DO Day 2026: Advocating for Osteopathic Medicine

I recently joined more than 400 osteopathic physicians and medical students from across the country for DO Day 2026 in Washington, D.C. As a representative of the ACOI, I was proud to be joined by outstanding students from RVU along with my colleagues from ACOI Karen Caruth, CEO, and Tim McNichol, COO. The ACOI was proud to again sponsor DO Day and remains committed to expanding access to high-quality care nationwide.  Supporting our wonderful osteopathic profession is an experience I think every DO should have at least once in a lifetime!

I had the opportunity to meet with congressional staff from Utah to discuss stabilizing Medicare physician payments, protecting patient access to care, and securing funding for graduate medical education. We advocated for an end to restrictive step therapy so patients can get the medications they need without unnecessary delays. We urged support for H.R. 879, the Medicare Patient Access and Practice Stabilization Act to reverse planned Medicare cuts—because fair payment means physicians can keep caring for their patients. Finally, we advocated for additional residency funding through the Teaching Health Center Graduate Medical Education program, which trains doctors in rural and underserved communities.

The staff members of our senators and representatives were delightful and very easy to talk with. Advocating for our osteopathic issues was not stressful and it exposed the unique and individualized personalities of each of the senators and representatives.  One thing I remember is walking into Congressman Burgess Owens’ office—his walls were covered in football memorabilia, a cool reminder of his NFL days. It made the whole experience feel more personal.

The day was perfect. Cherry blossoms framed the Capitol, the weather was beautiful, and the energy was electric. We took a break, grabbed pizza in the AOA hospitality suite, took group photos, and felt supported by the energy of our fantastic students. Being around all of them was one of the best experiences I have had as a DO.

I loved sharing what sets DOs apart: our whole-person approach; OMT for treating pain without extra meds; and our growing impact on primary care. Nine of the top twenty schools producing primary care physicians are osteopathic colleges, and over two-thirds of practicing DOs are under the age forty-five. We are young, we are growing, and we are ready to help solve the projected physician shortage that is expected to reach more than eighty-six-thousand by 2036.

Representing ACOI on the Hill and joining the Osteopathic Advocacy Network reminded me why I chose this path—to care for whole people, serve rural communities, and keep osteopathic medicine thriving!