2026 AOA House of Delegates Meeting in Chicago, July 13-19

Community, Education, Industry,

FOMA was proud to represent Florida at the 2026 American Osteopathic Association (AOA) House of Delegates in Chicago!

With more than 50 delegates in attendance, including osteopathic physicians, students, and FOMA staff, our delegation participated in meetings, debated resolutions and policies shaping the future of the osteopathic profession, and collaborated with colleagues from osteopathic associations across the country.

A special congratulations to FOMA Past President Dr. Richard Thacker, who was officially sworn in as the 2026–2027 President of the AOA on Saturday evening. We are incredibly proud of his leadership and this achievement.

Thank you to our delegates for representing Florida with professionalism and dedication. Together, we continue to strengthen and advance the osteopathic profession.

WATCH 2026 AOA HOD HIGHLIGHTS

2026 AOA HOD DELEGATION

Joseph A. Giaimo, DO, Chair

Anthony N. Ottaviani, DO, Vice Chair

James Andriole, DO

Nicole Bixler, DO

Matt Brill, DO

Lee Ann Brown, DO

Ronald R. Burns, DO

Vickie Calamese, DO

Cesar De Leon, DO

Linda Delo, DO

Eugene DiBetta, DO

Traci-Lyn Eisenberg, DO

Farah Ferreiro, DO

Walter B. Flesner, III, DO

Marie Florent-Carre, DO

Monina Geda, DO

Jeffrey S. Grove, DO

Anna Hayden, DO

Gregory J. James, DO

Marc G. Kaprow, DO

Joshua Lenchus, DO, RPh

Charlene LePane, DO

Sara Lohbauer, DO

Jorge D. Luna, DO

Janae Marracino, DO

Michael Markou, DO

Sean McCann, DO

Joseph P. McNerney, DO

Michelle Mendez, DO

Jeffrey Nelson, DO

Hal S. Pineless, DO

Donald Pyle, DO

Shailesh Rajguru, DO

Bruce G. Rankin, DO

Ronald Renuart, DO, FACP

Joseph A. Sassano, DO

Brett Scotch, DO

Paul Seltzer, DO

Lee Shettle, DO

William Silverman, DO

William Stager, DO

Richard R. Thacker, DO

James Toldi, DO

Ronald Torrance, II, DO

James Towry, DO, FAOCD

Carlie Groeshen, NSU KPCOM, SGA VP

Yama Xu, NSU KPCOM TBR, SGA Pres.

Rae Critchley, LECOM Bradenton, SGA Pres.

Jose Lau, OCOM, SGA Pres.

Luisa Fernandes, Burrell COM FL, SGA Pres

Samantha Diaz, NSU KPCOM, SGA VP

Ben Johnson, Pres.-elect, NSU KPCOM TBR, SGA VP

Preston Bowers, LECOM Bradenton

Safwan Yamani, OCOM, SGA VP

Synclair Baker Blair, Burrell COM FL SGA VP

Florida physicians serving on AOA House of Delegates Reference Committees:

Ad Hoc – Michelle Mendez, DO

Constitution & Bylaws – Lind Delo, DO, Chair & Marie Florent-Carre, DO

Educational Affairs – Sean McCann, DO

Professional Affairs – Cesar De Leon, DO

Public Affairs – Marc Kaprow, DO

2025-26 & 2026-27 Joint Budget Committee – Shailesh Rajguru, DO

Resolutions – Anna Hayden, DO, Chair

Rules and Order of Business – Joseph Sassano, DO