Letter from the Chair

By Joan Grzybowski, DO, FACOFP
June 2025

Welcome to the mid-year edition of our quarterly newsletter!

We’re pleased to share the latest updates from the American Osteopathic Board of Family Physicians (AOBFP), the certifying body for osteopathic family physicians. Our recent board meeting and the OMT (Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment) certification performance exam were successfully conducted in conjunction with the ACOFP Annual Conference.

We certified and recertified a total of 236 osteopathic physicians, along with one allopathic physician, in the theory and application of OMT, a foundational skill in osteopathic medicine first introduced by A.T. Still, MD, DO, in 1874. These principles remain essential to our distinct practice even today.

We also recognize a significant milestone: 2025 marks the 75th anniversary of the American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians—a momentous occasion for our specialty and a time to reflect on our progress and continued mission.

Looking forward, we have launched the new AOA certification platform. This system is designed to offer a more tailored and user-friendly experience for physicians navigating the certification process. This new platform will streamline the path to certification and recertification, enhancing the efficiency and clarity of your experience.

In addition, we have initiated our Job Task Analysis (JTA) process. Through close collaboration between board members, psychometricians and subject matter experts, this critical endeavor will identify the current core tasks, competencies and knowledge areas required for effective practice in osteopathic family medicine. The JTA will serve as the foundation for future assessments and ensure alignment with the realities of modern clinical practice. This in-depth process will span several months, involving data collection, analysis and development of an updated table of specifications for future exam items.

Our next board meeting is scheduled for August, where we will continue refining policies, reviewing and revising exam items, and advancing improvements to the certification and recertification process.

I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to the AOBFP Board Members for their ongoing hard work, dedication, insight and expertise.

And to all of you serving in the field of osteopathic family medicine: thank you. You are the first point of contact for your patients, and your role is invaluable. Your work makes a lasting impact—more than you may ever know.

Respectfully,

Joan Grzybowski, DO, FACOFP
Chair, American Osteopathic Board of Family Physicians