The Journal of the American Osteopathic Association
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J Am Osteopath Assoc · Mar 2010
Uniform instruction using web-based, asynchronous technology in a geographically distributed clinical clerkship: analysis of osteopathic medical student participation and satisfaction.
As medical schools in the United States increase their class sizes, many institutions are forced to extend their teaching affiliations outside of their immediate communities. Geographic distribution threatens the ability to provide the uniform learning opportunities that students need and accrediting bodies require. ⋯ Web-based technology in the clinical education of third-year osteopathic medical students appears to afford an acceptable teaching alternative when face-to-face instruction cannot be provided. Further study of the impact of instructional design on the quality of higher-order thinking in this domain is needed, as is an appreciation for the dynamics of group learning in a virtual environment.
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Osteopathic graduate medical education (OGME) continues to evolve. With the restructuring of the traditional osteopathic internship, which became effective July 1, 2008, for most specialties, the number of trainees in osteopathic residency programs has substantially grown. The authors detail the effects of the restructuring on OGME and provide an update on the current availability of OGME training opportunities. The present article does not, however, report data from the American Osteopathic Association Intern/Resident Registration Program (ie, the AOA "Match").
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Specialty board certification is an important tool in recognizing physicians who take extra measures to establish their skills in any number of specialty areas. The American Osteopathic Association Bureau of Osteopathic Specialists, which oversees the 18 specialty certifying boards, continues to amend existing policies and implement new policies to improve the certification process. Among these policies, the authors describe new collaboration efforts, the development of the osteopathic continuous certification process, and revisions to board eligibility. An update on AOA certification awards, including certificates of added qualifications, is also provided.
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J Am Osteopath Assoc · Dec 2009
Case ReportsMusculoskeletal dysfunction and drop foot: diagnosis and management using osteopathic manipulative medicine.
Drop foot arises from dysfunction within the anatomic, muscular, or neurologic aspects of the lower extremity. The authors describe a patient with drop foot who had a compressed common peroneal nerve caused by posterior fibular head dysfunction. One 15-minute session of osteopathic manipulative treatment resolved the patient's symptoms. It is important for physicians to use osteopathic manipulative medicine to diagnosis and manage this condition, particularly when it results from fibular head dysfunction.