Is NYCOM "less osteopathic?"

[PublicHealth]

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Several DOs have told me that students interested in osteopathic medicine should go to UNECOM or any other DO school, and to avoid NYCOM. According to them (all UNECOM alumni), NYCOM is the least osteopathic of DO schools. Anyone else encounter similar opinions?

 

[BrooklynDO]

so, what would make a school more or less "osteopathic". We need a specific criteria to answer the question dont we?
~Brooklyn

 

[drvlad2004]

My guess that PublicHealth is using the term "least osteopathic" more in terms of residency placement. The majority of NYCOMers tend to specialize but the same has occurred in nearly every DO school. This is likely due to financial debt incurred from tuition, geographic, and other personal factors that have nothing to do with NYCOM. However, we have many excellent faculty members at NYCOM (e.g. John & Capobianco who are also UNECOM alumni) who are devoted to osteopathic principles and philosophy. It is really up to you whether you want incorporate OPP.

Saying least osteopathic does still leave me confused by what you mean. 19 of us did match into PM&R this year. This is a field whose philosophy correlates well with osteopathy. If you compare where NYCOM students are going compared to other schools like UNECOM, you will see that we are not too different in terms of what fields we match into. I know that schools like PCSOM and UNECOM push hard to get their students to go into primary care but, nowadays, less students are motivated to go into primary care. The focus on primary care still doesn't equate being osteopathic.

As a side note, NYCOM has won UAAO chapter of the year for several years. Medical school is make you make of it.

 

[(nicedream)]

I think he was referring to the curricular emphasis they place on OPP and OMM, and on osteopathy in general.

 

[PublicHealth]

I think he was referring to the curricular emphasis they place on OPP and OMM, and on osteopathy in general.

Exactly. According to the DOs I mentioned above, NYCOM does not emphasize OMM as much as UNECOM, and the school is "more like an MD school." Some went so far as to say, "Stay away from NYCOM if you want to be a DO."

Interestingly, very few DOs even use OMM in practice, and less than 1% pursues residency training in OMM. In this case, I think it makes sense that some DO schools are de-emphasizing OMM training in their curricula. As drvlad mentioned, financial reasons likely motivate students to specialize (let's face it, DO schools are not cheap!). PM&R seems to be an ideal specialty for DOs, and it's great that NYCOM has many students interested in this field. With their OMM training, DOs have the most comprehensive training.

 

[Anasazi23]

Hey PublicHealth...

This should be the least of your worries. It is true that NYCOMers seem to have interests in specialization but you can get all the OMM you want if that's your interest. I'm constantly getting emails about OMM technique groups and all kinds of other stuff.

The "don't go to NYCOM if you want to be a DO" thing is just absurd. I've even heard a renowned MD neuropsychiatrist call NYCOM the "Harvard of DO schools"....whatever that's worth to you.

 

[VentdependenT]

Get accepted there first, then you can think about rejecting the acceptance if you are really worried about OMM.

 

[haujun]

Several DOs have told me that students interested in osteopathic medicine should go to UNECOM or any other DO school, and to avoid NYCOM. According to them (all UNECOM alumni), NYCOM is the least osteopathic of DO schools. Anyone else encounter similar opinions?

It is never the school. Frequently, I see less osteopathic students who particularly bash OMM...You will find them whereever you go though.

MSIII

 

[PublicHealth]

Get accepted there first, then you can think about rejecting the acceptance if you are really worried about OMM.

I have been accepted. Question was asked out of curiosity, as OMM training seems to differ considerably across DO schools.

 

[drvlad2004]

I have been accepted. Question was asked out of curiosity, as OMM training seems to differ considerably across DO schools.

OMM is well emphasized at NYCOM, at least in my first 2 years. Some students actually complained of having too much OMM. The way that the techniques are taught do differ between schools but the objectives are still the same. I do admit that osteopathic principles and practice are hardly, if at all, integrated into our clinical curriculum. The same may go for other schools. For instance, when learning about a subject like cardiology or doing a pediatrics clerkship, I really did not see osteopathy integrated within the curriculum.

