The AOA’s 2026 cohort of advocacy awards recognize excellence in public policy advocacy and support for the osteopathic profession. This year’s winners will be celebrated at DO Day. Award categories and descriptions are as follows:
- Individual Excellence in Advocacy – Recognizes individuals for their commitment to public policy advocacy on behalf of the osteopathic profession. Three honorees will be selected: one student, one resident and one physician. Selection criteria include in-person and online advocacy, participation in DO Day or other events, and demonstrated leadership in engaging peers.
- Organizational Excellence in Advocacy – Recognizes a state osteopathic association, osteopathic specialty college, non-practice affiliate or college of osteopathic medicine for outstanding organizational efforts to advance public policy. Criteria include advocacy achievements and participation in national advocacy events or initiatives.
- Congressional Champion of Osteopathic Medicine – Honors members of Congress in a bipartisan manner, with one Democrat and one Republican selected for their bipartisan support of osteopathic policy priorities. Criteria include introduction or co-sponsorship of priority bills, leadership on key issues, voting record and engagement with the AOA or affiliate events.
For more information, please visit the AOA Awards landing page. Questions may be directed to the AOA’s public policy team at [email protected].
2026 award recipients
Individual Excellence in Advocacy Award
Emily K. Hurst, DO; Austin Vaughan, DO; and Laura (Lu) Wolff, OMS III
Organizational Excellence in Advocacy
Ohio Osteopathic Association
Congressional Champion of Osteopathic Medicine
Representative John Joyce, MD (R-PA-13); and Representative Suzan DelBene (D-WA-1)
Past winners
In 2025, the following awardees were recognized:
- Individual Excellence in Advocacy – Ronnie Martin, DO; Brianne Howerton, DO; and Syed Rizvi, OMS IV
- Organizational Excellence in Advocacy – West Virginia Osteopathic Medical Association
- Congressional Champion of Osteopathic Medicine – Representative Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-IA-1); and Representative Jimmy Panetta (D-CA-19)