UNE alum awarded American Osteopathic Association’s highest honor

The American Osteopathic Association (AOA) presented Stephen Shannon, D.O. ‘86, M.P.H., with a Presidential Citation, the organization’s highest honor. Shannon is president and CEO of the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine (AACOM).

The AOA Board of Trustees presented the award to Shannon at the AOA Annual Business Meeting on Saturday, July 22, for his contributions to the osteopathic medical profession and osteopathic medical education (OME).

“Dr. Shannon has demonstrated a major commitment to education since his earliest days as a D.O.,” said AOA President Boyd R. Buser, D.O., who presented him with the citation. “He’s been a professor, a dean and lifelong advocate of our osteopathic students. In his role as President and CEO of the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine, he is one of the true champions of osteopathic medical education and the profession relies on his leadership.”

“UNE COM has a proud history of educating physician leaders who, in addition to advancing the patient-centered approach of osteopathic medicine, continuously strive to improve the state of health care for all patients in our nation,” said UNE COM Dean Jane Carreiro, D.O.

Shannon has led AACOM as president and CEO since 2006, following 11 years of service as the dean at University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine (UNE COM) from 1995 to 2006 and vice president from 1998 to 2006. His other prior roles include working as medical epidemiologist consultant for the Division of Disease Control at the Maine Bureau of Health, serving as chair of the Maine Biomedical Research Coalition and serving as a member and editor of The Journal of the American Osteopathic Association (JAOA).

Former UNE President Sandra Featherman, Ph.D., was also honored by the AOA for dedicating nearly two decades to advancing osteopathic medical education. According to the AOA, in addition to enhancing UNE COM’s reputation during her tenure there, Featherman served on the AOA Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation and in leadership roles at the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine.

To learn more about the University of New England’s College of Osteopathic Medicine, visit www.une.edu/com

To apply, visit www.une.edu/admissions