Making Conscious the Process of Mastery: Orofacial and Dental Considerations in Osteopathy (Online)

Tuition: $350 OCA Members

$500 Non-members

Course Director Annette Hulse DO

In this optional small group lab offered as follow-on to the Orofacial Mastery course, Dr. Hulse will teach the hands-on diagnosis and treatment techniques that she has found most useful in treating patient with orofacial issues.  Most of these techniques have not been taught before.  Spoiler alert -- this involve the whole body!

Prerequisites

Successful completion of Making Conscious the Process of Mastery, SCTF Face Course, OR permission of the instructor.

PLEASE NOTE: If you register for this course and do not meet the eligibility requirements for it, your tuition payment will be refunded. If you have any questions about your eligibility, please contact the OCA Office before registering.

CME

The Osteopathic Cranial Academy is accredited by the American Osteopathic Association to provide osteopathic continuing medical education for physicians. The Osteopathic Cranial Academy has designated this activity for up to 7 AOA Category 1-A CME credits, commensurate with the extent of the physician’s participation in this activity.

Cancellation policy

Cancellations before Jan 16 are subject to administrative fee of $50.  No refunds will be given after the course starts.

Tuition $2395 (see below for tuition assitance)

This 40-hour Introductory course separates the lecture portion of the training into virtual online modules with weekly discussion groups, and an in-person lab training for three days to conclude the course.

Virtual lectures will made available on a weekly basis beginning February 1 (skipping the week of Presidents Day) and conclude with the in-person lab portion of the course which will be held prior to the AAO Convocation in Colorado Springs, CO from March 15 - 17, 2026.

Hotel accommodations for the lab portion at the The Broadmoor:

• Physician and resident booking link
• Student booking link

Course Schedule

Lecture Week 1:  Self-study online video lectures (approx 4 hours) Feb 1-8.  Mandatory Zoom small group discussion Feb 8 (various times will be available).

Lecture Week 2: Self-study online video lectures (approx 4 hours) Feb 8-22.  Mandatory Zoom small group discussion Feb 22 (various times will be available).

Lecture Week 3: Self-study online video lectures (approx 3 hours) Feb 22-Mar 1.  Mandatory Zoom small group discussion Mar 1 (various times will be available).

Lecture Week 4: Self-study online video lectures (approx 3 hours) Mar 1-8.  Mandatory Zoom small group discussion Mar 8 (various times will be available).

In-person Labs: After completing the 4 weeks of lectures and discussion groups, course participants will attend 3 full days of hands-on labs with experienced OCA faculty as table trainers in 1:4 ratio in Colorado Springs at the Broadmoor (Sunday-Tuesday / March 15 - 17) as a Pre-Convo course.  Labs are 8:00-6:00 each day.

Weekly Zoom discussion group attendance is mandatory (at least 3 of 4 required) to pass this course.  You must also get a passing grade on both the written (weekly open note quizzes) and the final practical exam at the end of your lab session. 

• Medical physicians (DO or MD) with a current unrestricted license to practice medicine in the US
• Dental physicians (DDS or DMD) with a current unrestricted license to practice dentistry in the US
• Resident physicians (DO or MD) who are under contract with an ACGME-accredited residency program
• Currently enrolled students at a US AOA-approved college of osteopathic medicine
• Medical physicians (MD) who reside and actively practice internationally, under certain conditions
• International osteopaths who meet all criteria (other than Intro Course requirement) for OCA membership including membership in an OCA-recognized affiliate society

The OCA Foundation provides limited grant support, offering up to 50% tuition assistance to eligible students, residents, and young physicians, or up to 100% for eligible students.

Step 1: Submit Application

Submit your tuition assistance application directly to the Foundation. It is your responsibility to ensure your grant application is complete with the OCAF.  The link for the OCAF form is here: https://osteopathiccaf.org/oca-winter-hybrid-course/

Step 2: Await Conditional Approval

If approved, you will receive a congratulatory email with a registration code and conditional approval.

