ACOI Boot Camp at VCOM-Virginia: Hands-On Clinical Skills Training Featuring Pericardiocentesis Models
On February 27, 2026, the Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine–Virginia (VCOM-Virginia) chapter of SOIMA hosted a hands-on Boot Camp showcasing essential clinical skills that students will encounter throughout their careers as physicians.
In recent years, a subtle but significant shift has crept into the language of health care. Increasingly, those of us who have dedicated more than a decade of our lives to becoming fully licensed physicians find ourselves labeled with the catch-all term “provider.” It has become common in legislation, administrative documents, insurance policies, and even hospital vernacular. But I am not a “provider.” I am an osteopathic physician.
Voices Across ACOI: 2026 Spring Meetings Preview Featuring Dr. Leonard Hock, Dr. Emmie Strassberg, and Dr. Jeffrey Freeman
For this month’s edition of Voices Across ACOI, we spoke with a few of the physicians who will present at the virtual 2026 Spring Meetings. Read on for more about their areas of practice and their presentations, as well as agenda and registration information.
ACOI Congratulates Florida Osteopathic Medical Association (FOMA) Leaders Steve Winn and Michelle Winn Larson
On January 1, 2026, the Florida Osteopathic Medical Association (FOMA) had a major change in its leadership; after 51 years of service, Steve Winn, the former executive director, has retired, and Michelle Winn Larson has been selected as the new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the organization.
Grief in Medicine: There Is No Right Way to Carry It
I began medical school at the same time my father was diagnosed with stage IV cancer. What should have been a season defined by anatomy labs, white coats, and new beginnings was instead marked by oncology appointments, emergency department visits, ICU admissions, and long conversations that never felt long enough. While I was learning how to become a physician, my family and I were learning how to live with uncertainty.
Recently, I reread the Osteopathic Oath I took during my white coat ceremony in 2024. At the time, it felt like a milestone marking the beginning of my training. Now, I understand it as a call to live with purpose.
The ACOI is proud to participate in DO Day on Capitol Hill, sending physician leadership to Washington, DC to ensure the osteopathic voice is heard on issues impacting internists, patient access, and physician-led care.
Call to Action: Senate Committee Examines Contributors to Physician Burnout
The Senate Aging Committee held a hearing on February 11 on the subject of how administrative and regulatory red tape fuels physician burnout and impacts patient access to care. ACOI members can voice their support of the Seniors’ Act by contacting their members of Congress through the ACOI Action Center.
CMS Announces Rate Bump for Medicare Advantage Plans
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is proposing an increase of 0.09 percent, or over $700 million, in Medicare Advantage (MA) payments to plans in CY 2027.
Physician Names Released for Required Ambulatory Specialty Model (ASM) Participation
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has released a searchable database of physicians who will be required to participate in new payment models for heart failure and lower back pain starting January 1, 2027. The models will run for five years.
