Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine 
PCOM, PCOM Georgia, and PCOM South Georgia

Introduction to Osteopathic Medicine

As a philosophy, science and art, osteopathic medicine is a total approach to health and disease. It recognizes that the neuromusculoskeletal system is of major importance to human life. The interrelationship between this and other body-systems is a basic part of osteopathic philosophy. An emphasis on primary care, health maintenance, prevention of disease and attention to the neuromusculoskeletal system is key to osteopathic medical education and practice. Universally accepted today, these attributes were considered unorthodox when Dr. Andrew Taylor Still (1828-1917) objected to the crude medications of his time and sought to enhance the body’s inherent healing through manipulation.

The osteopathic physician incorporates evaluation and treatment of the musculoskeletal system as a basis for an approach to health and disease, combining it with the diagnostic and therapeutic modalities used by general scientific approaches to the healing arts. Like their MD counterparts, DOs must be licensed in the states where they practice, and additional board certification in specialties further underscores their professional credentials. All 50 states and the District of Columbia provide for the unlimited practice of medicine and surgery by osteopathic physicians. Licensing boards are usually composed of senior members of the osteopathic profession. In some states, MDs and DOs participate in combined licensing boards.

THE OSTEOPATHIC PHILOSOPHY

This philosophy provides the osteopathic physician with a unique way of looking at health and disease. These premises include the following: 

• The human body is a unit in which structure and function are reciprocally interdependent. 

• The body, through a complex system, tends to be self-regulating and self-healing. 

• The adequate function of body systems depends on the unimpeded flow of blood and nerve impulses. 

• The musculoskeletal system is a major body system, and its importance exceeds that of mere framework and support. 

• There are musculoskeletal components to disease that are not only manifestations of the disease, but also important contributing and maintaining factors. 

The adoption of these basic premises led to the development of the osteopathic total-body concept. The patient is considered as part of their relationship to their psycho-, social, economic, and physical environment rather than as an isolated unit. Instead of emphasizing the momentary disease state, the osteopathic approach studies and treats the person’s well-being, lifestyle and behavior as a whole. 

LEARNING OBJECTIVES 

The program leading to the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree is guided by the following goals for the purpose of providing a comprehensive and contemporary curriculum to educate health professionals to care for the whole person, advance the health of diverse communities and participate in the ever-changing environment. The curriculum seeks to: 

• Integrate and appropriately sequence basic and clinical science material 

• Present major themes in biomedicine 

• Integrate early clinical experiences and case studies, and emphasize problem-solving to increase the application of knowledge-based issues to issues of patient care 

• Utilize methods in information technology and informatics 

• Participate in inter-professional education activities. 

GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS 

Each candidate for the degree of Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine must: 

• Maintain established standards of personal and professional conduct

• Successfully fulfill all academic and  clinical requirements

• Pass COMLEX Level 1, Level 2 CE  (National Board of Osteopathic Medical Examiners). 

All requirements must be completed within six years from the first date of matriculation.  

Each graduate must be free of indebtedness to the College. Those students who have received financial aid are required to complete the exit interview on-line process at least one week prior to commencement. The College academic transcript will be given when all financial obligations to PCOM and the exit interview have been met

Note: It is the responsibility of the graduate to fulfill the requirements for practice for the state licensing board in the state in which he or she chooses to practice. These requirements vary widely and are regulated by the laws of each state. It is the responsibility of the graduate to get the information needed pertaining to state licensing and to fulfill these responsibilities. 

