TCOM to be a pilot for Phase 3 of NBOME’s Core Competency Capstone project
The University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth’s Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine is continuing its work with the National Board of Osteopathic Medical Examiners as a pilot for Phase 3 of their Core Competency Capstone for Osteopathic Medicine project. Known as C3DO, the project has been studying the feasibility of on-campus standardized assessment prior to graduation of fundamental osteopathic clinical skills of osteopathic medical students.
“We are excited to contribute to this national standard and to provide our students with valuable experience in this clinical skills assessment that will shape the future of osteopathic medical education,” said Ryan Seals, DO, and TCOM’s senior associate dean for academic affairs.
TCOM was a pilot site for Phase 2 of the project from March 2024 through November 2024. Christopher Medina, DO, served as TCOM’s physician lead while other team members collaborated with UNTHSC’s Regional Simulation Center and the NBOME to deliver an 8-station standardized clinical examination using trained patient actors.
Students were evaluated on their ability to conduct appropriate clinical interviews and examinations, their medical decision-making skills, their humanistic skills, and their ability to incorporate OMT into patient care.
“It was a privilege to serve as the physician lead for TCOM’s participation in the NBOME’s C3DO Phase 2 pilot,” Medina said. “This innovative clinical skills assessment represents an important step forward in preserving the evaluation of clinical competency through simulated encounters that reflect the complexity and authenticity of clinical practice while assessing the distinctive strengths of osteopathic medical education. Our involvement in the pilot allowed us to contribute meaningfully to shaping the future of osteopathic clinical skills assessment in a way that emphasizes authentic and responsible patient care, professional growth and the integration of osteopathic principles and practice.”
Phase 2 of C3DO featured nine locations serving as pilot sites to over 1,400 students and saw improvements in development, administration, and scoring. The NBOME Learning Center provided resources for Phase 2 pilot sites, administering training courses and support to 346 users across eight different colleges of osteopathic medicine, which was an increase of 92% from 2023.
“Throughout this process, we have learned a great deal, and it has elevated every aspect of our various TCOM clinical skills course assessments,” Medina said. “I’m proud of the collaboration and commitment shown by our students, faculty, coordinator team, standardized patients, and simulation center staff throughout this pilot, and I look forward to seeing how this initiative continues to evolve in service of our students, our profession, and our patients.”
Phase 3 of the project will help further refine and develop this assessment, including enhancements to case materials, training courses, and resources for schools.
The Regional Simulation Center at UNTHSC played a key role in the implementation of Phase 2. Guided by the standards established by the NBOME, their standardized patient program trained individuals to reliably and consistently portray health care problems and then evaluate students who conduct the examinations. The patient accurately and consistently recreates the history, personality, physical findings, and emotional responses of an actual patient and/or a patient’s significant other. They may critique student interviewing, physical examination, and interpersonal skills and provide feedback to the students. The feedback from students was positive, with many praising the exams for showing them the areas they need to improve on while also testing their capabilities as a DO in performing osteopathic manipulative treatment in a clinical setting.
“Our students approached the C3DO Phase 2 pilot with enthusiasm and professionalism, and their feedback was overwhelmingly positive,” Medina said. “They appreciated the opportunity to demonstrate the clinical skills they have been developing throughout their rotations in a format that mirrors real-world patient care. This assessment allowed them to showcase not only their medical knowledge and communication skills but also the integration of osteopathic principles – particularly osteopathic structural diagnosis and treatment – across a wide range of case scenarios. Participating in the pilot gave our students a sense of ownership over their clinical development and affirmed the value of their training in osteopathic medicine.”
Phase 3 of the project is underway, with all students of the Class of 2026 anticipated to complete their C3DO experience by August 1, 2025.
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