American Osteopathic Association


The American Osteopathic Association is the representative member organization for the more than 145,000 osteopathic medical doctors and osteopathic medical students in the United States. The AOA is headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, and is involved in post-graduate training for osteopathic physicians. Beginning in 2015, it began accrediting post-graduate education as a committee within ACGME, creating a unified accreditation system for all DOs and MDs in the United States. The organization promotes public health, encourages academic scientific research, serves as the primary certifying body for D.O.s overseeing 18 certifying boards, and is the accrediting agency for osteopathic medical schools through its Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation.
As of October 2015, the AOA no longer owns the Healthcare Facilities Accreditation Program, which accredited hospitals and other health care facilities.
The AOA has held yearly conventions since its founding in 1897. The AOA also manages DOCARE International, a non-profit charitable organization. The AOA also publishes The DO, an online publication, and The Journal of the American Osteopathic Association, a peer reviewed medical journal.

Mission

The AOA's mission is to advance the philosophy and practice of osteopathic medicine by promoting excellence in education, research, and the delivery of quality, cost-effective healthcare. The AOA supports the annual "D.O. Day on Capitol Hill," where more than 1,000 osteopathic physicians and osteopathic medical students go to Washington, D.C. to meet with members of congress to discuss current issues in health care, such as access to care challenges. The event serves as an opportunity for legislators to learn more about health care and osteopathic medicine and for medical students to become more familiar with the political process.

History

The association was founded as the American Association for the Advancement of Osteopathy on April 19, 1897, in Kirksville, Missouri, by students of the American School of Osteopathy specifically Andrew Taylor Still. It was renamed the American Osteopathic Association in 1901.
In September 1901, the AOA began to publish a scientific journal entitled the Journal of the American Osteopathic Association. Subscriptions were offered to AOA members, and at the time, membership fees were $5 annually. The journal was published bimonthly for the first year, then monthly thereafter. In April 1927, the AOA began publishing The Forum of Osteopathy, a monthly magazine that covered news relating to osteopathic medicine, the AOA, and related groups. In September 1960, the magazine was renamed The DO.
In the early 1900s, the AOA, citing concerns about safety and efficacy, was opposed to the introduction of pharmacology into the curriculum of osteopathic medicine. However, in 1929 the AOA board of trustees voted to allow the teaching of pharmacology in D.O. schools. By 1938, the AOA began requiring that osteopathic medical students have at least 1 year of undergraduate college coursework, and by 1940, the AOA required two years.
In 1957, the U.S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare recognized the AOA as the official accrediting body for osteopathic medical education. In 1967, the National Commission on Accrediting recognized the AOA as the official accrediting agency for all aspects of osteopathic medical education. The Department of Health, Education and Welfare recognized the AOA as the official accrediting body for osteopathic hospitals under Medicare in 1966. As of October 2015, the AOA no longer owns the Healthcare Facilities Accreditation Program, which accredited hospitals and other health care facilities.

Osteopathic post-graduate education

The AOA also provides funding for post-graduate osteopathic medical residencies. In the 2017 match, more than 2,200 osteopathic physicians matched into these residency programs. In February, 2014, the AOA and AACOM decided to join with ACGME to form a unified post-graduate accreditation system.
The American Osteopathic Association publishes The DO, an online publication covering news related to osteopathic medicine, legislation, health care changes, and osteopathic continuing medical education programs.
The AOA also publishesThe Journal of the American Osteopathic Association, a monthly peer-reviewed medical journal focusing on original research and editorial articles.

DOCARE International

DOCARE International is a non-profit medical charity serving remote areas of the Western Hemisphere. DOCARE is operated by the American Osteopathic Association, and consists of osteopathic physicians, osteopathic medical students, M.D. physicians, and other healthcare professionals.