The Ohio Osteopathic Association (OOA) Board of Trustees unanimously approved Matt Harney, MBA, (pictured left with OOA President Sean D. Stiltner, DO) as executive director of the OOA and president of the Ohio Osteopathic Foundation. He also becomes executive director of Ohio State Society of the American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians (Ohio ACOFP). Mr. Harney replaces Jon F. Wills, who has served the OOA for 43 years, and transitions to the position of executive director emeritus.
Before joining the OOA team, Mr. Harney served the Oklahoma Osteopathic Association as associate executive director and director of Advocacy and Legislation for five years. In this capacity, he led the mentor/mentee program that paired osteopathic students with physician mentors, coordinated the “Doctor of the Day” program at the state capitol, presented legislative updates at seminars and district meetings, represented the organization in stakeholder groups, and served as a liaison to the medical students. He also led messaging efforts to the Oklahoma membership and the public, among other duties. This past fall, Mr. Harney was inducted into Omega Beta Iota, the national osteopathic political action honor society that recognizes politically active medical students and professional mentors who demonstrate excellent health care politics.
Mr. Harney was selected by the OOA Executive Committee/Search Committee from a group of nearly 30 applicants and four finalists. In addition to Executive Committee members, the Search Committee included Richard A. Vincent, MBA, recently retired president/CEO of the Osteopathic Heritage Foundations; Kenneth H. Johnson, DO, executive dean of the Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine; and William J. Burke, DO, a member of the American Osteopathic Association Board of Trustees.