I've been trying to find some information of the quality of the OMT programs at different schools. This is important in my decision on which school I am going to choose. So far I'm looking at UHS-COM, PCOM, AZCOM, KCOM and Des Moines. If anyone has advice or a good source that I could go to I would appreciate it.
Kirksville does the most osteopathic research and receives the most funding. You might also consider the texas school. Otherwise I would look at the publication records of the OMT programs at each institution to get a better idea of the quality of the program. JKL
I looked at a lot of schools for OMM programs too. By far kirksville does the most training wise. But I have been told that KCOM, Pamona, NYCOM, and i would say that my school, AZCOM dose a pretty good job. First see where you can get an interview and then see what their programs are like. You have to get in first. Good luck.
Lynch and birving, Thanks for your replies. Just to clear things up, I have visited, interviewed and been accepted to these schools. My problem lies in the fact that they all paint a fairly rosy picture of what their program is like. I spoke to many of the students while I was at each school and they gave me some info regarding each program, however, I was unsure whether there was something more concrete to look at as far at the OMM training is concerned. Lynch, you said to look at the publication record of each school....How would I go about accessing this info. Also, how do you think the faculty would feel if I called them up and asked them bluntly how strong their OMM was. In this case who should I talk to, an administrator or a member of the OMM faculty? You both mentioned KCOM....I've been accepted there, but I really don't feel like it would be the right school for me. Am I making a mistake by going with my gut or should I overlook it and stick it out for two years in Kirksville? Thanksa again for all your info!
Des Moines has a great OMM department, but other divisions of the school leave a lot to be desired. If you have other acceptances in your pocket, give the Des Moines seat to someone less lucky.
Hankhill: Would you please share your experience with DMU? I have heard that same remark from many other students, and being from Iowa, I am strongly considering DMU. But after hearing that it has areas that need to be "improved," I am second guessing. Thanks "Building a Foundation" --Coach Alford
Actually, I think that UNTHSC-TCOM does the most research and has the most funding. TCOM has a very strong history of securing federal grant support for research. According to the AACOM, the total grants or contracts for the 1997-98 period for all colleges of osteopathic (COM?s) medicine totaled $24.2 million. In that same period grants and contracts at UNTHSC-FW accounted for almost one-third of this total. Moreover, the OMM department at TCOM was recently awarded a NIH grant from NCCAM to further develop over five years its research-training program in OMM.
DMU has an excellent Biochemistry and OMM department. Make no mistake about that. I am a first year student, and I have been very disappointed with how the Anatomy courses and the school as a whole are so disorganized. Our embryology course this year was self study. This portion of our anatomy course consisted of buying a book, having no lectures over any of the material, and then having an exam after 2 weeks. The exam counted as one of our 5 anatomy exams. One particular professor started off his anatomy lecture by telling students to "go into the lab, grab that little thing called a scalpel, and get your lazy asses to work". He is the anatomy course coordinator. I wonder what would happen if a student referred to a professor as a lazy ass. It wouldn't be good. There are problems here just as there probably are at any school. However, I think that there is likely better educational quality to be found elsewhere. Realize also that I am only one person, and that other people likely have much different opinions. Talk with as many students as you can. If you go to DMU you will still become a doctor. I am unhappy about a lot of the things that go on at the school, but I can tell you that I like living in Des Moines a lot. If you have to come here to go to school, just make the best of it. If you are competitive enough to get in elsewhere, research it long and hard. Talk with students at all the schools. Compare the clinical affiliations of the schools that you are accepted to. If you have any specific questions, then I'll try to answer them as time permits.
hankhill, Email me please - I have a million questions to ask you. ------------------ -- KidT [email protected]
We had a lecture from a DO from the NIH and he stated that Kirksville recieved the most funding of all the DO schools. However, I think he meant overall funding, not just OMT.
rosesnerna, just wondering.....what about kcom didn't you like? I am a first year here and I love it... it is so personal. If I can help you out in anyway, let me know. mhc
Hankhill, I am one of your classmates and I was not in class that day when Kahn said that but I saw the quoe in notepool and thought that it was a little inappropriate. Mail me.
