RISOPS Announcements
Your source for the latest news & information affecting your society
RISOPS Contact Information has Changed
142 E. Ontario St., 4th Fl.
Chicago, IL 60611
Ph: 800-454-9663
Fax: 312-202-8224
risops@osteopathic.org
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Upcoming RISOPS Board Meetings
The RISOPS Board meets on the 2nd Wednesday of each month. Contact staff for times and locations.
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We lost a long time RISOPS member, Dr. Jack M. Fireman DO.
Dr. Fireman practiced in Warwick for more than 26 years. He was a past-president of RISOPS and was involved with the organization for all those years. He died in California on November 26th, 2007. He will be missed and condolences to his family. The 12/2/07 obituary from the Providence Journal is listed below.
~Karl Felber DO, RISOPS President
Copyright 2007 Providence Publications, LLC
The Providence Journal (Rhode Island)
December 2, 2007 Sunday
SECTION: NEWS; Pg. B-05
HEADLINE: OBITUARIES-EXETER-FIREMAN
FIREMAN, DR. JACK M., 81, of Mail Rd., died Monday, Nov. 26, in Beverly Hills, CA. Born in Pittsburgh, PA, a son of the late Nathan and Anna (Caplan) Fireman, he had lived in Rhode Island since 1971, previously residing in Philadelphia. He was a WW-II Army veteran serving in the Pacific Theatre. Dr. Fireman was a graduate of the University of Pittsburgh, Class of 1950 and the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, Class of 1970. He was a family practitioner at Post Road Medical Associates for 26 years. Dr. Fireman was a member and past president of the RI Society of Osteopathic Physicians and Surgeons, winning their "Man of the Year" award. He was a member of the RI Board of Medical Licensure and Discipline, a member of Temple Beth-El and the Kent County Cancer Society. Devoted father of Marjorie Fireman of W. Hollywood, CA. Dear brother of Dr. Phillip Fireman of Pittsburgh, PA and the late Edward and Thelma Fireman. Graveside services will be held Monday at 11:00 a.m. in SWAN POINT CEMETERY, 585 Blackstone Blvd., Providence. In lieu of flowers, contributions in his memory may be made to the Jack M. Fireman, D.O. Fund or the Jack M. Fireman, D.O. Israel Fund, c/o The Rhode Island Foundation, 1 Union Station, Providence, RI 02903. Arrangements by SHALOM MEMORIAL CHAPEL, Cranston.
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RISOPS 2008 Dinner Series
See the Events page for more information.
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President's Letter
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 2008. 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
