Board Nominations

Marie-Anne Chabert (France)

Nominating Organization: Syndicat Français des Ostéopathes (SFDO)

Brief Bio: I graduated as an osteopath back in 2000 from the ESO in Maidstone, embarking on a journey that has taken me across the globe. After honing my skills for 7 fulfilling years in the picturesque landscapes of New Zealand, I felt the call to return to my roots in France in 2007.

Setting up my own private practice in Nantes marked the beginning of a new chapter in my career. Delving into the realm of education, I took on the role of an osteopathic teacher in 2008, eventually ascending to the positions of head of pedagogical education and principal of the school. This journey of growth and learning led me to the bustling streets of Paris in 2016, where I assumed the mantle of school Dean at l’Ecole d’Ostéopathie de Paris (EOP).

In 2021, I took a brief hiatus to contribute as a coordinator for an osteopathic research team (IRFO), delving into the intricacies of the field. Fast forward to 2024, and I found myself at the helm of another school in Bordeaux.

My diverse experiences across England, New Zealand, and France have endowed me with a rich tapestry of leadership skills and insights. As a prospective board director, I am driven by a passion to enhance the recognition and integration of osteopathy within the healthcare system.

Drawing from my global journey, I am eager to contribute to the advancement of osteopathic practices on an international scale.

Leah Frank (Germany)

Nominating Organization: Deutsch Amerikanische Akademie für Osteopathie (DAAO)

Brief Bio: I am an US-trained osteopathic physician, board-certified in osteopathic medicine. I have been living in Germany since 2019 and am in the unique position to see the similarities and differences in osteopathic education and practice between the two countries. I have attended courses with both osteopathic physicians and osteopaths in Portugal, the Netherlands, and Germany. I have the privilege of participating in the International Consortium of Manual Therapies (ICMT), further widening my lens of understanding in the international osteopathic world. I presented a summary of the ICMT work at a meeting of the board of the European Register of Osteopathic Physicians (EROP) and connected to more osteopathic physicians in additional countries. Through attendance at several meetings of the OIA, I heard about the struggles of obtaining legal regulation from various countries‘ organizations, and the challenges of standardizing osteopathic education to a level that prioritizes patient safety and efficacy.

I have served on many committees in my life. Currently I am a part of the advisory board to the DAAO, and head up the restructuring of our cranial curriculum. I have been active nationally in the American Academy of Osteopathy (AAO) and Osteopathic Cranial Academy (OCA), as well as American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians. Locally in Kirksville, I headed multiple student organizations and was a key player in developing and implementing new curriculum for disaster awareness for our students.

Education has always been a priority for me. In Kirksville, both as an academic fellow and as a resident with a faculty appointment, I interacted with hundreds of students as table trainer, lecturer, and remedial assistant. I also voluntarily regularly taught morning sessions of OMM for the other residents, as well as evening sessions for the students. Now, I teach frequently for the DAAO and MWE, both as table-trainer and as lead teacher, and hold a clinical faculty appointment from Lincoln Memorial University-DCOM.

Prior to medical school, I worked as a firefighter and EMT in a small town and was active as a board member of a local theater company, The MAD* Factory (*Music, Arts, Drama). With both the fire department and the MAD* Factory, I was a part of strategic planning processes. Community outreach and education programs were priorities in both organizations. With the MAD* Factory, we created programming for fundraising as well, including an annual FUNraiser event that continues to today.

Earlier, in college and even high school, I was active in governance of student organizations. I organized and planned conferences and events. I learned in this time how to use Robert‘s Rules of Order to run an effective meeting, how to prioritize agenda items and redirect when members got off track. These skills come in useful today, as I work as practice manager of our private practice and in the many committees of which I am a part.

Nikole Grbin (Australia)

Nominating Organization: Osteopathy Board of Australia

Brief Bio: I am a registered osteopath practicing in Australia. Last year I concluded more than ten years of service to the Osteopathy Board of Australia and the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency, the authority responsible for registering osteopaths and accrediting courses of study leading to a qualification in osteopathy. During that time, I also Chaired the Registration and Notification Committee, hearing complaints against individual osteopaths. I have also been involved in a plethora of reviews, working groups, consultations and projects to improve the processes, efficiency and outcomes pertaining to standard setting, interprofessional practice, accreditation and many other healthcare initiatives, including a WHO collaboration project for improved health workforce regulation.

