FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 2, 2011
(CHICAGO) — Deidre Irwin Ross of Wilmette, Ill., has joined the American Osteopathic Association (AOA) as its new director of the Department of Meetings and Administration.
In this position, Ross will oversee the AOA’s Osteopathic Medical Conference & Exposition, the osteopathic medical profession’s largest annual meeting, which is held each fall in a major U.S. city. She also will direct all meetings of the AOA’s Board of Trustees, House of Delegates, bureaus, councils and committees.
Ross comes to the AOA with more than 20 years of diverse experience in planning and executing conventions, developing business plans and instituting strategic direction. Previously she worked as director of conference services for the American Library Association, where she was responsible for annual conferences of up to 25,000 participants.
Recently, Ross received the Robert J. Donovan Award from the Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA) — Greater Midwest Chapter. The award recognizes the meeting planner of the year. In 2007, she was named among the Top 22 Trade Show Managers by Expo magazine. In addition, she serves on the American Society of Association Executive’s Member Meeting and Exposition Section Council and previously served on PCMA’s Board of Directors.
“We are pleased to have someone as versatile and innovative as Deidre join the AOA,” says AOA Executive Director John B. Crosby, JD. “The AOA continuously strives to improve upon the educational, professional and entertainment value offered to our members at the annual medical conference and I believe Deidre will be instrumental in helping us continue to achieve this goal.”
Ross earned her bachelor’s degree in communications from the University of Illinois and her master’s degree in hospitality administration from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.
About the American Osteopathic Association
The American Osteopathic Association (AOA) proudly represents its professional family of more than 70,000 osteopathic physicians (DOs); promotes public health; encourages scientific research; serves as the primary certifying body for DOs; is the accrediting agency for osteopathic medical schools; and has federal authority to accredit hospitals and other health care facilities. More information on DOs/osteopathic medicine can be found at www.osteopathic.org.
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Media Contacts:
Vicki Martinka
(800) 621-1773, ext. 8159 (Toll free)
(312) 202-8159 (Office)
vmartinka@osteopathic.org
Nicole Grady
(800) 621-1773, ext. 8038 (Toll free)
(312) 202-8038 (Office)
ngrady@osteopathic.org