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Conference

41st Annual Fall Seminar - Here We Grow! Livestreaming


Total Credits: 20.0

Duration:
20 hours

Dates


Description

AOMA 41st Annual Fall Seminar: Here We Grow! - Livestreaming
November 5 - 7, 2021

AOMA Fall Seminar Overall Learning Objectives 

  • Evaluate and discern new clinical and technical information
  • Differentiate and relate medical knowledge and skills with peers
  • Distinguish and practice the osteopathic approach to diagnosis and treatment of illness

Faculty and Planning Committee Disclosures
The following faculty and/or planning committee members have indicated that they may have a relevant financial relationship with an ineligible company that could be perceived as a potential conflict of interest.

Faculty

Dr. Jennifer Wethe is a consultant for Neuroassessment Systems and has receivedfinancial or material support from King-Devick Technologies.

Disclosure of Unlabeled/Unapproved Use of Drugs and/or Products

Dr. Andrew Chung will discuss the Off-Label use of stem cells, platelet rich plasma, autologous serums.

Dr. Randall Ricardi will discuss the Off-Label use of Atypical Antipsychotics and SSRI’s  for use in various co-morbid conditions with eating disorders.

Planning Committee
David Leff, DO is on the Speakers’ Bureau for Abbvie, Gilead, Salix

All relevant financial relationships have been mitigated.

All other faculty and planning committee members have no relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies.

Accreditation
The Arizona Osteopathic Medical Association (AOMA) is accredited by the American Osteopathic Association (AOA) to provide osteopathic continuing medical education for physicians.

The AOMA designates this program for a maximum of 20.0 hours of AOA Category 1-A credits and will report CME and specialty credits commensurate with the extent of the physician's participation in this activity.

The Arizona Osteopathic Medical Association (AOMA) is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

The AOMA designates this enduring activity for a maximum of 20.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

The American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) has reviewed AOMA 41st Annual Fall Seminar and deemed it acceptable for up to 20.00 Online Only, Live AAFP Prescribed credit. Term of approval is from 11/05/2021 to 11/07/2021. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the live activity.

AOMA Grievance Policy The Arizona Osteopathic Medical Association (AOMA) strives to provide continuing medical education programs to fulfill the needs of the attendees and to meet the AOA Accreditation Requirements and ACCME Accreditation Requirements. Comments, questions, or complaings should be submitted in writing to Teresa Roland, Director of Education, by mail to AOMA, 1951 W. Camelback Rd., Suite 105, Phoenix, Arizona 85015, or email teresa@azosteo.org

Faculty

Brandon Harold Abbott, DO, MPH, FAAP's Profile

Brandon Harold Abbott, DO, MPH, FAAP Related Seminars and Products

Flagstaff Medical Center


Dr. Abbott is a board-certified Internist and pediatrician practicing hospital medicine at Northern Arizona Healthcare. A graduate of A.T. Still University School of Osteopathic Medicine in Arizona, Dr. Abbott earned a Master of Public Health at the University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine during medical school. He completed his residency in internal medicine and pediatrics at the State University of New York at Buffalo. He is a past president of the Arizona Osteopathic Medical Association. Dr Abbott enjoys teaching medical students and residents in point of care ultrasound, inpatient medicine and pediatrics, and clinical decision-making.

Dr. Abbott discloses that he is Butterfly Ultrasound Stockholder.

 


Karleen Carol Adams, DO's Profile

Karleen Carol Adams, DO Related Seminars and Products

Palliative Director

Kingman Reginal Medical Center


Dr. Adams served as a construction mechanic in the US Navy. She used her GI bill and waited tables in undergraduate school at EWU in Cheney, Washington. She then moved to the desert in 2009 for medical school at Touro University-Nevada and stayed for family medicine residency at Valley Hospital Medical Center in the heart of Las Vegas. 

She made some good friends and learned to love the Mojave Desert's dirt biking terrain, rock climbing opportunities, and hiking trails. So, she decided to stay and do my fellowship at Nathan Adelson's Hospice/Palliative fellowship, where she was mentored and inspired by Dr. Warren Wheeler. 

