Karen J. Nichols, DO, MA, MACOI, CS
President
American Osteopathic Association
On July 17, 2010, the American Osteopathic Association installed Karen J. Nichols, DO, MA, MACOI, CS as its 114th president as well as its first woman to serve in this capacity. Dr. Nichols is currently on leave from her position as Dean of the Midwestern University/Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine. She has served in that position since 2002. Prior to that time, Dr. Nichols was Assistant Dean for Post Doctoral Education and Chair of the Department of Internal Medicine at the Midwestern University/Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine since 1997. She was in the private practice of internal medicine and geriatrics in Mesa, Arizona from 1985 through 2002.
A graduate of the Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences College of Osteopathic Medicine with a DO degree, Dr. Nichols also holds a Masters degree in Management with a specialty in Healthcare Administration from Central Michigan University.
Dr. Nichols has received numerous awards, including the first Arizona Osteopathic Medical Association Physician of the Year Award, the J.O. Watson named Lectureship from the Ohio Osteopathic Association, Distinguished Service Awards from the Illinois Osteopathic Medical Society, Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine Alumni Association and the Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences College of Osteopathic Medicine Alumni Association, and holds an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from that same institution.
During her tenure as chief-of-staff at Mesa General Hospital in Arizona, Dr. Nichols established end-of-life care guidelines. By invitation, she frequently speaks nationally on end-of-life care and outreach issues for osteopathic medicine.
