Osteopathic Medicine
Today in the U.S., there are two recognized "schools " of medicine: Allopathic medicine, which grants the Doctor of Medicine (MD), and osteopathic medicine, which grants the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO). Osteopathic physicians enjoy the same legal rights and privileges as MDs in all fifty states. Osteopathic physicians practice medicine much the same as MDs with a few important differences. Like the MD, the DO utilizes all of the latest technology, therapies, procedures, and drugs which modern science provides. However, the DO is trained much more extensively in methods of palpation (touching), an important diagnostic method. Also, the DO is trained in manipulative therapy. Osteopathic manipulation is a whole system of diagnosis, appraisal, and therapy designed to preserve health and prevent the spread of disease. Osteopathic physicians are trained to provide holistic health care. Finally, osteopathic medical schools are geared to produce primary care physicians who will enter into family practice. Many DOs also specialize in a wide range of medical specialties as well.
Qualifications for Application
All nineteen colleges of osteopathic medicine require the following pre-osteopathic medical courses. In general, you may follow a regular premedical curriculum. Several specifically require biochemistry and/or psychology in addition to this core set of prerequisites.
General Chemistry with lab (1 year)
Organic Chemistry with lab (1 year)
Biology with lab (1 year)
Physics with lab (1 year)
English Composition (1 year)
Standardized Test - Medical College Admission Test (MCAT)
All applicants to colleges of osteopathic medicine are required to take the Medical College Admissions Test no later than the calendar year prior to entering medical school. The MCAT is offered twice during the year; spring (April) and summer (August). Application deadline for the MCAT is approximately five weeks prior to the test date. DO NOT let this exam slip by you.
Centralized Application Service
All osteopathic colleges of medicine except Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine (TCOM) utilize a centralized application service, AACOMAS (American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine Application Service). TCOM participates in the Texas Medical and Dental Schools Application Service.
AACOMAS
5550 Friendship Boulevard
Suite 310
Chevy Chase, MD 20815-7231
(301) 968-4190
http://www.aacom.org
AACOM (the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine) is at the same address, Phone (301) 968-4100. Links to the home pages to each osteopathic medical school can be accessed through this web site.
AACOMAS applications are available online (See AACOM home page at http://www.aacom.org ).
Interviews
As a part of the application, many colleges of osteopathic medicine require or strongly suggest that the applicant to be interviewed by a practicing osteopathic physician. The osteopathic physician in turn will send a letter of evaluation to the individual schools. Also, before an applicant can enter an osteopathic medical school, he/she must be interviewed at the individual college of osteopathic medicine by an admission committee.
Reciprocal Agreements
Idaho is not presently involved in any reciprocal agreements involving colleges of osteopathic medicine. Some western states support their residents in the College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific (COMP), at the Western University of Health Sciences in Pomona, CA. Touro University College of Osteopathic Medicine (TUCOM) in Vallejo, CA, and Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine (AZCOM) in Glendale, AZ, through the WICHE program.
Acceptance Information
Admission to a college of osteopathic medicine is competitive. The colleges are able to select the members of an entering class from among large numbers of highly qualified applicants. There were 6,900 applicants for about 2,900 available positions for the 2001 entering class.
ISU students have been admitted in recent years to the following schools:
Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine of Midwestern University
Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine of Midwestern University
*College of Osteopathic Medicine, Kansas City, Missouri (University of Health Sciences College of
Osteopathic Medicine)
*Des Moines University Osteopathic Medical Center, Des Moines, Iowa
*College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific, Western University of Health Sciences, Pomona, CA
*Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine
Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine
Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine
New York College of Osteopathic Medicine
Ohio University College of Osteopathic Medicine
Nova Southeastern College of Osteopathic Medicine
Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine
Touro University College of Osteopathic Medicine
University of New England College of Osteopathic Medici ne
*Major schools for ISU students. The other schools have also accepted significant numbers of ISU students.
If you are interested in a career as a primary care practitioner, you should consider osteopathic medicine. At the very least, you should contact a practicing osteopathic physician and talk to him/her about osteopathic medicine (pro and con). The osteopathic colleges are actively seeking qualified applicants who are genuinely interested in pursuing an osteopathic medical career. If you should choose to apply to both allopathic and osteopathic medical schools, be very sure that you are able to indicate and express an honest interest in osteopathic medicine. Even though osteopathic medical schools recognize that students must consider alternatives in development of a health career, they do want to accept students who have a sincere interest in osteopathic medicine.
Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine
ARIZONA COLLEGE OF OSTEOPATHIC MEDICINE OF MIDWESTERN UNIVERSITY (AZCOM)
1955 N. 59th Avenue, Glendale AZ 85308
Phone (602)572-3215 or 1-800-458-6253 (rings at IL campus)
CHICAGO COLLEGE OF OSTEOPATHIC MEDICINE OF MIDWESTERN UNIVERSITY (CCOM)
555 31st Street, Downers Grove, IL 60515
Phone (630)969-4400 or 1-800-458-6253
COLLEGE OF OSTEOPATHIC MEDICINE OF THE PACIFIC, WESTERN UNIVERSITY OF HEALTH SCIENCES (COMP)
309 East Second Street, College Plaza, Pomona, CA 91766-1889
Phone (909)623-6116
DES MOINES UNIVERSITY OSTEOPATHIC MEDICAL CENTER (DMU-OMC)
3200 Grand Avenue, Des Moines, Iowa 50312
Phone (515) 271-1450 or 1-800-240-2767, ext 1450
KIRKSVILLE COLLEGE OF OSTEOPATHIC MEDICINE (KCOM)
800 West Jefferson Street, Kirksville, MO 63501
Phone (660)626-2237 or 1-800-626-5266, ext. 2237
LAKE ERIE COLLEGE OF OSTEOPATHIC MEDICINE (LECOM)
1858 West Grandview Boulevard, Erie, PA 16509
Phone (814)866-6641
MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF OSTEOPATHIC MEDICINE (MSUCOM)
C110 East Fee Hall, East Lansing, MI 48824
Phone (517)353-7740
NEW YORK COLLEGE OF OSTEOPATHIC MEDICINE OF NEW YORK INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY (NYCOM)
Old Westbury, NY 11568
Phone (516) 626-6947
NOVA SOUTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY HEALTH PROFESSIONS DIVISION COLLEGE OF OSTEOPATHIC MEDICINE (SECOM)
3200 S. University Drive, Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33328
Phone (954) 262-1101 or 1-800-356-0026, ext. 1101
OHIO UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF OSTEOPATHIC MEDICINE (OUCOM)
102 Grosvenor and Irvine Halls, Athens, OH 45701-2979
Phone (740)593-4313
OKLAHOMA STATE UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF OSTEOPATHIC MEDICINE (OSU-COM)
1111 West 17th Street, Tulsa, OK 74107-1898
Phone (918) 561-8421 or 1-800-677-1972
PHILADELPHIA COLLEGE OF OSTEOPATHIC MEDICINE (PCOM)
4170 City Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19131
Phone 1-800-999-6998
PIKEVILLE COLLEGE SCHOOL OF OSTEOPATHIC MEDICINE (PCSOM)
214 Sycamore Street, Pikeville, KY 41501
Phone (606)432-9629
THE UNIVERSITY OF HEALTH SCIENCES COLLEGE OF OSTEOPATHIC MEDICINE (UHS-COM)
1750 E. Independence Boulevard, Kansas City, MD 64106-1453
Phone 1-800-234-4847
TOURO UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF OSTEOPATHIC MEDICINE (TUCOM)
Mare Island, CA 94592 (Vallejo, CA)
Phone *1-888-880-7336 (inside CA)
**1-888-887-7336 (outside CA)
This school, in part, is sharing facilities and faculty with the California College of Podiatric Medicine (CCPM).
UNIVERSITY OF MEDICINE AND DENTISTRY OF NEW JERSEY-SCHOOL OF OSTEOPATHIC MEDICINE (UMDNJ-SOM)
One Medical Center Drive, Suite 162A, Stratford, NJ 08084
Phone (609)566-7050
UNIVERSITY OF NEW ENGLAND COLLEGE OF OSTEOPATHIC MEDICINE (UNECOM)
Hills Beach Road, Biddeford, Maine 04005
Phone 1-800-477-4863
UNIVERSITY OF NORTH TEXAS HEALTH SCIENCE CENTER AT FORT WORTH TEXAS COLLEGE OF OSTEOPATHIC MEDICINE (TCOM)
3500 Camp Bowie Boulevard, Fort Worth, TX 76107-2699
Phone (817) 735-2204 or 1-800-535-8266
WEST VIRGINIA SCHOOL OF OSTEOPATHIC MEDICINE (WVSOM)
400 North Lee Street, Lewisburg, West Virginia 24901
Phone * In West Virginia 1-800-356-7836
**Outside West Virginia 1-800-537-7077