Friday, April 10 • 2026

The OSMA 2026 Annual Meeting had its kickoff Friday evening at the Renaissance Hotel Polaris in Westerville. Members participated in meetings of the AMA Delegation and Focused Task Force on State Legislation. The evening also included dinner gatherings for the OSMAPAC Board and Trustees as well as the OSMA Past Presidents.

To conclude the evening, the OSMA Foundation hosted a special reception. While enjoying refreshments, attendees learned about the Foundation and its recent activities, including updates on the Surekha and Deepak Kumar Endowed Fund for Emerging Physician Leaders & Advocates, the Well-Being Care Service and the Summer Scholars program. This year, the Foundation’s Summer Scholars Program: Eiman Stiffler and Melina Varlamos

• Wright State University Boonshoft School of Medicine: Sydney Snyder and Hyun Su Kim
• The University of Toledo College of Medicine: Cynthia Burkirwa
• The Ohio State University College of Medicine: Helena Li
• University of Cincinnati College of Medicine: Ajah Hale

As the OSMA Alliance prepares to conclude its work later this year, the Alliance chose to make a generous gift to the OSMA Foundation. OSMA President Dr. John Bastulli expressed deep appreciation for this contribution on behalf of the Foundation and OSMA. Their support will strengthen Foundation efforts — especially through the Summer Scholars Program and the Well-Being CARE Service — two initiatives that reflect the Alliance’s core values: investing in future physician leaders and caring for the well-being of those who care for others.

Saturday, April 11 • 2026

An extremely productive day of policy work at the OSMA Annual Meeting began with the opening session of the House of Delegates. After introductions and recognition of guests, leadership, exhibitors, and sponsors, Resolution Committee #1 began its open hearing around 10:00am, and wrapped up after about an hour. Resolution Committee #2 then completed its open hearing in the House of Delegates and once all testimony was complete, the House took a break for lunch around noon.

OSMA held a legislative awards presentation over lunch. The 2025 OSMAPAC Donor of the Year award was presented to Dr. Lisa Egbert, a longtime PAC supporter who has consistently contributed $1,000+ each year to the OSMAPAC to help support OSMA’s advocacy agenda and to help support elected officials who are allies to the practice of medicine. OSMAPAC honored and thanked her for her many years of service and dedication. 

Also presented at lunch - OSMA's Physician Advocate of the Year Award, which recognizes an individual or individuals who have demonstrated the ability to effectively advocate at the local, state and/or federal levels on behalf of their profession and patients. The physician advocate goes beyond their primary role of providing clinical treatment to their patients by advocating for the well-being of their profession, patients and communities in which they serve.

This year, OSMA honored Dr. Elizabeth Muennich, who has gone above and beyond in the call to be active in physician advocacy, by hosting practice visits for Statehouse leadership, making an effort to build relationships with her local elected officials, testifying at the Statehouse multiple times, and constantly staying engaged with legislative issues impacting medicine.

In addition, OSMA presented regarding 2026’s Voice of Medicine award. This award is presented to individuals outside of the health care profession that advance the OSMA mission of empowering physicians, residents and medical students and ultimately bringing physicians together for a healthier Ohio. Senator Susan Manchester (R-Waynesfield) was this year’s recipient, and although she was unable to attend in-person to receive her award, Dr. Bastulli took a few moments to express appreciation for her strong history of support for the practice of medicine and her actions as a key legislative ally to OSMA on many of our key advocacy issues. This general assembly she is the sponsor of Senate Bill 165, legislation to prohibit down-coding and to strengthen Ohio’s prudent layperson standard. She has also co-sponsored Senate Bill 207 alongside Senator and physician Dr. Beth Liston (D-Dublin). This proposal has been on OSMA’s advocacy agenda for several years and seeks to prohibit insurers from utilizing harmful copay accumulator cost-sharing practices.

Dr. Bastulli also took a moment to honor Todd Baker, OSMA’s outgoing CEO, thanking him for his many years of work on behalf of Ohio’s physicians and for his leadership of OSMA as CEO since 2017. Todd will be transitioning out of the CEO role in the coming months and the search for a new CEO has been underway since earlier this year. Todd was presented with a caricature artwork that showcased and commended his service to the medical community of Ohio, after which Todd gave brief remarks reflecting on his time as CEO and thanking OSMA members and staff for making his work so rewarding every day.

