PCOM Faculty Present at OMED 2015
November 4, 2015
Katherine Galluzzi, DO, CMD, FACOFP dist.
(Photo credit: American Osteopathic Association)
Several staff, administrators and faculty from PCOM attended the recent OMED 2015
Conference in Kissimmee, Florida in October to learn about activities at osteopathic
medical schools across the country and to discuss how the profession continues to
grow and change. Four faculty members, Murray R. Berkowitz, DO, MA, MS, MPH, associate
professor, neuromusculoskeletal medicine and osteopathic manipulative medicine and
director, preventive and community-based medicine; Katherine Galluzzi, DO, CMD, FACOFP
dist., professor and chair, geriatric medicine; Erik Langenau, DO, MS, associate professor,
pediatrics, and chief technology officer; and Greg McDonald, DO ’89, chair, forensic
medicine and pathology, presented on topics related to their various fields of expertise.
Dr. Langenau discussed ways that medical schools could implement new and emerging
technologies related to medical education and training, but noted that several factors
should be considered before choosing which technologies to utilize, including if they
are indeed ready to be utilized; if there is a significant benefit to using them;
and whether the institution has the resources to implement them.
Dr. McDonald presented on post-mortem changes and forensic entomology, and the pathology
of drug abuse, as part of several practice groups led by the American Osteopathic
College of Pathologists.
Dr. Berkowitz presented on osteopathic manipulative techniques (OMT) and the industrial
athlete as part of the Occupational Medicine Day of the American Osteopathic College
of Occupational and Preventive Medicine (AOCOPM). He discussed common musculoskeletal
problems of industrial athletes and the epidemiology of those injuries, as well as
appropriate OMT for those injuries. (Dr. Berkowitz was also recently named vice president
and chair of the Occupational Medicine Division of AOCOPM.)
Dr. Galluzzi, who is a member of the content development team for the Collaboration
for REMS Education (CO*RE), presented the latest iteration of curriculum modules designed
to better train physicians on extended-release and long-acting (ER/LA) opioid pain
medication. CO*RE is a consortium of 10 partners and three organizations that has
worked to create, update and present these modules in response to the Federal Drug
Administration’s Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS) initiative for ER/LA
opioid analgesics.
“Physicians must balance the use, availability, and the necessity for pain management
against the risk of serious adverse outcomes,” said Dr. Galluzzi.
Dr. Galluzzi’s presentation of REMS modules comes at an important time; earlier in
October, President Barack Obama announced a renewed push for training on prescribing
opioid pain medications for doctors as part of a White House initiative against abuse
of prescription drugs and heroin use.
About Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine
Founded in 1899, Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (PCOM) has trained thousands
of highly competent, caring physicians, health practitioners and behavioral scientists
who practice a “whole person” approach to care—treating people, not just symptoms.
PCOM operates three campuses (PCOM, PCOM Georgia and PCOM South Georgia) and offers doctoral degrees in clinical psychology, educational psychology, osteopathic
medicine, pharmacy, physical therapy and school psychology, and graduate degrees in
applied behavior analysis, applied positive psychology, biomedical sciences, forensic
medicine, medical laboratory science, mental health counseling, non profit leadership
and population health management, organizational development and leadership, physician
assistant studies, school psychology, and public health management and administration.
PCOM students learn the importance of health promotion, research, education and service
to the community. Through its community-based Healthcare Centers, PCOM provides care
to medically underserved populations. For more information, visit pcom.edu or call 215-871-6100.
For more information, contact:
Daniel McCunney
Associate Director, News and Media Relations
Email: danielmc1@pcom.edu
Office: 215-871-6304 | Cell:
267-449-1360