Trump, Biden tap osteopathic physicians for White House medical care

The leader of the free world once again is under the watchful medical care of a doctor of osteopathic medicine.

A DO again is serving as the president’s physician, the third such appointment and “an unprecedented and historic affirmation of the osteopathic medical profession,” according to the American Osteopathic Association (AOA).

"We are honored by the trust placed in osteopathic physicians to care for our nation's leaders,” AOA President Teresa A. Hubka, DO, FACOOG, said in an announcement.

“This recognition reflects the dedication of DOs and our distinctiveness to provide comprehensive and empathetic healthcare, aligning with our philosophy of treating the whole person,” she said. “Osteopathic physicians are trained to see the whole person, not just the symptoms. This holistic approach is essential in a leadership role where the health of the nation is at stake.”

Who are the docs?

Sean Barbabella, DO, is a Navy captain who has served in Afghanistan and Iraq, and this month he was appointed by President Donald J. Trump. He attended A.T. Still University Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine (ATSU-KCOM) and completed his residency training at Portsmouth Naval Medical Center in Virginia.

Barbabella specializes in emergency and tactical medicine and has completed several tours of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan, according to his AOA biography. In his military career, he has received a Purple Heart and a Legion of Merit award, two of the military’s most respected decorations. Before he became physician to the president, Barbabella was running the Naval Health Clinic Cherry Point in Havelock, North Carolina.

Serving President Biden

Barbabella follows Kevin O’Connor, DO, who served under President Joe Biden from 2021 to 2024. A retired colonel in the U.S. Army, O’Connor had more than 22 years of service, including with the 82nd Airborne Division and the 75th Ranger Regiment.

O’Connor also served in the White House Medical Unit full time under President George W. Bush, and in 2009 was appointed physician to the vice president for Biden, serving under President Barack Obama.

He is an alumnus of New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine. In an AOA profile, O’Connor noted the doctor is not alone in caring for the president. The White House medical unit has about nine doctors, 15 nurses, 15 physician assistants, and many administrators.

In the Trump White House

Sean Conley, DO, FACEP, served as the president’s physician during Trump’s first term. Conley earned his doctor of osteopathic medicine degree at Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, following his undergraduate study at University of Notre Dame, where he participated in the Navy ROTC program.

Conley has served in various academic and operational assignments in South Korea, Australia, Haiti and Afghanistan. He now serves as Navy commander and physician specializing in military and emergency medicine in the Uniformed Services University School of Medicine.

DOs in American health care

The physicians illustrate the roles of DOs in medicine in military and civilian life, according to AOA. DOs make up almost 30% of military doctors, according to the Association of Military Osteopathic Physicians and Surgeons.

Osteopathic physicians continue to celebrate 150 years of the profession. This year, the profession is poised to surpass a total of 200,000 practicing DOs and students.

"The appointment of osteopathic physicians by three consecutive presidents underscores the exceptional training and holistic approach that DOs bring to patient care,” AOA CEO Kathleen S. Creason, MBA, said in a statement. “This milestone highlights the integral role osteopathic medicine plays in our nation's health care system.”