‘Our patients need our care’ — AOA names first psychiatrist as association president

The American Osteopathic Association (AOA) has installed its first president specializing in psychiatry.

Robert G.G. Piccinini, DO, D.FACN, assumed the AOA helm as its 129th president on July 19 during the association’s annual business meeting in Chicago. He succeeds Teresa A. Hubka, DO, FACOOG (Dist.), FACOG, CS. The organization represents almost 200,000 osteopathic physicians and medical students across the United States.

"We are here because our patients need our care," Piccinini said. “No one understands the needs of DOs like we do, and no one can protect our profession, our patients, and our principles like we can, especially when we stand together."

AOA credited Piccinni as a distinguished leader in psychiatry, osteopathic medical education and health care advocacy, with a career marked by excellence, integrity, and deep dedication to advancing the osteopathic profession. He has served on the AOA Board of Trustees since 2015 and most recently held the roles of presidential adviser and chair of multiple key departments, including business affairs, education, research, and professional affairs.

“Dr. Piccinini’s career exemplifies the core values of osteopathic medicine: compassion, community, and holistic care,” AOA CEO Kathleen S. Creason, MBA, said in the announcement. “His decades of service in clinical care, medical education, and organizational leadership make him the ideal steward for the next chapter of our profession.”

Piccinini is board certified in both general adult and geriatric psychiatry. He maintains a private practice in Michigan and serves as a clinical adjunct instructor at A.T. Still University. A former chief of psychiatry at Henry Ford Macomb Hospital, Piccinini has held faculty appointments at Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine (MSUCOM), where he helped shape future generations of physicians. A passionate advocate for student support and education, he established three endowed scholarships at MSUCOM in honor of family members.

“Dr. Piccinini’s roots run deep in Michigan. He has dedicated his career to serving our community," Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said in a statement. "His work has touched countless lives here in Michigan and across the country."

A prolific contributor to academic and professional communities, Piccinini has presented extensively on topics ranging from psychiatric medication management and physician wellness to medical ethics and workplace mental health. Throughout his career, Piccinini has held numerous leadership positions, including as president of the American College of Osteopathic Neurologists and Psychiatrists President and the Michigan Osteopathic Association. He has served on the board of directors of the National Board of Osteopathic Medical Examiners.

Outside of medicine, Piccinini enjoys exploring his love for grilling and barbecuing through his culinary venture, “Doc Bob’s BARx-B-QUE.”

In other business of the AOA annual business meeting, Richard Thacker, DO, MACOI, was named president-elect of the AOA. Thacker is an AOA board-certified osteopathic internal medicine physician and associate dean of clinical resources at Alabama College of Osteopathic Medicine. He will begin his term as AOA President in July 2026.