Leaders of the Osteopathic Physicians and Surgeons of California and American Academy of Osteopathy receive the AOA’s 2026 Bob E. Jones, CAE, award

The 2026 recipients of the AOA’s Bob E. Jones, CAE, award are Holly Macriss, executive director of the Osteopathic Physicians and Surgeons of California, and Sherri L. Quarles, chief executive officer of the American Academy of Osteopathy. Macriss and Quarles have been recognized for their exemplary leadership and tremendous contributions toward advancing osteopathic medicine.

The award is named in honor of Bob E. Jones, CAE, who served as executive director of the Oklahoma Osteopathic Association from 1969-1999, and whose 30-year leadership of the association resulted in numerous advances for the profession.

Holly Macriss

Throughout her career, Macriss’ deep connection to the osteopathic community has fueled her leadership journey—from her start with the American Osteopathic Association (AOA) in 2002 as a regional affiliate manager for five years to her current role as executive director of the Osteopathic Physicians and Surgeons of California (OPSC) since 2022. Her passion, integrity and humility resonate in every endeavor, making her both a trusted leader and dedicated steward of the profession she champions.

Importantly, her dedication extends beyond OPSC to the osteopathic profession as a whole. She consistently evaluates projects and benefits not only by their value to California, but also by how they might be adapted and implemented across all osteopathic state and national associations—fostering collective growth and shared success.

Her journey in association management began in membership, igniting a passion for serving members that has guided her leadership since day one. She approaches every challenge and opportunity through the lens of membership—constantly asking how best to meet members’ needs and build a thriving community where osteopathic physicians can come together to learn, collaborate and advance the profession.

Currently, Macriss serves as president-elect of the Association of Osteopathic State Executive Directors (AOSED), further demonstrating her commitment to leadership within the professional community. Additionally, she was an integral member of the OPSC team honored with an AOA Presidential Citation in 2025 by AOA Immediate Past President Teresa A. Hubka, DO, FACOOG (Dist.). The citation recognized OPSC’s outstanding contributions to the profession.

A strong collaborator, she actively seeks opportunities to connect OPSC and the broader osteopathic profession with individuals and organizations statewide and nationally. Through these meaningful partnerships, she helps build a vibrant community that fosters professional development, shared resources and collective advancement.

Macriss’ flexibility and strategic focus enable her to navigate diverse roles—from governance support to operational problem-solving—while ensuring clear communication, team coordination and day-to-day excellence. Her stewardship keeps the organization agile, responsive and well-positioned to advance the osteopathic mission.

A hallmark of her leadership is her readiness to take ownership of the often unseen but critical operational work that provides organizational stability. From serving on a variety of AOA bureaus and committees to overseeing the administrative processes of OPSC, she has created an environment that empowers the teams she supports to build a strong foundation for sustainable growth. This hands-on approach reflects her prioritization of service and stewardship over personal recognition.

Macriss’ thoughtful, dependable and service-oriented leadership continues to strengthen organizational capacity and meaningfully advance the osteopathic medical profession.

Sherri L. Quarles

Quarles has been an integral part of the American Academy of Osteopathy (AAO) since joining the organization in 2011 as a staff accountant. She quickly advanced through leadership roles, serving as associate executive director and later interim executive director in early 2016, before being named executive director later that year. In March 2022, the AAO Board of Trustees formally retitled the position to chief executive officer in recognition of her impact and commitment.

Throughout her tenure, Quarles has been credited with guiding the AAO through significant growth, operational development and challenges, including the financial uncertainties brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. She has overseen the organization’s financial operations with a strong emphasis on fiscal integrity. Her responsibilities include managing audits, investments, tax reporting, human resources and IT operations while supporting the strategic direction set by AAO leadership.

In addition to managing day-to-day operations, Quarles leads staff responsible for supporting governance, membership engagement, communications and programming. She is also closely involved in organizing AAO’s major educational events, including the annual Convocation and programming at OMED, coordinating with physicians, students, lecturers and external partners to deliver high-quality educational experiences.

Her leadership has also extended to the expansion of the AAO’s educational offerings, including overseeing the development of a new teaching center at AAO headquarters equipped with modern audiovisual technology and osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT) tables. Under her direction, the AAO’s publications—including the AAO Journal, AAO Member News and Osteoblast—have continued to grow and evolve.

Quarles is widely recognized for her collaborative leadership style, working closely with the AAO Board of Trustees and Governors while fostering partnerships with other osteopathic organizations. She has helped facilitate joint educational initiatives with AOA affiliates such as the American Osteopathic Academy of Sports Medicine, the American Osteopathic College of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and the American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians.

Beyond her work with the AAO, Quarles has been actively involved in professional organizations, including serving as president and past president of the Society of Osteopathic Specialty Executives (SOSE). She is also a member of the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE) and has contributed to multiple AOA task forces.

A strong advocate for students, Quarles has supported the Student American Academy of Osteopathy (SAAO), enhancing programming and opportunities for student engagement. In recognition of her support, the SAAO established an annual award in her name to assist chapters in funding osteopathic educational initiatives.

Under her leadership, AAO received the AOA’s 2019 Strategic Team and Recognition (STARs) award for advancing osteopathic medicine. She has also been honored with the Dig On Golden Shovel award by the Fellow of the American Academy of Osteopathy Committee—an accolade typically reserved for osteopathic physicians in recognition of lifetime achievement.

Her dedication, work ethic and commitment to the profession have strengthened AAO and elevated its role within the osteopathic community.

Recognition

The AOA will recognize and present the Bob E. Jones, CAE, award to Quarles and Macriss during the AOA House of Delegates Meeting this month.

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