Resolution Committee #1 had started their closed session just before lunch, and resumed after the lunch break, at which point Resolution Committee #2 also started their closed session. Both Committees wrapped up their sessions mid-afternoon, and then OSMA staff got to work generating the final reports to the House of Delegates for Sunday. Once all reports were complete and approved by Committee chairs, the reports were made available to the OSMA HOD online for review before Sunday’s session.

At 3:00pm, the OSMA Advocacy Boot Camp was presented by Monica Hueckel, OSMA VP of Advocacy and Sean McCullough, OSMA General Counsel & Policy Director. Attendees learned about the legislative and regulatory processes and got an inside look at the current and major issues OSMA is currently working on at the Ohio Statehouse, and the regulatory boards. Afterwards, members of the Young Physician Section, Senior Physicians Section, Women Physicians Section and International Medical Graduates (IMG) held their section meetings. At 6pm, attendees enjoyed a networking reception which gave students and alumni from the Ohio medical schools a chance to connect and socialize. Immediately before the presidential inauguration, the medical student poster awards were presented.

The OSMA Past Presidents in attendance ceremonially passed the Presidential medallion ending with Dr. Elizabeth Muennich finally placing the medallion on Dr. Gary Katz. Dr. Muennich issued the oath of office to Dr. Katz as he was inaugurated as the next OSMA President, and members celebrated afterward with a reception and refreshments. Dr. John Bastulli was thanked for his year of service as president and presented with commemorative gifts.

Sunday, April 12 • 2026

The final day of the OSMA’s virtual Annual Meeting started off with breakfast and District caucuses meeting in various locations prior to the opening of the House. At 9:30am, the House of Delegates opened. The business of the House kicked off with numerous reports and presentations to provide updates to the HOD, including:

• AMA update – Dr. Colette Willins, Chair of the Ohio Delegation to the AMA
• OSMA Foundation update – Dr. Susan Hubbell, Chair, OSMA Foundation
• OSMA Budget update – Dr. Andrew Thomas, OSMA Secretary/Treasurer
• Credentials Report – Dr. Marla Haller, Chair of the Committee on Credentials
• Approval of the 2025 House of Delegates Minutes.

Also on the agenda were elections. They unfolded as follows:

• Mary LaPlante, MD, was officially elected by acclamation to the office of President-Elect of the OSMA.
• Laurel Barr, MD, was elected by acclamation to the office of Secretary-Treasurer.
• Elections by acclamation of District Councilors (term of two years):
  • First District- Jessica Shea, MD
  • Third District – Jocelyn Wray, MD
  • Fifth District – Christopher Wee, MD
  • Seventh District – Bernadette Anderson, MD
• Election of At-Large Councilors (term of two years)
  • Lauren Beene, MD
  • Christopher Brown, MD
• Election by acclamation of Delegate to the AMA for a term beginning January 1, 2027 to December 31, 2028
  • Robyn Chatman, MD
  • Richard Ellison, MD
  • Deepak Kumar, MD
  • Tani Malhotra, MD
  • Alisha Reiss, MD
• Election of Alternate Delegate to the AMA for a term beginning immediately to December 31, 2026
  • Albert Hsu, MD
• Election of Alternate Delegate to the AMA for a term beginning immediately to December 31, 2027
  • Brandon Francis, MD
• Election of Alternate Delegate to the AMA for a term January 1, 2027-December 31, 2028
  • Samip Parikh, MD
  • Albert Hsu, MD
  • Engy Habashy, MD

After the close of business, the members present moved on to address the consent calendars reported from Resolution Committees 1 and 2. Proceedings moved forward with acceptance of the consent calendar, with the exception of six extractions from the report from Committee 1, which were further deliberated and voted upon by the House in succession.

The consent calendar for the report from Committee 2 was accepted with no extractions.

Policy work and the HOD session was completed at 11:22am on Sunday and with that, the 2026 OSMA Annual Meeting was officially concluded. OSMA Council did not meet immediately following the close of the HOD as was done historically, but will meet later this month.

Other Happenings

SAVE THE DATE:
2027 Annual Meeting is Friday, April 2 – Sunday, April 4