American Osteopathic Association Installs Philadelphia Area Emergency Physician, John W. Becher, DO, as 119th President

CHICAGO, July 20, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- John W. Becher, DO, an osteopathic emergency physician from Newtown Square, Pennsylvania, was installed Saturday as president of the American Osteopathic Association (AOA).

Dr. Becher assumed the presidency before an estimated 500 osteopathic physicians (DOs) at the American Osteopathic Association's annual business meeting in Chicago. The organization represents the professional interests of the nation's more than 110,000 DOs and osteopathic medical students.

"The dynamic times we're living in have brought extraordinary change to health care in just the past few years. Osteopathic medicine is one of the fastest-growing segments of health care professionals in the United States and the demand for our philosophy and approach to care has never been greater," says Dr. Becher. "As physicians, we treat the whole person, not just illness and injuries. I welcome the opportunity to add our perspective to the national health care conversation."

Dr. Becher currently serves as chairman of the department of emergency medicine at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, where he also graduated from in 1970. He is also director of osteopathic medical education at AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center in Atlantic City, New Jersey and an adjunct professor of emergency medicine at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia.

A member of the Federation of State Medical Boards' Maintenance of Licensure Committee, Dr. Becher has trained more than 150 emergency physicians as a residency director.

During his career, Dr. Becher held leadership roles within the AOA, including as a member of the editorial board of The Journal of the American Osteopathic Association (JAOA), and is past president of the Pennsylvania Osteopathic Medical Association.

In addition to the osteopathic physicians, residents and medical students elected to terms on the AOA Board of Trustees, Boyd R. Buser, DO, an osteopathic family physician and vice president for health affairs and dean of the University of Pikeville- Kentucky College of Osteopathic Medicine, was named president-elect of the AOA. His term will begin in July 2016.

About the American Osteopathic Association
The American Osteopathic Association (AOA) proudly represents its professional family of more than 110,000 osteopathic physicians (DOs) and osteopathic medical students; promotes public health; encourages scientific research; serves as the primary certifying body for DOs; is the accrediting agency for osteopathic medical schools; and has federal authority to accredit hospitals and other health care facilities. More information on DOs/osteopathic medicine can be found at www.osteopathic.org.

About the AOA House of Delegates
The AOA's House of Delegates, comprised of more than 500 delegates representing osteopathic state medical associations, specialty societies, interns, residents and students from throughout the country, meets annually in July to set organizational policies and elect new officers. 

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SOURCE American Osteopathic Association