{"id":3936,"date":"2026-09-15T10:31:23","date_gmt":"2026-09-15T15:31:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/certification.osteopathic.org\/family-physicians\/?page_id=3936"},"modified":"2026-09-15T10:31:23","modified_gmt":"2026-09-15T15:31:23","slug":"aobfp-spotlight","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/certification.osteopathic.org\/family-physicians\/aobfp-spotlight\/","title":{"rendered":"AOBFP Spotlight"},"content":{"rendered":"

Meet Joe Kingery, DO, MBA, FACOFP, FAAFP<\/strong><\/h3>\n

September 2026<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"
Dr. Kingery<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

I grew up in Tompkinsville, Kentucky, a small rural community that shaped much of who I am and ultimately the kind of physician I wanted to become. I was only the second person in my family to attend college and the first to pursue a career in healthcare. I completed my undergraduate education at the University of Kentucky before attending what was then the Pikeville College School of Osteopathic Medicine, now the University of Pikeville-Kentucky College of Osteopathic Medicine (UP-KYCOM).<\/p>\n

I knew long before medical school that I wanted to be a family physician, largely because of my own family doctor. He was an MD, but what I remember most was the way he made me feel. When he walked into the exam room, it seemed as though I was the only patient he had to see that day. He listened to everything I said, genuinely cared about me and somehow made me feel better before I ever left the room. That example stayed with me.<\/p>\n

I actually knew very little about osteopathic medicine until I began applying to medical school. As I learned about its philosophy and emphasis on caring for the whole person, it immediately appealed to me. It fit naturally with the kind of family physician I already wanted to become.<\/p>\n

After residency, I joined the University of Kentucky North Fork Valley Community Health Center, a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) in rural Kentucky. I practiced full-scope family medicine, including low-risk obstetrics for a time, and served as faculty in a family medicine residency program. As my administrative responsibilities grew, I eventually stepped away from OB and spent the last five of my seven years there as the FQHC\u2019s CEO and medical director.<\/p>\n

In October 2016, I returned to my alma mater as a faculty member at UP-KYCOM. Since then, I have served as chair of family medicine, associate dean of osteopathic medical education and, for just over five years, dean of UP-KYCOM. In July 2026, I also became vice president for health affairs at the University of Pikeville, with responsibilities that now include UPIKE\u2019s programs in osteopathic medicine, optometry and dental medicine.<\/p>\n

Although much of my career has moved toward medical education and administration, practicing family medicine remains important to me. What I enjoy most about family medicine is the variety\u2014not only in the conditions we treat but in the people we have the privilege to care for. Approximately half of my patients see me specifically for osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT), while the other half traditionally come for medical visits. Increasingly, however, I find myself providing both during the same encounter.<\/p>\n

To me, being a DO means seeing things a little differently. We consider not only a patient\u2019s symptoms, illnesses, medications and medical history but also the many other factors affecting that person\u2019s health and life. OMT gives us an additional tool to help our patients. That ability to look beyond a diagnosis and see the entire person is one of the things that makes osteopathic family physicians particularly valuable to their patients and communities.<\/p>\n

Some of the most rewarding moments of my career now come from medical education. I enjoy watching students grow and seeing those \u201caha\u201d moments when something suddenly clicks. Leadership also brings challenges. Working with faculty, staff and students, means encountering a wide range of personalities and circumstances, and no two situations are exactly alike. You learn to listen, understand the circumstances and work through each challenge as it comes.<\/p>\n

I\u2019ve also been fortunate to have had several important influences throughout my career. My family physician planted the initial seed. Later, UP-KYCOM dean John Strosnider, DO, had an important influence on me during medical school, and Bill Betz, DO, one of my faculty members who ultimately helped recruit me back to Pikeville, also played an important role in my career.<\/p>\n

My commitment to osteopathic medicine is one reason AOBFP board certification has always been important to me. I am board-certified by both the AOBFP and the American Board of Family Medicine (ABFM). Because I trained in an allopathic residency program, ABFM certification was a natural part of my training pathway. However, I also completed the additional work necessary to have my residency fully approved by the AOA, having completed an AOA-approved internship. Maintaining AOBFP certification was important to me because I wanted to remain connected to my osteopathic roots.<\/p>\n

