DO becomes OSU team physician, ophthalmologist marks 50th mission trip, CORK research conference headed to California

Whether through safeguarding the health of student athletes, restoring sight in patients in developing nations or advancing osteopathic manipulative medicine (OMM) research, the impact of DOs continues to expand throughout clinical, academic and global settings.

Below, learn more about Oklahoma State University’s (OSU) new team physician, Jesse Shaw, DO, sight-restoring humanitarian Ralph Crew, DO, and the upcoming 2026 Conference on Osteopathic Research & Knowledge (CORK).

Jesse Shaw, DO, is now team physician for OSU Athletics

Oklahoma State University (OSU) Medicine has selected Jesse Shaw, DO, to serve as a new team physician for OSU Athletics. In his new role, Dr. Shaw will oversee the comprehensive health, safety and performance of OSU student athletes.

Dr. Shaw brings years of high-level sports medicine expertise to OSU Athletics. AOA board-certified in sports medicine and family medicine with osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT), Dr. Shaw has provided care for Division I collegiate athletes, Olympic athletes and military special forces.

After receiving his DO degree from Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM), Dr. Shaw served as a medical officer for the United States Navy, primarily supporting special forces such as Navy SEAL teams. He later completed his sports medicine fellowship at Auburn University and went on to provide care for Auburn student athletes as well as those at Washington State University.

Dr. Shaw is a fellow of the American Osteopathic College of Family Physicians (AOCFP) and the American Osteopathic Academy of Sports Medicine (AOASM). He is an experienced researcher and a published author.

In addition to his role with OSU Athletics, Dr. Shaw will also serve as a clinical assistant professor of sports medicine, providing training and mentoring in the new sports medicine fellowship at OSU Medicine.

“This is an amazing chance to not only work with OSU’s incredible student athletes, but also the university’s coaches and support staff and OSU Medicine’s athletic trainers, physician assistants, behavioral medicine physicians and other sports medicine staff,” Dr. Shaw said. “OSU’s culture of family and its team approach to caring for our student athletes is what drew me to the position. I can’t wait to contribute to that culture and be part of the Cowboy family.”

Read the statement and his bio to learn more about Dr. Shaw.

Michigan-based DO completes 50th international sight-restoring mission

Ophthalmologist Ralph Crew, DO, has marked a major milestone in his career by completing his 50th volunteer medical mission trip to provide cataract removal surgeries to patients in developing nations.

Dr. Crew is an AOA board-certified ophthalmologist who, in 1990, became the first ophthalmologist to establish a practice in Big Rapids, Michigan. In addition to cataract surgery, Dr. Crew also specializes in treating glaucoma.

Dr. Crew’s local newspaper, The Pioneer, recently featured his volunteer work and career milestone. Dr. Crew’s extraordinary achievement comes after nearly three decades of volunteer work in developing countries. His first mission trip was to Guatemala in the late 1990s. Since then, Dr. Crew has traveled throughout Latin America, Africa and Asia to not only perform surgeries, but also to help train local physicians. Dr. Crew’s latest mission, his 50th, brought him to the small Caribbean island of Dominica.

“You start doing something, and you just keep on doing it. All of a sudden, you’re at 50,” Dr. Crew told The Pioneer.

During one notable trip to Honduras, Dr. Crew and his team completed over 250 surgeries in just five days, including 198 cataract procedures and 57 pterygium surgeries. He noted that these missions depend on donated medical supplies and rigorous planning. With a wide variety of patient needs and environments, each trip presents its own unique set of challenges.

Dr. Crew said that his travels continuously highlight the sharp gap between American ophthalmic care and the limited resources found in developing countries. These medical missions have strengthened his appreciation for the medical care and resources available in the U.S.

“We’re blessed that we can help people,” Dr. Crew told The Pioneer. “You can change someone’s life in 15 or 20 minutes.”

Read more about Dr. Crew in his interview in The Pioneer.

CORK 2026 to bring the OMM research community to La Jolla, California, this September

The Conference on Osteopathic Research & Knowledge (CORK) will take place Sept. 9-10, 2026, at the Scripps Seaside Forum in La Jolla, California. Hosted by the University of San Diego Centers for Integrative Health, this year’s event highlights how real-world clinical practice drives clearer questions, rigorous methodology and a unified research framework.

This two-day event brings together researchers, physicians and medical students across the osteopathic manipulative medicine (OMM) community, providing a platform for academic exchange and professional development. Attendees will have the opportunity to engage in interactive sessions, take in scientific presentations and connect with peers from across the country.

Registration is now open, with both in-person and virtual attendance options available. AOA Category 1-A CME is anticipated. For more information, visit the UC San Diego website.