Monday, March 30, 2015

ACOFP Presents 2015 Lifetime Achievement Award to Ronnie Martin, D.O., FACOFP-dist

Mon, 30 Mar 2015Christopher Breedlove :: LUCOM Marketing

Ronnie Martin, D.O., FACOFP-dist., dean of Liberty University College of Osteopathic Medicine (LUCOM), has recently received the American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians (ACOFP) Lifetime Achievement Award. Dr. Martin received the award during the ACOFP’s 52nd Annual Convention and Scientific Seminar held in Las Vegas, Nevada.

The ACOFP Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes
outstanding ACOFP Lifetime Achievement Awardindividuals each year who demonstrate
career-long service to the profession of osteopathic
family medicine, to their patients, and to the American
College of Osteopathic Family Physicians. Dr. Martin,
along with two other nominees, was solicited from
recommendations of the ACOFP Board of Governors for
this year.

During the ACOFP annual convention, Dr. Martin was
presented with the award after being acknowledged for
over 35 years of service to, and leadership within,
the profession for political and medical advocacy; medical education and practice; and his actions in the professional development of others. As examples, he was also recognized for his role in initiating the Women’s Institute for Leadership (nearly five years ago) and the Young Osteopathic Family Physicians Leadership program, both within the ACOFP.

“Anytime you are recognized by your peers it is humbling. What you try to do during a career is be respectful of, and advance, your profession so that in retrospect your service has benefited others,” Dr. Martin said. “In 35 years, I have been provided the opportunity to advance the osteopathic profession, osteopathic students, and osteopathic professionals. While I am not certain I deserve this recognition, I am very appreciative that those efforts have been recognized by my peers.”

Prior to accepting his role as the founding dean of LUCOM, Dr. Martin served as the Governor for the ACOFP beginning in 2000 before advancing through additional officer positions and serving as President (2008-2009). During his time on the board he served on multiple ACOFP committees including the Education Committee, Membership and Marketing, Program, Convention, and Government Relations and as student liaison to the college chapters. He has served as a board liaison and as an advisor for the past three years since officially leaving the board in 2012.

Commenting on his involvement within the ACOFP, Dr. Martin said, “I am very blessed to have been involved as the ACOFP advances this incredible profession. I became involved because of a sense of wishing to give back and doing the right thing in appreciation for all the opportunities the profession provides to me and my family. You really should not be doing these type of things for personal gratification — not for power, not for notoriety — but because you have been blessed and wish to benefit others.”

Dr. Martin has an extensive background in medical education. He has presented extensively within pharmacy, nursing, health policy, and medical fields throughout the past 30 years at the pre-doctoral, post-doctoral, and professional levels.

“At the heart of the osteopathic profession is the holistic approach to care, with its emphasis on body, mind, and spirit, as well as, its goal of improving the lives of others,” Dr. Martin said. “That resonates within my family. My wife, my children, all of us, have benefitted personally and professionally from osteopathic medicine and our approach to service to others. This profession has provided so much for my family and though I can never repay it all, I will not stop trying.”

As a member of the ACOFP and as the founding dean for LUCOM, Dr. Martin makes it his personal goal to inspire student doctors to making similar commitments within the osteopathic profession.

“Together we all can see further horizons when we stand on the shoulders of others who came before. Together we increase opportunities to serve and raise the standards. This is only the beginning.”

Liberty University College of Osteopathic Medicine (LUCOM) is located within the newly constructed Center for Medical and Health Sciences. LUCOM is the second osteopathic college in the Commonwealth of Virginia and the 30th in the country. LUCOM is dedicated to producing physicians who are knowledgeable, skilled, and competent, founded in professionalism, ethics, and Christian principles. Developing community-based physicians, LUCOM prepares graduates to remain lifelong learners who contribute to the advancement of medical knowledge and have a passion to be of service to their patients.