milleniumhc, As far as KCOM is concerned, there were several things I did not like. My interviewer (Dr. Uray) spent the entire interview telling me what a mistake I was making in becoming a physician. I understand that this should not reflect on the school, but it kind of sets you up with a poor impression for the rest of the day. I was pretty disappointed with the facility itself. I thought that the anatomy lab left much to be desired and that the OMM lab was in poor shape. I didn't get a good feel from any of the students that I spoke to either. I guess that I can't put my finger on anything too major, but I just didn't feel that it would be the place for me. Playing in the back of my mind was the small town atmosphere that I don't care for and the feeling that the school was a bit outdated. I did like the curriculum and I know it is a good school. However, I just didn't feel that it was right for me personally. Sorry, I hope it doesn't sound like I'm bashing KCOM, it just didn't appeal to me. RNA
Research among osteopathic institutions. DO schools received 24.2 million in research funding in 1998, 35% came from the NIH. In 1999, only three DO institutions received NIH funding, these include Kirksville, Oklahoma and PCOM. IV. NIH FUNDING TO OSTEOPATHIC INSTITUTIONS - 1999 Rank Institution Total Funding 792 KIRKSVILLE COLLEGE OF OSTEOPATHIC MED Total 604,144 Research Grants 5 604,144 Training Grants 0 Fellowships 0 R&D Contracts 0 Other Awards 0 1578 COLLEGE OF OSTEOPATHIC MED/OK STATE UNIV Total 180,465 Research Grants 2 180,465 Training Grants 0 Fellowships 0 R&D Contracts 0 Other Awards 0 2107 PHILADELPHIA COLLEGE OF OSTEOPATHIC MED Total 95,151 Research Grants 1 95,151 Training Grants 0 Fellowships 0 R&D Contracts 0 Other Awards 0 Source: NIH support to all institutions. NIH website, Grants Information. http://silk.nih.gov/public/[email protected] This is the only available information at this time. I did hear that both Texas and Kirksville have received funding from NCCAM which is great news. If you are clearly interested in OMT these would be two good choices. Consider reviewing medline for OMT articles and see which institutions publish the most papers in peer reviewed journals. These are the schools you may want to contact and discuss OMT programs with. JKL
Rosernah, I just have a few things to add. 1. Make sure you tell the admissions department about your interveiw experience. That is something they need to know. 2. All schools have bad profs who are grouchy and turn people off. Don't let this person you interviewed with set the tone for the whole school - he does not represent what the majority of the faculty are like. 3. Most importantly, I am very happy to be at KCOM. It is a great fit for me. At the some time I wouldn't tell anyone to go to a school that just doesn't seem right to them. Even if it is a gut feeling. E-mail me if you have any more questions. ------------------ Carrie KCOM '03
According to my search of the same data, UNTHSC-TCOM outranks all of the other DO programs above at rank number 286... 286 UNIVERSITY OF NORTH TEXAS HLTH SCI CTR FORT WORTH TEXAS Total Amount 4,318,918 Research Grants 21 3,830,139 Training Grants 1 72,860 Fellowships 1 40,036 R&D Contracts 2 375,883 Other Awards
Rosnerna, I am sorry that you had such a bad experience at KCOM. Dr. Uray must have been having a bad day.... he is actually quite a comical person and one of my favorite professors. He actually holds my attention well. Yes, it is a small town. That is definitely true. I like it because it makes your class feel closer, but at the same time it has its drawbacks. I guess I don't really agree with you, though, on the quality of the facilities. I have seen a handful of other DO schools and the only school with nicer facilities was CCOM. (They are now building a new OTM lab, I was told, and that should make it even nicer.) We have direct hookups to the internet in our lecture halls for each student and we have had several "conference" lectures so far where we use our laptops to answer the teachers questions and so forth. The anatomy lab is a 4:1 cadavor ratio and we actually dissect, unlike some other schools where your cadavor is already prosected for you (very unfortunate because you lose that "hands on" training). I guess that I am just trying to help you out so you can look for these things in your "quest" for the right DO school. I wish you luck. oh yeah, I meant to say.....the OTM lab is fine shape...I think. Some of the tables are old, but that is because (one of the profs told me) they were from way back and considered "antiques" by the school. Some of the Other OTM labs that I have been in don't have the videotape system that shows what the professor is doing throughout the entire room. It makes it hard to see....look for that in all of the OTM labs. Best of luck. mhc
roesnerna, I would be happy to point you to someone to contact at AZCOM, i am on break for now... but i will be back on campus and could get you an email address after the 26th of november. Just post a reply in the "OMM table" thread and that will send a reply to me. But the bottom line with med school choices is to just really listen to that inner voice... where did you feel the most comfortable. After i visited AZCOM i was all pumped up about it... but it took some convincing to really trust it... and I am really happy with my decision. And really, with OMM it is the fellowships you do after school that get you places (this is according to the president of the AAO, i got a chance to talk to him last year about the same issues...) GO WITH THE GUT!!!
