The American Osteopathic Foundation (AOF) welcomes Peter B. Ajluni, DO, as the organization’s Board President for 2017.

Dr. Ajluni, a board-certified orthopedic surgeon from Clinton Township, Michigan, began his one-year term as president on Jan. 1, 2017. In private practice as an orthopedic surgeon since 1974, Dr. Ajluni served as a senior orthopedic surgeon at McLaren Macomb Hospital (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.

As AOF President, Dr. Ajluni will work to expand the foundation’s global outreach and increase fundraising to support more projects that benefit the profession. “The AOF’s support of the profession has improved the lives of countless patients across the country and around the world. It is my honor to help advance these noble goals working in partnership with my colleagues serving on the AOF Board,” he stated.

Osteopathic medicine is more than a profession to Dr. Ajluni. In fact, it’s a calling—one that at least 30 Ajluni family members, including his son Matthew, have answered. “Osteopathic medicine is in our blood.” Few people can claim the same deep connection to the profession, and fewer still have given so much back as Dr. Ajluni.

A seasoned leader, Dr. Ajluni’s prior appointments include terms as president of the American Osteopathic Association (AOA) and the Michigan Osteopathic Association. He also held the position of Chief of Staff Mt. Clemens General Hospital in Mt. Clemens, Michigan. He has served on the AOF Board since 2013.

During his tenure as President of the AOA (2007-2008), Dr. Ajluni themed his year “Fit for Life.” As an avid hiker and jogger who has participated in a number of marathons and triathlons, Dr. Ajluni asked DOs and the AOA to prioritize fitness in mind, body and spirit. He brings this focus on health and wellness to his leadership of the AOF.

“Dr. Ajluni is a singular leader who leads by example and inspires those around him to rise to the challenge. He brings a unique vision and valuable experience to the table, which will no doubt help the AOF expand its fundraising capacity and programs we are able to support,” said Stephen Downey, AOF Executive Director.

Aside from his involvement on the national level, Dr. Ajluni has also been an active member of state and local osteopathic medical organizations. He served as president of both the Michigan Osteopathic Association and the Michigan Osteopathic Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons.

Born and raised in Detroit, Michigan and the surrounding area, Dr. Ajluni has seen firsthand the healthcare needs of underserved communities and how DOs—long a major presence in the Great Lakes State—can make a difference. “We are the visionaries now. Now, more than ever before, we must seek out opportunities to champion our distinctiveness,” he said in his 2015 A.T. Still Memorial Address.

Dr. Ajluni received his Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry from the University of Detroit in 1965, graduating with honors, before earning his DO degree at the Chicago College of Osteopathy (now Midwestern University/Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine in Downers Grove, Illinois). 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.

Dr. Ajluni resides in Bloomfield Hills with his wife, Judy. They have three children and a host of grandchildren.