School OMM Reputation

[Dharma]

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I am not sure if there is a difference amongst the institutions, however, I am curious if any are considered to have better O.M.M. programs. Is O.M.M. mostly a "side dish" at most of the schools (or quite possibly that serving of peas that is hidden in the napkin, only to end up in the garbage)? I most definitely have an interest in O.M.M. and wonder how competent the instruction is at different schools. I assume there is a difference.
Any ideas?

 

[ShyRem]

There is a big difference. UNE does a very good job. KCOM does a very good job. I don't know much more about the other schools. I have heard docs in Florida griping about the lack of ability from the Florida students.

 

[Dharma]

There is a big difference. UNE does a very good job. KCOM does a very good job. I don't know much more about the other schools. I have heard docs in Florida griping about the lack of ability from the Florida students.

Thanks for the info. I'm a bit curious about a few of the other East coast schools. Have you had the opportunity to use OMM at all during your residency?

 

[ShyRem]

I'm at a dually accredited residency. I do get OMM patients in clinic. Haven't used my skills in hospital so far, but I've been on consult service and EM for the first two months. They'd like to start a hospital OMM service in the next couple of years.

 

[FutureCTDoc]

NSU COM has an excellent program including a pre-graduate fellowship in OMM available between years 2 and 3. You work with MS1s and2s, do research and treat patients in the OMM clinic. Best part they give a scholarship for years 3 and 4.

 

[Styria]

OMM is good at LMU-DCOM. They try to relate the material to the concurrent systems courses, so last week we had a lab on post-CABG and hospitalized patients to correspond with cardio. The structural exam is fair game in any simulated patient encounters. And the OMM faculty will lecture in other courses too. DCOM has Anatomy/OPP fellows, like UNECOM. Other schools just have them do OMM, but Dr. Cross wanted them integrated and to relate the two subjects more closely.

At the AAO Convocation last year, the second years were a little bored because they had already learned most of what was taught in the workshops. This year, 78 people signed up to be TAs for the first years' OPP labs - nearly half the class. It's a good place for OMM.

 

[GraceEuphoria]

OMM is good at LMU-DCOM. They try to relate the material to the concurrent systems courses, so last week we had a lab on post-CABG and hospitalized patients to correspond with cardio. The structural exam is fair game in any simulated patient encounters. And the OMM faculty will lecture in other courses too. DCOM has Anatomy/OPP fellows, like UNECOM. Other schools just have them do OMM, but Dr. Cross wanted them integrated and to relate the two subjects more closely.

At the AAO Convocation last year, the second years were a little bored because they had already learned most of what was taught in the workshops. This year, 78 people signed up to be TAs for the first years' OPP labs - nearly half the class. It's a good place for OMM.

I would second all of this, at least based on my measly three weeks of experience thus far 🙂

I have been quite impressed with the second year TAs, as well as the OMM fellows. Also, while a lot of people will make statements on here about how DO school really isn't that different, you just learn OMM in addition to everything else, etc., I would disagree on this as far as LMU-DCOM goes. Two of our profs (at least that I know of) are dually certified in family med and OMM and they very much emphasize the value of it in practice. It's not just a "ok, here it is, learn it, and move on" type mentality. They are very enthusiastic about its benefits. They encourage students to practice on each other to relieve tension from studying and all that. So basically what I'm saying is the program here seems really solid to me so far and if you aren't a big fan of the idea but still want to go DO, I don't know that this school would be a good fit. They really seem to stand behind its usage in nearly all area of medicine, despite many people reasoning its lack of applicability in some fields.

 

[sideways]

NSU COM has an excellent program including a pre-graduate fellowship in OMM available between years 2 and 3. You work with MS1s and2s, do research and treat patients in the OMM clinic. Best part they give a scholarship for years 3 and 4.

Break out a calculator and you'll see this isn't such a hot deal. In fact, you're probably going to be losing money by doing this.

 

[JaggerPlate]

Break out a calculator and you'll see this isn't such a hot deal. In fact, you're probably going to be losing money by doing this.

Most people I've spoken to (current and past OMM fellows) say it's a wash ...

anyway, back to the original question ... I definitely have to give KCOM OTM a nod for a champ OMM program. Even students who I've spoken with who don't particularly like OMM, etc, still think they do an awesome job and integrate it really well.

 

[sideways]

Most people I've spoken to (current and past OMM fellows) say it's a wash ...

anyway, back to the original question ... I definitely have to give KCOM OTM a nod for a champ OMM program. Even students who I've spoken with who don't particularly like OMM, etc, still think they do an awesome job and integrate it really well.

Not if you go into any specialty that pays more than ~150k a year. God forbid you go into a high paying specialty. You just farted away several hundred thousand dollars from your retirement fund.

