ACOFP Foundation's Fundraising Campaign Supporting Residents Meets $2 Million Goal One Year Ahead of Schedule

CHICAGO, April 6, 2023 (Newswire.com) - The American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians (ACOFP) Foundation announced its first-ever fundraising campaign - Forging Our Osteopathic Future - has reached its $2 million fundraising goal in only four years, a year before its five-year target. The mission of the ACOFP Foundation is to champion comprehensive osteopathic family medicine that provides high-quality care, improves patient outcomes, and reduces health disparities. 

To reach its ambitious $2 million goal, the ACOFP Foundation's Forging Our Osteopathic Future campaign attracted the generous support of 232 individual donors and 49 organizational donors - including osteopathic family physicians, professional medical organizations such as colleges of osteopathic medicine and state societies, and corporations. Thanks to these donations, the campaign provides financial support to eligible residents pursuing a career in osteopathic family medicine who plan to take both the written (cognitive) and OMT performance (practical) portions of the American Osteopathic Board of Family Physicians (AOBFP) exam. Grants will award up to $1,400 for exam fees and travel expenses for eligible residents. 

"Some osteopathic residency programs do not cover the cost of the required board exam, so we wanted to level the playing field and ease the financial burden for these residents who represent the future of osteopathic family physicians," said Paul A. Martin, DO, FACOFP dist., president of the ACOFP Foundation. "Our support helps our residents fulfill the osteopathic certification process, which ultimately ensures that patients will continue to have access to the most highly qualified physicians."

Since the campaign's inception in 2019, over 300 initial certification grants have been awarded to eligible osteopathic residents. While the fall 2022/spring 2023 grant cycle is now closed, fall 2023/spring 2024 cycle will open in July 2023.

"Americans deserve an osteopathic family physician as their primary care provider, and our members have embraced the idea that we can sustain our profession by personally pledging our support to the next generation of osteopathic family physicians," said Carol Henwood, DO, FACOFP dist., ACOFP Foundation program chair, Forging Our Osteopathic Future campaign. "The future of family medicine is bright, and that is thanks in no small part to the generous financial commitment of our members and supporters for investing in the success of our younger physicians."

To be eligible for this opportunity, applicants must be a third-year resident member of ACOFP (membership is free to qualified residents and medical students) who plan to sit for the AOBFP's written (cognitive) exam and the OMT performance (practical) exam. Candidates also must not receive financial support from their residency program sufficient to cover the cost of the AOBFP exam and travel. 

The ACOFP Foundation welcomes the continued support of the Forging Our Osteopathic Future campaign, which will help to ensure the future of osteopathic distinctiveness. Donations will fund future initial certification grants. 

About the American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians

Founded in 1950, the American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians (ACOFP) is a community of 25,000 physicians, residents, and students that champions osteopathic principles and supports its members by providing resources such as education, networking and advocacy, while putting patients first. ACOFP empowers its members with education and resources that allow them to adapt to new models of care and quickly changing government policy. For more information, visit www.acofp.org. Follow ACOFP on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. 

About the ACOFP Foundation

Founded in 1986, the ACOFP Foundation promotes osteopathic family physician leadership, strives to improve public health and advocates for greater awareness of osteopathic family medicine principles and practices. Dedicated to furthering members' goals and ensuring the future of tomorrow's osteopathic leaders, the ACOFP Foundation achieves its objectives by identifying and securing funds from various sources. For more information, visit acofpfoundation.org.

Source: ACOFP Foundation