Learning Triad
Strengthening the OMM
Curricula
by Pat Grauer
Not only is MSUCOM finding better ways
to research and provide clinical osteopathic manual medicine, we’re also
developing better ways to teach this important modality.
The teaching of osteopathic manual
medicine is blossoming at MSUCOM, from a portion of three classes to a full six
semesters of dedicated courses for predoctoral students. A new consortium to
support OMM education for postdoctoral students is being consolidated. MSUCOM
computer-based learning modules, including video, will enhance OMM education at
all levels.
| Predoctoral OMM
"We’ve
expanded OMM education into six semesters of distinct OMM courses,"
notes Mark Gugel, DO, the course coordinator, "and instruction
begins the first semester students come to MSUCOM." Dr. Gugel says
that the new courses provide a case-based approach to medicine, while
the old OMM curriculum only covered techniques. The OMM cases are
coordinated with and reinforce what students are studying in their
systems courses, e.g., cardiovascular, pulmonary, reproductive, etc.
|
Mark Gugel is course
coordinator for the new OMM series.
|
Postdoctoral
Consortium
Independent OMM education programs in
several Michigan hospitals are being consolidated through the Statewide Campus
System to support a new residency consortium in neuromusculoskeletal medicine.
According to Associate Dean Mark Cummings, PhD, it’s anticipated that MSUCOM,
Metropolitan, Botsford General, Mercy, Genesys, Mt. Clemens, Ingham Regional,
and Sparrow hospitals will participate in the consortium, which is expected to
receive AOA approval soon and start training residents in 2003. The program will
include coordination of curriculum, faculty development, assessment and
evalution. "The residencies will include the two-year program or the
plus-one fellowship, and the blended family medicine and OMM residency
program," Dr. Cummings noted.
Educational Modules
|
Jon Rohrer, Sherman Gorbis,
and Mark Cummings review new educational modules.
|
Under the direction
of Jon Rohrer, PhD, of the Statewide Campus System and Kari Hortos, DO,
director of medical education at Mt. Clemens General Hospital,
computer-based educational resources will help "train the
trainers" for OMM instruction. Available on CD-ROM, the modules,
which include video demonstrations, will help instructors to review,
apply and teach OMM to housestaff and students in clinical settings.
"Our students receive
heavy clinical training in OMM on campus," Dr. Rohrer said,
"and these programs are to help ensure that this continues into the
hospitals." |
The modules, which have been
extensively tested, can be used in laboratories, classrooms, or bedside
teaching, Dr. Rohrer said.
|
