Tuesday, October 17, 2017
LUCOM Assistant Dean elected President of American College of Osteopathic Surgeons
Tue, 17 Oct 2017Christopher Breedlove and Asa Keimig | LUCOM Marketing
Liberty University College of Osteopathic Medicine (LUCOM) Assistant Dean of Clinical Education, Ray L. Morrison, DO, FACOS, was elected as President of the American College of Osteopathic Surgeons (ACOS) on Friday, Oct. 13. Over 3,200 DO surgeons are associated with the ACOS, serving in multiple disciplines such as Neurosurgery, Plastic and Reconstructive surgery, Cardiothoracic and Vascular surgery, Urology and General Surgery.
Dr. Morrison previously served as an elected member of the Board of Governors for ACOS throughout the past eight years and in 2016, he was appointed as the President-Elect. “I think any appointment verifies in a small way that you are proceeding in a positive direction. I enjoy challenge and I have a desire to leave any organization that I am a part of in a better condition than when I arrived,” he said. “It is a work ethic I have been trained in from those who have come before me, and I feel it is important to carry this forward.”
Dr. Morrison first became interested in medicine during his tour as a medic with the US Army. “I had a penchant for studying medicine. It allowed me to progress with studies both in and after my service.” Believing in what he refers to as the “olden style” of medicine, he did everything from delivering babies, acute care, elective care of surgical diseases of patients, and even critical or routine care in a family practice setting. “Insurance carriers forced me into a decision of working as a family doctor or a surgeon,” he added. “As a board-certified surgeon, my choice was fairly simple, so I spent many years as a rural surgeon with an emphasis in trauma as well as rural general surgery.”
Transitioning to LUCOM in 2014, Dr. Morrison had a conviction to serve at a Christ-centered, faith-based school. “I felt as though I had been reminded by God to look at my entire professional life and there was only a divine directed path to this institution [Liberty],” he said.
Dr. Morrison attributes his professional work as a reflection of the one true healer, Jesus Christ. “The mission of my life is to serve the Lord, Jesus Christ. His presence on this Earth demonstrated His ability to care for all peoples, regardless of background or situation. The mission and vision of a university [Liberty] that offers such a worldview makes this opportunity one that can both define and enhance my ability to serve.”
As the new President of ACOS, Dr. Morrison has many goals with the overall focus on the greater good of the osteopathic profession and Graduate Medical Education (GME). “GME is of great concern in this new age of single accreditation and I see ACOS as the primary source of which will allow our residents and physicians to be able to document scholarly activity with scientific publications and research in a peer-reviewed journal.” Dr. Morrison also said, “I desire for more residencies to gain the status of osteopathic recognition as we continue to further the tenants of osteopathic medicine. I desire for the quality and consistency of Osteopathic Board Certification to proceed into the future in the way that recognizes a fully accredited and certified osteopathic surgeon.”
Dr. Morrison is an American Osteopathic Association (AOA) board-certified surgeon and the Speaker of the House for the AOA. He has served as the Speaker of the House and Vice Speaker of the Texas Osteopathic Medical Association (TOMA), and still serves on the Board of the Virginia Osteopathic Medical Association (VOMA). He is also a fellow of the American College of Osteopathic Surgeons.
“I am encouraged with our profession’s desire and ability to recognize a younger generation of surgeon leaders and encourage their involvement with many organizations that will preserve the future of osteopathic medicine,” said Dr. Morrison.
“Dr. Morrison’s appointment as the new ACOS President is a great honor – all of us at LUCOM are very proud. As an Assistant Dean, Dr. Morrison works tirelessly in continuing the mission of the college by advancing professional growth for our faculty and student-doctors. He provides tremendous oversight with our clinical affiliates and rising GME programs. With his new role as the ACOS President, I firmly believe that Dr. Morrison will provide strong leadership and guidance in surgical education programs as well as continue developing a great resource for mentorships and professional relationships,” added Peter A. Bell, DO, MBA, dean of LUCOM.