98 Leadership ACOFP physicians who have participated in various portions of this program include: William Burke, DO, FACOFP dist.; Josh Coren, DO, FACOFP; Aaron Davis, DO; Gautam Desai, DO, FACOFP dist.; Kenneth Heiles, DO, FACOFP dist.; Royce Keilers, DO, FACOFP dist.; Brian Kessler, DO, FACOFP dist.; Marty Levine, DO, FACOFP dist.; Ronnie Martin, DO, FACOFP dist.; David Park, DO, FACOFP dist.; and Kenneth Veit, DO, just to name a few. Additionally, Chinese delegations of physicians and dignitaries have traveled to the U.S. on several occasions to observe U.S.-based family medicine training programs. Since COVID, this program has gradually come to a close, allowing the foundation to focus on programs aligned with its new mission, which primarily supports osteopathic family physicians within the United States. THE ACOFP FOUNDATION SETS NEW STRATEGIC PRIORITIES In September 2018, during the term of ACOFP Foundation President Kenneth Heiles, DO, FACOFP dist., and secretary/treasurer Paul A. Martin, DO, FACOFP dist., the ACOFP Education and Research Foundation Board convened at a retreat in Chicago. The purposes of this retreat were to review current foundation programs, refresh and refocus the foundation, reenergize and reengineer the annual giving program, and implement the first comprehensive donor campaign for the foundation. The meeting was professionally facilitated pro bono by Susan Barcus, FAHP (Fellow of the Association of Healthcare Philanthropy), chief development officer, Kettering Health Network, and president of the Kettering Medical Center Foundation. After the retreat, ADS (Association Development Solutions) and the foundation conducted appropriate planning and feasibility studies. In September 2019, ADS and numerous ACOFP member ambassadors launched a fiveyear, two-million-dollar capital campaign titled Forging Our Osteopathic Future. Carol Henwood, DO, FACOFP dist., was named chair for the campaign, and she had dedicated fundraising support from foundation president Paul A. Martin, DO, FACOFP dist. ACOFP, its members and staff, and the auxiliary, along with the American Osteopathic Foundation, state societies, colleges of osteopathic medicine, pharmaceutical and industry organizations, and various other foundations, participated in campaign-specific funding. Many funds generated throughout the campaign went toward the foundation’s Initial Certification Grant Program. This program supports the ongoing participation of osteopathic family medicine residents in American Osteopathic Board of Family Physician’s (AOBFP) Early Entry Initial Certification Exam by covering examination fees and travel expenses associated with taking the cognitive and OMT practical examinations. The foundation believed that AOBFP boardcertified osteopathic family physicians could best meet the needs of their patients and communities. Through this effort, the foundation ensured that all osteopathic residents, regardless of support from their residency program, were given an equal opportunity to demonstrate their patient care qualifications via osteopathic family medicine board certification. The Forging Our Osteopathic Future campaign was a huge success, reaching its two-milliondollar goal in 2023, one year ahead of schedule, with funds plus interest sufficient to maintain the above two programs as well as many other programs well into the future.
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