AAO at OMED

Hosted by the American Osteopathic Association (AOA), OMED is an annual medical conference bringing together thousands of osteopathic physicians, medical students and other health professionals from across the country. OMED offers learning and networking opportunities to suit every schedule, lifestyle and specialty. 

OMED 2025 is now open for housing & registration on the AOA OMED site.

President: Stefan Hagopian, DO, FAAO
Program Chair: Amber M. Gruber, DO

Program at a glance

From Disability to Ability: Treating Extremities and Beyond

The American Academy of Osteopathy (AAO) will showcase distinguished faculty discussing the concepts of turning DISability to Ability through the treatment of the extremities and beyond. Previous trauma can cause obvious deformity or restricted movement, especially within the extremities, but also that which is invisible, such as anxiety, depression, PTSD, and complex chronic pain. We will explore the hands-on treatment of these conditions in our workshops. Additionally, in our virtual platform we will explore the utilization of technology to help with osteopathic education and patient care. This engaging program will provide attendees with comprehensive and state-of-the-art information about how physicians can diagnose and treat these and other conditions in a comprehensive manner including utilization of a wide variety of OMT approaches.

Thursday, September 25
AAO Didactic room

11:00 am–12:00 pm
Brian J. Loveless, DO
OMT Augmentation of COVID-19 mRNA Vaccination

This session presents findings from a 2022 clinical trial conducted by researchers at Western University in collaboration with osteopathic organizations, evaluating whether osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT) targeting the lymphatic system can enhance immune response to COVID-19 mRNA vaccination. The presentation will cover study rationale, methodology, outcomes, and lessons learned, with a focus on the challenges and opportunities unique to osteopathic research. Participants will gain practical insight into clinical trial design and be encouraged to engage in research that advances osteopathic medicine and improves patient outcomes. 

1:00–5:00 pm
Paul N. Langevin, DO, DiMM, MPH
Auricular Acupuncture: Drug free approach to pain, anxiety, PTSD and more

Contemporary Auricular Acupuncture Course offers a practical, medication free approach to treating pain, anxiety, PTSD, and more through auricular acupuncture. Designed for busy physicians, this hands-on course equips clinicians to identify and stimulate active auricular points for immediate clinical integration. Participants will learn expanded protocols to tailor treatments across diverse patient populations. The method enhances patient outcomes and complements conventional therapies, making it ideal for primary care, osteopathic, urgent care, pain management, and rehabilitation physicians. Course Goals is to enable physicians to effectively integrate auricular acupuncture into their clinical practice and to improve patient outcomes through targeted, drug-free interventions for common conditions.
Joint Session with American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians (ACOFP) and the American Academy of Osteopathy (AAO)

Friday, September 26
AAO Didactic room

10:00–11:00 am
John Morasso, DO
Diagnosis and Management of Tendinopathy

Provide updated information of tendon related pathology, pain, and dysfunction. I hope to empower you to provide the most up to date information on how tendon pain and dysfunction occurs and how to treat it.
Joint Session with the American Osteopathic Academy of Sports Medicine (AOASM) and the American Academy of Osteopathy (AAO)

11:00 am–12:30 pm
Jennifer Broadwater Kingery, DO and Edward G. Stiles, DO, FAAODist
Blending Palpation and Intro to Sequencing by AGR – Extremities

This will be a lecture and lab introducing concepts of blending palpation and Sequencing by Area of Greatest Restriction or Hindrance in the upper and lower extremities.

1:30–2:30 pm
Yvonne Yang, DO
Lower Extremity Regional Screen: Sequencing by Area of Greatest Restriction

This is a workshop on the regional screen of the lower extremity in the context of Dr. Edward Stiles' diagnostic approach, Sequencing by Area of Greatest Restriction - Hindrance. We will cover why the key area of somatic dysfunction may present in the lower extremity and how to identify this in a general screen of the whole body, how to screen the lower extremity quickly and efficiently, and how the lower extremity integrates with the rest of the body in disease and in health.

