1. Ambassador Database - Summer Intern Project
July 31, 2015
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Ambassador Database Report
By Kyle Parker & Jerrod Castleberry (2015 AOA Summer Interns)
Department of Research & Development
Introduction
For this project, current AOA staff and constituents provided recommendations of individuals who
could serve as potential AOA ambassadors. Unfortunately, the majority of the information received were
names. Our task for the summer was to identify as much information as possible about each
recommendation and enter it into the system. This was an important task because including as much
information as possible about each ambassador is essential to creating a database that will help identify
the most appropriate individuals to represent the AOA at various events.
Structure of Database
Our first task involved revising the “Ambassador Database.” The current system contains 23
category descriptions for each individual. The categories are: AOA number, last name, first name, full
name, degree(s), certification(s), osteopathic affiliation(s), position in affiliations, other affiliation(s), type
of training program, college of osteopathic medicine from which they graduated, specialty, subspecialty,
birthdate, ethnicity, gender, city and state where they are practicing, extra notes/comments, curriculum
vitae, interest(s), and current employment.
Data Collection
In order to gather information on physicians, we accessed several websites. The primary websites
that were used were:
 www.healthgrades.com
 www.vitals.com
 http://health.usnews.com/doctors/
 http://doctor.webmd.com

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On these various websites, we would type in a specific physician’s name from the database and,
generally, I was able to obtain most of their information. It was more challenging, however, to find their
ethnicity, birthdate, training program type, and curricula vitae. Thus, concerning birthdate and training
program type, we utilized software that includes an AOA database containing pertinent information of all
AOA members andsome non-members, called IMIS where this information was availablemost of the time.
In regards to ethnicity, we searched other websites to find pictures, specifically, we conducted google
searches looking for pictures and visiting webpages of the individual we were trying to identify. To make
sure we found the correct individual, we checked to see if their degree(s) and certification(s) properly lined
up. Finally, in order to obtain any curricula vitae, we found the most effective method was to search by
name and include the words “cv” or “pdf”.
The databaseincludes individualswho are not physicians.For these people, we simply typed in their
name on google and reviewed as many pages as possible until we collected the information needed. For
this group of “non-physicians” it was a tremendous challenge finding their birthdate on the internet,
therefore, we used IMIS which typically included it.
Assessment of Content of Database
As of July 29, 2015, there are a total of 300 names in the Ambassador Database. Over two-thirds
of the individuals represented are male and over 80 percent of the names are current AOA members (See
Tables 1 & 2, respectively).
Table 1. Gender
Gender Count
Female 99
Male 201
Grand Total 300
Table 2. Membership
Status Count
Member 245
Non Member 55
Grand Total 300

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Using the birthdates of each individual in the database, we calculated their ages and placed them
into 6 categories (See Table 3). This table provides the distribution of ages by count and overall
percentage.
Table 3. Age Distribution
Age Range Count Percent
26-35 28 9.33%
36-45 57 19.00%
46-55 52 17.33%
56-65 71 23.67%
65+ 42 14.00%
Unknown 50 16.67%
Grand Total 300 100.00%
Geographically, the current database population is nicely disbursed across the US. Figures 1 and 2
depict the distribution of the ambassadors by region and state, respectively.
16.67%
25.67%
32.00%
25.67%
Figure 1. Region Breakdownfor Database
West
Northeast
Midwest
South

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*Any state missing a number currently has zero names represented.
There were a total of 33 specialties represented in the database. Table 4 summarizes these
specialties.
Figure 2. Geographic Distribution by State

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Table 4. Specialties
Acupuncture Diagnostic
Radiology
Nephrology Psychiatry
Allergy &
Immunology
Emergency
Medicine
Neuromusculoskeletal
Medicine
Pulmonology
Anatomy Family Medicine Nutritional
Biochemistry
Radiology
Anesthesiology General Surgery OB/GYN Rheumatology
Child & Adolescent
Psychiatry
Geriatric Medicine OMM/OMT Sports Medicine
Clinical Chemistry, Geriatric Psychiatry Orthopedic Surgery State/Specialty
Executive
Colon & Rectal
Surgery
Hospice Care Pathology
Critical Care
Medicine
Internal Medicine Pediatrics
Dermatology Neonatology Physical Medicine/
Rehabilitation
Table 5 provides the Top 8 specialties. The table gives both the total number for the specialty and
the percentage is makes up of all specialties. There were a total of 293 names with specialties. It is
important to note that many individuals included in the Database had more than one specialty. To ensure
that the end user is able to consider all the possible candidates for each specialty, we have captured all of
the specialties which are searchable through different filters. For example, a person who has Family
Medicine and OMM listed as specialties will be represented in both categories.
Table 5. Top 8 Specialties
Specialty Total Percentage
Family
Medicine/Practice 108 36.86%
Internal Medicine 34 11.60%
Emergency Medicine 16 5.46%
Pediatrics 20 6.82%
OMM/OMT 15 5.12%
Surgery 15 5.12%
Physical Medicine 11 3.75%

