Osteopathic Medicine (Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine)

College/School: School of Osteopathic Medicine

Program Accreditation: American Osteopathic Association Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation.

The Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine Program curriculum stresses independent study and self-directed learning. The 4-year program begins by building upon small and large group interactive case-based learning experiences, and focuses on conceptual knowledge acquisition, critical thinking, and clinical reasoning—not rote memorization and recall of facts.

All engagements with faculty facilitators are designed to utilize assessment to guide learning and evaluation to improve outcomes. All UIWSOM educational programs are built upon and are continuously informed by these guiding principles:

Reflect the UIW and UIWSOM mission, vision, and values.
Support adult learning and educational principles.
Synthesize the science of medical knowledge for clinical practice.
Develop critical thinking, clinical reasoning, and reflective practice.
Integrate osteopathic principles in education and professional practice.

As part of their program of research into professional preparedness, the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching sponsored the authorship of Educating Physicians: A Call for Reform of Medical School and Residency (2010). Educating Physicians, rooted in Flexner’s (1910) seminal work, argued for key educational practices that medical schools would need to adopt in order to produce the next generation of physicians, including an intentional integration of clinically applied biomedical sciences, early exposure to experiential learning, and professional identity formation, with an emphasis on healthcare teams, social accountability, and cultural awareness.

To this end, the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine Program curriculum was developed from the ground up as an integrated curriculum designed to spiral content throughout all phases of the program and to support osteopathic medical students in their attainment of the knowledge, skills and abilities expected at each level of training, culminating with entry into graduate medical education programs.

Admissions

UIWSOM participates in the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine Application Service (AACOMAS). AACOMAS offers prospective students a convenient and centralized online application service for accredited osteopathic medical schools. Through AACOMAS, candidates file one electronic application, which is then verified and distributed by AACOMAS to all the osteopathic colleges designated by the candidate. As a private osteopathic medical school, UIWSOM does not participate in the Texas Medical and Dental School Application Service (TMDSAS).

Undergraduate Course Work

Undergraduate course preparation will be vital to the success of the student applicant. Minimum coursework requirements include the courses below. All prerequisites must be taken from a regionally accredited college/university and earn a “C” or higher for each course (2.0 on a 4.0 GPA scale). A grade of "C-" does not meet the minimum grade requirement.

Required:

Completion of no less than 75% of the credits required for a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited college or university.
Biology: minimum of 8 semester hours, including 2 semester hours of laboratory work.
Inorganic Chemistry: minimum of 8 semester hours, including 2 semester hours of laboratory work.
Organic Chemistry: minimum of 8 semester hours, including 2 semester hours of laboratory work.
Physics: minimum of 8 semester hours, including 2 semester hours of laboratory work.
English: minimum of 6 semester hours of composition and/or literature.

Recommended Preparatory Coursework

To facilitate a smoother transition to the medical school, applicants are encouraged to take additional coursework such as:

Advanced sciences: human anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, genetics, cell biology, neuroscience, microbiology, behavioral science, and immunology.
Six semester hours of philosophy or other humanities coursework.
Six semester hours of math/statistics coursework.

MCAT Scores

All applicants must submit their most recent MCAT scores as part of the AACOMAS application. Scores older than three years prior to matriculation will not be considered.

Letters of Recommendation

Three letters of recommendation:

one letter from a physician (preferably DO),
one letter from a premed advisor or health professions admissions committee (HPAC), and
one letter from a science faculty member.

Non-traditional students can substitute one faculty or HPAC letter with a more recent reference (employer, volunteer/community service supervisor, etc.).

Other Factors

Careful consideration will be given to the following during the application review process:

Significant employment opportunities.
Exposure to the DO profession, either through health care employment or a shadow program.
Substantial volunteer and community service.
It is recommended that bilingual applicants should identify themselves on the AACOMAS application.

Supplemental Application

After initial review, qualified applicants are invited to complete and submit the supplemental application which includes essay questions specific to UIWSOM.

Interview

Competitive applicants are invited to campus to participate in multiple mini-interviews. Read this article to learn more about the MMI format: "What to Expect During a Medical School Multiple Mini Interview"

For more information on the application process or to apply, please visit the School of Osteopathic Medicine Admissions web page.

Apply to UIW

Application for the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine Program

Curriculum Overview

The Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine Program curriculum is divided into phases that include weekly longitudinal community engagement and early clinical experience activities.

Phases I and II include eight integrated units with unit nine serving as a capstone. All units are organized around weekly themes that illustrate our curricular components: osteopathic principles and practices, professional identity formation, and applied biomedical sciences. Additionally, six curricular threads are woven throughout the curriculum and include Mental Health and Wellness, Spirituality, Social Accountability, Service and Scholarship, Student Success, Mentoring and Advising, Board Preparation, and Evidence-based Medicine. Contact hours are limited each week to allow for ample self-directed learning time, review, and reinforcement.

Phase I

OMED 5910	Essentials and Emergency Medical Technician	23.4
OMED 5820	Musculoskeletal Touch and Personhood	12.8
OMED 5830	Molecules, Cells, Compassion	17.06
OMED 5840	Host Defense and Communication	14.93
OMED 5650	Gastrointestinal System, Nutrition, Appetite	14.93
Total Credit Hours:		83.12

Phase II

OMED 6065	Circulation, Respiration and Regulation	25.6
OMED 6035	Endocrine Reproduction Respect	12.8
OMED 6045	Mind, Brain and Behavior	17.07
OMED 5830	Molecules, Cells, Compassion	17.06
Total Credit Hours:		72.53

Phase III consists of required 6-week core rotations.

A Reflection, Integration and Assessment week is scheduled every 12 weeks between every two rotations. An OPP/OMM longitudinal integrated clerkship (LIC) component is part of Phase III.

OMED 7400	Readiness for Clerkship	4
Total Credit Hours:		4

The six-week core rotations include:

OMED 7660	Family Medicine Core Clerkship	6
OMED 7600	General Internal Medicine Core Clerkship	6
OMED 7650	General Surgery Core Clerkship	6
OMED 7620	Pediatrics Core Clerkship	6
OMED 7690	Hospital Medicine Core Clerkship	6
OMED 7630	Behavioral Medicine Core Clerkship	6
OMED 7610	Obstetrics and Gynecology Clerkship	6
OMED 7680	Medically Underserved Core Clerkship	6
Total Credit Hours:		48

OMED 7680 is taken in rural or urban setting.

Phase IV consists of a required 4-week Emergency Medicine core rotation, three selectives, and five elective rotations.

At the end of Phase IV, students participate in COMLEX-USA Level 2-CE and Level 2-PE preparation and travel for the examination. Student engage in a 3-week Ready for Residency unit, during which they are assessed for the entry-level ACGME PGY1 Entrustable Professional Activities (EPAs).