52 Infrastructure “Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment” to “Family Practice.” The unique skills of the osteopathic family physician would never be further eroded. AUXILIARY TO THE ACOFP The AOA has had an auxiliary for many years, representing the spouses and significant others of active osteopathic physicians in practice. However, a similar organization did not exist in ACOFP until 1990 when Harold Thomas, DO, FACOFP, who was president at the time, felt there were profound issues unique to family practice that could be solved by organizing an auxiliary. Dr. Thomas shared his idea with his wife, Margaret, and they both committed to the project. The duo presented their concept to the Board of Governors and the governors’ spouses, who appeared to embrace the notion. The first governing Board of the Auxiliary to the American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians (AACOFP) was founded on Nov. 26, 1990. Its first group of leaders was composed mainly of the governors’ spouses and their friends, with initial membership at 91. Ms. Thomas was elected as AACOFP’s first president on March 9, 1991, in Washington, D.C. Auxiliary leaders commemorated the 20th anniversary of the Auxiliary to the ACOFP. Throughout the years, AACOFP has raised thousands of dollars for philanthropic projects. These projects usually centered on providing financial aid to ACOFP’s academic members, like students and residents, such as relocating residents who have been displaced when their residency closed before graduation. The most famous case happened in the 1980s in Denver, when more than 20 residents were displaced by the sudden closure of an HCA Family Medicine Residency program, with most requiring relocation out of state. The auxiliary has provided significant funds for the preceptor/preceptee program and the ACOFP student scholarship program and has provided funds for family medicine students, residents, and spouses to attend national ACOFP annual conventions. It has generated funds through silent auctions and raffles. In Denver in 2006, the auxiliary sponsored a Las Vegas night and rented real roulette and blackjack tables. The mood was festive, and everyone enjoyed the evening. The number of chips each winner earned served as the donation amount they pledged. When the proceeds were tallied, AACOFP had generated pledges totaling $43,000 for their budget, going down as the most successful fundraising venture in AACOFP history. One of ACOFP’s most popular projects, which was the idea of then Auxiliary President Deborah Stasio, was when the organization began funding the ACOFP Family Breakfast for all who attended the annual meeting each year, including everyone and their families. It melded the physicians’ family members with their fellow ACOFP family members, enjoying their first meal of the day together. The AACOFP continued to host the breakfasts from 2005 up until the COVID pandemic (as there were no Annual Conventions in 2020 or 2021).
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