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2026 TOMA Annual Awards 

Each year, TOMA recognizes individuals who demonstrate exceptional leadership and commitment to the osteopathic profession. Nominations are now open for the 2026 Annual Awards, which will be presented on February 28, 2026 at the 70th Annual MidWinter Conference in Conroe, Texas.

This is the perfect opportunity to honor a fellow DO, colleague or friend making a difference in osteopathic medicine. Submit your nomination today!

This year's individual awards include:

  • New Physician Award
  • Meritorious Service Award
  • Community Service Award
  • Public Service Award
  • Distinguished Service Award
  • Resident DO of the Year
  • Student DO of the Year

The deadline to submit your nomination is January 9, 2026. 

Submit Your Nominations


Note: The Student DO of the Year Awards will also be presented during this weekend to each Student DO of the Year selected by the individual osteopathic medical schools in Texas.

Jump to: New Physician | Meritorious Service | Community Service | Public Service | Distinguished Service | Resident DO of the Year | Student DO of the Year

New Physician Award

Presented to an Osteopathic Physician who has graduated and has been in practice for five (5) years or less.

Qualifications

The candidate must be a member in good standing of the Texas Osteopathic Medical Association (TOMA). Self-nominations and nominations from current TOMA members will be accepted.

Factors to be considered in conferring the award include, but are not limited to:

  • Contributions to osteopathic medical research
  • Contributions to medical education
  • Contributions to public health
  • Excellence in his/her osteopathic medical practice
  • Contributions in community service
  • Service to organized osteopathic medicine in any organization
  • Philanthropic contributions

Meritorious Service Award

Presented to community members who are not osteopathic physicians for outstanding achievement in scientific, philanthropic, political or educational activities impacting Texas osteopathic medicine or for public/community service, patient care, medical education benefiting or bringing recognition to the osteopathic profession in Texas.

Factors to be considered in conferring the award include, but are not limited to:

  • Activities in community service benefiting medicine and the osteopathic community
  • Contributions to public health improvement or public education
  • Activities resulting in positive recognition of osteopathic medicine
  • Service to osteopathic medical organizations
  • Service to Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine
  • Service to and/or accomplishments in an osteopathic organization
  • Philanthropic contributions
  • Contributions to osteopathic medical research

Community Service Award

Presented to an osteopathic physician in recognition of outstanding service to their community through the promotion of and dedication to osteopathic medicine in their practice and/or community.

Qualifications

The candidate must be a member in good standing of the Texas Osteopathic Medical Association (TOMA). Those holding an elective office in TOMA are ineligible to receive the award during their term of office.

Factors to be considered in conferring the award include, but are not limited to:

  • Demonstrate consistent community service in a non-medical capacity
  • Demonstrate consistent volunteerism in the medical field
  • Leadership in a community service organization
  • Professional service

Public Service Award

Presented to one or two governmental officials whose work and accomplishments are outstanding in promoting the health care needs of the state of Texas while recognizing the unique value of the osteopathic philosophy. Government officials can be currently serving in office or have had prior service.

Factors to be considered in conferring the award include, but are not limited to:

  • Support of quality, accessible medical care for the citizens of the State of Texas
  • Promotion of osteopathic undergraduate medical education
  • Promotion of graduate medical education
  • Support of osteopathic physicians and/or their organizations

Distinguished Service Award

Presented to an osteopathic physician in recognition of outstanding state or national accomplishments especially in, but not limited to: 

  1. Scientific research
  2. Service to the osteopathic profession
  3. Service to the public as an osteopathic physician or
  4. Educational activities that impact or bring notoriety to the osteopathic profession

Qualifications

The candidate must be a member in good standing of the Texas Osteopathic Medical Association (TOMA) and a member of the American Osteopathic Association (AOA). Those holding an elective office in TOMA are ineligible to receive the award during their term of office.

Factors to be considered in conferring the award include, but are not limited to extraordinary:

  • Activities in community service
  • Performance in his/her osteopathic medical practice
  • Contributions to public health improvement or public education
  • Conduct resulting in positive recognition of osteopathic medicine
  • Service to osteopathic medical organizations or to Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine
  • Accomplishments in her/his local osteopathic organization or the AOA
  • Philanthropic contributions
  • Contributions to osteopathic medical research
  • Activities in the U.S. Military or U.S. Public Health Service

Resident DO of the Year

Presented to an osteopathic resident physician of any training level. Nominees must demonstrate exceptional patient care, service and uphold osteopathic philosophy, principles and practices at their residency program. One nomination per year will be requested from any residency program in Texas. The residency programs with osteopathic distinction will be especially encouraged to put forth a nominee.

Qualifications

The candidate must be a member of the Texas Osteopathic Medical Association (TOMA).

Factors that may be considered in conferring the award include but are not limited to:

  • Demonstrate excellent medical practice and exemplary clinical knowledge
  • Contributions to osteopathic professional organizations and related activities
  • Has distinguished research or scholarly activity in osteopathic medicine
  • Contribute to medical student education and mentorship
  • Demonstrate dedication to the community and service
Submit Your Nominations

Honoring Student DOs of the Year

The Student DO of the Year (SDOY) award honors and recognizes an osteopathic medical student who is committed to the principles of leadership, community service, dedication and professionalism.

Note: The Student DO of the Year Awards will be presented during the 70th MidWinter Conference to each of those selected by the individual osteopathic medical schools in Texas (TCOM, UIW-SOM, SHSU-COM).

If your school has already selected your Student DO of the Year, please reach out to [email protected] to share the name.