Happy Osteopathic Medicine Month!

April is Osteopathic Medicine Recognition Month in Ohio. In 2016, Ohio Gov. John Kasich signed HB 352 to honor the “significant contributions made by the osteopathic field of medicine to improve the health of Ohioans.” The legislation was written by then State Rep. Terry Johnson, DO, now a state senator.

For the OOA, every month since New Year’s Eve 1898 has been Osteopathic Medicine Recognition Month. That’s 1,503 months of dedicated service to promote and advance the osteopathic profession in Ohio.

It was December 31, 1898, when a small group of Ohio DOs met in Columbus and formed what was then called the Ohio Society for the Advancement of Osteopathy. Membership would be open to graduates of “any reputable school of osteopathy” residing in Ohio. The meeting was reported in The Columbus Dispatch.

If not for these pioneers and other leaders throughout the 125-year history, the OOA would not be where it is today. This month is a great time to reflect on the distinguished past of the Ohio profession that has paved the way to a dynamic future.

See You in Three Weeks!

The Ohio Osteopathic Symposium is in three weeks! We look forward to seeing you April 18-21 at the Columbus Hilton Hotel or on your computer.

The Symposium, the largest osteopathic CME conference in the state, offers 29 hours of AOA Category 1-A CME on timely topics from experts in their field. Since its start in 2010, this collaborative program of the OOA and OU-HCOM has remained true to its primary objective: provide practical and clinically relevant information.

OOA members get a discount on registration! Register today!

AOA Issues Update on Medical Student Parity

Last year, there was extensive discussion about student parity issues during the AOA Annual Meeting and AOA House of Delegates. Last week, AOA President Ira Monka, DO, and Executive Director Kathleen Creason issued an update regarding activities related to advancing equitable treatment of all medical students seeking rotations and training positions.

The AOA joined with the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine (AACOM) to hold a student parity summit, which included leaders from national organizations that oversee osteopathic and allopathic medical education and training, including the American Medical Association (AMA), the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) and the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP). Participants identified several outcomes and next steps that are being advanced as part of a shared action plan that includes:

• A joint statement outlining the workforce benefits of including osteopathic physicians in residency programs.
• Meetings with program directors across various specialties to gain insights on current behaviors and attitudes.
• Further data analysis.
• Review of Visiting Student Learning Opportunities (VSLO) and Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS) filters and participation policies.
• Plans for future meetings to identify additional opportunities for collaboration.

The OOA commends the AOA and AACOM and supports these efforts to identify and eliminate barriers that adversely impact access to training and employment opportunities for DOs.

NHSC Application Period Open

The National Health Service Corps (NHSC) is currently accepting locations for three loan repayment programs and a scholarship program.

In exchange for commitment to serve at an NHSC-approved facility, practicing clinicians providing primary medical, dental, or behavioral health care services may qualify for a loan repayment up to $75,000 with a Loan Repayment Program Award; up to $75,000 for the Substance Use Disorder Workforce Loan Repayment Program; and up to $100,000 for the Rural Community Loan Repayment Program.

Get the details about the loan repayment programs here. Application deadline is May 9.

The scholarship program provides financial support for full-time enrollment in an eligible degree or training program for primary care health professions for up to four school years. This includes tuition and select fees, annual payment, and monthly stipend for living expenses.

Get the details about the scholarship program here. Application deadline is April 25.

Applications Open April 1

The American Osteopathic Association has issued a call for volunteer leaders for appointment to a Bureau, Committee or Council (B/C/Cs). Applications for the 2024-2025 appointment cycle opens Monday, April 1 and closes May 1.

Applicants must submit a curriculum vitae and a statement of intent. More information along with a B/C/C list and description is here.

Upcoming Deadlines for Certifying Boards

Application deadlines are quickly approaching. Below are deadlines in April for osteopathic certifying boards.

American Osteopathic Board of Dermatology initial primary exam – April 27 (first deadline)

American Osteopathic Board of Emergency Medicine initial subspecialty exam – April 21 (final deadline)

American Osteopathic Board of Orthopedic Surgery initial primary written exam – April 1 (final deadline)

American Osteopathic Board of Pediatrics initial primary exam – April 5 (final deadline)

American Osteopathic Board of Surgery initial primary and subspecialty written qualifying exams – April 1 (final deadline)

For questions, contact Chaunessie Baggett at CBaggett@osteopathic.org.

Host an Osteopathic Medical Student

Many medical students scramble to find—and pay for—housing while doing rotations away from their home site. It’s a similar situation when it’s time for residency interviews as the costs for transportation, lodging, meals, and application fees add up.

The OOA continues to maintain a list of physicians who can help future colleagues by providing a free place to stay.

This project simply connects interested medical students with volunteer physician hosts. Contact information is provided directly to the student who asks about available accommodations in a certain geographic area. The arrangements and coordination is exclusively between the student and host physician. The program is not associated with any college of osteopathic medicine.

Sign up here.

It’s Med School Application Season

Undergraduate students often turn to the OOA looking for DOs to shadow. Many COMs require prospective students to get to know a DO and request a letter of recommendation as part of the application process.

The OOA maintains a list of physicians willing to have a student shadow. Allowing a shadow is a great way to enhance awareness of the osteopathic medical philosophy.

When receiving a request, the OOA provides the pre-med student with the contact information of physicians in the requested geographic area who have volunteered. It’s then up to the student to initiate contact to work out the dates, times, and duration. There is no vetting.

To sign up, go to the Volunteer & DO Your Part page on the OOA website.

Prioritize OR

With another successful Match season concluded, it’s time to look towards #Match2025! The OOA strongly supports the Osteopathic Recognition designation and encourages medical students to continue along the osteopathic continuum and prioritize OR programs in Ohio.

For institutions, achieving Osteopathic Recognition formally acknowledges that the training program is committed and able to teach osteopathic principles and practices. For trainees, the designation is assurance that the learning environment advances the ability to provide high quality, holistic patient care and aligns with your osteopathic medical education philosophy.

See a listing of Ohio programs with OR here.