craigdailypress.com

A local doctor has taken his expertise national.

Dr. Thomas Told, doctor of osteopathic medicine, was installed as president of the American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians on March 24 during its 43rd annual convention in Grapevine, Texas.

"I've got a chance to make a lot of changes," Told said. "You can't complain about anything unless you're trying to get changes done."

Told, who practices at Craig Medical Center, has been an osteopathic family physician in Craig for 32 years.

Told was elected president by a congress of his colleagues. He has plans for his one-year tenure as president. His main goals are education and advocacy on the state and national levels.

"Rural practices are underrepresented," Told said. "A lot of doctors come from big cities and we need to put more emphasis on rural practices."

Told also will continue to press for professional liability insurance reform.

He has served on the group's board of governors since 1999 and has been a member of the organization since 1989.

In the past, Told received awards from the osteopathic organization, including the Distinguished Service Award, Family Physician of the Year and Colorado General Pract-itioner of the Year.

"He's just abs-olutely a terrific person and physician," said Mark Paulson, manager of communications and marketing for the organization.

As an osteopathic family physician, Told integrates traditional family practice with body manipulation and alternative therapies and treatments.

He and his wife, Mollie, have three sons, Trent, Matthew and Robert, and six grandchildren. His presidency will take him on the road.

"He'll be spending a good part of his year traveling to visit other state chapters," Paulson said. "I expect him to be very busy."

Mollie also was selected to serve as auxiliary president at the same convention. So, the couple will travel together, visiting other members and advocating for doctors.

This travel will take him away from his patients at Craig Medical Center.

"My patients have been very patient with me," Told said. "But, I can bring home a lot of good points ... ways to improve quality and things of that nature."