Congratulations to Central Ohio Primary Care (COPC) for being awarded bronze level recognition from the American Medical Association’s Joy in Medicine program, which recognizes organizations for their work in physician well-being and burnout reduction, based on rigorous criteria. COPC, a 100% member of the CMA, is one of just five organizations in Ohio with a Joy in Medicine designation.

Stephanie Costa, MD, Jennifer Piela, and Mary-Lynn Niland, MD, accepted the honor at the American Conference on Physician Health on September 12 in Boston. Dr. Costa is the Physician Well-Being and Leadership Coach at COPC along with Alumni Director of the Physicians Leadership Academy (PLA). Dr. Niland serves as Director of Physician Well-Being and is also a PLA alumni.

“It has been intense but rewarding work to achieve these designations,” said Dr. Costa. “It is creating a positive shift in de-stigmatizing seeking mental health care and reducing systemic drivers of burnout.”

September is National Preparedness Month, a time to recognize the critical importance of planning, training, and coordination in keeping our communities safe. In central and southeast Ohio, no organization embodies this commitment more than COTS, an affiliate of the Columbus Medical Association.

For more than 30 years, COTS has been the backbone of trauma, emergency services, and preparedness coordination in central Ohio. Today, it leads the Emergency Preparedness Healthcare Coalition, serving 36 counties and more than 3.3 million Ohioans. Here are a few things you may not know:

• It’s not just about trauma. COTS began in 1995 as a trauma network, but today it coordinates trauma, emergency services, and emergency preparedness across hospitals, EMS, public health, and emergency management agencies.
  
• COTS keeps hospitals connected. All 65 hospitals and freestanding emergency departments in our region support COTS’ mission, along with every helicopter air ambulance agency. 
• They prepare for the unexpected. From tornadoes and infectious disease outbreaks to cyberattacks, blood shortages, and mass casualty incidents, COTS coordinated responses to more than 20 real-world no-notice events last year.
• COTS trains thousands every year. In 2024 alone, COTS educated nearly 3,000 people in trauma, emergency services, and preparedness, creating a standardized, coordinated approach across the region.
• It runs behind-the-scenes operations. Through tools like EMResource and EMTrack, and over 192 Healthcare Incident Liaison activations last year, COTS makes sure information flows and patients, families, and hospitals stay connected when crises hit.
• COTS is a coalition-builder. Nearly 1,000 partners, from hospitals and EMS to long-term care, dialysis, hospice, and law enforcement, rely on COTS to bring people together to plan, drill, and respond as one.

This month, we especially want to recognize the Emergency Preparedness and Response staff at COTS. Their tireless work ensures that when emergencies strike, whether planned events like the Arnold Sports Festival or unplanned crises like natural disasters, Ohio communities are never alone.

Preparedness is about people, planning, and partnerships. And thanks to COTS, our region has all three.

Together, we are good health. Together, we are prepared.

Read with a Doc is gaining momentum, with more sessions scheduled and plans underway to further expand the program, which aims to provide valuable programming at area libraries that sparks conversation, thought, and helps restore public trust in science and medicine.

Dr. David Sabgir, cardiologist and founder of the successful Walk with a Doc program, hosted two successful programs this summer. The next session is scheduled for November 6, 2025, at the Westerville Public Library. Find more information here.

Kathy Harter, CMA Alliance Member, brought this opportunity to the CMA and helped it grow into the evolving resource it is today. Read the Q&A with Kathy below to learn more about how the program began and what’s next.

1. What first inspired you to bring the idea of Read with a Doc to the Columbus Medical Association?
As a member of the AMA Alliance Task Force on Advocacy & Legislation, we are encouraged each year to identify a program that could be developed and shared with state and county alliances nationwide. During our discussions, we focused on libraries as welcoming, educational spaces that people already love and trust.

In our research, including conversations with organizations like the American Library Association and the Columbus Metropolitan Library, we found that while many community groups offer programming in libraries, very few involve physicians. It was clear this was a niche that the AMA Alliance could help fill. The libraries were enthusiastic about the idea, which further motivated us to move forward.

