College of Osteopathic Medicine Competencies

The COM curriculum was designed to ensure graduates are able to demonstrate specific skills. The University has identified select educational objectives that serve as the foundation of the curriculum. At a minimum, a graduate must be able to:

• Demonstrate basic knowledge of osteopathic philosophy and practice and osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMM).
• Demonstrate medical knowledge through one or more of the following: passing of course tests; standardized tests of the NBOME; post-core clerkship tests; research activities; presentations; participation in directed reading programs or journal clubs; or other evidence-based medical activities.
• Demonstrate interpersonal and communication skills with patients and other health care professionals.
• Demonstrate knowledge of professional, ethical and legal practice management and public health issues applicable to medical practice.
• Demonstrate basic support skills as assessed by nationally standardized evaluations.

In addition, the COM curriculum prepares students for graduate medical education. Graduates meet the following minimum competencies:

Competency 1: Osteopathic Philosophy and Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine

Graduates are expected to demonstrate and apply knowledge of accepted standards in Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment (OMT). The education goal is to train a skilled and competent osteopathic practitioner who remains dedicated to lifelong learning and to practice habits consistent with osteopathic principles and practices.

Competency 2: Medical Knowledge

Graduates are expected to demonstrate and apply knowledge of accepted standards of clinical medicine in their respective specialty area, remain current with new developments in medicine, and participate in lifelong learning activities, including research.

Competency 3: Patient Care

Graduates must demonstrate the ability to effectively treat patients, provide medical care that incorporates osteopathic principles and practices, empathy, awareness of behavioral issues, preventive medicine and health promotion.

Competency 4: Interpersonal and Communication Skills Graduates are expected to demonstrate interpersonal and communication skills that enable them to establish and maintain professional relationships with patients, families and other members of health care teams.

Competency 5: Professionalism

Graduates are expected to uphold the Osteopathic Oath in the conduct of their professional activities that promote advocacy of patient welfare, adherence to ethical principles, collaboration with health professionals, lifelong learning, and sensitivity to diverse patient populations. Graduates should be cognizant of their own physical and mental health in order to effectively care for patients.

Competency 6: Practice-Based Learning and Improvement

Graduates must demonstrate the ability to critically evaluate their methods of clinical practice, integrate evidence-based medicine into patient care, show an understanding of research methods, and improve patient care practices.

Competency 7: Systems-Based Practice

Graduates are expected to demonstrate an understanding of health care delivery systems, provide effective and qualitative patient care with the system, and practice cost-effective medicine.