FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 11, 2025 

Indianapolis, IN—Justine A. Tran-Serrano, DO, of Lansing, MI, was named the 2025 Resident of the Year by the American Academy of Osteopathy (AAO) on March 27 at the AAO’s annual business meeting dur­ing its Convocation in Orlando, Florida. This annual award recognizes a resident who has contributed to the AAO, who has contributed to osteopathic principles and practice (OPP) at their residency program, and who has participated in such educational events as the AAO’s annual Convocation and the AAO program at the American Osteopathic Association’s annual conference.

In her final year of a three-year NMM residency program at Michigan State University, Justine A. Tran-Serrano, DO, embodies the principles and leadership that the osteopathic profession values, demonstrating exceptional commitment to advancing the field and serves as a role model for peers and future osteopathic physicians.

Dr. Tran-Serrano has demonstrated commitment to osteopathic philosophy through mentorship of 1st and 2nd year medical students at the student OMM free clinic. She gave multiple lectures to SAAO students on the topics of balanced ligamentous tension, physical exam skills, and cranial topics. She facilitates medical students during free OMT clinics in the community for uninsured and underinsured populations.

As co-chief resident, Dr. Tran-Serrano organizes weekly didactics with an emphasis on preparing residents for thorough training in the topics of anatomy, clinical correlations and approach. This past year, she coordinated a 3-day anatomy workshop with Dr. Frank Willard for Michigan's ONMM Statewide Campus System.

Dr. Tran-Serrano exemplifies a strong interest in research, national and international work. She has presented research on spinal health and on OMT for sinusitis relief. She served as a lecturer and table trainer on various osteopathic topics for visiting medical students and physicians from Korea. As an international volunteer, she has provided medical aid and humanitarian relief in Vietnam and Myanmar.

Dr. Tran-Serrano was selected as a recipient of the AAO Resident of the Year award for demonstrating the qualities of an outstanding resident through her: enthusiasm and commitment to osteopathic philosophy, application of osteopathic manipulative medicine, her involvement in the profession, and interest in scientific exploration of osteopathy.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 3, 2024

NICHOLAS W. SALUPO, DO, NAMED RESIDENT OF THE YEAR
BY NATIONAL OSTEOPATHIC MEDICAL ASSOCIATION 

Indianapolis— Nicholas W. Salupo, DO, of Cleveland, OH, was named a 2024 Resident of the Year by the American Academy of Osteopathy (AAO) on March 7 at the AAO’s annual business meeting dur­ing its Convocation in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The award recognizes a resident who has contributed to the AAO, who has contributed to osteopathic principles and practice (OPP) at their residency program, and who has participated in such educational events as the AAO’s annual Convocation and the AAO’s program at the American Osteopathic Association’s annual conference.

Dr. Salupo is a 2017 graduate of Marian University College of Osteopathic Medicine. He completed a two-year family medicine residency with osteopathic recognition (OR) in Indianapolis followed by a three-year internal medicine program with OR at Kettering Grandview Medical Center (OH) and is currently in a nephrology and hypertension fellowship at the Cleveland Clinic. Dr. Salupo is a strong advocate for osteopathic manipulative medicine (OMM) and supports the AAO through various activities. During his term as Resident American Academy of Osteopathy (RAAO) Chair he focused and succeeded on increasing RAAO membership.

Throughout his residency training he has promoted OMM and integrates OMT into the care of his patients. Dr. Salupo has demonstrated leadership qualities as the chief resident of his family medicine residency, coordinating weekly lectures for colleagues in that program; and was the chief resident at his internal medicine residency involved in several committees at Kettering Grandview Medical Center.

He served as the Resident American Academy of Osteopathy (RAAO) vice chair, as its Chair representing the RAAO on the AAO Board of Trustees and Board of Governors; and currently serves as the RAAO immediate past chair, on the Education and Publications Committees and as an AAOJ peer reviewer. He is also involved on the Ohio Osteopathic Associations’ Board of Trustees as the Resident/Fellow representative and on the Executive Committee of the Cleveland Academy of Osteopathic Medicine.

Dr. Salupo’s scholarly activities express his strong interest in research. He has developed and published on several different subjects which include medical ethics, nephrology and osteopathic medicine with presentations at Convocation and in his residency programs, working closely with Academy mentors.

###

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 3, 2024 

BENJAMIN J. K. GREENE, DO NAMED RESIDENT OF THE YEAR
BY NATIONAL OSTEOPATHIC MEDICAL ASSOCIATION 

Indianapolis— Benjamin J. K. Greene of Lansing, MI, was named a 2024 Resident of the Year by the American Academy of Osteopathy (AAO) on March 7 at the AAO’s annual business meeting dur­ing its Convocation in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The award recognizes a resident who has contributed to the AAO, who has contributed to osteopathic principles and practice (OPP) at their residency program, and who has participated in such educational events as the AAO’s annual Convocation and the AAO’s program at the American Osteopathic Association’s annual conference.

Dr. Greene currently in the third year of a three-year NMM program at Michigan State, is an advocate for osteopathic manipulative medicine (OMM) through various activities which include founding and hosting “The Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine podcast,” of over 100 weekly interviews of healthcare providers who share their clinical experiences and pearls related to osteopathic medicine. As well as lecturing in Seoul, South Korea on the Zink Model, he created patient and physician pamphlets about OMT and how it may help new mothers with latching and plagiocephaly, and currently presents weekly “lunch n’ learn” MSK case study discussions and OMT topics of interest. Dr. Greene has demonstrated commitment to osteopathic philosophy through presentations nationally to the Student American Academy of Osteopathy (SAAO) members and at the AAO Convocation, as well as providing weekly lab instruction and presentations on OPP, sacral mechanics, and as a table trainer on manual medicine related to injuries to the extremities. He is a ringside physician at the USA Amateur Boxing Tournament providing physicals and medical examinations after a fight.

