NAM Fellowship in Osteopathic Medicine

The next call for nominations will open in March 2026.

The overall purpose of the NAM Fellowship in Osteopathic Medicine is to enable talented, early-career health science scholars to participate actively in health- and medicine-related work of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (the National Academies) and to further their careers as future leaders in their field. Supported through an endowment from the American Osteopathic Association (AOA), the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine (AACOM), and the American Osteopathic Foundation (AOF), the program especially welcomes nominations of  historically underrepresented candidates.

The NAM Fellowship in Osteopathic Medicine is part of the NAM Fellowships for Health Science Scholars program. See all opportunities >> 

Current Fellow

Breanne M. Jaqua, DO, MPH

Breanne M. Jaqua, DO, MPH

2024-2026 Osteopathic Medicine Fellow

Dr. Jaqua is an emergency medicine physician and an Associate Professor in the Department of Clinical Science Education at A.T. Still University School of Osteopathic Medicine in Arizona (ATSU-SOMA). She served as a former member of the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education’s Board of Directors and recently completed her service as Chair of the Council of Review Committee Residents. She currently serves on the Board of Trustees with the Arizona Osteopathic Medical Association. 

Dr. Jaqua’s research and scholarly activity focus on innovative medical education practices and trainee wellness. As an educator, she serves as a didactic course director and teaches advanced clinical and procedural skills.  She also facilitates case-based, small-group discussions and participates in case writing and curriculum development. Dr. Jaqua is dedicated to fostering psychologically safe learning and working environments, creating a culture of inquiry and collaboration, and supporting targeted interventions to increase diversity, equity, and inclusion. She has presented and published on a variety of topics, such as the continuum of medical education, medical school curricular interventions, and trainee well-being. She has several projects in progress, including a second iteration of a student-driven mindfulness curricular intervention and an investigation of food insecurity among osteopathic medical students at ATSU-SOMA. 

Dr. Jaqua received her BA from the University of Michigan, her DO from ATSU-SOMA, and her MPH from A.T. Still University’s College of Graduate Health Studies. She completed her emergency medicine training at Mercy Health—St. Vincent Medical Center.  She is certified by the American Board of Emergency Medicine.

 

Past Fellows

R. Sterling Haring, DO, MPH

R. Sterling Haring, DO, MPH

2022-2024 Osteopathic Medicine Fellow

Julieanne P. Sees, DO, FAAOS, FAOAO, FAOA

Julieanne P. Sees, DO, FAAOS, FAOAO, FAOA

2020-2022 Osteopathic Medicine Fellow

Michelle Kvalsund, DO, MS

Michelle Kvalsund, DO, MS

2018-2020 Osteopathic Medicine Fellow

Jennie H. Kwon, DO

Jennie H. Kwon, DO

2016-2018 Osteopathic Medicine Fellow

Creagh Milford, DO, MPH

Creagh Milford, DO, MPH

2014-2016 Osteopathic Medicine Fellow

Fellowship Description

The NAM Fellowship in Osteopathic Medicine will be awarded for a two-year period. During this time, the fellow is expected to continue to work at their main academic post, while being assigned to a board of the National Academies. The boards are:

  • Children, Youth, and Families,
  • Food and Nutrition,
  • Global Health,
  • Health Care Services,
  • Health Sciences Policy, and
  • Population Health and Public Health Practice.

The fellowship requires a 10- to 20-percent commitment of time for two years, and includes attendance at a one-week orientation to health policy, the Fall NAM Annual Meeting, and the meetings of the assigned board. Domestic travel expenses are covered for participation in approved fellowship activities. Additionally, the fellow will participate actively in the work of an appropriate study committee or roundtable, including contributing to its reports or other products. Studies that would enable the fellow to contribute to the value of integrating medicine and public health will be identified.

This experience will introduce the NAM Fellow in Osteopathic Medicine to a variety of experts and perspectives, including legislators, government officials, industry leaders, executives of voluntary health organizations, scientists, and other health professionals. Each fellow will be assigned to an NAM member who will serve as a senior mentor during the two years of the fellowship.

A flexible research grant of $25,000 will be awarded to each NAM Fellow in Osteopathic Medicine, which will be administered through the appropriate department in the fellow’s home institution to advance the fellow’s professional and academic career. This grant is not intended for use as a salary offset for the fellow, and no indirect costs are allowed.

Eligibility

Nominees for the NAM Fellowship in Osteopathic Medicine must:

  • Be nominated by a member of the NAM, the Trustees of the AOA, the Board of Deans of the AACOM or the Board of Directors of the AOF
  • Hold a Doctorate of Osteopathic Medicine
  • Be able to dedicate 10 to 20 percent of time to the fellowship for two years
  • Be within the first two-to-seven years after completion of post-graduate work
  • Have a supporting letter from the candidate’s department chair
  • Hold U.S. citizen or permanent resident status at the time of the nomination
Selection Criteria

Nominees will be evaluated by an NAM-appointed committee based on their professional qualifications, scholarship, and quality of professional accomplishments as evidenced through publications and research grants, and relevance of current field of expertise to the work of the NAM.

Preference will be given to nominees who have a demonstrated interest in and focus on Osteopathic Medicine.

Nomination Packet

A complete nomination packet must be submitted electronically through the online nomination system at https://namfellows.secure-platform.com/submission and will include the following documents:

  • A nomination letter from a member of the NAM, the Trustees of the AOA, the Board of Deans of the AACOM or the Board of Directors of the AOF
  • Three (3) letters of reference
  • A supporting letter from the candidate’s department chair
  • An up-to-date curriculum vitae
  • A brief one-page bio
  • A one-page personal statement that describes the candidate’s reasons for wanting to be a fellow for this particular program at this phase of their career

Timeline

Fellowships will be awarded in even years.

  • March 2026 | Call for nominations opens
  • June 2026 | Nomination packets are due at 3:00pm ET
  • July 2026 | Awardee is notified
  • September 2026 | Fellow orientation week at the NAM is held
  • October 2026 | Fellow is introduced to the Membership at the NAM Annual Meeting

Program Administration

Inquiries about the NAM Fellowship in Osteopathic Medicine should be directed to:

Yumi Phillips
Senior Program Officer
Health Policy Fellowships and Leadership Programs
National Academy of Medicine
500 Fifth Street, NW
Washington, DC 20001
Phone: (202) 334-1506
Email: yphillips@nas.edu

The NAM Fellowship in Osteopathic Medicine is supported through an endowment from the American Osteopathic Association, the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine, and the American Osteopathic Foundation.


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