Mission
THE AMERICAN OSTEOPATHIC ASSOCIATION (AOA) IS A MEMBERSHIP ASSOCIATION REPRESENTING MORE THAN 168,000 OSTEOPATHIC PHYSICIANS (DO) AND OSTEOPATHIC MEDICAL STUDENTS. AS THE PRIMARY CERTIFYING BODY FOR DO AND THE ACCREDITING AGENCY FOR ALL OSTEOPATHIC MEDICAL SCHOOLS, THE AOA WORKS TO ACCENTUATE THE DISTINCTIVENESS OF OSTEOPATHIC PRINCIPLES AND THE DIVERSITY OF THE PROFESSION. THE AOA FURTHER, THROUGH THESE ACTIVITIES AND OTHERS, PROMOTES PUBLIC HEALTH, WORKS TO MEET PUBLIC HEALTH NEEDS THROUGH OSTEOPATHIC MEDICINE AND ENCOURAGES SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH. IN ADDITION, THE AOA ADVOCATES AT THE STATE AND FEDERAL LEVELS ON ISSUES THAT AFFECT DO, OSTEOPATHIC MEDICAL STUDENTS AND PATIENTS.