AACOM Staff Leadership

President & Chief Executive Officer

Robert A. Cain, DO, FACOI, FAODME, as president and chief executive officer, directs AACOM and moves the organization towards fulfilling its vision and mission. The work of the President is overseen by AACOM's Governing Council, the Board of Deans.

Full Bio

Senior Vice President of Finance and Operations

Patricia Delaney, MEd, CPA, as senior vice president of finance and operations, has direct responsibility for leading and overseeing all aspects of AACOM’s financial, IT, and office management functions. She coordinates financial aspects of the Association’s overall strategic plan, as well as developing and implementing strategic financial and IT-focused plans. Delaney also leads AACOM’s annual financial audit process and serves as liaison to AACOM’s external auditors, as well as manages any other financial audits, reviews, and/or official inquiries from any state, federal, or local government agency.

Senior Vice President of Marketing, Communications and Events

Susan Ridge, as senior vice president of marketing, communications and events, leads AACOM’s efforts to support its member colleges in the recruitment and growth of a diversified, healthy applicant pool that successfully matches to a residency and practice that incorporates osteopathic principles to improve the health of patients. She develops robust marketing and communications initiatives and collaborates with counterparts at the colleges and other osteopathic and health professions organizations to advance the visibility and programs of osteopathic medical education.

Senior Vice President for Medical Education and Research

Mark R. Speicher, PhD, MHA, as senior vice president for medical education and research, leads AACOM’s efforts to determine the current state and future development of osteopathic medical education (OME). He directs AACOM’s medical education program activities, monitors developments affecting OME, evaluates educational programs that focus on developing the highest quality doctors, and works closely with AACOM’s member colleges to improve existing programs and propose new ones as needed.

Vice President of Finance

Fang Jiang, MBA, CPA, as vice president of finance, is responsible for AACOM’s overall financial activities, including daily financial operations, budgeting, financial reporting to the Board and Committees, investment assets, payroll and benefit administration, annual audits and tax filings. She collaborates with other leaders to provide financial insights and optimize the resources to advance AACOM’s strategic efforts.

Vice President of Government Relations

David Bergman, JD, as vice president of government relations, leads the association's congressional and federal policy advocacy efforts, works with AACOM's membership and other associations to present unified health professional positions to policy makers, and monitors legislative and regulatory developments relevant to osteopathic medical education and the osteopathic profession.

Vice President of Graduate Medical Education (GME) Initiatives

Alegneta Long, MPP, as vice president of GME initiatives, leads and manages AACOM’s strategy and roles in the development and implementation of graduate medical education (GME) initiatives, the transition to the single GME accreditation system, and the changing environment in clinical education. Ms. Long also oversees AACOM's Assembly of Osteopathic Graduate Medical Educators (AOGME) and works with the AOGME Board to provide strategic and programmatic leadership to promote and expand initiatives to support the osteopathic graduate medical education community.

Vice President of Information Technology & Chief Information Officer

Jeff Tjiputra, DSc, MLS, as vice president of information technology and chief information officer, is responsible for driving AACOM’s information and technology strategy and execution for its cloud, infrastructure and application platforms, and business solutions that support business needs and transform business processes for AACOM staff and stakeholders.

Vice President of Undergraduate Medical Education Services

Helene Cameron, PhD, MBA, as the vice president of undergraduate medical education services, develops comprehensive programs that support student affairs, from application to graduation. She also functions as AACOM’s primary student advocate, identifying and providing resources to assist students during medical school, while also overseeing medical school recruitment and other activities supporting student success.

Public Policy and Initiatives

Grassroots Advocacy and Federal Resources

Career Planning