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ONMM3 Residency

We are currently recruiting for the 2025-26 year program.

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Our Philosophy to ONMM3 Training …

Welcome to VCOM-Virginia’s ONMM Residency home. We are a fully-accredited ACGME ONMM3 Residency program, listed on the ACGME website as HCA Healthcare LewisGale Hospital-Montgomery/VCOM Program [2755100002]. The ONMM3 pathway is a one year program that can be completed after finishing any other ACGME-approved residency program. The NMM-OMM Specialist (current terminology for board certification once completing an ONMM residency) or Osteopathic Neuromusculoskeletal Medicine (ONMM) Specialist is a subspecialty in the medical profession.

Our program will emphasize a broad based musculoskeletal training experience with a strong emphasis on classic and current osteopathic philosophy and OMT techniques, while emphasizing an in depth study of anatomy and physiology. Our program has diverse ONMM faculty with emphasis in sports medicine, pediatrics including infants, geriatrics, and all-around patient care. There will be a strong sports medicine influence with exposure to biomechanics, motor control assessment, functional rehabilitation, musculoskeletal ultrasound and regenerative medicine.

The practice of osteopathic medicine is the application of the physician's knowledge, skills, and attitudes based on the classic tenets of osteopathic philosophy:

  • The body is a unit; the person is a unit of body, mind, and spirit.
  • The body is capable of self-regulation, self-healing, and health maintenance.
  • Structure and function are reciprocally interrelated.
  • Rational treatment is based upon an understanding of the basic principles

Osteopathic Medicine or Osteopathy is a Philosophy!

Osteopathic Medicine is not just a technique or even a collection of techniques. More specifically it is a clinical philosophy applied to medical practice based on a strong and thorough knowledge of anatomy and physiology. Its amazing how correct Andrew Taylor Still, MD was as contemporary sciences continue to evolve, particularly in regards to advances in the understanding of the physiology of fascia, mechanotransduction, and motor control. Osteopathic Medicine also includes a hands-on healing science and art. We apply this healing art by using intelligent, thoughtful, and compassionate hands to support the patient’s own physiology. NMM-OMM Specialists recognize the need for this unique skill set in providing patient care.

As such, the goal of our program is to provide the osteopathic neuromusculoskeletal resident with the appropriate training to evaluate and optimize the patient's neuromusculoskeletal system to mitigate the effects of acute and chronic disease and injury on health and performance. This program is designed to meet all of the special requirements put forth by the ACGME for residency training programs in Osteopathic Neuromusculoskeletal Medicine (ONMM).

In our program, osteopathic neuromusculoskeletal residents will read and study both new and old osteopathic philosophy while digging deeper into human anatomy and physiology understanding. We will spend dedicated time on palpation skill development while providing a complete, broad-based, neuromusculoskeletal training experience. Our program tries to ensure that each resident has had a chance to spend at least one month in all neuromusculoskeletal related rotations at some point in their post-graduate training. We will teach the resident to work with physicians and medical care providers to create a holistic, comprehensive, and team approach to the management of the patient. An evidence-based approach is used to benefit the patient as well as to promote wellness and provide a supportive rehabilitative environment.

The ultimate goal of the ONMM3 Residency at VCOM is to train physicians who are competent to deliver and coordinate the highest quality care for patients of all ages and abilities. This program will provide training in the development of the ACGME clinical competencies needed to diagnose and manage medical illnesses and injuries related to osteopathic neuromusculoskeletal medicine. The ONMM3 Residency at VCOM will provide the educational experiences necessary for the resident to achieve the knowledge, psychomotor skills, interpersonal skills, professional attitudes, and practical experience required of the NMM-OMM physician specialist. The clinical faculty will provide didactic learning as well as clinical opportunities as integral parts of the required curriculum for this program. The educational experiences can be tailored to the resident's interests and the clinical opportunities will be designed to allow the resident to assume progressive responsibility for patient care.

The NMM-OMM elective is a 2-4 week rotation depending on availability. This rotation is available to medical students and residents wishing to gain additional knowledge and experience in the field of OMM. During this rotation, the rotator will gain hands-on experience commensurate to their interest and abilities.

    Elective NMM-OMM Rotations

    Educational purpose is to give the rotator formal instruction, clinical experience, and opportunities to acquire expertise in the evaluation and management essential to outpatient OMM ...

    The rotator will demonstrate their competency in his/her ability to:

    • Evaluate all types of patients including adult, pediatric, disabled, geriatric, and pregnant patients.
    • Understand the components of and perform a comprehensive OMM history and physical examination by integrating a thorough osteopathic biomechanical and functional structural examination into standard orthopedic & neurological exam techniques.
    • Demonstrate awareness of the application of various OMT techniques, both direct & indirect
    • Apply wellness techniques in promoting health in areas of physical, mental and musculoskeletal fitness, as well as cardiovascular, pulmonary and spiritual health.

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