Plan of Study Grid

First Year
Term 1		Hours
Summer
DO 100	Cellular and Biochemical Foundations of Medicine	6
DO 144A	Clinical Reasoning in Basic Science IA	.5
DO 139A	Osteopathic Principles and Practice I	1.5
DO 140A	Primary Care Skills I	.5
DO 114A	Medical Humanities and Wellness I	1
	Hours	9.5
Term 2
Fall
DO 112	Foundations of Physiology and the Musculoskeletal System	4
DO 104	Foundations of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Medicine	3.5
DO 105	Foundations of Renal, Endocrine, and Gastrointestinal Medicine	3.5
DO 107	Foundations of Reproductive and Genitourinary Medicine	2
DO 106	Foundations of Research	1
DO 144B	Clinical Reasoning in Basic Science IB	1
DO 139B	Osteopathic Principles and Practice II	2
DO 140B	Primary Care Skills II	1
INDP 100A	Inter Professional Education	0.5
	Hours	18.5
Term 3
Spring
DO 108	Head, Eyes, Ears, Nose, and Throat and Neuroscience	4
DO 101	Infection and Immunity	6
DO 109	Introduction to Human Disease and Therapeutics	5.5
DO 139C	Osteopathic Principles and Practice III	2
DO 114B	Medical Humanities and Wellness II	0.5
DO 140C	Primary Care Skills III	1
DO 144C	Clinical Reasoning in Basic Science IC	1
INDP 100B	Inter Professional Education	0.5
	Hours	20.5
	Total Hours	48.5

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
Second Year
Term 1
Summer
DO 230	Clinical Approach to Neuroscience and Neurology	5
DO 215	Clinical Approach to Psychiatry	2.5
DO 243A	Comprehensive Basic Science Review and Synthesis IA	1
DO 239A	Osteopathic Principles and Practice IV	1
DO 240A	Primary Care Skills IV	1
Hours 10.5
Term 2
Fall
DO 226	Clinical Approach to Hematology and Oncology	2
DO 228	Clinical Approach to Cardiovascular and Renal Medicine	5.5
DO 229	Clinical Approach to Pulmonary Medicine	3.5
DO 248	Clinical Approach to Endocrinology and Disorders of Metabolism	3
DO 239B	Osteopathic Principles and Practice V	1.5
DO 240B	Primary Care Skills V	1.5
DO 243B	Comprehensive Basic Science Review and Synthesis IB	1.5
DO 261	Preventive Medicine and Public Health	1
INDP 200A	Inter Professional Education	0.5
Hours 22
Term 3
Spring
DO 218	Clinical Approach to Gastroenterology	3.5
DO 250	Clinical Approach to Reproductive Genitourinary and Obstetrical Medicine	5.5
DO 259	Clinical Approach to Musculoskeletal Medicine and Dermatology	3
DO 246	Medical Ethics	1
DO 239C	Osteopathic Principles and Practice VI	2
DO 240C	Primary Care Skills VI	2
DO 243C	Comprehensive Basic Science Review and Synthesis IC	2
INDP 200B	Inter Professional Education	0.5
Hours 17.5
M2 Total Hours 50
M1 and M2 Total Credits: 98.5

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
Third Year (12 Months): Georgia Campuses
M3 Required Rotations
DO 310G	Family Medicine Rotation	17
DO 312G	OMM Family Medicine	17
DO 313G	General Internal Medicine Rotation	17
DO 314G	IM Cardiology Rotation	17
or DO 314AG	IM Ambulatory
DO 315G	Obstetrics and Gynecology Rotation	17
DO 316G	Pediatric Rotation	17
DO 317G	Psychiatry Rotation	17
DO 319G	General Surgery Rotation	17
DO 320G	Surgery Subspecialty Rotation	17
Elective Rotations
M3 Year Elective Credits		34
Total M3 Credits: 187

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
Third Year (12 Months): Philadelphia Campus
M3 Required Rotations
DO 310	Family Medicine Rotation	17
DO 312	OMM Family Medicine	8.5
or DO 312A	OMM Family Medicine Selective
DO 313	General Internal Medicine Rotation	17
DO 314	Internal Medicine Cardiology Rotation	17
DO 315	Obstetrics and Gynecology Rotation	17
DO 316	Pediatric Rotation	17
DO 317	Psychiatry Rotation	17
DO 319	General Surgery Rotation	17
DO 320	Surgery Subspecialty Rotation	17
DO 322	Advanced Clinical Skills Radiology Rotation (Philadelphia Only)	8.5
Elective Rotations
M3 Year Elective Credits		34
Total M3 Credits = 187
Fourth Year (12 Months): All Campuses
DO 392	Clerkship Elective (7)	119
DO 412	Osteopathic Primary Care Sub Internship	17
DO 410	Critical Complex Care Inpatient Clerkship	17
DO 415	Emergency Medicine Rotation	17
Total M4 Credits = 170
DO Program Total 455.5

