Back in the 1970s, when opportunities for advanced, high-quality training were still limited for osteopathic physicians, David Susser, D.O.’57, MACOI, helped create a haven for graduate medical students: As chairman of the internal medicine department at Zieger Osteopathic and Botsford Hospital for more than 20 years, he gave “each of his residents as much responsibility, guidance and leeway as one could possibly wish for.”
So stated the nomination that resulted in Susser’s receiving the American College of Osteopathic Internists’ Presidential Citation at ACOI’s annual convention in October.
“It was David Susser’s name and reputation that permitted consideration by our allopathic brethren for advanced subspecialty training of his graduates when it was simply not available within our own profession,” noted Gerald Blackburn and Pedro Espat, the osteopathic physicians who nominated Susser for the honor.
Board-certified in internal medicine and cardiology,
Susser was clinical professor in internal medicine at Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine, a member of the Botsford Hospital Board of Directors and past director of its internal medicine residency program. He is an ACOI fellow, past president and past member of the ACOI board of directors as well as past president of the Michigan Society of Osteopathic Internists.
The Presidential Citation is not Susser’s first ACOI honor. An active member of the organization for more than 48 years, he’s also been honored as an ACOI Master Fellow and recipient of its Distinguished Service Award. He is a cardiologist with Cardiovascular Clinical Associates in Farmington Hills, MI.
