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American Osteopathic Approval of our
Family Medicine Residency!

Altoona Family Physicians ACGME Family Medicine Residency began in 1975 with the first Osteopathic Internship in the country integrated into residency in 1991

We are now approved for a three year osteopathic family medicine residency as well, allowing the opportunity for dual board certification.  We are accredited for the maximum three years.

Osteopathic and allopathic residents work side by side at AFP.

Dr. Donald Beckstead accepts leadership of AFP

After over twenty years of service to Altoona Family Physicians Residency, Don Beckstead has accepted the position of Program Director.  He previously served as Associate Program Director.  Dr. Elissa Palmer, our previous director has moved to Nevada to serve as director of an OB Fellowship and a rural track residency.

Full Five Years Accreditation!!!!!

The Residency Review Committee for Family Practice of the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education reviewed the report and information from the April 22, 2003 site visit and accredited Altoona Family Physicians Residency of Altoona Hospital for the maximum achievable of 5 years. The next site visit will be September 2008.

Due to all of the new regulations and work hours rules which came into effect this past year, it has been the case that most residency programs have not achieved more than a 3 or 4 year accreditation. Altoona Family Physicians is honored to have achieved 5 years for the second time in a row.

Altoona Family Physicians Residency continues to teach residents to be physicians with the mission to provide high quality, cost effective care to the people of Central Pennsylvania.

Program Directors Workshop Presentation

Dr. Kathleen Sweeney, Osteopathic Internship and Residency Director presented to the American College of Osteopathic Family Practitioners Program Directors Workshop on "How to Prepare your Family Practice Residency for Inspection". 

Faculty gives Grand Rounds at Mayo Clinic

AFP Associate Director, Terry Ruhl, traveled to Rochester, Minnesota to present "The heart is like a pump: Medical Analogies in Patient Education".  The presentation was simulcast at the Jacksonville and Scottsdale campuses of the Mayo Clinic.

Newest Faculty member!

Dr. Kristen Grine has joined Altoona Family Physicians as our newest faculty member.  She will be practicing and teaching full spectrum family medicine, including OB and nursery.  Dr. Grine is a graduate of PCOM and Altoona Family Physicians Residency where she was chief resident. 

American Academy of Family Physicians Foundation
Rocking Chair Project - Altoona site

AFP was selected to continue an AAFP Foundation project to support family/baby bonding.  Second year residents will present a rocking chair to one of the patients they deliver, along with some age appropriate books.  See here for more information and pictures.  We can also be seen at the national site at www.rockingchairproject.org.

New Residents

AFP is proud to announce the results of the Osteopathic and Allopathic Matches. We have filled all six of our positions through the matches.  We will be welcoming:

Also joining as a second year resident:

iPAQs arrive

AFP residents and faculty are now all equipped with iPAQ's.  The new iPAQ h5500's have wireless and fingerprint-recognition capability.  We can now access patient information from the room, the internet from our pocket and soon, residency schedules and files at the touch of a button.  All new residents will receive one to use and keep.

Book Signing

We had an informal book signing this month as PCOM medical student and author Justin Snyder signed copies of his book, Jonathan's Jungle.  Jonathan's fanciful journey to Africa teaches him about himself and what really matters.  Some of the proceeds from sale of the book go to the Bayaka in Moale, Central African Republic, where Justin visited in 2002.  Check out his web site for more information at www.jonathansjungle.com.


 

New publications

The Second Edition of Pfenninger and Fowler's Procedures for Primary Care contains a chapter by AFP Associate Director, Terry Ruhl.  The dedication page thanks Dr. Ruhl and his many colleagues that covered call for Jack Pfenninger while he was writing his books.

The chapter on wart treatment also references this web site for information on Candida antigen injection for treatment of warts.

Dr. Palmer published an on-line review of the book Genetics in the Clinic: Clincal, Ethical, and Social Implications for Primary Care.

 Resident/Faculty travel to Nepal

Nate Derstine (2nd year resident) and Terry Ruhl (faculty) traveled to Kathmandu, Nepal in October.  They did screening physicals in a refugee camp and in-depth physicals and medical care in two orphanages.  Nate spent time in one of the hospitals.

Old baby pictures (they are now much bigger)

Dr. Morrow serves our country in Germany

It's a Small World...

On a trip to Orlando, Faculty (and Class of 2001) Fi McLellan and her daughter Heather ran into former AFP residents Lisa Duvall and Kelly Barr at Animal Kingdom.

And the next AFP Alumni meeting will be in... ...

Publications/Promotions/Positions

Dr. Ruhl has been elected Chair of the STFM Group on Patient Education.

Jean Costlow has been named president of the Cambria County Chapter of Medical Assistants.  She is also Chairman of the Legislative Committee for the State of Pennsylvania.

Dr. Ruhl's letter Spiritual Informed Consent for CAM was published in the Archives of Internal Medicine, April 22, 2002 .  Click here for the letter. 

New Second Year Resident

AFP will welcome Tonya Kozminski to our 2nd year class in July.  
She is currently at the Meadville FP Residency Program that is, unfortunately, going to be closing.  We look forward to her 
joining us.

Babies showering

AFP is having a baby boom.  Five residents or resident wives are due in the next few months.  Here Lydia opens a gift at a shower while Andrew pretends to be excited.

Nutrition Program announced

Dieticians from the Altoona Hospital will now be taking an important role in the education of AFP residents and care of AFP patients.  They will be doing weekly patient counseling sessions, resident teaching and lunch conference talks.  

Donation Received Honoring Attending

AFP received a donation from a past graduate who wanted to acknowledge "the wonderful training" received during residency by Dr. Craig Hartman (Pulmonologist) "who took extra time" with him.  This donation afforded us the opportunity to purchase a digital camera for clinical use in teaching and to update our web pages.

Congratulations to Dr. Hartman for making a difference in the lives of our residents and thanks to our graduate for the thoughtful gift.

Dr. Han leaves for Indianapolis

AFP says goodbye to Dr. Laurie Han who is moving to Indianapolis with her husband Dan.   Laurie Han's goodbye message.  She and Dan also have a new baby.

New opportunities

AFP is pleased to announce that Program Director Elissa Palmer is now the Director of the Pregnancy Care Center (Healthy Beginnings) and the Woman's Health and Wellness Center in addition to her residency duties.  The Woman's Health and Wellness Center has moved to the Altoona Family Physicians facilities.  This has dramatically improved resident experience with gynecologic care and gynecologic procedures.  

Welcome to

     Minor construction mess

Osteopathic Medicine Week

Mayor Tom Martin of Altoona declared October 6-12 Osteopathic Medicine Week.  Dr. Kathleen Sweeney and Dr. John-Mark Miller were on hand to receive the proclamation.