year that infection rates, along with hospitalizations and deaths would be at best, minimal and our interactions would be nearly back to normal.   With the current spike of COVID infections and the resistance of many against getting vaccinated just the opposite has occurred.  
Hospitalizations in Sarasota County, along with many other counties in Florida, have seen near capacity admissions and increasing death rates. Because of this rise in COVID infections, it is with sadness that I have recommended to cancel the September dinner meeting for our FOMA District 7.   I encourage all who have not been vaccinated to get a vaccine, as well as advising all our patients, family members and friends to get vaccinated.   I don’t see any other way currently to marginalize this virus other than vaccinations.    

Our district society was able to have an outdoor event in June, prior to the uptick in new COVID cases, at Bayfront Park on Anna Marie Island.   It was a beautiful day, and the location was gorgeous.   Fun times and games along with good food were had by all.  Thank you to Linda Kunke and Dr. Tom Quinn for organizing this event for our members.  We hope to have more family events like this in the future.     

Your FOMA District 7 board continues to meet, and we are full steam ahead with our eleventh, FOMA District 7 Seminar, on Saturday, November 6, 2021, at the LECOM campus in Lakewood Ranch, Florida.   Being a licensure year, we will be including all 5 hours required by the State of Florida, as well as 3 very interesting lecture topics for a total of 8 -  1A  AOA hours.   This is an important fund raiser for our district society as well as a good time to connect with colleagues and visit our local osteopathic medical school, LECOM.   Lunch will also be provided.  Please make every attempt to attend this event as well as tell your colleagues and associates.  The conference is opened to all D.O., M.D. and P.A physicians and physician assistants.   As always, students and residents are welcomed at no charge.  Linda Kunke has been mailing out, via E-mail and postal mail, registration forms.   Please call if you have not received a form.        

This summer, Dr. George, Dr. Kaufman, LECOM medical student Desteni Barnes and myself, attended, by ZOOM, the AOA House of Delegates meeting, July 16-18, 2021.  Florida’s very own, Dr. Joseph Giaimo, D.O, MACOI, FCCP, was elected AOA President.  Join me in wishing Dr. Giaimo the best of luck as our new AOA President. Highlights of the meeting can be read on the AOA website.        The next meeting of the FOMA Board of Executives, and the FOMA House of Delegates will be in September 2021 and will be attended by which I will attend along with Dr. Kaufman.  If there are any issues or concerns you would like me to bring up, contact me any time prior to the meeting. I will keep you updated.    

It is also with great joy and happiness that I, along with all those associated with FOMA District 7 congratulate Dr. Ken Webster on his “official” retirement from the PCOM and HCOMS as executive director.  You may remember that Dr Webster was instrumental in revitalizing our district.  We wish Dr. Webster many years of joy and good health in his retirement.      

In closing, I hope all members and associates stay safe and remain healthy.   If FOMA District 7 or the FOMA state society can be of any assistance, please do not hesitate to reach out to either Linda Kunke or myself.   I also hope to see many of you at our FOMA District 7 seminar on November 6, 2021.

Sincerely,
Dr. Joseph A. Sassano, D.O.President, FOMA District 7

President's Letter (August 2021)

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President Letter (Summer 2021)

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President's Letter (April 2021)

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Covid 19 Letter

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