ABOUT THE ACOFP
THE ORGANIZATION
The American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians (ACOFP) is a national professional medical association representing more than 26,000 practicing osteopathic family physicians, residents, students, and allied healthcare professionals throughout the United States.
Founded in 1950, ACOFP serves as the professional home for individuals committed to osteopathic primary care and family medicine. Headquartered in Chicago’s northwest corridor near O’Hare International Airport, the organization is recognized as the largest specialty society within the osteopathic profession and the largest osteopathic specialty society.
Osteopathic family physicians are Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine (DOs) who specialize in family medicine and osteopathic manipulative treatment. They emphasize whole-person, patient-centered care that considers mind, body, and spirit while helping patients navigate an increasingly complex healthcare system. Allopathic (MD) physicians who align with the principles and practices of osteopathic medicine are also eligible for ACOFP membership, as are allied healthcare professionals as associate members.
With a recently re-affirmed strategic plan, strong financial footing, and a solid foundation of member engagement and professional influence, ACOFP is well positioned for its next phase of growth and ongoing transformation. As the osteopathic profession continues to expand nationwide, with new Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine (COMs) being established and accredited each year, the organization is presented with significant opportunities to strengthen its influence, enhance member value, and grow its membership base. ACOFP offers a compelling platform for a visionary leader to build upon its legacy while advancing innovation, relevance, and impact in an increasingly complex healthcare environment.
MISSION
ACOFP promotes excellence in osteopathic family medicine through quality education, visionary leadership, and responsible advocacy.
VISION
To be the professional home for all individuals committed to osteopathic primary care.
ORGANIZATIONAL OVERVIEW
ACOFP is governed by a 15 person
Board of Governors, which serves as the organization’s executive body with responsibilities defined by the Bylaws and directed by the
Congress of Delegates. The Board includes the Executive Committee, six Governors-at-Large, a New Physician-in-Practice Governor, a Resident Governor, a Student Governor, and leadership from the Congress of Delegates (Speaker and Vice Speaker). Together, these elected physician leaders provide strategic oversight and ensure representation across all stages of the osteopathic family medicine profession.
The organization is supported by a professional staff of 18 full-time employees, along with consultants and external partners who provide specialized services.
ACOFP operates with an annual budget of approximately $7.5 million and maintains reserves of approximately $11 million, reflecting strong financial stewardship and long-term fiscal stability. The
ACOFP Foundation further strengthens the organization’s financial position, with approximately $3 million in assets supporting philanthropic and programmatic initiatives. Under current leadership, the organization has successfully diversified its revenue streams, reducing reliance on membership dues from approximately 40 percent to 30 percent through expanded educational offerings, strategic partnerships, and other non-dues revenue initiatives.
Board members consistently describe ACOFP as a welcoming, supportive, and family-like professional home. The next Executive Director will be expected to preserve and strengthen this culture while positioning the organization for continued growth and innovation.
EDUCATION & PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
ACOFP is a premier source for osteopathic postgraduate education and continuing medical education (CME). The organization provides more than 100 hours of CME annually through in-person conferences, virtual programming, on-demand learning, certificate programs, and hands-on workshops.
Members also benefit from a wide range of non-accredited educational resources, including clinical guidelines, podcasts, blogs, video libraries, and professional development tools.
ACOFP is accredited by the AOA and the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), with commendation.
NEWS & PUBLICATIONS
ACOFP is dedicated to keeping members informed with the latest information relevant to osteopathic family physicians. Members enjoy access to:
- Email newsletters tailored to member needs and interests.
- OFP is ACOFP’s official peer-reviewed journal. Published quarterly on-line, the journal features original research, case reports, and articles focused on preventive medicine, osteopathic principles and practices, pain management, public health, medical education, and practice management.
- ACOFP Voice is the organization’s blog.
HISTORY
ACOFP was founded on February 11, 1950, in Los Angeles, California, by John V. Fiore, DO, FACOFP, and Bruce S. Collins, DO, originally as the American College of General Practitioners in Osteopathic Medicine and Surgery.