Step 3: Course Registration 

Use the provided registration code to register for the course, provide payment, if necessary, and submit the necessary eligibility documentation through the OCA registration form.

Step 4: Final Eligibility Review

Your submitted documentation will be reviewed for final eligibility confirmation before the course begins.

The Osteopathic Cranial Academy is accredited by the American Osteopathic Association to provide osteopathic continuing medical education for physicians. The Osteopathic Cranial Academy has designated this activity for 40 AOA Category 1-A credits, commensurate with the extent of the physician’s participation in this activity.

All cancellations must be received in writing at the office of The Osteopathic Cranial Academy on or before the first day of the online portion of the course (Feb 1 2026), and are subject to administrative fee of $50 administrative processing fee.  Participants who cannot complete the course due to illness, family emergencies or work-related restrictions may be offered the option to repeat the Hybrid course at its next offering.  No discount will be provided for individuals not participating in food functions at the in-person labs.

Participation in this program will involve physical activity, including contact by and with instructors and other participants. This, and particularly activity involving physical diagnostics and manual therapeutics, could possibly entail risks for participants of new injury or aggravation of pre-existing conditions.

By applying to participate, the applicant acknowledges and assumes the risk associated with participating in the laboratory sessions and agrees to hold The Osteopathic Cranial Academy and fellow participants harmless indemnify, defend and free of liability from and against any damage or personal injury that might occur during or as a result of participation in this program. Furthermore, the applicant covenants to hold harmless, indemnify, and defend The Osteopathic Cranial Academy from and against any use or misuse that applicant may make at any time of any knowledge or information that applicant derives from participation in this program. The applicant should carry adequate liability insurance which would be activated in the instance of the use or misuse of this knowledge or information. Participants in the course are examined and treated by instructors following the course in case any problems arise from treatment by fellow students.

The Osteopathic Cranial Academy presents:

2026 ANNUAL CONFERENCE: 

June 4 -7, 2026 -- Indianapolis, Indiana

Dr. Tasho Turzo DO FCA, Course Director

Want to learn more about the conference?   Watch this Video HERE!

Click to register HERE !

Conference description:

We are excited to announce the theme for the 2026 Annual Conference is "Development of Cranium and Face:  Newborn to Adulthood".  

The 2026 OCA Annual Conference will explore the anatomical structures and functional systems that shape the human face across the lifespan. We will examine how these functions influence dental occlusion, cranial motion, and overall craniofacial harmony.  Attendees will also review the embryologic forces that drive growth and development from newborn through adulthood, gaining a deeper understanding of the dynamic changes that occur throughout each phase of life.

A focused study of intraoral function, dental occlusion, and their interdependent relationships with cranial motion will further enrich the learning experience. Hands-on labs will offer practical, clinically relevant skills to support effective evaluation and treatment of craniofacial dysfunctions.

The goals of this conference are:

• To understand the clinical importance of occipital condylar compression on facial growth and airway development.
• To learn how to evaluate facial functions
• To learn how to assess tongue function in newborns and infants.
  
• To study the embryological development of the face and ways to treat it from a biodynamic perspective.
• To understand the impact of the TMJ on facial function and learn how to evaluate and treat it.
  
• To learn how to assess facial growth in children to identify early intervention needs.
  
• To explore the connection between cranial osteopathy and dentistry.
  
• To learn how to evaluate dental occlusion and identify cranial dental interference.
  
• To learn how to determine who requires a referral to a myofunctional therapist or a functional dentist.
  
• An Introduction to dental appliances and their compatibility with osteopathic cranial principles.
  

• To understand the link between TMJ and chronic illnesses.

The OCA remains committed to advancing our mission, upholding our vision statements and preserving our core values. 

We look forward to welcoming you in June to this enriching conference in Indianapolis, Indiana!

CONFERENCE SCHEDULE -- Please click this link.

