What Is Osteopathic Medicine?
[From: Osteopathic Medical College Information Book, Entering Class 2003. AACOM American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine]Osteopathic medicine is a distinctive form of medical practice in the United State. Osteopathic physicians use all of the tools and technology available to modern medicine with the added benefits of a treatment known as osteopathic manipulative medicine. Doctors of osteopathic medicine emphasize helping each person achieve a high level of wellness by focusing on health education, injury prevention and disease prevention.
Osteopathic medicine was founded in the late 1800s in Kirksville, Missouri, by Andrew Taylor Still, M.D., who felt that the medical practices of the day often caused more harm than good. After losing members of his immediate family to meningitis, Dr. Still focused on developing a system of medical care that would promote the body’s innate ability to heal itself. He called his system of medicine osteopathy, now known as osteopathic medicine.
Osteopathic physicians (D.O.s) work in partnership with their patients. They consider the impact that lifestyle and community have on the health of each individual, and they work to erase barriers to good health. D.O.s are licensed to practice the full scope of medicine in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. They practice in all types of environments, including the military, and in all types of specialties from family medicine to obstetrics to surgery to cardiology.
D.O.s are trained to look at the whole person from their first days of medical school, which means they see each person as more than just a collection of body parts that may become injured or diseased. D.O.s are taught that the whole person is greater than the sum of his or her body parts. This holistic approach to patient care means that osteopathic medical students learn how to integrate the patient into the health care process as a partner. They are trained to communicate with people from diverse backgrounds, and they get the opportunity to practice these skills in the classroom with simulated patients.
Because of the whole-person approach to medicine, approximately 60% of all D.O.s choose to practice in the primary care disciplines of family practice, general internal medicine, and pediatrics. The remaining 40% go on to specialize in a wide range of practice areas.
While America’s 45,000 D.O.s account for only 5% of the country’s physicians, they handle 10% of all primary care visits. D.O.s also have a strong history of serving rural and undeserved areas, often providing their unique brand of compassionate, patient-centered care to some of the most economically disadvantage members of society.
In addition to studying all of they typical subjects you would expect student physicians to master, osteopathic medical students complete approximately 200 additional hours of training in the art of osteopathic manipulative medicine. This system of hands-on techniques helps alleviate pain, restore motion, support the body’s natural functions and influence the body’s structure to help it function more efficiently.
COLLEGES OF OSTEOPATHIC MEDICINE
Osteopathic medical College Information Biook, Entering Class 2003. AACOM
Applying to Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine
AACOM's Application Service (AACOMAS)
The American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine (AACOM) offers prospective students a convenient, centralized application service on-line for accredited osteopathic medical schools. Through AACOM's Application Service (AACOMAS), students can file one electronic application then AACOMAS verifies and distributes the information to each of the colleges designated by the applicant.
Admission to an osteopathic medical school is competitive. The schools are able to select their entering class from among a large number of highly qualified applicants.
Apply early - you may complete and submit your 2006 application now. Most schools are on a rolling admission basis, and some offer "early decision" programs. By applying early on-line, you are assured your materials will be processed in a timely manner and not subject to delays.OSTEOPATHIC MEDICAL SCHOOL ADMISSIONS
Year of Entering Class |
1996 |
1997 |
1998 |
1999 |
2000 |
2001 |
Mean GPA (Overall) |
3.37 |
3.41 |
3.39 |
3.46 |
3.44 |
3.43 |
Mean GPA (Science-BCPM) |
3.33 |
3.35 |
3.34 |
3.39 |
3.36 |
3.36 |
Mean MCAT (Verbal Reasoning) |
8.31 |
8.22 |
8.21 |
8.31 |
8.21 |
8.11 |
Mean MCAT (Physical Sciences) |
8.09 |
8.18 |
8.16 |
8.20 |
8.13 |
8.18 |
Mean MCAT (Biological Sciences) |
8.47 |
8.63 |
8.73 |
8.65 |
8.63 |
8.69 |
Mean MCAT (Total) |
24.9 |
25.0 |
25.1 |
25.2 |
25.0 |
24.98 |
Total Number of Applicants |
10,781 |
10,764 |
9,554 |
8,396 |
7,703 |
6,898 |
Approximate Number of Enrollees |
2,535 |
2,927 |
3,043 |
Information from Osteopathic Medical School Statistics, AACOMAS
Web Sites for Osteopathic Medicine
American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine’s web site provides information on osteopathic schools across the
American Osteopathic Association is the parent body for the osteopathic profession. This site provides general information about the profession and current information on what is happening at the political level.
American Academy of Osteopathy : The mission of the American Academy of Osteopathy is to teach, advocate, and research the science, art and philosophy of osteopathic medicine, emphasizing the integration of osteopathic principles, practice and manipulative treatment in patient care.
Alabama Osteopathic Medical Association - Representing Osteopathic physicians in Alabama.
American College of Osteopathic Emergency Physicians - Information on post-doctoral training and curricula in emergency medicine, as well as methods of specialty evaluation and procedure for nominations for fellowship status.
American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians - Guide to selecting a residency program and information on how to become a preceptor.
American College of Osteopathic Internists - Professional opportunities, residency programs, continuing medical education calendar, and information for medical students.
American College of Osteopathic Obstetricians and Gynecologists - Official specialty site with member directory, description of education programs and calendar of meetings.
American College of Osteopathic Surgeons - Offers mission statement, membership information, history, newsletter, and calendar of events.
American Osteopathic Academy of Orthopedics - Information regarding Academy business, upcoming events, legislative and medical news, and doctor locator for patients.
American Osteopathic Board of Emergency Physicians - History of organization, certification requirements and important dates in the certification process.
American Osteopathic Board of Internal Medicine - Certification requirements and discussion of requirements for designation of added qualifications in a variety of sub-specialties.
American Osteopathic Board of Orthopedic Surgery - Calendar of events, requirements for eligibility and information on applying for written, oral and clinical certification exams.
American Osteopathic Board of Pediatrics - Listing of AOA-approved subspecialties, exam information for candidates and requirements for certification.
American Osteopathic Board of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation - Definition of specialty, certification requirements and how to contact the executive director.
American Osteopathic Board of Radiology - Definition of specialty, requirements for certification and how to contact the executive director.
American Osteopathic Board of Surgery - Information on board eligiblity and examination dates and fees.
American Osteopathic College of Dermatology - Information on 12 AOA-approved residency programs, requirements for certification, a disease database and how to find a D.O. dermatologist.
American Osteopathic College of Occupational and Preventive Medicine - Discussion and bulletin boards, information for residents, and history of organization.
American Osteopathic College of Ophthalmology - Information on residency programs and training standards. Includes links to websites of more than 50 members of the college.
American Osteopathic College of Otolaryngology - Information on 20 residency programs approved by the AOA (American Osteopathic Association), links to websites of 5 members of the college, and documents on basic standards for training residents.
American Osteopathic College of Radiology - Job listings, certification requirements, calendar of events and information on continuing medical information.
American Osteopathic Foundation - The AOF is the primary philanthropic organization of the American Osteopathic Association (AOA).
AOASM: American Osteopathic Academy of Sports Medicine - Information on certification requirements, an on-line textbook, and how to find a D.O. in this specialty.
Arizona Osteopathic Medical Association - Calendar of meetings and continuing medical education courses, student pages, and directory of Arizona physicians.
Arkansas Osteopathic Medical Association - Calendar of events, current board members and officers and related links.
Association of Military Osteopathic Physicians and Surgeons - AMOPS was established in 1977 to serve and represent osteopathic physicians in the uniformed services.
Australian Osteopathic Association - Represents osteopathic physicians practicing in
The British Osteopathic Association - A
Centers for Osteopathic Research & Education - Guide to residency opportunities throughout the state of Ohio, sponsored by the Ohio State University of Osteopathic Medicine. Includes information on internship programs and links to hospital departments for more than a dozen specialties.