It you really feel that manipulation skill is important to you and you want the best education in both Osteopathic theory and hands on, Des Moines University is the best choice and Kirksville is #2. This is reflected in that Des Moines and Kirksville have been #1 and #2 respectivly on Comlex Part 1 in the OMT sections for the last ten years. Many other schools don't teach more than one or two types of manipulation in their course work. DMU students receive all of the different types of manipulation in their two years of classes. In addition cranial is offered to first and second year students and they can become members of the Cranial Academy. The cranial coure is a required part of the OMM course in the second year. We consistantly have over one hundred second year students appily to be OMM lab teaching assistants. There is usually one TA for each two students during labs. The course is cummulative throughout both years. Attendence is required in both OMM lecture and labs. Both of these policies keep all students fresh on all of the techniques throughout their first two years of education. Also DMU students are capable of providing a full body treatment at the end of their first year. There are many opportunities for first and second year students to practice their skills in the community on people with real pathology. DMU like all other schools has its advantages and disadvantages, but the OMT education at DMU is superior. Mike
I agree with everything that Lightning says in the above post about DMU OMT, but I will not comment on his ranking DMU over Kirksville since I don't know anything about what their students cover. He is correct about the quality of OMT in Des Moines though. If you come to DMU, it is my opinion that you will leave with a thorough grasp of this subject. I can't brag on this department enough. hankhill
Do not come to UHS if you are really interested in learning OPP. UHS is the closest it comes to being an allopathic school. When one of the best OPP faculty gets up and leaves because of the new genesis program, you know there's a problem. If you are really interested in getting the most OPP training then you should go to KCOM. I think they have 3-5 labs per week, but I think there the exception. I assume most schools probably have only 1-2 labs per week, but that is O.K. because you get out of school what you put into it. Practice what you learn as much as you can in your free time and at UAAO meetings and you'll be fine. Good Luck! ------------------ LBO
UNECOM has been neglected in this discussion. According to OMT specialists and faculty I have met with, UNECOM has an outstanding faculty and facilities. A beautiful and modern OMT lab. Based on what I've researched, and after visiting/interviewing at nine D.O. schools, this is a top program. One of 2 schools(along with Kirksville) to offer a dual residency in NMM/FP. Also (as a side note), you can't beat views of the bay and beaches from this school.
Just my two cents also. I just returned from my interview at UHS and can not rave enough about their facilities, especially their OPP (aka OMM) lab. It is far superior to the other schools I have attended including DMU and LECOM. I can not speak on behalf of their training because I am not a student, but the current students also rave about the OPP they have been taught and are frequently asked to adjust friends and family. I interview at AZCOM next week and am excited to see their facilities. Tiffany
Just thought I would let everyone know that DMU is just now completing the construction of a brand new building. After this week this building will house the OMT labs among many other things including the SPAL labs. So as of this week not only does DMU have the best OMT class but also the newest OMT facilities. Mike
