National Osteopathic Student Caucus (NOSC) 2026 Proceedings and Resolutions

Welcome and Opening Remarks by AOA House of Delegates Leadership

• Introduction of Special Guests: The session was opened by welcoming Dr. Morrison and Dr. Broder, the Speakers of the House for the American Osteopathic Association (AOA).

• Dr. Morrison's Address:

  • Experience: Dr. Morrison noted that this is his 18th going on his 19th year in his role.

  • Personal Background: He is currently the Dean at BCom Louisiana.

  • Welcome to Chicago: He noted the high number of first-time attendees at the National Osteopathic Student Caucus (NOSC) and the House of Delegates (HOD).

  • Humorous Aside: He joked about the air quality in Chicago, suggesting that if one has never smoked, it might be a good way to start, or to smoke before going out to get used to the city air.

  • Student Importance: He emphasized that students are the "lifeblood" and the "leaders of tomorrow," expressing excitement regarding student representation.

Structure and Function of the AOA House of Delegates

• Definitional Overview: The House of Delegates is defined as the legislative and supreme body of the AOA.

• Organizational Hierarchy: Unlike a typical corporation where the Board of Trustees is at the top, the AOA (a membership-based non-profit) places the House of Delegates above the Board.

  • Metaphor: Dr. Broder compared the HOD to the "shareholders" in a corporation like General Motors, who own the corporation and elect the board.

• Core Responsibilities of the HOD:

  1. Resolutions: Reviewing policy statements submitted by state societies, specialty societies, or groups like SOMA. This year involves deliberations on $170$ resolutions over two and a half days.

  2. Constitution and Bylaws: Amending the foundational governing documents of the AOA.

  3. Budget Approval: The HOD must ratify the AOA budget. The process involves six months of staff work, finance committee review, and Board of Trustees approval prior to the HOD's final vote on Sunday morning.

  4. Code of Ethics: Amending the ethical standards for osteopathic physicians and students.

  5. Elections: Electing the President, Vice Presidents, and the Board of Trustees.

• Executive Leadership:

  • Dr. Piccinini (Current President).

  • Dr. Thacker (President-elect, becoming President on Saturday).

  • Symbolism: A joke was made that the choice of a new president would be signaled by smoke rising from the Marriott hotel, similar to papal elections.

History and Mission of the National Osteopathic Student Caucus (NOSC)

• Origin: Established in the early 1990s by the Council of Osteopathic Student Government Presidents (COSGP) of the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine (AACOM).

• Primary Goal: To unify the student voice and maximize the impact of osteopathic medical students on matters of education and the profession before the AOA HOD.

• Structure of Student Representation: At least one student leader from each College of Osteopathic Medicine (COM) serves within their respective state delegation.

• Evolution of the NOSC: In $2022$, the Student Osteopathic Medical Association (SOMA) partnered with COSGP to develop a hybrid format intended to better represent and advocate for students collectively.

• Current Status: Today, the NOSC represents a joint effort where individual organizational identities (SOMA, COSGP) are merged into a single "osteopathic student voice.

Parliamentary Procedures and Participation Rules

• Governing Rules: The proceedings utilize the 12th Edition of Robert's Rules of Order.

• Attendance and Quorum:

  • Total Eligible Voters: $393$ students (present in person and virtually).

  • Quorum Set: $198$.

• Testimony Guidelines:

  • Frequency: Students may speak twice per motion but must wait for everyone else to have a first opportunity.

  • Time Limit: Testimony is limited to $2$ minutes.

  • Debate Duration: Resolutions are discussed for $10$ minutes total unless a motion to extend debate is passed.

  • Introduction Protocol: Speakers must state their name, class year, COM, on whose behalf they speak, and their position (support/opposition).

  • Safe Space Protocols: Speakers must use "I" statements and direct all comments to the Speaker to maintain a safe environment.

• Consent Agenda Process: Resolutions are voted on "en bloc" (as a single group) unless they are "extracted" for specific discussion and separate voting.

Resolutions 501 and 503: Resizing the House and Student Representation

• The Problem: The AOA is resizing the HOD, necessitating a change in how student seats are allocated to ensure sustainability as the number of COMs grows.