Third and Fourth Year Clinical Clerkship Curriculum

Twenty-one 17 credit-equivalent clerkship rotations are required between the M3 and M4 years for a total of 357 credits.
M3 Required Rotations = 153 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 a minimum of 160 contact hours

The Basic Sciences and Pre-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, Osteopathic Primary Care. On elective clerkships, students may choose to pursue special interests at other medical institutions anywhere across the nation.  

PCOM Core Affiliated Partners

Arnold, Wayne DO
AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center
Bayhealth Medical Center
Beacon Pediatrics
Beebe Medical Center
Belmont Behavioral Health
Butler Health System
Capital Health Regional Medical Center
Carson Valley Children's Aid
Christiana Care Health System
City Line Pediatrics
Collins, Matthew DO
Community Medical Center
Crozer Keystone Health System
Deborah Heart and Lung
Delaware Health Services
Doylestown Hospital
Einstein Medical Center
Excela Health - Latrobe Hospital
FPC Sullivan County
Franklin Square Hospital
Friendship House
Geisinger Health System - Danville
Girard Medical Center
Grand View Hospital
Heritage Valley Healthcare
Holy Redeemer Hospital
Hunterdon Medical Center
Indian Regional Medical Center
Inspira Medical Center
Jefferson Health - Abington Hospital
Jefferson Health - North East
Kornberg, Bruce DO
Lehigh Valley Healthcare Network
Lerch Pediatrics
Lower Bucks Hospital
Main Line Health - Bryn Mawr Hospital
Main Line Health - Lankenau Medical Center
Main Line Health - Paoli Hospital
Main Line Health - Riddle Memorial Hospital - Granite Run OBGYN
Panda Bear Pediatrics
Penn Medicine - Pennsylvania Hospital
Penn State Health - St. Joseph Medical Center
Pinnacle Health System - UPMC Altoona Hospital
Pinnacle Health System - UPMC Bedford Memorial Hospital
Pinnacle Health System - UPMC Hanover Hospital
Pinnacle Health System - UPMC Mercy Hospital
Pinnacle Health System - UPMC Pinnacle
Pinnacle Health System - UPMC Pinnacle Lititz
Pinnacle Health System - UPMC Shadyside Hospital
Pinnacle Health System - UPMC St. Margaret
Pinnacle Health System - UPMC Susquehanna
Roxborough Memorial Hospital 
Saint Francis Hospital
St. Luke’s University Health Network 
Suburban Community Hospital
Sun Behavioral Health 
Tidal Health
Trinity Health Mid-Atlantic - Mercy Catholic Medical Center
Trinity Health Mid-Atlantic - Nazareth Hospital
Trinity Health Mid-Atlantic - St. Mary's Medical Center
Tower Health - Chestnut Hill Hospital
Tower Health - Phoenixville Hospital
Tower Health - Reading Hospital
Wellspan - Good Samaritan Hospital
Wright Center for Community Health

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PCOM Core Clinical Campus Sites

AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center
Bay Health Medical Center
Butler Health System
Christiana Care Health System
Conemaugh Memorial Medical Center
Einstein Healthcare Network
Geisinger Health System - Danville
Jefferson Health North East
Lehigh Valley Health Network-Pocono
Lehigh Valley Health Network-Cedar Crest
Main Line Health
Trinity Health Mid-Atlantic - Nazareth
Trinity Health Mid-Atlantic - St. Mary's Medical Center
Tower Health - Reading Hospital
Suburban Community Medical Center
Pinnacle Health System - UPMC Horizon

