Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine Degree

 

 

TCOM is driven to change the way health care is delivered. TCOM excels through its innovative curriculum, cutting-edge research, quality patient care and outstanding student performance in both the classroom and the clinics. The college’s mission is to create solutions for a healthier community by preparing tomorrow’s patient-centered physicians and scientists and advancing the continuum of medical knowledge, discovery and osteopathic health care.

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The Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine is accredited by the American Osteopathic Association’s Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation (COCA). TCOM was granted a 10-year Accreditation with Exceptional Outcome in 2018, the highest level of accreditation given by the COCA, indicating TCOM is compliant with all COCA standards and that all elements were met at the time of the review. Complaints related to accreditation compliance may be reported directly to COCA or UNTHSC directly.

TCOM is part of UNTHSC, which receives regional institutional accreditation by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

The Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine has a sponsoring institutional accreditation from the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME).

Frequently Asked Questions

 

At TCOM, students receive comprehensive training in osteopathic manipulative treatment, a core component of osteopathic medical education, in all four years of training. Here’s an overview:

  • Foundational Knowledge: Students learn the principles and philosophy behind OMT, understanding its role in promoting health and wellness. This knowledge is applied to a multitude of common patient presentations that physicians will see in practice.
  • Hands-on Practice: Through weekly hands-on classroom and clinical sessions, students develop proficiency in various OMT techniques, such as muscle energy, counterstrain, high-velocity low-amplitute, myofascial release, balanced ligamentous tension, visceral and cranial manipulation.
  • Clinical Integration: TCOM integrates OMT training into various clinical settings, including a required clerkship in OMM, which allows students to apply their skills under supervision and guidance.
  • Interdisciplinary Collaboration: Students learn to collaborate with other health care professionals by explaining the role of OMT in patient care and incorporating OMT into comprehensive patient care plans.
  • Continued Education: TCOM provides opportunities for ongoing education and skill refinement in OMT throughout students’ medical training.
  • Transition: Prioritizing hands-on training and clinical experience is essential at TCOM to ensure that DO students are equipped to incorporate OMT into their future practices.

Apply now to embark on your journey toward a fulfilling career as a DO.

Yes, there is a centralized application service specifically for Texas medical schools. It’s called the Texas Medical and Dental Schools Application Service (TMDSAS). Here are some key points about TMDSAS:

  • Application Portal: TMDSAS serves as the primary application portal for most public medical schools in Texas, including allopathic (MD) and osteopathic (DO) programs.
  • Application Components: Applicants can submit their transcripts, letters of recommendation, essays and other required documents through the TMDSAS portal.
  • Participating Schools: TMDSAS facilitates the application process for medical schools and dental schools in Texas.
  • Timeline: The TMDSAS application is available on May 1 and can be submitted beginning May 15 each year for the following admissions cycle.
  • Processing: TMDSAS processes applications and verifies applicant information before forwarding them to the respective schools for consideration.
  • Benefits of Centralization: Centralizing the application process streamlines the process for applicants, allowing them to apply to multiple Texas medical schools through a single platform.

With TMDSAS, applying to medical schools in Texas becomes more efficient and convenient for aspiring medical students.

Questions? Apply now in order to embark on your journey towards a fulfilling career as a DO.

Research opportunities for students at TCOM are diverse and robust. We offer valuable hands-on experience and academic enrichment. Here’s an overview:

  • Institutional Resources: TCOM provides access to state-of-the-art research facilities, laboratories and equipment, enabling students to engage in various research projects across multiple disciplines.
  • Faculty Mentorship: Students have the opportunity to work closely with experienced faculty members who serve as mentors, guiding them through research endeavors and providing valuable expertise.
  • Interdisciplinary Collaboration: TCOM encourages interdisciplinary collaboration, allowing students to collaborate with peers and faculty from other UNTHSC colleges and schools, fostering a rich learning and research environment.
  • Clinical Research: With access to affiliated hospitals, clinics and health care facilities, students can participate in clinical research studies, gaining insight into patient care and medical advancements.

