AOA, ACGME Build Single Accreditation System

Transition to the single graduate medical education accreditation system for MD and DO postdoctoral training remains on schedule, with a number of key appointments approved and the posting of proposed osteopathic standards for comments.

In October, the first four DOs who will represent the American Osteopathic Association (AOA) and American Association of College of Osteopathic Medicine (AACOM) on the ACGME Board were preliminarily elected with terms to begin  January 1, 2015. Final appointments are subject to pending approval of bylaw changes by the member ACGME organizations. AOA and ACGME representatives include:

  • Karen J. Nichols, DO, Dean of the Midwestern University College of Osteopathic Medicine;
  • David A. Forstein, DO, Vice Chairman of Clinical Affairs and Residency Program Director, Greenville, South Carolina, Hospital System, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology
  • Gary L. Slick, DO, Vice President for Academic Affairs, Senior Associate Dean, and Professor of Internal Medicine at the Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences; and
  • Clinton Adams, DO, Senior Advisor for Strategic Leadership and External Affairs, College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific at Western University of Health Sciences

In addition, two Ohio DOs were among a group of 13 osteopathic physicians approved for the ACGME's Osteopathic Principles Committee (OPC), also pending ratification of bylaw changes by ACGME member organizations.  The two Ohioans are Robert A. Cain, DO, Columbus, OU-HCOM Associate Dean of Graduate Medical Education and Chief Academic Officer of the Centers for Osteopathic Research and Education, and Michael P. Rowane, DO, Cleveland, Division Chief, Family Medicine, UH Regional Hospitals Richmond Campus, and Associate Clinical Professor at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine. OPC members and the disciplines they represent include:

  • Juan Acosta, DO, Emergency Medicine, Washington
  • Natasha Bray, DO, Internal Medicine, Florida
  • Robert Cain, DO, Internal Medicine/Pulmonary Medicine, Ohio
  • Jane Carreiro, DO, Family Practice/NMM, Main
  • Millicent King-Channell, DO, Family Medicine/NMM/OMM, Pennsylvania
  • Alissa Craft, DO, Pediatrics/Neonatal Perinatal Medicine, New York
  • John Dougherty, DO, Family Medicine, Missouri
  • Robert Hasty, DO, Internal Medicine, North Carolina
  • Ken Heiles, DO, Family Medicine, Arkansas
  • Anthony Ottaviani, DO, Internal Medicine/Pulmonary Medicine, Florida
  • George Pasquarello, DO, NMM/OMM/Pain Medicine, Rhode Island
  • Michael Rowane, DO, Family Medicine/NMM/OMM, Ohio
  • Karen Snider, DO, NMM/OMM, Missouri

On November 14th, the ACGME’s Osteopathic Principles Committee (OPC) and the Osteopathic Neuromusculoskeletal (ONMM) Review Committee released proposed standards for ACGME osteopathic training. The draft standards for Osteopathic Recognition and the ONMM RC’s draft standards for the ONMM specialty are posted on the ACGME website

The comment period ended December 29, 2014. The two committees will now review comments and propose revisions for review by the ACGME Committee on Requirements before they are sent to the ACGME Board of Directors for approval in February 2015.

The following AOA nominees have been approved by the  ACGME Executive Committee to serve on the new Osteopathic Neuromusculoskeletal Medicine (ONMM) Review Committee:

  • Eric Hunter Sharp, DO
  • Natalie Nevins, DO
  • Lisa DeStefano, DO
  • Guy DeFeo, DO
  • William Thomas Crow, DO

The ONMM Review Committee (RRC) will oversee standards and programs that do not have a corresponding specialty in ACGME.  The appointments become effective Jan. 1, 2015.

There are three pathways for AOA-approved programs and new programs to become accredited by the ACGME during the transition period from July 1, 2015 to June 30, 2020.

 The first pathway (Pathway 1) is for AOA-approved programs with matriculated residents as of July 1, 2015. These programs are eligible for ACGME “pre-accreditation status” upon the ACGME’s receipt of completed application, and their graduates are deemed eligible for advanced training in ACGME-accredited programs under the eligibility standards in their specific chosen specialty/subspecialty that were in place on June 30, 2013. For the faculty members and program directors in these programs, there are specific modifications to the Common Program Requirements that allow for AOA-certified faculty members and an AOA-certified co-program director.

 The second pathway (Pathway 2) is for those programs that are AOA-approved, but that do not have matriculated residents as of July 1, 2015. These programs are eligible for ACGME “pre-accreditation status” upon the ACGME’s receipt of completed application, and their graduates are deemed eligible for advanced training in ACGME-accredited programs under the eligibility standards in their specific chosen specialty/subspecialty that were in place on June 30, 2013. Their faculty members and program directors are not covered under the modifications to the ACGME Common Program Requirements created under the agreement among the ACGME, the AOA, and AACOM.

 The third pathway (Pathway 3) is for programs that receive initial AOA approval after July 1, 2015. These programs will apply for ACGME accreditation as would any other new program. These programs are not eligible for “pre-accreditation status” upon the ACGME’s receipt of a completed application, their graduates are not eligible for advanced training in ACGME-accredited programs under the eligibility standards in their specialty/subspecialty that were in place on June 30, 2013, and their faculty members and program directors are not covered under the specific modifications to the ACGME Common Program Requirements created under the agreement among the ACGME, the AOA, and AACOM

 The AOA and ACGME are continually posting updated information on line. Click here to visit the ACGME Information Page on the AOA Website, which contains a list of frequently asked questions (FAQs) that is updated as necessary. To visit the dedicated page on the ACGME web site, click here.

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