GME Development Fellowship Impact, Advocacy Day, and Educating Leaders 2026
Published August 28, 2025
AOGME Chair
By Juan Acosta, DO, MS, FAOGME
AOGME Chair
August 28, 2025
Dear Colleagues,
As summer draws to a close and we look ahead to the fall season, I want to thank each of you for your continued commitment to advancing osteopathic graduate medical education. It has been a productive and inspiring few months, and I’m excited to share several updates and opportunities with you.
Celebrating the GME Development Fellowship’s Success
We recently marked the successful conclusion of the inaugural AACOM/UNC Sheps Center GME Development Fellowship—an initiative that brought together educators, institutional leaders, and community partners to explore GME development in rural and underserved areas. This fellowship exemplifies the transformative impact of collaborative leadership in expanding GME capacity where it is needed most.
A heartfelt thank you to all AOGME members who served as faculty, mentors, or fellows. Your dedication played a vital role in shaping the program’s success and furthering our collective mission to improve access to healthcare through sustainable GME expansion. Read the press release.
Call for Abstracts: Educating Leaders 2026
The Call for Abstracts is now open for Educating Leaders 2026, AACOM’s annual conference, taking place at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. This is a valuable opportunity to share your research, innovations, and educational best practices with a national audience of osteopathic medical educators. Abstracts are due by Monday, September 8, 2025. We encourage all AOGME members to consider submitting an abstract and joining the vibrant community of presenters shaping the future of medical education.
For more information or to submit, start your submission or reach out to annualconf@aacom.org with questions.
Make Your Voice Heard: Register for AACOM Advocacy Day
Advocacy is essential to the advancement of osteopathic medical education, and we need your voice. I encourage you to participate in AACOM Advocacy Day on September 9–10. This virtual event is a powerful opportunity to engage with members of Congress and advocate for key policies such as the Fair Access In Residency (FAIR) Act and the Community TEAMS Act. Here’s what to expect:
- September 9, 2:00–3:00 PM ET: Advocacy training and congressional briefings
- September 10, ~2 hours based on scheduling: Virtual congressional meetings (flexible to your availability
Register for Advocacy Day: https://www.aacom.org/advocacy/advocacy-day
Have questions? Contact our Government Relations team at aacomgr@aacom.org.
Thalmus/Cortex Presentation: AOGME Membership Meeting
Please join us for our next Monthly Membership Discussion on September 17 at 4:00 PM ET. This meeting will feature a presentation by Thalmus on Cortex. These forums offer an opportunity for open dialogue and allow us to feature the latest GME-related information. If you do not have a meeting invitation, please feel free to reach out to us at any time with direct inquiries by emailing aogme@aacom.org.
Continuing Our Work Together
Finally, I’d like to thank you again for the energy and dedication you bring to your roles and to AOGME. Whether through educational programs, service, or advocacy, your efforts are shaping the future of graduate medical education and expanding access to care for the communities we serve.
If you have questions, ideas, or would like to connect, don’t hesitate to reach out to us at
Thank you,
Juan Acosta, DO, MS, FAOGME
Chair, AOGME