Day 1 Schedule
Wednesday, September 9, 2026
| Time | Schedule |
|---|---|
| 8:00 AM | Check-in Opens, Poster Mounting, and Light Breakfast by the Beach |
| 9:00 AM | Welcome Remarks Opening Meditation Hollis H. King, DO, PhD Voluntary Clinical Professor, Family Medicine Centers for Integrative Health, UC San Diego A Vision for the Future of OMM Research Benefactors and Sponsor Recognition Alice I. Chen, DO & Jordan Keys, DO |
| 9:15 AM | Morning Session: Showcasing Current Research in OMM/OMT Utilization and Health Economics of an Inpatient OMM Consultation Service at an Academic Health Center Alice I. Chen, DO Associate Clinical Professor, Family Medicine Centers for Integrative Health, UC San Diego Osteopathic Cranial Manipulative Medicine for TBI Gunnar Brolinson, DO Professor, Family Medicine and Sports Medicine Vice Provost for Research, Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine Thermography in Osteopathic Manipulation Research Francesco Cerritelli, DO, PhD Assistant Professor, Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine New York Institute of Technology, College of Osteopathic Medicine President, Centre for Osteopathic Medicine Collaboration, Italy Jordan Keys, MS, DO Associate Dean, Research Collaboration and Innovation New York Institute of Technology OPT-IN: Osteopathic Plagiocephaly Treatment for Infants and Neonates Kimberly Wolf, DO Professor, Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine Touro University California College of Osteopathic Medicine Jennifer Belsky, DO, MS Assistant Professor, Pediatrics, Division of Hematology/Oncology Indiana University School of Medicine Select Abstract Winners This could be you! Submit an abstract today |
| 12:00 PM | Keynote Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine: Advancing Strategic Priorities at the National Level Robert A. Cain, DO, FACOI, FAODME President & Chief Executive Officer American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine |
| 12:30 PM | Group Photo, Lunch, and Research Roundtable Discussions and Networking |
| 1:45 PM | Afternoon Session: Design Decisions in OMM/OMT Research The OMT Intervention: Pragmatic vs. Protocoled Jennifer Belsky, DO, MS Assistant Professor, Pediatrics, Division of Hematology/Oncology Indiana University School of Medicine Francesco Cerritelli, DO, PhD Assistant Professor, Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine New York Institute of Technology, College of Osteopathic Medicine President, Centre for Osteopathic Medicine Collaboration, Italy Understanding Shams, Placebos, and Control Groups in Manual Therapy Research Sheldon Yao, DO Professor, Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine New York Institute of Technology, College of Osteopathic Medicine Francesco Cerritelli, DO, PhD Assistant Professor, Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine New York Institute of Technology, College of Osteopathic Medicine President, Centre for Osteopathic Medicine Collaboration, Italy |
| 3:00 PM | Small Group Discussion (Break) |
| 3:30 PM | Afternoon Session: Future Directions in Translational OMM/OMT Research Co-Sponsored with UC San Diego REACH Center for Translational Science in Whole Person Health Decoding the Mind–Body Connection Through Deep Physiological and Molecular Profiling Hemal Patel, PhD Professor, Anesthesiology, UC San Diego School of Medicine Faculty, UC San Diego REACH Center for Translational Science in Whole Person Health Conceptualizing OMT Mechanisms: Insights from Affective and Somatosensory Neuroscience Laura Case, PhD Associate Adjunct Professor, Anesthesiology, UC San Diego School of Medicine Faculty, UC San Diego REACH Center for Translational Science in Whole Person Health |
| 5:00 PM | |
| 7:02 PM | Sunset |
| 7:28 PM | Dusk — End of Day 1 |
Day 2 Schedule
Thursday, September 10, 2026
Design Your Own Learning Path.After our morning Keynote, the rest of the day is organized into four tracks of different formats running across four rooms. Between each block of time, you are invited to move between rooms and track formats if you'd like, or feel free to stay in the same track and room all day.