Currently, Dr. Adams is the Palliative director for Kingman Regional Medical Center in Arizona.

To burn the cortisol, she enjoys jumping on the stationary bike, mediation, yoga and daily dog walks.  

Dr. Adams has no disclosures.

 


Andrew Chung, DO's Profile

Andrew Chung, DO Related Seminars and Products

Spine Surgeon

Banner Health


Dr. Andrew Chung is a board-certified, double fellowship-trained orthopedic spine surgeon. He completed his orthopedic surgery residency at the Mayo Clinic in Arizona, followed by a combined neurosurgical and orthopedic spine fellowship at the Keck School of Medicine. He went on to complete a second fellowship at Cedars-Sinai and DOCS hospitals in Beverly Hills, California.

Dr. Chung has authored over 65 peer-reviewed articles in leading spine and orthopedic journals and contributed numerous book chapters on spinal surgery. His research has been presented nationally and internationally, with involvement in more than 100 abstracts. He is widely regarded as a national expert in endoscopic spine surgery and frequently teaches and mentors other surgeons in this evolving field.

He currently serves as a Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Orthopedics at the University of Arizona College of Medicine, Clinical Faculty at Midwestern University, and adjunct clinical faculty at the Mayo Clinic Department of Orthopedics in Arizona.

Dr. Chung is an active member and invited faculty of the Society of Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery (SMISS), the World Endoscopic Spine Society (WUBES), and the Korean American Spine Society (KASS).

 


Anthony Dekker, DO, FACOFP, FAOAAM, DFASAM's Profile

Anthony Dekker, DO, FACOFP, FAOAAM, DFASAM Related Seminars and Products

CMO

Department of Disabilities and Developmental Services


Dr. Dekker is currently the Chief Medical Officer of the Division of Developmental Disabilities for the State of Arizona.  He is committed to the Mission of advocating for our members in DDD.  Previously he retired after 37 years of federal service, lastly being a member of the Primary Care Service Line at the Gallup Indian Medical Center in the Indian Health Service. 

Born and raised in Western Michigan he graduated from Hope College in Holland Michigan.  He completed his Osteopathic education at Michigan State University in 1978.  He completed his internship and family medicine residency at the Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine and an Adolescent and Young Adult Medicine fellowship at Rush-Presbyterian-St Luke’s Medical Center in Chicago.  As a Public Health Service Scholar he served Chicago’s South Side for fourteen years.  He was Professor and Chair of Family Medicine at the Kansas City University of Medicine and Clinical Associate Professor at the University of Kansas Medical Center and the University of Missouri-Kansas City (Children’s Mercy Hospital) during his four years in Kansas City.  He served in the Indian Health Service from 1998 to 2010 in the Phoenix Indian Medical Center as the Associate Director, Ambulatory Care and Community Health and 2020 to 2022 at the Gallup Indian Medical Center.  He also served in the Department of Defense and the Northern Arizona VA Healthcare System.

Dr. Dekker is board certified in Family Practice and Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment, Adolescent and Young Adult Medicine, Addiction Medicine and Pain Medicine.  He is a Fellow in numerous professional societies.  His areas of expertise include developmental disorders, addiction medicine, chronic pain syndromes, infomatics, high risk youth, domestic violence and behavioral health.   Past faculty appointments include clinical professorships at George Washington University (Washington DC), and currently at the Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine and Andrew Taylor Still University (Mesa, AZ). 


Karen Everitt, JD, BSN, RN's Profile

Karen Everitt, JD, BSN, RN Related Seminars and Products

Vice President of Risk Management Services

Mutual Insurance Company of Arizona (MICA)


Karen B. Everitt, JD, BSN, joined Mutual Insurance Company of Arizona (MICA) in June 2019 as vice president of risk management services. Karen has over 30 years of critical care nursing, legal, and medical professional liability insurance experience and history of successfully driving change. Her team contributes to MICA’s historically outstanding service and mission to protect and defend the practice of medicine with research-driven expertise, effective risk assessments and consultation, and pertinent liability and risk management content. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree from Auburn University and a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Alabama. Karen is a member of the Alabama State Bar, the American Health Lawyers Association, Defense Research Institute, and the American Society for Health Care Risk Management.