 

[Dharma]

All great responses and very informative. Thank you. I ask because just about every D.O. I know of, except one, no longer uses O.M.M. in practice. I would hope that I do not fall into that category. I guess time will tell. (Regardless, I have to get into somewhere first... hehehe).
It seems that there are some students who are truly interested in osteopathic medicine and others who do not really care about it (and would have went allo- if given the chance), as long as they can practice medicine. I'm assuming there are some converts along the way.

 

[sylvanthus]

All great responses and very informative. Thank you. I ask because just about every D.O. I know of, except one, no longer uses O.M.M. in practice. I would hope that I do not fall into that category. I guess time will tell. (Regardless, I have to get into somewhere first... hehehe).
It seems that there are some students who are truly interested in osteopathic medicine and others who do not really care about it (and would have went allo- if given the chance), as long as they can practice medicine. I'm assuming there are some converts along the way.

Wait until you see what it is all about before you worry about if you will use it in practice in 7+ years. Sadly, many people go in thinking they will like OMT...I can think of 15 people who MAY use it in my class of 75 in the future.

 

[Dharma]

Wait until you see what it is all about before you worry about if you will use it in practice in 7+ years. Sadly, many people go in thinking they will like OMT...I can think of 15 people who MAY use it in my class of 75 in the future.

No worries mate. Just a bit curious.

 

[Styria]

All great responses and very informative. Thank you. I ask because just about every D.O. I know of, except one, no longer uses O.M.M. in practice. I would hope that I do not fall into that category. I guess time will tell. (Regardless, I have to get into somewhere first... hehehe).
It seems that there are some students who are truly interested in osteopathic medicine and others who do not really care about it (and would have went allo- if given the chance), as long as they can practice medicine. I'm assuming there are some converts along the way.

There are students who like OMM who didn't even really know about it before starting school or getting accepted DO.

Its use in practice has a lot to do with attitude and time constraints. If you're interested and enjoy it, you'll find a way to incorporate it. Also, there are techniques like FPR (facilitated positional release) which you can get very fast results with, even if it's just to clear the surface before looking at deeper problems. Treat the pubes in about 5 seconds with FPR, because they'll often change whatever diagnosis you had for the innominates and sacrum anyway.

 

[JaggerPlate]

Not if you go into any specialty that pays more than ~150k a year. God forbid you go into a high paying specialty. You just farted away several hundred thousand dollars from your retirement fund.

Osteopaths can specialize???

 

[mommy2three]

i have been highly impressed with everyone i have had contact here at CCOM. and they seem to be very well respected for their OMM techniques

 

[FutureCTDoc]

Break out a calculator and you'll see this isn't such a hot deal. In fact, you're probably going to be losing money by doing this.

Avoiding 100K in loans and whatever you'd pay in interest, may make sense for some individuals. Also, some people want to do the fellowship and the scholarship is icing on the cake.

 

[sideways]

Avoiding 100K in loans and whatever you'd pay in interest, may make sense for some individuals. Also, some people want to do the fellowship and the scholarship is icing on the cake.

If you want to do it because you're interested, fine whatever. But no, financially it amounts to a loss, unless you don't plan on practicing medicine.

 

[FutureCTDoc]

If you want to do it because you're interested, fine whatever. But no, financially it amounts to a loss, unless you don't plan on practicing medicine.

Assuming a 20 year term at 8.5%, the cost of a $100,000 loan works out to $208,320. That means if you're pursuing IM, FP, Peds or other lower paying specialties, it may be worth it. In addition some people value the added skills, which add value too.

 

[sideways]

Assuming a 20 year term at 8.5%, the cost of a $100,000 loan works out to $208,320. That means if you're pursuing IM, FP, Peds or other lower paying specialties, it may be worth it. In addition some people value the added skills, which add value too.

Negative ghostrider. You're calculating interest on your loan, but you've conveniently ignored the interest earned on that year of salary you would have had. A 10% interest rate on salary over the course of 20 years is completely within range, and due to inflation, it would blow that tuition savings out of the water. In addition, you have an extra year of the interest on your entire tuition accruing because you aren't paying it down because you're still a friggin student.

 

[FutureCTDoc]

Negative ghostrider. You're calculating interest on your loan, but you've conveniently ignored the interest earned on that year of salary you would have had. A 10% interest rate on salary over the course of 20 years is completely within range, and due to inflation, it would blow that tuition savings out of the water. In addition, you have an extra year of the interest on your entire tuition accruing because you aren't paying it down because you're still a friggin student.

And you conveniently ignore the educational value of the experience.

 

[sideways]

And you conveniently ignore the educational value of the experience.

Yeah, because I've had a year of OMM. How about you?

 

[loveboatdoc]

Kirksville
TCOM (UNTHSC)
PCOM

Personally, I have been a DO for 23 years, and have used the osteopathic training a lot. I went to TCOM.

Controversial as it is, I also respect several Chiropractors I have known...I have seen chronic headache pts recover completely after chiro, for example.