VCOM - Auburn 2017 Yearbook

student organizations

Geriatrics Committee Special Interest Group of ACOFP

Luke Mueller, Chair

A COFP, the American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians, is an organization that prides itself on its alignment with the core values of VCOM. This organization strives to emphasize the excitement and honor that comes with being the family doctor for a small rural community. Nationally, ACOFP focuses on the tenets of advocacy, education and leadership. In an ever-changing world of health care, advocacy for primary care, the foundation of the country’s health care system, is achieved through this student organization. Education is achieved through outreach to the various residency programs in the state of Alabama and surrounding areas, so the students may be aware of the many opportunities they have after graduating. Finally, leadership is achieved through community outreach initiatives. These efforts include providing educational information that advocates preventative health care. As part of this year’s activities, ACOFP volunteered at Storybook Farms in Opelika, Alabama. Storybook Farms provides horse riding and gardening therapy for challenged youths. Volunteers

assisted with many tasks including building a handicapped-accessible garden where Storybook’s guests could learn about nutrition in addition to experiencing the therapeutic benefits of gardening. ACOFP hosted “Be the Match” bone marrow drives to find potential matches for bone marrow transplants. ACOFP also assisted with the Miracle League of East Alabama, where “every child deserves a chance to play baseball.” The Miracle League is a non-profit organization that provides an opportunity for persons with cognitive or physical disabilities to play baseball. ACOFP had a busy year during the 2016-17 schoolyear. To highlight a few of the events, in the fall, ACOFP held Primary Care Week, in which they had guest speakers and different events to raise awareness of the different areas within Primary Care. Members of ACOFP also had fun volunteering at a local farm and other local charities. In the spring, a group of ACOFP members went to a local high school and assisted in more than 200 sports physicals for student athletes. ACOFP had a wonderful year and looks forward to all the events in the coming years.

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