2. Why did you feel CMA was the right partner to bring this idea to life?
Our task force was asked to reach out to local county medical societies to explore partnership opportunities. The Columbus Medical Association (CMA) is known for being open to innovation, so I met with the new CEO Tracy Davidson. From the beginning, she was supportive and saw the value in connecting physicians with the community through libraries.

She believed CMA could help identify physicians interested in giving 30–40-minute presentations on a medical specialty or topic of personal interest, with time for audience questions. The Alliance would assist with logistics—reserving library space, coordinating with librarians to display related books, and creating promotional flyers and posters.

Tracy also recommended I reach out to Dr. David Sabgir, who founded Walk with a Doc right here in central Ohio—a program that has grown nationally. Coincidentally, they were also exploring ways to bring their message into libraries. Two summer dates were already set aside, and our efforts quickly aligned. I'm pleased to say that Dr. David Sabgir and his spouse, Kristi, led two outstanding pilot programs that can easily be replicated across the country.

3. What makes Read with a Doc personally meaningful to you?
Libraries are foundational to community wellness. They’re safe, trusted spaces where people come to learn. Physicians should be visible not only in exam rooms but also as active members of the community.

Unfortunately, public trust in the medical community has declined—something that was only exacerbated during the COVID-19 pandemic. By collaborating with libraries, we can help rebuild that trust. Connecting physicians with community members in an approachable, informal setting fosters understanding and strengthens relationships.

4. How do you see this program complementing or enhancing other CMA and CMAF efforts—like Walk with a Doc or Doc to Doc?
This program can serve as an extension of CMA and CMA Foundation efforts, offering physicians and their spouses or partners new ways to connect with the public. It’s also a wonderful opportunity for couples—especially those in medical marriages—to participate together. My husband Ron and I have found that doing community service as a couple brings us closer, and I believe others would experience the same.

CMA can continue supporting Read with a Doc and Walk with a Doc by recruiting participating physicians and building relationships with local librarians. The Foundation might consider appointing a library representative to its board or supporting local libraries directly.

Doc to Doc has already been a great resource for physician wellness. Read with a Doc could serve as a gentle, welcoming point of entry for physicians seeking reconnection and renewal. With thoughtful input from mental health professionals, it could evolve into a wellness resource in its own right.

5. What role do you think physicians can play in sparking meaningful conversations through books?
Physicians love to read and share their knowledge. A participating doctor could work with a librarian to curate a book list that complements their presentation topic—creating a learning experience that extends beyond the event.

Dr. David Sabgir’s first two Read with a Doc sessions had a wonderful turnout and sparked rich conversation. Attendees exchanged book recommendations, and Dr. Sabgir left with a list of titles to read himself. It was interactive, informative, and mutually inspiring.

6. You’ve helped lead and shape this project — what has surprised you most about how it’s grown or how people have responded?
We’re still in the early stages, but the enthusiasm has been incredible. Our goal is to develop easy-to-use templates and step-by-step guides so this program can be implemented anywhere. We’ve already created t-shirts, are designing flyers and posters, and are working on a children’s coloring page. As a mom of five, I know firsthand how valuable a quiet activity can be when you're trying to attend a program at the library!

7. Looking ahead, what do you hope this program becomes for the community?
When we introduced the idea to the Columbus Metropolitan Library, they were genuinely excited. Seeing physicians outside clinical settings—as accessible, trustworthy members of the community—is not only refreshing but necessary. I hope that this program helps restore public trust in science and medicine, encouraging people to make thoughtful, informed decisions about their health.  It's nice to see that your Physician is a helping hand in that decision. 

Our AMA Alliance Committee is also exploring the development of evidence-based talking points on public issues like safety, environmental health, and quality of life—all topics that can be addressed in Read with a Doc sessions.

We will continue to provide updates on the Read with a Doc program in the CMA Newsletter. If you’d like to get involved, contact Brian Romney at bryan@walkwithadoc.org.