Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) - Philadelphia Campus

Department website: https://www.pcom.edu/do/

Plan of Study Grid
First Year
Term 1Hours
Fall
DO 100 Cellular and Biochemical Foundations of Medicine 6
DO 101 Infection and Immunity 6
DO 114A Medical Humanities and Wellness I 0.5
DO 139A Osteopathic Principles and Practice I 2
DO 140A Primary Care Skills I 1
DO 144A Clinical Reasoning in Basic Science IA 1
INDP 100A Inter Professional Education 0.5
DO 106 Foundations of Research 1
 Hours18
Term 2
Winter
DO 104 Foundations of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Medicine 3.5
DO 105 Foundations of Renal, Endocrine, and Gastrointestinal Medicine 3.5
DO 112 Foundations of Physiology and the Musculoskeletal System 4
DO 114B Medical Humanities and Wellness II 0.5
DO 139B Osteopathic Principles and Practice II 1.5
DO 140B Primary Care Skills II 1
DO 144B Clinical Reasoning in Basic Science IB 1
INDP 100B Inter Professional Education 0.5
 Hours15.5
Term 3
Spring
DO 107 Foundations of Reproductive and Genitourinary Medicine 2
DO 108 Head, Eyes, Ears, Nose, and Throat and Neuroscience 4
DO 109 Introduction to Human Disease and Therapeutics 5.5
DO 114C Medical Humanities and Wellness III 0.5
DO 139C Osteopathic Principles and Practice III 1.5
DO 140C Primary Care Skills III 1
DO 144C Clinical Reasoning in Basic Science IC 1
INDP 100C Inter Professional Education 0.5
Total Hours 49.5
 Hours16
 Total Hours49.5
Second Year Courses
DO 146AComprehensive Basic Science Review and Synthesis IA1.5
DO 146BComprehensive Basic Science Review and Synthesis IB1.5
DO 146CComprehensive Basic Science Review and Synthesis IC1.5
DO 215Clinical Approach to Psychiatry2.5
DO 218Clinical Approach to Gastroenterology3.5
DO 226Clinical Approach to Hematology and Oncology2
DO 228Clinical Approach to Cardiovascular and Renal Medicine5.5
DO 229Clinical Approach to Pulmonary Medicine3.5
DO 230Clinical Approach to Neuroscience and Neurology5
DO 239AOsteopathic Principles and Practice IV1.5
DO 239BOsteopathic Principles and Practice V1
DO 239COsteopathic Principles and Practice VI1.5
DO 240APrimary Care Skills IV1
DO 240BPrimary Care Skills V1
DO 240CPrimary Care Skills VI1.5
DO 246Medical Ethics1
DO 248Clinical Approach to Endocrinology and Disorders of Metabolism3
DO 250Clinical Approach to Reproductive Genitourinary and Obstetrical Medicine5.5
DO 259Clinical Approach to Musculoskeletal Medicine and Dermatology3
DO 261Preventive Medicine and Public Health1
INDP 200AInter Professional Education0.5
INDP 200BInter Professional Education0.5
INDP 200CInter Professional Education0.5
Total Credits: 98.5
Third Year (12 Months): Georgia Campuses
M3 Required Rotations
DO 310GFamily Medicine Rotation17
DO 312GOMM Family Medicine17
DO 313GGeneral Internal Medicine Rotation17
DO 314GIM Cardiology Rotation17
or DO 314AG IM Ambulatory
DO 315GObstetrics and Gynecology Rotation17
DO 316GPediatric Rotation17
DO 317GPsychiatry Rotation17
DO 319GGeneral Surgery Rotation17
DO 320GSurgery Subspecialty Rotation17
DO 321GInternal Medicine Subspecialty Rotation17
Elective Rotations
Maximum M3 Year Elective Credits34
Minimum Required M3 Total Credits: 187
Third Year (12 Months): Philadelphia Campus
M3 Required Rotations
DO 310Family Medicine Rotation17
DO 312OMM Family Medicine8.5
or DO 312A OMM Family Medicine Selective
DO 313General Internal Medicine Rotation17
DO 314Internal Medicine Cardiology Rotation17
DO 315Obstetrics and Gynecology Rotation17
DO 316Pediatric Rotation17
DO 317Psychiatry Rotation17
DO 319General Surgery Rotation17
DO 320Surgery Subspecialty Rotation17
DO 321Internal Medicine Subspecialty Rotation17
DO 322Advanced Clinical Skills Radiology Rotation (Philadelphia Only)8.5
Elective Rotations
Maximum M3 Year Elective Credits34
Minimum Required M3 Credits = 187
Fourth Year (12 Months): All Campuses
DO 392Clerkship Elective ((8))136
DO 412Osteopathic Primary Care Sub Internship17
DO 410Critical Complex Care Inpatient Clerkship17
DO 415Emergency Medicine Rotation17
Total M4 Credits = 187

