Abstract Information
Call for Abstracts
July 31 - September 8, 2025
The Call for Abstracts is now open! Stay tuned to learn more about the sessions and workshops that will shape the future of osteopathic medical education (OME). Selected speakers will have the opportunity to present at the nation’s leading OME event, April 22-24, 2026, at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Members of the OME community, including medical students, residents and fellows, submitted abstracts for one of this year's six specialized audience tracks. Audience tracks include:
- NEW UME Services
- UME – Pre-Clerkship
- UME – Clerkship – Clinical
- NEW OME Design and Delivery
- UME – GME Continuum
- Graduate Medical Education
Download the EL26 Abstract Types, Themes and Tracks (PDF)
Audience Tracks
- NEW UME Services – Student-facing services, including admissions, student affairs, and academic support across the UME journey.
- UME – Pre-Clerkship – Early-phase medical education, including basic sciences and foundational clinical skills.
- UME – Clerkship – Clinical-phase education, including student rotations, site management, and preceptor engagement.
- NEW OME Design and Delivery – Development, delivery, and evaluation of osteopathic medical education programs.
- UME – GME Continuum – Transition-focused topics, including advising, competency milestones, and readiness for residency.
- Graduate Medical Education – Residency and fellowship training, GME leadership, administration, and program development.
To help organize content, we’ve outlined a set of broad themes. Some topics may align with more than one theme. Please select the one that best fits your presentation. We encourage you to interpret these themes broadly and welcome diverse perspectives and innovative approaches.
Access and Excellence in GME
Innovative strategies for developing, recruiting, and sustaining high-quality GME programs, particularly in underserved areas. Focus on financial sustainability, accreditation, and data-informed decision-making.
Collaborations in Healthcare Delivery
Models of interprofessional education, responses to public health crises, and community-based partnerships that promote equity and improve population health.
Integrating Osteopathic Tenets in Research, Teaching and Practice
Spotlights how osteopathic tenets—core principles of holistic, patient-centered care—are applied in research, education, or clinical practice to improve outcomes and well-being. Submissions must clearly identify the tenet(s) addressed and describe their innovative implementation.
Learning, Curriculum and Assessment Strategies
Innovations in curriculum development, teaching methods, learning environments and assessment across the educational continuum, including GME.
Medical Student Selection Strategies
Admissions strategies that incorporate technology, AI, advising and inclusive practices to select and support a broad and talented student body.
Professional Development, Leadership and Scholarship
Initiatives that support faculty growth, mentorship, scholarly productivity, leadership training and ethics in educational research.
Ready for Residency
Strategies for evaluating and improving student readiness for GME. Topics include advising, performance improvement and navigating the match process.
Shaping Healthcare Policy and Education
Approaches that strengthen the voice of osteopathic medicine in health policy, regulatory environments and national education reform efforts.
Technology and Innovation
Exploration of emerging technologies, including AI, and their implications for healthcare education and delivery, with attention to sustainability and global health.
Well-Being Initiatives for Learners and Leaders
Programs and practices promoting mental health, wellness, and support for learners,
faculty and institutional culture.
Presentation Formats
- Expert Panel / Symposium (60 minutes) - Multiple presenters sharing perspectives on a focused topic.
- Brief Lecture or Panel (30 minutes) - Short talks or discussions offering updates on a specific issue or innovation.
- Lightning Talk (20 minutes) - Concise, high-impact presentations featuring key takeaways or focused findings.
- Pre-Conference Workshops (3.5 or 7.5 hours) - In-depth, skills-based sessions designed for hands-on learning and practice before the main conference.
- Breakfast provided for morning workshops
- Lunch provided for afternoon workshops
- In-Conference Workshops (90 minutes, including Q&A) - Interactive, discussion-driven sessions ideal for engaging smaller groups during the main conference.
- Poster - Visual displays presented during dedicated poster sessions, allowing for informal discussion and feedback.
- Research posters are eligible for awards. If accepted to the conference, presenters will be invited to opt for award consideration.
