Council of GME Leaders

The AOGME Council of GME Leaders is comprised of representatives from members of accredited GME programs or sponsoring institutions, functioning Osteopathic Postdoctoral Training Institutions (OPTIs) organizations, colleges of osteopathic medicine, or designated representatives from a consortium, medical school or related institution supportive of this council’s purpose.

Council Leadership

• Guy DeFeo, DO, MS, MEdL, FAOGME – Council Chair
• Richard LaBaere II, DO, MPH, FAODME – Council Vice Chair

Key Activities

• Maintaining communication with GME leaders that represent the operations of functioning OPTIs, OPTIs that have reconstituted as sponsoring institutions and COM-based GME offices that manage multiple GME programs.
• Sharing information relative to distinctive osteopathic principles in GME and development of Osteopathic Recognition in established programs.
• Promoting development of new GME programs, especially to support the osteopathic profession.
• Participating in dialogue regarding best practices for GME with all organizations supporting the osteopathic profession, including but not limited to the AOA Division of Postdoctoral Training and the Education and Evaluation Committees of AOA Specialty Colleges.
• Presenting recommendations to AOGME and other constituencies and preparing and presenting reports that may be requested by the Board of AOGME.

About OPTIs

Recognizing the need for a new system to structure and accredit osteopathic GME, the American Osteopathic Association established the Osteopathic Postdoctoral Training Institution (OPTI) in 1995.

Each OPTI is a community-based training consortium comprised of at least one college of osteopathic medicine and one hospital. Other hospitals and ambulatory care facilities may also partner within an OPTI. Community-based healthcare facilities, such as ambulatory care clinics, rehabilitation centers and surgicenters, now have the resources and support necessary to provide physician training with an OPTI’s assistance.

OPTIs are organized to provide a comprehensive, seamless model of education for physician training, from colleges of osteopathic medicine through GME programs. While each OPTI is unique, all share the goal of adding value to GME training by assuring the osteopathic concepts of whole-person care, wellness and prevention, caring for the patient’s individual health needs, environment and ability to access quality healthcare.

See map with full OPTI key.