FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 11, 2025

Indianapolis, IN—Dennis J. Dowling, DO, MA, FAAODist, of Baldwin, NY, was re-elected to be the 2025-28 secretary-treasurer of the American Academy of Osteopathy (AAO) on March 27 during the AAO annual Convocation in Orlando, FL.

Dr. Dowling is a 1972 graduate of Mater Christi Diocesan High School (St. John’s Prep), a cum laude graduate in 1976 of St. John’s University, and a 1978 Master’s Graduate of Long Island University (Zeckendorff campus). Both the undergraduate and the graduate degrees are in the field of psychology. He worked as a Master’s Level psychologist with children and adults with developmental disabilities until 1984 when he entered osteopathic medical school. Prior to 1978, he worked as a case worker, group home staff, special education counselor, and coordinator in the same field.

Dr. Dowling is a 1989 graduate of the New York  Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine (NYITCOM). He was a contributing author and illustrator for first three editions of An Osteopathic Approach to Diagnosis and Treatment and an editor on the third edition, and has illustrated journal articles and textbooks, most notably The Encyclopedia of Osteopathy and Easy EMG. He has authored or co-authored several articles and book chapters, including on Progressive Inhibition of Neuromusculoskeletal Structures (PINS), an OMT technique that he developed. He is a co-author of a JAOA George W. Northup, DO, Medical Writing Award–winning article. Over the years, he has delivered the 2001 David Heilig, DO, FAAO Memorial Lecture at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine; the 2004 Scott Memorial lecture at A.T. Still University Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine (ATSU-KCOM); the 2005 T.L. Northup Memorial Lecture at the American Osteopathic Association (AOA) annual convention; the 2010 Harold A. Blood, DO, FAAO Memorial Lecture, and the 2018 Turfler Family Memorial Lecture at the AAO Convocation. Dr. Dowling is also the recipient of the 2015 Andrew Taylor Still Medallion of Honor Award and the FAAO Distinguished Service and Dig On awards from the AAO. The National Board of Osteopathic Medical Examiners (NBOME) awarded him the 2024 John E Thornburg, DO, PhD NBOME National Faculty Leadership Award and he received the New York Osteopathic Medical Society (NYSOMS) President’s Award in 2025.

Dr. Dowling is a former professor and chairman of Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine at NYITCOM and he holds the rank of Clinical Professor at the Midwestern University College of Osteopathic Medicine, Western University College of Osteopathic Medicine, the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, the University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine, The Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences (KCUMB), and also at NYITCOM. Since 2004, he has been a consultant and the Coordinator of OMM Assessment for the COMLEX-Level 2-PE examination and Chair of the POCKET Committee for NBOME. Currently, he is Consulting Coordinator for the NBOME Core Competency Capstone for DOs (C3DO) project.

Dr. Dowling has supervised residents in a clinic at the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Department at Nassau University Medical Center (NUMC) in East Meadow, Long Island since 1991 and has been whole-time in that department as well as the Family Medicine department since September 2016. Prior to that he was in private practice in Syosset, New York from 2003 to 2016. During the months of April to August 2020, Dr. Dowling treated hospitalized COVID-19 patients in the NUMC intensive care units with osteopathic manipulative treatment, many of whom were on ventilator support.

Dr. Dowling received certification in OMM in 1995 from the American Osteopathic Board for Special Proficiency in Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine (AOBSPOMM) and was recertified in 2004 and 2015 by the American Osteopathic Board for Neuromusculoskeletal Medicine/OMM (AOBNMM) and is in the continuous certification process. He was certified as an Osteopathic Family Physician in 1997, recertified in 2005 and 2014 and is in the continuous certification process for that specialty. His AAO fellowship (FAAO) was earned in 1999. Dr. Dowling has served on the AAO Board of Trustees (1998-2003), was AAO President (2003-2004), and has been a member and chair on several other AAO committees. Currently, he is the Secretary-treasurer of the AAO (2022-2025). He is the former chairman of the AOA Committee on Osteopathic History and Identity (1999 - 2005)and a former vice-chairman of the Educational Council on Osteopathic Principles. During the latter half of the 1990s, he was a member of the certifying board for Neuromusculoskeletal Medicine (AOBNMM/OMM) and has been a consultant with the examination processes for greater than 25 years. Currently, he serves as the chairman of the New York State Osteopathic Medical Society (NYSOMS) delegation to the AOA House of Delegates.

Dr. Dowling has traveled eleven times with KCUMB faculty and students to Guatemala on medical missions to treat patients with osteopathic manipulative medicine andprovide primary care at makeshift rural clinics. He and his wife, Fran, have been married for 48 years and they participate in many road running events during the year and he has completed five marathons (Fran has completed seven). His most important and gratifying roles are as a father and grandfather, and he frequently gets to spend time with his young grandson and granddaughter.

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