2:30–4:30 pm
Charles A. Beck, DO, FAAO
Direct Approach to Lower Extremity Dysfunction

In this lecture and lab we will highlight major lower extremity dysfunctions - how to diagnose them, what their sequela are, and how to correct them using a direct approach.

4:30–5:30 pm
Jennifer Broadwater Kingery, DO
Ribcage Mechanics and Its Significance to Somatic Dysfunctions

The purpose of this workshop is to highlight the significance of a functional ribcage. The ribcage and diaphragm play a very significant role in the mechanics of the entire body. Finding a quick and very effective way to screen and address the key rib can create a profound change throughout the musculoskeletal system with OMT-regardless of the osteopathic technique used. 

Saturday, September 27
AAO Didactic room

9:00–10:00 am
Joshua Heath Dalton, DO
Upper Extremity Diagnostic Screening

A thorough rapid screen for somatic dysfunction of the upper extremities. A supine exam of higher specificity beyond the basics.

10:00–11:30 am
Derek Jones, DO
Osteopathic Approaches to Upper Extremity Somatic Dysfunction

An overview of osteopathic treatments for the upper extremities. 

11:30 am–12:30 pm
Sheldon C. Yao, DO, FAAO
AAO Northup Lecture

1:30–3:00 pm
Paula Archer, DO
Rock that Sacrum: Rapid Pelvis and Sacrum Techniques

Rapid seated diagnosis with seated and new seated techniques for the sacrum and lateral recumbent techniques for the pelvis. These techniques aim to speed your treatment time while improving whole body integration.

3:00–4:00 pm
Angela Lim, DO
FDM for Neck/Shoulder Issues

The Fascial Distortion Model (FDM) is a different perspective on how to diagnose and treat the fascia. Get a taste of this highly effective and quick approach for simple and difficult MSK complaints, including neck and shoulder issues. Utilizing patient gestures and placing the patient at the center of this approach, the FDM takes into account all of your medical and osteopathic training and turns it up a notch. Even if you haven’t used your OMM skills for some time, FDM can open the door to get back to those skills.
Joint Session with the American Osteopathic Academy of Sports Medicine (AOASM) and the American Academy of Osteopathy (AAO)

Sunday, September 28
AAO Didactic room

9:00–11:00 am
Ava C. Stanczak, DO
The Use of Osteopathic Manual Medicine for Persons With Disabilities

Overview of various disabilities that respond well to Osteopathic Manual Medicine and review of different techniques and positions that can be utilized for treatment. Information regarding wheelchair management is also outlined in this presentation.
Joint Session with American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians (ACOFP), American Osteopathic College of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (AOCPMR) and the American Academy of Osteopathy (AAO)

11:00 am–12:00 pm
Amber Gruber, DO
Breast Implant Illness: Understanding the Unknown

There are some women who have a constellation of seemingly unrelated complaints, chronic in nature, worsening over time which "western medicine" has written off as psychosomatic or auto-immune. Surgical history is not often emphasized, let alone chronologically related to current illness. Breast Implant illness is a documented phenomenon but has not been well published in the medical journals because of financial implications to the plastic surgery industry. It's important to understand potential symptoms and toxicity of the various implants and how they can relate to possible obscure symptoms.

Sunday, September 28
Virtual Only

12:30–1:30 pm
Ravi Yarid, DO
How AI Advances Osteopathy

Explore how artificial intelligence can enhance osteopathic medicine through personalized medical education, clinical decision support, including OMM, and patient engagement tools. This session will showcase AI's potential to provide innovations aligned with osteopathic principles, highlight real-world applications, and discuss the ethical opportunities for DOs to lead in human-centered AI integration across education, practice, and public health. 

1:30–2:30 pm
Amelia Bueche, DO
Working Smarter with Digital Resources

Application of the osteopathic concept to interaction and integration with digital resources personally and professionally for best health.

Previous OMED Programs

Read more about the AAO's program at previous OMEDs: