Board Elections 2026
Online secure elections will begin on May 8. The deadline to cast your ballot is midnight Eastern Time on May 22. All members in good standing (i.e., current with their 2026 dues) are eligible to vote.
The Board has nominated the following physicians for two positions on the Board of Directors (3-year terms).
Lawrence M. Barnard, DO
Lawrence M. Barnard, DO is a board-certified osteopathic physician specializing in neuromusculoskeletal medicine and osteopathic manipulative medicine (NMM/OMM), with over two decades of clinical, academic, and leadership experience. His career has been defined by a commitment to hands-on patient care, medical education, and the advancement of osteopathic principles in both hospital-based and private practice settings.
Dr. Barnard earned his Doctor of Osteopathy degree from the New York College of Osteopathic Medicine in Old Westbury, New York, where he was recognized with the NYIT President’s Service Award. During his medical training, he served as both an Undergraduate Teaching/Research Fellow and an OMM Teaching Assistant, reflecting an early dedication to education and mentorship. He completed a rotating internship with a special emphasis in emergency medicine at St. Barnabas Hospital in the Bronx, followed by a residency in Neuromusculoskeletal Medicine/Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine at the same institution.
Throughout his career, Dr. Barnard has held numerous academic and clinical leadership roles including serving as Division Chief of Neuromusculoskeletal Medicine/Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine, Residency Program Director of the Neuromusculoskeletal Medicine/Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine Program at Stony Brook Southampton Hospital, In addition, he is an attending physician within the same program, where he is actively involved in training the next generation of osteopathic physicians through medical student preceptorship. He currently serves as an Associate Professor of Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine at NYIT College of Osteopathic Medicine and is affiliated with several colleges of osteopathic medicine across the country.
Clinically, Dr. Barnard has extensive experience in both hospital-based and private practice settings, with a strong focus on comprehensive neuromusculoskeletal care and chronic pain management. His work has included roles in multidisciplinary pain clinics, including affiliations with St. Barnabas Hospital and private practices in the Bronx, as well as earlier experience in neurologic and pain management services on Long Island.
Board certified in Neuromusculoskeletal Medicine/Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine by the American Osteopathic Board, Dr. Barnard has been licensed to practice in New York since 2001. He is an active member of several professional organizations, including the American Osteopathic Association, the American Academy of Osteopathy, the Osteopathic Cranial Academy, and the New York State Osteopathic Medical Society.
Dr. Barnard’s career reflects a sustained commitment to integrating osteopathic manipulative treatment with comprehensive patient care, advancing medical education, and improving outcomes for patients with complex musculoskeletal and pain-related conditions.
Melissa G. Pearce, DO, C-NMM/OMM
Melissa G. Pearce, DO, C-NMM/OMM, is a dedicated osteopathic physician, educator, and advocate with a passion for advancing the osteopathic profession through teaching students and physicians, engaging in professional community and advocacy, and serving the profession at local, state, and national levels. She is board certified in Family Medicine and Neuromusculoskeletal Medicine/Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine and is a Diplomate of the American Board of Integrative and Holistic Medicine.
Dr. Pearce currently serves as Assistant Professor of Clinical Sciences at Rocky Vista University Montana College of Osteopathic Medicine, where she teaches Osteopathic Principles and Practice, Principles of Clinical Medicine, Lifestyle Medicine, and team-based learning in simulations. She participates in curricular and committee work supporting student education and professional development. Participation in the development of a newly established osteopathic medical school provides rich opportunities to support osteopathic education.
She previously served for more than a decade on the faculty at Touro University California College of Osteopathic Medicine. There she taught across the osteopathic manipulative medicine curriculum, collaborated with colleagues to strengthen osteopathic content in curricular delivery across courses, and participated in multiple committees and work groups focused on curricular development. She also served as Medical Director of the Student-Run Free Clinic, providing leadership in clinical education, interprofessional collaboration, and community service. Dr. Pearce has contributed to multiple publications in collaboration with colleagues in medical education as well with students on many topics, supporting their publications and poster presentations.
Dr. Pearce completed her Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine at Touro University California, followed by Family Medicine residency training and an additional year of residency in Neuromusculoskeletal Medicine/Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine at St. Barnabas Hospital in Bronx, New York. Throughout her career she has remained dedicated to integrating osteopathic manipulative treatment into comprehensive patient care while mentoring students and physicians.
She has been actively involved in osteopathic professional organizations throughout her career. Dr. Pearce served on the Board of Directors of the Osteopathic Physicians and Surgeons of California (OPSC) and as inaugural Chair of the OMT Subcommittee, Chair of the Education Committee, Board Liaison to the Education Committee, and a member of multiple committees. She represented California for seven years as a delegate to the American Osteopathic Association House of Delegates. She also contributes nationally through service with the Educational Council on Osteopathic Principles and the National Board of Osteopathic Medical Examiners.
A member of the Osteopathic Cranial Academy since 2003, Dr. Pearce has taught extensively in osteopathic cranial principles within medical school curricula and continuing medical education programs. Her cranial teaching includes academic coursework for osteopathic medical students, student and physician education through Osteopathy’s Promise to Children (OPC) courses, table training for student sessions at the American Academy of Osteopathy Convocation, and teaching in the Hybrid Basic Course for the Osteopathic Cranial Academy. She is a member of the OCA Continuing Studies Committee. She has also been engaged with osteopathic research through the work of the Louisa Burns Osteopathic Research Committee (LBORC) for nearly two decades, serving as a judge for the AAO Convocation research poster competition, attending the annual research forum, and joining the LBORC committee this past year to further support the advancement of osteopathic research. She has been the Principal Investigator and co-Principal Investigator for multiple osteopathic research projects and continues to develop further research opportunities.
Dr. Pearce remains committed to the advancement of the osteopathic profession, mentorship of learners and leaders, and continued development and stewardship of cranial osteopathy within the osteopathic tradition. She is eager to bring her educational and leadership experience to the Osteopathic Cranial Academy Board of Directors.