Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine

The Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine enrolled its first students in September 2007 and graduated that class on June 2, 2011. The medical school is committed to training physicians who are dedicated to addressing complex health issues including health care disparities. Located in the vibrant Harlem neighborhood, modern facilities host the basic science and early clinical education. Simulation center and standardized patient encounters are used to best prepare students for clinical practice, and at the same time house biomedical research laboratories. Our affiliated hospitals provide a broad base of clinical experience.

ACCREDITATION:
The Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine received Initial Award of Accreditation from the Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation (COCA) on May 19, 2011.

We are a division of Touro College, which opened in 1971 with its first class of 35 students. Touro's total enrollment is approximately 19,000 students worldwide. Touro College is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.

Goals

• To develop a quality educational program that prepares students to be osteopathic physicians.
• To develop opportunities to enhance the public knowledge of osteopathic medicine.
• To develop and administer research programs for faculty and students.
• To institute a faculty practice plan and a system of university clinics in the Harlem community which will deliver competent and compassionate health care to a diverse community.
• To work towards diversification of the student body to meet the health care needs of the society it serves.
• To create and maintain a program of faculty development that encourages and enables faculty to improve and refine their skills in teaching and the creation of new knowledge that helps to further the goals of the institution as well as advancing their careers.
• To create and continuously improve methods of assessment and evaluation of curricular goals and individual student programs that monitor the effective implementation of the mission statement.

The Philosophy of Osteopathic Medicine
Founded by Andrew Taylor Still, MD, DO (1828 - 1917), Osteopathic Medicine utilizes these fundamental principles to enable the osteopathic physician to look at health and disease in a unique holistic manner:

• The human body tends to be self-healing and self-regulating.
• Structure and function at all levels of biologic organization are interdependent.
• Function of body systems depends upon the unrestricted flow of blood and nerve impulses.
• The function of the musculoskeletal system goes beyond that of bodily framework and support, by manifesting the abnormalities present due to disease.
• The equilibrium state of the human body is the state of health and preserving this state requires continuing biological adjustment.

Dr. Still's philosophy emphasized revolutionary concepts of his time:

• Medicine should study prevention as well as cure, treating patients not symptoms.
• The human body, in nature and function, is designed to operate as a perfect harmonious whole and disease in one part affects all other parts.
• The most important drugs are the ones produced within the human body and therefore are the most worthy of study.
• The human immune system may be stimulated naturally.
• Women and members of minority groups are equally welcome to participate in medical education.

What Makes Osteopathic Medicine Unique?
Osteopathic physicians ascribe to the following tenets as stated in R.E. Suter's article, Our Osteopathic Heritage, in Student Doctor, vol. 13, pp. 10-15.

• First, we do no harm. We understand that thoughtful diagnosis must precede intervention.
• We treat the patient not the disease. When treating a patient, we consider all aspects of the patient's condition; the biological, psychological and sociological. We concentrate on patient outcome, not disease outcome.
• We look beyond the disease for the cause. We focus our treatment on causes rather than effects. We treat symptoms only when such treatment truly benefits the patient.
• We recognize that the body is subject to mechanical laws. When the body experiences structural and/or fluid imbalances, we help the body restore its mechanical integrity.
• We understand that the body is a self-regulating, self-healing system. When a disease strikes, we work to help the body restore its natural defenses. We then use preventive medicine and wellness concepts to help the body maintain its defenses. We recognize that this system reflects or accelerates diseases originating in other parts of the body. We use Osteopathic Manipulative Therapy as a treatment modality performing manual, non-intrusive interventions.
• We acknowledge the importance of the body's neuromusculoskeletal system. We recognize that this system reflects or accelerates diseases originating in other parts of the body. We use Osteopathic Manipulative Therapy as a treatment modality performing manual, non-intrusive interventions.

Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine is,
"Committed to increasing the number of underrepresented minorities in medicine and training physicians committed to primary care medicine in underserved communities."

As we look forward to the 2009-2010 Academic year, a look-back to the past year shows that great progress toward meeting our mission was achieved.
1. Faculty staffing has increased three fold over 2008.
2. The entering class of 2013 is diverse, with 16% underrepresented minorities
(determined in accordance with Federal reporting standards) which compares
favorably to all other New York State medical schools.
3. Student run and directed community outreach programs have received local and
national recognition.
4. Clinical rotations have been established in underserved population areas, and the
clinical program has received positive responses from the students and hospitals
alike.
5. Favorable continuing accreditation status was granted.
6. Construction of our research laboratories is nearing completion.
7. Innovative curriculum evaluation techniques have been designed and implemented
which will serve as a driving force for the advancement of medical education
instruction.
8. Faculty development initiatives were implemented for basic science and pre-clinical
areas.
9. Appointments of experienced Clinical and Pre-Clinical Deans were made to achieve
academic excellence.
New ideas, personal experience, and evidence from the literature contribute to our growth and
development. Though we face challenges similar to all Medical Schools, 2009-2010 promises to
provide exciting opportunities.

Admissions to Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine
Undergraduate Requirements

Applicants must meet the following minimum requirements:

• Motivation to become an osteopathic physician.
• Applicants will have earned a baccalaureate degree or higher from an accredited institution of higher education. In rare cases, students may enter without a degree as a result of articulation agreements.
• The Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine Admissions and Standards Committee will evaluate applicants for acceptance to the College on the basis of academic competence, previous achievement, strong personal qualities, demonstrated leadership skills, creative abilities, honors, awards, extracurricular activities, experience in health care, likelihood to practice in underserved primary care areas, and other non-cognitive factors.
• Biology: A minimum of at least eight semester hours of which a minimum of two semester units of laboratory work must be completed. These eight semester units may consist of four semester units of zoology and four semester units of botany, or eight semester units of general biology or zoology, but not botany alone.
• Inorganic Chemistry: At least eight semester hours including two semester hours of laboratory work.
• Organic Chemistry: At least eight semester hours including two semester hours of laboratory work. Four semester hours of Biochemistry may be substituted for four semester hours of Organic Chemistry.
• Physics: At least eight semester hours including two semester hours of laboratory work.
• English: A minimum of six semester hours of composition and literature.
• Mathematics and/or Computer Science: A minimum of four semester hours of courses in mathematics and/or computer science.
• Behavioral Sciences: At least six semester hours of courses in behavioral sciences, i.e., psychology, sociology, or anthropology.
• Submit his/her most recent Medical College Aptitude Test (MCAT) scores.
• Science and overall GPA as well as MCAT Scores are requirements for admission.

• All students who have yet to complete the pre-requites for the program will be admitted on a provisional basis and are expected to earn a grade a B or better on those courses.
  Students who have earned 75% of their under graduate credits from institutions accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S Department of Education with which we have established articulation agreements may be admitted prior to earning their BS degree.
  Although candidates are evaluated primarily on the above criteria, the Dean reserves the authority to approve all applications for admission.

Medical Records
Information provided by students at matriculation (e.g., immunization records, emergency medical form, medical history and physical information) becomes part of their permanent record at the College of Osteopathic Medicine.
Immunization Requirements

Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine requires that all incoming students submit documented proof of immunization against measles, mumps, rubella, diphtheria/tetanus, polio and hepatitis B prior to matriculating as students. They must also complete a Meningitis Vaccination Response Form. The College of Osteopathic Medicine is required by law to keep student immunization documentation on file. No student will be permitted to begin and attend classes or clinical rotations if they have not provided satisfactory proof of required immunizations.

Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine Degree Programs :

Medicine

Video Presentation

Touro College Overview