STUDENT OSTEOPATHIC MEDICAL ASSOCIATION

 

WHAT IS SOMA?

• The student affiliate organization of the American Osteopathic Association

• strive to promote osteopathic ideals and unity within the profession

• educate future osteopathic physicians

• establish and to maintain lines of communication among healthcare professionals in an ongoing effort to improve the quality of healthcare

History of Osteopathic Medicine

• Founded by A.T. Still in 1876• Started first osteopathic college in 1897, known

today at Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine• Became known during WWII when MDs were sent

overseas and osteopathic physicians stayed at home

• DOs were accepted as military physicians in 1966• 1969-AMA (American Medical Association)

accepted DOs fully into association and residencies

• DO’s currently represent 60% of all physicians

HOW ARE D.O.’S AND M.D.’S ALIKE?

• Only two types of medical physicians in the United States:o D.O.s and M.D.s: fully qualified physicians licensed to prescribe medication and

perform surgery in ALL states D.O.s and M.D.s alike in many ways:

• Four-year undergraduate degrees• Four years of basic medical education. • Complete graduate medical education through internships and residencies.

o GME typically lasts three to six years and prepares physicians for their specialtyo Can practice in ANY specialty area of medicine

• Must pass comparable examinations to obtain state licenses. • Together, D.O.s and M.D.s enhance the state of health care available in America. • 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.

• Information adapted from www.osteopathic.org

WHAT MAKES D.O.’S UNIQUE?

• Traditionally emphasize training primary care physicians

• D.O.s practice a "whole person" approach to medicine, instead of just treating specific symptoms or illnesseso How have I seen this in my experiences?

• D.O.s receive extra training in the musculoskeletal systemo What is this training like for students?o Provides a better understanding of the ways that an illness or

injury in one part of your body can affect another

• DO’s use Osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT) o Use their hands to diagnose illness and injury and treat

• How is this not like chiropractic medicine?o Chiropractors are not physicians, cannot prescribe medicines, do

surgery, etc.

OSTEOPATHIC MEDICAL SCHOOLS

• Curriculum: o 2 years basic scienceso 2 years clinical rotations

• Licensure Examso COMLEX I, after 1st yearo COMLEX II and PE during 4th yearo COMLEX III during PGY-1 year

• Institutionso 25 osteopathic institutions

HOW CAN I BE INVOLVED?

• Come to convention!• A great opportunity to network with current

osteopathic medical students, osteopathic physicians, and find out about current programso Spring Convention, March 6th-7th in Washington D.C.

Practice OMT Come to the osteopathic Family Medicine Residency Fair on

March 4th! Participate in lobbying on Capital Hill on March 5th with 1000

other physicians and students for healthcare issues and reform

o Fall Convention, New Orleans, LA Attend the AOA Annual Convention and Scientific Seminar

with exhibitors from all over the United States

PRE-SOMA BENEFITS

• Up to date on all SOMA events through being on the Pre-SOMA listserve• Opportunity to apply for a Pre-SOMA scholarship awarded at the annual

Spring Convention• Opportunity to attend any of the biannual SOMA conferences• Receive SOMA newsletters• All students interested can always contact the Pre-SOMA National

Represenative:o presoma@studentdo.com: Crystal Lenzo Our Pre-SOMA liaison is pleased to answer any questions at any time

for you about osteopathic medicine!!!

NATIONAL SOMA

• Pre SOMA National Board Membero Coordinate with all Pre-SOMA Chapters

Contact presoma@studentdo.com

• You could be a national officer in SOMA someday!• First step to a career in osteopathic medicine is to

be involved in Pre-SOMA!!

Osteopathic Medicine Resources

• www.studentdo.como  SOMA website

• www.do-online.org o American Osteopathic Association

• www.aacom.org: o great information for everything about

osteopathic education• www.opportunities.osteopathic.org

o Osteopathic residencies and internships info• www.SOMAfoundation.org:

o Non-profit branch of SOMA