| Panel Track | Hands-On Track | Breakout Tracks 1 & 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Panel discussions bring together experts from complementary fields to examine emerging evidence and trends, discuss key questions, and offer multiple perspectives on the scientific, clinical, and methodological issues shaping OMM research. | Hands‑on OMT workshops provide supervised, practical experience in conducting a complete OMM evaluation and delivering high-quality, clinically relevant treatment, with emphasis on safety, diagnostic reasoning, and skill development. Space is limited. If there is large interest, more sessions may be offered in open time blocks. | Small-group breakouts offer focused, interactive learning and mentorship, allowing participants to discuss challenges, share strategies, and build practical skills for implementing OMM research and clinical practice. Space is limited. If there is large interest, more sessions may be offered in open time blocks. |
Day at a Glance
| Time | Session |
|---|---|
| 8:00 AM | Light Breakfast by the Beach |
| 9:00 AM | American Osteopathic Foundation Keynote Amber Brown, DO, MS | Pediatric Critical Care Fellow, Indiana University School of Medicine |
| 9:30 AM – 4:30 PM (Includes Breaks & Lunch) | Concurrent Tracks — See session details below Panel Track Samuel H. Scripps Auditorium Imagining the Future of Translational Research in OMM Frontiers in Chronic Pain: Mechanistic Insights and Opportunities for OMM Research Scientific Considerations of Manual Assessment and Therapeutic Contact Integrating Artificial Intelligence into OMM Research Hands-On Track Margaret Scripps Buzzelli & Nacket Scripps Loeb Room OMM in the Hospital Setting OMM for Lactation, Mastitis, and Breastfeeding-Related Complaints Breakout Track 1 Edward H. "Ted" Scripps II Room Performing a High-Quality Peer Review Identifying and Securing Funding for OMM Research Breakout Track 2 Robert P. Scripps II Room Integrating OMT into Training Programs and Conducting OMM Research in Surgical and Other Specialties Components of High-Quality Systematic and Scoping Reviews Integrating Technology into OMT Research |
| 4:30 PM | Closing Reflections and Next Steps Alice I. Chen, DO & Jordan Keys, DO, MS |
Session Details (9:30 AM – 4:30 PM)
Panel TrackPanel Talks + Q&ASamuel H. Scripps Auditorium
Imagining the Future of Translational Research in OMM
Hemal Patel, PhD
Professor, Anesthesiology, UC San Diego School of Medicine
Faculty, UC San Diego REACH Center for Translational Science in Whole Person Health
Faculty, UC San Diego REACH Center for Translational Science in Whole Person Health
Laura Case, PhD
Associate Adjunct Professor, Anesthesiology, UC San Diego School of Medicine
Faculty, UC San Diego REACH Center for Translational Science in Whole Person Health
Faculty, UC San Diego REACH Center for Translational Science in Whole Person Health
Alice I. Chen, DO
Associate Clinical Professor, Family Medicine
Centers for Integrative Health, UC San Diego
Centers for Integrative Health, UC San Diego
Frontiers in Chronic Pain: Mechanistic Insights and Opportunities for OMM Research
Francesco Cerritelli, DO, PhD
Assistant Professor, Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine, New York Institute of Technology, College of Osteopathic Medicine
President, Centre for Osteopathic Medicine Collaboration
President, Centre for Osteopathic Medicine Collaboration
Ariel Portera, DO
Assistant Clinical Professor, Family Medicine
Centers for Integrative Health, UC San Diego
Centers for Integrative Health, UC San Diego
Scientific Considerations of Manual Assessment and Therapeutic Contact
Brian F. Degenhardt, DO
Professor, Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine
A.T. Still University – Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine
A.T. Still University – Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine
Terry Loghmani, PT, PhD
Associate Professor, Physical Therapy
School of Health and Human Services, Indiana University
School of Health and Human Services, Indiana University
Integrating Artificial Intelligence into OMM Research
Joanne Donahue, PhD
Professor, Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine; Director of Clinical Research
New York Institute of Technology, College of Osteopathic Medicine, Old Westbury
New York Institute of Technology, College of Osteopathic Medicine, Old Westbury
Ryan Bradley, ND, MPH
Professor, Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Human Longevity Science, UC San Diego
Faculty, UC San Diego REACH Center for Translational Science in Whole Person Health
Faculty, UC San Diego REACH Center for Translational Science in Whole Person Health
Hands-On TrackHands-On OMT LabsMargaret Scripps Buzzelli & Nacket Scripps Loeb Room
OMM in the Hospital Setting
Anna Mercer, DO
Assistant Clinical Professor, Family Medicine
Centers for Integrative Health, UC San Diego
Centers for Integrative Health, UC San Diego
OMM for Lactation, Mastitis, and Breastfeeding-Related Complaints
Eileen Conaway, DO, NABBLM-C, FACOFP, IBCLC
Adjunct Associate Professor, Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine
Campbell University School of Osteopathic Medicine
Campbell University School of Osteopathic Medicine
Breakout Track 1Facilitated Small Group DiscussionsEdward H. "Ted" Scripps II Room
Performing a High-Quality Peer Review
Joshua Alexander, DO, MPH
Chief, Division of Neurology
Scripps Clinic, San Diego
Scripps Clinic, San Diego
Identifying and Securing Funding for OMM Research
Jennifer Belsky, DO, MS
Assistant Professor, Pediatrics, Division of Hematology/Oncology, Indiana University School of Medicine
Director, Pediatric and AYA Lymphoma at Riley Hospital for Children
Director, Pediatric and AYA Lymphoma at Riley Hospital for Children
Jennifer Xie, PhD
Associate Professor, Biomedical Sciences
New York Institute of Technology, College of Osteopathic Medicine, Arkansas
New York Institute of Technology, College of Osteopathic Medicine, Arkansas
Breakout Track 2Facilitated Small Group DiscussionsRobert P. Scripps II Room
Integrating OMT into Training Programs and Conducting OMM Research in Surgical and Other Specialties
Gerard Baltazar, DO
Associate Professor, Surgery
Components of High-Quality Systematic and Scoping Reviews
Karen Heskett
Librarian, UC San Diego
Integrating Technology into OMT Research
Kyle Henderson, PhD
Professor, Midwestern University