Celebrating Physicians and Advocates at the CMA Annual Celebration

A number of dedicated physicians and advocates were honored at the Columbus Medical Association’s annual celebration on October 23, 2025. The evening kicked off with honoring central Ohio physicians celebrating 50 years of practice. Aligning with the evening’s theme of honoring those who shaped our past and are inspiring our future, current medical students announced each 50-year honoree. 

50 Years in Medicine Honorees 

• William Barson, MD 
• Jeffrey Bell, MD 
• Francis Blais, DO 
• Jeremy Burdge, MD 
• George Calloway, MD 
• G. Patrick Ecklar, MD 
• William Farrar, MD 
• Patrick Fahey, MD 
• Douglas Finnie, MD 
• Medard Lutmerding, MD
• Francine Rasco, MD 

2025 Physician Advocate Award 

Beth Liston, MD received the physician advocate award for her tireless efforts to advocate for physicians and patients in the Ohio legislature. Dr. Liston, a past president of the CMA, is serving her first term in the Ohio senate representing District 16 after serving three terms in the Ohio House. She has advocated for physicians and Ohioans for many worthy causes, like access to prescription medications for those who need it and protecting patients from predatory insurance practices amongst many other initiatives.  

Dr. Liston was not able to attend but shared a video to thank the organization for the award. 

Made for Medicine Impact Award 

Reversa Joseph, MD, received the inaugural Made for Medicine Impact Award. Dr. Joseph is a neurologist and a member of the core faculty for Made for Medicine. Program Director Ciara Stevens said, “She truly is remarkable in her tireless efforts to improve the health of individuals both near and far.” 

Physicians CareConnection Distinguished Service Award 

Two honorees were recognized for their service to the Physicians CareConnection and the PCC Center for Optimal Health. PCC President Isi Green presented the award to Francis X. Blais, DO, and Heather Slattery Woods, saying, “Their leadership, compassion, and steadfast commitment have strengthened our organization and our community. Both honorees have served as officers and volunteers, and guided PCC through seasons of growth, change, and challenge.”

CMA Foundation Marc L. Parnes, MD Service Award

Robert Lowe, MD, received the first CMA Foundation Marc L. Parnes, MD Service Award for his dedication and service that exemplifies the mission and vision of the CMA, CMA Foundation, and its affiliate organizations. 

This award was named in honor of Dr. Parnes, who has served more than 15 years as president and board member of the CMA Foundation. Dr. Lowe, an emergency medicine physician and longtime COTS Board Member, has led and volunteered with the entire CMA organization for nearly 20 years. 

“Together with his leadership, Dr. Lowe has strengthened our trauma, medical, and our emergency response systems,” said Foundation Board Chair Karen King, MD. “We are incredibly grateful, and we are all safer because of him.” 

COTS Mission Champion Award 

In the final award of the evening, William Cotton, MD, and Medard Lutmerding, MD, both received the COTS Mission Champion Award.  

“As longtime board members, they've led with vision, heart, and a true passion for community well-being. Their servant leadership and tireless advocacy have shaped COTS and the communities we serve,” said COTS President Sherri Kovach. 

PCC Participant Recognition 

To close out the awards portion of the evening, Physicians Leadership Academy Board President Maria Courser, MD, recognized the PLA graduates in attendance. 

At the Columbus Medical Association and Affiliates (CMAA), we believe learning is more than just a stage in life — it’s a mindset. It doesn’t end when you graduate or put on your white coat. The drive to continue learning lays the foundation for strong leadership, sparks innovation, and bridges generations of healthcare professionals. That’s why this summer, we’ve embraced continuous learning not only as something we provide — but as something we live, grow through, and celebrate together.

In my May message, I shared that our organization had begun a journey to evolve — to remain a vital, trusted partner to our physicians and the broader community. We started by engaging a new public policy partner, who has already provided invaluable insights during these turbulent times. We also partnered with Dr. Mrunal Shah to learn directly from our physician members and ensure your voice is heard. He has held a number of one-on-one and group meetings and shared meaningful feedback. Stay tuned for more opportunities to share your perspective.

On June 30, we kicked off the next phase of this journey with our first visioning session with Just Bloom, an award-winning organization specializing in creativity and leadership development. CMAA staff, physician Board members across the affiliates, as well as community Board participants came together for a thought-provoking workshop designed to expand how we think, lead, and collaborate. These sessions will continue to guide us — using science-backed methods — to unearth a vision that both modernizes and honors our legacy.