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Neurology 10 3.41%
In addition to recording a person’s specialty(ies), we have also incorporated interest areas. An
interest can consist of a topic or idea that is like a sub-category of a specialty. For example, a person can
have a specialty in Pediatrics, which they are licensed in, while having an interest in Obesity. Interests can
be grouped with many specialties. Chart 3 contains 21 areas of interest and a count of how many people
in the databaserepresent the interest area. Since there are a great number of interests possible, this chart
only highlights a few.
These next two tables contain information on medical school and residency training for the
ambassadors. Table 6 shows the breakdown of the colleges of osteopathic medicine (COM) the
ambassadors attended. If the ambassador did not attend a COM, they are counted in the number for “Not
Applicable” (N/A). Table 7 reflects the type of residency program from which the ambassadors received
their training. The Unknown category represents the 44 ambassadors for whom we did not have any
12
26
3
15 15
11
17
10
34
3
10
1
6
16
19
7
4 3
1
6
1
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
Figure 3. Interest Areas

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information regarding their training. For those that are not osteopathic physicians, but are in the Database,
we have noted them in the category labeled “N/A.”
Table 6. Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine
COM Count
ATSU-KCOM 29
AZCOM 4
CCOM 17
COMP 8
DMU-COM 18
KCUMB-COM 25
KYCOM 3
LECOM 5
LMU-DCOM 2
MSUCOM 19
MSUCOM 3
N/A 52
NSU-COM 9
NYITCOM 18
OSU-COM 9
OU-HCOM 15
PCOM 26
PNWU-COM 1
RowanSOM 12
TCOM 5
TouroCOM 1
TUCOM 3
TUNCOM 1
UNE-COM 8
VCOM 2
WVSOM 5
Grand Total 300
Challenges and Next Steps
Although we were able to gather information on the existing 150 ambassadors included in the
database and add an additional 150, we still faced many constraints in our data collection. For example,
we were challenged in collecting information on training program type, birthdate, and ethnicity. These are
Table 7. Training Programs
Program Type Total
Allopathic 46
Osteopathic 133
Dual Training 15
Military 7
Unknown 44
N/A 55
Grand Total 300

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the three columns in the data system with the most missing information. Besides using the internet, we
also tried to leverage AOA’s IMIS system. We thought it would be helpful in finding information regarding
birthdates and residency training. Unfortunately, IMIS lacked some of this information. For birthdates, if
the birthdate of an individual was not included on IMIS, it was nearly impossible to find that information
or even the age of an individual on the internet.
While pictures were plentiful on the internet, it was difficult to actually identify the ethnicity of the
individual with absolute certainty. Thus, the current database has limited information on ethnicity. We
would recommend a person more familiar with the individuals on the database complete the ethnicity
component or to simply ask the ambassadors to complete a form that includes this information.
Also, during the project, we were asked to add additional categories which required us to go back
and add the missing information for those individuals already in the system. Some of this information still
needs to be entered. For example, the “Employment” category is not complete for the majority of the
individuals in the system. This was one of the categories that we were asked to be added well after most
of the names were already entered into the database. Thus, this category would be completed by simply
searching the individuals on the internet to find their current employment.
One other challenge of this databaseproject was that we were note able to enter all the names that
should be included in the database. Our internship was only seven weeks, and therefore, our time was
limited in how many names we could receive andsubsequently store into the database.We did not receive
responses from all the specialty colleges and state affiliates regarding people they would recommend.
Alexis Curtis is still collecting that information. In addition,we were not able to review the AOA CEO’s Linked
In page to obtain the names of individuals who have connected with her over the past few years and would
be appropriate for the database. By addressing this and the other issues/challenges, the database will be
more robust.

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In an effort to highlight information that is missing, we developed a coding system. Any information
that could not be found through either the internet or IMIS was shaded purple and any individuals who
were not in IMIS were shaded green.