With a commitment to strengthen public safety and access to effective, evidenced-based healthcare within the Australian healthcare system, there has been a strong drive to provide well researched and up-to-date registration standards, ‘best practice’ guidance to practitioners as well as modern and fit-for-purpose competencies, including the Capabilities for Osteopathic Practice 2019.

Given the opportunity, it would be an honor to contribute and serve alongside the dedicated, experienced and knowledgeable team of the OIA. I would act and lead with integrity, bringing to the role the skills that I have developed as an osteopath and a regulator, including sound understanding of organizational governance, strategic oversight as well as excellence in communication and stakeholder engagement. I would strive for continual improvement in the culture and respect of an already dynamic team that actively listens to differing viewpoints, reflects on the understanding and contributions of others, to critically review and constructively share perceptions and ideas to drive innovation.

Martin Levine (US)

Nominating Organization: Via College of Osteopathic Medicine (VCOM)

Brief Bio: I have been in the osteopathic family my whole life. I was born at Detroit Osteopathic Hospital while my father was interning. Not only did my father (Howard Levine DO 101st) and I serve as AOA President but so did the obstetrician (Phil Adler DO 81st) who delivered me. My grandfather (David Steinbaum DO KCOM ‘30) was the first D.O. in the family and we have 24 D.O.s through four generations. I know that it was my grandfather’s example that attracted all the other family members to become a D.O. We saw how much his patients loved and respected him and knew he was making a difference in their lives. Having been fortunate enough to go into practice with both my grandfather and father, I learned how to be “good D.O.” and perform OMT on every patient on every visit, regardless of where the visit took place.

I also learned leadership skills from them. They believed that only through joining member organizations and participating in policy decisions could one understand and lead fellow D.O.s. Leadership positions came out of hard work, attending meetings and never saying no to new opportunities to serve the osteopathic profession. These lessons and shared decision making in the practice partnership led me to organizational leadership positions on a local, state and national level. I served on national external task forces for other member organizations and governmental committees which advised both Congress and the US administration through Heath and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration and Congressional Senate and House committees.

I graduated from KCOM and completed a Family Medicine residency where I was chief resident. I practiced FM for 33 years while maintaining a sports medicine practice as a team physician to the US Olympic Team, NJ Nets and the NY/NJ MetroStars, Elite Athlete Physician at the NJ Waterfront, NYC and Boston Marathons, three colleges and a dozen high schools. I also started residency programs at five hospitals between 1995 and 2016, serving as director of medical education and FM residency director at two.

Nancy Spence (Canada)

Nominating Organizations: The Ontario Association of Osteopathic Manual Practitioners (OAO) & the Norwegian Association of Osteopaths – NAO (Norsk Osteopatforbund – NOF)

Brief Bio: I have been an Osteopath since 2008 and wish to contribute to the international growth, development, and recognition of osteopathy. To that end, I have sought out opportunities to learn, participate, and lead advancement in our profession. In past, I served for 7 years on the Canadian Federation of Osteopaths (CFO) Board (4 as President). I am currently the President of the Ontario Association of the Osteopathic Manual Practitioners (OAO) and in my 12th year on their Board. Currently, I sit on 2 Osteopathy Europe’s Policy and Education Committees; the Professional Advisory Council (PAC) for Ontario’s first Honours Bachelor of Science in Osteopathy program; I am Co-Vice Chair of the Technical Committee for the Canadian National Standards for Osteopathic Healthcare (NSC) which is an adaptation of the CEN Standard for Osteopathic Healthcare and continue my contribution with CFO as part of their National Competencies Project Management Team and Insurance Committee. I possess drive and dedication to task which I have tempered with teamwork and an ever-growing understanding of our profession and the challenges it faces.

I believe in honesty, collaboration, efficiency, and clarity. I work hard to embody these qualities and encourage others to explore and embody them. By creating in a transparent and fair environment for all, I strive to be my best as an individual, a team member, and a leader.