In a historic meeting, the National Board of Osteopathic Medical Examiners (NBOME) met on December 9-10, 2025, with officials from the Puerto Rico Board of Medicine and Discipline (PRBMD) to discuss the physician workforce in Puerto Rico, doctors of osteopathic medicine (DOs), medical education, and the COMLEX-USA examination program, including the Core Competency Capstone (C3DO) clinical skills assessment.
PRBMD President Roberto Pérez Nieves, MD, and Vice President Maruja Santiago, MD, jointly emphasized Puerto Rico’s ongoing efforts to welcome DOs and to expand the number of DOs in residency training programs and in practice on the island.
From the NBOME, President and CEO John R. Gimpel, DO, MEd, Immediate Past Chair Lori A. Kemper, DO, MS, and General Counsel Doug Murray, Esq. were in attendance. Following up at a welcome dinner event, Gimpel introduced Pérez Nieves to American Osteopathic Association (AOA) President Robert G.G. Piccinini, DO.
In recent years, Puerto Rico has licensed several osteopathic physicians with COMLEX-USA; however, pathways for licensure for DOs from the mainland, including licensure assessment, have not always been clear. Pérez Nieves reaffirmed Puerto Rico’s commitment to welcoming DOs and its acceptance of COMLEX-USA credentials for medical practice on the island. Both Pérez Nieves and Santiago were pleased to learn about C3DO, noting it aligned with the PRMBD’s state physician licensure examination, which also includes a standardized clinical skills assessment.
“The welcome from the PRBMD’s leaders Pérez Nieves and Santiago—both of whom trained alongside DOs in mainland programs accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education—and their interest in clarifying pathways for DOs for licensure on their website and licensure application was a standout moment in a year filled with many noteworthy milestones,” said Gimpel.
“It is our hope that this further clarity for DOs will contribute to further expansion of the number of DOs practicing in Puerto Rico, to help provide access to osteopathic medical care, and to contribute meaningfully to another region of significant need.”
The NBOME would like to thank the PRMBD and colleagues at numerous organizations—including the AOA, the Liaison Committee on Medical Education, the American Medical Association, and the Latino Medical Student Association—who assisted in connecting the NBOME and the PRMBD.