the Pulse
Raina M. Ernstoff, MD, FACP
is pleased to announce that
Susan D.Weinman, MD
Oiling The Right Thing
has joined her practice in
The new head of Michigan's osteopathic doctors
faces a demanding challenge.
neurology:
PAMELA YOUNG SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH NEWS
Dr. Weinman is a board-certified neurologist with experience
in treating the neurological symptoms associated with cancer.
A former fellow in neuro-oncology and faculty member at the Univer-
sity of Pittsburgh, she joins a practice with existing expertise in the
treatment of myasthenia gravis, Alzheimer's disease, stroke, multiple
sclerosis and other neurological conditions.
Dr. Ernstoff and Dr.Weinman are available for consultation in their of-
fices and at the William Beaumont hospitals in Royal Oak and inTroy.
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Suite 735
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Royal Oak, MI 48073
(810) 435.5700
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Suite 403
44199 Dequindre
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(810) 828-5130
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A
t a time when most men
in their early 60s start
planning for retirement,
Dr. Melvin Linden has
taken on an additional job —
president of the Michigan Asso-
ciation of Osteopathic Physicians
and Surgeons.
A full-time family practition-
er in Dearborn Heights, Dr. Lin-
den's schedule remains hectic,
yet this year promises to be even
more so as he prepares Michi-
gan's osteopathic physicians for
what he calls a time of upheaval
in medicine.
"Today, medicine is changing
as are the health methods in
which patients are being taken
care of," said Dr. Linden, 63. His
term of office lasts one year.
"Managed care is getting more
and more into Michigan, and our
group needs to change direction."
To accomplish this, the osteo-
pathic association has taken a
chapter from the business com-
munity and developed a strate-
gic plan for its 3,300-member
organization. Now, Dr. Linden's
challenge is to implement the
plan.
"Our primary goals are to re-
vamp the organization in order
to carry it into the 21st century,"
he said. "We also want to meet
the needs of our members and to
help them survive in a managed
care situation."
Dr. Linden believes managed
care is one of the greatest chal-
lenges facing his colleagues.
Managed care is a method of
health-care delivery which "man-
ages" costs by closely monitoring
patients and physicians. Patients
are assigned a "gatekeeper" who
decides whether the patient
should be referred to a specialist
or receive diagnostic tests.
"We're practicing in tough
times because physicians are
seen as adversaries to patients
and insurance companies," said
Dr. Linden. "We have to have
new ways of doing business, but
we must not lose our compassion
for the patient. Patient care is
very important to me, and I fear
the loss of the patient-doctor re-
lationship. There's too much
paperwork, too much adminis-
trative work and not enough
patient care."
As the economy drives medical
schools to turn out more family
practitioners and fewer special-
ists, the osteopaths are leading
the way in preventative care and
wellness, according to Dr. Lin-
den. Osteopathic physicians can
be found in all medical special-
ties, but family practice is their
0
CO
Dr. Melvin Linden gears up for a year
as president of osteopathic association.
strength. "We, as a profession,
have been training primary care
givers for 100 years," he said.
He estimates that there are
only 4,000 to 5,000 D.O.s in
Michigan, yet they care for 35
percent of the population. Most
practice in the Detroit area.
However, they also play an im-
portant role in rural areas.
The Michigan Association of
Osteopathic Physicians and Sur-
geons is usually overshadowed
by the more well-known Michi-
gan State Medical Society, which
serves allopathic physicians
(M.D.$), but the two organiza-
tions do cooperate with each oth-
er. "We communicate on political
and governmental issues that af-
fect both groups," said Dr. Lin-
den. 'We don't always agree, but
there is room for discussion."
Dr. Linden earned a bachelor's
degree from Michigan State Uni-
versity in 1955. After graduating
from the College of Osteopathic
Medicine and Surgery in Des
Moines, Iowa, in 1959, he com-
pleted an internship at Zieger Os-
teopathic Hospital in Detroit.
"I chose family practice be-
cause I wanted to take care of the
whole person. I felt I could do
more," said the West Bloomfield
resident. "It is sometimes exas-
perating, but fulfilling, and I'm
thrilled with my career."
Medicine has been good to him
over the past 37 years, he said,
and his work as president is his
way of giving back to the profes-
sion.
Once his term ends in May,
Dr. Linden will have an official
role as past president and then
will remain on the board of
trustees for two additional years.
When not working, he enjoys
spending time with his wife, Su-
san, and their five children. He
is an active member of Congre-
gation Shaarey Zedek in South-
field. ❑