The National Board of Osteopathic Medical Examiners (NBOME), an independent, nonprofit organization that provides competency assessments for osteopathic medical licensure and related health care professions, is proud to announce the following appointments to its National Faculty Chair positions effective January 2026. Each appointee demonstrates significant expertise and a strong commitment to enhancing the quality of osteopathic medical education and assessment.
Robert N. Agnello, DO, MPHE, Examination Chair – COMLEX-USA Level 1
Agnello is the chair of Family Medicine and assistant professor at the Campbell University School of Osteopathic Medicine (CUSOM) in Buies Creek, NC. He earned his DO degree from New York College of Osteopathic Medicine. He is board-certified in family and pain medicine, specializes in integrative pain management, and holds certifications in medical acupuncture.
He holds Fellow status in both the AAFP and ACOFP; and has received many Army commendations as well as teaching awards. He joined the NBOME National Faculty in 2014 and serves on the COMLEX-USA Level 1 Advisory Committee. He was also NBOME National Faculty Department Chair for Family Medicine from 2023 to 2025.
Joyce A. Brown, DO, COMAT Examination Chair – Emergency Medicine
Brown serves as vice-chair of primary care, director of simulation, and associate clinical professor of emergency medicine at TouroCOM-Middletown, New York. She earned her DO from The University of New England and completed dual residencies in emergency and internal medicine at Allegheny General Hospital, Pittsburgh. Brown is a board-certified emergency physician and a Certified Simulation Healthcare Educator.
Since becoming a member of the NBOME National Faculty in 2016, she has served as the examination chair for COMLEX-USA Level 1 (2020–2025) and participates on several other committees, including the Artificial Intelligence in Assessment Task Force, Blueprint Subcommittee, and Composite Examination Committee. In December 2025, Brown was elected to the NBOME Board of Directors.
Ryan W. Hardy, MD, COMAT Examination Chair – Surgery
Hardy is an assistant professor of surgery at the Idaho College of Osteopathic Medicine in Meridian, Idaho. Dr. Hardy earned a medical degree from Georgetown University and completed a General Surgery residency at Wright State University.
He is board-certified in general surgery and completed fellowship in Minimally Invasive Surgery. Since 2024, he has served on the NBOME National Faculty, contributing to COMAT Clinical and Level 3 Item Writing Workshops.
Ronald P. Januchowski, DO, Department Chair – Family Medicine
Januchowski is the dean and a professor of family medicine at Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine in Spartanburg, SC. He earned his degree from the New York College of Osteopathic Medicine and completed his internship at Botsford Hospital in Farmington Hills, Michigan.
After serving in an operational role on active duty in the Army at Fort Bragg, he completed his family medicine residency at Womack Army Medical Center. He is board-certified in family medicine and is a Fellow of the American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians. Januchowski joined the NBOME National Faculty in 2013, initially serving on the Level 2-CE advisory committee and, more recently, on the Level 1 Advisory Committee.
Randy J. Kulesza, Jr., PhD, Department Chair – Foundational Biomedical Sciences
Kulesza is the dean of the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences and professor of anatomy at Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine in Erie, Penn. He earned his doctorate in Anatomy and Neuroscience at West Virginia University School of Medicine.
He joined the NBOME National Faculty in 2016 and has served as NBOME National Faculty Division Chair for Anatomy. Recently, he participated in Pretest and Scorable Key Validation activities.
Christopher A. Medina, DO, C3DO Examination Chair
Medina is an assistant professor at the University of Texas Health Sciences Center – Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine (UNTSC-TCOM) in Fort Worth, Texas. He earned his DO degree from Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine.
He is dually board certified in Family Medicine and Neuromusculoskeletal Medicine/Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine. Since 2020, Medina has served on the NBOME National Faculty and has recently participated in the Level 1 and Level 2-CE Item Writing Workshop. He has served as the physician lead for the C3DO at UNTSC-TCOM since 2023.
Carolina B.A. Restini, PharmD, PhD, MS, Division Chair – Pharmacology
Restini serves as an associate professor in the Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology at Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine in East Lansing, MI. She is also the Director of the Foundry for Innovative Research and Education (FIRE) program 2025 for the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.) Program at MSU’s College of Osteopathic Medicine.
Restini earned her PharmD and Ph.D. in Pharmacology and completed postdoctoral training at the School of Medicine, University of São Paulo. Since 2018, she has been part of the NBOME National Faculty, contributing recently to the Level 1 Revision Project.
Martin Schmidt, PhD, Division Chair – Biochemistry
Schmidt is a professor of biochemistry and nutrition at Des Moines University College of Osteopathic Medicine in Des Moines, Iowa. He earned his doctorate in biology from the University of Frankfurt and did his post-doctoral training in biochemistry and genetics at the National Institutes of Health.
He has been a member of the NBOME National Faculty since 2013 and has most recently contributed to the Level 1 New Item Review.