The American Osteopathic Foundation and collaborating specialty organizations have partnered to recognize nine inspiring young osteopathic physicians (DOs) as the 2021 Class of Outstanding Residents of the Year:

Jessica Behringer, DO, Outstanding Resident of the Year in Radiology. Dr. Behringer was Chief resident in her diagnostic radiology residency at Franciscan Health Olympia Fields, Illinois, and recently started a Neuroradiology Fellowship at Yale School of Medicine. Dr. Behringer is an active researcher and leader as well as president and founder of Franciscan Health Women in Radiology group. “I hope this award inspires other residents to strive for leadership positions and to transform the field of radiology for the better.” Presented in collaboration with the American Osteopathic College of Radiology.

LT Larissa Brandenburg, DO, Outstanding Resident of the Year in Military Medicine. Dr. Brandenburg is Senior Flight Surgeon for the US Navy’s Training Wing Six, providing care for more than 500 naval aviators and student naval flight officers. Dr. Brandenburg completed her internship at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center and Student Naval Flight Surgeon training at the Naval Aerospace Medical Institute in Pensacola, Florida. She is an active leader within AMOPS. Presented in collaboration with the Association of Military Osteopathic Physicians and Surgeons.

John Carter, DO, Outstanding Resident of the Year in Anesthesiology. Currently Chief Resident in his anesthesiology residency program at Doctors Hospital in Columbus, Ohio, Dr. Carter is an experienced researcher with many published abstracts and presentations. He served as principal investigator comparing emergence times between the use of an endotracheal tube and laryngeal mask airway after general anesthesia. Through OhioHealth, he also worked on quality improvement programs to help manage patients’ pain after surgery. Presented in collaboration with the American Osteopathic College of Anesthesiology.

Joshua A. Herring, DO, Outstanding Resident of the Year in Family Medicine. Dr. Herring is in a family medicine residency at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida. A Captain in US Air Force Medical Corps, Dr. Herring created a Complementary and Alternative Medicine Clinic in his residency program to integrate OMT/OPP to improve pain and function in patients. His current leadership experience includes Chair of the ACOFP Resident Council’s OMT Subcommittee. Presented in collaboration with the American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians.

Ankita Mahajan, DO, MPH, Outstanding Resident of the Year in Obstetrics and Gynecology. Dr. Mahajan is training at an obstetrics and gynecology residency at AMITA Health Consortium in Chicago, where she is Chief Resident. As the inaugural resident mentor for Midwestern University’s Student Osteopathic Obstetrician and Gynecologist Association, she provides guidance to help medical students interested in women’s health succeed and navigate the difficult process of residency applications. Presented in collaboration with the American College of Osteopathic Obstetricians and Gynecologists.

Anna Mercer, DO, Outstanding Resident of the Year in Osteopathic Medicine. Dr. Mercer is in her second year of an Osteopathic Neuromusculoskeletal Manipulative Medicine Residency at St. Barnabas Hospital in Bronx, New York. Dr. Mercer recently completed a study on “CRI over MRI: A Cranial Approach to Dizziness,” and served a term as vice-chair of the Student American Academy of Osteopathy’s Executive Council received the Florida Chapter of the AAO Award in Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine in 2020. Presented in collaboration with the American Academy of Osteopathy.

Richard M. Michelin, DO, Outstanding Resident of the Year in Orthopedics. Chief Resident of Education/Academics in his orthopedic surgery residency at Riverside University Health System in California, Dr. Michelin next will enter an adult shoulder and elbow reconstructive fellowship at Cedars Sinai. He prioritizes opportunities to mentor and perform research, hosting orthopedics club lectures and serving on the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgery’s Resident Education Committee. Presented in collaboration with the American Osteopathic Academy of Orthopedics.

Ryan Shilian, DO, Outstanding Resident of the Year in Allergy and Immunology. Dr. Shilian completed an internal medicine residency at University Hospitals Regional Hospital in Cleveland and is now in a pediatric & adult allergy/immunology fellowship at Case Western Reserve University/University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center. He was elected Chief in both his residency and fellowship programs. He is a dedicated researcher and research mentor to students at the Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine. Presented in collaboration with the American Osteopathic College of Allergy and Immunology.

Ethan Weckstein, DO, Outstanding Resident of the Year in Addiction Medicine. Currently a fourth-year psychiatry resident at the Loyola University Medical Center in Maywood, Illinois, Dr. Weckstein helped start the hospital’s first clinic treating treat patients with opioid addictions. He served on the AOAAM Board from 2018-2019. and also works as a psychiatrist at Northern Michigan Psychiatric Services and Chicago Behavioral Hospital. Presented in collaboration with the American Osteopathic Academy of Addiction Medicine.

The AOF Outstanding Resident of the Year (OROTY) Award was established to recognize excellent residents whose combination of clinical promise, leadership, dedication, and commitment to osteopathic patient-centered care, separates them from others. In partnership with the specialty societies, the Outstanding Resident of the Year Award is given annually.