Merilee Fowler's Profile

Merilee Fowler Related Seminars and Products

Executive Director

MATFORCE


Merilee Fowler has been the Executive Director of MATFORCE, a nationally award winning coalition, for 15 years. She is also the Executive Director of a second nonprofit organization, Community Counts. As an appointed member of the Governor’s Arizona Substance Abuse Partnership and member of the Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America National Advisory Board, Merilee is a passionate, action-oriented preventionist with local, state and national influence.  Merilee was instrumental in the formation of the Substance Abuse Coalition Leaders of Arizona (SACLAz)

Under Merilee’s leadership MATFORCE has been awarded seven national awards including the 2013 Coalition of the Year for the nation from the Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America.  In 2018, Merilee was honored as an Outstanding Director of the Year for the State of Arizona by the Organization of Nonprofit Executives (ONE) and received an Excellence in Prevention award from the Arizona Department of Liquor Control.  She was selected as the 2015 Kris Bell Recipient from Arizonans for Prevention for her work in prevention in the State of Arizona.

Ms. Fowler has no disclosures.

 

 

 


Joshua Gaither, MD, FACEP, FAEMS's Profile

Joshua Gaither, MD, FACEP, FAEMS Related Seminars and Products


Dr. Joshua Gaither is a Professor at the University of Arizona, College of Medicine. He is board certified in Emergency Medicine and Emergency Medical Services (EMS). He completed his medical training at the University of Arizona, residency training in emergency medicine at Yale University, and fellowship training in EMS and disaster medicine at The University of Colorado, Denver Health & Hospital Authority. Dr. Gaither currently practices clinical emergency medicine at Banner University Medical Center in Tucson Arizona and is the Medical Director for Tucson Fire Department. 

Dr. Gaither has no disclosures.

 

 


James F. Keane, DO, MEd, FACOI, FACP's Profile

James F. Keane, DO, MEd, FACOI, FACP Related Seminars and Products

Chair/Medical Director/Asst Professor

ATSU - SOMA


Dr. Keane currently works  as an Assistant Professor, Medical Director of the Osteopathic Medicine Center Arizona and Chair of the Osteopathic Principles and Practice Department within the School of Osteopathic Medicine in Arizona on the A.T. Still University Mesa Campus. In his continued learning, he has been focused on pain management, especially chronic pain and the associated hypo-dopaminergic state, as well as treatment of opioid addiction, PTSD, and neurophysiologic mechanisms of pain. Having recently moved from the clinical to medical education arena, he is  excited to serve as co-investigator for the proposed project, Noninvasive multiparametric characterization of myofascial pain syndrome and its responses to osteopathic manipulative treatment.

After decades of managing on his own health and wellness interests, initially with Tai Chi/Traditional Chinese Medicine and self-guided learning about nutrition, he left a developing career in public policy to more directly use the knowledge and skills he had learned to help others with their health. The idea of becoming a physician to help reduce suffering was irresistible. After several years of pre-medical training, he was accepted to medical school. After completing an internal medicine residency and board certification (he is currently a Fellow in the American College of Osteopathic Internists and in the American College of Physicians), a secondary board-certification in integrative holistic medicine and extensive post-graduate training in osteopathic manipulative medicine, he continues to look for opportunities to enrich his understanding and practice of medicine. Thus, he is especially grateful for this opportunity to blend the art of osteopathic clinical care with the science of evidence based assessment and objective analysis. He feels that his experience, particularly with regard to clinical care, osteopathic principles, and osteopathic manipulative medicine, makes him qualified to provide expertise in the design, development, and implementation of the study proposed in this application.


Anne Maiden-Hope, DO, FAAP's Profile

Anne Maiden-Hope, DO, FAAP Related Seminars and Products


Anne Maiden-Hope, DO, FAAP, is a native Phoenician who has worked as a Board-Certified Pediatrician and has practiced both at a Federally Qualified Health Center and via telemedicine platforms. She received her Bachelor of Science at the University of Miami and obtained her medical degree at Midwestern University Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine. She went on to complete her Pediatric Residency through Mercer University in Savannah, Georgia. She enjoys teaching and inspiring the next generation of physician leaders and is the Vice-Chair of Pediatrics and Assistant Clinical Professor at her alma mater, Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine (AZCOM). 

