AACOM Celebrates Appointment of Brian A. Kessler, DO, DHA, MS, to Federal Accreditation Rulemaking Committee
Published April 13, 2026
News Press Release
Dr. Kessler brings decades of leadership in accreditation and academic medicine
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Bethesda, MD) – The American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine (AACOM) today applauds the appointment of Brian A. Kessler, DO, DHA, MS, to the U.S. Department of Education’s negotiated rulemaking committee on Accreditation, Innovation and Modernization (AIM).
Nominated by AACOM, Dr. Kessler will serve as an alternate negotiator representing programmatic accrediting agencies. The committee will convene for its first session from April 13-17, 2026, followed by a second session May 18-22, 2026.
“We are proud to see Dr. Kessler selected for this important role and look forward to the expertise he will bring to the rulemaking process,” said AACOM President and CEO Robert A. Cain, DO. “With more than 25 years of experience in executive leadership in academic medicine, accreditation and regulatory compliance, Dr. Kessler is exceptionally well positioned to contribute to thoughtful, forward-looking accreditation reform. We are grateful to the U.S. Department of Education for recognizing both his qualifications and the growing impact of osteopathic medical education.”
“I am honored by this appointment and the opportunity to represent osteopathic medical education on this national committee,” said Dr. Kessler. “I look forward to collaborating with my fellow negotiators to develop recommendations that strengthen accreditation and support medical schools and the students they serve.”
Dr. Kessler is the dean and chief academic officer of the Meritus School of Osteopathic Medicine. His extensive accreditation experience spans institutional, programmatic, federal and international domains. He currently serves as vice chair and Executive Committee member of the Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation and is an evaluator for the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges. Dr. Kessler is also a federally appointed member of the National Advisory Committee on Foreign Medical Education and Accreditation.
His breadth of experience aligns closely with the AIM Committee’s charge to improve consistency, transparency and alignment within the federal–state–accreditor regulatory triad.
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 38,000 future physicians—close to 30 percent of all U.S. medical students—are being educated at one of our 46 accredited colleges of osteopathic medicine, encompassing 73 teaching locations in 36 states. To learn more about AACOM, please visit our website.
Contacts
Joseph Shapiro
AACOM Director of Media Relations
(240) 938-0746
jshapiro@aacom.org
Christine DeCarlo
AACOM Media and Public Affairs Senior Manager
(202) 603-1026
cdecarlo@aacom.org