of the highest honor
Recognizing Excellence
The Fellow of the American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians (FACOFP) Award recognizes experience, dedication, and contributions of the highest order to the advancement of osteopathic family medicine. This designation, established in 1976 and presented annually, honors individuals with a Fellow plaque in recognition of their exceptional national, state, and local service through teaching, authorship, research, or professional leadership.
The Fellow Award is conferred only on persons in the osteopathic profession and seeks to demonstrate the importance of professional career and family medicine service in the community. The candidates are approved by the ACOFP Awards Committee and a majority vote of the ACOFP Board of Governors.
Academic Regalia
American academic costume had its origins in the 11th and 12th century European Universities when gowns distinguished academic doctors, masters and bachelors from other segments of the population.
The Gown
Although it may originally have been worn as protection against unheated medieval buildings, the academic gown today symbolizes the democracy of scholarship, because it covers any dress of rank or social standing underneath. It is usually black.
The Cap
When Roman Law freed the slave, he won the privilege of wearing a cap. The academic cap is a sign of the freedom and responsibility of scholarship. The color of the tassel denotes the degree.
The Hood
The hood is lined with the official color of the college or university. The color of the facing denotes the discipline represented by the degree; the color associated with medicine is green. The Fellow hoods and gowns are recorded in Missouri and recognized as part of total academic regalia.
The Gold Cord
ACOFP is proud to recognize the achievement of our Distinguished Fellows by providing each with a gold honor cord. This cord represents a Fellow’s lifelong dedication and contribution of the highest order to the advancement of osteopathic family medicine.
The Mace
Mace in its original definition is a weapon of offense, made of iron or steel, and capable of breaking through armor. The mace was carried as a symbol of royal authority, and for this reason, the royal arms was set on the button at the end of the handle.
As you will note, the ACOFP Mace has the coat of arms logo in the button staff. The ACOFP Mace traditionally carried in our processionals is a product of detailed artwork and is fashioned from solid bronze with a serpent entwining
the staff. The button, or top of the mace, has cast a perfect logo of ACOFP, which is threaded and opens into the shaft of the Mace, wherein enclosed is a beautiful parchment with the names of the ACOFP past presidents appropriately inscribed thereon. Each year, as is traditional in our processional, the presiding president passes it on to the new president, and in turn, their name—as immediate past president—is placed on the scroll of the mace.
November 6, 2024 @ 7 - 8 p.m. CST
Conclave of Fellows Semi-Annual Business Virtual Meeting
Join your colleagues to hear reports and stay-to-date on the latest developments from the
national leaders within the osteopathic family medicine community. You'll hear from:
- The American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians
- The American Osteopathic Association
- The American Osteopathic Board of Family Physicians
- The ACOFP Foundation
- National Committee Updates
2024–2025 Members
Executive Council of the Conclave of Fellows
Elected by our peers, our mission is to encourage, recognize and reward those board certified osteopathic family physicians who have demonstrated leadership within the osteopathic profession and in their communities on a local, state and national level.
- William Stager, DO, FACOFP dist., Chair
- Joel Feder, DO, FACOFP dist., Vice Chair
- Lynn Wilson, DO, FACOFP, Secretary
- Andrew Adair, DO, FACOFP
- Nicole Bixler, DO, FACOFP dist.
- Melinda Ford, DO, FACOFP dist.
- James Froelich, DO, FACOFP dist.
- Sarah James, DO, FACOFP
- Katherine Lincoln, DO, FACOFP
The Executive Council of Conclave of Fellows shall consist of nine members, including the elected Secretary. The nine standing council members and Chairs shall serve a maximum of up to three consecutive three-year terms, with the exception that the members may complete the term in which nine years or more of service is completed. Three members will be re-elected or elected annually to assure continuity to serve on the Executive Council. To qualify, a candidate must be an active Fellow and have been a Fellow for at least two years.
The Chair and Vice Chair will be elected by the members of the Executive Council immediately following the Annual Business Meeting. The Secretary shall be nominated and elected by the entire Conclave, for a term of three years, assuming that they have not already served nine years on the Council. Members of the Executive Council will be nominated and elected by the entire Conclave during the Annual Business Meeting. A position on the Executive Council will be deemed vacant if the member fails to attend three consecutive meetings.
If you have any questions for the Executive Council, please send to fellowsinfo@acofp.org.
current year
2024 Fellow Recipients
- Patrick J. Botz, DO, FACOFP
- Emily R. Copel, DO, FACOFP
- Rebecca W. Daley, DO, FACOFP
- Matthew A. Davis, DO, MBA, CPE, FACHE, FACOFP
- Ann D. Glassman, DO, FACOFP
- Hilary S. Haack, DO, FACOFP
- Anna Z. Hayden, DO, FACOFP
- Brandyn W. Mason, DO, FACOFP
- Jared W. Nichols, DO, FACOFP
- Sean P. Perrine, DO, FACOFP
- John T. Pham, DO, FACOFP
- Andrew Pieleck, DO, FACOFP
- Elly Riley, DO, FACOFP
- Christine M. Rohanna, DO, FACOFP
- Tracy Romanello, DO, FACOFP
- Nancy Bono, DO, FAAFP, FACOFP dist.
- Ira P. Monka DO, MHA, FACOFP dist.
- Antonios Tsompanidis, DO FACOFP dist.
- Thomas Zimmerman, DO, MBA, FACOFP dist.