American Osteopathic Association Names Adrienne White-Faines, MPA, as New Executive Director

CHICAGO, June 14, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The American Osteopathic Association (AOA), the national professional membership organization for more than 100,000 osteopathic physicians (DOs) and osteopathic medical students, announces Adrienne White-Faines, MPA, as its new executive director. White-Faines will begin her role with the AOA in July 2013.

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As executive director, White-Faines will carry out the AOA's strategic agenda supporting the organization's physician and student members and its commitment to promoting public health; advancing scientific research; and serving as the accrediting agency for osteopathic medical schools, hospitals and health care facilities. 

"I am proud and humbled by the opportunity to lead an organization with such a rich history and passion for ensuring all Americans have access to physicians and medical services," said White-Faines. "I hope to build upon this strong foundation by infusing the AOA with a fresh perspective for new possibilities and innovation to further its mission to advance the philosophy and practice of osteopathic medicine."

As one of the fastest-growing segments of health care professionals in the nation, the number of DOs has grown more than 200% over the past 25 years. Currently, more than half of DOs are under the age of 45 and more than a third are women. With more than 50% of DOs in active practice specializing in one of the primary care areas of medicine, the osteopathic medical profession also has a strong tradition of serving in rural and medically underserved areas.

"Ms. White-Faines joins the AOA at an evolutionary time for both the osteopathic medical profession and health care delivery in the United States," said Ray E. Stowers, DO, AOA president and founding dean of the Lincoln Memorial University-DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine in Harrogate, Tenn. "Given her expertise in health care advocacy and organizational management, as well as her reputation as a successful health strategist with experience in public health, community service, physician practice management and hospital administration, the AOA is extremely pleased at this time to welcome Ms. White-Faines to the osteopathic family."

For the past 10 years, White-Faines served as vice president of health initiatives and advocacy at the American Cancer Society (ACS), Illinois Division, where she was accountable for cancer research, education, advocacy, and patient service programs. Prior to employment at ACS, she served as chief operating officer at Chicago-based Renwal Emergency Medical Services, a health care management consulting firm for hospitals and physicians, and at Chicago's Northwestern Memorial Hospital, where she oversaw a $600 million hospital redevelopment project. She also worked as a health strategist with the New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation, and as a practice administrator for a large physician group practice in Whittier, Calif.

White-Faines remains active with numerous local and national nonprofit organizations, including the Erikson Institute, American Field Service-USA and as a fellow with Leadership Greater Chicago.  She holds a master's of public administration from the University of Southern California in Los Angeles and a bachelor's of arts from Amherst (Mass.) College.

She resides in Chicago with her husband and two children.

The AOA's History and Mission:
The AOA was established over 130 years ago to bring osteopathic medicine's unique philosophy of caring for the whole person to prevent, diagnose and treat illness, disease and injury to the forefront of traditional medicine. Headquartered in Chicago with an office in Washington, D.C., the AOA's mission is to advance the philosophy and practice of osteopathic medicine by promoting excellence in education, research, and the delivery of quality, cost-effective health care within a distinct, unified profession. Although osteopathic physicians are represented in all medical specialties, over 50% of DOs in active practice specialize in primary care, including family medicine, general internal medicine, pediatrics, and obstetrics and gynecology.

SOURCE American Osteopathic Association