Friday, April 4 • 2025

The OSMA 2025 Annual Meeting kicked off Friday at the Renaissance Hotel Polaris in Westerville. Official Annual Meeting business started with meetings of the AMA delegation and Focused Task Force on State Legislation. New this year, the OSMA Senior Physicians Section held an education offering, "Cardiology as it Affects the Over 65 Age Group". Members also enjoyed annual dinner gatherings for the OSMAPAC Board and Trustees and Past Presidents.

To round out the night, the OSMA Foundation hosted a reception. Those in attendance were able to socialize and mingle with peers while enjoying refreshments and learning about the Foundation and its recent activities, including updates on the Well-Being Care Service and the Summer Scholars program. This year, the Foundation’s Summer Scholars Program awarded 8 medical students:

• Aidan Butler – University of Toledo School of Medicare
• Sophia Danchine – Wright State University Boonshoft School of Medicine
• Sarah Dickman – University of Cincinnati School of Medicine
• Jad Elharake – The Ohio State University School of Medicine
• Stephanie Fink - Wright State University Boonshoft School of Medicine
• Ashni Patel - Wright State University Boonshoft School of Medicine
• Ali Osman – Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine - Dublin
• Adeline Whaley – Northeast Ohio Medical University

Additionally, attendees received an update on the Surekha and Deepak Kumar Endowed Fund for Emerging Physician Leaders & Advocates. Dr. Deepak Kumar challenged Annual Meeting attendees to give to the Fund in order to support residents and young physicians pursuing goals related to advocacy for the practice of medicine and reach the endowed fund goal of $100,000. Thus far, over $70,000 has been raised for granting young future physicians monetary assistance for advocacy summits and events such as the American Medical Association National Advocacy Conference (AMANAC).

Saturday, April 5 • 2025

The OSMA Annual Meeting and House of Delegates had an extremely productive day of policy work on Saturday, beginning with the opening session of the House of Delegates at 9am. Members kicked off the business at hand with numerous introductions and recognition of guests, leadership, exhibitors, and sponsors. Resolution Committee #1 began its open hearing around 10am, and once all testimony was complete, the House took a break for lunch.

OSMA held a legislative awards presentation over lunch. The 2024 OSMAPAC Donor of the Year award was presented to Dr. Robert Kose. Dr. Kose is a longtime member of OSMA and a longtime PAC supporter who has consistently contributed $1,000+ each year to the OSMAPAC to help support OSMA’s advocacy agenda and to help support elected officials who are allies to the practice of medicine. OSMAPAC honored and thanked him for his many years of service and dedication. 

Next to be presented was OSMA's Physician Advocate of the Year Award, which recognizes an individual or individuals who have demonstrated the ability to effectively advocate at the local, state and/or federal levels on behalf of their profession and patients. The physician advocate goes beyond their primary role of providing clinical treatment to their patients by advocating for the well-being of their profession, patients and communities in which they serve.

This year, OSMA honored Dr. Shannon Trotter. Dr. Trotter went above and beyond in her advocacy work over the past year, making extraordinary efforts to be active in organized medicine. She has consistently shown her commitment to advocacy for her patients and profession outside of the patient care setting by serving as a critical part of OSMA and ODA’s ongoing efforts to pass legislation in Ohio which would limit the use of indoor tanning for minors. Dr. Trotter has testified at the Statehouse numerous times on this issue and been an integral resource for the advocacy team, helping to educate elected officials and work to advance this legislative priority. Her dedication is boundless and she will no doubt continue this fight to protect Ohio’s youth from increased risks of skin cancer posed by indoor tanning use.

After lunch, Resolution Committee #1 went into their closed session. Resolution Committee #2 started their open hearing around 1:30pm and their closed session started at about 2:45pm. Once all reports were complete and approved by Committee chairs, the reports were made available to the OSMA HOD online for review before Sunday’s session.

At 3:30pm, the OSMA Advocacy Boot Camp was presented by Monica Hueckel, OSMA VP of Advocacy, and Joe Rosato, OSMA Director of Government Relations. Attendees learned about the legislative and regulatory processes and got a crash course on how to be an effective, successful advocate for their profession and their patients. Monica also provided details of the major issues that OSMA is currently working on at the Ohio Statehouse, including eight pieces of legislation which target major insurance reform initiatives. Afterwards, members of the Young Physician Section, Senior Physicians Section, Women Physicians Section and International Medical Graduates (IMG) held their section meetings. At 6pm, attendees enjoyed a networking reception which gave students and alumni from the Ohio medical schools a chance to connect and socialize. Immediately before the presidential inauguration, the medical student poster presenters were given awards.

The OSMA Past Presidents in attendance ceremonially passed the Presidential medallion ending with Dr. Elizabeth Muennich finally placing the medallion on Dr. John Bastulli. Dr. Eric Drobny issued the oath of office to Dr. Bastulli as he was inaugurated as the next OSMA President, and members celebrated afterward with a reception and refreshments.

Sunday, April 6 • 2025

The final day of the OSMA’s virtual Annual Meeting started off with breakfast and District caucuses meeting in various locations prior to the opening of the House. At 9:30am, the House of Delegates opened. The business of the House kicked off with numerous reports and presentations to provide updates to the HOD, including:

AMA Update – Dr. Colette Willins, Chair of the Ohio Delegation to the AMA
• OSMA Foundation Update – Dr. Brian Bachelder, Board, OSMA Foundation
• OSMA Budget Update – Dr. Andrew Thomas, OSMA Secretary/Treasurer
• Credentials Report – Dr. Robert Kose, Chair of the Committee on Credentials
• Approval of the 2024 House of Delegates Minutes.

Next on the agenda were elections. They unfolded as follows:
• Dr. Gary Katz was officially elected by acclamation to the office of President-Elect of the OSMA.

• Elected as District Councilors:
o Second District – Shannon Trotter, DO
o Fourth District – Zainulabedin Waqar, MD
o Sixth District – Phillip Roholt, MD
o Eighth District – Hafeez Hassan, MD

• Elected as At-Large Councilors:
o Marla Haller, DO
o Andrew Rudawsky, MD

• Delegate to the AMA, term January 1, 2026 – December 31, 2027
o Laurel Barr, MD
o Gary Katz, MD
o Christopher Paprzycki, MD
o Andrew Rudawsky, MD
o Christopher Wee, MD
o Colette Willins, MD

• Alternate Delegate to the AMA, term Immediate-December 31, 2025
o Maria Phillis, MD

• Alternate Delegate to AMA, Term January 1, 2026-December 31, 2027
o John Bastulli, MD
o Maria Phillis, MD
o Shannon Trotter, DO
o Divya Chilukuri, MD

After the close of business, the members moved on to address the consent calendars reported from Resolution Committees 1 and 2. Policy work was completed shortly after noon on Sunday and Annual Meeting concluded with a meeting of the OSMA Council.

SAVE THE DATE:
2026 Annual Meeting is Friday, April 10 – Sunday, April 12

Other Happenings

SAVE THE DATE:
2026 Annual Meeting is Friday, April 10 – Sunday, April 12