OOA Mourns Loss of Boyd W. Bowden, DO

Boyd Bowden, DOBoyd W. Bowden, DO, a respected leader of the osteopathic profession at the local, state and national levels, died at Doctors Hospital in Columbus this morning, April 14, 2011.

Family will receive friends Monday, April 18, from 2-4 pm and 6-8 pm with a Masonic service at 5:45 pm at SCHOEDINGER NORTHEAST CHAPEL (1051 E. Johnstown Road, Gahanna). The memorial service will be held at 10:30 am the following day, Tuesday, April 19, at St. Catharine of Siena Catholic Church.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Dr. Bowden’s  memory to the Osteopathic Heritage Foundation (1500 Lake Shore Drive, Ste. 230, Columbus, OH 43204), or the American Osteopathic Foundation (142 E. Ontario St., Chicago, IL 60611-2864). To offer condolences to his family, visit http://www.schoedinger.com/obituaries/Boyd-Bowden/

Dr. Bowden was a distinguished orthopedic surgeon, educator, and leader. 

He played a prominent role in the education of countless osteopathic orthopedic and family practice residents at Doctors Hospital in Columbus where he chaired internship and residency training programs and was an associate professor of orthopedic surgery for Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine, his alma mater, and Ohio University College of Osteopathic Medicine.  A strong and vocal advocate for osteopathic postgraduate education, he championed OU-COM and osteopathic medical students. 

Nationwide, it was Dr. Bowden’s mission and priority to establish a research culture within the profession.  Under his leadership as chair of the AOA Research Council for nearly 10 years that goal was reached.  He was instrumental in the creation of the national Osteopathic Research Center, which fosters collaborative research on the efficacy of OMM.  As a member of the Osteopathic Heritage Foundation Board of Trustees, he helped establish the JO Watson, DO, Endowed Research Chair, a major component of OU-COM’s diabetes and cardiovascular research and clinical initiatives.  In 2008, he was appointed to the National Advisory Council for Complementary and Alternative Medicine.  The Council serves as the principal advisory body to the federal agency for complementary and alternative medicine research and a component of the National Institutes of Health.

 For 13 years he effectively represented the Ohio osteopathic community as a trustee on the American Osteopathic Association Board, where he advocated for osteopathic research and osteopathic medical students.  Appropriately, he chaired the AOA Bureau of Student Affairs and the AOA Council on Research.  He was at the forefront of policy-making decisions, serving many years at both the OOA House of Delegates and the AOA House of Delegates.

 At Columbus Doctors Hospital, he was a leader and mentor to trainees as well as physician colleagues.  He was a member of the medical staff for many years, served on the credentials committee, and was medical staff president.  In addition, he was a highly-respected physician in his community.  He was an ambassador for osteopathic medicine, particularly during his tenure as team physician for Columbus-area high schools and Ohio Dominican College.

Dr. Bowden was truly a “Great Pioneer” in osteopathic medicine.  The AOA recognized him as such in 2008 during the House of Delegates when he and 36 other DOs were honored as the profession’s contemporary pioneers.  Specifically, he was cited as the first osteopathic physician with training in both hand surgery and pediatric orthopedics and the first DO to join the medical staff at Children’s Hospital in Columbus.

Throughout his 30+ years in medicine, he won many awards and leadership positions within the profession.  He served as president of the American Osteopathic Academy of Orthopedics and received the AOAO’s highest honor, the Donald Siehl, DO, Award; was president of the Osteopathic Academy of Orthopedics Hand Society; served as chief of staff at Doctors Hospital; received the Columbus Academy’s highest honor, the James F. Sosnowski, DO, Distinguished Service Award; received OU-COM’s Phillips Medal of Public Service; earned the fellow designation from both the American College of Osteopathic Surgeons and AOAO; and received the OOA Trustees Award and OOA Distinguished Service Award.


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