A message from the AOBFP Chair
By Kenneth A. Heiles, DO, FACOFP dist.
June 2026
Dear colleagues,
As Chair of the American Osteopathic Board of Family Physicians, I want to thank each of you for your continued commitment to advancing osteopathic family medicine and serving patients through compassionate, comprehensive care.
This spring marked another important milestone for our profession as 229 candidates participated in the OMT Performance Examination in April in Orlando, Florida. The continued growth and engagement in Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment (OMT) Certification demonstrates the strong commitment physicians have in preserving and advancing one of the defining principles of osteopathic medicine.
OMT remains a vital component of osteopathic family medicine. It reflects our unique philosophy of treating the whole person and reinforces the hands-on skills that distinguish osteopathic physicians. As healthcare continues to evolve, maintaining proficiency in OMT helps ensure that we continue to provide patient-centered care rooted in osteopathic principles and practice.
We encourage all diplomates holding OMT certification to remain current with their osteopathic continuing certification requirements and continue expanding their skills through ongoing education. To support diplomates in this effort, AOBFP maintains a list of approved OMT hands-on education courses on our website. These courses provide valuable opportunities to strengthen clinical skills, fulfill certification requirements and remain connected to the osteopathic community.
In addition, we invite physicians, educators and organizations offering high-quality OMT education to apply for AOBFP course approval. Expanding the availability of approved educational opportunities helps strengthen the future of osteopathic medicine and supports physicians committed to lifelong learning in OMT.
I am also pleased to announce the successful completion of the AOBFP Job Task Analysis, an important initiative that helps ensure our certification examinations remain current, relevant and reflective of modern family medicine practice. Using the data gathered from practicing physicians across the profession, the Board has developed an updated Table of Specifications that will guide the development of the 2027 Initial Certification Examinations. This work represents a significant investment in maintaining a fair, valid and practice-relevant assessment process for future diplomates.
The future of osteopathic family medicine depends on physicians who continue to champion the value of osteopathic principles practice (OPP) and OMT in everyday practice. Your dedication to maintaining these skills helps preserve the distinctiveness and strength of our profession for future generations.
Thank you for your continued support of AOBFP and for your commitment to excellence in osteopathic family medicine.
Sincerely,
Kenneth A. Heiles, DO, FACOFP dist.
Chair, American Osteopathic Board of Family Physicians