How do we rebuild a sense of community between DOs, and why should we?

When we think about the communities we’re a part of, our minds often go to the obvious ones: home and workplace. If we’re lucky, we might also have a “third space” like a pickleball league, book club or place of worship. These are the spaces where we invest our time and energy, and they often feel like they are all we can manage.

But what we might overlook are the broader communities we engage with, often digitally. These relationships may be parasocial, and face-to-face time is rare, but they still shape our lives. In 2026, our communities include the podcasts we listen to, the musicians we support and the content we consume. These digital spaces influence our decisions at home and in practice, forming our identities just as much as any pickleball league or book club.

For DOs, the challenge is even greater. We’re practicing across various specialties and subspecialties, in every state and even internationally. So, what keeps us connected? The same thing that connects a podcast listener commuting in New Jersey to another who’s retired on a beach: shared digital spaces.

A new online home

That’s exactly what I’ve been exploring over the past few months as the Emerging DO platform prepared to launch more broadly to the DO community. The platform is now live; members of the osteopathic medical profession can join for free on the Emerging DO website. The American Osteopathic Information Association (AOiA) is inviting all DOs to contribute—not just to the platform itself, but also to a feature called “Insights.” This tool will help students find the perfect residency programs using real, verified information from practicing DOs who’ve been through it themselves. This feature was particularly important to me because I think firsthand accounts provide the most valuable information about a program’s day-to-day experience.

Real-life insights from DOs

The AOiA’s Emerging DO platform is designed to provide students, residents and early-career DOs with real-world advice and experiences from practicing DOs. If you haven’t shared your insights yet, now’s the time. By contributing, we can create a resource that’s more reliable than what students might find on AI platforms or search engines. Why? Because it’s coming directly from us—DOs who’ve lived it.

The platform offers a survey DOs can take to share insights into their residency program with the osteopathic community. I felt it was very important to fill out this survey and share my experience with medical students. Despite all the information about different programs that’s out there, it can still be difficult as a medical student to really know what program is right for you and what things set a program apart from others. The most important things typically end up being the people and what the experience of being in that residency is like.

It only takes a few minutes to register and answer seven quick yes/no questions on EmergingDO.org. By doing so, you’re helping to build the kind of community many of us wish we’d had earlier in our training.

Emerging DO mentor program

Once you’re signed in on the platform, you’ll find a mentor program tailored to the specific needs of DOs at different career stages. For new DOs and those in training—especially nontraditional or first-generation students—mentorship can be a game changer. It’s a chance to build a foundation of support within the DO community.

Whether you’re offering advice on applications, sharing networking tips or just helping someone navigate their work-life balance, you have the experience to be a mentor. And if you’re seeking guidance yourself, this platform makes it easy to find someone who’s been in your shoes.

As a practicing physician, I remember how much guidance meant to me. I’m excited to join a cohort as a mentor and for upcoming opportunities to be a mentee to give and gain insight in my career.

DOctors’ lounge

The DOctors’ Lounge within Emerging DO is a new conversation platform where you can ask and answer questions—either as yourself or anonymously. It’s designed to foster stronger connections, provide relevant answers and build a supportive community for DOs at every career stage.

Sure, these conversations are already happening on Reddit, Facebook and LinkedIn. But Emerging DO cuts through the noise to create a space that’s focused specifically on your DO identity, both personal and professional.

Much like a strong alumni network or professional organization, Emerging DO is here to connect you with the resources and people who can help you along your journey. By contributing to trustworthy, positive platforms like this, we’re not just building a community—we’re giving back to the field that called us to serve.

To peruse the platform and join, visit the Emerging DO platform site.

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