Each year, ACOI honors its members with awards that reflect their impressive contributions to the osteopathic internal medicine community. Nominations are now open for the 2026 Teacher of the Year, Researcher of the Year, and Internist of the Year awards. Have you been considering showing your support for a fellow member? Read on for more about the criteria for each award, and how to submit a nomination. You can also view the list of past winners.
Teacher of the Year
This award is made to an osteopathic internist who has made major contributions to osteopathic medical education—including but not limited to:
- Recognition through the receipt of teaching awards for excellence in teaching in undergraduate or graduate medical education;
- Leadership as a program director, course director or director of medical education in which valuable contributions to the profession and a positive impact on a significant number of trainees have been made;
- Development of a model program that has led to innovation in osteopathic medical education;
- Receipt of Federal or foundation grants;
- Publication of articles on medical education in medical education journals.
Last year, ACOI honored Mark Baldwin, DO, MACOI with the Teacher of the Year award. Dr. Baldwin shared, “I’m really humbled and honored by this award—it's probably the greatest award I’ve ever received in my career. I look at a lot of the people who I’ve had respect for throughout my career—some of them received this similar award. So again, it’s very humbling to receive this.”
Researcher of the Year
This award is made to an osteopathic internist who has made major contributions to clinical or basic research related to osteopathic internal medicine, as demonstrated by:
- A substantial record of extramural funding from Federal or foundation sources, such as the National Institutes of Health, American Osteopathic Association, the American Heart Association, etc.;
- Publications of original research in referred journals;
- Discovery of new technology, therapeutic interventions, or a new approach to clinical care that has had a significant impact on clinical care.
Internist of the Year
This award is made to an osteopathic internist who has made major contributions to osteopathic internal medicine as demonstrated by:
- The opinion of osteopathic internal medicine leaders relative to clinical excellence;
- Receipt of awards recognizing clinical excellence from hospitals, state healthcare organizations and the community;
- Development of a model clinical program that has made an impact on osteopathic internal medicine;
- Leadership role in clinical direction as a chief of medicine, medical director, etc.;
- Recognition of bedside teaching excellence.
How to Submit Your Nomination
To nominate a member, please review the criteria, write a letter detailing the individual's accomplishments and activities deserving consideration, and email your nominations to acoi@acoi.org. All three awards include a $1,000 stipend to defray the cost of traveling to the Annual Convention. The deadline for all nominations is May 31, 2026.
We look forward to recognizing all award recipients in person at ACOI 2026, October 7-10, in Palm Springs, CA.