This week, many MWU students, administrators, and faculty descended on San Diego for the Annual Convention of the American Osteopathic Association (AOA). More than 225 alumni from both the Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine and Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine joined us for special events, talked with us in the exhibit hall, and shared their pride in their alma maters.

Each year, the AOA conference is our opportunity to reconnect with alumni from around the country. A large contingent of CCOM and AZCOM students also attend and have the chance to participate in educational sessions, network with fellow osteopathic students from other schools, and enjoy the social events. We host a luncheon for all alumni and friends of the University, which features remarks by Dr. Goeppinger and our deans Dr. Nichols and Dr. Kemper. We also held a fun evening reception at the Hotel Solamar, with refreshments and great appetizers on the pool deck overlooking the city. The donors to our Millennium Society were treated to an invitation-only champagne brunch. All of these events give us the chance to talk with our alumni and to thank them for being part of the MWU family.

The real excitement at this year's AOA, however, was that for the first time in the history of the osteopathic profession, the AOA and the three major osteopathic student organizations are all being led by people from CCOM. The AOA President this year is Dr. Peter Ajluni, whose theme is "D.O.'s: Fit for Life." Dr. Ajluni has been a great leader for the profession and is always very proud of his training at CCOM. The three CCOM student leaders are: Alan Shahtaji, President of the Student Osteopathic Medical Association; Christopher Messana, President of the Council of Osteopathic Student Government President, President of the Undergraduate American Academy of Osteopathy.

In addition to these student leaders, CCOM folks also received several prestigious awards. Student Doctor Shahtaji won the AOA Presidential Memorial Leadership Award, which recognizes a student who has made great strides toward becoming a future leader within the profession. CCOM Alumnus Harald Lausen, D.O., received the Wyeth Emerging Leader Award, recognizing a physician in practice fewer than five years who has made a strong commitment to the profession. Finally, two CCOM students shared first place honors in the poster competition as part of the AOA research's program: Gerald Searle for "IL-8 Production by Cytokine-Stimulated Human Iris Stromal Cells" and Michael Kowal for "A Method for the Evaluation of Site-Specific Nephrotoxic Injury in the Intact Rat Kidney Using Ethidium Homodimer."

While these accolades and awards make all of us at MWU and CCOM very proud, perhaps the best feeling for me came when I asked a CCOM alum how is son (a recent AZCOM grad) was doing. The dad beamed with pride as he shared that his son is really thriving in his residency back home in Alabama. His program director is so impressed with him compared to his fellow residents, and he is grooming him to be chief resident. To see a father's true joy at the success and happiness of his son--both of whom are part of the MWU family of physicians--was heartwarming.

The AOA Conference is always a flurry of activity, of meetings, and of events. But it is truly one of our favorite times to meet, see, and reconnect with our alumni. It is also a great opportunity for our students to be introduced to the profession they are about to enter. Perhaps we'll see you next year in Vegas!