Appropriately enough, the Northwest Osteopathic Medical Foundation was "born" at a hospital. With the sale of Eastmoreland Hospital in Portland, Oregon, the hospital’s physicians and board of directors made a commitment to embark on a unique mission: To establish a charitable foundation that would support osteopathic medical education, charitable giving, and programs to improve long-term health for the Pacific Northwest in perpetuity.
The Foundation was established in 1989 and over the years built a proud legacy of doing just that - with a mainstay of programs and services supported by the osteopathic medical communities of Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, and Washington.
Our flagship program is our tuition assistance scholarships. We annually award between $90,000 and $110,000 in scholarship funds to osteopathic medical school students. Awardees are selected on a number of criteria, but a commitment to osteopathic principles and practicing in the Northwest are very important factors.
Another important program we support is the continuing medical education programs of the five northwest state osteopathic medical associations. Our sponsorship of these conferences helps keep the cost reasonable for primary care practitioners in more rural areas of the states we serve.
The Foundation is committed to developing leadership training and experiences for medical students and DOs who are interested in becoming more involved in health policy at the county, state, and federal levels.
The Foundation provides an online/social media presence with weekly health and wellness blogs focusing on the principles of osteopathic medicine that support mind, body, and spirit. We provide public presentations on osteopathic medicine, osteopathic medical education, and wellness programs with an osteopathic approach.