Committee LeadershipVolunteers Sustain the AAOThe American Academy of Osteopathy is grateful for the unselfish service of volunteer leaders who help the Academy fulfill its mission of delivering programs and services to member physicians. The AAO has been blessed with outstanding leaders who have guided the organization into a position of prominence within the osteopathic medical profession. They welcome the participation of all members who may wish to volunteer their time and talent to serve on AAO committees and task forces in promoting the organization's success. Service on a committee provides the opportunity to have a voice in the organization, allows the Academy to represent your interests, and lets you help create policies and standards that set the agenda for the profession. AAO members are welcome to audit any committee meeting, with courtesy advance notice to the chair and staff to ensure adequate guest seating. AAO 2026-27 President Sheldon Yao, DO, FAAO, invites interested members to contact him about potential service. Proposed committee appointments are presented to the Board of Trustees for its approval. You must be an Academy member in good standing to serve on an AAO committee, and members may serve on up to three committees simultaneously.  Interested in Serving?Review the committee descriptions below for areas of interest and responsibilities, then download and complete the committee application form (PDF). Committee Application →
AAO CommitteesSelect a committee to jump to its description. Awards Bylaws Fellowship in the AAO Education Investment Louisa Burns Research Membership Osteopathic Education Service Medical Economics Postdoctoral Training Publications SAAO Advisors
Elected positions: The Board of Governors, the Board of Trustees (including its Executive Committee), the Nominating Committee and the RAAO Council are filled by election rather than by committee application. Committee DescriptionsAwards CommitteeThe Academy's Manual of Procedures designates that the primary charge of the Awards Committee is to annually solicit nominations of candidates for the following AAO awards: the AAO's Academy Award, the Andrew Taylor Still Medallion of Honor, the Thomas L. Northup Annual Lecturer, the Harold A. Blood, DO, FAAO, Memorial Lecturer, and the AAO Resident of the Year. The committee also coordinates with the Membership Committee on the Honorary Life Membership Award, and with the Education Committee on the Anne Wales, DO, Award for Excellence in Education of Osteopathic Clinicians. The committee then distills members' suggestions into formal award nominations for action by the AAO Boards of Governors and Trustees. Meetings: Virtually 3 to 4 times a year between August and February. Bylaws CommitteeThe Bylaws Committee maintains the Academy's Constitution and Bylaws and may both originate and research amendments for the AAO leadership. The committee consists of a chair and at least two AAO members, with no limit on the number of members. The committee presents bylaw changes involving procedures to the Board of Trustees and those involving policy to the Board of Governors. In either case, the AAO must publish proposed bylaw amendments at least 30 days prior to the annual business meeting of the membership and obtain a two-thirds affirmative vote of the members in attendance. Meetings: Virtually 1 to 2 times a year between August and March, as necessary to review governance documentation. Education CommitteeThe Education Committee's charge is to develop and implement all of the Academy's educational programs, and to review applications for conjoint programs with component societies and other AOA-affiliated organizations. The group continually searches for new faculty and programming to meet members' needs. The committee consists of at-large members who serve staggered three-year terms, plus several positions with specific appointments: the AAO program chair of the AOA OMED conference, the AAO Convocation program chair, a SAAO Advisors Committee liaison, and a liaison representative from the Board of Trustees. The AAO president-elect appoints the AAO Convocation program chair, and the committee nominates the AAO program chair of the AOA OMED conference. Meetings: Three in-person meetings each year: a short meeting at the AAO Convocation and two weekend meetings at the AAO office in Indianapolis (one day in February, two days in August), with additional virtual meetings as needed. Reimbursement: Members receive expense reimbursement only for the weekend meetings in Indianapolis. Investment CommitteeThe Investment Committee consists of a chair and at least five members, including the AAO secretary-treasurer. The committee oversees the management of the AAO's investment portfolio, ensuring that investments produce the maximum benefit for the Academy and provide sufficient funds to maintain financial operations. Meetings: Reviews monthly investment reports, meets virtually in August, and holds an annual in-person meeting with the Academy's investment management firm at the AAO Convocation. Louisa Burns Osteopathic Research CommitteeThe Louisa Burns Osteopathic Research Committee (LBORC) focuses on clinical research involving health care outcomes in the practice of osteopathic manipulative medicine. The committee reviews and recommends Academy funding from the AAO's various funds designated for clinical research projects, and it sponsors the annual LBORC/NUFA research poster presentation and research training workshop. The committee consists of a chair and members serving staggered three-year terms. Subcommittees: Grant Review, Poster Presentation, and Research Training. Meetings: The LBORC meets virtually 2 to 3 times a year and in person at the AAO Convocation. The Poster Presentation and Grant Review Subcommittees meet virtually 2 to 6 times a year, as needed. Membership CommitteeThe Membership Committee's charge is to oversee a continuous program designed to increase and retain Academy membership, including the development and promotion of member services across the Academy's communication channels. The committee also works to build membership by contacting potential members, assessing new member applications, evaluating requests for changes to membership status, and reviewing written requests for the reduction of fees. The Academy's Manual of Procedures designates that the committee include a chair, a vice chair, a SAAO Advisors Committee liaison, and liaisons from the Resident American Academy of Osteopathy (RAAO) and the Student American Academy of Osteopathy (SAAO), as well as members needed to fulfill the duties of the committee. Meetings: Virtually 3 times a year (September, January and March), with task groups meeting virtually as needed. Osteopathic Education Service CommitteeEvery AAO member has the skills for volunteer service on the Osteopathic Education Service (OES) Committee, which is composed of a chair, a vice chair and members dedicated to providing OMT demonstrations. The committee's primary charge is to organize and conduct osteopathic education workshops at the AOA OMED conference, the AAO Convocation and the AOA House of Delegates meeting. This work depends heavily on daily volunteers from outside the committee. The committee also supports state osteopathic associations in conducting similar workshops at their conferences. Expectations: Members provide hands-on education at no fewer than one OES event a year, attending OMED or Convocation annually (preferably both). Meetings: Virtually in October, plus an in-person meeting at the Convocation venue. Osteopathic Medical Economics CommitteeThe Academy's Manual of Procedures designates that the primary charge of the Osteopathic Medical Economics Committee (OMEC) is to provide resources for Academy members. The OMEC serves as a resource for osteopathic physicians facing difficulties with reimbursement for osteopathic manipulative treatment. This includes making recommendations on specific problems and developing programs that help physicians build the communication and persuasive skills needed to address third-party reimbursement issues at the state level. The committee also identifies members' needs and keeps related information on the AAO website up to date, coordinates with the American Osteopathic Informatics Association (AOIA) on resources for AAO members, and develops background materials on usual and customary practices in the delivery of osteopathic medical care as they relate to medical economics. Meetings: Virtually 3 to 5 times a year (July, September, November, January and March), with task groups meeting virtually as needed. Publications CommitteeThe Academy's Manual of Procedures designates that the Publications Committee develop a program aimed at discovering, stimulating and assisting potential authors to provide suitable material for publication. There is no limit to the number of members, and members are encouraged to review potential publications presented to the committee. The Editor-in-Chief and the Associate Editor of The AAO Journal serve ex officio, which enables them to seek the group's counsel as they fulfill their duties. Expectations: All members serve as AAOJ peer reviewers, completing 2 to 3 reviews per year (each completed review earns 3 hours of 1-B CME). Meetings: Virtually up to 3 times a year (generally September, November and January) or as needed. Committees with Specific QualificationsMembers of these committees are selected based on their qualifications for meeting the committee's charge. AAO members are welcome to submit a committee application for consideration. |