JPOMA Advocacy

Advocacy

POMA wants The Journal of the Pennsylvania Osteopathic Medical Association to be a safe space for all DOs to have a voice and be heard. Opportunities to contribute in all content areas are open to all osteopathic medical students, residents and physicians. Share your thoughts, ideas and submissions via email to [email protected].

*Views expressed in The Journal of the Pennsylvania Osteopathic Medical Association are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editorial board, The JPOMA, or POMA unless specified.


The Under-Representation of Osteopathic Physicians in Plastic Surgery

October 2024 | Vol. 68, No. 1
Written by Nura Gouda OMS-IV, Marshall Miles D.O., Michael Karon D. O. Institutions: Gouda- Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, Philadelphia, PA Dr. Miles – Lehigh Valley Health Network, Allentown PA Dr. Karon- Reading Hospital West Reading, PA

Plastic surgery residency is arguably one of the most competitive specialties in which to match. Many factors can increase one’s chances of matching, such as high board scores, strong letters of recommendation, multiple research publications, and outstanding performance on fourth year rotations. However, while reviewing match data from recent years published on the NRMP website (1), it was apparent that one specific factor had a grossly negative association with a successful match: attending an osteopathic medical school (DO) rather than an allopathic medical school (MD). The osteopathic philosophy of medical education was created in 1874 with the intent of approaching patient health and treatment holistically, viewing the patient as a culmination of their mind, body and spirit, and practicing on the assumption that these three aspects exist synergistically (2). Additionally, osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT), which DO physicians are taught during their training, involves the use of one's hands to understand and identify somatic dysfunction based on an understanding of the musculoskeletal system. Besides this additional training, osteopathic and allopathic medical students receive the same medical education. Integration of OMT into treatment of patients is often physician and specialty specific.

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Take the First Pitch

October 2024 | Vol. 68, No. 1
Written by Richard E. Johnson, DO

When I was growing up, I played little league baseball for about a year, it really wasn’t “for me,” so I never picked up the baseball lingo that kids that played from age 5 to 19 picked up and used as “common knowledge” verbiage.

When I got to college (last century) I joined a fraternity, and as most frats do, we played intramural softball. During our first game the “coach/brother” sent me to the plate with the charge to “take the first pitch.” Not really understanding what that meant, I swung at the first pitch, and missed. I thought the coach was going to have a cow. “What the hell are you doing, he proffered!?” To which I declared, “you told me to take the first pitch, so I did.” “No, you, dumb#*@, take the first pitch means to let it go and wait for the next one. Well, ain’t that great, be nice to know the lingo.

Moving forward about 50 years, I was recently discharged from the hospital after a 6–7-hour abdominal surgery with catheter and JP drain and about 20 pages of post op information and instructions. I read through them like a good patient and knew what it all said, my wife/intelligent and very competent caregiver, however, took it all literally and to the letter of the law, which is good, but has its downsides. The information and instructions were general recommendations for many/all related surgeries and had some conflicting information compared to what the surgeon discussed with us at my discharge visit.

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The NBOME Advocates Parity for DO Applicants and Their Qualifications in GME Applications

October 2024 | Vol. 68, No. 1
Written by Renee Cree, NBOME

The National Board of Osteopathic Medical Examiners (NBOME) advocates for parity and equal opportunity for DO applicants to residency and fellowship training programs. This advocacy includes equivalent recognition and acceptance of the COMLEX-USA credential within graduate medical education (GME) to that of USMLE for MD applicants. To the extent that licensure examination scores are used as part of a holistic residency application process, COMLEX-USA scores should be considered exclusively for osteopathic (DO) applicants.

The NBOME has taken a two-pronged approach to its advocacy efforts: education and direct outreach. As part of its education, the NBOME partners with organizations including the American Osteopathic Association, the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine, the American Society of Osteopathic Medical Regulators (formerly the American Association of Osteopathic Examiners), and state medical and osteopathic medical licensing boards to inform those outside of the osteopathic profession on the distinctive yet valid elements of the osteopathic medical pathway to practice, including the purpose of COMLEX-USA and its alignment with the educational program leading to the DO degree.

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