President's Blog

I place a great deal of importance on being involved in our profession (that’s probably obvious to you by now). That being said, I find myself talking with fellow DOs often about how they, too, can get more involved; whether it’s by participating in their local advocacy efforts or recruiting new members to join the AOA.  On this blog, I plan on sharing a series of ideas on how each and every DO can “think osteopathically” and play a part in helping to strengthen and grow the osteopathic medical profession. 
 
One of the most meaningful ways to get involved, I believe, is to invest your time in the future of our profession – osteopathic medical students and postgraduate trainees. The AOA’s iLEARN Mentor Program makes this easy. You decide how much time you can commit to the program and how you would like to engage with your mentee, be it in person or just via email. When your preferences match with a potential mentee’s, a relationship can begin – one that will surely be rewarding for both parties involved.
 
Whether you’re a DO, an osteopathic medical student, or a postgraduate trainee, I encourage you to take a few moments to review the iLEARN Mentor Program and create your profile. To my fellow DOs - take it from your colleague, Will Kirby, DO, who was recently featured in the AOA’s Why We Belong member guide: “It feels good to take an active role in the education of our future physicians and pay it forward.” 
 
Marty