2011-2012 - College of Osteopathic Medicine - Touro University ...

The educational program is centered on the basic concepts of osteopathic medicine. Theacademic program is intended to meet the following goals:I. To emphasize the role of the patient in the maintenance of health.II.To recognize and emphasize the inherent capacity within each person toovercome disease and maintain health; to educate physicians to cooperatewith this therapeutic capacity in their methods of treatment.III.To offer a curriculum that will interest students in primary care and preparethem to provide quality, comprehensive health care to their patients.IV.To provide sufficient academic training to make students analyze health-caredecisions, promote wellness, and empower patients to assume responsibilityfor their own health.A primary care physician must first of all be capable of problem solving and thedevelopment of expertise in diagnosis. In order to achieve this goal, the curriculumadopted at TUCOM emphasizes the integration of basic and clinical science aspects ofmedical practice. With this approach, practice in problem solving becomes a part of thedaily classroom and clinic experience. The TUCOM Faculty has adopted the followingcore competencies which will guide curriculum development and assessment.• Osteopathic Philosophy and Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine• Medical Knowledge• Patient Care• Interpersonal and Communication skills• Professionalism• Practice-based learning and improvement• Systems-based practiceThe curriculum includes two principal phases:I. Teaching of the fundamentals of basic sciences, followed by the study of theorgan systems of the body, incorporating both basic and clinical sciences. This isintegrated with an osteopathic approach to the art and science of doctoring includingthe fundamentals of history-taking, physical diagnosis, primary care skills, andosteopathic principles, practice, and philosophy.2011 – 2012 COM Student Handbook