Trent Reed, DO; Dr. Chris Frothingham, DO (at University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine)

This is a part-time elective that takes part over the course of three months, worth two weeks of elective credit.

Graded Pass/Fail only.

All sessions MANDATORY. 

2024 Dates - Wednesdays: October 16th-November 20th 

The goal of the elective is to introduce students to osteopathic medicine and provide exposure to osteopathic manipulative techniques, OMT. Students will complete a 3-month elective course, including 8 podcasts and 5 skills sessions, to gain understanding and skills of osteopathic examination, diagnosis, and manipulation. Students must attend all sessions and will be examined upon completion. By the end of the elective, student should be able to discuss the history of osteopathic medicine, assess and discuss treatment regarding topics such as soft tissue, lymphatics, and muscle energy, and be familiarized with specific osteopathic manipulative techniques such as the structural exam, myofascial release techniques, and HVLA. We aim to bridge the connection between allopathic and osteopathic medicine in order to provide students with well-rounded training for any and all future opportunities in residency and careers, with special attention to the upcoming GME merger. This elective should provide students with a basic knowledge in osteopathic manipulative techniques, OMT and prepare them for future opportunities regarding osteopathic medicine. 

Students will be evaluated on the basis of each of the eight core objectives. Students will be evaluated by survey and quiz before and after the elective. Additionally, students will be assessed by their ability to diagnose and treat somatic dysfunction with the application of 2 techniques on the final day of the elective. Medical cases with symptoms will be presented and students will pair up to formulate a diagnostic plan, treatment plan, and follow-up management. Students will apply techniques on each other and will discuss OMT options for various chief complaints. A minimum 75% passing score on the final exam is required. The course directors will determine the final grade. Graded Pass/Fail only.