Declaration of Innovation
Put Your Boldest Ideas in the Spotlight!
Declaration of Innovation
What is your college of osteopathic medicine doing differently?
The Declaration of Innovation is a live idea-pitch competition at Educating Leaders 2027 that will spotlight bold, practical solutions to challenges and opportunities in osteopathic medical education.
Approximately 16–20 semifinalists will pitch their ideas during interactive breakout sessions on Friday, April 16, 2027, at the Philadelphia Marriott Downtown. Breakout attendees will select four finalists to compete live on the main stage, where all attendees will then select the winner for a $30,000 grand prize. Each of the three runners-up will receive $5,000.
Prize funds will be awarded to the AACOM member college of osteopathic medicine affiliated with each selected idea.
Share an Idea That Could Move OME Forward
The Declaration of Innovation gives members of the osteopathic medical education community an opportunity to share new approaches, learn from one another and secure funding to bring promising ideas to life.
All innovative ideas are welcome, with submissions especially encouraged in the following areas:
- Nutrition in Clinical Practice
- Community Partnerships and Clinical Education
- Technology in Teaching and Assessment
- The Spirit of Whole-Person Care
We are looking for early-stage ideas and concepts that would benefit from seed funding. Ideas do not need to have been implemented or proven successful. However, innovations that have already received more than $10,000 in funding from any source or combination of sources are not eligible.
Who Can Submit
The competition is open to faculty, administrators, students and collaborators affiliated with an AACOM member COM. Previous recipients of AACOM grants are eligible to apply.
Additional requirements include:
- Submissions may include multiple collaborators, but one primary contact must complete the application.
- Each person may submit multiple ideas, but only one idea per person may advance.
- All submission contributors whose ideas have been selected must register for Educating Leaders 2027 and attend the April 16 competition in person.
- Collaborators who are not affiliated with an AACOM member COM are not eligible to participate.
- Applicants may submit ideas that have been presented at another conference or entered into another competition.
- Eligible ideas must not have previously received more than $10,000 in funding from any source.
Semifinalists will receive a digital briefing packet and participate in a virtual Pitch Clinic in February 2027 to refine their presentations and visuals.
Awards & Recognition
- $30,000 Grand Prize
The overall winner will receive $30,000 to help develop or scale the winning idea.
- Three $5,000 Runner-Up Prizes
Each of the remaining finalists will receive $5,000 to help move their idea forward.
Prize funds will be issued to the AACOM member COM affiliated with the submission and must be used to develop or scale the selected innovation. All semifinalists will also be recognized in official Educating Leaders conference materials and communications.
Declare Your Innovation
Complete the online submission form by November 13, 2026. You will need to provide:
- Your contact information and institutional affiliation
- A two-sentence summary of your idea, up to 400 characters
- Either a 90-second video pitch or a written submission of up to 3,500 characters or 500 words
A review committee will select approximately 16–20 semifinalists and organize their ideas into four themed breakout sessions. One presenter from each session will advance to the main-stage competition, where the audience will select the grand prize winner
Take Up the Pen
What problem are you solving? What are you doing differently? What idea could help shape what comes next in OME?
Submit your idea by November 13, 2026.
Questions? Contact the Educating Leaders team at annualconf@aacom.org.