Third and Fourth Year Clinical Clerkship Curriculum

Twenty-two 17 credit-equivalent clerkship rotations are required between the M3 and M4 years for a total of 374 credits.
M3 Required Rotations = 170 Credits
M4 Required Rotations = 51 Credits
Elective Rotations = 153 Credits

During M3 and M4 years, students will be involved in inter-professional education sessions with Physician Assistant, Clinical PsyD, Mental Health Counseling, and School PsyD students.

Each 17 credit rotation requires 240 contact hours

The Basic Sciences and Pre-Clinical Years

PCOM students begin preparation for the study and practice of osteopathic medicine from their first day as medical students. Thus, the principles and practice of osteopathic medicine are taught throughout the medical curriculum.

The first year of the curriculum focuses on the foundational basic sciences such as anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, genetics, cell biology, and immunology. Students are also provided with an introduction to general pathologic concepts, pharmacological intervention, and medical microbiology. The curriculum combines basic science and clinical course content in integrated systems-based courses in the second year.

PCOM also recognizes that medical practice is more than science. Coursework in ethics, medical humanities, and physician and community wellness help students develop the core competencies necessary for modern medical practice. All students attend small-group, active learning sessions during the first and second year to develop communication and diagnostic skills. These special instructional activities include patient observation, case conferences, and basic clinical skills workshops. In addition, an active standardized patient and robotic simulation program introduces students to patient care through examinations of patient actors in a simulated practice setting, augmented by clinical exercises on high-tech human patient simulator manikins.

Clinical Years

Students at the Philadelphia campus will be assigned to clinical clerkships throughout Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, and Maryland. Students at PCOM Georgia and South Georgia are assigned to clinical clerkships throughout Georgia and the Southeast. 

This unique training network comprises affiliated hospitals, numerous outpatient units, and scores of physicians’ offices. These clinical settings become teaching arms of the College; in effect, our partners are our campus. The program is designed to afford progressive student responsibility in all phases of patient care under the direction of experienced physicians and health care providers. This includes history taking, physical examinations, daily patient rounds, lectures, conferences, case presentations, and online blended learning for all core rotations. 

Students rotate through services in Internal Medicine, Family Medicine, Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine, Surgery, Cardiology, OB/GYN, Pediatrics, Psychiatry, Emergency Medicine, Underserved Primary Care. On elective clerkships, students may choose to pursue special interests at other medical institutions anywhere across the nation.  

DUAL DEGREE PROGRAMS
 

DO/MBA Program (Philadelphia Campus)

In conjunction with Saint Joseph’s University, a master of business administration degree in health and medical services may be earned by DO program students who concurrently complete a five year course of study for the DO and MBA degrees. Created in 1989 as the nation’s first DO/MBA degree, the curriculum requires approximately 39-45 hours of MBA coursework. The MBA program is completed during a one-year leave from medical study, following the third year of medical school. This program responds to the increasing need for business acumen in medical practice. It also prepares physicians for a wide range of emerging careers in medical administration.

Students who are interested in business administration but do not wish to enroll in the full MBA program may complete a 5-course Graduate Business Certificate during the fourth year of medical school. The Saint Joseph’s University MBA is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business(AACSB). Approval for admissions into the dual degree DO/MBA or graduate Business Certificate Program must be received by PCOM’s Director of Dual Degree Programs & Biomedical Science Specialty Concentrations in the School of Health Sciences and SJU admissions team.

