The purpose of the Georgia Osteopathic Medical Association is to promote public health while also promoting art, science and philosophy of osteopathic medicine.

What is the Georgia Osteopathic Medical Association?
The Georgia Osteopathic Medical Association (GOMA) is a non-profit organization comprised of osteopathic physicians, residents, interns and students who meet the membership requirements of GOMA Constitution and Bylaws.

GOMA strives to elevate and maintain the high standards of the profession by

• providing quality educational programs for its members;
• supporting osteopathic medical training programs.
• legislative lobbying in the GA General Assembly

Adherence to an established Code of Ethics is strongly recommended. The state association offers to its members, through a doctor-to-doctor peer review program, an opportunity to address issues of an ethical nature.

GOMA seeks to provide for the needs of its members by continually updating membership services especially in the area of medical education and information and government relations through the quarterly newsletter, the GEORGIA DO.

Encouraging D.O.s in other states to locate their practices in Georgia is an ongoing effort.

If GOMA didn't do it... Who would?
Part of a national network, GOMA acts as a component society to of the American Osteopathic Association and its affiliates and adheres to the policies and principles of the AOA. GOMA staff and officers work closely with the AOA Board of Trustees and committees on behalf of the membership.

Governed by an executive board

The Georgia Osteopathic Medical Association is governed by an Executive Board which meets quarterly.

Officers include a president, president-elect, vice president and secretary/treasurer. The state is divided into four districts with a president, from each district.

The officers are elected annually at the Membership Business Meeting which is held during the Annual Fall Convention.

At the FALL Conference, the membership elects four delegates to represent GOMA at the annual AOA House of Delegates meeting. This provides an opportunity for GOMA members to become directly involved and influence the direction of their state professional organization by participating in this committee process.

 

In Addition
Serving members needs are the following committees:

Archives, Awards & History

• provides an opportunity to recognize members who have made significant contributions to their profession.
• preserves important, historical papers and documents for the osteopathic medical profession in the state of Georgia.

Convention

• provides for the latest in medical education as well as information on how to maximize and improve the effectiveness of medical practice.
• scientific exhibits provide the latest in drug therapy and medical equipment.
• continuing medical education credits, so necessary to maintaining speciality certification, hospital staff privledges, medical malpractice insurance and state licensure, are essential parts of all GOMA meetings.
• currently GOMA provides two CME meetings. This meets with the AOA requirements for membership, the state requirements for licensure renewal and with most specialty society requirements to maintain specialty certification.

Ethics & Peer Review

• provides for direct doctor-to-doctor involvement in peer review.

Legislative

• Provides an opportunity for involvement is a profession in the legislative process as well as increasing the membership's awareness to the legislative process.

Membership

• Provides for such benefits as an membership newsletter, practice management information, assistance with discrimination, locating a practice and or associate, patient referral, etc.

Physician Recruitment

• provides information on practice opportunities to out-of-state D.O.s and maintaines a resource list of physicians seeking information on practice opportunities in our state. Promotes practice in the state.

Public Information

• promotes initiative designed to increase the public's awareness of the osteopathic medical profession and the D.O. degree.
• develops tools necessary to successfully promote the private practice of medicine in today's petite market.

Other
GOMA provides for representation on a variety of important health related boards and communities in Georgia, as well as at the national AOA level. Supports members in their efforts to serve on such entities.

Provides for Governmental Affairs representative knowledgeable and experienced in state politics and familiar with the regulatory process to represent the osteopathic medical profession in Georgia.

Provides for continuous monitoring of the malpractice insurance market to assure the availability of reasonably priced insurance for D.O.s in Georgia.

Provides for legislated seats on the:

• Composite State Board of Medical Examiners
• Medical Care Foundation (Physicians Review Organization)
• Physician Workforce Board

As well as a Board position on the:

• Medicare Physician Advisory Committee
• Medicaid Drug Formulary Committee
• Worker's Compensation Board
• State Medical Education Board
• Council on Prescription Medication Awareness

And

• development of "dual-track" (D.O. and M.D. approved) family practice residency programs at major hospitals in the state
• reversal of Medicaid's prior approval requirement for OMT
• an annual proclamation signed by the governor for National Osteopathic Medical Week

Provides for a state office under the direction of an experienced executive director and staff. The state office handles such day to day tasks as:

• providing support to the Board of Trustees, the Executive Committee and various committees
• provides overall financial management
• provides expertise from years of experience in the area of meeting planning
• appropriately directing and handling all correspondence and telephone inquires
• performing such other clerical duties and responsibilities usual to such an office

The state office and executive director also act as a liaison for other state and national agencies, boards and committees and works closely with the American Osteopathic Association and its affiliates.