Transcript Student Osteopathic Medical Association

STUDENT OSTEOPATHIC
MEDICAL ASSOCIATION
WHAT IS SOMA?
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The purpose of the Student Osteopathic Medical
Association, the student affiliate organization of
the American Osteopathic Association, is to
promote osteopathic ideals and unity within the
profession, to educate future osteopathic
physicians, and to establish and to maintain lines
of communication among healthcare
professionals in an ongoing effort to improve the
quality of healthcare.
HOW ARE D.O.’S AND M.D.’S ALIKE?
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If you're like most people, you may not even be aware that there are two types of complete
physicians in the United States. Both D.O.s and M.D.s are fully qualified physicians licensed to
prescribe medication and perform surgery. Is there any difference between these two kinds of
physicians? Yes. And no.
Dhow are D.O.s and M.D.s alike in many ways:
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Applicants to both D.O. and M.D. medical colleges typically have four-year undergraduate degrees
with an emphasis on scientific courses.
Both D.O.s and M.D.s complete four years of basic medical education.
After medical school, both D.O.s and M.D.s obtain graduate medical education through such
programs as internships and residencies. This training typically lasts three to six years and
prepares D.O.s and M.D.s to practice a specialty. D.O.’s may do M.D. residencies, known as
“allopathic” , and osteopathic residencies, whereas M.D.’s may only do “allopathic” residencies.
Both D.O.s and M.D.s can choose to practice in any specialty area of medicine-such as pediatrics,
family practice, psychiatry, surgery or obstetrics.
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D.O.s and M.D.s must pass comparable examinations to obtain state licenses.
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D.O.s and M.D.s both practice in fully accredited and licensed health care facilities.
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Together, D.O.s and M.D.s enhance the state of health care available in America.
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D.O.s, however, belong to a separate yet equal branch of American medical care. It is the ways that
D.O.s and M.D.s are different that can bring an extra dimension to your family's health care.
Info from www.osteopathic.org
WHAT MAKES D.O.’S UNIQUE?
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Osteopathic medical schools traditionally emphasize training
students to be primary care physicians.
D.O.s practice a "whole person" approach to medicine. Instead
of just treating specific symptoms or illnesses, they regard
your body as an integrated whole.
D.O.s receive extra training in the musculoskeletal systemyour body's interconnected system of nerves, muscles and
bones that make up two-thirds of your body mass. This
training provides osteopathic physicians with a better
understanding of the ways that an illness or injury in one part
of your body can affect another.
Osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT) is incorporated
into the training and practice of osteopathic physicians. With
OMT, osteopathic physicians use their hands to diagnose
illness and injury and to encourage your body's natural
tendency toward good health. By combining all other available
medical options with OMT, D.O.s offer their patients the most
comprehensive care available in medicine today.
OSTEOPATHIC MEDICAL SCHOOLS
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Curriculum:
2 years basic sciences
 2 years clinical rotations
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Licensure Exams
COMLEX I, after 1st year
 COMLEX II and PE during 4th year
 COMLEX III during PGY-1 year
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Institutions
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30 osteopathic institutions, new schools opening
every year!
HOW CAN I BE INVOLVED?
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Come to convention!
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Spring Convention, Washington D.C. April 7-9, 2011
Practice OMT
 Participate in lobbying on Capital Hill on DO Day with
1000 other physicians and students for healthcare issues
and reform
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Fall Convention, San Francisco, CA 0ct 22-24, 2010
Participate in all SOMA functions and events as PreSOMA registrant!
 Attend the AOA Annual Convention and Scientific Seminar
with exhibitors from all over the United States
 Come to the osteopathic Family Medicine Residency Fair!
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PRE-SOMA BENEFITS
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Up to date on all SOMA events through being on the
Pre-SOMA listserve
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Opportunity to apply for a Pre-SOMA scholarship
awarded at the annual Spring Convention
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Opportunity to attend any of the biannual SOMA
conferences
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Receive SOMA newsletters
NATIONAL SOMA
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Pre SOMA National Board Member
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Coordinate with all Pre-SOMA Chapters
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Contact [email protected]
You could be a national officer in SOMA
someday!
 First step to a career in osteopathic medicine is to
be involved in Pre-SOMA!!
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