AOA president: ABIM policy about internal medicine program directors is unlawful, disruptive

Medical Economics January 5, 2026
Richard Payerchin Fact checked by: Keith A. Reynolds

Patients, physicians and U.S. health care will be hurt by a policy that shuts osteopathic physicians out of program directorships in internal medicine, said the leader of the American Osteopathic Association (AOA).

A federal lawsuit. AOA alleges ABIM will not honor program attestations of completion from program directors certified by the American Osteopathic Board of Internal Medicine (AOBIM), despite a decade-old agreement that unified medical education in the United States.

Key Takeaways

• A federal lawsuit challenges ABIM’s policy excluding osteopathic physicians from internal medicine program directorships, contradicting a prior unification agreement.
• The policy has led to a drastic reduction in osteopathic-certified program directors, impacting career paths and autonomy.
• The AOA contends that the policy exacerbates physician shortages and disrupts...

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