Dr. Maiden has been dedicated to serving children and has sat on both the Prevent Child Abuse of Arizona Board and Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central and Northern Arizona Board. As a mom of twins, she is involved in the Phoenix Valley Mothers of Multiples Chapter and has acted as their Philanthropy Chair working with their charity partner Arizona Helping Hands. Currently, she is a member of the Maricopa County Medical Society’s (MCMS) Board of Directors, Arizona Medical Association’s House of Delegates, advisor for the MCMS Medical Student Section and member of the MCMS Diversity Committee. Additionally, she represents AZCOM at the American Association’s College of Osteopathic Medicine’s Pediatric Leadership Committee.

Dr. Maiden's interests include counseling her patients on nutrition and breastfeeding, encouraging an active lifestyle, limiting screen time, and the importance of vaccines, including COVID-19 in the teenage population. As part of advocating for vaccines, she recently appeared on AZFamily encouraging the safety and efficacy of COVID-19 immunizations amongst adolescents. Dr. Maiden knew from age of 12 that she wanted to become a physician and has spent most of her life working towards achieving that goal. She has enjoyed serving and educating her community. She recently published an article “Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis: Case-Based Focused on Pediatric and Adult Guidelines” in the Osteopathic Family Physician Journal to raise awareness about liver disease in the pediatric population. She enjoys exercising, baking, and spending time with her husband, twin 21-month-old boys, and her dog, Elle Woods, “Ellie.”

Dr. Maiden-Hope has no disclosures.

 

 


Michelle D. Mifflin, DO's Profile

Michelle D. Mifflin, DO Related Seminars and Products

Associate Clinical Professor in Osteopathic Family & Community Medicine and Director and Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine Faculty Advisor for Health Outreach through Medicine and Education (H.O.M.E.)

Midwestern University - AZCOM


Shelly Mowrey's Profile

Shelly Mowrey Related Seminars and Products

Demand Reduction Coordinator

Arizona High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area


Shelly Mowrey is the Demand Reduction Coordinator for Arizona HIDTA and is a leader in substance use prevention and education. Over the last 20 years, Shelly has developed substance use prevention programs, media campaigns and professional development trainings for a variety of audiences that are instrumental in reducing youth drug use in the state of Arizona. 

Her passion is assisting communities and substance use prevention coalitions in delivering quality programs with successful outcomes. Shelly has received extensive training provided by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America, the Partnership to End Addiction and the Arizona Narcotics Officers Association. 

In 2018 and 2015, Arizona HIDTA was awarded the national Outstanding Prevention Program award by the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy for its work on prescription drug abuse prevention and public health, public safety partnerships.

Ms. Mowrey has no disclosures.

 



David Pugach, JD's Profile

David Pugach, JD Related Seminars and Products

Senior Vice President, Public Policy

American Osteopthic Association


David Pugach, JD, Senior Vice President, Public Policy American Osteopathic Association

David leads the American Osteopathic Association’s (AOA) public policy and advocacy program, representing the interests of the nation's more than 151,000 osteopathic physicians (DOs) and osteopathic medical students. This includes Congressional and regulatory affairs, state government affairs, grassroots advocacy, and collaboration with external stakeholders.

Prior to joining the AOA in November 2017, David was vice president of federal relations for the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) and led ACS CAN’s efforts to increase federal funding for cancer research and prevention. Additionally, David served as chairman of One Voice Against Cancer, a coalition that advocates for increased funding for federal cancer programs. David is also a past-president of United for Medical Research.

Before joining ACS CAN, David served as the Deputy Director of the National Cancer Institute (NCI) Office of Government and Congressional Relations. From February 2006 to February 2007, David was detailed to the House Appropriations Committee. David joined NCI in the summer of 2003 after serving for two years as a Presidential Management Fellow with the National Institutes of Health.

David has a B.A. in political science from The George Washington University and a J.D. from the Rutgers University School of Law.

Mr. Pugach has no disclosures.

