The AOA Bureau of Emerging Leaders represents the interests of osteopathic medical students, residents and new physicians.
The Bureau of Emerging Leaders (BEL) is your direct representation to the American Osteopathic Association, made up of students, residents, fellows, and new physicians in practice. Several workgroups have been formed to serve our members: Advocacy, Communications, Resolutions, and OMED/DO Day Scholarships. Read on for updates on our recent activities.
The BEL presented during AOA’s Public Policy Roundtable. BEL leadership spoke about the role of BEL, updates from this year, and our wins.
AOA staff shared the success of DO Day in terms of turnout and increased representation in numbers and state representation.
The Communications Workgroup has been hard at work creating this newsletter. We’re excited to continue with new initiatives such as our quarterly trivia question! Reach out to your BEL representatives with any ideas for new newsletter initiatives.
The BEL Scholarship workgroup had the privilege of hosting two scholarship recipients for this past DO Day in Washington, DC. This scholarship is graciously provided by the American Osteopathic Information Association (AOIA) and covers travel, lodging, and registration costs for the recipients. This year we had two winners: Drs. Jorge Gutierrez and Lillian Gobrial, both third-year family medicine residents.
They enjoyed two days of fantastic educational content via our DO Day Virtual Platform before coming to DC to meet the team. They enjoyed a welcome lunch with BEL members before check-in and were acknowledged at the General Session Dinner and Awards Ceremony.
Afterwards they got to network with AOA Leadership and other DOs at the networking event hosted by our colleagues at the Osteopathic Political Action Committee (OPAC). This led to the main event where both recipients met with legislators from their home states to advocate for the osteopathic profession.
The BEL Scholarship Committee is grateful to the AOIA for sponsoring this experience and expanding our osteopathic family. We look forward to future opportunities to provide scholarships for upcoming AOA events.
Pictured below are our DO Day scholarship winners with Scholarship Workgroup Chair, from left to right: Lillian Gobrial, DO (scholarship winner); Ryan Williamson, DO (Scholarships Workgroup Chair), Jorge Gutierrez, DO (scholarship winner).
Resolution Workgroup has been working hard preparing for the AOA HOD. Updates include submission of our resolution to the AOA BOT for HOD consideration. Furthermore, we are ready for the BEL Caucus with a list of resolutions that impact students, residents, fellows and new physicians in practice!