Curriculum and Course Schedule

11 credit hours: Block 1 focuses on the osteopathic principle that "the body has the ability to heal itself." This block introduces the process of case-based inquiry and the application of basic, clinical, and health systems sciences. The focus of this course will be on the foundational concepts underlying homeostatic mechanisms and osteopathic patient care. Material presented in Medical Skills and Osteopathic Principles and Practice is integrated to emphasize clinical reasoning and application.

5 credit hours: The year one courses in Osteopathic Principles and Practice (OPP) introduce the history, philosophy, and principles of Osteopathic Medicine. The course provides training in the fundamentals of physical diagnosis and treatment of the neuromusculoskeletal system. Emphasis is placed on the development of palpatory skills to diagnose and treat dysfunction of the body framework system: skeletal, arthrodial, and myofascial structures, and their related vascular, lymphatic, and neural elements. A range of standard approaches to osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT) is introduced to address the needs of patients with a "whole person" approach of body, mind, and spirit. These include direct and indirect techniques including soft tissue, myofascial release, strain-counterstrain, muscle energy, high velocity-low amplitude, and osteopathy in the cranial field. Interactive lab sessions reinforce basic science knowledge of anatomy and physiology through the use of non-invasive physiologic measurements that are taken real-time pre and post OMT. Clinical applications are discussed during the course. Students are closely supervised and guided in the lab for an optimum learning experience.

5 credit hours: Medical Skills 5080 is held weekly throughout the fall semester of the first year. The Medical Skills courses will teach the arts of the physical examination, history-taking, chart documentation, and oral presentation of a patient case. The Medical Skills courses are enriched by the mentoring of bedside manner skills and medical student personal growth through communications sessions and standardized patient encounters. Throughout the year, students will participate in large group discussions of topics such as professionalism, evidence-based medicine, the social determinants of health, and health promotion. Students will also engage in small group practice of history-taking and physical examination skills with clinician facilitators, practice of basic medical procedures, simulation activities with patient simulator models, and multiple one-on-one encounters with standardized patients throughout the year. Student skills will be assessed intermittently through the use of graded note-writing, written examinations, and OSCEs (objective structured clinical examinations).

12 credit hours: This block builds on the CBIQ process learned in block 1 with special emphasis on cases involving the Neuromusculoskeletal System, Skin, and Special Senses. All basic, clinical, and health systems sciences are derived from cases to fully integrate and understand all the underlying mechanisms behind the clinical case presentation. Material presented in Medical Skills and Osteopathic Principles and Practice is integrated to emphasize clinical reasoning and application.

11.5 credit hours: This block builds on the CBIQ process learned in blocks 1 & 2 with special emphasis on cases involving the Cardiovascular, Pulmonary, and Hematologic systems. All basic, clinical, and health systems sciences are derived from cases to fully integrate and understand all the underlying mechanisms behind the clinical case presentation. As with real patient scenarios, basic science mechanisms may not be limited to any one system, thus review and application of previously learned material may be emphasized. Material presented in Medical Skills and Osteopathic Principles and Practice is integrated to emphasize clinical reasoning and application.

5 credit hours: This course is a continuation of OSPP 5090.

5 credit hours: Medical Skills MEDS 5081 is held weekly throughout the spring semester of the first year. MEDS 5081 is a continuation of MEDS 5080.

12.5 credit hours: Block 4 is a continuation of the process introduced during all previous CBIQ blocks with an emphasis on cases involving the Gastrointestinal, Renal, Endocrine and Reproductive systems. All basic, clinical, and health systems sciences are derived from cases to fully integrate and understand all the underlying mechanisms behind the clinical case presentation. As with real patient scenarios, basic science mechanisms may not be limited to any one system; thus, review and application of previously learned material may be emphasized. Material presented in Medical Skills and Osteopathic Principles and Practice is integrated to emphasize clinical reasoning and application.

5 credit hours: This block builds on the CBIQ process learned in the first year with special emphasis on cases involving the Neuromuscular system, Dermatology, and Oncology. All basic, clinical, and health systems sciences are derived from cases to fully integrate and understand all the underlying mechanisms behind the clinical case presentation. As with real patient scenarios, basic science mechanisms may not be limited to any one system; thus, review and application of previously learned material may be emphasized. Material presented in Medical Skills and Osteopathic Principles and Practice is integrated to emphasize clinical reasoning and application.

4.5 credit hours: The year two courses in Osteopathic Principles & Practice (OPP) build upon the concepts taught in the year 1 and include additional clinical application. Coursework is organized by system and clinical presentations emphasize the clinical application of osteopathic manipulative medicine in the primary care setting. The courses are delivered through both online curriculum materials and live instruction by OPP faculty at each community campus. Osteopathic screening, palpatory diagnosis, and treatment in all body regions are presented and reinforced. Emphasis is placed on the expansion of palpatory skills to diagnose and treat dysfunction of the body framework system: skeletal, arthrodial, and myofascial structures, and their related vascular, lymphatic, and neural elements. Additional OMT treatment types are introduced, including the Still Technique and Facilitated Positional Release. Clinical cases with OPP applications are discussed, and practice in performance and documentation of OMT are included.

16 credit hours: The OMS II "Medical Skills" courses are designed to enhance and maintain the cognitive and psychomotor skills necessary to obtain a medical history and perform a physical examination, support the personal and professional development of the student, help the student understand the mission of the community health center, and model primary care continuity-based clinical service. Supervised clinical activities, large and small group interactive presentations, and individual reflection lead to documented competencies in clinical assessment, community-based preventive medicine and health care provision.

5 credit hours: Biostatistics is the study and development of statistical, mathematical, and computational methods applied to biological, health, and human sciences. Biostatisticians play a key role in the design, conduct, and analysis of research studies in areas of health and disease, and create and apply methods for quantitative research in health-related fields. Topics covered include data description, probability, distribution of random variables, applications of the binomial and normal distributions, estimation and confidence intervals, hypothesis testing, contingency tables, regression, and analysis of variance. Additional topics include an introduction to statistical computing and data management, non-parametric statistical methods, and demographic measures. Students need to use a statistical program (Microsoft Excel® or other program) to assist with computations.

8 credit hours: This block builds on the CBIQ process learned in the first year with special emphasis on cases involving the Cardiovascular, Pulmonary, and Hematologic systems. All basic, clinical, and health systems sciences are derived from cases to fully integrate and understand all the underlying mechanisms behind the clinical case presentation. As with real patient scenarios, basic science mechanisms may not be limited to any one system; thus, review and application of previously learned material may be emphasized. Material presented in Medical Skills and Osteopathic Principles and Practice is integrated to emphasize clinical reasoning and application.

7 credit hours: This block builds on the CBIQ process learned in the first year with special emphasis on cases involving the Gastrointestinal, Renal, Endocrine, and Reproductive systems. All basic, clinical, and health systems sciences are derived from cases to fully integrate and understand all the underlying mechanisms behind the clinical case presentation. As with real patient scenarios, basic science mechanisms may not be limited to any one system; thus, review and application of previously learned material may be emphasized. Material presented in Medical Skills and Osteopathic Principles and Practice is integrated to emphasize clinical reasoning and application.

4.5 credit hours: The year two courses in Osteopathic Principles & Practice (OPP) build upon the concepts taught in the year 1 and include additional clinical application. Coursework is organized by system and clinical presentations emphasize the clinical application of osteopathic manipulative medicine in the primary care setting. The courses are delivered through both online curriculum materials and live instruction by OPP faculty at each community campus. Osteopathic screening, palpatory diagnosis, and treatment in all body regions are presented and reinforced. Emphasis is placed on the expansion of palpatory skills to diagnose and treat dysfunction of the body framework system: skeletal, arthrodial, and myofascial structures, and their related vascular, lymphatic, and neural elements. Additional OMT treatment types are introduced, including the Still Technique and Facilitated Positional Release. Clinical cases with OPP applications are discussed, and practice in performance and documentation of OMT are included.

16 credit hours: The OMS II "Medical Skills" courses are designed to enhance and maintain the cognitive and psychomotor skills necessary to obtain a medical history and perform a physical examination, support the personal and professional development of the student, help the student understand the mission of the community health center, and model primary care continuity-based clinical service. Supervised clinical activities, large and small group interactive presentations, and individual reflection lead to documented competencies in clinical assessment, community-based preventive medicine and health care provision.

3 credit hours: This course examines the study of disease in populations from a public health perspective. Topics include research methods, study designs, sampling, data analysis, interpretation of data, contract tracing, and application of findings for outbreak management and the development of public health policy.

3 credit hours: This block builds on the CBIQ process learned in the first year with special emphasis on cases involving the Human Mind and Behavior. All basic, clinical, and health systems sciences are derived from cases to fully integrate and understand all the underlying mechanisms behind the clinical case presentation. As with real patient scenarios, basic science mechanisms may not be limited to any one system; thus, review and application of previously learned material may be emphasized. Material presented in Medical Skills and Osteopathic Principles and Practice is

8 credit hours: Integrative II is designed to provide the student with the opportunity to prepare for COMLEX Level 1 and USMLE Step 1 examinations. Students will receive group and individualized preparatory assistance for the licensing examinations. Learning will occur through practice questions, content review, and spaced repetition.