OPSC Award Winners
The Osteopathic Physicians & Surgeons of California honored several Western University of Health Sciences alumni and administrators at its annual convention in Palm Springs on Feb. 13-17, 2008.
WesternU President Philip Pumerantz, PhD, received the Supporter of the Year award. College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific (COMP) Dean Clinton Adams, DO, FAAFP, FACHE, received the Lifetime Achievement Award. Alan Cundari, DO, chair of COMP’s Department of Family Medicine, received the Most Valuable Physician award.
COMP alumni award recipients included: James Lally, DO, MSHPE, Physician of the Year award; Geraldine T. O’Shea, DO, 2008 OPSC Award; Natalie Nevins, DO, MSHPE, Richard E. Eby Humanitarian Award; Mark E. Eastman, DO, Most Valuable Physician award.
Also, COMP alumna Brooke Alexander, DO, took the oath of office as the new OPSC president.
“OPSC represents the osteopathic profession and WU/COMP is a major source of physicians for the profession,” Pumerantz said. “OPSC and COMP have had a long and fruitful association and we are committed to continue to be a strong partner. That accounts for the multiple awards for COMP.”
Upon receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award, Adams joked that he didn’t realize he was that old.
“It’s not only an honor and privilege to serve our country in the Navy for 30 years, but it’s equally exciting of a challenge to serve WesternU, the state of California and the osteopathic profession,” he said.
WesternU recently celebrated its 30th anniversary and has come of age with a phenomenal presence in California, Adams said. COMP has many outstanding alumni who are working to support their profession and to continually improve the college, he said.
Lally, a full professor of family medicine, gives generously of his time and talent to WesternU, and his personal sacrifice and support of the profession is unmatched, Adams said. Lally adopted COMP’s class of 2011, paying their OPSC dues and continues to mentor them.
“He wants to see the class of 2011 rise to the occasion and assume similar leadership roles when it’s their turn,” Adams said.
Cundari is always toiling behind the scenes, making sure everything is working on campus and at the state level for the profession, Adams said.
“I was pleased and honored to be recognized by my peer group for being supportive of the organization and involved with ongoing responsibilities,” Cundari said.
WesternU is graduating more and more osteopathic physicians, so the likelihood of honoring WesternU graduates is increasing, said Kathleen Creason, executive director of OPSC.
“WesternU and COMP graduates play an enormous role in our organization,” she said. “WesternU has been very supportive, from providing financial support to providing faculty support at our conventions to providing professional services such as videographers when developing a professional osteopathic video. WesternU graduates have been involved serving many leadership positions and committee leadership roles.”
OPSC is fortunate to have very positive relationships with the administration at WesternU, Creason said. She gives full credit to Pumerantz, Adams and the COMP faculty.
“They very much promote the involvement of students in OPSC,” she said.
2008 Osteopathic Physicians & Surgeons of California awards
COMP administrators and faculty
Supporter of the Year – WesternU President Philip Pumerantz
Lifetime Achievement – COMP Dean Clinton Adams
Most Valuable Physician – Alan Cundari, Chair of the Department of Family Medicine
COMP alumni
Physician of the Year – James Lally, DO ’91, MSHPE ’93
OPSC Award – Geraldine T. O’Shea, DO ’93
Most Valuable Physician – Mark E. Eastman, DO ’93
Richard E. Eby Humanitarian Award – Natalie A. Nevins, DO ’97
