AACOM Welcomes David Bergman as New Vice President of Government Relations

IMMEDIATE RELEASE

(Bethesda, MD)- The American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine (AACOM) is pleased to announce David Bergman as the Association’s new Vice President of Government Relations. Bergman comes to AACOM with 20 years of experience providing government relations and public policy guidance to CEOs, Boards of Directors and senior executives. As the incoming VP of Government Relations, Bergman will support AACOM’s mission as it pertains to government relations and advocacy by elevating the voice of osteopathic medical education with local, state and federal policymakers. He will begin his new position on December 7, 2020.

“We look forward to having someone with David’s extensive background join the AACOM team, especially as a new Congress and Administration will be sworn in January 2021," said AACOM President and CEO Robert Cain, DO, FACOI, FAODME. "His expertise will help us to cultivate relationships and advance public policy with Congress, federal agencies and other legislative and policymaking bodies. With David’s help, we intend to strengthen our reputation and influence with key external stakeholders and communities and highlight the critical role of osteopathic medicine in addressing the nation’s healthcare challenges.”

Over the last two years Bergman ran his own boutique government affairs consulting firm representing national organizations and private companies before Congress, federal agencies and state governments. Prior to that, he spent 10 years at the National Board for Certified Counselors, Inc, a national healthcare organization representing more than 65,000 certified individuals, serving as the Chief Government and Strategic Affairs Officer. While at NBCC he successfully lobbied Congress to provide more than $70 million in appropriations to the counseling profession and opened federal programs to the counseling profession in the Departments of Health and Human Services, Veterans Affairs and Defense. He also created and managed a grassroots advocacy network for the organization.

Before NBCC Bergman spent seven years as the Director of Legal and Government Affairs for the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy and served as legal counsel to the Board of Directors and other governance units. He developed and executed a state and federal legislative and regulatory agenda, managed organizational development and administration of state affiliates, administered AAMFT’s Political Action Committee and supervised accreditation of master’s and doctoral programs, among other responsibilities.

Bergman has his J.D. from the Widener University School of Law and is a graduate of James Madison University.

About AACOM:

The American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine (AACOM) leads and advocates for the full continuum of osteopathic medical education to improve the health of the public. Founded in 1898 to support and assist the nation's osteopathic medical schools, AACOM represents all 37 accredited colleges of osteopathic medicine—educating nearly 31,000 future physicians, 25 percent of all U.S. medical students—at 58 teaching locations in 33 U.S. states, as well as osteopathic graduate medical education professionals and trainees at U.S. medical centers, hospitals, clinics, and health systems. 

AACOM provides leadership for the osteopathic medical education community by promoting excellence in medical education, research, and service, and by fostering innovation and quality across the continuum of osteopathic medical education to improve the health of the American public.

Contact:
Joseph Shapiro
Director of Media Relations
(240) 938-0746
jshapiro@aacom.org