 


Randall K. Ricardi, DO, DFAPA's Profile

Randall K. Ricardi, DO, DFAPA Related Seminars and Products

Chair of Psychiatry and the Program Director for the Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Program

Phoenix Children's Hospital


Dr. Ricardi is a Board-Certified Adult and Child Psychiatrist at Phoenix Children’s Hospital.  He completed his medical school training at the Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine and his residency and fellowship at Wayne State University in Detroit Michigan in 1989 prior to joining Phoenix Children’s Hospital in 1990. 

He holds faculty appointments as Clinical Professor in the Department of Child Health and Psychiatry at the University of Arizona College of Medicine-Phoenix, Barrow Neurological Institute, Creighton University School and Medicine and Instructor in Pediatrics at Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science.

At Phoenix Children’s Hospital , he has transitioned to Vice-Chair in the Department of Psychiatry, Associate Director of the Consultation-Liaison service and the Associate Program Director for the fellowship training program in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.

He has participated in clinical trials in the areas of ADHD, Tourette’s, OCD and Depression.


Raine Richards, JD's Profile

Raine Richards, JD Related Seminars and Products

Senior Director | State Government Affairs

American Osteopathic Association


Raine Richards, JD, is the Senior Director of State Government Affairs for the American Osteopathic Association (AOA). In this role, she oversees the AOA’s state-level policy and advocacy initiatives. In conjunction with federal public policy staff, she develops the annual advocacy agenda and works with affiliate organizations to develop unified responses to state legislative and regulatory proposals that could impact the osteopathic medical profession.

As Secretary to the AOA’s Council on State Health Affairs, Raine helps the Council create new policy on emerging state issues and drafts letters and grassroots campaigns to enhance the voice of the osteopathic medical community at the state level. She also acts as the staff liaison to the American Association of Osteopathic Examiners, which represents all osteopathic physicians who sit on state medical licensing boards and helps respond to issues related to physician licensure and discipline.

Raine has been with the AOA for over six years; prior to that she was an attorney at the Cook

County Treasurer’s Office in Chicago, Illinois. She received a JD from the University of Michigan Law School and a BA in Spanish from Emory University.

Ms. Richards has no disclosures.

 

 


Sara Salek, MD's Profile

Sara Salek, MD Related Seminars and Products

Chief Medical Officer

Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS)


Sara Salek, M.D. has been the Chief Medical Officer for the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS) since June 2014.  In her current role, Dr. Salek spearheads the agency’s major clinical initiatives as well as oversees the quality and delivery of the health care services AHCCCS provides.  Clinical initiatives currently underway include the expansion of telehealth service delivery, improving child and adolescent preventative care rates, and addressing the opioid epidemic.

Dr. Salek grew up in Tucson, AZ and graduated from The University of Arizona College of Medicine.  She completed the Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Residency Training Program at Boston Children’s Hospital through Harvard Medical School.

Dr. Salek has no disclosures.

 

 


Nick Staab, MD, MSPH's Profile

Nick Staab, MD, MSPH Related Seminars and Products

Medical Epidemiologist

Maricopa County Department of Public Health


Dr. Staab currently works as a medical epidemiologist for Maricopa County Department of Public Health and serves as subject matter expert for the operations branch of the emergency response to COVID-19. Previously, he was medical director for the Bureau of Epidemiology and Disease Control at the Arizona Department of Health Services. He works clinically as a pediatric hospitalist at Phoenix Children’s Hospital. He has a master of science degree in public health microbiology and emerging infectious diseases from George Washington University and earned his medical doctorate from the Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California. Dr. Staab is a native Phoenician and lives in Central Phoenix with his young family.

Dr. Staab has no disclosures.


Robert Waldrop, MD's Profile

Robert Waldrop, MD Related Seminars and Products

Sonoran Spine Institute


Dr. Waldrop is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon with fellowship training in both spinal surgery and orthopedic oncology. Dr. Waldrop performed his residency here in Phoenix before completing his spinal training at the University of California San Francisco and oncology training at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester Minnesota. Dr. Waldrop has been in private practice for the last 5 years with Sonoran Spine. He currently serves as the network director for the HonorHealth orthopedic service line where he is actively involved in patient reported outcomes and creation of best practices for orthopedics and spine. 

