History

Established in 1987 through the generosity of Richard and Charlotte Orear and the leadership of Leonardo Viril, MD, the Institute was an essential source of premier medical education for physicians and other medical professionals serving the bi-state Kansas City region.

The Institute launched the Recent Advances in Medicine Conference including Evidence-Based Integrative Medicine in 1988. For almost 40 years, the annual two-day event offered family practice physicians, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, and internists the opportunity to learn from our nation’s leading speakers and gain practical knowledge and insight.

In 2025, AcruxKC and the Orear Steering Committee organized the final Orear Institute Recent Advances in Medicine Conference. The Committee is exploring new opportunities to invest resources to support physician education. Details will be posted on this site when they are available.