A Message from the Chair...

Osteopathic International Alliance (OIA) Staff Transition
It is with mixed emotions that I write to inform the OIA member organizations that our Secretariat, Amy Byerwalter, has accepted a position as the Director of Management and Operations for the Peace Corps in West Africa and consequently, she has resigned her role with the OIA and is no longer with our organization. During her six years as Secretariat, Amy worked tirelessly to increase international recognition of osteopathy and osteopathic medicine, helping OIA to achieve Official Relation status with the World Health Organization (WHO) and supporting the growth of our organization. She will be sincerely missed. I had an opportunity to take Amy to a farewell lunch in Chicago prior to her departure, as you can see in the photo above.

Following Amy’s departure, the OIA Board enthusiastically approved the appointment of Raine Richards, JD, as our new Secretariat. Raine has worked on US state policy and licensure issues with the American Osteopathic Association (AOA) for nearly eight years, and in addition to serving as the new OIA Secretariat, she will also assume the role of AOA’s Vice President of State and International Affairs.

Raine received her Juris Doctorate from the University of Michigan Law School and her Bachelor of Arts in Spanish from Emory University, and she previously lived abroad in India, Argentina, France and England. She is fluent in French and Spanish, and she is excited about utilizing both her osteopathic and international backgrounds in her new role. Raine can be reached via email at Secretariat@oialliance.org. Please join me in welcoming her to the OIA!

Staffing Changes at the WHO
Earlier this summer, we were informed that Dr. Zhang Qi, with whom we have worked for many years, has retired from his position as Director of the Traditional, Complementary and Integrative Medicine (TCI) unit. We have been in further contact with WHO and have requested a face-to-face meeting with his successor, who has not yet been appointed. WHO has agreed to this and expects Dr. Zhang Qi’s successor to be named before the end of 2022.

It was delightful seeing so many of you in Helsinki at our Annual AGM and Conference. Planning is underway for our 2023 meeting in London, and I hope to see you all there!

With warmest regards,

Boyd R. Buser, D.O., FACOFP dist.
Chair, OIA Board

Photo Credit: Pelle P.

European Federation and Forum for Osteopathy Autumn Conference and Annual General Meeting 2022 Recap
Our Immediate Past Chair, Ana Paula Ferreira, represented the OIA at the European Federation and Forum for Osteopathy (EFFO) Autumn Conference and Nordic Osteopathic Congress in Copenhagen from 22 – 25 September 2022. It was an excellent opportunity to introduce the OIA to European osteopathic representatives and an enriching experience to get to know in-depth the work of the EFFO concerning regulation, education, and research and its future projects. There were 25 countries represented. The OIA thanks Hanna Tómasdóttir and the EFFO leadership for the invitation and acknowledges the importance of the EFFO's work in strengthening the Osteopathic Profession in Europe.

Save-the-Date: 2023 OIA Annual General Meeting & Conference in London!
We are pleased to announce that the 2023 OIA Annual General Meeting & Conference is scheduled for October 19 – 21 in London, England. Thank you to our member organizations, the Institute of Osteopathy and the General Osteopathic Council, who will be our local hosts. Additional information will be sent out and posted here as conference planning progresses.

Celebrate International Osteopathic Healthcare Week April 17 – 23, 2023!
International Healthcare Week (IOHW) brings together the global community of osteopaths and osteopathic physicians to celebrate our shared philosophy of mind-body-spirit, and to educate patients, the public, and regulatory authorities. IOHW 2023 is scheduled for April 17 – 23, and additional information and materials will be shared via email and posted here in the coming months. We look forward to celebrating the week with you!