PublicHealth, when you start NYCOM it will be your decision how you will combine OPP into your education. It isn't really the school that makes it more or less osteopathic.

 

[DOSouthpaw]

NYCOM has one of the strongest UAAOs in the country and are always inspiring. Personally, I think you ought to come to PCSOM and train with Pimp Daddy Stiles!!!!

 

[RuralMedicine]

I'm a resident now so schools have obviously changed since I was a student. I was very involved with SOMA and CSCP during medical school and at one point we identified schools of distinction in certain areas. This is what I can remember (and if someone has the actual list feel free to post it--even better would probably be a more recent update of the list).

Strong OMM/OPP Schools (Criteria included total hours, integrative approach and strength of faculty)
-NYCOM (And at the time they had the most hours of OMM)
-Kirksville
HM-PCOM (And this program was felt to be improving)

Strong Clinical Schools
-NYCOM
-CCOM
HM-PCOM

Pro-Student Schools
-PCSOM
-OUCOM (I believe their Dean is now the Dean at NYCOM so who knows?)
HM-UMDNJ

I do remember that it seemed like NYCOM always had many students entering osteopathic residencies however, I'm not sure that is a bad thing. I think ultimately you need to take advantage of the best training you can get and in certain specialties that training is superior on the allopathic side. I can't be too critical since I'm doing an allopathic residency currently.

 

[OMMFellow06]

From my personal experience of being an OMM Fellow at NYCOM, I must say that so much of how much OMM you learn comes from yourself. The OMM staff at NYCOM is very pro-student OMT learning, it's just that so many students don't want to learn. All of the fellows and the staff would be more than happy to stick around after lab or even hours when we dont have lab to help out students that want to learn more OMT. We actually look for those students that are interested and try to keep their interest as much as possible. We do what we can, but it's people that have bad attitudes towards OMT that make other people think the OMT teaching at NYCOM is no good.
If anyone wants more info about the OMT teaching at NYCOM feel free to PM me.

 

[DrMom]

From my personal experience of being an OMM Fellow at NYCOM, I must say that so much of how much OMM you learn comes from yourself.

I completely agree. I've noticed that the people at my school who are interested in OMM use it often and learn it well. Those that complain about OMM don't use it at all & never learn it decently.

 

[DireWolf]

I completely agree. I've noticed that the people at my school who are interested in OMM use it often and learn it well. Those that complain about OMM don't use it at all & never learn it decently.

😡 I'm a guru and you know it. 😉

 

[DrMom]

😡 I'm a guru and you know it. 😉

whatever 😉

 

[sia_simba]

THERE IS TOOOOO MUCH OMM!!!! Practicing OMM is dependent on the person. I know some students who could care less about OMM, but I know students who are very pro-OMM and wish to use it in the future. I personally use OMM or whatever I know of on family members and friends. I know other people who practice OMM daily w/ their limited abilities.

As stated, Dr. Capobianco is from UNE and he is really good at OMM. We also have people doing research and I have spoken with some residents who will be coming back to NYCOM to teach OMM and do more research. Dont know if that is relevant.

But anyhow... I wish they can cut down the OMM hours because its too many in my opinion.

BTW.... think they'll ever have HVLA on the eyeball ? My eyes hurt.

 

[coreyw]

But anyhow... I wish they can cut down the OMM hours because its too many in my opinion.

How many hours' training in OMM does NYCOM offer?

The fact that it doesn't seem to emphasise integration of OPP into paediatrics, etc does seem like a let-down from this remove.

I guess my take on this that if you don't like OMM don't study osteopathic medicine... but I know that puts me in a minority.

Osteopaths here in Australia tend to refer their patients to chiropractors while in the US because they can't assume that American DOs will be any good at OMT. That's a sad fact IMHO, but you've got to look out for the patient's interests first.

 

[DOSouthpaw]

Hey, I was just wondering, every year at Convo, NYCOM's UAAO does so much during the year. If there are so many students there that don't like OMM, then how does the UAAO rock so hard every year? I mean, you all have more UAAO members that we have students.

Thanks!