Take your research to new heights with a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree at UNTHSC

  • Community Based Research: TCOM emphasizes community engagement, providing opportunities for students to conduct research that addresses local health disparities, public health challenges and community needs.
  • Extracurricular Activities: At TCOM, various student organizations and research clubs actively engage students in:
    • Research
    • Conference attendance
    • Findings presentations
  • Funding Opportunities: TCOM supports student research through grants, scholarships and awards, helping to fund research projects, travel to conferences and other related expenses.
  • Publication and Presentation: Students have the opportunity to publish their research findings in peer-reviewed journals, present at national and international conferences, and showcase their work to the broader scientific community.

Research opportunities at TCOM foster collaboration in addition to community engagement. Therefore, this enables students to explore interests, contribute to scientific knowledge and impact medicine.

Apply now in order to embark on your journey toward a fulfilling career as a DO.

TCOM meticulously organizes clinical rotations, offering students hands-on training across medical specialties and settings. Here’s an overview of the structured rotations:

  • Core and Required rotations: TCOM offers core and required clinical rotations in essential medical specialties, including internal medicine, surgery, pediatrics, obstetrics and gynecology, family medicine, psychiatry, emergency medicine and osteopathic manipulative medicine. These rotations typically take place during the third and fourth years of medical school.
  • Affiliated Hospitals and Clinics: TCOM has affiliations with numerous hospitals, clinics and health care facilities across Texas and beyond. Students rotate through these affiliated sites to gain exposure to diverse patient populations, medical practices and health care systems.
  • Block Schedule: Rotations at TCOM are organized in block schedules. Students spend a set amount of time in each specialty or clinical setting, typically two to eight weeks. This structured approach ensures comprehensive exposure to various medical fields and settings. This structure also allows for focused immersion in each specialty area.
  • Supervised Learning: Throughout their rotations, students work under the supervision of experienced attending physicians and health care professionals. They actively participate in patient care, diagnostic evaluations, treatment planning and medical procedures under appropriate guidance and supervision.

Elevate your career with a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree at UNTHSC

  • Structured Curriculum: TCOM provides a structured curriculum for each clinical rotation, outlining specific learning objectives, competencies and assessment criteria. Students must meet educational goals and also demonstrate clinical skills and medical knowledge proficiency.
  • Variety of Experiences: Clinical rotations at TCOM offer a variety of experiences, including inpatient care, outpatient clinics, emergency departments, operating rooms, labor and delivery suites, psychiatric facilities and more. Undoubtedly, this exposure allows students to develop a well-rounded understanding of different medical specialties and patient care environments.
  • Elective Rotations: In addition to core rotations, TCOM students have the opportunity to participate in elective rotations in specialized areas of interest. These electives allow students to explore specific medical fields, gain advanced skills and tailor their clinical training to their career goals.

Experienced faculty provide close mentorship to students, guiding them through structured core rotations and diverse clinical experiences. Students must complete these rotations to acquire essential training and skills for successful medical practice.

Apply now in order to embark on your journey toward a fulfilling career as a DO.

Our incoming class typically has 230 first-year students. The class ensures a rich learning environment where students can actively engage with their peers, faculty and the broader medical community. As a result, this facilitates a collaborative learning experience and ample opportunities for hands-on clinical training.

This unique approach also prepares our students effectively for their future medical careers.

Apply now in order to embark on your journey toward a fulfilling career as a DO.

TCOM students have a strong track record in residency match programs.

  • The placement rate for the Class of 2024 was 100%.
  • 67% matched to residencies in Texas.
  • TCOM graduates demonstrate versatility and preparedness across medical specialties.
  • In addition, they contribute significantly to the health care landscape with their expertise and dedication.

Ultimately, our students’ impact extends beyond individual careers. TCOM students also affect communities positively through improved health care access and quality.

Apply now in order to embark on your journey toward a fulfilling career as a DO.