The organization held its first officially recorded meeting in Des Moines, Iowa, in 1958. During its early years, ACOFP established educational conferences and preceptorship programs that helped shape osteopathic family medicine training and professional development nationwide.
In the mid-1960s, the association relocated its headquarters to Chicago, further strengthening its national presence and influence. In 1993, the organization officially adopted its current name: the American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians. Learn more about ACOFP’s history
here.
THE POSITION
OVERVIEW
The Executive Director of the ACOFP and ACOFP Foundation (Foundation) serves as the chief executive and key management leader of ACOFP, working in partnership with the Board of Governors to advance the organization’s mission, strategic priorities, and long-term sustainability.
Reporting directly to the Board of Governors, the Executive Director oversees all operational, financial, and administrative functions of ACOFP and the Foundation. The Executive Director champions a member-centric culture that fosters engagement, satisfaction, and retention while promoting strong collaboration among staff, volunteer leaders, and members.
ACOFP has a staff of 18 professionals working remotely or on a hybrid basis. The Executive Director directly supervises six senior staff members and serves as staff liaison to the ACOFP Board of Governors, Executive and Finance Committee and the ACOFP Foundation Board of Directors, Executive and Finance Committee.
Priorities for the next Executive Director include strengthening strategic partnerships, expanding member engagement and growth, enhancing organizational relevance and visibility, and identifying innovative revenue opportunities that support ACOFP's long-term sustainability.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Leadership
- Partner with elected leadership to advance ACOFP’s mission, vision, and strategic priorities.
- Provide professional management counsel and policy guidance to volunteer leaders and the Board.
- Foster strong relationships among physician leadership, staff, members, and external stakeholders.
- Facilitate effective collaboration and conflict resolution when needed.
- Maintain productive relationships with national osteopathic and allopathic medical organizations and external partners.
- Cultivate strategic partnerships that advance ACOFP's mission, influence, and value to members.
- Lead strategies to attract, engage, and retain members across all career stages, with particular emphasis on students, residents, and early-career physicians.
Governance & Strategy
- Support effective governance practices and organizational accountability.
- Facilitate strategic planning and oversee implementation and evaluation of strategic initiatives.
- Staff and advise the Board of Governors and related leadership bodies.
- Serve as Secretary to the Congress of Delegates.
- Draft official organizational communications in partnership with the President and staff.
- Ensure organizational compliance with Board policies and governance directives.
- Ensure appropriate conflict-of-interest policies, disclosures, and governance practices are maintained.
- Partner with the Board to support effective governance practices and organizational agility.
Organizational Management
- Lead day-to-day operations and ensure effective staffing and resource allocation.
- Recruit, develop, evaluate, and retain high-performing staff.
- Establish clear performance expectations and maintain competitive compensation practices.
- Ensure operational policies, procedures, and organizational culture are consistently upheld.
- Oversee management of organizational facilities, systems, and infrastructure.
Board & Decision Support
- Prepare comprehensive background materials and recommendations for Board deliberation and decision-making.
- Ensure Board members receive timely and relevant information to support informed governance.
- Provide strategic analysis, financial implications, and implementation considerations for organizational initiatives.
- Support implementation and communication of Board decisions.
Financial Leadership
- Develop and manage the annual operating budget in accordance with Board policy and Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP).
- Maintain strong financial oversight, controls, reporting, and audit practices.
- Partner with leadership to oversee reserve and investment strategies that support long-term organizational stability.
- Ensure timely and transparent financial reporting.
- Maintain compliance with applicable legal, tax, insurance, and regulatory requirements.
- Review and execute organizational contracts and agreements.
- Continue strengthening diversified revenue streams and long-term financial sustainability.
- Identify and develop mission-aligned non-dues revenue opportunities that strengthen the organization's financial sustainability.
Foundation
- Establish the Foundation’s central office. Provide executive management to assist the Foundation’s Board of Directors (BOD) in meeting their goals and objectives; and, to interface with outside contractors as well as oversee business operations, including project management, and supervision of all day-to-day activities of the organization.
