COA Presents Annual Awards
(May 2016) The Columbus Osteopathic Association (COA) presented its highest honors at the Annual Meeting & Dinner in March. Awards are given annually to recognize exemplary accomplishments in personal, scientific, community and professional affairs, especially in service to the osteopathic profession.
James F. Sosnowski, DO, Distinguished Service Award
Named for Captain James F. Sosnowski, DO, the Distinguished Service Award, was instituted in 1988 in memory of the only DO killed in action in Vietnam. On February 16, 1968, a mortar shell directly hit a field hospital in Tay Ninh, Vietnam, where Dr. Sosnowski, who trained at Doctors Hospital in Columbus, was in the operating room with his patient, an American soldier. Both were killed instantly. Dr. Sosnowski, who was president of his graduating class at Des Moines University College of Osteopathic Medicine, was two weeks shy of his 28th birthday.
Donald R. Furci, DO, has been a champion for osteopathic medicine throughout his 50 years in practice. His long and distinguished service to the profession and the next generation of caregivers is truly commendable.
He has been an outstanding educator, mentor, and role model to hundreds of residents, students and new physicians in practice. They see his commitment first-hand and are inspired by his compassion to serve his patients. As part of the family medicine residency program at Doctors Hospital since 1995, he has been a quiet and forceful impact on osteopathic medical education for 20 years.
He received his undergraduate degree at St. John’s University in New York and completed his pharmacy training before matriculating to Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine. Prior to joining the Residency program, he was in private practice in Columbus and Florida.
His special interest in holistic medicine has translated into an annual medical mission to Belize, which he has coordinated for 15-plus years. He also developed an international medical rotation with about 20 health care professionals, including peers and residents. This work was recognized when he received the Ohio Osteopathic Association Humanitarian of the Year Award in 2007.
Active within the profession at the local level, Dr. Furci was a long-time member of the COA Executive Council and served as president in 2007-2008.
William I. Linder, DO, Advocate Award
The Advocate Award, established in 1997, is named in memory of William I. Linder, DO, who served as editor of the COA publication called The Advocate. The newsletter allowed him to marry his writing skills to his great love of medicine. Many of his articles were called prophetic in their ability to predict some of the ways in which medicine has evolved. Dr. Linder was a great proponent of osteopathic medicine and osteopathic medical education. One of the songs he loved to play on his guitar (he was not only a skilled physician and talented writer, but also a musician) was one he wrote himself about Dr. Andrew Taylor Still.
Through her dedicated leadership and extensive service, Paige Gutheil Henderson, DO, embodies the values of osteopathic medicine. She is an advocate for the profession, her students, her community, and her patients.
She was COA president in 2010-2011 and has served on the Ohio ACOFP Board of Governors, OU-HCOM Society of Alumni & Friends Board of Directors, and Ohio University Alumni Association Board. She has also served in administrative leadership roles at Doctors Hospital including chair of the Department of Community Health and president of the medical staff.
Through a recent project, OHIOwomen in medicine, a professional networking and mentoring group, she advocates for women physicians and students.
Dr. Gutheil Henderson has volunteered her time and talent internationally and locally, with medical missions in Central America and with Central Ohio organizations like Big Brothers/Big Sisters.
Through her endeavors, she advocates for – and brings a sense of pride to – the osteopathic medical profession.