That same spirit of lifelong learning was reflected on June 26, as we celebrated 17 physicians graduating from the Physicians Leadership Academy (PLA). These individuals dedicated nine months to personal growth, reflection, and peer learning — emerging with tools to lead with intention and compassion. 

Education also drives our work with the next generation. Our Made for Medicine students took their learning on the road in June, embarking on our first-ever HBCU Medical School and College Tour. Fifteen students traveled to Nashville and Atlanta, visiting historically Black colleges, universities, and medical schools — and connecting with professionals who reflected their aspirations. It was more than a tour — it was a transformative experience rooted in representation, access, and belief in their potential.

We continue to be inspired by the CMA Foundation’s Youth Advisory Council, a student-led body of 13- to 18-year-olds learning the ins and outs of philanthropy and grantmaking. These young leaders are gaining firsthand experience in how community investment can shape health and equity for years to come.

Our commitment to education and growth extends to medical school. We’re especially excited about our upcoming CMA Medical Student Specialty Fair this October. By polling medical students about their interests and inviting physician members to share their stories and insights, we’re creating a meaningful, two-way exchange that connects curiosity with experience.

Our CMA Practice Managers Group continues to convene for educational sessions that provide real-world value. These gatherings have featured several of our strategic partners in legal and communications — all collaborating to support physician practices across Central Ohio.

While COTS leaders continue to champion life-saving disaster preparedness funding, they also remain focused on what they do best: preparing our emergency responders to act swiftly and save lives. Find out more about their educational offerings here. 

As we continue the essential work of planning for the future of our organization, we never lose sight of the day-to-day value CMA provides: empowering physician, supporting practices, and nurturing growth at every stage.

Learning will remain a constant in everything we do — not just because it prepares us for tomorrow, but because it brings us together today.

The Columbus Medical Association affiliate focused on emergency preparedness, COTS, recently hosted two key educational summits for the first time since before the COVID-19 pandemic, providing valuable education and experience to our coalition partners.

COTS coordinates the Central Ohio Regional Healthcare Emergency Preparedness (RHEP) Coalition, representing 15 counties, along with the Southeast/Southeast Central Ohio Healthcare Coalition (SEOHC), which represents 21 counties. Find the regional map here.

Both RHEP and SEOHC are public-private partnerships that bring together hospitals, public health, emergency management agencies, emergency medical services, and other key partners to strengthen the relationships that are essential during real emergencies.

RHEP hosted its summit on April 3 at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, while SEOHC’s summit was held at Hocking College in Nelsonville on April 9. Both summits focused on providing real-world experiences and discussions to improve attendees’ preparedness and response capabilities.

“The coalition fosters a spirit of teamwork and mutual support, which is crucial during times of crisis. By working together and sharing insights, we can learn from each other's experiences and improve our overall emergency response strategies,” said Dan Bachmann, MD, FACEP, RHEP clinical advisor and Medical Director of Disaster Preparedness at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center. “Additionally, the summits provide a platform for us to hear from speakers with real-world experience, offering valuable lessons and practical advice that can be applied to our own efforts.”

RHEP kicked off their morning with speakers discussing resilience, positivity, and the importance of emergency responders taking care of their mental health. SEOHC started their day with speakers sharing lessons learned from real-world experiences in rural communities that highlighted small community connections. Both summits featured emergency responders presenting on their response to recent disasters, including the assassination attempt on President Donald Trump in Butler County, Pennsylvania, mass shootings in Sutherland Springs and Uvalde, Texas, and an F3 tornado in Logan County, Ohio, a COTS member.

Both summits ended the day with Medical Response and Surge Exercises (MRSE), allowing participants to test plans, identify gaps, understand available resources, and build confidence in their ability to respond to a surge event.

“The COTS Coalition is vital for ensuring that we can care for our residents in their greatest time of need. When a disaster of any magnitude occurs, we as healthcare organizations will need to support each other. Without the effort and organization that COTS assists with, we would not be able to provide the best for our residents across the state,” said Jason Adams, MBA, BSN, RN, SEOHC Clinical Advisor and Manager of Genesis Perry County Medical Center.

“We’re incredibly grateful to have the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR) funding to bring our coalitions together, share their experiences, and collaborate on how to respond when the unthinkable happens in their communities,” said Sherri Kovach, President of COTS. “Jodi Keller (Central Region Healthcare Coordinator) and Kelsey Blackburn (Southeast/Southeast Central Region Healthcare Coordinator) did an outstanding job putting together two impactful, well-organized summits that fostered meaningful collaboration and hands-on learning for our regional partners.

Go the COTS website for more information about the COTS coalitions, access emergency preparedness resources, and learn how to get involved.