AACOM Announces Winners of Inaugural All In! Vegas Pitch Showdown

Innovative ideas from colleges of osteopathic medicine highlight the future of medical education

IMMEDIATE RELEASE

(Bethesda, MD) – The American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine (AACOM) is proud to announce the winners of its inaugural All In! Vegas Pitch Showdown, a first-of-its-kind competition capping off the association’s annual conference and showcasing bold, forward-thinking ideas from colleges of osteopathic medicine (COMs) across the country.

“The All In! Vegas Pitch Showdown represents the very best of osteopathic medical education, innovation driven by purpose,” said AACOM President and CEO Robert A. Cain, DO. “These projects reflect a deep commitment to improving how we train future physicians and, ultimately, how we care for patients and communities. AACOM is proud to support and elevate these ideas as they move from campus concepts to real-world impact.”

Taking home the grand prize of $30,000, the Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine (VCOM) was recognized out of 47 strong submissions for its data-forward approach to tracking and standardizing medical student clinical experiences in real time. The project demonstrates significant potential to enhance clinical training, identify emerging health trends and expand research and educational opportunities across osteopathic medical education.

“This award highlights Via Learning Management Systems, a real time public health data base, which supports medical education and forms the basis of a Consortial Osteopathic Research Database available to all COMs,” said winning presenters Fred Rawlins, DO, VCOM-Virginia; Alexis M. Stoner, PhD, MPH, VCOM-Carolinas; and Per Gunnar Brolinson, DO, VCOM-Virginia.

Three outstanding finalists were each awarded $5,000 for their impactful ideas:

• Rocky Vista University – Utah Campus, named the audience favorite for its Food as Medicine initiative
• Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine, for its Compassionate Community concept
• The Valley College of Osteopathic Medicine, for its technology-focused presentation

The competition was evaluated by Educating Leaders 2026 attendees and a distinguished panel of judges, including John R. Gimpel, DO, MEd, president and CEO of the National Board of Osteopathic Medical Examiners; George Haddad, president and CEO of Liaison; and Jennifer Caudle, DO, FACOFP, of Rowan-Virtua University School of Osteopathic Medicine.

From bold ideas to tangible solutions, the All In! Vegas Pitch Showdown highlighted the ingenuity and leadership of the osteopathic medical education community and set the stage for continued innovation in the years ahead.

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
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