Philadelphia, PA. Each year, the National Board of Osteopathic Medical Examiners (NBOME) recognizes an individual who has gone above and beyond the call of duty in their advocacy for patient safety, patient protection and quality of care. The work done by these individuals helps to assure patients that DOs have qualified for licensure and medical practice by virtue of having passed the licensure examinations (COMLEX-USA) that are designed for and have evidence for validity for the practice of osteopathic medicine. For this reason, the NBOME honors them with the Clark Award for Patient Advocacy. At it’s annual Board of Directors Meeting on December 7th, 2018, the NBOME was pleased to present this award to Barbara E Walker, DO.
Throughout her extensive career in academic medicine, medical leadership and regulation, Barbara E. Walker, DO, has worked to improve patient care. A president of the American Association of Osteopathic Examiners, the North Carolina Medical Board (NCMB), and a member of the Federation of State Medical Boards (FSMB), Dr. Walker has tirelessly advocated for osteopathic credentials and qualifications, contributing to the universal acceptance of COMLEX-USA for licensure by the NCMB, FSMB, and all of the nation’s state medical and osteopathic medical licensing boards.
Dr. Walker graduated from the College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific at Pomona, CA, and completed a fellowship in faculty development in family medicine at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She’s also had a distinguished military career, spanning more than 20 years, retiring from the US Army in 2006 with the rank of Colonel. She returned home, but continued her work in medicine. In addition to her roles on licensing boards, she is a family physician, medical educator and residency program director in Wilmington, NC, and an AOA trustee and president emeritus of the North Carolina Osteopathic Medical Association.
Dr. Walker has dedicated her career to patient advocacy through her numerous contributions. In recognition of her service to patients, Dr. Walker has received numerous awards, both civilian and military, including medals for service stateside and overseas operations in Yugoslavia, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Southwest Asia. Her advocacy for osteopathic crededentials and qualifications likewise spans her career, contributing to the universal acceptance of COMLEX-USA for licensure by the NCMB, the FSMB, and all of the nation’s state medical and osteopathic medical licensing boards.
On December 7, 2018, NBOME Board Vice-Chair, Dr. Geraldine T. O’Shea, DO, presented Dr. Walker with the Clark Award for Patient Advocacy, commenting, “ Through civilian and military service Dr. Walker has dedicated her career to service and advocacy to patients. Tonight Dr. Walker will add one more prominent and well-deserved honor to her decorated career. ”