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 41 accredited colleges of osteopathic medicine (COMs) in the United States. These colleges are accredited to deliver instruction at 66 teaching locations in 35 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 34 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 US states; they have historically applied for medical licensure in 87 countries outside of the United States, 85 of which provided them with the full scope of medical and surgical practice. The field is distinct from osteopathic practices offered in nations outside of the U.S., whose practitioners are generally not considered part of core medical staff nor of medicine itself, but rather are 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> Medical school in West Des Moines, Iowa

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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Most physicians in the United States hold either the Doctor of Medicine degree (MD) or the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree (DO). Institutions awarding the MD are accredited by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME). Institutions awarding the DO are accredited by the Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation (COCA). The World Directory of Medical Schools lists both LCME accredited MD programs and COCA accredited DO programs as US medical schools. Foreign-trained osteopaths do not hold DO degrees and are not recognized as physicians in the United States or in other jurisdictions.

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Rocky Vista University (RVU) is a private, for-profit medical school with campus locations in Parker, Colorado and Ivins, Utah. The school opened in 2006 as the only modern for-profit medical school in the United States although other for-profit schools have since opened. RVU's College of Osteopathic Medicine (RVUCOM) grants the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree and admitted its inaugural class of medical students at the Parker, Colorado campus in August 2008.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific</span> Medical school in Pomona, California, U.S.

The College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific (COMP) is a private, non-profit medical school for osteopathic medicine located in downtown Pomona, in the U.S. state of California. The college opened in 1977 as the only osteopathic medical school west of the Rocky Mountains. COMP was the founding program of Western University of Health Sciences (WesternU), which now has 8 colleges in addition to COMP, each offering professional degrees in various fields of healthcare. COMP has a single 4-year program, conferring the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.) degree. Graduates are eligible to practice medicine in all 50 states and more than 85 countries.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Liberty University College of Osteopathic Medicine</span> Osteopathic medical school of Liberty University

Liberty University College of Osteopathic Medicine (LUCOM) is a private graduate medical school located in Lynchburg, Virginia. It is one of the seventeen colleges and schools located in Liberty University. LUCOM was the second osteopathic medical school to open in the U.S. state of Virginia after the Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine. In 2018, the inaugural class of 126 medical students graduated.

The Canadian Osteopathic Medical Student Association (COMSA) is a student body that works to promote awareness of Osteopathic Medicine in Canada both among the general population and the future physicians of Canada. They are affiliated with the Canadian Osteopathic Association.

California Health Sciences University (CHSU) is a private, for-profit university located in Clovis, in the U.S. state of California. Founded in 2012, the school operates two academic programs, which offer doctoral degrees in pharmacy and osteopathic medicine. Graduates of the College of Osteopathic Medicine will receive the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree. The College of Osteopathic Medicine is fully pre-accredited by the American Osteopathic Association's (AOA) Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation (COCA).

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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