Dr. Waldrop has no disclosures.

 

 


Jennifer Wethe, PhD, ABPP-CN's Profile

Jennifer Wethe, PhD, ABPP-CN Related Seminars and Products

Co-Director and Lead Neuropsychologist for the Mayo Clinic Arizona Concussion Program

Mayo Clinic


Dr. Wethe is the Co-Director and lead neuropsychologist for the Mayo Clinic Arizona Concussion Program. She is also Founder and Chair of the Athlete Development and Sports Rehabilitation Networking Group of the American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine. She has nearly 20 years of experience in the assessment and rehabilitation of adults and children with acquired brain injury and other neurological conditions. Dr. Wethe’s research interests include concussion, cognitive rehabilitation, chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), hypothalamic hamartoma, and clinical tool validation. Dr. Wethe is the Principle Investigator for the multi-organization Correlates of Youth Athletic Participation study. She is also co-investigator on a large, longitudinal NIH/NINH grant to study CTE in retired American football players. Awards include the Penske Career Development Award for Research, 2018 Research Career Support & Advancement Award, and the 2016 Diversity and Inclusion Award; all at Mayo Clinic Arizona.

Dr. Wethe completed a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology at Purdue University. She went on to complete Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy degrees in clinical psychology, also at Purdue University. She trained as a pre-doctoral fellow at Wishard Health Services-Indiana University Medical Center; completed a neuropsychology internship at University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston; and completed a post-doctoral fellowship in neuropsychology and rehabilitation at Barrow Neurological Institute / St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center.

Dr. Wethe Discloses she is a consultant for Neuroassessment Systems and has received Financial or Material Support from King-Devick Technologies neither has any relation to this lecture.

 


Anthony M. Will, DO's Profile

Anthony M. Will, DO Related Seminars and Products

Village Medical


Dr. Anthony Will is an osteopathic physician that is board certified in both Family Medicine and Neuromusculoskeletal Medicine. He is a Clinical Associate Professor of Community and Family Medicine at the University of Arizona College of Medicine Phoenix. He has served in various leadership roles including Department Chairman of Osteopathic Medicine at Midwestern University and Vice Chairman of the Educational Council on Osteopathic Principles and Practice for the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine.

Dr. Will is the Senior Medical Director of Village Medical Arizona with oversight of clinical operations for Phoenix. He is also currently active in patient care and teaching at Village Medical in Glendale, AZ.

Dr. Will completed his undergraduate studies at the University of Pittsburgh and completed both his medical school and residency training at Midwestern University.


Nicholas Zalewski, MD's Profile

Nicholas Zalewski, MD Related Seminars and Products


Nicolas (Nick) L. Zalewski, MD is a specialist in Neurology and Neurohospital Medicine. His clinical focus includes:

  • Expertise in management of multiple sclerosis, autoimmune neurology, neurosarcoidosis, and rare spinal cord disease.
  • Complex coordination of care and diagnosis of unresolved illness
  • Promoting each patient’s understanding of disease and empowering patients to become partners in managing their health.

In addition to his clinical activities, Dr. Zalewski is active in research ad education, providing mentorship to residents and fellows. He authors expert content and publishes in high-impact scientific journals.

Dr. Zalewski has no disclosures. 


Karen J Nichols, DO, MA, MACOI, MACP, CS-F's Profile

Karen J Nichols, DO, MA, MACOI, MACP, CS-F Related Seminars and Products


Karen J. Nichols, DO, MA, MACOI, CS is most recently the Dean of the Midwestern University/Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine serving since 2002 until stepping down July 2018. She took a leave to serve as President of the American Osteopathic Association 2010-2011. Prior to serving as Dean, she was Assistant Dean, Post-Doctoral Education and Division Director (chair), Internal Medicine at the Midwestern University/Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine since 1997. She was in the private practice of internal medicine and geriatrics in Mesa, Arizona from 1985 through 2002. A graduate of the Kansas City University College of Osteopathic Medicine (KCU-COM) with a DO degree, she holds a Master’s degree in Management with a specialty in Healthcare Administration from Central Michigan University. In 2015, she was selected for the highest honor given by the American Osteopathic Association (AOA), the Distinguished Service Award as well as receiving a Presidential Citation in 2018. In 2015, she received the Robert A. Kistner, DO Award and then in 2020, received the Dale Dodson, DO Award, the two highest honors bestowed by the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine. She has received numerous other awards.