Obtaining a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree at TCOM presents both challenges and rewards. As a Tier 1 medical school for primary care ranked by U.S News & World Report, you can be sure that we prioritize delivering a rigorous,  yet fulfilling, educational experience to our students.

Our comprehensive curriculum is meticulously crafted to equip students with a robust foundation in:

  • Medical knowledge: Our curriculum covers a wide range of medical disciplines, including anatomy, physiology, pharmacology, pathology and more. Through didactic lectures, interactive discussions and hands-on laboratory sessions, students gain a deep understanding of the human body and its various systems.
  • Clinical skills: We prioritize the development of clinical skills essential for diagnosing and treating patients. From physical examination to patient communication and bedside manner, students receive extensive training to excel in various clinical settings.
  • Osteopathic principles: Teaching osteopathic principles is a core foundation of TCOM’s educational philosophy. To be sure, we actively teach the interconnectedness of the body, mind and spirit throughout the curriculum. Students also learn osteopathic manipulative treatment, a hands-on approach to diagnosis and treatment that complements traditional medical interventions. Through OMT, students explicitly gain a holistic understanding of patient care in order to develop skills to address health concerns comprehensively.
  • Professional identity and health systems practice: To train osteopathic physicians who will change the way health care is delivered, we provide training in professional identity, emotional intelligence, innovation and how to create change in the health care system. This also includes health care policy, the business of medicine, population and public health, and the impact of technology, such as artificial intelligence.

By prioritizing hands-on training and innovative teaching methods, our graduates surely are well-prepared to navigate the complexities of modern health care. With a focus on holistic patient care and interdisciplinary collaboration, TCOM also cultivates future physicians who are not only competent clinicians but also compassionate healers.

Apply now in order to embark on your journey toward a fulfilling career as a DO.

Admission to TCOM is competitive and holistic with several requirements and criteria that applicants must meet:

  • Academic Excellence: Applicants should maintain a strong academic record, although there’s no strict GPA or MCAT cutoff.
  • MCAT Scores: While there isn’t a minimum cutoff, competitive MCAT scores are considered along with other application materials.
  • Prerequisite Coursework: To gain admission, students must also complete prerequisite courses.
  • Texas Residency: As a state-supported medical school, TCOM reserves 90% of its seats for Texas residents. However, the remaining seats are open to nonresidents.
  • Application Process: Applicants must complete the application process through the Texas Medical and Dental Schools Application Service.
  • Decision Notifications: Notifications about application decisions are typically sent according to a predetermined schedule agreed upon by state-supported medical schools.
  • Early-Decision Program: TCOM offers an early-decision program for applicants with outstanding credentials who apply exclusively to TCOM.
  • Nontraditional Students: In addition, TCOM welcomes applications from nontraditional students to further enrich the program.

Elevate your career with a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree at UNTHSC

  • Life Experiences: In the medical school environment, we value applicants’ life experiences. Moreover, these are valuable assets in the admissions process.
  • Pre-Medical Degree: While it is not mandatory for a pre-medical degree (e.g. Bachelor of Biological Sciences), completion of pre-medical courses is necessary for admission as a DO. This includes a minimum requirement of 90 semester credit hours (or an equivalent number of quarter credit hours) toward a bachelor’s degree must be from a regionally accredited U.S. college or university (or Canadian equivalent). However, strong preference will be given to applicants who earn a bachelor’s degree before applying. The required 90 semester credit hours will need to include:
    • Biology: At least 12 semester credits of coursework and two semester credits of laboratory coursework.
    • Chemistry: A minimum of six semester credits of coursework and two semester credits of laboratory coursework.
    • Organic Chemistry: A minimum of six semester credits of coursework and two semester credits of laboratory coursework.
    • Physics: At least six semester credits of coursework and two semester credits of laboratory coursework.
    • Statistics: A minimum of three semester credits or five quarter semester credits.
    • English: Two, three semester credit courses are also required in order to meet the admissions requirements.

Apply now in order to embark on your journey toward a fulfilling career as a DO.