48 Infrastructure 111 West Washington St., and Jack Hank’s Allied Appraisals. In the early 1980s, ACOFP was struggling financially. Income and membership were at a low ebb. The appointment of Dr. Saloom as treasurer, overseer, and controller of its meager funds instituted a turnaround. Three specific appointments to major committees proved key to the organization’s subsequent success: Ronald Goldberg, DO, FACOFP, grants committee; Harold Thomas, DO, FACOFP, conventions committee; and Royce Keilers, DO, FACOFP, membership committee. This triad was admonished by Dr. Saloom to do the best job possible with limited funds and very limited committee meetings. The membership committee did meet and strategically decided to focus on students and young DOs for future membership growth, as many older DOs had not responded to the call to join despite numerous requests. The membership committee accomplished the establishment and reactivation of student societies in the colleges of osteopathic medicine. In 2004, student membership totaled 10,000. Overall ACOFP membership also continued to rise steadily, to more than 21,000 in 2004, and more than 26,000 in 2024. A national ACOFP student organization was born and grew rapidly. Many students now attend the ACOFP national meetings, and some sit on ACOFP boards and committees. ACOFP membership, program grants, and meeting attendance all grew during the mid-1980s under Dr. Saloom’s guidance. The ACOFP coffers prospered, allowing for expansion, including a new executive director in leadership position, new program development, a new headquarters office building, and a sound financial structure with reserves. Committees began to meet and function optimally in the new environment. The residency base expanded, and the number of certified osteopathic family physicians increased. STUDENTS PLAY A PART IN ACOFP HISTORY In 1957, the first ACOFP student society was organized on the Kansas City University College of Osteopathic Medicine’s campus. This first student society was designated as the Alpha Society, and N. Robert Brethouwer, DO, FACOFP, was elected as its president. During his tenure, Dr. Brethouwer visited other campuses and became instrumental in creating other student societies. His involvement with ACOFP would not end with his graduation from Kansas City University. Dr. Brethouwer would one day serve as ACOFP president and preside over ACOFP’s name change. See the following section, “A New Home Gets a New Name.”
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