She has served as President of the American Osteopathic Association, President of the Arizona Osteopathic Medical Association and President of the American College of Osteopathic Internists and was the first woman to hold all those positions. She is Past President of the Institute of Medicine of Chicago Board of Governors. Dr. Nichols is one of the two first DOs nominated by the AOA and elected to the Accreditation Council of Graduate Medical Education board. She is the Chair of that board and serves on the Executive Committee and Policy Committee.

Dr. Nichols has served on the boards of the Kansas City University College of Osteopathic Medicine, Osteopathic International Alliance and the American Osteopathic Foundation.  By invitation she frequently speaks nationally on leadership, end-of-life care and outreach issues for osteopathic medicine. She is also authoring a book on Leadership for Physicians.

In 2004 Dr. Nichols created the endowed Costin Institute for Osteopathic Medical Educators, sited at Midwestern University/Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine, a one-year hybrid fellowship which has graduated over 300 medical educators. Dr. Nichols teaches nationally and internationally on the topics of end-of-life care, physician leadership, and women leaders in medicine.

Dr. Nichols has no disclosures.


Gwen Levitt, DO, DFAPA's Profile

Gwen Levitt, DO, DFAPA Related Seminars and Products

Adult and Forensic Psychiatrist

District Medical Group


Dr. Levitt is an adult and forensic psychiatrist. She has been working in Arizona for almost 35 years. She is an attending psychiatrist at Valleywise Behavioral Health and has a private practice offering forensic consultations.

Dr. Levitt graduated from residency at Maricopa Medical Center (now Valleywise.) Her practice as an adult psychiatrist has always focused on the Seriously Mentally Ill. She has worked in various hospitals, both public and private. She worked in the correctional field for over 10 years. Her forensic practice currently focuses on fitness for duty and guardianship work, but she also continues to provide consultation in the civil and criminal arena.


Merima Bucaj, DO, MBA, FAAFP's Profile

Merima Bucaj, DO, MBA, FAAFP Related Seminars and Products

Clinical Chair of Family Medicine/Academic Chair of Family Medicine CUSOM

District Medical Group/ Valleywise Health / Creighton University School of Medicine


Jordana Rachel Fox Kensicki, DO's Profile

Jordana Rachel Fox Kensicki, DO Related Seminars and Products

Pediatric Neurologist and Epileptologist

Barrow Neurological Institute at Phoenix Children's Hospital


Sristi Nath, DO's Profile

Sristi Nath, DO Related Seminars and Products

Nath Psychiatry


Dr. Sristi Nath is board certified in both adult psychiatry as well as child and adolescent psychiatry. She practices both psychotherapy and medication management, for patients who require it, with a wide range of psychiatric issues in Scottsdale, AZ.

Dr. Nath lived as a teenager in Scottsdale, and she graduated from Chaparral High School. Dr. Nath completed her bachelor’s degree at Stanford University and medical degree from the Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine at Midwestern University.

Dr. Nath completed her General Psychiatry residency and Child and Adolescent Psychiatry fellowship at the University of Hawaii. She then returned to Scottsdale with her family in 2007. In addition to her private practice, Dr. Nath is an assistant professor at the Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine at Midwestern University. She has also lectured at medical and mental health conferences on various psychiatric topics, including Physician Burnout, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Pediatric Bipolar Disorder, Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorder Associated with Streptococcus (PANDAS), Child Obesity, Eating Disorders, and Contemporary Economic Factors associated with receiving current mental health treatment. Dr. Nath is a strong proponent of a balanced and healthy lifestyle. She enjoys working with patients on healthy eating and exercise regimens.

Whether individuals are struggling with mood and anxiety symptoms or simply require help to reach their next level of potential, Dr. Nath has been trained in the latest in psychotherapeutic modalities to help people achieve their personal goals.

Dr. Nath has no disclosures.