News – Osteopathic Founders Foundation

Tulsan in ‘The Great American Baking Show’

Rising to the occasion: Tulsan takes on the tent in Season 4 of ‘The Great American Baking Show’

(Note: Sue Smith Taylor was a longtime ECC trainer for the foundation before retiring in 2022. We are so proud of her and the journey she has been on!)

Magical. Intense. Surreal.

These are the three words Tulsan Sue Taylor uses to describe her experience competing as one of eight contestants in Season 4 of The Great American Baking Show, which drops May 11 on The Roku Channel.

Chosen out of thousands of applicants, the grandmother to three spent four weeks last summer filming in the storied tent just outside London, where she brought her lifelong love of baking and a whole heaping cup of Oklahoma heart to the halcyon English countryside. Taylor even celebrated her 70th birthday while she was there, receiving a one-of-a-kind apron as a gift from the production team and staff.

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2026 Osteopathic Medicine Research Report

Colleges of osteopathic medicine (COMs) have a unique role in academic research and growing capacity to address the nation’s most pressing health challenges.

COM research expands the reach of the national research enterprise into communities and clinical settings that are often underrepresented in traditional academic medical centers, generating highly impactful insights for communities with the highest needs for care.

To understand the landscape, capacity and impact of COM-affiliated research, AACOM conducted a three-part study, titled Research at Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine: Inventory, Analysis and Future Directions, to:

Inventory active research projects at COMs,
Examine recent publications and dissemination patterns and
Identify and analyze sources of extramural funding.

Together, these analyses offer a comprehensive picture of the state of COM research – and a roadmap for strengthening its future.

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Osteopathic Medical Schools Top U.S. News Rankings

Osteopathic medical schools continue to lead the nation in training physicians for primary care and high-need communities, according to new U.S. News & World Report rankings released today and highlighted by the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine (AACOM). This year, colleges of osteopathic medicine (COMs) accounted for:

Nine of the top 10 medical schools with the most graduates practicing in primary care
Six of the top 10 for graduates practicing in rural areas
Five of the top 10 for graduates practicing in Medically Underserved Areas

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2025 Osteopathic Medical Profession (OMP) Report

2025 Osteopathic Medical Profession Report announces the profession has surpassed the 200,000 mark. There are now 207,158 osteopathic physicians and medical students! The AOA’s 2025 Osteopathic Medical Profession (OMP) Report provides an annual update on the growth within the osteopathic medical profession. Read on for a summary of current demographics and trends related to the practice of osteopathic medicine.

What began as a revolutionary set of founding principles introduced by frontier physician A.T. Still, DO, in 1874, has expanded into a community of physicians and medical students dedicated to caring for the body, mind and spirit of millions of patients across the nation. There are now 207,158 osteopathic physicians and medical students. Since the AOA began keeping these records in 1935, the total number of DOs has increased by 158,000 (1,721%).

Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine, or DOs, now practice across a wide range of medical disciplines, combining their expertise with a whole-person approach centered on listening to and partnering with their patients. Today the osteopathic medical profession represents approximately 11% of all physicians and more than 25% of all medical students in the U.S.

More prospective physicians than ever are choosing to become DOs, with nearly 40,000 medical students attending 44 colleges of osteopathic medicine across 71 campuses. DOs hold some of the most distinguished positions in medicine today, caring for the U.S. President, overseeing the NASA medical team and leading some of the nation’s top-ranked hospitals and health systems. About 38% of military physicians are DOs.

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AOA Offers Patient Access Impact Amid Government Funding Concerns

Letter from the AOA: The American Osteopathic Association is disappointed that Congress could not come to an agreement to continue funding the government, and we are deeply concerned about the impact a lapse in funding will have on patients and physicians across the country, particularly the disruptions this will cause to patient care. While the AOA will continue to advocate in Congress toward a swift resolution, we wish to share critical resources and information to support physician practices as they navigate the outcomes of this funding lapse.

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Medicare Physician Fee Schedule & Quality Payment Program Proposed Rule

On July 14, 2025, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued the CY2026 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule proposed rule which includes updates to physician payment policies, the Quality Payment Program (QPP), and the Medicare Shared Savings Program. AOA’s strong advocacy secured enactment of legislation that includes a positive 2.5% increase to the 2026 conversion factor (CF), and successfully defended the .75% and .25% positive increase to the CF that was included in MACRA, which takes effect in 2026, from being repealed. Key takeaways include the following

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AOA 2025 Annual Report

This annual report highlights the many ways the AOA supports and advances the osteopathic medical profession. From federal and state advocacy and osteopathic medical student parity to board certification, strategic partnerships and affiliate relations updates—you’ll find so much more to explore on key strategic topics:

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2024 Osteopathic Medical Profession (OMP) Report

2024 Osteopathic Medical Profession Report tracks expansion of osteopathic medicine. The number of osteopathic physicians in the U.S. has increased by more than 70% in the past decade.

The AOA’s Osteopathic Medical Profession (OMP) Report provides an annual update on the expansion and growth within the osteopathic medical profession. Read on for a summary of current demographics and trends related to the practice of osteopathic medicine in 2024.

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Cannabis Use Linked to Increase in Heart Attack and Stroke Risk

An analysis of 430,000 adults in the U.S. found that using cannabis, most commonly through smoking, eating or vaporizing it, was significantly associated with a higher risk of heart attack and stroke, even after controlling for tobacco use (combustible cigarettes and other tobacco products) and other cardiovascular risk factors, according to new research published today in the Journal of the American Heart Association, an open access, peer-reviewed journal of the American Heart Association.

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Basics of Charitable Giving & Tax Planning Strategies

Many taxpayers use charitable giving to reduce their tax liability while supporting the issues they find most important. This article examines some important considerations you need to make when planning and making charitable contributions. These considerations include various deduction limitations, types of property contributed, and various planning strategies you can employ when making charitable contributions.