In early 1950, with the interest and influence of John V. Fiore, DO, FACOFP, Bruce S. Collins, DO, and their friends, the essential foundation was laid out for the establishment of a new organization to be known as the American College of General Practitioners in Osteopathic Medicine and Surgery (ACGPOMS). As a result, the organization we know today as the ACOFP was founded on February 11, 1950 in Los Angeles, California.

As with any new organization, the ACFPOMS’ early days were humble ones. ACFPOMS (unofficially called the American College of Osteopathic General Practitioners) first operated from offices of the founding physicians in Los Angeles, using their office staff in a dual role.

The first recorded official ACFPOMS medical education meeting took place in Des Moines, Iowa, during the summer of 1958. This meeting was divided into three parts: medical topics, osteopathic manipulative medicine (OMM) and hypnosis.

Recognition of member excellence and their contribution was an early priority of the ACGPOMS. Five years after its founding, the organization presented its first General Practitioner of the Year Award, presented to Frank MacCracken, DO. Renamed the Family Practitioner of the Year Award, this prestigious honor is still presented today.

As the importance of osteopathic medicine grew, so did the young organization. In the wake of the so-called “California Merger” crisis of the early 1960s, and the subsequent transfer of funds to the California Medical Society and all records and archives to the University of California at Irvine, the ACGPOMS made the decision to move the organization to Chicago, Illinois in the mid-1960s.

After its move from Los Angeles, the ACGPOMS resumed its efforts towards its educational, representational and organizational aims. The 1960s saw a massive increase in the organization’s educational efforts, including the formation of Preceptorship programs and educational conferences on both the state and national level. The ACGPOMS had also grown sufficiently to begin publishing its own newsletter, the Bulletin.

In the early spring of 1978, the organization moved its headquarters from its office in Chicago to Des Plaines, Illinois, a northwest suburb of Chicago. The ACGPOMS remained in Des Plaines for another decade, breaking ground on its current headquarters building in October of 1988.

In 1993, the College’s name was officially changed to the American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians (ACOFP). Considerable debate took place regarding the prominence of the word “Osteopathic” in the organization’s name. Ultimately, it was decided that as an organization of osteopathic family physicians, all forms of the name, including its abbreviation, should fully reflect the osteopathic nature of its members. Thus, the word “Osteopathic” was given equal status in both the name and its abbreviation.

By the late 1960s, many students, interns and some practicing physicians were asking for residency programs. The ACGPOMS had none, and action was needed. The profession of medicine was becoming extremely technical and complex, and as a result, specialty residencies were developing at a fast pace.

In 1967, several ACGPOM Board members met in Dallas, Texas, and formulated the Constitution, Bylaws and Guidelines for residency training in General Practice. Unfortunately, approval of the ACGPOM certification was delayed until 1971.

Early in the organization’s history, the award of Fellow was used to recognize those who had made a significant contribution to the organization. There were not formal criteria for the award; several recipients were not even ACGPOMS members.

In 1962, then President-elect James Rowland, DO, FACOFP, declared the establishment of the Conclave of Fellows, and outlined the requirements for obtaining this honor. According to Dr. Rowland, those who obtained the honor of Fellow would be the foundation of the organization’s leadership, and believed it should be an honor equal to professorships of universities or other academic degrees.

The first meeting of the Conclave of Fellows was held September 20, 1965, and was presided over by Dr. Rowland. A total of 24 members of the Conclave were present.

View a listing of all ACGPOMS/ACOFP Presidents

View a listing of all General Practitioner/Family Physician of the Year Award Recipients

The AOA has had an auxiliary instituted for many years, representing the spouses and significant others of active osteopathic physicians in practice. However, a similar organization did not exist in the ACOFP until 1990.

Harold Thomas, DO, FACOFP, President, thought there were profound issues that were unique to family practice that could be solved by organizing an Auxiliary. Dr. Thomas shared his idea with his wife, Margaret, and they both committed to the project. The duo presented their concept to the Board of Governors and the Governor’s spouses, who appeared to embrace the notion.

Bylaws were drafted, and the first governing Board of the Auxiliary to the American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians was founded on November 28, 1990.

View a listing of all Auxiliary Past Presidents