David Connett, DO, FACOFP (dist.), Named President-Elect of the ACOFP Board

WEST DES MOINES, IA (04/20/2026) David Connett, DO, FACOFP (dist.), dean of the Des Moines University College of Osteopathic Medicine, has been named presidentelect of the American College of Osteopathic Family Physician's Board of Governors.

Connett will serve as presidentelect for one year and be inaugurated as president during the ACOFP meeting in April 2027. He will succeed Greg Cohen, DO, FACOFP (dist.), a 1991 Des Moines University Medicine and Health Sciences graduate.

Connett believes his appointment will continue to bring national recognition to DMU.

"I will represent the entire country, and when I speak in other states, the first words out of my mouth will be, 'I'm the dean of DMU's College of Osteopathic Medicine,'" he says. "DMU is already well known in the profession for excellence, but this expands visibility even more."

Connett brings unique experience to the role, having been a family physician for 40 years, practicing and teaching holistic care that aligns with the values family physicians hold.

He will bring that expertise to the organization, which represents roughly 29,000 family physicians throughout the United States and is the largest affiliate of the American Osteopathic Association. What Connett brings distinctively to his service is graduate medical education development, which is his "sweet spot" and central to the work he has done at DMU.

As president-elect, another major focus of his will be the expansion of the role of family physicians.

"Coming to Iowa has been an eyeopener," says Connett, who worked at Western University of Health Sciences in Pomona, California, before coming to DMU. "All 99 counties have a DMU graduate, and most of them are family medicine physicians."

Because family medicine can host a variety of specialty training within the discipline, Connett will work to expand the scope of practice into critical care medicine. Many family physicians already work in intensive care units and practice critical care, he points out, yet current board certification is limited to general surgery, anesthesiology, emergency medicine and internal medicine - not family medicine. As part of his work with the ACOFP, Connett will help advance efforts to expand formal board certification opportunities for family physicians.

Connett will also promote the organization's core areas, including education and continuing medical education, advocacy at both the local and national levels and professional development. This includes collaborating with the American Osteopathic Board of Family Physicians on educational opportunities that support physician recertification. In addition, Connett will travel to Washington, D.C., to meet with senators and representatives.

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