Awards
The Ohio Osteopathic Association has established five awards to recognize individuals who have made a significant contribution to the osteopathic profession. View the award nomination procedures (PDF) here.
Distinguished Service Award
This award is the highest honor given to an osteopathic physician, who has shown outstanding accomplishments in personal, scientific, and professional affairs, especially in service to the osteopathic profession in Ohio. The nominee must be a long-standing member of his/her local academy, the OOA and the AOA. The nominee cannot be currently serving as an elected officer/trustee of the OOA.
View a list of past Distinguished Service Award recipients.
Meritorious Service Award
This award is given to an individual who is not an osteopathic physician in recognition of outstanding accomplishments in scientific, philanthropic, or other fields of public service.
View a list of past Meritorious Service Award recipients.
Trustees' Award
Presented from time to time for dedicated service to the Ohio Osteopathic Association, the award requires unanimous action of the OOA Board of Trustees.
View a list of past Trustee's Award recipients.
M. Bridget Wagner, DO, Humanitarian Award
Established in 2001, the award recognizes an osteopathic physician or individual associated with the osteopathic profession for acts of philanthropy and service to mankind.
View a list of past M. Bridget Wagner, DO, Humanitarian Award recipients.
J.O. Watson, DO, Memorial Lecture Award
The James O. Watson, DO, Memorial Lecture Award was originally established in 1972 to honor one of Ohio's most distinguished osteopathic leaders.
The J.O Watson Award will be presented each year at the Ohio Osteopathic Convention. This award recognizes individuals who have distinguished themselves through medical education or scientific endeavors that have resulted in the advancement of osteopathic healthcare, osteopathic medical education or research.
A Committee composed of representatives of the Osteopathic Heritage Foundation (OHF) and the Ohio Osteopathic Foundation (OOF) will select the J.O. Watson Award recipient. From OHF, the committee members will include the Board Chairman, the President /CEO and an osteopathic physician selected from the Board of Directors. From OOF, members will include the Board Chairman, the President/CEO and an osteopathic physician selected from the Board of Trustees.
Candidates for the J.O. Watson Award will be well known through their healthcare, medical education and/or research accomplishments. Therefore, a formal nomination process will not be implemented. However, the Committee may seek input from agencies, colleges of osteopathic medicine, research entities, foundations or other osteopathic-supportive organizations.
- Click here to see a current Award Description (PDF).
- Click here to see Selection Procedures (PDF).
- View a list of Past Lecturers and their Topics.

