American Osteopathic Association Installs Martin S. Levine, DO, as 115th President

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Jul 16, 2011, 06:39 ET

CHICAGO, July 16, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Fourteen years ago, Martin S. Levine, DO, stood before his peers at the American Osteopathic Association's (AOA) House of Delegates meeting delivering the presidential inauguration address for his father, Howard M. Levine, DO, who listened in from a hospital bed. Today, Dr. Levine had the opportunity to deliver his own address when the AOA installed him as its 115th president during its annual business meeting in Chicago.

"Growing up in a family of osteopathic physicians, I became an advocate for the profession at a young age," says Dr. Levine, a resident of Short Hills, N.J., in practice in Bayonne, N.J. "This year I look forward to advocating on behalf of the nation's more than 78,000 osteopathic physicians."

All in the Family

The family legacy began 85 years ago with Dr. Levine's maternal grandfather, David S. Steinbaum, DO, who tended to injured athletes from high school to professional teams, including the New York Titans — predecessor of the New York Jets. As a high school student, Dr. Levine would join his grandfather on college visits to help promote the osteopathic medical profession by explaining what osteopathic physicians (DOs) are to career counselors.

"When I expressed interest to my grandfather that I wanted to become a DO, he asked me whether I was serious, then proceeded to interview me just as he would any other potential osteopathic medical student," Dr. Levine recalls. "He wanted to know if I had the commitment to become an osteopathic physician."

After earning his osteopathic medical degree from what is now the Kirksville (Mo.) College of Osteopathic Medicine-A.T. Still University (KCOM) in 1980 and serving an internship and a family medicine residency, Dr. Levine joined his father and grandfather's practice in 1984, following in the footsteps of his older brother, Steven M. Levine, DO. The two brothers now manage the practice with their cousin, Howard S. Levine, DO.

"I've been in practice for 30 years now but I've been part of this profession my entire life," says Dr. Levine. "I was lucky to be born into a family steeped with osteopathic principles and practice."

At the end of his presidency, Dr. Levine's nephew, David S. Levine, a student in his fourth year at KCOM, will become the 20th osteopathic physician in Dr. Levine's extended family when he graduates. David Levine and his sister, Jaime M. Levine, DO, represent the family's fourth generation of DOs.

Marathon Physician

Growing up in an athletic family, it was a sports medicine rotation during Dr. Levine's fourth year of osteopathic medical school that propelled him to focus on sports medicine as well as family medicine.

"I don't consider sports medicine to be separate from family medicine," Dr. Levine says. "Encouraging patients with or without disease to exercise is part of being a family physician and integral to the osteopathic medical profession's approach of promoting to our patients the importance of leading a healthy lifestyle as part of disease prevention."

A former marathon runner, Dr. Levine understands the intensity athletes must put their bodies through in order to accomplish the physically demanding challenge of long-distance running. He also has served as the elite athlete physician for both the New York City and Boston marathons.

Patient Care

When it comes to treating his patients, Dr. Levine looks no further than his grandfather and father for inspiration.

"I had great role models in my grandfather and my father. I saw the level of care they provided their patients and the gratitude they received in return," Dr. Levine says. "Seeing them care for their patients as well as my lifelong experience with the profession has led me to believe that DOs are among the best-trained physicians in the world. And that is why I am proud to be able to represent the osteopathic medical profession in the coming year."

His patient-centered approach has earned Dr. Levine a place on the Best Doctor listing by New York magazine every year since 1999, and the Best Doctor honor in New Jersey Monthly magazine's listing four times, including in 2010.

About the American Osteopathic Association

The American Osteopathic Association (AOA) proudly represents its professional family of more than 78,000 osteopathic physicians (DOs); promotes public health; encourages scientific research; serves as the primary certifying body for DOs; is the accrediting agency for osteopathic medical schools; and has federal authority to accredit hospitals and other health care facilities. More information on DOs/osteopathic medicine can be found at www.osteopathic.org.

SOURCE American Osteopathic Association