Jan D. Zieren, D.O., MPH, FACOFP, dist.
2010 – 2012 Arizona Society of ACOFP President
What a treat to step into this position of presidency for the next two years. I am so pleased to follow Dr. Brad Downing – his two years were quite successful and I fully intend to continue a working relationship with him as past president.
Our focus the past two or years have been to mobilize and revitalize the AzACOFP. Dr. Downing has led our board to new heights with increased board members, increased attendance, increased student and resident representation, increased projects and increased acknowledgement. We now want to increase communication to the members, increase the number of members and involve the members to take ownership of this organization – showing the medical community who we are and what we can do. Please send your feedback to Dr. Zieren, on the website at www.acofp-az.org.
In my travels as ACOFP president-elect and president over the last two years I had the opportunity to see other states and their organizations, leadership, membership and activities. What a difference the number of members can have on a group’s impact. But the best memories were the small states coming in to their own and their energy and dynamics to become a viable presence.
AzACOFP is here to represent the voice of the Arizona osteopathic family physicians, to provide power via numbers during advocacy issues or concerns and generate enough value that students, residents and practicing physicians are proud to be members.
Part of our value is our association with the Arizona Osteopathic Medical Association (AOMA) and our national ACOFP. There is strength in numbers and the support we have through these two organizations magnifies our purpose, voice and power. We value these associations and many of our members hold dual membership. The overlap is not redundancy, but reinforcement and augmentation to help further our causes and our needs. This helps put the family in Family Medicine as we have shared together over the years and intend to do so in the future.
With two osteopathic schools here in the valley, we are improving our link with each of them and connecting with the students while their dreams of practicing medicine are still formative. We hope to share many of the positive aspects we can of Family Medicine before other rotations, cynical views, or passivity to not participate in the aggressive “fix for the future” catches up with them. The students who do choose primary care specialties are quite intelligent, well-rounded, and appreciative of challenges. They are energetic and assertive – demonstrating leadership qualities early on. I am as proud as a mother hen when my chicks (students who have precepted in my office) choose Family Medicine and keep me posted for the years that follow.
The most important point I would share at this early time of my presidency is our need to hear from our members as to what they see, feel or hear from their viewpoint – through letters, emails, the website, phone calls, meetings, or board members. We truly want to increase communication to the members and from the members – making our AzACOFP a member organization to be proud of – viable, valuable and vocal.
Jan D. Zieren, D.O., MPH, FACOFP,dist. Arizona Society President (right) presents Jami Beckman with the Arizona Society of ACOFP Wayne Garrison, D.O. Award, recognizing for her dedication to family medicine. Dr. Beckman who will be participating in a family medicine residency in Arizona. Dr. Beckman has been active in the student chapter for the American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians (ACOFP), and also participated in extracurricular community service activities. The award was presented on June 3rd at the Midwestern AZCOM Senior Banquet.
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