Columbus Family Physician Receives National Honor From American Academy of Family Physicians

CHICAGO – Edward T. Bope, M.D., FAAFP, director of the family medicine residency program at Riverside Methodist Hospital in Columbus, Ohio, was awarded the 2007 Thomas W. Johnson Award by the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) at its annual meeting in Chicago. The AAFP’s Scientific Assembly, one of the largest gatherings of primary care providers in the country, was held Oct 3-6, 2007.

The Thomas W. Johnson Award is the highest honor presented by the AAFP for outstanding contributions to family medicine education at the undergraduate, graduate and continuing education levels. It is intended to recognize a career of national prominence, reflecting leadership and long-term dedication to family medicine education.

Over the course of his 32-year family medicine career as an educator, author, clinician and professional leader, Bope has made significant contributions to education in family medicine and to the improvement of public health through health care education.

Since completing his residency in 1979, Bope has been active in family medicine education. He is currently clinical professor in the department of family medicine at both The Ohio State University College of Medicine and the Ohio University College of Osteopathic Medicine.

Arguably, Bope’s greatest impact has been in the realm of graduate medical education. Program director of the family medicine residency program at Riverside Methodist Hospital since 1985, he serves as a role model for a generation of residents and students, showing them the best of family medicine. A testament to his leadership and dedication, the program has maintained a 100 percent pass rate for the specialty’s board examination during his tenure. Moreover, as director, he has nurtured a number of residents who themselves have gone on to become successful residency directors.

In addition to his academic service, Bope continues to devote 60 percent of his time to seeing patients. He uses this opportunity to actively precept in the office, thereby leading by example.

His students and peers have recognized his teaching excellence with numerous awards, including the 1994 Ohio Academy of Family Physicians (OAFP) Educator of the Year, 1998 Ohio State University Distinguished Educator, 2001 American Academy of Family Physicians Exemplary Teaching Award and the American Academy of Family Physicians’ and Association of Family Medicine Residency Directors’ Program Director of Year for 2002

In addition to his hands-on work with students and residents, Bope has worked to advance family medicine education through his leadership within professional organizations at the national and local levels. He has served as president of both the American Board of Family Medicine and the Association of Family Medicine Residency Directors. He has chaired the American Board of Medical Specialties Public Information Committee that develops maintenance of certification educational programs, and he is currently serving a six-year term with the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education. Locally, he served as president of the Columbus Medical Association, The Ohio State University Medical Alumni Association and the OAFP. Dr. Bope also was chairman of the Residency Review Committee for Family Medicine and presided over its Chairs Council.

An accomplished writer and editor, Bope continues to contribute to family medicine literature. He has authored numerous publications, book chapters, invited papers and presentations. Since 2001, he has served as co-editor of Conn’s Current Therapy. He also serves as editor of the OAFP’s quarterly publication, The Ohio Family Physician, and two of his residents, under his guidance, produced the very popular Resident’s Guide to Ambulatory Care.

Bope also finds time to devote himself to a number of community service projects ranging in scope from serving on the boards of a domestic violence shelter and a theater group, to being a high school team physician. It was through his efforts that the Physicians Free Clinic was started in Columbus and has grown to serve the community’s uninsured in a significant way. He currently serves as the volunteer medical director for the clinic and sees patients on a regular basis. He also serves on the board of Branches of Faith, which supports medical mission trips to Mexico.

In the words of Linda C. Stone, M.D., a fellow family medicine educator who has known Bope for more than 20 years, “Dr. Bope is a tireless advocate for family medicine who has dedicated himself to the training of today’s young physicians. From his home base in Columbus to the national and international spectrum of medicine, Dr. Bope has left his mark. He truly loves family medicine and that infectious enthusiasm for the specialty is evident in so many ways in our community and our state.”

Bope earned his undergraduate and medical degrees from The Ohio State University, Columbus. He is board certified by the American Board of Family Medicine and is a fellow of the AAFP, an earned degree awarded to family physicians for distinguished service and continuing medical education. He has a Certificate of Added Qualification in Adolescent Medicine.