Board certification represents something beyond simply holding a medical license. It demonstrates a commitment to maintaining a professional standard. It has also provided practical benefits throughout my career with hospital and health system credentialing, insurance participation and helping patients identify board-certified physicians.<\/p>\n

For residents considering AOBFP certification, I would tell them that it is a vital part of who we are as osteopathic family physicians. AOBFP certification demonstrates that we do not compromise when it comes to our medical knowledge and skills while maintaining our osteopathic foundation. It also connects us with a family of physicians who genuinely care about one another and the profession.<\/p>\n

My involvement with AOBFP initially came through participation in OMT certification activities. After helping with multiple OMT examinations, I saw firsthand how much the board members, examiners and volunteers care about the organization, its diplomates and the integrity of the certification process. That made the decision to serve on the Board an easy one.<\/p>\n

I am still relatively new to the Board, but my first board meeting and item review meeting reinforced those impressions. I enjoyed getting to know the other members and seeing the amount of thought and work that goes into maintaining high-quality examinations. More than anything, I have learned that the people involved with AOBFP genuinely care. They are talented physicians, but they are also simply good people.<\/p>\n

That is also why physician volunteerism is so important. Giving our time is an opportunity to give back to the profession, and I believe it strengthens the credibility of the certification process. A strong board needs physicians with different backgrounds, practice experiences and perspectives who are willing to contribute their expertise.<\/p>\n

Looking ahead, I see significant opportunities for AOBFP. We should continue working to ensure that osteopathic family physicians see AOBFP certification and continuing certification as an important part of their professional identity. I also think there is an opportunity to introduce more MD family physicians to osteopathic principles and potentially AOBFP certification. At the same time, we need to make continuing certification streamlined, straightforward and easy for busy physicians to navigate while maintaining meaningful standards.<\/p>\n

Family medicine itself has tremendous opportunities ahead. I am particularly excited about the growth of direct primary care and its potential to put the physician-patient relationship back at the center of care, with less interference from insurance companies. At the same time, family medicine continues to face significant challenges from insurance requirements, reimbursement pressures, particularly from Medicare and Medicaid, and scope expansion by other healthcare professionals.<\/p>\n

Despite those challenges, I would tell the next generation of osteopathic family physicians that they have chosen one of the best professions. Family physicians remain on the front lines of healthcare, and I believe our importance will only continue to grow. Few specialties offer the same opportunity to care for such a wide range of people throughout so many stages of their lives.<\/p>\n

One of the most important lessons medicine has taught me is to listen more. We are all busy, and it is easy to interject, anticipate what someone is going to say or even put words in a patient’s mouth. Often, the most valuable thing we can do is simply pause and listen. If I could give my younger self one piece of advice, it would be the same: listen more. That lesson applies just as much to leadership and personal relationships as it does to the exam room.<\/p>\n

Outside of medicine, I enjoy spending time outdoors. I grew up in Scouting and earned the rank of Eagle Scout, and that love of the outdoors has stayed with me. Camping is probably my favorite activity, although I also enjoy hiking and simply getting out into nature.<\/p>\n

When I think about what I am most proud of, it is difficult to point to a single title or accomplishment. I came from a small rural Kentucky town, was only the second person in my family to attend college and had no family background in healthcare. That journey has given me opportunities to care for patients, educate future physicians and now help lead health professions education.<\/p>\n

What keeps me passionate about medicine is ultimately the opportunity to make an impact on people\u2019s lives. Whether that happens with a patient in an exam room, a student who suddenly understands a difficult concept or through service to the profession, there are always opportunities to make a difference.<\/p>\n

As I look toward the next chapter of my career, I am excited to see what impact I can have through AOBFP. I look forward to contributing to the Board\u2019s work, strengthening the value of osteopathic family medicine certification and helping ensure that the certification process continues to serve both our physicians and the patients and communities who depend on them.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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