About RISOPS
- Who We Are
- Board Roster
- Bylaws
January 4, 2008
Dear Colleague:
The New Year brings new exciting changes to RISOPS. Don Halpin, our long-time Executive Director, retired at the end of 2007. Many thanks to Don for his years of hard work and dedicated service to us and for helping us to make RISOPS what it is today. When Don became our Executive Director eleven years ago, RISOPS was in disarray. Through careful review of policies and reorganization of problematic areas, he (along with his wife, Anne) streamlined the Society to a better-functioning organization.
As of December 1, 2007, the American Osteopathic Association has been contracted by the RISOPS Board of Directors to perform the administrative functions. RISOPS telephone number remains the same (800-454-9663) and our email address is now risops@osteopathic.org. Our physical mailing address is 142 East Ontario Street, Chicago, IL, 60611. The Board and I feel this a step in the right direction that will benefit future growth and success of our Society and our members.
The newly elected members of the Board of Directors are Drs. David Hunt, Jessica Manyan, Sue Ferranti, and Robert Leonard. Drs. David Leibowitz and B.J. Thomas are leaving the Board after many years of dedicated service. Thank you, David and Buddy, for all you have done for RISOPS.
RISOPS provides many functions for our membership. One that certainly does not get mentioned enough is the RISOPS recommendation for students applying to colleges of osteopathic medicine. The Committee for Student Placement and Recruitment, chaired by Dr. Steve Peligian, who has run this committee for more than 20 years, interviewed 4 new students in 2007. Students recommended by the Committee have an exceptionally high rate of placement in colleges of osteopathic medicine, especially UNECOM.
The Yankee Conference will be moving back to the Hyatt Hotel in Newport from Friday, August 15 through Sunday, August 17, 2008. Our Conference provides, again local, inexpensive, and quality 1A Osteopathic CME. We will have another strong group of speakers this year. Plan on being in Newport with us in August! Check our website (www.risops.org) in the near future for more details.
On the advocacy front, 2007 was a disappointing year. Drs. Greg Allen, Bob Dinwoodie and I testified before a Senate Committee at the State House in support of the Governor’s medical malpractice reform last spring. Despite significant effort on our part and on that of other medical organizations, medical malpractice reform fell by the wayside as did many other worthwhile bills because of the state budget deficit. The deficit dominated the landscape of Rhode Island politics as it will during this political year. In politics, it is a steady and persistent voice that eventually gets things done. RISOPS will be watchful of events that affect our practices and we will notify you of any important issues pertaining to healthcare as they unfold. This is an election year, so be diligent to learn your legislative candidate’s position on healthcare including medical malpractice.
Your Board and I have a renewed energy and interest to grow and strengthen our Society to serve you better.
Sincerely yours,
Karl Felber D.O.
President of RISOPS
RISOPS is...
the organization that represents the Osteopathic Physicians / DO’s in the state of RI. These men and women were trained in the art and science of osteopathic medicine to help their patients manage their health and their lives. As our oath says:
“I will be mindful always of my great responsibility to preserve the health and the life of my patients, to retain their confidence and respect both as a physician and a friend who will guard their secrets with scrupulous honor and fidelity, to perform faithfully my professional duties, to employ only those recognized methods of treatment consistent with good judgment and with my skill and ability, keeping in mind always nature's laws and the body's inherent capacity for recovery.”
This is a comprehensive oath to care for, respect and protect our patient. RISOPS is the organization that in the past defended the profession in RI but as our detractors have fallen by the wayside we now focus on continuing education, support and leadership for our members. We monitor the medical, economic and political front to allow our member the opportunity to care and give their patients their full attention without fear of distractions or compromises to their ability to care for their patients. As osteopathic physicians it is the welfare of our patients that in the past, now and in the future while always will be our concern.
President
Karl Felber, DO
Pawtucket, RI
Vice-President and Treasurer
James Griffin, DO
Wakefield, RI
Secretary
Charles Cronin, DO
East Greenwich, RI
Board Members
Gregory Allen, DO
Cranston, RI
Robert G. Dinwoodie, DO
Warwick, RI
Sue Ferranti, DO
Cranston, RI
Douglas Foreman, DO
Warwick, RI
David Hunt, DO
Warwick, RI
Dave A. Johnson, DO
Portsmouth, RI
Robert T. Leonard, DO
Cranston, RI
Jessica C. Manyan, DO
Warwick, RI
George Pasquarello, DO
East Greenwich, RI
Committees
Bylaws Committee
Karl Felber, DO, Chair
Robert G. Dinwoodie, DO
Sue Ferranti, DO
Robert T. Leonard, DO
Education Committee
Jessica C. Manyan, DO, Chair
Sue Ferranti, DO
Cliff Fields, DO
Douglas Foreman, DO
David Hunt, DO
Executive Committee
Karl Felber, DO, President
James Griffin, DO, VP & Treasurer
Finance & Personnel Committee
James Griffin, DO, Chair
Karl Felber, DO
Medical Economics/
Government Relations Committee
Gregory Allen, DO, Chair
John Bossian, DO
Charles Cronin, DO
Karl Felber, DO
Robert Salk, DO
Membership Committee
Robert T. Leonard, DO, Chair
Robert G. Dinwoodie, DO
Jessica C. Manyan, DO
Programs/Convention Committee
Karl Felber, DO, Co-Chair
George Pasquarello, DO, Co-Chair
Gregory Allen, DO
Student Recruitment & Placement Committee
Steven Peligian, DO, Chair
Gregory Allen, DO
Robert G. Dinwoodie, DO
Karl Felber, DO
Sue Ferranti, DO
David Hunt, DO
The RISOPS Board is currently reviewing the bylaws. An updated version will be available here shortly.
