The American Osteopathic Foundation (AOF) proudly announces Peter B. Ajluni, DO, as the recipient of the AOF 2026 Lifetime Achievement Award, one of the Foundation’s highest honors. Dr. Ajluni will be formally recognized on stage at the AOF Honors Gala on Friday, October 23, 2026, in Las Vegas, Nevada, held in conjunction with the American Osteopathic Association’s annual OMED conference.

Established in 2006, the AOF Lifetime Achievement Award honors individuals whose enduring contributions have fundamentally advanced the Osteopathic profession. Recipients exemplify the values, principles, and mission of Osteopathic medicine. Dr. Ajluni's selection reflects more than five decades of service—as a surgeon, an educator, and a leader across nearly every major Osteopathic organization.

Foundation Board President Julieanne Sees, DO, MBA, FAOAO, FAOA, FAAOS, DM, explained why she chose Dr. Ajluni for the AOF 2026 Lifetime Achievement Award. “Dr Ajluni is one of my most treasured and dearest mentors. He has also been a role model and mentor to countless physicians and students across generations and specialties of medicine and surgery, and truly is an exemplary leader for the Foundation and our Osteopathic community.

I chose Dr. Ajluni for his devotion to our profession and our beloved DO family. I thank him for his service—in action, word, and deed—and for helping create a brighter future for our profession and our Osteopathic family. We, at the American Osteopathic Foundation, are privileged, blessed, and honored to recognize Dr. Ajluni with this award.” 

Dr. Ajluni is a Fellow of the Osteopathic Colleges of Orthopedics and Surgery and is now retired as an orthopedic surgeon. In private practice since 1974, Dr. Ajluni served as a senior orthopedic surgeon at McLaren Macomb Hospital, Michigan (formerly Mount Clemens Regional Medical Center), where he also worked as chief of staff. He is the former vice chair of the board of trustees at Mount Clemens. He also held staff privileges at Henry Ford Bi-County Community Hospital in Warren, Michigan, and St. John North Shores Hospital in Harrison Township, Michigan.

He currently serves on the board of directors for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, is a past Board President of the American Osteopathic Foundation (2017), and a past President of the American Osteopathic Association (2007).

He has served on the boards of several professional organizations, including the Michigan Osteopathic Association, the Macomb County Osteopathic Association, National Board of Osteopathic Medical Examiners (NBOME), the American College of Osteopathic Surgeons, the American Osteopathic Academy of Orthopedic Surgery, and the Osteopathic International Alliance. In recognition of his service, NBOME honored Dr. Ajluni with their Santucci Award in 2025.

Those who have worked alongside Dr. Ajluni point not only to his professional accomplishments, but also to the lasting influence he has had as a mentor and leader. Robert G.G. Piccinini, DO, D.FACN, a longtime colleague of Dr. Ajluni's through both the Michigan Osteopathic Association and the American Osteopathic Association, reflected on that impact.

“Dr. Ajluni has been a great mentor. He's been a leader for over 30 years and there are generations of DOs that owe their skills and qualities to his guidance. That's the impact he has. The Foundation’s Lifetime Achievement Award is valuable because the AOF is the heart of the profession—where Pete has always been. He's always looked towards the next generation.”

Ajluni received his Osteopathic medical degree from the Chicago College of Osteopathy (now Midwestern University Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine). He completed a rotating internship and residency in orthopedic surgery at Mr. Clemens General Hospital in Mt. Clemens, Michigan, followed by a fellowship in hand surgery at Grace Hospital in Detroit.

Although he is proud of his professional achievements, Dr. Ajluni is most proud of his family. He enjoys spending time with his wife of 59 years, Judy, his daughter, two sons, and many grandkids.

At least 30 Ajluni family members, including his son Matthew, have answered the call to Osteopathic service, reflecting a tradition of giving back that spans generations. For Dr. Ajluni, that dedication is deeply rooted in both family and profession. As he often says, “Osteopathic medicine is in our blood.”

As the Foundation prepares to honor Dr. Ajluni at the 2026 Honors Gala, AOF Chief Executive Officer Rita Forden emphasized both his personal impact on those around him and the lasting legacy of his support for the profession.

"Dr. Ajluni welcomed me into this profession many years ago and has been an advisor, a mentor, and a cheerleader for the Foundation ever since. His generosity will support students and physicians for years to come, and we look forward to celebrating him with his family this October."

About the AOF
For over 75 years, the American Osteopathic Foundation has invested in the Osteopathic profession through scholarships, grants, research funding, and global humanitarian outreach. The AOF Honors Gala has raised millions of dollars to support DOs at every stage—from medical school to practice. 

Sponsorships and Ticket Information
To recognize Dr. Ajluni, attend, or sponsor the 2026 Honors Gala, please contact Terry Sanders, Honors Gala Director, at tlsanders@aof.org.