Mission Statement & Goals

The mission of the American Academy of Osteopathy is to teach, advocate, and research the science, art and philosophy of osteopathic medicine, emphasizing the integration of osteopathic principles, practices and manipulative treatment in patient care.

1. To maintain, advance and advocate the AAO as a resource of educational excellence on osteopathy.
2. To evaluate and advance policies which will assure the financial growth and viability of the AAO.
3. To develop programs and activities, which foster growth and development of the membership.
4. To implement policies ensuring optimal structure and function of the AAO's boards and committees.
5. To facilitate programs promoting collaborative efforts that further OPP/OMT research and training.
6. To serve the osteopathic medical profession as an advocate, resource and guide in policy making and standard setting.

Benefits

American Academy of Osteopathy

There are benefits which AAO members enjoy as their professional society represents their interests in a variety of ways. While these may not be readily quantified in dollar values, they are real benefits to AAO members:

• Advocacy for osteopathic manipulative medicine within the osteopathic and allopathic professions as well as before health care reformers and policy makers, including appropriate reimbursement for OMM services.
• Development of osteopathic skills along with colleagues who are the most sought after teachers of osteopathic manipulative medicine and palpatory diagnosis in the world.
• Promotion of research on the efficacy of osteopathic manipulative medicine.
• Maintenance of an earned Fellowship program to recognize excellence in the practice of osteopathic manipulative medicine.
• Service for patients seeking a list of OMM practitioners in their area.
• Assuring the future of the profession by support of chapters of the Undergraduate American Academy of Osteopathy on the campuses of all college of osteopathic medicine.
• Access to the American Osteopathic Board of Neuromusculoskeletal Medicine, the only certifying board in manual medicine in the medical world today.

Publications

As a membership benefit, AAO members receive the following complimentary publications:

The AAO Journal

Contains original articles on osteopathy, reprints from prior publications, news items and is published quarterly in March, June, September and December.  

As an additional benefit Members will also receive access to the Members Only Section, where they can view past issues of the AAO Journal.

The AAO Newsletter

Keeps members up to date on important issues within the osteopathic profession, published eight times per year in January, February, April, May, July, August, October and November.

Annual Membership Directory

A publication listing all members names, addresses, telephone numbers as well as the Academy's history, Bylaws, and list of Committees and members.

Bookstore

The Academy also has over 46 titles in its bookstore, including revised and reprinted textbooks on osteopathy and other books of special interest to AAO members. Academy members receive a 10 percent discount off the regular price of these books. Contact the Academy offices for a complete catalogue.

The AAO has video taped lectures and workshops from its Annual Convocation from 1985 to 2001 and audio tapes of the 2003 Convocation lectures. AAO has video taped lectures and workshops from its Annual Convention from 1988 to 1993 and both the 1989 and 1992 International Symposia. AAO members may purchase complete sets or individual copies of these lectures and workshops. Contact the Academy offices for a complete catalogue of these video tapes, which are available on standard VHS/USA format. All tapes may be copied in overseas formats at an additional cost.

Membership Information

Membership in the American Academy of Osteopathy requires membership in the American Osteopathic Association (AOA) and either one of the AOA's divisional societies or a national osteopathic association recognized by the AOA.

Membership	Annual Dues
Active	$236.00
Active/Joint (2)	$357.00
Active/Joint (3)	$483.00
2nd Year in Practice	$168.00
1st Year in Practice	$84.00
Intern/Resident	$36.00
Associate	$236.00
International Affiliate	$261.00
International Associate	$261.00
Supporter	$236.00
International Supporter	$261.00

Joint Active

Two or more close relatives practicing in the same office may be joint active members. All names will be listed in the directory, but only one set of publications will be sent.

Associate

Open to MDs, and administrative employees of U.S. osteopathic societies. Requires, in addition to the dues, a written statement of sponsorship by one active AAO member in good standing and unanimous approval by the Board of Trustees. The sponsorship statement must be included with the application. International Associates will be charged a postage assessment in addition to membership dues.

International Affiliate

Open to osteopaths with limited practice rights, practicing and residing outside the North American continent. Applicants must be licensed by a statutory governmental regulatory body. In countries where such statutory regulation does not exist, osteopaths will be eligible for this category of membership if they are a member in good standing of an AAO approved registry or academy of osteopathy.

Supporter

Osteopathic physicians or lay persons interested in the AAO who make contributions annually equal to the dues paid by active members. Such individuals shall have no rights or privileges of any class of membership, but they shall be entitled to any AAO notices, publications or reports. Applications require individual approval by the AAO Board of Trustees.

The Academy's fiscal year begins on August 1 of each year. Membership dues and fees in the association are set by the Board of Trustees and approved by the membership at the Annual Meeting of the Membership.