Serving the osteopathic profession

In Memoriam: Former AOA Director Ann Wittner, CMP

Because of all her successes within the organization overseeing so many different aspects of operations, Wittner became the first nonphysician to be named an AOA honorary life member during her tenure.

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Ann Wittner, CMP, former AOA associate executive director and director of the department of administration, died in June 2024. Wittner served as director of the department of administration for many years, providing leadership for the profession as she organized and executed the meetings of the AOA House of Delegates and Board of Trustees, as well as the AOA’s annual osteopathic conference.

She managed 35 committee and graduate medical education meetings. She was also a member of the Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA) and served at annual PCMA meetings. She was also on the Membership Committee and Advisory Council of CONVENE magazine. She served as a panelist at PCMA on such topics as audiovisual enhancements to seminars and the meeting professional certification program.

Although she retired in 2008, Wittner continued to be involved with the AOA as secretary to the Bureau of Conventions. Because of all her successes within the organization overseeing so many different aspects of operations, Wittner became the first nonphysician to be named an AOA honorary life member. Before retiring, she also received the AOA’s Distinguished Service Certificate.

“Every year, our convention and meetings of our House and Board improve greatly in large part because of Ann,” said AOA Past President George Thomas, DO, as she received the certificate.

Ann Wittner, CMP, is shown receiving the AOA's highest award, the Distinguished Service Certificate, in 2004.

As a resident of Chicago, Wittner cared deeply about her community and had active memberships with the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE), Meeting Professionals International (MPI), Chicago Society of Association Executives (CSAE) and Chicago Health Care Executives (CHCE). In her free time, she loved to play golf and tennis and was also an avid traveler.

“We are deeply saddened by the passing of our former AOA colleague Ann Wittner, CMP. As the previous director of the AOA department of administration, Ann made impactful strides for DOs, and she will be sorely missed,” said AOA President Teresa A. Hubka, DO, FACOOG (Dist.), FACOG, CS. “I worked with Ann during all my stages at the AOA—as a student, resident and attending—and she never faltered in her passion and drive to create necessary improvements to better our osteopathic community, even as she took on many high-intensity roles. As the first non-DO to be named an AOA honorary life member, she leaves behind a legacy for us to continue to reach for ourselves.”

4 comments

  1. Joseph P. Molnar, DO, FACOFPdist

    I worked with Ann on the Convention for over 20 years. Her love and defense of our profession was not only unsurpassed but also humbling. Her life was devoted to making the DO profession the best in the world and took every opportunity to promote it. She will be sorely missed .
    God Bless!

  2. Felix J. Rogers, DO, MACOI, FACC

    Ann Wittner’s death is a sad loss to the general population and a huge loss to the osteopathic profession. When you work with groups, including the osteopathic profession, it becomes clear there are two types of people — those who talk about doing things, and those who actually get it done. Ann was so quietly competent many of us were not aware of her work until it dawned on us that everything got done, and done well.

    1. Delores Rodgers-Wright

      I worked with Ann for 32 years and she was very respectful of her peers. She was a living example. She will truly be missed. RIP.

  3. Janice A. Wachtler

    As an AOA employee and later as the Executive Director of ACOEP, I worked closely with Ann for many years, and she was an incredible teacher and friend. She will be missed.

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