Osteopathic medicine as practiced in the United States continues to gain recognition throughout the world. Osteopathic physicians, or DOs, currently have unlimited practice rights in roughly 60 countries, with partial practice rights in many more. 
The American Osteopathic Association has assigned responsibility for international activities to the Council on International Osteopathic Medical Education and Affairs. The Council, which was founded in 1996, holds regular meetings in the fall and the spring with an annual report presented to the AOA House of Delegates at the annual business meeting in July. Council activities include:
Contact with the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO).
An international seminar at the AOA's annual convention.
Leadership in establishing an Osteopathic International Alliance.
Distribution of information on international activities.
Distribution of information about the AOA and American osteopathic medicine to interested parties outside of the U.S.
Coordination of international activity with osteopathic medical students, colleges of osteopathic medicine and interested specialty colleges.
Monitoring of licensing and registration practices in countries outside of the United States, particularly as it affects osteopathic medical education.