Dr. Greene has demonstrated leadership qualities as the chief resident of the MSU ONMM residency, is the RAAO national liaison to the SAAO, and co-leader of the MSU OMM sports medicine clinic and MSU OMM student clinic. He also founded and leads the MSK Ultrasound Group with weekly meetings to review specific anatomy and practice ultrasound scanning. Dr. Greene has demonstrated additional qualities such as strong interest in research with poster presentations, pending publications and development of research projects.

###

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 30, 2023

NICOLE A. FREMAREK, DO, MBA, NAMED RESIDENT OF THE YEAR BY NATIONAL OSTEOPATHIC MEDICAL ASSOCIATION

Indianapolis— Nicole A. Fremarek, DO, MBA, of Christiansburg, VA, was named the 2023 Resident of the Year by the American Academy of Osteopathy (AAO) on March 16 at the AAO’s annual business meeting at its Convocation in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The award recognizes a resident who has contributed to the AAO, who has contributed to osteopathic principles and practice (OPP) at his or her residency program, and who has participated in such educational events as the AAO’s annual Convocation and the AAO’s program at the American Osteopathic Association’s annual conference.

Nicole A. Fremarek, DO, MBA completed a Pre-Doctoral OMM Fellowship and was AAO NUFA liaison for Kansas City University (KCU) and received a dual-degree DO/MBA in healthcare leadership during her medical school years. She received the KCU awards AT Still, MD, DO Memorial Medallion Award; Betty Jo White, DO Prize for Osteopathy; and Gold Humanism Honor Society.

She has served as Co-Chief resident of her family medicine residency, as a leader in the RAAO and SAAO, and spearheaded numerous osteopathic education projects and research during her family medicine residency. During her free time, she continues to volunteer to cover sporting events at a local high school and provide the athletes with medical support from the sidelines.

Dr. Fremarek has a passion for integrating Family Medicine, Osteopathic Neuromusculoskeletal Medicine, and Sports Medicine into her everyday patient care. She has served as a leader on the Resident American Academy of Osteopathy (RAAO) as the RAAO liaison to the Student American Academy of Osteopathy (SAAO) for 2 years, the RAAO executive council, and on the Marketing Committee with American Fascial Distortion Model Association.

For more information on Dr. Fremarek, contact Sherri L. Quarles, Chief Executive Officer at the American Academy of Osteopathy at (317) 879-1881, ext. 214, or at [email protected].

The United States currently has more than 120,000 osteopathic physicians. Also known as DOs, osteopathic physicians are fully licensed physicians, as are MDs. The profession has grown 63% in the past decade and nearly 300% over the past three decades. Osteopathic physicians prescribe medicine and practice in all specialties, including osteopathic manipulative medicine, family medicine, psychiatry, obstetrics and gynecology, and surgery. They are trained to consider the health of the whole person and to use their hands to help diagnose and treat patients.
The mission of the American Academy of Osteopathy is to teach, promote, and research the science, art and philosophy of osteopathic medicine, emphasizing the integration of osteopathic principles and practice in patient care. Founded in 1937, the Academy is a specialty college of the American Osteopathic Association.

###

Resident of the Year Award

Amber M. Brown, DO, MS

Amber M. Brown, DO, MS is a 2019 graduate of Des Moines University College of Osteopathic Medicine (DMUCOM) and is currently in a pediatric residency at the Main Medical Center.

Dr. Brown is an advocate for osteopathic manipulative medicine (OMM) through her development and implementation of OMM services in the pediatric clinic and in her work on designing an osteopathic curriculum in advancing educational opportunities for faculty, pediatric residents, and medical students as part of the residency program and for clinical staff at the Barbara Bush Children's Hospital. She has conducted several presentations to include panel discussions at SAAO events and specific topics of interest to the pediatric profession.

Dr. Brown has demonstrated her commitment to osteopathic philosophy through numerous research activities which include co-authorships of poster presentations and published articles. She is currently involved in a prospective, clinical study in which she developed the study protocol and secured IRB approval The Effect of Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine on Improving Quality of Life Outcomes in Inpatient Pediatric Oncology and Sickle Cell Disease Patients. She is on track to have this study completed in time to analyze the data and submit the results for publication prior to finishing her resident training.

Dr. Brown has demonstrated leadership qualities on national committees in multiple leadership roles. She has been a member of the RAAO Executive Council serving as the national coordinator, as chair and is currently the immediate past chair. She has also served as the resident member on the AAO Membership Committee, the Education Committee, the Board of Trustees and on the Board of Governors, as well as serving on the Pediatric Program Evaluation and Pediatric Program Wellness Committees at the Maine Medical Center Department of Pediatrics.

Dr. Brown is deserving of the AAO’s Resident of the Year award with her demonstration of the qualities of an outstanding resident as set by the AAO through her: enthusiasm and commitment to osteopathic philosophy, application of osteopathic manipulative medicine, and her involvement in the profession; and interest in scientific exploration of osteopathy.

Potential recipients are nominated by any AAO component society or AOA-approved osteopathic residency program. Individuals nominated exhibit osteopathic principles and practice at their residency programs and encourage other residents, faculty and students to continue to use OPP during their residency career and practice. 

Past Recipients of the Resident of the Year Award