2009-2010 KCUMB College Catalog - Kansas City University of ...

COM Curriculum
Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine
General Overview
The curriculum at Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences College of
Osteopathic Medicine consists of four years of structured training leading to the Doctor
of Osteopathic Medicine. The first two years of the curriculum are classroom oriented,
covering the foundations of basic and clinical medical sciences. Osteopathic principles
and philosophy as well as contemporary concepts in medical education are integrated
into the four-year curriculum. The last two years focus on training in clinical settings.
Curriculum Philosophy
The purpose of the curriculum is to advance the mission of the University and College
in preparing its graduates to be highly competent osteopathic physicians. To that end, an
enhanced curriculum was implemented in August 2000 (beginning with the Class of
2004). This curriculum eliminated the artificial separation of basic and clinical sciences,
integrating all essential concepts and information into a seamless continuum of clinical
presentations. The foundations of anatomy, biochemistry, epidemiology, genetics,
immunology, medical ethics, microbiology, osteopathic principles and practices,
pathology, pharmacology, physiology and the clinical disciplines of internal medicine,
pediatrics, family medicine, surgery, OB/GYN and psychiatry are incorporated into
clinical presentations covering all diseases physicians will encounter during day-to-day
practice. Health-care policy, medical informatics, professionalism, and health and
wellness are also integrated into the curricular structure.
The patient-centered curriculum prepares students to begin analyzing and
integrating medical information in a format used by medical practitioners. The
curriculum approach integrates the basic and clinical sciences from the first day of
medical school, eliminating the former postponement of meaningful clinical decision
making until the third year of medical school.
Teaching Methods
A variety of teaching and learning methods are used in the first two years. These
methods include classroom lectures, laboratory exercises, small-group discussions,
computer-assisted instruction, specialized workshops, and the use of standardized
patients and human patient simulators.
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