Osteopathic doctor recalls year as state group’s leader

WASHINGTON — In May of 2024, Members of the Iowa Osteopathic Medical Association elected Washington physician Lindsey Van Duyn to lead the statewide organization that handles osteopathic licensing, and lobbying on the profession’s behalf statewide.

With her one-year term now in the rearview, she said the experience was deeply insightful, and not remotely close to what she expected.

“I knew the conversations would be meaningful, but it was truly amazing,” she said. “Now that I understand and know these physicians on a different level, that connection will always be there, and I value that.”

Van Duyn said one of her priorities at the helm of IOMA was sparking conversations with other doctors in the field. She did that by holding weekly calls and meetings with others in the profession, whether in small groups or one-on-one talks.

The result, she said, was a space where professionals could discuss deeply personal, field-specific concerns with one another, knowing their stories would resonate with their peers. Issues on the table often included legal worries, work-life balance, and grief about sick or dead loved ones.

It was a welcome reprieve for many, in a career where there are lots of needs to meet, and little time to meet them.

“As a physician, we often have to maintain composure, we’re expected to put patients first and prioritize their health, but sometimes, in the background, we’re facing death,” Van Duyn said. “Some of my peers, in their roles, were struggling. And it didn’t mean they couldn’t do what they were doing, but they needed a safe place to communicate that. Just being able to be there, and be available for them, was really important.”

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Her term met a handful of other goals as well. Van Duyn, one of IOMA’s younger leaders in recent memory, led a push a more active social media presence. The Washington resident also represented a rural voice at the helm, representing the majority of Iowa doctors, who work in smaller hospitals and clinics.

And there were some goals the group didn’t meet under her leadership. The physician said she’d hoped to grow membership more during her term.

“We built the connections, but I still feel the organization is not representing as many [doctors of osteopathy] as it could,” she said. “The more we get our name out there, the more we build connections, the more we are of value to other DOs”

Now holding the title of “past president,” Van Duyn said her contributions to the group today were more administrative and financial. She remains present at a variety of meetings, and provides some assistance to the new president.

The workload while she was president, however, was rather involved.

On top of the regular meetings with other doctors of osteopathy, Van Duyn’s time was filled with meetings and committee obligations. While she said she had “incredible” support from longtime administrators of the group, the workload was balanced against that of her medical profession.

“It didn’t cut down on patient care, I wasn’t able to take away patient time to fulfill my responsibilities with IOMA, I had to find ways to do that,” she said. “I couldn’t have done that with very strong family support. That and, I became very regimented.”

Comments: Kalen.McCain@southeastiowaunion.com