• Resolution 503 (Bylaws): To be voted on this year.

• Resolution 501 (Constitution): Contingent upon 503; will be voted on next year. Implementation is expected in $3$ years.

• Key Proposed Changes:

  • The $8\%$ Floor: Students are guaranteed a minimum of $8\%$ of the total House seats. Using a percentage allows the number of seats to scale with the size of the House.

  • Delegate Count: At a hypothetical total of $500$ delegates, students would have $40$ designated seats (plus $40$ alternates, totaling $80$ official spots).

  • The 20/20 Split: The $40$ seats are split equally:

    • SOMA: $20$ seats forming an independent SOMA delegation.

    • COSGP/SGA: $20$ seats integrated within state society delegations.

• Pros and Cons Analysis:

  • Pros: Solidifies student voice in the bylaws; creates favorable terms during resizing; allows students to determine their own seat allocation; preserves SOMA’s independence while keeping COSGP connected to state societies.

  • Cons: Reduces the current student delegate count from $68$ to $40$; every COM will no longer have guaranteed direct representation annually; some states may lack student representation.

• Approved Amendment: SOMA and COSGP shall work collaboratively to prioritize, where feasible, ensuring at least one student delegate is seated from each state that has a COCA-accredited COM.

Extracted Resolutions and Debate Highlights

• H208: Uniform Title for Osteopathic Medical Students

  • Recommendation: Support.

  • Debate: Alexander Lewis opposed the resolution, arguing that students should move away from distinctions (like OMS) to integrate better with allopathic counterparts, focusing on patient care rather than unique titles.

  • Outcome: The motion to approve carried.

• H212: Recognition of COMLEX and USMLE as Equal Licensing Exams

  • Recommendation: Support.

  • Discussion: Testimony emphasized that osteopathic students should be considered equal to their counterparts and only be required to take COMLEX.

  • Outcome: Approved.

• H216: National Standard in Clinical Skills Competencies (C3DO)

  • Context: Concerns the National Board of Osteopathic Medical Examiners (NBOME) and the new C3DO program.

  • Opposition: Julia Sancitera argued that C3DO introduces variables and inequities, noting that standardized patients cannot simulate osteopathic diagnoses and expressing concerns about tuition increases and the $3$ to $4$ hour session lengths.

  • Support: Emma Whitman noted that C3DO is standardized by the NBOME, reduces travel costs compared to previous clinical skills exams, and ensures local COMs can host the assessment.

  • Outcome: Approved.

• H221: Evidence-Based Curricular Standards in Interprofessional Practice

  • RefCom Recommendation: Not supported.

  • Rationale: The committee felt this was outside the AOA's purview and better suited for the Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation (COCA).

  • Outcome: The House voted to follow the recommendation to not approve the resolution.

• H338: Mandatory Influenza Vaccine of Healthcare Personnel

  • Debate: Andrew Everign moved to add "religious exemptions" and strike language about keeping exemptions to a minimum. Opponents argued that the health care profession is a privilege, and maximizing vaccination protects vulnerable populations ($65+$) and reduces the financial burden ($11,000,000,000$ in the US).

  • Outcome: The amendment failed; the original resolution requiring mandatory vaccination was approved.

• H448: Sharing Centralized Resources on State-Specific Reproductive Health Policies

  • Context: Encourages sharing evidence-based resources to navigate legal gray areas after pregnancy outcomes.

  • Debate: Megan Larson voiced concerns about data privacy and government weaponization of traffic to such sites, preferring existing tools like the "Repro legal helpline" or "Guttmacher Institute." Finesh Patel supported it, noting that AOA-hosted resources are more stable than third-party nonprofits.

  • Fiscal Note: It has a potential impact of approximately $150,000$ per year.

  • Outcome: Approved.

Questions & Discussion

• Q: Can you extract a resolution from the consent agenda if you are not a delegate?

• A: Yes (answered by Speaker Zack Condola).

• Q: What specific religions prohibit vaccination?

• A: Testimony indicated that while some theological interpretations exist, no major religion formally forbids vaccination.

• Q: Why is H221 not supported?

• A: Because the AOA cannot dictate medical school curricula; that is the role of COCA (Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation).