American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine

Last updated
American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine
AbbreviationAACOM
Formation1898
Type Professional association
Headquarters Bethesda, MD
Location
  • United States
Official language
English
President/Chief Executive Officer
Robert Cain, DO
Website aacom.org

The American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine (AACOM) is a non-profit organization that supports the 42 accredited colleges of osteopathic medicine (COMs) in the United States. These colleges are accredited to deliver instruction at 67 teaching locations in 36 states. In the current academic year, these colleges are educating more than 35,000 future physicians—25 percent of all U.S. medical students. Seven of the colleges are public and 35 are private institutions.

Contents

AACOM serves as a unifying voice for osteopathic medical education (OME), fostering collaboration among its member institutions, and is active in advocacy at the federal government level. The Association is governed by its Board of Deans and led by President Robert A. Cain, DO.

AACOM often works in collaboration with other allied organizations and promotes public awareness for osteopathic medicine and OME. The association provides centralized services to its members, including data collection and analysis, and operation of its online application service, AACOMAS, for prospective students [1] [2] applying to U.S. osteopathic medical schools.

Mission

AACOM provides leadership [3] for the osteopathic medical education community by promoting excellence in medical education, research and service, and by fostering innovation and quality across the continuum of osteopathic medical education to improve the health of the American public.

History

Osteopathic medicine was founded in the late 1800s in Kirksville, Missouri, by Andrew Taylor Still, MD, DO, a medical doctor who recognized that the medical practices of the day often caused more harm than good. He focused on developing a system of medical care that would promote the body's innate ability to heal itself and called this system of medicine osteopathy, now known as osteopathic medicine.

In 2012, AACOM worked with the Association of American Medical Colleges to improve medical education on post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injuries. [4]

Osteopathic physicians, also known as DOs, 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 break down barriers to good health. DOs are licensed to practice the full scope of medicine in all 50 states. They practice in all types of environments, including the military, and in all types of specialties, from family medicine to obstetrics, surgery, and aerospace medicine.

Publications

AACOM publishes the Student Guide to Osteopathic Medical Colleges [5] annually and Inside OME, [6] a biweekly e-newsletter covering news related to osteopathic medicine and OME, legislation, updates on the transition to a single graduate medical education (GME) system, and more. AACOM also publishes a number of reports [7] throughout the year which focus on original research and data in OME.

AACOM Councils

Created by the AACOM Board of Deans, AACOM councils [8] support the work of the Association on behalf of all member colleges. Councils typically meet twice a year and collaborate regularly through the AACOMmunities [9] online forum. AACOM also hosts online discussions for a wide variety of ad hoc committees and other interest groups in AACOMmunities.

Programs and initiatives

AACOM also sponsors or co-sponsors a variety of programs [10] and initiatives [11] for audiences at every level of osteopathic medical education, from students to senior administrators. AACOM also offers opportunities for both medical students and health care professionals, including scholarships, internships, fellowships, and grants.

See also

Related Research Articles

Osteopathic medicine is a branch of the medical profession in the United States that promotes the practice of science-based medicine, often referred to in this context as allopathic medicine, with a set of philosophy and principles set by its earlier form, osteopathy. Osteopathic physicians (DOs) are graduates of American osteopathic medical colleges and are licensed to practice the full scope of medicine and surgery in all 50 U.S. states. The field is distinct from osteopathic practices offered in nations outside of the U.S.—in which practitioners are generally considered neither parts of core medical staff nor of medicine itself; rather, they are considered alternative medicine practitioners. The other major branch of medicine in the United States is referred to by practitioners of osteopathic medicine as allopathic medicine.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Des Moines University</span> Private medical school in West Des Moines, Iowa, US

Des Moines University (DMU) is a private medical school in West Des Moines, Iowa. Founded in 1898, Des Moines University is the second oldest osteopathic medical school and the fifteenth largest medical school in the United States. DMU's three colleges—the College of Osteopathic Medicine, College of Podiatric Medicine and Surgery, and College of Health Sciences—offer nine academic degrees, including master's and doctorate degrees.

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The American Osteopathic Association (AOA) is the representative member organization for the more than 176,000 osteopathic medical doctors (D.O.s) and osteopathic medical students in the United States. The AOA is headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, and is involved in post-graduate training for osteopathic physicians. Beginning in 2015, it began accrediting post-graduate education as a committee within the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education, creating a unified accreditation system for all DOs and MDs in the United States. The organization promotes public health, encourages academic scientific research, serves as the primary certifying body for D.O.s overseeing 18 certifying boards, and is the accrediting agency for osteopathic medical schools through its Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation. As of October 2015, the AOA no longer owns the Healthcare Facilities Accreditation Program (HFAP), which accredited hospitals and other health care facilities.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Council of Osteopathic Student Government Presidents</span>

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The Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine (MSUCOM) is one of the two public medical schools of Michigan State University, a public land-grant research university in East Lansing, Michigan. The college grants the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.) degree, as well as a DO-PhD combined degree for students interested in training as physician-scientists. MSUCOM operates two satellite campuses in Clinton Township and Detroit. The college is accredited by the American Osteopathic Association's Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation (COCA) and by the Higher Learning Commission.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">California Health Sciences University</span> University in Clovis, California, U.S.

California Health Sciences University (CHSU) is a private, for-profit university located in Clovis, California. Founded in 2012, the school currently operates two academic programs, one offering a doctorate degree in medicine and the second offering a masters degree in science. Graduates of the College of Osteopathic Medicine (COM) will receive the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) degree, and graduates of the College of Biosciences and Health Professions (CBHP) will receive the Masters of Science in Biomedical Sciences (MSBS) degree. The school had previously also offered a Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) degree but no longer offers it.

References

  1. ↑ "About the AACOM Application Service (AACOMAS)" (PDF).
  2. ↑ "AACOMAS Application Deadlines". www.aacom.org. Retrieved 2016-06-20.
  3. ↑ "AACOM Leadership". www.aacom.org. Retrieved 2016-06-20.
  4. ↑ "Medical schools join first lady's health initiative for veterans". CNN. January 11, 2012.
  5. ↑ "2017 Osteopathic Medical College Information Book". www.aacom.org. Retrieved 2016-06-20.
  6. ↑ "Inside OME". www.aacom.org. Retrieved 2016-06-20.
  7. ↑ "AACOM Reports". www.aacom.org. Retrieved 2016-06-20.
  8. ↑ "AACOM Councils and Groups". www.aacom.org. Retrieved 2016-06-20.
  9. ↑ "Home - American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine". community.aacom.org. Retrieved 2016-06-20.
  10. ↑ "Programs and Funding Opportunities". www.aacom.org. Retrieved 2016-06-20.
  11. ↑ "AACOM Initiatives". www.aacom.org. Retrieved 2016-06-20.
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