PCOM Georgia/PCOM South Georgia

AAPHC Women's Center   Albany  GA
Adena Health System  Chillicothe, OH
Abundant Life Healthcare   Lawrenceville    GA
Active Healthcare & Rehabilitation   Dacula   GA
Advent Health Medical Group   Chatsworth   GA
Advent Medical Group    Fitzgerald  GA
AdventHealth  Deland, FL
AdventHealth Medical Group Family Medicine    New Smyrna Beach  FL
AdventHealth Medical Group Family Medicine    Chatsworth  GA
Affinity Medical Center   Massillion, OH
Albany Area Primary Care    Albany  GA
Albany Surgical, PC   Albany  GA
All God's Children     Dalton   GA
Ameila Medical Care    Kingsland GA
Ameila Medical Care   Leesburg  GA
Anchor Medical Care      Warner Robins  GA
Anderson Family Medicine   Dawsonville GA
Anointed Hands Medical Care     Winder GA
Anointed Hands Medical Care     Hoschton GA
Archbold Medical Center   Thomaston GA
Ascension St. Vincent's Hospital   Jacksonville FL
Ashchi Hear and Vascular Center  Jacksonville FL
Athens Neighborhood Health Center    Albany  GA
Atlanta Medical Center/Wellstar   Atlanta  GA
Baptist Health    Jacksonville  FL
Baptist Medical Center  Jacksonville  FL
Betty Koukis, MD     Moultrie  GA
Bianco Primary Care    Alpharetta  GA
Blacksheep Medical    New Smryna Beach  FL
BlueRidge AHEC    Rome  GA
Bradley Center Psychiatry   Columbus  GA
Care Connect    Colquitt GA
CareConnect Family Practice    Oglethorpe  GA
Cherokee Internal Medicine, P.C.     Woodstock  GA
Chestatee Emergent Medical Care    Dawsonville  GA
Children's Healthcare of Atlanta    Dacula  GA
Children's Med Center    Tifton  GA
Clark Medical Group       Statesboro  GA
Colquitt Regional     Moultrie  GA
Colquitt Regional Medical Center    Moultrie  GA
Columbus Regional      Columbus  GA
Columbus Regional Medical Group    Columbus  GA
Country Way Family Practice       Cleveland  GA
Country Way Family Practice       Cleveland  GA
Daffodil Pediatrics     Forest Park  GA
Dorminy Medical Center    Fitzgerald  GA
East Georgia Medical Center    Statesboro  GA
Eastside Medical Center    Snellville  GA
Edwards Cancer Center    Moultrie  GA
Emory at LaGrange      LaGrange  GA
Family First Medical Care, PC      Columbus GA
Family Health Center      Macon GA
First Look Primary Care, P.C.    Gainesville  GA
Florida Hospital     New Smyrna Beach  FL
Floyd Medical Center     Rome  GA
Floyd Primary Care, Rockmart     Rockmart  GA
GA Campus PCOM OMM Clinic    Suwanee  GA
Georgia Mountain Health Services     Ellijay  GA
Georgia SurgiCare     Loganville  GA
Good News Clinic      Gainesville GA
Groover Clinic     Calhoun  GA
Gwinnett Medical Center      Duluth  GA
Gwinnett Medical Center        Lawrenceville    GA
Gwinnett Pulmonary & Sleep      Lawrenceville    GA
Hamilton Health Care Physician Group    Dalton   GA
Hamilton Mill Pediatrics     Dacula  GA
Horizon Diagnostics, LLC       Columbus  GA
Houston Health Behavioral Health Associates       Warner Robins  GA
Houston Healthcare       Warner Robins  GA
Houston Medical Center     Warner Robins  GA
Institute for Non-Surgical Orthopedics     Ft. Lauderdale   FL
Integrative Health     Valdosta   GA
Intown Primary Care       Atlanta  GA
Isbell Medical Group      Fort Payne   AL
Jesup Pediatrics     Jesup  GA
Khizer Pediatircs     Conyers  GA
Kirk Clinic     Moultrie  GA
