The American Osteopathic Association constantly strives to be the premier home of all DOs and osteopathic medical students. The AOA advocates its philosophy so that osteopathic principles will be at the forefront of worldwide efforts to provide quality health care.

The AOA stands for the following universal principles:

1. Ensuring the quality and continuum of osteopathic medical education and research.
2. Enhancing the value of AOA membership.
3. Protecting and promoting the rights of all osteopathic physicians.
4. Accentuating the distinctiveness of osteopathic principles and the diversity of the profession.
5. Supporting DOs’ efforts to provide quality, cost-effective health care to all Americans.
6. Collaborating with other entities to advance osteopathic medicine.

2009 Osteopathic Medical Profession Report

Developed more than 130 years ago by Andrew Taylor Still, MD, DO, osteopathic medicine brings a unique philosophy to traditional medicine. Osteopathic physicians (DOs) are fully-licensed to prescribe medicine and practice in all specialty areas including surgery. DOs are trained to consider the health of the whole person and use their hands to help diagnose and treat their patients.

DOs are one of the fastest growing segments of health care professionals in the United States. At the current rate of growth, it is estimated that at least 100,000 osteopathic physicians will be in active medical practice by the year 2020.

Did you know that Oklahoma has the largest percentage of DOs within the state physician population or that the median age of female DOs is 40?  These statistics and more can be found in the 2009 Osteopathic Medical Profession Report. 

2008 Annual Report

“The AOA Greatness Campaign, now concluding its second year, has become a beacon of hope for the AOA and a set of guiding principles by which to conduct ourselves both now and in the future. Envisioned by the late AOA President John A. Strosnider, DO, and brought to fruition by the leadership of AOA President Peter B. Ajluni, DO, and President-elect Carlo J. DiMarco, DO, the Greatness Campaign was the inspiration and the backbone of the AOA Strategic Plan 2008-2010, which took the Campaign’s ideals and transformed them into an action plan.

The AOA Board of Trustees, recognizing that the great strides detailed in the scorecard are truly just the first steps of a marathon, guided the AOA Greatness Campaign in a new direction and refined its focus into three ultimate goals:

• Greater public advocacy and worldwide recognition of the osteopathic degree;
• Enhanced and expanded osteopathic graduate medical education for every medical specialty in every location; and
• Support and completion of research relevant to the osteopathic profession and demonstrative of its efficacy.

The road to greatness, however, is not a linear pathway. Rather, it is flywheel upon which every step, every motion, towards greatness fuels momentum for the next step. As we prepare to embark upon our next cycle to achieve greatness, the AOA Annual Report 2008-2009 details our progress along those lines over the past year. With the knowledge of how far the osteopathic medical profession has already come, greatness is indeed within the osteopathic profession’s reach.”

Read more in the full AOA 2008 Annual Report (PDF, 1022kb)

More Information

See the 2006-2007 Video Annual Report

The Crosby Report -- See the 2005-2006 Video Annual Report by logging in and clicking on AOA Basic Documents.

AOA Today -- See the 2004-2005 Video Annual Report