NIH Director Bhattacharya Recognizes Osteopathic Value
Published June 02, 2025
By AACOM Government Relations
Federal Policy OME Advocate
On May 29, 2025, Dixie Tooke-Rawlins, DO, president of the Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine, and Julie Crockett, AACOM director of government relations, represented AACOM at a leadership roundtable hosted by National Institutes of Health (NIH) Director Jay Bhattacharya, MD, PhD.
Delivering the final question, Dr. Tooke-Rawlins powerfully emphasized the osteopathic profession’s value, noting that:
Colleges of osteopathic medicine (COMs) educate more than 38,000 future physicians—nearly 30 percent of all U.S. medical students—across 69 campuses nationwide.
Despite this significant contribution, COMs receive just 0.1 percent of NIH research funding, while allopathic institutions receive 42 percent.
Of the 462 seats across NIH’s National Advisory Councils, only three are held by DOs.
In response, Dr. Bhattacharya concluded the meeting by recognizing the importance of including DOs in NIH research, stating, “Their [DO] participation will make science better.”