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Want to attend DO Day and get involved in advocacy efforts? Consider applying for a 2026 scholarship.
DO Day 2026
Virtual: March 21-22, 2026
In-person: March 25-26, 2026
Washington, D.C.
The AOA Bureau of Emerging Leaders DO Day Scholarship Program provides opportunities for osteopathic residents, fellows and new physicians in practice to attend DO Day on Capitol Hill, the osteopathic profession’s largest public policy and advocacy event of the year. DO Day offers unmatched opportunities to hone your leadership skills and raise your voice to educate members of Congress on the issues that matter most to you and your patients.
The program provides scholarships for up to four residents, fellows and new physicians in practice (those within five years of graduating from residency or fellowship program) to participate in DO Day, covering the cost of registration for the event and a travel stipend for up to $1,500. This scholarship program is sponsored in part by the American Osteopathic Information Association.
The BEL scholarship is an ideal opportunity for osteopathic physicians in training and new physicians in practice who want to become more involved in medical advocacy. This includes those who may have some experience locally or in medical school, but have lacked the resources or opportunities to step up to the national stage as a resident, fellow or new physician. This also includes those who do not have firsthand advocacy experience, but who have a desire and passion to help improve our nation’s health care and need a helping hand to take that next step. Applicants must be members of the AOA. AOA board certification is preferred when applicable.
Please note that basic personal information will be blinded from applications prior to evaluation and will only be used for contacting applicants and for evaluation of the program over time.
When submitting your application, you will be asked to provide two short essays. These may be typed directly into the form, or uploaded within a single document.
Essay questions:
Read what previous scholarship winners have to say about their DO Day experiences and why advocacy matters to them.
Kimberly Klatt, DO
“I am so grateful for the opportunity to attend DO Day through the BEL scholarship. More than that, I’m grateful for the connections I’ve made with the other scholars and AOA leaders. Receiving this award has already opened so many doors for me, and I’m excited to see where advocacy work takes me.”
David Issever, DO
“This scholarship program afforded me the ability to take the time and advocate on behalf of our profession; a profession I have committed my life to. We are a large cohort that when effectively organized, like on DO Day, feels like it makes a real difference. We are at the forefront of delivering the highest quality care to most of the underserved populations in this country. For politicians who care about raising everyone’s quality of life, we demonstrated in numbers that hurting the osteopathic profession jeopardizes the quality of life of their own constituents. We were also able to voice with pride what we have accomplished; we were able to share real stories of people’s lives who have been transformed for the better by the service we provide in the osteopathic medical field.”
Amber Lee, DO
“Receiving the scholarship to attend DO Day gave me an invaluable opportunity that I would not have had otherwise. It allowed me to engage directly with lawmakers and advocate for the osteopathic profession in a real-world setting. Without the scholarship, I would not have experienced firsthand how policy and medicine intersect, nor would I have had the chance to build relationships with other passionate osteopathic students and professionals from across the country. Most importantly, it empowered me to find my voice as a DO, understanding that advocacy is not just a responsibility, but a powerful tool to shape the future of our profession and improve patient care.”
Tyler Mineo, DO
“This scholarship provided me with the invaluable opportunity to connect with key individuals within the AOA, as well as engage with my members of Congress to advocate for improvements in the overall care of both physicians and patients.”