History

Building On The Vision

The cranial concept, which evolved from the founder of osteopathy A.T. Still, MD, DO, and one of his students, William Garner Sutherland, DO, offers a unique advance in the art and science of healing by directing the body’s inherent ability to normalize function and promote healing.  Cranial Osteopathy is the application of the principles of osteopathy to the entire body, including the bones, membranes and fluid surrounding the brain and spinal cord.  It has a physiological explanation based on the study of anatomical structure and function and clinical observations of the response to treatment.

The Cranial Academy Foundation, Inc, is a 501(c)3 scientific, education charitable organization. The Foundation exists to fund education and research in the discipline of osteopathy, specifically Cranial Osteopathy. Originally formed to assist The Osteopathic Cranial Academy with scholarships to students taking Osteopathic Cranial Academy courses and research through The Osteopathic Cranial Academy, it has broadened its horizons and now funds research being done outside The Osteopathic Cranial Academy but within the discipline of Osteopathy in the Cranial Field.

President’s Message

Dear Members,

Our previous administration established the lofty goal of never turning down a medical student in need of a scholarship to attend an OCA course. Our office has maintained this informal policy and “always knows” which physicians to turn to when they run into a shortage of Foundation funding. “They never disappoint,” says former office manager Jennifer Southworth of the doctors on her extensive list of contributors.

This year, Drs. Richard Feely and Anthony Capobianco made up the monetary shortfall that made it possible for medical students to enroll in courses fundamental to their Osteopathic training, their gift was the determining factor. The list of physicians Ms. Southworth has accumulated in her 25 years with the Academy is too numerous to recount here (see directory listing of donors).

The gratitude expressed by the medical students serves as a reminder as to how much those scholarships mean to the next generation of Osteopaths. Third and fourth-year students are becoming more savvy about understanding the uniqueness of our specialty and where to seek advanced OMT training.

Michael Hagopian, now a medical student at Touro University California, attended the OCA introductory course in 2019: “The course renewed my passion for medicine,” he wrote. “I gave up my normal life to study medicine, and the experience of working with senior physicians and observing their passion and love for what they do gave me a glimpse of the excitement ahead.”

Clare Donahue, now a resident physician at a hospital in Tucson Arizona, enrolled in her first Academy course in 2015: “One of the most amazing things is training with doctors who became physicians because they have to heal,” she wrote. “I’m grateful for the opportunity to have learned from them, trained with them, and been introduced to a community of critical thinkers and wonderful human beings.”

Eric J. Dolgin, DO, FCA
The Osteopathic Cranial Academy Foundation President

Bringing inspiration and innovative training to the next generation of physicians.

The Osteopathic Cranial Academy Foundation is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization, FEIN #35-1912585.
Your gift is deductible for federal income tax purposes to the extent provided by law.

 

Contact Us Today For More Information:

info@osteopathicCAF.org

818-796-6750​

Graphics by Abhai Kaul