Registration pricing BEFORE May 7, 2026:

OCA Member $1148.00
Resident Member $798.00
DO Student Member $798.00
Retired Member $798.00
Qualified Nonmember $1508.00

Registration ON and AFTER May 7, 2026:

OCA Member $1248.00
Resident Member $848.00
DO Student Member $848.00
Retired Member $848.00
Qualified Nonmember $1608.00

Registration fee includes: lectures, labs, Friday lunch, Saturday lunch, and Saturday dinner banquet.   Meal tickets included with the registration fee are not refundable.  There is no discount for persons not wishing to attend food functions.

Hard copy/bound conference manuals are available during registration for $45.00. A digital copy will be available for free to download. 

Registration closes on May 24, 2026.

Other Course Details:  

1) No personal taping is permitted. 

2) The Osteopathic Cranial Academy teaches the application of cranial osteopathic concepts to DOs, MDs, and DDSs.  It is the responsibility of ALL participants to use the information provided within the scope of their professional license. 

3) In consideration for those participants with sensitivities, please refrain from wearing perfume, cologne, or strongly scented toiletries. 

HOTEL INFORMATION -- See link below

Scholarship Assistance for Students and Residents!

Due to the generosity of the Osteopathic Cranial Academy Foundation (OCAF), there will be a grant to support registration tuition assistance for medical students and physicians in training. Please check back in the near future for updated information.  If there are any questions, please contact the OCA office

Thank you OCAF!

PREREQUISITE:

Successful completion of an Osteopathic Cranial Academy Approved 40-hour Introductory Course: Osteopathy in the Cranial Field.

PLEASE NOTE: If you register for this course and do not meet the eligibility requirements for it, your tuition payment will be refunded. If you have any questions about your eligibility, please contact the OCA office before registering.

CME - OCA ANNUAL CONFERENCE

The Osteopathic Cranial Academy is accredited by the American Osteopathic Association to provide osteopathic continuing medical education for physicians. The Osteopathic Cranial Academy has designated this activity for a maximum of 21.75 AOA Category 1-A credits and will report CME and specialty credits commensurate with the extent of the physician’s participation in this activity.   This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the accreditation requirements and policies of the American Osteopathic Association (AOA). 

Cancellation Policy

All cancellations must be received in writing at the office of The Osteopathic Cranial Academy on or before 21 days prior to the first day of the course, Thursday, May 14, 2026, and are subject to a 15% administrative processing fee. Cancellation fees are charged due to fixed costs per person already incurred by OCA. Refunds will not be made for cancellations after this date or for failure to attend. 

Liability Release

Participation in this program will involve physical activity, including contact by and with instructors and other participants. This, and particularly activity involving physical diagnostics and manual therapeutics, could possibly entail risks for participants of new injury or aggravation of pre-existing conditions.

By applying to participate, the applicant acknowledges and assumes the risk associated with participating in the laboratory sessions and agrees to hold The Osteopathic Cranial Academy and fellow participants harmless indemnify, defend and free of liability from and against any damage or personal injury that might occur during or as a result of participation in this program. Furthermore, the applicant covenants to hold harmless, indemnify, and defend The Osteopathic Cranial Academy from and against any use or misuse that applicant may make at any time of any knowledge or information that applicant derives from participation in this program. The applicant should carry adequate liability insurance which would be activated in the instance of the use or misuse of this knowledge or information. Participants in the course are examined and treated by instructors following the course in case any problems arise from treatment by fellow students.

HOTEL INFORMATION

Hyatt Regency Indianapolis
One South Capitol Avenue
Indianapolis, IN 46204
Room rate is __$229____ Plus tax.

Rooms will be available at the group rate until 3:00 pm EST May 13, 2026 or until the block is sold whichever occurs first.  On or after May 13, 2026, reservation requests will be confirmed on a space available basis. 

Reserve your room below:

https://www.hyatt.com/events/en-US/group-booking/INDRI/G-OCAA

Click to register HERE !