- As you prepare your abstract, think ahead to the possibility of poster award recognition. Our most distinguished honor—the President’s Osteopathic Tenets Research Poster Award—is open to all presenters whose work exemplifies or advances the values and principles of osteopathic medicine.
Research Abstracts
Research abstracts are grounded in scientific theory and build upon or apply previous research. They aim to generate general knowledge, something that can be applied beyond a single institution, and are often designed with the intent to publish or disseminate findings. Abstracts based on preliminary data are acceptable, provided the abstract clearly identifies the data as preliminary.
Submit a Research Abstract if you have:
- Conducted innovative research valuable to the osteopathic medical community;
- Researched or evaluated educational practices with results that can be applied to a college of osteopathic medicine or postgraduate training program; or
- Undertaken scholarly work aligned with the conference themes.
Programmatic Innovation Abstract
Programmatic Innovations abstracts describe evaluated changes to educational practices in osteopathic medical education that lead to improved outcomes or meaningful insights. These may involve new interventions, adaptations to existing approaches, or solutions to persistent challenges. While not typically intended for publication, these evaluations provide evidence for decision-making and contribute to improvements in teaching, learning, and program effectiveness.
Submit a Programmatic Innovation Abstract if you have:
- Developed a novel osteopathic medical education program;
- Identified or overcome obstacles in the training of future osteopathic physicians; or
- Gained meaningful insight into learners’ progress along the continuum of osteopathic medical education.
Workshop Sessions
Workshops are interactive sessions offering hands-on experience and practical skills on specific topics. They include activities, discussions and exercises led by experts to foster in-depth learning and engagement. At Educating Leaders, we typically host 3-6 pre-conference workshops and 1-2 in-conference workshops.
Poster Awards & Information
Our Poster Session includes both research and non-research abstracts. Posters presenters may opt-in to the AACOM Poster Awards during the abstract submission process. Accepted posters will be presented during a one-hour poster walk and be accessible on our virtual platform.
To submit a poster proposal, use either Research or Programmatic Innovation abstract.
Is there a fee to submit
an abstract?
No, if your abstract is accepted, presenters must register for the conference for which there is a fee.
Who is eligible to submit
abstracts for Educating
Leaders?
Submitters should be from within the academic medical education community. Potential sponsors and exhibitors should contact sponsorship@aacom.org for additional information.
How do I request a
mentor to review my
abstract?
Students should ask their research mentor for assistance. All other submitters may request to have a member of the National Academy of Osteopathic Medical Educators (NAOME) review through August 29, 2025. Request a NAOME Mentor.
Where can I find more
detail on the difference
between a Research abstract and a Programmatic Innovation abstract, and the complete details for each?
We encourage you to download the abstract guides before you begin to ensure you are clear on the audience and themes. These guides are available to view and/or print:
Research abstract printable guide
Programmatic Innovation abstract printable guide
Detailed overview on Tracks, Themes & Types
When I copy and paste
text from MS Word into
the abstract portal,
unwanted text appears.
What can I do?
MS Word often includes formatting code in the copy process. To resolve, paste as plain text using Ctrl+Shift+V.
Will my abstract be
published? Can I submit
for publication after I
present?
Presenting at the AACOM conference does not prevent you from submitting a manuscript based on your poster or presentation to a journal.
AACOM does not have a journal, and Educating Leaders is not a scientific meeting, so conference abstracts are not published annually.
If your abstract is accepted, you can list this on your CV as a peer-reviewed poster or presentation. Abstracts are peer-reviewed by reviewers who are Fellows of the National Academy of Osteopathic Medical Educators and/or the Assembly of Osteopathic
Graduate Medical Educators.
Can projects with only
preliminary data be
submitted as an
abstract?
Yes, in the brief description, please note that you are sharing preliminary data. In the results section, include the expected timeline for when final results will be available so reviewers can determine whether you'll have sufficient data in time to prepare your presentation. If you are also seeking feedback on the preliminary findings, be sure to state that explicitly as well.
Will CME be available?
Yes, additional details will be available in February 2026.
More questions?
Please contact us at annualconf@aacom.org