AOA Tracks
Resident Track
Friday, Oct. 23, 2026
10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. & 1:30-4 p.m.
The AOA will offer dedicated programming for residents focused on topics relevant to this stage of their careers. Sessions will address the realities of residency training, helping learners maintain personal and professional relationships, navigate the systems that shape patient care, and apply clinical judgment through an osteopathic and evidence-informed lens. Content is designed to help learners manage the demands of training while building the skills, connections, and perspective needed for the next phase of their careers.
Residents are also encouraged to attend select sessions from the New Physician in Practice Track, taking place on Saturday, October 24, covering board certification and other essentials for the transition into practice.
New Physician in Practice Track
Saturday, Oct. 24, 2026
9 a.m.-12:30 p.m. & 1:30-3:55 p.m.
The AOA and the Bureau of Emerging Leaders present an educational track offering practical guidance for early-career physicians transitioning out of training and into practice. Designed specifically for new physicians, the track includes sessions covering essential topics that extend beyond clinical preparation including practice readiness, business and operational fundamentals, leadership development, change management, communication, mentorship, teaching, and osteopathic professional identity.
Attendees will leave better prepared to step into practice as effective leaders and educators, with actional insights, valuable connections, and greater confidence to navigate the early stages of their careers.
New Physician Track sessions are open to all registered attendees of OMED.
Student Track
Saturday, October 24
All osteopathic medical students are encouraged to attend the OMED26 Student Track kicking off on Saturday, October 24 The content for this track, which has been carefully curated by the Student Osteopathic Medical Association (SOMA), will focus on supplementing the knowledge provided by the Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine and aims to enhance opportunities for osteopathic medical students to match into their residencies of choice. New this year – we are hosting a Residency Fair on Saturday morning leading into the always popular Specialty Mentor Café. All osteopathic medical students are welcome!
Faculty Development
Friday, Oct. 23, 2026 | 1:30-4 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 24, 2026 | 1:30-3:55 p.m.
(Joint Sessions with New Physician In Practice)
The AOA presents a dedicated educational track for faculty in graduate medical education (GME) programs who serve as clinical educators, mentors, and role models to osteopathic learners. This track addresses key areas of faculty development and performance, touching on effective teaching strategies, feedback delivery, leadership skills, and support for the professional identity of osteopathic physicians in training.
Sessions will explore approaches to enrich the work of GME faculty as educators, mentors, and leaders. Discussions will highlight the unique contributions of osteopathic faculty in postgraduate training, with opportunities to examine how Osteopathic Recognition supports and advances Osteopathic Principles and Practice within graduate medical education.
AOA Poster Session and Student Poster Competition
Friday, October 23 – VIRTUAL ACCESS
The AOA Bureau of Osteopathic Research and Public Health holds its Research Poster Session and Student Poster Competition annually during OMED. The Research Poster Session allows investigators to disseminate their research to a broader osteopathic audience. After a competitive Call for Research Abstracts, abstracts are selected for presentation in poster format. Students whose research projects are selected can elect to participate in the Student Poster Competition. During this competition, student researchers present their research projects to teams of judges in a live, virtual format accessible through a link in the OMED app. Cash prizes are awarded to the nine top-scoring presenters. Accepted abstracts are published in The Journal of Osteopathic Medicine.
PLEASE NOTE: Live, online presentations occur on Friday, October 23rd from 8am-12pm and 1pm-5pm Pacific Time. Posters will remain viewable online for one year.