AACOM Announces First-of-Its-Kind National Framework for Residency Readiness Bootcamps

Five colleges of osteopathic medicine selected to study framework’s impact on transition to residency

IMMEDIATE RELEASE

(Bethesda, MD) – Today, the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine (AACOM) announced the five colleges of osteopathic medicine (COMs) chosen to pilot the nation’s first residency readiness boot camp framework. Fourth-year students at these COMs will participate in the boot camp between Spring 2025 and Spring 2026.  

“We are very excited about this new resource for our colleges and student doctors,” said Robert A. Cain, DO, AACOM president and CEO. “Our COMs already provide world-class training for the next generation of America’s physicians. This framework is designed to ensure our students are as fully prepared as possible to excel in residency from day one. AACOM is resolute in our commitment to doing all we can to support osteopathic medical students throughout each stage of their medical education journey.”

In 2021, AACOM and its COMs began exploring ways to support residency transition for fourth-year medical students, recognizing that the COVID-19 pandemic limited many students’ clinical experiences and patient encounters. In 2022, AACOM responded by establishing the UME-GME Task Force to address critical issues affecting osteopathic medical education, including the transition to residency and residency readiness.

The Task Force’s Boot Camp Action Group developed the Residency Readiness Playbook to guide COMs in building residency readiness boot camps to better prepare fourth-year students for the demands of residency. The playbook identifies critical residency skills and provides guidance on integrating this framework into existing or new capstone activities. To evaluate its effectiveness, AACOM issued a request for proposals (RFP) to COMs interested in piloting the framework and assessing its impact on the transition to residency.

After a thorough review process, five COMs were selected to implement the framework as part of an institutional review board study:

• Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine
• Arkansas College of Osteopathic Medicine
• Kansas City University College of Osteopathic Medicine
• A.T. Still University School of Osteopathic Medicine in Arizona
• Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine

“I was excited to apply for the RFP because I believe it's important to de-traumatize the transition from medical student to resident physician,” said Jeanne Rupert, DO, associate dean of clinical medicine at Arkansas College of Osteopathic Medicine. “For decades, the fear and bewilderment of new residents has been something hospitals joke about, but that is neither learner-centered nor patient-centered. Every patient should have a doctor who is ready to care for them, and every new doctor should feel supported and ready to join the profession. This pilot program will help the DO profession build a whole person approach to mentoring new physicians during a significant transition in their lives and careers.”

For more information on AACOM’s residency readiness initiatives, please visit AACOM’s website.

ABOUT AACOM

Founded in 1898, the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine (AACOM) is the leading voice for the education and training of physicians who practice osteopathic medicine in settings across the medical spectrum—from primary care to the full range of medical specialties. We support our member colleges of osteopathic medicine in their efforts to attract and train individuals who are fueled by a desire to make a difference in our healthcare system by treating the whole person and building a future emphasizing health and wellness for all people. Today, more than 36,000 future physicians—25 percent of all U.S. medical students—are being educated at one of our 42 accredited colleges of osteopathic medicine, encompassing 67 teaching locations in 36 states.  To learn more about AACOM, please visit our website.

Contacts:

Joseph Shapiro
Director of Media Relations
(240) 938-0746
jshapiro@aacom.org

Christine DeCarlo
Senior Manager of Media and Public Affairs
(202) 603-1026
cdecarlo@aacom.org