- Hire, supervise and evaluate all administrative and professional staff. Determine staffing needed to meet Foundation’s priorities and provide overall supervision to the ACOFP’s staffing support of the Foundation. Communicate work unable to be supported by ACOFP board-allocated staff resources to stay within contracted services and available resources.
- Provide service to those interacting with the Foundation (i.e. donors, grantors, prospects, membership, leadership and outside contractors). Provide support and direct inquiries to appropriate person within the ACOFP as necessary.
- Provide Administrative support to the President and BOD; assist the BOD with all organizational activities during and between meetings. Foundation-related activities to include organizing and providing support for the meetings of the BOD (at least two per year), preparing agendas, Committee reports, and minutes of the meeting following the Robert’s Rules of Order.
- Provide Administrative management for the Foundation committee activities to assure that goals are met and timelines are maintained. Create a method of tracking Committee activities and progress. Report on status of all committee activities to BOD.
- Recommend policies and procedures to the BOD when appropriate, and implement policies and procedures approved by the BOD.
- Support and act as liaison to the BOD (including all Board committees), and all Foundation committees, outside consultants, and auditors, unless otherwise delegated to ACOFP staff.
- Develop, secure and manage corporate partnerships, sponsorships and strategic relationships in partnership with designated staff and Foundation Leadership.
- Generally represent the Foundation to the public and other organizations, as authorized by the BOD.
- Coordinate activities with the outside contractors.
CANDIDATE PROFILE
The ideal candidate will be a strategic, collaborative, and financially sophisticated executive with demonstrated success leading complex membership-based or healthcare-related organizations.
The successful candidate will bring:
- Experience working within complex stakeholder environments, including physician-led organizations, volunteer leadership structures, and external partners.
- Strong financial acumen and experience overseeing organizational finances, reserves, grants and long-term fiscal sustainability.
- Demonstrated success developing diversified revenue streams, including strategic partnerships, sponsorships, grants and other non-dues revenue initiatives.
- Strong organizational leadership and team management skills, including oversight of hybrid or distributed staff environments.
- Exceptional communication, relationship-building, and consensus-building abilities.
- Strategic and forward-thinking leadership with the ability to navigate change and emerging industry trends.
- Demonstrated success leading organizational change, innovation, and strategic transformation in evolving environments.
- A collaborative leadership style grounded in transparency, integrity, and accountability.
- Emotional intelligence and the ability to listen well, build trust and inspire staff, volunteers, and stakeholders.
EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE
Candidates should ideally possess:
- An advanced degree in healthcare administration, business administration, education, public policy, or a related field preferred.
- Certified Association Executive (CAE) designation preferred.
- At least 10 years of progressively responsible executive leadership experience, including oversight of governance, finance, membership, and organizational operations.
- Experience leading a healthcare-related organization, medical society, professional association, or similarly complex membership-based organization preferred.
- Knowledge of the osteopathic profession and an understanding of current healthcare trends and policy issues are advantageous.
- Demonstrated ability to leverage technology, data, and emerging digital tools to enhance organizational effectiveness, member engagement, and strategic decision-making.
COMPENSATION & LOCATION
Compensation for this role will reflect a range of factors, including relevant experience, demonstrated expertise, and other considerations. ACOFP's good-faith starting salary estimate for this position is $300,000 - $340,000 plus bonus potential and a comprehensive benefits package. The organization also offers a flexible hybrid work arrangement for staff.
ONLINE PRESENCE
SEARCH PROCESS
Applications for the Executive Director position will be accepted until August 31. First Round interviews are expected to take place in September with finalist interviews expected October. ACOFP anticipates that the new Executive Director will assume the role by January 2027.
Interested candidates should submit a cover letter and resume to:
Jill Christie, President, Tuft & Associates, c/o cbabjak@tuftassoc.com
Job Features
| Job Category | Open |
| Location | Chicago, IL |