Colorado Society of Osteopathic Medicine - Practice opportunities, scholarship application form, news and history of organization.
The Cranial Academy - Details about the organization whose mission is to teach, advocate and advance osteopathy, specifically Cranial Osteopathy.
Delaware State Osteopathic Medical Society - Includes information for students, membership information, legislative updates, and calendar of events.
Florida Osteopathic Medical Association - Includes information about osteopathy, CME courses, conventions and seminars, and membership information.
General Osteopathic Council - Official website of British organization that regulates licensing and education under the 1993 Osteopaths Act. In the
Georgia Osteopathic Medical Association - State physician directory, membership application form and a newsletter that tracks legislative issues related to medical practices.
Illinois Osteopathic Medical Society - Information on osteopathy, the IOMS, or to find an osteopath near you.
Indiana Osteopathic Association - Guide to key contacts in state and federal agencies and directors of national osteopathic organizations includes a legislative Hot Link page that closely follows state and national medical news. Gives detailed statistics on physicians by specialty and listing of AOA accredited hospitals in the state.
Iowa Osteopathic Medical Association - Includes membership information, discussion boards, CME courses, and newsletters.
Kentucky Osteopathic Medical Association - Find a listing of board members, an on-line membership application form, and general articles about osteopathic medicine.
Louisiana Osteopathic Medical Association - Access a physician referral service, read about local and national legislative updates, and preview proposed organizational projects.
Maine Osteopathic Association - Details of membership benefits, use the physician search service, and find out about local continuing medical education programs.
Maryland Association of Osteopathic Physicians - Find local continuing medical education events, locate a physician by county, and read about membership benefits.
Michigan Osteopathic Association - Access websites of local osteopathic hospitals, read the monthly newsletter, and learn how to obtain continuing medical education credits. Includes health news and articles and resources for practice management.
Minnesota Osteopathic Medical Society - Find a D.O. by zip codes and access public pages about osteopathy. Students and physicians can apply on-line for membership.
Missouri Association of Osteopathic Physicians and Surgeons - Access facts and figures about the profession, information on medical school scholarships for local students, and a telephone directory of professional, institutional, and government resources.
National Board of Osteopathic Medical Examiners - The NBOME serves the public and state licensing agencies by administering examinations testing the medical knowledge of those who seek to serve the public as osteopathic physicians.
Nevada Osteopathic Medical Association - Access a membership application, a newsletter, and lecture schedules for continuing medical education.
New Jersey Association of Osteopathic Physicians and Surgeons - Includes membership and conference information, legislative updates, and information about osteopathy.
New York Osteopathic Medical Society - Information for the general public about Osteopathic Medicine, resources for members and students, and links to health, government and state sites.
Ohio Osteopathic Association - Founded in 1898. Includes information about osteopathy, membership and convention information, calendar of events, and publications.
Osteopathic Medical Board of California - The Board licenses and regulates the practice of osteopathic medicine in the State of California.
Osteopathic Physicians and Surgeons of California - Information on continuing medical information, search engine for local D.O.'s by specialty, and a monthly news bulletin.
Osteopathic Physicians and Surgeons of Oregon - Offers details about the organization, a newsletter, links, search for doctors and conventions.
Pinellas County Florida Osteopathic Society - Represents osteopathic physicians in Pinellas County, Florida. Affiliated with the American Osteopathic Association and the Florida Osteopathic Medical Association
SCOPE: Still Consortium For Osteopathic Postgraduate Education - Guide to internship and residency programs from this Iowa-based organization of university, medical school, and hospital resources. Includes a detailed FAQ on postgraduate protocols.
Tucson Osteopathic Medical Foundation - Private, independent foundation serves the seven counties of southern Arizona, providing educational resources and scholarships in osteopathic medicine.
Virginia Osteopathic Medical Association - Provides education, member services and information on osteopathic profession to member physicians and the public.