36 Onward and, Eventually, Upward of Family Physicians (AOBFP) instituted a recertification process that began January 1, 1995. All certifications issued after that date are valid for 10 years. Physicians certified prior to 1995 were encouraged to recertify, but no requirements were recommended. Those physicians were still able to retain their original, non-expiring certifications. Ms. Carol Thoma had been with the national board since its inception, and she became executive director for the AOBGP in 1985 until she retired in 2018. Both Ms. Thoma and Ms. Pat McDonough, her assistant, who began with Ms. Thoma, had a wealth of knowledge regarding the certification requirements and process. BIRTH OF THE GENERAL PRACTICE RESIDENCY In the late 1960s, many students, interns, and some practicing physicians were asking for residency programs. ACOFP had none, and action was needed. The profession of medicine was becoming extremely technical and complex and as a result, specialty residencies were developing at a fast pace. In 1967, several ACOFP board members met in Dallas, Texas, in the home of Drs. John and Mary Burnett, with the hope of rectifying the problem. Also present were Dr. James T. Rowland, Dr. T. Robert Sharp, Dr. Robert Nobels, and a consultant from the AOA’s Office of Education, Mr. Bill McKillop. The group spent many grueling hours formulating the constitution, bylaws, and guidelines for residency training in General Practice. Once in place, the board members needed to present their ideas to the AOA. However, ACOFP had no representation on the Council on Postdoctoral Training (COPT) or on the Advisory Board of Osteopathic Specialists (ABOS). But the tireless physicians still were confident and presented their documents to the COPT. The AOA executive director at the time, Edward Crowell, DO, an osteopathic internist, spoke strongly on many occasions, opposing residency training and certification for general practitioners. According to Eli Stark, DO, FACOFP, there was a meeting of the AOA and the ACOFP Board in Denver, Colorado, in 1971. Presentations were made by key members with the support of the ACOFP Board and they were met with strong opposition from the AOA Board. All COPT members, except for the rehabilitation medicine representative, opposed ACOFP’s proposal. The council firmly believed in AOA documents that stated, “the trainer of any residency program shall be certified.” The Advisory Board did not believe a general practitioner should be certified. However, ACOFP prevailed, and the AOA Board approved the ACOFP certification. For more information about the battle for certification, see the preceding sections, “The Road to Family Practice Certification Begins,” on page 30, and “Back on the Road to Family Practice Certification,” on page 32. Having certified 17 physicians, formed an examining board, and developed the standards for residency training, the first AOA-approved general practice residency programs opened. The first residencies were authorized in three places: • Brentwood Hospital near Cleveland, Ohio; Norman Jankowski, DO, FACOFP, residency director • Lancaster, Pennsylvania; Paul Herr, DO, FACOFP, residency director • Chicago Osteopathic Hospital, Chicago, Illinois; Howard Hunt, DO, FACOFP, residency director
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