AACOM Announces Inaugural Graduate Medical Education Development Fellows

32 fellows selected for leadership program to grow GME opportunities

IMMEDIATE RELEASE

(Bethesda, MD) – Today, the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine (AACOM), in partnership with the University of North Carolina (UNC) Cecil G. Sheps Center for Health Services Research, announced the inaugural cohort of the AACOM Graduate Medical Education (GME) Development Fellowship. The 32 fellows began the 10-month program with a kickoff session this week.

“We are very excited and proud to be launching this new program designed to foster the next generation of GME leaders,” said Robert A. Cain, DO, AACOM president and CEO. “It is imperative for the future of our nation’s healthcare system that our physicians are trained and as prepared as possible to practice medicine successfully. This initiative demonstrates the commitment of AACOM and our colleges of osteopathic medicine to grow GME opportunities, particularly in community-based, underserved areas, and to do this while partnering with like-minded organizations like the UNC Sheps Center.”

The AACOM GME Development Fellowship is an innovative partnership designed to foster leaders between AACOM and the University of North Carolina (UNC) Cecil G. Sheps Center for Health Services Research. Through this interactive program, fellows will learn the latest on GME development strategies, collaborate with national experts and craft capstone projects to support their institutions. These projects will be submitted as a presentation at AACOM’s Educating Leaders 2025 conference.

“We are deeply thankful for this partnership with AACOM, which aligns perfectly with our mission at the UNC Sheps Center to expand training and care in rural and underserved areas,” said Emily Hawes, PharmD and primary investigator for the project. “Osteopathic medical schools play a critical role in addressing healthcare gaps, and we see this fellowship as an essential pathway to further grow our collective impact. By developing GME opportunities in these communities, we’re not only advancing education but also improving access to care where it is needed most.”

Potential education topics offered to the fellows include:

• Intro to GME Development – Site assessment, timeline, strategy, getting started, roadmap, stories of GME programs launching
• GME Finance: Beyond the Basics
• Grant Writing and Funding
• State GME Initiatives/Medicaid GME
• Governance/Partnerships
• Rural GME or Rural Track Training Programs 101 (structures, funding, prime rural hospitals)

The list of the Inaugural Cohort of Fellows is below. For more information, please visit the program webpage.

About AACOM:

Founded in 1898, the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine (AACOM) is the leading voice for the education and training of physicians who practice osteopathic medicine in settings across the medical spectrum—from primary care to the full range of medical specialties. We support our member colleges of osteopathic medicine in their efforts to attract and train individuals who are fueled by a desire to make a difference in our healthcare system by treating the whole person and building a future emphasizing health and wellness for all people. Today, more than 36,000 future physicians—25 percent of all U.S. medical students—are being educated at one of our 42 accredited colleges of osteopathic medicine, encompassing 67 teaching locations in 36 states.  To learn more about AACOM, please visit our website.

Contacts:

Joseph Shapiro
Director of Media Relations
(240) 938-0746
jshapiro@aacom.org

Christine DeCarlo
Senior Manager of Media and Public Affairs
(202) 603-1026
cdecarlo@aacom.org

• Abigail Frank, DO – Assistant Dean of GME, West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine 
• Amanda Deel, DO – Associate Dean Academics and GME, New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine at Arkansas 
• Amanda Vaglia, DO – Inaugural Rural Family Medicine Program Director/Regional Clinical Dean, Duquesne University College of Osteopathic Medicine 
• Amy Paul, MD, MSHA – Director of Statewide GME, Virginia Health Workforce Development Authority 
• Andrea Williams – Director of GME/CME, Arkansas College of Osteopathic Medicine 
• Anya Cope, DO – Dean of GME, Lincoln Memorial University - DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine 
• Brian Ebersole – Vice President Academic Affairs and Associate DIO, Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine - Elmira 
• Carrie Champine, DO – Associate Dean of OMS IV and Graduate Medical Education, Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine - Virginia Campus 
• Christopher Reeder, DO – Assistant Dean, Proposed COM: Illinois College of Osteopathic Medicine at The Chicago School 
• Clif Knight, MD – Assistant Dean of GME, Marian University College of Osteopathic Medicine 
• Dana Nelson, MA – Executive Director, Department for Advancement of Osteopathic Education, A.T. Still University - Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine 
• Gretchen Holmes, PhD – Associate Dean for GME & DIO, Sam Houston State University College of Osteopathic Medicine 
• Heather Ferrill, DO – Dean & VP of Faculty Affairs, Rocky Vista University College of Osteopathic Medicine 
• Janet Krettek, DO – DME, Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, GME Program: Redeemer Health 
• Jennifer Beaty, MD – Associate Dean of Student Advancement and GME, Des Moines University College of Osteopathic Medicine 
• Joanne Kaiser-Smith, DO – Associate Dean, GME, Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine 
• Kent Alan Lee, MD – Assistant Dean of GME, Professor of Family Medicine/Associate DIO, Baptist Health Sciences University 
• Kerrie Jordan, PhD – DIO/Director/Assistant Professor, Kansas City University College of Osteopathic Medicine
• Kristoff Cohran – Program Administrator, HRSA RRPD Technical Assistance Center (GME Development Advising/Consulting)
• Lawrence LeBeau, DO – Chair, Graduate Medical Education Department, A.T. Still University - School of Osteopathic Medicine in Arizona
• Liz Whiting, MS – Director of GME, Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine Montana
• Lori McMann, MS – Director of GME, Kansas City Health Science Center - Kansas College of Osteopathic Medicine
• Maleshea Hopkins, DO – Associate Dean of Clinical Affairs, University of Pikeville - Kentucky College of Osteopathic Medicine
• Mark Sanders, DO, JD – Dean, Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine - Louisiana Campus
• Marla Golden, DO – Dean, Osteopathic Medicine Program, Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine - South Georgia
• Matthew Huff, MHA – Assistant Dean for Post-Graduate Affairs, Duquesne University College of Osteopathic Medicine
• Michael Kreider, MS, MEd – Director of GME, Idaho College of Osteopathic Medicine
• Michelle Chadek, MS – Director of GME, Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences College of Osteopathic Medicine
• Nicole Pena, DO – Interim Senior Associate Dean and OMM Department Chair, Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine California
• Richard Calderone, DO, MPH – Assistant Dean of GME/Chair of IM, William Carey University College of Osteopathic Medicine
• Seth Politano, DO – Program Director, SARH Internal Medicine Residency Program. Future GME Director at WUCOMP, Western University of Health Sciences College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific
• Timothy Barreiro, DO – Section Chair, Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine - Dublin, GME Program: Mercy Health