The Ohio Society of the American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians (Ohio ACOFP) presented its annual Family Physician of the Year award to State Rep. Terry A. Johnson, DO, of Portsmouth, during a special luncheon, April 30, 2011, at the Ohio Osteopathic Symposium. The event was held at the Columbus Hilton at Easton, with some 500 physicians and other guests in attendance.

Dr. Johnson is the first osteopathic physician (DO) to ever serve in the Ohio General Assembly and believed to be the first Ohio physician to be elected to a state office since the 1930s.

“His election was historic for the entire osteopathic profession,”
said Ohio ACOFP President Ioanna Z. Giatis, DO, who made the presentation. “And we are extremely proud of Terry. But more than that, we are proud of his work as a family physician.”

Dr. Johnson has a long list of accomplishments and experience. He serves as family practice residency director at Southern Ohio Medical Center; clinical associate professor for Ohio University College of Osteopathic Medicine, where he received his degree; assistant dean for the Centers for Osteopathic Research & Education; and Scioto County coroner.

A veteran of the Guard for more than 20 years, he was deployed three times in the Global War on Terror, twice to Iraq. He serves as a colonel in the National Guard; senior Army flight surgeon; past commander of the Ohio Army National Guard Medical Detachment; and is currently Joint Forces and Army State Surgeon for the Ohio Guard, giving him ultimate responsibility for all medical operations in the Ohio Guard, both Army and Air. In addition, he has led humanitarian medical missions to Panama and Ecuador.

“In addition to his strong commitment to patient care, Dr. Johnson is a true ambassador for osteopathic medicine,” Dr. Giatis said. “He is highly regarded by his patients, by his community, and by his peers at the Ohio Statehouse.”

Based in Columbus, Ohio ACOFP was founded in 1952. It is a statewide organization with a mission to promote excellence in osteopathic family medicine through quality education, visionary leadership, and responsible advocacy.

There are two complete schools of medicine in the United States.

Osteopathic colleges award the DO degree, while allopathic colleges award the MD degree. Both DOs and MDs are fully licensed to practice medicine and surgery and both obtain licenses under the same procedure as administered by the Ohio State Medical Board. Osteopathic physicians utilize all scientifically accepted methods of diagnosis and treatment, including drugs and surgery, and have additional training in recognizing the relationship of body structure to body function. In Ohio, 12 percent of all physicians are DOs. Of family physicians in the state, 26 percent are DOs.