During the Board of Osteopathic Medicine meeting in Kissimmee on February 13, 2015, Dr. Joel Rose, Board Chair, presented the Chairman’s Recognition Award. This award is presented to honor those who exemplify the professionalism, moral character, compassion, and intellect essential to leaders of the profession, as well as for outstanding leadership and services in the community.
The award was given to Hal Pineless, DO, who moved to Florida from Chicago in 1986 and established his neurology practice in Winter Park. Dr. Pineless was Chief of Staff at Orlando General Hospital and later Florida Hospital East Orlando in 1990. He served as President of the Florida Osteopathic Medical Association (FOMA) from 2012-13. On the evening Dr. Pineless was inaugurated FOMA president, he was informed that the Florida Hospital Administration was planning to study the feasibility of discontinuing the D.O. postdoctoral education programs at Florida Hospital East Orlando. Dr. Pineless enlisted the support of all Florida D.O.s. A huge letter writing campaign was successful in convincing the Florida Hospital Administration to keep the D.O. residency programs for another 5 years. It was pointed out to the Florida Hospital Administration that close to 90% of the graduates from the Florida Hospital East Orlando postdoctoral education programs remained in Florida, particularly Central Florida.
Dr. Pineless exemplifies leadership and moral character that is worthy of recognition, and the board would like to congratulate him on receiving this honor.
