ACOI in Action
Principle-Centered Medicine^™ at Work

Originally published June 19, 2021. Updated June 14, 2022. 

Processed foods and fast foods are a public health threat and create a risk of obesity and contribute to the rise of chronic diseases. MarkAlain Dery, DO, FACOI, discusses public health and nutrition, and the role of physicians in identifying patients suffering from food insecurity.

Greetings to everyone! I hope you all had a wonderful holiday season! I’d like to begin my letter by thanking our members for the overwhelming response to our email asking for committee member volunteers. We’re truly excited to see all the interest by members to become involved in the future of our College. Rest assured that we’ll be in touch with you as soon as possible with your committee appointments if selected.

Why are there so many breakthrough infections with the Omicron variant? Dr. Dery advises us to remind our patients that vaccines are like seat belts and explains why the Omicron variant is creating such a dramatic rise in cases.

The past year has been a challenge unlike any other for osteopathic internists, subspecialists, residents, fellows, and students. The ACOI responded by supporting its members through the creation of increased virtual learning opportunities, hosting our first-ever hybrid annual meeting, advocating on behalf of its members, and much more.

Inequity in healthcare starts when states don’t expand Medicaid. MarkAlain Dery, DO, FACOI, discusses how states that have expanded Medicaid have the money and resources to provide much-needed care access to vulnerable communities compared to the twelve states that have not.

As the newest variant, Omicron has reared its head, causing new concerns about its potential effects, MarkAlain Dery, DO, FACOI, says the underlying problem is inequity of vaccine distribution.

In honor of World HIV/AIDS Day, the ACOI podcast series Docs off the Clock caught up with HIV expert, MarkAlain Dery, DO, FACOI who discussed the latest in HIV medications and how an undetectable viral load means that individuals are untransmittable to their intimate partners.

A World Economic Forum survey shared at the UN General Assembly last week revealed that very few people see health in the context of being influenced by social determinants such as the influence of housing, food insecurity, employment and inequities. Tune in to see MarkAlain, Dery, DO, FACOI, discuss the findings and how better health policy can be shaped when lawmakers have the full picture.

Gun violence is on the rise and is a dangerous public health threat. MarkAlain, Dery, DO, FACOI, believes that practicing deep listening with patients helps spot potential concerns like domestic violence and helps to identify patients trending toward acts of violence. Find out about one organization founded by a physician that views gun violence as a public health threat that must be treated based on the fundamentals of chronic disease management.

COVID-19 vaccine misinformation has negatively affected the rate at which Americans are getting vaccinated. In the ACOI’s podcast series, Docs Off the Clock, Humayun "Hank" Chaudhry, DO, MACOI, and President of the Federation State Medical Boards (FSMB), discusses the threat of COVID-19 vaccine misinformation and disinformation to controlling the pandemic and to public health.

A recent study finds that those previously hospitalized with COVID-19 have a significant risk of developing cardiovascular disease even a year after. MarkAlain Dery, DO, FACOI also discusses the inflated price of the new Merck COVID drug and some hopeful news about a malaria vaccine.