Liberty Regional Medical Center     Hinesville  GA
Lifeguard Pediatrics      Warner Robins  GA
Loganville Family Medicine    Loganville  GA
Navient Medical Center of Central Georgia     Macon  GA
MedLink Georgia    Monroe  GA
Memorial Health System     Jacksonville  FL
MercyMed of Columbus    Columbus  GA
Metro Medical Associates    Alpharetta  GA
Monroe Pediatrics     Monroe  GA
Mountain East Family Medicine    Lilburn  GA
Mountainside Pediatrics   Jasper  GA
New Horizon Behavioral Health    Columbus  GA
North Atlanta Medical Associates    Decatur  GA
North Atlanta Medical Association    Stone Mountain  GA
North Atlanta Medical Clinic    Lawrenceville  GA
North Metro Women's Health Care   Lawrenceville  GA
North Point Pediatrics     Alpharetta  GA
North Side Dawson Urgent Care    Dawsonville  GA
Northeast Georgia Medical Center     Gainesville  GA
Northeast Georgia Medical Center     Braselton  GA
Northeast Georgia Medical Center     Winder  GA
Northeast Georgia Medical Center     Gainesville  GA
Northside Family Medicine & Urgent Care     Dawsonville  GA
Northside Gwinnett Medical Center       Lawrenceville  GA
Oconee Regional Medical Center          Milledgeville  GA
Pavilion Fam Med Center    Warner Robins  GA
Pediatric First     Warner Robins  GA
Phoebe Putnam Hospital     Albany  GA
Phoebe Putney Medical Center     Albany  GA
Phoebe Sumter Medical Center    Americus  GA
Piedmont Columbus       Columbus  GA
Piedmont Rockdale   Walton  GA
Piedmont Columbus Midtown Community Health OBGYN    Columbus  GA
Plains Medical Center     Plains  GA
Pulmonary Critical Care Consultants    New Smryna Beach  FL
Redmond Regional Medical Center      Rome  GA
Robbins Health Alliance    Stone Mountain  GA
Salveo Integrative Health     Lawrenceville GA
Serendipity Clinic     Hiawassee  GA
Shah Pediatrics    Lawrenceville  GA
Social Care Services     Jacksonville  FL
South Central Primary Care     Ocilla  GA
South Georgia Medical Center   Valdosta  GA
South Georgia Medical Clinic      Moultrie  GA
South Georgia Pediatrics      Alma  GA
Southeast Brain and Spine Surgery      Columbus  GA
Southeast Volusia Medical Services Inc     New Smyrna Beach  FL
Southeastern Geriatric Healthcare Group      Atlanta  GA
St Francis Columbus Clinic       Columbus  GA
St Vincent's Surgical Care        Jacksonville  FL
St. Francis Medical Center       Columbus  GA
St. Vincent's Ambulatory Care Inc       Jacksonville  GA
Sterling Center    Moultrie  GA
Stone Mountain Primary Care     Stone Mountain  GA
Suwanahoochee Pediatrics      Suwanee  GA
Sy Med Primary Care      Norcross   GA
Tanner Healthcare for Women    Carrollton   GA
The Doctors Inn     Lawrenceville  GA
Tri County Internal Medicine    Sugar Hill  GA
Turning Point Hospital     Moultrie  GA
Valdosta's Women's Health Center     Valdosta  GA
Veranda Medical Group     Albany  GA
Wellstar Health System    Forsyth  GA
Wellstar Health System Kennestone GA
Wellstar Health System Marietta GA
Wellstar Health System Paulding, GA
Wellstar Medical Group Pulmonary Medicine      LaGrange  GA
Women's Healthcare of Georgia      Warner Robins  GA
Women's Medical Center      Dothan  AL
Women's Specialists of Northside Gwinnett     Lawrenceville  GA

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.