Tucson Osteopathic Medical Foundation

10/13/2026

NOW ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS!

The Tucson Osteopathic Medical Foundation is offering $30,000 in grant funding to support local nonprofits making a difference in our community!

Six grants of $5,000 each are available to eligible 501(c)(3) organizations in Pima County for innovative programs and projects addressing the Social Determinants of Health (SDOH).

Application Deadline: November 2, 2026, at 5 PM

Awards Announced: By December 4, 2026

Learn more about eligibility requirements and apply at:
https://tomf.org/Grants

Know a local nonprofit doing great work? Share this opportunity and help us build a healthier Pima County!

10/08/2026

Know a third-year DO student with ties to Southern Arizona? Please share this opportunity with them! 🩺🌵

Applications are now open for TOMF’s 2026–2027 Founders’ Scholarships, with up to five $10,000 scholarships available.

For the first time, eligible students may apply from any accredited college of osteopathic medicine in the United States. Students must have established ties to Southern Arizona and meet the other eligibility requirements.

📅 Application deadline: December 14, 2026
🔗 tomf.org/scholarships

Help us spread the word to future DOs with connections to Southern Arizona—and please share with your colleagues, students and networks.

10/05/2026

Retirement may be the goal, but getting there takes some planning.

In this recent article from The DO, retired internal medicine physician Wendi J. Lovenvirth, DO, shares lessons from her own transition into retirement - from managing expenses and debt to planning for health care, taxes and life without a regular paycheck.

Worth a read for physicians approaching retirement—and good food for thought no matter where you are in your career.

Click below to read “Planning ahead: Retiring without breaking the bank” in The DO

“Planning for retirement is in large part about money, as many of us worry about how much saved is enough to retire on,” writes Wendi Lovenvirth, DO.

10/02/2026

Clinical rotations, meet arcade night! 🎮 🩺

Osteopathic medical students rotating in Tucson took a break last Saturday night for food, games and a chance to get to know some of the other future DOs training around town.

Students from Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine, A.T. Still University-SOMA and Rocky Vista University Montana College of Osteopathic Medicine joined us at Dave & Buster’s for dinner, conversation and plenty of arcade time.

It was a fun, casual way to bring students from different schools together and help them make connections while they’re here in Tucson. 🌵

09/30/2026

We’re turning 40, and we’d love to celebrate with you! 🎉

On November 7, we'll gather at Trail Dust Town to mark 40 years of supporting Southern Arizona’s osteopathic community, and we hope you’ll be part of it.

Southern Arizona DOs, bring your families! We also warmly invite our current and former Board members, past Foundation leaders, contributors, and friends who have helped shape TOMF’s history over the years.

We’re planning a fun evening with dinner, a special 40th anniversary spread from Treat Dessert Studio, live music and dancing with Mamma Coal & South Western Stars, professional photos and keepsake prints, and plenty of Trail Dust Town fun!

📅 Saturday, November 7 | 5–9 PM
📍 Savoy Opera House at Trail Dust Town
🤎 Complimentary & family friendly

Please register by October 24 at tomf.org.

And please share this invitation with your Southern Arizona DO colleagues or others connected to TOMF who you think should be there. We’d love to reconnect with familiar faces and bring together the people who have been part of TOMF’s story.

We hope to see you there!

08/25/2026

Originally from Dunstable, Massachusetts, Adriana Barranco has found a second home in Tucson, where she appreciates the city’s strong sense of community, vibrant arts and culture, beautiful desert views, and abundant sunshine. Outside of medical school, Adriana enjoys exploring new foods, playing board and card games with friends, and staying active through Zumba—a passion she once shared as an instructor.

Adriana’s path to medicine grew stronger with every step she took toward becoming a physician. Drawn to both science and service, she has found particular meaning in connecting with patients, building trust, and helping people feel heard during difficult moments. She values the unique perspectives each person brings to medicine and credits her classmates, close friends, and partner, Jacob, with providing encouragement, inspiration, and support throughout her journey.

Currently most interested in pediatrics, with a special interest in psychiatry and developmental and behavioral pediatrics, Adriana is passionate about caring for the whole person with empathy and without judgment. Her osteopathic education has further reinforced the importance of understanding each patient’s individual circumstances and the barriers that can affect their care.

As a future physician, Adriana is most excited by the opportunity to build meaningful relationships with patients and families, advocate for their needs, and help make healthcare experiences more comfortable and compassionate. We are proud to recognize Adriana Barranco as a Founders’ Scholarship recipient and celebrate her dedication to empathetic, patient-centered care.

08/18/2026

For Carly Roberts, Tucson will always be home. She values the city’s unique blend of small-town charm, strong sense of community, and authentic Southwest character. Outside of medical school, Carly enjoys exploring local cafés, restaurants, and thrift shops with friends and family, cheering on the Arizona Wildcats, and discovering new running paths as she trains for her first 5K.

Carly’s journey into medicine was inspired by her father’s diagnosis with COPD. During a time when her family faced uncertainty and felt helpless, she witnessed the reassurance and guidance his physicians provided. That experience motivated her to pursue a career in medicine, with the goal of offering patients and their loved ones the same support during difficult moments.

Drawn to osteopathic medicine’s emphasis on treating the whole person, Carly is passionate about providing individualized, compassionate care. Her medical training has also deepened her understanding of how factors such as housing, transportation, and financial resources can significantly influence health outcomes, challenging her to look beyond a diagnosis and consider each patient’s unique circumstances.

Currently considering a future in anesthesiology or internal medicine, Carly is excited by both the challenge of medicine and the privilege of being a trusted advocate for patients. We are proud to recognize Carly Roberts as a Founders’ Scholarship recipient and celebrate her dedication to compassionate, patient-centered care.

05/07/2026

Ojeni Touma – Founders’ Scholarship Recipient
Originally from San Diego, Ojeni Touma is a medical student with a passion for internal medicine, patient-centered care, and serving underserved communities. Growing up around family members with significant health challenges—and later working as a 911 EMT during the COVID-19 pandemic—solidified a lifelong calling to medicine and inspired a desire to provide a higher level of care for patients.

Drawn to osteopathic medicine for its hands-on, holistic approach, Ojeni values the power of physical examination and compassionate connection in healing. Clinical rotations further reinforced her love for diagnostic problem-solving and building meaningful relationships with patients both in the hospital and clinic setting.

Outside of medicine, Ojeni enjoys spending time outdoors, especially near the ocean, with hobbies including swimming, kayaking, paddleboarding, camping, and learning to surf. She credits her fiancé, AJ, a firefighter/paramedic, as one of her greatest sources of inspiration and support throughout medical school.

As a future physician, Ojeni is excited not only to continue learning throughout her career, but also to one day become a clinical educator and mentor for future generations of physicians. We are proud to recognize her as a Founders’ Scholarship recipient and celebrate her dedication to compassionate, whole-person care.