DO/MPH Program (Philadelphia Campus)

Students may choose to enroll in a DO/MPH program in affiliation with Jefferson School of Population Health, which provides a 36-credit program that includes core public health disciplines in behavioral and social sciences, biostatistics, epidemiology, environmental health services and health policy. The Jefferson DO/MPH program is a five year program. The MPH is completed during a one-year leave from medical study following the third year of medical school. Approval for admissions into the dual degree DO/MPH program must be reviewed by PCOM’s Director of Dual Degree Programs & Biomedical Science Specialty Concentrations in the School of Health Sciences and Thomas Jefferson University admissions team.

Students may also enter a special joint degree program in affiliation with Temple University, leading to a master of public health degree. The DO/MPH program is a five year program.  The MPH program is completed during a one year leave from medical study following the third year of medical school. Approval for admissions into the dual degree DO/MPH program at Temple University must be reviewed by PCOM’s Director of Dual Degree Programs & Biomedical Science Specialty Concentrations in the School of Health Sciences and Temple University admissions team.

DO/MS in Forensic Medicine (Philadelphia and PCOM Georgia)

Students who have successfully completed their first year of medical study at PCOM may enter a special dual degree program provided by PCOM’s Department of Pathology and Forensic Medicine. Students complete forensic medicine graduate work through Philadelphia campus weekend courses and online instruction during an extended sophomore medical year; the DO and MS program is five years in length. The program provides a core foundation in the theory, principles, ethics, professional practice and legal aspects of forensic medicine. Students acquire skills in the technical aspects of death scene investigation, identifying, preserving and protecting custody of forensic evidence, differentiating accidental and intentional injuries in both living and dead persons, and determining potential forensic value of written and photographic records. The program also provides skills in the interpretation of research in forensics and skills in utilizing information technology to access information in the forensic sciences.

Graduate Medical Education - Philadelphia Campus

Graduate medical education is the crucial step of professional development between medical school and autonomous clinical practice. It is in this vital phase of the continuum of osteopathic medical education that residents learn to provide optimal patient care under the supervision of faculty members. PCOM offers residency and fellowship programs to further the osteopathic medical education of physicians.

Admission to Postgraduate Training

Enrollment in the residency and fellowship programs at PCOM is highly competitive in order for the most qualified applicants to receive the highest-quality training. All programs, except for the Transitional Year program, participate in either the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP) or the San Francisco Match (SF Match).  

The minimum requirements for admission to the residency and fellowship programs can be viewed here: https://www.pcom.edu/academics/graduate-medical-education/policies/eligibility-and-selection.html

Residency and Fellowship Programs

The residency and fellowship programs of PCOM are held to a high standard of clinical excellence, with a commitment to teaching and active encouragement of resident research. The College currently offers ACGME accredited training in eleven residency and fellowship programs, including Osteopathic Neuromusculoskeletal Medicine.

  • Dermatology - Marcus Goodman, DO, Program Director.  Approved Positions: 6

  • General Surgery – Lindsey Perea, DO, Program Director.  Approved Positions: 30

  • Geriatric Medicine Fellowship – Nicol Joseph, DO, Program Director.  Approved Positions: 6

  • Hospice and Palliative Medicine Fellowship – Michael Srulevich, DO, Program Director.  Approved Positions: 4

  • Internal Medicine – Daniel Parenti, DO, Program Director.  Approved Positions: 36

  • Ophthalmology – Kenneth Heist, DO, Program Director.  Approved Positions: 6

  • Orthopaedic Surgery – John McPhilemy, DO, Program Director.  Approved Positions: 20

  • Osteopathic Neuromusculoskeletal Medicine (ONMM) - Lauren Noto-Bell, DO, Program Director.  Approved Positions: 4

  • Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery – John McGrath, DO, Program Director.  Approved Positions: 15

  • Plastic Surgery Fellowship – Benjamin Lam, DO, Program Director.  Approved Positions: 6

  • Transitional Year - Erik Polan, DO, Program Director.  Approved Positions: 11

DO Graduate Statistics

PCOM annually reports statistics related to the Comlex Level 3 board exam results and the number of students who applied to and obtained placement in a graduate medical education program accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) or the military. These statistics may be found on the PCOM website: https://www.pcom.edu/program-statistics/doctor-of-osteopathic-medicine.html