The OAFP elects and installs new president, board of directors
During the Ohio Academy of Family Physicians’ (OAFP) Family Medicine Celebration on Aug. 17, at the Center of Science and Industry (COSI) in Columbus, American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) Director Sarah Nosal, MD, FAAFP, served as an honorary guest and installed the OAFP’s new president, Kelly Meehan-de la Cruz, MD, FAAFP, along with its newly elected directors and officers, to the OAFP Board of Directors.
As a member of the OAFP, Dr. Meehan-de la Cruz has served on numerous committees and workgroups since joining the OAFP in 2009, leading at both at the state and national level. Now, as president, Dr. Meehan-de la Cruz will use her extensive knowledge of the OAFP’s strategic priorities and work with the members of the Board to empower, assist, and uplift Ohio’s family physicians; ensuring that they are recognized by the value they bring to Ohio’s healthcare infrastructure.
Dr. Meehan-de la Cruz is a chief medical officer with the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections, providing comprehensive care for traditionally underserved patients with complex medical, emotional and social challenges. She was previously the regional lead physician for the Mercy Health Physicians Well-Being Workgroup. During her tenure, she helped develop programs and processes to address the multifaceted need to improve physician wellness including areas of mental and physical health, work efficiency, administrative burden, autonomy and professional enrichment.
Dr. Meehan-de la Cruz earned her medical degree from The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and graduated from the University of Massachusetts School of Medicine Family Medicine Residency Program, where she served as chief resident.
In her inaugural speech, Dr. Meehan-de la Cruz highlighted an often overlooked social determinant of health: voting. She encouraged her colleagues to discuss the importance of voting with their patients and shared resources, such as Vot-ER, that assist patients in the voting registration process.
“I am deeply honored to have been elected as your president and I look forward to working alongside each of you,” said Dr. Meehan-de la Cruz.
OAFP Board of Directors Members
The OAFP congratulates its newly elected members to the Board of Directors, including:
• President-Elect Mary Krebs, MD, FAAFP, Dayton
• Vice-President Jaividhya Dasarathy, MD, FAAFP, Cleveland
• Treasurer Roma Amin, MD, Columbus
• Speaker Catherine Romanos, MD, FAAFP, Columbus
• Vice-Speaker Heidi Yount, MD, FAAFP, Arcanum
• Immediate Past President Wayne Forde, MD, FAAFP, Solon
• AAFP Delegate Elisabeth Righter, MD, FAAFP, Dayton
• AAFP Delegate Mary Krebs, MD, FAAFP, Dayton
• AAFP Alternate Delegate Roma Amin, MD, Columbus
• AAFP Alternate Delegate Jaividhya Dasarathy, MD, FAAFP, Cleveland
• Ohio State Medical Association (OSMA) Delegate Julie Marcinek, DO, FAAFP, Columbus
• OSMA Alternate Delegate John Sharma, MD, MS, FAAFP, Van Wert
• Central Region Director Nate Overmire, DO, Mansfield
• East Central Region Director Haley Coleman, MD, Akron
• Northeast Region Director Mark McLoney, MD, Middleburg Heights
• Northwest Region Director Karen Shafer, MD, JD, Toledo
• Southeast Region Director Jennifer Gwilym, DO, FAAFP, Athens
• Southwest Region Director Sandra Hans, MD, West Chester
• West Central Region Director Rebecca Yeager, MD, FAAFP, Beavercreek
• At-Large Director Preeti Gudimella, MD, Wakeman
• At-Large Director Tamara Huson, MD, FAAFP, Cincinnati
• At-Large Director Clint Koenig, MD, MSPH, Worthington
• At-Large Director Elizabeth McIntosh, MD, MPH, Johnstown
• At-Large Director Tamer Said, MD, Westlake
• Resident Director Joshua Smith, MD, Cincinnati
• Resident Alternate Director Sonal Singh, MD, Columbus
• Student Director Najhee Purdy, Columbus
• Student Alternate Director Annalise Celano, Columbus.
The Ohio Academy of Family Physicians is a statewide, professional association with more than 5,000 members, including practicing physicians, family medicine residents, and medical students. The scope of family medicine encompasses all ages, both sexes and every disease entity. Family physicians provide comprehensive, continuing care to all members of the family. For more information, please visit www.ohioafp.org.
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