Osteopathic post-graduate education is now handled completely through the ACGME accreditation system.
Though the HCA/VCOM ONMM3 program currently only accepts residents through the ONMM3 pathway, there are options available for accredited ONMM training that can make you eligible to sit for NMM-OMM board certification.
ACGME accredited Osteopathic Neuromusculoskeletal Medicine (ONMM) residency training can be entered via one of three pathways. All three pathways lead to a full residency certificate.
ONMM1 Pathway: 3-year residency entered after graduating from an approved Osteopathic medical school. Entering in the first year of the ONMM residency.
- ONMM2 Pathway: 2-year residency entered after completing an ACGME internship/transition year. Entering in the second year of the ONMM residency.
- ONMM3 Pathway: 1-year residency entered after completing any ACGME-approved residency program. Entering in the third year of the ONMM residency.
Prior to matriculation, ACGME requires incoming ONMM3 residents to have (requirements 3.3.a.1.a-d):
residents must have sufficient background and/or instruction in osteopathic philosophy and techniques in manipulative medicine to prepare them to engage in the curriculum of the program, including: (Core)
- osteopathic philosophy, history, terminology, and code of ethics; (Core) anatomy and physiology related to osteopathic medicine; (Core)
- indications, contraindications, and safety issues associated with the use of osteopathic manipulative treatment; and, (Core)
- palpatory diagnosis, osteopathic structural examination, and osteopathic manipulative treatment. (Core)
- completed a minimum of 12 rotations identified as required or elective (Core) (requirement 3.3.a.3.b)
Though not required, HCA/VCOM ONMM3 incoming residents are highly recommended to have completed some or all of these prerequisites during their primary residency training to be the most competitive applicant:
Completed and actively participated in an ACGME-accredited residency program with Osteopathic Recognition
- Completed as many musculoskeletal based rotations during their primary residency as noted below in the ONMM3 year rotation requirements
- An undergraduate OMM / Anatomy fellowship year (5th year medical school)
- Attended local, regional, &/or national OMM workshops
ACGME Rotation Requirements During the ONMM3 Year
Each individual ONMM3 resident’s required rotations will come from the ACGME required list for ONMM3 and a review of prior rotations completed during the resident's first residency. As such, it is at the discretion of the ONMM program director to count previous rotations that are required below. Rotations completed in a primary pediatric residency with a pediatric focus will count toward the required rotations. For example, a resident may complete a pediatric neurology rotation in place of an adult neurology rotation.
The ACGME required rotations are as follows (based on month-long rotations):
Group 1: 2 rotations: orthopedic surgery, neurosurgery, sports medicine (surgical or primary care); podiatry; occupational medicine
- Group 2: 2 rotations: physical medicine & rehabilitation, neurology, rheumatology
- Group 3: 1 rotation: pain management, radiology, MSK radiology
- Group 4: 2 rotations: inpatient neuromusculoskeletal medicine (NMM) (OMM Consult Service) or longitudinal equivalent
- Group 5: minimum of 3 half days per week: NMM continuity clinic
- Group 6: minimum of 5 elective rotations
- Group 7: optional: the program may require 1 NMM rotation with NMM-OMM certified doctor(s)
The more of these musculoskeletal rotations you complete during your primary residency, the more elective time you can spend on ONMM or other specific rotations of interest during your ONMM3 training year.
The ONMM3 resident will need to complete the following minimum patient encounters during the ONMM3 year:
700 continuity clinic patient encounters
- 75 designated continuity of care clinic panel patient encounters (patients seen at least twice)
Number of documented patient encounters in the following specialty areas where an evaluation was completed, and osteopathic manipulative treatment was provided
- 35 surgical encounters
- 35 pediatric encounters
- 35 obstetrical and gynecological encounters
- 35 inpatient encounters
Clarifications:
At the discretion of the ONMM program director, a patient contact may be counted toward the minimum patient contacts for multiple diagnoses
- In order for a patient encounter to be included in any of these patient visit counts, the resident must be supervised by an AOBNMM-certified, AOBSPOMM-certified, or AOBNMM-board-eligible attending physician. A supervising physician without such certification or eligibility would not be able to direct a resident to the depth and breadth of knowledge expected of a board-certified physician in the specialty of neuromusculoskeletal medicine.
The ACGME Review Committee for ONMM recommends, though does not require, that a matriculating ONMM resident have exposure to an osteopathic neuromusculoskeletal medicine clinic, supervised by a neuromusculoskeletal specialist, during his/her primary residency.
If you have questions regarding your specific completed rotations or future rotations, please submit your questions to:
Albert J. Kozar, DO, FAOASM, R-MSK
Program Director
akozar@vcom.eduMelissa Simpkins
Program Administrator
msimpkins@vcom.vt.edu