Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine

Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (PCOM) is dedicated to the education of students in medicine, health and behavioral sciences. The College fosters the growth of the osteopathic profession by training physicians through programs of study guided by osteopathic medical tradition, concept and practice. PCOM is committed to the advancement of knowledge and intellectual growth through teaching and research, and to the well-being of the community through leadership and service.

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Medical School Location

Courses

PCOM students begin preparation for the world of clinical medicine from their first day as medical students. The curriculum combines basic science and clinical course content with integrated courses such as Cell and Tissue, as well as integrated approaches to the pharmacology, pathology, medicine and surgery related to respiratory, genitourinary, cardiovascular and gastrointestinal systems.

THE FIRST TWO YEARS lay the foundation with intense concentration on the basic sciences, anatomy, biochemistry, molecular biology, neuroscience, physiology, microbiology, pathology and pharmacology, taught in integrated course units that emphasize clinical applications. PCOM also recognizes that medical practice is more than science. Coursework in ethics and patient communication helps the student relate well to patients, while content in medical law and public health prepares the student for the complex world of private practice.
The basic sciences are complemented by instruction in clinical subjects such as internal medicine, surgery, neurology, psychiatry, pediatrics, epidemiology, OB/GYN, family medicine, rehabilitation medicine, geriatrics, radiology, oncology and physical diagnosis. The principles and practice of osteopathic medicine are taught throughout the medical curriculum. All students attend small group sessions during the first and second year to develop communication and diagnostic skills. These special instructional activities include patient observation, case conferences and basic clinical skills workshops. In addition, an active standardized patient program introduces first and second year students to patient care through examinations of patient actors in a simulated practice setting, augmented by clinical exercises on two high-tech human patient simulator manikins.

THE LAST TWO YEARS emphasize clinical training experiences. Philadelphia Campus students are assigned to clinical clerkships throughout the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and neighboring states. This unique training network comprises 37 affiliated hospitals, five Healthcare Centers, numerous outpatient units and scores of physicians’ offices. These clinical settings become teaching arms of the College; in effect, the Commonwealth is our campus. Students at the Georgia Campus are assigned to clinical clerkships throughout Georgia and the Southeast.
The program is designed to afford progressive student responsibility for all phases of patient care under the direction of experienced physicians. This includes history taking, physical examinations, daily patient rounds, lectures, conferences and case presentations.

Students rotate through services in medicine, family practice, manipulative medicine, surgery, cardiology, OB/GYN, pediatrics, psychiatry, otorhinolaryngology and office-based preceptorships. On elective clerkships, students may choose to pursue special interests at other medical institutions anywhere across the nation. All students receive additional training in osteopathic manipulative medicine during the third year. One objective of the College is to encourage graduates to practice in communities where health care services are most needed. Therefore, each student entering PCOM must be willing to accept clinical education assignments throughout the region.
Each senior student serves at least eight weeks in an under-served community clerkship. An alternative rural elective is offered to a limited number of students, whereby the student may select an area of alternative health care delivery or a rural area of intense medical need.

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